Hey! July 30th, 2005 cruise to Mexico DISfriends!

[jfis1020]

Anyone out here???????????????

 

[LynnTarrant]

Debi, I'm so sorry to hear about the fire I can't even begin to imagine how you're feeling. These youngsters have no idea of the hurt and pain they cause people with their mindless vandelism. Do you know this boy has he a grivence or was it just something to do to get kicks? I'm glad they caught him, what happens to kids of 11 in the States. They can only be prosecuted from 14 over here so older boys often get the younger ones to do their dirty work for them.
A lot of the Anti Social behaviour problems in the UK are caused by kids of 10 - 14.
I'm so glad your precious photos were all ok, I'm really looking forward to seeing your store. Loads of Love, Hugs and Pixie Dust coming your way from across the pond (with some cuddles thrown in for good measure!)
Love Lynn

 

[LynnTarrant]

Lucy
Talk to us we're worried about you, I'm so sorry to hear you are poorly
Love Lynn

 

[littleowensmommy]

I was sick reading your post but so happy to hear that none of your personally photos or albums were damaged. Will this boy's parents be held financially responsible for this? Don't let this kid off easy Debi. I'm a firm believer in tough love. He needs to be held accountable.

Lucy, I hope you're feeling better soon.

 

[lwilliam]

Lucy's still feeling a bit under the weather but for the most part, she is fine. Everyone in our family has now had this 24 hour virus.
But our trouble is nothing compared to what happened to you Debi.
Lucy and I are so concerned about you. Thank God your personal items as well as you are OK, but we are sick about your shop. I agree with Kathy and that there needs to be some kind of responsibility on the boy's part. If there is anything we can do, especially if you need help with clean up or anything, we are only a little over an hour away and would be more than happy to come and help our special friends. Seriously, all you have to do is tell us or have Micco contact us and we will be there to help.
Thank you all Jenny, Lynn, JoAnn, Kathy and Debi for you concern about Lucy. She will probably be back on the "boards" tomorrow.
Can't wait till July eveyone !!!!

 

[jfis1020]

I cannot begin to tell you how sick I am about this whole thing with your store. It was such a cool place filled with a lot of love and pride. However, I have to say that I admire you for your care to get this child help. Unfortunately Debi you had to pay the price, but you want to help a child whose parents should be supervising and/or helping.

I have to second Kathy's remark....tough love has no substitute. It's amazing today that we, as teachers, can almost tell you what lies in their future. Thankfully some escape it, but many follow the pattern they set as young as early elementary. 99% of the time, it all goes back to parenting (or should I say the lack of). But, again, I admire you for wanting to help this child when his family should have, obviously, already done. There are too many "programs" out there for just this type of kid and it doesn't cost the parents anything but time..... Enough of my soapbox.

Lynn ~ to answer your question, in Indiana, where we live, the parents could be held responsible for his actions. That's not a bad start in my opinion.

Debi ~ I am also glad to hear that your personal photos/albums were not lost. I can still see that beautiful picture of Briana (going to the dance) you had up. Not to mention that fabulous DCL album. (Did anyone notice when Debi brought that phenominal album that the rest of us just slid ours under the table?). You are very talented!

When you leave for that cruise, you need to really focus on the business and the one good thing that has to come out of this....there HAS TO BE something positive!

Here's my cuddles for you!

 

[jlawall]

Wow, Debi, that's so horrible! I'm SO glad your albums are safe. What a horrendous situation. I know it's really difficult, but you have to take a deep breath, deal with the problems and then ENJOY YOUR TRIP! When else can you get away like that............YOU HAVE TO TRY TO ENJOY IT! We are all here for you............take care............and group hug from us all!!!

Get well soon, Lucy (thanks Bob for the update!)

1 more day, Jenny!!!!!! I can't wait until tomorrow at this time!

 

[jfis1020]

1 more day, Jenny!!!!!! I can't wait until tomorrow at this time!

Party day!!!!!!

