Snellville Residents React to Rain

You can divide people up demographically into categories - African American, Caucasian, Pacific Islander, rich, poor, Christian, Muslim, Atheist, Conservative, Liberal, Libertarian, Green Party, PETA member, NRA member, Clinton supporter, Obama supporter, McCain supporter.

I have another system. Just watch how they drive when it rains.

I have devoted seconds of study to this, and have found that Snellville drivers can be divided up into different categories of personality and behavior when it rains.

1) "Eeek, it's raining! I better drive 5 in a 30 MPH zone." (over-corrector, they are trying to drive safely, but by over-correcting, they are actually dangerous)

2) "Eeek, it's raining! I better drive 60 in a 5 MPH zone." (panicky, this is the type of person who is made dizzy or nervous by their own windshield wipers)

3) "That dork over there is driving 5 in a 30 MPH zone, and is making me late, therefore I must rush to make up for lost time." (Driver Type 1 turns other drivers into Driver Type 2, or at least, that's what Driver Type 2 will blame for it.)

4) The Type 4 Driver is the driver who thinks that because it's drizzling or raining, he or she always has the right-of-way at all turns and 4-way stops. It is unknown why this hallucination I call the "Me First" syndrome occurs. It is related closely to Driver Type 2's nervousness. Exercise Extreme Caution: If Driver Type 4 is at a 4-Way Stop and lightning or thunder occurs, they may bolt forward wildly into the intersection. If there are several Type 2 or Type 4 drivers near each other, the result can be somewhat like a cattle stampede.

5) Driver Type 5 stays home when it rains, because of Driver Types 1, 2, 3, and 4.

6) Driver Type 6 feels that he or she is unaffected by rain, but cannot truly be unaffected, due to Driver Types 1, 2, 3, and 4 being on the road with Driver Type 6.

I might devote some more time to this later. It's clear that the phenomena should be explored further. I wonder how many lives are being saved by the drought.

NEAR Snellville Double Shooting, Possible Home Invasion

The shootings took place on Michael Jay Street. If you look at this pdf of Snellville Streets (a little out of date, it's a 2006 list)but Michael Jay street isn't even listed for Snellville. I looked under Michael and I looked under Jay. I don't see it. This is probably another case of "if it's close to Snellville, let's call it Snellville".... but it doesn't look like this happened within Snellville City limits. If you look at the Mapquest listing for Michael Jay Street, it is almost in Rockdale County. The phone number to call to report anything related to this crime is 770-513-5300, which is the phone number for the Gwinnett County Police, not the Snellville Police Department.

2 wounded in Snellville home invasion
Atlanta Journal Constitution - GA, USA
By SA REID Two Snellville residents were critically wounded after being shot during an apparent home invasion early Sunday. ...

Gwinnett Police Investigate Double Shooting
WXIA-TV - Atlanta,GA,USA
An overnight shooting in Snellville leaves two indiviuals in critical condition. The Gwinnett Police Department says the shooting happened early Sunday ...

Justin Gaines Update

Justin Gaines has been missing for five months now. Tomorrow (Monday) is Justin's 19th birthday, so it will be especially hard on the family. There is some new information in this online news article.

Today's Snellville News and Blogs

Despite Reprieve, Downtown Still Packed
WXIA-TV - Atlanta,GA,USA
"My parents live in Snellville, so I'm going to drive from north Georgia to Snellville and ride with my parents to a MARTA stop and ride in," said Losch. ...

What do you do with a second chance at life?
Atlanta Journal Constitution - GA, USA
10 while repairing electrical lines on Clower Street in Snellville. Electricity (how much is unclear) entered his chest and came out his back. ...

Whole Lotta Gwinnett News: Immigration, Crosswalk Sting, and Braves Stadium

Gwinnett considers checking inmates for immigration violations
Atlanta Journal Constitution - GA, USA
"The people in Gwinnett County deserve better than that. They deserve to know what the program will accomplish. They deserve to know who it is intended for. ...

Gwinnett's first crosswalk sting produces 82 warnings
Atlanta Journal Constitution - GA, USA
That message was brought home to motorists Thursday morning when Gwinnett County police conducted an undercover "crosswalk sting" at the intersection of ...

