McAllen or Bust

The boys and I are headed to McAllen, Texas (aka The Valley) to visit my sister and her family. We can hardly wait! The bags are packed and the car is loaded. Our estimated time of departure is 5:30 a.m. I'll post more from down there!

Just Me

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via Jan

A Rambling Post Involving Two Kids and a Doctor

Ugh...spent 3 hours of my life today taking my boys to their well checks which were almost a year overdue. I left work at 2 and drove about 30 minutes to check the boys out of school. Then drove to doctor's office another 30 minutes away. Sat in waiting room for 30 minutes. Were taken back to room and asked questions by nurse. Younger son sat calmly in a chair by himself and had his finger pricked and two little tiny tubes of blood taken. Not a whimper, not a cry. Nurse then informed me that both boys needed a chicken pox booster. WHAT!?! I had promised older son that there would be no shots. So much for that. The state requires the booster. Sat in room for 30 minutes and tried to dodge older son's questions regarding what exactly a booster is. Visited with doctor for 30 minutes. She examined the boys. Older son then asked doctor whether a booster was medicine or a shot. A vaccine, she replied, is a shot. AAK! The tears started rolling and the show started. Whimpering, crying, freaking out. 3 people to hold the child down while he got his shot, excuse me, immunization. Younger child hops on table and lies still while getting shot. Informs all of us that it didn't hurt a bit and that he is going to get his root beer sucker. Ahhh...the differences in siblings!

The Innocent Man

I was shopping in the mall on Thursday and of course had to hit the bookstore. I saw the new Grisham book and it was calling out to me. However, I had already reserved it at the library and was determined not to buy it. The woman working in the store informed me that I could get the book for only $17 if I signed up for the Borders Rewards program. (Free!) She then told me she's already read the first two chapters and loved it. Sold! I bought it and already finished the book. For those of you who don't know, the book is about two men who were wrongly convicted of murder in the town of Ada, Oklahoma. I found the book interesting and disturbing. I could not put it down which is amazing because it is nonfiction. I'm also a little bit miffed at myself for missing the whole story in the first place when it really happened. I was right here in Oklahoma and missed the whole thing! I recommend putting this one on your reading list. (I'm wondering, though, if this book will be as interesting if you aren't a lawyer and you aren't from Oklahoma. Let me know what you think.)
I also read in the newspaper today that Dennis Fritz, one of the wrongfully convicted men, also wrote a book called "Journey Toward Justice" which just came out as well. Guess I'll be picking that one up next. ;)

Here's an article from The Oklahoman in June, 2006. I'll bet it will pique your interest.

2nd trial begins for man given death sentence

By Penny Cockerell
The Oklahoman

ADA - Jury selection begins today in the second murder trial of Glen Dale Gore, whose conviction and death sentence were overturned in August by the Court of Criminal Appeals.

Gore, 46, is accused of first-degree murder in the 1982 rape and strangulation of Deborah Sue "Debbie" Carter, 21, a high school acquaintance who was seen shoving him away in the parking lot of the club where she worked hours before her death.

This will be the fourth murder trial endured by the victim's family in what has become a 23-year saga involving two wrongful convictions of other men, followed by Gore's 2003 conviction and death sentence, and now Gore's second chance in court.

The Court of Criminal Appeals ruled that Gore wasn't allowed to present evidence that others might have committed the crime, so he is entitled to a new trial.

The emotionally charged case prompted former Oklahoma County Assistant District Attorney Richard Wintory to leave his position as a prosecutor in Tucson, Ariz., and return to help prosecute Gore again.

Wintory said he promised the family he'd return if the case resurfaced. He served as lead prosecutor in the first trial and will join Pontotoc County Assistant District Attorney Chris Ross to prosecute him again.

At the same time, Norman defense attorney David Smith agreed to represent Gore free of charge.

Several of Carter's relatives will be in the courtroom, including the victim's mother, who plans to be there every day.

"They're just going to get to torture me again," said Carter's mother, Peggy Sanders of Ada, who attended the prior trials. "We're going to ask for the death penalty again and hope we get it again and just hope this will be the last time. I can't handle any more."

In 1988, jurors convicted Dennis Fritz and Ronald Williamson in Carter's death. Fritz was sentenced to life in prison; Williamson was sentenced to death. The two men remained behind bars for 12 years until DNA testing of forensic evidence exonerated them.

Williamson once came within five days of execution. He died in 2004 from liver disease.

Gore testified as a witness against Fritz and Williamson at their preliminary hearings. DNA testing later revealed that semen found on the victim had the same DNA profile as Gore's blood. Gore had previously been convicted on kidnapping and other related charges after his ex-wife testified he held her and her daughter hostage for six hours and fired shots at police.

This and That

1. Yep, I'm still alive, just haven't been blogging much.
2. When did October become such a crazy month? I guess now it won't slow down until after Christmas.
3. I'm desperately looking for a Star Wars Clone Trooper costume. We have already searched for Jango Fett and given up. I refuse to pay $90 for a costume. I think I found a Clone Trooper tonight so I ordered it. The problem is that I ordered one yesterday and the darn place fooled me into thinking they actually had the costume in stock, when in reality they didn't. Cancelled that order, put in a new order with another place tonight. (One nice thing about the internet...shopping from your desk instead of running from place to place)
4. Ebay shipping charges are outrageous! Be careful if you still shop on Ebay. I used to love it. Now it is getting to be a big rip-off.
5. No! I did not order the costume from Ebay!
6. I've been busy at work. I've been speaking on estate planning quite a bit and working on a huge project that I cannot disclose. Let's just say it involves a lot of oil/gas interests and I would prefer never to look at another legal description again.
7. I haven't been reading as much lately, but did manage to read Honeymoon by James Patterson and Howard Roughan. It was true to Patterson's style. Creepy and weird and you couldn't put it down.
8. Here's the opening of the book I'm currently reading. 10 points if you can guess the book. (Hint: I've read this book before.)
   

   In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I've been turning over in my mind ever since. "Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone," he told me, "just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had."

9. I just ripped the bottom hem of my pajama pants. Rats!
   
10. I've been a bit cultural lately. Keeks and I went to the Oklahoma City Museum of Art to see the Egyptian exhibit and the Chihuly glass. Definitely worth the trip! We even saw a real live Monet painting.
    

Quote for the Day

This one cracks me up! "Never eat more than you can lift." --Miss Piggy
(From Quotes of the Day)