JuneInMA's Blog

I don't know what goes through the mind of a person that does this, but I do BELIEVE the following:  Anyone who would do something like this is capable of much more and it's only a matter of time before they get there.  Anyone who has seen the movie or read the book Apt Pupil would know what I mean.

Justice eyed for scorched kitten

MSPCA investigators are searching for whoever “cooked” a 6-week-old kitten in a microwave, nearly killing him.

Edison was brought to Angell Animal Medical Center in Jamaica Plain on July 3 with life-threatening injuries consistent with being burned alive, said MSPCA-Angell spokesman Brian Adams.

His entire tail may have to be surgically removed, Adams said, and both of his ears may have to be amputated.

Now 8 weeks old, Edison also suffered burns to his legs and blisters on his tongue, but it could be weeks before doctors know the full extent of his injuries.

“He’s on a downhill slope right now,” Adams said. “Hopefully, he’ll begin to rebound.”

He is on pain medication and in foster care with Dr. Deborah Brady, a staff veterinarian “It’s got to be painful, but his prognosis is good,” Brady said.

It will be months before Edison is ready for adoption. But yesterday, he showed signs of feistiness, nibbling on another kitten’s ear, pausing just long enough to swat him on the nose.

Adams would not release details of the MSPCA’s investigation other than that someone surrendered the kitten, alleging that he had been put in a microwave oven.

The MSPCA’s Law Enforcement Department has been trying to get in touch with the person who made the allegation, but the contact information the person gave was apparently incorrect, Adams said. Anyone with information should contact the MSPCA at 800-628-5808.

If the person who burned the kitten is caught and convicted of animal cruelty, the maximum penalty is up to 2 years in jail and a $2,500 fine.

Edison was one of three critically injured cats and dozens of homeless animals blessed yesterday by Lama Gursam, a Tibetan priest.

One of the cats, a 6-week-old kitten named Newton, was surrendered to the MSPCA last Friday after a three-story fall. Another cat, Zorro, survived a South Boston fire last week.

I really wish we had a random category we could put stuff like this in.  Oh well.......

I'm in love!!!  With the Litter Locker (http://www.worldpetstore.com/lilopl.html).  Maybe some of you already know about this or have one, but I just found out recently.  This is the Diaper Genie for cats.  I've had it for a little while and I am in love!!!  If you live in an apartment, especially one on the 3rd floor like mine, which does not make it easy to be going out back to throw out a baggie of litter, this is GREAT!!!!  I just thought I'd tell people and you all can make your decisions on whether or not to try it.  I love it! 

Also, combined with Arm & Hammer's new High Performance All Natural Litter, it is wonderful.  The only downside to this litter is that it is a bit pricey ($11 for a 10lb bag), but it lasts longer than the clay based litter I used before, so........

Anyway, just thought I'd let you guys know.  My kitties (all 3 of them) love the new litter.  I LOVE the fact that the Litter Locker has finally ridden me of the dreaded litter box odor.  It's gone folks!  Just gone!!!  :)

P.S - THE WEBSITE IS SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT THE PRODUCT LOOKS LIKE AND READ THE DESCRIPTION.  THE PRICES ON THIS WEBSITE ARE WAY OFF!  I GOT MY LITTER LOCKER AT PETSMART FOR $25 AND THE REFILLS ARE $8.  I WAS SPENDING ABOUT THE SAME IN DISPOSABLE BAGGIES BEFORE!!!

GREENDALE, Wis. —  A 91-year-old woman who had crawled under her car to look for her keys ended up stuck beneath an axle for two days until her mail carrier noticed letters piling up, police said.

Betty Borowski, of the Milwaukee suburb of Greendale, was found Tuesday and remained in a hospital in critical intensive care Friday, her niece Nancy DiMarco said. The hospital would not give an update on her condition Saturday.

Borowski, who lives alone, became stuck June 29 while looking for her keys; her head apparently got pinned by the axle, Greendale Police Chief Rob Dams said.

"She was pretty well wedged in there," Dams said. "It looks like she crawled under headfirst."

Borowski's mail carrier noticed Tuesday that the previous day's mail was still in her mailbox, police said. He rang the doorbell and then asked a neighbor whether he had seen Borowski lately. He hadn't, so they called police.

Firefighters lifted the car with a jack and removed Borowski, who was dehydrated and confused.

It turned out her keys were in the car door.

Borowski appears to be recovering, DiMarco said, but may have suffered a minor heart attack while under the vehicle.

I don't know how many of you out there know this or may be affected by this, but if you didn't know........

