Monkey Musings Daily Open Discussion #10 1/23 - 6/12/2008

[Bearlyhere]

This is so so so sad.

http://cbs11tv.com/local/teen.sex.choices.2.689913.html

Disturbing Trends In Teen Sexual Conduct
In-Depth Information: STD Facts

DALLAS (CBS 11 News) ― "She just made it seem fun."

That's how a 14-year-old Dallas eighth grader described the proposal offered by her schoolmate to skip classes for the day.

By the time the ordeal was over, the teenager would be roaming the streets of South Dallas at 3 a.m., afraid to call her mother. That night she had sex with at least ten boys.

Her mother would have to turn into a detective, desperately searching for her daughter. School authorities had no answers and police initially labeled the teen as a runaway.

Some call it a "teen sex party," an event involving multiple partners, often connected to drug use and alcohol. It's become a growing "rite of passage," seen more and more by public health specialists, school counselors and families.

In a quiet neighborhood in southeast Dallas, a mother called CBS 11 News on Tuesday morning because she wanted to alert other parents to the horror of her child, who she said made decisions under extreme peer pressure.

"They see things they think are fun, sex, drugs, on the Internet, pornography," said the mother, who did not wish to be identified.

What happened to her daughter was a collective collision of confusion, social health analysts say. "We see a lot of this," said Monica Tunstle-Garrett, Dallas County Health Specialist.

The eighth-grader, who also did not want to be identified, described how she left her school at midday with her friend. A 23-year-old man, allegedly the friend's boyfriend, picked them up in his car.

"We skipped school on Tuesday. It was easy. We decided to do it again," the girl said.

By the time the youngster returned home, the escape from school had turned to a nightmare. She and her friend roamed the streets of South Dallas alone. They met boys in a vacant apartment unit, and she didn't call her mother because she was afraid.

Tunstle-Garrett said the circumstances young people find themselves in are often troubling for parents. "It goes back to being in the in-crowd," she said. "[Kids think] if you want to be popular, this is what I need to do."

The teenager now must endure counseling and health exams for sexually transmitted diseases.  And she's not alone in that.  Health authorities say in Dallas County, one-third of all cases of gonorrhea and syphilis are connected to teenagers.

The girl must also now take part in a criminal investigation. Although police detectives believe some of the sexual activity was consensual, they are looking for two adult males, seeking to file charges against them.

The emotional turmoil for this family has been overwhelming. They want schools to improve oversight of students and contact parents if youngsters skip classes.

They also want people to know the impact of peer pressure. The 14-year old said, "It's not what you think. I'd give anything for things to be same, and they're not. Ever."
(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

*********************************************
How the he!! is it a teen sex party if there are adults involved?

[Bearlyhere]

You're making progress! It's going to be just great, Klaas! What do you have in mind for your fireplace? I re-did both my living room and den fireplace several years ago. Both were brick. I put a decorative surround with dental moulding under the mantle, and marble around the opening on one, and got rid of the hearth on the other. It made a huge difference!

Is that a Jack Russel? You have LOTS of energy, if it is! 

You have any pictures of them CBB?  I would love to see them.

[crazybabyborg]

You're making progress! It's going to be just great, Klaas! What do you have in mind for your fireplace? I re-did both my living room and den fireplace several years ago. Both were brick. I put a decorative surround with dental moulding under the mantle, and marble around the opening on one, and got rid of the hearth on the other. It made a huge difference!

Is that a Jack Russel? You have LOTS of energy, if it is! 

You have any pictures of them CBB?  I would love to see them.

I'm sure I can find a Christmas photo with the Living Room fireplace, Bearly. I'll look and will post if I can figure out my scanner!

[Bearlyhere]

You're making progress! It's going to be just great, Klaas! What do you have in mind for your fireplace? I re-did both my living room and den fireplace several years ago. Both were brick. I put a decorative surround with dental moulding under the mantle, and marble around the opening on one, and got rid of the hearth on the other. It made a huge difference!

Is that a Jack Russel? You have LOTS of energy, if it is! 

You have any pictures of them CBB?  I would love to see them.

I'm sure I can find a Christmas photo with the Living Room fireplace, Bearly. I'll look and will post if I can figure out my scanner!

Thanks, CBB, we are in the market for a new fireplace also.  I need to buy a clue.   

[klaasend]

You're making progress! It's going to be just great, Klaas! What do you have in mind for your fireplace? I re-did both my living room and den fireplace several years ago. Both were brick. I put a decorative surround with dental moulding under the mantle, and marble around the opening on one, and got rid of the hearth on the other. It made a huge difference!

Is that a Jack Russel? You have LOTS of energy, if it is! 

We haven't really decided exactly what we want to do with the fireplace.  It will be the focal point of the room so we want it to really stand out!

Yes, Jack Russell and we have 2 of them, LOL 

[crazybabyborg]

  I owe you guys. I have a printer/scanner/fax combination, and I recently had some computer problems. When it got fixed, I didn't think to check the printer before the tech guy left, and it hasn't worked since. I tried last night when I wanted to post the fireplace pics with no luck.

SO, my son's bringing his digital camera over tonight to show me how to use it, and he said he'd just give it to me! His Dad bought it for him several years ago, and he wants a new one anyway so now, I'll have one too! 

I'll post new pictures with my new camera as soon as I take them. You guys will be my tutorial! 

