Cleaning out the office... Oooh...
posted by Nikki at 3:28 PM

You know why some pictures of people come out better than others? It's because of the light in their eyes. When a person smiles enough to let it show in their eyes, the picture always comes out good. It doesn't matter what they're wearing or if they've got makeup on or if their hair is done.

But one of the saddest things is when you're able to fake the light in your eyes. It makes a lie out of the picture. And it shows how accustomed you are to living without it, that you can make it come and go at will. All just to fool the people around you.
posted by Nikki at 4:02 PM

I remember when this happened. That morning was craziness as I was trying to leave for work. Instead I found the road blocked by cops, just as soon as I turned the corner from my house. Turns out he lived on the Anaheim side of our block. For at least a year you could still see the bullet holes in the wood fence where the guy died. His kids went to school at my mom's parish.

http://www.knbc.com/news/16863585/detail.html

Ringleader In 2002 Killing Of Buena Park Man Sentenced To Death
Officials: Navarro, 40, Recruited 3 Pacoima Gang Members To Execute Man

POSTED: 10:52 am PDT July 12, 2008
UPDATED: 11:20 am PDT July 12, 2008

SANTA ANA, Calif. -- A judge followed a jury's recommendation and imposed the death penalty Friday on a Canyon Country gang member who recruited lower- level gang associates to kill a Rancho Dominguez businessman at the behest of the victim's sister.

Anthony Navarro, 40, was convicted Oct. 18 of first-degree murder, conspiracy and street terrorism, along with the special circumstance allegations of murder in the commission of a robbery, a kidnapping and in furtherance of street gang activity.

David Montemayor, 44, was kidnapped from his family-run business by three men on Oct. 2, 2002. The men drove Montemayor toward his home in Buena Park, where they believed he kept thousands of dollars in cash, but he escaped from the car about a mile from the house and ran from the vehicle, prosecutors said.

Two of the abductors fired at him, shooting Montemayor in the head, prosecutors said. All three kidnappers fled the scene, and led police on a televised chase during rush hour.

Montemayor's sister, Deborah Perna, solicited his slaying because she believed the Buena Park man was stealing from the family's business, and out of jealousy after learning that her father intended to pass control of the business to him.

Perna, 50, of Anaheim, asked co-worker Edelmira Corona, 30, of Pico Rivera, to arrange the killing by asking her friend, Navarro, to carry it out, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office.

Prosecutors said Navarro recruited Gerardo Lopez, 22, of Pacoima, Armando Macias, 31, of Lancaster, and Alberto Martinez, 29, of Castaic, all lower-level members of a Pacoima-based gang, to carry out the hit.

Lopez was convicted and sentenced to life in prison without parole, and the other two are awaiting trial, scheduled to begin next March.

Perna was convicted Oct. 28, 2005, of murder, along with the special circumstance allegations of murder during an attempted robbery and kidnapping.

She was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole on Feb. 16, 2006.

Corona pleaded guilty to manslaughter and is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 12. She faces up to 22 years in prison.

Macias and Martinez face trial on Jan. 26.
posted by Nikki at 10:40 AM

Oh what. So I just discovered I can get to Blogger from work.

...

Yet I still feel censored.

I just want to go back home and go to sleep.
posted by Nikki at 8:28 AM