The MBTA is starting a "Revitalization" project on the Blue Line on 6/21/08 and several stations will be closed for extended periods of time.  In their usual fashion, they have not properly warned the public of this mess.  If anyone takes the Blue Line, please check out this link for information on what is to come.

http://www.mbta.com/riding_the_t/whats_new/?id=1520
7

Hope this helps some of you!!

June

"A Man's children and his garden both reflect the
amount of weeding done during the growing season."
~~Author Unknown.~~

In my time blogging here, I've come to know some wonderful parents.....some wonderful dads.  I don't need to know them personally to know that through their opinions and ideas through these blogs, I get a glimpse of the wisdom, morals and strength of character they impart on their family.

To all you fabulous dads out there......HAVE A FANTASTIC FATHER'S DAY!!!!!!

Ok, so normally, I defend VB.  I happen to like VB and I think he sometimes gets some unfair and ugly remarks thrown his way for no really good reason.  That was until VB crossed the line yesterday on his blog "No Obama/Clinton Ticket?" (see the political blogs).

VB took it upon himself to decree that ALL women were catty and incapable of behaving in a professional manner when it comes to other women around them.  While I won't disagree that there are women out there that may not be fully aware of their self-worth and thus take on this attitude, to declare that ALL women behave in this manner is unfair and gross.  Seriously.  As a tv personality, VB, you have to be aware that people (sometimes impressionable people) are watching and listening and to make such a thoughtless comment only perpetuates the stereotype and degrades women.  If you want to have these childish conversations in the privacy of your home go right ahead, but don't be irresponsible on the air.  I suggest you seriously think about making a general apology for your comment (although I won't hold my breath).  I for one am offended by it and simply don't see you the same way anymore.

Women, please see why it is that we have to fight harder and work harder than men.  It is because of retarded views such as this one. 

Shameful

During my blogging time here on Fox, I've had the pleasure of meeting and talking to some amazing moms.  I don't have to personally meet them to know they must be excellent mothers, raising wonderful kids.

To all you lovely mothers, I wish you the loviest and happiest mother's day!  God bless you wonderful people whom He placed in this world to carry the weight on your shoulders.  The world revolves around you and without you, it just wouldn't work.

God bless!

First off, I've been following the story of this family for a while now and while I would NEVER even think of doing something like this, I am very impressed with the way they function.  It's quite admirable.  Kind of puts that theory from that Harvard professor under the microscope after all, if what he says is true, this two should be living in separate house by now.  Check it out!!!!  :)

The Duggar kids planned a big Mother's Day surprise for their mom this year. But the surprise was on them when Michelle Duggar announced on the TODAY Show that they were soon to welcome an 18th sibling.

“We’re expecting!” the happy mother told TODAY co-host Meredith Vieira and the entire Arkansas clan. “Number 18!

“They didn’t know. My girls watch the calendar like a hawk. We just found out on Monday night.”

“On Monday night she brought one of the [pregnancy] testers in,” Michelle's husband Jim Bob added. “I wanted to bring it with me, but she wouldn’t let me.”

And baby, due around New Year’s Day, would make 20.

Joshua, the Duggars’ eldest son, said the news, two days before Mother's Day was “a shock” — if only to a point.

“I wasn’t expecting that,” the 20-year-old said. “But it’s been nine months [since the birth of the last baby], so yeah.”

Family forest
To date, the Duggars’ 17 natural children range in age from 20 years to 9 months. Included in the mix are 10 boys and seven girls — Joshua, twins Jana and John-David, Jill, Jessa, Jinger, Joseph, Josiah, Joy-Anna, twins Jedidiah and Jeremiah, Jason, James, Justin, Jackson, Johannah and baby Jennifer, who arrived last Aug. 2.

With two sets of twins, Michelle, 41, has gone through 15 pregnancies that ended in 13 natural deliveries and two Caesarean sections.

Both Michelle and Jim Bob — a former state legislator who served in the Arkansas House of Representatives — are real estate agents. They claim their family is debt-free, with the entire bunch helping to build their 7,000-square-foot home in Tontitown. And they are enriched by a devout faith in their religion.

The Duggars are followers of the evangelical Christian movement called Quiverful, which teaches that children are God’s blessing and that husbands and wives should happily welcome every child they are given. In fact, the Duggars' Web site, duggarfamily.com, quotes “Children are a heritage of the Lord” from verse 3 of the 123rd Psalm.

“We just let the Lord decide,” Jim Bob, 42, told Vieira.

“They are such a gift and we’re enjoying them so much,” Michelle added. “We would love more, and the power of the Lord took our faith to give us another one.”