It's a go: Braves stadium construction can begin
Atlanta Journal Constitution - GA, USA
... move quickly to obtain a land disturbance permit from Gwinnett County's Department of Planning and Development now that the DRI review is complete. ...

726 Unit Retirement Facility on Tree Lane Gets Thumbs Up

"The Snellville City Council on Monday unanimously approved a controversial rezoningproposal to allow the development of a 726-unit senior housing complex on Tree Lane near Emory Eastside Medical Center.

The development, which will be built on 44 acres, will feature a variety of housing options for retirees — duplexes, a nursing home, independent living and assisted living units — plus an activity center and medical offices."..... Full story at the AJC

"A lawyer for the hospital said the medical offices would "negatively impact" businesses already at Emory Eastside."..........

Eastside Hospital wants the services offered by the medical offices to be limited, so they won't have so much competition. I don't think they should worry so much about that. If you offer a quality service, competition should be seen as a good thing. A lot of seniors are so devoted to their doctors, that I don't think the short trip to Eastside for services is going to effect where they decide to get their care. I wonder why Eastside doesn't see it as something that will increase their business? Just wondering out loud here.

I am really glad the development is coming. My mother is in her 80's and I have been looking at independent living facilities in the area, and there isn't a lot here. I would like to know when the new facilities will be open, if anyone knows?

I worked to compile some lists of independent living and assisted living retirement centers near Snellville. As I become aware of more, I will add them to those pages.

New REM Music

The new R.E.M. CD, entitled Accelerate, is going to be released on April 1st.

It's available at Amazon.com for pre-ordering. You can also preview the music and a vido on the site. So, if you like, get one and keep our semi-local boys living in the manner in which they're accustomed.

I think I will probably get it...or at least, I should get it. My CD collection is living in the past. I still listen to the Talking Heads. So now you know I'm telling the truth! LOL
Maybe I will ask for it as a Mother's Day present...

Rate My Snellville Blog (please?)

I added this blog to a site called Blogged, where users can rate blogs. Apparently an Editor of their site rated this blog, and they rated it 5.1/Average. I'm not ashamed to say that seeing that kind of hurt my feelings (I know, get a life, right?!?)

To an editor of Blogged.com, Snellville news is probably really boring. Why would he/she be interested? Well I would love it if the actual usual readers or visitors of this blog would sound off there, review this blog and let me know how I am doing. That is the only way I can improve it.

I don't think it's "average" as far as Snellville blogs go. The only ones I've ever seen seem to be very angry or political, and if the blog writer isn't that way, the people who post comments certainly seem very bitter or that they want to pick fights.

I definitely could get a lot of comments and web traffic to this blog, if I acted angry and tried to shock people all the time or made it dirty. But I'm not writing this blog for the people at Blogged...I'm writing it for you (and myself)

All I ask if you have a minute to review or rate this blog, I would really appreciate the feedback so I can provide better service on this here ol' blog.

New Snellville Police Department Complex to be Built

Snellville to build new public safety complex downtown
Atlanta Journal Constitution - GA, USA
By D. AILEEN DODD The city of Snellville will expand its footprint downtown with the purchase of land for a new police department. ...

Takeaways
(the MySnellvilleBlogNotes version...like Cliff Notes)

• The City of Snellville has a contract on two parcels of property near the corner of Wisteria Drive and Henry Clower Blvd.

• The total cost of the project to fall somewhere between $1.8 and $6.8 million dollars.

• The city set aside about $5 million from the 2004 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax for this purpose.

• Chief Roy Whitehead said he expects that the new public safety complex will be more high tech and much larger than the police department's current HQ.

• Construction on the public safety building will not begin for more than a year after it is purchased.

• A $140 million upscale residential community called Wisteria Square, which will feature condos, office space, shops and an amphitheater, also is slated to be developed nearby on Wisteria Drive. Councilman Tod Warner thinks that the new public safety complex will bring more interest to the Wisteria Square development.
  

