tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34815701156009249292024-03-21T11:26:45.243-04:00Little Drops.....K-Dubyahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11521926527381863273noreply@blogger.comBlogger82125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481570115600924929.post-85718797598228539142016-08-27T13:12:00.001-04:002016-08-27T13:12:16.994-04:00Random Thoughts<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The
thoughts that come often unsought, and, as it were, drop into the mind,
are commonly the most valuable of any we have. ~John Locke</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;">The end of August is near. That makes me happy as it means the end of my rotation on the middle of the day at the pay check place. The next rotation takes me into the land of normal people who see the sun shine all day long. If only I were normal... Haha! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;">Ahh well, gotta have a job to keep the lights on. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;">The eldest Hunny Bunny posted this on her wall a week or so ago and if you think about it, it's pretty accurate! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv6akmeGpo6CMITDOinXLkRXgCybfSCs084bd9kfyCB8Yg7Gmkzy2QqjpPMiN-x244mAuLV3_IuXWpJ_9ZYr6roXUoJtrCcWfWelwV1swXywgJ9iy-gPel1kfK_pd681c7VJJKFuVMS4kV/s1600/truelife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv6akmeGpo6CMITDOinXLkRXgCybfSCs084bd9kfyCB8Yg7Gmkzy2QqjpPMiN-x244mAuLV3_IuXWpJ_9ZYr6roXUoJtrCcWfWelwV1swXywgJ9iy-gPel1kfK_pd681c7VJJKFuVMS4kV/s320/truelife.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;">...and she wonders why I tell her to enjoy her childhood! Kids, always in a hurry to grow up to be an adult. It ain't all that it's cracked up to be, for sure. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;">
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<span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;">We're having a heat wave here along the banks of the mighty Ohio. Today's expected high will be in the mid 90's with humidity that becomes oppressive when you work inside a building that includes two giant ovens. I understand now what my Grandpa Bond meant when he would relate to us that he lost 5 pounds a day in sweat during his shifts at Newport Steel Mill. At the end of my shift, it ain't pretty...smelly, oh, but yes. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;">I look at this picture from last winter whenever I think I can't bear the heat one moment longer. It's my reminder that I prefer the warmer temps of summer to the cold and snowy temps of winter! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH2qmgUxtCH3iz3iJXKyvMzItfIrehUI2hNA2p0dkAPhw93q96FuJq4pez87xEIm2V000h5ORkkAZAQAmz4CtIj2YQ_m_eZvEarhfXMqNJ661US3FuXYkKM0kJR6f1JvgABKkalnLkNhe-/s1600/IMAG0305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH2qmgUxtCH3iz3iJXKyvMzItfIrehUI2hNA2p0dkAPhw93q96FuJq4pez87xEIm2V000h5ORkkAZAQAmz4CtIj2YQ_m_eZvEarhfXMqNJ661US3FuXYkKM0kJR6f1JvgABKkalnLkNhe-/s320/IMAG0305.jpg" width="181" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;">
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<span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;">I do love looking at Mother Natures handiwork though. Trouble is, I gotta drive from here to there. Not everyone should be allowed on the road in inclement weather. There be i dots don't ya know? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;">
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<span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;">It seems yesterday was National Dog Day. I can't imagine people being paid to think of things to have a "National Day" celebration. But apparently they do. Trillions of dollars in debt as a Nation, but hey, let's honor our dogs! You ever get a feeling that we're being fleeced? Yeah, me too. Just to prove I'm a good citizen, I'll even post a picture of my dog; Maggie Mae. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC1gzGoRAks1QA-tr_zTDK4JkH8aIEm0YVNptVIL4cT8noSF1txgM2xIM7yErw0tasd3sSxM558M4bAKJmBkGzKpGiOfRFBjURjOtPHH_QR8zLNPnVPbucF7X0YP0XtL6-VZf5ptpvZb-n/s1600/IMAG1539.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC1gzGoRAks1QA-tr_zTDK4JkH8aIEm0YVNptVIL4cT8noSF1txgM2xIM7yErw0tasd3sSxM558M4bAKJmBkGzKpGiOfRFBjURjOtPHH_QR8zLNPnVPbucF7X0YP0XtL6-VZf5ptpvZb-n/s400/IMAG1539.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTy2MZqdLude56PznsacgMZ87AI_lzIeGHxt_svWSoHMIVL1G5CXnGIUsbCheoNoOiRVqK1blRtFb-i7pZec-eIz23PKRvM7TiooKc2kgNpSSh09PDemf-yf-ymCbb7L3YK5mgNDL6EnkJ/s1600/IMAG1540.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTy2MZqdLude56PznsacgMZ87AI_lzIeGHxt_svWSoHMIVL1G5CXnGIUsbCheoNoOiRVqK1blRtFb-i7pZec-eIz23PKRvM7TiooKc2kgNpSSh09PDemf-yf-ymCbb7L3YK5mgNDL6EnkJ/s400/IMAG1540.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;">She was a local rescue a few years ago. I took one look at that face and couldn't stop myself when I said I'd bring her home to live with me. This was after I said I never wanted another pet that would leave me heart broken as they left me to cross the Rainbow bridge. I should learn to never say never, right? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;">She's brought lots of smiles and many times, lots of frustration into my life. Still, I don't think I'd give her up for love nor money. Love I've got... money, eh, not so much. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;">These two pictures don't show her true nature. She's a bundle of energy when she wants to be. Especially when my piglets show up. She'll pester them for the first few hours after their arrival before she'll stop. If I let her, she'll even go wake them up. If she's awake, she thinks they need to be awake! <br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;">
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<span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;">There you have it, friends. My totally random thoughts for a beautiful Saturday in August. Daylights a'wasting. Gotta prepare for the sweating that is in my immediate future. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;">...and so it goes. <br />
</span>K-Dubyahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11521926527381863273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481570115600924929.post-1309053601163101032016-08-19T06:55:00.000-04:002016-08-19T06:55:11.357-04:00Ahem. AHEM! <span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;">Nothing ever goes away until it has taught us what we need to know. ~Pema Chödrön</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;">Why Hello there!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;">For some unknown reason, I opened the reader the other day and was surprised as all hecky dern when this old blog popped up as having new posts. Gave me quite the surprise and a bit of sadness that I've let it languish for so long. As I read those old posts, I almost felt that it was written by someone else, not myself. Strange how that happens. Perhaps I've grown or changed a bit over the last few years. Years.. it's been since I've last written here. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;">Oh, there's been life changes here in my hills of KY. Family members who've left us too soon and new additions to those who call me 'Nana'. The heart always has room for the love of a child. Well, mine does. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;">The last few years has seen a few doors close, and as predicted, new ones open. Life sure can throw some curves at ya, can't it?</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;">Who knows, I might just take the time to drop by more often. The other format for connecting to friends far away (facebook) has quickly become almost too much to bear. Voice an unpopular thought and the claws come out almost immediately. Some have been quite deadly with the blocking and unfriending over a opinion. I just keep scrolling...scrolling...scrolling. I dislike not being able to comment without fear of ridicule from friends of friends. Oh well...it was a good time while it lasted. Everything runs it's course it seems. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;">....and so it goes. </span></span>K-Dubyahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11521926527381863273noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481570115600924929.post-24394432859097402352012-03-07T10:39:00.000-05:002012-03-07T10:39:00.347-05:00Mourning...<div style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: georgia,bookman old style,palatino linotype,book antiqua,palatino,trebuchet ms,helvetica,garamond,sans-serif,arial,verdana,avante garde,century gothic,comic sans ms,times,times new roman,serif;">Perhaps they are not the stars, but rather openings in Heaven where the love of our lost ones pours through and shines down upon us to let us know they are happy.</span></div><div style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: georgia,bookman old style,palatino linotype,book antiqua,palatino,trebuchet ms,helvetica,garamond,sans-serif,arial,verdana,avante garde,century gothic,comic sans ms,times,times new roman,serif;">~Author Unknown</span></div><br />
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It is with heavy heart that we send a friend and fellow sojourner along his way. <a href="http://www.neptunuslex.com/2012/03/06/streamer/">Neputunus Lex</a> made his final flight into the wild blue yonder yesterday morning at the controls of his Kfir. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlTJt9DYOCdleof1h4_LSMtJ9Daa7wMR3tZro_9wOFHIzs5mC3x1ru3v8N5mlUkjFpMP3H0xmFLWbQ7NlBLEBV4jmtiQDVRN2fLelTtuWFY-l8uiFu3Rp0YC3TWVess19_A40hBzyDUeHN/s1600/NeptunusLex.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlTJt9DYOCdleof1h4_LSMtJ9Daa7wMR3tZro_9wOFHIzs5mC3x1ru3v8N5mlUkjFpMP3H0xmFLWbQ7NlBLEBV4jmtiQDVRN2fLelTtuWFY-l8uiFu3Rp0YC3TWVess19_A40hBzyDUeHN/s320/NeptunusLex.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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He was so much more than fellow blogger to many faceless voices in the void. Yet, his words filled us with wonder of his journey, and deeper understanding on breadth of subjects. He became a friend to untold numbers. <br />
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There are many whose words convey <a href="http://www.neptunuslex.com/2012/03/07/whisper-open-thread/">depth of sorrow and loss</a>. Mine are few. <br />
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Lex, Captain Carroll LeFon...You will be missed beyond measure. <br />
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Godspeed, Sir...Godspeed.<br />
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<div style="color: #990000; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia,bookman old style,palatino linotype,book antiqua,palatino,trebuchet ms,helvetica,garamond,sans-serif,arial,verdana,avante garde,century gothic,comic sans ms,times,times new roman,serif;">He kept at true good humour's mark<br />
The social flow of pleasure's tide:<br />
He never made a brow look dark,<br />
Nor caused a tear, but when he died.<br />
~Thomas Love Peacock</span></div>K-Dubyahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11521926527381863273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481570115600924929.post-77209828501123971602011-09-17T11:09:00.000-04:002011-09-17T11:09:32.339-04:00Musical Interlude...<div style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: georgia,bookman old style,palatino linotype,book antiqua,palatino,trebuchet ms,helvetica,garamond,sans-serif,arial,verdana,avante garde,century gothic,comic sans ms,times,times new roman,serif;">Music is what feelings sound like.</span></div><div style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: georgia,bookman old style,palatino linotype,book antiqua,palatino,trebuchet ms,helvetica,garamond,sans-serif,arial,verdana,avante garde,century gothic,comic sans ms,times,times new roman,serif;">~~~~~Author Unknown</span></div><br />
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Who could not love listening to Norah?<br />
