So, did anyone read this business about the Utah execution by firing squad?
FIRING SQUAD?!
I thought we stopped doing that a LOOOONNNNGGG time ago... I thought all we did anymore was lethal injection because the rest were thought cruel and unusual????
If we're back to firing squads can we also institute canings? I think public stoning and/or caning would be more of a deterrent than the death penalty anyway. I mean if I knew that if I got caught stealing then I was going to be stoned or caned in the town square -- I'd sure think twice... and if it wasn't a deterrent -- all it would take is once and I'd never do it again. Unlike the death penalty which has a deterrent effect of ZERO.
I personally think public humiliation is a MUCH better punishment for crime than the death penalty or incarceration. I mean CLEARLY incarceration is NOT a deterrent... but I bet if we put those same people up in front of their peers, pulled their pants down, and beat their ASS.. well that would be rather humiliating wouldn't it?? It sure worked for me as a kid....
It's not cruel or unusual because parents have been doing it for YEARS....
OK, in all honesty I don't believe in any of the above. I actually think instituting a system of RESTORATIVE JUSTICE would be the best idea for everyone. Our legal system clearly does not work -- forcing people to actually take responsibilities for their actions and have real face-to-face conversations with their victims and being forced to personally view the result of their actions and then having to repair the HARM caused by their actions is the BEST way to go about it... but we Americans sure love our blood-lust and vengeance.
The think that bothers me even more than the firing squad though is the fact that the Utah Attorney General TWEETED about it as it happened. WHAT THE HELL??!! That's just so wrong for so many reasons.... it blows my mind.
What is wrong with people?!
Friday, June 18, 2010
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Back from Vaca
Well, I'm back at work after a week off for vacation.
As you can see -- I'm working hard.
I had an enjoyable vacation. It was EXTREMELY nice to be away from work and everyone I work with. Not that I don't love these folks, but when all of my friends either work with or for me it becomes extremely difficult to leave work at the office. Everything is about work.
I don't mind it most of the time, but it was VERY VERY VERY nice to get away from it all.
I dream of the day that I can afford to rent a cabin on a lake or the ocean somewhere for a week or two and just laze and read alone for a week. In my head it's on a quiet lake somewhere with a patio out over the water. I can spend my days sitting out on the patio reading or just enjoying a nice breeze off the water and soaking up the sun. In my head, this perfect vacation is shared with a special someone. SIGH -- someday maybe.
Instead I spent this vacation partially in Michigan and partially in Indiana.
Michigan was fun. I spent the weekend with Erica and Marty and their kiddies. A baby and a toddler certainly add a new element to the visits. They are freakin adorable kids though -- so that made it ok. Did some shopping, some eating, and some drinking. Was a good time. They moved from Ypsi to Plymouth which was nice. I didn't go to campus at all nor did I feel obligated to since it was kind of out of the way. Plymouth has a really neat downtown area and we did go to one of the martini bars there and had a great time, just Erica and Me, catching up on everything that's been going on. I'm horrible at keeping in touch and talking about my life so I must be the worst person to remain friends with from a distance. Bless Erica for hanging on!! I didn't realize how much I miss her. Just hanging out with her doing nothing, she is honestly one of the few people in the world that I am totally comfortable with all the time. And she is such a great mom that it was a pleasure to be around her and the kids. AWESOME!!
The rest of my vacation was with family. I got to see almost all of my aunts and uncles on my dad's side (Sorry I missed you Scott and Jean!!). I even cooked my lasagna for mom and dad one night and got to see my sister.
I didn't want to come back.
I want another week!!!
As you can see -- I'm working hard.
I had an enjoyable vacation. It was EXTREMELY nice to be away from work and everyone I work with. Not that I don't love these folks, but when all of my friends either work with or for me it becomes extremely difficult to leave work at the office. Everything is about work.
I don't mind it most of the time, but it was VERY VERY VERY nice to get away from it all.
I dream of the day that I can afford to rent a cabin on a lake or the ocean somewhere for a week or two and just laze and read alone for a week. In my head it's on a quiet lake somewhere with a patio out over the water. I can spend my days sitting out on the patio reading or just enjoying a nice breeze off the water and soaking up the sun. In my head, this perfect vacation is shared with a special someone. SIGH -- someday maybe.
