Dear Punxsutawney Phil,

Thanks for not seeing your shadow.

Sincerely,
Me

America's Favourite Delivery Guys

Hi guys...

I want a theme or idea. I don't like blogging just for the sake of blogging. So lets start with a delivery drivers' perspective on YOU!

• Tip BIG... the bigger you tip the better person you are. Hands Down. A big tip = $5

• Don't live in a creepy house, keep your light on, WEAR PANTS!! and smile.

• Speak clearly when giving your address, phone number, etc.
  

• Answer your phone, if I can't find you and can't get a hold of you... you don't get your food.

• Make me happy... after all I do get around 10 minutes alone with your food right before you get it.

• Have a house number that is easy to see from the street

There you go... now go order some food to be delivered and be a pro! :)

I want to take on the world

I was burdened for something HUGE last night. It's a problem. It's a sin. It's a crime. It's happening now. It's prevalent in Kansas City, St. Louis, Ohio, Tampa Bay, and many other cities in the USA and around the world. It's human trafficking.

It could be that girl in the nail saloon. The dish-boy in your favourite restaurant. Or the backbone to producing your fruit and veggies. Not that is always is, but it could be. Be on the look out. If someone is always avoiding you. Is not allowed to leave the establishment ever. Call the hotline. Don't take action yourself. But pray about it, and if you are concerned call it in. This is real.

Massage Parlours Raided in Kansas City, Missouri; Trafficking Suspected

May 17, 2007

Federal agents and local police in Johnson County, Missouri raided 12 businesses and four homes on 10 May 2007, rescuing 15 women from ‘massage parlors'.

The action came during a crackdown on human trafficking by 175 federal agents, police officers and support staff.

The women were receiving shelter, food, clothing and counseling. They also are being interviewed about activities at the businesses, FBI spokesman Jeff Lanza.said. “They are not being treated as suspects,” he said. Neighbors said the businesses raided on Thursday had drawn attention for some time. Businesses were open until 11 p.m., seven days a week. The clientele was almost exclusively men and the customers often didn’t park in front of the business. Witnesses also saw young women being dropped off at one business, as recently as this week, with suitcases and clothing.

A new law will require background checks for current and new massage therapists and companies employing them. Last summer, federal prosecutors in Kansas City established a human-trafficking task force similar to those in about two dozen other cities.

Adapted from: "Modern-Day Slavery: Human-trafficking investigation leads to 16 Johnson County raids." The Kansas City Star. 11 May 2007.

Human Trafficking Rescue Project: Operation Guardian Angel
Naval Recruiter Among Four Men Indicted for Sex Trafficking of a Child;
Undercover Sting Leads to First-Ever Human Trafficking Charges for Attempting to Pay for Sex with Children

KANSAS CITY, MO—Matt J. Whitworth, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that four men - including an active duty Naval recruiter, an insurance manager at a Plaza-area office, an out-of-state car dealership's finance manager and a truck driver - were indicted by a federal grand jury today, in four separate cases, on charges related to the sex trafficking of children.

Today's indictments are the result of Operation Guardian Angel, a unique undercover law enforcement investigation targeting the demand for child prostitutes in the Kansas City area. As a result of this investigation, a total of seven defendants have been charged within the past month in the nation's first-ever federal prosecution of the alleged customers of child prostitution under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act.

"Operation Guardian Angel was launched in response to the black market that exists in our community for child prostitution," said Whitworth. "The U.S. Attorney's Office and our law enforcement partners are committed to combating child sex trafficking by investigating and prosecuting the customers who create the demand for child prostitutes. These sexual predators can come from every walk of life and any socio-economic group."

Operation Guardian Angel was conducted by the Human Trafficking Rescue Project, a joint task force from the Independence Police Department, the FBI, ICE, and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department. During the undercover operation, task force officers placed Internet ads for underage prostitutes. According to court documents, the ads clearly stated that the prostitutes were "little girls" and were "young." Those who responded to the ads were given directions to an undercover location that was outfitted with audio and video recording equipment. When they arrived at the undercover residence and paid cash for a child prostitute, they were arrested by task force officers.

This undercover operation began last Thursday and continued through Saturday. This marks the second time this year that an undercover operation was conducted in the Kansas City area as part of Operation Guardian Angel.

Last month, three Kansas men were indicted as a result of Operation Guardian Angel, marking the first time that the U.S. Department of Justice has utilized the Trafficking Victims Protection Act to prosecute customers who allegedly attempt to pay for sex with children. While the pimps who offer to sell children to others for prostitution have been prosecuted in the Western District and elsewhere, these indictments are the first in the nation to charge a "John" with attempting to pay for sex with a child.

