I was just reading my home paper in CT, the New London Day. The front story on the Region section was about the car accident that my friend Wayne LeCardo was killed in, this is the First line..."" THE DRIVER SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DRIVING" . In CT you are not allowed to drive after 11pm if you are 16 years old and have had your licensce less than a year. Well Cameron Lee the driver received his license on Nov. 21, 2006. Why was he out at 1:30am? Where were his parents? My parents had a strict curfew when I was that age 11pm, and when I turned 17 midnight, and believe me, even without cellphones my mother was able to track me down at any time.

I am sad for all the families loss but what the H**L, why was he out with another 16 year old in his car an not a parent, guardian or anyone over the age of 16? I am also appalled by the day's handling of the story it is all about the 16year old, there were (2) other people killed in that accident, John Griese 52 years old and Wayne 33 years old, why is no one talking about them? Why is it, about Cameron's friends? Father? EXCUSE ME, John had two children an a wife, Wayne was married in 2005 to Katie, they were the perfect couple, they complimented each other. He was still really a newlywed, and I keep thinking what I would do, I have no idea no one does when something so unexpected happens.

I just want everyone to know not 1 person died in that accident 3 people died and everyone should get the same respect. I do not know if after the investigation if there will be blame but right now Eastern Connecticut needs some healing, everyone wants to believe their life means something so why not make sure all of their lives are celebrated?

Update, this is week 3 of the diet/exercise routine. Last night, I slipped and ate a whole box of macroni and cheese, so bad for me. My husband worked late and since I do not cook this was my dinner. No excuse!! Anyway, this morning woke up and did 45 minutes of cardio.. by the 30 minute mark I could not move or feel my arms. I kept going though it is good for you right? I would much rather have pancakes and bacon, read the paper an not exercise but that is me. I do finish and we decide to weigh ourselves. It seems he has lost 4 pounds and myself 7 pounds, but do be honest I have alot more weight to lose than he does. After my shower and I get dressed my pants feel a bit loose, I am convinced it my imagination or hope. I tell my husband and he gets out the meauring tape and it seems I have lost 2 inches from my waist. YEAH!! I am now so excited, and more motivated (until morning), wouldn't it be nice when I go to a store to buy summer clothes not to have to go up a size but down?

I am still only taking it one day at a time, but I admit I am picturing myself thinner and in cute clothes this spring/summer 5 more months for summer, we will see.

KEEP WATCHING..

Do you ever feel as if the older you get, the more you realize how quick life goes by? In the last 18 months, I have lost a friend I knew for well over 20 years to a house fire, an ex-boyfriend to liver disease due to alcoholism and on Sunday a 33 year old friend of mine in a senseless car accident. My friend who passed away Sunday, was a sweet, charming man who had moved back home 10 years ago from San Diego, and we became friends. He met his wife at the restaurant we all worked at an they had gotten married in 2005. When I heard the news, my first thought was for her, an then complete sadness.

He and his wife were basically just starting out, even though they had been together so long, they were creating a life together, bought a house an she is in school and work part time. It overwhelms me when I hear of another person I know dying, I am only 42 years old, why do people have to die so young? I know there is no answer, but it makes you think of what you have. My husband and I were married in 2005, what would I do or he do if something happened to the other? Life is so very short, please remember to tell your loved ones how much you care for them, because you just never know.

I am not bashing anyone here, he actually stands out as a good candidate, my problem an yes I may watch way too many movies and read too many books on terroist, but what if?? What if he is from a Terroist cell? They have proven they can wait forever to destroy the USA and go after us in the juggler and when we least expect it.. WHAT IF??

Do you think Barack Obama will run for president? (“Obama zeroes in on White House bid,” Jan. 17.) I don't think it's a matter of if, but when. The Illinois legislator has already spent a lot of time in Iowa and New Hampshire and is giving his best presidential poses for the camera.

My friend Bombadee's Garden mentioned the CoCo Key West Resort party she and her husband went to last week, well I am reading my Hotel Business Magazine and the 2nd page has a huge article about the CoCo Key West Resorts, there will be 20- business class hotels to add this signature element in the next two years. The first one was in Columbus, Ohio at the Cherry Valley Lodge. In Illnois there will be (2) the one in Rockford and Sheraton Arlington Heights also in Illnois.