Instead I spent this vacation partially in Michigan and partially in Indiana.
Michigan was fun. I spent the weekend with Erica and Marty and their kiddies. A baby and a toddler certainly add a new element to the visits. They are freakin adorable kids though -- so that made it ok. Did some shopping, some eating, and some drinking. Was a good time. They moved from Ypsi to Plymouth which was nice. I didn't go to campus at all nor did I feel obligated to since it was kind of out of the way. Plymouth has a really neat downtown area and we did go to one of the martini bars there and had a great time, just Erica and Me, catching up on everything that's been going on. I'm horrible at keeping in touch and talking about my life so I must be the worst person to remain friends with from a distance. Bless Erica for hanging on!! I didn't realize how much I miss her. Just hanging out with her doing nothing, she is honestly one of the few people in the world that I am totally comfortable with all the time. And she is such a great mom that it was a pleasure to be around her and the kids. AWESOME!!
The rest of my vacation was with family. I got to see almost all of my aunts and uncles on my dad's side (Sorry I missed you Scott and Jean!!). I even cooked my lasagna for mom and dad one night and got to see my sister.
I didn't want to come back.
I want another week!!!
Friday, June 4, 2010
It's Special Olympics time again!
Well, it's Special Olympics time again. My university hosts the state Special Olympics games each year. So starting yesterday into today we've had about 2,500 special Olympic athletes, chaperons, families, and coaches descend onto campus. It's always a lot of fun because I honestly believe these people are the single most pure hearted people in the state. The athletes are so much fun and so happy and friendly it's amazing. And the families, coaches, and chaperons are the nicest people on earth. So we love it when they come -- even though it's TONS of work for us. Because of the nature of the athletes, our hall staff, housekeeping staff, and maintenance staff are kept hopping 24 hours a day for three days. We are all completely wiped at the end, but it's WELL worth it.
Now if you've never been involved with Special Olympics the let me explain that the athletes range from very mildly to very very severely disabled both mentally and physically. So we see a wide range of issues and learn a LOT. I can't say how awesome this event is and how amazing the people are.
It does, however, always present some funny stories. Not in a making fun of anyone way -- but just in a natural kind of way.
Last night around 2am the Terre Haute police found a young man with Down's syndrome walking around 7th and Wabash -- just off the south side of campus. His speech was very limited, but they brought it back to campus to find his group. All athletes have a chaperons and/or family member who is supposed to be with them at all times, but every now and then the athlete's curiosity gets the best of them and they wonder off. So they get this young man back to campus and contact the SO headquarters. Since he does not talk much, they were having a hard time locating his group. So one of the other groups adopted him for the night and they all decided they would work it out in the morning.
Around 8am a family from a local hotel calls the Terre Haute police frantically looking for their son who was missing. Turns out the young man was NOT with Special Olympics. His family was just in town visiting family and he had wondered out of their hotel room when they were sleeping. The police, with SO in town, naturally assumed since he was not in their database that he had to be with SO so they dropped him off here. Luckily he was reunited with his family and all is well.
My response: "Are you freaking kidding me?? Our police are now kidnapping Down's kids and forcing them to the SO headquarters?? What is this? Arizona??!!"
Now if you've never been involved with Special Olympics the let me explain that the athletes range from very mildly to very very severely disabled both mentally and physically. So we see a wide range of issues and learn a LOT. I can't say how awesome this event is and how amazing the people are.
It does, however, always present some funny stories. Not in a making fun of anyone way -- but just in a natural kind of way.
Last night around 2am the Terre Haute police found a young man with Down's syndrome walking around 7th and Wabash -- just off the south side of campus. His speech was very limited, but they brought it back to campus to find his group. All athletes have a chaperons and/or family member who is supposed to be with them at all times, but every now and then the athlete's curiosity gets the best of them and they wonder off. So they get this young man back to campus and contact the SO headquarters. Since he does not talk much, they were having a hard time locating his group. So one of the other groups adopted him for the night and they all decided they would work it out in the morning.
