tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23212229863910817872024-03-05T01:35:16.071-08:00They say everyone has a story..this is mine.."Bristol Stomp" will take readers to the scene of the crime, a horrific, random Road Rage murder that takes place on a quiet, tree lined street in a small Pennsylvania River town.Doreen McGettiganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11691803968607905576noreply@blogger.comBlogger67125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2321222986391081787.post-7484848098710288362017-12-30T13:45:00.001-08:002017-12-30T13:45:12.351-08:00Doreen's 10 tips for writers<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/F_jy4ymqUgQ" width="480"></iframe><br />Doreen McGettiganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11691803968607905576noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2321222986391081787.post-5032950806306216532013-09-14T07:21:00.001-07:002013-09-14T07:21:42.951-07:00The PressClub Press: 'ROLLING STONES' Speaker to open up PRESS CLUB yea...<a href="http://pressclubpress.blogspot.com/2013/09/wednesday-september-18-2013-marilou.html?spref=bl">The PressClub Press: 'ROLLING STONES' Speaker to open up PRESS CLUB yea...</a>: Wednesday, September 18, 2013 Marilou Regan to Speak to Press Club ...Doreen McGettiganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11691803968607905576noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2321222986391081787.post-52741410472269539752013-08-19T06:58:00.001-07:002013-08-19T06:58:29.056-07:00The Quivering Pen: My First Time: Doreen McGettigan<a href="http://davidabramsbooks.blogspot.com/2013/08/my-first-time-doreen-mcgettigan.html?spref=bl">The Quivering Pen: My First Time: Doreen McGettigan</a>: My First Time is a regular feature in which writers talk about virgin experiences in their writing and publishing careers, ranging from ...Doreen McGettiganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11691803968607905576noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2321222986391081787.post-32931389595468326492010-12-01T09:47:00.000-08:002010-12-01T09:47:57.424-08:00We Have Moved!Please head over to my new Site over <a href="http://doreenmcgettigan.com/">DoreenMcGettigan.com</a>!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG5IbpAC2zIebQdDFjS9FckJw7rI2KeUYr00fSfVFm_ChMN7gG_1lAL5lWsySXw_iebCMsHy5v24DNQ1VN9phEz_yr5Cuto2muL8r6_AnKMOW8bF2TaRNAMraOemWajNmXACV7gNCTeR3P/s1600/Untitled-3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG5IbpAC2zIebQdDFjS9FckJw7rI2KeUYr00fSfVFm_ChMN7gG_1lAL5lWsySXw_iebCMsHy5v24DNQ1VN9phEz_yr5Cuto2muL8r6_AnKMOW8bF2TaRNAMraOemWajNmXACV7gNCTeR3P/s320/Untitled-3.png" width="320" /></a></div>Doreen McGettiganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11691803968607905576noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2321222986391081787.post-19691111490891176752010-11-29T11:59:00.000-08:002010-11-29T11:59:39.953-08:00My first guest blogger and you will adore her!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:DoNotShowComments/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13pt;">Rebecca Rasmussen is the author of the novel <i>The Bird Sisters</i>, forthcoming from Crown Publishers on April 12<sup>th</sup>, 2011. She lives with her husband and daughter in St. Louis and teaches writing at Fontbonne University. Visit her at </span><a href="http://www.thebirdsisters.com/"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13pt;">http://www.thebirdsisters.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13pt;">Leaning Roses & Giving Thanks</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13pt;">By Rebecca Rasmussen</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13pt;">“Visualize yourself as a tree,” Dr. Gilman used to tell me. “Your grand old roots are reaching toward the center of the earth. They’re strong, and so are you.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13pt;">“But my branches are blowing in the wind,” I used to say back.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13pt;">I would be sitting on Dr. Gilman’s couch, trying not to hear the wind chimes beyond her office window, a soothing sound to many people, but a chaotic sound to me. She would be leaning forward in her chair, trying to pull me back from the edge of panic, which she recognized in my glazed-over eyes, in my inability to do what she was asking of me. “That’s perfectly fine. You’re rooted. Let go. You’ll see.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13pt;">Was I? </span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13pt;">I don’t often tell people about the first twenty-five years of my life that I spent trying to cope with anxiety attacks, first as a child by doing things like going to bed at six o’clock in the evening or putting my hands over my ears to block out the noise of the stereo or later staying home because I was afraid to go wherever my friends were going, afraid they’d see what I was so desperately trying to hide because it wasn’t normal and because I knew nobody could help me. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13pt;">That, I have learned, is the fundamental trouble with fear. It keeps you roped off from everybody else who wants to understand, who wants to help you.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13pt;">“Why didn’t you tell me about this?” my mother often asks. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13pt;">The adult me knows that my mother would have tried to help me and the child me knew that, too, but I didn’t believe a life without these attacks was possible. I simply didn’t believe in anything but fear. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13pt;">For years, I resolved myself to the fact that I would have to live my life a little bit differently than everyone else. I’d never hang wind chimes from my porch. I’d never swing at a playground. I’d never arrive at a track meet and not wonder if the bleachers rattling would frighten me. I’d never…I’d never.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13pt;">In my experience, once you batten down the hatches against fear, you are stuck with it. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13pt;">It wasn’t until I was pregnant with my daughter Ava, when my anxiety attacks grew fiercer than they ever had before, that I scheduled an appointment with Dr. Gilman, a lovely psychologist in Northampton, Massachusetts, because I felt I owed it to my unborn daughter. The first thing Dr. Gilman asked me that day was, “What’s so bad about fear?” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13pt;">And I thought: <i>I’m obviously in the wrong place. </i>But I stayed anyway.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13pt;">Over the course of my pregnancy, Dr. Gilman worked with me twice a week. She taught me how to breathe deeply, how to remain in the present moment, how to be kinder to myself, gentler. She also taught me to start sharing my panic, which I wasn’t eager to do. She was right though. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13pt;">One day, I tried it out on my husband.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13pt;">“I’m scared,” I said, and he turned off the music or whatever I believed was triggering my panic, came over to me, and did this magical head rub thing to bring me back from wherever I was heading…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13pt;">“Stay here with me,” he said. “You’re safe here, honey.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13pt;">You’re safe.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13pt;">Fast-forward four years. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13pt;">My daughter is a lively little love bug, who goes to pre-school three days a week. My husband is in graduate school. And I have a novel coming out in April. It’s Thanksgiving. Pies are in the oven. Roasts are roasting. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13pt;">This fall has been tough. We lost my Aunt Donna to cancer. Uncle John, too. One of my cousins, a thirty-two year old mother of two wonderful kids, is in the middle of chemotherapy treatments for stage-IV ovarian cancer. People are leaving us in what feels a little like a mass exodus this holiday season, and sometimes I feel that old fear bubbling up again—<i>It’s so unfair. It’s too much. What would I do if it were me? What would Ava do without her mother? What would I do without my mother?—</i>but I’m more connected to the moment now instead of being boarded up against it, which means the fear is free to come but it’s also free to go. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13pt;">Aunt Donna had a hard life. She had a disease that took her leg when she was a girl. She survived cancer several times and this last time didn’t. She loved roses. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13pt;">After her death, something a little bit miraculous happened. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13pt;">In the bed of tiger lilies just beyond the front door of our apartment, a beautiful red rose bud appeared on the otherwise bare rogue rose bush that has grown up instead of outward. It’s late November in St. Louis. We’ve had a frost already. We’ve worn our coats. And this little flower just keeps leaning toward our front door, its stem over six feet tall, opening itself up more and more each day. We’re all marveling at it—our neighbors, my husband, my daughter, me. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13pt;">So each time I come and go I stop to smell the rose even though I didn’t think I believed in literal signs. I didn’t used to believe in a lot of things.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13pt;">That’s what I am thankful for this Thanksgiving. Belief in something other than fear. Belief in safety. Grace. Hope.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13pt;">Dr. Gilman would be proud of me, I think. She’s one of those old-growth people you keep in your heart forever.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 13pt;">Am I still afraid? Yes. But I’m not so afraid of being afraid anymore.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
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</div>Doreen McGettiganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11691803968607905576noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2321222986391081787.post-77547461427111090472010-11-27T17:28:00.000-08:002010-11-27T17:28:24.647-08:00My first Guest Post!<i><b>Thank you Rebecca for the opportunity to guest post on your blog. To check out the post and to learn a bit about Rebecca (you will love her) go here: <a href="http://thebirdsisters.blogspot.com/">thebirdsisters.blogspot.com</a></b></i>Doreen McGettiganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11691803968607905576noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2321222986391081787.post-60322679782869554292010-11-25T20:58:00.000-08:002010-11-27T17:25:20.703-08:00Happy Black Friday Fragments....<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfXRmI78bpAl59lmCjibiAgN70li894e5qMLhQFd-X56OS4k42n5VUAWhPTxQdyvToEkQNiY1JeReln-56WaAEwY3rpFai5tI_4P2hg_u_PIMa-sgZekCUkkT1hIX9_MVz0iJ9JZ1qUaS3/s1600/100_0247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfXRmI78bpAl59lmCjibiAgN70li894e5qMLhQFd-X56OS4k42n5VUAWhPTxQdyvToEkQNiY1JeReln-56WaAEwY3rpFai5tI_4P2hg_u_PIMa-sgZekCUkkT1hIX9_MVz0iJ9JZ1qUaS3/s200/100_0247.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tough working here :(</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4207EhqlaywfKimar05ePLNlNJSZM0_WOFaDY9iXa1lLYgFb5xBmo604bPIJ90rPNDoBrr2rXTo_O1bWiCsRYxUd1HoBvzGzdkpNq3K6EXOL4OhGwJxVjYD_i7qdMRUZmIXg-QevMM3PT/s1600/100_0248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4207EhqlaywfKimar05ePLNlNJSZM0_WOFaDY9iXa1lLYgFb5xBmo604bPIJ90rPNDoBrr2rXTo_O1bWiCsRYxUd1HoBvzGzdkpNq3K6EXOL4OhGwJxVjYD_i7qdMRUZmIXg-QevMM3PT/s200/100_0248.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a mess..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Happy Friday Fragments were we can dump all the little bits floating around in our minds..the brainchild of Mrs. 4444 you can find her and join in on all the dumping here:<a href="http://www.halfpastkissintime.com/">www.halfpastkissintime.com</a> <br />
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I also like to join in over at the lovely Java's and her over 40 follow..you can join her here:<a href="http://nevergrowingold.blogspot.com/">nevergrowingold.blogspot.com</a><br />
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So FIOS is coming today!! I am excited!! This will be a very busy and crazy weekend..I work today, then pick up Morgan Layla and Avery Paige..I have Beta Reading to do..content writing for my brand new <i>Author web site!</i> And I am having author photo's done (what do you think the difference is between a photo and an author photo)?<br />
My dad is very sick and will be having very scary surgery next week in Florida...I may go down... My favorite quote this week...."<b>If you did not want me to write about it on my blog or in my book then you should not have said or done it"</b><i> me...</i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtdicEJsRldCBtcYRiykwRw_1t86AN0TBUJtVZ7VR2H2lU2I4DNMHpNj0RSBflxtGLsCtOh-liA8lExPWRHw0AxhGTQTW6_HK6J5mKh5n5ixkF6IK8R2d7P1nnS1CPaOtawTzuNqwHY0L5/s1600/100_0250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtdicEJsRldCBtcYRiykwRw_1t86AN0TBUJtVZ7VR2H2lU2I4DNMHpNj0RSBflxtGLsCtOh-liA8lExPWRHw0AxhGTQTW6_HK6J5mKh5n5ixkF6IK8R2d7P1nnS1CPaOtawTzuNqwHY0L5/s200/100_0250.JPG" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yuk!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2mWXhAYXm8Sop5NtOxAKpqobSZZR0rzORhiU5hSvbgmtnaerVXD3cKTqjNnKAF3oxr8BhRHyu0-aAPJrvexdjX9L0glbfKgAr2L1df8VnpkyyVwazwgkwvLmBAkHQX2zxMxvNoUsQnGeC/s1600/100_0251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2mWXhAYXm8Sop5NtOxAKpqobSZZR0rzORhiU5hSvbgmtnaerVXD3cKTqjNnKAF3oxr8BhRHyu0-aAPJrvexdjX9L0glbfKgAr2L1df8VnpkyyVwazwgkwvLmBAkHQX2zxMxvNoUsQnGeC/s200/100_0251.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My new office is almost done!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"></td><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Tz6amU7mbZJdLv17FJKwjSx6VJAqVCks9AYgE4iepUp1gl71EFu4evaXScHRLvz1BgUvHw9sDlQcdFLE_e26TX1dPblUo8BBFeDxT0LcblqUphhpvcD7e-gKkWkPac4usRWm-UrSmXC8/s1600/100_0267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Tz6amU7mbZJdLv17FJKwjSx6VJAqVCks9AYgE4iepUp1gl71EFu4evaXScHRLvz1BgUvHw9sDlQcdFLE_e26TX1dPblUo8BBFeDxT0LcblqUphhpvcD7e-gKkWkPac4usRWm-UrSmXC8/s200/100_0267.JPG" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom-Mom and Peyton Elizabeth</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhif2gd51D3x324CXXw4gpwoQfaRD14Xe10vnCsdjv75QChQE3POVHSqAjfzWaPtSdvVIOZQ1L1rd5fEVi3l9PizXQMcURTfExgtlHgmuec6oq8LaNUVrizfeV9VN16Zgl-h3-FUaRCcPbX/s1600/100_0269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhif2gd51D3x324CXXw4gpwoQfaRD14Xe10vnCsdjv75QChQE3POVHSqAjfzWaPtSdvVIOZQ1L1rd5fEVi3l9PizXQMcURTfExgtlHgmuec6oq8LaNUVrizfeV9VN16Zgl-h3-FUaRCcPbX/s200/100_0269.JPG" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Allyson; Julia and Morgan</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTidLeWx1LRZcUyhL3olMja6Tzs79XkoWdDwEx56LgkFtr1sPXp9B6qzCxgG94dtifX7g8H8AyKMokktPJ5EXvmW38PVzLhHTC2BagSKifcRldv_YacTUpCqI7Ggmb6U74aMoHEL1-AI26/s1600/100_0278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTidLeWx1LRZcUyhL3olMja6Tzs79XkoWdDwEx56LgkFtr1sPXp9B6qzCxgG94dtifX7g8H8AyKMokktPJ5EXvmW38PVzLhHTC2BagSKifcRldv_YacTUpCqI7Ggmb6U74aMoHEL1-AI26/s200/100_0278.JPG" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Julia; Jillian and Avery Paige</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheSVSUSFhWqW_CbDhw1AjQT8Gcft_H1w8ojhRoxaoEwFzEl9T2ao4gdl8wsML-nWTJt0SSbw3ldWunX5OSWyeW0zHYNvJO9MdfhKpIC3IyltdxgfXp_un6V-EMvxf_r0W7dy-rMtQ_yS6S/s1600/100_0282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheSVSUSFhWqW_CbDhw1AjQT8Gcft_H1w8ojhRoxaoEwFzEl9T2ao4gdl8wsML-nWTJt0SSbw3ldWunX5OSWyeW0zHYNvJO9MdfhKpIC3IyltdxgfXp_un6V-EMvxf_r0W7dy-rMtQ_yS6S/s200/100_0282.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanksgiving dinner</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglSCtv0nzz8n0Wp8vAATxBG5pfXROJfmnIwN00jDFikHo05SjrBIe33vvleQ1r3ydX7AOv1juIIBEESuJ6o04GHrpR6vh7UVQVYIljlIq92YEv89DnEom3kFzliAI5JhWKzGYb4CnrjIDa/s1600/100_0283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglSCtv0nzz8n0Wp8vAATxBG5pfXROJfmnIwN00jDFikHo05SjrBIe33vvleQ1r3ydX7AOv1juIIBEESuJ6o04GHrpR6vh7UVQVYIljlIq92YEv89DnEom3kFzliAI5JhWKzGYb4CnrjIDa/s200/100_0283.JPG" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Chef and host..Big Dom</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7lVY88BjyxX4PSLPzLIwJL0vMxk-k2cROcJhTwPEtfjYqdmrWOswpAoWbtSuQQ_8G-LD8qKLUSG4rVQIPYAhCdDxF5fkPQ7zAoXxOtxEVFU-o1UjCESB9CZ2J7AB4T-HWd5cgu4xyGk45/s1600/100_0305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7lVY88BjyxX4PSLPzLIwJL0vMxk-k2cROcJhTwPEtfjYqdmrWOswpAoWbtSuQQ_8G-LD8qKLUSG4rVQIPYAhCdDxF5fkPQ7zAoXxOtxEVFU-o1UjCESB9CZ2J7AB4T-HWd5cgu4xyGk45/s200/100_0305.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miss Adriana (Hungry)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWMaDy1yTgSgiKlCrmX0l5bs8pti4sbvGTYduTRnmIvttfpWWiGpdhrftWWVVhXG2BR9vUAi5kqkXGzZ_nZHzqgjYywVd8wdwuZW1iCAFszEmv1qu1BDn47hw5MG8QVrhMV04B-bLGgGHo/s1600/100_0306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWMaDy1yTgSgiKlCrmX0l5bs8pti4sbvGTYduTRnmIvttfpWWiGpdhrftWWVVhXG2BR9vUAi5kqkXGzZ_nZHzqgjYywVd8wdwuZW1iCAFszEmv1qu1BDn47hw5MG8QVrhMV04B-bLGgGHo/s200/100_0306.JPG" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So sad no video games today..