GOOD FOR ROCKFORD it looks like so much fun..

Day 7, lost 3 pounds so far, today was 45 minutes of Cardio. Luckily, it is just my husband and I because I am so uncoordinated, I am sure if anyone is looking into our windows in the morning they feel bad for him, I look like someone having a fit or something.

My arms and abs hurt so bad, I know once I can actually see the difference I will feel more motivated and excited, it is getting easier to wake up in the morning especially with not drinking a glass of wine every night. My mind is clearer and it is no problem, but I have been more hungry, I am very careful about what I eat these days.

GILMORE GIRLS:
Who watched the new one last night? It was really good, I can not wait until next week did you see the preview and Lorelai's face when he asked if she still loved Luke. YEAH!! It is about time they worked the Triangle into play again. Where was Paris this episode? Boy Lane is huge TWINS !! Zack has been so great to her, I love this show. I hate that they take so long to bring a new episode on, definately worth it. QUESTION do you think Chris told Lorelai about the fight with Luke? That was not even mentioned and she wrote that letter which I can not wait to hear what it says.

Tonight is Beauty and the Geek another one of my favorite shows. I will admit unfortunately, I have been sneaking around watching, "I LOVE NY" on VH1 it is a train wreck waiting to happen.

Today reading the paper, I saw something that was interesting. There is a blog called eater.com and it is from two gentlemen who blog about restaurants closing, gossiping and firing in New York City and now LA, they have nothing in the south as of yet. There is also Chowderhead.com, and Thunderhead.com also New York, do they realize there are other places besides New York and LA?

I have been in the restaurant business for well over 15 years, and love it. I love going to new places and finding out for myself good, bad indifferent etc. I also love to travel to Chicago, Charlotte, NC, Key West FL, but my favorite is the little places in out of the way of the "BIG CITY", those are the places that are usually the most interesting.

I can tell you the gossip from Mystic, CT restaurants or at least give you a good/bad review. There is a restaurant called "Zack's" under the bridge in Stonington CT, ( is you saw Mystic Pizza it was the exterior used for the bar scene). Great comfort food, everyone knows everyone and loves tourist. In Mystic "Harp n' Hound" Irish Pub, trivia night on Tuesday's and the owners are from Ireland and love to talk of their home land. The newest restaurant in Mystic is AZU ( a zoo out there, something servers say on a very busy night) owner also owns Bravo Bravo across the bridge, food excellent and creative crowd late 30's early 40's.

Seahorse in a boatyard in Noank, CT ( a few minutes from Mystic) eat on the bar side to get the local atmosphere. Chef Bobby was the Chef who opened Bravo Bravo, he bought it from John Hughes the restaurant owner everyone knows has the touch to know what people like and how to present it. Tourist restaurants like "Go Fish" and " Steak Loft" owned by Jon Kodoma the man with the golden touch, he has at least 10 restaurants all in Tourist areas but people will pay the prices and wait in line unless someone lets them know so many more choices..

I now live in Winston Salem, NC, the restaurant scene is somewhat lacking but what we do have is incredible. I believe in the next few years Winston Salem will rival Charlotte for great restaurants that everyone wants to travel to..

My husband and I have found a few favorites in the short time we have been here, " 6th & Vine", couches, wine racks because they sell it too, a great big bar and music. Food is so good, and always crowded, and a mix crowd not just young, we are not that young anymore so when we spend our money it has to be worth it and this place definately is. Diamondback Grille american flare, good service and food is anything but basic.

Where do you live and eat, that you would reccommend. Our favorite restaurant is a chain, called "Capital Grille", it does not seem like a chain, every city we have eaten at in one, is excellent, service impectable and food indescrible it is an event to go there, so we save up and make sure we enjoy it.