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And so it goes......K-Dubyahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11521926527381863273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481570115600924929.post-32218534221224503742011-04-10T20:23:00.000-04:002011-04-10T20:23:39.650-04:00Spring Fever...<div style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: georgia,bookman old style,palatino linotype,book antiqua,palatino,trebuchet ms,helvetica,garamond,sans-serif,arial,verdana,avante garde,century gothic,comic sans ms,times,times new roman,serif;">It's spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you <i>do</i> want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!</span></div><div style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: georgia,bookman old style,palatino linotype,book antiqua,palatino,trebuchet ms,helvetica,garamond,sans-serif,arial,verdana,avante garde,century gothic,comic sans ms,times,times new roman,serif;">~~~~~Mark Twain</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9lomykZY12I5dMA22XhmsoPxYmzosvFa51iqhMGatvJuOMI6nHukFA8o_lxNW63zzENyD-pWdHXhYeQ9hpgolWC6oiO9_NZcRGzQG9KKz8FtExavzZNSIGQ9m-TzwVKvgT7E-Rq3zK60m/s1600/iPhone+pictures+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9lomykZY12I5dMA22XhmsoPxYmzosvFa51iqhMGatvJuOMI6nHukFA8o_lxNW63zzENyD-pWdHXhYeQ9hpgolWC6oiO9_NZcRGzQG9KKz8FtExavzZNSIGQ9m-TzwVKvgT7E-Rq3zK60m/s320/iPhone+pictures+003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The Tulips returned and have brightened the landscape with their colors. </div> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL-8fe0D9cq1wn8w9I8-x5MDILCb4sWu0w2An6OHKDubVgn6HrIto_lCEN4ZnXiuK_dgw55KS1cR0bO2fniNPuHlFZVmTH8WjZowtH06uNzDI-G2_gJsWP9im2RkSJvkaVP__uvCmQnYGn/s1600/iPhone+pictures+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL-8fe0D9cq1wn8w9I8-x5MDILCb4sWu0w2An6OHKDubVgn6HrIto_lCEN4ZnXiuK_dgw55KS1cR0bO2fniNPuHlFZVmTH8WjZowtH06uNzDI-G2_gJsWP9im2RkSJvkaVP__uvCmQnYGn/s320/iPhone+pictures+005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Even the dandelions are a giant splash of sunshine amongst the greening grass. It's futile to resist...</div> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXkgzXsiF6tHAKaxMNP1HKKhXdv_ZpljcO8BgNEQTt1cSrv07cjRa_5ubZwaGiio2B0_k57gxgVm0aX_MecKPA3VqS8SS8a6PYQp3Ok3mNarvIfoGhtW6A0DFQb5sk0yLZQhEBx7cb25aj/s1600/iPhone+pictures+011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXkgzXsiF6tHAKaxMNP1HKKhXdv_ZpljcO8BgNEQTt1cSrv07cjRa_5ubZwaGiio2B0_k57gxgVm0aX_MecKPA3VqS8SS8a6PYQp3Ok3mNarvIfoGhtW6A0DFQb5sk0yLZQhEBx7cb25aj/s320/iPhone+pictures+011.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The 'almost' Weeping Cherry Tree has budded out and has delicate pink blossoms the length of the limbs.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigdhNGkSkn5FWJpyqZOP6z6LymH2p8DqMO18jWfnoNoxkIgstn9ur-wpwk_jAPJmzD0CxcFriH4sdAv1VdmYvi1f_sIqfFsii1_h06JEGTdYMwT6GGySbEAMnXqtUj9yJbNUPmo1XwBi6u/s1600/iPhone+pictures+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigdhNGkSkn5FWJpyqZOP6z6LymH2p8DqMO18jWfnoNoxkIgstn9ur-wpwk_jAPJmzD0CxcFriH4sdAv1VdmYvi1f_sIqfFsii1_h06JEGTdYMwT6GGySbEAMnXqtUj9yJbNUPmo1XwBi6u/s320/iPhone+pictures+002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Spying the dandelion greens amongst the tulips reminds me that this bum knee is going to cause me pain.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWVGF-zg_mLhXXFgGBzQxkVZr6JkzZ4CO3hWeuMEiZST72Ik52KKdL8_3RzHP0p8WHoT1xSBfX7DHFjtPZJ9ZSupc0ma26c0dpN0W7aPP17ooziPXr-OKk3QtUU9aTWSYxjbhb_6wQNLbh/s1600/iPhone+pictures+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWVGF-zg_mLhXXFgGBzQxkVZr6JkzZ4CO3hWeuMEiZST72Ik52KKdL8_3RzHP0p8WHoT1xSBfX7DHFjtPZJ9ZSupc0ma26c0dpN0W7aPP17ooziPXr-OKk3QtUU9aTWSYxjbhb_6wQNLbh/s320/iPhone+pictures+001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="padding-left: 14px; padding-top: 13px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3c605b; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;">Spring Bouquet <span style="color: black;">by Raymond A. Foss</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">An earthen vase<br />
held a bouquet<br />
simple crocuses<br />
at the street corner<br />
in the downtown <br />
of the city, around <br />
the corner, down the block<br />
on the way to school<br />
a bit of color <br />
shining through<br />
the urban tableau<br />
reminding us of beauty<br />
amidst the clutter<br />
of daily life</div><br />
<br />
Our temps hovered in the mid 80's today. Windows opened to air the house of winters smokey haze and shake loose the cobwebs from the corners of the rooms and perhaps even the mind. The old familiar mantra from last summer was uttered as well...<i>"Dang! It's hot."</i> 'Twas music to my ears, indeed.<br />
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It does seem that hope springs eternal. Time for the earth to awaken, to be turned, smoothed over and seeds sown in neat little rows. Spring has arrived at last. That's what I call...Winning!<br />
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And so it goes......K-Dubyahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11521926527381863273noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481570115600924929.post-37980395251064504842011-02-06T09:04:00.000-05:002011-02-06T09:04:23.890-05:00Wise Words From A Great Leader...<span class="body">The old adage "You never know what you had until it's gone" has certainly been hitting home the last few years. We've been under rule of some of the most clueless, out of touch, 'I'm better than thou' elitist politicians in quite some time. </span><br />
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<span class="body">There are some of us who still remember when we elected a man to lead our Country, they were men of integrity and honor. Men that had strength of character. Men that knew the truth and certainly weren't afraid to speak such truth. Men who didn't bow or grovel to other leaders of the rest of the world. Men who knew the mantel of leadership was a heavy yoke to bear, yet did so willingly with humility and a backbone of pure steel. Those men who knew that being appointed President of the United States was to take care of America, with no apologies for our actions or without fear of reprisal to continue standing as the beacon of freedom. </span><br />
<span class="body"> </span><br />
<span class="body"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="body">Today, February 6, 2011 marks the 100th anniversary of celebrating the life of one such man: Ronald Wilson Reagan. A true American President...and as a reminder...his wise words.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGQrzFhE8f1LNy3nSY00on5RaFxLC-SByGrkBLuTvYQaYUzFIpan8fck3cI8syKjyciDxEd37HUT0fO1ru-qOYI9n3za2d1DOknF61cbs5B1woixVN1X9bapTTtYlSJ6vnGI41NSocLCHe/s1600/40th-United-States-President-Ronald-Reagan-1911-to-20041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGQrzFhE8f1LNy3nSY00on5RaFxLC-SByGrkBLuTvYQaYUzFIpan8fck3cI8syKjyciDxEd37HUT0fO1ru-qOYI9n3za2d1DOknF61cbs5B1woixVN1X9bapTTtYlSJ6vnGI41NSocLCHe/s320/40th-United-States-President-Ronald-Reagan-1911-to-20041.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span class="body">Government exists to protect us from each other. Where government has gone beyond its limits is in deciding to protect us from ourselves.</span> <br />
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<span class="body">There are no easy answers' but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right.</span> <span class="body"> </span><br />
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<span class="body">If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd2MIGyz1zTCGxa6BNr-1LM_Il_Dk9i0dqgWkPvdBCTnwvtrUNknIHFZQPzX-xKfiD-tkpVqfX4g7gr4IRtxE1to4441fwBso1BL4ZhATCqnetniGcNoD2Ns0be7q5R9MUAk220XFXwghx/s1600/59376RonaldReaganMOTY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd2MIGyz1zTCGxa6BNr-1LM_Il_Dk9i0dqgWkPvdBCTnwvtrUNknIHFZQPzX-xKfiD-tkpVqfX4g7gr4IRtxE1to4441fwBso1BL4ZhATCqnetniGcNoD2Ns0be7q5R9MUAk220XFXwghx/s320/59376RonaldReaganMOTY.jpg" width="217" /></a></div><br />
<span class="body">Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.</span> <br />
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<span class="body">We must reject the idea that every time a law's broken, society is guilty rather than the lawbreaker. It is time to restore the American precept that each individual is accountable for his actions.</span><span class="body"> </span><br />
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<span class="body">No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth!</span> <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmZJXJYPjllvSdlAbLoIbwGCvJAdMBgIh_tPrfdDhw1BEMfhmksGw6fs1dB3X4XGZTbP4NRb4ZZHe4LZrhyphenhyphen3qLeVZbazisxkbyZOZQ9cFLzyL7Hvfx7FaeUgMR3eSdfkzeJyl-HVtU5Vrs/s1600/Ronald_Wilson_Reagan_Cowboy_Poet.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmZJXJYPjllvSdlAbLoIbwGCvJAdMBgIh_tPrfdDhw1BEMfhmksGw6fs1dB3X4XGZTbP4NRb4ZZHe4LZrhyphenhyphen3qLeVZbazisxkbyZOZQ9cFLzyL7Hvfx7FaeUgMR3eSdfkzeJyl-HVtU5Vrs/s320/Ronald_Wilson_Reagan_Cowboy_Poet.gif" width="248" /></a></div><br />
<span class="body">Of the four wars in my lifetime, none came about because the U.S. was too strong.</span> <br />
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<span class="body">When you can't make them see the light, make them feel the heat.</span> <br />
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<span class="body">How do you tell a communist? Well, it's someone who reads Marx and Lenin. And how do you tell an anti-Communist? It's someone who understands Marx and Lenin.</span> <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNj8VIPZJAewnAZ994-HoTq-CrSGqR-pcapS1L4YCkoNssF9E_qayAHDhpbte_3RR8DFZEJOf405zeP-PzUZC1e7Uqb7mlNBli04OlWBEzu20mwaFiM94Qv-7qgqoXd8UOLzpU6xm10O2n/s1600/RonaldReagantoast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNj8VIPZJAewnAZ994-HoTq-CrSGqR-pcapS1L4YCkoNssF9E_qayAHDhpbte_3RR8DFZEJOf405zeP-PzUZC1e7Uqb7mlNBli04OlWBEzu20mwaFiM94Qv-7qgqoXd8UOLzpU6xm10O2n/s320/RonaldReagantoast.jpg" width="222" /></a></div><span class="body"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="body">Thomas Jefferson once said, 'We should never judge a president by his age, only by his works.' And ever since he told me that, I stopped worrying.</span> <br />
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<span class="body">Let us be sure that those who come after will say of us in our time, that in our time we did everything that could be done. We finished the race; we kept them free; we kept the faith.</span><br />
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<span class="body">We will always remember. We will always be proud. We will always be prepared, so we will always be free.</span> <br />
<span class="bodybold"> <a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/r/ronaldreag183773.html">Ronald Reagan</a> </span> <span class="body">...</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="body">Happy 100th Birthday, Sir. We miss you so...</span>K-Dubyahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11521926527381863273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481570115600924929.post-55375409725115628862010-12-25T09:14:00.000-05:002010-12-25T09:14:09.475-05:00Christmas Wishes...<div style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: georgia,bookman old style,palatino linotype,book antiqua,palatino,trebuchet ms,helvetica,garamond,sans-serif,arial,verdana,avante garde,century gothic,comic sans ms,times,times new roman,serif;">Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas.</span></div><div style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: georgia,bookman old style,palatino linotype,book antiqua,palatino,trebuchet ms,helvetica,garamond,sans-serif,arial,verdana,avante garde,century gothic,comic sans ms,times,times new roman,serif;">~~~~~Peg Bracken<br />
</span></div><br />
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I've been wrapping the last few presents while awaiting my children and grand-children to arrive before we start our Christmas celebrations. In the meantime, the song that the great Frank Sinatra sings in the video below express it best my wishes for all of you! <br />
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<object height="385" width="485"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LpPdl0StUVs?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LpPdl0StUVs?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="485" height="385"></embed></object><br />
<br />
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It has been said that only two of Man have ever died for us...Jesus for our sins, and Soldiers' for our freedoms. Today, hopefully we remember the reason for the season...our Savior's birth. And to all the men and women near and far standing watch, we give our Thanks and ask for God's protection for those on the front lines. I'm so very thankful all of mine are home.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDcKlbB6QyQTARpEm8iPioNC8XKIeNtWQwStZId2vQAa-g5Vpm9MNSV_KnnZPC7kbRgTJONqp1CRQu-rBxmIrs0iSbccPUKjO8IiTecrq_ZFmqsiXH2HicxwKJtJA8v-agmqTeypOhR8z/s1600/merry-christmas2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDcKlbB6QyQTARpEm8iPioNC8XKIeNtWQwStZId2vQAa-g5Vpm9MNSV_KnnZPC7kbRgTJONqp1CRQu-rBxmIrs0iSbccPUKjO8IiTecrq_ZFmqsiXH2HicxwKJtJA8v-agmqTeypOhR8z/s320/merry-christmas2.gif" width="320" /></a></div> <br />
