It's a good day...

My ex-brother-in-law, who was the most abusive husband I've ever encountered, is hopefully going to prison for a very long time. After twenty-seven years of abuse, criminal activity, drug abuse, you name it...my sister finally found the courage to leave him a year and a half ago. He was a sneaky son of a bitch...put all of their assets into his mother's name so my sister got nothing in the divorce. She didn't care, she was just glad she survived and she was free:

Shithead McDumbass

A local jackass of a man is free on bond after he was arrested on 35 criminal counts related to operating a chop shop organization that has been busted after an eight-month police investigation. Shithead McDumbass, 47, was booked on dozens of charges this week after a sting by the City Auto Theft Enforcement (MATE) unit. Sgt. Jeff Officer arrested Mr. McDumbass in 2000 on similar charges and said this case is huge. "This is no doubt the biggest case I've been involved with in my life," Sgt. Officer said. "This is something that needed to be done." At least 35 stolen motorcycles could be involved in the chop shop that had been under investigation since October. Sgt. Officer said numerous parts, including transmissions, engines and frames, have been recovered. Additionally up to five fully assembled motorcycles also have been seized. The most recent operation involves stolen motorcycles from southeast Michigan and the Toledo area. But machines or parts of stolen bikes from other states have been involved, Sgt. Officer said.

The criminal counts against Mr. McDumbass include:

n One count of conducting a criminal enterprise, which carries a 20-year maximum sentence.

n One count of operating a chop shop, a 10-year felonyn 17 counts of buying or receiving a vehicle part with the identification removed or altered. That also is a 10-year felony.

n Eight counts of receiving and concealing stolen property worth between $1,000 and $20,000, a 5-year felony.

n Two counts of possession a controlled substance.

The defendant was arraigned before First District Judge Yer Honor, who set bond at $300,000. A preliminary examination has been set for 3 p.m. June 26. The arrest was announced by Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox. Mr. Cox said in a prepared statement that Mr. McDumbass, a member of the Highwaymen Motorcycle Club, has been operating a chop shop for years. Calling it organized crime, Mr. Cox said Mr. McDumbass has a prior felony conviction on his record for similar offenses. "Organized crime is a serious and real threat to Michigan cities," Mr. Cox said in a statement. "I want to thank (officials with MATE) for their hard work in helping to solve this case." Sgt. Officer said Mr. McDumbass operated the chop shop from two homes on Nearthelake Dr.

Puerto Rico, part deux

Ahhh....Boqueron, PR....beautiful beaches, breathtaking cliffs....it was so nice to lie in the sun, worshipping the Sun God....


Our first full day there, we went to El Combate beach. We had been there about twenty minutes when I heard a little kid crying. I looked down the beach and watched as a little boy came running out of the water to his mother. He was holding his arm out and pointing to it. The mother, walked him back to the water's edge and while motioning that she didn't see anything, she cupped water from the sea into her hand and rubbed his arm. My first thought was jellyfish! I watched for a few more minutes and thought, well, he hadn't stopped breathing yet, he's going to be ok. Not five minutes later, Lori comes running out of the water and up the beach. Something had bitten her on the leg! I asked her what it was, and she said she thought it was a piece of seaweed. I laughed....and told her that she had just been stung by a jellyfish. She impressed me with her calm demeanor....She was worried about the effects and I told her she would be fine, but to be safe, we drove over to the little party store and bought some vinegar. It's widely known to lessen the sting. We took pictures of her boo-boo, and Lori could finally laugh at the situation. Ironic that on her first day, her first time in the Caribbean Sea, she's the one that gets stung. I've swam in that sea a hundred times...and I've never been stung.


We found this little resort on the most southern tip of Puerto Rico...The Bahia Salinas Beach Resort. It was right across a bumpy dirt road from the Salt Flats. As the sun set on the beach, we had the most delicious dinner. It's amazing when in another country(c'mon, it's still the U.S., but it's still not the U.S.) how the local wildlife just meanders through the restaurants. The local dog, cat, and bird, visited us at our table, looking for tidbits.


One night, we drove down to the little downtown, and went to an open bar. There was a young man there who played his guitar. He was really good. He played some Spanish music along with some top 40 music. I was impressed. We had this adorable bartender named Gladys....she had a really cute little nose piercing. When I asked her where she had it done, she gave me the name of the place and directions. I so wanted one for myself.


Then next day, we took a little road trip to Mayaguez. To a little mall there. The place was called, Extreme Tattoo. The guy who waited on me was named Alexis. He was adorable. I wanted to bring him home with me! He was so gentle when he pierced my nose! Yep...that's right...I did it. I've wanted a piercing for as long as I can remember. And I did it. A tiny little aquamarine stone on the left side of my nose. He said that the rumor was, right side if you were gay. So, to be on the safe side...since it was only rumor, I got it on my left.


The following morning we left for Ceiba, PR, which is on the eastern side of the island, at the base of the El Yunque Rainforest. We stayed with a local Taino Indian family. The matriarch, Hilda, was an Elder of her tribe and the Shaman of the tribe, Hector, lived on her property. They lived in the rainforest and we stayed in their guest house.


It was so beautiful there in the rainforest. So peaceful...We had the most amazing views from the guesthouse. They had a pool too, which we took full advantage of. Hilda and her family were so warm and caring. When we drove up the for the first time, Hilda came out and gave us each a big hug. And every morning, she had Puerto Rican coffee and eggs for us. Her husband showed us where to go on that side of the island and one night, she even made us dinner.


