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Feb 3, 2012

Naked Dude

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It was 1:10 AM on Feb. 3rd, and I was relaxed, near sleep on the couch.  I thought I heard something and opened my eyes.  I heard it again and Ying jumped over me to the floor.  He pitched a fierce barking alert, snarling at the front door and leaping an impressive four feet.  He couldn’t see out the window, hell I barely could.  I expected my sister, Jarrid or Zeth.  There was a man I didn’t recognize at the front door.  I unlocked my front door to see what he wanted and peeked out the crack.

“Whoa!!  Dude is naked!” and I pushed the door shut and grabbed my cellphone.  I dialed 911.  The operator asked the usual questions and I heard my screen door open.  “Don’t come in!’ I yelled.

“Is he trying to enter your home?” she asked.  “Yes!” I replied.  “We have police in the area.  Is he still at your front door?” she asked.  “Yes!  He is naked.” I told her.

“Does he have anything in his hands?”  I looked out and this time I saw his underwear.  “He has underwear on.  He has something in his hand…maybe a t-shirt.”

Dude had to be freezing but I was not opening the door.  Dale came down the steps and I filled him in on what was happening.  He started to open the door and I stopped him.

“Don’t go out there!” I said to him, grabbing his arm.  The operator asked who was there and I told her.  Dude walked away.  I watched as far as I could see and he had to have gone around the back.  I saw the police on Rt 74,  in the parking area behind the townhouse, and one street over in the development behind us.  They had out the search lights.

I hung up with the 911 operator.  I went towards the street waving the police to go behind the townhouses.  They all drove to the rear and I went back inside to look out the back door.  Four minutes and thirty-six seconds and the police were everywhere.  Pretty good response time.  🙂

It didn’t take long and an officer was escorting Dude towards one of my neighbor’s house.  “Oh wow….it’s my neighbor?  Shit, did he just accidently locked himself out of his house?  Oh…. Oh my God!  Did I refuse to help my neighbor and let him out there in the cold.   I didn’t recognize him.  Never saw any of my neighbors in just their underwear.”

 

Dale and I watched with interest to see if he would come out dressed but with handcuffs as an accessory.  I had no idea what was going on.  Dale went back to bed and I stretched back out on the couch.  An officer came to the door at 1:45 and told me the neighbor had been cited with disorderly conduct.  He had a perscription bottle on him with crushed pills.  The police dumped the powder on the ground.

Almost Naked Dude had been acting oddly the night before and the police had spoke to him.  That was the warning.

1:11 AM Incident in undies (white and stretched out of shape)  Disorderly Conduct Fine

4:30 AM  Dude is out in the yard again and the police have the area surrounded.  I don’t know, but I’m guessing this one ended in jail.

ALWAYS KEEP the DOORS of your HOME LOCKED.  This is what happened on New Year’s Eve at my son’s apartment in Red Lion.

http://girlboxer1970.com/2012/01/03/shot-in-his-own-kitchen/

Stay safe and never let anyone into your home if you have reason to believe you could be in danger.  Even if you know them or think you recognize them.

People you know, don’t come to your house at 1 AM in just their underwear.  Now had he been sexy and in a g-string to wow me with a singing telegram….that would have been a

different story.  Yes, a whole different blog.  🙂

I think jockeys are sexy.

~P.

Filed Under: Dale, Just Life · Tagged: , ,
Feb 1, 2012

Go see the Principal

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What’s the worst thing a teacher can say to a student?  Go to Principal “Doe’s” office.  That statement strikes fear in all students.

I remember in Dover Middle School,  getting caught with chewing gum in my mouth by Mr. Gohn, not once but twice.  He told me to put the gum on the end of my nose.  This was 7th grade I believe and there was no way in hell I was putting gum on the end of my nose and setting myself up for ridicule by my classmates.  OH HELL NO!  So I refused and Mr. Gohn said, “You have two options, put the gum on your nose or go to Principal Keller’s office.”  I stood up and said, “I’ll go to the office.”  Mr. Gohn paused and said “really?” and I replied, “yes.”   He raised his hands up and said, “well, ok then, go.”

I went to the office and was given detention that afternoon.  Ironically, the assistant principal was on detention duty that day and told us to leave as soon as he walked in the door.  Score one for team Pattie.

Now today was different.  I was told to go see the principal because….I now have to follow Canadochly Elementry school’s 6 day cycle and can only volunteer on day 6, after noon.  For the past three weeks, I had been volunteering in Tesla’s class one day a week on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday.  Ms. Dettinger and I would get in touch and decide a day that worked with my college classes.  Keep in mind, there are parents that come in everyday.   While the children were at music class, Ms. Dettinger asked me out to the hall.  She explained I can come in on day 6 and John can come on day 3.

