I am so glad to see it.

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The Timeless Candy Source

Web: www.TimelessCandy.com

Scubadubba...lol the whole world knows the island Aruba now and interested in the Island more than ever.

Let`s take Rio where I lived. Its still a place to be for many tourists.

No its wishful thinking for the people who have nothing to do and their mind doesn`t get further than the front door.

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Money isn't everything but it sure keeps you in touch with the kids.

I read in the Aruba Today newspaper this week that tourism is up about 20% over last year, so I guess Greta, O'Reilly, Nasty Grace and all the others trying the "boycott Aruba" thing just plain did NOT work!!!! Gee, too bad guys!!!!
Although we are booked for our Dec. trip to Aruba, I still check every other day to see if anything is available, guess what, only the rooms no one would really want to spend 2 weeks in are out there. It is amazing, "no rooms at the inn" so to speak.

Have you looked into timeshare rentals? Could be last minute availabilities for owners with emergencies (such as medical or death in the family) who can't use their units and make them available for rent. I'm sure some bb members with more experience at this could tell you whether this is a possibility or if I'm way off base.

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Lynda (aka Weed)

There are almost always availabilities in the timeshares, one can just go to the individual websites and see the message boards with renters and rentees looking for a match - but I think pgsoder already has their lodging, they're just checking to see how booked Aruba is as a measure of the effect this drama is having on tourism...

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Kevin. Maybe I misread his post. I interpreted it as they had plans, but were looking for better accommodations, or they had airline tickets, but no accommodations. I'm headed to the Marriott Surf Club for a week Nov 5-12. If I didn't already have non-refundable tickets (including one for my Mom), I might consider putting my unit up for rent to the highest bidder! The real test, I think is whether time share resale prices will increase (i.e., whether demand will exceed supply). Hotels can always offer discounted rooms through airline partners during slow periods. A timeshare unit is "paid" for whether it's occupied or empty.

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Lynda (aka Weed)

When we were at the Wyndham last week in July, I spoke to Rob who
is the GM of the Hotel. He said they were 100% full through Sept. and
into Oct. Business is good to some extend, except remember the Allegro
is closed for complete re-model. That is a lot of rooms which would
otherwise be occuped by some.

later,
millertime

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ARUBA....One Happy Island

Later,
millertime

Hey Seashelldiver,

I was reading the posts and just wanted to share some information. I am not sure if any one can recall following the news a few weeks ago about a hiker who gor stranded somewhere in the mountains. This person used his/her (cannot remember if it was a man or a woman) cell phone to call for help, and a technician with the particular cell phone company whose plan she's on (Us Cellular I believe) was able to pinpoint the exact position and assist in the person's rescue. Any one else remember hearing this on the news at all?
Anyway, my point is that while it may not work in some areas, it seems to be, in others.

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Simply Beautiful

Hi guys greeting from Aruba yes I finally made it, got some news for you Aruba lovers the manifestation did not go through since people here are very passive in that sense they said better leave it to god.

Also have some sad information about the famous Miss Twitty, i know she must be greaving but she is ALL the time in the bars and casino's. I could not believe my eyes, very sad but why dont Nancy Grace or Greta intervieuw her from the casino's and show everybody the GOOD TIME she is having around.

From another friend that works at the Holliday Inn where she was staying before, he said everytime she saw a camera she would fix her hair and say "its showtime again". At least now they are defeniatly not getting comps anymore, party is over.

Anyway hope everybody is fine the ole USA and will be back soon, in the meantime I will be enjoying myself and offcourse you guys will have your turn very soon also. BTW the hotels are all FULL.

Hi Nelson!!! So glad you finally got there, good for you. How long are you going to stay? Sherry's going to be at Costa Linda starting tomorrow... try and go over and meet her!!! You certainly have said some interesting things.
Enjoy ... relax and keep in touch with us!!

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Hi Nelson! Good to hear from you. Let us know how things are going!

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Thank you for thinking about us and posting an update from Aruba. Now, get back to the fun, you knucklehead!

