Life in Lansing, KS

I Have Moved to a Beta Site.

2006-10-22T10:25:00.000-05:00

With 250 posts having passed this way, I thought it might be interesting to try the new Beta Blog. It is One Man's View From Lansing, KS.

I guarantee that the quality of my postings will remain the same, mediocre at best. Although they will not be completely worthless.

It will be an interesting learning experience.

So, give it a try, and leave suggestions. Other than that not much else has changed. When it does the information will be at the aforementioned locale.

#250.1

Insults with class

2006-10-21T16:10:00.000-05:00

"He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire." -- Winston Churchill

"A modest little person, with much to be modest about." -- Winston Churchill

"I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure." -- Clarence Darrow

"He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary." -- William Faulkner (about Ernest Hemingway)

"Poor Faulkner. Does he really think big emotions come from big words?" -- Ernest Hemingway (about William Faulkner)

"Thank you for sending me a copy of your book; I'll waste no time reading it." -- Moses Hadas

"He can compress the most words into the smallest idea of any man I know." -- Abraham Lincoln

"I've had a perfectly wonderful evening. But this wasn't it." -- Groucho Marx

"I didn't attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it." -- Mark Twain

"He has no enemies, but is intensely disliked by his friends." -- Oscar Wilde

"I am enclosing two tickets to the first night of my new play, bring a friend... if you have one." -- George Bernard Shaw to Winston Churchill

"Cannot possibly attend first night, will attend second.... if there is one." -- Winston Churchill, in response

"I feel so miserable without you, it's almost like having you here." -- Stephen Bishop

"He is a self-made man and worships his creator." -- John Bright

"I've just learned about his illness. Let's hope it's nothing trivial." -- Irvin S. Cobb

"He is not only dull himself, he is the cause of dullness in others." -- Samuel Johnson

"He is simply a shiver looking for a spine to run up." -- Paul Keating

"He had delusions of adequacy." -- Walter Kerr

"There's nothing wrong with you that reincarnation won't cure." -- Jack E. Leonard

"He has the attention span of a lightning bolt." -- Robert Redford

"They never open their mouths without subtracting from the sum of human knowledge." -- Thomas Brackett Reed

"He inherited some good instincts from his Quaker forebears, but by diligent hard work, he overcame them." -- James Reston (about Richard Nixon)

"In order to avoid being called a flirt, she always yielded easily." -- Charles, Count Talleyrand

"He loves nature in spite of what it did to him." -- Forrest Tucker

"Why do you sit there looking like an envelope without any address on it?" -- Mark Twain

"His mother should have thrown him away and kept the stork." -- Mae West

"Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go." -- Oscar Wilde

"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts... for support rather than illumination." -- Andrew Lang (1844-1912)

"He has Van Gogh's ear for music." -- Billy Wilder

#250

Corporate Ingenuity in America?

2006-10-21T16:05:00.000-05:00

A Japanese company ( Toyota ) and an American company (General Motors) decided to have a canoe race on the Missouri River. Both teams practiced long and hard to reach their peak performance before the race.

On the big day, the Japanese team won by a mile.

The Americans, very discouraged and depressed, decided to investigate the reason for the crushing defeat.

A management team made up of senior management was formed to investigate and recommend appropriate action.

Their conclusion was the Japanese team had 8 people rowing and 1 person steering, while the American team had 8 people steering and 1 person rowing.

So American management hired a consulting company and paid them a large amount of money for a second opinion. They advised that too many people were steering the boat, while not enough people were rowing.

To prevent another loss to the Japanese, the American's rowing team's management structure was totally reorganized to 4 steering supervisors, 3 area steering superintendents and 1 assistant superintendent steering manager.

They also implemented a new performance system that would give the 1 person rowing the boat greater incentive to work harder.

It was called the "Rowing Team Quality First Program," with meetings, dinners and free pens for the rower

There was discussion of getting new paddles, canoes and other equipment, extra vacation days for practices, and bonuses.

The next year the Japanese won by two miles.

Humiliated, the American management laid off the rower for poor performance, halted development of a new canoe, sold the paddles, and canceled all capital investments for new equipment.

The money saved was distributed to the Senior Executives as bonuses and the next year's racing team was outsourced to India .

Author: Unknown

#249

Referral to another post...

2006-10-20T06:10:00.000-05:00

David Brin has an important posting that is too long to copy here.

Please check it out, if you are so inclined. He has some very interesting things to say.

#248

A Poem about life

2006-10-19T15:30:00.000-05:00

On October 19, 2006 at 1:59am -0700, NORMA COOPER wrote:

When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a small hospital near Tampa, Florida, it was believed that he had nothing left of any value.

Later, when the nurses were going through his meager possessions, they found this poem. Its quality and content so impressed the staff that copies were made and distributed to every nurse in the hospital.

One nurse took her copy to Missouri. The old man's sole bequest to posterity has since appeared in the Christmas edition of the News Magazine of the St Louis Association for Mental Health. A slide presentation has also been made based on his simple, but eloquent, poem.

And this little old man, with nothing left to give to the world, is now the author of this "anonymous" poem winging across the Internet:

BOY DOES THIS POEM TELL IT LIKE IT IS! FOR I AM GETTING THERE FAST!

Crabby Old Man

What do you see, nurses. What do you see?
What are you thinking..??....... When you're looking at me?
A crabby old man .........???.. Not very wise,
Uncertain of habit, ...???....... With faraway eyes?

Who dribbles his food. And makes no reply.
When you say in a loud voice, .. "I do wish you'd try!"
Who seems not to notice .......... The things that you do,
And forever is losing ............?.. A sock or shoe?

Who, resisting or not, ........?..... Lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding, ??... The long day to fill?
Is that what you're thinking? ?... Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse,?....You're not looking at me.

I'll tell you who I am .....??........ As I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding, ...??.... As I eat at your will.
I'm a small child of ten . With a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters ...........??. Who love one another.

A young boy of sixteen .......?.....With wings on his feet
Dreaming that soon now. ?.........A lover he'll meet.
A groom soon at twenty ............. My heart gives a leap,
Remembering the vows. That I promised to keep.
At twenty-five now, ...........??... I have young of my own,
Who need me to guide ...??.... And a secure happy home.
A man of thirty, .......???........ My young now grown fast,
Bound to each other .....??...... With ties that should last.

At forty, my young sons ..??.... Have grown and are gone,
But my woman's beside me. To see I don't mourn
At fifty once more, .......??....... Babies play 'round my knee,
Again we know children, .?....... My loved one and me.
Dark days are upon me, ...?...... My wife is dead,
I look at the future, ....???....... I shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing. Young of their own ,
And I think of the years???.... And the love that I've known.

I'm now an old man.......??....... And nature is cruel;
Tis jest to make old age .....?......Look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles, .......?..... Grace and vigor depart,
There is now a stone. Where I once had a heart.
But inside this old carcass ..??.. A young guy still dwells,
And now and again, ...??..........My battered heart swells.
I remember the joys, ................... I remember the pain,
And I'm loving and living.....?...... Life over again.

I think of the years ....??........... All too few, gone too fast,
And accept the stark fact. That nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people, ........ Open and see,
Not a crabby old man; ???...... Look closer.... see, ME!!

Remember this poem when you next meet an older person who you might brush aside without looking at the young soul within.....we will all, one day, be there, too!

#247

KNOW YOUR STATE MOTTO..........

2006-10-19T06:40:00.000-05:00

Alabama
Hell Yes, We Have Electricity.

Alaska
11,623 Eskimos Can't Be Wrong!

Arizona
Yes, But It's A Dry Heat.

Arkansas
Lituracy Ain't Everythang.

California
By 30, Our Women Have More
Plastic Than Your Honda.

Colorado
If You Don't Ski, Don't Bother.

Connecticut
Like Massachusetts, only smaller.

Delaware
We Really Do Like The Chemicals In Our Water.

Florida
Ask Us About Our Grandkids
And Our Voting Skills.

Georgia
We Put The Fun In Fundamentalist Extremism.

Hawaii
Haka Tiki Mou Sha'ami Leeki Toru
( Death To Mainland Scum, Leave Your Money)

Idaho
More Than Just Potatoes...
Well, Okay, We're Not, But The Potatoes Sure Are Real Good

Illinois
Please, Don't Pronounce the "S"

Indiana
2 Billion Years Tidal Wave Free

Iowa
We Do Amazing Things With Corn

Kansas
First Of The Rectangle States

Kentucky
Five Million People;
Fifteen Last Names

Louisiana
We're Not ALL Drunk Cajun Wackos, But That's Our Tourism Campaign.

Maine
We're Really Cold, But We Have Cheap Lobster

Maryland
If You Can Dream It, We Can Tax It

Massachusetts
Our Taxes Are Lower Than Sweden's
And Our Republicans Are More Corrupt than Our Democrats

Michigan
First Line Of Defense From The Canadians

Minnesota
10,000 Lakes... And 10 Zillion Mosquitoes

Mississippi
Come visit And Feel Better About Your Own State

Missouri
Your Federal Flood Relief Tax Dollars At Work

Montana
Land Of The Big Sky, The Unabomber,
Right-wing Crazies, and Honest Elections!

Nebraska
Ask About Our State Motto Contest

Nevada
Hookers and Poker!

New Hampshire
Go Away And Leave Us Alone

New Jersey
You Want A ##$%##! Motto?
I Got Yer ##$%##! Motto Right here!

New Mexico
Lizards Make Excellent Pets

New York
You Have The Right To Remain Silent,
You Have The Right To An Attorney...
And No Right To Self Defense!

North Carolina
Tobacco Is A Vegetable

North Dakota
We Really Are One Of The 50 States!

Ohio
At Least We're Not Michigan

Oklahoma
Like The Play, But No Singing

Oregon
Spotted Owl... It's What's For Dinner

Pennsylvania
Cook With Coal

Rhode Island
We're Not REALLY An Island

South Carolina
Remember The Civil War?
Well, We Didn't Actually Surrender Yet

South Dakota
Closer Than North Dakota

Tennessee
Home of the Al Gore Invention Museum.

Texas
Se Hable Ingles

Utah
Our Jesus Is Better Than Your Jesus

Vermont
Too liberal for the Kennedys

Virginia
Who Says Government Stiffs And Slackjaw Yokels Don't Mix?

Washington
Our Governor can out-fraud your Governor!

West Virginia
One Big Happy Family...Really!

Wisconsin
Come Cut the Cheese!

Wyoming
Where Men Are Men... And The Sheep Are Scared
Home of Brokeback Mtn.

The District of Columbia
The Work-Free Drug Place

#246

Vietnamese transportation

2006-10-15T06:59:00.000-05:00

I received these photos in an email this morning. My friend commented that it reminded him of our times in Viet Nam back in the '60s and '70s. They do bring back memories of crowded streets.

It is absolutely amazing how people can adapt to their situations. These photos depict the reality of another culture.

Anyone ready for a Motor bike/scooter?

#245

Results of the first frost.

2006-10-13T16:00:00.000-05:00

It was only a month ago when we were fortunate to receive the monthly P.R.I.D.E. yard award. Then last night the inevitable happened--the first frost. We looked out of the front window to discover those beautiful Impatiens bit the dust. They were so ugly I couldn't bring myself to take a photo of them. After lunch Maryann and I went out and took out the dead plants. The following two photos show the results of our labors. We can hardly wait until next Spring to plant more colorful flowers.

Since it is fall and nearing Hallowe'en we decided to decorate the front door for the occasion. Those are some beautiful 'mums and real pumpkin.

We even remembered to bring out the Hallowe'en banner.

After Thanksgiving we will start our Christmas decorating and will post the results.

Fall has fell, the flowers have died.
I wonder where the birdies flyed?
Everybody says that the birdies take to wing,
but that's absurd.
Everybody knows,
It's the wing that takes the bird.

As a blogging friend might say, "flap, flap, swoosh."

Happy birthday to all others who celebrate their birthdays today!

#244

Thanks to Mike T.

2006-10-13T12:11:00.000-05:00

Mike is the web master for the Retired Military Police Officers web site. He is quick to send us updates and alert us to the status of our comrades. His sign off on his emails with the following message:

Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well-preserved body, but to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "Holy Cow - What a Ride!"

#243

Wine tasting weekend

2006-10-12T14:45:00.000-05:00

The weekend trip began early Friday morning (0730). We motored East to the Warrenton exit on I-70. Our goal was to view the fall foliage and taste wines. Our itinerary took us through Warrenton where we had a delightful lunch at a place called J & D's on Main. The food was delicious. Their potato soup and steak chili are recommended.

Foliage at the rest stop along I-70. The wonders of the changing colors got better as we went along.

We began our wine tasting Friday afternoon.

George, Gale and Maryann at Blumenhof Vineyards in Dutzow, MO. It was the first of several on Saturday. The wine tasting was indoors. The weather was so nice we decided to sit, rest and listen to the music. It was not very loud and since there were only two guitarists, one of whom was a vocalist, it was very enjoyable.

We stopped and tasted some wines at the Balducci Winery. While the view was spectacular, the wines were not to our liking so we moved on down the road.

We also stopped at the Mount Pleasant Winery in Augusta. It was great. They bottle a great Cabernet Sauvignon. It was good enough to bring a bottle home, which I did.

Our last stop for the day near Augusta was the Montelle Winery. For some reason we never discovered, they were closing until we arrived. The winery, tasting room and Klondike Cafe are located on the top of a hill. The view is magnificent. They have a wonderful deck from which to view the surroundings while dining and enjoying the fruits of their vines. I only wish we could have done so. As you can tell from the photo above, the view is spectacular. Perhaps we will return. We left here and proceeded to our next stop which was dinner at Richards on the Riverfront in Washington.

The B&B we booked was the Thias House in Washington, MO. It was the only place that had rooms available at the time we booked. We learned only after arriving that the reason for a shortage of rooms was the annual Octoberfest in the area. Every weekend during the month of October there are activities at the wineries and breweries in the area.

It was quite an experience. What we didn't know earlier was that the B&B is also an antique shop. Just about everything in the place had a price tag on it. Even the lamp on the night stand beside the bed had a price tag. The only problem was that it was not plugged in, nor was there an electrical outlet anywhere near the bed. The bed was comfortable, but the night was full of noises that you would only relate to a large metropolitan area. Washington is not such a metropolis. The new coffee pot malfunctioned, the breakfast was not that tasty and so we set off to cleanse our palates with some wine. After all that was why we went there.

On Saturday morning, after that less than sterling breakfast we drove to Hermann, MO and stopped at a number of wineries there. First we did some browsing in the many antique shops in the area and had lunch prior to wine tasting. The wineries didn't open until 1100. So, a little bratwurst with mustard and sauer kraut and an Amber Bock helped fortify us for the wine tasting.

We began at the Hermannhof Winery. It was absolute pandemonium. It is difficult to imagine how many folks come to the area at this time of year. We then toured some of the historic sites. The most enjoyable site was the Deutschheim State Historic Site. The guide was extremely knowledgeable about the site and was further impressive in the manner in which she engaged the children who were on the tour. If you only go to Hermann for that, the trip will be well worth it.

The day was waning so our next stop was the Oak Glenn Vineyards and Winery. Because they had musical entertainment there was a $5.00 cover that had to be paid along the road at the parking lot entrance. There were two guys there asking for the money. I did ask the parking director as we got to the upper parking lot if he knew there were guys down there asking for money. He assured me that it was part of the plan.

At the Oak Glen Winery we enjoyed a bottle of their Vidal Blanc (Semi-dry white with fruity flavors, somewhat like Italian dry wines. Vidal's clean Citrus flavors create a nicely balanced wine.) The wine was quite good, but the band was loud. They subscribe to the idea that you don't have to be good as long as you have a beat and are not afraid to share with the surrounding counties. We had difficulty hearing ourselves talk. We knew the people who were there for the band, they were drinking beer.

