Somewhere over the rainbow

Mom, where are you? You left home in Oklahoma in 1962, for San Francisco, to have me. But you did so because you wanted a better life for me. You chose a great couple (the Long's) who raised me from birth, put me through school, and supported any and all endeavors I chose to partake. I was told about this at a young age. So young, I didn't even undrerstand it.

Up until my adopted mom's death in 95, she wondered why I never asked about you. I told her it wasn't personal, and that it was she who raised me, so it was out of respect to them. (Dad passed in 89.)

I know you were unwed at the time, but I did find out there were 3 birth certificates cross-referenced. One for Long, one for you, LaFever, and one for the father, Brewer, which I know even less about, except that he was from Texas.

As you can see, I changed my last name to yours. My sister got upset. Said it was not right and mom & dad would not approve. I asked her what her last name was. I guess it must be alright to change it when you get married but changing it to your birth parent's name, after the adopted ones have passed, is not. (OUCH)

I understand years later, you married, so your surname may not be LaFever anymore. I also know you were 19 at the time, so I still have a chance because that would make only 62 years old.

LaVeda LaFever, if you're out there, let me know. Your first son is here waiting to say I love you. There was never any bad feelings. I understand mothers who do this tend to wonder about things like that. You needn't worry.

I just want to know you.

that's Nascar, baby

I want to congratulate my man, Tony Stewart on his victory winning the Nextel Nascar championship. I've followed Tony for years since his championship win in his rookie year, 1999. Although, that wasn't exactly a good year for him; what with all the issues he had. Frankly, I'd have done the same thing.

A cameraman is following you to get your story, and you don't want to talk about it. You walk away and the camerman follows you, still pushing for the story. What can you do? You turn around and clock him.

Unfortunately for Tony, he's in the spotlight, so he had to attend anger management classes for that. From that point, I was hooked. Someone with balls, and doesn't take any crap from anyone. Good for you, Tony.

Today, he's a much better person. (He's also a millionare, so he'd better be.) Just the same, I'm still a fan.

Can't wait till February when it all starts again. boogity, boogity, boogity.

www.tonystewart.com
www.nascar.com

Hands in the "Tookie" jar

So the date is set. Tookie Williams will be executed. Hmmm, how long has he been in jail? Oh yeah, 20 years. Let's backtrack for a second.

Okay, he is c co-founder of the infamous Crips LA street gang. He commits crimes. He even murders. And to this day, he refuses to admit to the crimes. Whatever. Sentenced to die. All I want to know is, why has it taken 20 years?

I uses the cookie jar analogy for a reason. This particular case is in the spotlight and everyone has a hand in it. The media is all over it. The guv can't decide what to do. I think normally he would grant clemency, but unfortunately, politics dictates it to be bad move. Too bad.

You have a guy here who's been in jail for 20 years. He's written children's books. And they're being read in schools. If that isn't a case for rehabilitation, I don't know what is. You can't kill him now. You'd be making him a martyr. People seem to forget that jail is supposed to rehabilitate.

If you're going to kill him, it should be done after the senmtence was handed down, not 20 years later. How would you like to be sentenced to death and sit in jail and never know when it's going to happen?

Besides, granting clemency isn't the same as releasing him. So he's in for life. As far as I'm concerned, he's leading a productive life; behind bars. And the educational system is benefitting from it.

You can't kill him now. Let it go.