Brit Hume's Opinion of Obama Speech

A few days ago, I watched the Obama speech on Fox News. I had to hit pause on the DirectTV (TiVo type thing) several times because my toddler son constantly needed me. This time, the paused picture caused me to laugh, and I thought you might enjoy it too. Apparently Brit Hume found the speech boring. Nah, he was just blinking (I think.)

Easter Recipes

Need some last-minute Easter recipes? Check out the QuickNEasy Recipes blog.

Jason Elam Coming Home

Report: Falcons sign Elam to four-year deal
Seattle Post Intelligencer - USA Elam attended Brookwood High School in Snellville, Georgia, which is about 25 miles from Atlanta. Elam, 38, will take over for 47-year Morten Andersen and ...

Jason Elam Leaving Broncos
TheDenverChannel.com - Denver,CO,USA
According to the Denver Post, the Falcons were Elam's second choice team because he grew up in the Atlanta suburb of Snellville.

Easter Services in Snellville

If you are looking for a new church, or a church to visit on Sunday, I have a post with information about Easter service times and locations here. It's not a comprehensive list - I have not had enough time to get all the information, so I only have Snellville United Methodist and Snellville First Baptist listed. Please Email the information to me and I'll be glad to add it.

Snellville's Emergency Plan

Tornado tests Gwinnett's emergency responders
Atlanta Journal Constitution - GA, USA

"If disaster struck Snellville, police would establish an incident command post and log 12-hour shifts. Public works would help to clear roads and offer other support. Local schools and churches would be used as shelters.

Snellville participates in the county's emergency preparedness plan. City officials would be in communication with the county to get the support the city needs in a natural disaster, said Police Chief Roy Whitehead."

Energy Vampires

Dr. Judith Orloff discusses how the whiners, complainers, drama queens etc in our life can suck the life right out of us and what you can do about it. Garlic, anyone? STORY

That'll teach him to grease the right palms next time

A Snellville builder found out too late that the City of Monroe GA has a code against 3 story buildings.

"The council said Creative Customs, LLC violated city code for building the multi-unit structures and will now have to re-build them to fit code."

The city council will not allow negotiation for the third floor to be used as attic areas and told the builder that what they have done must be torn down and the building rebuilt.

Creative Customs owner John Roth said his company will now have to spend “thousands of dollars” to modify the buildings to get them in agreement with city code.

Walton Tribune Article

South Gwinnett High School Student Needs Your Vote To Win 20K Scholarship

Shelby Lohr, A senior at South Gwinnett High School is a finalist in a $20,000 scholarship contest by Zinch.com.

Zinch.com's website says "Almost all colleges find and recruit students through standardized test scores. Zinch allows students to be seen for what they are -- not just numbers, but people. You are more than a test score. Join the movement."

The process requires online votes for her to move to the next round of competition. 200 students were chosen from a pool of over 200,000 eligible to participate. She was then selected to be one of 64 student finalists vying for the ultimate 20k prize scholarship to the school of her choice.

She has posted a video on YouTube called "Zinch Horror" which has been posted on the zinch website as an example to other contestants.

You can vote for Shelby by visiting http//www.zinch.com/marchmadness and click on her name- "Shelby Lohr" then click "Vote me"....Voting was really easy, took only a couple seconds, and there was no sign up involved.

Shelby is one of only two Georgia students chosen for this exciting opportunity. Community involvement makes all the difference in who wins or not. Take a moment and
change the life of one of our own local kids!

I'm Old and Poor...How About You?

This site is amazing. Check out all the demographic info for Snellville on City-Data.com

Looks like it was last updated in 2006, so all the information is probably not accurate anymore, but it's still fun to browse.

I am older and poorer than the average Snellville resident. Wow, that really made me feel good! (sarcasm) ... I'm average for education and relationship status though. Woo hoo!

Are you older, younger, richer, poorer than the average Snellvillian? Let me know...