Seriously, real interesting to read about Beth's behaviour on the island. There's a lot of directions I could go with this right now. I didn't make any posts last night after watching Jug on the usual shows acting real angry and disgusted (as usual). But I couldn't help but notice that Beth was conspicuously absent. I guess she wasn't digging through the landfill while Jug gave his soundbites!

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Once in a while you can get shown the light, in the strangest of places if you look at it right.

Originally Posted by nelson from New York
Hi guys greeting from Aruba yes I finally made it, got some news for you Aruba lovers the manifestation did not go through since people here are very passive in that sense they said better leave it to god.

Also have some sad information about the famous Miss Twitty, i know she must be greaving but she is ALL the time in the bars and casino's. I could not believe my eyes, very sad but why dont Nancy Grace or Greta intervieuw her from the casino's and show everybody the GOOD TIME she is having around.

From another friend that works at the Holliday Inn where she was staying before, he said everytime she saw a camera she would fix her hair and say "its showtime again". At least now they are defeniatly not getting comps anymore, party is over.

Anyway hope everybody is fine the ole USA and will be back soon, in the meantime I will be enjoying myself and offcourse you guys will have your turn very soon also. BTW the hotels are all FULL.

This is about the rudest and the coldest comment that I have heard yet about a mother who is on foreign soil only to try and find her daughter or any information about her missing child. Did you see her yourself in the bars and the casinos or is this hearsay?

My thoughts exactly Charlie... but, I thought better of it. We're on the same wave length!!!

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anngie... what you find to be rude and cold is fact. I have friends on the island who have seen the same thing... As I said in my last post, I choose not to expound on what Nelson said... You may not like it, but people have seen Beth and Jug in many casinos and even shopping in town.

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Take a picture of her in the casino and post it here!

Is that so wrong? There are 24 hours in a day. There is absolutely nothing new in the investigation. What is she supposed to do? Sure, she can come back home to Alabama. That is what a lot of people would love for her to do.
Eventually, she will have to go home with or without her daughter's remains but to judge her is just wrong. Of course, she is grieving and she is also hoping that as long as nothing has been found to prove that Natalee is dead she feels that she has to be where her daughter was last seen.

anngie - Let's give Nelson a chance to explain, before you get so upset. Nelson, did you see her yourself or did you hear that from other people?

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I probably should have thought better of it, too, but I just couldn't stop myself.

Anngie, you're correct in wanting to know where Nelson got his information but, he is from Aruba and still has friends there. Plus, he has been (and continues to be) in a business that would give him lots of contacts in the hospitality industry... I'll leave it there.

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Once in a while you can get shown the light, in the strangest of places if you look at it right.

anngie.... you're the one who said it was cold and rude to even say she was in a casino or bar as though it was a lie.... and asked if it was hearsay. Obviously, it surprised you... and, you were sitting in judgment of Nelson.

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Corrine... it's a given. Friends of mine are on the island right now, and 4 of my friends just got back. They said the same thing that Nelson did as to the Twittys being in the casinos at night... They were not sitting in judgment of them, they were just quite surprised.

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GET OFF YOUR HIGH HORSE PLEASE.

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Amie
Stylish Crochet Patterns
See me on this t.v. show!
"I'm not an actress. I just play one on t.v."

Elaine, Nelson said that Miss Twitty was having a good time in the casinos and the bars. Go back and read his comments.
If I were in her shoes I might be having some drinks too. I would imagine that her stress level is pretty high.

It's like the female version of you know who that starts with the letter 'G.' Enough is enough.

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Amie
Stylish Crochet Patterns
See me on this t.v. show!
"I'm not an actress. I just play one on t.v."

anngie, I'm not going to go one on one with you... I don't have to reread Nelson's post... I got it the first time! I'm a mother, and I love my child no less than Beth loves Natalee. On that note, if I were in her shoes, I'm not so sure that I'd be in a casino gambling, and if I needed a drink, I'd be having it in my own room!

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I kinda hope we don't need to get this thread cranked up all over again. Anngie, when you first joined this board, you were very critical about some of the posts you read - and your points were well taken. But you didn't just flip us off and split (as some others have done). You participated in the dialogue and, to your credit, you're still here.

