Michele

They are, and treated Dad with kid gloves. He was waiting in the waiting room, and people were recognizing him, so they put him in a room generally held for the pediatrics emergencies. After one vicodin, he was oogling the trains cut into the ceiling. They really took good care of him, even when he started hollering about wanting some "green jello for lunch." The ribs were easy to miss...I wasn't in the room, but I could hear Dad hollering and moaning...ribs are curved bones, and because of that, and Dad's pain, the angle the xrays were taken wasn't the best. (I don't think Dad could hold still long enough in the position, honestly). The hip break seems to have "widened" over the last week, probably because Dad thought he'd just banged and bruised himself, and that movement would be good. Which, within reason, is what you'd do with sore muscles...of course, it's the "within reason" part that Dad didn't get. He went to the market, up and down and in and out of the car, there are stairs (3, but still...) in his house, and he "helped" the gardeners. Not to mention that he had a performance and went ahead and did it. And it didn't become apparent that he had some internal trauma until the MRI (or was it the CT? Can't recall) was done. Dad sets great store in MRIs. He keeps telling people how nice they are. And sometimes, according to the Ortho Dr., some breaks don't show up for several days. Which would be when he was walking around the block, and going on interviews and doing performances. I know one lady who broke her spine, and it didn't show up on the xrays for something like 2 weeks. Dad just called me, well under the influence of percocet, and wants to know what we're doing on Father's Day. I told him we'd picnic in the back yard, and I'd bring my camera if he wore his blue jammies. He told me to bring a few bottles of wine. LOLOL! Thanks, Don. Again, everyone, I really appreciate the prayers and vibes. Thanks. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

You all don't know what it means, your posts. I really do appreciate them, and I know that he feels the prayers, too. He's such a stubborn guy. And yes, he's very funny on vicodin. He's sleepier (and still funny) on percocet. He invited the mailman in for drinks this afternoon. As he said when I looked up and saw the conversation happening through the window, "well, he's been bringing me mail for many years. I figured he could use a beer." Yes, there is a whole lot of pain...he swears that it didn't hurt that much until he found out it was broken, but that's just whistling in the dark. He ranked it a 9.5 on a scale of 1-10 at the ER last week, so I know he's just saying that. He took his walker and went for a walk to the bank this morning (while I was at work....), which is about 1 mile round trip...and then complained that his walker is "unwieldy." I told him they designed it that way to keep him from walking around. Now that he's on percocet, hopefully he will be too drowsy to go "walking." Namgrunt, he was in B/C/I in WWII...fell down a ravine and shattered his elbow during ops. Healed up, and went back out with his unit with a permanently bent elbow. Yep, one of the "greatest generation" indeed. He wasn't partial to the whole jungle thing; he tells great stories of waking up with a "big, ugly snake" sleeping on his chest, and the time a big cat (he swears it was a tiger, but I'm not sure about that) came into his bivouaced tent, and curled up with him. He was too scared to move. LOL!!! Thanks, guys. It's going to be a tough road, but he'll make it. Please God, he'll make it. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

If anyone has any spare prayers or vibes laying around unused you could send to my father I'd appreciate it. He was doing a show about 10 days ago, and took a wallop of a fall on some stairs. Conked his head kinda bad on one of the risers, and took the rest of the stairs on his left side hip and ribs. After some time on his back laying there trying to remember his name, according to the producer, he got up, and, being my father, continued on with the show. He wouldn't go to the hospital despite my best bullying and nagging tactics, and just "rested" at home until his Dr. told him that he needs to be seen, and right away. I took him down to Cedars Sinai, and they took a series of xrays. They turned up nothing. But we were warned that if the pain continued, he should see an orthopedist and get a complete workover. Dad on Vicodin is rather funny, but it's sad to see him needing it. Anyway, the pain did not abate, and in fact increased, so between his Dr and me, we managed to get him into an ortho guy. A full set of xrays, MRI and a CT scan, and the results are back. He has three broken ribs. His hip is broken. He has internal bruising of the liver and spleen (but it's not too bad, they said). He's 82, and in enormous pain. He's elected to not have surgery just yet, and see how the healing goes (against the Dr.'s advice, I might add...). He's a stubborn ol' man, but he's my ol' man, and this scares me; it scares him, too (but not that he'd admit...he's a man, after all...). To see my father in great pain is difficult at best, and to know he's got broken things in his body just makes me cry. So if anyone has a spare prayer or vibe lying around unused, my Dad could use it. Thanks. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

