Dear Muddy Runner....

Thank you for this post (i think)...

Now I can't go to the bathroom without looking at my urine and thinking - Darn, I NEED to drink more water.....

:)

I Am What I Am....

Hello, my name is Dawn, and I'm a celebrity-aholic....

I hate to admit it.... I really wish I wasn't.... But I am one of those people who scans every headline on all the celeb mags while standing in line. I have a few websites I like to look at as often as I can. I love watching the celebrity news shows.... Unfortunately I can tell you more about whats going on in the latest celeb gossip then I can with what my kids were required to do that day for homework (thank goodness they are A students)!!

I will blame it on my childhood desire to be the next super star. I was certain I was bound for fame. I was going to be the newest Mouseketeer, or the new best friend of Half Pint on Little House on the Prairie. Or, even better yet, the new love interest for David Partridge on the Partridge Family!! Did I take acting classes, no... Did I have an agent, ah, no again... I guess I thought I would be plucked out of obscurity and cast into instant fame and notoriety - the classic unknown to stardom story.

Now, I hate to admit this, but for some unknown reason, I had convinced myself as a young child that hidden in the overhead light of our car was a mic and camera. I would make sure every time we went somewhere I looked my "star" best and I sang all the songs on the radio "star" perfectly. I would even glance up at that light and give it my best celebrity look. Alas, it was only the imaginative thinking of a wishful youth - no one ever came a knocking telling me I was bound for fame.

In my teen years I was convinced that if I could only meet Leif Garrett or Shaun Cassidy they would instantly fall in love and I would be their wife immediately. All it would take was just a glance and I would have their hearts forever. Much to my dismay, a chance encounter was never in the cards.

As the years continued to roll on, I left behind the notion of becoming or marrying a star, and just became plain star struck. Living in Southern California chance encounters can happen - often. I've seen "stars" at airports, shopping centers, restaurants, walking down the street, coming into a night club, even sitting outside a seedy bar in the early afternoon. I use to play "star sighting" with a close friend of mine. Anytime we saw someone, we would excitedly call and leave each other a message.

So, what is it about celebrities that's so appealing to me? I like the whole facade of it all - the fantasy land that I believe they live in. They seem to have it all, money, looks -- how can they possibly have any problems what so ever when the world is bending over backwards to give them everything. I mean, seriously, don't you look at Brad and Angelina and wonder what possibly could not be perfect with those two beautifully perfect people?? Do you really think they fart in front of each other, or quiet honestly even fart at all? I'm sure they never pick their nose, or chew with their mouth open, burp, have diarrhea, heck, I bet they don't have any offensive bodily functions at all. Maybe God created all who are destined to fame as a super race that genetically do not function as us mere mortals do....

I sincerely apologize to each and every one of you that I am part of the reason why celebrities are over paid and over hyped in our society. I know my fondness for the good, the bad and the ugly of stardom keeps the ball spinning and the ego's growing. I need to start a 12 step program and rid myself of the desire to consume all things celebrity related -- I suppose admitting I have a problem is the first step!

Oh, and, for the record, one glance would not have done the trick with Shaun Cassidy. Many many years ago I was having dinner at the House of Blues in Hollywood and wouldn't you know it, but Shaun was there having dinner celebrating his daughter's birthday with a bunch of young girls. Fate had stepped in, my opportunity was there, it was my moment to shine. I walked past his table, he glanced my way, I smile........

And he could have cared less..... Oh well.....

Maybe....

I'll just have a blog with an ever changing background....

Who needs words, you can just check in to see what my lay out for the day is!!!!

Or not.... :)

Happy V Day Everyone!!!!

A BIG Thank You......

Now that I have all that off my chest, I can wipe my hands of it and move forward....

Thank you all for following my saga and your encouraging words.

Just a last tidbit - David owes us a pretty decent chunk of money. Since he is in default, we have a judgment that allows us to put a lien against him anytime during the next four years, and it will remain active if not paid for twenty. We haven't pursued it yet, cause basically, we do not have the money to do so. But all in good time....

Now, onward to bigger and better topics.....

David Tieman and Tiemans Fusion Coffee....

Do you think Jesus hated Judas?

Part of what I'm struggling with now is - forgive me, I know this is a strong word - hate. As a christian we are not asked, nor is it suggested, its not even up for debate, we are commanded to love. 1John 4:21 "And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother."

I know Jesus understands completely what I'm going through. Jesus was betrayed by someone he called brother, Judas was part of his inner circle.