Day 6 of working out. This program is good, because it does keep you motivated, but the last two mornings have been a struggle to get out of the bed in the dark and work out and then go to work. I have had to be at work early the last 2 mornings but was not going to miss my workout.
I am trying to keep myself motivated, and the biggest factor vain as it is, SUMMERTIME!! Bathing suit season.. would it be nice to not feel compeletly like a beached whale when I go to the beach? Anyone else have a motivator? I also believe until you are ready to lose the weight you are not going to get off the couch, those infommericals think if they keep pounding it into your head you will buy their product. Everyone has their own pace and you will know when it is time.

Right now, for me I get so embarrassed seeing my sisters so thin, older than myself and have had 2 children each. So every morning I have a picture of myself thin and on the beach, hopefully it will substain me for awhile, 6am comes way to early some mornings....

Work always seems to get in the way of my life. This weekend was my husbands (1) weekend off a month, and I had to go to work for at least 2 hours, which would be fine except for the phone calls from work, because my clients have changed their minds or are mad that a competitor is in the hotel too...

I am just ranting because yesterday, we drove up to Blowing Rock and Boone, NC the mountain area we love, when I got back my phone had missed calls from work. I am not that vital of a person to run an event, I do the details meet/greet client and make sure they have the person to contact in case they need something.. I realize if it is a really detailed event with sponsors, vendors etc, I should be there for awhile or of course a wedding, but a small meeting, why?

I do apoligze for my ranting, but please meeting planner/clients realize we trust our staff to take care of you, not hold your hand...

My husband was ranting today (SHOCKER!), beware he is blunt, so if you dare, look at this:
Work today for some reason was very busy and awful. I do not get many days like that but it seems when I have more than 2 groups in the same week, it gets hairy... My clients are very needy, tonight changed all the set up and time at the last possible moment. We had staff to fix it but we do not always have that. My other group, just wanted me to hold their hand until Monday and if it is not correct, I will hear H**L, dont you just loving working with the public>??

To be honest, I do most of the time but it is like the worse ones find me. When I was doing weddings, I was very lucky only a few "Bridezillas", some turn on you at the last minute, and the other ones torture you for the whole12 months until their wedding. I have said it before, sorry if you saw it on another post, the worse was a MOTHER OF BRIDE awful woman, an was so lucky he wedding was planned in 9 weeks, too long for me to deal with "MOB", even her ex-husband was avoiding her at all cost especially when it came to$$, which they were loaded...

Funny, the bride on this one was a little sister of friends of mine from high school..Sweet child but I can see her turning into her mother, ( I guess poor groom)

I hope everyone has a nice weekend, I am working this weekend so we will see what I write next week.

This was an article written by Ann Coulter on the DUKE RAPE CASE and the NY TIMES:

It is a great article and I am passing it into the world to people who may not usually read Ann Coulter and only what Main stream Media want you to think of her.


Stuart Taylor Jr., the liberal but brilliant legal reporter for the National Journal, described The New York Times' coverage of the Duke lacrosse rape case as "(w)orse, perhaps, than the other recent Times embarrassments." For a newspaper that carries Maureen Dowd's column, that's saying something.

As the Times' most loyal reader, this came as welcome news. I had briefly suspected the Times was engaging in fair reporting of the alleged rape case at Duke University. Taylor's article documenting the Times' massive misrepresentations restored order and coherence to my world. The first part of the story — the lie part — was angrily reported in the Times. B

ut as the accuser's story began to unravel, the Times gave only a selective account of the facts, using its famed lie-by-omission technique. Among the many gigantic omissions from the Times' pretend-balanced article ("Files From Duke Rape Case Give Details but No Answers") is the fact that the only remaining particulars about the case that are not completely exculpatory come from a memo by Sgt. Mark Gottlieb — written four months after the alleged incident.

Gottlieb, the lead investigator on the alleged rape case, took no contemporaneous notes when he interviewed the accuser, but rather waited for the facts to come in — and his case to be falling apart — to write a memo recalling her statements during that initial investigation. The statements he recalled were surprisingly favorable to the prosecution! The only problem with his memo, besides being preposterous on its face, is that it is contradicted by the contemporaneous notes taken by other people involved in the investigation.

Indeed, the only thing Gottlieb's memo was consistent with were the facts as the prosecution was then alleging them. Of course, it was hard to keep straight what facts the prosecution was alleging. The accuser made up so many stories about the incident that the Times was forced to offer her Jayson Blair's old position.