</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAGd9ObGEgZJfYziDQ6r3-4w82NJTh1TR9PRxtwQWiSAXOWDkGtR-51PXporMUYYxryrtqsXEl6eY_ZAtyG2dlO_Mh472lFeAkkFQTxeFK4t34NMhjlSjWGrWQ0GM12fzgx9S1xvyhkv9m/s1600/100_0325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAGd9ObGEgZJfYziDQ6r3-4w82NJTh1TR9PRxtwQWiSAXOWDkGtR-51PXporMUYYxryrtqsXEl6eY_ZAtyG2dlO_Mh472lFeAkkFQTxeFK4t34NMhjlSjWGrWQ0GM12fzgx9S1xvyhkv9m/s200/100_0325.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Julia and brother Trey</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-P-IqeHXU8raZ2hZSTKglYfW0p6PzGFFgjSYOnNj_-XFMqQj8JN8DmTzrO9Q-0dZwUrWHAwkF-cDqWXYeTGqxVwv_YZhZ3EmBP_IdbLehXespvZCHxyMUVgr9gwiyT3ccQC6DJzDmZTe/s1600/100_0310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-P-IqeHXU8raZ2hZSTKglYfW0p6PzGFFgjSYOnNj_-XFMqQj8JN8DmTzrO9Q-0dZwUrWHAwkF-cDqWXYeTGqxVwv_YZhZ3EmBP_IdbLehXespvZCHxyMUVgr9gwiyT3ccQC6DJzDmZTe/s320/100_0310.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before Dinner</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7REsjxrJn6AF8c7a5cLLG04EMgtNUJfdKZvXAXot5beOCW1ed3uugNMeU_ts1d3SzTj4vYDF9NGmu4VUEvcjOIV8VoivJxdvvmxg2_YGwVkqAITASAJyurUffijSXert4QbcsGe9q9tmB/s1600/100_0328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7REsjxrJn6AF8c7a5cLLG04EMgtNUJfdKZvXAXot5beOCW1ed3uugNMeU_ts1d3SzTj4vYDF9NGmu4VUEvcjOIV8VoivJxdvvmxg2_YGwVkqAITASAJyurUffijSXert4QbcsGe9q9tmB/s200/100_0328.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Avery Paige waiting for snow..</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOs47ma-xpsvqb8j5NI5Z2pJB42qbwuXVZ3PJCyFe2Z7segGmc9URgaaRSUMzORdoKxedfRwxJTuDWhipSaHh_mKXgFfBzSc7vDDfkHGbyLAjyuSQ0dELYwmO1j8vrAjGjDyOnnI5Un53j/s1600/100_0308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOs47ma-xpsvqb8j5NI5Z2pJB42qbwuXVZ3PJCyFe2Z7segGmc9URgaaRSUMzORdoKxedfRwxJTuDWhipSaHh_mKXgFfBzSc7vDDfkHGbyLAjyuSQ0dELYwmO1j8vrAjGjDyOnnI5Un53j/s200/100_0308.JPG" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Morgan Layla and Daddy Kevin</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIfE8c03Sc0OTWn8jr3yrMcffpBpuvN8nGoqIr7c0hqPBGbnjIeJBDXFaarYCJRi9jyeqFqG_IcvZzQ7OJV288jPWgNjIJ5sVC5pcDrNVemnU8TNvdcRZcPKt9jpFCzP71suyP-Vsup2FC/s1600/100_0337.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIfE8c03Sc0OTWn8jr3yrMcffpBpuvN8nGoqIr7c0hqPBGbnjIeJBDXFaarYCJRi9jyeqFqG_IcvZzQ7OJV288jPWgNjIJ5sVC5pcDrNVemnU8TNvdcRZcPKt9jpFCzP71suyP-Vsup2FC/s200/100_0337.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peyton Elizabeth and Adriana in the car seat together :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8XxzqFVvaAVws9-pGOfKs2gTFmaZWUolJQWpDme6a3B6IBqzcGbNdjGD-BQqIsv5VpJY_UPWOM2E_cgQUvIOlqBBLiN-NlFEDCL7hUMW8NwPhkkttd-j8cP5oOkwBzSBxCadTH6h0315g/s1600/100_0338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8XxzqFVvaAVws9-pGOfKs2gTFmaZWUolJQWpDme6a3B6IBqzcGbNdjGD-BQqIsv5VpJY_UPWOM2E_cgQUvIOlqBBLiN-NlFEDCL7hUMW8NwPhkkttd-j8cP5oOkwBzSBxCadTH6h0315g/s200/100_0338.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dancing to 'Kid Rock'</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!</span></span></b></i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table>Doreen McGettiganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11691803968607905576noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2321222986391081787.post-84074426862171605032010-11-23T16:46:00.000-08:002010-11-25T22:37:21.028-08:00More from "Bristol Stomp"....the sentencing<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Driving to the courthouse that day was surreal. I could not believe it was March 17, 2000. It was Saint Patrick’s Day. Hopefully that meant the day would be <i>lucky. </i>I guess that is not the right thought. What I wanted had nothing to do with luck and everything to do with justice. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> David died in April. It was nearly a year. I had trouble comprehending it had almost been a year. Little Michael will be turning two at the end of this month. I thought about Michael’s first birthday. That was the last time our entire family was together, happy. I remembered Dave’s smile that day as he proudly held his son. The tears started. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I had to pull over. I had to pull myself together. I wanted to do an effective job reading my impact statement. The prosecutor told us this was <i>our </i>day in court. We did not have to cry quietly. We were not going to be told where we could look and where we couldn’t. <i>Our day</i> in court, yes this was important. I had to get myself together.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I pulled down my visor mirror and did my best to repair my running makeup. Shortly I would witness once again the two scumbags being led off to prison in shackles. This time they would be going off to prison for at least twenty five years. That thought gave me peace. Not happiness, just peace. And of course there was satisfaction in the sight. I could not help that feeling. The thought of the two of them being thrown into little cells with little windows, alone, God forgive me but that was satisfying. I felt better, stronger so I pulled back onto the road.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As I saw the huge round building, I thought about how out of place it looked in this old town. It was too modern. I wondered who designed the ugly building. Maybe ugly isn’t fair, it didn’t fit the landscape of historic Doylestown. Supposedly the courthouse was built here because Doylestown was the center of Bucks County. I wondered what it looked like from the air. It probably looked like a big round ugly dot right there in the center of Bucks County.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I loved the quaint little town. The shops, the old Victorian homes, galleries, the restaurants and of course the bars and churches that reminded me of Bristol. The people that lived in this town, a lot of them were stuck up. They thought their town was so much better than Bristol. They thought <i>they </i>were better, people. But, they did not have the Delaware River and I doubted <i>this </i>town could even come close to the <i>real</i> small town feel of Bristol.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I parked, and started my long walk around the ugly round building. It was windy and as usual I was freezing. I wished bad karma on the idiot that closed the doors closest to the parking lot and the cheap morons that did not install security at both entrances. Things would have moved so much quicker and smoother. The security lines were always too long. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">If I was in charge- what a thought that was. There would of course be two entrances. I would also provide some kind of safe haven area for victims and their families. The way it is now, throwing everyone together like cattle was ridiculous. It was also very dangerous.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">There was talk of tearing this courthouse down and building a new one. I hoped whoever designed the new building would be a little more compassionate towards victims.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Once again, there were many sheriffs in the hallway leading to the courtroom. I was surprised again by the large crowd. I scanned around looking for my family. I did not feel safe with so many people gathered in such a small area. I saw my friend Sam the policeman who was now a county sheriff. I would have to remember to wish him a happy Saint Pat’s Day. I knew it was one of his favorites. I missed seeing him in his patrol car in Bristol. He had been there for so long.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I had barely arrived when I was bombarded by my family with the news that Galione and Reeves also had the right to have people speak on their behalf. I was livid. We should have known. It would have changed the way we prepared. We would have had more letters written, we would have asked more friends and relatives to be here for us. I tried so hard not to cry. Damn, I did not want to have to fix my make-up again. I wanted to appear confident and in control.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> I was truly shocked to see that Nicole Rivera, Jerry Reeves, girlfriend brought their baby to court. This poor baby had been born with no arms or legs. I felt they were using the baby for sympathy. From what I had heard Jerry had never been there for Nicole or the baby. I did feel sorry for Nicole and hoped she would have the common sense to move on with her life and find some happiness. I hoped her family would be there to support her. For Galione’s girlfriend, Janine, I wished misery for her. She washed David’s blood off Galione’s clothes and lied under oath. I knew she would not stick around and wait for her man. She was too selfish.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> I was not prepared for the friends and family of the defendant’s to be given the opportunity to speak. It was sheer torture sitting there listening to how wonderful these two young men were. They were murderers. It was ridiculous. Galione presented the judge with seventy letters of support. Galione’s parents enlisted their friends to speak on their son’s behalf saying, “he has always been so polite”. I was going to be sick again. The judge even </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">commented, as to how disturbing it was to that so many of the letters claimed Galione was innocent. The parade of aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters and teachers seemed to go on forever.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> When it was finally my turn to speak I walked to the front of the courtroom and faced the judge. I got through my letter. Tears stung in my eyes but I fought them off. I did the best I could. When I finished, Mel Kardos asked permission to question me. That had not happened to anybody else all day. I looked at Matt and he shook his head yes. The judge granted the permission. I was shaking. He asked me where I worked. I was stunned. What was his point? I told the judge I was scared to say where I worked. I did not want any of <i>them </i>to know where I worked. I knew Kardos wanted me to say I worked at <i>The Bucks County Courier Times.</i> He was going to say I had something to do with the press coverage of this case. It was ridiculous, I was lucky if I got a pen in that building let alone the power to drive the news. I turned to Kardos, smiled sarcastically and answered I worked for a company called GPN. He was clearly, annoyed that he did not get the answer he wanted. It was the truth. GPN was Greater Philadelphia Newspapers, I did not lie. That was what was on my paychecks.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> I nervously looked over at Laurie Mason, she is the writer for The Bucks County Courier Times, that covers all trials and court related events. She even has her own little office in the basement of the courthouse. I thought that was so cool. She smiled. I ran up to her as soon as it was over and asked her if I lied. She laughed, and said no. She said it was amazing that I came up with the perfect truthful answer.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> I found out later from the prosecutor and the reporters that they had <i>never</i>, <i>ever,</i> heard someone questioned after giving an impact statement. It was another excuse to hate Mel Kardos. What an arrogant <i>sob</i> he was.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Judge Heckler gave a little speech. He said there had been many lulls in the fighting that night and he said Jimmy and Jerry should have stopped. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Jerry Reeves asked to speak. He stood up and said he was not responsible for David’s death. He said the real killer was still free. Yeah, I had to agree there were other killers still free, but he was responsible for David’s death. They all were. Peter Hall asked the judge to delay the sentencing so he could do more investigating. He was a moron, more investigating was not needed, more arrests were needed. Thank God the judge refused.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvM_x9pI-8UlEBVIDHRWNdZdBOLvt59Orrye0LJiUnFMW8D_eG0-8w_opUeWu7NgyXO_IfvxO_YZNe2LvyGxoxoTm3rBniBT8mgv-Cv1aAph5XQoG76iowi6pUSqqiMiJwcFkQJ60cFohr/s1600/2664928677_156bf30bf1_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvM_x9pI-8UlEBVIDHRWNdZdBOLvt59Orrye0LJiUnFMW8D_eG0-8w_opUeWu7NgyXO_IfvxO_YZNe2LvyGxoxoTm3rBniBT8mgv-Cv1aAph5XQoG76iowi6pUSqqiMiJwcFkQJ60cFohr/s320/2664928677_156bf30bf1_s.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Bucks County Courthouse; Doylestown, Pa.</b></td></tr>
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</div>Doreen McGettiganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11691803968607905576noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2321222986391081787.post-24716454292354659042010-11-18T21:44:00.000-08:002010-11-18T21:44:38.192-08:00Friday Fragments....<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Happy Friday Everyone!</span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I am feeling almost normal again after my gall bladder removal..10 days today!</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have been on some serious drugs so if I have visited your blog or your face book page and sounded really stupid and couldn't spell; I apologize...it is embarrassing!</span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Thank you to our amazing host for Friday Fragments, Mrs. 4444 over at Half Past Kissin Time. You can find her here:<a href="http://www.halfpastkissintime.com/">www.halfpastkissintime.com</a> </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Also the gorgeous Java over at Never Growing Old, if you are an over 40 blogger you will find many friends here:<a href="http://nevergrowingold.blogspot.com/">nevergrowingold.blogspot.com</a></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So it is starting to get down right chilly in the Philly burbs...I do not like the cold..however did any of you catch our Eagles um I guess beat down the Redskins?</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Only in Philadelphia can we take a convicted dog killer and make him a star. We are all saying things like he did his time; he's changed; he deserves another chance...okay I'm buying into it..the guy is a damn good football player...bring on the Giants!!</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And while we are on sports..congrats to our very own Doc Halladay!!!</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My husband surprised me today by getting my <i>new </i>office painted while I was at work today..I love that man..he just gets me and he knows how badly I need this new creative space..I am only obligated to finish 2 more books in 2 months. No problem seriously they are just about done I just must love to pile pressure on myself! (hopefully by next week I will have before and after photo's :)</span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have 3 prizes from my contest in my car; they are coming I swear...my gut hurts too bad to stand in line at the post office...maybe I should send my amazing husband. .to the post office...I will! Only 20 more to reach my goal..for every 10 new followers I will randomly pick a winner from all followers...just for following</span></span></b>...<b>Thank you; all of you xxxooo</b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>I am about to bust with amazing book news and you all here on this blog will be the first to know; before anyone...I am a bit overwhelmed with so much happening at once...I need to just breathe..and realize..I did it..finally..almost!</i></span></span></b><br />
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<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><b>I am making reservations to take Morgan who will be 8 and Julia who is turning 11 to American Girl for their birthdays...I am so excited!</b></span></i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><b>I wish you all a blessed Thanksgiving- We will be spending the day with most of the kids and grand kids; I miss them so much :(</b></span></i></div><b></b><br />
<b> <i style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: small;">If you remember this past summer my step son Michael was in a terrible motorcycle crash. It was touch and go for a long time. If you are the praying type please send a few his way, he is not doing well and we are really worried...</span></i></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">I am so thankful for each and everyone of you. I can always count on reading just the right comment I need to hear at the right time. A big virtual hug for all of you (((HUGS)))!!</span></b><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZjX2xObnYtJJ8DkRDagj1d9pa4hvcpui1-R5SM86hOQJ87_0yXaaXMIIQgwO0Hiu_CG7YAASlY5me2mjx_aC3PwnEs_5wpuLQS-e7jC1PGr7N1lOfamj3HZ-4hRkdETYHmBp8vr8GlzH1/s1600/100_1693_edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZjX2xObnYtJJ8DkRDagj1d9pa4hvcpui1-R5SM86hOQJ87_0yXaaXMIIQgwO0Hiu_CG7YAASlY5me2mjx_aC3PwnEs_5wpuLQS-e7jC1PGr7N1lOfamj3HZ-4hRkdETYHmBp8vr8GlzH1/s200/100_1693_edited.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Brotherly Love..Lance and Louie</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">My favorite quote today: "When you ask for miracles, you get folks" <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Christopher Gallenberg </span></i></span></b>Doreen McGettiganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11691803968607905576noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2321222986391081787.post-84957522277021840142010-11-15T14:04:00.000-08:002010-11-15T14:04:17.274-08:00Just a quick update..My gall bladder has been removed!!<br />