Rick's relationship with David in the beginning was solid - they were connected at the hip, on the same page, on the phone almost every hour. From June until a conversation that took place in December, they were tight. In December Rick informed David we could no longer help him out financially, we had personally given David over that six month period thirty thousand dollars. I am not exaggerating when I say this, from that very point David did a 180. He became a completely different person, and his loyalty disappeared. The bible tells us that Judas betrayed Jesus for thirty coins - for us the betrayal began once we stopped at thirty coins. At this point David was no longer bound to Rick, but to the next two people who could help him out with his personal finances. We believe David began accepting money from two others, and from that point on, just as Judas did, he watched for any opportunity to betray my husband.

Who are these two other people you may ask. Rick and David had two outside independent sales contractors. One was a friend of my husband (lets refer to him as JS), the other was a woman my husband's friend was associated with. From the get go my husband did not trust this woman. From the get go we nicknamed her the Serpent, we knew she was bad news and nothing good was going to come from her. There were two different occasions that confirmed our belief they were providing David with money - the Serpent asked my husband for money because - in her words - she had lent money to David (who was out of town) and needed a check to cover an expense. When my husband questioned a check that David had wrote to JS, which on the memo said it was for commission but was too much money for it to be only for commission, David told my husband he had borrowed money from JS. So how much money did they put in his pocket, we don't know, but be it $50 or $5,000 David had now become indebted and loyal to JS and the Serpent. Loyalty to my husband as his partner had ceased, it was now all about "his team".

There is no doubt that Judas had a love for money. He betrayed for money. He also chastised Mary over an act of love and worship to Jesus because he deemed her gift a waste, stating the money could have been used to help the poor. John 12:6 states "he did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it."

***If you take a gander at the Tiemans webside in the About tab there is the "Our Causes" section. They state, and I quote, "For every cup, can or pack sold, we give a piece back to these organizations" and they say they provide, and I quote, "We give 5% of our profits to these groups". First of all, the second group listed, growthecure.org is not even an organization. This is just an idea of David's, if you click on the website you will see there isn't even a website... As for awaytohelp.org - absolutely valid, an awesome organization, however, the only monies ever given to them was when my husband was still a part of the company. My educated guess is, there is no money being donated to any "causes", but it sure looks good on the About page doesn't it? And if the money is being funneled into growthecure, well, we know who's pocket that funnels to, don't we?

At the end of Judas' story we find out "he was seized with remorse" and tried to give back the 30 coins stating "I have sinned, for I have betrayed innocent blood" Matthew 27:3-4. Somehow I don't think this is how our story will end, unfortunately I fear Proverbs 37:21 "the wicked borrow and never repay..". Judas also hung himself. Now of course I do not wish for any harm, I do not hate him that much, but a verse that God gave to me on July 26, 2009 sticks with me "People with integrity have firm footing, but those who follow crooked paths will slip and fall" Proverbs 10:9.

So, do I really think Jesus hated Judas. Not at all. I believe that Jesus must have grieved considerably knowing that Judas - his brother - allowed his desires to place him in a position where Satan could manipulate him. I believe David allowed the Serpent to manipulate him, I believe David enjoys the praises of man over the praises of God, and I believe that David chooses to stay in the darkness convincing himself he is not the one who sinned. But that is just my belief. "I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward everyone according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve." Jeremiah 17:10

I am praying for God's strength to instill in me a forgiving heart. I am working on getting "rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you" Ephesians 4:31-32.

Through God's strength I believe someday I'll get there.....


** Update: About 9 months after this posting, Tieman's finally removed their "Causes" portion on their website.  To date, David Tieman is 15 month delinquent on paying for the purchase of the company. 

**Update Update: It has now been 2 years since David Tieman of Tiemans Fusion Coffee was to pay us for our half of the company. We have not received a dime... The only words we have received from him was that he was making enough money from coffee that he had not needed to get a job. How nice....

*** Update Update Update: On September 17th 2011 David made it official that he never intends to pay for our half of the company. He filed for personal bankruptcy.  So it appears I was right ~ Proverbs 37:21...

2009.... July....

Are you wondering what could have possibly taken place now??!! The very next day after the mediation, the judge called our lawyer, ironically while my husband was on the phone with her. He told her in all his years he had never seen anything like what transpired the day prior - you go to mediation to avoid a lawsuit, not to serve one. He asked if he could give it another shot and try and mediate a settlement. Why would we disagree.

Over the next several weeks, and way too many thousands of dollars later we came to a buy out agreement. David Tieman agreed to pay us within 45 days of signing.

He is now six months past due on his fiduciary obligation.

We have not seen a dime.