Election Reform, Fraud and Related News, Friday, 6/27/08

Presidential election inspires new citizens
by Maureen Sieh
Thursday June 26, 2008, 12:56 PM

Syracuse, NY -- Gwendoline Alphonso, a graduate student at Cornell University, turned in her voter registration form a few minutes before she took the oath to become a United States citizen today in U.S. District Court in Syracuse.

Alphonso, a native of India, was among 37 people from 26 countries who became U.S. citizens in a naturalization ceremony administered by U.S. magistrate Judge George Lowe.

The November presidential election inspired Alphonso to become a citizen.

"This very much feels like my homecoming,'' said Alphonso, 31, who emigrated to America in 2000 to pursue graduate studies in American politics.

http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2008/06/presidential_election_inspires.html




1. Post stories and announcements you find on the web. Here's the link to the News Directory:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x371233

2. Re-post stories and announcements you find on DU, providing a link to the original thread with thanks to the Original Poster, too.

3. Start a discussion thread by re-posting a story you see on this thread.

Recommendations are always appreciated!

Exclusive: Supreme Court Decision Derails Federal Fraud Suit Against Voting Machine Company


Reported by Brad Friedman, from the road...

The whistleblower lawsuit against voting machine company Hart InterCivic, as filed in federal court on behalf of former employee William Singer, has been withdrawn following a decision by the Supreme Court that makes pursuing the case nearly impossible, according to the law firm who originally filed the complaint.

The suit had been sealed for nearly two years as the Dept. of Justice asked for extension after extension during their decision on whether or not to join the case. Earlier this year, they ultimately decided not to join the case, as we reported last March, leaving the firm of Levin Papantonio Thomas Mitchell Echsner & Proctor, P.A to proceed on their own. The DoJ declines to join some 76% of such cases.

In the interim, while waiting for the DoJ, the case of Rockwell Intl Corp. v. U.S. came before the U.S. Supreme Court, and the findings in that decision, as attorney Mike Papantonio told The BRAD BLOG, has "made it next to impossible to proceed with any and all federal whistleblower (qui tam) cases."

The decision found that Rockwell was required to pay millions of dollars under the federal False Claims Act to the federal government, but that the relator of the case --- the insider who blew the whistle --- was not entitled to any of that money, nor even for the millions of dollars accrued in legal costs since the amended complaint, filed with the Justice Dept., included information about which the relator did not have direct inside knowledge.

http://www.opednews.com/maxwrite/linkframe.php?linkid=62788

(Revisited but worth repeating.)



Vermont bicyclists are in a race to register voters before the November presidential election.

The "Great American Voter Trek," made up of seven students from Vermont's leading colleges and universities, is biking from Middlebury, Vt., to Laramie, Wyo., in the hopes of registering as many voters as possible for the 2008 election.

Next stop on the trip is Bowling Green.

They will be joined by Mayor John Quinn Tuesday, July 1, at Grounds for Thought located at 345 South Main St. to inspire people to register to vote.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/06/27/politics/uwire/main4216133.shtml

Chapman speaks out against voter fraud

June 26, 2008

MARION -- Secretary of State Beth Chapman spoke to a crowded chapel here tonight about election laws and alleged voter fraud in Perry County and other areas of Alabama.

"We all have just one vote except in some counties in Alabama," she said.

Chapman, the state's chief election official, recently formed a voter fraud unit in her office after reports flooded in following the June 3 Alabama primaries.

Chapman, a Republican, encouraged people with knowledge of voter fraud to come forward with information on who was involved and when and where it occurred.

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080626/NEWS/80626043

Translation: They're going to try to steal AL massively. You're on the list, Ms. Chapman!

Indian voting faces challenge
Capitol Media Services
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 06.26.2008

PHOENIX — A court challenge to the nominating petitions of three legislative candidates could determine what requirements are imposed on reservation residents.

A judge will consider Friday whether to count the signatures of voters who listed only a post office box on petitions. The contention is these do not match the addresses on voter-registration forms.

But Rep. Pete Rios, D-Dudleyville, said there's a good reason for that: Many reservation residents do not have a street address. So their voter forms do things like describe where they live in terms of distances from landmarks.