I think my favorite part of the trip was the Spiritual Ritual she and Hector, the Shaman, performed for us. Under cover of darkness, with drums beating, Hilda cleansed us with a sage wand, and we asked for blessing from the elements. After this, Hector, with Hilda's son, Tito, translating, told us about our pasts, present, and futures. It was scary how accurate he was about the past and present...so we listened carefully when he spoke about our futures. He told me that I was seeking a great change...and I was on the right path for change.


As we lie in our guesthouse at night...the coqui frogs sang throughout the forest...lulling us to sleep.

We named the jellyfish Hector...here's a little kiss from Hector!

My nosering....can you see it?

Our view of the rainforest from the guesthouse.

A view of the rainforest from an observation tower in El Yunque.

Lori and Tiffany in the observation tower.

It's June Already?!?!

It amazes me how time flies when you are getting old(er). I swear, I was JUST 27!

It has been more than a month since my last post. I actually hate the fact that I haven't been keeping up with this thing more regularly. I love sitting down and writing what I'm thinking...it actually helps me focus my thoughts and feedback keeps me sane. It's like having my own little group of psycho(!!)therapists helping me sort through the garbage that runs through my mind.

I won't make promises to update more regularly, because I get annoyed at others that say that and then don't.

Anyway....I guess the biggest thing that's happened in the last month was my trip to Puerto Rico. I took my niece, Tiffany, and her friend, Lori, with me. And I must say, I had more fun with Lori! But I guess I really need to start at the beginning....

Tiffany is my nephew, Baby Kevin's, mom. I've posted a thousand pictures of him here...cute little cabbage patch looking kid. Tiffany is 29, and got married a month before we left. I teased her husband, Kevin, that I was taking her on their honeymoon. Kevin is a great dad, and a great husband. I actually feel sorry for the guy because Tiffany is a hellion. She is opinionated, and can be harsh and hurtful when she feels crossed. Not that she and I have ever had a problem. But everyone else in the family has felt her wrath at some point. I think she may actually have a personality disorder of some type.

Anyway....we were to leave on the 12th at 5:00am. Tiffany and Lori were going to drive to my house and we were going to go to the airport from here. I, of course, couldn't sleep...you know the feeling....lying in bed, going over the suitcase, wondering what I forgot to pack. I think I actually fell asleep somewhere around 1 am. and at 3am. the phone rang. It was Kevin. He was crying, and apologizing for ruining my vacation, but telling me that Tiffany wasn't going. Still asleep, I asked him what happened, and he hung up!

Now I'm just annoyed...I get up, pee, put the coffee on(since I have to be up in a fucking hour anyway), and call Kevin back. I asked Kevin to calm down and tell me what happened. He told me that they went to the bar, and while at the bar, she disappeared. He looked everywhere for her...in the bathrooms, the parking lot, the bar next door....and he couldn't find her. He was SURE she was out f***ing someone else. In all the years I've known Kevin, I've never known him to be high strung or get jealous. He wasn't in a place where he could listen to reason, so I told him to give my number to Lori because whether Tiffany or Lori came, I was going. The party train was going to leave at 4:45 with them or without them. I hung up, poured a cup of coffee and by that time, Lori called.

When I asked Lori what the hell was going on...she gave me a running commentary from Tiff and Kev's driveway. Tiffany did disappear, Kevin was throwing her stuff out of her suitcase, Kevin locked her out of the house, Tiffany broke a window to get into the house....oh shit, here comes her father(very bad man, think mafia type), gotta go call 911!

Are you kidding me? This is how my VACATION is going to start?!?!?!

Twenty minutes later, Lori calls me back and tells me that the police are asking Kevin to leave, the house is trashed, but they are on their way....

Forty-five minutes late they show up, and my niece Jillian, who was dog sitting for me, drives us to the airport like a bat out of hell. We get there with just minutes to spare. I hate being late to the airport. Of course, we were so late that they would only give us boarding passes to our layover city and told us that we would have to get our next boarding pass there.

Tiffany gave me one version of what happened at home...and knowing Tiff, I took it all with a grain of salt. We flew to Charlotte, and when we got there, because the doofuses in Detroit wouldn't give us our boarding passes, there weren't any seats left on the flight because they overbooked. I threw a fit. There was some couple that got there after us, and got the last two seats on the plane because they knew someone in the "office". They actually had to ask people to voluntarily get off the plane to get us on. Now, normally that wouldn't be a problem, taking the next flight for a free flight(which they did offer)....but Lori was on a different airline and we worried that she would freak out if we weren't in PR to meet her plane. We finally got on the plane and I noticed that the couple that got the last two seats....were in first class. Fuckers. I really hoped their first class pillows smelled like feet.

Anyhoo...we get to PR, only to find out that Lori's flight had been delayed three hours. Damn it. I really would have enjoyed that free flight somewhere....

We waited about 45 minutes, and then got the grand idea that I would take the car rental shuttle to get the car(so they didn't give our reservation away) and Tiff would wait for Lori. I got the car and waited 2 1/2 hours in the Avis parking lot until they showed up. Let me tell you...my first impression of PR wasn't the greatest. It's all good though...we drove three hours to our hotel...got there after dark, got lost, got found, and ahhh....I could kick off my tennies and dive in the pool.

It appears that this is going to be a VERY long story, so I will stop here, with a few photos from Puerto Rico(our first few days...) and finish the story tomorrow.

This is the pier at El Combate Beach...

Lori and Tiffany sitting on the rocks at La Playuela...

Tiffany and I on the cliffs at La Playuela...

The cliffs...how amazing are these!?!