The Times "No Answers" article gave no indication that Gottlieb's memo was written four months after the alleged rape, but rather refers to it as the policeman's "case notes," falsely suggesting the notes were taken during the investigation and not after the frame-up.

Beginning with the strongest invented evidence from Gottlieb's "case notes," the Times reported that the nurse who examined the alleged rape victim told Gottlieb that the "blunt force trauma" seen in the examination "was consistent with the sexual assault that was alleged by the victim."

Or at least that's what Gottlieb wrote four months after talking to the nurse. It's not what the nurse wrote the night she examined the accuser. To the contrary, the only sign of physical trauma the nurse noted in her written report immediately after examining the accuser were some superficial scratches on the woman's knee and heel.

Indeed, in all 24 pages of the report prepared by doctors and nurses who examined the accuser the night of the alleged rape, there is no mention of any "blunt force trauma" or any injuries other than the scratches.

Also contradicting Gottlieb's hindsight memo were the notes taken by another policeman during their interview with the accuser — not four months later — saying she described her assailants as "chubby," with a "chubby face" and weighing "260-270" pounds.

That description fit none of the eventual defendants — whom she repeatedly failed to pick out of photo lineups until Gottlieb finally gave up and presented her with a photo lineup of only Duke lacrosse players, to ensure that she couldn't guess wrong.

But according to Gottlieb's hindsight memo, the accuser described one of her rapists as "baby-faced, tall, lean" — just like one of the actual defendants!

In repeatedly citing Gottlieb's after-the-fact memo as if it were the Rosetta stone of the case, the Times also neglected to mention Gottlieb's dark history with Duke students.

Gottlieb repeatedly jailed Duke students charged with minor infractions such as carrying an open beer or playing loud music, often throwing them in cells with violent criminals. He was not so tough on nonstudents, releasing one caught with marijuana and a concealed .45-caliber handgun.

A review of Gottlieb's record published in the Raleigh News & Observer showed that, in the previous year, when he patrolled an area that included both a "crime-ridden" public housing project and Duke off-campus housing, he arrested 20 Duke students and only eight nonstudents. During that same period, the three other officers in that district arrested two Duke students and 61 nonstudents.

At this point, Gottlieb's memo is the linchpin of the prosecution's case, and every single other fact in the case exonerates the defendants.

I mention all this to point out the Alice-in-Wonderland quality of the Times Jan. 15 editorial titled "Politicizing Prosecutors." The editorial had nothing to do with lunatic Southern prosecutors like Mike Nifong, Barry Krischer and Ronnie Earle threatening to put innocent people in prison for being Republican or "privileged white males."

No, the Times was upset because the law allows President Bush to fill vacant U.S. attorney slots with temporary replacements. The Times is enraged that Bush may be choosing prosecutors he likes, rather than prosecutors Sen. Dianne Feinstein likes, for these interim appointments.

If Bush were choosing the most hack, unprincipled, out-of-control Republican party operatives for these temporary U.S. attorney positions, they could not match the partisan witch-hunts of the prosecutors and policemen the Times lies to defend.

COPYRIGHT 2007 ANN COULTER

If you have lived where snow is a everyday thing or feels it some winters this should make you chuckle. Today, in Winston-Salem, NC it snowed, not blizzard conditions just a nice light snow. Unfortunately, here people think an act like it is going to strand them for days on end. The grocery stores last night were full of people stocking up on basics. Are you kidding me? This morning I got up to exercise at 6am, ( 4 days ) and no snow nothing at all. About 7am the snow started light flakes at first, I took a picture besides going up into the mountains it is our first snow in North Carolina.

Pretty actually, as I got on the highway people were going 5 miles an hour and there were 2 accidents on Highway 40 that I was on, I believe due to going so slow. Then I turned on a Charlotte radio station and hear this: 485 and 77N are closed due to a 12 car pile up. Independence and 77S 10 car pile up, an accidents all over town. Charlotte people drive crazy to begin with add snow an it is asking for trouble. Driving in snow is not hard, just be cautious but not too slow!!