Rep. Ben Miranda, D-Phoenix, acknowledged that the law does require petitions to contain a street address. But he said that, given the peculiar nature of reservations, courts should instead interpret the "spirit of the law."

http://www.azstarnet.com/metro/245605

Lawsuit spurs county to increase election security

GARRY DUFFY
Tucson Citizen

The Pima County Board of Supervisors will consider stepped up security measures for future elections when it meets Tuesday.

County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry will recommend 11 steps he said should tighten voting and ballot tabulating processes that came under fire for about a year during proceedings in lawsuit filed by the PIma County Democratic Party in Superior Court.

The Democrats won the suit and the county was ordered by Superior Court Judge Michael Miller to turn over the electronic databases from past county elections dating back to the late 1990s.

Democrats said they wanted the databases to check for security flaws in elections software and for possible tampering with votes or ballot tabulations in those elections.

http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/local/89507.php

Clerk’s office gearing up for 2008 elections
Pam Schneider emphasizes dates, location changes

Callie Jones, J-A staff writer
Thursday, June 26, 2008

STERLING — With the upcoming 2008 primary and general elections, the Logan County Clerk and Recorder’s office has been busy.

However, Pam Schneider, the Logan County clerk and recorder, made some time Wednesday to speak to the Sterling Rotary Club.

She talked about gearing up for the elections and some important things for voters to know. Schneider said that Logan County always seems to be one of the counties with a higher percentage of people who go out and vote. With that being the case, the clerk and recorder’s office has spent a lot of time preparing.

“We’re definitely busy in the office,” Schneider said.

In order to prepare, the office staff is trying to keep people informed and make sure they know things like that Colorado will not have presidential candidates on the ballot during the primary elections in August. The Colorado primary election is to eliminate party candidates going onto the general election ballot, which is where the presidential candidates will appear.

http://www.journal-advocate.com/news/2008/jun/26/clerks-office-gearing-2008-elections/

Barefoot Bay elections scrutinized
Changes made to manner in which Recreation District trustees are chosen may be illegal

By Henry A. Stephens (Contact)
Friday, June 27, 2008

BAREFOOT BAY — — Seven months after Barefoot Bay voters agreed to change the way they elect their Recreation District trustees, Brevard County elections officials are checking to see if it was legal as they qualify candidates for the November ballot.

"I don't understand why there should be confusion at all," Trustee Rob Allan said Tuesday.

But the county Supervisor of Elections Office, on its Web site (http://brevardelections .org/2008cand.htm), presents what looks like Allan running against fellow Trustee Joseph Klosky for the Group 5 seat, while newcomer John McAfee and Trustee Charles Mershon are unopposed for the Group 1 and 2 seats, respectively, and the Group 7 and 9 seats are still vacant.

In reality, candidates said, they are supposed to run Nov. 4 in an at-large race in which the top three vote-getters will claim the open nonpartisan trustee seats.

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2008/jun/27/30gtbarefoot-bay-elections-scrutinized/

Voter cards are in the mail
Thu Jun 26, 2008, 12:17 PM EDT

Woburn, MA -

City Clerk William Campbell is advising residents that voter confirmation cards have been mailed within the past few days.

If a voter receives a card, he or she should be certain that the information is correct, sign the card and return the card as soon as possible. The voter does not have to place a stamp on the card. The city must pay the postage according to federal and state law.

Voters should keep in mind the following points. Not all voters will receive a card. A card is sent if there is no record of receiving the local census in the Office of the City Clerk. The voter is not removed from the voting list but is designated “inactive.” The inactive status is removed by returning the signed card to the Office of the City Clerk by the next voter registration deadline or by signing an affidavit of residence at the polls on election day.

The city is required by state law to prepare an annual street list of residents. The city mailed out 19,335 census forms to every household in the city earlier this year. If there is no record of a census return, the city must mail a confirmation card to each voter for which there is no record.

http://www.wickedlocal.com/woburn/town_info/government/x833720659/Voter-cards-are-in-the-mail

:crazy:

NM revises recount procedure in close races
By BARRY MASSEY Associated Press Writer
Article Launched: 06/26/2008 05:14:18 PM MDT

SANTA FE—The secretary of state's office has revised procedures for recounts in close primary election contests, including a state Senate race in which some ballots are missing in one county.

