January 31, 2015.
It is the last day of the month, and yesterday I spread the news of my blog and slept like a baby, waking up every two hours and crying. No that was a joke. I slept well, I just realized how dumb that expression is. Last night I went and googled my blog address and saw that I was sandwiched in between a Paula Dean peach cobbler recipe and a peach pie recipe and smiled and knew I was in good company. That is why I slept well, peaches everywhere.
I have asked Natalie, Karina and Greg to "try my product" and they have not, so now I have to reflect on how we truly are different individuals and that humans truly do have different ways of problem solving. During the peach growing season, I was advised by the 'profesionals' involved over and over again, not to talk, not to tell the press, not to say anything and I complied I gues out of habit, playing that female role of submission. I said nothing, and when Greg paid his $22 million to the state, a gag order came with that too. I didn't agree to that, no one made me sign anything, and how can the state of Alabama stop freedom of speech in another country let alone in America?
I have found great medicinal value from typing into the universe using the internet. Way better than licking an envelope and sticking a stamp on it! I got all of the toxic poison out of my head by just sitting with my laptop and typing. My other three relatives need to cope in a private way and do not like the idea of me revealing so many things to the universe. I knew that Greg preferred my silence going into this Blogging stuff, as he views business and life as a card game where you don't want to reveal your hand. Not me, nope not me. My dear Dad died when I was 15, so I got a taste of reality a long time ago. He would have been 98 yesterday, so for the past 48 years I have tried to live the lessons I had learned from him - laugh as much as you can, work hard if you have to but make sure you are nice and laugh. Because of WW II I guess, and the things he had seen in Latvia and Germany and beyond, he told me to be nice, you have nothing to gain from being mean and you never know when you need to reach for a life line, and who will be sitting in the life boat.
I can get back to laughing again. Thanks laptop! Thanks internet!
Last night I also finished reading Rick Bragg's book "All Over but the Shoutin'"so I went to bed thinking about his tale and his childhood in Alabama and my childhood in Canada, that Latvian with the large capacity brain, that Latvian and the lentil who turned into a peach. I am going to pick up "Ava's Man" today, I really love how Bragg writes.
Saturday, January 31, 2015
Friday, January 30, 2015
Ignore the Truth
January 30, 2015.
Passing Thoughts
So in a matter of thirty days the tale has been told to the Universe and in the same number of days the story of the three journalists held capive in Egypt for over a year has evaporated, as has the attack on freedom of speech in France eclipsed by things far more interesting. Our family routines have started to come back to pre November 12, 2013 and the experience continues to get smaller and smaller in our collective rear view mirror.
I cannot relax however, now that I was converted over the past year, knowing that there are so many people - mostly Black, in horrible jail conditions, waiting to have their first appearance in court. last year I re-read 'To Kill a Mockingbird" and I was reminded that fiction is not always fiction and this past year marked the anniversaries of so many monumental milestones in civil rights and many important people passed as well. Ultimately, in my opinion, it seems that very little has changed over the past fifty years in how we all live and get along with one another because nice folks don't know the truth. Nice folks wouldn't believe that Edward Snowden might have something to tell us. Nice folks wouldn't believe that a black kid might be cold one evening in Florida and wear a hoodie, and why would people be upset about Grand jury stuff. Nice people believe that all is good. We go to Church, we read the news that is selectively given to us because advertising dollars drive the stories that are covered and we live our lives in an ignorant glow that comes from full tummies.
I am tired of sounding bitter and cynical and now I am going to have to work hard in finding my way back into world that celebrates achievement and looks for the escalator to get to a higher level faster. A world that loves innovation and fashion and art and music and literature and culture and civilization.
I am sorry that so many people suffer in the hands of other greedy and creepy people, people who suffern because of some devils who hide behind the armour of religion and some who hide behind the kryptonite that money and power and a government for the people and by the people buys. I sure hope that there is a journalist still alive who will care to fix what a Peach, round and ripe and who boozes easily is no longer capable, or motivated and interested in fixing all by herself! My family survived and that was all that a Peach could do.
And that is how I learned that ignorance is bliss.
Passing Thoughts
So in a matter of thirty days the tale has been told to the Universe and in the same number of days the story of the three journalists held capive in Egypt for over a year has evaporated, as has the attack on freedom of speech in France eclipsed by things far more interesting. Our family routines have started to come back to pre November 12, 2013 and the experience continues to get smaller and smaller in our collective rear view mirror.
I cannot relax however, now that I was converted over the past year, knowing that there are so many people - mostly Black, in horrible jail conditions, waiting to have their first appearance in court. last year I re-read 'To Kill a Mockingbird" and I was reminded that fiction is not always fiction and this past year marked the anniversaries of so many monumental milestones in civil rights and many important people passed as well. Ultimately, in my opinion, it seems that very little has changed over the past fifty years in how we all live and get along with one another because nice folks don't know the truth. Nice folks wouldn't believe that Edward Snowden might have something to tell us. Nice folks wouldn't believe that a black kid might be cold one evening in Florida and wear a hoodie, and why would people be upset about Grand jury stuff. Nice people believe that all is good. We go to Church, we read the news that is selectively given to us because advertising dollars drive the stories that are covered and we live our lives in an ignorant glow that comes from full tummies.
I am tired of sounding bitter and cynical and now I am going to have to work hard in finding my way back into world that celebrates achievement and looks for the escalator to get to a higher level faster. A world that loves innovation and fashion and art and music and literature and culture and civilization.
I am sorry that so many people suffer in the hands of other greedy and creepy people, people who suffern because of some devils who hide behind the armour of religion and some who hide behind the kryptonite that money and power and a government for the people and by the people buys. I sure hope that there is a journalist still alive who will care to fix what a Peach, round and ripe and who boozes easily is no longer capable, or motivated and interested in fixing all by herself! My family survived and that was all that a Peach could do.
And that is how I learned that ignorance is bliss.
Thursday, January 29, 2015
Silence is a deadly force
January 29, 2015
As I stated on January 1 2015, I am not a journalist and that I have only expressed my personal opinions and not those of anyone else. I have not told Jonny or Robin that I told my story to the Universe, but were they to read it, I am sure they would have trouble following the story, simply because I left a lot of detail out and changed names to protect the identity of the people who were pulled into this nightmare. I came across a beautiful passage, written by Pulitzer Prize winner author Rick Bragg in his memoir, (Vintage books, a division of Random House Inc. 1997)
"All over but the Shoutin'"
"But if you sit and talk to old Black people, the people who recall the time of my childhood, that time in history, they will tell you that there are degrees of meanness in this world, degrees of hatred, degrees of ignorance, and calculating those degrees, over decades, was a means of survival. They will tell you that the depth of that meanness and hatred and ignorance varies from soul to soul, that white Southerners are not the same and symmetrical, like the boards in a white picket fence. They will tell you that the depth of that meanness often depends on what life has done to a person, on the impressions left by brushes with people different from you, on those rare times when the parallel universes came close enough to touch."
And that passage, more or less captures the hate that ACS must have felt towards Greg as their lives intersected at a time just before an economic collapse. ACS did well with his investments in the 90's, earnings must have been easier to attain, or perhaps he was less dependant on drink and younger and brighter, but he created a myth about his capabilities. The calamity that was caused by the 2008 collapse left his underbelly exposed to criticism,and he no longer was the genius he made himself out to be. His investment performance was public record and it did not look good. The Go Zone was supposed to be there, shortly, to take out his investment - but it did't materialize. I do not know the details, but I do know that his buddy from Tennessee did get $140 Million of Go Zone money. ASC had been caught in the crazy whirlind that caught so many in mortgages they could not afford, perhaps he just couldn't blame someone else for the disaster or risk exposing how the grease machine really worked in the South. ACS was never risking his own money he was risking the saving of others and acting like a big shot, Greg was the easiest person to blame, he was foreigner, he was an outsider and not one of 'them'.
After doing the math, getting $23 million as 'fine' money hardly seems like a good return on a $43 billion fund over a 6 year period, and of course it is not, but ASC took a year out of Greg's life, and the life of Greg's family. I think that is what he was going after. ASC did not destroy Greg, or even destroy MBI back in Hamilton where thousands of people go to work building seriously good grimmets. What is difficult to accept, is the fact that there were other people on the 'Board', appointed by ASC after he took over the Alabama project, who remained silent, knowing what really transpired, they complied with their silence, just like other terrorist plots, or plots of dictators in history, you need many agents or deputies to participate. Silence is as deadly a force as violence itself.
I will open my blog soon for discussion, but right now I want a little rest from thinking about why people are so mean, and why 'I am better than you' causes so much strife.
As I stated on January 1 2015, I am not a journalist and that I have only expressed my personal opinions and not those of anyone else. I have not told Jonny or Robin that I told my story to the Universe, but were they to read it, I am sure they would have trouble following the story, simply because I left a lot of detail out and changed names to protect the identity of the people who were pulled into this nightmare. I came across a beautiful passage, written by Pulitzer Prize winner author Rick Bragg in his memoir, (Vintage books, a division of Random House Inc. 1997)
"All over but the Shoutin'"
"But if you sit and talk to old Black people, the people who recall the time of my childhood, that time in history, they will tell you that there are degrees of meanness in this world, degrees of hatred, degrees of ignorance, and calculating those degrees, over decades, was a means of survival. They will tell you that the depth of that meanness and hatred and ignorance varies from soul to soul, that white Southerners are not the same and symmetrical, like the boards in a white picket fence. They will tell you that the depth of that meanness often depends on what life has done to a person, on the impressions left by brushes with people different from you, on those rare times when the parallel universes came close enough to touch."
And that passage, more or less captures the hate that ACS must have felt towards Greg as their lives intersected at a time just before an economic collapse. ACS did well with his investments in the 90's, earnings must have been easier to attain, or perhaps he was less dependant on drink and younger and brighter, but he created a myth about his capabilities. The calamity that was caused by the 2008 collapse left his underbelly exposed to criticism,and he no longer was the genius he made himself out to be. His investment performance was public record and it did not look good. The Go Zone was supposed to be there, shortly, to take out his investment - but it did't materialize. I do not know the details, but I do know that his buddy from Tennessee did get $140 Million of Go Zone money. ASC had been caught in the crazy whirlind that caught so many in mortgages they could not afford, perhaps he just couldn't blame someone else for the disaster or risk exposing how the grease machine really worked in the South. ACS was never risking his own money he was risking the saving of others and acting like a big shot, Greg was the easiest person to blame, he was foreigner, he was an outsider and not one of 'them'.
After doing the math, getting $23 million as 'fine' money hardly seems like a good return on a $43 billion fund over a 6 year period, and of course it is not, but ASC took a year out of Greg's life, and the life of Greg's family. I think that is what he was going after. ASC did not destroy Greg, or even destroy MBI back in Hamilton where thousands of people go to work building seriously good grimmets. What is difficult to accept, is the fact that there were other people on the 'Board', appointed by ASC after he took over the Alabama project, who remained silent, knowing what really transpired, they complied with their silence, just like other terrorist plots, or plots of dictators in history, you need many agents or deputies to participate. Silence is as deadly a force as violence itself.
I will open my blog soon for discussion, but right now I want a little rest from thinking about why people are so mean, and why 'I am better than you' causes so much strife.
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
"JAIL no BAIL" still in Alabama
January 28, 2015.
Passing Thoughts
And so now I can tell you that we had a feast of feast when Greg flew home back in November. He left Florence on November 14, 2014 and because of travel time and moving from CST to EST, finally walked into his home November 15, 2014. He had missed his traditional November 11 ceremony back at the Hamilton grimmet factory. The tradition he had started, carried on in spite of his absence. I had to think back to earlier days, at a Hamilton dinner party, where rumour had it that Greg had erected a monument for all of the people he had killed in the grimmet factory, even an educated physician got a war memorial confused - thinking it was a statue to remember industrial accidents at the plant. At the time, I was sorry to think that an educated person would even think it was possible that a capitalist would celebrate industrial accidents but that was the atmosphere in Hamilton 20 years earlier. In fact, the cenotaph was a result of Greg's conscience. Back in 1994 after he had purchased MBI, he renovated the reception/foyer area, and while the space was under construction, some framed 'pictures' were leaned against a wall in his office. While on the phone one day, he noticed that the pictures were lists of names and saw that some had black crosses beside them, the list was MBI employees who had served in WW II, and the names with the crosses, were the ones who never came home.
It was out of respect, and to honour our values of freedom, and the liberty to pursue happiness, that Greg built a war memorial, funded privately and placed within the MBI property, it was much criticized at the time, and certainly, misunderstood. Natalie, Karina and I, attended the first November 11th Rememberance Day ceremony, but then, after those death threats - we no longer attended.
So we have come full circle. Greg was arrested on November 12 2013, a day after Remeberance Day November 11, and he was finally free after paying a 'fine' on November 14, 2014. Today's big news story was the apology from the prosecution over the arrest of the lunch counter protestors in the South back in the 60's when 'jail no bail' was the policy, and based on Greg's experience in Alabama it was clear that old habits do die hard. By ignoring the bond and restricting him from traveling home to prepare for trial, the result was the same as being put in jail. The thought that power in the state was held in the hands of a small group of insiders who misled a Grand Jury, and to never even be able to see on what basis the charges were laid, underscores my suspicion that the people of Alabama are still being cheated out of knowing the truth. I just know that a full year had been stolen from our lives and that the actual facts would never come to light since the point was to extort money and inflict punishment before going to an open court. No one would know about 2,000,000 pages of documents. No one would hear that the $30 million bond was ignored. No one would hear about Greg having to hire ACS cronies. No one would learn about any of the incriminating evidence against ACS, because it would be so damaging. I also know that there could have been good jobs available to those people who want jobs, because the economy has recovered from the greed of Wall Street and the mortgage crisis that led to the collapse in 2008.
ACS knew there was no fraud and so could not accuse Greg in civil court but instead, needed to strike after the civil case was time barred. Only state securities charges would allow the sealed and secret Grand Jury, all done through the legal system of the state. Laws carved out through the sacrifices of young men maimed and dead men who run into battle to preserve liberty and freedom.
But then again, that is only my personal opinion, I am only bitter about one thing - that all joy was sucked out of my life for a full year, and once pushed into a hole, it takes a bit to crawl out of it.
I could have spent more time in giving the Universe the truth, but I quickly realized, at around day 8 of my blogging, that I would benfit more from getting back to joy and laughter rather that dwelling on the details of this tale. It was a helluva year, and I will spend my time now fighting for the rights of those poor kids stuffed into the Tuscumbia jail, that only jail Greg saw in Alabama, seven men and roaches in a 10 x 12 cell, and Cook County jail in Chicago, but I am sure that there are plenty more disgraceful prisons in every state. It is a shameful truth that the racial epithet is used by jailers, white and black non stop behind the walls of prison. The reality of those 10 days has stayed with our family. We were converted and now we understand. I wrote to the White House, and I did not get a reply, except I was put on the auto e-mail list to donate money. I wrote to John Boehner and I did not get a response. This was a story that would be of interest to both sides of the table. I contacted the ACLU and there was no interest, so after a while you 'pays your money and you gets going'.
And that is how I learned it will take a lot more to bring light to injustice.
Passing Thoughts
And so now I can tell you that we had a feast of feast when Greg flew home back in November. He left Florence on November 14, 2014 and because of travel time and moving from CST to EST, finally walked into his home November 15, 2014. He had missed his traditional November 11 ceremony back at the Hamilton grimmet factory. The tradition he had started, carried on in spite of his absence. I had to think back to earlier days, at a Hamilton dinner party, where rumour had it that Greg had erected a monument for all of the people he had killed in the grimmet factory, even an educated physician got a war memorial confused - thinking it was a statue to remember industrial accidents at the plant. At the time, I was sorry to think that an educated person would even think it was possible that a capitalist would celebrate industrial accidents but that was the atmosphere in Hamilton 20 years earlier. In fact, the cenotaph was a result of Greg's conscience. Back in 1994 after he had purchased MBI, he renovated the reception/foyer area, and while the space was under construction, some framed 'pictures' were leaned against a wall in his office. While on the phone one day, he noticed that the pictures were lists of names and saw that some had black crosses beside them, the list was MBI employees who had served in WW II, and the names with the crosses, were the ones who never came home.
It was out of respect, and to honour our values of freedom, and the liberty to pursue happiness, that Greg built a war memorial, funded privately and placed within the MBI property, it was much criticized at the time, and certainly, misunderstood. Natalie, Karina and I, attended the first November 11th Rememberance Day ceremony, but then, after those death threats - we no longer attended.
So we have come full circle. Greg was arrested on November 12 2013, a day after Remeberance Day November 11, and he was finally free after paying a 'fine' on November 14, 2014. Today's big news story was the apology from the prosecution over the arrest of the lunch counter protestors in the South back in the 60's when 'jail no bail' was the policy, and based on Greg's experience in Alabama it was clear that old habits do die hard. By ignoring the bond and restricting him from traveling home to prepare for trial, the result was the same as being put in jail. The thought that power in the state was held in the hands of a small group of insiders who misled a Grand Jury, and to never even be able to see on what basis the charges were laid, underscores my suspicion that the people of Alabama are still being cheated out of knowing the truth. I just know that a full year had been stolen from our lives and that the actual facts would never come to light since the point was to extort money and inflict punishment before going to an open court. No one would know about 2,000,000 pages of documents. No one would hear that the $30 million bond was ignored. No one would hear about Greg having to hire ACS cronies. No one would learn about any of the incriminating evidence against ACS, because it would be so damaging. I also know that there could have been good jobs available to those people who want jobs, because the economy has recovered from the greed of Wall Street and the mortgage crisis that led to the collapse in 2008.
