Is it really an accident?

Is it really an accident?

Well, if I am “cleaning my gun” and it accidentally goes off, and in the process kills a friend, family member, or even my neighbor. I can face manslaughter charges. Depending on circumstance, and training it can be worst. There are actually dozens of stories online about just this, accidental discharge of firearms leading to death.

I was actually reading a story about a person who got 25 years because his gun went off accidentally during a robbery. Apparently shocked him so bad he fell to the floor and was tackled. Unfortunately, the victim didn’t live to see the end of the story.

What I have been thinking about all day is the less know careless acts of what can only be called murder. People do stupid things every day, and when it causes harm, they should be charged… That is unless something stupid I do causes harm. In that case, they should have kept their distance. I am thinking about blogging about my fire place cleaning this evening..

Anyhow, the point of my story. I have been working property management for over a decade now. I have seen many, many really stupid things in my career. Fires, falls, electrocution, suicides, murder, assault… The list can go on.
The first time I witnessed someone cooking on Charcoal in there house truly shocked me. I was called over by the neighbor, and I myself called the fire department. They had burned there ceiling lighting the briquettes. The house was full of smoke, and the family…IE husband and wife, simply couldn’t understand what they had done wrong. Where do you begin? Carbon monoxide, setting the place on fire, smoke inhalation; all things that could kill you.

Well, I rarely listen to the news on the local radio. That is why Al Gore invented the Internet, to listen to the news on pod-casts and read it on graphic and ad intense web pages. But I heard a story this morning about a case of carbon monoxide poisoning in Lynwood. Lynwood is actually the town of one of my apartment complexes. So, as the news story started I just assumed it would be another case of power outage, heater brought in and it gases someone.

As I heard the story, I couldn’t believe it. A family filled the fireplace with charcoal, and didn’t open the damper. There first clue that something was wrong was when the 3 year old fell to the ground after losing conscious. They are probably the type to just kick the kid and say get up you lazy A$#. Anyhow, they ended up calling 911. 3 people taken to the hospital, and the whole building were tested, found to have lethal levels of the gas, and subsequently evacuated well the aired out the place.

If someone had died, would it have been manslaughter. I am familiar with guns. I know how to handle them, and am completely aware that if my carelessness caused to gun to go off, then it is my carelessness. I also am familiar with BBQ’s. I know that fire burns, and fire kills. So, shouldn’t my carelessness get me a equal crime if it is a gun, a BBQ, or even a toaster in the hot tub.

Just my thoughts. Cheers.

Thanksgiving 2010

Well, thanksgiving has come and gone. I would go on and on about how much fun I had, but pictures are more entertainment.

 Michayla sporting a ball cap.  I am beginning to wounder how many she owns, and eventually will have to ask her. 

 This little one, my niece Daniel, is one of my favorite picture opportunity.  From the time I first met her she has always had strange looks, and when she learned to talk something off the wall to say. 

 She was going around telling everyone careful or she will squirt you with her elephant.  It wasn't even a squirt gun. 

 I come from weird blood, I have know this for a long time.  But seriously, only in my family when we realize that we didn't get birthday candles would we systematically go through the house looking for something that would burn like a candle.  Spaghetti noodles didn't work.

 Sean just chilling, waiting his turn at cake.

 Autumn as seen below, got her true crazyness from her mother.  I had nothing to do with it...

 I do not remember what I said, maybe told him it wasn't real pizza or something. 

 There is my balding head in the back.  Joe, Cricket, Devon and I staid up tell little after six talking.  Our, (Joe and Devon not included) kids started waking us up at about 7. 

 This is what we woke up to.  This and right above my head X-box kenect dancing and what not. 

 More evidence of our exhaustion. 

 Good thing we do not drink, Sparkling apple cider was strong enough for us.  I on the other hand sure could have gone for something a little stronger. 

 Or, I guess maybe not. 

 Autumn got a hold of my camera, and I simply love this picture.  Real art is what I call it. 

 Joe is awake.  He just had put the rock he spent 10 min talking to back in the pile.  He wasn't verbally talking to it, but it sure looked like he was trying to communicate.  I can relate, I feel that way allot. 

 My dad, with the best what you looking at look I had seen in a long time.  Maybe cake, maybe turkey...  He was telling everyone that his shirt was made from mole skin. 

 

The game room, and the game players.  Lots of hours were logged playing rock band, and watching movies.  

 

 Michayla getting her first taste of yellow snow.  Well, I hope not. 

 Autumn and a self portrait. 

 Kill, one of the kids, just cannot remember what one. 

 Having fun in the snow.

 When Steph isn't around, and there dad is supervising.  He forgets to tell them that they should not wear pajamas in the snow.  All of my kids were in pajamas, that is with the exception of Michayla, who went out in shorts and a Tshirt, the when she got cold she crabbed her blanket and went out again. 

This was a great picture of the Freddy Kruger and his clown version of herself. 

Death, and Life.

My mother called me this evening to tell me an old family friend had died. My first thought was that it didn't surprise me. She had been sick most of the 30 years I had know her. But then my next reaction was that I felt bad for her two children. It is for selfish reasons, and I am not ashamed to admit that.

My Mom and Dad are now in there 60's. My dad I believe is 68, and my mom something like 65. I really am not sure, but I will say that they are getting up there.

I have lost a few people over the years, but not anyone close to me. The family members that I have lost; aunts, uncles, and grandparents. I have not been very close to. In some cases I hardly knew them. But in all cases, I feel for the survivors. I do not look forward to outliving any of my family. I fear the death of my children, and do not look forward to my parents death.

We all die, and we all have to pay taxes. I have recently really fallen in love with two Latin phrases. And both of them are applicable here. Carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero, and then the phrase memento mori.

The first can be translated as; seize the day, trust as little as possible in the future. Carpe actually has many translations, like a lot of Latin words. It depends on the context. It is common to be translated as seize, but it also can mean enjoy. In that seance, it can mean, and translated as enjoy the day, as life is temporary.

Memento Mori, it is translated as; remember that you are mortal.

I have been trying to remember to enjoy life, and not dwell on the negative aspect of my past and future. The more I think like this, the more tomorrow doesn't look so dark.