sick and stranded

Oh, joy. What's left of my poor car.

Today, I sound like I’ve smoked for 23 1/2 years. My voice is almost totally gone, gone, gone … yuck. This cold came as another luckless reality in a series of not just unfortunate, but tragic and ridiculous events since Halloween, when I lost my car to a completely preventable wreck. I wasn’t behind the wheel, for those of you who asked.

Believe it or not, this week’s craziness involves information too sensitive to post here (it sounds ridiculous, but …). Said craziness started with a car crash and ended this weekend with me losing my voice to this goddamn stress-induced cold. In between were sleepless nights, thousands of dollars of debt, mysterious voicemails and a few super-pricey collect calls. Despite the insanity, I think things will settle into place, mostly thanks to help from friends, former co-workers, new co-workers and a little rest.

Now, stranded at home with a smashed-up car, I’m craving a little musical therapy. I’ve decided to save up  for an little upright piano. I’ve settled for playing the guitar today, but there’s something so much more satisfying about leaning your body’s weight into the keys of a nicely tuned piano. You feel the vibrations thrum through your fingertips, your arms and every muscle along the way before they settle into the left side of your chest as a rhythm.

It’s beautiful. And I think working for a bank has made me feel like I’m totally depriving my creative side. After I finish off paying the debt incurred this week, I think I’ll get that piano. And a drum set. In the meantime, I’ll just scroll through the classifieds to see if something catches my eye.

Fuck. Does she look totaled to you?

time flew, lots new

Two weeks into my new bank job and I’m really starting to miss the freedom and excitement of journalism.

I know I’ll go back one day. But in the meantime, I have to get up at an ungodly hour, commute with everyone and their mom out to Oakland, eat and drink only on strictly scheduled breaks, watch my language, learn a staggering new lexicon of acronyms and sales jargon,  smile through the insomnia-induced fatigue, try my damndest to stay awake in class and suffer in heels and a suit all day.

Just.Like.The.Rest.Of.Them.

It’s potentially a soul-sapping business, but definitely an interesting new endeavor for me.  Most interesting are the personalities in my banker’s class (which lasts through November, btw, after which I’ll start working at an East CoCo County branch as a personal banker): The loudmouth, the self-important-but-secretly-insecure finance major, the should-be-comedian, the cowboy-veteran, the single mother, the aspiring pediatrician, the still-figuring-out-what-to-do-in-life bio major, the quirky cute girl, the dime-a-dozen career retailer and, of course, the eagle-eyed “facilitator” (that’s bank-speak for teacher).

It’s fun-ish, but Jeweezus, I never realized what a goddamn timesuck work could be. I’ll still try to keep ya posted, via this blog, though (more photos, more posts, more often).

Later, lovelies!

chickies

sisters nina and lydia, and chicken george

About 10 years ago, my dad ordered a couple-dozen chickens for something like $25. A UPS guy delivered the chirping chickies to our doorstep in a hole-y box. Some died within that first year, others lasted about a decade, laying eggs for us when they felt like it.

Today, the Wadsworths have just two left. We call them “the survivors.”

One of those survivors is Chuck, a Buff Orpington. The other, a gift from a Bulgarian friend, is “Tree Chicken George” (pictured above … the scraggly one with feathers). I think he’s an Easter Egger, but I’m not sure. I’m also not clear on why the ladybirds have man names. Whatever.

George mostly just struts around the patio, nibbling on dove feed, stealing from the cat food dish and laying eggs in secret nooks so my mom can’t find ‘em. If Lady George tires out, she loves to roost on my sister Lydia’s lap — like a lapdog — and getting her head rubbed.

I don’t know why I brought that up. But, yeah. Chickens are the bomb.

pepperdog!

Pepper Firpo/Photo by Glenn Moore

Pepper, the Tracy Press newshound, just started a Twitter account at www.twitter.com/TP_Pepper.

You should follow him. He’ll tweet scanner traffic or whatever crosses his little doggy mind.

I think it’s good for him. He needs something better to do all day than chew on carrots, root through trash cans and eat my lunch scraps.

Good boy, Pep.

pepper.with.carrot

still wanted

Richard Rodriguez, or what he may have looked like in the mid 1990s.