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And so it goes......K-Dubyahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11521926527381863273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481570115600924929.post-28433331903541151222010-05-29T12:40:00.002-04:002010-05-29T13:03:29.985-04:00Memorial Day ~ Remember And Honor...<span style="font-family:georgia,bookman old style,palatino linotype,book antiqua,palatino,trebuchet ms,helvetica,garamond,sans-serif,arial,verdana,avante garde,century gothic,comic sans ms,times,times new roman,serif;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">They are dead; but they live in each Patriot's breast,</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"> And their names are engraven on honor's bright crest.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"> ~~~~~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow</span></span><br /><br /><br />Memorial Day formerly known as Decoration Day has become a day our Nation uses to have big sales and family get-together's with BBQ's over a three day weekend. Yes, there are still Memorial Day Parades where towns and cities honor their own Fallen Heroes. They are becoming few and far between and sparsely attended.<br /><br />Sad, that.<br /><br />We have no greater obligation to our country than to remember those who gave their lives so that we remain "The Land of the Free and Home to the Brave". Those men and women who willingly paid the ultimate price while serving under our Flag, doing their utmost to deny those whose ideologies can't grasp the fact that <span style="font-style: italic;">freedom</span> is what America represents to the rest of the world <span style="font-style: italic;">deserve</span> that remembrance.<br /><br />This Memorial Day, please take more than just a few minutes to remember ALL the lives that have been given freely and with honor. <br /><br />Their only request is that we remember them...Will You? <br /><br /><br /><br /><object width="400" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/A0gQEymR9PQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/A0gQEymR9PQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Memorial Day and every day, I do.<br /><br /><br /><br />And so it goes......K-Dubyahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11521926527381863273noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481570115600924929.post-78482299873445513082010-03-05T12:02:00.004-05:002010-03-05T13:45:41.593-05:00Friday Funnies...<span style="font-family:georgia,bookman old style,palatino linotype,book antiqua,palatino,trebuchet ms,helvetica,garamond,sans-serif,arial,verdana,avante garde,century gothic,comic sans ms,times,times new roman,serif;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Humor is the great thing, the saving thing. The minute it crops up, all our irritation and resentments slip away, and a sunny spirit takes their place.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">~~~~~Mark Twain</span></span><br /><br /><br /><br />Ack!! It's been a long time since I've posted a few Friday Funnies. Life is sorta busy right now. But really, would we want it any other way? Nahhh, probably not.<br /><br />So...without any further commentary from the nut gallery, Teh funnies.<br /><br /><br /><div id="ecxhtml-message"> <div> <p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong><b><span style=";font-family:Arial;color:red;" ><span style=";font-family:Arial;color:red;" >Holy Prostitutes'</span></span></b></strong></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:purple;" ><span style=";font-family:Arial;color:purple;" ><br /><br />A man is driving down a deserted stretch of highway when he notices a sign out of the corner of his eye....It reads: </span></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:olive;" ><span style=";font-family:Arial;color:olive;" ><br />SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS<br />HOUSE OF PROSTITUTION<br />10 MILES</span></span><span style="color: rgb(1, 1, 1);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(1, 1, 1);font-family:Arial;" ><br /></span></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:purple;" ><span style=";font-family:Arial;color:purple;" ><br />He thinks this is a figment of his imagination and drives on without second thought....<br /><br />Soon he sees another sign which reads:</span></span><span style="color: rgb(1, 1, 1);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(1, 1, 1);font-family:Arial;" ><br /></span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 129, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 129, 0);font-family:Arial;" ><br />SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS<br />HOUSE OF PROSTITUTION<br />5 MILES</span></span><span style="color: rgb(1, 1, 1);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(1, 1, 1);font-family:Arial;" ><br /></span></span><span style="color: rgb(63, 128, 128);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(63, 128, 128);font-family:Arial;" ><br />Suddenly he begins to realize that these signs are for real and drives past a third sign saying:</span></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(255, 129, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 129, 0);font-family:Arial;" >SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS<br />HOUSE OF PROSTITUTION<br />NEXT RIGHT</span></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:navy;" ><span style=";font-family:Arial;color:navy;" >His curiosity gets the best of him and he pulls into the drive. On the far side of the parking lot is a </span></span><span style="color: rgb(1, 1, 1);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(1, 1, 1);font-family:Arial;" ><br /></span></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:navy;" ><span style=";font-family:Arial;color:navy;" >stone building with a small sign next to the door reading:</span></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:fuchsia;" ><span style=";font-family:Arial;color:fuchsia;" >SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><span style="color: rgb(194, 159, 255);font-family:Arial;" ><span style="color: rgb(194, 159, 255); font-weight: bold;font-family:Arial;" ><br /><strong><b><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">He climbs the steps and rings the bell. The door is answered by a nun in a long black </span></span></b></strong></span></span></b></span><span style="color: rgb(1, 1, 1);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(1, 1, 1);font-family:Arial;" ><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong><b><span style="color: rgb(194, 159, 255);font-family:Arial;" ><span style="color: rgb(194, 159, 255);font-family:Arial;" >habit who asks, 'What may we do for you my son?'</span></span></b></strong></span><span style="color: rgb(1, 1, 1);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(1, 1, 1);font-family:Arial;" ><br /></span></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:green;" ><span style=";font-family:Arial;color:green;" ><br />He answers, 'I saw your signs along the highway and was interested in possibly doing business....'</span></span><span style="color: rgb(1, 1, 1);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(1, 1, 1);font-family:Arial;" ><br /></span></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:purple;" ><span style=";font-family:Arial;color:purple;" ><br />'Very well my son. Please follow me.' He is led through many winding passages and is</span></span><span style="color: rgb(1, 1, 1);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(1, 1, 1);font-family:Arial;" ><br /></span></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:purple;" ><span style=";font-family:Arial;color:purple;" > soon quite disoriented. The nun stops at a closed door and tells the man, </span></span><span style="color: rgb(1, 1, 1);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(1, 1, 1);font-family:Arial;" ><br /></span></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:purple;" ><span style=";font-family:Arial;color:purple;" >'Please knock on this door.'</span></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:teal;" ><span style=";font-family:Arial;color:teal;" >He does so and another nun in a long habit, holding a tin cup answers the door... </span></span><span style="color: rgb(1, 1, 1);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(1, 1, 1);font-family:Arial;" ><br /></span></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:teal;" ><span style=";font-family:Arial;color:teal;" >This nun instructs, 'Please place $100 in the cup then go through the large wooden </span></span><span style="color: rgb(1, 1, 1);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(1, 1, 1);font-family:Arial;" ><br /></span></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:teal;" ><span style=";font-family:Arial;color:teal;" >door at the end of the hallway.' </span></span><span style="color: rgb(1, 1, 1);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(1, 1, 1);font-family:Arial;" ><br /></span></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:purple;" ><span style=";font-family:Arial;color:purple;" ><br />He puts $100 in the cup, eagerly trots down the hall and slips through the door</span></span><span style="color: rgb(1, 1, 1);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(1, 1, 1);font-family:Arial;" ><br /></span></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:purple;" ><span style=";font-family:Arial;color:purple;" > pulling it shut behind him.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(1, 1, 1);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(1, 1, 1);font-family:Arial;" ><br /></span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 129, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 129, 0);font-family:Arial;" ><br />The door locks, and he finds himself back in the parking lot facing another sign:</span></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><span style="color: rgb(129, 63, 98);font-family:Arial;" ><span style="color: rgb(129, 63, 98); font-weight: bold;font-family:Arial;" ><strong><b><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">GO IN PEACE. </span></span></b></strong><br /><strong><b><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">YOU HAVE JUST BEEN SCREWED BY THE SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS.</span></span></b></strong><br /><strong><b><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">SERVES YOU RIGHT, YOU SINNER!!!</span></span></b></strong></span></span></b></span></p></div></div> <span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:black;" ><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;color:black;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">~~~~~</span><br /></span></span>My Dog...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaXnoO2r7QdRu4t0-RIxA5GQt9UHI-CYcFQJghlr_rlWSkgcXofO42D2QxgvKgmC9ebXaGXgt0k_amoQ8FPzkP16UPzIkw-U3hMYnLpu6FbmRz3haLYuKDSBcUxcxcDCeRq-87ZDynF-M0/s1600-h/mydog.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 292px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaXnoO2r7QdRu4t0-RIxA5GQt9UHI-CYcFQJghlr_rlWSkgcXofO42D2QxgvKgmC9ebXaGXgt0k_amoQ8FPzkP16UPzIkw-U3hMYnLpu6FbmRz3haLYuKDSBcUxcxcDCeRq-87ZDynF-M0/s400/mydog.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445217730356420370" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:Lucida Console;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;">I went down this morning to sign up my Dog for welfare. At first the lady said, "Dogs are not eligible to draw welfare". So I explained to her that my Dog is black, unemployed, lazy, can't speak English and has no frigging clue who his Daddy is. He expects me to feed him, provide him with housing and medical care, and feel guilty because he is a dog.<br /><br />So she looked in her policy book to see what it takes to qualify. My Dog gets his first check Friday.<br /><br />Damn is this a great country or what?<br />~~~~~</span><br /></span></span><br />The Laws of Another Type...<br /><br />Law of Mechanical Repair:<br />After your hands become coated with grease your nose will begin to itch or you'll have to pee.<br /><br />Law of the Workshop:<br />Any tool, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible corner.<br /><br />Law of Probability:<br />The probability of being watched is directly proportional to the stupidity of your act.<br /><br />Law of the Telephone:<br />When you dial a wrong number, you never get a busy signal.<br /><br />Law of the Alibi:<br />If you tell the boss you were late for work because you had a flat tire, the very next morning you will have a flat tire.<br /><br />Variation Law:<br />If you change lines (or traffic lanes), the one you were in will start to move faster than the one you are in now.<br /><br />Bath Theorem:<br />When the body is fully immersed in water, the telephone rings.<br /><br />Law of Close Encounters:<br />The probability of meeting someone you know increases when you are with someone you don't want to be seen with.<br /><br />Law of the Result:<br />When you try to prove to someone that a machine won't work, it will.<br /><br />Law of Biomechanics:<br />The severity of the itch is inversely proportional to the reach.<br />~~~~~<br /><br /><br />And so it goes......K-Dubyahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11521926527381863273noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481570115600924929.post-29704950625498551092010-02-28T19:46:00.003-05:002010-02-28T20:22:46.163-05:00Blue Eyes...<span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-family:georgia,bookman old style,palatino linotype,book antiqua,palatino,trebuchet ms,helvetica,garamond,sans-serif,arial,verdana,avante garde,century gothic,comic sans ms,times,times new roman,serif;" >The most important thing in communication is to hear what isn't being said.