We then headed to Jefferson City where rooms at the Jefferson Inn awaited us.

I couldn't resist taking this photo of the sunset on our way to Jefferson City.

Everything that was less than perfect at the previous night's stay was perfect here. The rooms had private baths. The breakfast was delicious. The Innkeeper and her family were cordial and helpful. Rachel even suggested a Arris' pizzeria for a light evening meal. It is right across the street from the Capitol.

Sunday morning we decided to go back to the Capitol and do the obligatory touring.

The state Capitol taken from the North side. One of our local TV stations used this one as a lead in to the 6 PM weather report.

This is a view of the Governor's Mansion taken from the South. We were not invited in for coffee. Maybe next time.

Another view of the Capitol from the gardens at the Governor's mansion. I just may send this photo to the TV station next week.

On the way out of Jefferson City we stopped by the Summit Lake Winery. They were picking the last of the Norton grapes.

We tasted wine here and bought a couple bottles of red. I particularly liked their red table wine known as Legend. (A medium-bodied red wine made from the Norton and Chambourcin grape varieties; fruity berry aroma with a touch of earthy/spicy complexities.)

Our last stop was at Le Bourgeois Winery in Rocheport. We had a nice, late lunch and then came home. Well that's the tour. We had a great weekend. Tasted some very nice wines and some not so nice. All in all it was fun. Next time Maryann should be off her meds and be able to taste some wines too. It was helpful to have a designated drive along. We had to use her services as such at least once.

#242

American Suicide.........

2006-10-12T09:45:00.000-05:00

Is this message coming true? I wonder.

Snopes says this is True. The only correction is: The author of
Mexifornia is Victor Davis Hanson. (You can also read an updated revision by Gov. Lamm at this site)
---------------
We know Dick Lamm as the former Governor of Colorado. In that context his thoughts are particularly poignant. Last week there was an immigration overpopulation conference in Washington, DC, filled to capacity by many of America's finest minds and leaders. A brilliant college professor by the name of Victor Hansen Davis(sic) talked about his latest book, "Mexifornia," explaining how immigration - both legal and illegal - was destroying the entire state of California. He said it would march across the country until it destroyed all vestiges of The American Dream.
-
Moments later, former Colorado Governor Richard D. Lamm stood up and gave a stunning speech on how to destroy America. The audience sat spellbound as he described eight methods for the destruction of the United States. He said, "If you believe that America is too smug, too self-satisfied, too rich, then let's destroy America. It is not that hard to do. No nation in history has survived the ravages of time. Arnold Toynbee observed that all great civilizations rise and fall and that 'An autopsy of history would show that all great nations commit suicide.'"
-
"Here is how they do it," Lamm said: "First, to destroy America, turn America into a bilingual or multi-lingual and bicultural country." History shows that no nation can survive the tension, conflict, and antagonism of two or more competing languages and cultures. It is a blessing for an individual to be bilingual; however, it is a curse for a society to be bilingual. The historical scholar, Seymour Lipset, put it this way: "The histories of bilingual and bi-cultural societies that do not assimilate are histories of turmoil, tension, and tragedy." Canada, Belgium, Malaysia, and Lebanon all face crises of national existence in which minorities press for autonomy, if not independence. Pakistan and Cyprus have divided. Nigeria suppressed an ethnic rebellion. France faces difficulties with Basques, Bretons, and Corsicans."
-
Lamm went on: Second, to destroy America, "Invent 'multiculturalism' and encourage immigrants to maintain their culture. I would make it an article of belief that all cultures are equal. That there are no cultural differences. I would make it an article of faith that the Black and Hispanic dropout rates are due solely to prejudice and discrimination by the majority. Every other explanation is out of bounds.
-
Third, "We could make the United States a 'Hispanic Quebec' without much effort. The key is to celebrate diversity rather than unity. As Benjamin Schwarz said in the Atlantic Monthly recently: "The apparent success of our own multiethnic and multicultural experiment might have been achieved not by tolerance but by hegemony. Without the dominance that once dictated ethnocentricity and what it meant to be an American, we are left with only tolerance and pluralism to hold us together." Lamm said, "I would encourage all immigrants to keep their own language and culture. I would replace the melting pot metaphor with the salad bowl metaphor. It is important to ensure that we have various cultural subgroups living in America enforcing their differences rather than as Americans, emphasizing their similarities."
-
"Fourth, I would make our fastest growing demographic group the least educated. I would add a second underclass, unassimilated, undereducated, and antagonistic to our population. I would have this second underclass have a 50% dropout rate from high school."
-
"My fifth point for destroying America would be to get big foundations and business to give these efforts lots of money. I would invest in ethnic identity, and I would establish the cult of 'Victimology.' I would get all minorities to think that their lack of success was the fault of the majority. I would start a grievance industry blaming all minority failure on the majority population."
-
"My sixth plan for America's downfall would include dual citizenship, and promote divided loyalties. I would celebrate diversity over unity I would stress differences rather than similarities. Diverse people worldwide are mostly engaged in hating each other - that is, when they are not killing each other. A diverse, peaceful, or stable society is against most historical precedent. People undervalue the unity it takes to keep a nation together. Look at the ancient Greeks. The Greeks believed that they belonged to the same race; they possessed a common language and literature; and they worshipped the same gods. All Greece took part in the Olympic Games. A common enemy, Persia, threatened their liberty. Yet all these bonds were not strong enough to overcome two factors: local patriotism and geographical conditions that nurtured political divisions. Greece fell. "E. Pluribus Unum" - From many, one. In that historical reality, if we put the emphasis on the 'Pluribus' instead of the 'Unum,' we will balkanize America as surely as Kosovo."
-
"Next to last, I would place all subjects off limits; make it taboo to talk about anything against the cult of 'diversity.' I would find a word similar to 'heretic' in the 16th century - that stopped discussion and paralyzed thinking. Words like 'racist' or 'xenophobe' halt discussion and debate.. Having made America a bilingual/bicultural country, having established multi-culturism, having the large foundations fund the doctrine of 'Victimology,' I would next make it impossible to enforce our immigration laws. I would develop a mantra: That because immigration has been good for America, it must always be good. I would make every individual immigrant symmetric and ignore the cumulative impact of millions of them."
-
In the last minute of his speech, Governor Lamm wiped his brow. Profound silence followed. Finally he said. "Lastly, I would censor Victor Hanson Davis's (sic) book "Mexifornia." His book is dangerous. It exposes the plan to destroy America. If you feel America. deserves to be destroyed, don't read that book."
-
There was no applause. A chilling fear quietly rose like an ominous cloud above every attendee at the conference. Every American in that room knew that everything Lamm enumerated was proceeding methodically, quietly, darkly, yet pervasively across the United States today. Discussion is being suppressed. Over 100 languages are ripping the foundation of our educational system and national cohesiveness. Even barbaric cultures that practice female genital mutilation are growing as we celebrate 'diversity.' American jobs are vanishing into the Third World as corporations create a Third World in America - take note of California and other states - to date, ten million illegal aliens and growing fast. It is reminiscent of George Orwell's book "1984." In that story, three slogans are engraved in the Ministry of Truth building: "War is peace," "Freedom is slavery," and "Ignorance is strength."
-
Governor Lamm walked back to his seat. It dawned on everyone at the conference that our nation and the future of this great democracy is deeply in trouble and worsening fast. If we don't get this immigration monster stopped within three years, it will rage like a California wildfire and destroy everything in its path, especially The American Dream.

#242

The Cows at Union Station

2006-10-11T23:00:00.000-05:00

Before our friends went back to Virginia, we took them to Union Station for lunch and a tour of the facilities there. Much to my surprise these cows were in attendance. Infinitesimal is not the only one to come across such critters.

There was also this model railroad display in the lobby. I believe it was N-gauge.

It was absolutely fabulous. We were sorry that we were not there to see it in operation.

Our lunch at Pierpont's was great, too.

#241

Suicide Killers

2006-10-11T10:15:00.000-05:00

This is a verbatim email that has been making the rounds. I checked Snopes and the report is true. Whether you choose to agree or not, it is a very provocative read. It is quite long and you might want to do other research to satisfy your own take on it. The quoted material is in italics. The Snopes citation gives more information about the author and related topics.

Suicide Killers A MUST READ!!! Some of you will read this and some of you will just blow it off.....

This is one the most clear and concise discussions I have seen on this subject. If it doesn't get your attention, nothing will. It should scare the hell out of you! Interesting comments re radical Islam Nazism, for which Bush just took a beating from the press and liberals. Every American should read this.

On July 15, MSNBC's "Connected" program discussed the 7/7 London attacks. One of the guests was Pierre Rehov, a French filmmaker who has filmed six documentaries on the intifada by going undercover in the Palestinian areas. Pierre's upcoming film, "Suicide Killers," is based on interviews that he conducted with the families of suicide bombers and would-be bombers in an attempt to find out why they do it. Pierre agreed to a request for a Q&A interview here about his work on the new film. Many thanks to Dean Draznin and Arlyn Riskind for helping to arrange this special interview.

Q: What inspired you to produce "Suicide Killers," your seventh film?

A: I started working with victims of suicide attacks to make a film on PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) when I became fascinated with the personalities of those who had committed those crimes, as they were described again and again by their victims. Especially the fact that suicide bombers are smiling one second before they blow themselves up.

Q: Why is this film especially important?

A: People don't understand the devastating culture behind this unbelievable phenomenon. My film is not politically correct because it addresses the real problem-showing the real face of Islam. It points the finger against a culture of hatred in which the uneducated are brainwashed to a level where their only solution in life becomes to kill themselves and kill others in the name of a God whose word, as transmitted by other men, has become their only certitude.

Q: What insights did you gain from making this film? What do you know that other experts do not know?

A: I came to the conclusion that we are facing a neurosis at the level of an entire civilization. Most neuroses have in common a dramatic event, generally linked to an unacceptable sexual behavior. In this case, we are talking of kids living all their lives in pure frustration, with no opportunity to experience sex, love, tenderness, or even understanding from the opposite sex. The separation between men and women in Islam is absolute. So is contempt toward women, who are totally dominated by men. This leads to a situation of pure anxiety, in which normal behavior is not possible. It is no coincidence that suicide killers are mostly young men dominated subconsciously by an overwhelming libido that they not only cannot satisfy but are afraid of, as if it is the work of the devil. Since Islam describes heaven as a place where everything on earth will finally be allowed, and promises 72 virgins to those frustrated kids, killing others and killing themselves to reach this redemption becomes their only solution.

Q: What was it like to interview would-be suicide bombers, their families, and survivors of suicide bombings?

A: It was a fascinating and a terrifying experience. You are dealing with seemingly normal people with very nice manners who have their own logic, which to a certain extent can make sense since they are so convinced that what they say is true. It is like dealing with pure craziness, like interviewing people in an asylum, since what they say, is for them, the absolute truth. I hear a mother saying "Thank God, my son is dead." Her son had become a shaheed, a martyr, which for her was a greater source of pride than if he had became an engineer, a doctor or a winner of the Nobel Prize. This system of values works completely backwards since their interpretation of Islam worships death much more than life. You are facing people whose only dream, only achievement is to fulfill what they believe to be their destiny, namely to be a shaheed or the family of a shaheed. They don't see the innocent being killed they only see the impure that they have to destroy.

Q: You say suicide bombers experience a moment of absolute power, beyond punishment. Is death the ultimate power?

A: Not death as an end, but death as a door open to the afterlife. They are seeking the reward that God has promised them. They work for God, the ultimate authority, above all human laws. They therefore experience this single delusional second of absolute power, where nothing bad can ever happen to them, since they become God's sword.

Q: Is there a suicide bomber personality profile? Describe the psychopathology.

A: Generally kids between 15 and 25 bearing a lot of complexes, generally inferiority complexes. They must have been fed with religion. They usually have a lack of developed personality. Usually they are impressionable idealists. In the western world they would easily have become drug addicts, but not criminals. Interestingly, they are not criminals since they don't see good and evil the same way that we do. If they had been raised in an Occidental culture, they would have hated violence. But they constantly battle against their own death anxiety. The only solution to this deep-seated pathology is to be willing to die and be rewarded in the after life in Paradise.

Q: Are suicide bombers principally motivated by religious conviction?

A: Yes, it is their only conviction. They don't act to gain a territory or to find freedom or even dignity. They only follow Allah, the supreme judge, and what He tells them to do.

Q: Do all Muslims interpret jihad and martyrdom in the same way?

A: All Muslim believers believe that, ultimately, Islam will prevail on earth. They believe this is the only true religion and there is no room, in their mind, for interpretation. The main difference between moderate Muslims and extremists is that moderate Muslims don't think they will see the absolute victory of Islam during their life time, therefore they respect other beliefs. The extremists believe that the fulfillment of the Prophecy of Islam and ruling the entire world, as described in the Koran, is for today. Each victory of Bin Laden convinces 20 million moderate Muslims to become extremists.

NOTE: According to books by ex-Muslims - They agree that your friendly Muslim at the Quick Stop or your neighbor across the street are Muslims first! Not Americans as we are - but Muslims - and if Islamic Law is the law of the land they will follow Islam to the letter of the law! Infidels are not in power - no freedom of the press - no wealth - etc!! )

Q: Describe the culture that manufactures suicide bombers.

A: Oppression, lack of freedom, brain washing, organized poverty, lacing God in charge of daily life, total separation between men and women, forbidding sex, giving women no power whatsoever, and placing men in charge of family honor, which is mainly connected to their women's behavior.

Q: What socio-economic forces support the perpetuation of suicide bombings?

A: Muslim charity is usually a cover for supporting terrorist organizations. But one has also to look at countries like Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Iran, which are also supporting the same organizations through different networks. The ironic thing in the case of Palestinian suicide bombers is that most of the money comes through financial support from the Occidental world, donated to a culture that utterly hates and rejects the West (mainly symbolized by Israel).

Q: Is there a financial support network for the families of the suicide bombers? If so, who is paying them and how does that affect the decision?

A: There used to be a financial incentive in the days of Saddam Hussein ($25,000 per family) and Yasser Arafat (smaller amounts), but these days are gone. It is a mistake to believe that these families would sacrifice their children for money. Although, the children themselves who are very attached to their families, might find in this financial support another reason to become suicide bombers. It is like buying a life insurance policy and then committing suicide.

Q: Why are so many suicide bombers young men?

A: As discussed above, libido is paramount. Also ego, because this is a sure way to become a hero. The shaheeds are the cowboys or the firemen of Islam. Shaheed is a positively reinforced value in this culture. And what kid has never dreamed of becoming a cowboy or a fireman?

Q: What role does the U.N. play in the terrorist equation?

A: The UN is in the hands of Arab countries and third world or ex-communists countries. Their hands are tied. The UN has condemned Israel more than any other country in the world, including the regime of Castro, Idi Amin, or Kaddahfi. By behaving this way, the UN leaves a door open by not openly condemning terrorist organizations. In addition, through UNRWA, the UN is directly tied to terror organizations such as Hamas, representing 65 percent of their apparatus in the so-called Palestinian refugee camps. As a support to Arab countries, the UN has maintained Palestinians in camps with the hope to "return" into Israel for more than 50 years, therefore making it impossible to settle those populations, which still live in deplorable conditions. Four-hundred million dollars are spent every year, mainly financed by U.S. taxes, to support 23,000 employees of UNRWA, many of whom belong to terrorist organizations (see Congressman Eric Cantor on this subject, and in my film "Hostages of Hatred").

Q: You say that a suicide bomber is a 'stupid bomb and a smart bomb' simultaneously. Explain what you mean.

A: Unlike an electronic device, a suicide killer has until the last second the capacity to change his mind. In reality, he is nothing but a platform representing interests which are not his, but he doesn't know it.

Q: How can we put an end to the madness of suicide bombings and terrorism in general?