New Pencil Portrait

Just wanted to share with you a new pencil portrait I did for a client...I did three for this customer, and I'll post them later. Soooo busy! I am pretty happy with this one. I tweaked some of my own drawing techniques, and I won't bore you with that, but I do love how it came out. In the reference photo I had to work from, she is holding a baby close to her face, so I kind of had to "reconstruct " the edge of her cheek. It worked I guess. If I hadn't told you that, you wouldn't have known, right?

Pencil Portrait of a Young Lady

Tornado in Atlanta

The National Weather Service has confirmed that it was definitely a tornado that hit downtown Atlanta last night. I was pretty sure it had to be a tornado, and not something like just strong gusty winds - from seeing the news footage of so much twisted metal. Even a strong thunderstorm wouldn't do that kind of damage. Hubs was within walking distance of that area, but wasn't aware that anything was going on. AJC on the tornado

Can you imagine being on the street when that blew through, and the glass breaking out of windows above and all that mess coming down on you? That must have been extremely frightening. Here are some pictures.

Now we're under a tornado watch until this evening. They expect more storms to come through here at about Noon.

I have no idea what to title this

Someone posted a video on YouTube of cremation at Tom M. Wages Funeral Home.

Rick Johnson, CEO of Tom M. Wages LLC (son in law of late funeral home founder Tom M. Wages Sr., and a funeral director in his own right), found the video during an online search of the business name and was shocked by what he saw.

The video was posted on December 25, 2007 and showed someone opening the crematory door and making some kind of comment about seeing a skull. The people who took the video have been identified, and although the funeral home wants to pursue criminal charges, apparently there is nothing on the books (that they have found yet) to charge the people with anything criminal. The video was probably shot using a cell phone.

Attorneys for Tom M. Wages Funeral Home were able to get YouTube to remove the video.

I have to wonder about people who do stuff like this. Where is their respect?!? What if that was their father or mother, brother, sister, or friend in the crematory? Would they like some jerk to shoot video of them and post it online? I guess they don't have that little thing in their brain that tells them when to stop. They sicken me.

More details here and here

Are you OVER-Saved?

Whatcha doin tomorrow night? Here's something to do...

The New London Theatre will present Arsenic and Old Lace at their new location tomorrow night at 8 pm. If you can't make tomorrow's show, the play has several more dates. You can buy your tickets online using PayPal and save. Tickets are $12 if you prepay, but $15 at the door.
Click here to buy tickets online and see dates/times.
If you want to use a credit card to pay, you need to buy your ticket using this link, because the theatre's physical location is unable to accept credit cards. If you pay at the door, only cash or check can be accepted at this time.

The New London Theatre is located at 2485 Main Street East, Snellville, GA 30078. It is in the same plaza as Provino's, Big Lots, and the Snellville Diner. The phone number is 770-979-3691.

My Squidoo Page about the New London Theatre and the synopsis & old movie clips of Arsenic and Old Lace, starring Cary Grant and Peter Lorre.

Need more info? See the New London Theatre's website

$30K found in clothing donated to thrift store

A lady in California and works for a thrift store is sending money to her mother in Mexico.

This is the kind of story we hear about a lot, and many of us resent that people are making money here in America and sending the money out of the country.

But wait...

Barbarita Nunez found $30,000 in an article of clothing that was donated to the thrift store. The money turned out to belong to a woman who had died. Her family received the money and gave a reward to Ms. Nunez. Most of the money is going to go toward Ms. Nunez's mother's eye surgery.

If Barbarita Nunez is not an American citizen, she should be. I'm glad there are people like her! STORY

Snellville Heroes Save Man's Life at Summit Chase

This is an amazing story of two heroes ( Adrienne Britt-Rousseau and Craig Conner) and how they saved a 78 year old man's life with a defibrillator at Summit Chase Country Club in Snellville.

If You Steal a Cell Phone, Set it to 'Vibrate'

Just shaking my head here!

"A manager of a group home for troubled people in Snellville called police to report a stolen cellphone. The manager said he suspected a resident had stolen his phone three weeks ago, but the resident denied taking it. On this day, the manager dialed his own phone number in the presence of the suspected thief. He could hear the phone ringing in the resident's pocket. The manager decided not to press charges, but he asked the resident to leave."

