Missing Guns

Guns Missing from HPD Property Room
11:25 PM CDT on Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Guns that were supposed to be secured under lock and key at the Houston Police Department have gone missing. As many as 19 guns are missing and may have been stolen from the department’s property room.

In all 21 guns actually went missing and are believed to be back on the streets. That’s because in February and March, two of them were actually found.

An audit found that 21 guns went missing from the Houston Police Department's evidence property room. Two of the guns were used in other crimes after they disappeared from HPD custody.

One on a suspect during a routine traffic stop. The other during a drug bust, which really frustrates police.

Video

And yet… people don’t understand why we choose to live prepared.

There are about 18,000 guns inside HPD's property room. The facility is now being managed by an HPD captain and lieutenant.

The investigation will include interviews with dozens of civilians that have been working in the property room.

I don't know how to say exactly how I feel

I'm lost for words...

Is there a way to show the passion in my heart...

Four Stages Of Life

This about sums it up!

A bit on Mental Illness,

Ok people... "Houston may be a long walk from where you live", but... there are other Nami Walks available in other cities. There are other avenues, you could; join a walk in your own city/state, sponsor me, donate in your own city/state or bring awareness to the cause in various other ways... Grading the States 2006: Take Action

Mental illnesses are medical conditions that disrupt a person’s thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others, and daily functioning. Just as diabetes is a disorder of the pancreas, mental illnesses are medical conditions that often result in a diminished capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life.

Serious mental illnesses include major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and borderline personality disorder. The good news about mental illness is that recovery is possible.

Mental Illness Facts

With all the latest shooting; Virginia Tech, NASA Johnson Space Center and the Houston Resident, *(these are only the most recent ones, we have so many more that we can list...) the one thing all these shooters had in common; Mental Illness. Some people stand a chance to be reached, some don't, but we should at least try to help those that can be helped. If someone is at risk to injure themselves, they are possibly at risk to injure and hurt others as well.

I work at an in-patient mental health facility, The Menninger Clinic and I have come to see Mental Illness in a new light. I have a new understanding or a new outlook when I see that one homeless woman or man that sits there talking to himself, or when I see that teenager, dressed all in black, being "a loner". Or even when I see that single mother of five, that has been through an abusive marriage and the children act out the only thing they have known for the last 17 years, cussing at their mother, yelling obscenities to her and the mother being so depressed to a point of "looking for a way out". It hits me hard, this is just one way for me to reach out and help. I don't sit on the side of the table where I can counsel or assist a patient here at the clinic, but if, me walking a mere 3 miles, to raise money, to bring awareness can be a small drop in the bucket... then this is just my small contribution to what I hope will be a start to many more contributions on my behalf.

I am proud to add that my 22 year old son called me yesterday and he has requested the day off to join me in my walk to help bring awareness to this illness. He wants to make a difference, all of these recent tragedies has made him think seriously about his own life and those of his friends.

Without treatment the consequences of mental illness for the individual and society are staggering: unnecessary disability, unemployment, substance abuse, homelessness, inappropriate incarceration, suicide and wasted lives; The economic cost of untreated mental illness is more than 100 billion dollars each year in the United States.

We Remember

Ross Abdallah Alameddine
Christopher James Bishop
Brian Roy Bluhm
Ryan Christopher Clark
Austin Michelle Cloyd
Jocelyne Couture-Nowak
Kevin P. Granata
Matthew Gregory Gwaltney
Caitlin Millar Hammaren
Jeremy Michael Herbstritt
Rachael Elizabeth Hill
Emily Jane Hilscher
Jarrett Lee Lane
Matthew Joseph La Porte
Henry J. Lee
Liviu Librescu
G.V. Loganathan
Partahi Mamora Halomoan Lumbantoruan
Lauren Ashley McCain
Daniel Patrick O'Neil
Juan Ramon Ortiz-Ortiz
Minal Hiralal Panchal
Daniel Alejandro Perez
Erin Nicole Peterson
Michael Steven Pohle, Jr.
Julia Kathleen Pryde
Mary Karen Read
Reema Joseph Samaha
Waleed Mohamed Shaalan
Leslie Geraldine Sherman
Maxine Shelly Turner
Nicole White

*More details about victims

David Beverly - NASA Communications Supervisor

Laura Schoellmann - Houston Apartment Manager

In no way do I mean to leave out anyone that is dear to someone that might have lost their life/lives due to some deranged or troubled individual, but listing all those lives lost as in 9/11 would take an immense blogging endeavor.