<br />~~~~~Peter F. Drucker</span><br /><br /><br />Between catching up on all the laundry and various household chores, I've been out visiting friends in the blog-o-sphere neighborhood. Stopped in at Pattie's <a href="http://shesasquarepeg.blogspot.com">(she's a square peg)</a>, delighted to visit for awhile listening to her favorite music. Pattie has a wonderful new pet dog that she adopted from the local animal shelter/pound. <a href="http://shesasquarepeg.blogspot.com/2010/02/man-oh-man-hurt-everywhere-yup-ev-ery.html">Laney is a Irish setter mix who is keeping her</a> up and going even after she overextends herself in yard work. Please stop over and say hi. <br /><br />It's been a weekend filled with many prayers. <a href="http://susankatzkeating.com">My friend; Susan</a>, has suffered <span style="font-style: italic;">another</span> heart attack. The woman is pushing me to just go up to the DC area and make sure that she takes care of herself. And to put a stop to all the stress that is creating the strain on the old heart muscles. Crazily, she put up a post on <a href="http://www.susankatzkeating.com/2010/02/live-from-icu-how-to-ignore-heart.html">how to ignore heart attacks</a> for us women. Oh no, tongue in cheek she wasn't. Unh huh... We'll see how she feels after I get up there. <br /><br />Anyways, after listening to the songs on Pattie's playlist, I dropped in at YouTube. The song <span style="font-style: italic;">"Blue Eyes crying in the rain"</span> by Willie Nelson and Shania Twain reminds me of the time I spent with my Daddy in his big rig. While Daddy didn't like to watch Willie on television, he could listen to him on the radio for hours on end. <br /><br />So... this song is for my Daddy, whose blue eyes twinkled like no others I've seen. <br /><br /><object width="400" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/N6wBxQVBozI&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/N6wBxQVBozI&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Yes, listening to this does bring the tears to mine, but they're good tears. It also brings a flood of memories of the good times we've shared. Now, my blue eyes <span style="font-style: italic;">are</span> smiling in the midst of it all.<br /><br /><br /><br />And so it goes......K-Dubyahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11521926527381863273noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481570115600924929.post-89215475753261321012010-01-16T16:41:00.003-05:002010-01-16T17:14:30.317-05:00Repeat After Me...<span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Hem your blessings with thankfulness so they don't unravel.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">~Author Unknown</span><br /><br /><br />The eldest seester; O'Wise One, had sent me the link to Ray Stevens "We the People" video the other day. After watching it again, I couldn't help but think that he did a fantastic job on voicing how a growing majority of Americans are feeling towards our (seemingly unconnected to their constituents) government officials. And if you haven't watched it yet, you can do the clicky click thing <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc_-L4fyLUo">here to view a masterpiece.</a> Seriously, I think he speaks for millions of us. <br /><br /><br />While doing a quick look see today while viewing Ray's video, there was another one that he had posted on Ray Stevens dot com. The title caught my eye because it has the words that are the most two important words in the English language..."Thank You!" <br /><br />Imagine, if you will, that you were in Haiti when this past weeks 7.0 earthquake struck. You are amid chaos, no food, no shelter, no water. And then...The United States Military starts showing up. Yes, there were other members of the worlds search and rescue teams. And so many countries have pledged their support to Haiti. <br /><br />But, How do you express your appreciation for those in uniform, and those who responded to your plea for help? <br /><br />Those two simple words, "Thank You!" So easy to say, and yet, they can be the most eloquent words ever heard... Just listen to Ray's version below. <br /><br /><br /><object width="400" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TTQp9713TdI&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TTQp9713TdI&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />Will you repeat after me those two little words? <br />Thank You!! <br />Pretty easy, yes?<br /> <br />I know I'm especially thankful today. I got to see mine last night after missing him for what seems like a lifetime but has only been a little over 6 months. <br /><br /><br /><br />And so it goes......K-Dubyahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11521926527381863273noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481570115600924929.post-57579429166046783002010-01-12T20:59:00.005-05:002010-01-12T22:29:34.403-05:00History...<span style="font-family:georgia,bookman old style,palatino linotype,book antiqua,palatino,trebuchet ms,helvetica,garamond,sans-serif,arial,verdana,avante garde,century gothic,comic sans ms,times,times new roman,serif;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">History, in general, only informs us what bad government is.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">~~~~~Thomas Jefferson<br /></span><!--, letter to John Narvell, 1807; SH--></span><br /><br />Pondering the many complexities of our current war efforts in Afghanistan, I've often wondered how our history of this time will be written. And just who will write that history. Will it be the Generals who are in charge, or the men and women who were boots on ground during the years of conflict? The politicians in Washington, DC? The Afghans themselves? Or will it be some scholarly type who was never in the country where so many lives have been changed. And how will that history portray us to future generations? <br /><br />Heavy thinking things like this. Yet, I know that there are revisionists who are re-writing our history from less than 100 years ago. Is it because it doesn't fit the story they want told of that time? Or is it due to some new found facts that changed the way the history should be viewed?<br /><br />Much like today's history, each person has a view of the actions that make up their day, and even their closest friends will have different thoughts on them. So, do you consider one correct and the other not? <br /><br />I've concluded that there are many layers to our county's history, each of those layers added by the people who played a part in any day's particular rendering. Some invisible, some at the forefront, others at the rear. All had roles that eventually led to the final outcome. Pieced together, the whole picture can be discerned. Still, each person is left to view the whole based on their own perceptions and beliefs.<br /><br />Now, for a tidbit of unknown history facts... Okay, maybe I was the only one who didn't know it. Always be willing to learn something new every day. <br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 64); font-size: 13.5pt;"> Starting in 1941, an increasing number of British Airmen found</span><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 64); font-size: 13.5pt;"> themselves as the involuntary guests of the Third Reich, and the </span><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 64); font-size: 13.5pt;"> Crown was casting about for ways and means to facilitate their escape.. </span><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 64); font-size: 13.5pt;"> Now obviously, one of the most helpful aids to that end is a useful and</span><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 64); font-size: 13.5pt;"> accurate map, one showing not only where stuff was, but also </span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 64); font-size: 13.5pt;">showing the<br /> locations of 'safe houses' where a POW on-the-lam could go for </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 64); font-size: 13.5pt;"></span><br /><div><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 64); font-size: 13.5pt;"> food and shelter.</span><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 64); font-size: 13.5pt;"> Paper maps had some real drawbacks -- they make a lot of noise when</span><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 64); font-size: 13.5pt;"> you open and fold them, they wear out rapidly, and if they get wet,</span><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 64); font-size: 13.5pt;"> they turn into mush.</span><span style="color: black;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 64); font-size: 13.5pt;"> Someone in MI-5 (similar to America 's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_of_Strategic_Services"> OSS </a>) got the idea of printing</span><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 64); font-size: 13.5pt;"> escape maps on silk. It's durable, can be scrunched-up into tiny wads,</span><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 64); font-size: 13.5pt;"> and unfolded as many times as needed, and makes no noise whatsoever.</span><span style="color: black;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 64); font-size: 13.5pt;"> At that time, there was only one manufacturer in Great Britain that</span><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 64); font-size: 13.5pt;"> had perfected the technology of printing on silk, and that was John</span><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 64); font-size: 13.5pt;"> Waddington, Ltd. When approached by the government, the firm was </span><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 64); font-size: 13.5pt;"> only too happy to do its bit for the war effort.</span><span style="color: black;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 64); font-size: 13.5pt;"> By pure coincidence, Waddington was also the U.K. Licensee for the</span><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 64); font-size: 13.5pt;"> popular American board game, Monopoly. As it happened, 'games and</span><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 64); font-size: 13.5pt;"> pastimes' was a category of item qualified for insertion into 'CARE</span><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 64); font-size: 13.5pt;"> packages', dispatched by the International Red Cross to prisoners of</span><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 64); font-size: 13.5pt;"> war.</span><span style="color: black;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 64); font-size: 13.5pt;"> Under the strictest of secrecy, in a securely guarded and inaccessible</span><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 64); font-size: 13.5pt;"> old workshop on the grounds of Waddington's, a group of</span><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 64); font-size: 13.5pt;"> sworn-to-secrecy employees began mass-producing escape maps, keyed to</span><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 64); font-size: 13.5pt;"> each region of Germany or Italy where Allied POW camps were regional</span><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 64); font-size: 13.5pt;"> system).. When processed, these maps could be folded into such tiny</span><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 64); font-size: 13.5pt;"> dots that they would actually fit inside a Monopoly playing piece.></span><span style="color: black;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 64); font-size: 13.5pt;"> As long as they were at it, the clever workmen at Waddington's also</span><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 64); font-size: 13.5pt;"> managed to add:</span><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 64); font-size: 13.5pt;"> 1. A playing token, containing a small magnetic compass</span><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 64); font-size: 13.5pt;"> 2. A two-part metal file that could easily be screwed together</span><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 64); font-size: 13.5pt;"> 3. Useful amounts of genuine high-denomination German, Italian, and</span><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 64); font-size: 13.5pt;"> French currency, hidden within the piles of Monopoly money!</span><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 64); font-size: 13.5pt;"> British and American air crews were advised, before taking off on</span><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 64); font-size: 13.5pt;"> their first mission, how to identify a 'rigged' Monopoly set -- by</span><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 64); font-size: 13.5pt;"> means of a tiny red dot, one cleverly rigged to look like an ordinary</span><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 64); font-size: 13.5pt;"> printing glitch, located in the corner of the Free Parking square.</span><span style="color: black;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 64); font-size: 13.5pt;"> Of the estimated 35,000 Allied POWS who successfully escaped, an</span><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 64); font-size: 13.5pt;"> estimated one-third were aided in their flight by the rigged Monopoly</span><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 64); font-size: 13.5pt;"> sets.. Everyone who did so was sworn to secrecy indefinitely, since</span><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 64); font-size: 13.5pt;"> the British Government might want to use this highly successful ruse</span><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 64); font-size: 13.5pt;"> in still another, future war. The story wasn't declassified until</span><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 64); font-size: 13.5pt;"> 2007, when the surviving craftsmen from Waddington's, as well as the</span><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 64); font-size: 13.5pt;"> firm itself, were finally honored in a public ceremony.</span><span style="color: black;"> </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 64); font-size: 13.5pt;"> <br /></span></div><br />I can bet that little tidbit hadn't been added to the history books that our children are reading at schools nowadays. Which reminds me, Who the heck <span style="font-style: italic;">is</span> writing our childrens' text books?<br /><br />To throw in one last thought on how history can be viewed, another quote I read a few minutes ago. <br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-family:georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;" >It might be a good idea if the various countries of the world would occasionally swap history books, just to see what other people are doing with the same set of facts.