Around 8am a family from a local hotel calls the Terre Haute police frantically looking for their son who was missing. Turns out the young man was NOT with Special Olympics. His family was just in town visiting family and he had wondered out of their hotel room when they were sleeping. The police, with SO in town, naturally assumed since he was not in their database that he had to be with SO so they dropped him off here. Luckily he was reunited with his family and all is well.
My response: "Are you freaking kidding me?? Our police are now kidnapping Down's kids and forcing them to the SO headquarters?? What is this? Arizona??!!"
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Abbendonza!!
So Friday Rex (my boss) came into my office and offered me a ticket to this event, Abbendonza. I has seen some advertisements about it and knew it was food and music, but wasn't sure about it. It was a charity event in town to raise money for Junior Achievement and the United Way. The ticket was $55 and it was held at The Ohio Building, which is this cool old building in Terre Haute where they have a lot of event and stuff. I had never been there, but a friend of mine from undergrad is an event planner there.
I asked him who else was going and he sent me a list. It looked like a fun group but I was hesitant to commit so I told him I'd think about it. We went to lunch and Heather M was there. She works for our Center for Public Service and Community Engagement and was the campus contact for the event. She pulled me aside and asked me if I was going. I've been to charity events with Heather before and she's a lot of fun and she is also one of those people that says just about everything she is thinking, which I find amusing. So I decided to go. I then texted a couple of my other friends in town, Jaime and Heather (Heather is the one who works at The Ohio Building) to see if they were going to be there. Jaime wasn't but Heather was. Yay! Funny thing about both Jaime and Heather. I've been back in Terre Haute for two years now and I've seen them both twice... am making promises to myself to make more of an effort to see them both more.
Anyway, so the event is "dress casual" which works for me. I was excited because I don't get much of a chance anymore to get all dressed up to go out. We usually hang out at my house or sports bars.. with the same group of people, so there is no one to impress which means there is no reason to wear anything but tshirt and jeans.
Sigh -- I miss going out out...
So, I get to the event and right away know it's going to be two things:
1. An event that I'm pretty much going to need to drink a fair amount of alcohol in order to feel comfortable.
2. PRIME people watching. Ahh Terre Haute-- how I love you!! People were dressed in anything from tiny tiny micro mini skirts to prom dresses to ripped jeans and a tshirt. I love how unpretentious this town is...
So I get me a drink and sit down at our table and trade chit chat with Elonda, our new Director of the Career Center and watch people. We were on the 2nd floor and the band playing was amazing. They played a bunch of 80's and 90's pop and rock. They had me when they rocked out with Billy Joel's "You May Be Right." Anyway there was this old couple out there dancing it up -- it was adorable. This this other gentleman joined them. He had to be 90 and was dressed to the 9's. He had on white dress slacks, a white dress shirt and a white fedora. his tie was black, white and gold striped, and the band on his hat matched. He also had on white patent leather shoes... it was HOT. This guy was deaf as a door nail, but he danced like a 21 year hold.. he got low and was hip bumping. then he started grinding with a lady -- WOW it was interesting. He sat down at our table and asked Heather to dance and she did. It was entertaining -- then he followed her around the rest of the night.
After a few drinks, Elonda bailed and Amber (Heather's friend) and her husband and Heather's husband decided to leave for a while. So Heather and I decided to get up and check the rest of the place out. We ended up on the roof where they were playing Caribbean music. We danced and started being silly. We noticed that whenever a new woman would join us on the dance floor they all made the same funny face... so we started doing it to make each other laugh. She introduced me to some new folks and we had a great time. But it was hot so we soon headed back down to our table. the band down there was called Switchback and we had a lot of fun. Several of the girls we were dancing with on the roof came down with us and we were rockin out. So much fun!! I can't remember the last time I got to dance like that. I miss dancing. I think it may have been the one night at pub when i wanted to dance and no one was in Club Divine so all the guys went with me and Erica and we all danced for like a half hour in an empty bar... that was fun too. Anyway -- we had a great time. then the band took a break and Heather and I hung out with the guitar player -- Brian or Dave maybe?? and his wife Amy. then we danced some more. Amber and the husbands came back and stood and watched us dance then they decided it was time to go so we left around 10:30.