ACS knew there was no fraud and so could not accuse Greg in civil court but instead, needed to strike after the civil case was time barred. Only state securities charges would allow the sealed and secret Grand Jury, all done through the legal system of the state. Laws carved out through the sacrifices of young men maimed and dead men who run into battle to preserve liberty and freedom.
But then again, that is only my personal opinion, I am only bitter about one thing - that all joy was sucked out of my life for a full year, and once pushed into a hole, it takes a bit to crawl out of it.
I could have spent more time in giving the Universe the truth, but I quickly realized, at around day 8 of my blogging, that I would benfit more from getting back to joy and laughter rather that dwelling on the details of this tale. It was a helluva year, and I will spend my time now fighting for the rights of those poor kids stuffed into the Tuscumbia jail, that only jail Greg saw in Alabama, seven men and roaches in a 10 x 12 cell, and Cook County jail in Chicago, but I am sure that there are plenty more disgraceful prisons in every state. It is a shameful truth that the racial epithet is used by jailers, white and black non stop behind the walls of prison. The reality of those 10 days has stayed with our family. We were converted and now we understand. I wrote to the White House, and I did not get a reply, except I was put on the auto e-mail list to donate money. I wrote to John Boehner and I did not get a response. This was a story that would be of interest to both sides of the table. I contacted the ACLU and there was no interest, so after a while you 'pays your money and you gets going'.
And that is how I learned it will take a lot more to bring light to injustice.
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
The Merchant of Venice Gets his Pound of Flesh
January 27, 2015.
Passing Thoughts
Today is the annual day to remember the holocaust and it also happens to be the 70'th anniversary of the liberation of the concentration camp in Auschwitz. Imagine - a million people slaughtered. When 3,000 people were slaughtered September 11in New York, there was an immediate response. Not three weeks ago people were slaughtered in Paris, and the conversation in three short weeks has changed from freedom and human rights and free speech, to freedom of religion. I do not understand Washington leaders. I have real issue with religion trumping human rights. The holocaust eliminated 6,000,000 people and since the second world war some linguists coined the term 'ethnic cleansing' to soften the vocabulary - but lets face it we are still stuck in defending religion based attacks. What has happened to just defending human rights and equality. What happened to the ideals of Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King raising awarenes of race equality? We know that there is a serious issue with gender equality, but female human rights are eclipsed by double talking politicians who give religion a free pass. I am very disappointed with President Obama's remarks in India. No religion should eclipse civil rights or human rights and ignore the real essence of the words of the Constitution.
The French magazine attracted outrage because of cartoons. I am wondering, is it OK to criticize fashion, and just keep to superficial matters? Is it insulting to say that a black sheet is not fashion, and so you look silly wearing a black sheet and a Chanel bag? I don't get it. I put a cover on my BBQ and patio furniture, not over my head and body. But I digress.
The Tale
Jonny thought that he could get everything resolved by Canadian Thanksgiving and we were so anxious to have this put behind us. Ten months had gone by, not one call from the brother. Greg had celebrated his 65 birthday in Alabama, Natalie and Karina had their birthdays, Karina had her surgery, Natalie had survived a plane crash, and escaped ovarian cancer. By that point, I had run out of words. Nothing could describe my utter disappointment in the brother.
The friends who had stood by however, were in a different category. They were as anxious as we were, and ten months into the unimaginable, most of our supporters were at a point of just holding their breath,
"Anything?"
"Nope".
Back in Hamilton, more people were being hired as a new grimmet had been designed and was now in demand. Orders were rolling in. It would be bad if the news got back to the regular people of Alabama. The grimmet business was booming, and just like the rest of the economy, both in Canada and the United States, jobs were coming back in the manufacturing sector. It was a full six years since the economic collapse of 2008, and Greg was being held captive with that electronic monitor having been accused of a securities fraud in criminal court. Greg's bridge loan had been arranged for him by the state and a NY lawyer to expedite construction while Greg was waiting for the federal GO ZONE money. Construction had to commence before December 31 2007 remember. The bridge loan lender asked to be a share holder. i.e. have a stake in the company, months after Greg had advised him of cost over runs. The bridge loan lender pressured Greg to use suppliers known to cost more. The bridge loan lender was given all of the financial information monthly since October 2007 and yet wanted to be a partner well after the reported 2008 banking crisis that cripled the global economy. The bridge loan lender, unlike regular banks that had to take the hit as a result of housing market collapse and the morgage crisis, this particular lender, had enough power in the State of Alabama to get a State Securities fraud indictment against Greg. Who actually commited a white collar crime here?
Weeks went by. Jonny was still tweeking that statement to satisfy the prosecution. The prosecution needed to look like they got a victory. Jonny knew that and Greg and I both understood that. Jonny truly believed that some of the opponents really were convinced that they were in the right. I don't really care to find out what they thought. I just know that by sealing the 'secret Grand Jury documents' for ever by court order, means that there is a reason to hide information. But somehow, the truth, like cream that floats to the top, will come out.
Jonny finally got the wording right, and then it was a matter of paying the 'fine' and do the money transfer. I was nervous that they would pull a fast one and possibly take the money and come up with another devious plot to torture Greg. I was so nervous that Jonny, who had lost many a night's sleep worrying about this case, also started to believe my crazy ideas. We had now lost 11 months of laughter, joy and happiness. We had spent 11 months having to think about the peculiar sort of people who want to get their pound of flesh. I just didn't understand that kind of evil. Greg never wanted to be a loser. Part of the accusation in the indictment was that Greg was a deviant who always knew that the construction of the grimmet factory would be a lost cause. Why is the grimmet business booming in Hamilton in an inferior factory today? It is very frustrating to know that a state of the art building, that cost $150 million less that the repairs to buildings now 100 years old - is under used. It is frustrating as well to have listened to urban legend in Muscle Shoals about the building. "That place is so big they had to take into account the curvature of the earth". Well, if you are into engineering, and you are building heavy equipment that will be travelling at high speed through towns, you better make sure that the bobbits that the grimmet travel on, are perfect inside the factory. It's about the safety of the equipment you are building. Duh! ACS had done an amazing job to discredit Greg, part of the character assasination plot. It is a wonderful thing to have been raised with literature, and culture. The great themes of conflict, money jealously and liars are told and retold. Our experience was nothing new, we were just wearing different costumes: we were in a modern day setting of 'The Merchant of Venice'.
November 14, 2015 Jonny, Mark and Greg, finally went into court, they got the releases and the judge said
"I hope that the people of North Alabama treated you well."
The monitor came off shortly after, Greg was going to keep it as a souvenir of his ordeal, but they wanted $3,000.00, so he said, 'nail that' so to speak, and that evening Greg left Florence. Jonny and his wife went out to the airport to make sure the jet had Greg on board, they hugged, Greg climbed up the stairs, the door closed and the plane took off. That is when Greg started to look at this ugly chapter through the rear view mirror.
"I had always known that ACS wasn't a grimmet man, but I didn't know that he wasn't much of a business man either".
As the plane was crossing Lake Erie, our good pilots turned around and announced,
"We have just entered Canadian air space." Relief at last.
Abe never called Greg to say bye, or to wish him good luck and I haven't asked Jonny if he got a call. Jonny and Mark came to visit a liberated Greg in his home back in Canada. We are slowly getting our lives back, ever so grateful to be here on God's beautiful planet, with a lot of good people. Ever so grateful to those who carried the banner into the flames, and brought Greg home to his family.
And that is how I learned that I could tell my story to the Universe and fufill my New Year's Resolution.
Passing Thoughts
Today is the annual day to remember the holocaust and it also happens to be the 70'th anniversary of the liberation of the concentration camp in Auschwitz. Imagine - a million people slaughtered. When 3,000 people were slaughtered September 11in New York, there was an immediate response. Not three weeks ago people were slaughtered in Paris, and the conversation in three short weeks has changed from freedom and human rights and free speech, to freedom of religion. I do not understand Washington leaders. I have real issue with religion trumping human rights. The holocaust eliminated 6,000,000 people and since the second world war some linguists coined the term 'ethnic cleansing' to soften the vocabulary - but lets face it we are still stuck in defending religion based attacks. What has happened to just defending human rights and equality. What happened to the ideals of Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King raising awarenes of race equality? We know that there is a serious issue with gender equality, but female human rights are eclipsed by double talking politicians who give religion a free pass. I am very disappointed with President Obama's remarks in India. No religion should eclipse civil rights or human rights and ignore the real essence of the words of the Constitution.
The French magazine attracted outrage because of cartoons. I am wondering, is it OK to criticize fashion, and just keep to superficial matters? Is it insulting to say that a black sheet is not fashion, and so you look silly wearing a black sheet and a Chanel bag? I don't get it. I put a cover on my BBQ and patio furniture, not over my head and body. But I digress.
The Tale
Jonny thought that he could get everything resolved by Canadian Thanksgiving and we were so anxious to have this put behind us. Ten months had gone by, not one call from the brother. Greg had celebrated his 65 birthday in Alabama, Natalie and Karina had their birthdays, Karina had her surgery, Natalie had survived a plane crash, and escaped ovarian cancer. By that point, I had run out of words. Nothing could describe my utter disappointment in the brother.
The friends who had stood by however, were in a different category. They were as anxious as we were, and ten months into the unimaginable, most of our supporters were at a point of just holding their breath,
"Anything?"
"Nope".
Back in Hamilton, more people were being hired as a new grimmet had been designed and was now in demand. Orders were rolling in. It would be bad if the news got back to the regular people of Alabama. The grimmet business was booming, and just like the rest of the economy, both in Canada and the United States, jobs were coming back in the manufacturing sector. It was a full six years since the economic collapse of 2008, and Greg was being held captive with that electronic monitor having been accused of a securities fraud in criminal court. Greg's bridge loan had been arranged for him by the state and a NY lawyer to expedite construction while Greg was waiting for the federal GO ZONE money. Construction had to commence before December 31 2007 remember. The bridge loan lender asked to be a share holder. i.e. have a stake in the company, months after Greg had advised him of cost over runs. The bridge loan lender pressured Greg to use suppliers known to cost more. The bridge loan lender was given all of the financial information monthly since October 2007 and yet wanted to be a partner well after the reported 2008 banking crisis that cripled the global economy. The bridge loan lender, unlike regular banks that had to take the hit as a result of housing market collapse and the morgage crisis, this particular lender, had enough power in the State of Alabama to get a State Securities fraud indictment against Greg. Who actually commited a white collar crime here?
Weeks went by. Jonny was still tweeking that statement to satisfy the prosecution. The prosecution needed to look like they got a victory. Jonny knew that and Greg and I both understood that. Jonny truly believed that some of the opponents really were convinced that they were in the right. I don't really care to find out what they thought. I just know that by sealing the 'secret Grand Jury documents' for ever by court order, means that there is a reason to hide information. But somehow, the truth, like cream that floats to the top, will come out.
Jonny finally got the wording right, and then it was a matter of paying the 'fine' and do the money transfer. I was nervous that they would pull a fast one and possibly take the money and come up with another devious plot to torture Greg. I was so nervous that Jonny, who had lost many a night's sleep worrying about this case, also started to believe my crazy ideas. We had now lost 11 months of laughter, joy and happiness. We had spent 11 months having to think about the peculiar sort of people who want to get their pound of flesh. I just didn't understand that kind of evil. Greg never wanted to be a loser. Part of the accusation in the indictment was that Greg was a deviant who always knew that the construction of the grimmet factory would be a lost cause. Why is the grimmet business booming in Hamilton in an inferior factory today? It is very frustrating to know that a state of the art building, that cost $150 million less that the repairs to buildings now 100 years old - is under used. It is frustrating as well to have listened to urban legend in Muscle Shoals about the building. "That place is so big they had to take into account the curvature of the earth". Well, if you are into engineering, and you are building heavy equipment that will be travelling at high speed through towns, you better make sure that the bobbits that the grimmet travel on, are perfect inside the factory. It's about the safety of the equipment you are building. Duh! ACS had done an amazing job to discredit Greg, part of the character assasination plot. It is a wonderful thing to have been raised with literature, and culture. The great themes of conflict, money jealously and liars are told and retold. Our experience was nothing new, we were just wearing different costumes: we were in a modern day setting of 'The Merchant of Venice'.
November 14, 2015 Jonny, Mark and Greg, finally went into court, they got the releases and the judge said
"I hope that the people of North Alabama treated you well."
The monitor came off shortly after, Greg was going to keep it as a souvenir of his ordeal, but they wanted $3,000.00, so he said, 'nail that' so to speak, and that evening Greg left Florence. Jonny and his wife went out to the airport to make sure the jet had Greg on board, they hugged, Greg climbed up the stairs, the door closed and the plane took off. That is when Greg started to look at this ugly chapter through the rear view mirror.
"I had always known that ACS wasn't a grimmet man, but I didn't know that he wasn't much of a business man either".
As the plane was crossing Lake Erie, our good pilots turned around and announced,
"We have just entered Canadian air space." Relief at last.
Abe never called Greg to say bye, or to wish him good luck and I haven't asked Jonny if he got a call. Jonny and Mark came to visit a liberated Greg in his home back in Canada. We are slowly getting our lives back, ever so grateful to be here on God's beautiful planet, with a lot of good people. Ever so grateful to those who carried the banner into the flames, and brought Greg home to his family.
And that is how I learned that I could tell my story to the Universe and fufill my New Year's Resolution.
Monday, January 26, 2015
Ovarian Cancer and Cyst removal and Jail
January 26, 2015.
The Tale
Natalie called me on Sunday from her car phone as she was heading back to Toronto.
That is when I heard about the crash. She called Karina and told her, and then she called Greg. We had decided that since the plane crash had a happy ending, it might kind of dull news that we might have to tell him soon about ovarian cancer. Everything was strictly on a 'need to know' basis, and since I was the one in charge of determining who needs to know what, when, I thought the plane crash story was way easier to digest than 'your daughter might be seriously ill'.
I told Natalie that I was waiting for the Cleveland Clinic appoinment call, so on Monday her task was to run around Toronto and get a copy of the MRI and test results from the various offices and get her medical file ready to take with us. Monday arrived, and I was fiendishly checking my e-mail looking for that appointment. At four o'clock a terrific thunderstorm rolled in and knocked out our satellite and power, and I was not in the habit at that time, to check my cell phone for e-mails, so I missed the message that came through, and on Tuesday morning when I checked my computer I was in another panic,
"You have an appointment today at 11:00," the message read.
There was no way we could make that. I wanted to cry, I missed my chance, and Natalie had that surgery booked for September 3rd! I no sooner put the phone down after calling to cancel the 11:00 AM appointment, when the phone rang. It was Karina's orthopaedic surgeon from the Cleveland Clinic. I had called his office on Friday when I was having my anxiety attack waiting to hear back from global patient services, thinking that maybe he could somehow be able to help. On the previous Friday, I ended up speaking to his secretary since the doctor was not available. She took down my name and number, and cautioned me that the doctor was not connected to womens' health but she would pass on my message. You gotta love the good people at the Cleveland Clinic, she passed the message on, and now the doc was calling me back!
I told the good doctor about my other daughter, and the appointment we just missed, and the good doctor said, "Leave it with me, I will se what I can do".
Natalie hurried home and now we both waited for that phone to ring. At four o'clock the good doctor called and asked if we could be in Cleveland that night. He had arranged for Dr. Eagle to see Natalie tomorrow, but the appointment would actually have to be made through global patient services. That meant that Natalie would have to call first thing on Wednesday, 7:30 AM and since we would be in Cleveland we would be ready to go anytime we were told.
Perfect. We flew to Cleveland. The pilots gave us a hug, they knew this was a secret mission and not to tell Greg, and it was agreed that they would wait to hear back from us. They returned to Canada. We drove into downtown and checked into the Ritz hotel. Wednesday morning, Natalie called Global Patients Services. At 9:00 AM we found out that Dr. Eagle would see Natalie at 1:45PM.
We did a test drive to the Clinic, as I did not want anything to mess this up, I had never been to the main campus and I had never driven in Cleveland.
We did the check in, then we went to the proper department and at 1:45 Natalie's name was called out. I saw a doctor go into go into the exam room and so I knew that must be Dr. Eagle Later, I saw him enter the area marked "Oncology".
A really horrible time.
Shortly later, Dr. Eagle beckoned me and I joined Natalie in the exam room. Dr. Eagel was calm and cool. After he gave me a brief explanation of the possible diagnosis, I told him that I was prepared to do the surgery in Cleveland. since he confirmed that he would be able to perform a laparoscopic procedure - take a look, and then immediately know if it was cancer, just as the Alabama GYN had told me. This was the last diagnostic tool I was hoping existed. Dr. Eagle said, "Let's see if we can do this tomorrow".
As it turned out, the surgery would be on Friday, Natalie checked in at 11:00 AM. She had a 4 1/2 hour surgery, all laparoscopic, all benign and she was able to walk out of the hospital that night at 10:30 PM. Way better than a four day stay in a hospital, six weeks of recovery and a permanent disfiguring scar.
At about 5:00 PM EST, when Dr. Eagle spoke to me after leaving the surgery room and giving me a quick briefing, when I knew that Natalie was fine, I called Greg and gave him the full Monty! Greg was stunned and ecstatic. I had to go over the story with him several times since he kept asking when exactly we knew what. Natalie and I stayed in Cleveland over the weekend, just incase of any complications ( Dr. Eagle's suggestion). There were no complications. They never happened, probably because Dr. Eagle was the physician who invented the laparoscopic removal of ovarian cysts years earlier and had performed over 10,000 similar operations.
As it turned out, Natalie's mass did not even involve her ovary. Praise the Lord for getting two key peices of advice - 'avoid the scar if you can', and 'go to a bigger centre'! On Monday we headed home.