I realize they were not brought up with snow, like I was but give me a break!! I will admit if it turns to rain and becomes Icy I will be worried, black ice is the worse. I barely had "snow days" at home, here they have closed some schools and have 2 hours delays for nothing... It made me chuckle this morning coming to work seeing people driving and being so careful, an then to hear all the accidents on the radio makes me laugh. I actually was enjoying the snow it was so pretty and made the city look so like a movie as I drove toward the downtown area. I have come to realize I miss the snow, I miss the b**** about shoveling it, the hot chocolate the fireplace, snuggling up for a huge Nor'easter and not leaving the house for days... I want to move back to New England not CT more like Maine... If anyone hears of a good job in the Hospitality Industry in Maine please give a shout out!!

In the meantime enjoy the Snow, and if you are lucky enough to have snow day have a snowball fight and drink hot chocolate..

I forgot this one is a rant on our judicial system in Maine...

In Fairfield Maine, a woman was getting a protective order from her husband, she had moved out of their family home at Christmas time with her two sons and moved into her mother's house. Now she is in court, explaining why she needs a protective order and the JUDGE, ordered her in front of her estranged husband to state where she is living with her sons.

She did so with apprehension, but really did not think he would hurt her. Well, two days later after her brother went to work, her "husband" came to the house and shot her in front of their sons then took the boys to his older son's fiance's house. Did the JUDGE not realize that a protective order is for her to feel safe? Or just a word in a case not an actually person? I am very appalled by this action and call all women to write to the State of Maine Judicial system an get some justice for this poor woman.

You will notice they do not name the Judge, why? You made her air her business and it cost her, her life, why not let us know what stupid incompetent Judge did this to her?

Here is the story from the Portland Herald Paper:

FAIRFIELD - Rhonda Reynolds knew that her husband was angry about her decision to leave him, but she never imagined he might resort to violence, her family members said Monday, two days after Reynolds died from gunshot wounds.

Police say Richard Reynolds, 40, shot his estranged wife on Friday, the day after she was forced to say in court where she was moving with their two children.
"She thought he was too much of a coward to do anything," Kempton Wakefield Jr. said of his sister on Monday. "That was a crucial mistake."

Police say Rhonda Reynolds, 37, was shot Friday morning at the home on Bunker Avenue that Wakefield shares with his wife, Debra. She died Saturday morning at a Bangor hospital.
Rhonda Reynolds had moved in with the Wakefields on Thursday with her two sons, Jacob, 6, and Matthew, 4, and planned to file for divorce on Friday, her brother said.
"She was going to stay here a few months until she got back on her feet," he said.

On Friday morning, after the Wakefields left for work, Richard Reynolds went to the house with a gun and shot his wife in the presence of their sons, according to police.
He then drove the children to Waterville and dropped them off at his older son's fiancÈe's house, not a day-care center, as previously reported, according to the Wakefields.
The Wakefields, interviewed at their home on Monday night, said Rhonda Reynolds filed for a protection-from-abuse order against her husband of seven years after he allegedly assaulted her before Christmas.

She left their home at 18 Nelson St. in Waterville after the incident, stayed at a Family Violence Project location and then moved in with her grandmother in Fairfield.
She and the children stayed there until they went to the Wakefields' home on Thursday.
When they saw her on Thursday night, she was happy, Kempton Wakefield said.
"Her life was her children," he said. "You never saw her not smiling when she was around her children. She absolutely adored them."

The couple said that what bothers them most is that the protection-from-abuse order did not protect Rhonda Reynolds. In fact, they said, she was told to say out loud in court where she was going to be living -- Bunker Avenue. The next morning, her husband allegedly went there and shot her.

"I think that's something that should be looked into," Kempton Wakefield said.
"Rhonda was upset that it was revealed in court where she was going to be living,' he said, "even though she tried to comfort herself and us by saying she didn't think he would hurt her."
Some time before Christmas, police went to the Reynolds' home and took Richard Reynolds out in handcuffs, according to neighbors, who said guns were removed from the house. Waterville police would not discuss details of that incident on Monday.

Richard Reynolds turned himself in to Waterville police on Friday. He was charged with aggravated attempted murder, a charge that is expected to be upgraded to murder as he makes his first court appearance, today in Skowhegan.