What a fun fun night!! I really really miss going out like that and listening and dancing to live music. AWESOME!!
I asked him who else was going and he sent me a list. It looked like a fun group but I was hesitant to commit so I told him I'd think about it. We went to lunch and Heather M was there. She works for our Center for Public Service and Community Engagement and was the campus contact for the event. She pulled me aside and asked me if I was going. I've been to charity events with Heather before and she's a lot of fun and she is also one of those people that says just about everything she is thinking, which I find amusing. So I decided to go. I then texted a couple of my other friends in town, Jaime and Heather (Heather is the one who works at The Ohio Building) to see if they were going to be there. Jaime wasn't but Heather was. Yay! Funny thing about both Jaime and Heather. I've been back in Terre Haute for two years now and I've seen them both twice... am making promises to myself to make more of an effort to see them both more.
Anyway, so the event is "dress casual" which works for me. I was excited because I don't get much of a chance anymore to get all dressed up to go out. We usually hang out at my house or sports bars.. with the same group of people, so there is no one to impress which means there is no reason to wear anything but tshirt and jeans.
Sigh -- I miss going out out...
So, I get to the event and right away know it's going to be two things:
1. An event that I'm pretty much going to need to drink a fair amount of alcohol in order to feel comfortable.
2. PRIME people watching. Ahh Terre Haute-- how I love you!! People were dressed in anything from tiny tiny micro mini skirts to prom dresses to ripped jeans and a tshirt. I love how unpretentious this town is...
So I get me a drink and sit down at our table and trade chit chat with Elonda, our new Director of the Career Center and watch people. We were on the 2nd floor and the band playing was amazing. They played a bunch of 80's and 90's pop and rock. They had me when they rocked out with Billy Joel's "You May Be Right." Anyway there was this old couple out there dancing it up -- it was adorable. This this other gentleman joined them. He had to be 90 and was dressed to the 9's. He had on white dress slacks, a white dress shirt and a white fedora. his tie was black, white and gold striped, and the band on his hat matched. He also had on white patent leather shoes... it was HOT. This guy was deaf as a door nail, but he danced like a 21 year hold.. he got low and was hip bumping. then he started grinding with a lady -- WOW it was interesting. He sat down at our table and asked Heather to dance and she did. It was entertaining -- then he followed her around the rest of the night.
After a few drinks, Elonda bailed and Amber (Heather's friend) and her husband and Heather's husband decided to leave for a while. So Heather and I decided to get up and check the rest of the place out. We ended up on the roof where they were playing Caribbean music. We danced and started being silly. We noticed that whenever a new woman would join us on the dance floor they all made the same funny face... so we started doing it to make each other laugh. She introduced me to some new folks and we had a great time. But it was hot so we soon headed back down to our table. the band down there was called Switchback and we had a lot of fun. Several of the girls we were dancing with on the roof came down with us and we were rockin out. So much fun!! I can't remember the last time I got to dance like that. I miss dancing. I think it may have been the one night at pub when i wanted to dance and no one was in Club Divine so all the guys went with me and Erica and we all danced for like a half hour in an empty bar... that was fun too. Anyway -- we had a great time. then the band took a break and Heather and I hung out with the guitar player -- Brian or Dave maybe?? and his wife Amy. then we danced some more. Amber and the husbands came back and stood and watched us dance then they decided it was time to go so we left around 10:30.
What a fun fun night!! I really really miss going out like that and listening and dancing to live music. AWESOME!!
Saturday, May 8, 2010
More Craziness... and then it was over! :)
So that last post was posted Last Friday Night/Sat Morning around 1:30 Am -- apparently no one was able to wish me luck quickly enough -- phone rang at 3:03 am.
My first instinct was NO NOT ANOTHER FIGHT -- HA -- wish it had been. I answered the phone and one of my Area Directors reported that a student had been injured in one of our buildings and blood was everywhere. She was pretty shook up so I got dressed and went in. I didn't get home again until 7am.