The Duggars married in 1984, when Michelle was 17 and Jim Bob was 19. They held off on having kids for four years before Michelle ceased taking birth control pills to have their first child. After Joshua was born in 1988, Michelle returned to birth control but wound up getting pregnant anyway. Unfortunately, she suffered a miscarriage, which the couple attributed to use of the pill.

Michelle and Jim Bob decided to pray for as many children as God would give them. Within a year, Michelle was pregnant with the first of their two sets of twins.

Their large number of offspring has meant other large numbers for the Duggars. Michelle has been pregnant for 135 months of her life, with an average of 18 months between births. The family estimates it has used 90,000 diapers and launders 200 loads of clothes each month in a row of industrial-size washers and dryers.

Even though they go through three loaves of bread per day, they claim to feed their family for less than $2,000 a month. Transportation is facilitated by nine vehicles, led by a 21-passenger bus. They estimate that all members of the family have combined to work approximately 39,000 hours on their home.

Each child learns to play both violin and piano. And for what it’s worth, when child No. 18 arrives, they’ll have enough kids to field two baseball teams.

Most importantly, there is a unique dedication to serve the greater good of the home and family. An older child will take on the responsibility of a younger sibling throughout the day. The children help prepare meals and keep to a steady home-schooling schedule. Group studies include materials from Advanced Training Institute International, a Bible-based education program for families.

The Duggars' daily adventures are currently being chronicled in a television series on the Discovery Health channel. They previously participated in another Discovery Health series, “On the Road with 16 Kids."

A happy Mother’s Day
To celebrate the latest addition to the Duggar clan, the TODAY Show planned their own surprise for Michelle by sending her children out to either shop or make new gifts for their busy mother.

The main gifts, picked by all the kids, included a ring Michelle saw and liked in a used jewelry store two weeks ago, as well as a pearl necklace and matching earrings. The older girls, Jana, Jill, Jessa and Jinger, picked out an outfit for their mom designed for “in-between” stages of pregnancy.

And, for a fitting gift that keeps on giving, all of the kids went in on a coffeemaker. “She always has to make so much, so we got a big one for her,” Jessa said.

The final present was a large, cardboard card with each of the children’s handprints posted in paint, along with a loving message.

“They thought they’d give their a mom surprise,” Jim Bob said. “But she gave them a surprise.”

Hi folks,

Hope you are all doing as well as you can be doing with all that's going on in our world today.  I've been watching the news lately and thinking about the stuff we hear that are utterly unbelievable and that sometimes make me think we have passed the point of no return as far as humanity goes.  We hear stuff like the clip today of the young man in his ROTC uniform that suffers a seizure in the middle of the street only to have some dispecable low-life rob him while he's suffering this.  Or the two elderly folks that were senselessly beating this week in Hyde Park.  I'll never understand folks that would hurt the elderly, the handicap or children.  My great-grandmother was murdered when she was beaten to death during a robbery.  I've never understood why they couldn't just tie her up and take what they wanted.  She was 85 years old, what was she going to do about it??

Then, like a ray of sunshine, you hear the stories that warm your heart so much you just cry from it.  Little 15-month old Edwin who was brought here from Honduras to receive treatment for lymphatic malformations.  His family in Honduras would have never been able to provide this child with this kind of treatment on their own.  But God is great and he made sure that the Collins family from Concord, MA, another donor in Honduras who was not named and Dr. Joe Upton of Shriner's Hospital were there to make a difference.  These people came together to help a baby in need simply because they are GOOD people.  Let me tell you guys something about Shriner's:  There on my list of institutions I would shower with donations if I'm ever in a position to do so.  The year was 1991 and for reason we never found out, my aunt's boyfriend burned my then 2 year old baby cousin from the waist to his ankles with scalding water.  The burns were so bad he had to have skin grafts done and it was all so painful for this tiny baby.  Who was there to help a family with no resources?  Shriner's.  Free of charge.  He spend a month in the hospital and countless months of follow up treatments.  I have never forgotten how amazing they were.  My cousin is now 19 years old and unless someone tells you, you'd never know this happened.  We owe them so much.

The moral of this story is that MAYBE, just MAYBE there is still enough kindness left out there to save ourselves because the way we are going, it's not going to be good.  Let's see what happens.

Folks,

I don't know about you guys, but every now and then the onslaught of bad news were exposed to on a daily basis, coupled with the stresses of life, sometimes get to be too much for me.  There are times when all I want to do is have a good cry because I feel my soul needs cleansing.  I go about feeling sad and depleted and generally not good.  When this happens, I actively seek out things that make me happy (hanging out in my mom's kitchen, hanging out with friends, getting a nice manicure, getting a new haircut) or simply....finding a GOOD story.  Well I needed one and Fox25 provided the story tonight.  Here is the transcript of it I found on the internet.  It just made my heart smile.

