Paul's Corner

Dear Paul,

It sure doesn't feel like it was 12 years ago. I remember watching the news story and thinking to myself, 'he' did it. Strange how that happens. It's usually those closest to the victims that do it. (I apologise for such comments, but history has shown time and time again) It's more so the case when a body is never found. Having this mentality, I know is wrong, but in many cases justified. Azaria Chamberlain was the exception to the rule.. back then I wasn't convinced she killed her baby. Many Australians at the time did. I am happy for the family of the victim who now have closure and hopefully Burrell will 'crack' and tell them what he has done with her body. That's when this whole nightmare will be put to rest. Our Australian Legal system has got it wrong. I would be here till Christmas if I had to elaborate. Suffice to say.. a PREVIOUSLY CONVICTED MURDERER should on all counts be a PRIME suspect in subsequent murders if there is any involvement. I will not apologise for saying this though, it's only logical and sometimes yes. it is guilty, before proven innocent in these cases.
On a different note, enjoy the next series of DWTS Paul, my family and I certainly will.
It must be difficult at times having to judge the dancers, glad it's you Paul and not me :)

Right on Dona for speaking what you feel. I agree with your feelings here. I'm glad it's at least a step in the right direction to have convicted this man.

Here in the U.S. we are witnessing O.J. Simpson and his continuing story of chaos. He virtually got away with what many believe to be the muders that were so hanous one could not imagine. Now, due to his continued lack of morals, and pompous disregard, he has landed himself in jail for armed robbery and 9 other crimes, while trying to steal back some of his bs that he feels makes him famous. He doesn't want anyone to profit from his possesions, yet he has never paid a dime of restitution to either of the families that he destroyed.

As far as I'm concerned, what goes around, eventually, comes around. No more days on the golf greens for O.J. for a while...hopefully a long while.

I do have compassion and a heart, but justice does eventually get served. This, realizing that our justice system is lacking.

Justice is a tough one, for the person who was murdered is forever gone and those who must go on living without them are forever changed. Is there really justice in the fact that the murderer continues to live? I'm glad there is some form of accountability, don't get me wrong and no, I'm not in favor of capital punishment either.

Just wishing humanity was a kinder and more respectful place, people treating others with dignity, love and respect and without selfishness and inflicting pain on themselves and others.

Awe geeze. How horrible for the family. I pray for peace and closure for the family.

Unfortunately, murder has hit home with me twice: my daughter's boyfriend was murdered by a neighbor and he is serving life in prison, but one of my dear friend's husband was murdered and the killer is yet to be caught and probably never will. It's a horror and a tragedy for all involved and is always at the back of your mind.

Mary S, wouldn't it be ironic if OJ spent years in jail for his latest caper?

I wonder if O.J. played golf this morning? Karma must be a tough one to wait on. I hope he's getting right with God.

I'm truly not a judgmental person. I don't even think I could make the cut to be on a jury, but some things just jump out at you.

These just happen to be some very strong feelings that maybe I should keep to myself. It just goes to show how comfortable I feel with you all!

Love and Peace to all of you.

Mary

Hey all,

Speaking of murder trials, I was called to be juror on a murder trial were I knew some of the key people. OUCH I was also 9 months pregnant and had to ell them I knew some of the people invoved as they lived in the neighborhood I grew up in. They dismissed me immediately and I still kringe at the thought of serving on a murder trial.

Paul, congrats on having the courage to stand up and speak the truth and fel proud that your testimony helped to make this monster pay for his crime.

Kelly

Hey all,

Speaking of murder trials, I was called to be juror on a murder trial were I knew some of the key people. OUCH I was also 9 months pregnant and had to ell them I knew some of the people invoved as they lived in the neighborhood I grew up in. They dismissed me immediately and I still kringe at the thought of serving on a murder trial.

Paul, congrats on having the courage to stand up and speak the truth and fel proud that your testimony helped to make this monster pay for his crime.

Kelly

I believe there is a higher power than us and have faith in this belief that there will be judgement and consequences after death for the life we live here on earth. I don't believe, despite the punishment, that justice is served on earth. You can put someone in prison, but that doesn't always change what is in their heart. Prison for some serves its purpose to prevent them from committing more crime and I would be a real pessimist if I didn't think there were some who were truly sorry, but I think that is a minority of people. Sometimes when I think about all the bad that happens among us and try to reason why and for what purpose, it brings some sense of peace to surrender the emotions and questions and pain to my faith. That doesn't make the pain miraculously disapper,but it does help to ease it to a level I can cope. On the flip side of that faith, it also helps me appreciate the beauty and gifts that occur with life here on earth. Faith is hard sometimes, after all it is the hope of things not seen. I too pray for peace for all affected by crime such as this and I too admire and respect those who have the courage to testify against it. Bless you Paul.
Jill

"Faith is hard sometimes, after all it is the hope of things not seen. I too pray for peace for all affected by crime such as this and I too admire and respect those who have the courage to testify against it."