 

[lwilliam]

Debs, I'm so sorry to hear - Bob read me the post last night.....
We discussed this - NEXT weekend we are free Friday-Sunday, if you
need any help, Deb. Honestly - but is that when you are going on RCCL?
If Micco wants our help, we are there...PLEASE, PLEASE (I'd give you
a group hug but I'm not able to use any pictures right now - it kicks
me right out of the computer). I'll call you this weekend, ok?

Hey, for once, it is NOT all about Lucy - I'm so worried about Deb and Micco.
Lucy is feeling ok - at least i made it to work - I'm really tired, though, even though I slept all day yesterday and all night.
Thanks everyone for missing me...but let's all think of Debbie right now.
I loved your shop, Debs.. My feeling about the whole thing? I'm sorry for
you, BUT I'M SO HAPPY YOUR PICTURES WERE NOT DESTROYED, GIRLFRIEND.
How could you possibly replace such precious pictures....stickers, crayons, markers, can be replaced, Debs. Memories can't.


Please remember we are there for you - we could be there for you even more next weekend (hey, we must use up a night at a Hampton Inn to keep our points...honestly, we must). Even though it is hard, please keep in touch with us, PLEASE.

 

[LynnTarrant]

My Hero photo made it to the final
Thank you to those that voted for me how exciting, there's some really good ones in the final don't think I'll win but what fun!

 

[jlawall]

I'm free..........this is the HAPPIEST DAY of my life!!(Do you think I'm overdoing it?)

Enough about me! HOW ARE YOU DEB????? CAPTAIN Nemo........we need an update!!! Welcome back, Luce! I don't get the "hero" comment Lynn??

You know that Barry Manilow song...........I Made It Through The Rain??....I've been singing it all day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ok, sorry about that last one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thx again to Kathy & Deb & rents for diverting me last week!! It was great!!!

 

[lwilliam]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1091135

vote for Lynn - she only has TWO votes - one of them being mine!
her picture is GREAT.

Debs? We are thinking about you and Micco - updates?

Well, I THOUGHT I was better, we went out to dinner, i had a 'mild'
wrap sandwich, NOT GOOD, got sick again when i got home....I guess when
you are MY age, it just takes longer to get rid of this virus.
I must get well for tomorrow - Tyler has his County Chorus Festival
tomorrow night. Can't run out of that show to find a bathroom - yuck!
just a little too much information, wasn't it?

 

[jfis1020]

LYNN HAS FIVE VOTES NOW!!! Thanks for the link. Made it easy to go and vote. I looked at the pictures afterwards!!

Debs????????????????

Lucy.....that's the WW fairy hitting you!

JoAnn CONGRATS!!!!

 

[DisneyMom13]

...now she has 4 votes. Go Lynn.

Anyway, thank you all for your thoughts and group hugs I am sitting here crying reading your posts. It is so hard to believe that I have only known this group of wonderful, caring people less than 9 months!

So to update you on what has been happening. Today has been very hectic, this thing with the kid is moving along quickly. Jenny and Kathy - I hear you guys about tough love, remember I have teenagers...it doesn't get any tougher than that. But I also raise my child to do the right thing, and have responsibility for them. And yes, I am definitely angry, but it is subsiding and I will move on. But I do believe in punishment, as well as getting help for this boy. I think he comes from a wacko family, the mother is white trash and not playing with a full deck. So yesterday I got a call from his Probation Officer, who told me there was a hearing 9 am this morning, and they would like me to be there. When I got there, who was waiting in the lobby for the elevator, but the kid and his mother. I walked over to the security guard, and quietly told him I would wait for the next elevator, when he asked me why, I told him "I'll tell you in a minute." When they got on the elevator, I told him why, then showed him the pictures (because being the scrapbooker I am, I had to take pictures and bring the camera with me to this hearing to show them), he couldn't believe it. So I go upstairs and now I am in the waiting area for about 10 minutes with them. Finally the PO comes out and asks me to come in. I spoke with her for about 20-30 minutes, and she was telling me there was a couple of ways they could go, of course since he is only 11, there are limits as to what you can do. One thing was basically a slap on the wrist, probation for a couple of months, and that's it; the other way was sending him to Family Court, where they would decide if they would charge him with a crime, and move forward. Lynn - Here it is 16 before you can be prosecuted as an adult. If he had been 16, he would have been going away for about 25 years. Anyway, when I showed the PO the pictures of the damage to the store, she said "That's it, he's going to court." Now I had to go over and meet the prosecutor in Family Court, because they want to get this processed quickly (I really can't believe how fast it's going). I go to Family Court and was there with the Prosecutor for about an hour and a half, and she is deciding how far to go with this. Now that it is in FC, there are also different option as to how they handle it. After talking for awhile, she asked me to describe the building, and I told her about the train station on one side, pizza place on the other side, and 2 apartments right above my store. Once she heard there were apartments, she said "That's it, I'm charging him." He has already confessed to the Fire Marshall that he did it. In order for him to get where he got, he had to climb over fences, it was deliberate, not an accident.