In the past the phrase -- blood was everywhere -- has typically meant a trail of blood droplets from the elevator out the door... that's what I expected... boy was I in for a shock. I walked in and just stopped and stared. Our police officers were with me and one of them mumbled, "Yep, it's a shock." If I hadn't known better I would have thought someone took a gallon of paint and dumped it in various places on the floor and then smeared it around. The kid had cut his arm pretty bad and then stood in the lobby bleeding profusely while waiting on the ambulance. It was a LOT of blood. Every time I closed my eyes I saw the smear patter on the inside of my eye lids.. it's been a week and I'm still seeing it.. crazy.
Good news, the kid is ok. Spoke with him several times this week.
Today is closing day -- THANK GOODNESS!!! We still have about 900 students to go, but graduation is at 2pm.. the rest will leave after that. YAY!!! Am looking forward to calmness for about a week -- then the summer gets busier than that school year. :)
YAY SUMMER!!!
My first instinct was NO NOT ANOTHER FIGHT -- HA -- wish it had been. I answered the phone and one of my Area Directors reported that a student had been injured in one of our buildings and blood was everywhere. She was pretty shook up so I got dressed and went in. I didn't get home again until 7am.
In the past the phrase -- blood was everywhere -- has typically meant a trail of blood droplets from the elevator out the door... that's what I expected... boy was I in for a shock. I walked in and just stopped and stared. Our police officers were with me and one of them mumbled, "Yep, it's a shock." If I hadn't known better I would have thought someone took a gallon of paint and dumped it in various places on the floor and then smeared it around. The kid had cut his arm pretty bad and then stood in the lobby bleeding profusely while waiting on the ambulance. It was a LOT of blood. Every time I closed my eyes I saw the smear patter on the inside of my eye lids.. it's been a week and I'm still seeing it.. crazy.
Good news, the kid is ok. Spoke with him several times this week.
Today is closing day -- THANK GOODNESS!!! We still have about 900 students to go, but graduation is at 2pm.. the rest will leave after that. YAY!!! Am looking forward to calmness for about a week -- then the summer gets busier than that school year. :)
YAY SUMMER!!!
Saturday, May 1, 2010
What a week!
Sorry these have been pretty random with long breaks in between--
Been a bit of a rough patch lately. The semester is supposed to be winding down, but instead the kids seem to be winding up -- their right hook, that is. Been seeing a lots of fights lately. I think in the last three weeks we've seen like around 10 fights -- damn spring weather. When it's rainy they behave.
The most recent -- tonight-- was a doozy. Happened in the parking lot outside of one of my halls and they ended up fighting on top of one of my grad student's cars and dented the heck out of it. We had to put the building on lock down, with two staff at the door checking ID for everyone who walked in, all guests had to sign in, and one person couldn't sign in more than three guests. Campus police also had an officer stationed there with the staff in case anyone gave them problems.
I was at a play at the community theater when it all broke out so after the play we went to campus to check on the staff and hang out a bit. Jess and I ended up buying them pizza and soda to thank them.
These fights (tonight's and the two last night) all stem from one we had three weeks ago were a gun was pulled on a student for a stupid video prank his fraternity did that mocked members of two other fraternities. So a dude associated with one of the fraternities being mocked pulled a gun on one of the guys in the video. This wasn't a toy gun either -- it was a 50 caliber desert eagle with hollow tipped bullets --- they weren't playin. Luckily he just pointed the gun, everyone scattered, and he jumped in a car and drove off. the police found the truck with his brother in it with the gun and arrested him. The brother turned himself in later. The associate director of our police department told me that the gun/bullets would have went right through the Kevlar vests that our police wear. Like I said, they weren't playin -- hence the police stationed in the building.
It's just been a bit crazy since then. Luckily we close a week from tomorrow (err today actually) -- Saturday May 8th!! Woot woot!!
I almost hit a breaking point this week -- as in I almost broke some people. So I took Wednesday off and had my RHA kids over for dinner. I made lasagna with sauce from scratch... I have to admit -- I make a DAMN good lasagna -- ask anyone who has had it. :)
That's the craziness in my life now -- we are counting down the days until closing so that thing will slow down a bit for us. :) Wish me luck for the rest of the semester!!
Been a bit of a rough patch lately. The semester is supposed to be winding down, but instead the kids seem to be winding up -- their right hook, that is. Been seeing a lots of fights lately. I think in the last three weeks we've seen like around 10 fights -- damn spring weather. When it's rainy they behave.