Well said, Jill.

Paul, it's interesting that the news broke while you were on the radio yourself. It was meant for you to know immediately.

I hope their mother's body is found so that they may have closure. It is sad that this guy won't give the location--what does he really gain by withholding it? I guess I can't understand someone taking that kind of satisfaction against humankind.

Hi Everyone,

I may be losing my job on Thurday. I have been at this job going on 9 years and in the past 4 years there have been over 20 layoffs globally in this company. They have turned much of the business over to India and out source employees in the U.S. I have managed to escape each layoff since I've been in the team I currently am with. The last layoff that touched my team was 2 years ago and over 200 people in my organization were let go. My team was formed at that time and only 12 of us remained. We basically remained in order to support the "partners" who would eventually take our jobs. We all knew this, but in the years we have been with this company, it provided what we needed to be secure in our personal lives. Funny, that it did not provide job security. I received an email from my boss today that states I will be meeting with him at noon on Thursday, and that he would be meeting individually with each person on the team. The only time we have seen this done is when those impacted will be leaving the job that day. If it were that we were going to be safe, it would be a team meeting after those that ARE impacted have been notified.

So, it's not looking good. Say a prayer or just think good thoughts, that whatever happens, it is for the best....eventually. It's the eventually and the not knowing that are the toughest.

I'm o.k.!

Mary S, I am sending as much positive energy as I can muster in your direction!

It's good to get closure on such a horrendis crime. I hope that they may some day find her remains.

Our most famous serial murders, was the Green River serial killer. Green River is almost in my backyard. Yikes! There are still women missing and have not been found.

On DWTS USA style. Our series started Yesturday and will run tonight and tomorrow night. They have 12 stars, this season, 6 women and 6 men. The women competed last night and I think it is going to be very competitive. We will watch the men tonight.

BTW - PAUL, how are all your endeavers going?

BTW II - Oranges are in the markets right now and I was surprised to learn that they are imported from, of all places, Australia. They are really good! We still have orange groves in California and Florida, but I think that they are being swallowed up by development.

Take care and love to all
Marge

MaryS my very best wishes to you for a secure future. May you find peace in the uncertainty you face and may the right doors open for you!
Big hug,
Evelyn

Dear MaryS,

Can you feel the vibes as I send you hugs too, and
it's fingers crossed and all that until you get the word, and hope it's soon.

"I will be wai-ting, wai-ting" as Fran sings in SB.

Shalom and Love,

Grandma Mil

Dear MaryS,

Can you feel the vibes as I send you hugs too, and
it's fingers crossed and all that until you get the word, and hope it's soon.

"I will be wai-ting, wai-ting" as Fran sings in SB.

Shalom and Love,

Grandma Mil

MaryS--

Sign of the times. We're slowly transferring support and customer service positions to India and the Philippines, and my nephew's bank has been slowly taking jobs to India and now his bank has merged with Bank of America, so more consolidation on the horizon.

It will soon mean "to work" for an U.S. company you need to work abroad! ;)

I send good thoughts and prayers that you find a good job quickly. I hope they give you some decent severance to help bridge your finances in the meantime.

Thank you all so very much for your support. I knew when I posted that I would feel your strength, love and "vibes" and it would make it a little better for me. It's such a great gift to know all of you and to know that there are people who truly are good in this world. I knew this when I posted my very first comments here over 2 years ago. I, like many others, sat back and watched for a while to see what all of you were about. I learned that this was a spot where Paul's spirit had pulled many to his shining light and many of us have stuck since then. Thank you Paul and Cat!!

Peace and love to all of you!!! Big hugs to all of you.

Mary, I'm sure this has been a stressful and anxious time for you but which ever result will happen this week everything will fall into place once again. Possibly a better opportunity or a change that will stimulate your work life more. I have been through many jobs and I know the feeling of wondering whats next. As long you have your family, husband or friends that stand behind you that's all that counts.

My mother gave me a bookmark recently that says, "The Best is Yet to Come". This simple phrase has become a good reminder for me not to wollow in my problems so much but to keep my door open to new possibilities.

Its always good to hear when justice previals but at the same time the hurt remains. But I'm sure there is much relief in knowing this person isn't at large or never was. What a crazy thing.

