Got coffee?

*Yawn*
It's 230 in the freaking morning and I woke up itching, all thanks to the bugs coming in through the window screen. HOT. That's what I love about this town in the summer time. INTENSE heat. Blood sucking bugs. Ice cream. Swimming. Trains.

Trains?

Horns blaring again and I click over to The Bakersfield Californian to read up on the latest news. Another article abt the Train problem that we've been having.

Obnoxious train noises are here to stay

Some people don't appreciate loud train noises.

You know, the ones the trains blow to warn people they are coming.

A meeting was held Thursday on whether there are more quiet, gentler train noises. And would they work.

Yes there are alternatives, but they are expensive and might expose the city to even more expensive lawsuits in case someone gets whacked because they didn't hear them.

I'm guessing people who complain live near railroad crossings. They might have wanted to check that out before they moved there.

Here's my take on all this. Of all the things the city has to worry about, this shouldn't be one of them.

Reasonable people want trains to make loud noises. So people can hear them!

Feel free to comment your opinion of train noises.

And how about those airplane noises? And speedway noises? And crybabies (I don't know how that popped into my head).

My response?

For 30 plus years, I've lived close enough to the tracks and the noise never, and I mean NEVER bothered me until laws changed and I moved to the downtown area (between 1200-1400 Chester Ave & L st). We've lost count on how many times (72) that a train would blare that horn for LONGER than 20 seconds. What happened to the 'toot-toot'? What's with the laying on the horn business? See??? Here it is; 2:13AM in the morning and a train is going by right now with it's horn being laid on. I feel for the lady that lives over on 1400 block of K st. And never mind abt having those officals on the committee that the choose to investigate the problem. Will they come to the area and knock on the doors of people that live along the way and ask: DO YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH TRAIN HORNS? Think their going to do anything? One person in mind, didn't see anything wrong with the trains horns when the law passed in 05. Does she live next or close to a track or, better yet, do ANY of the members on the committee live close to one?
I doubt it.

GULITY!!!!

11:55pm it was announced.

GUILTY
The Bakersfield Californian Tuesday, May 15 2007 11:32 AM
Last Updated: Tuesday, May 15 2007 11:54 AM
Vincent Brothers was found guilty today of killing his wife, three children and mother-in-law in July 2003.

Verdict reached in Brothers trial
Brothers wept quietly as the verdict was read.
The jury took four days to find Brothers guilty of killing his wife, Joanie Harper; their three children, Marques, Lyndsey and Marshall; and Joanie Harper’s mother, Earnestine.
Brothers was also found guilty of the special circumstance of committing multiple murders.
What’s next Brothers is now eligible for the death penalty.
The prosecution and defense will present evidence during the second phase of the trial, known as the penalty phase. The prosecution will argue that Brothers deserves to die and the defense that he should live.
The jurors will again deliberate and make a decision.
Unlike the guilt phase of the trial, the attorneys can present evidence about the kind of person the former vice principal is. The prosecution will likely argue that the heinous nature of the crimes means Brothers deserves to die.
The defense will likely argue that Brothers was a productive member of society, is well educated and is a good person.
The prosecutor’s case Brothers’ family was found dead on July 8, 2003. Detectives investigated the case for many months and arrested Brothers in April 2004, and he was charged with the murders.
Deputy District Attorney Lisa Green believes Brothers flew to Ohio to see the brother he has rarely seen or spoken to in the last decade on July 2, 2003, as a cover for the murders.
The prosecutor believes Brothers rented a car in Ohio and drove that car back to Bakersfield and killed his family on Sunday, July 6, 2003 in their home at Third and P streets.
Each of the family members was shot to death and Joanie Harper was stabbed seven times.
An FBI agent testified that only someone close to the family would have committed the murders because no one else would have motive to kill a baby who could not be a witness.
The prosecutor believes Brothers ambushed the family while most of them were napping after church and lunch, sneaking into the house through the garage.
Green argued Brothers killed his family to relieve himself of the financial burden of caring for them.
The prosecutor presented evidence that Brothers cheated on his wife and was a cold and unloving husband and father.
Many women testified that they had a sexual relationship with Brothers while he was married.
Family testimony Family friends testified that Brothers did not attend the birth of two of his children and was not involved in their lives until the months before their deaths.
Some of Earnestine Harper’s children who live out of town traveled to Bakersfield to watch part of the testimony.
Joanie Harper’s friend Michelle Baptiste watched much of the trial after she testified.
Brothers testified in his own defense during the trial. He said he was traveling around the Midwest when his family was killed.
He said he loved his wife and children and had no reason to kill them.
His family testified that he was devastated when he learned his family died, vomiting, crying and almost collapsing.

Defense arguments

Brothers’ attorney Michael Gardina has argued that the police never investigated
any other suspects and focused on Brothers even when evidence showed he wasn’t
in California at the time of the killings.

The defense has argued that no trace or DNA evidence linked Brothers to the crime.
The gun that killed the family was never found.
Gardina has also argued that the house was in a bad neighborhood and has said other witnesses saw suspicious people around the Harper house around the time of the killings.
But Kern County Superior Court Judge Michael Bush ruled the defense did not have enough evidence to present this theory to the jury.
The defense also argued that Brothers did not have the time to drive across country and kill his family.

