I can empathize with that attorney, There are days when, out of frustration, exhaustion, and bureaucracy, I have blurted out to my boss that my job sucks. In all honesty, I love my job and, although I've received many offers throughout the years, I cannot see myself retiring from any other.
I don't know if she should have been removed. Perhaps getting her some help would have been a better solution. It was a knee-jerk reaction to a knee-jerk cry for help. Now nothing is getting done.
Bureaucracy is what makes many jobs, well, suck. I believe there are rules, but there is also what’s reasonable. Le gros bon sens, comme on dit en Français.
Well I’m not in Aruba but I am heading to the Caribbean coast of Panamá today but only after the trip from Hell yesterday. My Panamanian son’s mother, Bruni, takes a trip with “The Familia” every year and invited me to join them this year. Not knowing a damn thing about how this dynamic works, I accepted. Silly me. I’m a great traveler. Tell me what time to be ready and I’m there. The initial time agreed to was 7:00AM. Then it got moved to 10; then 11. My ride arrived at 11:30 driving my son’s old, small car that has a hole in the muffler and squirrelly brakes. There is a pretty high language barrier mixed into this escapade too, let me add.
We finally got loaded up(my dog too)and on the road to Panama City, a normal 4 hour drive on the Pan American highway; every bit of which is uncontrolled access. Imagine I-95 with vegetable stands or ice cream kiosks parked on the shoulder or in the emergency lanes like that and you get the idea. Before we got out of town we had stopped by 3 roadside vendors looking for various vegetables and a watermelon. An hour up the road we stop at Bruno’s house for lunch and to pick up her stuff and a family hitchhiker. At 2:08 PM I took a picture of the trunk of our car which was packed to the gills. I thought we were ready to go but NOOOO! Nothing would do but to wash all the dust off the car first 🙄. We begin around 2:30, go 10 or so miles down the road then turn around and head back from whence we came. Bruni had forgotten to leave some keys behind at her house. ONCE AGAIN, we begin. It’s 87° out and by now I’m starting to feel like that proverbial melted candle BUT we are making progress. About 4:00 we make a pit stop and Bruni turns off the car. I about have a quick freak-out because my dog PNut is in the car and even with the windows rolled down, it will get too hot for her. We get that settled, I grab a bite to eat so I can eat in the, now running, car and we get underway again. Things go pretty well until we hit inbound Panama City traffic. My What’s App texts to my son indicate that was at 6:15. Now, instead of vendors in the emergency lane we have traffic. Not one or two odd cars but one had better not have an emergency in the emergency lane. So here we are in traffic, in a stick shift car with a driver almost continually on her cell phone. Do not ask me how we finally made our destination but around 8:00 PM we finally did!
Your nightmare Bill was reality yesterday but today at 10:30(or whenever)we strike out for Colón; a 3 hour trip that will likely turn into a 6 hour fun time for all.
Ha ha SPW Your road-trip chronical intrigued, entertained, and—as someone who considers a flat tire a personal affront—completely horrified me. I’m simultaneously impressed you survived and terrified of ever leaving my driveway again.
Thanks. Today’s leg to our final destination was just as “exciting” but we finally arrived at our destination. I told my son who is supposed to outlive me, that if the trip didn’t kill me I was going to outlive god. He somehow saw that as a threat 🤣.
Bill I love your writing and while I understand your happiness to not be in her position, it feels to me like you've missed the point on this one ...
In the interests of the greater good *somebody does need to be in her position*, to stand up and hold people, including the powers that be, accountable to the agreed rules of engagement. Enforcement of rules when people break them is HARD.
But vitally important to ensure the agreed rules of engagement are upheld.
Otherwise ... there are no rules.
And people in power will take whatever they want from whomever they want whenever they want. Because... why not? It works for them...
I think she needs to be held up and acknowledged for her strength and conviction, and that we should all be very afraid that she was removed from her job...
There are kidnappings almost daily - too bad the media doesn’t pay such attention to all of them.
And I noticed no comments were made
If kidnappers of any kidnapping are found, tried, found guilty , perhaps having puplic hangings could wake up the complacent citizens who are more interested in arguing politics or about their neighbor’s barking dog
most missing/kidnapping of children is by relatives, & that's not for ransom.