I opened a Flickr acount on www.flickr.com to display some of my nature photography. The hotel that I work at may purchase a few prints to display in the conference rooms. Just go to the website and do a People Search under jchancellor and you'll find me.

much love to everyone, the Kahoona, and his family,

Julie

Marge, I can't speak for CA oranges but having grown up in FL I know a bit about the orange groves there. The ones that aren't hit by freezes manage to get damaged by drought or worse yet hurricanes. I think however that most of the orange groves in FL are used for juice fruit than eating fruit. :o) (I actually used to live very near a HUGE orange juice plant, its now owned by Coca Cola Foods.)

Hello Everyone,

I just finished a call-in conference call with my manager and most of my team. I can tell you now that I have not lost my job! Somebody in my team of only 12 has been let go. We all think we know who it is. This person worked the graveyard shift and things may have to be shifted around to cover his shifts, but it sounds like he was the only one let go. So it must have been a numbers thing. They must have been instructed to do a 10% RIF (reduction in force), so for our small team, that meant one person. We are all saddened for the one who was impacted. We will have a team meeting tomorrow to get the details but I woke up to an email to join the conference call and therefor, we won't be doing the individual meetings today. I woke up pretty apprehensive and now am feeling very very greatful!

Thanks for all of your kinds words of support everyone! You're all so wonderful!

MaryS

Dear MaryS,

Mazeltov! (Congratulations!)

Who wouldn't love you, who wouldn't care,
You're so sweet and enchanting, people must stare,
You finally got the answer to our every prayer darling,
Who wouldn't love you, who wouldn't care!!

Shalom and love,

Grandma Mil

I'm very happy for you, MaryS. although best wishes go out to the poor person who lost his/her job. May s/he find a fabulous job quickly and not suffer financially, emotionally, spiritually b/c of this job loss.

Mary I'm happy for you!

Now folks world exclusive and Paul you better go to the link to since it involves something culinary... or close rather.

I have a series of photos of my neighbor Guy chopping coconuts from his garden to make his famous coconut and rum.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/13899274@N02/

I'm only going to have it on for a few days since my flickr account is only to display my nature photography but I thought that you guys would get a kick out of seeing how we Floridians celebrate the end of September with some coconut and rum.

hmmm. posted earlier today, but I don't see it, so you get to hear from me again!

Grandma Mil, you made me cry! That's such a sweet little ditty! :)

Yes, we are all very sullen today at our team mate having to move on. He had left us a long time ago in many ways. He's had personal issues and it's kept him from being a true part of the team for many years. He had been with us for almost 8 years, yet, everyone who worked with him, eventually had to do his job and theirs. I am sorry that he could not make this job a priority, but so many times, our lives take over and we can't keep up with a job. I wish him only the very very best and care allot about him and his family. He made over 3 times our salary on his second job in the past couple of years, so he was doing very well. Then he sold his second business and began to focus more on his disintegrating family. It was pretty sad. So now, with the grace and strenght of his support team, hopefully he can put his life together. Many who leave this company get hired back on eventually also. So there is still hope!

I am emotionally and physically exhausted from the stress and got a migraine and a neck ache today after finding out I was still employed, so I know I was holding it all in. I feel better now and I'm sure I'll sleep like a baby tonight, even though the direction our country is taking to remain greedy makes me ill. The rich get richer and the poor stay poor. I'm struggling in the middle and treading water to keep my home and my car. It's all relative.

Love you all and thank you again, so very much, for being my friends.

What a day! I just saw this post that never made it....because, I never posted it!

"Oh my GOSH Granda Mil.. You made me cry.

You're a doll and all the love goes right back atcha!!!

To all of you!"

MaryS, glad you're feeling better...yes, the state of our nation could make anyone ill. We need a healthcare system pronto!

Julie, I love the photos! You certainly have that knack! (Julie lives not far from us, and we speak on the phone, and see each other when time permits. How lucky is that?)

PC brought us together in person in February, 2005, along with 8 others from all over the U.S
the weekend of "Follies 2005". Dear Evelyn and Mary were part of that also. "They came as strangers and left as friends."

I hosted a "Strictly Ballroom" convention at that time, and it was a weekend to remember! Again, it was Paul and Cat who made it all possible. "Unforgetable, that's what you are..."

(Julie was also backstage at my 2007 "Follies" opening night this past February, and met some guests and the cast.)

That was unforgetable too!

Shalom and Love,

Grandma Mil

Mary S., I am relieved to hear you are still employed! I can only imagine the stress you were under waiting to find out what fate was going to deal you. Now you know. You can keep that car and house a bit longer. ;o)

Thanks Sarah! I do REALLY appreciate my job, house, car, yards, flowers, food....need I go on? I am very relieved and greatful! Wow.

