Frankly, My Dear…

I was over at Andi’s World and came across a post about Sgt Neil Duncan, who was severely injured in Afghanistan (12/05). An IED blasted the humvee he was in and he lost both legs, shattered his jaw, broke his elbow and hand and received multiple shrapnel wounds. After 14 months in Walter Reed and 20 surgeries, plus therapy, he is going home to Maple Grove, MN.
He hopes to buy a house to refit it for his needs and there is a benefit to help raise money for this purpose.

On April 21, 2007, from 2:00 - 6:00, there will be a benefit held to help raise funds so that Neil can purchase and adapt a home and an automobile.

As Neil will be coming home to Minnesota, his friends and family want to give him a proper welcome home and help him financially as he starts his new life as an independent person. A homecoming benefit to honor Neil and to express our sincere appreciation for his sacrifice and commitment to our country will be held. This benefit will include a silent auction, raffle, and cash donations as well as a chance for people to meet our hero. All proceeds will be used to help Neil build an independent life adapted to his specific needs - a handicap accessible house, a vehicle with adaptive equipment, etc.

The benefit will be held at the following address:

American Legion Post #172
260 4th Avenue SE
(Hwy. 169 & Cty. Rd. 81)
Osseo, Minnesota 55369

He has a website at:

http://www.duncanbenefit.blogspot.com/

Please help this American warrior any way you can!

A Tacoma, Washington, home has been stripped of anything of value that could be carried away and debris and trash left behind! The owner had evicted her sister and set about remodeling the house.

An ad on Craigslist appeared on the advertising website that said people could come to the unlocked house and take whatever they wanted! And take they did–windows, light fixtures, cabinets, hot water heater and even the kitchen sink! The stunned owner said she didn’t know where to start cleaning or how to put it back together!

Police suspect sibling rivalry and said they couldn’t arrest anyone!

I wonder what Christmas was like in this family? I doubt they ever played Dirty Santa! You know, the game where you bid on “gifts” and can take someone else’s gift! They would’ve most likely played the “extreme” version! heh

SYLVANIA, Ala. (AP) — A northeast Alabama police chief says D-U-I charges can apply even when the vehicle has four legs instead of wheels. Sylvania Police Chief Brad Gregg said 40-year-old Melissa Byrum York of Henager went for a midnight horseback ride through Sylvania and was charged with driving under the influence and drug offenses. The incident happened Sunday.
Police in the DeKalb County town say she used the horse to ram a police car. She’s also been charged with animal cruelty and second-degree assault.
Gregg also said York had warrants for her arrest in neighboring Jackson County.

Hmmm, sounds like someone should’ve kept their drunk, drugged rear-end at home!

GOOD NEWS!!!!!!!!!

Hershey has introduced two new products - antioxidant milk chocolate and whole bean chocolate. Antioxidants, touted as having health benefits, have previously been found in dark chocolate. Whole bean chocolate includes nutrients found in cocoa beans to create a sweet chocolate that is lower in sugar (about 40 percent) and high in fiber and antioxidants. Both new products come in 3-ounce bars and 4.2-ounce pouches, with suggested retail prices of $1.99 and $2.99. They should be available locally now

That’s the nickname of Alabama’s electric chair. It was built by a British convict in 1927 and got its name from the highway-line paint that made it a bright yellow! It was an eye-catcher, for sure!

When I was 15-16, I was planning to go to Youth Legislature in Montgomery and needed a bill to propose. I decided to have one that said the death penalty should be discontinued. I made an appointment to see the warden of Kilby Prison to discuss the death penality with him. I spent the night with my sister and she dropped me off at the prison the next day. The warden was busy when I got there, so I was put in a waiting room that contained prisoners and their visitors! Can we say uncomfortable?! I was sitting by the open door–actually, I think it was a doorless opening–and not planning to move an inch! There were a couple of long windows that went to the floor and I noticed prisoners outside doing things like picking up trash. One of them came up to the window and looked in. I averted my eyes but felt him staring and became even more uncomfortable! When the person came to take me to the warden’s office, I almost hopped up to get out of there asap!

I can’t remember what all we talked about, but the warden was very nice–especially since I’m sure he had more important things to do! After our short conversation, he surprised me by asking if I’d like to see the electric chair! Without giving it any thought, I quickly said yes!

It was in another building and to get there I had to go with two guards across the prison yeard where there were prisoners! The first step was going through a door that was in a 2-3 story wall of iron bars. One guard went through, then me and then the other guard. When that door clanked shut, chills went up my neck! Suddenly, I wasn’t so sure I wanted to do this!

We stepped out into the prison yard and I was immediately aware of the prisoners, but the guards were walking closely, so I felt pretty safe. Had he asked, though, I probably would’ve let him carry me like a 3 yr old across the yard! heh We talked on the way to another smaller building and had to walk up steps to the second floor. The hallway to the execution chamber was on the outside wall of the building and I think there were about three cells on the way. As soon as we came in, the prisoners were begging for cigarettes. I am sure they were very courious about what was going on and why I was there. And there, as we passed the last cell, was Yellow Mama. I don’t know what I was expecting, but I’m pretty sure it wasn’t a big shiny yellow chair! There were straps all over it and the guards were telling me what went where. And then they wanted to know if I wanted to sit in it! Sit in the electric chair?! I feel sure I declined! I remember I had on an orange and white sweater and a white skirt, but for the life of me, I can’t remember if I sat in the electric chair!!! Why, oh why, didn’t I take my camera with me?!

