|
Post by gpjohn on May 19, 2011 14:56:22 GMT -6
Now there is some stuff in the news tying him to the Tylonol poisonings in Chicago.
|
|
|
Post by flowtowntigers on May 19, 2011 19:43:24 GMT -6
|
|
|
Post by Clemensbuff on May 20, 2011 6:11:55 GMT -6
i thought the same but from all the skuttle butt that its legit. we are fishing a tourny saturday but with the projected wind speeds i will be laying low, doing a little wade fishing around deadmans and boathole also hit the north side of packery jetties. good luck this weekend and be careful in baffin it could get rough. Good luck to you to. If it is indeed the real deal.........WOW! Yeah, I've been caught in some bad chit down in Baffin more then once! It is absolutely no fun at all. A couple of times I was really, truly worried about making it back! One time we got caught in a small cabin about 400 yards off the South Shoreline and had a nasty storm blow through with 70mph winds. There was a sand bar about 50 yards in front of the cabin to the bay side breaking the huge waves but they were still 4-5' at the cabin. I cannot even imagine what it looked like in the middle of of the bay!
|
|
|
Post by FB fan on May 20, 2011 9:36:26 GMT -6
|
|
|
Post by FB fan on May 20, 2011 11:02:15 GMT -6
Stiffy if you make fun of her nick name it will reflect on your mother.
CORPUS CHRISTI — As she always has, Andrea "Rat" Ratkovic will push herself on Saturday, even though she's running on a shinbone full of holes.
The 45-year-old professional multisport athlete — first a runner, at heart — still owns medals from Flour Bluff and records from 1987 at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, then Texas A&I University. She was just one poisonous sub sandwich away from the 1996 summer Olympics in Atlanta.
For all her records, the 36th annual Beach to Bay Relay Marathon on Saturday is one of the most important races of Ratkovic's life, because it's the first race since a pickup crushed her 5-foot-10-inch, 110-pound body.
It's the first since her mother died. And it's the first race she's running just for fun.
This, at least, is what she tries to tell herself.
But she has a competitive, never-say-die spirit wrought in a Flour Bluff elementary school P.E. class decades ago — in a 600-yard dash that helped Ratkovic earn one of those ubiquitous Presidential Fitness Awards (hers had an imprint of Gerald Ford's signature).
The junior high coaches noticed her winning time of 2:05. A career was born.
Through stress fractures, casts, Achilles tendon ruptures, surgeries and a nightmare wreck, Ratkovic always has shrugged off the bad luck, broken into her grin, wide as a canyon, and come back to the starting line. Raging or limping. Always to win.
In May 2009, a pickup hit her in Norman, Okla., on her favorite racing bicycle, resulting in 16 fractures, multiple surgeries and implants, including the rod that was removed from her left shin in January. The surgery left the bone hollow like a telescope, screw holes and all.
"I'm sorta kinda runnin' on a Swiss cheese leg," Ratkovic joked.
After the truck smacked her from behind, knocked her cleats off, mangled her bike, collapsed her lung and broke six vertebrae, she crawled up the bank of a wet, muddy ditch in shock and thought that this must be what war was like.
She spent months in a wheelchair, barely able to move. Just getting wheeled around the block racked her with pain.
When her mother, living in Central America, began to sound unusual in telephone conversations, Ratkovic feared for her mother's health. She wanted to rise off her living room futon in Norman, Okla., and fly to Panama, but she couldn't even rise to go to the bathroom.
Still, she managed to wheel around the house, tossing clothes into a bag.
"I couldn't stop her," said Shari Boyle, a Canadian athlete who was training with Ratkovic and became her caretaker. "I didn't even try."
Ratkovic's sister, Michelle Ratkovic, of St. Augustine, Fla., flew to Panama instead to keep Andrea from worsening her injuries.
The cancer had spread through their mother's body. Her back was broken.
The two sisters worked out a way to get their mother to Florida. Two months after the wreck, Andrea finally was able to travel. She arrived in Florida three days before her mother died.
"It's very hard for me to be at peace with that whole time period," Andrea said. "I feel like if that (accident) hadn't happened, I could have saved her. I need at some point to come to peace with that."
Andrea has spent a lifetime and a career coming to peace with fate and accident and injury.
As a cross country runner at Flour Bluff High School, she placed in the top 10 at state and won district competitions in her freshman, sophomore and junior years. She ran with Michelle, who also was a top runner on the team. Flour Bluff was a favorite to win state during Andrea's senior year, Michelle's junior year, in 1984.