I was in the hospital for a full week (strange don't you think) I am now home and experiencing just a bit of discomfort. I hope to be feeling 100% in a week or so.<br />
Thank you all for your kind comments and well wishes I really appreciate all of you!<br />
I hope to be back to FF this week :)<br />
<i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Doreen</span></i>Doreen McGettiganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11691803968607905576noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2321222986391081787.post-11065003276115482222010-11-04T20:42:00.000-07:002010-11-04T20:42:52.097-07:00Friday Fragments....<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><b>What is wrong with this picture?</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><b>$5,000.00- cat scan- polyps in gall bladder</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><b>$5345.00- MRI- polyps in gall bladder</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><b>$3200.00- ultrasound- swollen gall bladder with polyps</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><b> </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><b>2 weeks ago- primary Doctor "gall bladder has to come out before it becomes an emergency" so he prescribes another test which took 2 weeks to get the appointment for and that is today at 8am.</b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><b>2 nights ago the agony started and has not stopped. ER gives a drink of something disgusting to stop the pain and sends me home...</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><b> </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><b>I WANT MY GALL BLADDER OUT NOW: please!!! (think good thoughts for me today).</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><b> **************************************************************************</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><b>Sorry; I had to vent...but Friday Fragments is just that..the chance to vent all the fragmented pieces of your week. It is the brain child of the brilliant Mrs. 4444. You can find her and a lot of <i>really</i> nice friends here:<a href="http://www.halfpastkissintime.com/">www.halfpastkissintime.com</a></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><b>******************************************************************************</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><b>I am also very humbled by the amazing new friends I have found at the lovely Java's, Blogger's Over 40 Friday Follow. You will be in good company here:<a href="http://nevergrowingold.blogspot.com/">nevergrowingold.blogspot.com</a></b></span></span><br />
*******************************************************************************<br />
On my quest to reach 300 followers I have been having a contest/giveaway. For every 10 new followers I will randomly pick a winner from all of my followers and send you a gift. For my 2 winners from last week..your gifts will be in the mail on Monday! To my followers Thank you!!<br />
*********************************************************************************<br />
<b>I would like to share with you, my friend Rebecca. She is the author of the novel "The Bird Sister's" which is due out in April 2011. She is a sweetheart and I wish her all the best; besides the fact that her book sounds<i> amazing</i>! I cannot wait to read! You can meet her here:<a href="http://www.thebirdsisters.com/">www.thebirdsisters.com </a></b><br />
<b>I would love to know what you think...</b><br />
<b>******************************************************************************</b><br />
<b>My Hubby's niece the amazing, Kate Walton had <span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">REALLY BIG NEWS<span style="font-size: small;"> This week. She has sold her YA novel. We are very excited for her. You can read all about her (she is brilliant and funny) here:<a href="http://skateorbate.blogspot.com/">http://skateorbate.blogspot.com</a></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Again; I would love to know what you think...</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">******************************************************************************</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">I am super nervous and super excited to have been invited to do several guest blog posts over the next few month's...more info to come...</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">*******************************************************************************</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">We had a great time on Halloween with a handful (okay) a bunch of our grand babies a niece and a nephew. Pop-Pop and I; after 2 blocks offered to take 'lil' monkey Peyton Elizabeth home. (It was freezing cold). She got her first 2 bottom teeth and laughed the whole time. I cannot believe she was 5 months old on November 1st. Here are a few photo's:</span></span></b><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihbTxDqFuyj3DFg0ED0Ba2M-DF06JRgTKpLIdSFwq5_skObdxHcg0irw7nFlrP7ZJxDmRsj3xV7uJOUnNizK5GyRKNjo4RIPrBSEkoX27khxK6cNE5JZr6WdL68-cQyuDHy-06yciW0dAr/s1600/Halloween+2010+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihbTxDqFuyj3DFg0ED0Ba2M-DF06JRgTKpLIdSFwq5_skObdxHcg0irw7nFlrP7ZJxDmRsj3xV7uJOUnNizK5GyRKNjo4RIPrBSEkoX27khxK6cNE5JZr6WdL68-cQyuDHy-06yciW0dAr/s200/Halloween+2010+002.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big Sis Allyson and Adriana</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkrQE7He1799zEGOAnG6kt1Bcetjrx5-Hqc-op2_Q1KCJbUH9Yd9DxEpK_CHp-bI7T64lxcu2CRQDNUKLaSbBrL0glWbLf0u371AICOo9l4n5B0orwhJdu_fD2VDvi2B98HvoW5vUtJ2iN/s1600/Halloween+2010+011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkrQE7He1799zEGOAnG6kt1Bcetjrx5-Hqc-op2_Q1KCJbUH9Yd9DxEpK_CHp-bI7T64lxcu2CRQDNUKLaSbBrL0glWbLf0u371AICOo9l4n5B0orwhJdu_fD2VDvi2B98HvoW5vUtJ2iN/s200/Halloween+2010+011.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adriana, Mom-Mom, Morgan Layla and Dominic</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj306M2K17UKdtG0vMxnDbMvAymIQ7WAV4XMP7ZlC3KCrp_SoNVAwAf0ZTSA9FWoiQPk6CqVozcRCT60IA2wOdaIY0nL06hyphenhyphen43IsKscohyphenhyphen7OWWrsJHIe72GSdSG-t2NAfyuO9MAYPYv9Vnv/s1600/Halloween+2010+012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj306M2K17UKdtG0vMxnDbMvAymIQ7WAV4XMP7ZlC3KCrp_SoNVAwAf0ZTSA9FWoiQPk6CqVozcRCT60IA2wOdaIY0nL06hyphenhyphen43IsKscohyphenhyphen7OWWrsJHIe72GSdSG-t2NAfyuO9MAYPYv9Vnv/s200/Halloween+2010+012.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isn't she the cutest little monkey?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsbEExyd8yFMYwW_bwRlmGD4VG4qX0LgSOmlYb2j7Dneut11dWDEOTz-xtYjE28r216Dj5ZDg_XW_zK9te-7Cnhp-GyWgkloo-r3cFTkXd2VSOvq9kgucwGPGKKqMJP-uM8hB4Gy04p5hQ/s1600/Halloween+2010+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsbEExyd8yFMYwW_bwRlmGD4VG4qX0LgSOmlYb2j7Dneut11dWDEOTz-xtYjE28r216Dj5ZDg_XW_zK9te-7Cnhp-GyWgkloo-r3cFTkXd2VSOvq9kgucwGPGKKqMJP-uM8hB4Gy04p5hQ/s320/Halloween+2010+015.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom-Mom, Peyton Elizabeth and big sis Morgan Layla</td></tr>
</tbody></table><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span> </b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjorWpjACHlZsQ1HNduDAS_AJSL9fUsGYisMTiormctG8zyVv20MeutPmghqVax9ERXbht93qlwYrEy4rwRj0OGe0AbeMPkylSThReRnuuEzWVEXQIjHyD4RwvuYceHOiM1men4N29nGyOa/s1600/Halloween+2010+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjorWpjACHlZsQ1HNduDAS_AJSL9fUsGYisMTiormctG8zyVv20MeutPmghqVax9ERXbht93qlwYrEy4rwRj0OGe0AbeMPkylSThReRnuuEzWVEXQIjHyD4RwvuYceHOiM1men4N29nGyOa/s200/Halloween+2010+009.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adriana as Nemo with a boo-boo</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmgoGtCNv6fVWtjkbmY6doy85zMeJ9s6XAGy9TYPi5IqC7EheNzx0WD6PeDC7GERPSwCZwS8wM8iwif4W3TR1sdQ4QwMm1s0p72cOhxSlnh3v_ApJOdHGwxR2HyQod-t_xpraFJWw2K2pw/s1600/Halloween+2010+017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmgoGtCNv6fVWtjkbmY6doy85zMeJ9s6XAGy9TYPi5IqC7EheNzx0WD6PeDC7GERPSwCZwS8wM8iwif4W3TR1sdQ4QwMm1s0p72cOhxSlnh3v_ApJOdHGwxR2HyQod-t_xpraFJWw2K2pw/s320/Halloween+2010+017.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Princess Allyson and nephew Michael</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYoMwoKmn7IFEKRp6eAAiVSca9c_FIcWS3fV_dkjpzYnceM-9Zte8nszySCe-h8C4gaet5P_or1ce4q5Sj2mt5v6vOorANU2KHezFEe-by82irrdbpij2InSmMkqB_UCa1zwg6G19NS6RS/s1600/Halloween+2010+019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYoMwoKmn7IFEKRp6eAAiVSca9c_FIcWS3fV_dkjpzYnceM-9Zte8nszySCe-h8C4gaet5P_or1ce4q5Sj2mt5v6vOorANU2KHezFEe-by82irrdbpij2InSmMkqB_UCa1zwg6G19NS6RS/s320/Halloween+2010+019.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">lil Jimmy B and the back of his sister Julia's head (the witch)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx2isanaBysOpHowIqji1i92lYw7ZumosYEKhsFQXu1rBddcc5Z2urmsemWTf0DNOtYn5-jZ17G0gLi-9HSPEUP0CQqdWlIazeQJLvrjZGd3MspNObwgxqcicK42U4Fz5TiYSsUc7YfUlZ/s1600/Halloween+2010+020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx2isanaBysOpHowIqji1i92lYw7ZumosYEKhsFQXu1rBddcc5Z2urmsemWTf0DNOtYn5-jZ17G0gLi-9HSPEUP0CQqdWlIazeQJLvrjZGd3MspNObwgxqcicK42U4Fz5TiYSsUc7YfUlZ/s320/Halloween+2010+020.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adriana, Morgan Layla, Avery Paige, Mom-Mom, Peyton Elizabeth and big Jim</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikxOU8N-EVPr7FSHc6Od0t-GzkyumXTdow7T1VHlOgVASDzJ_uY9Zm0C1HyqbETOXzPLt_94SwpyC_rWPmBtGUliaA4vQ1o7zlnH7UTe9tmoB6cKSZ5FVcnhxmvjaL9fRS9Gn_D-LqFZkN/s1600/Halloween+2010+024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikxOU8N-EVPr7FSHc6Od0t-GzkyumXTdow7T1VHlOgVASDzJ_uY9Zm0C1HyqbETOXzPLt_94SwpyC_rWPmBtGUliaA4vQ1o7zlnH7UTe9tmoB6cKSZ5FVcnhxmvjaL9fRS9Gn_D-LqFZkN/s320/Halloween+2010+024.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pop-Pop and Peyton Elizabeth (she had the biggest smile; I just was not fast enough)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I am overwhelmed with blessings. I adore my husband. I love my family.<br />
**********************************************************************************<br />
So; for the first time I put a photo of my handsome, talented, adored and taken away from us much too soon brother, David in a post from the book. I thought it would be nice for people to see who they were reading about. It was a step for me.<br />
*********************************************************************************<br />
<b><i>Favorite Quote this week:</i></b> <b>"In back of every creation, supporting it like an arch is faith. Enthusiasm is nothing. It comes and goes, but if one believes, than miracles can occur"</b><br />
<b><i>Henry Miller</i></b><br />
<b><i>**********************************************************************************</i></b><br />
<b>I know a 'bad' question but how did the election go for you?</b><br />
<br />
<b>Anyone start Holiday shopping yet?</b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Have a powerful and positive week! </i> </b></span><br />
<b><i>Doreen</i></b>Doreen McGettiganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11691803968607905576noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2321222986391081787.post-80946618988127717662010-11-03T11:31:00.000-07:002010-11-03T11:31:52.263-07:00From the book "Bristol Stomp"....I had a dream (nightmare about this lastnight)..<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDbRa3zGp5fB9KTxPJG27Em7IJYSc-TgTfBYtAhVKi8AmtI86lUHcWh0vG-cBV107zCgb2700mH1auQDEhMerppLSeVHWRxVMd9Yz91_wV_jj3E2cUm9ie6iWbnm9IxyyLev_KKh3y8ewr/s1600/David+Memorial.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDbRa3zGp5fB9KTxPJG27Em7IJYSc-TgTfBYtAhVKi8AmtI86lUHcWh0vG-cBV107zCgb2700mH1auQDEhMerppLSeVHWRxVMd9Yz91_wV_jj3E2cUm9ie6iWbnm9IxyyLev_KKh3y8ewr/s640/David+Memorial.jpg" width="464" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It was hard for me to go to Bristol at that time.<span> </span><span> </span>There was a makeshift memorial for David close to the spot where he was found.<span> </span><span> </span>It was slightly comforting.<span> </span><span> </span>I felt close to Dave in that spot.<span> </span><span> </span>I honestly am now affected every time I see any such memorial.<span> </span><span> </span>Crosses on the highway, flowers scattered by the side of the road, <span> </span>I always wonder who they were, who their families are and how are they doing.<span> </span><span> </span>I wondered how many other people actually took the time to notice. <span> </span><span> </span>I once heard a woman say she thought they were eyesores.<span> </span><span> </span>I bit my tongue.<span> </span><span> </span>I know the comfort they provide.<span> </span><span> </span>I also got a sick pleasure out of the fact that the killers and their families had to see the memorial and be reminded every time they drove by.<span> </span><span> </span>My brother-in-law Tony was very diligent with the upkeep of the memorial. <span> </span><span> </span>He and my sister lived less than a block away. <span> </span><span> </span>David loved to stop at the WaWa in Bristol for a cup of coffee and cigarettes.<span> </span><span> </span>It always brought a smile to my face when I stopped by and saw a cup of coffee and a pack of Marlboro’s by the angel’s feet.<span> </span><span> </span>I hoped people would always remember.<span> </span><span> </span>I was so afraid people would forget.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span> </span>I was really getting frustrated waiting for the other seven people to be charged.<span> </span>Months were going by.<span> </span><span> </span>The police kept telling us to be patient. <span> </span><span> </span>My patience was running out.<span> </span><span> </span>They were out there, living their lives and probably never thought about David or what they had done to his family.<span> </span><span> </span>I was obsessed with wanting to know every detail of what each of them had done.<span> </span>I did not want to imagine anymore I just wanted to know. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span> </span>I realized I had not seen the car.<span> </span>I asked Randy what happened to the car and he said it was evidence and suggested I do not go to see it.<span> </span><span> </span>I had to go.<span> </span><span> </span>I was not prepared for what I saw.<span> </span><span> </span>I wondered how much more my mind could take.<span> </span>I was trembling and could not stop.<span> </span>Every window was broken, there were dents everywhere and the car seat had been ripped out.<span> </span>The seat belt holding the car seat in place had actually been ripped.<span> </span><span> </span><i>Who</i> could do that to a baby seat?<span> </span><span> </span>I heard through the Bristol Borough grapevine that it was Steve Owtscharuk.<span> </span><span> </span>I did not know much about him.<span> </span><span> </span>I know I wanted him charged with something. <span> </span><span> </span>Any person that could watch; or beat a man to death knowing he was the father of a baby could not be anything but pure evil. <span> </span><span> </span>I am not very proud of some of the thoughts I had about him.<span> </span><span> </span>I saw him in WaWa one day and it was so hard not to scream at him. <span> </span><span> </span>I wished that he would have a baby one day and that he would be in a horrible accident with his baby in the car seat that was so mangled and he could not rip the seat belt and save his baby.<span> </span>I could not believe I even thought of such a thing.<span> </span><span> </span>Not that I felt guilty about wishing harm on Steve because I did.<span> </span>I did feel guilty about wishing harm on an imaginary baby.<span> </span>I convinced myself it was part of the grieving process.<span> </span>I was angry!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<span></span><span></span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I could not shake the image of that car.<span> </span>Did they do all that damage while Dave was still in the car?<span> </span>Did they come back and do more damage after they left him in that driveway bleeding to death?<span> </span>Is that why Joe, Anthony and Dave decided to run from the car?<span> </span>Did they fear for their lives?<span> </span>I would have, had someone been pounding on my car with that much force and anger.<span> </span>I would have been terrified.<span> </span>Dave had been hit with his own level.<span> </span>The one he used for his mason work.<span> </span>He kept it in the trunk of his car.<span> </span>How did these killers get their hands on that level?<span> </span>I imagined maybe as these wild animals were pounding on the car David pushed the trunk button to keep them from breaking the back window.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span> </span>Maybe Joe, Anthony and Dave were going to try to grab the tools and use them to get away.<span> </span>On the other hand, the bad people could have gotten the tools after Joe, Anthony and Dave ran away from the car.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span> </span>Dave had glass fragments stuck in his face.<span> </span>I saw them that first night in the hospital.<span> </span>He had to have still been in the car while the windows were being smashed.<span> </span>I imagined when Dave got out of the car he was immediately hit over the head with something and was injured and confused.<span> </span>Was this why he never caught up to Joey and Anthony?<span> </span>Why was I driving myself crazy trying to figure this out?<span> </span>David was dead; did the horrific details really matter?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span> </span>I really wanted to know what was going on with the investigation.<span> </span>I was not hearing much.<span> </span>I feared the police where busy preparing for the trial and not preparing to arrest Jimmy Williams, Mike Good and Steve Owtscharuk.<span> </span>I wondered if the two cars had been searched that night.<span> </span>Where was the other hammer?<span> </span>It could be anywhere.<span> </span>It could be at the house where the party was held that night.<span> </span><span> </span>I felt it was most likely at the bottom of the Delaware River. <span> </span>I heard that through the Borough grapevine too. <span> </span>It was getting harder and harder to believe the good guys always win.<span> </span>David was one of the good guys.<span> </span>Without a doubt, he was a good guy.<span> </span><span> </span>I was hanging onto my faith by a thread. <span> </span>Not that I questioned my belief in God, I was just having trouble believing he was going to make all this make sense.<span> </span><span> </span>I had to believe the bad guys would pay.<span> </span>If I lost that thought for a moment I feared I would lose my mind.</span></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span> </span><span></span><span></span><span></span><span></span><span></span><span></span><span></span><span></span><span></span><span></span><span></span><span></span><span></span> </span>Doreen McGettiganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11691803968607905576noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2321222986391081787.post-70219760501745915222010-10-29T06:50:00.000-07:002010-10-29T06:50:57.270-07:00Friday FragmentsHappy Friday Everyone. Welcome to Friday Fragments where I can unload all the little pieces in my mind that cannot fill an entire post. The host of Friday Fragments is the super talented Mrs.4444 and you can find her and join in the fun here:<a href="http://www.halfpastkissintime.com/">www.halfpastkissintime.com</a><br />