The FBI’s Sacramento field office submitted a press release today to remind people that they’re still looking for a convicted murderer who escaped from a Tracy prison almost 30 years ago.

Richard Rodriguez, who’s nearing 60 years old if he’s still alive, escaped from Deuel Vocational Institution on Dec. 30, 1979, by cutting through the prison bars with hacksaw blades. He was seven years into a life sentence for the execution-style murder of a man called as a witness in another trial.

Rodriguez circa 1976.

Rodriguez managed to grab the blades used during his escape from the prison’s machine shop, according to the FBI. He then used a rope made from bedsheets to lower himself out the window before finally slipping through a double-fence between guard towers late one foggy winter night.

More on Rodriguez

Aliases — Frederico Sanchez, Jesus Vallanon, Richie Rodriguez, Richard Rodriquez, “Bug” Rodriguez, Jesue Vallamon, Jesus Vallamon, Indio Rodriguez, “Bug” or “Indio.”

Appearance — Black hair, brown eyes, Hispanic, 140 pounds, 5-feet-8-inches tall. He has a scar on his left ankle and a wandering right eye.

Etc. — Rodriguez used to be a member of the Black Panther Party, and may have acted as a liaison between the part and militant groups in Los Angeles, according to the FBI. He’s known to enjoy horseback riding, camping and archery.

condolences

Cindy Ramos

I noticed that the comment section is working on the Web site set up in memory of Cindy Ramos, the 58-year-old Tracy woman killed in her own home on Aug. 6.

Go to www.inmemoryofcindyramos.com to leave your condolences.

Services will be held today in her honor at 10 a.m. at the Chapel of the Chimes, 32992 Mission Blvd., in Hayward. A reception will take place right after at Neighborhood Church, 20600 John Drive, in Castro Valley. Her burial service will be at 1 p.m. on Friday, again at Chapel of the Chimes.

Though Cindy lived in Tracy, most of her family hails from the East Bay.

The two men suspected of stabbing to death Cindy in her own home are due in court on Thursday for further arraignment.

interviewed

jenn on the 'today show'/photo by cassie

My weekend started with an interview for the Today Show.

The lovely editor-intern-journalist extraordinaire Cassie Kolias joined me Saturday morning to take a few pictures as I fumbled through a brief interview about the Melissa Huckaby case.

Huckaby’s due in court again on Monday, by the way. We think that means an indictment’s in store for the 28-year-old Tracy murder suspect.

I’ll head up there in the morning. Feel free to check my Twitter account for updates: www.twitter.com/jennwadsworth.

more weekend snapshots …

cat and lydia in the livermore hills

sisters! or most of them ...

went to the 'mystery spot'

so special

Photo by Glenn Moore/Tracy Press

I don’t know if this was the only “we’re closed” sign they have at Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area, but this is what they posted after a wildfire licking up 15,000 acres of brush in the hills south of Tracy forced them to close for the day.

I guess they didn’t have the closed-due-to-hellaciously-huge-grassfire banner ready.

more noteworthiness …

My favorite entry in the police log to date involves a mustard-and-cigarette-butt-eating man, but one in today’s blotter is now my runner-up. Check it:

A caller reported at 9:32 p.m. Thursday that a man walking down Corral Hollow and Linne roads with a shovel in his hands threw the shovel at a passing car.

An officer talked to the man, who said he was bi-polar and upset about the fire in the hills south of Tracy, so he grabbed a shovel to help battle the blaze.

But he got frustrated at how far away the fire was, and then got angry when motorists refused to give him a ride to the flames.

An officer convinced the man it’s best “to leave the firefighting to the fire department,” and gave the guy a ride to his mother’s house.

homecoming

Cat, living it up in Evropa.

My older sister Catherine flew back from Macedonia Wednesday night with a newly pierced bellybutton and some Ohridian souvenirs, which I have yet to see.

I’ll visit her tonight to hear all about her month-long Balkan adventure. Maybe she’ll share a few photos of her trip that I can post here. Ohrid is so beautiful, with an ancient lake and more than 360 ancient Byzantine churches. There’s a castle in the middle of Ohrid, the town my family and I used to call home.