I could dedicate many pages on this subject, but the purpose of the blog is to fucus on false accusations, jail and injustice, not health issues. Natalie called the Toronto hospital to cancel her September 3rd surgery and left a voice message. There was an immediate response, concern that she was cancelling a surgery,
"I am not cancelling because I don't want the surgery," Natalie explained " I am cancelling because I don't need the surgery. I had everything taken care of at Cleveland Clinic, and my surgery was all done laparoscopically". The Canadian surgeon was not interested, not was the head of the department interested in seeing the post-op report. Natalie was willing to share her records in the hope that someone else might benefit, but alas there was no interest.
And that is how I learned that Cleveland Clinic really is a great place.
The Tale
Natalie called me on Sunday from her car phone as she was heading back to Toronto.
That is when I heard about the crash. She called Karina and told her, and then she called Greg. We had decided that since the plane crash had a happy ending, it might kind of dull news that we might have to tell him soon about ovarian cancer. Everything was strictly on a 'need to know' basis, and since I was the one in charge of determining who needs to know what, when, I thought the plane crash story was way easier to digest than 'your daughter might be seriously ill'.
I told Natalie that I was waiting for the Cleveland Clinic appoinment call, so on Monday her task was to run around Toronto and get a copy of the MRI and test results from the various offices and get her medical file ready to take with us. Monday arrived, and I was fiendishly checking my e-mail looking for that appointment. At four o'clock a terrific thunderstorm rolled in and knocked out our satellite and power, and I was not in the habit at that time, to check my cell phone for e-mails, so I missed the message that came through, and on Tuesday morning when I checked my computer I was in another panic,
"You have an appointment today at 11:00," the message read.
There was no way we could make that. I wanted to cry, I missed my chance, and Natalie had that surgery booked for September 3rd! I no sooner put the phone down after calling to cancel the 11:00 AM appointment, when the phone rang. It was Karina's orthopaedic surgeon from the Cleveland Clinic. I had called his office on Friday when I was having my anxiety attack waiting to hear back from global patient services, thinking that maybe he could somehow be able to help. On the previous Friday, I ended up speaking to his secretary since the doctor was not available. She took down my name and number, and cautioned me that the doctor was not connected to womens' health but she would pass on my message. You gotta love the good people at the Cleveland Clinic, she passed the message on, and now the doc was calling me back!
I told the good doctor about my other daughter, and the appointment we just missed, and the good doctor said, "Leave it with me, I will se what I can do".
Natalie hurried home and now we both waited for that phone to ring. At four o'clock the good doctor called and asked if we could be in Cleveland that night. He had arranged for Dr. Eagle to see Natalie tomorrow, but the appointment would actually have to be made through global patient services. That meant that Natalie would have to call first thing on Wednesday, 7:30 AM and since we would be in Cleveland we would be ready to go anytime we were told.
Perfect. We flew to Cleveland. The pilots gave us a hug, they knew this was a secret mission and not to tell Greg, and it was agreed that they would wait to hear back from us. They returned to Canada. We drove into downtown and checked into the Ritz hotel. Wednesday morning, Natalie called Global Patients Services. At 9:00 AM we found out that Dr. Eagle would see Natalie at 1:45PM.
We did a test drive to the Clinic, as I did not want anything to mess this up, I had never been to the main campus and I had never driven in Cleveland.
We did the check in, then we went to the proper department and at 1:45 Natalie's name was called out. I saw a doctor go into go into the exam room and so I knew that must be Dr. Eagle Later, I saw him enter the area marked "Oncology".
A really horrible time.
Shortly later, Dr. Eagle beckoned me and I joined Natalie in the exam room. Dr. Eagel was calm and cool. After he gave me a brief explanation of the possible diagnosis, I told him that I was prepared to do the surgery in Cleveland. since he confirmed that he would be able to perform a laparoscopic procedure - take a look, and then immediately know if it was cancer, just as the Alabama GYN had told me. This was the last diagnostic tool I was hoping existed. Dr. Eagle said, "Let's see if we can do this tomorrow".
As it turned out, the surgery would be on Friday, Natalie checked in at 11:00 AM. She had a 4 1/2 hour surgery, all laparoscopic, all benign and she was able to walk out of the hospital that night at 10:30 PM. Way better than a four day stay in a hospital, six weeks of recovery and a permanent disfiguring scar.
At about 5:00 PM EST, when Dr. Eagle spoke to me after leaving the surgery room and giving me a quick briefing, when I knew that Natalie was fine, I called Greg and gave him the full Monty! Greg was stunned and ecstatic. I had to go over the story with him several times since he kept asking when exactly we knew what. Natalie and I stayed in Cleveland over the weekend, just incase of any complications ( Dr. Eagle's suggestion). There were no complications. They never happened, probably because Dr. Eagle was the physician who invented the laparoscopic removal of ovarian cysts years earlier and had performed over 10,000 similar operations.
As it turned out, Natalie's mass did not even involve her ovary. Praise the Lord for getting two key peices of advice - 'avoid the scar if you can', and 'go to a bigger centre'! On Monday we headed home.
I could dedicate many pages on this subject, but the purpose of the blog is to fucus on false accusations, jail and injustice, not health issues. Natalie called the Toronto hospital to cancel her September 3rd surgery and left a voice message. There was an immediate response, concern that she was cancelling a surgery,
"I am not cancelling because I don't want the surgery," Natalie explained " I am cancelling because I don't need the surgery. I had everything taken care of at Cleveland Clinic, and my surgery was all done laparoscopically". The Canadian surgeon was not interested, not was the head of the department interested in seeing the post-op report. Natalie was willing to share her records in the hope that someone else might benefit, but alas there was no interest.
And that is how I learned that Cleveland Clinic really is a great place.
Sunday, January 25, 2015
Float Planes
January 26, 2015.
The Tale
On Tuesday, Natalie went to meet her surgeon at the top ranked women's oncology hospital in Toronto.
She was told, even though she repeatedly asked if there were any other options available, there was only one procedure available was a vertical incision since there was a fifty/fifty chance that she had cancer and that she could possibly face a complete hysterectomy. On Wednesday, she came down to Florence to help me 'bring the dogs back'. I had told Greg that Natalie had a routine cyst that needed to come out and that I should go back to give her some attention. I already had been in Florence now for six weeks, and it was time to check back on the house in Canada. Greg bought into my story.
On the flight home, I got a full briefing about all of the tests. Her CA 125 Marker was elevated.
The lump was huge, and too big to remove laparoscopically. She also said that she had agreed months ago, to go to Muskoka to celebrate her friends big birthday, and that the upcoming weekend was the weekend of the birthday and Natalie asked if that would still be OK to go. Surgery was scheduled for September 6. I thought it would be a good distraction to go away and take her mind off of this big worry.
Natalie drove off on Thursday, and I began my phone calls and googling to find out more about her condition. I discoved that CA 125 over 35 was considered elevated, and Natalie's blood work came back as 132. I had a pit in my stomach. I called every connection I knew. I couldn't be in better hands, the hospital was highly regarded. I called Betty to tell her my latest, and she said to me,
"If there is one thing you should fight for, is to make sure that incision is horizontal. A vertical cut makes a huge ugly disfiguring scar, and Natalie should be given a chance not to have that on her body". Betty's words of advice made me even more concerned. I really needed to see if I could get another opinion and I only had three short weeks left. I could not delay, and it was so difficult to get referrals to begin with in Canada.
I remembered that one of Natalie's Law school friend's father was a GYN, the only one I knew. It was arranged that he would be expecting my call. I explained as much about Natalie as I could, and I answered his questions as best as I could. I was a bag of confused emotions. I didn't really know all of the answers and wished that Natalie had called him instead of me. He told me that laparoscopy was the last diagnotic tool available, and it would be easy to go in, and immediately see the mass, and to go from there. "It is time to go to a bigger centre" he advised. He also suggested that I contact Global Patient Services at Cleveland Clinic, and see if I could get an appointment with a GYN in Cleveland.
Encouraged, I made the phone call on Friday, and told the reluctant Natalie via text message, to be prepared to go to the states when she got back from the cottage break. I was a bag of nerves waiting for a call back from Cleveland. I swear the clock stopped moving. By 4:45 I still hadn't heard back, but then I saw an email, "Don't worry, I haven't forgotten you, I am still working on it".
It was the end of the work week. We were going to lose two days over the weekend.
Saturday, Natalie checked in through text message, and told me that she was going up to a famous diner in a float plane, for lunch.
"Oh, great!!!!! Another thing for me to worry about" I texted her back.
So you just can't make this up. Two float planes flew 6 people. Natalie had a fun lunch, and the same six people, got back into the two float planes to go back to Lake Joseph. It was a busy day on the lake lots of sea dos, jet skiers, boats and someone saw the float plane coming in for a landing, and filmed it because it is kinda cool. So there is video on you tube "small plane crashes lake Joe.
Luckily, Natalie did not hit her head on the dashboard and so she was not unconscious. The pilot's door was jammed - he shouted everyone OK???? Natalie remembers seeing all three hands on the door latch beside her. All three jumped out to safety, Natalie jumped, holding her cell phone in her arm raised, so that it would not get wet and so that she could text me. She was picked up by a jet skier as was the other passenger and taken to a dock. The pilot was not with them. Lots of panic, for lots of people.
The group managed to get back to the host's cottage and then texted me
"Back at Cottage".
I was happy to get that message. It would take another day to find out what really happened.
And that is how I learned that we had a guardian angel looking after us.
The Tale
On Tuesday, Natalie went to meet her surgeon at the top ranked women's oncology hospital in Toronto.
She was told, even though she repeatedly asked if there were any other options available, there was only one procedure available was a vertical incision since there was a fifty/fifty chance that she had cancer and that she could possibly face a complete hysterectomy. On Wednesday, she came down to Florence to help me 'bring the dogs back'. I had told Greg that Natalie had a routine cyst that needed to come out and that I should go back to give her some attention. I already had been in Florence now for six weeks, and it was time to check back on the house in Canada. Greg bought into my story.
On the flight home, I got a full briefing about all of the tests. Her CA 125 Marker was elevated.
The lump was huge, and too big to remove laparoscopically. She also said that she had agreed months ago, to go to Muskoka to celebrate her friends big birthday, and that the upcoming weekend was the weekend of the birthday and Natalie asked if that would still be OK to go. Surgery was scheduled for September 6. I thought it would be a good distraction to go away and take her mind off of this big worry.
Natalie drove off on Thursday, and I began my phone calls and googling to find out more about her condition. I discoved that CA 125 over 35 was considered elevated, and Natalie's blood work came back as 132. I had a pit in my stomach. I called every connection I knew. I couldn't be in better hands, the hospital was highly regarded. I called Betty to tell her my latest, and she said to me,
"If there is one thing you should fight for, is to make sure that incision is horizontal. A vertical cut makes a huge ugly disfiguring scar, and Natalie should be given a chance not to have that on her body". Betty's words of advice made me even more concerned. I really needed to see if I could get another opinion and I only had three short weeks left. I could not delay, and it was so difficult to get referrals to begin with in Canada.
I remembered that one of Natalie's Law school friend's father was a GYN, the only one I knew. It was arranged that he would be expecting my call. I explained as much about Natalie as I could, and I answered his questions as best as I could. I was a bag of confused emotions. I didn't really know all of the answers and wished that Natalie had called him instead of me. He told me that laparoscopy was the last diagnotic tool available, and it would be easy to go in, and immediately see the mass, and to go from there. "It is time to go to a bigger centre" he advised. He also suggested that I contact Global Patient Services at Cleveland Clinic, and see if I could get an appointment with a GYN in Cleveland.
Encouraged, I made the phone call on Friday, and told the reluctant Natalie via text message, to be prepared to go to the states when she got back from the cottage break. I was a bag of nerves waiting for a call back from Cleveland. I swear the clock stopped moving. By 4:45 I still hadn't heard back, but then I saw an email, "Don't worry, I haven't forgotten you, I am still working on it".
It was the end of the work week. We were going to lose two days over the weekend.
Saturday, Natalie checked in through text message, and told me that she was going up to a famous diner in a float plane, for lunch.
"Oh, great!!!!! Another thing for me to worry about" I texted her back.
So you just can't make this up. Two float planes flew 6 people. Natalie had a fun lunch, and the same six people, got back into the two float planes to go back to Lake Joseph. It was a busy day on the lake lots of sea dos, jet skiers, boats and someone saw the float plane coming in for a landing, and filmed it because it is kinda cool. So there is video on you tube "small plane crashes lake Joe.
Luckily, Natalie did not hit her head on the dashboard and so she was not unconscious. The pilot's door was jammed - he shouted everyone OK???? Natalie remembers seeing all three hands on the door latch beside her. All three jumped out to safety, Natalie jumped, holding her cell phone in her arm raised, so that it would not get wet and so that she could text me. She was picked up by a jet skier as was the other passenger and taken to a dock. The pilot was not with them. Lots of panic, for lots of people.
The group managed to get back to the host's cottage and then texted me
"Back at Cottage".
I was happy to get that message. It would take another day to find out what really happened.
And that is how I learned that we had a guardian angel looking after us.
Accusations and Verdicts
January 25, 2015.
Passing Thoughts
And so life speeds by, and we reflect once again. There is such a fascinating thread that weaves through my life and the lives of others. We know that "To Kill a Mockingbird" is regarded as the most influential book in America in the 20th Century, and I think the statistic is that about 68% of the population has read it.
We know that the story is set in Alabama, as is my tale. The fictional story has a shocking outcome: the jury, in spite of overwhelming evidence comes back with a guilty verdict. This is what Jonny and Mark were not prepared to risk for Greg. They understood what they should be afraid of.
I know that Loretto Academy gave me the courage to speak up. A silly female voice that grew from the legacy of a five hundred year old tradition of teaching girls to be accomplished. My Latvian heritage taught me that material things could be taken away at anytime, and so were not worth suffering over. Natalie's health issue made me realize that making Greg pay a 'fine' and draft a statement that would satisfy his accuser which would make the criminal charge go away, as inconceivable of that idea was to my values of civilization, suddenly that option was worth it. Suddenly the extortion money made sense, and I was willing to change my position. But does telling the Universe mean that I am like a journalist, and will have my head cut off? Jonny wanted me to be quiet until he could get Greg 'out' so to speak, and when I told him I was going to write a story about my experience, I pretty near killed him with a massive stress attack and his eyeballs popped out of his head. I will tell him about my blog on February 1, 2015.
Today's reflection makes me think that women might hold the key in solving world problems by opening a dialogue. Good and evil exists as sure as day and night and it is that problem that causes the great divide. Who is going to say "I am evil." The battle between right and wrong, good and evil is the concept that 'my side is better than your side' and the assumption that " I am right" clouds our actions, as no one is ever willing to accept even the slightest possibility, that they might be wrong, or perhaps even think that thay are actually doing something wrong. Women have been told for centuries that they are 'wrong'. They have been prevented from voting, receiving inheritences, attending school, driving cars, etc etc etc etc - a 2,000 year plus, long list of inequalities. So I guess it is dangerous to speak up, more dangerous for a journalist, and I guess really dangerous to be a female journalist. And to think, "To Kill a Mockingbird" was written by a women, and is the most influencial novel in 20th Century American Literature.
Interesting. I will now reflect on that passing thought.
Passing Thoughts
And so life speeds by, and we reflect once again. There is such a fascinating thread that weaves through my life and the lives of others. We know that "To Kill a Mockingbird" is regarded as the most influential book in America in the 20th Century, and I think the statistic is that about 68% of the population has read it.
We know that the story is set in Alabama, as is my tale. The fictional story has a shocking outcome: the jury, in spite of overwhelming evidence comes back with a guilty verdict. This is what Jonny and Mark were not prepared to risk for Greg. They understood what they should be afraid of.
I know that Loretto Academy gave me the courage to speak up. A silly female voice that grew from the legacy of a five hundred year old tradition of teaching girls to be accomplished. My Latvian heritage taught me that material things could be taken away at anytime, and so were not worth suffering over. Natalie's health issue made me realize that making Greg pay a 'fine' and draft a statement that would satisfy his accuser which would make the criminal charge go away, as inconceivable of that idea was to my values of civilization, suddenly that option was worth it. Suddenly the extortion money made sense, and I was willing to change my position. But does telling the Universe mean that I am like a journalist, and will have my head cut off? Jonny wanted me to be quiet until he could get Greg 'out' so to speak, and when I told him I was going to write a story about my experience, I pretty near killed him with a massive stress attack and his eyeballs popped out of his head. I will tell him about my blog on February 1, 2015.
Today's reflection makes me think that women might hold the key in solving world problems by opening a dialogue. Good and evil exists as sure as day and night and it is that problem that causes the great divide. Who is going to say "I am evil." The battle between right and wrong, good and evil is the concept that 'my side is better than your side' and the assumption that " I am right" clouds our actions, as no one is ever willing to accept even the slightest possibility, that they might be wrong, or perhaps even think that thay are actually doing something wrong. Women have been told for centuries that they are 'wrong'. They have been prevented from voting, receiving inheritences, attending school, driving cars, etc etc etc etc - a 2,000 year plus, long list of inequalities. So I guess it is dangerous to speak up, more dangerous for a journalist, and I guess really dangerous to be a female journalist. And to think, "To Kill a Mockingbird" was written by a women, and is the most influencial novel in 20th Century American Literature.
Interesting. I will now reflect on that passing thought.
Saturday, January 24, 2015
Ovarian Cancer and Extortion
January 24, 2015.
Passing Thoughts
In all honesty, Greg was right, the view from the rear view mirror was getting smaller and smaller, and that is the way I want it too - so hopefully the Universe will have this tale wrapped by the end of the month. Again, the statements made in my blog, are merely my personal opinions about real events that actually happened and about events that affected our family. As I stated earlier, I have no interest to dedicate any resources to dig deeper into the nefarious events that happened behind closed doors, but I know enough of the truth to think it is actually my obligation to tell part of it so that people who place trust in others and assume that people are working on their behalf and who yield an incredible amount of power should somehow be asked relevant questions. And besides, the State of Alabama has Sovreign rights, i.e. the state cannot be sued, so I actually have no recourse other than telling the Universe.