My immense love and respect and prayers to all who have lost their lives, and their families, due to mental illness.

A Long Awaited Good-Bye

to a past far behind me

Who can forget, (I know I never will!!!) the infamous elevator that had me hostage on my own birthday on 4/13/06, for about 45 minutes??? LOL! Goodbye!!! Good Riddance!!!

I can imagine my past looking for a slowdown...

*NOTE TO MY PAST: Don't Look for a Slowdown. I won't even be tapping on the brakes as I'm driving away...

Settle For a Slowdown

Dierks Bentley

I must look just like a fool here
in the middle of the road

standing there in your rearview

and getting soaked to the bone

this land is flat as it is mean

a man can see for a hundred miles

So im still praying I might see

the glow of a brake light.

But your wheels just turn,

down the road ahead

If it hurts at all

you aint showed it yet

I keep a lookin' for

the slightest sign that you might miss

what you left behind

I know there's nothing stopping you now

but I'd settle for a slowdown.

I held on longer then I should

Leaving you might change your mind

those bright lights of Hollywood

would fade in time.

But your wheels just turn

down the road ahead

If it hurts at all

you aint showed it yet

I keep a lookin' for

the slightest sign

that you might miss

what you left behind

I know there's nothing stopping you now

but I'd settle for a slowdown.

But your wheels just turn

down the road ahead

if it hurts at all

you aint showed it yet

your just a tiny dot on that horizon line come on tap those brakes

baby just one time

I know there's nothing stopping you now

Im not asking you to turn back around

I'd settle for a slowdown

come on just slow down

I'd settle for a slow down.

My path ahead is a long awaited one and I am walking forward with no fears, no questionsbut with open arms and praise for this chance of a new beginning... I don't know what lies ahead, but I do know, it is brighter than where I came from...

I'm home!!!

Philosophies of Bruce Lee

The rich and varied journey of life, encompassing all opposites, connecting all things. The Great Journey is full of blessings for the person who has the eyes to see.

Because he believes in himself,
He doesn’t try to convince others.
Because he is content with himself,
He doesn’t need other’s approval.
Because he accepts himself,
The whole world accepts him.

We possess a pair of eyes, the function of which is to observe, to discover, etc. Yet many of us simply do not really see in the true sense of the word. I must say that when the eyes are used externally to observe the inevitable faults of other beings, most of us are rather quick with readily equipped condemnation. For it is easy to criticize and break down the spirit of others, but to know yourself takes maybe a lifetime. To take responsibility of one’s actions, good and bad, is something else. After all, knowledge simply means self-knowledge.

Children See

Birthdays

Well, another year, another birthday… What have I learned…? Well, a lot!!! LOL!!!

The biggest thing that I have learned in the last year that has made a HUGE impact in my life………………

I’m MEXICAN!!!! Yep!!! People, it’s true!!! I never knew! I always thought I was White!!! I use to always tell people I was “Whitified”!!! You can only imagine the shock that came over me when Porta’s Cat told me I was Mexican! It’s kind of like the movie, Ice Age the Meltdown, when the female Mammoth thought she was a possum and then told her true identity!!! I was crushed!!! But I am learning to accept the inevitable!!! Although, I claim Mexican – AMERICAN!!! LMAO!!! That dear friends, is what I learned this last year. Well, I’ve learned more than that…. But that was probably the most impacting experience for me.
In the last six/seven years; I was in the habit of celebrating birthdays for a whole week. It was fun…just little things I would do for myself every day. This year, that didn’t happen, things have been rather hectic with the move coming up. Oh well, I figured at 6 am this morning that my new KIA Sorento was my gift to myself… LOL!!! I’ll have to post a picture of it soon.

As far as Mexican Birthday traditions, I also learned the following little tid-bit. PC, you’ll enjoy this one!!! Mexican Birthday Tradition. I can vouch for this tradition, as I have pictures to prove when it’s been done to me or my kids. Don’t go to a Mexican Restaurant, you never know what’s coming your way!

One other tradition that will stay with me forever, and I look forward to is the tradition of playing the song "Las Mañanitas".