One area that doesn't get much attention by the media is cartel kidnapping. They've more recently transitioned from targeting only wealthy individuals to "volume" kidnapping, often targeting everyday civilians, including tourists and those visiting for medical procedures.
Ransom Demands: In typical cartel kidnappings for ransom, demands for U.S. citizens generally range from $30,000 to $100,000.
Missing Persons: As of early 2023, more than 550 Americans were officially listed as missing in Mexico, many of whom are suspected victims of unresolved kidnappings.
Reporting Discrepancy: It is estimated that up to 75% of kidnappings in Mexico go unreported, meaning the actual number of U.S. victims likely exceeds official government statistics
Do any of the main media mention any of this daily? nah
How many 'regular' citizens are familiar w/ National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC). I often hear people complain about their shows being interrupted by reports of a missing child seen in a silver Elderado, ie: that d@mn neighbors dog is barking again! Approximately 1 in 7 children who reported running away and were assisted by NCMEC in 2024 were likely victims of child sex trafficking. Yes, many of these are runaways, vs abducted, but I'm taking advantage of this discussion 'cause main media doesn't. Do you see such reports every day? nah, bet ya don't. BTW, I've had an interest in aging out of foster care kids & found that kids in foster care or group homes are particularly vulnerable. Reports indicate that in certain years, up to 86% of child sex trafficking victims handled by NCMEC were in the care of social services when they went missing.
Dear Bill, I am a retired professional violist. My dream of this sort is:
I am behind stage and I have to play Mozart's Clarinet Concerto in 15 minutes...the Clarinet part. I don't panic, but I think: BUT I don't PLAY the Clarinet! But...maybe if I practice REALLY hard...
Wow, Bill - I’ll be in Aruba for spring break with my kids also! Maybe I’ll see you around!
I cannot send a fax from where I live
I live in 2026 🤣
😵💫😀🥴😁🤣😂😉
So Bill, what did you have for dinner last night? Maybe it’s time for a few boat drinks to prepare for the trip!
https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/jimmybuffett/boatdrinks.html
I can empathize with that attorney, There are days when, out of frustration, exhaustion, and bureaucracy, I have blurted out to my boss that my job sucks. In all honesty, I love my job and, although I've received many offers throughout the years, I cannot see myself retiring from any other.
I don't know if she should have been removed. Perhaps getting her some help would have been a better solution. It was a knee-jerk reaction to a knee-jerk cry for help. Now nothing is getting done.
I agree. She also disparaged the administration, likely the primary reason she was removed. I hope she find a better job!!
Especially defense lawyers...
Bureaucracy is what makes many jobs, well, suck. I believe there are rules, but there is also what’s reasonable. Le gros bon sens, comme on dit en Français.
Well I’m not in Aruba but I am heading to the Caribbean coast of Panamá today but only after the trip from Hell yesterday. My Panamanian son’s mother, Bruni, takes a trip with “The Familia” every year and invited me to join them this year. Not knowing a damn thing about how this dynamic works, I accepted. Silly me. I’m a great traveler. Tell me what time to be ready and I’m there. The initial time agreed to was 7:00AM. Then it got moved to 10; then 11. My ride arrived at 11:30 driving my son’s old, small car that has a hole in the muffler and squirrelly brakes. There is a pretty high language barrier mixed into this escapade too, let me add.
We finally got loaded up(my dog too)and on the road to Panama City, a normal 4 hour drive on the Pan American highway; every bit of which is uncontrolled access. Imagine I-95 with vegetable stands or ice cream kiosks parked on the shoulder or in the emergency lanes like that and you get the idea. Before we got out of town we had stopped by 3 roadside vendors looking for various vegetables and a watermelon. An hour up the road we stop at Bruno’s house for lunch and to pick up her stuff and a family hitchhiker. At 2:08 PM I took a picture of the trunk of our car which was packed to the gills. I thought we were ready to go but NOOOO! Nothing would do but to wash all the dust off the car first 🙄. We begin around 2:30, go 10 or so miles down the road then turn around and head back from whence we came. Bruni had forgotten to leave some keys behind at her house. ONCE AGAIN, we begin. It’s 87° out and by now I’m starting to feel like that proverbial melted candle BUT we are making progress. About 4:00 we make a pit stop and Bruni turns off the car. I about have a quick freak-out because my dog PNut is in the car and even with the windows rolled down, it will get too hot for her. We get that settled, I grab a bite to eat so I can eat in the, now running, car and we get underway again. Things go pretty well until we hit inbound Panama City traffic. My What’s App texts to my son indicate that was at 6:15. Now, instead of vendors in the emergency lane we have traffic. Not one or two odd cars but one had better not have an emergency in the emergency lane. So here we are in traffic, in a stick shift car with a driver almost continually on her cell phone. Do not ask me how we finally made our destination but around 8:00 PM we finally did!