Midway through the season, Andrea had a stress fracture after rambling down hill at a meet in Robstown.
Her coach, Pam Faulkner, bought a NordicTrack, an exercise machine that mimics cross country skiing. With her foot in a cast, Andrea skied and skied.
She took the cast off the day before state. Immediately Faulkner could tell Andrea needed more time.
"I'm sorry, Rat," Faulkner said. "You're not running."
Andrea went to the race course, hollering, pushing her teammates. They took second place. She didn't feel she belonged in the team photo with the girls and their medals.
"Rat, we wouldn't be here if you hadn't been performing the way you'd been performing," the coach told her.
Faulkner said it was Rat's only frowning photo.
The grin popped right back, and Andrea went on to shatter records at Texas A&I and continued at the University of Oklahoma after A&I dropped its program in 1987.
In 1988, she ruptured an Achilles tendon, ending her college career.
Andrea cycled for about five years, won a couple of races, but yearned for running. She was on a sponsored cycling team when she started sneaking runs early in the morning. A team captain found out and threatened to fire her."It didn't stop me," Andrea said. "I was just a little more careful about it."
In 1995, Andrea bested a challenging course and the favored runners in the Motorola Austin Marathon with a time of 2:40. The victory established her as one of the nation's best female marathoners and earned her a berth for the 1996 U.S. Olympic Trials.
Before the trials, she ran another marathon in 2:34 and made it her goal to be the first woman to break 2:20 and a world record.
Ten days before the trials, she ordered a fast food sandwich. Hospitalized with food poisoning, she dropped from 110 pounds to 105. She still went to the trials, where she dropped out seven miles in.
With her Olympic dreams unrealized, she continued as a pro duathlete, winning national championships and smashing course records.
She was training to win a gold medal on home soil at the Duathlon World Championships in North Carolina in 2009 when she went out for a ride and woke up in a ditch.
For the last three years, Andrea has been giving away old trophies to people she ran with in her youth — "just to share a little of herself with them and let them know she thinks they're special," Faulkner said.
At the same time, she's gone from bedridden to biking again — and finally, gingerly, to running. But she can feel the soft tissue in her leg pull against the screws and has been forced to confront retirement.
"Now I'm 45 and, not that people that age can't be competitive, but we all know there's no 60-year-old pros," she said.
"I think for the first time in her life, she knows she's physically incapable of running this race," her father, Jack Ratkovic, said from his home in Florida. "It's something she wants to do because of her old classmates and the friends and Michelle."
Andrea's partner, Gaylynn McClure, will run the first leg of Beach to Bay and pass the baton to Andrea. Andrea will meet Michelle at the foot of the JFK Causeway to pass the baton to her for the first time since the sisters last ran Beach to Bay together in 1983.
Andrea said she's running just for the joy of it — for the first time in her life, not to win, not for a personal best.
"I refuse to do it," she said. "My mind wants to go there. I'm just not going to do it. Why? I don't know. I guess because I don't want to be disappointed."
Faulkner, who is here to cheer on her former pupil, believes her.
"I think she can go into it with the idea that it's an opportunity for her to get back in action and to have a good time, and if something more happens, that's icing on the cake."
Not so, says J.D. Martin, Andrea's coach at the University of Oklahoma.
"She's lying to herself," he said. "She won't do that. She'll give it all she's got. I can't imagine her doing anything just for fun."
Boyle, the Canadian athlete, may have the keenest insight on this point. She was supposed to be on the training ride with Andrea in May 2009, but was tired that day. To care for Ratkovic, she gave up her own training for the Duathlon World Championships.
In five months, Boyle never heard a complaint. But she saw the guilt in Andrea firsthand when she couldn't go to Panama to her dying mother's side, when Andrea was forced to realize that the wreck had, unlike any other injury, reached her heart.
"She still grapples with it daily," Boyle said. "Because even though she's doing this race and I know she's trying to 'train' — put that in quotations, because it's not the same and it never will be the same for her. That's the toughest thing for me to see ... That accident took that away from her."
Yet Andrea cannot fathom standing still.
"Even though I am running Beach to Bay 'just to run,' " Andrea wrote in a message following a telephone interview, "I fully intend on racing again. In fact, I'm leaning towards Powerman Indiana in October."
The race is 68 kilometers of cycling and 20 kilometers of running.