Nobody on this board thinks the family is just using this as an excuse for an extended vacation on Aruba.

But...while on Aruba, every time the cameras are on, the family goes into this angry attack mode. That show is getting stale. Aruba has been very very good to the family. Instead of constantly attacking Aruba and everything Aruban at every opportunity, a modicum of acknowledgment from the family would seem to be in order.

As has been pointed out time and time again, the family is desperate and they know (or at least, they believe) that the best thing they can do is to play into the hands of the tabloid media in order to keep the story alive and so that's what they've done.

Make your own characterization.

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Once in a while you can get shown the light, in the strangest of places if you look at it right.

I believe Nelson said "my eyes" and he was simply reporting. Get a grip Angie!
I know it seems I'm "out of left field" cuz I haven't posted before but I've been a member of the bbs for a long time and have been reading this thread daily. I've not posted because I haven't had anything to add (you guys are better than the 2 papers I read daily) and because the only things I know (friends of mine who live on Aruba are friend with Anita) would not be popular. I have a wait and see attitude. Just can't figure how he/they pulled off the "perfect crime" with no practice. May be naive but......what if he DID leave her on the beach at the M and she ran into someone else or went out on the public pier and climbed into a boat to take a nap (she WAS supposed to be drunk) or......
Anyway, I just made our plane res for our annual 3 weeks in late Feb early March. Couldn't get FF Bus. Class w/miles as they were all full but could upgrade. Said they were almost sold out for the 10:30 flight from Miami.
Viva Aruba! Linda

Nice post Linda... great to have you on board. I think we're all stymied and keep vascilating. I certainly don't know what happened... and I guess the lying has me in a quandry.. Hopefully, ALE knows lots that we don't.

I'll be there for 3 weeks in February.... can't wait!

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I think that Beth has always said that the Aruban people have been wonderful to her. Her problem is with the LE and the prosecutor not keeping her and the rest of the family informed.
Charlie stated that the people on this board do not think that the family is on an extended vacation. I don't think you do either.
We all hope that the case will be solved and that the family can finally have peace and that the Aruban people can also. They did not do anything to cause any of the upheaval that their island has gone through.

Thank you.

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Once in a while you can get shown the light, in the strangest of places if you look at it right.

Fact - no cameras allowed in casinos.........but she is in there believe it or not.

Geraldo Riveria was on O'Reilly tonight and stated he feels that come Sept. 4th the Aruban LE will keep Joran in jail for another 30 days. He also stated that Joran has been "beat up" by other prisoners since being in jail. Have no idea how he know this. And remember, even if they do let Joran out of jail on the 4th, he can still be re-arrested anytime during a 2 year period. Geraldo has also changed his tune about the LE, he stated that he feels that they (LE) HAVE been doing all they can throughout the entire investigation. Anyone out there know when GR had this change of heart???? I read on another BB that Paulus Van derSloot is arranging a move for after Sept. 4th. Probably just a big rumor.

Last night did it for me...Beth is now back to saying she knows for a fact that Natalee didn't realize that she WASN'T getting into a Taxi....Beth says she is CONVINCED that Natalee thought the car was a TAXI and not Joran's or the Kalpoe's car......I'm through with Beth Twitty.
I know she is trying everything to keep this story alive, but credibility is losing ground fast ........I turned the TV off at that point.

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Some people get lost in thought because it's unfamiliar territory.

That is nothing new. That was her big when she went back to Alabama

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Why Don't We Get Drunk (Jimmy Buffett)

Was it a month ago I wrote the same thing? I also wrote that she went to a restaurant to reserve for a free meal, and the restaurant owner thought it was for the two of them but in the evening she came with a bunch of friends.

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Money isn't everything but it sure keeps you in touch with the kids.

A small digital camera no problem they see it. Its soooo easy..... Don`t use flash.....

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Money isn't everything but it sure keeps you in touch with the kids.

Ice...I must of missed it.....she's pushing the envelope with that realization !

That restaurant story is sad....there comes a point where they begin to take advantage of Aruban's hospitality, and this might be one of those instances. I can comping Beth's, Jugs and Dave's food occasionally, but draggin a bunch of friends in behind you like that is taking advantage of the restaurant owners !