The Tale
Abe now had seven months of trial preparation under his belt. He had plowed through the 2,000,000
pages of documents a farcical amount of paper, and had as well had time to conduct interviews with many of the players. The information that was being uncovered did not look good for the prosecution, and the worst incriminating piece was that there was a real issue with the math. Three thousand hours of forensic accounting billed to Greg revealed that every dollar could be accounted for, and there was no fraud. Worse yet, the building costs came in at $305 Million, an acceptable margin for a project that estimated costs (as per the original contract/loan agreement) at $250 million for building, and and addition $100 million for equipment. The project cotract was signed by important people in the State, as well there were documents showing that a copy of the original contract had been delivered to a certain you know who. The prosecution download another 30,000 documents. Abe asked for a continuance, and surprise surprise, it was granted. The trial was moved from October to Spring 2015. Ridiculous.
(It's a wonderful thing when you own media. You can pump out any story you want, and the little lambs just read what you want them to read. There exists a gorgeous facility, designed by Albert Kahn Architects, a notable name in American architecture and history. The internet has articles
"Design Matters". A state of the art facility that cost a $150,000 million less than the fixer upper back in the Rust Belt in Hamilton. When the economy collapsed, and Greg could not take out the bridge loan arranged for him to get those shovels in the ground before December 31 2007, the date when that GO ZONE program would expire, when the banking crisis led by the housing collapse happened - anybody still remember that, that's when Greg could not find a bank to get rid of that certain someone.)
It certainly did not look good for the accusers and yet Greg was caught in the 'procedure' of American law. The legal team thought that a local jury would not understand the case, and I would argue with Greg that they were insulting the intelligence of good working class people living in Colbert county. Those are the people who sit at a kitchen table and figure out if they have extra money left over to go to the movies. Those are the people who get an additional part time job to pay bills. I was convinced that the trial would be fine, but the experts were aware of the forboding corruption, and were not prepared to take a risk. Jonny, Mark's partner had become involved in the case after spending weeks just casually chatting to Greg when they happened to be in the 'lunch room' at the law office. Conversing about football and life and whatnot, Jonny began to take an interest in the case. Jonny had a glimpse into Greg's character and began to instinctively understand that the accusations were false and was determined to be the Atticus we needed. Jonny was prepared to charge into the flames, bear the torch and fight for Greg. Greg finally, had an advocate. Jonny was the man.
Before the project started, Mr. Ruffles, a certain someone's right hand man, had told Greg to make sure that the Hotel room had at least 2 forty ounce bottles of liquor for the overnight stay in Hamilton. It was a lot of alcohol to consume for one person. The whispers within the inner circle in Alabama knew that there was, sadly, an issue with a certain someone, and that he could not make it on the witness stand for a week. A week was a long time to sit in a chair in a public courtroom and not let the secret come out. It was when Abe tipped his hand to the prosecution that the defence would be calling a certain someone to the stand, that eye balls popped on the prosecution side. Abe also new that Greg had told a certain someone that the building cost would be over budget, sometime in April of 2008 while they were sporting about in one of the facilities built by that same certain someone. The time line of when that certain someone was told of cost overruns, did not line up with a Securities fraud. How could it be a fraud when you were given information months earlier and then insisted on gettin equity? Abe still wanted to prepare for trial. Jonny was working on the solution offered by the prosecution.
There were two other very troubling facts. Greg had told Abe that the Ground breaking ceremony was not attended by ACS (A CERTAIN SOMEONE) , in September 2007 because at the time, ACS was furious when he found out that Greg had not awarded the big soil grading contract to the Tennessee company that had done all of the work for ACS facilities, presumably a friend of ACS, and he was displeased. The other troubling fact was that ACS also told Greg he had to use his insurance company 'Eyesight' again presumably because they were friends, but Eyesight would cost about $9 million dollars more that the lower bid. Greg kept the insurer that he was planning to use, on board to audit the insurance, and that audit was all documented and ready to be presented at trial. The mess that was swirling around with misleading dates and figures was confusing. The GO ZONE money had been available to the Gulf States since 2005, and by federal law had to be used by December 31 2007, when the rebuild program would expire. Federal documents (GAO) clearly identify the names of companies that received the money. I was only interested to follow the money trail in Alabama, so I do not know what happened in the other two States, but it was odd to see that the Tennessee company ended up getting GO ZONE money in May 2008 for the Garrows Bend project in Mobil, where the Thyssen Krupp plant was going in. Odd that both Greg, and Thyssen Krupp were offered GO ZONE in 2007 to the tune of $700 Million. Between the two companies being enticed to come to the state Thyssen Krupp and Greg somehow there was still $700 million available a half a year before the program was set to expire? How is it possible that two years into the program that much money was still available? $700 million is not 12% of 2.1 billion. I never had an opportunity to speak to Abe directly and this topic and Greg was not about to bring it up as Abe was not interested in investigating the subject. The mere mention of GO ZONE would just infuriate Greg, but it made no sense to me. It made no sense to me that the people involved could write a contract promising $350,000 million, signed in July 2007, so late in the game and especially odd that it would take an Act in Congress in Washington, to change the law to get Colbert County into the GO ZONE. Yikes, but of course just conjecture and my personal opinion.
Even though I thought the GO ZONE subject was relevant Jonny also thought it was out of the realm of the indictment, nor would it help his negotiations. With all of the other facts that I knew to be the truth in Greg's case, I still did not understand why Jonny was adamant to reach a settlement rather than go to trial. I became the thorn in his side. I thought we should risk going to trial and believed that the jury would 'get it'. But this was Alabama, fifty years later after 'To Kill a Mockingbird" was published, and Gregory Peck starred in his Oscar winning role as Atticus. I spolied several dinner parties arguing the moot point - pay money and Greg can get out. It sounded like ransom to me, just like the terrorists now are asking for $200,000 million for the two Japanese hostages. Same thing, except you expect horror from crazed lunatics in far off lands, not in the land of the Free and the Brave. It was extortion. After you scare someone, they are willing to pay anything just to be safe. The professionals involved all agreed it was extortion, but they liked Greg too much to risk a verdict and a financial settlement was the direction they were going.
Natalie called me near the end of July,
"Mom? Are you at home or in a public place?" She asked.
"In public."
"Good"
Than Natalie told me that during all of July she had been going from one doctor to another, one test to another. The doctors had found a mass. She had a 'growth' the size of a pomelo 10 x 10 x 11 centimetres arising from her ovary, and she needed surgery. She would be meeting with the doctor next week.
Ant that is how I learned Natalie might have ovarian cancer.
Passing Thoughts
In all honesty, Greg was right, the view from the rear view mirror was getting smaller and smaller, and that is the way I want it too - so hopefully the Universe will have this tale wrapped by the end of the month. Again, the statements made in my blog, are merely my personal opinions about real events that actually happened and about events that affected our family. As I stated earlier, I have no interest to dedicate any resources to dig deeper into the nefarious events that happened behind closed doors, but I know enough of the truth to think it is actually my obligation to tell part of it so that people who place trust in others and assume that people are working on their behalf and who yield an incredible amount of power should somehow be asked relevant questions. And besides, the State of Alabama has Sovreign rights, i.e. the state cannot be sued, so I actually have no recourse other than telling the Universe.
The Tale
Abe now had seven months of trial preparation under his belt. He had plowed through the 2,000,000
pages of documents a farcical amount of paper, and had as well had time to conduct interviews with many of the players. The information that was being uncovered did not look good for the prosecution, and the worst incriminating piece was that there was a real issue with the math. Three thousand hours of forensic accounting billed to Greg revealed that every dollar could be accounted for, and there was no fraud. Worse yet, the building costs came in at $305 Million, an acceptable margin for a project that estimated costs (as per the original contract/loan agreement) at $250 million for building, and and addition $100 million for equipment. The project cotract was signed by important people in the State, as well there were documents showing that a copy of the original contract had been delivered to a certain you know who. The prosecution download another 30,000 documents. Abe asked for a continuance, and surprise surprise, it was granted. The trial was moved from October to Spring 2015. Ridiculous.
(It's a wonderful thing when you own media. You can pump out any story you want, and the little lambs just read what you want them to read. There exists a gorgeous facility, designed by Albert Kahn Architects, a notable name in American architecture and history. The internet has articles
"Design Matters". A state of the art facility that cost a $150,000 million less than the fixer upper back in the Rust Belt in Hamilton. When the economy collapsed, and Greg could not take out the bridge loan arranged for him to get those shovels in the ground before December 31 2007, the date when that GO ZONE program would expire, when the banking crisis led by the housing collapse happened - anybody still remember that, that's when Greg could not find a bank to get rid of that certain someone.)
It certainly did not look good for the accusers and yet Greg was caught in the 'procedure' of American law. The legal team thought that a local jury would not understand the case, and I would argue with Greg that they were insulting the intelligence of good working class people living in Colbert county. Those are the people who sit at a kitchen table and figure out if they have extra money left over to go to the movies. Those are the people who get an additional part time job to pay bills. I was convinced that the trial would be fine, but the experts were aware of the forboding corruption, and were not prepared to take a risk. Jonny, Mark's partner had become involved in the case after spending weeks just casually chatting to Greg when they happened to be in the 'lunch room' at the law office. Conversing about football and life and whatnot, Jonny began to take an interest in the case. Jonny had a glimpse into Greg's character and began to instinctively understand that the accusations were false and was determined to be the Atticus we needed. Jonny was prepared to charge into the flames, bear the torch and fight for Greg. Greg finally, had an advocate. Jonny was the man.
Before the project started, Mr. Ruffles, a certain someone's right hand man, had told Greg to make sure that the Hotel room had at least 2 forty ounce bottles of liquor for the overnight stay in Hamilton. It was a lot of alcohol to consume for one person. The whispers within the inner circle in Alabama knew that there was, sadly, an issue with a certain someone, and that he could not make it on the witness stand for a week. A week was a long time to sit in a chair in a public courtroom and not let the secret come out. It was when Abe tipped his hand to the prosecution that the defence would be calling a certain someone to the stand, that eye balls popped on the prosecution side. Abe also new that Greg had told a certain someone that the building cost would be over budget, sometime in April of 2008 while they were sporting about in one of the facilities built by that same certain someone. The time line of when that certain someone was told of cost overruns, did not line up with a Securities fraud. How could it be a fraud when you were given information months earlier and then insisted on gettin equity? Abe still wanted to prepare for trial. Jonny was working on the solution offered by the prosecution.
There were two other very troubling facts. Greg had told Abe that the Ground breaking ceremony was not attended by ACS (A CERTAIN SOMEONE) , in September 2007 because at the time, ACS was furious when he found out that Greg had not awarded the big soil grading contract to the Tennessee company that had done all of the work for ACS facilities, presumably a friend of ACS, and he was displeased. The other troubling fact was that ACS also told Greg he had to use his insurance company 'Eyesight' again presumably because they were friends, but Eyesight would cost about $9 million dollars more that the lower bid. Greg kept the insurer that he was planning to use, on board to audit the insurance, and that audit was all documented and ready to be presented at trial. The mess that was swirling around with misleading dates and figures was confusing. The GO ZONE money had been available to the Gulf States since 2005, and by federal law had to be used by December 31 2007, when the rebuild program would expire. Federal documents (GAO) clearly identify the names of companies that received the money. I was only interested to follow the money trail in Alabama, so I do not know what happened in the other two States, but it was odd to see that the Tennessee company ended up getting GO ZONE money in May 2008 for the Garrows Bend project in Mobil, where the Thyssen Krupp plant was going in. Odd that both Greg, and Thyssen Krupp were offered GO ZONE in 2007 to the tune of $700 Million. Between the two companies being enticed to come to the state Thyssen Krupp and Greg somehow there was still $700 million available a half a year before the program was set to expire? How is it possible that two years into the program that much money was still available? $700 million is not 12% of 2.1 billion. I never had an opportunity to speak to Abe directly and this topic and Greg was not about to bring it up as Abe was not interested in investigating the subject. The mere mention of GO ZONE would just infuriate Greg, but it made no sense to me. It made no sense to me that the people involved could write a contract promising $350,000 million, signed in July 2007, so late in the game and especially odd that it would take an Act in Congress in Washington, to change the law to get Colbert County into the GO ZONE. Yikes, but of course just conjecture and my personal opinion.
Even though I thought the GO ZONE subject was relevant Jonny also thought it was out of the realm of the indictment, nor would it help his negotiations. With all of the other facts that I knew to be the truth in Greg's case, I still did not understand why Jonny was adamant to reach a settlement rather than go to trial. I became the thorn in his side. I thought we should risk going to trial and believed that the jury would 'get it'. But this was Alabama, fifty years later after 'To Kill a Mockingbird" was published, and Gregory Peck starred in his Oscar winning role as Atticus. I spolied several dinner parties arguing the moot point - pay money and Greg can get out. It sounded like ransom to me, just like the terrorists now are asking for $200,000 million for the two Japanese hostages. Same thing, except you expect horror from crazed lunatics in far off lands, not in the land of the Free and the Brave. It was extortion. After you scare someone, they are willing to pay anything just to be safe. The professionals involved all agreed it was extortion, but they liked Greg too much to risk a verdict and a financial settlement was the direction they were going.
Natalie called me near the end of July,
"Mom? Are you at home or in a public place?" She asked.
"In public."
"Good"
Than Natalie told me that during all of July she had been going from one doctor to another, one test to another. The doctors had found a mass. She had a 'growth' the size of a pomelo 10 x 10 x 11 centimetres arising from her ovary, and she needed surgery. She would be meeting with the doctor next week.
Ant that is how I learned Natalie might have ovarian cancer.
Friday, January 23, 2015
Federal Money and Following a Trail
January 23, 2015.
Passing Thoughts
Everyone is in denial mode - the flat football fallout and Prince Andrew. I am sure Greg's accusers also fall in the denial mode category of explanations. There are only several options: tell an outright lie, deny knowing anything, blame others and ultimately have immunity.
The Tale
And so, just like the format of a Seinfeld show, many story lines were moving along simultaneously and soon they would converge.
We had a nice Father's Day visit, and the three of us headed back to Canada, leaving poor Greg behind in Florence with his monitor. The plan was firm. I would shut down the house and come with the four dogs, and set up a new 'normal' in Florence now nine months into the nightmare.
It was Canada day and Natalie was not feeling well, yet again, complaining about the same symptoms I had heard for two years. Frazzled at this point, I told her that it was time to go to a new doctor and get some sort of diagnosis.
July 2, 2013 I left to be with Greg. Honestly it was fun to set up a new house. When it was time to look for furniture way back in April, when I had a three day window to drive around and find things quickly, it was near the end of a shopping escapade that I spotted a storefront that looked promising. I made a quick and sudden turn into the parking lot and came to a screeching stop in front of the store. As I pushed open the door of the shop, a voice called out:
" Welcome to the Fresh Basket, how are you?"
"Suddenly, much better", I replied.
Marcie was a tall elegant women, dressed in crumpled linen blouse and neatly pressed white trousers. She had an air of confidence as well as friendliness, and invited me to to look around, feel at home and to let her know if she could help. I told her I needed to furnish a house quickly. I was relieved to see so many fabulous pieces of furniture, lighting and home accessories, some brands that were familiar to me and I was certain that I would be able tp make our Florence house feel like home easily. Casual conversation led to a full reveal,
"Do you know who I am?", I asked. "Yes," replied Marcie. She was curious for sure to hear the inside scoop of the scandalous story and gently asked sensitive questions. The media in North Alabama had either not covered the story of the the global economy from 2008, or the story was not important to the locals. I had a lot to explain.
Marcie wanted to know who we really were and judge for herself, and her questions did not only focus on the indictment. Our conversation led to topics of hobbies and interests and values, and it took no time at all to find out that we had mutual friends - it truly was a small world. The owner of the Fresh Basket came out from the stock room and Marcie introduced me - Lady Peach.
I had to bring Calleen up to speed with what I had already told Marcie. Greg's arrest had been local news, but the coverage of his story ended in November, so as a result, no one in Florence knew that Greg was restricted from travelling home. They were both shocked to hear about the real estate/bond fiasco before Christmas, and were even more shocked to hear about the $30 million bond that had been ignored for three months. Calleen and Marcie were a captive audience, and I asked if they even understood what GO Zone money from 2005 was. Since they were not close to the Gulf coast, that story too was an enigma. Facts revealed in federal documents in the Government Accountablity Office in Washington, listed names of people and businesses who had received that federal money. I did not want to get caught up in a lengthy briefing about what I thought was relevant information, but I did tell them that if they were interested, it was all out there in the open on the internet. My mission was to furnish that house, and so I re-focused and I identified pieces that I knew would work for my new home. Calleen and Marcie followed my through the shop and we began the list. The one thing I did not see, was a suitable sofa.
"I would really like a white slip cover sofa."
Marcie and Calleen looked at one another with shock. I didn't know what I had said but I was frightened by the way they reacted, I definitely had said something wrong.
"I'm sorry, did I say something wrong?" I asked.
Calleen explained that just the day before, after much debate, they had ordered a white slip covered sofa, worrying that it would be difficult to sell. It was destiny that I had come in. The sofa was mine, and perfect timing, it would ship in three to four weeks.
And that is how I learned that like minded people are like minded people.
Passing Thoughts
Everyone is in denial mode - the flat football fallout and Prince Andrew. I am sure Greg's accusers also fall in the denial mode category of explanations. There are only several options: tell an outright lie, deny knowing anything, blame others and ultimately have immunity.
The Tale
And so, just like the format of a Seinfeld show, many story lines were moving along simultaneously and soon they would converge.
