Georgia II

[martiehawk]

Hi again! I received an e-mail from my friend who was a neighbor to the lady who was shot by her almost ex and then he killed himself. Shanti lives across the street. I'm also friends with Terri who is the lady that helped her and prayed with her. I thought I'd just copy and paste the local article here so you could read it. I hope it's not too big.

Shooting victim recalls night of terror
By Kathy Jefcoats

When Mike Thomas burst through his wife's bedroom door Feb. 1, armed with a shotgun, she said she could not take him seriously.

Although he had been violent toward her through the years, he didn't even own a gun much less ever used one against her.

"I never took him serious," said Carolyn Thomas. "I couldn't believe he was in the house with a gun."

The couple had separated n for the last time n and Carolyn Thomas got a 12-month temporary restraining order against him in September. But Mike Thomas, her husband of 20 years and father of their four children, persisted in coming to the family home."

"There were lots of times I woke up in the morning to find him asleep in the family room," she said. "No matter how many times I changed the locks and told him he is not supposed to be there, he'd come in."

On Feb. 1, he went to their Stockbridge home one final time. Their
6-year-old son was asleep on the bed next to Carolyn as she talked on the phone to one of her girlfriends.

"I told her if she hears anything unusual, to call the police," she said.

What happened next was unexpected and terrifying.

"He put the gun to my head and pulled the trigger," said Carolyn. "It didn't go off and he said, OOh, the gun jammed.'"

But Mike Thomas knew so little about guns that he didn't know the weapon had been fired already and needed to be reloaded to fire again. Carolyn said she still does not know where he got the gun.

Although their oldest child is a college student in Carrollton, the three younger ones were home when their dad arrived armed with a shotgun. After the gun failed to fire, Carolyn told the kids to go into the bedroom and lock the door.

"I ran outside to get him out of the house and away from my kids," she said.

He followed her.

"I was standing with my side toward him," recalled Carolyn, tears welling up in her eyes. "All I remember seeing is the flash from the gun." She'd been shot in the chest from the side. "I went down and something told me to just lay there and don't move."

He walked away.

After a minute or two n or an eternity n Carolyn got up and ran to a neighbor's house.

"I beat on the door and finally got them to open up," she said. "They brought me in and called 911. The wife prayed with me while we waited for the police and ambulance. She pressed towels to my chest to stop the bleeding. It seemed like it took forever for someone to get there."

Unbeknownst to her at the time, the children called their sister in
Carrollton, who called Carolyn's sister living five miles away in
Stockbridge. Also unknown to her, Michael turned the gun on himself.

"I never thought he would take it this far," she said. "And then kill
himself? I just don't understand that."

The night marked the culmination of 20 years of periods of violence on Michael's part and Carolyn's indecisiveness on ending the marriage and a relationship that started when the two met in ninth grade. She had just two days prior resolved to put an end to the violence by consulting her attorney to finally file for divorce.

"He followed me to the lawyer's office that Friday," said Carolyn. "So I decided to wait until Monday to file the papers. It had gotten to the point where he knew I was serious and he wasn't willing to accept it."

Her attorney, Pandora Hunt, knows the pattern all too well. A McDonough attorney, Hunt is interim president of Securus House, a battered women's shelter in Clayton County. It is no surprise that Carolyn took little comfort in her restraining order.

"It is a piece of paper that does nothing," Hunt said. "He should have been arrested when he kept coming to their house. The TPO was against him and there were lots of reports."

But when Henry County police were called out in December, Carolyn said officers faulted them both.

"They said we both violated the order because he was in the house," said Carolyn. "What was I supposed to do? He wouldn't stay away and I couldn't make him."

After a stay in the hospital, Carolyn is home, her sister providing care and support. She knows she is lucky to be alive.

"The doctor said if I had been standing even slightly toward him, he would have hit my whole chest cavity," she said. "He intended for me to die."

As she recalls that night, she wipes away tears. When she thinks about how he never paid child support or any household bills during their estrangement, she gets mad. Always, she is mindful of her children.

"I just want to make sure my kids are OK," she said. "And that they have someone to talk to. I prayed to God to protect my children and will do anything to help them. That's what is important."

With Mike gone, the bills continue to roll in, bills for credit cards she didn't know he had. Hunt learned that the days before the shooting, Mike cleaned out bank accounts, but no large stashes of money have been found.

"Where is the money?" said Hunt. "We don't know what he did with all that money. He wasn't paying any bills and didn't pay child support."