The change came as one of the candidates in the Senate race voiced objections to the initial recount plan.

Secretary of State Mary Herrera said earlier this week that the recount would be conducted by having counties recheck the results of voting machines—inserting memory cards into tabulators and printing out the results. A change was announced Thursday.

Now, paper ballots will be fed into the tabulators again for the recount except in two Cibola County precincts where ballots are missing. When necessary, ballots will be counted by hand. Provisional ballots, for example, are handed tallied.

http://www.lcsun-news.com/ci_9709854

State completes investigation into ‘06 Swain election
Thursday, June 26, 2008 9:57 AM EDT

No charges recommended on alleged irregularities

By Pete Lawson
Times Staff

The N.C. State Board of Elections staff has completed a report on alleged absentee voting irregularities related to Swain County's 2006 general election.

The six-page report summarizes allegations made by Swain County Board of Elections member John Herrin and notes individuals interviewed, evidence collected and staff findings with respect to the allegations.

The intent of the summary, according to the report, is to "provide you (State Board of Elections, Swain County Board of Elections, U.S. Attorney's Office, Department of Justice) with sufficient information to determine whether further action is necessary or appropriate at this time."

State Board of Elections involvement began in early 2007 after Herrin, minority Republican board member of the Swain County BOE, filed complaints with the state alleging voter intimidation, improper witnessing of absentee voting and improper mailing of absentee ballots. The complaints were lodged against local mobile home park owner Phillip Smith and Swain County Commission Chairman and 2006 candidate Glenn Jones.

http://www.thesmokymountaintimes.com/articles/2008/06/26/news/news01.txt

Record Number To Take Oath of Citizenship
During 4th of July Festival

Press Release

N.C. 4th of July Festival Naturalization CeremonyJune 26, 2008 – Southport, North Carolina (NC) - A record number of 96 individuals from 48 counties and every continent in the world will take their Oath of Citizenship and become United States citizens during the N.C. 4th of July Festival Naturalization Ceremony on Thursday, July 3rd at 4:45pm at Fort Johnston on the Garrison Lawn in Southport.

Since 1996, a Naturalization Ceremony has been incorporated into the N.C. 4th of July Festival and administered by what is now The United States Department of Homeland Security Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). New citizens and spectators will be entertained by canon salutes, music by the Southport Community Choir & Sea Notes Choral Society and a patriotic finale provided by the Sunny Point Fireboat. The Main Address will be given by Dr. E. Thomas Wetzel, II, welcome from City of Southport Mayor Sandy Spencer and closing remarks by Mr. Jeffrey Sapko, USCIS.

The new citizens and their families will be invited to a reception after the event hosted by Brunswick Town Chapter NSDAR.

A festive mood will be set prior to the ceremony as the Brunswick Concert Band plays a selection of patriotic music from 4pm-4:45pm at Fort Johnston on the Garrison Lawn.

http://www.southporttimes.com/articles/2008062604.html

Election officials asked to use increased security measures
June 26, 2008

By MARC KOVAC
C-N Capital Bureau

COLUMBUS -- County elections officials need to implement increased security measures and take pains to ensure voting machines, ballots and facilities are safe, the head of the Stark County board told an audience in Columbus Wednesday.

"This is not the year to be complacent," said election board director Jeff Matthews. "... We will have scrutiny in every county. All counties will be subject to wild accusations and rumors. If you don't have these minimum security arrangements, you will be vulnerable to these kinds of allegations."

Matthews was part of a statewide group working to draft minimum security measures to be implemented at all elections board offices. He spoke during a "Summit on Voting Security," part of a statewide meeting of county elections officials headed by Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner.

Election board directors and board members spent three days in the state capital in preparation for the November general election and a voter turnout that Brunner has estimated could reach 80 percent. Sessions were offered on poll-worker training, precinct place access issues, voter identification requirements and absentee and early voting guidelines.

http://www.crescent-news.com/news/article/4001771

Do voters need to be told paper's an option?
Thursday, June 26, 2008 3:23 AM
By Mark Niquette
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

That's a common question at the grocery store, and Ohio elections officials are debating whether it also should be asked at the polls on Election Day.

Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner is requiring that Franklin County and the 52 other counties using touch-screen voting machines also make paper ballots available at the polls Nov. 4, just as she did for the March 4 primary.

The idea is to have the paper ballots available as a backup if machines break down, to help alleviate any long lines and for voters who prefer to use them.

For the primary, Brunner didn't mandate that poll workers tell voters that they had the option of asking for a paper ballot, and she believes many voters didn't know they had a choice.

http://www.columbusdispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/06/26/paper_or_plastic.ART_ART_06-26-08_B1_HNAJAIP.html?sid=101

Thursday, Jun. 26, 2008


Voting machine decision looms

By Anne Danahy
- adanahy@centredaily.com

BELLEFONTE — Which voting machines Centre County residents will use to cast their ballots in the upcoming presidential election will likely be decided in the next few weeks.

County Commissioner Rich Rogers said after Tuesday’s meeting that regardless of whether the county opts for a new system, it will have to buy more equipment to handle the number of voters expected to turn out in November.

Rogers said the board probably will decide whether to replace the county’s touch-screens with a paper ballot system next week or the week after that.

The county switched from punch-card ballots to paperless touch-screens in 2006 to comply with federal and state regulations. Vocal opponents of the touch-screens have been pushing the county to switch to optical scans. With that state-approved system, a voter uses a pen to fill out a ballot card then feeds it into a ballot reader. Supporters say the recountable paper ballots are needed to ensure the integrity of elections.

http://www.centredaily.com/423/story/677143.html

Committee weighs risks, benefits of electronic voting machines
Fla. 'vote-flipping' programmer voices doubts about tool

By Ashley Crooks

Clint Curtis touched a hidden button on the screen of a simulated electronic voting machine as onlookers witnessed votes switch from one candidate to another.

The House Committee on Elections invited Curtis, a computer programmer from Florida, to testify Wednesday on the accuracy, risks, benefits and security of electronic voting technology. The committee also heard from other expert witnesses, election officials and the Texas secretary of state.

Curtis said a Florida representative approached him in 2000 to design "vote-flipping" software to help the congressman win an election. Requesting a fraudulent program for a machine is not illegal in Florida, but using one is.

"You cannot trust electronic machines, no matter how many honest people you have. It only takes one person with access to the machine," said Curtis, an advocate for hand-counted paper ballots. "Programmers can be bought."

http://media.www.dailytexanonline.com/media/storage/paper410/news/2008/06/26/StateLocal/Committee.Weighs.Risks.Benefits.Of.Electronic.Voting.Machines-3385636.shtml

Votes Not Counted in Primary, Some Virginia Voters Say
posted 4:53 am Thu June 26, 2008 - RICHMOND, Va.

Voters in Chesterfield County, Va., have filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice, claiming that the county violated their right to vote in the February 12 presidential primary.

The civil-rights complaint says hundreds of Chesterfield residents were deprived of the right to vote, primarily in precincts with the largest black populations. They allege that in nine of 63 precincts, county voting officials failed to provide enough Democratic ballots and told voters to cast ballots on blank scraps of paper, which weren't counted.

The complaint requests that the Department of Justice investigate violations of the Voting Rights Act, the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. It also requests that the department order the county to comply with the laws.

http://www.news8.net/news/stories/0608/531204.html

California secretary of state aims to fine-tune how we vote
by Tim Moran

California Secretary of State Debra Bowen's goal in challenging the state's voting systems over the past few years was simple: She wanted elections to center on candidates and issues, not the voting process.

And while it may have caused angst for county officials, Bowen said, she believes she has largely succeeded in removing doubts about the security and accuracy of the voting systems used in the state's 58 counties.

Bowen, the keynote speaker Thursday night at a Central Valley Democratic Club fund-raiser at the McHenry Mansion in Modesto, likened the voting security and accuracy issue to California's levees -- if there is a potential for problems, the state should address it before the problems occur.