"I don't want to be there," Kempton Wakefield said. "I wouldn't want to look at the guy."
He said he does not know his brother-in-law very well at all. "We tolerated him because he was Rhonda's husband."
Wakefield said his father, Kempton Wakefield Sr., a former Waterville police dispatcher, plans to be in court.
"He is just devastated by this," he said. "They were like best friends, Rhonda and my dad."

The Wakefields had a picture of Jacob and Matthew on their computer Monday. The photo, taken after the children and their mother arrived at the house on Thursday night, shows the boys lying on the living room floor, laughing and playing with stuffed animals.
Kempton Wakefield said his sister was the youngest of three children. He is 38 and their brother, Michael, of Skowhegan, is 40.
"We were close, growing up," he said.

The three siblings attended Waterville High School, where Rhonda Reynolds graduated in 1988. She went to Nevada after that, working as a blackjack dealer there and at a casino on a riverboat in Mississippi before returning to Maine, he said.

She had an 11-year-old daughter from a previous relationship. The girl lives with her father in Winslow, he said.
Rhonda Reynolds was a waitress for several years, with her longest stint being at Friendly's in Waterville.
She had planned to return to work there but put that on hold recently while she sorted out her domestic troubles, her brother said.

"She was pretty physically fit. She worked out every day, practically," he said.
He and Debra Wakefield, 39, said their nephews are temporarily in state custody and staying with people who specialize in caring for children who have been traumatized.
They said the boys were watching television in the living room when their mother was shot a few feet away, in the doorway to an exercise room the Wakefields had converted into a bedroom for the children and their mother.

Ok, today was the third day of getting up at 6am and working out, I have come to realize that I am the most uncoordinated person in the world. If I was in a gym, I would quit due to embarrassment but since it is in my home and my husband (not much better) and I are it, I am fine. I am hurting, and keep telling myself it is worth it. I am working on my health and self image because for us women, it is not how we feel about ourselves it is how the outside world perceives us, me anyway. I know I feel sexier if I go to work with my cute little bra and pantie set, even though no one will know I do and it makes me feel sexier and more powerful. Same if I have a big meeting, I wear my black suit, I feel in control especially if I wear a colorful shirt underneath it. What makes you feel this way?

I am working out because you come to a point where you hate being "fat" or in my case known as the heavy sister, my two sisters are both crazy about working out and are thin, lean an in shape they can wear anything an look good. In the summer I feel like a blob because the shorts look horrible, so I wear sun dresses and then my thighs rub together so not attractive...

I have made it 3 days so far, one day at a time, hopefully after a few weeks it will become routine and I will not have to force myself out of the bed in the morning.

First let me say, I am so happy that those (2) boys were found in Missouri, the parents must be so relieved to have these boys back. I hope Mr. Devlin realizes what h** he put these parents through especially Shaun's he has been gone for 4 years. I hope he rots in Jail..

Enough said about that, for now..

Today, January 15, 2007 my husband and I have started working out to "Turbo Jam", I am not the most coordinated person, but I am getting up and off the couch, my body is hurting, and it is only the first day, but again, it has been a very long time since I have worked out. I realized at Christmas how big I have gotten over the last 5 years an especially in the 18 months I have been married. We have decided to do this as a joint effort, if he does it with me, then it will motivate me, I realize he will most likely lose faster than me, an I will try not to get discouraged by this fact. I want to feel better about myself, be healthier and not to be too vain, get into cute sun dresses this summer an maybe even a bikini ( lets not push it)...

My family has a history of physical problems due to being overweight, and at "42' years old, now is the time to think do it, and not wait any longer. I know that the next two weeks will be the test, if I can get through that an make this a routine, I will be fine (hopefully), I am just going to think of the next day getting up and exercising and not plan any further than that, it is definately baby steps.

So, bear with me for the next few weeks to see how my progress goes, and if I can actually keep it up...

The other night as I was watching LMN it was a True story about Hazing in Fraternity's. My husband sat down and started saying, " This movie is 12 years old and this does not happen anymore." I want to prove a point to him and I found this on FOX NEWS..