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Some people get lost in thought because it's unfamiliar territory.

I'm not trying to create controversy here, but just as with Joran and the Kalpoes, we should always attempt to substantiate our statements with some sort of fact. Fact meaning that there is some type of proof that something happened. Beth is not well liked here and that's understood, but to try to slander someone based on hearsay is not fair. Others have been admonished for the same type thing when talking about the 3 boys. I'm not trying to discredit what Nelson said, but I would like to see some evidence of this taking place. Even still, what was she doing there? Was she pulling the handle on a slot? Was she at the black jack table? That can be spun any way you'd like. She may have been there talking with people about Joran. We know that Joran frequents bars and casinos. Makes sense to me.

SMART, Claudia!

Troublemaker, blenchi!

Glad eveyone seems calmer this morning after yesterday. I need to go visit my mother in the old nursing home today. Please behave!

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Has anyone heard anything about the arm or part of an arm that was found? Or are we all waiting for government statement?

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Oak Man

[url=http://www.TickerFactory.com/]

I did see Beth on a few shows last night as I was flipping channels. She's sounding more and more shrill, stating things as "facts" based on what she's written in her journal. Claims there were no text message(s) between Joran and Deepak the early morning of the 30th. Greta questioned her statement, as it was widely reported early on that these existed. I think Beth is getting desperate as she sees the cable shows she's dominated for 2 1/2 months go on to other stories like the missing cruise ship groom, the BTK murderer, the missing pregnant woman, etc. Even Nancy Grace has taken a "vacation" this week (after blasting Karen Jansen for taking vacation in the middle of the case). BTW, Beth's lawyer said last night that the FBI has been involved in this case from the beginning, giving tactical advice, for instance. Note that the FBI hasn't given out any info the missing groom case, and the cable talking heads are roundly criticizing how the FBI has handled that case! Hmm, so if the FBI had been managing the NH case ..... Dr. Henry Lee on LK live (with substitute host) said he didn't it was such a good idea for so many parties to be involved in investigation in Aruba (including private groups) because of lack of coordination, etc. Wish somebody would bring that guy up to speed before he goes on shows; he talked about the arm that washed up in Venezuela as if it had flesh on it--he said they could get fingerprints from it and tell within seconds if it was Natalee or not!
Oh, and Beth had nice things to say about the people of Aruba last night (on Greta, I think)

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Lynda (aka Weed)

I wanted to share this....


Dave Holloway Will Always Be Natalee Holloway's Daddy

By Patrick Hurley
Aug. 18, 2005

I am a father. I have a daughter who will turn 21 years old next month. She is my only child. When I got divorced in 1995, I stayed close by her side. I knew she needed both of her parents through the difficult time we were all going through. In fact, I broke up with the next several women I dated because they asked me to choose between my daughter and them. A cynic would say I did not love these women enough to be my future wife. That may have been true, but in my heart, my daughter was #1 with me. I should never have dated in the first place. My heart was already taken.

My daughter was born on September 19, 1984. She almost didn't make it. My wife went into premature labor earlier that summer and the doctor told us to rush to the hospital's critical care unit. I can remember running to the garage that night with tears in my eyes praying to God, "If you are going to take anyone, please take me...don't take my daughter. Give her the chance of life." He spared both of us, even though my prayer was illogical. (God doesn't cut "deals.") But, I was so scared at the moment, I wasn't sure how to pray coherently. I just poured out my heart to Him. I loved my little girl even before she was born. I couldn't wait to meet her...

That moment came soon after 7:03 p.m. on that September night. After they laid her down on my wife's chest for some mother-daughter bonding, I finally got to hold my baby in the elevator on the way up to the room. It was magical. I just kept smiling and crying and thinking, "I never want to let you go! I love you so much. You are my little girl forever!" I meant it then, I mean it now. She is in her sophomore year of college and lives with me. It is a pleasure to put her through school. She will always remain the largest part of my heart...

