(*I wrote this yesterday and didnt get it in till now*)

Yesterday was Jan 11th.
Not a special or marked day to most people, but a day to celebrate for me.
My grandmother, Mrs Isabell "Bell" Jones turned 98 years old.

I am first and foremost thankful and giving all honor to God that she is still here. I left Calif 2 years ago, but "talk" to her about once a week (she doesnt talk, we dont know if she can hear, but she still sittin there "lookin"!) but I often remember her beautiful lil face. Her hair is down her back (no one would dare cut it), all grey, and just as silky as it could be...

I remember Gran as being the mainstay and rock of everyone's family when I was young. Any problems anyone had (including me in my 20's and 30's) they went to Gran and she would "take care of it". Whatever it was.

I also ever cognizant of the fact that this is what continuous praise of the Lord will get you. My Gran is sittin there beautiful and healthy. I remember that every time that church door was open, Gran and her sister Elizabeth-"Aunt Butch" (passed in 2002, and would have still been sittin right next to Gran 92 years old, if the Lord hadnt seen fit to take her early because she was sick with Cancer) would be there. Gran was the Pres of the Building Committee, the Secretary of Sunday School ("Aunt Butch" was the Pres!) and in the choir, as well as an usher. Those gurls tithed when they really didnt have it.

I remember in those days the pastor "traveled" each weekend for the service on Sunday and the "ladies of the church" took turns putting them up. Gran's turn always was a joy for her. We didnt like it too much since at breakfast on those Saturday mornings was a disaster; we had to use good manners and keep our elbows off the table...

The thing that marvels me: She has been on this earth 98 365-day years! Thats a long time when you really think about it. And I thank the Lord for the fact that she is not sick, shes just old. Spends her days sittin in the livin room lookin at the world go by...but shes here. Im gonna throw a party when she makes 100!

I know she will*

She has seen the days when things we take for granted were'nt even around. My mom used to tell a story of when TV first came out, they were the first family on their block to get one. And how all the neighborhood kids would come over and watch some show. The screen was about 7-inches wide so they all were scrunched up...I bet it was funny.

I remember when my Gran first saw a cellphone. The look on her lil face was so cute. She was like. "What is that lil thang der'? Phone? Gurl, you talkin on the phone outside? How you gon' do that?" And guys she never talked on a cell so far in her life. My aunt (who lives with her in her house and takes care of her) has a cordless unit, but Gran still has her "Ma Bell" beige, rotary-dial phone with the big clunky reciever and the whole bell on the bottom. Here final GP opinion about cellphones is: "Ima use this here real phone, till its time for me to stop talkin on the phone, durnnit!" That phone is still sittin in her room on the nightstand, and nobody "bet not" think about movin it.

My Gran's 1957 Chevy (the ugliest color green in the front and white in the back) stood in her driveway till just about 10 years ago, when my aunt sold it (Gran didnt kno till it was done-another story). At the end of her 'goin to town' days she drove a yellow (!!screamin!!) Pinto that she thought was a spaceship when she first got in it.

(**Sigh**)

Ok back to my cave...

I THOUGHT MURDER WAS A NO-BAIL OFFENSE?? IS THIS WHAT THEY CALL THE THIN BLUE LINE?

NEW ORLEANS - All seven policemen charged in the deadly bridge shootings after Hurricane Katrina will be allowed to post bail, and the six still on the New Orleans Police force can return to limited duty, a judge said Friday.

The seven men pleaded not guilty in court Friday to murder or attempted murder charges.

Four of the officers face counts of first-degree murder that carry a possible death sentence. A grand jury indicted the seven last week in connection with the Sept. 4, 2005, shootings on the city's Danziger Bridge that killed two men and wounded four other people.

Bail on a first-degree murder charge is rare in Louisiana, and activists who had gathered outside the courthouse prior to the hearing protested allowing it.

As one of the officers left the courthouse, surrounded by attorneys and police officers, a small group of activists shouted "murderer."

Five of the indicted men will be required to wear monitoring devices (?) if they post bail and will be confined to home, work, attorney visits and court appearances, defense attorneys said.

One former officer, now a truck driver in Texas, (what did he plead to?) can also return to work, Judge Raymond Bigelow said during the officers' first court appearance since their indictments last week.

Assistant Police Superintendent Steven Nicholas said no decision had been made about whether they would be returned to the duty. They were put on a 120-day unpaid ( I like that..) suspension after the indictments, he said.

Tracie Washington, spokeswoman for the local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, expressed disappointment that officers accused of murder would be allowed out and to return to work. She and other NAACP representatives hoped to meet with Police Superintendent Warren Riley to ask that the officers not be allowed to return to duty. (Shyt they shouldn't even be bailin!!)

"There should be accountability on both sides. We want a fair trial, but we want the community to feel safe," she said.

Exactly what happened that day on the Danziger Bridge remains unclear. The hurricane had hit the city a few days earlier, flooding 80 percent of it, and there were widespread reports of lawlessness, looting and violence.

Police say that the indicted officers were responding to a report of other officers being attacked (yeah, right...) at the bridge and that one of the victims, 40-year-old Ronald Madison, was reaching for a gun. (uh huh...)

Madison's brother, Lance, has said that his mental retarded brother wasn't armed and that the two were running from a group of teens who had opened fire when seven men jumped out of a rental truck and also shot at them without warning.

Sgts. Kenneth Bowen and Robert Gisevius Jr., officer Anthony Villavaso II and former officer Robert Faulcon Jr., (wtf is he doin shootin at people?) were indicted on first-degree murder charges and attempted murder charges. Officers Robert Barrios and Mike Hunter Jr. were charged with attempted first-degree murder, and Officer Ignatius Hills was charged with attempted second-degree murder.

Hunter and Hills made bail earlier this week. A defense lawyer said they will not be required to wear monitoring devices. (Lawd...)

I dont too much get involved in these politics-they're so messy-but I would like to kno why this man is "on death row" and scheduled to be put to death within the next 30 days. As early as this weekend. There are people on death row that have been there for the last 10 years exhausting appeals. What rule/law/regulation says that this mans sentence needs to be carried out fort with? I guess this goes along with the Iraqy prisoners who were held without arraignment for the last 3 some years.

And then there is the aspect of violence (more?). On the news there was a "shadowy figure" saying there will be increase in the violence. He pointedly said Americans "will not be able to walk the streets" there...He called for a complete withdrawal of American troops, which wouldnt be a bad idea.

The chaos continues...

`Truthiness' Is Named Word of the Year - Forbes.com

Very interersting; I didnt know 'Truthiness" was a word...