70-Year Old First Grader

ST. JOSEPH, MO -- Students in a St. Joseph, Missouri elementary school can't stop talking about their new 70-year-old classmate.

Alfred Williams is drawing national news attention all because of what he does and does not know.

Williams never learned to read, so he is going back to school.

Students in the first-grade class clearly enjoy talking and working with their much older classmate.

One student said, “He is really smart and he really helps me a lot.”

Williams earned a living for his family working in the fields for years so he never got the chance to get and education.

The older than average first grader said he put a promise in his mother's head that he would one day learn to read.

Williams, who lives in a friend's laundry room, has traveled a lot by Greyhound bus and says he never knew why passengers stood in different lines until he could read the names of the destination cities at each line.

The school has set up a fund to help Williams financially.

To help him out, call Edison Elementary School at (816) 671-4110.

Hello fellow bloggers,

Throughout the time I’ve been blogging here, I’ve made no secret of how strongly I feel about animals.  I try to help out EVERY way I can.  The HSUS (Humane Society of the United States) and PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) are currently applying pressure to the government of Canada so they can ban the hunt of baby Harp seals.  I’ve included a picture of these babies here.  The cruel way in which they are killed for their fur would make anyone break down.  I’m not an extremist by any means, but I don’t condone unnecessary killing of animals.  In today’s age, fur is not a necessity for humans.  HSUS and PETA are gathering signatures on a petition threatening the Canadian government with ceasing to purchase any Canadian made seafood products if they don’t stop this senseless hunt.  Thousands of people have joined this petition worldwide, but of course, there can’t ever be enough supporters.  The more, the merrier.  I’ve included the link to the petition.  It takes 3 seconds (literally) and all they need is your support.  You don’t have to make any monetary contributions of any kind unless you want to.  Please, if you have 3 seconds, join the petition to stop this cruelty.  In an age where we have hundreds of man-made fabrics, including faux fur, it is just plain cruelty to do this.  There is absolutely no excuse.  Thank you for taking the time to read this and I hope you’ll consider signing.  They are hoping to have this petition completed by 3/24/08. 

Thanks again fellow bloggers!!!

June

Link to join the petition

https://community.hsus.org/campaign/protectseals_nigel
?rk=912Wq8nqoXjaW

Ok fellow bloggers,

June and her Bunny (aka Elijah the Husband) are on the hunt for their first home.....again.  Last year when we tried this, it was a nightmare.  We ended up not getting the house we wanted thanks to Countrywide trying to be slick.  They tried the good 'ol bait and switch.  Well, it didn't work.  They thought I would bite because I was in love with the house already, but little did they know that I don't love anything material that much.  Either way, the experience was so draining on me that we shelved it for a year.  So here we go again.  We submitted our first offer today only to find that there are 4 other offers on the place.  Dear Lord, why can't this be easier for me??!  Wish us luck.  I'll be stopping by to comment on blogs, but for a little while, probably not as often as I used to.  I'll try to keep you guys posted!

P.S - With daylight lasting longer, doesn't it feel like spring is so close you can feel it???!!!  I love it!!!!

Ok, I've had about all I can take of this.  There's only so much BLEEP that should be allowed to be aired.  Fox, this is not about you guys, this is 'other' media outlets.

As a true fan, I take my teams (the Sox, the Pats, the Celts) the way spouses take vows:  For richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, in good times and bad.  This is what a BOSTON fan does.  We stick it out, no matter what.  This brings me to my list of gripes (the short version).

1.  Bill Belichik does NOT owe us any explanations for why he is the way he is.  Deal with that.  We can't sing his praises one minute, and condemn him the next.  This is who he is!  He has never pretended to be Mr. Rogers, yet people keep expecting this to magically appear for some reason.  "Oh Bill is so rude, he has no sportsmanship, blah, blah, blah".  Bill has NEVER been any other way, don't you think it's time people accept that?  He doesn't like to speak to the media unless he's forced to (lots of people feel this way), he doesn't speak about his personal life or feelings and he does NOT have to justify wearing his ugly gray sweatshirt.  These are his choices and he's entitled.  In return, he shows up every year and delivers a team that is a force EVERY year.  This year, they almost made history!  This is the ONLY requirement we should have of him.  Other than that........

