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What We Talked About
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Well, gang...we're on the weight loss bandwagon...again! We feel really good about this and, with a great suggestion from Carolynne, we're putting it out there for anyone and everyone that wants to jump on board! Hopefully, we can benefit from each others' words using her idea of being online at Sparkpeople, a great website (FREE) that gives us some much needed tools to see this adventure through...No More Muffin Top!
Join up by yourself or get a team together...hit the link and say "Hi"!!!!!!
Deb Brockmann is our favorite medium and intuitive. On her website, you can find out how to contact her, set up a private reading, etc. Or, you can e-mail her. She'd love to hear from you!
Avril at Santa Slam
Pat and JT,
I listened to you this morning on my way to work and agree with you 100% regarding supporting Westroads with a strong patronage on Saturday when they open. I practically grew up at Westroads. The late 70s and early 80s was a time when Westroads was the place to go on Friday or Saturday nights. Most of my dates with my high school sweetheart (husband of 23 years now) were a trip to either the movies at the theater there or just to hang out in the food court or shop. When people from other parts of the country call to check in on my circle and make sure we're all okay, I tell them that this is the mall were I've bought most of their gifts, where I get my nails done, and where I practice "retail therapy" on a regular basis. I can't believe it happened at MY mall, but I'm not going to let him take that away from me.
Listening to you this morning, I was moved to tell you about a dream I had on Wednesday night. Of course I spent most of the afternoon and evening watching the newreports about the incident. Those reports and the weather predictions of the snow were really the only two stories all night. So, I guess it is logical that they would have combined in my dreams that night but I was moved by what I dreamt and would love to see it become a reality.
I dreamt that everyone did go to Westroads to show their support. I saw thousands of people there. They were taping handmade paper snowflakes (remember, like you made in grade school?) up on the glass walls and the railings around the escalator atrium in Von Maur. I heard a voice say "these victims are like the snowflakes falling outside. They are unique and special individuals. Like us, and like all the other snowflakes', their lives were fragile. But, we WILL NOT let their memory melt away! Like the snow that blankets our town, let our love and support blanket their families, friends, Von Maur, Westroads, and our entire city."
Everywhere I looked there were paper snowflakes and I had tears in my eyes. The last thing I remember before waking up was dreamining that we (the city) presented the loved ones of the vicitms with beautiful snowflake ornaments to represent the support and love of the city and the memory of those they lost.
I don't know why I feel compelled to share this with you but I believe that everything happens for a reason. Maybe you are the reason.......
Tammy P.
People have been calling about the Husker song done by the Weisenheimers on the air a couple weeks ago...well, you'll find it on their myspace, which is where this link will take you!
People dye their hair, and people enter their dogs in dog shows. And then there are people who dye their dog's hair and enter them into dog shows.
That's what happens at the annual Super Groom Dog Competition in Las Vegas. The photos --well you just have to decide for yourself. The owners cut and primped and colored their dog's fur to model a whole assortment of different things: A Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, Pirates of the Caribbean. One competitor primped her dog to look like a lamb with fishnet stockings, high-heeled pixie boots and a powder pink top. Another depicted of a horse sculpted into her poodle's fur. The winner was MYRA MACIA of Texas, who turned her standard poodle into a Poodle Rider motorcycle, usering the dog's ears as handlebars. First prize: $5-thousand.
English teacher SHIRLEY KATZ insists she needs to take her pistol with her to school because she fears her ex-husband could show up and try to harm her. She's also worried about a Columbine-style attack. She's 44 and has been teaching for 21 years, the last seven at South Medford High School in Medford, OR. Her district has barred teachers from bringing guns to school, so she is challenging the ban as unlawful, since Oregon is among states that allow people with a permit to carry concealed weapons into public buildings. She has such a concealed weapons permit and says she has the right to carry the weapon, even onto school grounds. She tells the Medford Times Tribune, "I refuse to let my ex-husband bully me and I am not going to let the school board bully me, either." Even though concealed carry is legal with the required permit, the school district insists employees and students are safer without guns on campus. They plan to make that argument when the case comes before a judge tomorrow.
Some Background:
--She has gotten two restraining orders for her husband in the past. She says she bought her own gun in 2004 after her then-husband grabbed her by the throat and threatened to kill her --an allegation he denies-- and while he was found guilty of violating the restraining order, there's never been a charge against him of criminal abuse.
--He's called the school to tell officials he's not coming down there, he's not a threat. He argues that his ex's desire to take her gun to school is about reopening their divorce to get exclusive custody of their 6-year-old daughter, and he says she's just trying to scam everybody.
Editor's note: Clearly, one of your more amicable divorces. (Maiman)
Some Things to know:
--The husband had his concealed weapons permit revoked after drawing his weapon on a motorist during a parking lot altercation. He was charged with disorderly conduct and had to take anger management classes. Boy, do I feel better now.
--In Oregon, a sheriff can grant a concealed-weapons permit to anyone whose criminal record is clean and who completes a gun-safety course. Thirty-eight states, along with the District of Columbia, prohibit people from taking guns to school but it's unclear if special weapons permits offer an exemption.
--The school has a zero tolerance policy: Students from even bringing scissors to school. Given that, they're wondering how a teacher can bring a gun to school.
--A police officer assigned to the school is not full time. He also patrols three other schools each day.
--If Katz wins her case tomorrow, it appears parents will be allowed to pull their children from her class. A few students have already transferred out of her classroom.
