Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Video Bar & Grill

Disclaimer: This is an article about lack of community support, and is in no way intended to insult, upset or offend Ms. Clark. It is in no way a personal attack. I wish she'd shown support to our Neighborhood and our cause, as she has so admirably shown support to others in need or in dire circumstance. I do not blame her personally even though the newspaper affects public opinion, and therefore we suffered rather than triumphed under her pen. (I do blame Kevin Anderson, however, who sided with NEXUS against We the People. That, I take, is his personal attack against us.)

Vivian Clark is a real journalist who writes for a real newspaper - the Mille Lacs Messenger. Personally, I like her. Generally I enjoy reading her, but in her latest blog Christmas magic , I became a bit peeved reading about a recent area arson where one angry woman (no it wasn't me) allegedly threw a burning diaper into someone's house, intentionally burning it to the ground as an apparent personal vendetta. (Welcome to the fine folks of Mille Lacs County....) Oh don't get me wrong. I agree with Vivian that the arson was a most terrible thing. What irked me is her selective sympathy. Vivian's reported on the events (which I call "Crimbs of Passion") perpetrated by the Onamia City Council and the Evil Empire NEXUS without one iota of compassion towards the brave Bradbury property owners fighting the corporate fire. Yes, maybe our houses haven't actually been french-fried, but they just as well could have. Our HOMES certainly have been ruined. The lives of our long term residents are shattered by what NEXUS and the government have done to us. And vendetta or not, IT WAS INTENTIONAL!


BUT, you ask: How dare Hannabelle compare the forced entry of 94 sex offenders to a real fire that left real charcoal? Because we are also victims - of an intentional political "arson" and we FEEL very burnt indeed. But where was Vivian throughout our ordeal? She was reporting about the building site "beyond the distant treeline"... as if our good Neighbors were over-reacting to 94 sex offenders moving next door to their twelve year old daughter. She presented us all in a negative light, portraying us as wimpy little scaredycats, hysterical, over-reacting idiots filled with FEAR AND IGNORANCE FEAR AND IGNORANCE FEAR AND IGNORANCE as she quoted John Varner THREE times in one paragraph... instead of defining us as good, upstanding, BRAVE citizens, worthy of RESPECT - as we opposed a defective leadership - a bad government misbehaving with uncivil disobedience.

We've done the homework. We found out things that nobody will acknowledge - not the Messenger, not the county commissioners, and especially not the Onamia city council - because what we have discovered casts aspersions upon NEXUS - and of course, this is Nexusville now. All Hail!

Vivian remained loyal to former Mess editor Kevin Anderson's agenda, and there's something to say about loyalty. (However, it is something Bradburians have not had the luxury of experiencing from their community - loyalty). And to her credit, Vivian showed true compassion towards the one and two year boys whose Christmas ended up in ashes. She certainly showed no indignation about how our Christmas have been affected... didn't even mention it, actually. (My family didn't have Christmas this year, and I doubt whether we ever will again.) Looking back, there has only been one article in the Mille Lacs Messenger which even half presented our side and showed us any degree of sympathy, and she didn't write it.

And I ask you: Where was our "Benefit Dance and Pancake Breakfast for Bradbury" to replace lost property values, not to mention the lawyer fees we've incurred while fighting for our rights (your rights) as American Citizens? No support in our community for We the People.... No outrage that the city council, rather than follow the rule of law, is actually changing the R2 zoning ordinance so that EVERYONE next to a R2 zone can now have their own sex offender treatment center in their backyard. (Shhhh. Let's not mention that in the Messenger! Local readers might actually pull their heads out of their asses and see what's being done to us, ALL OF US... Instead, let them eat cake. More fluff! More fluff! We need more fluff!)

One good thing about Viv's blog is that it points out that some in the community did NOT support the arson victims. What she doesn't say but is obvious to us locals is that one reason this particular family was not supported was because they were Native Americans. Oh yes. Onamia plays favorites, that's for sure. Accolades for the Warrior Princess, zilch for the Warrior Queen... Both struggling to stay alive. One championed with generosity, the other left out on the ice to perish or not. Whatever.