[klaasend]

Construction update.  Busy day around here today 

This is a short video of bobcat Bob driving his smaller bobcat along the side of the house to where the 2 caissons are to be drilled: 



This is another short video of them actually digging the hole.  They will pour concrete later today in all 10 holes.  Each hole is at least 15 feet deep by 18 inches in diameter:

[sharon]

Sleuth!

I saw you and now I've missed you.

HI 

[MumInOhio]

Good Morning...I see you Sharon!

Klaas...Crystal Ann Beck...found safe in Florida...boyfriend charged with kidnapping!

[sharon]

Morning Mum   

I'm just doing a quick drive by. It's all I can make sure I take time for. I see things are going to get interesting again 

I see Joran with a lot of roommates in the asylum in the near future -- if that's what they're going to try to hide behind now. 

Love the stuff you are digging up -- on all threads. Thanks.

[MumInOhio]

Morning Mum   

I'm just doing a quick drive by. It's all I can make sure I take time for. I see things are going to get interesting again 

I see Joran with a lot of roommates in the asylum in the near future -- if that's what they're going to try to hide behind now. 

Love the stuff you are digging up -- on all threads. Thanks.

Nice to see you again Sharon. Miss you around the here!  How is Ernesto doing? Have you 'seen' him lately?

Klaas...Blackwell brothers found safe...BB posted an article...and I posted on Crystal Ann Beck above....Thanks...

You are worrying me with your construction pictures...we have a crack in the basement, built into the hill and the ground has settled!

[klaasend]

MUM - thanks!  I love typing (FOUND SAFE) !

[Lala'sMom]

I am certain that if I were going through what you are with your house, they would need to just slide me over into one of those holes and fill 'er up!  Neither my dogs nor myself would have once ounce of sanity left by now.  How much longer until Bob leaves the premises?

[klaasend]

I am certain that if I were going through what you are with your house, they would need to just slide me over into one of those holes and fill 'er up!  Neither my dogs nor myself would have once ounce of sanity left by now.  How much longer until Bob leaves the premises?

  Bob is probably done for a while but I suspect he may be back in a couple weeks when they prepare to do the new slab.

Once the slab is done then we have walls, fireplace, carpet, flooring and we are moving our water lines overhead.  Then we are repairing our roof and finally painting the exterior 

My wish is to have all of it done prior to July 4th so we can have our annual 4th of July party!  It is harder on the dogs than it is on us.

[Observer]

Hello All 

Well my 2,000+ mile trip is now complete  35 hours of driving time averaging speeds of 75 mph and I made it in 3 days with a few stops. Pretty much drove until the Red Bull and Coffee no longer worked and arrived with one eye open I traveled at night so I didn't take pics of places like the Pocono's,NY,Chicago..etc..Much of the trip was of course flat lands and not much to see except farms and lots of cows Amazingly I already found a great place to live and had my internet installed today. I start work for the local FBI field office tomorrow  j/k

Two very long day's of driving of a 16 hour trip and a 19 hour trip with a stop in St.Joseph Michigan by Lake Michigan. It's actually a great place to live in the summer as the beaches are  great and many from chicago and indiana come to vacation. They grow lot's of grapes,raspberry's,cherry's and peaches in the area. I couldn't ask for a better trip and got everything set up a week earlier then expected. My only recommendations when traveling alone on a trip like this is to put a muzzle on the pet and maybe get a pair of those astronaut/adult diapers for emergencies

ST.Joseph River (Michigan)


Nebraska (One Very wide state ) I think these were taken near Wyoming




Northern Colorado 

[Shell]

Hi ******* - good to hear from you!

Construction update.  This is a photo of the rebar reinforcements for the caissons.  The round part goes down 15 feet.  The square part goes towards the actual foundation the house sits on.  They will tie the two together and lift up the house a bit then pour concrete into the hole.  There are 8 of these in the house.

Oh My Goodness Klaas, what an ordeal! I now know what rebar is when my builder refers to it.

[Shell]

*******, I might be wrong but I think you said you were moving to SoCal. I wanted to say (((Welcome))) to our lovely state of California.  Isn't this weather wonderful!?!

[Observer]

*******, I might be wrong but I think you said you were moving to SoCal. I wanted to say (((Welcome))) to our lovely state of California.  Isn't this weather wonderful!?!

LOL! Thanks!! I grew up by you Shell in North County San Diego and also LA but I didn't move back..I'm still a timezone away but indeed I am in a lovely state..65 Degrees today!! No more Hot Humid New England summers!! Woohooo!! 

[Shell]

*******, I might be wrong but I think you said you were moving to SoCal. I wanted to say (((Welcome))) to our lovely state of California.  Isn't this weather wonderful!?!

LOL! Thanks!! I grew up by you Shell in North County San Diego and also LA but I didn't move back..I'm still a timezone away but indeed I am in a lovely state..65 Degrees today!! No more Hot Humid New England summers!! Woohooo!! 

lol, so you are working your way back West, good idea

[Observer]

*******, I might be wrong but I think you said you were moving to SoCal. I wanted to say (((Welcome))) to our lovely state of California.  Isn't this weather wonderful!?!

LOL! Thanks!! I grew up by you Shell in North County San Diego and also LA but I didn't move back..I'm still a timezone away but indeed I am in a lovely state..65 Degrees today!! No more Hot Humid New England summers!! Woohooo!! 

lol, so you are working your way back West, good idea

The West is the Best!