"My lower left leg," Andrea added, "will not be healed for at least another 18 months."
|
|
|
Post by 278ibewfb on May 20, 2011 13:21:24 GMT -6
;)waaaattttttssssuuuuuppppppppp
|
|
|
Post by flowtowntigers on May 22, 2011 13:42:15 GMT -6
guess Im the only soul left after the rapture
|
|
|
Post by C5_96 on May 23, 2011 8:19:32 GMT -6
|
|
|
Post by FB fan on May 23, 2011 8:42:32 GMT -6
Hey, I think I know that guy. He hangs out at the golf course with a couple of Grackels and they steal stuff out of your cart and crap on the seats.
|
|
|
Post by 278ibewfb on May 23, 2011 12:31:37 GMT -6
www.caller.com/news/2011/may/22/police-homeowner-shoots-kills-intruder/?partner=popularwell this is a subject to discuss. my opinion the old man had the right to do this mistake or no mistake the kid made the wrong choice, i feel for the old man because this he will carry this till he goes, alot of pain. but i would do the same shoot first and ask questions later. one thing tho somebody mention"well would if it was your child and he was just trying to get back in his own house" dumb chit thats why you knock on the door or use the doorbell, hell most everyone carrys a cell phone call to be let in.
|
|
|
Post by CC_Varmints on May 23, 2011 13:07:37 GMT -6
Corpus Christi police: Checkpoints yield more drivers with insurance www.caller.com/news/2011/may/22/corpus-christi-police-checkpoints-yield-more/?partner=popularI actually was stopped at 3 AM this morning for one of these checkpoints. It was setup at the (Shell) gas station on the corner of Leopard and Crosstown Expressway frontage road (right at the light after the Exit Ramp). I was trying to go get the cheap gas at the Stripes Valero at Staples and Leopard ($3.61 per gallon). There was a small gray pickup behind me as I exited then I saw the Police with flashlights. The Police Officer waved his flshlight and yelled to stop. I stopped, but the small gray pickup kept creeping in the Left Lane. He finally stopped when the Police Officer banged on the passenger door and yelled to "STOP!" A tall Police Officer approached me and asked for Insurance and Driver's License. I gave them to him and he looked them over. He then handed them back to me and told me to have a good night. I could hear several Police Officers yelling at the driver next to me to roll down his window or unlock his door. He then bolted and turned left. The tall Officer told me to hold. I was surprised in that none of the Police Officers were at the ready in cars. There were probably 8 to 10 Police Cars there. Several Police Officers ran for their cars. The small gray pickup had already turned left again and was headed towards the Crosstown Expressway (opposite direction). 3 cars were in hot pursuit. After all the excitement I finally was able to turn right and go get the cheap gas and hit the road for Texas City. The gas station was full of impounded cars that the tow trucks were busy towing away. When I drove back that way to get on I-37 to go over the Harbor Bridge, only two cars remained with two tow trucks picking them up. The Police were gone.
|
|
|
Post by Clemensbuff on May 23, 2011 13:17:38 GMT -6
www.caller.com/news/2011/may/22/police-homeowner-shoots-kills-intruder/?partner=popularwell this is a subject to discuss. my opinion the old man had the right to do this mistake or no mistake the kid made the wrong choice, i feel for the old man because this he will carry this till he goes, alot of pain. but i would do the same shoot first and ask questions later. one thing tho somebody mention"well would if it was your child and he was just trying to get back in his own house" dumb chit thats why you knock on the door or use the doorbell, hell most everyone carrys a cell phone call to be let in. Bottom line is that the guy was not breaking in to an occupied house to have tea and play a game of bridge with the owner. IMO, he did the right thing and protected himself and his property. Too many times in recent months there have been home invasions in and around the SA area where the thugs abducted the home owner and either forced themselves upon them sexually. In at least another case they made the owner go to an ATM machine and withdraw a large amount of cash. Either way, you have no idea what that person has in mind, whether they are armed, and whether they are high on whatever drug of choice, or even coming off of a high and willing to kill for just a few dollars to get their next fix. IMO, these punks will start thinking twice before breaking in people's homes if more of them end up where this one did! It may sound very cold but the simple fact is that criminals are more likely to harm people today then they've ever been and the more law biding citizens that arm themselves and use deadly force in incidents like this, the more likely the crime rate will start to drop............at least in this type of crime. May God rest this guy's soul and comfort this elderly man who protected himself! I also don't see that any more investigating is needed unless there is more to it then meets the eye!!!!!!!!! Give the gentlemen his hand gun back...............CASE CLOSED!