Yes. We lost this war due to lack of community support. Can we really be proud of this community? They are selective in their support, bigoted and biased, self-important and unaware.... Look at Dan Reiner, CEO of the Mille Lacs Health System. He was more than willing to "sacrifice" us for a few jobs. All of the community leaders chose to support NEXUS' sex offenders rather than advocate a different location, (which was certainly available) that would have saved our neighborhood. They were also protective as they supported the "God-fearing Christian" couple who showed us no mercy but took the money and stayed put. Hey! What about the Bradburians? We've got Christians over here too, Bucko. And I'll argue that ours are a whole heck of a lot better than those hypocritical sell-outs favored east of the Rum.

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We are victims of political arson. Our lives up in smoke. Toast.

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And the townsfolks... Not only did they neglect to support us, many actually turned against us as if we were covered in penguin dust or had green feet. The rest were complacent and didn't want to get involved. Or were afraid. As Maxine said, "I don't know if we want to risk our necks" and "We have to stay on good terms with the Village [Onamia]. What if there's a fire?" The implication is that if we displease the city officials, no firetrucks for us. Arson by default. Who are they afraid of?

See the video bar at the top of the column to your right?

I've been meaning to share this video with you for a long time. It is quite graphic and I found it difficult to watch. But it is symbolic of what has happened to us, and I'd like you to see it. Here, the water buffalo represents the people in our community. The calf is symbolic of our Bradbury Neighborhood. The lions are the Onamia City Council, and the crocodile is Nexus. However, in our case, the herd of buffalo did not come to the calf's rescue, but actually joined in the attack of the calf. It just goes to show you that animals are better "people" than the "people" in our Mille Lacs community.





How I wish that Vivian could see and understand the injustices imposed upon us by NEXUS, the local and county governments, and her own Mille Lacs Messenger... She's doing her job. She's reporting the local news. But maybe the news here was not about sex offenders, but about political offenders who have abused their power. She could have told the story well. How I wish her indignation towards the wrongs of the world might have included her neighbors in Bradbury Township. Maybe then our Christmas could have been saved and we could enjoy a good cry with her over "Miracle on 54th Street" instead of a bad cry without her over "Tyranny on 130th Avenue".

A toast to the Ghost of Christmas Past

Scrooge has grown rich selling Tiny Tim's blood.









Monday, December 24, 2007

One Small Step for Mankind

All is not lost. Most. But not all.

At the city council "public you-can-talk-but-we're-not-listening", I had quite a chat with Jim D'Angelo, the now supposedly former CEO of NEXUS. I say "supposedly" because D'Angelo told me that December 19th was his last day with NEXUS, but then was quoted the next day as still being the sex offenders' CEO in an article by MPR on the 20th (about non-profits in tax court trying to get tax exemption), so there you go.... you can't even trust him to tell the truth about leaving. In my opinion...

Maybe he isn't done until the end of the month. Who knows? Who cares?But no matter when he is departing, D'Angelo said his goodbyes to me on the 19th. I told him it wasn't the end, that I'd see him in court. He said he doubted it, because he thought I would "find that its not worth it". Now what kind of threat is that? I should have asked. Is he planning to wipe me out financially - sort of a Death by Lawyer Fees? or is he going to sick the McColleys on me again in an attempt to intimidate me into disappearing - or perhaps actually disappearing me - sort of a Death by hit-MLA employee's spouse et al? (Hi Randy, Hi Carmen, Hi Dennis aka Psychodad!) or is he going to drop the law suit because its not worth it to D'Angelo, as it might interfere with his vacation plans in Palm Springs and Italy? Now, I must say that I don't know for a fact that D'Angelo is going to Palm Springs and Italy. (That's just what he told Larry.) But as I told D'Angelo himself, I don't trust a word that passes his lips. I've witnessed too many lies already.