A: Stop being politically correct and stop believing that this culture is a victim of ours. Radical Islamism today is nothing but a new form of Nazism. Nobody was trying to justify or excuse Hitler in the 1930s. We had to defeat him in order to make peace one day with the German people.

Q: Are these men traveling outside their native areas in large numbers? Based on your research, would you predict that we are beginning to see a new wave of suicide bombings outside the Middle East?

A: Every successful terror attack is considered a victory by the radical Islamists. Everywhere Islam expands there is regional conflict. Right now, there are thousands of candidates for martyrdom lining up in training camps in Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Inside Europe, hundreds of illegal mosques are preparing the next step of brain washing to lost young men who cannot find a satisfying identity in the Occidental world. Israel is much more prepared for this than the rest of the world will ever be. Yes, there will be more suicide killings in Europe and the U.S. -------

Sadly, this is only the beginning. Be afraid. Be very, very afraid!!

#240

A visit to Fort Leonard Wood, MO

2006-10-01T05:00:00.000-05:00

On Thursday, September 29th, we were taken to Fort Leonard Wood to spend the day at the US Army Military Police School (USAMPS). Just about every retired officer had served at the USAMPS when it was at Fort Gordon, GA. Many of us had not seen the new facilities. We excitedly anticipated the visit.

The agenda included briefings from a young Captain, the Commandant of the school and the school's Command Sergeant Major. They reminded us of the primary duties of MP's.

It appears that there is a major change in how the Army is configured. It is becoming more mobile and flexible. The idea is to be able to design the force structure to meet the needs in the operational area.

There is a greater awareness that in the war on terrorism, Military Police are better suited than any other force. Consequently, more MP units are being added.

Our next event was lunch in the dining facility. We walked by the billets. I must say they sure are a lot different today than when I went through advanced training.

Typical MP trainee billets

USAMPS Dining Facility

Lunch was a unique experience. Upon entering the dining facility we were faced with the facilities to wash our hands before proceeding to lunch. The troops are fed very well. It was laid out typical buffet style and the variety was amazing. Everything from hot sandwiches to meat loaf, bar-b-q pork, potatoes, rice and vegetables. Then you came to a fantastic salad and dessert bar. Yes indeed, the troops are fed very well.

The afternoon was devoted to touring the training facilities. Below was the first of several we toured. It is known as the Mobile Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) facility.

Here the trainees spend one day on crowd control, and the rest of the week learning how to deal with insurgents in an urban environment.

These are just a couple of views of the training location for MOUT. Here the trainees learn how to rely on and back up each other during these types of operations.

We were able to observe part of the training. It is amazing how well the perform. I witnessed a couple of them, one young man and one young woman carrying comrades who were designated as wounded. They do not leave comrades behind. Both of them had a heavy load and fulfilled that part of their mission in fine style.

It is safe to say that our Army is in good hands. All of these warrior police will do us all proud.

Everyone of the RMPO members were impressed with the work ethic and attitudes shown by these young people. We are proud of our Corps and know it is in good hands.

They are living up to the motto of the Corps--Of the Troops, For the Troops!

#239

Gone to Branson...

2006-09-29T18:50:00.000-05:00

Every year for the past 31 years a group of us who are retired Military Police Officers have gotten together at various places to renew old friendships and make new ones. It is a time to reminisce, swap lies and war stories and remember fallen comrades. This year we met in Branson, MO. Having never been to Branson, my wife and I eagerly looked forward to it. We were fortunate to have a couple join us from Virginia. They stayed with us for two days on either side of the Branson trip. (There will be some photos of that in a future posting.)

The Military Police Regimental Association sponsored the weekend activities. It was a full four day series of events that were extremely well coordinated. If there were any glitches, we never knew about them. But what else can you expect when the MP's are on the job?

We arrived on Wednesday to the welcoming sign above. We stayed at the Grand Plaza Hotel. The list of events included a one day trip to the US Army Military Police School at Fort Leonard Wood on Thursday. Golfing, for those so inclined, on Friday.

The 12th hole at the Point Royale Golf Course in Branson.

We could not have asked for a better day to play golf. It started out cool and never did get above 75 degrees.

After the day of golf many of us attended the Andy Williams & Petula Clark show. For an old guy he still puts on a great show. We were surprised and honored that he recognized us as a couple of hundred of his retired MP friends who were in attendance.

Many of us went on the tour of the Stone Hill winery Saturday morning.

Maryann & I were in attendance. Here is the proof that we were there in front of the gift shop

Wally was our tour guide. He was very informative about the history of the winery as well as the wine.

Bob showed us how they bottle Spumante Blush. It is quite an operation.

On Saturday evening we attended the usual banquet and dance.

Maryann and I had a great time. Too bad no one took a photo of us dancing. It is just as well. It would have to have been a moving picture to catch all of my most intricate moves. chuckle, snerx.

The Provost Marshal General, BG Johnson brought us up to date on the future of the Corps and how well we are doing given the circumstances under which the troops find themselves around the world. We can prevail over terrorists if the civilian leadership(?) will pay attention to the folks that know how to do it. I hope that is not just wishful thinking on my part - that the civilian leadership(?) will stay out of the way.

#238

It all started Sunday....

2006-09-29T07:05:00.000-05:00

September 24th. It was after lunch. Maryann and I went grocery shopping in preparation for our guests who were arriving on the 25th. They were going to spend a couple of days with us and then we would all go to Branson for the 31st reunion of the Retired Military Police Officers' Association. Part of the plan was to pick them up at the airport.

I began to feel a little funny. You know, that slightly upset feeling in the abdomen, a wee bit of nausea, but nothing serious. It will go away with time. It didn't. In fact, as we were driving home, it became a tad bit painful. It felt as though something was squeezing my innards just below the rib cage on the right side, and they were not being gentle.

Maryann suggested a couple of times that we go to the emergency room, or is that urgent care now? My typical male reaction was to let it pass on its own. It didn't.

Around 6:30 PM or so, I finally had enough and told her it was time. So away we went. Fortunately, there were only two folks ahead of me. It didn't take very long to get checked in. The young woman who did that was very professional, courteous, efficient and effective. The first amusing part of the event was her asking me when I had retired from the Army. When I told her August of 1979, she looked at me somewhat incredulously and asked, "Really?" I assured her that was correct and thanked her.

The evening got even more amusing to me. I do try to find the amusement/blessing in everything. That's what I get for being a cockeyed optimist.

While sitting awaiting my turn to be seen, Maryann asked if I remembered if she had taken the pie out of the oven. Naturally, I didn't remember, nor did she. By this time they had moved me to an examining room. Well, she bolted out of the chair and asked for directions to the exit. (This place was like a rabbit warren there were so many twists and turns.) When she told the nurse the dilemma the directions were something like this, "left, left, right straight ahead." So off she went. More on the pie dilemma later.

The doctor came in asked for the symptoms. Thought a moment and then said, "It sounds like some gall bladder difficulty." The next course of action was to start and IV, take blood, and do a bed side sonogram. He then went off to get that started and see other patients.

The nurse, Heather, is bright, energetic and has a great sense of humor. She got the IV started with a minimum of difficulty. She the administered the pain killer, Fentanyl. (I had her spell it for me and noted it on the front of my crossword puzzle book. I never go to places where I anticipate a wait without one.)

Wow, is that stuff powerful. The reaction was swift and sure. It almost felt like my eyeballs were spinning in my head when I first noticed I was in a slightly altered state of consciousness. The pain immediately subsided. My usual sunny, FUNNY disposition was even more pronounced and it was a real party.

The lab technician took blood at this time and I went back to my puzzles. After getting used to the meds, I realized my bladder was suggesting it would be a good idea to release some of the pressure there. I was able to get off of the bed and find Heather and ask for directions to the men's room. She was somewhat taken aback that I was off of the bed and asked if I was OK. I assured her I was and again asked for directions. She had me wait a moment so she could get a sample cup and then, somewhat reluctantly, pointed the direction. I jauntily made my there and back with no mishap. (I didn't even get my hand wet until I washed them in accordance with the instructions for such procedures.)

Maryann returned with the news that the shoo-fly pie was not burned. (Check the link out for the recipe.) It was a lot drier than it was supposed to be, and a bit tougher. It is still edible and we are working on it.

The doctor finally came back in. He had been called away to deliver a baby. The OB/Gyn doctor could not be found.

The next step was the bed side sonogram. It looked good according to the doctor. I couldn't see the screen because his arm was in the way. Maryann could see the screen and still couldn't see what he was seeing. You know those things are a mystery. I suspect that they just tell you what you are supposed to see. (See that lilttle thing there? It's a boy. tee hee.)

He then talked with my doctor and they agreed to turn me loose with the proviso to call my doctor the next morning. My doc said he thought I was a smart guy and would not hesitate to call if there were continued difficulties. The ER/UC doc said that usually for men my age they would admit me to the hospital for observation, but based on his discussion with my doc he would let me go home. Which I did.

The ER/UC doc did give me some pain pills saying I should take them for pain when it occurs. I took one before going to bed and slept the best I had in a while. By morning I was my new self again and felt fantastic. No pain. No pressure.

Both my doctor and the ER/UC doctor called to see how I was doing. They both were pleased with my recovery.

Btw, we did get to the airport and picked up our friends, had a wonderful time in Branson. (More on that subsequent postings.) We are blessed that our friends will be staying with for a couple more days just as we planned. There are couple of sights to show them in the Kansas City area.

So there you have it, how I spent a fun evening in the emergency/urgent care room.

Serve others, care about those you serve, and share the love in your heart.

#237

A Note to Matt

2006-09-19T06:50:00.000-05:00

The following is the response to a young man who is struggling with the ideas of organized religion and the existence of God.

Matt :-)

Hey there, back at you. As you can see, you are not the only one who has things get in the way of responding to email.

I am pleased to learn you are continuing on your quest to gain more knowledge about life and where you fit into it. It is not an easy quest, nor a quick one. In fact, it will be a life long quest. As soon as you think you have it figured out some other piece of information will come your way and blow holes in some of your hypotheses.

George Carlin is a great source of questions and alternative viewpoints. I read his piece about religion and enjoyed it. The one part he will probably emphasize in another bit is the part man plays in the whole thing. He has not discussed the part about choice and consequences. I did like the part where he mentioned that no woman would screw things up this badly. I agree with that. Testosterone is useful for many things, but humans (men) tend to go into overload and that’s when we get in trouble. If you want further proof look to the deeds of extremists and fundamentalists. Mostly led by men who are dead set on protecting their turf, whatever that may be.

I don’t remember if I sent you this web address or not, but it pretty well describes how I perceive this whole life, god, prayer, choice, consequences thing.

It may be more than you are ready to deal with at the moment. Suffice it to say it boils down to choice and consequence. No matter what choice you make, and making no choice is a choice, you will have consequences. Are you prepared for the results? That is a question you must be prepared to answer.

If it is any consolation, try on this idea of God. First, look up the word agape (ah-gah-pay). It is of Greek derivation. It means universal love. If there is such a thing as agape, and I believe there is, then how does it manifest itself? Well, for me, I can feel it. It is a part of me. It is most apparent whenever I am doing good works. Doing good works is another way of saying, serve others. (Please note my signature line below.) Whenever you serve others and care about them you tend to get a really good feeling, a positive feeling that all is right with the world. You are on top of your little part of it at that moment. I have come to realize that if I want to feel that way more often, then all I have to do is make sure that I am in the serve others mode as much of the time as I can make it happen. After all, it is my choice. It takes time to get there, and I have not achieved perfection yet. I continually strive for it. I do not expect to reach perfection in this life. Perhaps in the next one thousand lives.

Anyway these are just some thoughts from a guy who has been on the road of life a little longer than you. That doesn’t make me all-knowing, just willing to share some of his thoughts and ideas. You have the choice to consider them and discard any and all that don’t fit for you. If you come across some ideas like that, just tuck them away in your brain somewhere. Later on they may come in handy. Take them out, dust them off and try them on for size. Who knows, you might get to say, “So that’s what crazy, old bastard meant.”

I will leave you with all of that, and if you have more questions about this let me know. I’ll try not to take as long to respond to them as I did to this email.

--
Serve Others! Care about those you serve! Share the love in your heart!

#236

Sunday Evening...

2006-09-17T19:40:00.000-05:00

Today was the fourth of four days of teaching the principles of real estate class. This class was smaller than usual. That will teach me to schedule classes so close together.

As usual the students were fantastic. Each class is uniquely different and, yet, quite the same. Even though I am tired it is the wonderful tiredness that can only come from doing something you truly enjoy.

I know that not everyone of them will go on to get their real estate license and I am quite comfortable in that knowledge. I have come to realize that they are also there for some other personal reason that fits into their life lessons and mission. Perhaps they are there to cross paths with someone else to teach or learn a lesson. If I can be instrumental in that connection I am humbly proud to do it. However, that is just an egocentric wish. I don't have too much to do with their plans and decisions.

Maryann is planning a few more trips for us and is currently conspiring with our neighbor Gale. We have so much fun with them it is almost criminal. We always laugh a lot when we are together. What a great way to affect others and be affected by them.

I wish you all lots of love and laughter. May you be doing those things that bring you joy. Remember, life is all choices and consequences.

Continue to.....

Serve others, care about those you serve and share the love in your heart.

#235

The P.R.I.D.E. Yard Award

2006-09-15T15:30:00.000-05:00

A few nights ago we were looking out the front window and noticed a car driving by the house. The man and woman in the car were taking great care to view our home. I thought I recognized them. We talked about it and suggested it might be the inspection team for the Lansing PRIDE committee. Each Summer the committee awards yard awards to deserving yards.

The next evening they were back. This time they drove into the driveway. The gentleman got out of the car, went to the trunk and removed the sign. We had guessed correctly and had a great laugh.

We took time to talk with them about the yard. Since we have had problems with moles we asked if they had any remedies. In fact they did. His wife said that she goes out into the yard with a chair and a hoe, a very sharp hoe. As the mole moves through the yard she will chop down into the tunnel behind the mole and flip it out. She then dispatches it with a well placed blow. We are not sure if we will use that method of mole eradication.

We had a great time over this award since we have not done much work on the yard. Ralph and his guys come by once a week and cut and edge it. They also treat the yard with fertilizer and weed control stuff. We think it was the Impatiens that did the trick for us. A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to talk to the inspector lady and she mentioned at the time it was the flowers that got us the award then. We can only suspect that did the trick again this time.

#234

Some Random Thoughts on Killing

2006-09-13T08:50:00.000-05:00

How's that for bringing attention to a morbid (pun intended) subject. I have been pondering this for some time, particularly since 9/11.

I wonder what it would be like to have your mind so set on killing others that you would be willing to kill yourself in the process. What contributes to a person's thinking process that says it is OK to make this choice? I can only guess.

From the information I glean from the media, not always the most reliable source, the perpetrators believe that it is a proper behavior to win a place in heaven. I am not an historian. I confess to being quite lazy when it comes to doing the requisite research to find the source information. Be that as it may, here are some random ideas. While they are aimed at Muslim fundamentalists, they might be applied to any fundamentalist group.

The recipe that will foster killing behaviors.

Living in poverty.
See no opportunity to better oneself, hopelessness.
Discover that there are people in the world who have many more material advantages
Be told that, according to your God, such material advantages are sinful and will drastically change your life for the worse.
Be told that those who do live like this are sinners/unclean/enemies, etc.
Be told that those who do live like this are better off dead
Be told these things from your earliest memory.
Be told that women are chattel/non-persons.
Be told that there is a better life awaiting in heaven.
Be told of the few ways to achieve that better life.
Be told of the honor and glory of killing yourself as you kill others.
Not be told if your esteemed leaders have sent their own sons to such a glorious death.
Not be told that in your own belief system that only a few men are destined for greatness and they have already been chosen. You have to figure this out for yourself if only those men would let you.
Be told that the family of the men in power was chosen by your God to be the leaders of your people. To question this is punishable by countless cruel means.