We had a nice Father's Day visit, and the three of us headed back to Canada, leaving poor Greg behind in Florence with his monitor. The plan was firm. I would shut down the house and come with the four dogs, and set up a new 'normal' in Florence now nine months into the nightmare.
It was Canada day and Natalie was not feeling well, yet again, complaining about the same symptoms I had heard for two years. Frazzled at this point, I told her that it was time to go to a new doctor and get some sort of diagnosis.
July 2, 2013 I left to be with Greg. Honestly it was fun to set up a new house. When it was time to look for furniture way back in April, when I had a three day window to drive around and find things quickly, it was near the end of a shopping escapade that I spotted a storefront that looked promising. I made a quick and sudden turn into the parking lot and came to a screeching stop in front of the store. As I pushed open the door of the shop, a voice called out:
" Welcome to the Fresh Basket, how are you?"
"Suddenly, much better", I replied.
Marcie was a tall elegant women, dressed in crumpled linen blouse and neatly pressed white trousers. She had an air of confidence as well as friendliness, and invited me to to look around, feel at home and to let her know if she could help. I told her I needed to furnish a house quickly. I was relieved to see so many fabulous pieces of furniture, lighting and home accessories, some brands that were familiar to me and I was certain that I would be able tp make our Florence house feel like home easily. Casual conversation led to a full reveal,
"Do you know who I am?", I asked. "Yes," replied Marcie. She was curious for sure to hear the inside scoop of the scandalous story and gently asked sensitive questions. The media in North Alabama had either not covered the story of the the global economy from 2008, or the story was not important to the locals. I had a lot to explain.
Marcie wanted to know who we really were and judge for herself, and her questions did not only focus on the indictment. Our conversation led to topics of hobbies and interests and values, and it took no time at all to find out that we had mutual friends - it truly was a small world. The owner of the Fresh Basket came out from the stock room and Marcie introduced me - Lady Peach.
I had to bring Calleen up to speed with what I had already told Marcie. Greg's arrest had been local news, but the coverage of his story ended in November, so as a result, no one in Florence knew that Greg was restricted from travelling home. They were both shocked to hear about the real estate/bond fiasco before Christmas, and were even more shocked to hear about the $30 million bond that had been ignored for three months. Calleen and Marcie were a captive audience, and I asked if they even understood what GO Zone money from 2005 was. Since they were not close to the Gulf coast, that story too was an enigma. Facts revealed in federal documents in the Government Accountablity Office in Washington, listed names of people and businesses who had received that federal money. I did not want to get caught up in a lengthy briefing about what I thought was relevant information, but I did tell them that if they were interested, it was all out there in the open on the internet. My mission was to furnish that house, and so I re-focused and I identified pieces that I knew would work for my new home. Calleen and Marcie followed my through the shop and we began the list. The one thing I did not see, was a suitable sofa.
"I would really like a white slip cover sofa."
Marcie and Calleen looked at one another with shock. I didn't know what I had said but I was frightened by the way they reacted, I definitely had said something wrong.
"I'm sorry, did I say something wrong?" I asked.
Calleen explained that just the day before, after much debate, they had ordered a white slip covered sofa, worrying that it would be difficult to sell. It was destiny that I had come in. The sofa was mine, and perfect timing, it would ship in three to four weeks.
And that is how I learned that like minded people are like minded people.
Thursday, January 22, 2015
Unemployment Statistics and Reality
January 22, 2015.
The Tale
I left Florence to help Karina post-op with her recovery from the ankle surgery and so Greg was left in Alabama to work on getting the new house fixed up. Abe and his team, meanwhile had been going through the 1.5 million pages of documents, and when they had finished that pile, the prosecution downloaded another 500,000 pages. In May a court appearance was scheduled related to the up-coming trial. Some sort of procedural hearing, Abe made an appeal to have some of the charges dropped as apparently there were inconsistencies with the indictment and something to do with jury selection. I am not exactly sure nor is this an exercize to discuss legal procedure and thus I remain vague. I am certain that it is all public record there for the curious to investigate, I just know that Abe made little progress.
Back in New York, Robin had discovered, again through the internet, that in 2005 the Federal Securities Commission had investigated a certain someone who headed the State investment group, for insider trading. We were really shocked to find out that the certain someone's defense was that he didn't know that insider trading was illegal, and that this excuse satisfied the SEC investigation. No charges were laid, and the report is public record available on the internet. Apparently, that certain someone hadn't heard of the Martha Stewart scandal of 2002 where insider trading landed her in jail. Even though it was a huge story in the media in the United States and Canada, some people in Alabama had not heard about it. It was now easy to understand that there was a different kind of justice if you had power, and a $42 billion fund clearly bought power not only in Aabama but with the Federal Securities commission as well.
Please look at the history:
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/insider-trading-hall-shame/story?id=8874527&page=2
I cannot suppress the information that is out there, but I guess the stuff on the internet was not interesting in 2005. Certainly, no one told Greg in 2007 that his lender had been investigated by the SEC!
I was confident about Greg's case knowing the facts from Greg's side of the story, and consequently had no issue with buying a house in Florence. My objective was to make daily life a little more pleasant during this phase. Greg did not deserve what had happened to him on November 12, 2013 and I was determined to make lemonade from the lemons that had been thrown our way. Because of the jail experience and because he was still wearing the monitor, Greg was anxious about the chances of a fair trial and that thought was constantly in the back of his mind which made daily life somewhat difficult. The house project was giving him a distraction as well as an opportunity to meet with real working people, who put in an honest days work and who were tired at the end of the day as well. Chip came over every evening and spent the evening twilight sitting on the porch and chatting until it was time to go back to the hotel for Greg and home for Chip.
Through unbelievable luck and perhaps it was destiny, we met an amazing group of lovely decent people who called Alabama their home. The most fascinating trivia fact is that the novel 'To Kill A Mockingbird' is the most influential novel of the 20th century and Harper Lee was still alive - and living in Alabama. The irony was not lost on me. Just as in the novel, there are some rotten folks and a lot of good folks too. The false accusations facing Greg, mirrored Lee's story, we just needed to find a real live Atticus!
Whenever I went out shopping in the area, and the opportunity arose, I told the tale of the Lady Peach and Greg. At the Home Depot we met a 'textile engineer'. We had never heard of such a job. Alas, all of the cotton mills had folded up, and as we were told, brand new million dollar machines had been shipped offshore resulting in job losses. We chatted to Alan B ( there were other Allans in Home Depot and he was known as Allan B.) over two interesting hours as he explained the history of the industry to us. I complained about the quality of the cotton T-shirts of today, t-shirts that pop a hole after the first washing! Alan B. told us that it was a fine art to mix the bales of cotton and that it was a skill that took years to develop, by not mixing the bales correctly the short and long fiber content gets out of whack and you end up with weak threads ergo the holes. He had spent his life in the cotton business and now it was all gone. The politicians had sold out the people and all of the 'Southern industries' were all gone in favour of Northern businesses. He was a proud, skilled and educated man who was making a new life as a salesperson at Home Depot. There was not an ounce of bitterness in his voice and was most supportive of Greg. He understood that Greg did not cause the economic collapse of banking and housing in the fall of 2008 and was embarrassed that the State had brought the charges against him. His parting words to us were
"If you do come back here, I would like to come work for you".
The sales people at Sears were instant friends. Some of the staff were part time sales people to supplement their day job income. One lady was a teacher and she revealed many personal facts to us which confirmed some of the suspicions we already had. It was hard to be with such good people knowing that Sears was in financial trouble, and we were woried about their job security. One employer after another was closing its doors. Obama was reporting improving employment figures in the spring of 2014, but those improvements were not reflected in the north west counties of Alabama.
Natalie, Karina and I flew down to Alabama on Father's day to be with Greg. He was still living in a hotel but the house was almost ready to move to. We were anxious to see how the project was coming along and eager to be with him for a couple of days. Greg picked us up at the airport and after we got in the car he said,
"The prosecutor called the local folks and said 'we know Greg bought a house in Florence, but he must be anxious to get home - we should talk about a settlement' that" Greg continued "is a huge sign of weakness".
"Good" we all chimed back, "it's about time this bull shit stopped".
And that is how I learned that things would be getting better.
The Tale
I left Florence to help Karina post-op with her recovery from the ankle surgery and so Greg was left in Alabama to work on getting the new house fixed up. Abe and his team, meanwhile had been going through the 1.5 million pages of documents, and when they had finished that pile, the prosecution downloaded another 500,000 pages. In May a court appearance was scheduled related to the up-coming trial. Some sort of procedural hearing, Abe made an appeal to have some of the charges dropped as apparently there were inconsistencies with the indictment and something to do with jury selection. I am not exactly sure nor is this an exercize to discuss legal procedure and thus I remain vague. I am certain that it is all public record there for the curious to investigate, I just know that Abe made little progress.
Back in New York, Robin had discovered, again through the internet, that in 2005 the Federal Securities Commission had investigated a certain someone who headed the State investment group, for insider trading. We were really shocked to find out that the certain someone's defense was that he didn't know that insider trading was illegal, and that this excuse satisfied the SEC investigation. No charges were laid, and the report is public record available on the internet. Apparently, that certain someone hadn't heard of the Martha Stewart scandal of 2002 where insider trading landed her in jail. Even though it was a huge story in the media in the United States and Canada, some people in Alabama had not heard about it. It was now easy to understand that there was a different kind of justice if you had power, and a $42 billion fund clearly bought power not only in Aabama but with the Federal Securities commission as well.
Please look at the history:
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/insider-trading-hall-shame/story?id=8874527&page=2
I cannot suppress the information that is out there, but I guess the stuff on the internet was not interesting in 2005. Certainly, no one told Greg in 2007 that his lender had been investigated by the SEC!
I was confident about Greg's case knowing the facts from Greg's side of the story, and consequently had no issue with buying a house in Florence. My objective was to make daily life a little more pleasant during this phase. Greg did not deserve what had happened to him on November 12, 2013 and I was determined to make lemonade from the lemons that had been thrown our way. Because of the jail experience and because he was still wearing the monitor, Greg was anxious about the chances of a fair trial and that thought was constantly in the back of his mind which made daily life somewhat difficult. The house project was giving him a distraction as well as an opportunity to meet with real working people, who put in an honest days work and who were tired at the end of the day as well. Chip came over every evening and spent the evening twilight sitting on the porch and chatting until it was time to go back to the hotel for Greg and home for Chip.
Through unbelievable luck and perhaps it was destiny, we met an amazing group of lovely decent people who called Alabama their home. The most fascinating trivia fact is that the novel 'To Kill A Mockingbird' is the most influential novel of the 20th century and Harper Lee was still alive - and living in Alabama. The irony was not lost on me. Just as in the novel, there are some rotten folks and a lot of good folks too. The false accusations facing Greg, mirrored Lee's story, we just needed to find a real live Atticus!
Whenever I went out shopping in the area, and the opportunity arose, I told the tale of the Lady Peach and Greg. At the Home Depot we met a 'textile engineer'. We had never heard of such a job. Alas, all of the cotton mills had folded up, and as we were told, brand new million dollar machines had been shipped offshore resulting in job losses. We chatted to Alan B ( there were other Allans in Home Depot and he was known as Allan B.) over two interesting hours as he explained the history of the industry to us. I complained about the quality of the cotton T-shirts of today, t-shirts that pop a hole after the first washing! Alan B. told us that it was a fine art to mix the bales of cotton and that it was a skill that took years to develop, by not mixing the bales correctly the short and long fiber content gets out of whack and you end up with weak threads ergo the holes. He had spent his life in the cotton business and now it was all gone. The politicians had sold out the people and all of the 'Southern industries' were all gone in favour of Northern businesses. He was a proud, skilled and educated man who was making a new life as a salesperson at Home Depot. There was not an ounce of bitterness in his voice and was most supportive of Greg. He understood that Greg did not cause the economic collapse of banking and housing in the fall of 2008 and was embarrassed that the State had brought the charges against him. His parting words to us were
"If you do come back here, I would like to come work for you".
The sales people at Sears were instant friends. Some of the staff were part time sales people to supplement their day job income. One lady was a teacher and she revealed many personal facts to us which confirmed some of the suspicions we already had. It was hard to be with such good people knowing that Sears was in financial trouble, and we were woried about their job security. One employer after another was closing its doors. Obama was reporting improving employment figures in the spring of 2014, but those improvements were not reflected in the north west counties of Alabama.
Natalie, Karina and I flew down to Alabama on Father's day to be with Greg. He was still living in a hotel but the house was almost ready to move to. We were anxious to see how the project was coming along and eager to be with him for a couple of days. Greg picked us up at the airport and after we got in the car he said,
"The prosecutor called the local folks and said 'we know Greg bought a house in Florence, but he must be anxious to get home - we should talk about a settlement' that" Greg continued "is a huge sign of weakness".
"Good" we all chimed back, "it's about time this bull shit stopped".
And that is how I learned that things would be getting better.
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
SUPERBOWL cheating and health care
January 21, 2015.
Passing Thoughts
Yesterday's post regarding other parts of the world that do ugly things, made it sound like Greg's problems were related somehow to inequality of women, and I need to clarify that passing thought. Arresting him and accusing him of a securities fraud has nothing to do with the equality of women -
but his experience in jail is related to civil rights. All of these subjects are ugly. The terrorist attacks in the name of religion is ugly. It is very easy to recognize evil when you point a finger, but remember that old saying "when you point a finger, remember that three fingers are pointing back at you", and I think that is the whole intention of my passing thoughts. I would like to engage in an honest dialogue that identifies issues and disregard this politically correct language that tends to speak around issues because we use vague terms. That, in no way is a statement that endorses insulting language, but we need to have a starting point in clear language that is clear and almost scientific. And todays big news hits hard: scandal in football. OH NO CHEATERS IN FOOTBALL?? No it cannot be. But I digress.
The Tale
Greg was now engaged in a fixer upper project which meant that he could not live in the house.
He was still enjoying hotel life, now seven months into "look into the paper work" and ignoring a $30 million bond, now, that is UGLY!!! Meanwhile, lots of things were going on many fronts but since I am not an author and not a journalist (that Egyptian journalist arrest story) it is difficult to tell the tale of the converging story lines. I was the captain of the ship, and Greg was now in a safetly net/house in Alabama and some of my attention was focused on the girls. Karina, the competitive rider, basically had her competitive career come to a halt.
Karina's story is actually another story of champion ambition. Ever mindful of the world that surrounds me, I will just say that horse show people rest on Mondays and I doubt that it is an official religious day for any of the three major world religions.
Several years earlier, Karina had been tossed out of her saddle while riding and because she 'landed' on her feet, the mishap did not look like an accident. The force of the landing however was deceiving. And now I open the can of worms called public health care in Canada.
Karina had blown out her knee from the force of landing on her feet. A regular X-ray said she was fine, but Karina knew something was very wrong. She flew home after telling her Dad "something is wrong Dad". I should be clear and admit that thanks to MBI Greg has some connections in Hamilton, and he called Dr. Romantic and asked for yet another favour: an MRI. Normally, this would be months away if going through normal channels, but Greg would not hold back when his kids' health or safety was in question. Three days after the 'fall' in Calgary, Karina had the MRI in Hamilton, and 'yadda, yadda' we were encouraged to go to the Cleveland Clinic, and Karina ended up having her knee surgery at the Cleveland Clinic two weeks after the accident. Had we stayed for free service in Canada, even with connections and favours and disrupting the waiting lines, Karina's first appointment with an orthopaedic sugreaon would have been 8 months out! YIKES! Now in 2014, it was her ankle.
Karina contacted her surgeon. He did not do ankles, but in short order her surgery was booked to fix her ankle. I flew from Florence to be with her in Cleveland. The point is, Karina had a surgery. Thankfully, the Cleveland Clinic came through, and Karina's surgery was a success after a longer than expected surgery - the pilots flew us home to recover in Canada. I am not a journalist, and I for sure, am not a nurse. Karina was in a lot of pain and we had several difficult days. Natalie had arranged for a wheel chair as well as a great thing called a scooter. A scooter is the best thing ever for a foot injury. Crutches are horrible, but this scooter thing makes mobility so much easier. The three of us girls just powered through this difficult time, all the time calling Greg, who was worried sick over Karina's troubles. There was nothing to do except keep on marching forward. Karina needed to be in a cast for 6 weeks.
One week after the surgery, Karina needed her soft cast changed and Cleveland Clinic arranged for the cast change to happen in a Toronto hospital - it was a matter of a half hour. Dr. Konfused came in and made no eye contact with either Natalie or myself, but obviously we assumed, he was very busy doctor. He briefly looked at the chart and instructed the tech to put on a walking cast for Karina. Sal the tech was great. We had a pleasant time while he did his job.
Karina got a new cast. Two days later we needed to come back because the 'nurse in charge' at home got the cast wet and Karina was most uncomfortable. We drove into the city and Sal happily changed the cast for us and told us about the water proof cast covers that were available. Five weeks later, it was time to get the cast removed. Again, Dr. Konfused had no time to make eye contact with Natalie and myself, but he did tell Karina, that "You left OHIP, and because you did, I am not going to pick up the pieces and clean up after getting this surgery done outside of OHIP. I want you to know I am not going to look after you." He left the examination room. We were aghast. He refused care.
Sal came in took the cast off, and he told us he was leaving that hospital. He hated the atmosphere there.
And that is how I learned that Cleveland Clinic is better than OHIP.