Now, it gets better. While I'm in with the prosecutor, and she is preparing my statement for me to sign, in walks Vincent and his mother. I gave the prosecutor a look, and when she asked her name, the mother said her name and the prosecutor asked her to wait upstairs. The mother got nasty and said "Well they told me to come down here." The prosecutor told her she was in an interview and would have to wait upstairs. "Well where am I supposed to wait" said the mother. ""in the waiting area" said the prosecutor. "Well, I'm going to have to come back another day because they didn't tell me I needed an attorney" said the mother. "Oh, you don't need an attorney today, just please wait upstairs and I'll be with you when I'm done" said the prosecutor. The mother, white trash. The prosecutor turned around to me when she left, and said "Oh my God, nasty" I said "now you know what you're dealing with" Pretty stupid mother, huh, giving an attitude to the woman who holds your son's life in her hands. Plus, what did she think was going to happen, the PO was going to slap Vincent on the wrist, tell him he was a bad boy and not to do it again. HELLLOOOOOOO!!!! Well maybe she didn't need a lawyer today, but she is going to need one on May 5th when her son goes to trial. Oh, also when the prosecutor saw the pictures, her mouth was hanging open. I just emailed them to her so she can have them for the trial, I hope the mother gets to see them, so she can see what her son did. If they find him guilty, which I am praying they will, I will then be able to get an Order of Protection, so if the kid comes near my store, I can call the cops. He is also going to have a pyschiatric evaluation, his family is going to be investigated, and he will definitely be on probation. The school also gets notified. Now, think about this, he confessed to arson. My insurance company and my landlord's insurance company are most likely going to go after the family for restitution, so they are going to have a major lawsuit on their hands, and they will have to hire lawyers for that.

I am entitled to $1,500 from Crime Victims Services, which will make up for my lost income. My landlord's insurance can pick up for lost rent, which is a blessing. I got rid of that darn sticker wall, which is a blessing. Insurance came today and they totalled the entire sticker room, entire wall of cardstock and fixtures that it is in. In addition, they are given me a pro rated compensation for ALL THE PAPER in my store, as well as anything that isn't in a plastic hang tab bag. I will also be getting a new carpet, a blessing. And the best is, all new product will be coming in, stuff that I couldn't afford to buy, which will sell better than the product that was in that back room, a HUGE BLESSING. Do you see a recurring theme here, I am trying to count my blessings, not wallow in my sorrows. And God willing, this boy will get the help he needs and turn out to be a good citizen, rather than behind bars someday.

I have a lot of work ahead of me to inventory, which I will do when I get back from my trip. Insurance is also covering the cost of clean-up, so I don't have to do it, and can concentrate on inventory and re-ordering when I get back. Total estimated damage (including structural damage, that will be covered by my landlord's insurance) is between $30,000 and $40,000.

Tomorrow there will be an article in the Staten Island Advance, hopefully with pictures...hopefully something good will come of this, maybe a few curiosity seeking new customers....

Well, I am sure this post is now half a page long. Thank you all again, I will keep you posted. I will be out of the loop for the next week, and am sure I will have a lot of catching up to do when I get back. Of course, I am not going on this trip with a clear conscience, but I know my store is in good hands with my girls there, and Micco will be around if anything is really needed, so I know my rock will be there. He has been great for the last few days, I don't know what I would have done without him being by my side!