But speaking of lying... I myself don't want to be miscontrued. I said something to D'Angelo which I'm ultimately ashamed of saying and since I can't unsay it, I would like to set the record straight, if I may. During the city council meeting, the council evacuated the hall to have a closed-door private meeting in the back room. They were supposedly looking up some city ordinances back there. That left the "audience" alone. During our vignettes of conversation, I told Jim D'Angelo that if it weren't for this, we'd be friends. Yes! I said it, but I realized later that he may have missed my sarcasm and thought I was serious. Yikes! (I could NEVER be friends with someone like him!) Anyway, he said he had listened to my music and told me I was good. Of course, I may also have missed his sarcasm!

He told me that I had been a "worthy adversary", a "formidible opponent". I told him "Its not a game. Its our LIVES." But to illustrate the nature of this CEO whose organization claims to operate on the premise of compassion, he also said that I was the cause of my mother's stress-induced perforated ulcer. That's right. Does he mean that without NEXUS, whom my mother herself blames for her present dilema, she would still be in bad shape because of ME??? Wow. (And when I called him "cold-blooded" he got upset enough to sue me for defamation? I think I should maybe sue HIM for defamation. hmmm. What do you think?)

Imagine it. He insists on tearing down the corner, erecting five massive buildings, paving paradise to put up a parking lot, bringing in 94 sex offenders and 120 some employees, uprooting our quiet lives, instigating a situation where we lose our Constitutional Rights and cannot even defend or protect ourselves from the space invaders, forcing in 94 convicted sex offenders just four doors down from my mom - a sweet, 84 year old widow in fragile health and D'Angelo shirks his responsibility and blames ME for causing my mom's stress-induced ulcer... Doesn't he get it that I'm the one whose trying to protect my mom and trying to save her farm???Eight months of UTTER HELL they have caused all of us! My mom has been devastated. And that he SUED her daughter for calling him "arrogant".... that had nothing to do with what happened to her? Geez!

"But Hannabelle," you say. "How can you DARE write about Poopsie? You're even using his NAME? Won't you get into trouble?"

Probably. However, I have always told the Truth. And as Bill Hill said when he was busily destroying our rights as property owners and American Citizens, (totally abusing his power as a city councilman), I have a right to my OPINION. And I have a very low opinion of this bunch of clowns who have attacked and victimized this Neighborhood. They might be clowns - putting on a good circus, (such a circus that they can sell popcorn and balloons on the sidewalk, as Larry Milton likes to say) but they are Killer Clowns from Outerspace, abusing their undeserved power. That is my opinion.

And the First Amendment gives me the RIGHT to talk about and write about and express my opinion. (Free speech may not be free, but you can still rent it, as long as you're willing to pay the price.) D'Angelo and his conspiring cronies have stripped us of most of our rights. They can't take away this one. So sue me, you bastards! Hannabelle cannot be intimidated. I will fight against your Talibanic Tyranny Forever! (Someone has to...)
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The First Amendment
One Giant Leap for Hannabelle, One Small Step For Mankind.
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Mr. Manderfeld, please note that I'll be reposting "Can You Hear Me Now?", the article on which you have primarily based your bogus law suit. Yes, you kicked me when I was down... when I was in the hospital. I further weakened under the duress of my mother's three major surgeries in a row, including the stress-induced perforated ulcer which nearly killed her. She's not out of the woods yet. Well, actually, she is.... Now she is in a nursing home. Your client may shuck any responsibility, but WE THE PEOPLE know the TRUTH. Jim D'Angelo has shown no mercy to the innocent victims in our Neighborhood. Not one shred of compassion. Hannabelle will take that into consideration.
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Compassion is the basis of morality.
Arnold Schopenhauer

