All right. I made that headline up. But, the article it leads to does tell the truth about one thing. A lot of us who know anything about Paul McCartney were on his side.
Apparently, Heather Mills has taken it into her mind that the public wants to hear what she thought it was like to live with Paul. Let me tell you, Hon, a lot of women who grew up on Beatles music would have given their eye teeth to find that out. To a lot of us, he was the reason we learned how to ... well never mind that. (blush) But, really, if you think we want you to tell us what a bastard Paul was to live with, you're wrong.
When I was about 5 years old, I figured out that there wasn't a tooth fairy. My mom had put 5 pennies and a nickle under my pillow originally. Later, she found a dime, and I woke up when she substituted it for the looser change.
When I was about eight years old, I stopped believing in Santa Clause. My next door neighbors got every toy under the sun for Christmas. My siblings and I got toys, but the jolly elf left us a suspicious amount of clothes and other more practical gifts. Since our neighbors were such brats, I couldn't imagine that Santa preferred them, but I was sure their parents did.
When I was ten years old, I learned that while babies may come from heaven, they needed a little earthly boost into the world. I learned how this boost was given, and was shocked to learn that prayers had little to do with it. Of course, they were said in the hope it hadn't happened, but the less religious activity had usually occurred before hand.
Now, Ms. Mills, you have the nerve to tell me that my childhood hero, my first crush, and one of the most talented musicians to walk this earth isn't perfect? I dare you. In fact I double dog dare you. Actually, I don't. I just wish you wouldn't.
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( 0 / 0 )Killing Child Because Of Failed Marriage? Angry Man Kills Ex-Wife's Divorce Lawyer?Man Kills Wife Over Property Settlement Demand Man Kills Ex's Boyfriend And Himself?
Divorce is one of the most emotional events in life. However, there is a point when one has to ask what makes it so terribly hard for some people. In each of the above links, innocent people died because divorce had such an effect on the killer's mental health.
Obviously, none of these murderers enjoyed healthy insanity free lives before their divorces. There is something wrong with someone who can get so angry that life loses so much appeal that you can kill yourself and / or others. But, the ultimate question still remains. What is it about the divorce process that drives some people over the edge?
Most people who are getting divorced satisfy themselves with bitter words. Even those who go further don't usually kill. But, enough do that I found 4 stories involving divorce and death in one day.
Frankly, I think the problem is a control issue. A court makes a lot of decisions in a divorce that most people consider private. No one likes to be told what they have to give another person. This is especially true if the other person is the one person in the world who has done them the most harm. Being forced to pay bills and be financially responsible for someone who, to your way of thinking, has betrayed and ridiculed you does tend to breed hostility.
I don't have a definitive answer to the problem. I just know that there has to be a way to defuse what is often a volatile situation. Counseling would help. Giving people who feel taken by the system a way to blow off steam legally may be the answer. The problem is that solutions cost money, and that's just something most of us don't have.
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( 0 / 0 )Grandma Poisoned Baby So Parents Wouldn't Divorce?
Divorce is hard on everyone. The whole family regrets it. The couple themselves are often disappointed, angry or just plain sad. this is common knowledge.
What we don't discuss often, and maybe we should, is the effect that divorce has on extended family. The pain caused by the divorce to grandparents, aunts and uncles is not obvious. It isn't as intense as it is for the principle parties, either. However, extended family members can be treated to some of the couple's problems when family events turn into child possession wars.
When holidays roll around, or family reunions or picnics are scheduled, arrangements often have to be made with a hostile, uncooperative ex-spouse to secure the children's attendence. Too often, attempts to bring this about are fruitless. This can be because:
1. the uncooperative paretnt's visitation normally takes place when the family event is scheduled. If you only get to see your kids for 48 hours a month, you might not be inclined to give up, or even postpone your time with them. This is especially true if the custodial parent is in the habit of making plans with the child during the other parent's visitation time, or has been less than generous when the other parent has asked for concessions.
2. Any good will the other parent had towards the family has been used up. It is easier to find it in one's heart to be generous to someone who has stayed nuetral during a controversy. If Grandma maintains a cordial attitude towards the ex-spouse, he / she will be much more likely to cooperate with grandma's requests for the child's time. If, however, Grandma made it clear that she blames everything that went wrong on the ex-spouse, and treats him / her accordingly, it is less likely that the ex-spouse will be inclined to go out of her way to honor a special request.
3. The attitude that "I'm in charge", that often leads to making the extended family jump through hoops to have a relationship with the child can cause extensive damage, not only to the child's relationships while she is growing up, but can also alienate the child from her extended family when she is older and able to make her own decisions. I have prepared wills for people who specifically exclude certain grandchildren because they have no contact with them. The lack of closeness is often caused because the parent who had their custody discouraged interactions with the other parent's family. Even when the child is grown, he / she has trouble developing closeness with the other parent's family. The negative thought patterns on both sides are so engrained that it can be impossible to make up for lost time.