Brothers’ background

Brothers was a vice principal at Fremont School and his wife worked security at
another school.
He came from a poor family, but rose to become a
respected member of the community and a role model for the students at his
school.
His mother attended the trial after she finished testifying, and two
of his sisters
also watched parts of the trial.
Brothers has one living
child, Margaret Marie Kern-Brothers. She also sat in the audience for some of
the testimony.

Let's make it easy. Judge; send him to the fucking gas chamber. Let's do away with this piece of trash and save our tax dollars for something else.

Got gas? I do

the fartsy type; yes. The liquid that comes out of the pump and into your car?

No.

What the hell is going on?

We're planning our trip to Southern California (Oceanside) where my brother-in-law and his partner are exchanging vows to one another in wedded bliss! Gas prices are rocketing up! and I wasn't aware of it. Here, I ride the bus everyday and without knowing the prices are outrageously expensive (thanks to Arnold and George) that, we're paying out the ass.

Christ; you might as well, bend over and take it up the butt.

Battle with the train is still on.

This morning as I lyed in bed (at 2:15 am) counted 4 trains that went through downtown within 30 minutes and blew their horn. Crap. I swear someone needs to stuff a few pillows in their horns to shut them up. What's the purpose of blowing for so long? Think there's homeless folks, down there on the tracks, sleeping on a few spikes? I don't think so.

Not my cousin!!!!!!

Holy shit.

I signed onto my myspace acct to read the latest with various ppl in my family, only to read my second cousins blog. Not only is he and his wife expecting a baby but, he was JUST diagnosed with Gastric cancer.

WTF???

Ok So here it is....I was diagnosed with Gastric cancer. I still am coming to terms with it myself. Stomach Cancer....Really? Are you sure I asked her? Me? I mean I know I've had some swallowing issues but is it cancer? It doesn't hurt all the time...it only hurts when food gets stuck. Cancer....I mean is it my name on that piece of paper you're reading to me? Hmm...yeah thats me alright thats my name. Ok Doctor thank you. Thank you....thanks for telling me I guess...hard to be polite about something like that.
Here it goes.....so far as I know treatment will go something like this.....I start Chemotherapy next Thursday. Chemo for 3 months. Surgery after I recover some and then Chemo for another 3 months. That should get rid of it. Thats what they tell me.

Heres the answers to the questions you're likely asking:

I don't have a prognosis...they don't yet know what my chances are as I'm still in Staging (testing) phase.......HOWEVER.

CT Scan today showed one tumor very localized not spread allover and very small. It seems I've won the Cancer Lottery.


Surgery is likely going to remove some of the parts of my innards that I am very attached to....part of my esophagus and maybe some stomach.....feeding tube for awhile and have to relearn how to eat....but surgery more to follow in 3 to 4 months.

His blog link is listed on the right hand side; Josh Fredrick.

Cancer 1, People 0

Bakersfield lost another blogger just this week.

Vicki Cheetwood-Moore

It's really sad that she lost her battle with Cancer. I've been reading her blog everyday since it was started by her mother few months ago and I truly hope that photos of her service will be posted.

Vicki Cheatwood-Moore

May 3, 1970 - May 9, 2007


A Celebration of Vicki's Life will be held Wed. May 16, 2007 at 10am at Valley Baptist Church
4800 Fruitvale Avenue, Bakesfield, Ca 93308


Graveside Services to follow at Greenlawn
3700 River Blvd., Bakersfield, Ca 93305

As this is a celebration of Vicki's life and not a mouring of her death we ask that traditional "funeral" apparel not be worn, but cheerful colors and clothing to celebrate the fun, beauty and vibrancy of her life.

In lieu of flowers, Vic's family suggests donations in her memory to:
Hoffman Hospice
5300 California Ave, Bakersfield, CA 93309
(661) 716-1600

"Whenever a good child dies, an angel of God comes down from heaven, takes the dead child in his arms, spreads out his great white wings, and flies with him over all the places which the child had loved during his life. Then he gathers a large handful of flowers, which he carries up to the Almighty, that they may bloom more brightly in heaven than they do on earth. And the Almighty presses the flowers to His heart, but He kisses the flower that pleases Him best, and it receives a voice, and is able to join the song of the chorus of bliss.”

SpeedRacer

It's been several weeks since I've attempted to ride my step-son's bike, both too and from work. Mind you, I've not ridden a bike for over 20 yrs for a long period of time. Sure I rode our home to the down town terminal, which is just a short 8 blocks. Placed it on the bike-rack on the bus and bus'd the rest of the way up the hill to work.
Never mind that I went from the college, to as far as Pioneer Village before I phoned Damon to come and get my ass. My knees where throbbing with pain (I suffer from arthritis), panting up a storm with NO inhaler with me (stupid Cheryl!!!).
So this time, I'm abt ready to attempt another go at it. Might as well with it getting close to the end of the semester when we won't be having as many students, beating down the door and demanding to see their counselor. :o) Also, I'll be saving the environment! Yea. That's it. And also I'll get to start working on dropping some weight. Shit; if Ronnie's lover/bestfriend can do it, then so can I.

Man eating Guppys

I'm completely horrified.

Why am I so?

I watched one of the adult guppies stalk a baby and tortured it to death by chasing it around the tank, causing it to swim rapidly and swam right into the side (WHAM!) before blacking out.

GULP!

3 hours from now, it'll be shitted out.