Found in this AJC article

Food Runners Food Delivery Service Now Open

There is now a new food delivery service 'round here.

It is called Food Runners, and they will deliver orders for several different restaurants. Click on the restaurant you would like to order from, then a menu will come up with prices. Then just click the name of the item to add it to your shopping cart. Food Runners gets the food for you from the restaurant(s) you chose and delivers it to your home or office. There is a $5.00 delivery fee.

You can visit their website to get a sneak peek at www.food-runners.com
Their phone number is 770-982-9314
Their website says if you will be a new customer, please call them first so that they can set up your account.

The restaurants available are: American Tavern (American food), Biscuit House Diner (sandwiches, burgers and such), ILforno (New York pizza and pasta), Monterrey (Mexican), Oriental Garden (Chinese), and Rudy's Bar and Grill.

They deliver to Grayson, Loganville, Snellville, and select areas of Lawrenceville. Because they are based in Loganville, it's understandably difficult to get the food from Loganville area restaurants out to Lawrenceville and still maintain the quality that is necessary. But they say they are expanding, and looking for good drivers, if you know someone who needs a delivery job.

I haven't tried them yet, but I anticipate we will. I am getting really tired of Pizza Hut.

If you try the Food Runners service, please be sure to post a comment and let us all know what you think about it!

UPDATE: For more food delivery services in Snellville,
please see SnellvilleEats.com

Hail and Snow Flurries in Snellville

What do you think of this wild and wacky weather? Yesterday it was 70 degrees, and this morning we had a little bit of small hail and lots of snow flurries...but the snow didn't stay/stick.

If you slept in today, you missed it. I swear, I am not making this up!

In 1993, we had quite a blizzard with ice, and it also followed some previous days of higher than normal temperatures.

My poor little miniature daffodils don't know what to do.

Have higher gas prices changed your life?

I am still trying to get over the shock of gas being $3.15 in Snellville.
They say it might go over $4 a gallon by April.

Last week, my tank was getting really low...I kept holding out for the gas price to go down a bit, but it didn't...so I finally had to bite the bullet and gas up. I had just put my debit card through and was about to squeeze the trigger of the gas pump, when the screen went blank. The gas station lost power. This was a lesson to me to not let the gas tank get that low. If we have a bad weather situation and the area loses power, you can forget about being able to get gasoline, so make sure you have gas in your car.

I am trying harder to combine trips whenever possible, and when I can, I drive the car that gets better gas mileage. I do have an SUV....no guilt trips, please....I didn't seek out an SUV, it just happened that way. It's old and it's not perfect, but at least it's paid in full. I don't know what I'd do if I had a car payment to make and buy gas....I guess I could pay for the car, but I'd have to just admire it in the driveway!

Reminder, you can check out Snellville Gas Prices on this page....I also have it linked on the right navigation bar of this blog for your convenience.

K-Mart Pharmacy in Snellville has FT and PT Opening

Kmart Pharmacy is looking for a Pharmacist.
See information on this job here

A Special Kind of Stupid

A guy asked a friend to shoot him in the arm so he could have a sick day off work and avoid a drug test. Good thing they don't do random drug tests at his work, or he'd have to be shot every day.
LINK

Southeast Gwinnett Co-Op is out of these foods

The Southeast Gwinnett Coop is completely out of the following:

• cooking oil
• grits
• sugar
• flour
• spaghetti sauce
• pancake mix
  
• laundry detergents

For more information on the Southeastern Gwinnett Co-op and the services they provide, please see this page....LINK

Give Blood & Have Chance to Win a Cruise

A Blood Drive for Red Cross will be held at Snellville Middle School on Monday, March 24th from 2:00 pm until 7:00 pm. To avoid waiting in line, go to www.givelife.org and use code snellville to schedule an appointment.

Anyone donating blood during the blood drive will be entered in a drawing for a cruise for two and two Delta Airlines round-trip tickets.

The winner will be announced in April. The drawing is from the Red Cross and anyone donating blood during the Month of March will be eligible for a chance to win.

One thing's for sure - you will win juice and cookies and a good feeling knowing your blood donation could save someone's life.