More Cleaning---Going Through My Jewelry Box

As part of my remedial condo maintenance, I am going through every nook and cranny and straightening and decluttering. My next target: My jewelry box. I have all kinds of jewelry in there--from junk to good. It will be a trip down memory lane to see some of the jewelry in there from my childhood. It will bring back good memories of my grandparents. One thing I don't have much of is pearl jewelry. I used to have some pearl earrings, and I hope they are still in the box. I would like to get a real pearl necklace. They are so simple yet elegant. Very Audrey Hepburn like.

Marketing My Blog

Like all good writers and editors, I want people to see my work. That is why I add my blog to as many web site directories as possible. When it is included in web site directories, more people will find it when they search for topics related to my blog. The more people who find my blog and read it, the more traffic is driven to my website, and then voila! More good things happen--all from the fact that I included my blog in a web site directory. Not only that, but I love to peruse web site directories for information and topics of interest to me.

Skin Problems

In recent years, I have been working at keeping wrinkles at bay. Sunscreen is a must for me, and I have developed a like for hydroderm. It makes my skin look good! In contrast, my niece is worried about acne and is trying all of the top acne treatments. Her skin is not that bad, but it bothers her, so I hope she finds a product that she likes. We are women, at different stages of our lives, but both worried about how our skin looks. And we're both a little vain. Well, more than a little. But that is OK.

Straightening Out My Condo

I finally have time now to clean my condo and declutter. I took six big garbage bags to Goodwill. That felt good! I have been sorting out my piles of junk mail, and have gotten it down from foru piles to one. Progress! I need to get new blinds put up and fix my closet shelves. I also need to clean out my cupboards soon. And then I need to fix a couple of patches in my hall, and go looking for some discount light fixtures. I also need a new dinette set. A new dishwasher, new toilet.....soon I will be in great shape!

It's Time To Get Serious About Losing Weight

I have quit eating so much junk food, although I have not totally cut it out. But I am eating a lt less. And I have yet to get into a regular exercise routine. (Even though I have been doing some. Just not enough.) So I guess I am going to have to research to try to figure out what are the best diet supplements. I need to really find something that will cut my appetite in about half. I eat so much! I want to meet guys, and really no one is going to be interested in me, the way I look now. But lose 25-30 pounds, and watch out world1

Online MBA Programs

It is funny how different disciplines are geared to different types of instruction. You would never want to get a law degree online, but business and MBA degrees, and other degrees like teaching degrees are perfectly fine to get online. I swore up and down I would never get another degree after my law degree, but I could see myself getting an MBA at some point. It would be very helpful to me in my present business career, and a law degree and MBA combination can be dynamite.

I would be interested in getting an MBA online. Not only is that format respectable in the business world, schools have refined the degrees to the point that you can be sure of getting excellent instruction. Of course, not all schools are equivalent. One school that looks very good is
the University of Scranton. Not only am I biased about this in the fact that I used to be from Pennsylvania, but I have discovered that the program is the only 100 percent online AACSB accredited MBA program. It also received at top 15 ranking from the Princeton Review, not an easy task, I assure you. The fact that it is entirely online is priceless--you don't have to worry about access to campus to complete the requirements. They also offer a specialization in health care management--what better time to have a degree like that than now?

Jerone Barrett Guilty of Second Degree Murder In Marcia Trimble Case

Jermone Barrett was found guilty of second degree murder this morning in the death of Marcia Trimble 34 years ago. He was sentenced to 44 years in prison. This may be surprising and disappointing to some who think he should have been found guilty of first degree murder. But it may be that it is a compromise sentence in the fact that the proof in this case was not iron clad and a little fuzzy. The case was determined under 1975 law. The jury also determined his sentence, instead of the judge, because that was also the law in 1975.

At the press conference immediately after the verdict was read, Tom Thurman, the prosecutor, said he was happy with the second degree verdict. He said the point is to make sure that Barrett was put away for life, and he will be, considering both this verdict and his first degree verdict from the Sarah Des Prez case. He did add that we will probably never know the answers to the unanswered questions--who were the two people in the nearby driveway that had been seen? Who was the other child that had been seen? Why was the body in the neighbhor's garage not discovered for 33 years?

Thurman also said they could not verify that Barrett had been working at the time at the Geddes Douglas nursery, which used to be located in the Trimble neighborhood. He did say that the nursery had employed people on parole before, so Barrett could have been one of those. But there is no way to establish that fact. People had wondered why Barrett might be in that neighborhood, and one theory had been that he had worked at the nursery.