His life insurance and retirement savings go to their oldest child,
according to his beneficiary assignment, Hunt said. Carolyn doesn't know when she will be able to return to work as a pattern designer so Hunt is establishing a trust fund for the Thomas children at Bank of America. Donations can be made at any branch in the name of Carolyn Thomas.

"I am not ready to go back to work yet," she said. "I just need to get some help with my kids. That's the biggest thing."

[martiehawk]

Christy, have you checked their website to see where the nearest one to you is? (of course, I'm talking about Curves. LOL)

You can check them out at www.curvesforwomen.com or www.curvesinternational.com. Just in case you haven't done that yet. LOL!

I think I neglected to tell ya'll about my fun this morning. LOL! It started last week when I took the girls to J.C. Penney Outlet for black pants and white shirts for serving at the dinner. I knew with losing inches I should buy a new bra. Well, I wasn't sure what size (and I HATE trying on stuff in a dressing room) so I bought 2 different sizes. I will go ahead and tell you that I was wearing a 42DD. (You can tell me TMI if you want. LOL!) Anyway, so I bought a 40DD and a 40D thinking that I'd be able to wear the D cup fairly soon anyway but not yet.

Well, this morning I decided to try on the 40D before I got dressed for church and IT FIT!!! LOL! Of course Terry isn't sure this is a good thing but I had to call Natalie before we left for church and tell her so that someone would be as excited as I was about it. LOL!

Okay, guess I better go. I need to shiny my sink before bed. Ya'll be good and have a great week!

[sharona]

Hey Gang!

I have to start off telling Martie GREAT GOING!!!!! I'm excited for you, being a large busted woman my self!

Stacy I'm so glad you are happy and your move has been so great. I have thought about and prayed for you all even when I haven't been on here.

Christy - we're doing the same thing with checking out hot tubs. We had one in FLA that we had bought used and loved it. It could sit 8 people, even if it was just the 2 of us. I miss it so much! The house we just bought has no bathtubs, just showers, so I get no soaking time. We are checking the Shopper and other papers for a deal on a good used spa, as I can't justify $4000 right now.

I'm not making that drive into Atlanta this week, thank heavens! I get cranky just thinking about it. I go down to 85 and Spaghetti junction, it's about 80 miles one way.

Nestor and I went to West Family Resturant for supper last night. They always have a buffet, so I pigged out on fried chicken and all the fixings. If any of you ever get up to Cleveland/Helen it's a great family place to eat

Have any of you been on a cruise? Nestor and I are starting to think of going on one for our 25th anniversary in 2006. We've been together for 28 years, but married only 23 this June. We've sent off for some information. I'm kinda looking forward to it. We don't want a big party, would rather spend the $$ on us. LOL

I gotta get motivated to work from home today. The laundry fairy didn't show up again, so that's gotta be done too. Be good!

Sharon

[MoMtO3&LuViT]

Hello!

Martie, I am so thrilled for you! I know how tough it can be to lose weight especially if you are making a lifestyle change. You have come so far and are an inspiration to us all!! BTW, way to go with the smaller bra size -- IMO any clothing that is smaller than what you were wearing before is a HUGE deal!!! Oh, I live Beaver Dam which is really just a suburb (if you wanna call farm lands a suburb) of Fayetteville. It's about 23 miles to Ft. Bragg from here and Bragg is in the heart of the city.

Joyce, you know you crack me up! I have no idea how you deal with customers all the time. As an adult I have been told by therapists (and those who are close to me) that I do not work well with others...lol. I worked as an Asst. Manager in a restaurant over seas and it was apparent that it was NOT my life's calling! I'm glad that you could swap days and enjoy the weather, and that you and E. have been getting out and exercising and getting around to all those things we all put off in the winter.

Christy, you amaze me! You just keep on going, don't ya' girl? Surgeries and all don't stop your travel! I say good for you!!! I wish that we could travel more, but until the girls are a bit older that just won't happen. On the subject of hot tubs -- I haven't the slightest clue. All I can tell you is that I like sitting in them, which isn't very helpful, I'm sure! -- Did you get my email?

Sharon, thanks for keeping us in your prayers. Over the last year I went through some really awful emotional crises, but I learned a lot about myself and my own abilities. I also learned what I want from my marriage and for my kids. It was a very rough time for all of us. I really have no idea what Keith went through over in Korea, but whatever happened to him it changed him and I am grateful for it. I think one of the main emotional supports for me was this very message board. It was a place I could come to to vent and feel like someone was listening, a place that I could ask for advice, reassurance, friendship, caring and prayers. Most of all, I never felt completely alone because I knew that someone was always thinking of me and praying for me. Thank you!