These are just a few of the ideas that come to my mind. None of them may be correct. Many, if not all, can be applied to the devotees of other religions. They do not make sense, unless you agree that a few men are the ones who know the truth and the way. They also profess to know the Light. I doubt that, but when you have the power you will do anything to keep it.

These are just some thoughts. Perhaps, dear readers, you have some others. I leave you to ponder these random thoughts.

Serve well! Care about those you serve! Share the love in your heart! Perhaps this is a way to move away from such behaviors.

#233

Space Center Photos

2006-09-07T18:50:00.000-05:00

I mentioned in a previous posting that I might put some NASA photos on flickr. Check it out. NASA was burning grass at the time. That is the cloud-like smoke in the background of some of the photos.

We visited there a couple of years ago and were glad we took the time to visit the space center. It was absolutley overwhelming. If you ever get the chance, visit yourself if you haven't already done so.

Enjoy.

#232

very impressive picture-(CAVEAT)

2006-09-06T11:00:00.000-05:00

I received a comment from armygrunt at the very impressive picture posting. He raises some interesting perspectives on the authenticity of the photo. I must say that I agree with him.

I try not to get caught up in such things.

Please accept my apology for presenting something without vetting it first.

Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.

#231

Great Launch Photos

2006-09-05T08:50:00.000-05:00

(Caveat-if you don't a have high speed internet connection pass this one by.)

You can't see this on TV.

#230

War Story #9

2006-09-02T20:20:00.000-05:00

It was the summer of 1961. I had completed all of the requirements and graduated from Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. Ours was the first class to graduate as the university class. It had been a college up to that year.

I had postponed going to ROTC summer camp until the summer after graduation. Camp was held at Fort Lewis in Washington state. It is just outside of Tacoma/Seattle. That was the summer of extreme heat in the Northwest.

One of the many skills we were to learn and practice was the bayonet drill. There is a technique to it and we had to practice it at least once. To be sure we knew enough about it to be able to train whatever troops we might lead.

It was a very hot day. We ran through the drill several times. It goes something like parry, thrust, gun butt, or it might be the other way around. OK, cut me some slack, it was some time ago. Lol.

After a day of weapon high and cross over we were given some free time. It seemed appropriate to repair to the club to enjoy a cooling libation. There is something about a cold beer on a very hot day. While sitting on the bar stool, I moved my legs into a certain position. The result was the most horrible pain I had ever felt. The thigh muscles in both legs cramped up so bad I almost screamed out loud and fell off of the bar stool. I was speechless with pain and my drinking buddies were not sure what was going on. They mentioned something about my face being contorted in pain. They thought that I might be having a heart attack.

It took a few minutes to get my muscles under control. I was then able to tell them of the misery I was suffering. This story was brought to mind Friday morning at coffee with the Old Bastards. One of the guys asked if we knew how painful thigh cramps could be. I told him I had intimate knowledge of the excruciating pain. I would be willing to bet a dollar or two that it comes nowhere near to labor pains. But, I don't want to go through it again.

Well, there you have it, another war story. No sh*t, this really happened.

#229

Messages from a friend with a PC

2006-09-01T19:50:00.000-05:00

Hi Jack,

Can you read these error messages on your Mac...Oh I forgot. You Mac people
don't know what an error message is.

To read the error messages easier click on the image. If that does not work, consult your owner's manual with your computer. It may tell you to unplug the computer, place it back in the box and return it for a refund. You aren't ready for the adventures in cyber-space. LAMO

#228

The "OB's" Logo

2006-09-01T06:10:00.000-05:00

I thought you might like to see the official Logo of the Old Bastards. He festoons our caps and coffee cups.

There are those who would say it is a pretty good likeness. I never did like the moustache, and the shoulder boards were a pain. The length of hair was OK, though. lol, snerk, snortle, guffaw.

#227

The Great Golf Ball Mystery

2006-08-31T09:55:00.000-05:00

It all happened about 15 years ago. It was during the time we were building our current house. Our other house sold so quickly that we ended up completing the rental period of the buyers of our house.

One evening we received a call that was from a friend of our youngest daughter. (She was in her senior year in high school, and we were living out of the school district. She commuted in accordance to the existing policy.) Back to the phone call--the caller advised us of a pending storm and that there would probably be large sized hail. We thanked the caller and thought nothing more about it.

The next morning Maryann looked out the front window and saw these white orbs on the lawn. Upon closer examination, we discovered there were a bunch of golf balls. They were marked with ID's from the golf course at Ft. Leavenworth. There were approximately two buckets of golf balls on the lawn.

We laughed a lot about that, collected them and returned them to the golf course. I suppose I could have just taken them out to the driving range and hit them, but I didn't. The pro was appreciative of their return.

I think our daughter did figure out who did the "dirty" deed. While we couldn't chastise the guys, we did get a good laugh out of it.

#226

Senior Golf Rule Changes

2006-08-29T14:38:00.000-05:00

Golf Rule Book Changes 2006
(only applies to Seniors)

Rule 1.a.5 ~ A ball sliced or hooked into the rough shall be lifted and placed on the fairway at a point equal to the distance it carried or rolled into the rough with no penalty. The senior should not be penalized for uncontrollable mechanical phenomena.

Rule 2.d.6 (B) ~ A ball hitting a tree shall be deemed not to have hit the tree. This is simply bad luck and luck has no place in a scientific game. The player must estimate the distance the ball would have traveled if it had not hit the tree and play the ball from there.

Rule 3.b.3 (g) ~ There shall be no such thing as a lost ball. The missing ball is on or near the course and will eventually be found and pocketed by someone else, making it a stolen ball. The player is not to compound the felony by charging himself with a penalty.

Rule 4.c.7 (h) ~ If a putt passes over a hole without dropping, it is deemed to have dropped. The law of gravity supersedes the law of golf.

Rule 5. ~ Putts that stop close enough to the cup that they could be blown in, may be blown in. This does not apply to balls more than three inches from the hole. No one wants to make a travesty of the game.

Rule 6.a.9 (k) ~ There is no penalty for so-called "out of bounds." If penny-pinching golf club owners bought sufficient land, this would not occur. The golfer deserves an apology, not a penalty.

Rule 7.g.15 (z) ~ There is no penalty for a ball in a water hazard, as golf balls should float. That they do not is a technical problem that manufacturers have to correct. Senior Golfers should not be punished for manufacturer's shortcomings.

Rule 8.k.9 (s) ~ Advertisements claim that golf scores can be improved by purchasing new clubs, balls, shoes, etc. Since this is financially impractical for the average Senior Golfer, 1/2 a stroke per hole may be subtracted for using old equipment.

Please advise all your senior friends of these important rule changes

#225

Very Impressive Picture

2006-08-29T14:35:00.000-05:00

If you don't think our military pilots earn their pay ... you need to take a look at this picture ... and then look again and realize what you're seeing ...

This photo was taken by a soldier in Afghanistan of a helo rescue mission. The pilot is a PA Guard guy who flies EMS choppers in civilian life. Now how many people on the planet you reckon could set the ass end of a chopper down on the roof top of a shack on a steep mountain cliff and hold it there while soldiers load wounded men in the rear??? If this does not impress you ... nothing ever will. Gives me the chills and a serious case of the vertigo ... I can't even imagine having the nerve ... much less the talent and ability ... God Bless our military!!!!!

#225

Medicating your cat

2006-08-28T15:10:00.000-05:00

For those of you who have cats, you will be well advised to go to this site for specific instructions on administering pills. However, I must advise you that this site is not for the faint of heart. If you are inured to blood and gore then go ahead to the site. You should have some tissues handy to wipe the tears from your face.

One more caveat, DO NOT let your cat(s) read this site.

Reflecting on Reflections

2006-08-24T08:40:00.000-05:00

BronxBT raised the following questions. I thought it might be interesting to post some contemplative thoughts about them.

... reflections have this amazing quality about them. you can see yourself, the world around you or maybe just what's behind you. isn't that the point?

In a word yes.

not to get too deep on you, but isn't the point of reflecting essentially to take a long hard look at what's looking back at you?

In a word yes.

who really does this?

I suspect many folks don't.

do people really sit back and take full account of their lives?

I suspect many folks don't.

who really does this?

You and I may be the only two in the universe.

do people really sit back and take full account of their lives?

I suspect many folks don't.

how did you get to where you are today?

That one is even easier than the previous questions. I made a lot of choices. Periodically, I think about how fortunate I have been to arrive at this place in my life. I look back and see many of the seemingly impulsive choices that I have made. The consequences weren't always what I had thought they might be. But, then, I didn't give much thought to consequences much of the time.

are you happy?

More than I probably deserve. However, it is my choice to be happy or not. I find being happy makes my life even more meaningful. How else could I look at blogs, like fuzzychadsrule and not laugh. Being positive, optimistic and happy allows me to discover the blessings in even the darkest moments. They are there and worth the search for them.

do you have the ones around you that mean the most?

Yes, even those who have transitioned to their next lives are with me. With the advent of the internet (Thanks Al G.) I am able to be around more people who mean a lot to me. For an idea of whom they might be just look at the other spots to visit at the right.

In my real estate classes, I also cross paths with many wonderful folks who add immeasurably to my life.

Thanks -b for the opportunity to ponder life's persistent questions.

Mother of the Year

2006-08-23T15:50:00.000-05:00

A mama tiger lost her babies. To treat her depression, the zookeepers dressed little piglets as tigers for her to mother. These pictures are something else . . . ENJOY.

Shannon's Help

2006-08-22T21:20:00.000-05:00

What you see here is the result of the work Shannon and I did to replace the shower curtain rod in the "guest" bathroom. I could not have done it without her most able assistance and sugggestions on how best to do the job. It was also her idea to get this style of rod. It was very easy to install with her help.

The comedy of Errors

2006-08-19T04:45:00.000-05:00

Shannon's visit was wonderful. She has had an opportunity to visit some of her knitting friends, and high school friend as well as spend time with her mother and me.

Friday, August 11th we went out to dinner as planned. It was a birthday celebration for Maryann and for our neighbor across the corner. Gale and George are great friends and we have fun times with them. Evidence of that can be seen here.

Gale made arrangements to go to a place called the Yard House in Kansas City, KS. The place was packed. There main claim to fame is the variety of beers they serve that are on tap. They also have a modest food menu. We waited the obligatory time to be seated. Our server, Adam, was a delightful young man who understood the meaning of serving others and caring about those he served. We ordered the first round of beer and then perused the menu deciding on our fare for the evening.

We each placed our order and Shannon ordered a lettuce wedge salad along with a sandwich. So far so good, but then thngs got interesting and down right hilarious. The first order to be delivered (by someone other than Adam) was Shannon's salad and my sandwich. Oops. First act of the comedy. Adam stopped by to see how things were going and discovered the situation. He checked and discovered that somehow the orders were placed in some wierd order. He promised to look into it.

Next his supervisor, Robin, stopped by to apologise for the error and offered to comp dessert for us all. Maryann suggested another round of drinks, and they were forthcoming.

The George and Gale got their meals. I was about finished with mine when Shannon's sandwich appeared. After another five minutes or more Maryan's meal arrived. Robin came back to apoligise again. We all had a good laugh. It is amazing how a couple of beers can tickle the funny bone.

The next fiasco was Shannon's discovery of a hair in the second half of her sandwich. She let Adam know about it and he was apologetic and offered to get her another sandwich. She declined indicating she was full. Shortly thereafter Robin reappeared and apologised again. This time she learned about the hair and said that for all of the difficulties she would comp Shannon's meal and apply a 10% discount to our bill.

We had arranged with Adam to split the bills which he agreed to do. The bills came. George and I proffered our credit cards. When they came back we signed them and it was then that I deccided to look at what I was paying for. I discovered that George and Gale's meals were on my tab, and he had ours. Ours was a few dollars less than his. Robin showed up again and we let her know about this error. She immediately offered to take them back and correct them. We vociferously calilmed that it was not necessary. Who knows how that might have been screwed up.

At that point we also let her know about the birthdays we were celebrating. She then offered them a special cheese cake for the celebration. We declined. We were ready to leave and our sides were splitting with the gaiety of it all. The other diners must have thought we were drunk, crazy or both.

It was a fun evening in spite of or maybe because of the comedy of errors.

I cannot verbally relate this without laughing. We just might have to go back and see how the next meal goes.

Shannon & the Del Sol

2006-08-15T12:20:00.000-05:00

How do you add class to a classy sporty car?

Add a beautiful and Classy driver.

Good choice, don't you think?

An Interesting Question...

2006-08-15T07:50:00.000-05:00

... Is there fraud here about the reporting in Lebanon?

Something to ponder.

What a Surprise!

2006-08-10T06:30:00.000-05:00

Back in late June, Shannon, our youngest decided that she would like to visit her mother. Mom's birthday would be the perfect time, and a surprise visit would be great. All of this scheming between us took place prior to learning of Maryann's trip to the hospital. After learning of that, there was no way to keep Shannon away.

For the next month and a half there was a flurry emails between us. I told no one until a few days before her arrival. It seems that after the flight plans were made, Maryann had an appointment scheduled to see her surgeon for a follow-up. What to do? Hospital, or airport? A very dear friend of Shannon came to the rescue. Zoe took off a day from work to give Shannon a ride from the airport to our home.

With that happening I had to alert a neighbor about it. If she saw a strange person entering our home while we were gone, she might call the police. So I let her in on the plan and swore her to secrecy. When I explained the birthday aspect of the visit, Gale exclaimed her birthday was the day before Maryann's. So now, we are going to have a wonderful birthday dinner outing with the five of us. It is going to be a blast. Gale did stop by last evening to meet Shannon and for a glass of wine. We then took Shannon out for dinner.

That dinner was special too. An old high school classmate is the executive chef at Pierpont's Restaurant at Union Station in Kansas City, MO. Maryann and I had eaten there several times before and told Patrick we would bring Shannon in whenever she returned. It was a delightful time.

Now back to the surprise part. Maryann and I went to the doctor's appointment, and then did some errands. When we returned home I entered the house first and held the door for Maryann. I wasn't sure quite where Shannon would be, but I knew it would be close to the door from the garage. Sure enough, she had set up the ironing board and was ironing a skirt. Maryann walked in, saw a tall person in the kitchen, realized who it was and all but shouted, "Oh my God!!!" It was priceless. Needless to say, very gentle hugs were shared.

It was a great surprise and a wonderful day. Shannon's visit will be for a week thanks to a very understanding and compassionate boss.

It seems only right to put in a small plug for Clogs-N-More, the store where Shannon works. If you have ever thought about clogs this is a good place to shop. The choice is yours.

Serve well! Care about those you serve! Share the love in your heart.

JURY DUTY SCAM:

2006-08-08T12:10:00.000-05:00

This has been verified on Snopes.com and by the FBI. Please pass this on to your friends, family, and associates. It is spreading fast so be prepared should you get this call. Most of us take those summons for jury duty seriously, but enough people skip out on their civic duty, that a new and ominous kind of scam has surfaced.

Fall for it and your identity could be stolen, reports CBS.

In this con, someone calls pretending to be a court official who threateningly says a warrant has been issued for your arrest because you didn't show up for jury duty. The caller claims to be a jury coordinator. If you protest that you never received a summons for jury duty, the scammer asks you for your Social Security number and date of birth so he or she can verify the information and cancel the arrest warrant. Sometimes they even ask for credit card numbers. Give out any of this information and bingo! Your identity just got stolen.

The scam has been reported so far in 11 states, including Oklahoma, Illinois, and Colorado. This scam is particularly insidious because they use intimidation over the phone to try to bully people into giving information by pretending they're with the court system. The FBI and the federal court system have issued nationwide alerts on their web sites, warning consumers about the fraud.

THE WAR

2006-08-06T10:45:00.000-05:00

I received the following information in an email from a friend. I thought it would be interesting to post it here for others to comment. Everything in italics are from the original author of the email that has been forwarded to many others.