Dave Holloway has a daughter, too. Her name is Natalee Holloway. Since May 30, this father has lived the worst nightmare that can befall a dad. His heart was jolted beyond recognition upon first hearing the horrific news that his little girl, on the verge of womanhood, had mysteriously vanished in a faraway land. From his safe haven in Jackson, Mississippi, he staggered out of bed and sat there frozen in his emotions, numb to the pain that seared his heart and reeling from the emotional reality that was soon ripping into his soul. His Natalee, the girl he helped bring into this world on October 21, 1986, was gone. Was this a temporary disappearance or....? As a father, I could not even imagine what Dave Holloway was thinking and feeling in those early hours.

We have not seen or heard much from Natalee's father. We see Beth and Jug on television almost nightly and we admire them for their tenacity and the relentless search for the truth about what happened the night she disappeared. We only see Dave in brief snatches of news clips. He is a quiet man. A reserved soul. But, I can assure you from the depth of my own experience, he is hurting inside beyond belief. His pain may even be greater than Beth's because she is able to verbalize and express her anger and emotions continually. This is a father who silently suffers. For the past two weeks, he has quietly gotten up and headed for the landfill at 7:30 a.m.and stayed there until 5:30 p.m.

No parent should have to watch a large scoop churn out pieces of garbage and hope against hope that your daughter's body parts do not fall out of that rotten mess. With each vertical dig into the landfill, his heart has to die a little more. What must go through his mind as he sits there crying inside? Does he see images of little Natalee as he remembers pushing her on the swings and giving her horsey back rides? Does he imagine all the times he took her for ice cream? Does he relive in his mind, the innumerable times he tucked her into bed night after night as he kissed her on the forehead and assured her upon leaving the room, "It's okay, sweet girl; no one will hurt you! You're safe. Daddy will protect you." That is what I did. That is what I would remember. If you have a child, you know exactly what I am saying here.

A daughter is your little girl. Always. This is an ageless phenomenon. One completely understood as a parent and just as completely misunderstood by the child as she grows older...

Even though my daughter is an adult, I make her call me at midnight just to check in to let me know she is okay. She doesn't have a curfew, but since she lives with me, she does it out of respect. I tell her I love her every day in the event of the unexpected. I want her to know that if something ever happens to me she will ALWAYS know that.

I know that Dave Holloway was with his daughter right before she left for Aruba at her graduation from high school. There is a picture of them together. It is amazing how much they look alike. I know he will never forget that night as long as he lives. I know he told her that night that he loved her. It is his only way of coping now...knowing that the last time he saw his Natalee she KNEW how much he loved her.

There is a trust fund for Dave Holloway. I heard he is financially hurting right now because he is not able to work. I am sending him a check. I know the Twittys have plenty of donations, so I am going to help him out. So many people's lives changed after May 30, including a father who does not say a whole lot but speaks with his heart and his actions. Natalee was lucky to have a father like him. I hope she knows, wherever she is, that his devotion to her has never wavered. She was daddy's girl. She will always be daddy's girl. Even though it is very probable this daddy will never be able to see his girl again.

But, he will always know that the love he has for her will never change. Ever. He will always be Natalee's daddy. And, she will always be his girl.

My daughter just got back from getting something to eat. It is 9:04 p.m. here. Time for me to go tell her I love her and that she is safe because her daddy is here....

------------

About the author: Pat Hurley has won three Emmy awards for writing, hosting and producing television shows. He resides in Southern California.

Email: coolhumor@sbcglobal.net

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I tend to agree with Hound on the issue of Beth and being seen in casinos. Whether or not she's frequenting them may not be provable, as cameras are a no-no, but the fact is that I have been singing the same song about fair reporting and posting since this started, and this latest rumor falls in line with that. I don't mind seeing the post from Nelson, who says he's seen her with his own eyes (although it's most certainly an exagerration to say 'all the time in the bars and casinos'), but I don't think she should necessarily be condemned for this.

I don't doubt that she'll be seen out shopping, and out dining, and yes in the casinos - if I were in her shoes, the last thing I'd want to do is stare at the same 4 walls again each night.

We all understand that she's using the media to keep the case as up front as possible, and as the case gets colder and her desperation increases, her manner tends to show that desperation...