I started to cry in the hall.  What kind of bullshit is this?  I can’t volunteer in my daughter’s class now because John called the office and laid down some strict schedule for when I can come in.  I see no reason for this restriction.  John has not volunteered in Tesla’s room so far this year.  If he can only make time on “Day 3 after noon” that is his scheduled time and I would respect that.  It should not cause me to lose time in Tesla’s classroom just because he isn’t going on any other days.
Adding salt to my wound, I learn Tesla has not done her homework for the past two days.  My head felt like it was going to rupture.  Why the hell isn’t Tesla getting her homework done?  John won’t let me see Tesla after school, pick her up from school or let me do homework with her.   Yet he isn’t doing homework with her!  How is this happening?  He states I can’t get Tesla after school because she has a strict schedule (and he isn’t allowing me to be part of it.)  Apparently homework isn’t making the schedule either.

I’ll be seeing the principal very soon and getting to the bottom of this.

With a tablet and pencil in hand,

~P.

Filed Under: College, Divorce, high school days, John, Tesla · Tagged: , , , ,
Jan 30, 2012

My favorite class is recess

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Ask a child in kindergarten what their favorite class is and I bet 9 out of 10 say recess.

I have to agree with them.  Recess is a blast!

Here’s how we have fun at recess and in class.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Volunteering in Tesla’s classroom is very rewarding.

~P.

Filed Under: Tesla · Tagged: , , ,
Jan 28, 2012

Take that Friday!

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It’s something everyone dreams of having but rarely ever achieves.

Every new day is a chance to give it another shot.

You start at perfect because you just woke up.

Within seconds you determine your situation.

Alive and …….

 

  •             kissed by Dale as he left for work.  He’s in just so freaking awesome.  I take my turn in the shower at risk.  Dale takes long showers, the water may be cool to cold.  Errr….

  •             ah….the shower is hot!  I grab a pair of jeans and I like how they fit (Goodwill bargain new size 14 Old Navy jeans $5.99,  a YCP T-shirt (L) $5, matching socks, and Nike sneakers (Goodwill, $4.99) and finally my Harley jacket ($350.00 Laugermans; my former life.)

  •              drove my reliable Honda ($42) safely to campus with no red lights and I wasn’t even trying.  Seriously.

  •             pulling into my favorite area to park a student waved and pointed towards her car.  I smiled, put it in reverse and was ready….cause no one but me was getting this prime parking spot!  I grab my book bag and coffee and make a bee line for the doors.  Out of the corner of my eye (perfect vision $24o0. Lasik) I see Allyson Rump, a friend who is involved with the campus newspaper (The Spartan.  Check it out!) and we gravitate towards each other.  I asked how she was and she said good.  She inquired in return and I gushed how awesome my day had been so far.

  •          woke up on time, coffee is made and delicious, car started, no traffic or light issues and I’m ready for the day.  It’s been great.  Allyson stops and says, “I’m going to make it even better!” 

 

  •           for the first time I notice she has a baking tin in her hands and I stop also, taking a swig of my perfect coffee.  “I have cookies!” and she pulls back the tinfoil covering the sugary delights!  Allyson rocks!

  •          continuing towards the humanities building, I see my friend Justin smoking outside, but not 25 feet from the building and I resist the urge to bum a smoke.  I refuse to waste any money on cigarettes but don’t want to become a cig bummer.

 

  •          someone held the entrance door open for me and  I followed a trail of students up a floor.  Again, the door was held open.  Arrived at Geography class, door propped open and took my chosen seat (first seat in the first row, desk and chair not welded together and closest to the door.  I’m the special person in the class.)

 

  •          Books and pen were in my bag and I placed them on my desk, began eating my cookie and  actually had time to jot down some notes for this blog.  I had no specific reason why I wanted to take notes, but I am glad I did.

  •         class wasn’t bad and my professor’s lectures are at least interesting.  She has travelled extensively and I’m wildly jealous.  Fifty minutes later I was out the door first and on my way to Tesla’s school.

  •          I arrived early and had lunch with Tesla and her classmates.  The pizza was pretty damn good but I passed on the carrots.  So did Tesla.  I finished the little bit of pizza Tesla didn’t want to eat.  We went outside for recess and I was surrounded by fifty little kidlings.  We played tag and ran around the playground trying not to crash into each other.  All the kids wanted to be “it” at some point, the bad part was they all wanted to tag me!  Tesla and Bria each held my hand walking back into the school.   