Please take the time to read the attached essay by Dr. Chong. It is without a doubt the most articulate and convincing writing I have read regarding the War in Iraq.

If you have any doubts please open your mind to his essay and give a fair evaluation.

I had no idea who Dr. Chong is or the source of these thoughts... so when I received them, I almost deleted them - as well-written as they are. But then I did a "Google search" on the Doctor and found him to be a retired Air Force Surgeon of all things and past Commander of Wilford Hall Medical Center in San Antonio. So he is real, is connected to Veterans affairs in California, and these are his thoughts. They are worth reading and thinking about!(the same Google search will direct you to some of his other thought-provoking writings.)

Subject: Muslims, terrorist and the USA. A different spin on Iraq war.

This WAR is for REAL! Dr. Vernon Chong, Major General, USAF, Retired

Tuesday, July 12, 2005
To get out of a difficulty, one usually must go through it. Our country is now facing the most serious threat to its existence, as we know it, that we have faced in your lifetime and mine (which includes WWII).

The deadly seriousness is greatly compounded by the fact that there are very few of us who think we can possibly lose this war and even fewer who realize what losing really means.

First, let's examine a few basics:

1. When did the threat to us start?
Many will say September 11, 2001. The answer as far as the United State is concerned is 1979, 22 years prior to September 2001, with the following attacks on us:

* Iran Embassy Hostages, 1979;
* Beirut, Lebanon Embassy 1983;
* Beirut, Lebanon Marine Barracks 1983;
* Lockerbie, Scotland Pan-Am flight to New York 1988;
* First New York World Trade Center attack 1993;
* Dhahran, Saudi Arabia Khobar Towers Military complex 1996;
* Nairobi, Kenya US Embassy 1998;
* Dares Salaam, Tanzania US Embassy 1998;
* Aden, Yemen USS Cole 2000;
* New York World Trade Center 2001;
* Pentagon 2001.

(Note that during the period from 1981 to 2001 there were 7,581 terrorist
attacks worldwide).

2. Why were we attacked?

Envy of our position, our success, and our freedoms. The attacks happened during the administrations of Presidents Carter, Reagan, Bush 1, Clinton and Bush 2. We cannot fault either the Republicans or Democrats as there were no provocations by any of the presidents or their immediate predecessors, Presidents Ford or Carter.

3. Who were the attackers?
In each case, the attacks on the US were carried out by Muslims.

4. What is the Muslim population of the World? 25%.

5. Isn't the Muslim Religion peaceful?
Hopefully, but that is really not material. There is no doubt that the predominately Christian population of Germany was peaceful, but under the dictatorial leadership of Hitler (who was also Christian), that made no difference. You either went along with the administration or you were eliminated. There were 5 to 6 million Christians killed by the Nazis for political reasons (including 7,000 Polish priests see this site ) in addition to the six million Jews they murdered.

Although Hitler kept the world focused on the Jews, he had no hesitancy about killing anyone who got in his way of exterminating the Jews or of taking over the world - German, Christian or any others.

Same with the Muslim terrorists. They focus the world on the US, but kill all in the way -- their own people or the Spanish, French or anyone else. The point here is that just like the peaceful Germans were of no protection to anyone from the Nazis, no matter how many peaceful Muslims there may be, they are no protection for us from the terrorist Muslim leaders and what they are fanatically bent on doing -- by their own pronouncements -- killing all of us "infidels." I don't blame the peaceful Muslims. What would you do if the choice was shut up or die?

6. So who are we at war with?

There is no way we can honestly respond that it is anyone other than the Muslim terrorists. Trying to be politically correct and avoid verbalizing this conclusion can well be fatal. There is no way to win if you don't clearly recognize and articulate who you are fighting.

So with that background, now to the two major questions:

1. Can we lose this war?

2. What does losing really mean?

If we are to win, we must clearly answer these two pivotal questions

We can definitely lose this war, and as anomalous as it may sound, the major reason we can lose is that so many of us simply do not fathom the answer to the second question - What does losing mean?

It would appear that a great many of us think that losing the war means hanging our heads, bringing the troops home and going on about our business, like post Vietnam. This is as far from the truth as one can get.

What losing really means is:

We would no longer be the premier country in the world. The attacks will not subside, but rather will steadily increase. Remember, they want us dead, not just quiet. If they had just wanted us quiet, they would not have produced an increasing series of attacks against us, over the past 18 years. The plan was clearly, for terrorist to attack us, until we were neutered and submissive to them.

We would of course have no future support from other nations, for fear of reprisals and for the reason that they would see, we are impotent and cannot help them.

They will pick off the other non-Muslim nations, one at a time. It will be increasingly easier for them. They already hold Spain hostage. It doesn't matter whether it was right or wrong for Spain to withdraw its troops from Iraq. Spain did it because the Muslim terrorists bombed their train and told them to withdraw the troops. Anything else they want Spain to do will be done. Spain is finished.

The next will probably be France. Our one hope on France is that they might see the light and realize that if we don't win, they are finished too, in that they can't resist the Muslim terrorists without us. However, it may already be too late for France. France is already 20% Muslim and fading fast!

If we lose the war, our production, income, exports and way of life will all vanish as we know it. After losing, who would trade or deal with us, if they were threatened by the Muslims. If we can't stop the Muslims, how could anyone else?

The Muslims fully know what is riding on this war, and therefore are completely committed to winning, at any cost. We better know it too and be likewise committed to winning at any cost.

Why do I go on at such lengths about the results of losing? Simple. Until we recognize the costs of losing, we cannot unite and really put 100% of our thoughts and efforts into winning. And it is going to take that 100% effort to win.

So, how can we lose the war?

Again, the answer is simple. We can lose the war by "imploding." That is, defeating ourselves by refusing to recognize the enemy and their purpose, and really digging in and lending full support to the war effort If we are united, there is no way that we can lose. If we continue to be divided, there is no way that we can win!

Let me give you a few examples of how we simply don't comprehend the life and death seriousness of this situation.

President Bush selects Norman Mineta as Secretary of Transportation. Although all of the terrorist attacks were committed by Muslim men between 17 and 40 years of age, Secretary Mineta refuses to allow profiling. Does that sound like we are taking this thing seriously? This is war! For the duration, we are going to have to give up some of the civil rights we have become accustomed to. We had better be prepared to lose some of our civil rights temporarily or we will most certainly lose all of them permanently.

And don't worry that it is a slippery slope. We gave up plenty of civil rights during WWII, and immediately restored them after the victory and in fact added many more since then.

Do I blame President Bush or President Clinton before him?

No, I blame us for blithely assuming we can maintain all of our Political Correctness, and all of our civil rights during this conflict and have a clean, lawful, honorable war. None of those words apply to war. Get them out of your head.

Some have gone so far in their criticism of the war and/or the Administration that it almost seems they would literally like to see us lose. I hasten to add that this isn't because they are disloyal. It is because they just don't recognize what losing means. Nevertheless, that conduct gives the impression to the enemy that we are divided and weakening. It concerns our friends, and it does great damage to our cause.

Of more recent vintage, the uproar fueled by the politicians and media regarding the treatment of some prisoners of war, perhaps exemplifies best what I am saying. We have recently had an issue, involving the treatment of a few Muslim prisoners of war, by a small group of our military police. These are the type prisoners who just a few months ago were throwing their own people off buildings, cutting off their hands, cutting out their tongues and otherwise murdering their own people just for disagreeing with Saddam Hussein.

And just a few years ago these same type prisoners chemically killed 400,000 of their own people for the same reason. They are also the same type of enemy fighters, who recently were burning Americans, and dragging their charred corpses through the streets of Iraq.

And still more recently, the same type of enemy that was and is providing videos to all news sources internationally, of the beheading of American prisoners they held.

Compare this with some of our press and politicians, who for several days have thought and talked about nothing else but the "humiliating" of some Muslim prisoners -- not burning them, not dragging their charred corpses through the streets, not beheading them, but "humiliating" them

Can this be for real?

The politicians and pundits have even talked of impeachment of the Secretary of Defense. If this doesn't show the complete lack of comprehension and understanding of the seriousness of the enemy we are fighting, the life and death struggle we are in and the disastrous results of losing this war, nothing can.

To bring our country to a virtual political standstill over this prisoner issue makes us look like Nero playing his fiddle as Rome burned -- totally oblivious to what is going on in the real world. Neither we, nor any other country, can survive this internal strife. Again I say, this does not mean that some of our politicians or media people are disloyal. It simply means that they are absolutely oblivious to the magnitude, of the situation we are in and into which the Muslim terrorists have been pushing us, for many years.

Remember, the Muslim terrorists stated goal is to kill all infidels! That translates into ALL non-Muslims -- not just in the United State, but throughout the world.

We are the last bastion of defense.

We have been criticized for many years as being 'arrogant' That charge is valid in at least one respect. We are arrogant in that we believe that we are so good, powerful and smart, that we can win the hearts and minds of all those who attack us, and that with both hands tied behind our back, we can defeat anything bad in the world!

We can't!

If we don't recognize this, our nation as we know it will not survive, and no other free country in the world will survive if we are defeated.

And finally, name any Muslim countries throughout the world that allow freedom of speech, freedom of thought, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, equal rights for anyone -- let alone everyone, equal status or any status for women, or that have been productive in one single way that contributes to the good of the world.

This has been a long way of saying that we must be united on this war or we will be equated in the history books to the self-inflicted fall of the Roman Empire . If, that is, the Muslim leaders will allow history books to be written or read.

If we don't win this war right now, keep a close eye on how the Muslims take over France in the next 5 years or less. They will continue to increase the Muslim population of France and continue to encroach little by little, on the established French traditions. The French will be fighting among themselves, over what should or should not be done, which will continue to weaken them and keep them from any united resolve. Doesn't that sound eerily familiar?

Democracies don't have their freedoms taken away from them by some external military force. Instead, they give their freedoms away, politically correct piece by politically correct piece.

And they are giving those freedoms away to those who have shown, worldwide that they abhor freedom and will not apply it to you or even to themselves, once they are in power.

They have universally shown that when they have taken over, they then start brutally killing each other over who will be the few who control the masses. Will we ever stop hearing from the politically correct, about the "peaceful Muslims"?

I close on a hopeful note, by repeating what I said above. If we are united, there is no way that we can lose. I hope now after the election, the factions in our country will begin to focus on the critical situation we are in, and will unite to save our country. It is your future we are talking about! Do whatever you can to preserve it.

After reading the above, we all must do this not only for ourselves, but our children, our grandchildren, our country and the world

Whether Democrat or Republican, conservative or liberal and that include the Politicians and media of our country and the free world!

Please forward this to any you feel may want, or NEED to read it. Our "leaders" in Congress ought to read it, too. There are those that find fault with our country, but it is obvious to anyone who truly thinks through this, that we must UNITE!

If you would like to see who this fellow is go to this Air Force web sight and look him up.

So you think you know me?

2006-08-02T16:35:00.000-05:00

The Contessa Vanille made me do this. lol

If you read this, please post a comment with a COMPLETELY MADE UP AND FICTIONAL memory of you and me.

It can be anything you want - good or bad - BUT IT HAS TO BE FAKE.

When you're finished, post this little paragraph on your blog and be surprised (or mortified) about what people DON'T ACTUALLY remember about you.

Interim posting. I'm still around. lol

2006-07-31T10:05:00.000-05:00

Not much to say at the moment. I've been rather busy. I worked the last two weekends and have been busy taking care of things around the homestead.

Maryann is doing very well. Still resting a lot, but also managing to do some vacuuming while I was at work. Don't worry, she does not overdo it.

Cell Phone Information

2006-07-31T10:00:00.000-05:00

This is only partially true. It depends on the phone. Check it out at this site.

Here is something worth knowing if you have a mobile phone.

Have you ever wondered why phone companies don't seem interested in trying to prevent the theft of mobile phones? If you have ever lost, or had one stolen, and if you are on a plan, you still have to pay the plan approximately up to 24 months, and you have to go buy another handset and enter into another contract. This is more revenue for the phone company.

There is a simple way of making lost or stolen mobiles useless to thieves and the phone companies know about it, but keep it quiet.

To check your mobile phone's serial number, key in the following on your phone.

star-hash-zero-six-hash ( * # 0 6 # ) and a fifteen digit code will appear on the screen. This is unique to your handset. Write it down and keep it safe. Should your mobile phone get stolen, you can phone your service provider and give them this code. They will then be able to block your handset, so even if the thief changes the sim card, your phone will be totally useless.

You probably won't get your phone back, but at least you know that whoever stole it can't use/sell it either.

If everybody did this, there would be no point in stealing mobile phones.

You may want to send this to other people you know who have mobiles.

No change for directory assistance

Phone companies are charging us $1.00 or more for 411 - information calls when they don't have to.

When you need to use the 411 / information option, simply dial 1-800-FREE-411 or 1 800 373 3411 without incurring a charge.

Credit card scam

2006-07-25T18:35:00.000-05:00

You can verify this report here.

This one is pretty slick since they provide YOU with all the information, except the one piece they want.

Note, the callers do not ask for your card number; they already have it. This information is worth reading. By understanding how the VISA &MasterCard Telephone Credit Card Scam works, you'll be better prepared to protect yourself.

One of our employees was called on Wednesday from "VISA", and I was called on Thursday from "Master Card".

The scam works like this: Person calling says, "This is (name), and I'm calling from the Security and Fraud Department at VISA. My Badge number is 12460. Your card has been flagged for an unusual purchase pattern, and I'm calling to verify. This would be on your VISA card which was issued by (name of bank). Did you purchase an Anti-Telemarketing Device for $497.99 from a Marketing company based in Arizona?" When you say "No", the caller continues with, "Then we will be issuing a credit to your account. This is a company we have been watching and the charges range from $297 to $497, just under the $500 purchase pattern that flags most cards. Before your next statement, the credit will be sent to (gives you your address), is that correct?"

You say "yes". The caller continues - "I will be starting a Fraud investigation. If you have any questions, you should call the 1- 800 number listed on the back of your card (1-800-VISA) and ask for Security.

You will need to refer to this Control Number. The caller then gives you a 6 digit number. "Do you need me to read it again?"

Here's the IMPORTANT part on how the scam works. The caller then says, "I need to verify you are in possession of your card". He'll ask you to "turn your card over and look for some numbers". There are 7 numbers; the first 4 are part of your card number, the next 3 are the security Numbers' that verify you are the possessor of the card. These are the numbers you sometimes use to make Internet purchases to prove you have the card. The caller will ask you to read the 3 numbers to him. After you tell the caller the 3 numbers, he'll say, "That is correct, I just needed to verify that the card has not been lost or stolen, and that you still have your card. Do you have any other questions?" After you say No, the caller then thanks you and states, "Don't hesitate to call back if you do", and hangs up.

You actually say very little, and they never ask for or tell you the Card number. But after we were called on Wednesday, we called back within 20 minutes to ask a question. Are we glad we did! The REAL VISA Security Department told us it was a scam and in the last 15 minutes a new purchase of $497.99 was charged to our card.

Long story - short - we made a real fraud report and closed the VISA account. VISA is reissuing us a new number. What the scammers want is the 3-digit PIN number on the back of the card. Don't give it to them. Instead, tell them you'll call VISA or Master card directly for verification of their conversation. The real VISA told us that they will never ask for anything on the card as they already know the information since they issued the card! If you give the scammers your 3 Digit PIN Number, you think you're receiving a credit. However, by the time you get your statement you'll see charges for purchases you didn't make, and by then it's almost too late and/or more difficult to actually file a fraud report.

What makes this more remarkable is that on Thursday, I got a call from a "Jason Richardson of Master Card" with a word-for-word repeat of the VISA scam. This time I didn't let him finish. I hung up! We filed a police report, as instructed by VISA. The police said they are taking several of these reports daily! They also urged us to tell everybody we know that this scam is happening.