Because I am over 40; I also participate in the beautiful Java's Follow Friday. You can join in here:<a href="http://nevergrowingold.blogspot.com/">http://nevergrowingold.blogspot.com</a><br />
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Okay so this past week my computer crashed 3 times. I knock on something hope it is okay for a couple of weeks until I can get a new one. I still am working on locating all of my photo's.<br />
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I was a foster Mom to a little girl 11 years ago. We had her from the time she was 7 weeks until she was 7 1/2. At that time she went back to her Mother briefly then to her father in Minnesota (far from here). We were all devastated and missed her terribly. I found her or she found me on Facebook this week. (Enter 11 years of tears here). I am happy and cannot wait to see her.<br />
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Also this past week I found out I have to give up my gall bladder. The doc tells me they will just make a little hole and suck it out. Yeah right; I'm always the 1 in a 1000, but I am going to think positive here and hope for the best.<br />
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We will be Trick or Treating with all 11 grand kids on Sunday. I cannot wait to share all the photo's with you. I hope you all have a safe and happy Halloween. <br />
Then comes November! <br />
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My contest is still running: for every 10 new followers I will randomly pick a winner from all followers. Good Luck to all and if you are the 2 winners from last week I will get your prizes out to you this week. Congrats.<br />
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My little dog Louie has a lump or a something on his neck; vet appointment next Wednesday, I hope it is nothing serious.<br />
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I must go now and take Sophie (our homeless woman who is no longer homeless) to the doctors and hopefully have some paper work filled out so we will be able to place her in a nice new home.<br />
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Have a great weekend and God Bless!<br />
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Favorite quote this day: <i>Forgiving someone takes their power over you back. It is also entertaining to watch them continue to attempt to control you with what is no longer theirs.</i>Doreen McGettiganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11691803968607905576noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2321222986391081787.post-76190924080172658422010-10-25T18:40:00.000-07:002010-11-22T12:22:08.381-08:00Bully Free Zone<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <span style="color: red; font-size: large;">*</span><span style="color: red;">This post comes with a warning</span><span style="color: red; font-size: small;">: It may or may not be P.C. It is meant to be an honest conversation</span><span style="color: red;">; if you fear honesty, please do not read!</span><br />
<b>The Network of Victim Assistance (NOVA) came into my life shortly after my brother was murdered. They counseled us and held our hands through every step of the justice system. I do not know what I would have done without them.</b><br />
<b>When NOVA invited me to sit on their board of directors; I was deeply humbled. More than anything I wanted to help others who had been faced with the horror my family faced.</b> <b>I also wanted to be an example to my kids; to show them bad things happen to good people and kindness begets kindness.</b><br />
<b>NOVA not only supports and empowers victims of <i>all</i> crimes they also educate. The education department holds seminars for police officers and hospital staff on empathy for victims of crime. They also visit every school in Bucks County, Pa. equipped with programs to counsel students in need, teach anger resolution skills, of course the famous good touch bad touch and my personal favorite The Bully Free School Zone.</b><br />
<b>Bullying is not new. It has been around since the beginning of time. Cyber bullying is however new and the jury is still out on whether bullying of any kind is just a right of passage while growing up. </b><br />
<b>Personally I think it is cruel and unjust and should never be tolerated. I am a Pisces after all which makes me a dreamer. I just want everyone to play nice.</b><br />
<b>Children <i>MUST </i>be taught to be kind. The best way to teach kids to be kind is by example.<i> </i>My kids will be the the first to tell you that I would give my last dollar to a stranger in need.</b><br />
<b>This brings me to my confession. I have been the victim of bullies my entire life. It started in kindergarten. The bullies I encountered only taught me who I did not want to be. That was pretty heavy for a 6yr. old but it is the truth. Was I afraid to go to school at times? Absolutely, I was terrified.</b><br />
<b>As I got older I was steadfast in my convictions. I would never be mean to anyone; ever.</b><br />
<b>When I turned 13 the worst kind of bully entered my life. I was sexually assaulted by a trusted adult complete with threats of terror if I told anyone. I told. </b><br />
<b>I grew up and was bullied in my career by supervisors. This was prior to sexual harassment in the work place being invented, <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Yes I am that old,</span>so to me they were just big bullies. </b><br />
<b>I also chose bullies for romantic partners. The scary thing was I actually believed I could help them; change them. What an idiot I was.</b><br />
<b>When 7 bullies chose to beat my brother to death with bats and hammers </b> <b>my kindness soul was cracked. For the first time in my life I felt gut wrenching, heart burning anger and hatred. My own thoughts scared me to death.</b><br />
<b>Through the grace of God, with the help of NOVA and 7 years of intense therapy, I slowly began emptying the bag I had stuffed with every hurt feeling, bad touch or evil word I ever heard. It was one heavy bag.</b><br />
<b>My conversation now turns to adult bullies. Little bullies unchecked grow up to be adult bullies. They come in all shapes, sizes, sexes, colors and nationalities. Can you recognize an adult bully? If one was harassing you would you be too ashamed, embarrassed or scared to tell someone? </b><br />
<b>I have had an adult bully for a very long time! I told everyone right away. I of course got the feeling no one believed me and was actually told that this person was practically a saint. I was deeply hurt. I let it go. Every now and again it would happen again. I started to stuff again but not for long. The difference now is I am a big girl and I have been armed with <i>Mad Skills</i> to out bullies. Actually all it took was putting my phone on speaker and having the non-believers hear the vile venom spewed my way. I will not tolerate that behavior from <i>anyone</i> ever again! (and just in case you were wondering I have no clue what I did or supposedly did to this person to cause the behavior).</b><br />
<b>So can you recognize an adult bully? They can be very crafty. They have a Jekyll & Hyde nature-they are vile and vindictive in private, but innocent and charming in front of witnesses. No one can (or wants to) believe this individual has a vindictive nature-only the current target of the serial bully sees both sides</b>.<br />
<b>Adult bullies</b> <b>use excessive charm and are always plausible and convincing with family, peers, superiors and others. The charm is used to cover up a deep lack of empathy.</b><br />
<b>These bullies will always outsmart most people in verbal interaction, especially in times of conflict.</b><br />
<b>They can be so kind, helpful and loving....verbally...but there can be a lack of physical love (hugging, snuggling, cuddling of children or spouse) due to severe emotional damage suffered early in life.</b><br />
<b>I feel deeply sorry for my personal bully. She is deeply unhappy and has never felt quite "good enough". I include her and her family in my prayers everyday. She however; must never take my forgiveness and kindness </b> <b>for granted</b>. <b>I will not be her victim again; ever!</b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;">*<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you are being bullied by an adult-tell someone. Tell everyone, until someone listens. Of course today's technology</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> can be quite useful in catching these bullies in the act!</span></b><br />
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<b><i>My favorite quote </i></b><b><i>this week: </i>Four things that can never be recovered: the stone after it has been thrown, the word after it has been spoken, the occasion after it has been missed and the time after it has gone.</b><br />
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<b>If you have time; you can scroll way down until you see the pretty gazebo. It is a link to NOVA and all kinds of useful information for victims and/or their friends or family. Peace!</b><br />
<b><br />
</b>Doreen McGettiganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11691803968607905576noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2321222986391081787.post-64325698318458801982010-10-15T23:34:00.000-07:002010-10-15T23:34:12.893-07:00Friday Fragments....Finally!!<b><span style="font-size: small;">I have not had a good week! My newest computer fried and I thought once again I had lost everything. (My book revisions and my blog and of course all those photo's that need to be sent to snapfish). My husband unhooked everything and left the house with the computer. I pouted for awhile and than started to feel lazy so I took some laundry to the basement. The floor was wet; uggh the water was up to my ankles. I was upset. I moved just about everything down there because we are redoing a few rooms in the house. Some very sentimental items have been ruined</span></b>. <b>We never have water in our basement</b> <b>and cannot figure out why it keeps happening.</b> <b>We are calling a plumber on Monday. Any way have I ever told you all how much I love my husband. That man is a miracle to me. He has been dealt with the worst blows a parent should ever have to deal with and he finds happiness in the tiniest little things. I cannot help but smile when he looks at me. He makes everything okay. And on those days when he cannot find an itty bit of happiness I share mine with him. We are very sappy; but seriously love one another :)</b><br />
<b><span style="background-color: red;">OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO</span></b><br />
<b><span style="background-color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"> LETS GO PHILLIE'S</span> </span> <i style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">On the menu for tomorrow nights game: junk food and lots of it. Wings, beans, salads, nacho's and so much more!!</span></i></b><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;">XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX</span><br />
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i style="color: #20124d;"><b>Did I mention my computer has been brought back from the dark screen? Only $65.00. But I need to re-load my word program and the stupid disc drawer will not open. We called the person who fixed it and she said she noticed it. DUH! Why did you not tell us? Now we have to unhook and take it back and WTH!!<span><span style="background-color: #bf9000;"></span></span></b></i></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #3d85c6;">OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO</div><b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Okay enough suspense...but a little business first...FRIDAY FRAGMENTS is the brainchild of a very kind person; Mrs. 4444. You can find her and the link for FRIDAY FRAGMENTS here:<a href="http://www.halfpastkissintime.com/">www.halfpastkissintime.com </a></span></span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And I have chosen Mrs. 4444 as one of the winners in my goal to 300 followers contest. I felt like she read my posts and I appreciate her time. </span></span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I have also chosen VH Sehy Photography. (and to answer her question..Dave was Joan's uncle. They were only 2 years apart and were extremely close. Joan has a keen psychic ability as do I and it scares both of us. You can find her and her beautiful photo's here: <a href="http://vmsehyphotography.blogspot.com/">vmsehyphotography.blogspot.com</a></span></span></i></b><br />
<i><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">I have also chosen </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Coby because she makes me smile</span></b></i>; <i style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">you can find a reason to smile and some joy here:</span></b></i><br />
<i style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://sugarbaby-coby.blogspot.com/">sugarbaby-coby.blogspot.com</a></span></b></i><br />
<i style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">And yes I have one more winner... and don't forget I will choose a winner for every 10 new followers. The winners will be randomly chosen from all followers and all comments. All you have to do is nothing; unless you want to leave me a comment :) </span></b></i><br />
<i style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">The one </span></b></i><i><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">more winner is: Robin and she will make you laugh; check her out here: <a href="http://yourdailydose-robin.blogspot.com/">yourdailydose-robin.blogspot.com</a></span></span></b></i><br />
<i><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So all of you please send me your address to doreenb8@verizon.net and I will send you something and thank you all for following and leaving meaningful comments; you have no idea how much you mean to me!!</span></span></b></i><br />
<i><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span><span style="background-color: red;">OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"> </span></span></span></span></span></b></i><br />
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<i><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span><span style="background-color: red;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">I am also hooking up with the very lovely Java at never growing old. This blog is very over 40 friendly. You can find many friends here at the Friday Follow: <a href="http://nevergrowingold.blogspot.com/">nevergrowingold.blogspot.com</a> </span></span></span></span></span></b></i><br />
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<i><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span><span style="background-color: red;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="background-color: blue;">XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></i><br />
<br />
<i><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span><span style="background-color: red;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="background-color: blue;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">Our travel plans to a secret location have been made; I am bursting with excitement; The launch party is close to being finalized and I cannot wait to share all the details with you :) :) :)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></i><br />
<br />
<i><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span><span style="background-color: red;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="background-color: blue;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="background-color: red;">OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO<span style="background-color: yellow;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></i><br />