Your nightmare Bill was reality yesterday but today at 10:30(or whenever)we strike out for Colón; a 3 hour trip that will likely turn into a 6 hour fun time for all.
Y’all have a great day ☀️🌴🌎.
Ha ha SPW Your road-trip chronical intrigued, entertained, and—as someone who considers a flat tire a personal affront—completely horrified me. I’m simultaneously impressed you survived and terrified of ever leaving my driveway again.
Thanks. Today’s leg to our final destination was just as “exciting” but we finally arrived at our destination. I told my son who is supposed to outlive me, that if the trip didn’t kill me I was going to outlive god. He somehow saw that as a threat 🤣.
I wish I could remember my dreams. I used to say that I don't dream, but have since learned that everyone dreams(?) It's just I don't remember mine.
Bill I love your writing and while I understand your happiness to not be in her position, it feels to me like you've missed the point on this one ...
In the interests of the greater good *somebody does need to be in her position*, to stand up and hold people, including the powers that be, accountable to the agreed rules of engagement. Enforcement of rules when people break them is HARD.
But vitally important to ensure the agreed rules of engagement are upheld.
Otherwise ... there are no rules.
And people in power will take whatever they want from whomever they want whenever they want. Because... why not? It works for them...
I think she needs to be held up and acknowledged for her strength and conviction, and that we should all be very afraid that she was removed from her job...
Yes to all you said. Along with why she was removed. Sadly, congress is the one that should be managing the rules but they aren’t.
The Guthrie kidnapping
There are kidnappings almost daily - too bad the media doesn’t pay such attention to all of them.
And I noticed no comments were made
If kidnappers of any kidnapping are found, tried, found guilty , perhaps having puplic hangings could wake up the complacent citizens who are more interested in arguing politics or about their neighbor’s barking dog
most missing/kidnapping of children is by relatives, & that's not for ransom.
One area that doesn't get much attention by the media is cartel kidnapping. They've more recently transitioned from targeting only wealthy individuals to "volume" kidnapping, often targeting everyday civilians, including tourists and those visiting for medical procedures.
Ransom Demands: In typical cartel kidnappings for ransom, demands for U.S. citizens generally range from $30,000 to $100,000.
Missing Persons: As of early 2023, more than 550 Americans were officially listed as missing in Mexico, many of whom are suspected victims of unresolved kidnappings.
Reporting Discrepancy: It is estimated that up to 75% of kidnappings in Mexico go unreported, meaning the actual number of U.S. victims likely exceeds official government statistics
Do any of the main media mention any of this daily? nah
How many 'regular' citizens are familiar w/ National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC). I often hear people complain about their shows being interrupted by reports of a missing child seen in a silver Elderado, ie: that d@mn neighbors dog is barking again! Approximately 1 in 7 children who reported running away and were assisted by NCMEC in 2024 were likely victims of child sex trafficking. Yes, many of these are runaways, vs abducted, but I'm taking advantage of this discussion 'cause main media doesn't. Do you see such reports every day? nah, bet ya don't. BTW, I've had an interest in aging out of foster care kids & found that kids in foster care or group homes are particularly vulnerable. Reports indicate that in certain years, up to 86% of child sex trafficking victims handled by NCMEC were in the care of social services when they went missing.
Dear Bill, I am a retired professional violist. My dream of this sort is:
I am behind stage and I have to play Mozart's Clarinet Concerto in 15 minutes...the Clarinet part. I don't panic, but I think: BUT I don't PLAY the Clarinet! But...maybe if I practice REALLY hard...