<br />~~~~~Bill Vaughan</span><br /><br /><br />And so it goes......K-Dubyahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11521926527381863273noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481570115600924929.post-71749790061848624072010-01-01T18:55:00.004-05:002010-01-01T19:19:26.622-05:00Classical Sounds Served With Asti...<span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Thinking is like loving and dying. Each of us must do it for himself.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">~~~~~Josiah Royce</span><br /><br /><br />Having spent the majority of this day in contemplation, I opened that special bottle of Asti bought for another occasion. Needless to say, today was a good day to partake. New Year's Day brings retrospective thoughts of all that had transpired over the course of the past one. In many ways 2009 wasn't that special to or for me. Many hours endured rather than enjoyed. And that is something that I <span style="font-style: italic;">have</span> to change in Twenty Ten. Life is for the living, and we should enjoy it while we can.<br /><br />Along with the Asti Spumonti in hand, I've had the classical music station playing. This concerto written by Mozart for the clarinet is just beautiful. I keep playing it over and over.<br /><br />Music to soothe the savage beast? Maybe so. I just know it speaks to me. Those whispered notes take me back to San Fran and the Christmas I spent with my late Uncle Jim. A concert pianist who introduced me to his friends and their music. <br /><br />Please listen, perhaps it will speak to you as well...<br /><br /><br /><object width="400" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/yPjtRSgg2fg&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/yPjtRSgg2fg&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><br />And so it goes......K-Dubyahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11521926527381863273noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481570115600924929.post-80860036809294980222009-12-24T23:38:00.004-05:002009-12-25T00:47:36.792-05:00On Christmas Day...<span style="font-family:georgia,bookman old style,palatino linotype,book antiqua,palatino,trebuchet ms,helvetica,garamond,sans-serif,arial,verdana,avante garde,century gothic,comic sans ms,times,times new roman,serif;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.<br />~~~~~Dr. Seuss</span> </span><br /><br /><br />Reminiscing about Christmas Day's past. The music we listened to, the stories we lived and relived over and over each Christmas. The laughter, the tears, the love you could feel. <br />It wasn't Christmas unless Momma pulled out the lp from within Elvis's Christmas Special record cover. We'd all sing along to his <span style="font-style: italic;">"I'll have a Blue Christmas without you"</span>. Each of us trying to outdo the other with prolonging that '<span style="font-style: italic;">bl bl bl bl blue'</span> till we collapsed in hysterical laughter. Music was such a big part of our lives. <br />All performed by the singers that Momma and Daddy listened to, and we endured while we were children. Yet Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Jim Reeves, and yes, even Wayne Newton are now what I consider the classic sounds of Christmas. Can't forget to mention all the hymns we'd sing. <span style="font-style: italic;">O Little Town of Bethlehem, It Came Upon a Midnight Clear</span>, and oh, so many others.<br /><br />Today, I was able to enjoy some of those same songs with my own daughter. She invited me to attend her church's Christmas Show... 'The Awaited'. Beautifully done, and by an all volunteer cast. Before the show, we had our photograph taken by one of several photographers beside a decorated Christmas tree. We were able to grab a cup of coffee from one of the kiosk that were staffed by volunteers from the church members before we took our seats. Afterwards, we stopped by the booth to pick up our free music CD with all the music from the show. <br />There was a classic hymn that they had changed the tempo and tone that had me clapping and tapping my foot. She shared the link to the YouTube video, so I'm sharing it with you. In fact, there were several other videos of the show on YouTube. Well worth the time to listen and watch all.<br /><br /><br /><object width="415" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/VEBB2rEjH5Y&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/VEBB2rEjH5Y&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="415" height="340"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />I'd like to wish everyone a <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Merry Christmas,</span> may this day find you surrounded by family and friends alike.<br /><br />For all those who are deployed to lands far away, We're praying that you all will feel the love sent across the miles and know just how much we miss you here at home.<br /><br /><br /><br />And so it goes......K-Dubyahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11521926527381863273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481570115600924929.post-44342148520174985322009-10-16T11:19:00.005-04:002009-10-16T11:43:48.088-04:00Over And Over, It Plays...<span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">All deep things are song. It seems somehow the very central essence of us, song; as if all the rest were but wrappages and hulls!</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">~~~~~Thomas Carlyle</span><br /><br /><br />This song has been stuck in my head the last few days. I mean, it was driving me crazy! Finally, I couldn't take it anymore. On YouTube? Nope. No video available. I did the next best thing and found it on Playlist. Hope that you enjoy it as much as I did. Yeah, I know it's old...much like me.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; visibility: visible; margin-right: auto; width: 450px;"> <object width="435" height="270"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.profileplaylist.net/mc/mp3player_new.swf"> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="never"> <param name="wmode" value="transparent"> <param name="flashvars" value="config=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.indimusic.us%2Fext%2Fpc%2Fconfig_blue.xml&mywidth=435&myheight=270&playlist_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.indimusic.us%2Floadplaylist.php%3Fplaylist%3D71046678%26t%3D1255706845&wid=os"> <embed style="width: 435px; visibility: visible; height: 270px;" allowscriptaccess="never" src="http://www.profileplaylist.net/mc/mp3player_new.swf" flashvars="config=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.indimusic.us%2Fext%2Fpc%2Fconfig_blue.xml&mywidth=435&myheight=270&playlist_url=http://www.indimusic.us/loadplaylist.php?playlist=71046678&t=1255706845&wid=os" name="mp3player" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="435" border="0" height="270"></embed> </object><br /><a href="http://www.profileplaylist.net/"><img src="http://www.profileplaylist.net/mc/images/create_blue.jpg" alt="Get a playlist!" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mysocialgroup.com/standalone/71046678" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.profileplaylist.net/mc/images/launch_blue.jpg" alt="Standalone player" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.mysocialgroup.com/download/71046678"><img src="http://www.profileplaylist.net/mc/images/get_blue.jpg" alt="Get Ringtones" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><br /><br />Maybe now I'll stop hearing it in my sleep and every waking moment. Nah, as long as there is someone who's not here at home, I'm sure I'll hear it.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />And so it goes......K-Dubyahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11521926527381863273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481570115600924929.post-11770591513908844132009-10-12T07:00:00.002-04:002009-10-12T07:00:01.873-04:00Ewww Fest...<span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-family:georgia,bookman old style,palatino linotype,book antiqua,palatino,trebuchet ms,helvetica,garamond,sans-serif,arial,verdana,avante garde,century gothic,comic sans ms,times,times new roman,serif;" >Grandchildren are God's way of compensating us for growing old.<br />~~~~~Mary H. Waldrip</span><br /><br /><br />Last weekend I had my grand babies,<a href="http://www.kywoolfest.org"> the Wool Fest</a> was going on a few miles from here. It had been several years since I had made my way through the throngs of people that attend the festivals such as these. People, mud, people, animals, people, goods for sale, people, food, people, you get the idea...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4P2WLZOkTzfjY-GvbfOifi9eiHVLmgdZ_titNBu8-03Cc4fbEosyDu8euedhKOFLfUEIHv5EQtevhWp1c6solFUTS_FqzVZO6F7y1ucb-EKiZlMBKQHUhxDF5TeDHiFh5Mmrcep-GzhBe/s1600-h/DSCN3462.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4P2WLZOkTzfjY-GvbfOifi9eiHVLmgdZ_titNBu8-03Cc4fbEosyDu8euedhKOFLfUEIHv5EQtevhWp1c6solFUTS_FqzVZO6F7y1ucb-EKiZlMBKQHUhxDF5TeDHiFh5Mmrcep-GzhBe/s400/DSCN3462.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391447612063785106" border="0" /></a><br />What once started out as a local gathering has now become known world wide. Yes, I do mean world wide. I've heard tale some even plan their vacations around it. Eh, me, not so much. Though it did provide me with a opportunity to get Hunny Bunnies and Booger Butt out of the house. I figured that they would love the animal section at least. I had wanted to go over to look at some locally made wool skeins. I had plans for making something.<br /><br />Called Hunny Bunny 1's Daddy, DB. He would come out to help me keep track of the youngin's. Momma had stopped by to park her car here at my house so that she wouldn't have to deal with the traffic and the quagmire the parking fields had become after the rain on Friday morning. Good thing they were using the Northern Elem. School as a staging area for the buses that were running shuttle between Butler, Kincaide Lake and Falmouth.<br /><br />We had been watching for the buses to pull into the parking area so as to not have to wait too long. Forming a human chain of linked hands, off we trekked. All the babies were excited about riding the school bus to our destination. Listening to them chatter away about what fun it was to be on a school bus made me smile. 'Cause, Let me tell ya... I don't miss riding school buses.<br />I seem to recall the last time I had parked my derriere on one of those yellow behemoths was when one of my kids had taken a field trip to the Cincinnati Zoo or the Omnimax Theatre at the Museum of Natural History. Yep, many moons ago.<br /><br />On the lane and half (not two lane for sure) roads that wind their way along the Licking River, we scrapped by cars with the sides of the bus hitting the limbs of trees and brush that grew along the edges. But the driver delivered his cargo safely to the entrance to the Wool Fest grounds. Without any doubt, one of the first areas the kids wanted to see was the farm animals.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOREBm9WECs3ak5oOtDrKhtyukC65DMBi-znoBUSzw6QXezAAxp2WlUxZChuKBCCj8UFP8IjyADhjKI0LZ_MsBHHYHjXutQe9eUBgBtcc8P7gdfFi_sNm-ZD2jOQ_buMDAf1gjWCO2DSwO/s1600-h/DSCN3444.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOREBm9WECs3ak5oOtDrKhtyukC65DMBi-znoBUSzw6QXezAAxp2WlUxZChuKBCCj8UFP8IjyADhjKI0LZ_MsBHHYHjXutQe9eUBgBtcc8P7gdfFi_sNm-ZD2jOQ_buMDAf1gjWCO2DSwO/s400/DSCN3444.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391405674600184002" border="0" /></a>Hunny Bunny 3 (Ryleigh) thought the chickens were too funny. She would've taken one home with her if she could've.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqxogW0XbYteHGcNgRUE3wrQCPgjqNtcflN8KJUGQMPBWoD3vGrt1CvuXuZ-kRNWB0wEkIZv3z6kmmDMAo8GWoZOxktOGn_oAZY12sDxy3pycN7Grdst97KcYRuqW9C4zQ-Ws2TH-4PVG1/s1600-h/DSCN3454.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqxogW0XbYteHGcNgRUE3wrQCPgjqNtcflN8KJUGQMPBWoD3vGrt1CvuXuZ-kRNWB0wEkIZv3z6kmmDMAo8GWoZOxktOGn_oAZY12sDxy3pycN7Grdst97KcYRuqW9C4zQ-Ws2TH-4PVG1/s400/DSCN3454.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391405999416913810" border="0" /></a>Hunny Bunny 1 (Makayla) isn't too sure if the Brown Jersey cow is safe to pet or not. But she did anyway.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQABHQvBL-MVzV9EW7rm65nZrjt_47-UJfizoJAlvUkwoKjF6kT8W0xOQm591TcwEPbgcWwF8aGhmc0Mwo9VNYo-v1YvQR6cB15GreXGADmHPUvBE1HesHxHioTLAtOGhbatyoioEUcGZI/s1600-h/DSCN3455.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQABHQvBL-MVzV9EW7rm65nZrjt_47-UJfizoJAlvUkwoKjF6kT8W0xOQm591TcwEPbgcWwF8aGhmc0Mwo9VNYo-v1YvQR6cB15GreXGADmHPUvBE1HesHxHioTLAtOGhbatyoioEUcGZI/s400/DSCN3455.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391406100227520114" border="0" /></a>Booger Butt (Scottie) had his fingers and hands touching every animal that was in the tent. That child isn't scared to pet any thing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ao-6QbZVrZ9jpL0yIt9qd-OSX-yFbndEhoHw4iSsJYAcs5JRw1c6CdTV-l2XpPo4rJunHt4HzLvTbiz19WT2xK6Si5pu9EVCaoIA7eBs6oAbleuT0t55X_ug7fyoSYsG8n_5SFH32A9k/s1600-h/dscn3451.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ao-6QbZVrZ9jpL0yIt9qd-OSX-yFbndEhoHw4iSsJYAcs5JRw1c6CdTV-l2XpPo4rJunHt4HzLvTbiz19WT2xK6Si5pu9EVCaoIA7eBs6oAbleuT0t55X_ug7fyoSYsG8n_5SFH32A9k/s400/dscn3451.