  •      we worked on journaling in Ms. Dettinger’s class.  I don’t just help Tesla of course, but all the kids.  They are so adorable!  You need the patience of a saint to be a teacher though.  Volunteering works perfect for me.

  •       back on the road, listening to my fuzzy sounding radio but thinking at least I have one.  Immediately the radio shuts off and I was WTF?  Thirty seconds pass and it comes back on.  I sighed and rolled my eyes upward, “Yes God, I am thankful for even little things.”

  •        ran into someone I knew and talked a bit about both our divorces.  According to this person, the word is John isn’t to happy with his latest girlfriend.  I had to giggle as it’s not the first time I heard that.  John will never be happy with any female in his life. 

  •       on a whim I stop at a kids clothing consignment shop and find three gymnastics outfits for Tesla.  One is brand new from Danskin!  ($14 total for all three)

  •        called Tesla and told her about the outfits.  She was very excited and wanted to know when I would come pick her up.  I told her I would talk to her dad about spending some time together.  She wanted me to talk to him immediately, but I’ve found email and texting to work much better.  Tesla and I chatted a little more and then she had to go.  It was just awesome seeing Tesla at school and not having to deal with her father, his gf or any of their drama!

 

  •        talked to Dale and we decided to meet at Chili’s for dinner.  We had won a gift card awhile back and not used it yet.  I took a seat at the bar and waited for Dale to arrive.  The classic margarita was soothing and the surrounding smells made my mouth water.  We moved to a booth and had chicken alfredo and steak for dinner.  I fell in love with Chili’s guacamole sauce.   Yummy!  🙂

 

  •        went home, walked Ying, talked to my mom and later to my sister.  Suz is all moved into her new place and lives right up the road from us.  Awesome!  Tesla and Blaine will see each other so much more!

  •       watched some TV with Dale.  This show about a store called Obscura is really bizarre.  I liked it! 

 

  •     climbed into bed, next to my awesome man and realized “in my world, I had just had a perfect day.”

I’ll take that Friday and many more, just like it!

 

Life is good, enjoy,

~P.

 

 

 

Filed Under: classmates, College, Dale, Divorce, Family, Tesla · Tagged: , , , , ,
Jan 26, 2012

I’ll call the police

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“I will call the police,” I heard, walking towards the gymnastic center’s doors.  I could not believe Heather was threatening to call the cops on me.  Well, actually I can.  She sounded just like John.  His voice was still on my mind.

John and I ran into each other earlier that day, at our family doctor’s office.  John had Heather’s son at the office.  I was just leaving after a follow-up concerning my meds.  My stomach was nauseated almost daily for a month and I couldn’t control when I might throw-up.  It didn’t even have to involve John.  It crossed my mind I might be pregnant, but the test clearly showed only one line.  Anyone need the other pregnancy test?

I asked my future ex-beloved to explain why our doctor had no record of Tesla’s atv accident and he said he had not spoken to John about any possible injuries.  John insisted our doctor would put that in writing for him and I said, I will believe it when I see it.  Which is worse?  Not telling me Tesla had an accident on the atv or telling me he had her checked by a doctor when he hadn’t?

Tesla has gymnastics once a week.  My time with Tesla on a personal level is severely restricted.  When I do get time with Tesla one-on-one, I have to sign an agreement that it’s a one time visit.  John is adamant that this is how the judicial system wants our custody agreement handled.  I think he is just a control freak.  Now this week at gymnastics, Heather had Tesla and her girls at the gym but John wasn’t present.  He texted me “sick” after I asked twice why he wasn’t there.  Now I had just seen him earlier in the day at our doctor’s office.  Less than four hours later he is too sick to take Tesla to gymnastics?  Why wasn’t I contacted so I had the opportunity to spend more time with Tesla while her dad was “sick?”

Gymnastics is over….the waiting room is jammed to the hilt with squealing children in spandex and parents trying to get them in or out.  Tesla’s coat was on and I took her hand to walk towards the door.  I had already asked John twice if I could take Tesla home because, I knew she would ask me.  No go…he was fixated on Heather taking Tesla home.  When changing clothes, Tesla asked me in the bathroom if she could go home with me.  I told her I couldn’t take her home with me.  Next, of course, she asked me to take her to her dad’s.  I told her I couldn’t, she would have to ride with Heather.  Tesla was not happy, but I told her I would see her again, as soon as possible.

“Pattie!  Pattie!  Stop, Tesla is going home with me! I’ll call the police!”