<br />
<i><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span><span style="background-color: red;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="background-color: blue;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="background-color: red;"><span style="background-color: yellow;">My favorite quote's this week : </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></i><br />
<i><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span><span style="background-color: red;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="background-color: blue;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="background-color: red;"><span style="background-color: yellow;">Forgiving someone takes their power over you back. It's also entertaining to watch them continue to attempt to control you with what is no longer theirs. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></i><br />
<i><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span><span style="background-color: red;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="background-color: blue;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="background-color: red;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="background-color: lime;">And: Violence is never the answer unless the question is "what is never the answer"<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="color: black;"> Cleveland</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></i><br />
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<i><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span><span style="background-color: red;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="background-color: blue;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="background-color: red;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="background-color: lime;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="color: black;">This weekend I will be having a movie date with my husband and watching some Phillie's (please let them win) and some Eagles and some Flyers's and I really hope I find some time to take out some winter clothes...it is freezing here in Philly!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></i><br />
<i><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span><span style="background-color: red;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="background-color: blue;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="background-color: red;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="background-color: lime;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="color: black;">Have a positive weekend!! </span></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></b></i>Doreen McGettiganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11691803968607905576noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2321222986391081787.post-63392669607495336152010-10-11T17:28:00.000-07:002010-10-11T17:35:21.764-07:00More from Bristol Stomp...<meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"></meta><meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 12" name="Generator"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 12" name="Originator"></meta><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CCOMPAQ%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C02%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CCOMPAQ%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C02%5Cclip_themedata.thmx" rel="themeData"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CCOMPAQ%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C02%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml" rel="colorSchemeMapping"></link><style>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGigA4p5DpGLBnt1tbGdsdHb-YPVZraOAiTgzkSAj_mRrllrQoINL1I2IVLKbuVQ0qw9hS6RObJfZViR01HnNGwdsl4CswmyOGy2Hs9md6caMTfThKVa9snibOV_JByElhtzRVo1nnFxpV/s200/100_0152.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Such a beautiful Ball Park!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGigA4p5DpGLBnt1tbGdsdHb-YPVZraOAiTgzkSAj_mRrllrQoINL1I2IVLKbuVQ0qw9hS6RObJfZViR01HnNGwdsl4CswmyOGy2Hs9md6caMTfThKVa9snibOV_JByElhtzRVo1nnFxpV/s1600/100_0152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZEy_A00GvqMxV6piKUkLgeYcgP-jJNUuh4lmqOsJjQuPQvNIoGjim8UcAEZM-pVet1Q7m9_6DuHHIn3IVMovp15PpHXHpdcVznmyCNz6fmJ3b0C71CdQAG7tcKHEEczGjVzS53bKedFd/s200/100_0150.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Great Game!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZEy_A00GvqMxV6piKUkLgeYcgP-jJNUuh4lmqOsJjQuPQvNIoGjim8UcAEZM-pVet1Q7m9_6DuHHIn3IVMovp15PpHXHpdcVznmyCNz6fmJ3b0C71CdQAG7tcKHEEczGjVzS53bKedFd/s1600/100_0150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><b> How about those Phillie's!!!</b></i></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><b><span style="color: #351c75;">To celebrate my blog approaching 300 followers I am giving a prize for every 10 new followers; The winners this week will be chosen from the comments on this post and from my last 2 posts. I am looking for the most meaningful comments...Good Luck and Thank You!!</span> </b></i></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><b><span style="color: #20124d;">I will announce the winner's on Friday!!</span> </b></i></span></span></span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>From Bristol Stomp:</b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I had plenty of time alone at night to think. I thought about<i> that night</i> often. I had always thought Dave had been coming west on Wilson Avenue. Or was he was driving east? Jerry Reeves car must have been following him down Route 13, Greene Lane and then onto Wilson Avenue. I just don't know. I believe Dave pulled over because Jerry was flashing his lights or beeping. David most likely assumed it was someone he knew. Perhaps he thought it was one of my kids or my sister or any one of his many friends. As Jerry walked up to the car and Dave rolled the window down, I believe Jerry punched David as the others in his car surrounded David's car. Joey and Anthony got out of the car. There was a fight that did not last long. Dave, Joey and Anthony were stunned. As they tried to pull away they were surrounded. I believe Dave was struck in the back of the head with something as soon as he got out of the car. He stumbled to the driveway being hit with <i>something</i> the whole way. When he was down I do believe Steve was hitting David with something, Mike Good was stomping on his head and Jerry was beating him with the </span><meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"></meta><meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 12" name="Generator"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 12" name="Originator"></meta><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CCOMPAQ%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C03%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CCOMPAQ%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C03%5Cclip_themedata.thmx" rel="themeData"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CCOMPAQ%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C03%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml" rel="colorSchemeMapping"></link><style>
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</style><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">level. When Galione finished beating on Anthony he came over and knelt over Dave and pounded <i>that</i> hammer into Dave’s head. This is what I think. Will I <i>ever</i> know the entire truth? I hope so. Will the others be arrested<i> ever?</i> I’m not going to give up<i>, ever!</i> There is no statute of limitation on murder.<o:p></o:p></span> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Something else I think is instead of blaming my family, the Galione’s, Reeves and the other murderer’s family and friends should have started a fund for Michael and Birna. Birna lost her husband, her car and was unable to work in the United States until her green card situation was settled. We did not even have a car seat for Michael because <i>someone</i> smashed it to pieces. There was no reason to treat any of us the way we were treated. Where was your compassion, your Christianity? I do not know how you live with yourselves or sleep at night. Jimmy and Jerry went to jail because they murdered David. That was their choice. We did not put them there. That choice hurt a lot of people and still does, like it happened yesterday. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> You should have the moral conviction to leave<i> any</i> time you see us at a party, in a store or at a bar. That would just be the right thing to do. How dare you make <i>any</i> comment to Birna or any of us! I pray every day for the ability to forgive you for your behavior. I pray that you will be struck by some flash of light that says, what where we thinking. Why did we hurt that family more than they where already hurting so badly? <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> What I mostly think is like so many other faces in a crowd I’m just a sister that lost a brother tragically. It is not a new story unfortunately violence does strike <i>someone</i> minute of everyday.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> I thought a lot about Anthony and Joey and Dominic. Anthony and Joey were the last people on earth to hear David. They were the last two to see him as he was when he was alive, a big strong gentle giant. I wondered what they were thinking. Did they torture themselves like I did going over and over <i>that</i> night in their minds? Did David ever come to them in their dreams?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I also thought about <i>my</i> friends. I was so busy with the babies and my blossoming social life I never saw or heard from any of them. I really missed Tina. I wondered if I had done something wrong. Was she sick of my sadness and depression? Maybe she had stuff going on in her life and she needed me but felt I couldn’t be there. That made me sad. Or does life take people in different directions. Of course there were the friends that turned out to be not worth my time. The ones that said get over it already and move on. I was making some new friends at NOVA but I really did miss some of the old ones.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> I thought about the psychic <i>that</i> night at Michael’s. He clearly saw something violent was going to happen. He told Joan to crawl under the car to be safe. Why didn’t Dave crawl under the car? Why did the psychic see Joan and not Dave in the violence? </span><meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"></meta><meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 12" name="Generator"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 12" name="Originator"></meta><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CCOMPAQ%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C04%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CCOMPAQ%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C04%5Cclip_themedata.thmx" rel="themeData"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CCOMPAQ%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C04%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml" rel="colorSchemeMapping"></link><style>
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</style> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Statistics show Road Rage is becoming an increasing problem in our nation. If you find yourself in a harassing situation by another driver, <i>do not react! </i>Avoid making any eye contact, this could be a trigger for confrontation. Do not be temped to accelerate, break or swerve suddenly. This may also be seen as confrontational and increases your chance of losing control of your vehicle. If a driver continues to hassle you or you think you are being followed, drive to the nearest police station or busy place and get help.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I thought about people like Natalie Holloway’s family. They have no idea what happened to their daughter. They have no idea where she is. We may not have all the pieces, but we do know David is dead. We know where his ashes are. These poor parents had no clue. I cried and prayed for them. I saw their fight for justice was going to be agonizing. I wanted to hug them. I wanted to go to Aruba and help them find their baby.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> I tried to stop thinking about all of this stuff. I needed to move on and put some kind of life together for myself. I knew without a doubt I wanted to help victims. That would always be a part of my life. I devoted a lot of time to NOVA. I hoped God had put me on the right path.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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Doreen McGettiganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11691803968607905576noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2321222986391081787.post-84644712512165451322010-10-08T11:04:00.000-07:002010-10-08T11:04:26.375-07:00Friday Fragments...<i><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I seriously cannot believe it is Friday again..but then again I am quite fragmented so it must be time for Friday Fragments. The lovely host for FF can be found here:<a href="http://www.halfpastkissintime.com/">www.halfpastkissintime.com </a></span></span></b></i><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It is a way to dump out all the little pieces in your mind that actually are not enough for a complete post..check it out!</span></i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">When you are finished there I'm sure if you are 40 or over you would just love Java and her Friday Follow. You can find her here:<a href="http://nevergrowingold.blogspot.com/">nevergrowingold.blogspot.com</a> </span></i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">So How about those Phillie's!! I am so excited and cannot wait to get home from work tonight to watch the game!!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">I have to work on "branding" myself as an author this week. Doesn't that sound awful; like it is going to burn...anyway that is what I will be doing all week...</span></b></i></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">We had grand kids; Dominic (8) and his sister Adriana (1) last weekend while their older sister participated in a softball showcase. She is 15 and is already playing for college scouts? Whatever; I guess..</span></b></i></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;"> We talk the little ones to Linvilla Orchard's. They have a petting zoo and a farmer's market, an awesome playground and lots of pumpkins!</span></b></i></span></span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXW92KGpivXmyzgfSF4NEjRa1b_cleKVwZAO7F3apZjkmgHimuPYzlRI9kfhkjK8blDjE1CQVZt0-WY67qn8iBn7ERfCRm0V_RP8ddJpCRzzduAY_9dYKywfDBvt52gJt6UixVi7MhkNXi/s200/100_0185_edited.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="165" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feeding Rooster's</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXW92KGpivXmyzgfSF4NEjRa1b_cleKVwZAO7F3apZjkmgHimuPYzlRI9kfhkjK8blDjE1CQVZt0-WY67qn8iBn7ERfCRm0V_RP8ddJpCRzzduAY_9dYKywfDBvt52gJt6UixVi7MhkNXi/s1600/100_0185_edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;"> Dominic and Pop-Pop did guy things like clean the motorcycle and the car; cut the grass, build fires (in the pit). Adriana and I just played and snuggled. She is now 17 month's and I cannot believe how well she is talking, actually 3 & 4 words together..I was amazed! </span></b></i></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjcumKTd_AUMJMFlmsYKkWuPHwBkW7eWRgIi-wljrmN_VTkfji8onF3VsmI2A7q5_g60sXVnISH-FeqMKRwZpL_daWqF6JWlaYEp3AbvNt3OXZXjjNzb-JMTlRH03iJOF4vgXX7TA9EQHw/s200/100_0211_edited.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="128" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All Boy!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjcumKTd_AUMJMFlmsYKkWuPHwBkW7eWRgIi-wljrmN_VTkfji8onF3VsmI2A7q5_g60sXVnISH-FeqMKRwZpL_daWqF6JWlaYEp3AbvNt3OXZXjjNzb-JMTlRH03iJOF4vgXX7TA9EQHw/s1600/100_0211_edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ8sBHSQAbshoxFMiKRQHU4049l4NGQpzXTiwcyIwJiFf_uSsrQzrjUT8jZb5TvrOyLePYMrj7oBVWx36spL12TaucIFGWFJrORAEN5vU7wj44oisAibTJ9IY9zTGyV39yH6jwOfGnOTl7/s200/100_0167_edited.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="195" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Talking to Momma</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ8sBHSQAbshoxFMiKRQHU4049l4NGQpzXTiwcyIwJiFf_uSsrQzrjUT8jZb5TvrOyLePYMrj7oBVWx36spL12TaucIFGWFJrORAEN5vU7wj44oisAibTJ9IY9zTGyV39yH6jwOfGnOTl7/s1600/100_0167_edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></b></i></span> </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-ej-cHwzm_XvJ_D8GxOgmVEoQTcxit8hGFBsqNpbxM2B6GOy2MMW2Ry8KMt6zuDpwJ0R1lHDamdpx5K3nLSckFwGdgdU2kYkUyn_PoKi0VLuPW-MwnXwPevU_MFuIFsN5WEIS7LNyysI/s200/100_0208_edited.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She called it a kitty (she has a doberman)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-ej-cHwzm_XvJ_D8GxOgmVEoQTcxit8hGFBsqNpbxM2B6GOy2MMW2Ry8KMt6zuDpwJ0R1lHDamdpx5K3nLSckFwGdgdU2kYkUyn_PoKi0VLuPW-MwnXwPevU_MFuIFsN5WEIS7LNyysI/s1600/100_0208_edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB87KtwttVP7-TBgwtZA2ezQRjc3n6nEVeSuL6knyJoc1-7h87EqYlMSghq3sSLGarBgm4YnnZw6Gi0GFCrNAx36O5JLFPIvZURqH5_BQCk10mKzO3ohDnPJcLU71vdK60zjI3_zJtgVfW/s200/100_0194.