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391406265876558722" border="0" /></a>This boar hog had to be one of the biggest pigs I've seen in a long time. You can't tell it from this picture but he was well over six foot in length and had the hugest head on any one animal I've seen. His name was "Pork Chop". Ewww baby...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX0cvIsitsuo-nN9MWKacUQSPESXSJIuOHVK8CNALc_0iZfXEnN2JkCDEV5Glz4OJfpYUzrl2DIfgLkmsKGNFNjQ0hyphenhyphenqnmQqkTq1N9WoWpXwq8luEr88dFBj44U4rskHE9FYmKy8sb90Un/s1600-h/DSCN3446.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX0cvIsitsuo-nN9MWKacUQSPESXSJIuOHVK8CNALc_0iZfXEnN2JkCDEV5Glz4OJfpYUzrl2DIfgLkmsKGNFNjQ0hyphenhyphenqnmQqkTq1N9WoWpXwq8luEr88dFBj44U4rskHE9FYmKy8sb90Un/s400/DSCN3446.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391406374804121570" border="0" /></a>Mr. Turkey Gobbler sang us his song. And fluffed up his feathers for us as well. I think we'll have fish for Thanksgiving dinner.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC5WRzWRCB6P-5nrP5r94J0jmblabD-OOdVElm7nArhu4IpI_I5Up4lkR9rPgdJFaetBNmLYgxJpzUydfjxAEU3UHvS9cdqcndRYRtItvbJy-JsshgLBlCLJATwHP9LdKLshyVZFZv2CIX/s1600-h/DSCN3452.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC5WRzWRCB6P-5nrP5r94J0jmblabD-OOdVElm7nArhu4IpI_I5Up4lkR9rPgdJFaetBNmLYgxJpzUydfjxAEU3UHvS9cdqcndRYRtItvbJy-JsshgLBlCLJATwHP9LdKLshyVZFZv2CIX/s400/DSCN3452.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391406801758419410" border="0" /></a>These guys were pretty cute, if not smelly. There were several pens with these guys. Even had miniature horses in one of the pens. I forgot to take pictures of them though.<br /><br />After we left the animal area, we all caught a whiff of the food booths. Uhm, yeah. <span style="font-style: italic;">I'm hungry</span> or <span style="font-style: italic;">I'm thirsty</span> became their battle cry. Walking down the way, we found chinese, bbq, blooming onions, french fries, corn on the cob, open fire grilled turkey legs, steak sandwiches and fish frying. And that was just a few of the booths I saw. Oh, and pizza. Booger Butt had to have pizza. After everyone had decided what they would eat, we stood in line to place our orders and moved on down to the next item on the list. I think I could have bought groceries for a week with what I spent. Steak sandwich for Makayla, catfish for me, French fries for Ryleigh, knowing she would help me with mine. DB wouldn't eat anything as he has become health conscious with his eating. As we wandered our way to the seating area, we found Momma who followed us to our seats. After getting the kids situated, I again had to go stand in line for the forgotten drinks.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_LrYvqG0THPGcJUpiyYjbwXbVhdSTD1i4uBnZGJoSqTFuiWKeVi_k0O0B3kUSozqx0rjXFgainJabAc4DUwGsGZW2BraSTVoVDla7j3MK-sajcoVBY09xZV4geDXL1xlh1YeT_RtNCQCN/s1600-h/DSCN3464.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_LrYvqG0THPGcJUpiyYjbwXbVhdSTD1i4uBnZGJoSqTFuiWKeVi_k0O0B3kUSozqx0rjXFgainJabAc4DUwGsGZW2BraSTVoVDla7j3MK-sajcoVBY09xZV4geDXL1xlh1YeT_RtNCQCN/s400/DSCN3464.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391406661326851778" border="0" /></a>We had enjoyed listening to music as we ate. Too soon the kids were ready to rid themselves of some more energy. To cap it all off, ice balls had to be procured and carried along. The two older youngin's found somewhere they could sit and munch on their ices. It didn't take Ryleigh long to decide it was too cold for her to hold or to eat. Uncle Dan'l came to the rescue.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA07db4d0J_lvQy_RSUOnBssvQsKK_kbRlUjkK42fqzW4e3lN-iOyaOL-LueutlTRDEXeeR5DBoDzMF-hbrrDUQpANY7d9tvI9o0v8cbnoTDOlRTwvrSLpPU78ZTeYfvsWI5ysuEdXj_aX/s1600-h/DSCN3459.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA07db4d0J_lvQy_RSUOnBssvQsKK_kbRlUjkK42fqzW4e3lN-iOyaOL-LueutlTRDEXeeR5DBoDzMF-hbrrDUQpANY7d9tvI9o0v8cbnoTDOlRTwvrSLpPU78ZTeYfvsWI5ysuEdXj_aX/s400/DSCN3459.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391406996780801682" border="0" /></a>I think it was Ryleigh's nap time as the thumb and blanket came into view. Not that the blanket is ever very far from her hands. Soon afterwards, we strolled along side the creek where the blacksmith, grist mill, sorghum makers were stationed. DB stopped to purchase some of what he thought would be local honey. Turns out it came from the Lexington area. Hopefully he will still get the allergy benefits from the honey bees had made just an hour away. Lordy! From the last time I had been there with Daddy to buy honey, the price sure has gone way up. <br /><br />The long tents which housed the many wares of crafters and others alike were quickly gone through. As dusk was descending and the temperatures were falling, we trooped back to the bus boarding area for the ride home. I do believe the babies enjoyed their first foray into the Wool Festival.<br /><br /><br /><br />And so it goes......K-Dubyahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11521926527381863273noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481570115600924929.post-85809422652388088042009-09-18T22:13:00.005-04:002009-09-18T22:27:04.918-04:00'Cause We're Friends...<span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-family:georgia,bookman old style,palatino linotype,book antiqua,palatino,trebuchet ms,helvetica,garamond,sans-serif,arial,verdana,avante garde,century gothic,comic sans ms,times,times new roman,serif;" >There is magic in long-distance friendships. They let you relate to other human beings in a way that goes beyond being physically together and is often more profound.<br />~~~~~Diana Cortes</span><br /><br /><br /><br />For my friend... without mentioning any names.<br /><br />Always know I'm here if you need a ear, a hand, a hug and or prayers. All are yours, any time...day or night.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;"></span><object width="400" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wftbahypdAA&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wftbahypdAA&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />And so it goes......K-Dubyahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11521926527381863273noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481570115600924929.post-11427851410228940892009-09-07T12:23:00.013-04:002009-09-07T14:28:26.327-04:00Last Days Of Summer...<span style="font-family:georgia,bookman old style,palatino linotype,book antiqua,palatino,trebuchet ms,helvetica,garamond,sans-serif,arial,verdana,avante garde,century gothic,comic sans ms,times,times new roman,serif;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Our grandchildren accept us for ourselves, without rebuke or effort to change us, as no one in our entire lives has ever done, not our parents, siblings, spouses, friends - and hardly ever our own grown children.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">~~~~~Ruth Goode</span></span><br /><br /><br />It's been a busy weekend for me and mine. The grand-kids came to spend a few days with me. As they do every other weekend. Hunny Bunny 1's dad (DB) thought we should take them to the local swimming hole for some much needed energy release.<br /><br />Before we could go swimming, I had to go buy them all new swimsuits as they've outgrown everything I've got here at my house. Boy Howdy!! Do they ever grow so fast...<br /><br />After completing our shopping spree where I found some great bargains on 'end of season' sales, we drove to the local swimming hole; Coney Island's Sunlight Pool. It's a good thing we made the trip on Saturday as the weather turned off rainy and cooler on Sunday. At least we got the last of summer hur-rah in. I'm hoping this doesn't mean there won't be warm weather again. I'm just not ready to welcome fall and winter so fast. Farmer's Almanac is predicting a bad winter for us here in the Ohio River Valley. Someone said it was going to be like the one we experienced back in 77-78. Yes, I do remember that year!!<br /><br />Anyways, back to summer fun...<br /><br />The following pictures are from our day swimming. The kids really enjoyed playing with "Daddy" and "Uncle Daniel". I enjoyed getting some time to just relax and do some people watching. I didn't take my swimsuit as I don't swim and am very self-conscious of being seen in a swimsuit...but after seeing everyone else in theirs, I shouldn't be. <br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUgQ4wYd1w9SCcICU5YmbjUrClyv_m6WXH4qc59npe2OYsFxntcXNrCsaGmzALtKKxYzzvxYXvtTWNIvWptnxyPoNMCz5KQdxDHPMLI_76KD9hHWBpXBfpnHtaywqnC0j2UpIHaMxyFqsK/s1600-h/DSCN3420.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUgQ4wYd1w9SCcICU5YmbjUrClyv_m6WXH4qc59npe2OYsFxntcXNrCsaGmzALtKKxYzzvxYXvtTWNIvWptnxyPoNMCz5KQdxDHPMLI_76KD9hHWBpXBfpnHtaywqnC0j2UpIHaMxyFqsK/s400/DSCN3420.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378779879883354722" border="0" /></a>DB and the littlest grand daughter Hunny Bunny 2 playing with a water toy.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIrPvaSijdJxz0Jk8V-Px8vEPrq0Ft5_ND0qVkL_K1jF1N34eBBxy1Qy2cetayLOfO2Sge_09-GBvQLRHjUP69F6sC_bmHk48d8-nu2YgV9B9YR_56og_TwuWTIM75DdkNcQAqKejqDNTb/s1600-h/DSCN3425.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIrPvaSijdJxz0Jk8V-Px8vEPrq0Ft5_ND0qVkL_K1jF1N34eBBxy1Qy2cetayLOfO2Sge_09-GBvQLRHjUP69F6sC_bmHk48d8-nu2YgV9B9YR_56og_TwuWTIM75DdkNcQAqKejqDNTb/s400/DSCN3425.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378779612678919074" border="0" /></a>Oh my! Daddy is going to flip over the round floaty!! <span style="font-style: italic;">"Here, let me help. Watch this Scotty!!" </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2E7gkB1uth7yVlb45pCvmiFXw010VT4nT8asGlL7wUsCpcXDtGZu8I41cTZNMZ5TcxK47tGTC2bGBh7AO6ZlIc51RWDyBEQ2GfrEzL_gQzQaXhcjESEoy20PMI_5OKGbnESc4qn9javxN/s1600-h/DSCN3424.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2E7gkB1uth7yVlb45pCvmiFXw010VT4nT8asGlL7wUsCpcXDtGZu8I41cTZNMZ5TcxK47tGTC2bGBh7AO6ZlIc51RWDyBEQ2GfrEzL_gQzQaXhcjESEoy20PMI_5OKGbnESc4qn9javxN/s400/DSCN3424.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378779473853971330" border="0" /></a>Hanging on the rails... Hunny Bunny 1 and Booger Butt 2.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiJi9IT5fqEp7oDi754EGwsz4ZdwsvwTqRa2WUEEj_xss7pgFDhzMEGhuTBq2UFc6_lxS5QNkF6lg2lM34YIHDu5wQM9ueTy_pTGvn4qy9GgqYoWHUBV_GXq4iXfofh5Vlo01VqX5krCbh/s1600-h/DSCN3418.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiJi9IT5fqEp7oDi754EGwsz4ZdwsvwTqRa2WUEEj_xss7pgFDhzMEGhuTBq2UFc6_lxS5QNkF6lg2lM34YIHDu5wQM9ueTy_pTGvn4qy9GgqYoWHUBV_GXq4iXfofh5Vlo01VqX5krCbh/s400/DSCN3418.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378779302445818050" border="0" /></a>That look of Hunny Bunny 1's face is just so funny! I'm not sure what she was doing or getting ready to do.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwj4lktJSqXkEMdzjvR7o9bPsl3dXJDubkG7LKPt7LEgnjOIefeuyxIDn96_6VJb-0m5hAZGvj0fxPjM1O2R5movGBnXJKnfXQRsvDFpsWIstymF4FhGgBGWry_nGCldSJzAqC3x3nBAAs/s1600-h/DSCN3413.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwj4lktJSqXkEMdzjvR7o9bPsl3dXJDubkG7LKPt7LEgnjOIefeuyxIDn96_6VJb-0m5hAZGvj0fxPjM1O2R5movGBnXJKnfXQRsvDFpsWIstymF4FhGgBGWry_nGCldSJzAqC3x3nBAAs/s400/DSCN3413.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378779143998691106" border="0" /></a>Ruh Roh... <span style="font-style: italic;">Nana!!! Daddy is chasing us!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOAAyM0lD6cDiEkmV_vUGDS0wPxMsDoeUDX7k9GtHVwWzEuNaRHvzQwz6ufnvVPBF0VVU0h2QT6EGKS4fmm2NrnsToumXSmfLQHRwXDE_luN5l1EzC9nF0ljSX5YWF7MKB-JVhUih3A9wz/s1600-h/DSCN3411.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOAAyM0lD6cDiEkmV_vUGDS0wPxMsDoeUDX7k9GtHVwWzEuNaRHvzQwz6ufnvVPBF0VVU0h2QT6EGKS4fmm2NrnsToumXSmfLQHRwXDE_luN5l1EzC9nF0ljSX5YWF7MKB-JVhUih3A9wz/s400/DSCN3411.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378779012819236322" border="0" /></a>Okay, we're all in here, let's go play...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDZBl-B_aVh6y94e0Xhbs32p_3Dukgg33b1AcpPriCS4tBnsmZA-xUamMbO-wB36XO7QEEZ_9SRehuAGdwjpXiTDoG15ozx589OHjuh6z5wDSfdXvk_1P4hfZIvEAc42fV-HprRVlmWne3/s1600-h/DSCN3422.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDZBl-B_aVh6y94e0Xhbs32p_3Dukgg33b1AcpPriCS4tBnsmZA-xUamMbO-wB36XO7QEEZ_9SRehuAGdwjpXiTDoG15ozx589OHjuh6z5wDSfdXvk_1P4hfZIvEAc42fV-HprRVlmWne3/s400/DSCN3422.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378778566597899218" border="0" /></a>I love this picture of Hunny Bunny 2 looking so reflective... more like <span style="font-style: italic;">"Hmm, what kind of trouble can I get into now." </span> Just keep that water filled toy pointed away from Nana!! <br /><br /><br />All in all, we had a wonderful day at the pool. DB took us back to his house for dinner. By the time he got chicken breast, baked potatoes and corn on the cob cooked, the kids were starving! But they did clean their plates and even asked for more grilled chicken. I have to admit that his cooking is getting better than when he first started his bachelor days. He loves eating healthier now. Last time we went out to dinner I had asked him where he wanted to go, he replied <span style="font-style: italic;">"Anywhere but fast food." </span> A totally different story from when he was a youngster. I think I've passed the love of cooking down to at least two of my kids. SG also has proven that her cooking is on par with mine. And she loves to share the resluts from her time in her kitchen with those she loves. Always a good thing, yes? <br /><br /><br /><br /><br />And so it goes......K-Dubyahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11521926527381863273noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481570115600924929.post-36023717759963669132009-08-30T09:08:00.010-04:002009-08-30T12:24:33.279-04:00Essay Of The Day, "I'm Tired"...