Passing Thoughts
Yesterday's post regarding other parts of the world that do ugly things, made it sound like Greg's problems were related somehow to inequality of women, and I need to clarify that passing thought. Arresting him and accusing him of a securities fraud has nothing to do with the equality of women -
but his experience in jail is related to civil rights. All of these subjects are ugly. The terrorist attacks in the name of religion is ugly. It is very easy to recognize evil when you point a finger, but remember that old saying "when you point a finger, remember that three fingers are pointing back at you", and I think that is the whole intention of my passing thoughts. I would like to engage in an honest dialogue that identifies issues and disregard this politically correct language that tends to speak around issues because we use vague terms. That, in no way is a statement that endorses insulting language, but we need to have a starting point in clear language that is clear and almost scientific. And todays big news hits hard: scandal in football. OH NO CHEATERS IN FOOTBALL?? No it cannot be. But I digress.
The Tale
Greg was now engaged in a fixer upper project which meant that he could not live in the house.
He was still enjoying hotel life, now seven months into "look into the paper work" and ignoring a $30 million bond, now, that is UGLY!!! Meanwhile, lots of things were going on many fronts but since I am not an author and not a journalist (that Egyptian journalist arrest story) it is difficult to tell the tale of the converging story lines. I was the captain of the ship, and Greg was now in a safetly net/house in Alabama and some of my attention was focused on the girls. Karina, the competitive rider, basically had her competitive career come to a halt.
Karina's story is actually another story of champion ambition. Ever mindful of the world that surrounds me, I will just say that horse show people rest on Mondays and I doubt that it is an official religious day for any of the three major world religions.
Several years earlier, Karina had been tossed out of her saddle while riding and because she 'landed' on her feet, the mishap did not look like an accident. The force of the landing however was deceiving. And now I open the can of worms called public health care in Canada.
Karina had blown out her knee from the force of landing on her feet. A regular X-ray said she was fine, but Karina knew something was very wrong. She flew home after telling her Dad "something is wrong Dad". I should be clear and admit that thanks to MBI Greg has some connections in Hamilton, and he called Dr. Romantic and asked for yet another favour: an MRI. Normally, this would be months away if going through normal channels, but Greg would not hold back when his kids' health or safety was in question. Three days after the 'fall' in Calgary, Karina had the MRI in Hamilton, and 'yadda, yadda' we were encouraged to go to the Cleveland Clinic, and Karina ended up having her knee surgery at the Cleveland Clinic two weeks after the accident. Had we stayed for free service in Canada, even with connections and favours and disrupting the waiting lines, Karina's first appointment with an orthopaedic sugreaon would have been 8 months out! YIKES! Now in 2014, it was her ankle.
Karina contacted her surgeon. He did not do ankles, but in short order her surgery was booked to fix her ankle. I flew from Florence to be with her in Cleveland. The point is, Karina had a surgery. Thankfully, the Cleveland Clinic came through, and Karina's surgery was a success after a longer than expected surgery - the pilots flew us home to recover in Canada. I am not a journalist, and I for sure, am not a nurse. Karina was in a lot of pain and we had several difficult days. Natalie had arranged for a wheel chair as well as a great thing called a scooter. A scooter is the best thing ever for a foot injury. Crutches are horrible, but this scooter thing makes mobility so much easier. The three of us girls just powered through this difficult time, all the time calling Greg, who was worried sick over Karina's troubles. There was nothing to do except keep on marching forward. Karina needed to be in a cast for 6 weeks.
One week after the surgery, Karina needed her soft cast changed and Cleveland Clinic arranged for the cast change to happen in a Toronto hospital - it was a matter of a half hour. Dr. Konfused came in and made no eye contact with either Natalie or myself, but obviously we assumed, he was very busy doctor. He briefly looked at the chart and instructed the tech to put on a walking cast for Karina. Sal the tech was great. We had a pleasant time while he did his job.
Karina got a new cast. Two days later we needed to come back because the 'nurse in charge' at home got the cast wet and Karina was most uncomfortable. We drove into the city and Sal happily changed the cast for us and told us about the water proof cast covers that were available. Five weeks later, it was time to get the cast removed. Again, Dr. Konfused had no time to make eye contact with Natalie and myself, but he did tell Karina, that "You left OHIP, and because you did, I am not going to pick up the pieces and clean up after getting this surgery done outside of OHIP. I want you to know I am not going to look after you." He left the examination room. We were aghast. He refused care.
Sal came in took the cast off, and he told us he was leaving that hospital. He hated the atmosphere there.
And that is how I learned that Cleveland Clinic is better than OHIP.
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Customs and Immigration
January 20, 2015.
Passing Thoughts
Greg is travelling today - for the first time into the United States, for the first time since November 12 2013. Let's see how the Federal Government interfaces with State Government.
I believe all will be well - but I am worried that the 'blogger and flogger' concept might translate in the western hemisphere into some new creepy format. Last year I lost my innocence. In the beginning of the year I hated Edward Snowden, and by the end, I was horrified to see that what he reported is true and that what he revealed should be of real concern to all democracies populated with naive taxpayers. We vote for rights and liberties, not realizing that these are elusive concepts.
My biggest resentment - is - that all joy and laughter was sucked out of our lives for a full eleven months, and that it happened in the WESTERN HEMISPHERE. Once upon a time, America was a mytholgical place called the NEW World. I shudder to think about the unhappiness that follows the poor souls who enter God's beautiful planet in a country where they hide women, buy women and say it is all in the name of religion. It is so disappointing to have your ballon popped by an ugly truth.
I saw a news story about the Pope, (who is amazing), embrace the little girl in the Philippines, braver than Malala, she asked him why do little girls have to be prostitutes? I am sorry that he said that people don't need to breed like rabbits. It takes both sexes to breed. Another subject to ponder.
The Tale
After I gave the instuction to buy a house, Greg went looking for a property that might suit our needs. He picked up the phone and called an agent whose number was on the FOR SALE sign. The Magician answered and agreed to show Greg some properties. It turned out that The Magician had met Greg years earlier when he had come to Alabama to build the grimmet factory. Greg put an offer on a house. It was Easter now, and Natalie and Karina and I flew down for the weekend to be with Greg, and see the prospective purchase.
The house failed my approval as there was no real area for 4 dogs, and I was frightened to be in a house with lots of french doors on the ground floor. I was convinced that we would be invaded at night by paid assassins - that is how fearful I was of the evil that had transpired under the veil of American law.
The Magician agreed to show me more properties and, since there was an understanding about our situation, The Magician wanted to show us properties that would be "pleasant". The Magician was a magician, and showed us a winner. This was a huge turning point for our situation.
The house purchase meant that Greg would have different issues to think about, and relieve the pressure on his mind of just thinking about the legal quagmire that the State of Alabama had pushed him into. The Magician introduced Greg to Chip.
"I know you" he said when they first met, "you sit in front of me at Church".
Chip would be Greg's guardian angel and steadfast companion.
And that is how I learned that there are a lot of really really good people, even in Alabama!
Passing Thoughts
Greg is travelling today - for the first time into the United States, for the first time since November 12 2013. Let's see how the Federal Government interfaces with State Government.
I believe all will be well - but I am worried that the 'blogger and flogger' concept might translate in the western hemisphere into some new creepy format. Last year I lost my innocence. In the beginning of the year I hated Edward Snowden, and by the end, I was horrified to see that what he reported is true and that what he revealed should be of real concern to all democracies populated with naive taxpayers. We vote for rights and liberties, not realizing that these are elusive concepts.
My biggest resentment - is - that all joy and laughter was sucked out of our lives for a full eleven months, and that it happened in the WESTERN HEMISPHERE. Once upon a time, America was a mytholgical place called the NEW World. I shudder to think about the unhappiness that follows the poor souls who enter God's beautiful planet in a country where they hide women, buy women and say it is all in the name of religion. It is so disappointing to have your ballon popped by an ugly truth.
I saw a news story about the Pope, (who is amazing), embrace the little girl in the Philippines, braver than Malala, she asked him why do little girls have to be prostitutes? I am sorry that he said that people don't need to breed like rabbits. It takes both sexes to breed. Another subject to ponder.
The Tale
After I gave the instuction to buy a house, Greg went looking for a property that might suit our needs. He picked up the phone and called an agent whose number was on the FOR SALE sign. The Magician answered and agreed to show Greg some properties. It turned out that The Magician had met Greg years earlier when he had come to Alabama to build the grimmet factory. Greg put an offer on a house. It was Easter now, and Natalie and Karina and I flew down for the weekend to be with Greg, and see the prospective purchase.
The house failed my approval as there was no real area for 4 dogs, and I was frightened to be in a house with lots of french doors on the ground floor. I was convinced that we would be invaded at night by paid assassins - that is how fearful I was of the evil that had transpired under the veil of American law.
The Magician agreed to show me more properties and, since there was an understanding about our situation, The Magician wanted to show us properties that would be "pleasant". The Magician was a magician, and showed us a winner. This was a huge turning point for our situation.
The house purchase meant that Greg would have different issues to think about, and relieve the pressure on his mind of just thinking about the legal quagmire that the State of Alabama had pushed him into. The Magician introduced Greg to Chip.
"I know you" he said when they first met, "you sit in front of me at Church".
Chip would be Greg's guardian angel and steadfast companion.
And that is how I learned that there are a lot of really really good people, even in Alabama!
Monday, January 19, 2015
GAO and the internet all out in the open
January 19, 2015.
Passing Thoughts
I am glad that today is Martin Luther King Day, and ironic that Selma is in Alabama, and my troubles were in Alabama too. It is also shocking to know that it took so long for all of the states to get on board to celebrate Martin Luther King, and terrible still to see darkness in the hearts and minds of so many humans. The history of race relations in America parallels the horrible truths of human history, thousands of years of tribal disputes and aggression and slaughter. It all begins in childhood, when adults begin teaching children the nonsense 'we are better than them'.
The Tale
Bond was now set for $30 million, Greg was in Florence with that monitor on his leg, still living in the Residence Inn and I had returned to the polar vortex, struggling in a frozen tundra looking after the 4 dogs. Worried, stressed and determined to look through public records, I started to google many different topics and by sheer accident fell upon the Government Accountability Office. This is where my research began, and I learned that after Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, Bush earmarked $14,935 billion to rebuild Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. The GAO-08-913, Published July 16, 2008 revealed to me that Louisiana received $7.840 BILLION, Mississippi received $4.921 BILLION and Alabama received $2.174 BILLION, and that by June 2008 87% of the money had been allocated. The report further stated, on page 19 that in both Alabama and Mississippi, the money was allocated on a first come, first served basis, and that both governors of both states had the authority to award GO zone private activity bond allocations. I passed this document on to Robin.
He was interested to read it as well and focused on footnote 48 on page 27:
48Alabama has about 12 percent of its allocation authority remaining but most of the remaining authority (about $230 million) is currently being reserved for one specific project according to Alabama Department of Finance officials. The project is not located in a GO Zone county, but Alabama is seeking a legislative change to expand the number of counties eligible for GO Zone bond authority.
Passing Thoughts
I am glad that today is Martin Luther King Day, and ironic that Selma is in Alabama, and my troubles were in Alabama too. It is also shocking to know that it took so long for all of the states to get on board to celebrate Martin Luther King, and terrible still to see darkness in the hearts and minds of so many humans. The history of race relations in America parallels the horrible truths of human history, thousands of years of tribal disputes and aggression and slaughter. It all begins in childhood, when adults begin teaching children the nonsense 'we are better than them'.
The Tale
Bond was now set for $30 million, Greg was in Florence with that monitor on his leg, still living in the Residence Inn and I had returned to the polar vortex, struggling in a frozen tundra looking after the 4 dogs. Worried, stressed and determined to look through public records, I started to google many different topics and by sheer accident fell upon the Government Accountability Office. This is where my research began, and I learned that after Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, Bush earmarked $14,935 billion to rebuild Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. The GAO-08-913, Published July 16, 2008 revealed to me that Louisiana received $7.840 BILLION, Mississippi received $4.921 BILLION and Alabama received $2.174 BILLION, and that by June 2008 87% of the money had been allocated. The report further stated, on page 19 that in both Alabama and Mississippi, the money was allocated on a first come, first served basis, and that both governors of both states had the authority to award GO zone private activity bond allocations. I passed this document on to Robin.
He was interested to read it as well and focused on footnote 48 on page 27:
48Alabama has about 12 percent of its allocation authority remaining but most of the remaining authority (about $230 million) is currently being reserved for one specific project according to Alabama Department of Finance officials. The project is not located in a GO Zone county, but Alabama is seeking a legislative change to expand the number of counties eligible for GO Zone bond authority.
Page 27 GAO-08-913 Gulf Opportunity Zone Tax Incentives
This little footnote contrasted with the monies that had been agreed to in the original contract Greg had signed in July 2007 with the state. I thought it would be very important to pass this information on to Abe, for his team of legal experts to investigate, as I knew that Greg's accusations in the indictment were related to Go zone money. Suddenly dates were relevant and amount of money promised was relevant, as the footnote indicated, a substantially smaller amount of money was available. Now as I have stated, this blog is my personal opinion, but facts are facts, I thought, and I believed that the legal team should look into the actual math of what the State of Alabama received, when it was spent, and what was promised to Greg prior to signing a carefully worded contract, July 2007. The GAO document also stated that their report was based on 'interviews only', and not actual accounting figures, and the real numbers would only be known in the Department of Debt Management in the State of Alabama Finance department. Still, Abe was not interested.
The prosecution managed to ignore the $30 million bond money Greg was able to arrange to secure his release for a full 12 weeks, and after 12 weeks the bondsman was no longer 'available'. It was at that point where I had one of my larger than usual melt downs.
Greg, who had kept clinging on to every crumb that had been tossed his way, had now been away from home five months, routinely 'plugging in' every 12 hours to re-charge his tracer. He had moved to a different hotel, "A change is as good as a rest", and still he was singing the same tune, "tomorrow, tomorrow I will know, I think tomorrow I will get to leave."
I blasted,"
Greg, face it. You aren't going anywhere. you are stuck. If these people had the law on their side they would have filed Federally! The only thing they have is to torture you. They thought that jail would kill you. Face it Greg. They are going to drag this out for as long as they can, they thought this would break you! Remember what Abe told you? 'Greg, they are just messin' with you'??? Can't you see what BS this is. This whole thing is a digraceful sham, run by a sick powerful evil loser!"
Greg was going to celebrate his 65 birthday, and there was no way in hell it would be in a hotel room.
"We are not poor. You haven't done anything wrong. Go buy yourself a car and go buy a house. I will pack up and come down with the dogs and we will be together." I instructed.
That day, the truth sunk in, and he went out shopping for a car,
and that is how I learned that something was not right about this whole situation.
This little footnote contrasted with the monies that had been agreed to in the original contract Greg had signed in July 2007 with the state. I thought it would be very important to pass this information on to Abe, for his team of legal experts to investigate, as I knew that Greg's accusations in the indictment were related to Go zone money. Suddenly dates were relevant and amount of money promised was relevant, as the footnote indicated, a substantially smaller amount of money was available. Now as I have stated, this blog is my personal opinion, but facts are facts, I thought, and I believed that the legal team should look into the actual math of what the State of Alabama received, when it was spent, and what was promised to Greg prior to signing a carefully worded contract, July 2007. The GAO document also stated that their report was based on 'interviews only', and not actual accounting figures, and the real numbers would only be known in the Department of Debt Management in the State of Alabama Finance department. Still, Abe was not interested.
The prosecution managed to ignore the $30 million bond money Greg was able to arrange to secure his release for a full 12 weeks, and after 12 weeks the bondsman was no longer 'available'. It was at that point where I had one of my larger than usual melt downs.
Greg, who had kept clinging on to every crumb that had been tossed his way, had now been away from home five months, routinely 'plugging in' every 12 hours to re-charge his tracer. He had moved to a different hotel, "A change is as good as a rest", and still he was singing the same tune, "tomorrow, tomorrow I will know, I think tomorrow I will get to leave."
I blasted,"
Greg, face it. You aren't going anywhere. you are stuck. If these people had the law on their side they would have filed Federally! The only thing they have is to torture you. They thought that jail would kill you. Face it Greg. They are going to drag this out for as long as they can, they thought this would break you! Remember what Abe told you? 'Greg, they are just messin' with you'??? Can't you see what BS this is. This whole thing is a digraceful sham, run by a sick powerful evil loser!"
Greg was going to celebrate his 65 birthday, and there was no way in hell it would be in a hotel room.
"We are not poor. You haven't done anything wrong. Go buy yourself a car and go buy a house. I will pack up and come down with the dogs and we will be together." I instructed.
That day, the truth sunk in, and he went out shopping for a car,
and that is how I learned that something was not right about this whole situation.
Sunday, January 18, 2015
Weird and Mean
January 18, 2015
Passing thoughts
Our third day of rest in 2015, and I am really enjoying my rest too.
Too many difficult subjects to ponder today, but the biggest question for me today is what do you gain, at the end of the day, seriously, what do you gain from being difficult, rude, angry, mean and hurtful to another animal?
People are weird.
Passing thoughts
Our third day of rest in 2015, and I am really enjoying my rest too.
Too many difficult subjects to ponder today, but the biggest question for me today is what do you gain, at the end of the day, seriously, what do you gain from being difficult, rude, angry, mean and hurtful to another animal?
People are weird.
Saturday, January 17, 2015
GAO and Lady Peach
January 17, 2015.
Passing Thoughts
Yeay!!!!!!! Obama is making an announcement talking about cyber crime.
Law enforcement needs data occasionally to do their job - there are occasions when you need to access data in order to save lives. Yeah!!!
The blogger who got flogged is getting a reprieve, he was sentenced to a thousand lashes - but he won't get his flogging this week.
Wow these two stories give The Lady so much to ponder. I believe that law enforcement needs to have access to electronic data - but this is exactly what some powerful folks were able to access and use against Greg. We were wire tapped, cell phones e-mail - all legal because some agenicies were asked to help and certain companies had to comply as well. This was a battle about money not about saving lives.