--Even if she wins, Katz said she may not bring the gun to school. She says, "The whole point of carrying concealed is no one should know you're carrying. So I feel like my carrying concealed on campus now sets me up as a target."
Some Questions:
--Would you feel comfortable knowing that there's a gun in the classroom? What if someone were to take it from her? It's possible, isn't it?
--On the one hand, it's understandable she wants to protect herself, but should she bring her problems around 2-thousand other people?
--If a teacher claims she's being threatened, why aren't the school and local law enforcement investigating the merits of placing police on campus full time?
--There is still the issue of domestic abuse and how that abuse can spill over into the workplace. Without the domestic issue here, the gun issue is nonexistent. How should we be addressing domestic violence in this matter (and wouldn't it be nice if the local paper wrote a front page story asking kids what they think of domestic abuse?
And ... just a few of the responses we received:
Here is an argument for the people who say that its better for the schools have a way to defend a columbine style thing. So once the school gets into a modern day gun fight with a shooter, would more students get hurt in the crossfire? Thanks, Marc
I have mixed feelings on this issue! I can see both sides of the issue! On one hand I can see the teacher’s point in wanting to carry a gun with her because she wants to not only protect herself but the kids because we never know what the husbands intentions are going to be “if” he comes into the school. What if he were to kidnap one of the kids to get at her but she’s gets out her gun.
On the other hand I am not sure that I would want my kids to be going to a school where the teacher was allowed to have a gun. I can relate to the, “well my teacher has her gun, why can’t I carry mine?” statement. When I was in high school one of my teachers would answer his cell phone all the time even if we were in the middle of a lesson, even though we had a no cell phone rule! So we as teenagers thought, “well he can have his so I can have mine!” Lacee
The liability of the school that allows teachers to carry weapons is tremendous. Schools would then be responsible to train and test teachers with weapons which brings up an entire new set of expenses and responsibilities. Public schools do not have enough money to run properly as it is. Although it may bring a sense of security to some parents knowing their child may be more protected against violence, are those parents willing and able to pay the taxes etc. it would take to provide all the new regulations and training? I wouldn't want a teacher or any staff carrying a gun in my childs school without knowing that the school is responsible for any and all accidents involving that gun/or teacher if they are aware and allow such a thing.
This particular school should, although unfortunate for the teacher, suspend or let her go for the safety of the everyone involved in the school. It is not the responsibility of the school system to get involved in this teachers personal life, even though she didn't cause this problem. Dina
First of all, my heart goes out to this woman. No one should have to go through this. The thing is, if the teacher has a gun, she is not going to tell all of her students she has one. I'm not sure if it's okay to bring it, but if she does bring one she is not going to flash it around for everyone to see. Tiffany
Ok the school will have policys in place that will prevent someone to get on school property. There are NO WEAPONS ALLOWED IN SCHOOLS! this goes for OPS and I know when I was in school if the teacher had a gun the otherkids would be far more likely to bring a gun in school. because if my teacher had a gun mostkids would want to protect themselves from the teacher. Nicole =)
Sorry, I just thought of something else. Even if this doesn't make it on air, for some reason I feel better writing it to you anyways! Thanks for listening! I love you guys! What kind of message does this send our kids when we let a teacher bring a "weapon" to school, but with the zero tolerance policy, our kids can be expelled for bringing a nail file, sharp object, etc. to school with them, even on accident, or if they didn't know they weren't allowed to have it? This is a double-standard and completely doesn't make sense at all. A teacher can bring a loaded gun, but a child can't bring scissors. Come on! Anne
If schools are no places for gun then why do we need armed police officers in Omaha and Lincoln’s Jr. High and High schools.
This is a bad idea!!! The school district needs to provide a secure work environment for their staff and the children. With all of the threats of potential terrorist attacks on our schools now days no one should be able to get into the building without the office knowing and being able to contact the authorities if there is a problem. Allowing teachers to bring a weapon to work even if it is for self protection is a potential for disaster. No Way!!!
I understand the women’s fear about her ex-husband. My mother use to be in that situation. However I do not think she should bring the gun to school. If she feels the need to carry it everywhere she should lock it up once she gets to the building. It just gives the kids too much temptation. I also feel like the school should understand where she is coming from. Schools as is are under protected. I feel they should have a guard at every entrance and exit in my opinion and I feel if she was a great teacher and they wanted to keep her than they need to help make her feel protected within those school walls. They could easily do that by offering her a security guard in her class and to walk her to and from the building. Yes it would cost them money but to keep a good teacher and not put the kids in reach of a weapon isn’t worth it. Jessie
If my child had a teacher that felt she needed to bring a gun to school (legal or not), because she was so afraid that her ex-husband was going to come into the school and murder her, I wouldn't want my child anywhere near her. I wouldn't want that teacher anywhere near the school. If she really believes that her ex is on his way there, she is putting every child at that school in harms way. She shouldn't be there at all. I would pull my child out of that school if she won the case to bring her gun to school. Just my opinion. Thanks!! Jackie
How does this help at all to let this teacher bring a gun to school? If she truly thinks that her ex-husband is going to come to the school (with a gun or some other weapon?) then the answer is not to arm herself, the answer is to stay home! There is no reason a gun in a school should be the answer to this issue. If the husband really is capable of a “Columbine-type shooting” then I don’t want that teacher anywhere near my children or at their school, PERIOD. She is endangering the lives of others and that is not fair. Just because she has a gun, doesn’t mean she or anyone else will be safer. Quite the opposite really, if she has to use that gun for protection, a child or another teacher could be hurt as well. Anne
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