My Three grandSONs

Cohen didn't want his picture taken.

Sandler did.

RJ really didn't care.

Thanks to all of you who post with your pictures. Thanks to Carol for my Christmas present, I can do the same. (And, thanks to Mr. Eastman Kodak! *George Eastman registered the trademark Kodak on September 4, 1888. The Eastman Kodak Company was founded in 1892. The company is incorporated in New Jersey but has its offices in Rochester, New York. George Eastman, Kodak's founder, coined the advertising slogan, "You press the button, we do the rest.") ~ "we" being "us." :-)

Please continue posting your "Kodak" moments.

The Happy Pill

I must be mean and nasty on the phone at work when I talk to mean and nasty, crooked licensed or unlicensed contractors, who lie, cheat and deceive the public and then try it with me on the phone.........(I once told such a person on the phone, "I learned what B.S. smelled like when I was 12 yrs old. I haven't forgotten it. He agreed and was honest with me.)

Today I ended a phone call trying to resolve a "money owing case" between two licensed contractors and a co-worker said, "Wow Ron, that was an impressive way to resolve that issue! Did you take a "happy pill" this morning?" The other co-workers and I enjoyed a good laugh.

I know I can sound grumpy and mean when I don't intend to come across that way. (I took a phone etiquette class one time, but I enjoyed conflict resolution better.)

Maybe I can take a happy pill every day? ?

The "F" word!

OK all you potty-mouthed adult bloggers, the F stands for Frustration. This could've been me today after court and then later in the day, during a telephone conversation with the same assistant district attorney. I had court this morning, scheduled for 8:30. I'll spare you the very detailed details, but suffice it to say, I dealt with a barely-out-of-law-school assistant D/A that wasn't to enthusiastic and *a witness who wasn't there. Case did not go forward with prosecution. I walked out feeling a lack of support from the District Attorney's office.

Later in the day I had a telephone call from this same assistant D/A. She had told me their investigator hadn't followed up with the subpoena service and *Larry was never on the witness list like he should have been. "We dropped the ball. Sorry." Oh that helped!

Then she told me the real reason for calling me; another of my cases scheduled for tomorrow will probably not be going. Something to do with one of my witnesses having a different story than what he told me during my meeting with him. Our conversation went on with it not looking good and at one point I actually told her, "I'm biting my tongue right now." Then she said, "We'll get him another day, on one we can prosecute" This guy has thirteen prior criminal cases and five prior convictions. He rips people off for a living. He belongs in prison. He's the one awaiting parole revocation. He's the one who's been in jail since mid October, 2008. I have an idea how that will go now. I hope the parole officer has good charges cause my case suddenly went sour.

I'm no longer frurstated, I didn't spend three months in jail and I will not lose sleep over this, trust me. :-)

Happy B-day(s) Linda, Stacie & Camille

I made a birthday cake for you three ladies. (I hit two separate stores to find enough candles.) I wish I could cut and serve everyone a piece. Trust me, it no doubt tastes good.

Maybe I should've asked Lindsay to make it!?

Find 'em, call 'em, cite 'em

I had the pleasure to have had personal contact with a few unlicensed 'contractors' today, as part of my job assignment. ~ not quite as pictured above ~ while doing a reverse sting operation. Without divulging much detail, suffice it to say, a few who advertised, bragged about and touted their expertise and knowledge of electrical work (in their selfish interest to make money off the naive & trusting homeowner) will now have to face reality- get licensed or quit doin' it and quite possibly, stand before a criminal court judge. (And they can't lie to themselves any longer.) Another part of my plan today was also successful; I was able to "legally identify" one such know-it-all-cry-baby-fake-electrician who I had met one of his victims only one day prior. Submitting that victim's case (who has M/S) will now be much easier. He is the 'classic' example of why my job position was originally developed. He was like a live cartoon character. I halfway thought I'd find Playskool Tools in his van if I looked. I wanted to smack him in the back of his head and tell him, "That's for victim so and so." *Note: I'm not against anyone putting food on the table, just don't take advantage of others to do it!!

blogging is Too Cool

NO, this isn't a cigarette advertisement. As I scrolled through endless pictures of family & friends, some near but most far away while "blog hopping," it donned on me how COOL this blogging stuff really is! Thanks to all who put pictures on and find time to "post" regularly! Maybe it's a sign of the times? Soon we'll be home/visiting-teaching via the Internet? No, wait, this won't work. You have to visit in person to bring goodies. :-)

Your favorite things?

Remember Julie Andrews (aka Carol S. ) singing the song My Favorite Things? Just the fact that it was written tells me we all have "downs" in our lives, why else would such a song be written? As I watched the Spoken Word this morning, (its main message was life's problems) I thought of how our problems are all unique to each of us, and no, I don't want to trade places with anyone. The wealthy rock star, golf pro, or movie star may appear to have fantastic lives, but I can't help but wonder what problems they have. (Sure it would fun to live a lavish life style.) This doesn't diminish mine, but as part of this morning's message, it has been said, "If we took our problems and hung them on the clothes line and make them visible like our laundry, I'd take mine over yours."

I gotta wonder if my problems are magnified because of my age. When I was younger I could say, "Some day . . . ." My "some days" are getting fewer. I see that life itself is a mixture of simplicity and problems, both big and small. Problems have always been there they've only changed over the years. Those "favorite" things in that song? 'raindrops on roses . . . and warm woolen mittens'? Albeit nice, these aren't mine. Like problems, we also have our own favorite things. Mine are: family, especially the Monkey Boys, reading, quiet times with Carol, football on TV, bike riding on quiet roads and on and on and on. Just felt like exposing a portion of my mind before it's totally gone. (or is this too late?)

Note: This not a contest, no drawing or prizes, and certainly not a slam to those who have contests & drawings!!! ~ I hope this isn't a problem for anyone. :-)