Now I am no fool and I have no interest in having the cops come to my daughter’s gymnastics studio.  Heather must have had it in her head (or it was put in her head) that I would sail out of there with Tesla in tow and she would be left behind with only her daughters.  How the hell would she explain that to “The Man?”  What made me giggle inside, though I was nearly at my boiling point on the outside, was “what the hell would she say to the cops after I left to take Tesla home?”

9-1-1 Operator:  911, what is your emergency?

Heather:  I need the police to chase down Patricia Crider.  She left with her daughter, Tesla and is driving her home.

9-1-1 Operator:  Your name is?

Heather:  Heather King.

9-1-1 Operator:  Your relationship to Patricia?

Heather:  She is my boyfriend’s wife and he told me not to let Patricia drive her daughter home because…..we just don’t want her to…..

Obviously, Heather did not call the police, even after I told her to “go right ahead.”  Just more ridiculous threats in front of all four children.  Heather insisted I started the drama because I yelled at her.  Seriously, I barely speak to Heather and she was the one “chasing me down.”

Heather has no business telling me what I can or can’t do with my child.  I don’t want to hear her telling me to “take it back to court if I don’t like the decision.”  What I don’t like is her big mouth filling my ears with what she thinks.  I don’t care what she thinks.  She is just a tool and hasn’t realized it yet.

I wonder what people at church think about Heather and John’s newly formed family.  Does the pastor dance around the fact that they are both married to other people?  I am embarrassed that I can’t get John to go forward with the divorce proceedings.  I don’t want my child growing up thinking it’s ok to be married to one person but screwing someone else.  Neither of them seem to mind that they are setting a terrible example for their offspring.

No shortage of writing material here.

~P.

Filed Under: Divorce, Heather, John, Tesla · Tagged: ,
Jan 15, 2012

Coupons Coupons Coupons

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I haven’t been blogging because I’ve been clipping coupons.  Exciting huh?

Actually, it impresses me how much money can be saved, especially at BJ’s Wholesale Club.

Not only do they have already low club prices, they send members great coupons and the icing on the cake is….they take manufacturer’s coupons as well.

It’s the trifecta of shopping experiences.  Now that I’ve watched that extreme couponing show a few times, I see the excitement can be even more amazing.  What I can’t see is filling my house with shelves of paper towels, cleaning products, etc.  These extreme couponers homes look like future Hoarders episodes.  Now the Hoarders show is a whole different type of show.  It’s frightening.

Depression can cause all types of problems in people’s lives.  Hoarders are filling up their homes with stuff to make up for what they at some point lost.  The show is painful to watch but with the right experts on hand (and many dump trucks) they help people in crisis survive.  Even worse than hoarding “stuff” are the people hoarding animals.  It’s heartbreaking to see all the animals suffering.

Well back to couponing.  I want to finish shopping today and  I’m also trying to get Tesla tomorrow.  Dale and I are going to see my mom later this afternoon.  My mom is having problems again….that poor woman.  She’s in physical therapy to get her strength up for another surgery.  Sigh….this time they may do a bowel replacement.  That would be amazing and change my mom’s life.

My fingers are crossed for Mom and visiting with Tesla.  🙂

Clip B4 U Shop,

~P.

Filed Under: Family · Tagged: , ,
Jan 11, 2012

Information about Waffles needed

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Two Saturdays ago…. at  12:45 AM, two males entered the apartment of Shawn Warfel and shot him twice while he stood in the kitchen.  He has been moved to Johns Hopkins and is still in critical care.

His shooting happened right off a busy street by a Rutter’s Store in RED LION, PA.

THERE HAS BEEN NO INFORMATION GIVEN TO THE POLICE CONCERNING THE SUSPECTS.

If you know anything, call 911.  If you don’t want to call the police, please email me, call me, comment…..any leads or information you may have.

This is the original blog post. http://girlboxer1970.com/2012/01/03/shot-in-his-own-kitchen/

Thank you!

~P.

Filed Under: Friends, Jarrid · Tagged: , , ,
Jan 10, 2012

Amanta, Pattie Cakes and TT

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Who is your best friend Tesla?

You mom!

Awwwww…..who is your second best friend?

Ying!

Laughing…who is your third best friend?

Amanta!

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Amanda Hoke is the smartest 3-year-old I know.  She calls me Pattie Cakes which I find adorable.

She knows more dinosaur names than I will ever learn.

~P.

Filed Under: Friends, Pets, Tesla · Tagged: , ,
Jan 10, 2012

Harrisburg PA Farm Show

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Dale, Drew, Tesla and I attended the farm show in Harrisburg.

My first comment is: It is a long walk from the parking area at Harrisburg Community College to the farm complex.