Saturday, December 15, 2007

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

(oo) What you want
(oo) Baby, I got
(oo) What you need
(oo) Do you know I got it?
(oo) All I'm askin'
(oo) Is for a little respect
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Find out what it means to me
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At the last Onamia city council meeting, I finally met and spoke with Paul Smith, the new Executive Administrator at Mille Lacs Academy. I hadn't been avoiding him. I'd just been so busy with other crap. Besides, I figured in the grand scheme of things, he's pretty insignificant. So we finally met. I was even less impressed than I'd expected.
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Paul Smith is the one who rallied MLA employees and MLA supporters to flood Stephanie Nyhus at the Minnesota Department of Revenue with harassing telephone calls to pressure her into granting them property tax exemption. That was a really stupid move on his part. (You can read his letter on the Mille Lacs News website). The tax exemption is determined by whether Nexus qualified under the law, not by how many people "vote" for it. And of course, Nexus DID NOT qualify for exemption.
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So I admit that before I even met him, my opinion of Paul Smith was that he is a not-too-bright player wannabe, hoping to advance himself by serving his corporate master, using their code of non-ethics of course. Certainly not the kind of professional I would choose to run an institution for PTBs. But then, I'm not the idiot in charge... This was my opinion of Paul Smith BEFORE I actually met him. It was all downhill from there.
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"Respect goes both ways," Paul Smith told me. According to him, Nexus CEO Jim D'Angelo had been willing to work with the community at first. But he changed his mind after I wouldn't accept his "right" to move into my neighborhood. His RIGHT? I still don't accept that he has any right to come here! (Not unless he wants to build a single family dwelling.) WE HAD LAWS to stop this atrocity from happening! Of course, Lucky Larry and the Merry Mob got rid of those pesky little inconveniences by "amending" the city ordinances to include juvenile sex offender treatment facilities as part of the R2 zoning classification...
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Oh (sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me)
A little respect (sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me)
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So I was to understand that Jim D'Angelo was miffed at me because I did not give him the proper R-E-S-P-E-C-T he thinks he's entitled to. What a spoiled brat! That is why D'Angelo refused to answer my emails or return my phone call? One call. MNDOR Call Sheet Author Paul Smith mentioned that with what seemed like unbelieving indignation. YOU CALLED HIM AT HIS HOME!!! What? He's moving 94 sex offenders and 120 employees next to my home without R-E-S-P-E-C-T-ing my R-I-G-H-T-S. I phone him ONCE and I'm out of line? Yep. I admit it. Guilty as charged, I did phone him AT HIS HOME! (how DARE I!) After D'Angelo stood up at a public meeting and promised to work with me and my neighbors, promised we could help design the buildings, promised we could help decide the landscaping, etc. etc. he disappeared for awhile. Nobody contacted us. He didn't answer me when I attempted to contact him. And after he told me that he wouldn't "give [me] the satisfaction" by answering my emails, I did call him at home ONCE. (I thought he'd be more comfortable talking rather than writing.) I got his answering machine. I identified myself, asked him to call me back, and left my phone number. Of course he never called me back. None of THEM ever do. "Respect goes both ways," said Paul Smith.
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Whoa, babe (just a little bit)
A little respect (just a little bit)
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Nobody warned us THEY were coming. Nobody asked our permission. Nobody asked us how we felt about having sex offenders next to elderly widows, day care, chronically ill and disabled folks. THEY came with great force. THEY maligned us to the community. THEY stripped us of our Voice. THEY stripped us of our Dignity. THEY robbed us of our Due Process. THEY took away our Rights. Nobody said THEY were sorry about how THEY hurt us and destroyed the lives we had been living. Nobody ever showed us an ounce of
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(re, re, re, re) 'spect
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Talking to dorks brings out the worst in me. Especially insensitive sadistic dorks who take advantage of good people who don't deserve to be victimized. The Marquis de Smith showed me no sympathy. Nuh-uh. On the contrary. When I asked him why he rented in Foley instead of living in the Onamia community, he smiled and really rubbed my nose in it by saying,
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"I don't want to live by a ........ school.
I prefer to live in the country."
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Yeah baby (re, re, re ,re)
Whip it to me (respect, just a little bit)
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Paul Smith granted me permission to write about him, by the way. He said he's a "Big Boy" and he can "take it". Yeah. All those Nexus folks are good at taking it. Taking it ALL. The only thing they have no chance in hell of ever winning is our
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R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Find out what it means to me
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I get tired (just a little bit)
Keep on tryin' (just a little bit)
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Thursday, December 13, 2007