Shane Allan Childers, 32, of Olathe, Kan., Christopher M. Cockrell, 33, of Armory, Miss., Steven C. Albers, 40, of Kansas City, Mo., and Richard J. Oflyng, 31, of Ottawa, Kan., were each charged with the attempted commercial sex trafficking of a child and with using the Internet and telephone to attempt to induce a child to engage in prostitution in a series of indictments returned this afternoon by a federal grand jury in Kansas City.

Childers, an active duty naval recruiter, and Cockrell, the finance manager for an Armory automotive dealership, were each also charged with traveling across state lines for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct, that is, a commercial sex act with a person under 18 years of age.

Albers is an insurance manager at a Plaza office. Oflyng is a truck driver who drove his tractor-trailer to the undercover residence.

Today's indictment replaces a federal criminal complaint that was filed against Childers on Friday, March 6, 2009. According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, on that day Childers paid $60 to have sex with an 11-year-old girl. He paid an extra $20 to have intercourse without using a condom. The affidavit alleges that Childers was wearing his Navy uniform, but had taken off his uniform shirt and was wearing a white undershirt when he knocked on the door of the undercover residence. Childers allegedly responded to the online ad from the Armed Forces Recruiting Station in Lenexa, Kan., where he works, and allegedly used his government-owned computer, Navy e-mail address and government cellular phone to arrange the transaction.

Today's indictment replaces a federal criminal complaint that was filed against Cockrell on Monday, March 9, 2009. According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, Cockrell paid $60 to have sex with a 15-year-old girl on Saturday, March 7, 2009. He paid an extra $20 in order to have intercourse without using a condom and tipped the pimp $20.

A forfeiture allegation contained in Childers' indictment would require him to forfeit to the government a 2002 Chrysler Sebring, which was used to commit the alleged offenses. A forfeiture allegation contained in Albers' indictment would require him to forfeit to the government a 2002 Volkswagen Jetta, which was used to commit the alleged offenses. A forfeiture allegation contained in Oflyng's indictment would require him to forfeit to the government a laptop computer, which was used to commit the alleged offenses.

Under federal statutes, a conviction for the commercial sex trafficking of a child would result in a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison without parole, up to life in federal prison without parole, for Childers, Albers and Oflyng. Due to the difference in ages between the intended victims, a conviction for the commercial sex trafficking of a child would result in a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison without parole, up to life in federal prison without parole, for Cockrell.

Whitworth cautioned that the charges contained in these indictments are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

Sorry this is so long. But you get the point. This is disgusting and I wish I could do something about it!

Sunday to Remember

• 4:30am wake up to the worst pain ever. seriously I thought "if I pass out no one will find me for about 4 hours.
• 4:35am throw up
• 4:45am drink water and climb back in bed
• 5:00am call Cam just so someone knows what going on and tell me I'll be fine
• 8:05am hear phone go off... snooze
• 8:10am phone goes off again... snooze
• 8:15am get kissed on the cheek :)
• 8:16am smile at Cam and say "your here?!?" in a very sleepy voice
  

Basically it was the best day ever!! We went to church, went to lunch at the Chef, did chores, watched a little bit of a movie, got ice-cream, and just hung out. It was a big deal though cause it is the first time he has surprised me like that... it made my semester :)

p.s. I'm horrible at blogging, so I'll probably not update that much just fyi :)

Keep it K-rated

Summer.

Usually summer holds familiarity. No school. Battling against wanting to be inside and needing to be outside. And sun.

This summer was none of that. I was home with my family but it wasn't familiar. It was the first REAL summer that I've spent at home in St. Charles. I loved it! Watching my brothers play baseball, walking around Old Town, chillin with the fam, cleaning house, cooking meals, and just being a daughter and sister again was fantastic! But I missed Cam, and my friends. So I got the chance to mix it up a little bit and tag along with the Wainscotts when the took a vacation to Texas. That was fun! I've never gone on vacation with another family. Ever. Not even related families haha. THEN. I went to the Michael Buble concert for my birthday because my boyfriend is just amazing like that :)

The second half of the summer was perhaps the most difficult and most amazing. I spent 6 weeks working in a HOT kitchen for 10+ hours a day. Sound fun? Well it was! Because I met some of the most amazing girls ever, I grew closer to my Savior, and generally just ignored the world. It was tough to miss Cam. But the things I learned were worth it I think. Curious? Good.

