Shalovee May 9, 2005   04:59 PM PDT   Oh Geekmom, welcome here! I agree she was very selfish. I think when you get overwhelmed you become really self centered. And you are also right that I would never do this to someone, but I do not have to be like her, to have pity on her, or have compassion. I really hope she gets the help she needs, because according to more news today she did this run away thing once before. Sad. Just as sad as someone who say, gets married several times before they stop and take a real good look at WHY they are doing this. I hope she can get the healing she needs, and possibly, the right medication. Now, don't be such a stranger!

	GeekMom May 9, 2005   06:59 AM PDT   I am just really disgusted because on her travels, she befriended a Hispanic man and white woman, and what did she do? She told the police they kidnapped her. She told them about the blue van they were driving and everything. Is THAT fair? To risk their arrest just because they were nice to her while she was flipping out on the road? It sounds to ME like she was overwhelmed, sure, but she reacted in a very self-centered way. She planned it in advance, she took off, she didn't care about what it would do to her family and fiancee and friends, she lied to the police (with a LOT of careful imagining, including saying her kidnappers had a gun and bursting into tears), and it took her a really long time to admit she did anything wrong. IMFO, the fact that she was having this big wedding just meant she was probably spoiled rotten and that's why she felt she could just take off when she decided she needed some "alone time" and could make up a story with impunity. Sorry, but I would NEVER do this sort of thing, and neither would you, Shal. Even in your most difficult times you wouldn't be as self-centered and lying as this woman was. It takes a lot of work and forethought to make this kind of "mistake." Saying the wrong thing once is a mistake anyone can make. Running away in a panic on the spur of the moment is a mistake that some people make. But staging your own kidnapping is over the top. Am I judgmental? You bet your ass. She's just lucky that her family and fiance aren't holding this against her. Which kinds of shows you that she can get away even with THIS. At least the rest of the public is holding her to account. I'll bet that Hispanic man and white woman aren't going to get an apology, though.

	Soyunperdedor May 6, 2005   07:10 PM PDT   I think this story is highly idiotic! No, not yours. The whole spectacle. Just more media generating news where there shouldn't be any. And more of the lowest common denominator middle america jumping right on it.

	Shalovee May 6, 2005   04:22 PM PDT   Pix, I did get excited! A new reader! Oh! I was in orgasmic joy! Then I saw it was just you. =oP Your words are beautiful. You have always been such a supporter of me. I love you. Let's do it. Whatever "it" is.

	JustAPixel May 6, 2005   12:08 AM PDT   what is wrong with this thing? first, it posts twice. then i tried to post another comment about the stoopid posting thing, it didn't post, but if I had clicked again, it would have posted twice. bah.

	JustAPixel May 6, 2005   12:07 AM PDT   and now the stoopid thing posts twice. *sigh*

	JustAPixel May 6, 2005   12:06 AM PDT   Shal: "Name" = me. I'm so f*ckin' stoopid sometimes. I didn't see that the name box reverted back to default. So, it's just me. Sorry to get you all excited over the prospect of a new reader. Just me - JustaPixel.

	JustAPixel May 6, 2005   12:06 AM PDT   Shal: "Name" = me. I'm so f*ckin' stoopid sometimes. I didn't see that the name box reverted back to default. So, it's just me. Sorry to get you all excited over the prospect of a new reader. Just me - JustaPixel.

	lonely teenager May 5, 2005   06:26 PM PDT   i totally agree! mind your p's and q's is what they need to do!