This is a very very delicate area of freedom versus policing. This is exactly the subject of debate after 9/11 and now with crazy terrorost attcks in Australia, Canada and France how do we as a free society balance what Edward Snowden told us is the reality of Government power. I am one of the true believers to always tell the truth. It was shocking to discover that we were 'spied' upon legally.
All of the wire tapping would be acceptable if there was evidence that a crime had been committed, but the whole problem with Greg's case was that the indictment was based on falsehoods.
The arrest, as I have explained, left Greg in prison for 10 days - all of his rights were taken away because he was accused of doing something. I felt that his Jail experience was horrific and tried to reach out to the ACLU to report what Greg had seen. When I tried to contact the ACLU to tell them about Greg's experience in Cook County jail, it was hard to accept that they did not care. Please try my challenge, please try calling the ACLU and see if you actually get speak to someone. You only get voice mail if you are lucky, or simply hear a recording. They do however make it very easy to donate money. Donations appear to be their top priority, but just try to actually speak to someone. Why would you want to? People who are interested in civil liberties perhaps? I tried to contact the Washington office, the Alabama office as well as the Chicago office. I was only able to leave voice message with the Chicago office, and I did get a return phone call from an assistant two days later. I reported the incident of the 19 hours with no food or water and how dangerous that was to a 65 year old man and the lady who was listening agreed that "it is horrible in jail" and after I told her "Gee you are not doing a very good job getting that message out to people like me - my husband's experience and his position in the business world would lend credibiltiy to the issue" I never heard a peep out of the ACLU. I will not be donating any money to them in the near future. I don't know who finances them, nor do I understand what their real agenda is, but in my case they were not even interested in the assault on civil liberty of a foreign citizen. They were not interested to have a white business man
possibly be a spokesperson for black youth in jail.
Flogging? Some people get a thousand lashes??? What??? Flogging sentences can be given even to women for driving a car. Wow - there are seven Billion people on earth now. Seven billion people are crowding out many species of fishes and mammals. Species that don't behave as badly as humans, and not a peep out of 5 billion? 4 billion? 3 billion? Anybody brave enough to speak up? WHAT ONLY THE FRENCH JOURNALIST?CAROONISTS? Wow - shame on people. Shame on all of the holy people preaching. The silence is shameful. Now I am even more upset about the women who drive cars in Canada wearing the head coverings. Remember the women going to get her photo taken in the license bureau in a Burka? The clerk in the office did not have the intellectual resources to confront the issue. We need to engage in an honest conversation which addresses the nuance of oppression and equality, freedom and slavery. Have we all gone mad?
The Tale
I left Greg in Alabama. He now was alone and focused on his legal battle. He asked Abe to get a real bond amount established with the prosecution. It took several weeks, but finally the bond was set as $30 MILLION. Please look up record bonds - information freely accessed on the internet, all part of the public record. Robin told me that the great equalizer for justice was the internet. He was right. If you have an inquisitive mind and you are searching to answer questions, the internet is the most amazing tool available to all who have access to it.
And that is how I discovered that the US Federal Government has the Accountability Office the GAO.
Passing Thoughts
Yeay!!!!!!! Obama is making an announcement talking about cyber crime.
Law enforcement needs data occasionally to do their job - there are occasions when you need to access data in order to save lives. Yeah!!!
The blogger who got flogged is getting a reprieve, he was sentenced to a thousand lashes - but he won't get his flogging this week.
Wow these two stories give The Lady so much to ponder. I believe that law enforcement needs to have access to electronic data - but this is exactly what some powerful folks were able to access and use against Greg. We were wire tapped, cell phones e-mail - all legal because some agenicies were asked to help and certain companies had to comply as well. This was a battle about money not about saving lives.
This is a very very delicate area of freedom versus policing. This is exactly the subject of debate after 9/11 and now with crazy terrorost attcks in Australia, Canada and France how do we as a free society balance what Edward Snowden told us is the reality of Government power. I am one of the true believers to always tell the truth. It was shocking to discover that we were 'spied' upon legally.
All of the wire tapping would be acceptable if there was evidence that a crime had been committed, but the whole problem with Greg's case was that the indictment was based on falsehoods.
The arrest, as I have explained, left Greg in prison for 10 days - all of his rights were taken away because he was accused of doing something. I felt that his Jail experience was horrific and tried to reach out to the ACLU to report what Greg had seen. When I tried to contact the ACLU to tell them about Greg's experience in Cook County jail, it was hard to accept that they did not care. Please try my challenge, please try calling the ACLU and see if you actually get speak to someone. You only get voice mail if you are lucky, or simply hear a recording. They do however make it very easy to donate money. Donations appear to be their top priority, but just try to actually speak to someone. Why would you want to? People who are interested in civil liberties perhaps? I tried to contact the Washington office, the Alabama office as well as the Chicago office. I was only able to leave voice message with the Chicago office, and I did get a return phone call from an assistant two days later. I reported the incident of the 19 hours with no food or water and how dangerous that was to a 65 year old man and the lady who was listening agreed that "it is horrible in jail" and after I told her "Gee you are not doing a very good job getting that message out to people like me - my husband's experience and his position in the business world would lend credibiltiy to the issue" I never heard a peep out of the ACLU. I will not be donating any money to them in the near future. I don't know who finances them, nor do I understand what their real agenda is, but in my case they were not even interested in the assault on civil liberty of a foreign citizen. They were not interested to have a white business man
possibly be a spokesperson for black youth in jail.
Flogging? Some people get a thousand lashes??? What??? Flogging sentences can be given even to women for driving a car. Wow - there are seven Billion people on earth now. Seven billion people are crowding out many species of fishes and mammals. Species that don't behave as badly as humans, and not a peep out of 5 billion? 4 billion? 3 billion? Anybody brave enough to speak up? WHAT ONLY THE FRENCH JOURNALIST?CAROONISTS? Wow - shame on people. Shame on all of the holy people preaching. The silence is shameful. Now I am even more upset about the women who drive cars in Canada wearing the head coverings. Remember the women going to get her photo taken in the license bureau in a Burka? The clerk in the office did not have the intellectual resources to confront the issue. We need to engage in an honest conversation which addresses the nuance of oppression and equality, freedom and slavery. Have we all gone mad?
The Tale
I left Greg in Alabama. He now was alone and focused on his legal battle. He asked Abe to get a real bond amount established with the prosecution. It took several weeks, but finally the bond was set as $30 MILLION. Please look up record bonds - information freely accessed on the internet, all part of the public record. Robin told me that the great equalizer for justice was the internet. He was right. If you have an inquisitive mind and you are searching to answer questions, the internet is the most amazing tool available to all who have access to it.
And that is how I discovered that the US Federal Government has the Accountability Office the GAO.
Thursday, January 15, 2015
Polar vortex on my side
January 15, 2015.
Passing Thoughts
There are few passing comments to make about the new reality we faced. Greg now had an ankle monitor which was uncomfortable and rubbed on the broken skin/scabs resulting from the shackles.
I improvised a cushion of sorts by wrapping a sock around his ankle to support the monitor from slipping and sliding and further irritating his skin. He needed to charge up every ten to twelve hours and the recharge phase took about an hour or so. I also fashioned a cover for the flashing light which was as strong as a beacon from a light house. It was a nuisance for sure but I knew this just was another instrument available to his advesaries to make his life miserable and wear down his spirit. We sat in Florence waiting for those documents to be approved.
The Tale
The prosecution now hired various legal experts to analyze the holding of Canadian real estate as bond. I held out hope and at that point of the mess I still had the optimistic belief that we were engaged in a clear procedural matter. Stupidly I still thought that at any moment those mysterious requirements would be met. The titles for the Florida properties were already secured as bond, it was just a matter of days to ensure that the filings in Canada would comply, I thought.
We waited, and waited, and on December 22 2013, I told both Natalie and Karina to come to Alabama. We would be spending Christmas in the Residence Inn. I was damned if this would upset me. I purchased a live wreath for the door of the hotel room and decorated with festive things from the Dollar store. We were going to be grateful just to be alive and together and to remember the Saviour, which was especially poignant while being in the Bible belt. Gloomy faces were not allowed!
On the eve of December 22, 2013 a terrific ice storm hit the GTA causing havoc for millions of households. Our property as well was severely damaged, power would be out for a full week, and we lost about 25% of the trees on our property. It was clear that I would have to go home to deal with that crisis.
By this point of the legal process, December 22, 2013, I began thinking that based on what had happened to Greg since November 12 plus the month long farce of the 'document verification', that this indictment was going to be a test of patience. I started to irritate Greg big time, by saying
"If they had the law on their side Greg, they would rely on the justice system. You are being held captive hear because they think you are not coming back for a trial? If they had a case against you that was solid they would be able to rely on their evidence. What is in those 1.5 million pages of documents? That should be a lot of evidence agianst you, don't you think? This makes no sense Greg!"
My ranting did little to give Greg any confidence in my words. He was wearing the monitor. He was trapped, and I was free to go anytime and I wanted to go. It was a horrible realization to see American justice in action. We agreed that it was time to get back to Canada and deal with the natural disaster that the historic Polar vortex would affect the entire eastern hemisphere. Misery loves company and Mother nature was going to make everyone suffer, as long as my man was being punished by those dark forces, I thought.
And that is how I learned that if anyone is against Greg, Mother nature creates a Polar vortex to punish all!
Passing Thoughts
There are few passing comments to make about the new reality we faced. Greg now had an ankle monitor which was uncomfortable and rubbed on the broken skin/scabs resulting from the shackles.
I improvised a cushion of sorts by wrapping a sock around his ankle to support the monitor from slipping and sliding and further irritating his skin. He needed to charge up every ten to twelve hours and the recharge phase took about an hour or so. I also fashioned a cover for the flashing light which was as strong as a beacon from a light house. It was a nuisance for sure but I knew this just was another instrument available to his advesaries to make his life miserable and wear down his spirit. We sat in Florence waiting for those documents to be approved.
The Tale
The prosecution now hired various legal experts to analyze the holding of Canadian real estate as bond. I held out hope and at that point of the mess I still had the optimistic belief that we were engaged in a clear procedural matter. Stupidly I still thought that at any moment those mysterious requirements would be met. The titles for the Florida properties were already secured as bond, it was just a matter of days to ensure that the filings in Canada would comply, I thought.
We waited, and waited, and on December 22 2013, I told both Natalie and Karina to come to Alabama. We would be spending Christmas in the Residence Inn. I was damned if this would upset me. I purchased a live wreath for the door of the hotel room and decorated with festive things from the Dollar store. We were going to be grateful just to be alive and together and to remember the Saviour, which was especially poignant while being in the Bible belt. Gloomy faces were not allowed!
On the eve of December 22, 2013 a terrific ice storm hit the GTA causing havoc for millions of households. Our property as well was severely damaged, power would be out for a full week, and we lost about 25% of the trees on our property. It was clear that I would have to go home to deal with that crisis.
By this point of the legal process, December 22, 2013, I began thinking that based on what had happened to Greg since November 12 plus the month long farce of the 'document verification', that this indictment was going to be a test of patience. I started to irritate Greg big time, by saying
"If they had the law on their side Greg, they would rely on the justice system. You are being held captive hear because they think you are not coming back for a trial? If they had a case against you that was solid they would be able to rely on their evidence. What is in those 1.5 million pages of documents? That should be a lot of evidence agianst you, don't you think? This makes no sense Greg!"
My ranting did little to give Greg any confidence in my words. He was wearing the monitor. He was trapped, and I was free to go anytime and I wanted to go. It was a horrible realization to see American justice in action. We agreed that it was time to get back to Canada and deal with the natural disaster that the historic Polar vortex would affect the entire eastern hemisphere. Misery loves company and Mother nature was going to make everyone suffer, as long as my man was being punished by those dark forces, I thought.
And that is how I learned that if anyone is against Greg, Mother nature creates a Polar vortex to punish all!
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
The danger of words
January 14, 2015
The Tale
Greg was shell shocked so to speak but it took very little to get him out the door from the suite in the Residence Inn and head for a good meal. Prison food we would hear was not what one would think, breakfast in Tuscumbia that morning, which had been delivered early in the morning was cold oatmeal with half of a hot dog which had then been cut in half, and a dot of jam equal to the size of an eraser found on a standard wood pencil. I would later hear from others that the people in charge of food were given a budget of $1.50 per person or something like that, and they could pocket any money if they ran an efficient operation. I don't know if that is a fact, that is what I was told. Alabama was engaged in a debate with the federal government to leave their prison system in the hands of the state rather than allow the feds to take over jail administration. Few people doubt prison conditions in developing countries are horrible but it comes as a shock to learn the truth about American jail. I was a new convert as Karina and I listened to the horror of what Greg saw. I hope that someone will take the trouble to investigate conditions as they truly are in prison and not have hardened hearts full of prejudices that thrill on the unnecessary suffering of others. No food or drink for 19 hours as experienced in Cook County, cockroaches and 7 men in a 10 x12 space with a shameful standard of 'food' for our brothers.
As Greg said,
"These people may have done something bad, but they are not bad people".
An observation that I hope people of all faiths, especially for the people in the Bible belt, will work towards understanding.
We went out for dinner to a steak house and I encouraged Greg to eat modestly since he admitted he had not eaten just to avoid going to the bathroom in front of others. I thought it would be better to have a small meal, not to stress his digestive system. Four Cops came into the restaurant. I almost fainted as I nervously assumed they were there because of us and Greg and something else terrible and unexpected was about to happen, but they were only there for dinner. Clearly I was still on edge.
Two days later, Karina flew back to Canada and I stayed with Greg, just waiting for those documents to be reviewed. On Tuesday November 26, 2015 two executives from the 'team of five' flew in on the company jet to meet with Greg. He was still recovering from the trauma and I decided to join him for the meeting to give him moral support. There was casual conversation about things unrelated to the situation, and one of the fellows passed Greg an envelope, addressed by hand. I looked over Greg's shoulder as he opened and read it. I sae Greg's hand trembling, it was a hate mail letter, cursing him and hoping that Greg would go to prison for 99 years. I grabbed the letter away from him. Meanwhile it had become clear why the two had come to visit, they were asking Greg to sign documents to resign from MBI effective immediately. I grabbed my husband's hand and prevented him from answering as I could see that he was visibly shaken.
"How dare you," I protested "Greg IS MBI. He built it up from nothing. He will continue to be the company, and he will not agree to sign anything, and furthermore" I said throwing the hate mail across the table,
" don't you ever, ever, dare bring something like this to Greg again. Shame on you."
I am sure they returned to Canada with quite an explanation why Greg did not sign anything.
The next couple of days I literally forced Greg to start calling every top executive in the grimmet industry. Every ally he could think of was to be contacted in order to undo the damage that the team of five had created, in my opinion, this was important for Greg's mental state and for the health of MBI as well. Not only did I have to worry about the legal mess in Alabama, but I also needed to worry about the family business as well.
Soon enough my husband was his old self again.
The original trial date had been set for the end of January 2014, but since the prosecution had 'downloaded' 1.5 MILLION pages of documents to Abe and his defense team it was obvious that no one in their right mind could read all of that material in such a short time. It was impossible to be prepared in 7 weeks with Christmas holidays in between as well, so Abe asked for a postponement. They were successful with the request, and the trial would now be in the first week of October 2014.
The first meeting to prepare for trial was set for December 4, 2013. Greg thought it was to get his paperwork resolved in order to leave Colbert County, but instead it was the first orientation meeting with the lawyers. He was very disappointed. He thought we were going home, in fact the disappointment would continue for some time. Oh, and by the way, just like during the real time line, my melanoma had taken a back seat. Only the immediate family knew about the procedure because after Greg was arrested the melanoma was not the tope story. Seven days after the procedure, I received the pathology report. All was good, but I was to have my eyes examined since melanoma spreads to areas with high blood flow, the back of the retina and the liver are two places to watch. The other bad news for me was that Abe had fired Robin. Abe had told him after the appearance in court on Thursday November 21 2013 that he did need him and that he did not want him. These were two very problems: there was nothing to do about an eye exam in Florence, and I hated the idea that Greg was putting all of his trust and faith in what the 'team' had organized. I had no choice but to sit in silence, balancing and prioritizing what was worth mentioning out loud.
And that is how I learned that you can't always say what you want to, when you want to.
The Tale
Greg was shell shocked so to speak but it took very little to get him out the door from the suite in the Residence Inn and head for a good meal. Prison food we would hear was not what one would think, breakfast in Tuscumbia that morning, which had been delivered early in the morning was cold oatmeal with half of a hot dog which had then been cut in half, and a dot of jam equal to the size of an eraser found on a standard wood pencil. I would later hear from others that the people in charge of food were given a budget of $1.50 per person or something like that, and they could pocket any money if they ran an efficient operation. I don't know if that is a fact, that is what I was told. Alabama was engaged in a debate with the federal government to leave their prison system in the hands of the state rather than allow the feds to take over jail administration. Few people doubt prison conditions in developing countries are horrible but it comes as a shock to learn the truth about American jail. I was a new convert as Karina and I listened to the horror of what Greg saw. I hope that someone will take the trouble to investigate conditions as they truly are in prison and not have hardened hearts full of prejudices that thrill on the unnecessary suffering of others. No food or drink for 19 hours as experienced in Cook County, cockroaches and 7 men in a 10 x12 space with a shameful standard of 'food' for our brothers.
As Greg said,
"These people may have done something bad, but they are not bad people".
An observation that I hope people of all faiths, especially for the people in the Bible belt, will work towards understanding.
We went out for dinner to a steak house and I encouraged Greg to eat modestly since he admitted he had not eaten just to avoid going to the bathroom in front of others. I thought it would be better to have a small meal, not to stress his digestive system. Four Cops came into the restaurant. I almost fainted as I nervously assumed they were there because of us and Greg and something else terrible and unexpected was about to happen, but they were only there for dinner. Clearly I was still on edge.