"I wanted to get the issue of the way we vote behind us, rather than leave lingering doubts," Bowen said in an interview before her speech.

http://www.modbee.com/local/story/341979.html

Judge refuses to block Florida voter law

By BILL KACZOR, Associated Press Writer Wed Jun 25, 11:32 PM ET

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - A federal judge has refused to block a new version of a Florida voter registration law that critics say could keep thousands of people from casting ballots this year.

U.S. District Judge Stephan Mickle issued the ruling Tuesday in Gainesville. Last year, he granted a preliminary injunction against an earlier version of the law. He was reversed on appeal and the Legislature modified the law.

Both versions require elections officials to match Social Security, state identification or driver license numbers listed on voter registration applications with numbers in government databases.

"This ruling puts thousands of real Florida citizens at risk this November based on bureaucratic typos," lawyer Justin Levitt said Wednesday.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080626/ap_on_re_us/voting_lawsuit_2

Siegelman cites Justice audit to boost his appeal

By Ben Evans The Associated Press
Published: Thursday, June 26, 2008 at 3:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, June 26, 2008 at 12:06 a.m.


WASHINGTON | An audit finding that Republican partisanship infected Justice Department hiring has provided fresh ammunition for critics who claim the agency brought charges against Democrats, including former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman, with one eye on the ballot box.

The hiring audit found that Bush officials implemented a screening program in 2002 to weed out job applicants who had liberal or Democratic ties. Such disqualifications, it said, 'constituted misconduct and also violated the department's policies and civil service law that prohibit discrimination in hiring based on political or ideological affiliation.'

'It validates and verifies what we all knew was taking place, and that is that under the Justice Department has been politicized and used as a political tool,' Siegelman said Wednesday, a day after the report became public.

Siegelman, a Democrat, is fighting to overturn a bribery conviction that he argues was orchestrated by Republican operatives to keep him out of office.

http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20080626/news/131274636&tc=yahoo

Comelec steps up poll info campaign

THE Commission on Elections has stepped up its education drive on the automated system for the August elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, allaying fears of lack of time to prepare for the political exercise.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez cited the role of the Catholic Church-backed Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting and other groups like the Bangsamoro civil society leaders in the conduct of their voters’ education campaign on the automated system.

“Comelec together with the service providers Smartmatic-Sahi and Avante will field various teams to conduct municipal-based voters’ orientation program starting July,” Jimenez said.

Muslim leaders raised questions about the commission’s lack of time to ensure that its voter education campaign reaches the ARMM electorate. Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento said “we in the Comelec are doing our best to make sure that the Aug. 11 automated election will push through as we expect to happen.”

http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=politics4_june27_2008

How to Steal an Election
As Zimbabwe prepares to vote, Robert Mugabe has taken even harsher steps to insure a high turnout in his favor.

By Rod Nordland | Newsweek Web Exclusive
Jun 26, 2008 | Updated: 7:35 p.m. ET Jun 26, 2008


Some details, such as timing and description of movements, in the following are altered for the safety of NEWSWEEK's reporter.

I couldn't help but notice that nearly every minibus in Zimbabwe's capital has a poster of Robert Mugabe, often bordered in red, with the candidate dressed in bright red from head to foot. I asked around and there's a very simple reason for this. These privately owned conveyances, which carry most people to and from work, can rarely find fuel at official prices and so must normally revert to the black market, at some U.S. $8-$10 a gallon. But if they have a Mugabe poster, they're allowed to refuel at government depots at subsidized prices of only 60,000 Zimbabwean dollars per gallon. That's essentially free, since the Zim dollar is trading at 18 billion for each U.S. dollar; it has doubled in a week's time and is going up nearly 20 percent a day, for an inflation rate in excess of 2 million percent a year—some say it may even be 20 million percent by now.