Virginia Trimble at the press conference said she is content with what happened today. "We got the truth, at least part of the truth," she said. She mentioned that the presence of the investigators and the neighborhood support in the early days was of great comfort to her family. (She mentioned at the press conference that someone had complained that she had not written thank you notes to people who brought food to her house back in 1975. What kind of jackass would complain about that? OK, on a TV call-in show, it was that the comment made was not made in criticism of the Trimbles. That is good.) She said the hardest part during the trial was when she was handed the blouse that Marcia had worn the day she went missing, wrapped in plastic. She was visibly upset on the stand. "That is the first time I had seen that blouse in 34 years," she said. "She should have been standing there wearing it." She gave Capt. Mickey Miller of the police force a framed painting that Marcia had done in appreciation of his work and help on the case. She also said she would like to talk with Barrett to find out why he did the crime and to fill in the missipng pieces. Trimble married former Tennessean reporter Frank Ritter two years ago.

The question is, is this case really closed?

Closing Arugments In Trimble Case

Closing arguments came sooner than I had expected. The defense claims that there is pressure to nail the murder on Barrett. Some of the main points in the excellent closing argument by the defense included that two people seen in a nearby driveway at the time of Marcia's disappearance have never been identified. That the police informants are unreliable witnesses. That the DNA testing wasn't as accurate as should have been. That all of the evidence cannot be reconciled.

The prosecution in an equally excellent closing argument said the livor mortis, or pooling of the blood, in Marcia's body showed that she was not moved after she was killed. That the police recruits just didn't find her in the garage, even though they all claimed they searched the garage. That despite some inconsistencies, it was Jerome Barrett's semen in Marcia's blouse. And that it is science, not an eyewitness, who has told us who killed Marcia Trimble.

Jury instructions will be given this afternoon. If the jury thinks that Barrett did commit the murder, they probably will not deliberate long.

Testimony In The Trimble Case

Unfortunately, I have only been able to watch a portion of this fascinating case. But here are a few thoughts about the portions I have seen. Marcia Trimble's mother, Virginia, testified first about the last time she saw her 9-year-old daughter. It was hard to watch as the brave Virginia fought back tears as she handled the blouse that Marcia wore on the day she went missing. She was very sharp on the stand, and I think everyone's heart went out to her.

A lot of DNA evidence was presented. Fascinating stuff, but I only got to see portions of it, and I am hoping the local TV stations will put up links for us to see this in entirety.

Through the years, a big question has been how did Marcia's body go unnoticed in the Thorpe garage for 33 days? Hard to believe that would happen. They have had a string of police recruits, who helped search the garage, testify on the stand. None of them saw the body in that garage. Now 34 years later, they are having to stand by their word that they found nothing. The DA seems to be making a case that they did a sloppy job of looking and that they had to fill out reports and diagrams later to cover the police department's butt. But they say that is not true. Also unfortuately, a couple of the police recruits later were terminated from their jobs at the police department for issues of truthfulness (lying on the job, etc.) which could amount to their being impeached as witnesses. (Isn't it fun having a law degree and know this stuff??)

But seriously folks--not to find a body for 33 days? Not even by someone else in the neighborhood? This has always been one of the strangest parts of the case.

Jerome Barrett waived his right to testify, which is certainly understandable.

Leads Are Important In Every Field

In this economy, sales are important and hard to come by. Everyone is pulling back and not spending money like usual. So sales leads are even more precious than before. In my previous job, I spent a lot of time with the marketing group and got a real appreciation for marketing. and how to go about it. Everyone needs to market themselves. Doctors need to market themselves, insurors need insurance marketing, and even lawyers need to market themselves and can in fact do so today. It is the only way to get your name out there and let people know what you can do.

I Wish I Had A Porch Or A Patio!

As I mentioned in my previous post, my condo doesn't have a lot of amenities, including a porch or patio. But I sure wish I did. I would love to sit on a porch or a patio and read a book or drink a drink and relax. My neighborhood has a lot of nice, old restored homes that have luscious porches. I love the new porch style furniture on many of those porches. Or a patio would be nice too. My parents have one of the new patio furniture sets that are featured in many stores now. Patio or porch--I just wish I had one of them!