I was thinking that, had the prosecution NOT charged him with kidnapping, conspiracy, and a few of the other charges, the mother would not have testified, and thus the prosecution would have been cleaner and more succinct...perhaps leading to a conviction on the molestation charges themselves. I feel that stacking the charges like this may have made a significant difference, as it allowed the mother to testify, and if that's indeed one of the issues in the jury's decision (and I think it might be), it would have taken that reason away. To me, the prosecution was "greedy" and threw as much against the wall as they could, hoping something would stick. That method of prosecution speaks to an altogether different motive for bringing charges than the ideal ones. Just a thought as I run out to the office. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Hey, Frenchy! I've got some Advil, vodka, tequila, and many other methods of keeping that headache at bay... Someone above mentioned that they were concerned for the "next victim." While that's definitely something to consider, as jurors that is NOT allowed. In this system, it is not those crimes which are thought of but not yet committed; rather, it bases itself on the "innocent until proved guilty in a court of law" that we honor. I recall sitting in a jury room, listening to how stupid I was to not convict a gang banger on the crimes he was accused of. The main theme was "the blood of his next victim is on your head" and "think about the next poor person he beats up. Convict him on that; I am..." I sat there, listening intently, and my response was to stick with my vote...there was some evidence, but not enough to make me cross the threshold of "reasonable doubt." The jury hung. Those were some difficult days, sitting there considering the fate of someone. To be responsible, and to put aside any preconception about his guilt from his appearance, or from the fact that he had several convictions prior to this one, and all the other easy way outs which made differences to the folks who were screaming for the "next victims" and placing their blood on my head and in my hands. To this day, I do not feel shamed that I voted the way I did. And I fervently pray that he was able to come back from whatever eventually occurred to him, and that there is no blood to blame on me. And if there was, it still is not something I can feel badly about, because that crime had not yet occurred; I was deciding on the evidence presented at that particular trial for that particular series of offenses, and not on future behavior. It is that particular perspective - the "put him away, I don't care if he's innocent...there may be victims in the future, so put his happy ass away!!!" that is very scary to read about. That bespeaks a violence which I find abhorrant, but people are also allowed their opinions based on whatever they choose to base them on, reality or cogent reasoning or not. I just hope that these folks, unable to put aside prejudgment, find a way to get permanently excused from jury duty. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

LOLOLOL!!!!!!!!! Gasp!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (deep breath for me.....) (can't contain it!) ROFLMFAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh, there's quite a bit more stooping for me to do to get near "low." BTW, please refrain from pm-ing me again...it's not necessary, and I'd hate to add you to my (very limited) block list. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Apparently. However, you made a strong showing when you decided to educamate me dumb self.... BTW, and I just can't resist, it's gist. Jest is a joke. Which, of course, speaks for itself. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Darlin', it doesn't. Not in the least. I just don't like to see such prejudices go unchallenged. And I'm not a fan of MJ. You are more than welcome to think as you like, pro-rating or not, as am I. Actually, I'm not sure what you mean. Can you give me a definition for this one? Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Yes, I do think so. The jury during the presser really took after the mother, and it would seem that there is fairly clear evidence (at least as clear evidence as that which brought MJ into a court room) that she was out for $$ and used her child/ren to get that. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Thank you for clarifying that for me. I really appreciate it. Considering you were not in the court room, and considering that his "child endangerment" event (in Germany, years ago if I recall correctly) was not brought up in the courtroom as far as I know, as well as his being "a freak" and various other pejorative terms that you so vociferously stated were not discussed at trial, I am going to remain with my opinion of your opinion. *pejorative = belitting, demeaning *vociferously = clamourous, strident Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

LOLing at you, Nick! From what little all of us know about the case, it indeed was a bad case to begin with. Snedden does seem to have an itch after MJ, and sadly, that itch cost the tax payers hundreds of thousands of dollars. The only folk who did not have a motive to lie and/or embellish were some of the defense witnesses, and that alone turned things for some people. LisaMarie, if you re-read your comments about why you believe that he's guilty and should be put away, you might be able to see a heavy bias towards pre-judgement. The things you said lead me to believe that you have some significant preconceptions about the ranch, MJ's personality, and his children...and those pre-judgements and preconceptions may be tinging your perspective a tad. That being said, you're completely welcome to have your own opinion, and have it based on whatever you want. I don't happen to share it, however. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Wow. What a comment. It speaks volumes about how you view the progeny of slaves, now doesn't it? Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

I've never been pulled over for something I didn't do. I've not always (alright, only a few times) gotten a citation, but those I've gotten were for something I wast guilty of (and usually not the full measure I was due...written for expired tags and not for insurance or a rolling stop, or whatever). And I've never bothered to fight it, either. And I've been pulled over at night, with tinted windows, driving a sports car...and yes, once my car was searched, but that's because it was about 3 am, I was in my jammies picking up a friend from her job, exhausted and driving poorly. The cops thought I was drunk (until they said hello. Then they realized green fuzzie slippers probably didn't denote a drunkard. LOL!) They searched because the car had some cans (of soda) in the back, and they couldn't see clearly what they were. Needless to say, there was nothing there, and they let me and my roomie go without even a cite. The pervasive attitude of "all cops are evil" or "all cops are racist" is utterly wrong, just as any other preconception and/or prejudice. The pity is that the media plays up all the bad cops, and rarely plays up the good busts, the thousands of those which happen daily. Are there bad cops? Sure, just like bad drs., shop keepers, gardeners, and housepainters. But having been in the middle of the North Hollywood Bank shootout, I saw, first hand, what those men and women are willing to do to protect me,and those around me, without even knowing my name or my race. The vast majority of cops and PO's are not bad. And they run towards the bullets flying while the rest of us run away. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Is thtat how it went down? Man, I've been blind. But like ol' whatshisname from the bible, the scales have been removed from my eyes, and I can see now! LOLOLOL!!! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