HOUSTON — As Phanta "Jack" Phoummarath lay dying of alcohol poisoning, members of the club he was trying to join defaced his body with anti-gay epithets and obscene drawings, according to a medical examiner's report.
"It was disgusting and despicable behavior," said Houston attorney Randy Sorrels, who represents Phoummarath's family.
Sorrels said Phoummarath was not gay. The 18-year-old freshman from Houston, who wanted to join the Lambda Phi Epsilon fraternity at the University of Texas at Austin, died Dec. 10, 2005, after ingesting large amounts of alcohol at a party at the fraternity house. The medical examiner reported his blood-alcohol content was more than five times higher than the level needed to prove intoxication in Texas.
Phoumarrath was found dead the day after the party in the bedroom where he passed out the night before.
Party-goers had used green and black markers to write "FAG," "I'm gay" and "I AM FAT" on Phoummarath's head, face, torso, legs and feet. Someone added several drawings of naked men and women, Dr. Roberto Bayardo of the medical examiner's office reported.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Phoummarath died after a heavy night of drinking in which fraternity members chanted for him and six other pledges to finish as many as eight bottles of vodka, whiskey, rum and other drinks being passed around.
A grand jury indicted three members of the Lambda Phi Epsilon fraternity last month on charges of hazing, or abusing new members, following a yearlong investigation into Phoummarath's death.
The university suspended Lambda Phi Epsilon's status as a registered student organization until 2011.
Phoumarrath's family also is suing the fraternity.

My heart goes out to the Phoumarrath's family, most states have anti-hazing laws does Texas? Also, Lambda Phi Epsilon should be responsible, I am glad they are up on charges maybe then someone will take notice. These young men go to college and experience life not to lose their life.

Last night, on my way home from work, I heard this story on the radio and it made me think do we realize what we teach our children without saying anything?

Story:
A husband and wife and their 4 year old took in the husbands dad, who had the shakes very badly and at dinner would drop things and knock over his milk etc. Husband and wife were mean an degrading to the man, they even put him at his own table and would make him eat with a wooden bowl to not break anything. Never a nice word to the man, only fault and nastiness, one day the 4 year old saw a tear out of her grandfather. The next night the 4 year old was on the floor with their building blocks and was building something the Husband asked, " What are you building? " the 4 year old's response was, " A wooden bowl so when you and mom are old I can take care of you." Nothing was said, but the Husband and wife the next night had the grandfather back at the table, with real dishes where he stayed to the remainder of his life.

It really is amazing what we teach our children, we laugh when a child swears for the first time, but they learned it somewhere. There is a country song out now about a child doing things and everytime the father asks, "Where did you learn that? ", The Child's response, " I have been watching you dad, and want to be just like you when I grow up."

Question: What are we teaching our children? Both of these stories get to me each time, even the country song last year about a child wanting to see their dad more and breaks into his piggy bank thinking dad will only come to me if I pay him..

OK, I will admit it, I am addicted to Reality Television, usually when people ask I say, "Oh, no, I only watch 1 or 2, wrong. My new addiction is " Bad Girls Club" on Oxygen Network, I do not actually understand the point of it, except to see what a bunch of "bad girls" do to annoy the other ones. I started yesterday it was a Marathon, an a few days into the "experiment", one girl is so drunk she is beating other girls up, at 90 lbs, how I do not know, an gets kicked out of the house. What did the producers think would happen putting a few 22 years old with girls 29-30 years old? My other one is "Beauty and the Geek", I admit every new version I love, it is amazing to me how stupid the girls pretend to be or are, which is sad. I think this season went all out looking for Geeks, LEAD SINGER OF A STAR WARS TRIBUTE BAND, give me a break... not to be outdone a TREKKIE, who actually has the outfit...

I did catch the sneak peak of " I Love NY" on VH1, the most interesting beside NY herself is her mother, I feel bad for these men she will destroy you at every opportunity because for some reason mom thinks NY "Tiffany" is worth the best man possible, does she not know her daughter? Or is her daughter acting out because her mother is "CRAZY???', I guess now that Flav has a woman he couldn't do the show again so the next best thing is NY...When is Flav coming on to do the lie detector or join the cast?