When I was there, I totally took for granted that I lived in one of the most fascinating parts of the world. To me then, it was just my backyard. Maybe when Catherine goes next time, I can tag along.

update

OK, so Cat got to posting some photos of her voyage. Here’s a sampling:

boat ramp, near downtown/photo by catherine

taxi boats on ohridsko ezero/photo by catherine

lake ohrid lakeshore/photo by catherine

a note

Ramos and one of her pet dogs. Courtesy photo.

One of Cynthia Ramos’ sons left a touching message below a story on the Tracy Press Web site. Ramos had six children. Four daughters and two sons, according to one friend. Ramos, who was found stabbed to death in her Tracy trailer home on Thursday, was little more than a couple weeks away from turning 59 years old, and just days away from becoming a great-grandparent. Hers was the second murder in Tracy this year.

See photos from Saturday’s candlelight vigil here and read her son’s note here:

Mom, you are missed and loved so much. I never thought that this could ever happen to you and just know my heart and soul are with you. You always told me how proud you were of all of us and you know what? I am so proud of you. You led the life of an angel. You took in those who needed help, even when you didn’t have the means to do it. You are a wonderful woman. I’m so glad that my last words to you were “I love you.”

We always said I love you as our last words to each other. And I know our love for each other was as real as could be. You had your own way of expressing your love. Sometimes it was tough love, but it was all good. You have raised a great family and you done very good. It’s crazy when I think about it, but how we never had much, we always had each other. Love got us through everything that we have ever been through. I’m glad of my upbringing. You have really taught me so much about love…How to love and how to be a great person.How to help people. You have always been there for me during my rough and tough times. And you never turned your back on me. I am so close to you. And because you’re gone from me in person, your soul and love lives in my heart forever. I’ve had so many great times and memories with you and they will never leave me. Even my butt woopin’s will stay with me. I wish right now you could grab your ping pong paddle and give me one right now. lol. You are such a great person and at times I didnt know why you did things that you did, but in the end, you’re whole story has been put together like a beautiful puzzle. You are my life. And I will never let go of you. You will stay with me forever and ever!!! I love you mom so much and always keep me love with you as I know you have your whole life. Tell everybody up in Heaven that I send my love. And embrace Grandma and Grandpa. You’re finally home mom, you’re finally home.

And for everybody who came out last night, I must say that on behalf of me and my entire family, we truly thank you. I know for me, the support from family, friends and total strangers has helped me so much in dealing with all of this. It’s been hard on all of us, but all of the support and prayers from everybody is really getting me by. I thank you sincerely.

Mom, you are missed and loved so much. I never thought that this could ever happen to you and just know my heart and soul are with you. You always told me how proud you were of all of us and you know what? I am so proud of you. You led the life of an angel. You took in those who needed help, even when you didn’t have the means to do it. You are a wonderful woman. I’m so glad that my last words to you were “I love you.” We always said I love you as our last words to each other. And I know our love for each other was as real as could be. You had your own way of expressing your love. Sometimes it was tough love, but it was all good. You have raised a great family and you done very good. It’s crazy when I think about it, but how we never had much, we always had each other. Love got us through everything that we have ever been through. I’m glad of my upbringing. You have really taught me so much about love…How to love and how to be a great person.How to help people. You have always been there for me during my rough and tough times. And you never turned your back on me. I am so close to you. And because you’re gone from me in person, your soul and love lives in my heart forever. I’ve had so many great times and memories with you and they will never leave me. Even my butt woopin’s will stay with me. I wish right now you could grab your ping pong paddle and give me one right now. lol. You are such a great person and at times I didnt know why you did things that you did, but in the end, you’re whole story has been put together like a beautiful puzzle. You are my life. And I will never let go of you. You will stay with me forever and ever!!! I love you mom so much and always keep me love with you as I know you have your whole life. Tell everybody up in Heaven that I send my love. And embrace Grandma and Grandpa. You’re finally home mom, you’re finally home.

And for everybody who came out last night, I must say that on behalf of me and my entire family, we truly thank you. I know for me, the support from family, friends and total strangers has helped me so much in dealing with all of this. It’s been hard on all of us, but all of the support and prayers from everybody is really getting me by. I thank you sincerely.

– Livai