If you are paying such close detail, you'd realize my name is spelled with one L. As to the tape, if you saw one wherein he's eating KFC, can you recall which hand he was eating it with? Back to the topic at hand (which is whether or not SH sponsored AQ in Iraq in 99), there has been interesting claims made that Ramsey Yousef traveled to the US in '93 for the first WTC attack using an iraqi passport; simply something else to consider. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Well, the admission/claim of responsibility is on a video tape. But it's being said by Osama Bin Ladin, so I guess it's not real 'cause he's not real. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

You really need to back that up with some reputable sources. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

I had the opportunity to fly in a Jetstream 32 today...very small plane. What was fascinating was that the co-pilot basically said "if there's anything we can do to make your flight more pleasant, please come tap us on the shoulder and let us know." And there I sat, seat 2A, watching the altimeter and speed and messages from ATC, and pilots fly the plane. No barrier whatsoever between me and them, no door or even closed curtains, with an open invitation to come talk to them should I feel the need. Sigh... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

There is an article on the front page about a friend of ours...he was known here as Rebel, and I had the joy of being able to work with him in getting him into the sky. He was proud to call himself a skydiver, and we were honored to have him with us. He passed away over the weekend...and I wanted to start a thread so that we could let his family know how much Rebel was appreciated. You might not remember him, but if you read the article, and the previous one, you might just get a taste of who he was, and what an amazing person he was. If you have a remembrance, please post it here. If you have a thought, a comment, a story about your relationship with him, please post it. Whatever you'd like, please take a moment and remember Arthur. His family could use a little of the famous dropzone love. Thanks, all. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

In re: bragging... I spend my time with several "old timers", and I have yet to hear them brag about anything. They've been the ones to bury their friends, to help pick up the dismembered body parts; they don't brag about it. They don't even talk about it. I have no wish to watch a fatality. There was one time I thought it would be a fatality, and I looked away. He didn't die (damned lucky for him...damned lucky, nothing more...), and I am thrilled he didn't. As for car accidents, if they happen in front of me, I stop and do what I can while waiting for EMTs. If I'm in traffic, I keep an eye on my mirrors to make room for the PD/FD/Ambus, say a prayer as I'm passing the sight, and don't look. There is no elitism badge that you get from witnessing a fatality. You get a solid dose of reality - of how fragile life can be, of how instantaneous death can pluck you from the face of this earth; but it's not a badge of elitism. If what you're looking for is inclusion into a group of skydivers, then might I suggest you do the something else. Spend some time with them listening to their stories, talking about things other than death, being their friend. To feel on the outside of a group you wish to belong to is not fun, I'll agree there. But there are other ways to create the inclusion other than seeing someone die. There is no rush in making the call to a family member. There is no rush in seeing someone die. There is no rush in crying so long and so hard that your eyes swell and you can't see. And there is no rush in trying to find a way to help heal the hurt of those left behind. No rush at all. (And I will admit to being horrified to read the original post...and thinking that there is some pathology which might be helped with counseling and addressing the issues rather than wishing to experience someone's death...that's a significant issue.) Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Marc, hugs to you, and lots of love from this side of the country. If you need to talk about things, I'm never farther away than a pm. Hang tight, know your Grandpa is now with his lifelong love, and he is happy and content again. Know also that he sees you, is with you, loves you, and will be at your side forever. Love is eternal. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

And a happy Birthday to you!! Hope you have a wonderful day! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Happy Birthday, Lisa! May you have many, many more...as fun as this! Hugs to you. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

I add my prayers to those already being said, pleas sent to God's ear that William heals fully, and that Laurel reaches out to those around her when the need is strong. That she feels the love, knows the love, and owns the love of her William, knowing that nothing can change that love and deepest connection. And that William feels the love, knows the love, and owns the love of his Laurel, knowing nothing can change that love and deepest connection. And that William and Laurel both are completely, totally, and always surrounded by angels, both physical and etheral, and feel the certainty of their protection and love. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Thanks, all of you. It's nice - especially today - to get a thread wishing me happy birthday. I am officially "on the hill", but I haven't learned how to turn points here yet. That's coming, though. Lisa, just remember that I am older than you...by two days, but still, older... Thanks for the wishes - I worked today, and I'm going to a sunset dinner with my father, but other than that, it's sort of a non-event. I'm hoping to get back into the sky shortly, and then I'm looking forward to a summer of play, fun, and sun with you all. I miss my Tennessee family so much!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks, all. It means a lot. More, perhaps, than you realize. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~