Well, it's Monday morning and I have a gagillion things to do today that I somehow managed to put off over the weekend. <sigh> I guess I better get to them! Have a nice day, ladies!!!

[martiehawk]

Thanks for being excited with me about getting in a smaller size! I'm like Stacy and feel I can come here and gripe or whatever and someone - a FRIEND - is listening.

2 years ago my sister took me on a cruise. We did a Carnival cruise. I do know you want a newer and big ship so you don't get sea sick and the beds are newer. It's like a motel and they don't put new mattresses on very often. I loved it and we are planning to go again in November. It will be myself, both sisters and my mom. I'd LOVE for Terry and I to do one for our 25th anniversary in 4 years, if not sooner. It really is an all inclusive vacation. Just be sure to take some spending money for the side trips they have available. Some of them are quite expensive. We did a glass bottom boat tour that was only about $25 each. It was really cool. They offer parasailing and swimming with dolphins and all sorts of things depending on which cruise line and how long your trip is.


Joyce, I could never be a waitress. Dealing with rude people and all the other stuff that goes with it. I try to tip pretty good but I also try not to be a pain in the @$$.

Christy, I'm glad you seem to be doing well since your surgery. Hope you get some good time to yourself that you can actually enjoy soon.

Patti, hope you are doing well. Let us know how you are feeling as soon as you can.

Hope everyone else is doing good too. I sort of dread the rain they are saying will be moving in today and hanging around until Wednesday afternoon. I was hoping to get to do some walking outside but guess it will have to be at the mall instead.

Well, I need to get ready for TOPS and go sign the girls up for Tennis. I neglected to do that last week so I hope there is still space.

Have a wonderful day!

[navywife]

Martie, CONGRATS on the weight and inches loss. Being big chested myself, I understand how wonderful losing 2 sizes would be. I am working on it, but don't seem to be making much headway. Thankfully, I have a treadmill here. It is like a big reminder everyday. It definately helps when DH is out of town.

Christy, I am glad that your arm is feeling better. I think it is wonderful that you get to do so much traveling.

Mouse, sorry to hear about your computer problems. Sounds like you are doing great in school again. We are all so proud of you. It took a lot of courage for you to go back to school.:p

Joyce, I agree with Stacey. I could not handle working as a waitress. I get short tempered too quick.

[mousebyte]

navy after meeting you at WH I just can't imagine you being short tempered, you seem to easy going. I signed up for spring quarter today ended up signing up for 4 classes, we'll see if I know what I am doing or if I am getting in over my head. I feel like I can do it though.

martie thanks for the info on Curves. After I see how the new school schedule works I think I may sign up and give it a try. It seems you are only on each machine for about 2 minutes or less, is that right? If so it doesn't seem like you get started good before it is time to change. I like navy have a treadmill at home but I usually just look at it and think "I really should get on there for a few minutes". Unlike you other ladies I for sure don't need to lose anything in the bra area, don't think I want to add anything either though. I like WW new commercial, have you seen it?

Sharon and martie a cruise sounds so great but one where everyone on the boat isn't getting sick. It would have to be with Jerry though cause I don't ever see my sister getting on a boat anymore than she would get on a plane. She is such a chicken about trying anything new. She won't even hardly drive outside of her small little town, I think she would be prefectly happy if everyone still rode horses to get where they needed to go. She won't come to Ga. cause she said now that I live in the mountains she isn't about to go up a mountain to get to my house or anyone else's.

Christy I guess you would maybe call ours a spa in a box (??) not sure if it is that or a hot tub. It seats 6, has a recliner bench where you can lay down, the water is hot and it has jets and bubble blower things all around it. It has a cover that you put over it when your not using it and its made of redwood on the outside and fiberglass on the inside. Anyway it is nice and we have enjoyed it. I will keep Amanda's boyfriend in my prayers.

No way I could be a computer assistant Joyce, there are to many people up there that know more than me. I am just helping those girls cause they are behind and to be honest it feels pretty cool to be able to answer their questions and help them and actually know what I'm doing. I won't be able to go to Florida with Jerry, he found out today he is going the end of March. I will be out of school but the kids are in school. Oh well it will be like a vacation for me also, the house to myself during the day for a whole week. I can blast my music or whatever I want to do and not worry about Jerry working so having to keep the volume at a reasonable level. Next time your customers get rude just drop some prozac or valium in their drink, that should calm them right down. The weather is pretty decent up here today, at least it isn't freezing and the rain the weatherman called for hasn't shown up yet. Did ya'll get the rain? Oh and yes I know what ya'll mean about the C-section belly, mine is from 3 and I just hate it. Makes me feel like a sumu (SP?) wrestler .