• Call yourself a Christian? Is Christ your treasure. Above your family. Your friends. Your future. Your success. Your life.
• If you love Him you will follow His commands.
  
• Church is better when you can hear the bugs and birds.
• Taneycomo is COLD!
• A/C is good but not really needed.
  
• Milk of Mag is DISGUSTING.
  
• God is working today.
  
• The world is distracting.
• Shorts are shorter and tighter this summer. This is made even more clear when your used to only seeing nike shorts.
• Snail mail is the best way to communicate.
• Christian Hip-Hop/Rap is legit.

WHAT!?!?

Two blogs in one week, what is going on here... haha. Well, this week has been overwhelming for so many reasons that I really don't want to go into but updating and listening to "lose yourself" is my substitute for going outside and running as fast and hard and long as I can... cause I'm afraid I'll start crying if I do that... but I really need some adrenaline run off. If any guys are reading this... be thankful you DON'T have a constant rollercoaster called hormones cause they can literally drive you crazy.

Really, this has been a pretty good week, I mean its amazing outside. School hasn't been crazy busy. And Initiation is this weekend (a secret festival of funness) But I have just felt like bawling all day... I actually almost did while venting to my Momma (my Mom is the greatest!) Don't freak out on me, I'm fine really I am... just needed to vent so thanks for reading :)

Wakeful Wildcat

Gotta love not being able to sleep, I have read for about two hours now and still wide awake! I listened to my voicemail, skipping them all just to listen to the last one multiple times... I don't think you could even IMAGINE how that message makes me smile.

Anyways, I don't really have anything on my mind except I really want to sleep and can't, please forgive the rambleness that this post will be but Hannah has asked I update and I don't really have anything better to do at the moment so here ya go :) So whats been going on lately? School... Spring Break... Easter... Homework... Sweet Sixteen... (watching KU lose early)... Cam's Birthday... Permission...

School: SUCKS THE LIFE OUT OF YOU, and I kinda like it. Its a strange twist of fate, maybe its like tattoos? They hurt but the pain is addicting haha.

Spring Break: Was a wonderful time of hanging out with my family and Cameron. It just wasn't long enough.

Easter: I spent this with Cameron's family in Ballardish, for those who have been there you understand... its not really in Ballard because the town is too small for anyone to really live in but anyways I digress. Easter was a good day to celebrate the miracle of our loving Lord. Oh how deep the Fathers love for us!

Homework: Is a constant part of my life, but I ALMOST enjoy it. It is my purpose for the day, if it wasn't for that consistency I would waste so much time... I already do waste a lot of time, I can't imagine what I would do with my time without school.

Sweet Sixteen: WAS AMAZING!!!!!! The pride of FINALLY demanding the respect of the midwest was really nice... being the little kid that gets picked on gets really old... which goes into my next point.

Watching KU lose early: was a bittersweet feeling, Cam was devastated which broke my heart. But for all the OTHER KU fans it certainly made how far K-State got THAT MUCH BETTER. As far as Cam is concerned though I am a KU fan whenever K-State is not in the mix... but don't quote me on that, I'll deny it.... PERSISTENTLY!

Cam's Birthday: Started off rough since his team lost :/ but he was able to deal with that quickly and we had a good time celebrating with his extended family. I really wish my family lived as close as his does. I could count on 1 hand how many cousin birthday parties I've had. Best part, we're legal now haha. Happy Birthday again Babe!

Permission: is a GRAND thing :)

Well.... that was fun but I'm still tired and still wide awake at the same time... good thing I don't have class until 11:30 I guess.

1) Usher is the bomb... he is possibly my favourite hip-hop artist right now... why? cause he has variety in his music, and he CAN dance... like nobody's buisness.

2) Facebook is a stupid waste of time... that I love cause it makes keeping in touch with people easy!

3) College sports are the best thing EVER! I would rather watch college anything over pro... why? cause they guys are working hard to get where they are at, they aren't making millions to play a game and entertain me, they are my age living a life pretty similar to mine... or at least living in the same town haha. Pro-ball is cool... but lame. NCAA is where its at!

4) Wanna hear a secret? Guy will react a lot more strongly (haha horrible grammar) to a car like a Lamborghini or Camaro or any other hot sports car you can think of... than a girl. Maybe this is just they self-control but I have watched boys completely melt, sigh, jaw drop, suck all the air out of the room, and giggle like a school girl at the sight of a Lamborghini Gallardo... boys and their toys huh?

Well I am gonna end this and maybe try to sleep soon... I hope this was entertaining :)