I think Sept 4 will be a big day. If Joran walks, I suspect Beth may decide it's time to go home.

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With all due respect Kevin...She rants and raves about how the ALE are doing nothing, but it never shows what she is doing during the day anymore like they used to. Greta showed several times months ago, how she went around and handed out flyers, bracelets and prayer cards. We know she is on shows from about 5 p.m. - 11 p.m. nightly, we know Dave was helping at the dump daily, but what is she doing? She has meetings, or phone calls, with the FBI a couple times per week, or her lawyer. What is she doing with the rest of her time? She has never been to the dump (she said this on tv), IMO because that would be "beneath" her, she said she just can't deal with that possibility, I don't believe that. When it says on tv that she did something during the day, which I really haven't heard anything about her doing anything in quite a while, it is what would be considered "fun" stuff in my opinion. The only think I have heard her doing regarding her daughter's case recently was going out to eat lunch before accosting Deepak at the cafe. According to Jug on Hannity & Colmes on 8/8, she enjoyed confronting Deepak. That is all I have heard her do in the past several weeks. So what is she actually doing there? I have never seen her dig or search recently for NH, everyone else is. Dave, on the other hand, is putting in a lot of hard work. If it was my child, I would wake up, go to the dump, lighthouse, or wherever to continue looking for her then the tv shows at night and by 11, the last show, I would be so tired I would fall into bed, then do the same thing the following day. We also know now that she works in a school and other staff have donated sick leave so she can continue to get paid. I think we have to start seeing what she is doing to try to help find her during the daylight hours. We know what everyone else (TE, the FL people, the ALE, etc.) is doing, but we have no idea what she and Jug are doing. Maybe it's the news network's fault, but I don't think so.

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Why Don't We Get Drunk (Jimmy Buffett)

Okay, here's my take:

This is really in response to all posts since Nelson's post last night. I quoted the above passage from Weed because it helps me get started.

I don't begrudge Beth for going shopping or going to casinos or clubs or whatever. She has to already be at wits end; as Kevin said, let her do something other than hand out prayer bracelets and stare at the four walls of her room. My complaint has been the attitude she assumes when the cameras are rolling. At this point, I don't even expect a modicum of gratitude but a modicum of acknowledgment is in order.

I didn't watch any of the tabloid shows last night; there was a football game on. But Weed says she said nice things about the people of Aruba last night. Assuming that she really did (finally) acknowledge the support she has received from the people of Aruba, Thank you, Beth.

As for her continued tendency to spout off crazy stuff that starts with the phrase, "I know for a fact....", that comes across sounding like Gary. (Remember Gary?) She is desperate and those kinds of "I know for a fact" comments are reckless but I will continue to give her license with those. In fact, assuming that she really did say nice things about the people of Aruba last night, her license may have even been renewed with me. (After all, I am an Aruban.)

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Once in a while you can get shown the light, in the strangest of places if you look at it right.

While I don't condon a lot of the things Beth and Jug say about law enforcement, I'll go back to what I said when the original thread first originated. I wouldn't want to be in their shoes for anything in the world. I also think we walk a fine line in judging what they do or don't do with their time. It may not be what we'd do, but to keep slamming them is as bad as what anti-Aruba people are doing to the island. That being said, everyone handles a bad situation in a different way... and then we breathe when it's over.

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Just finished reading on the Court TV website this interesting tidbit. Greta has a REAL connection with the Twitty family. Her husband, John P. Coale and George (Jug) Twitty are investors in a large real estate development venture in Richmond, VA. Each holds 25%, the other 50% is owned by a group of investors, 2 are from Germany and, get this now, a Dutch investor who resides in Aruba.

Can you either copy and paste it or give the website address?

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Why Don't We Get Drunk (Jimmy Buffett)

Well said, Elaine! Your reprint of Pat Hurley's letter was beautiful! It describes parenthood so perfectly! I would not ever want to be in her shoes and don't know how I would handle it.

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Is this John P.Coale a Scientology lawyer?

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Money isn't everything but it sure keeps you in touch with the kids.