Please pass this on to all your family and friends. By informing each other, we protect each other.

Good News

2006-07-23T19:45:00.000-05:00

Maryann is home. She was released around noon. She is doing so well that it is hard to believe she is recovering from a serious surgery.

She has had time to rest in the blue recliner and Hazel did not bother her. She was able to get a shower and shampoo which, as you all well know, will heighten anyone's spirits.

Now it is rest and recuperate. However, she will not be sitting idly by all of the time. I don't know what she has in store, but I am ready, willing and able to respond to her every wish.

It's amazing how your perspective can be broadened in times of need.

Serve well! Car about those you serve! Share the love in your heart!

Thank you all for living up to that motto.

Del Sol Slide Show

2006-07-21T21:30:00.000-05:00

If you would like to see more photos of the Del Sol you know what to do.

Damn, I love that vehicle.

How Liberal Or Conservative Are You?

2006-07-16T17:50:00.000-05:00

Your Political Profile:

Overall: 25% Conservative, 75% Liberal

Social Issues: 0% Conservative, 100% Liberal

Personal Responsibility: 50% Conservative, 50% Liberal

Fiscal Issues: 50% Conservative, 50% Liberal

Ethics: 0% Conservative, 100% Liberal

Defense and Crime: 25% Conservative, 75% Liberal

How Liberal Or Conservative Are You?

The Dream. . .

2006-07-15T06:45:00.000-05:00

. . . came three times.

The recollection of the first time is hazy, but recognizable.

I'm not sure how it began, but I do remember being on a snowy mountain. There were steep places where the rocks were bare. The message was the same:

Jesus is waiting for you at the top. He will protect and forgive you whether you undertake the trek to the top or not.

The first dream, I don't remember if I began the climb.

The last two dreams I began the climb. I felt a sense of peace and comfort.

In all three dreams, once the decision was made, the dream faded on to something else.

I could spend endless hours trying to interpret the dream, but I will leave that up to the two or three readers who happen to pass by, should they choose to do so.

I am comfortable with my internal interpretation.

FWIW, this is the desktop/wallpaper picture I am currently using.

BTW, the link above will take you to the web site for translating text message code. I placed it there for those of you who are still trying to understand such phenomena. lol

This one's for bogs

2006-07-09T11:00:00.000-05:00

Bogs had some important things to say about military recruiters on high school campuses. I agree that the downside should be emphasized more than it is.

However, it might be interesting to look at it another way from one man's experience. My biggest difficulty at this moment is where to start. (BTW, this is a typical war story. No shytte this really happened.)

Retiring after 22.5 years of active military service is not a bad thing. Let me tell you how I got there. It would probably help to know that both my father and step-father were Army officers. My mother couldn't resist the uniform?

My last year in high school we moved to a new school. Somewhere along the line I pissed off some kid and he told the police I was part of a group that siphoned gas. I knew the guy who did. As a result, I spent a night in the county jail. Not one of my proudest moments, but it did lead to some interesting decisions. I had no idea what I was to do with my life. College was out of the question. We didn't talk in terms of higher education in my home. It wasn't the rage that it is now.

My step-dad accompanied me to the alderman's court and promised that I would be going into the military upon graduation. It was a promise I kept. I enlisted in the Air Force and served the requisite four years. While in the Air Force I began taking college courses. When I got out I opted to go to college on the GI Bill. I was even given credit for my military service.

Being married with one child at the time it was important to seek income wherever possible. An old family friend suggested ROTC. Not relishing the thought of spending much more time on active duty I was ready to decline. He then told me that the Army had a program wherein I could serve six months on active duty and the rest in the reserves. War story #5 will provide the details.

Now what does this all have to do with "minimizing the potential dangers" by recruiters? Not much and a whole lot. I suspect that most kids today, both male and female, are not sure what they want to do with their lives. Many of them have been molly-coddled by their parents and believe the world owes them a living. They also believe they are invincible. One only need to read the reports of vehicle accidents and deaths to get that picture.

They may want to see the world. They may want to go to college and cannot afford it any other way. The military is a great place to grow up. Yeah, there is a hell of a lot of danger during times of war. And it doesn't seem fair to send them off to be killed or wounded. It might be interesting to talk with them to get their take on it. You will meet those who are totally against the whole war thing and wish they could change their minds. They also know from first hand account the nastiness of it all.

So, how does this all fit in with Bog's comments? You don't lie to kids whose brains are still not totally developed. You let them know the dangers. They may be able to make a decision that will be to their advantage. Remember, life is about choices. Every decision is the right one and every decision is the wrong one.

What we need to do is spend more time avoiding war, than getting involved in one where the leaders are doing it to bolster their own egos. Until you have been there you shouldn't send others. There is a tenet in leadership about not asking subordinates to do something that you haven't/can't do yourself.

These are just some of this man's thoughts.

The Old Bastards Club

2006-07-07T13:40:00.000-05:00

This is a poem written by the son of one of the members of the Old Bastards Club. We are a group of retired military guys who meet on Friday mornings to drink coffee, eat freshly baked chocolate chip cookies and swap lies and war stories.

It was read to the group this morning. The applause was thunderous. So read, and enjoy! We did.

The Old Bastard Club
by Chuck Allen, Jr.

How old do you have to be before you can wear an "Old Bastards Club" hat?

Do you have to use a cane or simply be bald and fat?

Do you have to cuss and smoke an old stinking stogie?

Or can you simply argue like an old farting fogy?

Once you have all your opinions firmly stuck and mastered

The and only then can you declare yourself an old happy bastard.

Thre are clubs a man can join to simply get himself plastered.

But there is no club that is so sweet as a group of happy bastards.

One of those....

2006-07-07T13:05:00.000-05:00

silly internet things. Check it out and have a good laugh.

2006-07-04T12:30:00.000-05:00

'What will your obituary say?' at QuizGalaxy.com

Shannon made me do it.

I liked this one better.

2006-07-03T20:20:00.000-05:00

I'm a Honda S2000!

You live on the edge, and you live for the adrenaline rush. You don't need luxuries, snob appeal, or superfluous gadgets. You put your top down, get your motor revving, and take all the curves that life throws at you at full speed. So what if you spin out occasionally?

Take the Which Sports Car Are You? quiz.

It's official.....

2006-07-03T15:02:00.000-05:00

Julianne and David are engaged.

Smooth dude that David is, he arranged for a romantic getaway to celebrate the fourth anniversary of their getting together. It is amazing what a gentle tap on the shoulder will bring you. He tapped her on the shoulder and she turned around to view the perfect engagement ring and a proposal. She couldn't be happier and neither can we.

David will more than do to ride the river with. He has great taste in women, sports cars, and single malt scotch. What more could anyone ask?

Welcome aboard David.

Happy Fourth of July, 2006

2006-07-03T15:00:00.000-05:00

A very happy July 4th to you all from Maison Kochenour. While our leaders might not always make the correct decision to commit our troops, the troops will do the job in spite of them.

May they all come home safely and soon.

#200

What kind of sports car are you?

2006-07-02T14:25:00.001-05:00

I'm a Chevrolet Corvette!

You're a classic - powerful, athletic, and competitive. You're all about winning the race and getting the job done. While you have a practical everyday side, you get wild when anyone pushes your pedal. You hate to lose, but you hardly ever do.

Take the Which Sports Car Are You? quiz.

Check it out. Change the answers.

Desert Photos

2006-07-01T13:20:00.000-05:00

Here is a slide show of desert photos. Enjoy.

Farewell Party Photos

2006-06-30T13:38:00.000-05:00

On the outside chance that some folks might be interested in the farewell party for Greg and Kyle go here to see some of the photos of the event.

There will be more posted later. I have to go to the hardware store to return some faucet handles that are the wrong ones.

I'm back...

2006-06-29T16:57:00.000-05:00

home.

More later.

Day Six and I'm in Phoenix

2006-06-24T09:16:00.000-05:00

The trip from El Paso was uneventful and that is how it should be. I did get to pass the site where there had been a terrible accident on I-10 at Bowie, Arizona the night before. I passed through about 1100 hours yesterday morning and the burnt out huld of a semi was still smouldering on the shoulder of the road. I had seen the news report about it in El Paso before I departed. The report did indicate that the highway had been opened again. That was relief.

I arrived at the motel at 1300 hours, checked in, made a couple of calls to let folks know I had arrived and then caught up on my internet correspondence. Around 1500 hours my daughter called and invited me to come over and help them with some last minute shopping. I was out the door in a flash only to discover that Tweedle-dee the Wonder Dummy was alive and well right here in Phoenx. When I tried to start the car I discovered the battery was dead. I had forgotten to turn off the headlights. I always travel with them on for safety reasons. I was able to find a helpful young man with jumper cables and was soon on my way.

It was great to see my daughter and the two boys. No, strike that, two young men. It has been a couple of years since I last saw them. They have grown into tall and handsome young men. I suspect they will break a few hearts and have theirs broken as well. We had to wait for my granddaughter to show up to provide transportation. She marches to her own drummer and time is probably a nuisance to her. She does manage to get to work in a timely manner and she does her job well.

I must admit the drive to the store was very exciting. I didn't realize that the Huyndai Accent has only to positions on the throttle wide open and closed. She does use her turn signals when changing lanes, a skill she demonstrated often.

She has made some interesting choices in her young life. They haven't all turned out quite the way she thought they would, or maybe they did. Anyway, she seems to be able to keep a cheerful, positive attitude thorugh it all.

I like to think I have a special bond with her from a time when she was about six or so and they visited us. I wish I had intervened in an interaction between her and her step-dad. At the time I thought , mistakenly, that parents could be psychologically hurtful to their children when disciplining them. What an ass I was. At any rate, I am still bearing the guilt on that one and take this time to publically apologize to her for not doing more.

Well now, that went a little further than I anticipated. What an interesting choice to continue it.

Today is the big day. The farewell/bon voyage/congratulations for graduating/getting through high school party which is set for later today. I am not sure how many folks will be there, but I promise to take more than a few photos. Some of them may even show up here.

The saga will continue.

Photos of the Southwest

2006-06-24T06:55:00.000-05:00

Mr. Q, these photos are for you.

The Franklin Mountains on the West side of El Paso #1

The Franklin Mountains on the West side of El Paso #2

The Arizona desert between Tucson and Phoenix #1

The Arizona desert between Tucson and Phoenix #2

It is hot and dry in this part of the country. With a little bit of luck on my return trip, I will be able to get some photos of some other spots I noticed on the way to Phoenix.

Enjoy!

Day Three of El Paso/Phoenix Trip

2006-06-21T20:40:00.000-05:00

Day three is winding down. My brother Keith has finished practicing on his newly rebuilt Gibson Epiphone guitar. It sounds absolutely beautiful. He has many artistic talents. Music is just one of them. His main art form is painting.

Let me digress a little bit about the trip itself. The little red jewel of motor car is performing like a champ. The mileage is excellent, between 29 and 32 mpg. Not bad considering a cruising speed of about 75 mph. Thank goodness for cruise control. I decided to fill up about every 200 miles. I was able to cover a lot of ground that way. The trip took me past Topeka and Wichita in Kansas, Oklahoma City and then through Amarillo, TX. It took just about 12 hours to drive from home to my overnight stop in Santa Rosa, NM. It only took about 4 hours to get from Santa Rosa to El Paso. Is it ever hot here in the Southwest. In the low hundreds every day so far.

One of the reasons for my stop over in El Paso was to work out with him the plans to begin marketing prints of his works. As you might imagine there are a lot of details to be worked out. Our first effort is to develop a marketing plan. At the same time we have to research the best site for establishing web site for his work. We haven’t settled on a name for the site yet. We know it has to be unique and catchy and not one that will generate millions of hits on google. Suggestions anyone?

Btw, because of limitations of time I have not been able to read and leave comments to the blogs I usually visit. I will try to make up for that either in Phoenix or when I return home. It is interesting how much I miss the opportunity to learn how you all are doing.

I am also planning to capture some of the stories of my mother’s past. At almost 93, she is reliving some of the many events in her life. She has been known to make the comment that she should write a book about her life, but no one would believe it.. I think I will try to capture as much of it as I can. I may even have to start a new blog devoted to Jane’s story. Just a thought.

TTFN

Preparing for the road trip

2006-06-18T16:15:00.000-05:00

The suit case is packed. The golf clubs are in the trunk. (Yeah, that's one of the really neat things about the Del Sol. It will accommodate my clubs and a whole bunch of other stuff, including the suit case.) Most of the files are transferred to the lap top. Just one more transfer to make before I shut the desk top down.

I'm not sure just when I will start out in the AM. Departing before 0700 hours would be a good thing. I plan to drive all the way to Santa Rosa, NM on the first day. That will give me a shorter day on Tuesday. I am still trying to decide on whether to drive to Albuquerque and save about a half hour, or go through Alomogordo and save gas. Well that's a no-brainer. Save gas.

Next weekend I will be in Phoenix for the farewell party for my grandsons who have decided that time in the military is a good thing for them. Even with the world events, I can only support their decision's. After all, I did spend four years enlisted in the Air Force and 18.5 years commissioned in the Army. The two tours in Viet Nam were not a lot of fun, but they allowed me to learn some lessons, I hope.

I'll will be taking the lap top with me and will try to check in periodically to keep in touch with you all.

More on the MoveOn Email

2006-06-16T07:30:00.000-05:00

Thanks to comments from k9 and bird to the previous posting I suggest that you see the other side of the caught red-handed allegations from MoveOn by checking out this link, factcheck.org

As usual, there is more to the story. The factcheck article provides more information that changes the color of the MoveOn plea.

It is important to us all that we become aware of misdeeds of our elected officials, however, there is no excuse for purposely misleading the public. I am sure that most political ads are designed to specifically put their candidate/public official in the best possible light and do just the opposite for the opponent. That's life.

You might like to bookmark the factcheck.org and visit them from time to time. I also recommend using snopes.com to check out those emails asking you to tell everyone about this sad/dangerous story.

Thanks again k9 and bird. It's nice to know there are folks out there who care enough to share good information.

MoveOn Letter

2006-06-14T12:50:00.000-05:00

I received this email today and thought you all might find it of interest.

I just thought you might like to know how things are lining up for the next election's theft.

There are links to the MoveOn site for contributions and other information. I am NOT asking you to contribute. That is your choice.

As part of our big plan to win the election we've been running TV ads in key districts around the country. Yesterday I got news that a TV station in Virginia has refused us the right to air our newest ad that focuses on Iraq. They won't even return our phone calls.

It smelled fishy so we looked into it. Sure enough, the Republican Party has been threatening to sue TV stations that run our ads. That's not all. Two of the senior executives at the station—including one of the guys who makes the decision about running ads—actually donated to the Republican's campaign!

We want to show that playing dirty doesn't pay. Our plan is to INCREASE the size and length of the ad buy on other stations in the district. Can you contribute $20 or more to help fight back? Click below. Click here.

If we create a disincentive for playing dirty it can help make sure the playing field is fair across the country. We can do that when we raise $500,000 and keep the ads on TV for two weeks longer. And, we have a special new TV ad about Iraq.

The new ad uses the "Caught Red Handed" theme that has worked so well. It talks about how much money members of Congress are taking from defense contractors in Iraq at the same time our troops don't have enough body armor.

Some people say that Democrats should avoid the Iraq debate during the election. We think that's dead wrong but we need your help to show that's true.

We've tested these ads, and we know they produce a punch with votersÂeven among people who don't yet support leaving Iraq. (You can view the whole ad on the contribution page.)

To prove that Iraq is important to focus on during the election we hired a top political polling firm to investigate the opinions of voters in the top 68 "swing" districtstwo-thirds of these districts are represented by Republicans.

