Hello.....I know, it's been way too long

I am over at my sister's using her computer...and enjoying the succulent smells of pork roast and potatoes coming from the oven. My mom and her life partner (no, my mom is still a hetrosexual) are in Billings for a few days. They (Dick and mother) took a trip to the Utah to visit the Bryce and Arches National Monuments (they saw other sights too)...they took the "long" way around on their way back home and decided to spend a few days in Billings. Kelly Jo happened to have a few days off (from her job at the ranch in Clyde Park, Montana) so she is also here. FUN for us to be all together.

Kelly looks fantastic. She had/has great stories to tell about her time in China during the Olympics.

I haven't started working anywhere yet...but been going on lots of interviews and actually have been quite "picky" about where I end up. Unemployment still sends me a check every week...guess I will just keep watching Oprah !

NO ONE FREAK OUT....please

I was laid off at my work place on July 31st (it was voluntary).

The economy has run havoc on the transportation industry and since I have no family to feed (except kitties), no mortgage, no car payment, etc - SO I volunteered.

I will let everyone know where I end up. My two emails gmail and yahoo are still good. pdotddotsinatra at yahoo or pdpoindexter at gmail OH and both of those end in dot com, for old folks like Garn Littledyke that don't quite grasp the whole concept of an email address. Ha, that was funny !

Happy Birthday to Clifford Allen - MY DAD !!

It was my Pops birthday yesterday (07/28) and I was so busy, I didn't get a chance to post. He turned 72 years young...and sounds great. He and his lovely wife, Becky, had just returned to Jackson after spending 3 days on the river with Kelly and Marc. A good time was had by all.

Dad was one of the those lucky kids that was born at midnight, so really...he COULD have two birthdays. The 27th could "technically" be his birthday also.

I have lots and lots of good stories I could tell regarding my dad. He's has always been so full of fun. AND, you think I can tell a good joke....it's ALL inherited.

I will continue later, when I don't have such a load of work to do. Happy Birthday Clifford Allen....I love you very much, Daaaaaaad.

SPELL CHECK WOULDN'T WORK..so no wise cracks

Sorry for my absence...I got a little letter in the mail that said I had to report for jury duty on Monday July 21st. I thought that I most likely wouldn't get picked, as there were 108 potential jurors and the "lottery" had to pick 32 names. I wasn't in the first 32 names picked...so my chances were looking good. For some reason, I had a gut feeling this case was going to be about sexual assualt...don't ask me why, but I just knew. All of us that weren't picked had to stay in the courtroom because after the charges (or indictment) was read against the defendant, some or many of the 32 jurors would have a prejudices or may know some of the "actors" involved in the case.

So, here I sit in the back of the courtroom (with a really nice guy from Havre!) and we were sort of chit-chatting and jovial. When the indictment was read outloud, I knew my chances were probably greatly increased as it was a sex crime against a 50 year old Indian man (against his 11 year old step daughter). Of course, my heart sank.

About half of the 32 picked stood up and said "I can't judge this man fairly as I have teenage children" or "I am a school teacher" and one old cranky farmer (from Wolf Point) said "Judge, I just DON'T LIKE INJUNS !!"...so all those people were "excused".

Well, they had 31 jurors set and guess who's name was called...mine, I knew it was going to be mine because they always stumble over my last name. Holy, it's POINDEXTER !! How hard is that POIN DEX TER...lordy !

Then, they lawyers can "kick off" members of the jury until the number gets down to 14 (12 juror, with two alternates). So...they are calling names and guess who name is called 14th...me. I was called last on BOTH rounds.

I felt it was my duty to serve, as I knew I could keep an open mind. Throughout my my life, I have trials and tribulations and I am sure I was judged on my behavior (fairly or not). It was a difficult decision, but this wasn't a moral issue...it was a legal one.

My fellow jurors elected me jury foreperson (which was not expected) meaning on Tuesday (when we reached a verdict) I had to stand up...WITH A MICROPHONE...and pronounce the decision. I have no idea why my fellow jurors elected me foreperson, but I think it was because I (by far) was the most talkative. DUH !

I thought "this man's life is on the line as is the lives of his alleged victims, (both previous and future)...I did NOT want to let this man walk free if he was a predator and I did NOT want to send this man to Federal Prison (30 years to life) if he was innocent.

Oh, it was a Federal Case due to the alleged crime took place on the Crow Reservation.

We found the man guilty..and I am not regretting or questioning my decision but it was a difficult one. Let me tell all of you something...the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) has some VERY quirky and odd regulations that NO OTHER law enforcement agency in this wonderful country of ours follows. It could have easily been a not guilty verdict or at the very least, a hung jury.

