If You See Her, Get Out Of The Store. Fast.

I really don't pay much attention to metroplex robbery stories, but this gal is getting interesting. Police are pretty sure that today she held up an Exxon in Grapevine and a motel in North Richland Hills. And that brings her robbery total to five since Thursday. The woman works harder than people with jobs.

And I love this description: "Witnesses described her as white, in her late 30s or early 40s, about 5 feet 4, 160 pounds with blondish-brown hair. She has missing teeth and a tattoo of a cross on a chain on her left wrist." Hey, now.

Thank You, I'll Be Here All Week

For some reason, I was invited during lunch to speak to a group of teachers at lunch at the Decatur Intermediate School. The subject: This silly blog.

Man, I was nervous. Especially when I discovered that the Superintendent and the Principal of the high school were in the audience. Had I ever offended them? Sheesh. Beads of sweat were forming on my red forehead.

The group is learning about technology over these three days (things like blogging, RSS feeds, twitter, video editing, and more). Heck, they were talking about things I didn't even understand. But I was called in for lunch time entertainment which is a dicey proposition. I'm mildly amusing in print. I'm not particularly funny in person. But it went well - I think.

But an amusing moment came from the audience as I was explaining what criteria I use for posting. "Race, Abortion, Religion, and Homosexuality are always crowd pleasers," I said. "And occasionally I'll post a pic of a hot woman." At that point, a mocking voice came from the audience: "Occasionally?!! It's every other one!" It was a funny moment.

They were all gracious and great fun. But it was weird standing up, with a huge screenshot of The Blog in the background, fielding questions.

Odd

I have no idea why www.pelicanbaypolice.com looks like it does. But it's not the agencies official web site.

Off

Man, I had to have missed this on vacation. I have no idea who "Merry Miller" is but a feel quite comfortable in saying that she is the worst interviewer in the history of ever. Check out this one with Holly Hunter. It starts out with awkward pauses ala "Space Ghost", and ends with her screwing up the preview date of Hunter's new show and saying "NBC" instead of "ABC." Edit: Here's her bio. She's a former "Miss Dallas."

Kind Of Surprising

Anti-abortion protesters are asked, "If abortion were illegal, what should happen to the mother who has the illegal abortion?" I thought the answer would have been a resounding, "Send them to jail!" I was wrong.

How, Can The Messenger Possibly . . .

. . . not begin this Update item with, "ONE TIME, AT BAND CAMP - "?

Another Reason To Look Forward To College Football Season

ESPN sideline reporter Erin Andrews. Hey, now.

Weird Case

Sometimes the State just won't let go. Crazy story in today's Star-Telegram. Female gay couple have a son. While one parent was unlocking the front door the other parent remained behind the wheel of the car in the driveway. Son is killed in driveway when their vehicle "lurches forward." Alcohol tests reveal alcohol concentration of .06 (below the legal limit of .08). Prosecutors want to prosecute. The non-defendant parent does not want them to. They do anyway. Yesterday, right before jury selection, a plea bargain is struck for three years in prison (max was 20). But I wonder why they wouldn't offer probation in a case like that?

A Little Hyperbole?

It looks like another big pot farm was found in Dallas County yesterday (yawn). But get this statement tonight on Fox 4 News by DEA agent James Capra: "There's an evil group out there that cares not about our community. Just look around us. Look at how close the homes are. How close this was to the schools. I mean these are people that have no regard for human life and no regard for our community. They are a threat!"

No regard for human life? It's marijuana for crying out loud. Anybody die from smoking a joint lately? Sheesh, the local liquor store is more dangerous. But the DEA needs to make sure it can justify its budget so the comments shouldn't surprise you.

Cinemax At Night Breaks Out In San Marcos

Any story that begins "Thirty-three high school cheerleaders from Dallas and Midland were involved in a scuffle at a camp in San Marcos this week" has to be a great story. The heck with Cabo, I'm headed to San Marcos next year.

Weirdest Vacation Moment

Came when a photo shoot occurred on the beach involving the skimpiest of swimwear. The oddity of this local family watching the event got my attention as well.

Random Mexico Trip Thoughts

- The new Terminal D at DFW is the greatest terminal ever. Great restaurants, fancy shops, and flat screen TVs in the area where you wait for your flight.
- When you do automated check-in, it will also ask you to scan your passport.
- And despite all the horror stories about getting a passport, I got mine in three weeks with "expedited service."
- It's only a 2:10 flight to Cabo San Lucas
- You have to exit to the tarmac once you arrive and they had about 20 security forces lined up to watch you. I started sweating like that guy carrying dope in Midnight Express (and, no sir, I was not carrying anything illegal.
- All-inclusive resorts are the only way to go.
- The weather the first three days (until a brief storm blew through) was the greatest I have ever seen. No humidity is the key.
- Playing volleyball with a cross-section of all ages and both sexes is fun. Playing volleyball with a bunch of 20-somethings made me realize I had no business playing with a bunch of 20 somethings.
- There were the strangest looking fish constantly jumping out of the water. They looked like miniature penguins with wings. (That's a bad picture of one above - I had to enlarge it so much it became grainy). Those things would jump some four feet out of the water. It still don't know what they are. Edit: I think those little suckers were "bat rays."

Now That's A Baseball Nugget

The Texas Rangers traded Mark Teixeira to the Atlanta Braves today for 22 year old Jarrod Saltalamacchia (among others.)

I learned on the way back from Fort Worth that Jarrod Saltalamacchia has a 38 year old wife who was a volleyball coach when he was in high school.

(My only source on her age is The Ticket.)

Greatest Trick Play Ever

Although I'm not exactly sure what "value" that teaches at the pee-wee level. But, then again, "trust no one" may not be a bad thing to learn.

Oh, My

That may be worse than the infamous "Megaplex Opening In Chico" story from a few years back.

Channel 4 Helicopter Crash

Nobody was hurt this morning, but the Channel 4 Traffic Helicopter went down in south Dallas. The "engine simply quit". There's video of it and it looks like it hit hard. "We ended up skidding and rolling on our side," said traffic reporter Chip Waggoner.

The pilot, who apparantly did a good job, was not the regular one for the helicopter. He filled in for his normal job as the pilot of the Fort Worth Police Department helicopter.

There were minor injuries to a lady in the helicopter ( I didn't catch her name) who does traffic for KRLD and KVIL.

I'm Back - - But Moving Slow

I'll try and bring it back to full force over the next couple of the days. But my vacation was great - to Cabo San Lucas (pic above.)

But to buy some time, and to refer to something completely unrelated to my vacation, check out this father's rant about the Red Oak ISD. I think it's gold.

Darkest Days Of The Blog

Postings will be few and far between this week as I take a vacation. I've taken few of them over the years and that is one of my biggest regrets. I plan to work on that in the future.