I'm so exhausted from the stress. I have one more long work day tomorrow and then I'm going to collapse.

I'm going to watch SB this weekend! I need a feel good fix!

Thanks Paul ;) ;) winky winky.

Sorry, I'm punchy.

Thanks Sarah! I do REALLY appreciate my job, house, car, yards, flowers, food....need I go on? I am very relieved and greatful! Wow.

I'm so exhausted from the stress. I have one more long work day tomorrow and then I'm going to collapse.

I'm going to watch SB this weekend! I need a feel good fix!

Thanks Paul ;) ;) winky winky.

Sorry, I'm punchy.

Mary S, I'd been exhausted from the stress and thus punchy as well if I were in your situation. :o)

Hmm, watching SB sounds good. I think I'll have to put than on tonight for something to watch after dinner. Thanks for the great idea! :o)

MaryS--I'm equally glad you were able to keep your job.

Grandma Mil--that was an adorable little poem (or lyric?)!

Did more painting this weekend. Almost done with my redecorating project! (whew!)

Oh, dear, I have been discovered (again) lifting and changing lyrics, Melody! Don't tell anyone!!!

Here are the real lyrics of WHO WOULDN'T LOVE YOU the song sung often by Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme. (Does anyone remember them?)

This is dedicated to Paul, Cat, and all PCers!

"Who wouldn't love you, who wouldn't care,
You're so enchanting, people must stare,
You're the dream that dreamers want to dream about,
You're the breath of spring that lovers gadabout,
They're mad about,
Who wouldn't love you, who wouldn't buy
The west side of heaven, if you winked your eye,
You're the answer to my every prayer, darling,
Who wouldn't love you, who wouldn't care!"

Shalom and love,

Grandma Mil

Thanks again for capturing the sweetness of days gone by Grandma Mil!

We can always count on you to bring a ray of sunshine into even the darkest days.

I remember Steve and Eydie. So many artists of that era were the examples of what romance and hope should look like. I listen to allot of them still. I was exposed to that music via my parents, and grandparents and came back to it as an adult. I love Tony Bennett and Dean Martin. Michael Buble' is doing his part to keep that music alive. I like him allot too.

Great stuff!

Dear Paul and Everyone.

I hope you are all well and happy. I am just writing a quick note in regards to "Dancing with the Stars' I want to vote for Kath and Kel!!!! I was in stitches last night. The visible countouring girdle is making a comeback! I really admire all the couples, it's not easy doing that and then having to face Todd at the end of the dance. YIKESS!! You on the other hand Paul, are always so very supportive and encouraging. I hope you are enjoying it. The Paso Kath and Kel did was ummmmm... strictly ummm balloney. Best wishes to all.. xxxxxxxx

Going back on Dona's comments about Kath and Kel's paso being "strictly ummmm balloney"--

Based on my years of Spanish and Flamenco dance, unfortunately many ballroom-style pasos miss the mark as they lose the flavor trying to be too inventive, or capitalize on the cliches.

(OK, I'll go back into my corner now.) ;)

Hi all

Melody hope you are well. I keep forgetting a lot of you aren't living in Australia.. the paso I was talking about was a 'send up' and not intended to be a professional dance. The couple is on a comedy show on the same channel and were 'guest stars' on the actual show. It was so funny. Take care all of you. xxxxxxxx

Hi Paul
I hope you and your family are wholesome and everything is all right.
I need your help,Paul! The week after next we have company and one of them is Australian by birth.I want take them by surprise with a typical "Australien Meal"but I don`t have a recipe. I thought that you have definitely one recipe or several and you can send me an e-mail if you have the time.That would be very nice of you!
I`ll try my best to cook it.
Many thanks in advance. Bärbel

PS.If you don`t have the time to email me the recipes I`ll make pizza. That`s always delicious!!!!!!!

Dear Paul
I'm not sure how to get in touch with you quickly but I'll give this avenue a go. By the way, I've always been a fan.
Anyway, I would like to ask for your help/advice on a matter regarding dance. I teach a community dance group (folkdance) and they are participating in a huge East European Dance Festival in July 08. They need an Aussie-style dance to take with them. 10 girls/10 guys are involved - aged 20 -28. They have basic dance skills, but are all pretty fit and very keen. I was thinking Jimmy Barnes strong, funky, rocknroll tap dog without the tapping but open to suggestions. The Festival is very competitive in terms of the concert "Dances from Country of Origin". I know that you helping me with this is probably beyond my wildest dreams, but just the smallest possibility is worth a try. Perhaps just some advice.
Regards
Ula