Love you all.

Debi

 

[jfis1020]

You have such a great attitude!

I am glad to see that they are holding this child accountable for his actions. More often than not, people think that it's someone else's fault for what their child did. Good for the court system!! Let's continue to hope that he gets what he deserves, yet obviously needs! There's a lot of nuts out there and unfortunatley you have met some this week! I love your positsive attitude and how you are counting your blessings. There is a silver lining, but sometimes the exterior is really tough...........................


Have a fantastic time!!!!

 

[lwilliam]

Micco - you are the best ....I know you are taking GREAT care of everything You have a super, terrific wife, but I know you know that. I can't wait to see the NEW shop, Debs, and I know it will be better than ever. I'm kindof worried about your personal photos, though. Wouldn't you like to borrow some pictures of ME - that way, your memories won't be gone if something like this ever happens again....I mean, pictures of ME, NO, it probably would scare all the customers away.

I hope Debs can have a little fun on her cruise. She totally deserves this
break.

I'm off early this morning to take Tyler to county chorus festival rehearsal....
hope there is a bathroom every 2 miles....I can't shake this bug. It is about a 30 minute drive to practice. Bob is working this morning so he can attend the festival tonight. The total UPSIDE of the flu -
I lost 3 lbs.!!!!!!!!! It is quite a miserable day in PA today - pouring rain all day long. Sort of glad I didn't go with our local music group to see Wicked today...it will be a miserable day in NY....but the options of seeing Wicked and sitting thru this concert tonight.....I don't want to sound like a bad mom, but Wicked is looking pretty good.

Micco - check in with us this week, OK. "The girls" will keep you company, right Jenny, Lynn, Kathy, JoAnn, Lucy

 

[littleowensmommy]

Debi, You are incredible! You definitely have the right attitude about all of this. I'm sorry that you have to go through such a thing but it does remind you about how lucky you are. Micco is just the best and your girls are truly special people. We all take alot for granted but when something like this happens, it is a blessing to be able to see through the darkness to the light at the end of the tunnel.

Lucy, I hope that you're feeling fine again soon.

Ted and I have a sitter tonight. We're going to the movies to see "American Dreamz". It looks funny...our review will follow. Then we have to go get Ted prescription sunglasses. He didn't even need glasses until a couple of years ago and now he's in bifocals.

Jenny, Did your friend ever give you the list of San Diego hotels?

Congratulations JoAnn! Free at last, free at last...

 

[jlawall]

Thx Kathy, I appreciate the support, I am presently in therapy for post tramatic syndrome (jkjkjkjkjk) Who am I to complain with Debi's craziness and Lucy's ....well....you know.............. Deb, you are handing everything great, I hope you have a nice cruise (at least you are getting new inventory, etc.) How creepy about that family!

WE are having Jess's Sweet 16 tonight at home.........wish us luck!!!! (40-50 kids!) They're coming in 20 minutes!!!

Have a WONDERFUL weekend, everyone.................

 

[jfis1020]

JoAnn ~ Your kids will look really good on Monday (until lunch!!!) Congratulations for making it through s.t. from hell!! We weren't that bad!

Lucy ~ Hope you are feeling better. Wicked?? Wow! I'd love to see that! BTW..........check your e-mail at work!

Kathy ~ Hope you and Ted had a great time at the movies. We went tonight, but unfortunately it was Ice Age II. I have to say it was cute. The sloth reminds me of someone we know (the speech impediment), so when he started talking, Mark and I were laughing so hard that we had TEARS running down our cheeks! I bet people thought we were nuts (the ones who don't know us and don't know are at least!!!).

Debi ~ You are going to have a great time. Drink a margarita (or two, or three) for me!! You know...one tequilla, two tequilla, three tequilla, floor!!! Too many tequilla, so little lime!!!

Happy Saturday!

 

[jlawall]

All I can say is...................I SURVIVED (IT WAS MY THIRD SWEET 16)