Why do I watch such stupid things? I have no idea, an wish I could stop is there a Support group yet for people who can not stop watching reality television? My favorite used to be Big Brother but I hated the Allstar version so I am not sure I will watch next summer if it comes back. I do love Top Chef and Project Runway at least we know that goal, but the other ones are very murky but definately enjoyable to watch, like a train wreck you see it coming but can't stop yourself from watching it in horror.

Well, it is official we are old... It is 10:45pm on a Saturday night, and my husband is in bed asleep already and I am now on the computer, what has life come to? Believe me, I am not actually upset by this just in bewilderment of when it came about. Tonight, we had dinner, watched the last 3 episodes of "Sex an the City", and then played the game of "LIFE", which I actually won, which is rare in itself. Had a few glasses of wine and then put my husband to bed.

At "42" most of the time I feel better then when I was in my 30's but it still is strange not to be doing something even out for an elegant dinner or something with friends.

When did it stop?

Tonight is my company Holiday Gala, yes in January but since we are a Hotel, we have to do it after the Christmas Parties, which actually works out fine for us, something to look forward to in January. It will be my first real party since we have moved to North Carolina in September 2005, looking forward to seeing how it flows. Luckily, we are having it here, so we will not be judging another hotel because being in the business seems to make us more critical of other venues and how we do compared to them.

I of course am way to heavy to wear my cute clothes so I will wear black pants, cute shoes and I low cut shirt to throw people away from my hips and a**. I heard one of the 25 years old in my office the other day, saying if you can get a size 5 over your thighs no matter how tight anywhere else and a boob shirt will make you feel better about yourself. First off, I have not seen a size 5 since my 1st year of college many moons ago, an even then if they were tight I would not wear them. Have times changed that much or just people's sense of what constitutes cute, sexy and down right bad taste? I find myself remembering the 80's ( my heyday) an how everything was big shoulders, bulky and supposely flattering. Do you remember?

Dakota Fanning, does anyone not know who this amazing little girl is? She is 12 years old you can tell by looking at her, but if you watch her on screen it is hard to believe she is so young. I first saw her in, "I am Sam", she was amazing, even in the stupid film "Uptown Girls", she was the stand out performer.

The little lesson in who she is, is an article I just read on line about the movie "Hound Dog" it is going to the Sundance Film Festival, which can mean we may never see it in mainstream movie theatres, which stinks, I wish there was an independent movie theatre around here to give these great films a chance for mainstream america to see. " Hound Dog" is about a 12 year old "RAPE" victim who loses herself in Elvis Music. Now, I am only reading what people have written about it, but please go to the website and make your own decision, there is a petition on both sides of the issue.

Personally, I am not sure any 12 year old can handle it even if it is acting, but she is not the first to be put in these types of film, remember Brooke Shields in "Pretty Baby" and she seems fine, Or the litte girl from "Bastard out of Carolina", she is in college now. If her parents think she can handle it and know the difference why not?

I admit I am addicted to getting indie films when renting and my husband does put up with some interesting films, like "Pieces of April" Katie Holmes (pre Tom Cruise), "Tiptoes", Gary Oldman, Mathew McCaonaughey as twins except Gary Oldman is a Dwarf, "Happy Accidents", Vincent D'Orfonio and Marisa Tomei he is an alien who falls in love with Marisa (who wouldn't really), Or Kate Beckinsale in "Laurel Canyon and Last Days of Disco", all great Indie films people should see.

Dakota Fanning is just beginning it will be amazing to see where her career takes her, good for her to be willing to take on roles that people may or may not agree with an give such an amazing depth to it for a child of 12 years old...

It is 2007, how did you celebrate? We had a wonderful dinner, laughing, and playing games and especially talking it was a great way to ring in the New Year. It is a time to reflect for everyone, I miss my family more an more everyday, but realize this is my life for now in North Carolina. I am trying to get us to Maine so I can be close to my mom, she is my best friend in the world and I miss her more than anyone else. Funny, I left CT because of the Cold and snow and now I am trying to go even further north, but sometimes we do things for our family, which is more important then warm weather family...

I have no idea what 2007 will bring but I am praying and working for something better.