I cried most of Monday and Tuesday, and don't even mention sleep....I tossed and turned both those nights. I finally got some pretty good snoozes last night (Thank the LORD for Advil PM)...

Again, it wasn't fun...but in a strange way it was rewarding. AND, extremely interesting.

Happy Birthday to my Little Stinker !!!

It's AnneMarie's birthday today....wow. 28 years ago she came screaming into the world and I MEAN SCREAMING ! Holy, she had some lungs on her (still does) !

She is a great blessing to so many people. There is no way to show the gratitude I feel to all who have touched her life...her parents, Dick and Nancy, her brother Eric, her wonderful husband Neil, her grandparents, countless cousins,nieces and nephews, childhood friends, her teachers, her co-workers and it goes on and on.

Happy Birthday AnneMarie !!

Surprise, Surprise.....

I love surprises and boy, did I get a good one this week ! I was sitting at my desk chatting on the phone like I do every stinking day...and all of a sudden something outside the front door caught my eye. It was people ! (We don't have alot of walk-in traffic at this business - expect the Fed Ex man) Anyway, I glanced up and saw two shadowy figures, took a second glance..and who should it be?

MY AUNTIE FLORENCE (my favorite) and MY UNCLE BURKE (my favorite)

They had come down to Billings to take a friend to a doctor's appointment and stopped in to see me on their way back north. Oh, I love them.

Florence hasn't changed one iota. I bet she still wears a size 4. Heck, maybe even a size 6X :) Just a doll face, as she has been for 44 years of my life.

Uncle Burke looks fantastic. It's hard to believe that man is 70 whatever. He had shorts on !!! Now, remember...I am used to seeing him at the ranch during harvest or at the U-Haul place. He's got some mighty fine legs on him...and he's 70 whatever ! I always loved his big, deep voice. I remember it would scare me when I was little, but I just wasn't used to it.

First thing Florence did was call me Pete. I LOVE THAT ! She has always called me Pete. Never called me PD or Patrice...always Pete.

And how in the hell did Florence keep an IMMACULATE house will a grillion kids running around? That has always stumped me...

Thanks Auntie and Uncs for visiting me. I was sad to see you pull out of the driveway...just like grandma used to feel when we left the ranch, I would imagine.

Grandma Dorothy - Rest in Peace

Photo was taken in 1961 at the West Bench Ranch - Box Elder, MT
Pictured left to right: Mark Phelps, Nancy Jean Phelps, Dorothy Denley Bitz (holding Polly Ann Poindexter), Denny Allen (holding Karen Allen Hammond), Tommy Allen. Grandkids not pictured (but were in early production) were Kelly Jo Poindexter Liegeois and PD Poindexter !

I think the picture is appropriate, as I believe Dorothy's greatest love was her grandkids.

My Grandma Dorothy died today (07/07) in 2000. I have never felt so lost in my whole life. I was surrounded by family, but was so far away and alone. Oh...I tear up just right now thinking about it.

Mom and I had planned on going to visit Grandma over that weekend anyway. We were going to leave on Friday 07/07, but then mom got a call from cousin or auntie or someone saying we better get on the road as Grandma health was declining.

Mom called me and asked if I was ready on Thursday night and I WAS !!..so we left Yakima the evening of the July 6th. Something about being in a car with my mom driving put me to sleep (as it always does)...but I woke up between Moses Lake and Spokane and Mom was singing. She was singing along with the radio which was playing Vince Gill's "Go Rest High on The Mountain" and I knew something was "amiss". I think the Lord was trying to buffer me from what would be the saddest day of my life.

Mom drove all night (she is a trooper) and by the time we got to Great Falls we were hungry. We opted to go into McDonald's for a sandwich and a cup of coffee...I think Mom still kicks herself for "going in" to eat instead of using the drive thru.

We got back on the road, headed north through the beautiful, rolling fields of wheat and I remember thinking "I wonder how many times Grandma drove this drive?"...a grillion, I would imagine.

We got to Big Sandy and pulled into Burke and Florence's house...and out ran Auntie Florence and the look on her face was enough to tell an entire story. I didn't even get out of the car. I just sat there...stunned.

Mom and I immediately went to the nursing home and Grandma look so peaceful. One of the girls at the nursing home had done her nail polish earlier in the week, which I thought was so sweet. I remember holding her little hand for a long, long time.

She was such a regal, yet stern woman. Stalwart, yet loving. Structured and disciplined, yet warm and so gentle (except when brushing or perming your hair!)

I loved her very much...heck, I still do.