<span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-family:georgia,bookman old style,palatino linotype,book antiqua,palatino,trebuchet ms,helvetica,garamond,sans-serif,arial,verdana,avante garde,century gothic,comic sans ms,times,times new roman,serif;" >The years teach much which the days never knew.<br />~~~~~Ralph Waldo Emerson</span><br /><br /><br />I received the following essay via email from Gunnar. Checking on <a href="http://www.snopes.com/">Snopes</a> led to nothing being found with the keywords I chose. Thankfully, I found through google search that Robert A. Hall is indeed a former Marine who has served five terms in the Massachusetts Senate. He also has a <a href="http://tartanmarine.blogspot.com/">blog</a> and is linked to another called <a href="http://americanchronicles.com/">American Chronicles</a>. Interesting reads there on both of them.<br /><br />But I digress... Please read his thoughts below and perhaps you will concur as I did.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);"></span><blockquote><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">I'm Tired...</span><br /><br /> <div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="article_by"> Robert A. Hall, MEd, CAE </div> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">March 16, 2009</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);"> I´ll be 63 soon. Except for one semester in college when jobs were scarce, and a six-month period when I was between jobs, but job-hunting every day, I´ve worked, hard, since I was 18. Despite some health challenges, I still put in 50-hour weeks, and haven´t called in sick in seven or eight years. I make a good salary, but I didn´t inherit my job or my income, and I worked to get where I am. Given the economy, there´s no retirement in sight, and I´m tired. Very tired.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">I´m tired of being told that I have to "spread the wealth around" to people who don´t have my work ethic. I´m tired of being told the government will take the money I earned, by force if necessary, and give it to people too lazy or stupid to earn it.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">I´m tired of being told that I have to pay more taxes to "keep people in their homes." Sure, if they lost their jobs or got sick, I´m willing to help. But if they bought McMansions at three times the price of our paid-off, $250,000 condo, on one-third of my salary, then let the leftwing Congresscritters who passed Fannie and Freddie and the Community Reinvestment Act that created the bubble help them—with their own money.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">I´m tired of being told how bad America is by leftwing millionaires like Michael Moore, George Soros and Hollywood entertainers who live in luxury because of the opportunities America offers. In thirty years, if they get their way, the United States will have the religious freedom and women´s rights of Saudi Arabia, the economy of Zimbabwe, the freedom of the press of China, the crime and violence of Mexico, the tolerance for Gay people of Iran, and the freedom of speech of Venezuela. Won´t multiculturalism be beautiful?</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">I´m tired of being told that Islam is a "Religion of Peace," when every day I can read dozens of stories of Muslim men killing their sisters, wives and daughters for their family "honor;" of Muslims rioting over some slight offense; of Muslims murdering Christian and Jews because they aren´t "believers;" of Muslims burning schools for girls; of Muslims stoning teenage rape victims to death for "adultery;" of Muslims mutilating the genitals of little girls; all in the name of Allah, because the Qur´an and Shari´a law tells them to.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">I believe "a man should be judged by the content of his character, not by the color of his skin." I´m tired of being told that "race doesn´t matter" in the post-racial world of President Obama, when it´s all that matters in affirmative action jobs, lower college admission and graduation standards for minorities (harming them the most), government contract set-asides, tolerance for the ghetto culture of violence and fatherless children that hurts minorities more than anyone, and in the appointment of US Senators from Illinois. I think it´s very cool that we have a black president and that a black child is doing her homework at the desk where Lincoln wrote the emancipation proclamation. I just wish the black president was Condi Rice, or someone who believes more in freedom and the individual and less in an all-knowing government.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">I´m tired of a news media that thinks Bush´s fundraising and inaugural expenses were obscene, but that think Obama´s, at triple the cost, were wonderful. That thinks Bush exercising daily was a waste of presidential time, but Obama exercising is a great example for the public to control weight and stress, that picked over every line of Bush´s military records, but never demanded that Kerry release his, that slammed Palin with two years as governor for being too inexperienced for VP, but touted Obama with three years as senator as potentially the best president ever.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Wonder why people are dropping their subscriptions or switching to Fox News? Get a clue. I didn´t vote for Bush in 2000, but the media and Kerry drove me to his camp in 2004.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">I´m tired of being told that out of "tolerance for other cultures" we must let Saudi Arabia use our oil money to fund mosques and madrassa Islamic schools to preach hate in America, while no American group is allowed to fund a church, synagogue or religious school in Saudi Arabia to teach love and tolerance.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">I´m tired of being told I must lower my living standard to fight global warming, which no one is allowed to debate. My wife and I live in a two-bedroom apartment and carpool together five miles to our jobs. We also own a three-bedroom condo where our daughter and granddaughter live. Our carbon footprint is about 5% of Al Gore´s, and if you´re greener than Gore, you´re green enough.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">I´m tired of being told that drug addicts have a disease, and I must help support and treat them, and pay for the damage they do. Did a giant germ rush out of a dark alley, grab them, and stuff white powder up their noses while they tried to fight it off? I don´t think Gay people choose to be Gay, but I damn sure think druggies chose to take drugs. And I´m tired of harassment from cool people treating me like a freak when I tell them I never tried marijuana.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">I´m tired of illegal aliens being called "undocumented workers," especially the ones who aren´t working, but are living on welfare or crime. What´s next? Calling drug dealers, "Undocumented Pharmacists"? And, no, I´m not against Hispanics. Most of them are Catholic and it´s been a few hundred years since Catholics wanted to kill me for my religion. I´m willing to fast track for citizenship any Hispanic person who can speak English, doesn´t have a criminal record and who is self-supporting without family on welfare, or who serves honorably for three years in our military. Those are the citizens we need.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);"> I´m tired of latte liberals and journalists, who would never wear the uniform of the Republic themselves, or let their entitlement-handicapped kids near a recruiting station, trashing our military. They and their kids can sit at home, never having to make split-second decisions under life and death circumstances, and bad mouth better people then themselves. Do bad things happen in war? You bet. Do our troops sometimes misbehave? Sure. Does this compare with the atrocities that were the policy of our enemies for the last fifty years—and still are? Not even close. So here´s the deal. I´ll let myself be subjected to all the humiliation and abuse that was heaped on terrorists at Abu Ghraib or Gitmo, and the critics can let themselves be subject to captivity by the Muslims who tortured and beheaded Daniel Pearl in Pakistan, or the Muslims who tortured and murdered Marine Lt. Col. William Higgins in Lebanon, or the Muslims who ran the blood-spattered Al Qaeda torture rooms our troops found in Iraq, or the Muslims who cut off the heads of schoolgirls in Indonesia, because the girls were Christian. Then we´ll compare notes. British and American soldiers are the only troops in history that civilians came to for help and handouts, instead of hiding from in fear.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);"> I´m tired of people telling me that their party has a corner on virtue and the other party has a corner on corruption. Read the papers—bums are bi-partisan. And I´m tired of people telling me we need bi-partisanship. I live in Illinois, where the "Illinois Combine" of Democrats and Republicans has worked together harmoniously to loot the public for years. And I notice that the tax cheats in Obama´s cabinet are bi-partisan as well.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">I´m tired of hearing wealthy athletes, entertainers and politicians of both parties talking about innocent mistakes, stupid mistakes or youthful mistakes, when we all know they think their only mistake was getting caught. I´m tired of people with a sense of entitlement, rich or poor.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Speaking of poor, I´m tired of hearing people with air-conditioned homes, color TVs and two cars called poor. The majority of Americans didn´t have that in 1970, but we didn´t know we were "poor." The poverty pimps have to keep changing the definition of poor to keep the dollars flowing. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">I´m real tired of people who don´t take responsibility for their lives and actions. I´m tired of hearing them blame the government, or discrimination, or big-whatever for their problems.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Yes, I´m damn tired. But I´m also glad to be 63. Because, mostly, I´m not going to get to see the world these people are making. I´m just sorry for my granddaughter.</span><br /></blockquote>~~~~~<br /><br />So do you? Do you think Mr. Hall has hit it right on the nose? I believe that at least one reader will agree with his words. 'Course, that one reader might be the elder sister; O'Wise One. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br />And so it goes......K-Dubyahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11521926527381863273noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481570115600924929.post-62568306338312872172009-08-15T18:38:00.005-04:002009-08-16T14:42:57.638-04:00His Son, Mike...*Note*<span style="font-family:georgia,bookman old style,palatino linotype,book antiqua,palatino,trebuchet ms,helvetica,garamond,sans-serif,arial,verdana,avante garde,century gothic,comic sans ms,times,times new roman,serif;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">You don't raise heroes, you raise sons. And if you treat them like sons, they'll turn out to be heroes, even if it's just in your own eyes.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">~~~~~Walter M. Schirra, Sr.</span> </span><br /><br /><br />No words can express how reading this makes me feel. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.mudvillegazette.com/">Mudville Gazette</a> has re-posted a beautiful letter written in 2005 to honor the memory of a Hero; Sgt. Mike Stokely. <br /><br />Please go read about <a href="http://www.mudvillegazette.com/003956.html">Mike</a> in a email from his dad, Robert. <br /><br />Robert Stokely originally wrote the letter just four months after the death of his son, a touching tribute to the Hero that he raised and then had to bury.<br /><br />Take the tissues with you, you're going to need them.<br /><br />I can't fathom the strength required to endure such a tragedy. It's no wonder why Mike was such a wonderful young man and dedicated soldier with parents such as his.<br /><br />No, Robert, your son is a hero not just in your eyes but in the eyes of America. Forever.<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">*Note*</span> Brat has a beautiful <a href="http://assolutatranquillita.blogspot.com/2009/08/always-remember.html">tribute</a> to Sgt. Mike Stokely. Please go visit and leave a comment for Mike's family. As she has written...ALWAYS REMEMBER.<br /><br /><br /><br />And so it goes......K-Dubyahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11521926527381863273noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481570115600924929.post-6304762099130036322009-06-25T17:15:00.023-04:002009-06-25T21:12:52.588-04:00Guest Blog Post, From A'stan...<span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Yes'm, old friends is always best, 'less you can catch a new one that's fit to make an old one out of.