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had to save her from the ostrich..so scary! </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB87KtwttVP7-TBgwtZA2ezQRjc3n6nEVeSuL6knyJoc1-7h87EqYlMSghq3sSLGarBgm4YnnZw6Gi0GFCrNAx36O5JLFPIvZURqH5_BQCk10mKzO3ohDnPJcLU71vdK60zjI3_zJtgVfW/s1600/100_0194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>I cannot believe how well Dominic is doing. If you did not know; back in July at summer camp Dom had a metal pole go clear through his leg, down by his ankle. We thought he would lose his foot. Miraculously the pole went in between his major artery and his bone. All they had to repair was some muscle and ligaments. He will need plastic surgery at some point but can you believe he climbed a tree. It truly is a miracle!<br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>I am still celebrating my quest to 300 followers. For every 10 new follower's I am picking a winner. I changed things up a bit last week and instead of picking randomly I am going to pick my favorite commenter from last Friday, this Friday and a serious post I will do on Monday. Hopefully I will need to pick several.</b></span></span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I am really missing my brother this week (the subject of my book). I don't know why, maybe the season change. I also miss my 2 brother's that are still here. Life really does get in the way sometimes. I am going to try to see both of them next week.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>My favorite quote of the week:</b></i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="color: #4c1130;">This too shall pass. Change is the only constant. In order to take a breath, you must release a breath.</span></i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="color: black;"><b>Have a positive and powerful week!</b></span></i><i><span style="color: #4c1130;"> </span><b> </b></i> </span></span><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span></span></i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6lQWvGFbaZKOcxmQ34bbX7HbyzjdJwP8Y7jaJ-YDfw2Lld7CCdJXpOY4N0lyPAk0qsVzY4k6SiBtb5BOf4o9UCrT02edqh7ymCDLXSIq53pIT2UF8rNDnuLchCd_Bo7zZEfZLMaP-J4ww/s200/100_0212.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beautiful sunset I witnessed on 95 south after dropping Adriana and Dominic off at home</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6lQWvGFbaZKOcxmQ34bbX7HbyzjdJwP8Y7jaJ-YDfw2Lld7CCdJXpOY4N0lyPAk0qsVzY4k6SiBtb5BOf4o9UCrT02edqh7ymCDLXSIq53pIT2UF8rNDnuLchCd_Bo7zZEfZLMaP-J4ww/s1600/100_0212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>Doreen McGettiganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11691803968607905576noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2321222986391081787.post-55207662191909579032010-10-01T00:04:00.000-07:002010-10-01T00:16:14.321-07:00Friday Fragments:<span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>It has been raining so hard today..all day..it does not usually rain for hours straight like this in Philadelphia..</b></i></span><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="color: red;">I am so proud of our Philadelphia Phillie's; they have won the National League East Championship for the 4th year in a row..WOW..sorry but before the last 4 it was like 28 years..so we are painting our town Red once again and will probably be biting our fingernails and having cardiac problems..but we are excited!!</span></i></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><b> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</b></span></span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><b>I must thank Mrs. 4444 for hosting Friday Fragments and also suggesting we purchase our domain names. I went with Go Daddy; it was easy and $12.00. You can get some fantastic advice and meet some of the nicest blogger's if you visit our fantabulous host here:<a href="http://www.halfpastkissintime.com/">www.halfpastkissintime.com</a></b></span></span><i><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><b> </b></span></span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><b> </b></span> </span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i><b>After you are finished making some new friends there; please visit the beautiful Java who is the host for blogger's over 40 (if you fit that category) here:<a href="http://nevergrowingold.blogspot.com/">nevergrowingold.blogspot.com</a></b></i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I have had a very busy week as usual and have really slacked on my writing and blogging. I have a lot of catching up to do. I am still having my celebration to reach 300 followers and I am going to change it up a bit this week. Instead of randomly choosing a winner from all followers; I am going to choose from the most meaningful comment between now and follower #260. Congrats to winner #4 Karen Mortensen from Mortensen Moment's, you can find this lovely woman and her beautiful photograph's here: <a href="http://tkdmoments.blogspot.com/">tkdmoments.blogspot.com</a></b> <b>Thank you for following</b>!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9BaFfE904anFJIIkqMCkGBB5nc-yPchOpemuqn5rrtP0_mMpvdqa2g3Ay7PNGGiSX0B0WtGwce8V8pz63RGojGCTijA2cEbXBLblQ-ue8twn0KWgsC7XXxy1cwGr_kjQUP6zg871hly9S/s200/100_0127.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
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</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9BaFfE904anFJIIkqMCkGBB5nc-yPchOpemuqn5rrtP0_mMpvdqa2g3Ay7PNGGiSX0B0WtGwce8V8pz63RGojGCTijA2cEbXBLblQ-ue8twn0KWgsC7XXxy1cwGr_kjQUP6zg871hly9S/s1600/100_0127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">These little sweeties are grand daughter's Avery Paige 4; Peyton Elizabeth 4 month's (today) and Morgan Layla; 7. For the heck of it I asked if anyone can tell me why these little ones go by both names I would send a prize to the first commenter with the right answer. Or I may pick 2 or 3 with the right answers. What can I say I love going to the post office with prizes! Good Luck, I cannot wait to see what you all come up with!</span></b></i><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i><b>This week we will be hosting our grand son Dominic who is 8 (the one the had the terrible freak accident a few post back...and his baby sister Adriana (17 months) Big sister</b></i></span> </span><i><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Allyson (15) is playing a softball </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">showcase out of town and Mom and Dad wanted to travel a little lighter this weekend. Hopefully this darn rain will stop and we can go pick pumpkins or something fun.. </span></span></span></b></i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj948xLjPXQiv9tPSb5rLhv8hj1zXT0q2n05ycBHSzb5fvZq0fBNSD4PlqRfJRMk7u-ZAhK_jf99OAsUggclkRt5wOLmF15lFKQzNPknjn29bBLRGWrk6h-g33qmgGmOX2LxFl4xIqBbh0j/s200/S5030387_edited.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="70" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dominic</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj948xLjPXQiv9tPSb5rLhv8hj1zXT0q2n05ycBHSzb5fvZq0fBNSD4PlqRfJRMk7u-ZAhK_jf99OAsUggclkRt5wOLmF15lFKQzNPknjn29bBLRGWrk6h-g33qmgGmOX2LxFl4xIqBbh0j/s1600/S5030387_edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIh6yDD7Nx4hC-xg9I4JA75IkwW1O_UGMkStnF4mu2ZIssA5BW4oGFEfMsatljxBXsS9fz0u6TSXt0zfRXpMPnO_59GvDtlVw8ne6Rch6VTiWz2Jn4wTh7b12Su8Iz7cW5OVYevwTo_BGn/s200/Adriana+sharing+with+Mommy.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="150" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adriana and Mommy</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;">My sister -in-law Nancy is visiting this week from Florida; My husband has 6 older sisters..Nancy is the youngest of the girls..she is a lot of fun and I am excited to visit with her! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">That is about all I have for now, Thank you for stopping by!</span><br />
<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">And remember;"be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle"</span></b></i><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Doreen McGettiganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11691803968607905576noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2321222986391081787.post-41075565916702151972010-09-22T09:13:00.000-07:002010-09-22T09:13:01.244-07:00More from "Bristol Stomp"<meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"></meta><meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 12" name="Generator"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 12" name="Originator"></meta><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CCOMPAQ%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C02%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CCOMPAQ%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C02%5Cclip_themedata.thmx" rel="themeData"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CCOMPAQ%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C02%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml" rel="colorSchemeMapping"></link><style>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I went into David’s room. We had to take turns. A machine breathed for him. Wires hanging and that awful beep, beep sound of monitors. I told him I loved him and that I would never leave him. He was covered in dry crusty blood. I wanted to wash him. The nurse said that was not a good idea right then. It was important for his brain to rest. He had pieces of glass stuck in his face and on his hands. I found that strange. Why had they not removed that glass from him? It must hurt. How did he get glass all over him? Was he in a car accident? A car accident most certainly made more sense. There had to be some confusion here. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> I wanted my son. He was away, in Army boot camp. David was his best friend. My heart sank. I did not want to give him this news but I needed him. I called the Red Cross. The woman told me she would have to speak to David’s doctor. I thought, damn does she really think I would make something like this up? <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> I gave her the phone number for the hospital. It felt good to be thinking of something else, to be working on something. After speaking with the doctor the woman from the Red Cross told me they would indeed arrange to have Jimmy sent home. This is really bad, I thought. If they were sending Jimmy home from the Army, it is bad. I did not know what else to do. I was so tired. I thought of my job. It was still early but I thought I better call my boss. I worked in Advertising at the Bucks County Courier Times. The news paper, I thought, one of the reporters may know what happened. I would have my boss check with the news room to see if they knew what had happened. Then I remembered it was Saturday. I went back into the waiting room, sat down and closed my eyes. I wanted to go to sleep and wake up from this horrendous nightmare.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> *************************************<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> The night before, I thought, seemed like ages ago. I had been out been out with my daughters, Joan and Heather. Joan had been going through a separation and Heather was just so busy with her son Kyle. I had just broken up with my boyfriend and was feeling really bummed. My girls and I never seemed to spend any time together unless it was with babies. So, we decided to go out, just the three of us.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> As soon as we walked into Michael’s Café, the local singles, dancing, drinking establishment, off to the left sitting at a table was a psychic. Let’s do it, we decided. So before we even ordered our first drink we were sitting at a square table with a large bald man. I cannot remember his name. Heather went first. For her it was all good news. She would stay with her husband Matt, forever. Kyle, her baby who was born with special needs would do well. Joan went next. Here is where it got strange. It got very strange. He held her hand, tightly it appeared. He looked her in the eye and said to her, if something happens I want you to promise<o:p></o:p> me you will crawl under the car, just remember that. Remember to crawl underneath of the car and you will be safe. We were firing questions at him that he did not answer. He was making me really nervous and a little mad. I’m sorry he said I just feel violence all around her, but she will be okay. He then asked Joan who Steve was. I do not know anyone named Steve, she answered. Well, my mother’s friend Tina has a son named Stephen, he is young, just a little boy. No the man said, not that one, this one is someone you were interested in romantically. We all laughed. Steve was a guy Joan had been interested in when she was a teenager. He was the brother of Wally, who was the original drummer in Dave’s band. We all laughed. I have not seen him in ages, Joan said. You will bump into this Steve this weekend, he said. We really got a laugh out of that. It would be interesting to say the least if she did run into Steve. Feeling a little bit better, we moved onto my turn. I wanted to know if I would get back together with my boyfriend. Not this weekend, he answered. Will I ever get back together with him? If you do, it will not be right, he is not the one for you, he said. When will I meet the right one for me, I asked? Not this weekend, he sort of whispered. We left that psychic with very strange feelings in our stomachs. We found a table and ordered some appetizers and drinks. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The music was loud. The people were loud. I wondered why I decided to bring these young girls to this middle age meat market. We did not stay long. That crazy psychic just made us uncomfortable. We decided to call it a night. Heather and Joan did not even want to stop at the diner. That made me a little sad. Heather went home to Matt and Kyle and Joan went home with me. After what that psychic said I was glad she would be home with me. We were quiet during the ride from Bensalem to Fairless Hills. It was then it dawned on me. I knew that guy, that psychic. He had come to my house in Bristol, like fourteen years ago to do a party. I wished I could remember his name. Back then he told my friend Pat that she was going to have twins, when she was older. At that time Pat had two little boys who were in school. She laughed and said she was not going to have anymore. Well guess what? She did. They thought she was going to have twins but she had one baby boy and a tumor. I thought of what he had told me back then. He told me my son was going to leave me and I should let him go and he would come back. My son did leave me to go live with his father in Erie. It broke my heart but I let him go. He did come back. It took years but he did come back. He told me my Jill would only fall in love once and would be in love forever. He told me my kids would be fine. They would grow up and be happy. He told me I would not find my true love until later in life. I thought about my friend Terry and what he told her. Her boyfriend was cheating on her, and he was. I was thinking about how I had not seen Terry in a long time or Pat for that matter. It is so strange how you spend so much time with someone, you know everything about their lives and then a page turns and they are not there. I should try to reconnect with them. Catch up with Pat, Terry and Tina, I thought, as I turned onto Valmore Road. I will make a cup of tea and watch some television. I did not feel tired. Then I saw Birna backing out of the driveway.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> *************************************************<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>Doreen McGettiganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11691803968607905576noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2321222986391081787.post-84879389870821308382010-09-17T22:29:00.000-07:002010-09-17T23:11:30.883-07:00Friday Fragments from a very fragmented mind...First and foremost I must thank the amazing Mrs. 4444 at Half Past Kissin Time for hosting this weekly dumping ground for the fragmented thoughts clogging up our heads. You can find all of her wonderfulness and hopefully some amazing new friends here:<a href="http://www.halfpastkissintime.com/">www.halfpastkissintime.com</a><br />
I would also like to thank the beautiful Java at Never Growing Old for hosting a Friday Follow for us older folks (40 and over). If you fit that category you should most certainly check her out here:<a href="http://nevergrowingold.blogspot.com/">nevergrowingold.blogspot.com</a><br />
So; I planted a garden this year. It was my first time. So far I have had enough string beans for a meal and today I got this: <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGyUGh4kg_ZZPy2Sm6RNF1d0dLCS2QidZffxb7WcVif0f6kcc1JbwGQ90fXqb8wx1qeYZnBWNmYIRooJK6QQ5UDLXP_b27FbR21qYTsxq2YOrsUwb2jY19qFsmbseCFiMFNYikdCMUsUno/s200/100_0144.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It made a little healthy snack..</td></tr>