Second comment: It would have taken longer to wait for the free shuttle than walking.  Actually, that was Dale’s first comment.

Third comment:  The farm show is free and great entertainment for all ages.

Fourth comment:  You still need some money for crappy food and silly souvenirs.  🙂

Tesla was in awe of the Clydesdale horses pulling wagons.  We stayed for the saddled riders also.  Tesla would have stayed forever.

Tess and I bought two cool things.  A handmade tutu and a rainbow mohawk hat.  I completely agreed with her choices and she looked adorable in that Punky Brewster way.

She wanted to buy two.

 

Farm Show hats

 

Bird Angry, Drew Happy

 

No betting involved

 

My girl

 

HACC eagle

 

We all liked the eagle we passed on the way back to the truck.  It’s one of Brad Heilman’s amazing eagles.  I recently blogged about a sculpture he did on Druck Valley Rd in York.  http://girlboxer1970.com/2011/10/18/chainsaw-sculpture/

We had a great day without spending too much money.  I enjoy every moment I get with Tesla.

She called me tonight, already missing me.  She said she wasn’t allowed to sing songs with me before bed.  I heard John in the background say she could sing one song with me.  She asked me after when I would be getting her.  I told her I would try to talk to her dad.  She tried to get him to talk to me but he refused.

Again, I treasure every moment I get.

~P.

 

Filed Under: Dale, Family, My Photography, Tesla · Tagged: , , , , ,
Jan 9, 2012

Who the **** did I marry?

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I watch that show “Who the bleep did I marry?” and cross my fingers there is never an episode written about me.

Last night I tried to be a supportive co-parent and invited John into my home to talk.  I just wanted to know what happened when Tesla wrecked the 4-wheeler.  Immediately John confirmed my suspicions by admitting Tesla fell off the atv.  He says Tesla didn’t run into him with the atv but just hit bumps in the yard and fell off.  The atv continued across the yard without Tess.

Now I don’t know what day this happened but on Friday the sudden doctor appointment for a cold appears to be a bunch of bullshit.  According to John, the doctor  checked her out for injuries and found nothing.  Interestingly enough, there is no documentation on the doctors report even mentioning an atv accident or possible injuries.  Nor did John get in writing that the doctor now doesn’t feel Tesla could benefit from art therapy.

I told him I didn’t think Tesla was big enough to ride the atv on her own and her falling off and hurting herself was enough to confirm it for me.

He said, “well when she’s with you, she doesn’t have to ride.”  (That makes perfect sense since I don’t have three atvs at home.)

I realized this part of the conversation was going nowhere and told him just to leave.  I wanted to hug and kiss Tesla without the goon behind me.

rainbow mohawk ballet dancer

Tesla had on her dance tutu on she picked out at the Harrisburg Farm Show.  I asked her if she was going to wear it to dance class tomorrow and she said “yes!”

As John walked out he said, “no dance tomorrow” and I paused closing the door.

“No dance tomorrow either?  What about gymnastics on Wednesday?  Is she even taking lessons anymore?!”  My frustration at his constant changing of Tesla’s schedule was growing by leaps and bounds.

“Actually no.  She is starting soccer in February.”

You know how the needle scratching across a record sounds?  That is how it felt hearing this.  From what I could understand last night, dance and gymnastics have been scrapped and now soccer is the latest interest.  I have never, not even a tiny mention, heard from Tesla that she wants to play soccer.  She loves dance and gymnastics so why the hell is soccer becoming their replacement?  So her favorite activities have now ceased.  I imagine it gets expensive having 5 kids in dance and/or gymnastics.  I would like to see Tesla stay in at least one of her favorite activities but now that John has a huge family, I guess that’s not possible.  Even if I wanted to pay for and take Tesla to dance or gymnastics, he would never agree to it.  That would be “losing control” of Tesla’s schedule to me and that is completely unacceptable in his world.

So much was hitting me at that second I couldn’t think straight.  What it boiled down to was there was no activity I could attend during the week to see Tesla and when I asked him when I could see her, he said “in two weeks” meaning my weekend to have her.  He actually smiled at me when he said that.  I said, “you are on a power trip with this custody order.  Why would you keep Tesla from seeing me?”

His response: “I’m not keeping her from seeing you.  I’m just following the court order. Call the judge, maybe she will let you see Tess on Wednesday.”

Tesla and I hugged and kissed goodbye.  We were both shook up by her father’s words.  Tesla had just learned that dance and gymnastics were over for her and we wouldn’t be seeing each other for 2 weeks.

Everyone is just a pawn in John’s game of life.

~P.

Filed Under: Divorce, John, Tesla · Tagged: ,
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