However, the grandmother in the above article should never be allowed to see the grandchild again under any circumstances. The notion that she could stop a divorce by giving a one year old child enough blood thinners to cause a nose bleed is about as scary as life gets in the real world. The link leads to a 2 sentence blurb, and is hardly worth the trip, but you may have to read it yourself to get your mind around it. I did several times.
I generally feel people should be kind to their previous in-laws. After all, they may have done things that didn't help the couples' relationship, but ultimately, it is the husband and wife who decide whether their differences, be they with each other or their families, can be mended. However, in this case, I think Grandma should have a long vacation in one of her state's finest facilities. I just wouldn't have her work in the prison kitchen.
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( 0 / 0 )Fair is as fair appears. I am not enamored with the judge I appeared in front of today. He is a strict son of a -- barrister, and I have been convinced in many situations that he is both unfriendly, unpredictable, and most of all just plain mean.
He must have gotten up on the right side of the bed this morning. I had a client who was charged with possession of marijuana, which is an "A" misdemeanor the first time you do it here, and a "D" felony if you do an encore. My client couldn't resist the applause, and had taken several bows before today.
The state had asked that he be sent to jail for the presumptive sentence. I don't think the prosecutor cared that much. His original offer, which we accepted, was that my client serve 60 days in the Gray Bar Hotel, and be placed on probation for the remainder of the 18 month presumptive sentence.
His Honor didn't think that was good enough, and he did not accept the plea agreement. Our alternative at that point would be to withdraw his plea and set the matter for a jury trial, or accept the plea and argue sentencing. We accepted because another "D" felony and 2 misdemeanors were going to be dismissed if we did, and were going to be pursued if we did not.
Today, I argued sentencing for the guy. I pointed out that both his wife and brother had died (on the same day) recently. I had him testify about his bad back, bad heart, and the fact that he may have lung cancer. I even mentioned that he had 5 dogs who were dependent on him for support. In short, I laid it on with a trow, and might have kept the guy out of irons if ---
He was let out on bond. From the time he was let out of jail until the last hearing we had, he must have smoked pot every single day. The judge let him stay out on bond, but said he would have a bunk reserved for him at the local hooscow if his cannabinoid / blood ratio didn't improve drastically over the next few weeks. He tested dirty a couple of weeks ago, and true to his word, the judge set him up with a state paid vacation.
So, when we came to court today, I was afraid my client was going "bye bye" for a long time. However, to my surprise and relief, the judge passed up the opportunity to throw him in the D'OC for 3 years, and only gave him a year jail time. If he behaves himself while he is a guest of the local sheriff's department, he will be on the streets again in 6 months. Not great. But it could have been soooo much worse.
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( 0 / 0 )There are times when you wonder what tree your ancesters fell from. I always considered my family to be civilized, respectable people. Most of us are. In fact, the ones I'm going to tell you about could usually claim that distinction.
One of my father's brothers was coming home from work when his eye was caught by a groundhog. He caught it, took it home, and he and my aunts made a pet of it. Its name was Jimmy, and to hear my aunts tell it, he was sooooo cute.
Jimmy used to sit on the kitchen sink and watch my aunts do the dishes. He rode on my uncle's shoulders. He was friendly, and everyone in the family adored him.
One day, Jimmy escaped from the house. He strayed across a busy street, and got hit by a trollie. One of my uncles found him, and the whole family was sad. I'm sure their first impulse was to bury him, but one of my uncles got a bright idea, and he and the rest of the boys changed their minds.
You see, Jimmy offered an interesting culenary opportunity. They had eaten squirrel, deer, and duck, but had yet to sample the pleasures of baked groundhog. Jimmy, I was told, tasted delicious with a little salt and ketsup. He had, after all been fed on nothing but the finest nuts and grains for months, and it was only natural that his meat would be tender and juicy.
My dad had a friend who raised a pig. Arnold would follow him around, come when he was called, and in many ways showed that he was at least as smart as a dog. Unfortunately, he did what most members of his species do, and grew to weigh over 500 pounds. My dad's friend finally had Arnold butchered. One night, after a few beers had been consumed, my dad's friend was telling us about Arnold. He told us how hard it was to send him to the butcher, but he was so big, he didn't know what else to do. "And you know, whenever I had a pork chop from arnold, or we fried up some of his sausage, I'd try to eat it, but it just wouldn't go down." It was then that my dad told us about Jimmy.
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