</tbody></table> Okay..so I am not a good farmer now but just wait til next year! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGyUGh4kg_ZZPy2Sm6RNF1d0dLCS2QidZffxb7WcVif0f6kcc1JbwGQ90fXqb8wx1qeYZnBWNmYIRooJK6QQ5UDLXP_b27FbR21qYTsxq2YOrsUwb2jY19qFsmbseCFiMFNYikdCMUsUno/s1600/100_0144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;">********************************************************************************</span></div><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">I have a marketing manager. Yes that's right! We are narrowing down details on my trip to meet my book production team. What I do not have yet is a publication date. This all has to be good though; right? Could I please (In a very sweet and kind way) have a date...please? I know these people check this stuff out so I have to be polite.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;">**********************************************************************************</span></span></span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidWLC-RUUTCmJ71av_SelX3HcFprdQjqCSkucdxsX57uwzkH_rvh-U-1TbcdRKJMFdKpFEFqorY2i-I16HHykDUi_gQCDjY48J_z5J4d5a_7vFV30cLKW03rNqfk0l0iGlPU-Zzil8nf32/s200/100_0124.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peyton Elizabeth; 3month's old</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidWLC-RUUTCmJ71av_SelX3HcFprdQjqCSkucdxsX57uwzkH_rvh-U-1TbcdRKJMFdKpFEFqorY2i-I16HHykDUi_gQCDjY48J_z5J4d5a_7vFV30cLKW03rNqfk0l0iGlPU-Zzil8nf32/s1600/100_0124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">My newest little angel Peyton Elizabeth had her first sleepover at Mom-Mom and Pop-Pop's last Saturday night. Her little bigger sister Avery Paige and her big sister Morgan Layla joined us also. The little angel slept from 12:15 till 8:15 am. Of course I was up until 4am just making sure she was breathing. I took these photo's at 3am: </span> </span> </span> </span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeLQtlszykwMalP3OQM4FnvumuvBiEMpy2aw0v7_s7luaC4op-oT1ybxg21kfkNsv9JdYsl-rL6P76hYaxzTNfNYgg4DoU7LA9n-M-dOnApu1eEwH_7tIruZDcpppQ7raZQyarHBipZe2z/s200/100_0125.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mogan Layla; 7 years old</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><span style="color: #741b47;">**Just because; if anyone can tell</span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47;">me in a comment why these 3 grand</span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47;">daughter's go by 2 names I will send </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8RaKwNUL2aTzvsOk47XDI6gaYRE4GHQdGzgsU09nriKRBhHTV7OD9-HfgRgPELk8LaBJ2lrSWHltocw28FkvJXLhP-AIcx86kMtUBIWBypyjt0TZlzUfZCKP8WzLcuWqDKdOmlXfeKtE/s200/100_0126.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /> </td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Avery Paige; 4 years old</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="color: #741b47;">you a prize! First correct answer wins;</span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47;">or maybe I will choose more..never know.. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnLPt13H4ETgFid9rqbD9pN9a8FkulUEkdRW6AGDszZ5JND0iQ86nsHu_iJa8WH6eBJCXxWP1kvhwg7MCm07rnqiNVutp8HSd0TzKL-oHqZbeNm0TXIT5aHR9E_E4Nr87GWdd4sISC7_Bh/s200/100_0132.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunday Morning..butt drag day!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnLPt13H4ETgFid9rqbD9pN9a8FkulUEkdRW6AGDszZ5JND0iQ86nsHu_iJa8WH6eBJCXxWP1kvhwg7MCm07rnqiNVutp8HSd0TzKL-oHqZbeNm0TXIT5aHR9E_E4Nr87GWdd4sISC7_Bh/s1600/100_0132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>Okay; so speaking of contests you all know I am having one right? It is actually not a contest It is just my goal to reach 300 followers so I guess it is just a giveaway because you do not have to do anything but be a follower and have left a comment. We have had 4 winners so far (only 2 have responded so hurry or I will pick 2 more)...I was so excited when I went to the post office today to mail the prizes to:<br />
#1-Neasha- She is a warm, friendly and a beautiful woman inside and out. You can find her here:<a href="http://thecomforttable.webs.com/">thecomforttable.webs.com</a> #2- Beth-The first word that comes to mind when I think of Beth is amazing. I love her blog. She is always learning something new and is always sharing what she learns. Her blog is always up to date and I have no idea how she does all that she does. You can visit Beth here:<a href="http://www.bethszimmerman.com/">www.bethszimmerman.com</a> So congrats to both of you and I am truly blessed to have you as followers!<br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">That was it for warm and fuzzy the rest of my week was full of pee and some no pee..Sophie; our 83 year old homeless woman (I really should stop calling her that she has been here nearly 2 years) anyway she pees her pants. I <i>finally</i> got her to wear depends..it was a battle. So I still smell pee. I was walking and crawling around looking for the source. I came to a piece of driftwood my in-laws found on the beach on their honeymoon. That was like 65 years ago. Anyway; Lance and Louie (my, I love them so much adorable little spoiled doggies)</span> </span>have been using this driftwood as their own personal tree. Any suggestions on cleaning it?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixbe7WQJtr26St43KHvA4LEsWKjjgh0aWUd3d24IZgrHqx8l5LZXg3NZ6pxwwo_QoFcO-B71NCALB2D5YYtJWl0NH0ZJ0FR5B5nD1n3rx_rXVJk3mCb3N5rR3qAbFxYZZjUJrs5sHaSAsP/s200/100_0146_edited.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="150" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pee post...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixbe7WQJtr26St43KHvA4LEsWKjjgh0aWUd3d24IZgrHqx8l5LZXg3NZ6pxwwo_QoFcO-B71NCALB2D5YYtJWl0NH0ZJ0FR5B5nD1n3rx_rXVJk3mCb3N5rR3qAbFxYZZjUJrs5sHaSAsP/s1600/100_0146_edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>Avery Paige fell asleep on the floor in my office; she had an accident..now my office smells like pee and smoke (3 weeks today and no cigarettes). I had an MRI done and they used some kind of nuclear dye; I guess so my insides would glow and the day after I ended up in the ER (yes again). I could not pee and it was weird and painful. Turns out one of the possible side effects of the nuclear cocktail is mal- functioning kidneys. Why am I always the 1 in 1000? After a lot of IV and several nasty drinks I am peeing every 5 minutes. (I may need 1 of Sophie's depends). I had a new patient at work this week. He has a foley catheter and while changing from the night bag to the day bag (very early in the morning) I forgot to pinch the tube. WTH!! 10 minutes into a 6 hour shift I had pee all over me. Did I seriously just write about all that pee? <br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">I may have a cold. (I really do but I am pretending I don't because I still have more weekend warrior stuff to do before summer is truly over). We are going to visit my son and his 2 little sweeties Julia (10) and lil Jimmy (7).</span> </span>Then on Sunday we are going to a Phillie's game. I love the Phillie's :)<br />
<br />
Don't look back on yesterday with despair. Look at tomorrow with hope. <br />
Have<br />
a<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Julia</td></tr>
</tbody></table> positively<br />
Blessed<br />
Weekend<br />
Everybody!<br />
<span style="color: #741b47;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Hn8FXend-KpgTGiiYvr9dW82kA7Gr6fs1bRvalPhs_SEovlwWsxJ_A8WLa2j8msyFu_EvxoJMsxTZdX6Ey6SsNDlw3baUwsX98zv37pENjIyzsVfJ2aACL8Le3-kwTmxYu_cTzLaO-DN/s1600/100_1513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibUBujMQFDTphBeMWa0klRYrPx72qaVsP-Fbqf2nkqZupBQIpTH-d6zHtAaVSbwI-JUPWrFz6CnJ-Kgat0qWLiI6q_Y7W9wzKLicfFM3rsS2uiOf63nLyI_xdhf-eNLvZd79GnAqhfou-0/s320/100_1319.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="212" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jimmy</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibUBujMQFDTphBeMWa0klRYrPx72qaVsP-Fbqf2nkqZupBQIpTH-d6zHtAaVSbwI-JUPWrFz6CnJ-Kgat0qWLiI6q_Y7W9wzKLicfFM3rsS2uiOf63nLyI_xdhf-eNLvZd79GnAqhfou-0/s1600/100_1319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><span style="color: #741b47;"></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeLQtlszykwMalP3OQM4FnvumuvBiEMpy2aw0v7_s7luaC4op-oT1ybxg21kfkNsv9JdYsl-rL6P76hYaxzTNfNYgg4DoU7LA9n-M-dOnApu1eEwH_7tIruZDcpppQ7raZQyarHBipZe2z/s1600/100_0125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8RaKwNUL2aTzvsOk47XDI6gaYRE4GHQdGzgsU09nriKRBhHTV7OD9-HfgRgPELk8LaBJ2lrSWHltocw28FkvJXLhP-AIcx86kMtUBIWBypyjt0TZlzUfZCKP8WzLcuWqDKdOmlXfeKtE/s1600/100_0126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>Doreen McGettiganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11691803968607905576noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2321222986391081787.post-50951374016908477382010-09-15T12:35:00.000-07:002010-09-15T12:35:09.781-07:00Getting ready to look in the rear view mirror...<b><i>It has been one heck of a crazy summer for me and my family and I am trying to put it behind me and move on</i></b><i><b>...</b></i><br />
<i><b>We had a brand new grand daughter born on June 1, 2010. It was a long and anxiety ridden pregnancy for all of us because my daughter has serious health issues of her own that put her pregnancy at extremely high risk. A bit early but 100% feisty and healthy we all welcomed Peyton Elizabeth into our family.</b></i><br />
<i><b>On June 16th we had a family week at the beach. When I say family I mean serious family; 100's of us. We had the most chaotic and glorious vacation.</b></i><br />
<i><b>The evening after we arrived home; we got the middle of the night phone call no parent or grand parent ever wants to receive. My stepson Michael, 29 years old had been in a motorcycle accident. He was in extremely critical condition with internal injuries to nearly every major organ. He was in a coma for 23 days. </b></i><br />
<i><b>On the 20th day I was at the hospital and they were preparing Michael for his 8th surgery. I had maintained my composure and tried to be strong for my husband because you see he lost his oldest son at the age of 17 to suicide. Michael was the only one for John now. But on that day I had a meltdown. There were 2 step parents;2 parents and a huge extended family and we were all there for John and Michael. A few were not there for me; and I still sting from the cruelness of a few others actions</b></i>.<b><i> I am working very hard at trying to forgive them and actually that is the easy part it is the forgetting that is hard.</i></b><br />
<b><i>So in my meltdown I went down to the lobby of the hospital and sat in a chair. The sun was shining so bright. The tears came and I could not stop them. My phone rang. It was my mother. My 8 year old grand son, Dominic was being air lifted to Children's Hospital after a freak accident where a metal pole went in one side of his lower leg and out the other. I stood up and began pacing like a crazy woman. They were taking him first to a Children's trauma center close to home to be stabilized and then sent to the city. I did not know which way to go.</i></b><br />
<b><i>The Public Relation's manager from Chester-Crozier Medical Center was hugging me and other personal surrounded me. They thought the worst had happened with Michael.</i></b><br />
<b><i>Miraculously the pole that went through Dominic's leg went between a main artery and a main bone. A miracle the surgeon said. They only had to repair some muscle and some tendon's.</i></b><br />
<b><i> Today both boys are recuperating and will by the grace of God be 100% as good as they were before their accidents.</i></b><br />
<b><i>My husband and I did a couple of 'we missed the whole summer marathons' and are now getting ready for the next season or the next chapter of our lives.</i></b><br />
<b><i>I can never thank all of you enough for your prayers and kind words. I really feel so connected to my blog friends and feel that if we ever meet it will be like we have been friends for years.</i></b><br />
<b><i>I am not quite ready to say goodbye to summer; maybe next week!</i></b><br />
<b><i>For now I am working on the very last revisions to the book; have made travel plans to meet my production team and I should be thrilled but I am still sad. It is the story of my brother's murder. I was so overwhelmingly compelled to tell the story; the insanity and senselessness of it all and I believe in my heart David would be thrilled for me. So I am going to smile and get ready for the next chapter of this process; which actually requires a lot more work than sitting in jammies and typing all day.</i></b><br />
<b><i>I collect quotes and have them everywhere but this one has been my favorite for about a month now and I am not going to miss my knock on the door.</i></b><br />
<b><i>"Before the angel of success arrives in your life, you should devote yourself to preparing your welcome for her. Polish your craft and strengthen your body to be fit so you can do your job and enjoy your success when it comes. Sharpen your mind and spirit so they are ready to face the challenges that accompany a visitation from the angel of success. If you are not ready when the angel knocks she will flee. And who knows if she will make it back around to your door again".</i></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEjpOCrF4PSaPUDCl-oqOEsfGlC2RWckkRLKT47xFznpOgLnEOzSnAWpPD1Mshl1WhSwg35sZbVxK4hav6t3MynLkKlg236JOxNTtjMpLpHcVr2iWnwnHywNFzb4BdLt0-iZo5RB7XeL8/s200/100_0090_edited.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="146" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peyton Elizabeth/3month's old</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEjpOCrF4PSaPUDCl-oqOEsfGlC2RWckkRLKT47xFznpOgLnEOzSnAWpPD1Mshl1WhSwg35sZbVxK4hav6t3MynLkKlg236JOxNTtjMpLpHcVr2iWnwnHywNFzb4BdLt0-iZo5RB7XeL8/s1600/100_0090_edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-gVj-LAmgL0-6Y61dpZMVEaLzlft7xrsroN29AiQzRYcWOYiwecXV4EF3XvmwWvj4vCqDW9QSZ2ELXZOevrJl92quPje3fmcZ-cWN5kdEGXYNuQpsrZxu350ss4PT3bqOEiJlIqejRJlB/s200/100_0122_edited.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="150" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How could you not believe in angels?</td></tr>
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<b><i> </i></b>Doreen McGettiganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11691803968607905576noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2321222986391081787.post-20648073669333405312010-09-10T00:16:00.000-07:002010-09-10T00:28:26.925-07:00Friday Fragments...<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5GS6wSDhO_t3cr284unphk7WjUe3XDd7s4Iq9F4YL5DGgrogPJ8pnlCkRZWuhIqwPIhOSid9toZXzuWnHrjAv1E1WddEGrHE1awYayp5haNbfw3s-dn7N0IcwLVHxal82_SgYtUsVeJF7/s1600/100_0057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5GS6wSDhO_t3cr284unphk7WjUe3XDd7s4Iq9F4YL5DGgrogPJ8pnlCkRZWuhIqwPIhOSid9toZXzuWnHrjAv1E1WddEGrHE1awYayp5haNbfw3s-dn7N0IcwLVHxal82_SgYtUsVeJF7/s200/100_0057.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">beautiful sky!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBEU6hG0Tyv2TmiG5HlrmDOzKW1FeEbe2f_ug-We2W_lPOic_uBiwjxELpqB-LweqXpocY_xjPlFXwNSyA844ojo-2IzYbvdTmsZovf1AbakuKAkzHqCNqsE7DitB_hxAFC4JBA5nvyXo6/s1600/100_0045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBEU6hG0Tyv2TmiG5HlrmDOzKW1FeEbe2f_ug-We2W_lPOic_uBiwjxELpqB-LweqXpocY_xjPlFXwNSyA844ojo-2IzYbvdTmsZovf1AbakuKAkzHqCNqsE7DitB_hxAFC4JBA5nvyXo6/s200/100_0045.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I took this on the back of the motorcycle..</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw5_oOUI7zCNMSF6m0qnl2EwSCQTzVdQfxaKlRyWIapMgHcbKuqJpSFCkyEgmg0KhNQhyb2oC0HMp3zIRFPjjcbc0Tl-KR-Qb5rX1fLfGmQ5ak8R0WiEd8dYc-kZjSIA8GQqIoL_qBNoEJ/s1600/100_0047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw5_oOUI7zCNMSF6m0qnl2EwSCQTzVdQfxaKlRyWIapMgHcbKuqJpSFCkyEgmg0KhNQhyb2oC0HMp3zIRFPjjcbc0Tl-KR-Qb5rX1fLfGmQ5ak8R0WiEd8dYc-kZjSIA8GQqIoL_qBNoEJ/s200/100_0047.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am so sad to say goodbye to summer!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Well John and I are certainly making up for our lost summer..last weekend it was the beach for some much needed R & R and the weather was beautiful! We ate at our favorite Pizza Place (<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Too much</span></span></span></b></i></span><b>)</b><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></b></i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZLtO_3cNS8pwYrih0AjDBwd8w09yp_up9Op2k31AUKirmxXTXr8sGgSklGEI-wLUNsyGOq25NyF7tMclskhaVgCvL6rnZLp-SP-fLjCluxAHaZ5rYhO8yh3TnpWSBzaxqdNPPNVQRXw1/s1600/100_0055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZLtO_3cNS8pwYrih0AjDBwd8w09yp_up9Op2k31AUKirmxXTXr8sGgSklGEI-wLUNsyGOq25NyF7tMclskhaVgCvL6rnZLp-SP-fLjCluxAHaZ5rYhO8yh3TnpWSBzaxqdNPPNVQRXw1/s200/100_0055.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our new favorite boardwalk store..</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i><b>We took a few motorcycle rides the nights were still warm enough for me.</b></i></span> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif-pYvGsaVhQymHh1L1xwcHao8pg468Qea3T9DDSBz3HViHkhrq8Rbx2iTOhjfatYq7od_ygCggsuyziw6dkhg8tpeBdWG-Kp2GExRQiLfnUgt6Yw8936yJkjMOyIHxKUOXtn9IYlKjgco/s1600/100_0048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif-pYvGsaVhQymHh1L1xwcHao8pg468Qea3T9DDSBz3HViHkhrq8Rbx2iTOhjfatYq7od_ygCggsuyziw6dkhg8tpeBdWG-Kp2GExRQiLfnUgt6Yw8936yJkjMOyIHxKUOXtn9IYlKjgco/s200/100_0048.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The best Pizza in the world!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj38Gfp6j9IEyEbHcxM32_o5VNdVq1JCB7lb0rShis338_2ulWRna-hJ55RHiW8309fnoSpi0Wdy0BaS1kOXntjoxwXtnPmnPOEQ8z0OBwPzSgfVUbY8YYzDZxpfMo5_hLAtBbR3gaFsPYF/s1600/100_0087_edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj38Gfp6j9IEyEbHcxM32_o5VNdVq1JCB7lb0rShis338_2ulWRna-hJ55RHiW8309fnoSpi0Wdy0BaS1kOXntjoxwXtnPmnPOEQ8z0OBwPzSgfVUbY8YYzDZxpfMo5_hLAtBbR3gaFsPYF/s200/100_0087_edited.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then she had to take an important call from her sister..</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcusSNp-oUIx3TrSqJXlJ_eSqTpcbtCPhROwwq_e5P-jI6RX18zBd5CLsJLvUiF6dsu4O0Tzdr1e2DXMXACSowE3G06i7Bc-lpjf0w5qMff8pY-EyCs4DTyGDdXX6pJ9Ya-E6sjlloLtM0/s1600/100_0077_edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcusSNp-oUIx3TrSqJXlJ_eSqTpcbtCPhROwwq_e5P-jI6RX18zBd5CLsJLvUiF6dsu4O0Tzdr1e2DXMXACSowE3G06i7Bc-lpjf0w5qMff8pY-EyCs4DTyGDdXX6pJ9Ya-E6sjlloLtM0/s200/100_0077_edited.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adriana proudly showed me how she makes her Teddy bear sing</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i><b>On the way home from the beach we stopped at my daughter Joan's house. I was really missing the kids.</b></i></span></span><br />