Games People Play

We The People.... remember that one? Back in the old days it was something to be proud of. No more. It doesn't exist. Now it is - We The Invisible.... We the Insignificant.... We the Non-people.... and its They The Corporate Dictators.... They the Fascist Government... The New Gods... How I hate Them!
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I just forfeited my First Amendment Rights (which no longer exist for any of us, by the way.) I deleted the blog entry for which Poopsie D'Evilo is suing me. It was entitled, "Can You Hear Me Now?" and was a true story about my reaction to hearing a false (unfortunately) report that the CEO of Next-to-us had committed suicide. This is my personal blog. I relayed a personal story. During the course of the true story, I talked about our reaction to the news, including speculating upon reasons why someone like D'Evilo would off himself. As I said, it was a true story and there was nothing defamatory about it. So why did I delete it? Why? Because D'Evilo owns me. He owns everyone here in Nexusville, including the county commissioners, the Onamia mayor and city council, and of course - all of you. Freedom of Speech isn't free. (I received the bill in the mail today...)
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"Game over. You lost," D'Evilo told my neighbor after the county bored of commissioners steamrolled We the Muted at the December 4th "Public Hearing" and unanimously passed a seven year tax abatement for Nexus, even though it was the wrong thing to do.

Hey Kev - is it true that some people fear public listening more than death?

We asked the commissioners for a delay in the tax abatement giveaway because 1) We had just received their point worksheet and there were discrepancies in real numbers and numbers Nexus had reported; and 2) our representative was absent. Chairman Phil Peterson gave us each one minute to speak, with no further comments allowed, closing the "Public Hearing" faster than the wind can blow a door shut. Due Process is as dead as Free Speech. (And you still think this is all about those poor troubled boys and retaining a few low paying jobs .... tsk tsk...)
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Let me share with you what it means to be an American citizen in Nexusville. It means that They the Powerful can destroy your neighborhood, your home, your happiness, and your life and there is nothing you can do to stop Them. Oh poor pitiful me? Nuh-uh. Make that oh poor pitiful U.S. because They can do the same thing to you. And eventually, They will. Because that's the way They play The Game. The Game isn't over until They have won it all. Where were you, by the way, when our neighborhood needed your help and support to combat this tyranny? Too busy sending me death threats to look around at the Big Picture, too busy yelling at me for not wanting sex offenders down my street. Didn't want to get involved.... just another annexation.... just another NIMBY.... "In three years we'll all wonder what all the fuss was about..."
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I'm surprised that Poopsie D'Evilo didn't approach me in order to gloat about winning The Game, but then, he's not through destroying me yet. The Game isn't over between us. (I'm still alive.) Besides, now the goal is for his lawyers to beat my lawyers. (Side bets?) The thing he can't understand is that to me, it is not a game. It never has been. This is Life. Our lives. He has no right to our lives, just like he has no right to our privacy, our neighborhood... And apparently I have no right to say anything about it. (Just add this to the lawsuit, Mr. Kahoney. Ka-ching!)
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The interesting thing about bullies is that they always pick on someone weaker than they are. For instance, I am a chronically ill, disabled woman on a fixed income. Not much of a contest, I'd say. Do I want to win this Game? Get real. I never had a chance! But it is my home, my hopes, my dreams he is stealing from me and I can't say that what has happened here is okay when its not.
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All I've done is to tell him "No. You're wrong." I dared to cross him.
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He can build his sex offender palace here. I can't stop him. (Nobody can.) I realized he'd beaten me back on April 18, 2007. I told Poncho that day, "Its all over", and I meant it. The Evil Red Eye of Mordor had spied us. The Ring Wraiths were on their way. It was a Done Deal and there was nothing we could do about it. Our lives were over.
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But taking away my Freedom of Speech.... That's too bad. It was all I had left to defend myself with. But I can't deal with the injustices in Nexusville right now. I have more important concerns.
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On Monday, my mom - who as you know has been hospitalized since November 16, suffered a catastrophic event requiring another emergency surgery. This is her third major surgery in less than a month. They discovered a perforated ulcer. The doctor said it was caused by serious stress and worry. He said it had been building up for a long time. Probably since April 18, don'tcha think? She's 84 years old, frail, very weak... (just the way THEY like 'em), but as you know, she's a fighter. (Right after the last surgery, she asked if she'd be well in time to attend the December 19th Zoning Public Farcery and Constitution Fry.) We don't think she'll be there... Its touchy right now. Perhaps she'll have to wait for the burning of the Bill of Rights...
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But I wonder - if she doesn't make it, if she dies - will D'Evilo smile smugly and say
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"Game Over. She lost."