Here is what we found:

The war is by far the most important issue to voters in these districts right now.
By wide margins these voters think the war was a mistake and not worth it. People are angry about the war.
A discussion about Iraq during the campaign increases support for the Democrat. A Democrat who takes a firm stand for getting out of Iraq does better than a Democrat who take wishy-washy positioneven in the face of Republican attacks like, "cut and run."
Republicans are vulnerable to all sorts of attacksincluding their blind support for Bush's policy of never-ending war.
Voters are universally angry about how defense contractors have been put ahead of our troops and how priorities here at home have been neglected.

These results are paradigm-shifting news but not surprising. Every poll out there shows anger about the war. Voters are ready to hold Republicans accountable for letting Bush get away with everythingespecially Iraq.

To win in November we need to put Iraq in front of the voters. So far MoveOn is the only organization that will do that in these elections. That's why we can't leave these elections in the hands of the Democrats alone.

With your support we can do what the Democrats won't yet: make 2006 a year of accountability for Republicans on Iraq. If we can show this works then Democrats and others will follow in our footstepsboldly speaking out about the mess in Iraq.

The best way to bring our troops home is to show consequences for politicians who want to follow Bush on Iraq. This ad plays double duty by helping bring the troops home and win the election. We can do good and do well.

Can we count you in? We're going to need thousands of MoveOn members to step forward and make this commitment.

Thanks for all you do. ÂTom, Wes, Justin, Rosalyn and the MoveOn.org Political Action Team Wednesday, June 14th, 2006

PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

"Happiness, Prosperity, Longevity"...

2006-06-14T07:50:00.000-05:00

...are sentiments that are more than mere words. When dear friends wish them for you and then provide these gentle, beautiful reminders, how much more do you need? These were gifts from our Cambodian friends Hoc Sieu and Amina. It has been almost a year since their visit.

The nice thing is that we do not need these reminders. They are always on our minds and in our prayers. Here is a couple who had come to the United States to escape oppression and sure death to become productive American citizens. They are special to us in so many ways. They are an inspiration and I am proud to call them friends. We wish the same to them.

Children are for nurturing

2006-06-13T21:45:00.000-05:00

One of the wonderful things about cyber-space is the opportunity to exchange views with others about a myriad of topics. Recently, while reading Bog's blog and the comments to that particular posting, I chose to visit Absolute Zero. It is an important blog with an important mission. It is all about dealing with the illness of pedophilia. By using the term illness, I in no way intend to minimize the effects of such an illness.

I was particularly interested in the quote from a pedophile who says he has not acted on his fantasies and is remorseful about them. It sounds just similar to a comment from Lestat at Absolute Zero's Introduction posting.

It did cause me to give more thought to the problem so I sought information about it at webmd.com. Searching for pedophilia I came up with an article entitled What is pedophilia? There are three pages to it and I recommend reading all three.

There is no excuse, reason nor explanation that will ever convince me that there is anything remotely justifiable about pedophilia. Period, point, end of sentence, no negotiations. Children deserve the right to be protected from that type of manipulation. For anyone to say that others should understand their sexual proclivities toward children are only partly right. We need to understand that it is an illness, but, more importantly, they must come to the same conclusion. Then they must take the next step and get treatment. Pedophiles must be kept away from children.

The What is pedophilia article has some important directions for protecting children and I commend it to you all. They also make an important distinction between pedophiles and homosexuals. There is a very big difference. And only one of them is an illness-pedophilia.

Compassion is important. However, protection of children is more important.

photo test pad

2006-06-12T06:21:00.000-05:00

Shannon was having some difficulty in posting more than one photo to a posting on blogger. I am not sure what her difficulty was. I was able to take post these photos directly. I thought you might have to post them one posting at a time and then copy and paste the html code into one posting. But this worked for me as it has in the past. I

I had problems accessing sites and comments last week. Shannon I hope this is helpful

Ben Kessler I wish you well in your endeavors.

2006-06-07T10:28:00.000-05:00

I cited Ben Kessler's speech in yesterday's posting and have given his diatribe more thought.

I was particularly ROTFLMAO amused by the following:

"Finally, remember: Graduation is a time to look forward to the future with hope. I hope all you masturbating, condom-using, bedding out of wedlock bastards burn in Hell!

"You'll never laugh at me again! You won't! You won't! I'm going to be a PRIEST and you'll have to respect me and listen to me because I speak for GOD ALMIGHTY!

"You don't give God's messenger a wedgie! You don't leave dirty caricatures of God's Messenger in bathroom stalls! You don't put Ben Gay in the jock strap of God's Messenger! Shame on you! Shame on you all, you filthy sodomites!

"May The Lord bless you and keep you. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen."

I wonder if he sees the humor in all of this? Ben, I would like to show you more compassion than you have shown others. Here are a few things for you to consider as you go into your calling:

1. You command respect not demand it. Respect comes from others as a result of your respect for them and for yourself.
2. While the priesthood has suffered some reversals due to the criminal behavior of some, it is generally aimed at ministering to the flock. (I personally think they are all trying to maintain control and power over others, and your speech is a prime example to prove my point.)
3. On the outside chance you said all you did with your tongue planted firmly in your cheek, you might have a chance at being a stand-up comic. But only if you had a smile in your eyes.
4. If you don't like what is happening to you, you do something different until you do like what is happening to you.

Just some thoughts.

Some thoughts about selfishness "according to Ben Kessler"

2006-06-06T16:51:00.000-05:00

Ben Kessler's speech was presented at his graduation ceremony. It has been argued by many in many forums. There are those who think he is a saint and those who think he is a devil.

I do not agree with much of what Mr. Kessler has said. Most of what he said was centered on a very selfish effort to castigate the individuals who had played some rather childish and stupid pranks at his expense. He comes off as a whiney, complaining child.

I would like to examine a couple of statement she made that cause me great concern. "Good morning, friends, Catholics, fellow students, sexual deviants and chronic masturbators. . . For those of you who use contraception, shame on you! You are murdering the billions of innocent babies that live inside your sperm! "

The mere thought of this statement suggests that Kessler has a most unique view of biology. Studying conception will help Mr. Kessler understand something about the process. It appears as though only one sperm is needed to fertilize the egg. That means there are thousands of sperm that didn't win the race. Given Mr. Kessler's view, what are we to do? There are a thousand potential human beings who are not going to get a chance. And this is only when we consider sexual intercourse between a woman and a man who might want to conceive.

If what he claims is accurate and true, then there are many (all men who ejaculate) who are murderers. When you add all sexual partners the list expands exponentially. By Kessler's claims we are all murderers. The only exception might be men who have severe sexual dysfunction. If this is so, then the police need to be more help in enforcing the murder laws.

And we haven't even suggested the criminal behavior of those young men who suffer from the embarrassment of nocturnal emissions. Another million sperm wasted in the sheets.

These are just some thoughts on the subject.

Del Sol, Tilley Hemp hat, and me.

2006-06-02T14:14:00.000-05:00

Several weeks ago I promised photos of a Tilley Hemp hat, the Del Sol with the top off and me in the mix somewhere.

Well, a promise is a promise, so here you are. Enjoy?!?

Photos by Julianne.

Reiki, a view of the world from here.

2006-06-02T08:21:00.000-05:00

Quite a few years ago, a friend asked me if I knew Ray Key. I said we had never met. She informed me that Reiki was not a person, but a universal concept. She thought that I was ready to learn about it, and recommended that I read a couple of books about spirituality. Since part of my life quest is to enhance my spirituality and knowledge about it I read the books. Anatomy of the Spirit, by Caroline Myss (Mace) and Reiki: Hawayo Takata's Story, by Helen J. Haberly were the books. I am forever indebted to my friend for the introduction.

In the introduction to Takata's story she is quoted, "Reiki means Universal Life Energy and we are all composed of this energy. Everyone can use this energy for healing -- and I can teach you how!" These are very powerful and challenging words. Takata's story was told by her to Haberly. It is an anecdotal account of how Takata came to know about Reiki and how she became a Reiki Master

After reading the Reiki book, I decided it might be time for me to investigate further and to become attuned as a Reiki practitioner. My friend suggested a local Reiki Master from whom she received attunement. In 1998 I received my First Degree attunement and in 2000 the attunement for Second Degree. The primary difference between the two is that the second degree allows for long distance "treatments".

The primary goal of the Reiki practitioner is to aid others in achieving more harmony in their lives. This harmony brings the individual in tune with the Universal Life Energy. While I don't practice the first degree hands on approach, I do send Reiki energy through the second degree method, to folks on a daily basis. They are free to use it or not. The choice is theirs.

Reiki is not a panacea nor a crutch. It is a way of thinking about the universe and my place in it. It makes sense to me and that is my choice. It may seem to be a lot of hocus pocus, and you may be right about that. However, from my own personal experience I have seen wounds heal without a scar. One, when I stupidly handled something that cut my finger. After cleaning the wound and stopping the bleeding, my Reiki Master held the cut finger for several minutes. The wound healed without a scar. Two, I burned my arm taking something out of a hot oven. I centered myself and focused on the Reiki energy and held my hand on the burned spot. There is no scar there to this day. There may be other explanations, but I choose to go with the one that suggests that Reiki did the job.

So, whether this discourse means anything to you, or not, I present it as one person's view of the world.

Serve well! Live fully! Do good works! And, as Leo Buscaglia has said, "At least don't hurt them."

War Story #8

2006-05-30T09:29:00.001-05:00

It was the summer of 1965. My first company command, the 615th MP Company, was assigned to Viet Nam. We were not sure where specifically, because that would not be divulged until the troop ship was almost to our destination. At the appointed time I was informed it would be Cam Ranh Bay. That was a seaport location and we would be providing physical security. OK, that will work. We can do that.

A day later we were informed that our assignment was changed. Now we were assigned to the Saigon area. We were to be attached to the 716th MP Battalion. And, that brings me to the primary topic for this issue. Our duties would include the usual routine police work as well as physical security.

At that time the US Navy was responsible for the security of the area of operation (AO). The battalion was given the duties of securing the various important sites. These included supply sites and billeting sites for US forces. Each of the billeting sites had one or two US MPs and a Vietnamese policeman. Every effort was made to make it difficult for attackers to make entrance and do damage.

The naval commander at the time ordered that the men on the security posts at the billets could only be armed with shotguns and .45 caliber side arms. His rationalization was that he didn’t want the VC to think we were afraid of them. At least, that was the story that was going around at the time.
Unfortunately, the VC didn’t get the message, or maybe they did. Anyway, the VC maintained their weaponry. Primarily AK-47s. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that there is an advantage here for the guy who has the biggest “stick”.

That is the situation Captain Chet Lee and his troops faced on April 1, 1966 when the VC chose to attack the Victoria Hotel. There is no doubt in my mind that the troops at the hotel did their best to protect the hotel. I am equally sure that Chet gave his last true measure of devotion when he turned around to provide reinforcements to his troops.

When you’re outgunned you’re outgunned. All to assuage the ego of a person who hadn’t the foggiest notion of what his decision would bring.

Chet, thanks for the time I had to get to know you. Thank you for the example you set. We love you man.

It is Memorial Day....

2006-05-29T18:08:00.000-05:00

and I am reminded of some of my comrades-in-arms. The first one who comes to mind is Captain Chet Lee. As you will learn from this link, Chet was well thought of. He was an officer who truly cared about the men he was responsible for and to. I held him in high esteem when we served together and to this day as well. To para-phrase Zane Gray,"Chet, you'll do to ride the river with."

He always put the need of the troops first.

As I recall, the story at the time went something like this. He had stopped by the Victoria hotel to check on the security post and had moved on. He had hardly gotten more than a couple blocks away when he hear gunfire. He directed the driver to return to the Victoria. He and his driver were only armed with their .45 caliber sidearms. The guard at the front door only had a shotgun. The VC sapper team were armed with AK 47's when they attacked. This did not stop Chet. He continued on and was met with overwhelming firepower. He paid the ultimate price to take care of his troops.

The reason for the disparity of weaponry is another story. Who knows it may be the next war story. Stay tuned.

Never Argue with a Woman

2006-05-25T21:13:00.000-05:00

One morning the husband returns after several hours of fishing and decides to take a nap. Although not familiar with the lake, the wife decides to take the boat out. She motors out a short distance, anchors, and reads her book.

Along comes a Game Warden in his boat. He pulls up alongside the woman and says, "Good morning, Ma'am. What are you doing?"

"Reading a book," she replies, (thinking, "Isn't that obvious?")

"You're in a Restricted Fishing Area," he informs her.

"I'm sorry, officer, but I'm not fishing. I'm reading."

"Yes, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment. I'll have to take you in and write you up."

"If you do that, I'll have to charge you with sexua l assault," says the woman.

"But I haven't even touched you," says the game warden.

"That's true, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment."

"Have a nice day ma'am," and he left.

MORAL: Never argue with a woman who reads. It's likely she can also think.

Send this to four women/girls who are thinkers. If you receive this, you know you're intelligent.

"A Woman"

2006-05-25T20:51:00.000-05:00

"Be very careful if you make a woman cry, because God counts her tears.

The woman came out of a man's rib.

Not from his feet to be walked on.

Not from his head to be superior, but from the side to be equal.

Under the arm to be protected and next to the heart to be loved."

Pass this on to all exceptional women that you know... and to men so they can be reminded of the value of a woman.

Patio Photo Slide Show Update

2006-05-25T16:34:00.000-05:00

Check out this site to see the latest addition to the patio remodeling photos.

We are pleased that the job is finally completed. I will probably add more photos to this set when I have more space.

Enjoy!

Coffee, crosswords and contentment.

2006-05-25T15:18:00.000-05:00

This morning the sun was bright, the temperature was delightful, and the breeze was light. Maryann indicated that she would be having her coffee on the patio. She has been looking forward to the day when she would be able to do so. Today was the day.

We both had our coffee and newspaper reading on the patio. It was so enjoyable that we also had lunch there too. Who wouldn’t want to do so in these surrounding? Particularly when the garden fairy is watching over everything.

I did not stop the world and get off

2006-05-25T15:14:00.000-05:00

It has been about 48 hours since the cable was cut. No internet. Not TV. We didnt get to NOT watch American Idol. How have we managed to survive? Thank goodness for conversation, music, reading and crossword puzzles. (Oh, btw, the patio got finished. Photos will be appearing shortly. Please be patient.)

That is why we were without the cable and internet connection. For some weird reason the electric, telephone and cable connections are all on the West side of the house, the side with the least distance to the property boundary line. We have lived here for about 15 years and during that time the phone line has been cut at least once and the cable line, well this makes the fifth time.

The funny part about it is that the workers all knew about the wiring and had uncovered the cable line. They were working around it. They were extremely careful. It wasnt until the boss came on the scene that the problem began. He was carrying some plants and didnt see a hole. He stepped in, lost his balance, stepped back to catch himself and SNAP, a split cable.

If you ever want to see someone wracked with guilt and extremely apologetic, this chap is a good example. Being klutzy is the only thing he has going against him. Well, that, and he didnt get some of the details written into the contract. But besides that, his design for the plantings was superb. It has been since March 6th when the first work was begun. The only thing we were not here to see put in was the fence. Other than that, it has gone reasonably smoothly. It is amazing what a sense of humor can do when a cable is cut or the fence arrives and is the wrong color. Oh, and it didnt have the correct latching mechanism. I think I did mention something about attention to detail.

#175

Planting day

2006-05-23T14:15:00.000-05:00

Around 0845 this AM the first load of plants arrived. About a half hour later the planting crew and the rest of the materials/plants arrived. The work is underway and they are making great progress.

I have been taking photos during the planting and will post some here and on Flickr when the job is done. Probably by tomorrow.

So, keep checking back.

Flowers

2006-05-20T16:15:00.000-05:00

If you like flowers, you will enjoy this slide show. I will add to it from time to time.

Fence Photos at.....