<i><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">You all know there has to be some drama in here somewhere right?</span></b></i><br />
<i><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So we got home Monday night; I went to work Tuesday morning and half way through my shift I could hardly move. Stomach pain. I swore my gall bladder had just blown up or something. I finished my shift (yes I am crazy like that) </span></b></i><br />
<i><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Then I went to my doctors office. She sent me for an ultrasound the next day at 7am (ugghh) and then I waited. At 3:00 she called and said to go to the ER. That was just a great experience. We arrived at 3:10pm and there was no one in the waiting room. We could not be that lucky! We left at 3am with a diagnosis of diverticulitis. It is not infected so I should be feeling better in a few days. I did not eat well while we were at the beach and I know better..oh well..So here we are at Friday again and I hope you will join our lovely host; Mrs.4444 here:<a href="http://www.halfpastkissintime.com/">www.halfpastkissintime.com </a></span></span></b></i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><b>You will not be disappointed!</b></i></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><b>When you are finished there be sure to stop by at Java's (if you are over 40) she is the host of Bloggers over 40 and you can find her and a lot of friends here:<a href="http://nevergrowingold.blogspot.com/">http://nevergrowingold.blogspot.com</a> </b></i></span></span></span><br />
<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We now have 4 winners of my quest to reach 300 followers..for every 10 new followers I will randomly choose a winner from my followers and comments..good luck everyone. If you are waiting for your prizes they are on the way..I was sidelined this week!</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I have a lot of behind the scenes exciting book stuff happening and cannot wait to share it with all of you!</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Have a positive and powerfull weekend..</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">P.S. I am just wondering if you still remember where you were when you heard the 9/11 news. Do you remember how you felt?</span> </span></i></b>Doreen McGettiganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11691803968607905576noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2321222986391081787.post-80262670474508498062010-09-03T05:59:00.000-07:002010-09-03T06:00:20.472-07:00Friday Fragments<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>Happy Friday Everybody! </b>I am celebrating one week and one day cigarette free. You might think I was like a chain smoker or something with the tough time I have been having. I smoked 5 a day. I knew I was going to be quitting and I just kept cutting down. Yesterday was the easiest day so far. I broke down and am using the gum. It really isn't that bad and it helps. I just keep telling myself I have already saved like $42.00 and Hubby is doing really well so together we saved $84.00.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">********************************************************************************************</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It looks like Earl is going to pass right on by I just checked our weather and we are 0% rain for the next 5 days. It is weird because it is all dark and gloomy looking outside.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">*********************************************************************************************</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I have not seen 1 of my grand children all week and I really miss them! I talked to 15 month old Adriana yesterday and yes she does talk. 15 month's old and she is putting 3 words together...her favorite "I got it"!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">She does have a 14 yr. old sister and a 7 yr. old brother; and they have been reading and talking to her since she was born. Of course when talking on the phone with her she likes to push the buttons too...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Baby Peyton is 3 month's old. I just cannot believe how fast the time goes.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">**********************************************************************************************</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It really does feel strange to have nothing traumatic to frag about. Michael is recovering quite well and Dominic is running on the foot he nearly lost a few month's ago. I am thankful it has been a boring week for a change.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I am still having my contest to try to get 300 followers. I lost 3 this week. I do not know why that makes me so sad; but it does.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">*********************************************************************************************</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I am off to work a very long day and then hopefully off to the beach for the weekend tonight!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Have a safe and happy holiday weekend everybody and do not forget to stop by and say hello to our host Mrs.4444 at<a href="http://www.halfpastkissintime.com/">www.halfpastkissintime.com</a> and when you are finished there stop by and see the beautiful Java and all of her friends at:<a href="http://nevergrowingold.blogspot.com/">nevergrowingold.blogspot.com</a> and remember "the doors we open and close everyday decide the lives we live" Flora Whitman </span></span>Doreen McGettiganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11691803968607905576noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2321222986391081787.post-6491864671694523972010-09-01T23:01:00.001-07:002010-09-01T23:01:11.812-07:00The McGettigan's go to Washington and more from "BRISTOL STOMP"<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We made it!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ2FiWn-V2_f_VI0u2Tc3vJeRFgzrG4AeMTQfQUc0_4oGA-MoaHO8zY2eYfTX-46hwYJs4i1eaE8Gi6AVUmwfp2fixvlKnlSJxByW8YfvzTrcnLFH4OTH6pAyDVgCMCpDql8JMFKwjT-wg/s1600/100_0040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ2FiWn-V2_f_VI0u2Tc3vJeRFgzrG4AeMTQfQUc0_4oGA-MoaHO8zY2eYfTX-46hwYJs4i1eaE8Gi6AVUmwfp2fixvlKnlSJxByW8YfvzTrcnLFH4OTH6pAyDVgCMCpDql8JMFKwjT-wg/s200/100_0040.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">President Lincoln looks so small here but he is really large..</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeGsrCswOYGZxG18PQPiVaicspvJB8yVPI3sLNa_HYUJoQC4FgTO9Z5ghTWONMvarpO2kmH1Mvsmd9veoStusZLajYA4Z-EnwZ49RM5fgvbMG6Jr792pXqEue1ukrU-9X66LDmCHstLZXE/s1600/100_0013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeGsrCswOYGZxG18PQPiVaicspvJB8yVPI3sLNa_HYUJoQC4FgTO9Z5ghTWONMvarpO2kmH1Mvsmd9veoStusZLajYA4Z-EnwZ49RM5fgvbMG6Jr792pXqEue1ukrU-9X66LDmCHstLZXE/s200/100_0013.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have never seen so many people in one place in my life and everybody was kind it was a bit strange in a very good way...</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">##########</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">##########################################################</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">## </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="color: black;">I did not make my goal of 300 follower's before the end of August. I am not discouraged and will continue the contest for as long as it takes. For every 10 new followers I will randomly pick a winner from all followers to win some awesome prizes! Good Luck everyone! I really do appreciate your support!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="color: red;">######################################################################</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I wrote "Bristol Stomp" at first because I was so angry. Then I just wanted what happened to my brother to never happen to anyone else. What I wrote is a narrative non-fiction. When I became serious about giving this book to the world, I decided it would be MY story. I decided I would be completely honest which was fine for the bad people in the book but it was hard to give my truth but I think I accomplished it because once the first book rolls off the press I am going to feel completely naked. I will have no secrets. I gave a copy of the book to everyone in my family to read 7 month's ago. I wanted them to check my accuracy. I also wanted to know how they felt. I recently got blasted for something in the book that a relative felt was their private information. I <i>never</i> want to hurt anybody; but it is the story I have chosen to tell. I am hurt that I was just hearing about this now when the copies had been given out so long ago. I think a few more people will be upset before it is all over but I was not going to write a true story and not tell the truth..</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: red;">#######################################################################</span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">More from "BRISTOL STOMP"...</span></b> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> I was worrying about the trial. I was convincing myself I would feel better when at least some justice was served. I was so angry there had still been no other arrest.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> I also wondered what it felt like to be Jimmy Galione’s mother. To know that the son you carried in your belly and gave life to, loved and took such good care of, took someone’s life. What would it feel like to know your son took the claw end of a hammer and slammed it into a man’s head over and over while that man was pleading for him to stop, begging for his life? <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> I wondered what it would be like if it had been my son. What if I got that phone call saying your son has just been arrested, for murder? He grew up with these people. What if he still hung around with them? I would start to feel sorry for Jimmy’s mother and his father. His sisters Angela and Michelle, they did not deserve to have a murderer for a brother. I really did try to feel sorry for them but the truth was they were in denial. They were lying for their son and telling him to lie. That fact made me hate them. If it was me I would have told my son to be a man and tell the truth. I mentioned these thoughts to my son and he convinced me there was a difference. He said there was a reason he no longer hung out with them. He also said he just could never hurt anyone like that. I believed him. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> I also realized had anything like that ever happened with my son I would still love him. I would also have compassion for the victim’s family. On the other hand at that point I did not feel sorry for Jerry Reeves parents. I knew he had been in trouble before. He was definitely <o:p></o:p>troubled. I heard he had hit his girlfriend’s father over the head with a heavy frying pan. That kind of anger does not happen overnight. Why hadn’t his parents done anything about his violent behavior? They had to have seen his anger escalating. Maybe it was because I didn’t know them. I didn’t know Jerry when he was a little boy. I thanked God my <i>son </i>was not a murderer. I thanked God my kids were all kind people. I made a mental not to never again complain about anything they ever did. At least they were not killers. I had to fight all this anger and hatred I felt because I did not want my kids to become consumed with hatred.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I was forced to think about my opinion of the death penalty. I do not think I had an opinion at that time. It was not something I wanted to think about, ever. The owner of the Levittown News World, a little store in Fairless Hills that Dave and I frequented said if this had happened in his country they would march the guilty down the middle of the street and everyone would do unto them what had been done to Dave. What a pleasant thought if only for a moment. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> I tried to imagine myself with a hammer and a bat just pounding away at <i>them. </i> An eye for an eye it is in the bible, right? The truth is I could not do it. The thought of hurting <i>anyone </i>like that made me sick to my stomach. I thought about the atrocities in foreign countries. It was just not right. However, was the death penalty right? I concluded, in my mind it was. I also concluded it is not right the way it is in now, in America. It is a joke. It takes too long. Then there is the issue of mental competence. Should you be excluded from the death penalty if you are mentally retarded? Should you be excluded if you are mentally ill? What if you are a minor and you kill? I believe every legal step should be taken to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. It should just be done faster. I must admit the thought of this whole <i>gang</i> sitting on death row was a pleasant one. Waiting day after day wondering if this would be the day. Would that be torturous? I hoped so. David was tortured. I hoped they heard Dave’s pleas in their sleep. I hoped they felt his warm blood splattering on their faces. I hoped every time they closed their eyes they saw baby Michael’s innocent little eyes. I wanted them to feel every pain David had felt.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I wanted to know what David felt. How do you even imagine laying in a driveway and getting hit with the claw end of a hammer and kicked in the head with boots and punched all over your body? I tried to imagine his pain. I tried to imagine what was going through his mind. I couldn’t imagine. I still can’t. I just prayed that David lost consciousness quickly and was asleep.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> I remembered in the hospital the nurse telling me Dave’s kidney’s were smashed, his liver was torn, his leg was broken, his arm was broken, his hand was broken, his fingers were broken and he had several skull fractures. Dave was a big man. I tried to imagine how hard you have to hit someone to break a bone. To break a thick bone, like Dave’s. When I would have these thoughts, it was just for a minute or two. I couldn’t bare more then that. I would get<o:p></o:p> nauseous then I would feel guilty. I wondered if anyone else in my family was being tortured by these thoughts but I could never get the words out.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span>Doreen McGettiganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11691803968607905576noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2321222986391081787.post-21258297001427429482010-08-26T22:52:00.000-07:002010-08-26T22:56:42.577-07:00Friday Fragments...I could not be more fragmented this week if I tried. I worked a crazy lot of hours taking care of other peoples old people..I'm supposed to be working 15 hours a week (because of my injuries from an accident) I think I trippled those hours this week. I will be very happy on pay day!<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">We have now had 3 winners chosen for my goal of 300 followers; for every 10 new followers I will randomly pick a winner from all followers; I really appreciate all of your support and wish you luck in winning some of the awesome prizes(((HUGS)))..we are very close to choosing #4</span> <br />
I quit smoking. That is it I am done! Of course I just forgot and went to get one..but they are gone..please pray for me..send me strength..I know I can do it. Hubby is quitting too so we are in this together. I have to think of something else now.. <br />
<a name='more'></a> <span style="font-size: small;">We will be headed to Washington, DC tomorrow morning and we will be spending the weekend! It seems like forever (well actually it has been forever) since hubby and I just rolled...</span> The weather is supposed to be perfect! I have not been this excited about something for a while. It has been a rough summer. <br />
We will be attending a Rally on<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My alter ego/the biker chick!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table> Saturday and then sight seeing and probably lots of eating because I WILL NOT SMOKE!<br />
I probably will not stop by to visit you all until Monday Night..but before the week is out I will be here <a href="http://www.halfpastkissintime.com/">www.halfpastkissintime.com</a> to visit our wonderful Friday Fragment's host; Mrs.4444 and then I will be by to visit Java and all her friends at <a href="http://nevergrowingold.blogspot.com/">http://nevergrowingold.blogspot.com</a> for Follow Friday (over 40)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is how we roll...</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brotherly Love/ Lance and Louie my precious moment of the week; these guys are so funny they do everything together/hubby says they are co-dependent and I guess they are !</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: 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</tbody></table><span style="color: yellow;">;</span>Doreen McGettiganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11691803968607905576noreply@blogger.com17