The March 29 election that Mugabe lost was already weighted heavily in his favor. He had complete control of the country's news media, electronic and print. Police often intervened when the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) held rallies, and the government handed out pay raises and price cuts with abandon. And still Mugabe lost to Morgan Tsvangirai by a convincing margin—and that's if you believe the official figures; in reality, Tsvangirai probably had enough votes to have won without Friday's runoff election, which the MDC is now boycotting.
Click Here

This time around, Mugabe and his supporters are taking no chances at all. The minibus dodge is one of the milder forms of election-rigging the government is indulging in. Unable to win their votes by persuasion and bribery, they're resorting to violence and intimidation, literally in some cases beating people into voting for Mugabe. Throughout the country, especially in the populous north, MDC campaign workers have been beaten or killed, and their houses, even their entire villages, burned down. Most of their MPs are in hiding. No one really knows the extent of the violence, because roads into the countryside are controlled by checkpoints manned by war veterans, Mugabe's aging shock troops, and their youth militia, known as the Green Bombers. Getting anywhere has become so dangerous that even diplomats are not trying to do so. Leading activists were killed; the MDC's secretary general, Tendai Biti, was arrested and charged with the capital crime of treason; and scores of newly elected MPs went into hiding.

The U.S. ambassador, Jim McGee, says it's clear the Mugabe regime wants to make sure they take away MDC's majority if the parliament ever convenes by arresting or chasing away enough to give Mugabe's ZANU-PF control. "What we see is that the violence has not abated since Morgan Tsvangirai has pulled out," McGee says. "They want to handicap the MDC. They have said, 'We want to decapitate it.' Imagine Morgan Tsvangirai in hiding in his own country, imagine if John McCain or Barack Obama were forced to hide in a foreign embassy."

http://www.newsweek.com/id/143427

Colombia's Uribe calls for repeat of '06 election
By Hugh Bronstein Fri Jun 27, 3:03 PM ET

BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombian President Alvaro Uribe said he wants to repeat the 2006 presidential election that gave him a second term, in a combative response to a court ruling that said the vote was tainted by corruption.
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The Supreme Court found late on Thursday that a former lawmaker was bribed into supporting a constitutional amendment that allowed the popular U.S.-ally to seek re-election.

Uribe's reaction to the ruling stood Colombian politics on its head. With about 80 percent popularity, according to opinion polls, analysts agree he could win another election and extend his time in office, but at a political price.

"This is his way of taking the momentum back from the court. It's a brilliant counterpunch," said Mauricio Romero, political science professor at Bogota's Javeriana University.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080627/wl_nm/colombia_uribe_bribe_dc_6

Where are the protests against Mugabe?
Jonathan Zimmerman

Wednesday, June 25, 2008
(06-25) 04:00 PDT Accra, Ghana --

Here's something cool to drop at cocktail parties: I went to college with Barack Obama. We had just one class together, as best I can recall, a placid lecture course on politics where neither of us said a whole lot.

But outside of class, on the lawns and quadrangles of Columbia University, the politics were anything but placid. The loudest issue concerned apartheid in South Africa. In 1985, two years after Obama and I graduated, 100 students would barricade a university building for three weeks to protest the university's investments in companies doing business in South Africa. A year after that, amid nationwide demonstrations, Congress would override President Ronald Reagan's veto and approve economic sanctions against the apartheid regime.

So why don't we care about Africa anymore?

Look no further than the mess in Zimbabwe, South Africa's oppressed and destitute neighbor, and you'll see what I mean. To be sure, every leading American politician - including Obama and his rival Republican John McCain - has denounced Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe, whose goons have been murdering and intimidating opponents ever since a disputed March 29 election. That's why challenger Morgan Tsvangirai pulled out of this Friday's run-off election, which he correctly called a "sham."

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/25/EDBO11DPJ0.DTL

Sorry. :(

Also, Friday may be light this week and next but should settle down thereafter. Contributions welcome, patience appreciated!

Happy to supply rec #5! :hi:

I woke up last Saturday and thought, cool, tomorrow I can put up my thread. After a few minutes I remembered that Friday came BEFORE Saturday. :dunce:

A good friend of mine dropped her dog off at the groomers. She went back later in the day to pick her up. While settling the tab, she and the groomer got into a lively and entertaining discussion. After paying, she thanked the groomer and headed out to her car.

She was just a few steps from her car, when the groomer came running out of the store yelling, "Hey, Kathy, wait a minute. You forgot the dog!"

:rofl:

WITH the cousin staying with me to help out. When the waitress came to take the order, we looked at each, freaked out and ran all the way home.

So, I can't blame all of this on age. lol