Stacey that is a great bargain you and Keith found on the shoes, jeans and shirts. Do they have clothes for the kids also?

Oh got to go, my sister just called.

have a good one all,
mouse

[martiehawk]

Mouse, at Curves what they want you to do is work really hard on each machine to work your muscles to exhaustion and then you walk on a recovery board and then on to the next machine. You spend approximately 30 seconds on each machine and recovery station and the machines are set up so you don't work the same set of muscles one right after the other. You make 3 circuits (some only do 2 because they have more machines) and it takes 27 minutes. Then you stretch for about 3 minutes and believe it or not, that keeps you from being sore. I've never been sore since I started working out there.

They only say to come 3x each week. I also have their books and in one of them they show you how to do the same thing at home. My problem is, I'd look at it and think I need to do it but never get around to it. Having an "appointment" to meet Natalie there is a lot of what keeps me going. When she can't be there I have met a couple of other ladies and learned their schedule so I can go when they are there. Otherwise, like today, I just go and meet someone new and start a conversation.

Oh, and I agree with Mouse - I can't see Navywife ever being short tempered. Then again, I hope I hide mine that well. It shows when I get aggravated with the girls sometimes.

I'd love to have a spa, in a box or not or even a whirlpool tub. Heck I'd just LOVE to have one of those old clawfoot tubs where you can soak up to your neck without scrunching up. LOL! I never get in the tub here. The master bath has just a shower and so the tub is in the girls bathroom and that's a dangerous place most days. LOL!

Oh, that rain sort of spit at us around here but it never really poured hard or anything. I'm glad since I had the food ministry pick up today. We got a case of bananas each, some lightbulbs some of those red ziplock bags that say *biohazardous waste* on them (I have enough to wallpaper my house with now. LOL) some frozen finger roll dough and frozen grinder roll dough and then I picked up 4 - 55lb bags of powdered milk. I called the senior center and they took the milk. Our group didn't want it anyway - I still have about 16 bags on my carport and each bag is 8lbs!

Well, I better get busy. My beef stew is cooking in the pressure cooker and smelling really good. It's about time to get the rice started for those who are allowed to have it. I can't have it tonight because I'm trying really hard to stay on my eating plan this week but I'll get to have it soon enough.

Have a nice evening.

[martiehawk]

I got this recipe today in one of my e-mails and it sounds delicious. I think I'd use some of the spray butter or some Pam instead of all the fat though. If you use Pam, be sure to line your pan so it won't damage it. Pam leaves a coating that won't come off and is damaging to your bakeware.
Martie

Garlic-Parmesan Shrimp

2 dozen large fresh shrimp (I used 1 pound/450 g)
1/4 cup (60 ml) olive oil
1/4 cup (60 ml) chopped fresh parsley
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) dried crushed red pepper
1/4 teaspoon (1.25 ml) pepper
1/4 cup (60 ml) butter or margarine, melted
1/2 cup (120 ml) French breadcrumbs (homemade), toasted
1/2 cup (120 ml) freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Peel shrimp; devein, if desired. Arrange in an 11x7-inch (28x18-cm) baking dish; pour oil over shrimp. Combine parsley and next 3 ingredients; sprinkle over shrimp. Cover and bake at 300 F (150 C) for 15 minutes.

Turn shrimp over; drizzle with butter, and sprinkle with
breadcrumbs and cheese. Bake, uncovered, 5 to 10 more minutes.

Makes 2 servings.

NOTE: This is good served over rice. If you don't do this, have some crusty Frenchbread with it to sop up the yummy juices!

[navywife]

Martie, I can't imagine not using the pwd milk. I use it alot. I replace the milk in most recipes with pwd milk and water. I go through so much.

Curves sounds like alot of fun. Usually my problem with workouts are that I get bored very easily. Luckily, I have a laptop. I can put the laptop on the book holder. It is not real steady and it can sometimes be hard to see. I am trying to talk DH into building me a desk to bring my computer closer. I also have the treadmill facing the tv, but that does not seem to help.

Thanks for saying such nice things about me. I try to hide my short temper. Just ask my DDs, I don't always hide it.