|
|
|
Post by C5_96 on May 23, 2011 13:19:57 GMT -6
Corpus Christi police: Checkpoints yield more drivers with insurance www.caller.com/news/2011/may/22/corpus-christi-police-checkpoints-yield-more/?partner=popularI actually was stopped at 3 AM this morning for one of these checkpoints. It was setup at the (Shell) gas station on the corner of Leopard and Crosstown Expressway frontage road (right at the light after the Exit Ramp). I was trying to go get the cheap gas at the Stripes Valero at Staples and Leopard ($3.61 per gallon). There was a small gray pickup behind me as I exited then I saw the Police with flashlights. The Police Officer waved his flshlight and yelled to stop. I stopped, but the small gray pickup kept creeping in the Left Lane. He finally stopped when the Police Officer banged on the passenger door and yelled to "STOP!" A tall Police Officer approached me and asked for Insurance and Driver's License. I gave them to him and he looked them over. He then handed them back to me and told me to have a good night. I could hear several Police Officers yelling at the driver next to me to roll down his window or unlock his door. He then bolted and turned left. The tall Officer told me to hold. I was surprised in that none of the Police Officers were at the ready in cars. There were probably 8 to 10 Police Cars there. Several Police Officers ran for their cars. The small gray pickup had already turned left again and was headed towards the Crosstown Expressway (opposite direction). 3 cars were in hot pursuit. After all the excitement I finally was able to turn right and go get the cheap gas and hit the road for Texas City. The gas station was full of impounded cars that the tow trucks were busy towing away. When I drove back that way to get on I-37 to go over the Harbor Bridge, only two cars remained with two tow trucks picking them up. The Police were gone. Get used to living in a police state...pulling people over without probable cause. Nice.
|
|
|
Post by blastoderm55 on May 23, 2011 13:59:25 GMT -6
www.caller.com/news/2011/may/22/police-homeowner-shoots-kills-intruder/?partner=popularwell this is a subject to discuss. my opinion the old man had the right to do this mistake or no mistake the kid made the wrong choice, i feel for the old man because this he will carry this till he goes, alot of pain. but i would do the same shoot first and ask questions later. one thing tho somebody mention"well would if it was your child and he was just trying to get back in his own house" dumb chit thats why you knock on the door or use the doorbell, hell most everyone carrys a cell phone call to be let in. Bottom line is that the guy was not breaking in to an occupied house to have tea and play a game of bridge with the owner. IMO, he did the right thing and protected himself and his property. Too many times in recent months there have been home invasions in and around the SA area where the thugs abducted the home owner and either forced themselves upon them sexually. The one that comes to mind is that business-owner from S.A. who was murdered. Some kid literally fired an arrow through her head. I forget which restaurant she owned, but she was on a food tv show shortly before her murder. Looked it up. www.ksat.com/news/16091923/detail.html
|
|
|
Post by flowtowntigers on May 23, 2011 14:19:02 GMT -6
Corpus Christi police: Checkpoints yield more drivers with insurance www.caller.com/news/2011/may/22/corpus-christi-police-checkpoints-yield-more/?partner=popularI actually was stopped at 3 AM this morning for one of these checkpoints. It was setup at the (Shell) gas station on the corner of Leopard and Crosstown Expressway frontage road (right at the light after the Exit Ramp). I was trying to go get the cheap gas at the Stripes Valero at Staples and Leopard ($3.61 per gallon). There was a small gray pickup behind me as I exited then I saw the Police with flashlights. The Police Officer waved his flshlight and yelled to stop. I stopped, but the small gray pickup kept creeping in the Left Lane. He finally stopped when the Police Officer banged on the passenger door and yelled to "STOP!" A tall Police Officer approached me and asked for Insurance and Driver's License. I gave them to him and he looked them over. He then handed them back to me and told me to have a good night. I could hear several Police Officers yelling at the driver next to me to roll down his window or unlock his door. He then bolted and turned left. The tall Officer told me to hold. I was surprised in that none of the Police Officers were at the ready in cars. There were probably 8 to 10 Police Cars there. Several Police Officers ran for their cars. The small gray pickup had already turned left again and was headed towards the Crosstown Expressway (opposite direction). 3 cars were in hot pursuit. After all the excitement I finally was able to turn right and go get the cheap gas and hit the road for Texas City. The gas station was full of impounded cars that the tow trucks were busy towing away. When I drove back that way to get on I-37 to go over the Harbor Bridge, only two cars remained with two tow trucks picking them up. The Police were gone. Charlotte police have DWI check points about once every two weeks. 70% of the arrest are for warrants, revoked drivers license or no insurance. Very few DWI arrest are make at the DWI check points. Also these checks are never in the affluent parts of the city.
|
|