Estas son Las manañitas
(These are the morning songs)
que cantaba el Rey David.
(that King David sang.)
Hoy por ser día de tu santo
(For today to be the day of your saint)
te las cantamos así.
(we sing to you like this.)
¡Despierta, mi bien, despierta!
(Wake up, my dear. Wake up!)
Mira que ya amaneció.
(See that it is already dawn...)
Qué linda está la mañana en que vengo a saludarte...
(How beautiful is the morning in which I come to greet you...

I cry every time we play it for my mom on her birthday. It’s always been a tradition to play it for her since my dad passed away. He had hired Mariachis to come out to the house and wake her to the beautiful song in the wee hours of the morning.
Ahhhhhhh….. traditions… always nice.

Light Blogging for the next month

No, I'm not on vacation... (one could only wish LOL...) Between the new job, many late hours at work in the last three months, looking for a new place, and dreading the "move"... but "Oh Sooooo Anticipating" the start of a New Life and a New Beginning to what is evident of a blissful existance!!!

Now that PC has made his move, it's my turn... my turn to pack my belongings and move myself, in the midst of having back problems again... It's been a painful experience again, this is not helpful during a move. I was diagnosed with two bulging discs almost a year ago, one possibly ruptured. They said the problem was in my L4, L5 and S1. To boot it all, I'm not being your typical text book case, my pain starts at my ankle and heel and travels up my leg to my back... go figure, I knew I wasn't normal!!! All I know is that it's been extremely painful, but I buck up and keep on truckin'!! I have to! There's no room for whining, or atleast not too much of it!! LOL... I am woman, hear me roar!!!! "meow".... I finally couldn't take the pain this week-end and I made my way in to see my chiropractor yesterday and also the massage therapist, I am not 100% cured, but it's not as painful to walk. I still fear that first step I take after I've been sitting for a while. PC was very helpful last night and ran me through some excercises to start strengthening my lower back muscles. Thank you PC...



Since Maxine didn't show up yesterday, here she is now, in all her GLORY, to say it like it is...according to my mood! LOL...








Time to forge on to the packing and moving...

NO BUNNY, NO JELLY BEANS -- A NATION ON VACATION

Well, Porta's Cat posted a blog about Rediscovering His Czech Roots traditions for Easter.... well, looking in to my roots, I sadly don't see anything similar to his traditions. *I won't lie, but I was hoping that there would be something that I could counter attack on his tradition, sadly to say, there was not. So... the following is what I found... pay particular attention to what is referred to as a "Gringo custom"... lol...

No Bunny, No Jelly Beans - A Nation On Vacation

What you won’t see in Mexico at Easter time, except perhaps in giant urban supermarkets, will be any sign of the Easter Bunny. No jelly beans, marshmallow chickens, cellophane grass, Easter baskets or colored eggs either. These are strictly Gringo customs that, despite NAFTA, have so far, failed to make it across the border.

On the other hand, what you will find is an entire nation on vacation. While students north of the border take a Spring Break holiday scheduled at some random time in March or April, nearly everyone in Mexico is granted time off from work or school during Holy Week. Mexican schools are generally closed for the entire two-week period comprising Semana Santa and Semana de Pascua--Holy Week and Easter Week. Many employees are also allowed one or two weeks vacation time at Easter. From Maundy Thursday through Easter Sunday you’ll find most government offices and banks close their doors and, with the exception of those who work in the tourist industry, virtually all workers are granted time off.

What does Love mean?

I got this in an email this morning from Mi Latina Voz, so a big HT to her for the blogging material for the day... Aren't we all trying to find out the meaning of Love? I think kids have such innocense about them, that we should take heed to their meaning of Love...

A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 Year-olds, "What does love mean?"


The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have Imagined.

See what you think:
____

"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her Toenails anymore.

So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love."

Rebecca- age 8
"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different.
You just know that your name is safe in their mouth."

Billy - age 4
"Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other."

Karl - age 5
"Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs."

Chrissy - age 6
"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired."

Terri - age 4
"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK."

Danny - age 7
"Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, You still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss"

Emily - age 8
"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen."

Bobby - age 7 (Wow!)
"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who
You hate,"

Nikka - age 6
(we need a few million more Nikka's on this planet) _____
"Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday."

Noelle - age 7
"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well."

