Lynlei_alyson's Blog

This morning around 8am, a pit bull mix broke off it's chain in it's owner's yard and got loose in Shangri-La just outside Fenton city limits.  This dog has done so before, and has never caused harm to anyone, but today was different.  One boy walking to the bus stop was attacked by the dog, suffering multiple bites to the upper leg and back.  He was picked up by another parent who happened to be driving by when the attack occured, and brought up to the bus stop where 911 was called by an employee of the apartment complex.  While she was on the phone with 911, we started sending kids into the building nearby to ensure no one else was attacked, but another boy who had not made it up to the bus stop yet was attacked by the dog as well.  As soon as we heard the screaming, another employee of the apartments went and got the men who work maintenance.  These men ran out, boards and crowbar in hand and pulled the dog off of the boy while another woman rushed the child into her office for safe keeping. 

Ambulance personel arrive at the scene around 8:20 to take care of the children, cleaning them up, calming them down and transporting them to St. Anthony's Medical center.  Shortly after EMT's arrived, a single Jefferson County patrol unit was on scene, taking over the job of holding the dog until Animal Control arrived 5 to 10 minutes later. 

The other children were unharmed, and escorted by myself and another adult to the buses when they arrived.  George Guffey Elementary School was notified of the attacks, and responded by having each child checked by the principle and school nurse as they got off the buses.

Please read this>>>>Story on Fox News first.

Yes, we have the moral dilemma of stealing, and the death of a good Samaritan. Both awful, and the latter tragic. But does anyone else see the most ridiculous part of the whole thing? These kids went into a Starbucks, ordered a coffee, paid for it, THEN stole a tip jar containing a whopping $5. Now it’s been a while since I set foot in a Starbucks, but last I remember, a coffee costs at least $3 if not more. So what did they gain from all this? A measly couple of bucks?

I have to wonder what would possess them to do this in the first place. Perhaps they felt the cost of the coffee was too much and wanted to re-imburse themselves. If that is indeed the case, why the hell wouldn’t they just go to McDonalds for a $1 cup of joe?

Perhaps they knew an employee of this establishment and didn’t like them. Typically it doesn’t result in stolen tips and murder. They trash the lobby or the bathroom. Or they harass the said employee until they’re kicked out.

Then, I can’t understand what would drive them to think that five freaking dollars is worth running down a man with their car. Drop the damn money when you realize you’re being chased, don’t plow over the good Samaritan to get away. Now, instead of facing petty theft charges, they’re looking at life in prison.

Where are the morals, the common sense? What the hell is going on in people’s heads these days?

The weather man is getting a lot of air time this morning. Apparently there's going to be one hell of a storm here in the loverly STL and I say bring it on! Most people would say I'm crazy for wanting 3-6 inches of the white stuff, and they'd be right, (like we had any doubts before this). I love snow, I love winter, and I'm finally ready to get into the christmas spirit. So for me, this is the perfect opportunity. I grew up in a rural area about 45 minutes west of St. Louis; and as a kid we got snow storms, worse than what they are currently predicting, all the time. I loved it. I would stare out the windows and watch it fall, taking cat naps in the big recliner my dad had in front of the wood stove. And of course there were the snowball fights and endless hours of sledding that always ended with a hot bath and a cup of hot cocoa. Ah the memories. I'm sure you all have some.

But now, as adults, all we seem to do is complain and worry about winter weather. We don't want to have to clean off our cars, or drive and tread through the mush. We hate the thought of cold, and despise the idea of wet. It's like we've forgotten again what it is like to be a kid during these falls of snow, and how intrigued and vibrant we felt at the idea of it.

My suggestion to all of you is to think back about your experiences as a child, and bring up the one that is extra special to you. Tell a child about it. Be it you own, a sibling, a neice or nephew. Tell them about your memories, and how it all made you feel, then pick up a snow ball and help them make memories of their own.

We all know it, and either fear or dread fill us when we think of it.... The Christmas Creep. No, it's not some pervert who comes out at Christmas time. It's the retail store's way of putting Christmas in your face earlier and earlier every year. This year a store close to home, which will remain nameless, thought for some reason that it was perfectly acceptable to begin merchandising their Christmas decor before Halloween had come and gone. Now I love Christmas as much as the next person, but c'mon, that's just wrong! What ever happened to only being able to see Santa through the last 2 weeks before Christmas? Now, you can pay thirty flippin' dollars to get your kid's picture taken with him mid November.

I've found, and I'm wondering if anyone else feels this way, that I'm growing tired of the holidays because it is pushed on us a bit sooner every year. Will we be be slapped in the face with Christmas by stores all year long in a few years? Will the old term Christmas in July be resurrected in a new and sickening fashion?

And one more thing, what exactly is the mentality of people who get up at three am to be at stores, standing in lines to get in first and buy gifts the day after Thanksgiving? I know a couple who has a baby under 2 months old, who dragged her out to hit all the sales that early in the morning, and later couldn't understand why she was so cranky. Hmmm. Let's think about if for a moment shall we? *sigh* The human race confuses the crap out of me sometimes...