My Condo Building Is Finally Getting Spruced Up

My condo building is small, with only 10 units. We don't have a pool, tennis courts, or even a yard, so we can only charge so much in monthly fees. The problem is our building is aging and we have been needing some repairs. We are doing our best, but our reserves have dried up because of some odd, out of the blue repairs in the last couple of years. We didn't even have the money to clean the building, but fortunately one of our owners borrowed one of the pressure washers belonging to one of his friends, and he cleaned the building himself. We are so grateful! We have now painted the building and are looking toward our next project. So hopefully, nothing else out of the blue will happen.

My Kitties Need Some Stuff, But What?

I have the two most beautiful and sweet kitties--shalpoo and scarpoo. They are almost a year old, but are still acting like kitties. They are good for the most part--until they run through the house at all hours chasing each other and jumping up and down on the high furniture. Sounds like a basketball bouncing when they hit the floor. My downstairs neighbors must love that. But they are sweet, and I need to get them some new toys. I am going to the pet store tonight. Maybe I can pick out some cat supplies and toys that will keep them occupied and happy.

Demystifying Barcodes

I never really understood how barcodes worked before. Not that I really do now, not the technical aspect of it. But for one of my projects at work, I have to make barcode cover sheets, and it is very easy. We also make some barcodes for some of our products. We can do some work with barcodes, but not all. I know that people with POS systems may have more understanding of how to work with barcodes. We may have to get one of those systems. All I know is that the mystery has been lifted a little bit for me!

AEDs Can Make The Difference During A Heart Attack

Last month my aunt had a heart attack. It came out of the blue. She had been suffering from another illness, but was getting better everyday. Everyone was excited at her progress. Then, one night when getting ready for bed, she had cardiac arrest. Her husband, who is elderly, could not help her. Her heart was revived, but it was too late. She had been deprived of oxygen for too long. At my former workplace, we had a Philips AED for such emergencies. I think everyone should have some kind of AED. It would have made the difference for my aunt and for many other people in similar situations.

Jury Selection Started Today In Marcia Trimble Case

Marcia Trimble

It was a big news day today for Nashville, as jury selection started in the trial of Jerome Barrett, accused of killing Marcia Trimble, Nashville's most notorious cold case. In an unusual twist, Barrett requested that the jury come from Davidson County. Usually, defendant's want a jury from outside the venue because of potential bias from news coverage. Not sure why he did that, but it has been speculated that the jury can be culled from young people and new people to Nashville, who do not have a memory of this horrific crime.

Sarah Des Prez

Barrett has already been convicted of killing Sarah Des Prez, and of raping at least one other woman back in 1975.

Both of these cases had Nashville holding its breath. How could such violent crimes occur here?It has been said that Nashville lost its innocence over the Trimble murder, and people never felt safe in the same way again.

But also, how could these crimes go unsolved for so long? Sarah was murdered near Vanderbilt campus, where she was a student. Nine-year-old Marcia was killed in her suburban neighborhood as she set out to deliver girl scout cookies. The murders occurred about three weeks apart. Never did people connect the two and think the same person could have committed both. For most of the time, it was thought a neighborhood kid had killed Marcia.

But as it turns out, Barrett had worked at Geddes Douglas nursery, which was then located near Marcia's home. That makes it more probable he committed that murder.

I personally had some ties to both victims through school/church/neighborhood. And I know of many families who were turned upset down when their sons were questioned in the case.

After all these years, on the eve of the trial, there doesn't seem to be as much fanfair about the trial as one would have thought. But then DNA has linked Barrett to the Trimble case. And maybe Nashville is already at peace with the knowledge of who committed the murder.

Lawyer Has Too Many Student Debts To Practice

The article below would have sent shivers down my spine last year when I was facing the character and fitness review for law practice. I too have a lot of debt and have missed payments in the past. The difference for me is that I don't have near the amount of debt that Mr. Bowman does, and I have been making payments, albeit some late ones, over the years. And I am now caught up and am on payment arrangements. I was admitted to the practice of law. Should Bowman have been admitted? There seems to be a split feeling among readers, but the panel of appellate judges who reviewed his character and fitness application said no.

http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/07/bar-to-lawyer-you-have-too-many-student-loans-to-practice/?icid=mainmaindl5link4http%3A%2F%2Fwww.walletpop.com%2Fblog%2F2009%2F07%2F07%2Fbar-to-lawyer-you-have-too-many-student-loans-to-practice%2F