Tommy - age 6
"Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken."

Elaine - age 5
"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford."

Chris - age 7
"Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day."

Mary Ann - age 4
"I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones."

Lauren - age 4
"When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you." (what an image)

Karen - age 7
"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross."

Mark - age 6
"You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget."

Jessica - age 8
And the final one --

Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child.

The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boySaid, "Nothing, I just helped him cry"

FOR SALE 2002 LIBERATOR MFSLTA

With all respect to the brothers out in California and to Tejano. This was rcvd in my email yesterday and I'm posting it instead of passing along in email.

One owner bought new in 2002, motorcycle was built to the same specifications as the 1999 Springer Heritage FLSTS with all Harley Davidson parts with the exception of what Harley doesn't sell or make to give the bike the World War II WLA Retro look.

Frame, pipes, floor boards & saddle bags from Midwest Motorcycle Supply, Mustang seat , dash cover & custom made Dwag covers for the highway bar.

Motorcycle had additional detailing done three years ago adding to the Retro WLA look (powder coated inner/outer primary, transmission covers, oil pump & ignition cover).

Performance improvements include Jet Coating to exhaust system, Scream'n Eagle EV-13 cam, Scream'n Eagle pushrods, Dyno-Jet Re-calibration and changed the rear 65 tooth pulley & belt to a 70 tooth pulley and matching belt with new tires giving the bike excellent low-end mid-range torque, great for cruising!

Tires, belt and pulley change at 7000 miles. Engine enhancements done at 4000 miles by Dillon Brother Harley Davidson. All metal parts are powder coated, durable and no polishing needing here.

Fluids are changed annually no matter what, bike is always garaged and during the
winter season the bike is parked in the family room of our house.

Additional parts include: Sissy bar passenger seat / luggage rack combo, Dwag highway bar covers, teardrop tool box, passenger foot boards , Battery Tender Jr., and 1999 Harley Davidson Softail Service Manual (Army Ruck Sac not included).


Contact me at: tcharter@neb.rr.com if you have any questions or want more pictures, including picture proof of the bike being parked in our house during the winter. A fun bike to ride, always a head turner and a great conversation piece. Award winner in two bike shows.

I'm starting school at Grace University this Fall and need the financial aide.

Special thanks to anyone who passes this on.
-- "The O C" Bikers for Christ: In HIS name we ride..............

5 Things About Cellphones

This is brought to you with the thought of what was read over at Suzanne Speaks, Did I Say That? I definitely have been included on some conversations that should have been kept private!

1. If you're talking on your cellphone in an elevator and you plummet to your death, is that a dropped call?

2. Under what circumstances do cell users in Buffalo roam?

3. Your phone can take pictures, play games and surg the Net - why can't it explain why your $49-a-month plan consistently costs $119?

4. If a cellphone rings in the woods, does it annoy anyone?

5. Remember when it was conisdered adequate multitasking to walk and chew gum?

Cellphone Madness

The Panasonic P2102V

A New Addition To Sugar Cat

After much contemplation and praying, I have created a new blog, one that will help me personally with my continued journey in my faith and hopefully touch some lives that may read it as well... It's been up since February, and I originally started announcing it at that time, but something deep inside was telling me to hold off until I got a grasp of where I was going with it. It's still in the work in progress phase, but I'm working on it. Another side to Sugar Cat... I'm opening up here, but I have been very blessed in the last two years, extremely blessed, more than I even deserve. I'm very thankful for where my life is right now, very thankful and very happy...

Whatever It Is, God Is Bigger

Jesus turned around and said to her, "Daughter, be encouraged! Your faith has made you well." And the woman was healed at that moment.

Mathew 9:22 NLT

*It's still in the process of being shaped and formed, comments are always welcomed.

Maxine Monday

A minister was completing a Temperance sermon. With great emphasis he said, "If I had all the beer in the world, I'd take it and pour it into the river." With even greater emphasis he said, "And if I had all the wine in the world, I'd take it and pour it into the river." And then finally, shaking his fist in the air, he said, "And if I had all the whiskey in the world, I'd take it and pour it into the river." Sermon complete, he sat down.

The song leader stood very cautiously and announced with a smile, nearly laughing, "For our closing song, let us sing Hymn #365, "Shall We Gather at the River."