2006-05-20T08:00:00.000-05:00

this site. The last two photos are the latest of the bronze fence. This is a marvelous slideshow, if I do say so myself. LOL

The planting will begin on Tuesday, weather permitting. Photos to follow.

Enjoy.

Of course if you don't want to see the entire 16 slide show, then here you are:

We're back in ....

2006-05-19T15:48:00.000-05:00

Lansing

and unpacking.

More later.

Notes from on the road

2006-05-15T11:40:00.000-05:00

It has been almost a week since we left home. We have been doing so much since we arrived that I have not had time to post anything. Today, I am alone and have time to read and write blogs. I just wanted to say a few things about how the trip was going.

As usual, took two days to get to Maryann's niece's home in Pennsylvania. We came in to spend Mother's day with Maryann's mother, Margaret. In June I will go to El Paso to spend some time with my mother, Jane.

Margaret is residing in a nursing home. Unfortunately, she can no longer care for herself. One of the most devastating things to witness is the onset of dementia. Margaret doesn't always recognize us, but has been able to remember who we are most of the time we are with her. Her mobility is also limited, but with the wheel chair she is able to get around the floor. It is amazing to watch her and the other residents moving around. They are quite good about not running into each other or tipping over.

The weather was sunny enough last Thursday that we could take out onto the grounds for some fresh Spring air. She was able to comment about the plants and how well the grounds were being kept. She still wonders where her late husband is. We have learned to deflect that question by saying we haven't seen him lately. Usually, once she has asked the question, her mind goes onto something else. It is not in her best interest to remind him that he died more than 20 years ago. To do so would be quite cruel. She would begin grieving all over again.

In spite of her mental and physical condition, Margaret maintains her wonderful sense of humor and her ready smile. I have come to know and love her as much as my own mother. It saddens me to see her in her present condition. I relish the times we did have together where she would share stories about her life on the farm and how she could drive a combine. You have to realize she is just about 5'3". She has worked all of her life, even as a child. She married young and raised two daughters. Next week she will celebrate her 96th birthday. While she told me once she won't live forever, I believe she is definitely in it for the long haul.

Margaret, I love you and wish you the best even though you will never see this.

Another Take on an Interesting Site

2006-05-07T13:26:00.000-05:00

In response to bronxbt's comment I have decided to use the great guru google to track down blockers. Ask google to search for "plowshare" and you will receive links to 146,000 sites with that information in it. I selected the second link, beginners to plowshare! I then decided to go to the very first posting and stopped at this one crackers. I have not finished reading it yet but thought you might want to look into it. Have fun. I suspect crackers is.

An interesting site

2006-05-07T08:20:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Bluebolt for discovering this site blogshare

I have visited it, and you might want to do the same. I am not sure of the value of it, but it does provoke some interesting questions. I'll let you form your own opinions and questions.

Note from a Honda fan

2006-05-03T10:38:00.000-05:00

Read the info first, then watch the clip. There is a link at the end.

And you thought those people that set up roomfuls of dominos to knock over were amazing. There are no computer graphics or digital tricks in the film. Everything you see really happened in real time exactly as you see it.

The film took 606 takes. On the first 605 takes, something, usually very minor, didn't work. They would then have to set the whole thing up again. The crew spent weeks shooting night and day. By the time it was over, they were ready to change professions.

The film cost six million dollars and took three months to complete including full engineering of the sequence. In addition, it's two minutes long so every time Honda airs the film on British television, they're shelling out enough dough to keep any one of us in clover for a lifetime.

However, it is fast becoming the most downloaded advertisement in Internet history. Honda executives figure the ad will soon pay for itself simply in "free viewings" (Honda isn't paying a dime to have you watch this commercial!).

When the ad was pitched to senior executives, they signed off on it immediately without any hesitation - including the costs.

There are six and only six hand-made Honda Accords in the world. To the horror of Honda engineers, the filmmakers disassembled two of them to make the film. Everything you see in the film (aside from the walls, floor, ramp, and complete Honda Accord) is parts from those two cars.

The voiceover is Garrison Keillor. When the ad was shown to Honda executives, they liked it and commented on how amazing computer graphics have gotten. They fell off their chairs when they found out it was for real.

Oh, and about those funky windshield wipers. On the new Accords, the windshield wipers have water sensors and are designed tod to start doing their thing automatically as soon as they become wet.

Click on this Link to see the show.

A note for Ardlair

2006-05-02T18:21:00.000-05:00

Ardlair, you will probably get a kick out of this, my ass.

Music that brings tears to my eyes

2006-05-01T19:20:00.000-05:00

My guess is that you have heard songs that have moved you very deeply. Every once in a while I hear music that does, in fact, bring me to tears. Right now there are two that fit into that category:

That's the Way Love Goes by Merle Haggard in the album Legendary Country Singers

My Father's Eyes by Eric Clapton in the album Clapton Chronicles: The Best Of Eric Clapton

I am not sure what it is about them that contributes to that reaction in me. I am just glad that I can have that experience.

In the Haggard song not only do the words affect me, but there is a particular guitar riff that blows me away.

With the Clapton piece it is the words that do me in.

They are truly spiritual responses for me. I hope you are fortunate to have such experiences. Let me know what moves you, if you have a notion to do so.

Patio Remodeling

2006-05-01T09:30:00.000-05:00

There is a photo set on flickr showing the patio remodeling . There will be other photos added as the job progresses. We are waiting for the right color of fence to come in. With a little luck it will be here mid month.

You can teach an old dog new tricks.

2006-04-30T18:38:00.000-05:00

With nothing better to do I uploaded photos to flikr. You can see the results of that activity on this page. I wasn't sure I could do it. I am so proud of myself.

I have included photos of the patio prior to the demolition and photos of the update.

I will add more photos as the job gets completed. The fence they sent was not the one we ordered. The good fence won't be delivered for another few weeks. Keep checking back for updates.

A Hazel Story

2006-04-28T13:49:00.000-05:00

bronxbt, this tale is for you primarily. I hope the rest of you enjoy it too.
Hazel has been with us for since she was a kitten. Consequently, we have many stories in which she is the star. As some of you may know I have a real estate license. Now you may think this is a strange way to begin a story about Hazel, and you are correct. Stay with me because it will be come clear before long.

A few years ago we were back in Pennsylvania preparing to bring Maryann's mother to come back to Kansas to live with us. We did have one minor problem. Her home would be vacant, and she would not be returning to it. We had not decided to sell it yet. So the next obvious course of action was to rent it.

A builder friend was building a home for a family and they needed a place to rent before the house was completed. It had something to do with living in the school district. Their children, a boy and a girl, were 10 and 8 respectively.

One of the most important things a landlord can do when renting is to do a thorough background check. With the help of a local real estate agent we were able to get the financial information we needed to help us make our decision. Here is where Hazel comes into the picture. This was one of the few times we took Hazel with us.

When Maryann's niece's two boys are around, Hazel generally heads for the nearest bed to hide. Typical behaviors for most animals who don't like the noise and ruckus of active children.

The only thing remaining between us and the approval of the family was their visit to see the house. When they came over the children were quiet, polite and very courteous. No loud noises or ruckus. Hazel came out and wanted to get to know the children. Hazel even jumped up on the lap of their daughter. Hazel allowed the girl to brush her. Brushing is a pastime that Hazel enjoys very much. Hazel remained in the room the entire time the family was there.

We realized at that time, this family passed the Hazel test. What better recommendation can you get than the OK from Hazel. Based on that final test, we rented the house to this family and we did not regret it.

How is that for a pet story -b?

The rains are coming

2006-04-28T08:03:00.000-05:00

The best laid plans of mice and men often go wrong. Bobbie Burns(sp) said it in a different language that eludes me for the senior moment.

Today I had fully intended to get a photo of me, my Tilley hat, but the weather has other ideas. We are expecting rain all this weekend. It will include thunder storms. So, I will just have to wait for a more opportune time.

War Story #7

2006-04-27T16:57:00.000-05:00

It was 1971, and I was assigned to the Provost Marshal’s office at MACV HQ, in Viet Nam. My duty title was Narcotics Staff Officer. At that time there was quite a problem with soldiers using heroin. But, that is another war story. It was during this time that I was introduced to one of my favorite convivial libations, the Black Russian.

The evening was quiet at the BOQ where I was living. I’m in my skivvies, reading mail and writing letters. There came a raucous knock at the door. To my surprise, it was one of my colleagues from the office. He had just returned from a get together at the Provost Marshal’s quarters and was about three sheets to the wind. He wanted to talk. He also wanted to go to the bar for another drink. I got dressed and away we went upstairs to the bar.

It was at this time when he asked if I had ever had a Black Russian? I had not, but was willing to try. He ordered the drinks complete with a twist and we sat down to talk. Well, he talked and I listened.

If you are not familiar with the drink let me explain the intricacies of preparing one.

Black Russian  

2 parts Vodka 1 part Kahlua over ice.  

I prefer a half and half mixture myself.   Some even like it with a twist. Not me.  

If you put milk or cream with it, it becomes a white Russian.

Now back to the main theme. My colleague was complaining about Army officers, particularly those who were Military Police. He was the Air Force equivalent. He was not too impressed with the Provost Marshal. He then decided to tell me about his problems with his children, his wife and his girl friend. In the meantime, I had consumed about a dozen Black Russians and was just getting a slight buzz. It was a good thing I didn’t have to drive anywhere.

It was about this time when he poured a part of his drink on my leg. I told him it was time to pour him into bed. We left the bar and that is the saga of how I discovered the joy of a convivial libation, the Black Russian.

Serve well! Live fully! Enjoy a Black Russian.

The Poor Man's Ferrari

2006-04-26T16:26:00.000-05:00

Time to brag a little bit. The weather turned cool after the weekend's rains, but not too cool to take the top off. I have been wanting to post a photo of this primo, 1995 Honda Civic del sol for some time. Today is the day.

The temperature reached into the high 50's today so it was perfect to go for a little spin.

I agreed to help a friend get his printer working again. For some weird reason it wouldn't work. So I volunteered to screw around with it in hopes of getting it to print.

Mission accomplished. The operating system he uses is somewhat antiquated, but since he only uses the computer for occasional word processing he doesn't need any more than what he has.

What all this has to do with these photos is a mystery to me, too. I decided to take them as soon as I got back from my computer mission and here you are. I did dress warmly and wore my favorite Tilly Hemp hat.

The Garden Photos I promised

2006-04-24T18:22:00.000-05:00

This view is to the right of our front door as you approach. We thought that come colias would be a nice plant to lead on to the impatiens. By the end of the year, they will take over the entire planting area.

This is to the right of the front door as you leave the house. We moved some bleeding hearts from the back yard last year and then added three more of that plant. The azaleas were moved last fall and they are doing fine.

At the back left is a bleeding heart that we moved from the back yard and placed just left of the azaleas. The rock was also moved forward and a little to the left of its original position. The impatiens and sweet alyssum were added yesterday. Just behind the rock is an astilbe which we also moved from the back yard. There are also some hostas back near the front step just to the right of the hostas and behind the bleeding hearts.

We can hardly wait for these plants to fill in the space with their growth. A couple of years ago we did win the yard of the month award from the Chamber of Commerce because of the beauty and color of the impatiens. I will probably post some photos later on in the year to show the growth.

Enjoy!

How Many Cows?

2006-04-24T13:59:00.000-05:00

You can also read this at How Now Blue Cow?

A West Texas cowboy was herding his cows in a remote pasture when suddenly a brand-new BMW advanced out of a dust cloud towards him.

The driver, a young man in a Brioni suit, Gucci shoes, Ray Ban sunglasses and YSL tie, leans out the window and asks the cowboy, "If I tell you exactly how many cows and calves you have in your herd, will you give me a calf?" The cowboy looks at the man, obviously a yuppie, then looks at his peacefully grazing herd and calmly answers, "Sure, Why not?"

The yuppie parks his car, whips out his Dell notebook computer, connects it to his AT&T cell phone, and surfs to a NASA page on the Internet, where he calls up a GPS satellite navigation system to get an exact fix on his location which he then feeds to another NASA satellite that scans the area in an ultra-high-resolution photo.

The young man then opens the digital photo in Adobe Photoshop and exports it to an image processing facility in Hamburg, Germany. Within seconds, he receives an email on his Palm Pilot that the image has been processed and the data stored.

He then accesses a MS-SQL database through an ODBC connected Excel
spreadsheet with email on his Blackberry and, after a few minutes, receives a response. Finally, he prints out a full-color, 150-page report on his hi-tech, miniaturized HP Laser Jet printer and finally turns to the cowboy and says, "You have exactly 1,586 cows and calves."

"That's right. Well, I guess you can take one of my calves," says the cowboy. He watches the young man select one of the animals and looks on amused as the young man stuffs it into the trunk of his car.

Then the cowboy says to the young man, "Hey, if I can tell you exactly what your business is, will you give me back my calf?"

The young man thinks about it for a second and then says, "Okay, why not?" You're a Congressman for the U.S. government" says the cowboy.

"Wow! That's correct," says the yuppie, "but how did you guess that?"

"No guessing required." answered the cowboy. "You showed up here even though nobody called you; you want to get paid for an answer I already knew, to a question I never asked. You tried to show me how much smarter than me you are; and you don't know a thing about cows........

Now give me back my dog."

Sunday Evening and the weather is wonderful

2006-04-23T17:11:00.000-05:00

So it has been a few days since I last posted. I would like to say that I have been very busy doing things that will bring world peace, end hunger, and make life better for everyone. Alas, I cannot claim any of those lofty goals. Damn. I wish I could.

However , I have been doing things around the house that have been very productive and pleasurable. Maryann and I have been working on our garden plots - transplanting from the patio to the front of the house and getting new plants too. There is something therapeutic about planting flowers and shrubs. We have been very fortunate in previous plantings and transplantings. We did take out an evergreen because it was time. It had been around since we built the house 16 years ago and it was time to open up the view to the front of the house. So, out it went. Impatiens and Sweet Alyssum will look much better.

Bleeding hearts were moved from the patio to the front too. And they look marvelous. We were even able to save a few Hostas by moving them to the front. We did give some to our neighbors across the corner.

Perhaps I can take a few photos and include them in a future posting. Yes, that is a great idea. Now back to the Black Russian and thinking about what to have for dinner.

Ta, ta for now.

Share the love in your heart!

PEOPLE COME INTO YOUR LIFE FOR A REASON

2006-04-20T19:28:00.000-05:00

Thanks to you, for being being part of my life, and teaching me day by day to be a better person either spiritually, emotionally, or professionally.

I am posting this to see how many will read and make a comment. Feel free to copy and paste it into an email to your friends.

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person. When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire
fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come to share, grow or learn. They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it, it is real.

But only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons, things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

Thank you for being a part of my life, whether you were a reason, a season or a lifetime.

Your Outrageous Name

2006-04-19T10:20:00.000-05:00

Karen made me do it. It gets funnier the more times you try.

Your Outrageous Name is:

Harry Box

Outrageous Name Generator

It Came to Me in the Middle of the Night

2006-04-16T18:35:00.000-05:00

The year -- 1952

The place -- John Harris High School, Harrisburg, PA

The event -- Tenth Grade history class.

I don't remember much about the class, not even the teachers name.

I do remember some things about her.

Thin. Dark hair kept close to the head. Arms kept close to her sides when she walked. She said that we should all do that. If we didn't we would all look like apes. I suspect she was not enamored of evolution.

There are two things I do remember from that teacher that made sense and I follow to this day.

1. People have the right to have their names spelled properly.

2. People have the right to have their names pronounced the way they want them pronounced.

When I was in basic training in the Air Force, one of my colleagues had the name of:
Spelling - Pryzkop
Traditional pronunciation - Schekup
The family pronunciation - Jacobs

It was always an interesting experience when we were on base detail waiting for our detail. We both had to pay close attention for the mispronunciation of Prizecop & Kitchenhopper.

Ah well, I have learned many things, some of them in 10th grade history class.