Monday, November 24, 2008

It's that time again....

Christmas card: Santa's cutbacks Pictures, Images and Photos


I've got my Christmas cards ready to go, and a brand new address book to input names, addy's, home/cell/work/fax numbers, email addy's, birthdays, and anniversaries.

If you would like to make sure you get a Christmas card this year, please make sure that you email me AT LEAST your name and address!! I am hoping to get them out RIGHT after Thanksgiving!!


Have a FABULOUS Thanksgiving!! We will be sharing it with my family in southern California...AFTER celebrating it with both of our families that are here in town. Hopefully we can digest all that turkey during the long car rides!!!

Take care and thank you all for your thoughts, love, support, and prayers.

~M~

Thursday, November 20, 2008

I'm ready for a new title....





Well, I went and spent four hours (was scheduled for ONE hour....good thing I had nothing else to do) at school today. Getting registered, taking an admittance test (which I passed with flying colors!), getting a tour of their crime lab, checking out the evidence collection box that I would be assigned, and speaking with three of the directors of the school. I'm pumped. The cost is SSOOO much more than I was expecting....but I got a bunch of "insider" information about some grants and scholarships that very few people know about. I guess my age is going for me, also! (Nice to know that it comes in handy for SOMEthing!)

So, I came home and asked the girls what they thought about having a detective for a mom. I got mixed reviews. lol Bri says she doesn't like it because detectives get shot on TV. I told her I would wear a bullet-proof vest. ;)

Anyways.....thought that I would share that I am at least making sure the ball is rolling....little by little.....

"Detective Kumpe".

I could get used to being called a detective....

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Looing for my next endeavor....




That's right. CSI. Crime Scene Investigation. Looks like I am heading in that direction. I have an appointment with a tech school on Thursday. Get to walk through their lab, get a run-down of what schooling I will be needing, different jobs that I can go into upon completion of receiving my degree.

I'm leaning in a couple different directions. I am presuming that I will be starting out with either the city PD or county Sheriff's Dept. I'd like to work my way up to DOJ (Dept. of Justice), specializing in covert Internet crimes. (If you haven't already seen "Untraceable"....THAT'S EXACTLY what I would like to go into...)

Anyhow...we shall see how it goes. I had seriously considered becoming a Mortician. Looked into it extensively...but, a few points came up that I didn't think I could deal with well. So, I took that career off my list. I had a great reverence for morticians before....but, even more so, now.

I have a few connections in the Fresno PD...and Fresno County Sheriff's office...should I end up there. Another idea is to go into Private Investigating, which is very intriguing, also.

Many possibilities. I want to make sure I get it right. Choosing something that is not affected tremendously by the economy....has decent pay....a career that I can take with me no matter where I may live....and great benefits. I'm still young enough to make sure that I make the correct choice for my future....doing something that I REALLY enjoy.

Wish me luck! A new start...and I'm SO excited!

Friday, November 14, 2008

How can I.....

...feel like I'm in


Stairway to Heaven Pictures, Images and Photos




...when I feel like I am regularly trapped in



HELL Pictures, Images and Photos

Thursday, November 13, 2008

AMERICAN AUTO INDUSTRY NEEDS YOUR HELP!!!

exclamation mark Pictures, Images and Photos

Friends and Family, Please take one moment to read this email and support your local economy…..

Next week, Congress and the current Administration will determine whether to provide immediate support to the domestic auto industry to help it through one of the most difficult economic times in our nation’s history. Your help is needed immediately to let your US Senator and Representatives know how important the Domestic Automotive Manufacturers and their continued survival is to the future of this country.

We have created a fast and easy way to make your voice heard. All you have to do is click this link and then where it says MOBILIZE NOW, please enter your information and an email, addressed to your local US Senator and Representatives, will know you support the loan that the manufacturers are requesting in session next week. It is not only critical to the manufacturers but to you and the overall economy of this great nation.

It is critical for many reasons and many of them you can read about on the facts and fiction web page. We cannot stand another financial meltdown at this time. Whether you own and drive an American built or Import vehicle, the survival and success of our domestic brands are important to you. How many more jobs can we afford to lose? I bet you know somebody that would be directly affected if GM, Ford or Chrysler were gone tomorrow. Have you considered how it would trickle down to you yet?

This current crisis knows no geographic boundaries. What happens to the U.S. auto industry also has an immediate impact on Wall Street and Your Street. Did you know….

·4% of U.S. gross domestic product is auto-related and represents 10% of U.S. industrial production by value.
·1 out of every 10 U.S. jobs is auto-related, supporting approximately five million jobs across all 50 states.
·Domestic auto industry has invested nearly a quarter of a trillion dollars in the U.S., including $10 billion alone last year.
·The auto industry purchased $156 Billion in U.S. auto parts and is the largest purchaser of U.S. steel, aluminum, iron, copper, plastics, rubber and electronic and computer chips.
·Autos account for $690 billion, or about 20% of all U.S. retail sales
·Auto sales generate more than $10 billion dollars of annual tax revenue
·U.S.- based carmakers have 105 plants in 20 states, including California, Texas ,Kansas, Louisiana and Maryland.
·They support 14,000 dealers across the country, and these dealers in turn employ 740,000 people, with a total payroll of $35 billion a year.
·The auto companies provide pensions for 775,000 and health care benefit for 2 million.

Because carmarkers are so tightly woven into the fabric of the U.S. economy, the collapse of this industry would reach far beyond Detroit. The Center for Automotive Research predicts that a collapse would lead to:

·Widespread failures of supplier companies
·Put nearly 3 million people out of work
·Personal income would drop by $150 billion


Thanks for your support!

Friday, November 7, 2008

First one out of the gates....

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Well, it's official!!!


Briana got engaged to Lee this evening during their dinner together!!

Plans are for a summer 2010 wedding!!

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Not many things make me......

.......speechless.


Until tonight.


I really don't have anything to say, but God help us.



Saturday, November 1, 2008

Halloween 2008

For Halloween this year, I volunteered at our church "alternate" event....getting kids off the streets to a carnival environment where we pass out candy. We had about 200 - 250 people attend. I was running a booth for preschoolers, so I didn't get to take a bunch of pictures. I DID get 4 though....so, here they go.

They were taken on my Blackberry, so they aren't overly clear, and I an't fix the red eye....so, please forgive me. ;)




Me and Napolean

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Me and Gnome Gwendolyn

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"Rambo Wars"

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....and, my little Princess Katrina

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I hope you all had a FABULOUS and memorable Halloween!