2.  Certain media people should be lined up and shot.  I can name at least 3 "sports analyst" that I've seen today (mind you, I can't watch tv at work so I'm sure I missed a few more) that did everything but bust out the knee pads last week while gushing over the Pats and today called them every name in the book along with their fans.  Look, it's fine to have a stance but you pick pick that stance, you support it and you stick by it.  You want to love the Pats (or whatever other team), fine.  You want to hate them, that's fine too.  But don't love them one week and then do a Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde because you know what that makes you?  A HYPOCRITE!  Fans in Boston may be all you want them to be if that's your opion: loud, over-confident, arrogant, obnoxious (I heard all these today), but you know what we are not?  HYPOCRITES.  We say what we mean and you get what you see.  We don't pretend to love our team when they are winning and then throw them under the bus when they are not (sound familiar NY? I'm sure Eli is happy he showed some of you hypocrites that he can do it after all you said about him earlier this season).  We don't know how to do that.  For 86 years Fenway Park was filled even when they hadn't won a damn thing.

3.  Lastly, a play that I am sick and tired of hearing over and over and over again.  The now infamous 4 & 13 in the Superbowl.  Look, who does everyone think they are fooling?  Belichik took a chance and it failed.  Had he brought in Gostkowski for a 49 yd field goal and Gostkowski had missed, everyone would have dragged Belichik and Gostkowski through the mud anyway.  "Why would Bill put Gostkowski in?  After all, he only had one long field goal this season.  Why didn't he stay with Brady who was a better shot?".  Don't act, you KNOW that would have been the response.  In this case, Bill was damned if he did it, damned if he didn't.  He doesn't get to win that either.  Jeeeeeezzzzz

One more thing:  Don't blame Belichik for pushing the cameras away tonight.  He wanted a moment with the fans without cameras being shoved in his face.  Hasn't this man had enough?  It's time to give him and the team a break.  They just suffered a devastating loss, they deserve a little alone time.  I know the press was not trying to be malicious, but put yourselves in their shoes.  Be understanding.  I wouldn't want to see any of you either, and it would be nothing personal.  I've always thought it was cruel that a losing team on any game had to give a post game press conference.  That's just mean.

Ok, I feel better!  :)  That's all I have for now.  I know I'm going to 'get it' but frankly, in the words of Bill:  I DON'T CARE.

For richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, in good times and bad, til death parts us.  That is my vow to my Boston teams!!

Peace!!!!

If this is not the best story EVER, I don't know what is.  We need more mothers like this in the the world!!  Go Mrs. Hambleton!!!!!!!!!

'MEAN MOM' SELLS SON'S CAR AFTER MISDEED

DES MOINES, Iowa - Jane Hambleton has dubbed herself the "meanest mom on the planet." After finding alcohol in her son's car, she decided to sell the car and share her 19-year-old's misdeed with everyone — by placing an ad in the local newspaper.

The ad reads: "OLDS 1999 Intrigue. Totally uncool parents who obviously don't love teenage son, selling his car. Only driven for three weeks before snoopy mom who needs to get a life found booze under front seat. $3,700/offer. Call meanest mom on the planet."

Hambleton has heard from people besides interested buyers since recently placing the ad in The Des Moines Register.

The 48-year-old from Fort Dodge says she has fielded more than 70 telephone calls from emergency room technicians, nurses, school counselors and even a Georgia man who wanted to congratulate her.

"The ad cost a fortune, but you know what? I'm telling people what happened here," Hambleton says. "I'm not just gonna put the car for resale when there's nothing wrong with it, except the driver made a dumb decision.

"It's overwhelming the number of calls I've gotten from people saying 'Thank you, it's nice to see a responsible parent.' So far there are no calls from anyone saying, 'You're really strict. You're real overboard, lady.'"

The only critic is her son, who Hambleton says is "very, very unhappy" with the ad and claims the alcohol was left by a passenger.

Hambleton believes her son but has decided mercy isn't the best policy in this case. She says she set two rules when she bought the car at Thanksgiving: No booze, and always keep it locked.

The car has been sold, but Hambleton says she will continue the ad for another week — just for the feedback.

Ok, now I've heard it all.  First, I am against the death penalty, but that is besides the point here.  Today I read a little tid-bit that I would have missed in the midst of all this politics talk.

Seems the Supreme Court will hearing arguments on whether or not lethal injections are painful and constitute "cruel and unusual punishment".

Ok, first of all, if they are being put to death, my guess (and hope) is they deserve cruel and unusual punishment.  Second.....ARE YOU KIDDING ME??  Is time and money REALLY being wasted on this???  Now were supposed to care about the momentary physical comfort of what I hope are only violent criminals?  Did they care about the physical comforts of their victims??  Give me a break!!