The guards explained how once the prisoner was “situated” in the chair, someone took the small sign that looked like a wooden lollipop with “ready” on one side and put it in a hole in the brick wall, which was only a partial wall, where the “juice” was to let them know it was time to turn the swich on. This was directly behind Yellow Mama. (Notice in the picture in the rgt side, looks like the sign was still being used when it was put in another prison, except this time using a one-way mirror.)

All of this was interesting, but I was glad to leave and I can’t even remember the outcome of my bill. I think there were more than we could get to for the long week-end that we were allowed to sit in the desks, fullibuster and vote on bills! And besides, there was this really cute guy from Talladega!

Yellow Mama was retired and in 2002 lethal injection became the execution choice. I also changed my mind about the death penalty long ago.

Last night was a 2 hr show–I’m tired already! I could do the short version and just tell you who won! But I guess I’ll give you all the details. This may take awhile! I need a diet Dr Pepper!

First to leave, the charming (cough) Charna and Mirna. They decide to wait on Oswald and Danny so they can share a taxi. They have tickets to Warsaw, Poland to look for Czapski Palace, childhood home of Chopin, but look for a better way to get there. Surprise! Mirna is pushy with the ticket agents, too! They are stuck at the airport for 7 grumbling hours! In the end, Kandice and Dustin are lucky and get the last 2 seats on a plane to Poland. Bill has a fit at the airport when they can’t get on the plane, even though it’s still on the tarmac. (Been there!)

The beauty queens find the palace and do the Perfect Pitch task. They have to tune a piano and do so pretty quickly. They’re off to the next Pit Stop and are first to hit the mat. They win a trip to Puerto Rico. They finished before two of the teams ever got on a plane!

Oswald and Danny break a couple of piano wires before they get it right, Charna and Mirna give up and look for the palace. . Mirna says people won’t help them and run away when they try to talk to them. She wonders if it’s because Charna is a little person. They finally find a young woman willing to help them get to a laboratory so they can x-ray their mannequin to find their clue. It had to be at the right angle to be seen. Uchenna and Joyce tune the piano pretty fast. Eric and Danielle break a piano wire but manage to finish ahead of the Quidos who chose the mannequin. Joe and Bill are last to finish and have a 30 mins time extention at the end of the next leg.

The next clue is to take a charter bus to the concentration camp of Auschwitz-Birkenan, where over one million people were killed by the Nazis. Bill makes the statement that Eric and Danielle don’t have a brain and they can beat them with brain power! Eric and Danielle get into an argument because she wants a cup of coffee and he says they can’t afford it! This goes on and on until she moves to another area, Al-l-righty then!

First bus leaves for Auschwitz with Uchenna and Joyce, Oswald and Danny and Kandice and Dustin. Being there is very emotional and each team lights a candle for the victims.

This is an Intersection task which means two teams have to do it together. Uchenna and Joyce and Danny and Oswalk decide to do the counting steps together and that means Kandice and Dustin have to wait for the second bus to pick another team.

Uchenna and Joyce finish with Danny and Oswald and both teams hit the mat together. Phil tells them there is only one prize, so Danny and Oswald give it to Uchenna and Joyce and they win a trip to Saint Lucia.

Meanwhile, Kandice and Dustin have to wait 4 hrs for the second bus and since Charna and Mirna are the first off the bus, ask them if they want to do the detour with them. They choose Eat It and have to make some sausage and then sit down to each eat EIGHT FEET of Kielbasa Polish sausage!! I don’t know how it tastes but who wants that much of anything?! Yuk! They start shoveling it in and Bill and Joe and Eric and Danielle show up. One of the beauty queens is the first to vomit and Charna sticks a knife down her throat! The other teams have to listen to this while trying to choke down their sausage! Ewwwwww! Makes me queasy just thinking about it!

Each team has to find a marked car and drive 20 miles to the town of Skala and find the Pieskowa Castle. Kandice and Dustin are first to find them and take off. Mirna can’t get the car out of park and other teams are making fun of her driving! She and Charna get into a shouting match with Charna telling her she doesn’t scream at her enough! Mirna gets a taxi driver to drive ahead of her and he gets another driver and she screams she doesn’t have enough money for two. After pleading, they lower the price from $100 to $50.

Arriving at the castle, one member had to don a medieval suit of armour and lead a horse to the gate of the castle and hand it to a stableboy. Why Charna did this, I don’t know. You could tell there was going to be a problem! She fell down twice and the horse walked in circles around her but she finally made it!

Joe and Bill finished just ahead of Eric and Danielle but because of the time penalty were eliminated. (Yay!) Bill made this syrupy speech that I just can’t repeat! You don’t want me to be sick, do you?

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We used to enjoy watching Mr. Bean on PBS and this was one of the funny skits Rowan did! I thought walking through hot sand was a hard way to get to the beach but I’d hate to have to face the steps in this video–going and maybe worse, coming back! wow