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Bullies for You

Some people are born animal-lovers. I’m one of those people. I have early memories of knocking at our next door neighbors’ house in St. Louis Park, and waiting for that door to open - just enough for an out-stretched arm to hand me a thick leather leash. After looping the end around my wrist, the door flung wide and Judy, the exuberant Boxer wiggled and leaped into my custody. It was our time! Not so much of a “walk” as it was a “drag”, we’d travel up and down the block, until eventually it was time to go back - Judy’s energy level down .0015 % and me with skunned knees and dislocated arms, both of us grinning like fools as I reluctantly passed the leash back to the kind, grandmotherly next-door woman who said knowingly, “See you tomorrow.”

Throughout the dog-less years of my childhood I cultivated friendships with other people’s pets, grateful to anyone who would give me a few minutes of their dog’s time. Besides Judy the Boxer, there was Polly the Beagle, Pierre the Pomeranian, Jack the Collie, and Bismarck the black and tan Dachshund. I visited them all regularly. But there was one dog in the St. Louis Park neighborhood that I never approached: Karl the German Shepherd. Karl was mean. Chained out by the garage occasionally, I made sure to cross the street whenever Karl was outside. He growled angrily at any passerby, displaying his sharp the-better-to-bite-you-with teeth. Karl hopped on three legs, his right hind leg useless. His disability made him seem even more formidable, somehow. I was scared of Karl and carefully kept my distance.

One summer day there appeared some new kids on the block. They were the visiting cousins of some neighbor kid. I’d begun hanging out with them when they noticed Karl. They began to tease Karl. They yelled at him, called him names, and harassed him by running towards him, then retreating. Karl was terribly upset. He hopped back and forth, and pursued them until the end of the chain jerked him backwards. The three boys giggled hysterically at their prank. Again and again I watched them, trying to stop them, not knowing how to stop them. Things escalated. The boys began picking up rocks to hurl at the chained three-legged dog. They pelted him. Karl yelped as a big rock hit him in the head. I was horrified. Karl’s pain excited the boys. As they were grabbing more rocks to throw at the dog, Hannabelle appeared for the first time. Hannabelle stepped between the boys and the abused dog, putting her life on the line to protect Karl, knowing that she was about to be beaten up by the eleven year old and two eight year old boys who started aiming their rocks at her. There was no contest. I was just a little girl - only four years old. I accepted my fate and prepared to die.

As I foolishly took my stand against the older and larger bullies, suddenly they turned tail and ran away. It wasn’t me. Being cowards, they fled when Karl’s owner came charging out of the house meaning some business. I was so scared that I started to run too. But he called me back. He’d watched me trying to defend Karl against the big boys. He was a nice man. He explained that Karl had been crippled after being hit by a car and was terrified of strangers. Karl wasn’t mean at all. I was delighted when he introduced me to Karl and instead of biting me, Karl wagged his tail and gently licked my hand. It seemed that Karl knew I was different from the other kids. Karl and I became friends that day. Of course, I had to cross the street to avoid the visiting cousins whenever they were in town, but then I didn’t mind. They were cruel boys and I didn’t want to play with anybody like them. They were mean. Karl was a much better person than they would ever be.

And Hannabelle? She’s been defending three-legged underdogs and fighting rock-throwing bullies ever since. I wouldn’t have it any other way.





Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Infested

"Among the oldest known parasites, tapeworms are considered humanity's largest intestinal inhabitant. They each have a scolex (head) that attaches to the intestinal wall. As long as the head remains attached to the intestinal mucosa, a new worm can grow from it. Tapeworms do not contain [their own] digestive tracts but get their nourishment by absorbing partially digested substances from the host. They are whitish in color, flat, and ribbon-like, with a covering that is a transparent skin-like layer."
NEXUS received 7 years tax abatement from the County of Mille Lacs today.
Nuff said.

Monday, December 3, 2007

Nightmare on 100 N Elm Street

Probably everybody has experienced a scary nightmare. So you might be able to relate to this. I had one heck of a doozy last night, well... early this morning. I guess it woke me up. I don't remember much about it except that it was a horrible "pursuit" nightmare where I was being chased by someone or something - and that it would be best if he/it didn't catch me. A paranoid nightmare... Hmmm. That reminds me of the old saying: "Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you." But fortunately my nightmare dissolved into morning- a vague memory. "Freddy Kruger" went back to Elm Street.
All should have been well and good ... except... my night-time nightmare pales in comparison to my day-time full-time real-time nightmare. Now I day-dream that this day-time nightmare will go away soon.... back to 100 N Elm Street where it came from.

Sunday, December 2, 2007

The Christmas Puzzle

Kids today can't hardly imagine what life would be like without computers, Nintendo and Playstations. Not only can I imagine, I remember. When I was growing up, we had to entertain ourselves non-electronically. My sister and I rode horses, trained and showed dogs, ice-skated and skied in the winter and went swimming and biking in the summer. Everyone read books constantly. We played music and painted pictures. My family also loved to play games. We'd play cards and all the traditional old board games such as Sorry, Monopoly and Trivial Pursuit. Boggle was a family favorite. My father and I played lots and lots of chess. But one of my fondest memories was when the four of us would gather around the table to put together a great big brand new jig-saw puzzle, the more pieces the better. I can still hear my dad: "If you have to use a hammer, it doesn't fit."



If you have to use a hammer, it doesn't fit.



Of course, Dear Readers, you know what brought this to mind. For the past eight months, we've all watched as the Onamia City Council have picked up their hammers and pounded relentlessly at the NEXUS relocation to the 38.81 acres. They've pounded and pounded and pounded some more. And still... it doesn't fit.



The 38.81 wasn't for sale. pound pound pound! They had to convince Steve Bye to sell it.
Get Bill Hill's kid to write up a purchase agreement. pound pound pound! It was faulty and would have to be done over - (twice).
Steve didn't own the land. pound pound pound! They had to get the signatures of the owners in Massachusetts.
There was evidence of tax fraud on the property. No pounding here. Just ignore that piece.



The 38.81 wasn't in Onamia City Limits. pound pound pound! They had to annex it from Bradbury Township.
We the People opposed the location and petitioned against their forced invasion. pound pound pound! They made their own counter-petition, collecting signatures from Ringers from far away places.....
Their petition is bogus.
We the People protest and oppose at every "public hearing". Throw that piece away. aye aye aye aye aye
Wetlands. pound pound pound! Adjust the building plans, tear down the forest. The annexation was faulty and had to be done over. pound pound pound! And now, spot zoning! POUND, POUND, POUND!


Oh it just goes on and on and on. This has been a faulty puzzle from the beginning. I remember a prank my uncle pulled on us one Christmas, years ago. He had himself put a puzzle together, then removed every other piece and mailed them to us. No two pieces fit! Without the original box, we had no idea of what the picture was even supposed to look like.

Well, unlike the Onamia City Council, we quickly realized that the puzzle couldn't be solved. We didn't use a hammer to try to put it together. Being bright people, we realized it was a joke. When Nexus didn't fit into our neighborhood, the city council just pounded harder and harder until finally they have forced most of the pieces together. Certain pieces of the puzzle, like OUR RIGHTS, have fallen to the floor, to be left out of the picture. So you might imagine how the picture is turning out - ugly, bent, and making no sense.

But they're proud of "solving" this puzzle.... (sigh)

What's wrong with this picture? If you need a hammer, it doesn't fit.