	Shalovee May 5, 2005   02:06 PM PDT   It isn't the Paula getting some young tail that has caught my attention (however, dude-shut up! You got your sex, now zip it because you have just lost any other 21 year old punk's chances with her. You dope!) But instead the case of these four young lucky guys who were digging up a tree stump in their back yard, only to find a bunch of old confederation money, worth gobs and gobs of money. It was so fun to watch them tell their story of how they found this money and they were all so cute, talking over eachother and it was a gin-you-wine-ly feel good story. For once you thought the cruel universe had smiled on someone. Only to find out they are liars and STOLE IT from some guys barn! And they were caught by their own stupidity. They were on so many talk shows, and they apparently didn't get thier stories straight, and on every show told a different story. BUSTED!! BWA HA HA!! I love a good dumb crook who gets what they got comming to them, and better yet on national tv! Now that is media gold! And I haven't heard hardly one follow up to that story. Man, media doesn't get it. They SO need me!

	mellowyellow May 5, 2005   10:58 AM PDT   this was interesting, it was covered here briefly. I feel sorry for her

	Shalovee May 5, 2005   09:17 AM PDT   Lawyers! Oh! How I would always have blogging fodder. Name, you have me curious, you have read me from the beggining, as in Paulfordrocks? Asschapuea? TheSteveScene? Who are you? Do I know you? Is this Sara? GM? Rm? Michelle? Loki? Come on now, share. We don't want to drive me nuts now do we? Plus you said I was pretty so I really want to know! ;-)

	canuck May 5, 2005   08:13 AM PDT   i'm all for people leaving her alone, and i think it's great her family is behind her, as they should be, but i can see how tax payers in that area would be pissed about her calling 911. after all, it's their money that's going to have to pay for that faux search. however, does she deserved to be crucified, no. hey, how about that american idol skanky dude and paula? can you believe they dedicated a WHOLE show to that bum?! i didn't watch it, i love myself too much for that kind of crap. :P

	Name May 5, 2005   07:56 AM PDT   I have to say, you are really, really writing superbly. I haven't followed the story that much, so I just get the media slant on the story. I have to admit (though I really haven't gotten wrapped around this particular story), I was also thinking on the negative side. But, you have written a beautiful piece from the poor woman's side. And you are 100% dead on. Even her "looks" are media fodder. You have so totally won me over with this blog. Shal, I have watched your writings so mature from your earlies writings, and if I envied your skills before, I am positively wrapping myself around your feet now. You will be a kick-ass Journalism major. Or, have you thought about going into law? :)

	Shalovee May 5, 2005   06:14 AM PDT   She didn't need the 15 mins she got. America has been so rude I hope that she becomes insanely rich and famous off Americas dime. That would serve them right! And I hope she reads my blog and smiles that wealth she doesn't need on me before they repo my car today. (a girl can wish!) Meg, she was schedualed to be married in a huge 600 guest wedding, she had 13 bridesmaides, she had something like 8 bridal showers...nothing like old money-huh? I mean, the family looks perfectly nice and all, but talk about feeling like something is out of control! I was married once to some money in Texas, and his mother took over everything. What was supposed to be short and sweet, soon festered into a huge, 150 guest, three wedding cakes, two bridal shower, her picking all the music (although I stood my ground and walked down the isle to George Straights I cross my heart (it was Texas after all!) and I walked away from the isle with Barry Manilow "the best of me" on the arm of my sisters soon to be hubby. At least I got THAT) the rest was done by my soon to be ex-MIL. And she wasn't really happy when after doing the cake on the cheek thing, I got me some groomsman cake, that was chocolate, covered with choc covered strawberries. Man that was good! That whole thing was a waste of money, but at least it was HER money as we were through in 10 months. Maybe I am only pissed because I wasn't smart enough to have been the runaway bride my own self? Man, that must be it.

	Kitty May 5, 2005   05:32 AM PDT   Hey, Darlin' - don't hold back . . . tell us what you REALLY think *haha* just kidding -- I know what you're saying . . . you should be living here (just down the road from Duluth) -- every farmer, gas station attendant, grocer, etc. has an opinion - and every national news magazine / paper / or affiliate has a camera and microphone in their face to get it. As I said, she's HAD her fifteen minutes -- let's move on -- nothing more to see -- let it go! JEEZ, LOUISE!

	Meg May 5, 2005   05:27 AM PDT   I'd never heard of the person that is the topic of your post. I guess my head has been stuck in the sand. But, well, you definitely have my vote for: I want to punch America's ass in the eye. You ought to put that on t-shirts!