The most recent -- tonight-- was a doozy. Happened in the parking lot outside of one of my halls and they ended up fighting on top of one of my grad student's cars and dented the heck out of it. We had to put the building on lock down, with two staff at the door checking ID for everyone who walked in, all guests had to sign in, and one person couldn't sign in more than three guests. Campus police also had an officer stationed there with the staff in case anyone gave them problems.
I was at a play at the community theater when it all broke out so after the play we went to campus to check on the staff and hang out a bit. Jess and I ended up buying them pizza and soda to thank them.
These fights (tonight's and the two last night) all stem from one we had three weeks ago were a gun was pulled on a student for a stupid video prank his fraternity did that mocked members of two other fraternities. So a dude associated with one of the fraternities being mocked pulled a gun on one of the guys in the video. This wasn't a toy gun either -- it was a 50 caliber desert eagle with hollow tipped bullets --- they weren't playin. Luckily he just pointed the gun, everyone scattered, and he jumped in a car and drove off. the police found the truck with his brother in it with the gun and arrested him. The brother turned himself in later. The associate director of our police department told me that the gun/bullets would have went right through the Kevlar vests that our police wear. Like I said, they weren't playin -- hence the police stationed in the building.
It's just been a bit crazy since then. Luckily we close a week from tomorrow (err today actually) -- Saturday May 8th!! Woot woot!!
I almost hit a breaking point this week -- as in I almost broke some people. So I took Wednesday off and had my RHA kids over for dinner. I made lasagna with sauce from scratch... I have to admit -- I make a DAMN good lasagna -- ask anyone who has had it. :)
That's the craziness in my life now -- we are counting down the days until closing so that thing will slow down a bit for us. :) Wish me luck for the rest of the semester!!
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Dying with laughter...
So, about twice a week my friends make me laugh so hard I almost die.... literally.
This week it happened two days in a row:
1. Yesterday Shiggins was heading out of town and she was telling us her itinerary and she said she had to finish her meetings, pack, and then she was "taking a deuce." What she meant was she was peace-ing out or deuces... instead she announced to the group at large that she was "Taking a deuce," which, for those who aren't familiar with that term, means she's taking a dump. LOL Almost wet my pants...
2. Jess has a herniated disk in her back so she is on a narcotic cocktail of muscle relaxers, anti-inflammatories, and vicodin. Needless to say she gets somewhat loopy after taking them. Tonight we were at dinner and she apparently told herself a joke silently -- all she said out loud was "Exodus" and then started laughing so hard she was crying. The guys started making fun of her and Adam told us that his friend's wife used to babysit for this little girl who would randomly walk up to you and demand "Tell me I'm pretty! TELL ME I'M PRETTY!" so we started doing that and making fun of Jess on drugs and what our associate VP would be like on Xtasy... I couldn't breath and thought I was going to vomit I was laughing so hard.
They are trying to kill me with laughter... what a way to go!
I LOVE MY LIFE!!
This week it happened two days in a row:
1. Yesterday Shiggins was heading out of town and she was telling us her itinerary and she said she had to finish her meetings, pack, and then she was "taking a deuce." What she meant was she was peace-ing out or deuces... instead she announced to the group at large that she was "Taking a deuce," which, for those who aren't familiar with that term, means she's taking a dump. LOL Almost wet my pants...
2. Jess has a herniated disk in her back so she is on a narcotic cocktail of muscle relaxers, anti-inflammatories, and vicodin. Needless to say she gets somewhat loopy after taking them. Tonight we were at dinner and she apparently told herself a joke silently -- all she said out loud was "Exodus" and then started laughing so hard she was crying. The guys started making fun of her and Adam told us that his friend's wife used to babysit for this little girl who would randomly walk up to you and demand "Tell me I'm pretty! TELL ME I'M PRETTY!" so we started doing that and making fun of Jess on drugs and what our associate VP would be like on Xtasy... I couldn't breath and thought I was going to vomit I was laughing so hard.
They are trying to kill me with laughter... what a way to go!
I LOVE MY LIFE!!
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