Two days later, Karina flew back to Canada and I stayed with Greg, just waiting for those documents to be reviewed. On Tuesday November 26, 2015 two executives from the 'team of five' flew in on the company jet to meet with Greg. He was still recovering from the trauma and I decided to join him for the meeting to give him moral support. There was casual conversation about things unrelated to the situation, and one of the fellows passed Greg an envelope, addressed by hand. I looked over Greg's shoulder as he opened and read it. I sae Greg's hand trembling, it was a hate mail letter, cursing him and hoping that Greg would go to prison for 99 years. I grabbed the letter away from him. Meanwhile it had become clear why the two had come to visit, they were asking Greg to sign documents to resign from MBI effective immediately. I grabbed my husband's hand and prevented him from answering as I could see that he was visibly shaken.
"How dare you," I protested "Greg IS MBI. He built it up from nothing. He will continue to be the company, and he will not agree to sign anything, and furthermore" I said throwing the hate mail across the table,
" don't you ever, ever, dare bring something like this to Greg again. Shame on you."
I am sure they returned to Canada with quite an explanation why Greg did not sign anything.
The next couple of days I literally forced Greg to start calling every top executive in the grimmet industry. Every ally he could think of was to be contacted in order to undo the damage that the team of five had created, in my opinion, this was important for Greg's mental state and for the health of MBI as well. Not only did I have to worry about the legal mess in Alabama, but I also needed to worry about the family business as well.
Soon enough my husband was his old self again.
The original trial date had been set for the end of January 2014, but since the prosecution had 'downloaded' 1.5 MILLION pages of documents to Abe and his defense team it was obvious that no one in their right mind could read all of that material in such a short time. It was impossible to be prepared in 7 weeks with Christmas holidays in between as well, so Abe asked for a postponement. They were successful with the request, and the trial would now be in the first week of October 2014.
The first meeting to prepare for trial was set for December 4, 2013. Greg thought it was to get his paperwork resolved in order to leave Colbert County, but instead it was the first orientation meeting with the lawyers. He was very disappointed. He thought we were going home, in fact the disappointment would continue for some time. Oh, and by the way, just like during the real time line, my melanoma had taken a back seat. Only the immediate family knew about the procedure because after Greg was arrested the melanoma was not the tope story. Seven days after the procedure, I received the pathology report. All was good, but I was to have my eyes examined since melanoma spreads to areas with high blood flow, the back of the retina and the liver are two places to watch. The other bad news for me was that Abe had fired Robin. Abe had told him after the appearance in court on Thursday November 21 2013 that he did need him and that he did not want him. These were two very problems: there was nothing to do about an eye exam in Florence, and I hated the idea that Greg was putting all of his trust and faith in what the 'team' had organized. I had no choice but to sit in silence, balancing and prioritizing what was worth mentioning out loud.
And that is how I learned that you can't always say what you want to, when you want to.
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
Gut Instinct
January 13, 2015
The Tale
Thursday couldn't arrive fast enough, this would be Greg's first chance at getting bail. I just could not believe that the American justice system would be like this. Greg was facing an 'accusation'. He had not been tried and found guilty nor serving a sentence at this point and yet he was being treated as a guilty villain. I was 60 and did not know that is how the justice system was set up. Guilty until proven innocent would be something we had to endure for the next eleven months.
Abe had said there was a chance that the judge could deny bail. Karina and I were a bag of nerves driving from Nashville at 5:00 AM. We were bringing Greg some grooming things and had to be in Tuscumbia before 8:00 AM. We were at the law office before anyone else had arrived, and saw that a media was setting up a camera in front of the courthouse. My heart was going to jump out of my chest. I was terrified.
There is nothing worse than the fear of going to jail that I know of. I have never faced the threat of bombs falling from planes buzzing above my head, I guess I am just a lucky coward and I don't know how people manage to keep sane when facing death, but I almost killed myself out of fear. I don't know how any of the hostages made it through their personal ordeals either. The Alabama legal system might be unique from the other 49 states, I do not know for a fact and I would defer to an expert for an answer but this was my first experience as a Canadian with what I knew to be American law, and I thought it was most unpleasant and felt that our entire family was hostage.
Abe told me not to go to court, he did not want me there and he did not want Karina there either. I was powerless and just had to comply with his request but I knew that Greg would be looking for our support in the courtroom. Handcuffed and wearing shackles Greg crossed the street where he was intercepted by the waiting media camera. This is exactly what his enemy wanted, video and pictures for the internet, still out there today to shame him for eternity.
The staff of the law office were absolutely fabulous people. Brother John was a retired minister and comforted us. The two secretaries could see the fear in our eyes and did the best to calm us. At one point during the morning, the Toronto lawyer ran from the courthouse to the law office and announced to Karina "They have thrown everything out, and Greg is free to go" "Really???" Karina replied excitedly, "No, hahahahahaha, just kidding".
How were we to respond to such behaviour from a professional?
The day dragged on and finally we got word that the judge had granted bail, and because the bond included so much Canadian real estate, Greg would have to wear an electronic ankle monitor and he would be restricted to a three county area. in North Alabama until all of the documents could be verified. This was the biggest case the court had ever dealt with we were told and everyone wanted to make sure they were doing everything correctly. We waited another several hours for Greg to be released and were told that they did not have one of these monitoring units in Tuscumbia, and that it might be possible that Greg might have to go back to jail for the night if it did not arrive by 5:00 PM. The stress game was unimaginable.
Finally, at around 3:30 November 21, 2013, Greg walked into the law office. I didn't really care at this point about the monitor, Greg was out of jail and he was sort of 'free' now, it was just a matter of days to clear the paper work which meant a short stay at a Residence Inn and we would be able to head home to Canada to prepare for trial, and worst case scenario, go to our Florida house until the trial. With the amount of real estate put up as bond it was a sure thing that it was just a matter of time before Greg was able to go 'home'.
I thanked Abe for successfully getting Greg out of jail, and he and his two sons left for Montgomery. That was the last time I saw and or spoke to him.
And that is how I learned my lesson to always listen to your gut instinct.
The Tale
Thursday couldn't arrive fast enough, this would be Greg's first chance at getting bail. I just could not believe that the American justice system would be like this. Greg was facing an 'accusation'. He had not been tried and found guilty nor serving a sentence at this point and yet he was being treated as a guilty villain. I was 60 and did not know that is how the justice system was set up. Guilty until proven innocent would be something we had to endure for the next eleven months.
Abe had said there was a chance that the judge could deny bail. Karina and I were a bag of nerves driving from Nashville at 5:00 AM. We were bringing Greg some grooming things and had to be in Tuscumbia before 8:00 AM. We were at the law office before anyone else had arrived, and saw that a media was setting up a camera in front of the courthouse. My heart was going to jump out of my chest. I was terrified.
There is nothing worse than the fear of going to jail that I know of. I have never faced the threat of bombs falling from planes buzzing above my head, I guess I am just a lucky coward and I don't know how people manage to keep sane when facing death, but I almost killed myself out of fear. I don't know how any of the hostages made it through their personal ordeals either. The Alabama legal system might be unique from the other 49 states, I do not know for a fact and I would defer to an expert for an answer but this was my first experience as a Canadian with what I knew to be American law, and I thought it was most unpleasant and felt that our entire family was hostage.
Abe told me not to go to court, he did not want me there and he did not want Karina there either. I was powerless and just had to comply with his request but I knew that Greg would be looking for our support in the courtroom. Handcuffed and wearing shackles Greg crossed the street where he was intercepted by the waiting media camera. This is exactly what his enemy wanted, video and pictures for the internet, still out there today to shame him for eternity.
The staff of the law office were absolutely fabulous people. Brother John was a retired minister and comforted us. The two secretaries could see the fear in our eyes and did the best to calm us. At one point during the morning, the Toronto lawyer ran from the courthouse to the law office and announced to Karina "They have thrown everything out, and Greg is free to go" "Really???" Karina replied excitedly, "No, hahahahahaha, just kidding".
How were we to respond to such behaviour from a professional?
The day dragged on and finally we got word that the judge had granted bail, and because the bond included so much Canadian real estate, Greg would have to wear an electronic ankle monitor and he would be restricted to a three county area. in North Alabama until all of the documents could be verified. This was the biggest case the court had ever dealt with we were told and everyone wanted to make sure they were doing everything correctly. We waited another several hours for Greg to be released and were told that they did not have one of these monitoring units in Tuscumbia, and that it might be possible that Greg might have to go back to jail for the night if it did not arrive by 5:00 PM. The stress game was unimaginable.
Finally, at around 3:30 November 21, 2013, Greg walked into the law office. I didn't really care at this point about the monitor, Greg was out of jail and he was sort of 'free' now, it was just a matter of days to clear the paper work which meant a short stay at a Residence Inn and we would be able to head home to Canada to prepare for trial, and worst case scenario, go to our Florida house until the trial. With the amount of real estate put up as bond it was a sure thing that it was just a matter of time before Greg was able to go 'home'.
I thanked Abe for successfully getting Greg out of jail, and he and his two sons left for Montgomery. That was the last time I saw and or spoke to him.
And that is how I learned my lesson to always listen to your gut instinct.
Monday, January 12, 2015
Orange is a Bad Colour
January 12, 2015.
The Tale
The Tale
It wasn't the best of ideas to select Nashville as our base, but Karina was terrified to stay in Alabama, so staying in a beautiful historic hotel and driving to Tuscumbia didn't seem like such a bad idea when we thought of it. We were soon to get a reality check.
It was a long drive, but the rental car, a Lincoln Navigator, made us feel like soldiers in a tank charging on our rescue mission. We arrived at the law office which was located near the courthouse and did not notice the 'other' building that took up a city block fenced and surrounded with barbed wire.
Karina and I went into the office and Mark came out of the board room to greet us and immediately took us to meet the others. Abe introduced himself. He had two sons who practised law with their father, the Toronto lawyer was there, a public relations person from Montgomery, a secretary, two MBI executives, and Robin our ally. My chair was beside Robin and Karina found a chair behind me. Bail/bond discussions started immediately and it sounded as if nothing had been accomplished over the past two hours. I offered all of our real estate as bond, which included and house and farm in Florida and 5 properties in Canada, a total of seven properties. It represented a lot of money. Bail would be $250,000 -- and I don't know where that was to come from, as apparently this D&O policy that I heard of from Greg, "was not there", piped up one of the MBI execs.
They broke for lunch. The Toronto lawyer had come with home made cookies. Abe was happy that someone travelled with "their own baked goods". My heart had been severed in half a week ago, and there was cheerful chit-chat about cookies! It is a difficult truth that very few people are sensitive to the world of emotion or capable of walking in the shoes of others. I hope that I will learn from my experience and not fail in the future and promise to be aware of the needs of others during a crisis. What a terrible selfish world man has created.
The Florida properties had been purchased through an Alabama firm, but the Canadian property titles were documented by the Toronto lawyer. He had been billing for the past 20 years, and the properties had been purchased over a period of 5 years. Nothing was in organized files. He worked out of a briefcase full of scraps of papers and stickies, and became confused over the mess he had put on the boardroom table. It was an embarrassing display of incompetence. Abe was getting more animated and it was clear he had an ego and dramatic personality, perhaps that is what is needed for the courtroom, but I felt uncomfortable. To help clarify the confusion, I drew a map of the 5 Canadian properties, and listed the fire numbers for each property -- we just needed to associate the proper numbered company with each address. Shockingly difficult for the Toronto lawyer. Abe was also increasing the drama in the room and I was already becoming nervous about legal representation. In my opinion, Abe was not quick on his feet to grasp concepts and do mental gymnastics, elements that I feel are important if one is engaged in intellectual arguments. Robin and I rolled our eyes.
At three o'clock Karina and I were on our way to see Greg. The jail was across the street. Mark and one of Abe's son's came with us, and we were told that we should be prepared, 'it was not a nice place'. I won't waste precious typing time on descriptive passages. The other day, I realized that I don't actually need to blog for an entire year to get my story out into the universe forever. I think I shall go with the old Latvian saying 'the more you squeeze shit, the more it smells' and this whole story stinks to begin with.
I could hear Greg's voice as he moved down the hall towards the room we had been given for the meeting. He came in wearing an orange jumpsuit. His expensive Church shoes had the laces removed, something they do in jail so that you cant hang yourself. He looked like a tramp, unshaven as all of his familiar grooming tools were not available. He was fastidious and showered twice a day when at home and I knew this jail experience and the shock of the past week was hard on him. He had lost about 15 pounds, so had I, so had Natalie, so had Karina. We were all thrilled with the prison diet!
Greg was handcuffed, his loop of arm rose above my head like threading a needle. We hugged.
We made some jokes -- I told him he looked great in orange, the colour suited him. I reviewed all of the things Robin had told me about the indictment and how shallow it was. Let me just say, those are very weak words after a week in jail and facing the thought that someone had the power to accuse and convince a grand jury to indict you for $100,000 million securities fraud. I warned Greg that his enemy was out to either kill him physically, or at the very least assassinate his character. I also said that tomorrow he had to be brave and put his shoulders back and smile. There would be media. Greg told us that this jail in Tuscumbia was worse than Cook County. There were 7 men in a 10x14 cell -- our horse stalls in Canada were bigger. There were three bunk beds so one guy had to sleep on the floor and last night they all were killing cockroaches. I made a note to contact the ACLU when I got a chance. I am pretty sure that animal shelters are better than the conditions in that jail, and I now understood why there was video of Greg's enemy, on the internet, promising that he would get Greg into jail in Colbert County. Greg's advesary was determined to see his promise come true. A business risk taken in 2007 had hurt his reputation and he was hell bent to blame Greg for his failings.
And that is how I learned that orange is orange and we don't know how bad prison really is.
No one really cares either, because it's mostly filled with young black men.
Karina and I went into the office and Mark came out of the board room to greet us and immediately took us to meet the others. Abe introduced himself. He had two sons who practised law with their father, the Toronto lawyer was there, a public relations person from Montgomery, a secretary, two MBI executives, and Robin our ally. My chair was beside Robin and Karina found a chair behind me. Bail/bond discussions started immediately and it sounded as if nothing had been accomplished over the past two hours. I offered all of our real estate as bond, which included and house and farm in Florida and 5 properties in Canada, a total of seven properties. It represented a lot of money. Bail would be $250,000 -- and I don't know where that was to come from, as apparently this D&O policy that I heard of from Greg, "was not there", piped up one of the MBI execs.
They broke for lunch. The Toronto lawyer had come with home made cookies. Abe was happy that someone travelled with "their own baked goods". My heart had been severed in half a week ago, and there was cheerful chit-chat about cookies! It is a difficult truth that very few people are sensitive to the world of emotion or capable of walking in the shoes of others. I hope that I will learn from my experience and not fail in the future and promise to be aware of the needs of others during a crisis. What a terrible selfish world man has created.
The Florida properties had been purchased through an Alabama firm, but the Canadian property titles were documented by the Toronto lawyer. He had been billing for the past 20 years, and the properties had been purchased over a period of 5 years. Nothing was in organized files. He worked out of a briefcase full of scraps of papers and stickies, and became confused over the mess he had put on the boardroom table. It was an embarrassing display of incompetence. Abe was getting more animated and it was clear he had an ego and dramatic personality, perhaps that is what is needed for the courtroom, but I felt uncomfortable. To help clarify the confusion, I drew a map of the 5 Canadian properties, and listed the fire numbers for each property -- we just needed to associate the proper numbered company with each address. Shockingly difficult for the Toronto lawyer. Abe was also increasing the drama in the room and I was already becoming nervous about legal representation. In my opinion, Abe was not quick on his feet to grasp concepts and do mental gymnastics, elements that I feel are important if one is engaged in intellectual arguments. Robin and I rolled our eyes.
At three o'clock Karina and I were on our way to see Greg. The jail was across the street. Mark and one of Abe's son's came with us, and we were told that we should be prepared, 'it was not a nice place'. I won't waste precious typing time on descriptive passages. The other day, I realized that I don't actually need to blog for an entire year to get my story out into the universe forever. I think I shall go with the old Latvian saying 'the more you squeeze shit, the more it smells' and this whole story stinks to begin with.
I could hear Greg's voice as he moved down the hall towards the room we had been given for the meeting. He came in wearing an orange jumpsuit. His expensive Church shoes had the laces removed, something they do in jail so that you cant hang yourself. He looked like a tramp, unshaven as all of his familiar grooming tools were not available. He was fastidious and showered twice a day when at home and I knew this jail experience and the shock of the past week was hard on him. He had lost about 15 pounds, so had I, so had Natalie, so had Karina. We were all thrilled with the prison diet!
Greg was handcuffed, his loop of arm rose above my head like threading a needle. We hugged.
We made some jokes -- I told him he looked great in orange, the colour suited him. I reviewed all of the things Robin had told me about the indictment and how shallow it was. Let me just say, those are very weak words after a week in jail and facing the thought that someone had the power to accuse and convince a grand jury to indict you for $100,000 million securities fraud. I warned Greg that his enemy was out to either kill him physically, or at the very least assassinate his character. I also said that tomorrow he had to be brave and put his shoulders back and smile. There would be media. Greg told us that this jail in Tuscumbia was worse than Cook County. There were 7 men in a 10x14 cell -- our horse stalls in Canada were bigger. There were three bunk beds so one guy had to sleep on the floor and last night they all were killing cockroaches. I made a note to contact the ACLU when I got a chance. I am pretty sure that animal shelters are better than the conditions in that jail, and I now understood why there was video of Greg's enemy, on the internet, promising that he would get Greg into jail in Colbert County. Greg's advesary was determined to see his promise come true. A business risk taken in 2007 had hurt his reputation and he was hell bent to blame Greg for his failings.
And that is how I learned that orange is orange and we don't know how bad prison really is.
No one really cares either, because it's mostly filled with young black men.
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