<br /></span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">~~~~~Sarah Orne Jewett</span><br /><br /><br />This morning I had a weird dream during one of those half awake, half asleep moments in a lull of the 10 minute snooze fest. After a really late night, I'm surprised I heard the alarm at all. It was so wonderful and comfortable to be snuggled up in bed. I didn't want to give in to the need to ready myself for another day at work while there was much better things to do at home.<br /><br />But back to my dream...<br /><br />It's been said that dreams are subconscious thoughts that you've had during the day that didn't get fully resolved. Normally I don't remember too much of what my brain is processing while I'm asleep. With some of my thoughts, I reckon that's a good thing.<br /><br />Anywhoo, today I remembered one... I dreamt I received an email from a friend (I'll call him "Toad"). While getting emails from him isn't uncommon, I hadn't heard from him in what to me seemed a very long while. You see, Toad is stationed in Afghanistan doing what he does best. That just happens to be piloting helicopters. Over the last month or so, several emails had gone unanswered. Yep, I know it's a war zone. But me, being the worry wart I am, thought something untoward might have happened. I had checked all the official DoD notices without seeing his name on any of them. Yep, extremely thankful on eliminating that possibility!<br />After finally coaxing my reluctant body out of bed, starting our coffee, etc., etc., I checked my gmail. And there it was. An email from Toad, just like I remembered seeing in my dream. How weird!! Yet how sweet it was to read that everything was okay with him.<br /><br />Some time back, Toad had made mention that he might do a guest post here on the blog. His email this morning was his follow up on that, giving me the <span style="font-style: italic;">"good to go"</span> green light to post partially or all. One tiny problem, it was in Army 'power point' format. If I could figure out how to get that on here, I'd be set. Alas, I couldn't. Everyone knows how technically challenged I am. So I'll have to do what I'm good at... cut and paste. Okay, it was a bit more difficult than that. At least I got most everything off of the power point slides.<br /><br />I do hope y'all enjoy his pictures and commentary.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Direct From The 'Stan- A Trip To Bamyan, Another Side of Afghanistan...</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq55HmW6eNSksMlEq9V0qbi6gIH8p4ykMhEKLPPYH6YLK6a4_E9lp7kz5b5QyKQDvL2JhSo_I_pVD5Pwpq4ZQFCPomzFGtDTTJU_-R0PxRpcTfCCK8J5PDgUushXfWtRQ2GblmaJWO-Iqp/s1600-h/gview_002.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq55HmW6eNSksMlEq9V0qbi6gIH8p4ykMhEKLPPYH6YLK6a4_E9lp7kz5b5QyKQDvL2JhSo_I_pVD5Pwpq4ZQFCPomzFGtDTTJU_-R0PxRpcTfCCK8J5PDgUushXfWtRQ2GblmaJWO-Iqp/s400/gview_002.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351434043996902898" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizIm_-L9axUB1JYaNwlqRmvHOC2nJMkpSeJPPv2s8ukoXeHHWoXFAJgJD2KIKNY7YbGQ2Hg5wf4kMbgZ-JryMqsMEfojhBDzw__FS9hA7nTf6EwUffvffmmsO1vg4K6zu374bKpyNg9FMV/s1600-h/gview_006.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizIm_-L9axUB1JYaNwlqRmvHOC2nJMkpSeJPPv2s8ukoXeHHWoXFAJgJD2KIKNY7YbGQ2Hg5wf4kMbgZ-JryMqsMEfojhBDzw__FS9hA7nTf6EwUffvffmmsO1vg4K6zu374bKpyNg9FMV/s400/gview_006.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351409052934803106" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBe26_TdYLRNoSHhoQ-yVEZguCGDE6I9pnTIGLRVhaER2gW37JnCAgOvPR99OP74x6T7YkWYDHQ7pnlBPSce2A30vTC2p4rsjkSheHHazqsyQVUDk98wv98aFcjg2RK6KfOZc8I-542DMz/s1600-h/gview_014.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBe26_TdYLRNoSHhoQ-yVEZguCGDE6I9pnTIGLRVhaER2gW37JnCAgOvPR99OP74x6T7YkWYDHQ7pnlBPSce2A30vTC2p4rsjkSheHHazqsyQVUDk98wv98aFcjg2RK6KfOZc8I-542DMz/s400/gview_014.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351409883305098050" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyDtuRyjoa4jTxxuvJN4iIR82rfiz9dJ1h3DVlJ6bMnhvVr3NV88RB_EcjR444mz_nbRSuAvQ1z6oHNrwT0CJJ3lEYJN4NB9H_IwZ_eTkLtZGkShI0FhgjrYeA6NfHp7bKEyFmX5mrHWht/s1600-h/gview_011.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyDtuRyjoa4jTxxuvJN4iIR82rfiz9dJ1h3DVlJ6bMnhvVr3NV88RB_EcjR444mz_nbRSuAvQ1z6oHNrwT0CJJ3lEYJN4NB9H_IwZ_eTkLtZGkShI0FhgjrYeA6NfHp7bKEyFmX5mrHWht/s400/gview_011.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351412498006234594" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Wm-LHWt2dXZZGlFlIII3Suj2PreMsOhomXJ4ydQ3pNI6s4v7lBcTUUIWCTLEpC8w6XRTSCb5siCya7-Loy_QTpxeC-M8iC-uZCL1otA4fSa1btky3BxOEvTrxWHMwMO3dBjOyocPVubk/s1600-h/gview_004.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Wm-LHWt2dXZZGlFlIII3Suj2PreMsOhomXJ4ydQ3pNI6s4v7lBcTUUIWCTLEpC8w6XRTSCb5siCya7-Loy_QTpxeC-M8iC-uZCL1otA4fSa1btky3BxOEvTrxWHMwMO3dBjOyocPVubk/s400/gview_004.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351413703600674194" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0QCMNxIjk2UsGkABXPGGcR7bapWXhEf9aKDTsEc6GYH-313nw2__Wo0q1X0Ro35lY6S9pc1K1hINHB0rjS9HTr9Nw7FcZw59DeOFTdabtozxtkjH34DxIx8s2M5MfdxBK6Q-oFX0FDDMw/s1600-h/gview_008.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0QCMNxIjk2UsGkABXPGGcR7bapWXhEf9aKDTsEc6GYH-313nw2__Wo0q1X0Ro35lY6S9pc1K1hINHB0rjS9HTr9Nw7FcZw59DeOFTdabtozxtkjH34DxIx8s2M5MfdxBK6Q-oFX0FDDMw/s400/gview_008.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351422474707188306" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbeAZGE2mPKfJxWr0bd6SB8FU6TvrfAn6i8KQdjoiphzseRqQD6H4Rz82kpZvHBoAJ2dwedxS9AtGHe8pJfr3u4MjpRc43pCy-OaRpKwneu4RR-KBTAf8nMBtM_jvh2tyWpdLMXWy1nQFC/s1600-h/gview_003.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbeAZGE2mPKfJxWr0bd6SB8FU6TvrfAn6i8KQdjoiphzseRqQD6H4Rz82kpZvHBoAJ2dwedxS9AtGHe8pJfr3u4MjpRc43pCy-OaRpKwneu4RR-KBTAf8nMBtM_jvh2tyWpdLMXWy1nQFC/s400/gview_003.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351422894415351506" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeboSCFaRwLhRiLPHHaJXl2pVRXXhQS2sJp54zNs9afwuIGZpaYLSOrsFyfAK6r61DV84Dn63GEWP1xwYQUwqqOtfHPgP2akZ3xHxtgO5kIckAtK3KIaz1Gcemc2o6VXG-4w4s8nI3ZpkE/s1600-h/gview_013.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeboSCFaRwLhRiLPHHaJXl2pVRXXhQS2sJp54zNs9afwuIGZpaYLSOrsFyfAK6r61DV84Dn63GEWP1xwYQUwqqOtfHPgP2akZ3xHxtgO5kIckAtK3KIaz1Gcemc2o6VXG-4w4s8nI3ZpkE/s400/gview_013.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351423335442112642" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtGUQ1OuTYYoobhyphenhyphentIitUK4KWc-2Ki6gY58A9peLb5mpIGDEGCaFvhYBBc9T3PaKmnG4NuoSsoenx1EcdXgbPbiWk4b1VznMWXOK6kPmmUzscDPjQMsKw7USpo2Ay13_PYd1kSpSWMzF3q/s1600-h/gview_007.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtGUQ1OuTYYoobhyphenhyphentIitUK4KWc-2Ki6gY58A9peLb5mpIGDEGCaFvhYBBc9T3PaKmnG4NuoSsoenx1EcdXgbPbiWk4b1VznMWXOK6kPmmUzscDPjQMsKw7USpo2Ay13_PYd1kSpSWMzF3q/s400/gview_007.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351425308312290290" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZr2F7nQzRnD0J72Kz7VJlN8Tu2p2QpePR8AtrM0qGQI2l2tTcdHVuiFObTP8oydenlNLsRVEhbAhB6WTSSXvwLJjYJbSnY10umLkk0ZPc_XM2x0FECmh-U4_4Ssq-geGEFWQfKMeQ0XKl/s1600-h/gview_010.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZr2F7nQzRnD0J72Kz7VJlN8Tu2p2QpePR8AtrM0qGQI2l2tTcdHVuiFObTP8oydenlNLsRVEhbAhB6WTSSXvwLJjYJbSnY10umLkk0ZPc_XM2x0FECmh-U4_4Ssq-geGEFWQfKMeQ0XKl/s400/gview_010.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351424990437842834" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />And so it goes......K-Dubyahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11521926527381863273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481570115600924929.post-33941549321566508942009-06-21T10:54:00.001-04:002009-06-21T12:58:14.966-04:00'Tis Fathers' Day...<span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-family:georgia,bookman old style,palatino linotype,book antiqua,palatino,trebuchet ms,helvetica,garamond,sans-serif,arial,verdana,avante garde,century gothic,comic sans ms,times,times new roman,serif;" >Old as she was, she still missed her daddy sometimes.<br />~~~~~Gloria Naylor<!--WRM--></span><br /><br /><br />Words can no longer be spoken. Hugs can no longer be exchanged. Kisses can no longer be given. No more picking up the phone to hear your voice. Never again to hear <span style="font-style:italic;">"I love you, too."</span> No baking of your pineapple upside down cake, nor cooking your favorite foods. None of those things we would do on this special day or any day given the chance.<br /><br />But... there will always be love in our hearts for the man we called Daddy.<br /><br /><br /><br /><object width="400" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/nX4QVGykIA4&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/nX4QVGykIA4&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><br />And so it goes......K-Dubyahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11521926527381863273noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481570115600924929.post-10356660518777431492009-06-16T12:32:00.002-04:002009-06-16T12:50:22.652-04:00Rock Steady...<span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-family:georgia,bookman old style,palatino linotype,book antiqua,palatino,trebuchet ms,helvetica,garamond,sans-serif,arial,verdana,avante garde,century gothic,comic sans ms,times,times new roman,serif;" >Chance is always powerful, let your hook always be cast; in the pool where you least expect it, there will be a fish.<br />~~~~~Ovid</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/9sQozssvZ8M&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9sQozssvZ8M&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />And so it goes......K-Dubyahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11521926527381863273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481570115600924929.post-51114176367726011892009-06-15T10:00:00.008-04:002009-06-15T11:39:08.897-04:00Monday's News From A'stan...<span style="font-family:georgia,bookman old style,palatino linotype,book antiqua,palatino,trebuchet ms,helvetica,garamond,sans-serif,arial,verdana,avante garde,century gothic,comic sans ms,times,times new roman,serif;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Faith is believing in things when common sense tells you not to.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">~~~~~George Seaton</span><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEbqGfP5g0uRAK4UvXNz3XTHJEYmyEMsvDVwBA-SQUWk1McdeRLjQCzs77_5y3vGiB4zQ4qXCyx_VnsrgyBOQsjVxXhhyPsqxDhTlQwJPR-Nci-r45BcAkd6k50yhEjTn9oHhNxTDqj5Rd/s1600-h/mcchrystal_in_afghanistan.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 257px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEbqGfP5g0uRAK4UvXNz3XTHJEYmyEMsvDVwBA-SQUWk1McdeRLjQCzs77_5y3vGiB4zQ4qXCyx_VnsrgyBOQsjVxXhhyPsqxDhTlQwJPR-Nci-r45BcAkd6k50yhEjTn9oHhNxTDqj5Rd/s400/mcchrystal_in_afghanistan.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347558636724698018" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia,bookman old style,palatino linotype,book antiqua,palatino,trebuchet ms,helvetica,garamond,sans-serif,arial,verdana,avante garde,century gothic,comic sans ms,times,times new roman,serif;"><br />General Stanley McCrystal takes command of <a href="http://quqnoos.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3196&Itemid=48">NATO-ISAF in Afghanistan.</a><br /><br /></span><p> </p><blockquote><p>...In a brief ceremony in the headquarters of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), he officially took the charge of the entire foreign forces, operating in Afghanistan. </p> <p> He landed Sunday in HQ ISAF in Kabul where he commands about 30,000 troops from other NATO allies... </p></blockquote><p></p>~~~~~<br /><span style="font-family:georgia,bookman old style,palatino linotype,book antiqua,palatino,trebuchet ms,helvetica,garamond,sans-serif,arial,verdana,avante garde,century gothic,comic sans ms,times,times new roman,serif;"><br /><a href="http://quqnoos.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3197&Itemid=48">126 Attacks in a week. </a></span><br /><br /><p></p><blockquote><p>...Insurgency has increased by 40 per cent in Afghanistan over the past week with the Taliban carrying out 126 attacks across the country<b><br /></b> </p> <p> Afghan Interior Ministry said 78 people including 30 policemen were killed and more than 170 were wounded in the string of insurgencies over the last seven days. </p> <p>Afghan Interior Minister, Mohammad Hanif Atmar said the attacks in Afghanistan are being schemed and masterminded outside the country...</p><p><br /></p><p></p></blockquote>~~~~~<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJCE7E_ZNnK8QyhRlejm_2YWSmvAoaeIQ8LQLHcWZ_yDD0IxQw-Fdve1olriBHZn1ehGmSfW1TdUxAoFYb-sv1-lBJcWFs_nUiEDF1mq_MckYxWwrCXaORnQIBGaCiyHtIOUC810VI6Nep/s1600-h/troops-38.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 257px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJCE7E_ZNnK8QyhRlejm_2YWSmvAoaeIQ8LQLHcWZ_yDD0IxQw-Fdve1olriBHZn1ehGmSfW1TdUxAoFYb-sv1-lBJcWFs_nUiEDF1mq_MckYxWwrCXaORnQIBGaCiyHtIOUC810VI6Nep/s400/troops-38.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347562779312457218" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><p></p><a href="http://quqnoos.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3195&Itemid=48">Afghan and Coalition Forces to safeguard Helmand.</a><br /><br /><p> </p><blockquote><p>...Afghan and coalition force will safeguard Helmand borders where militants easily commute between Afghanistan and Pakistan, Helmand governor said<b></b> </p>Provincial governor, Mohammad Gulab Mangal told a news conference that presence of foreign terrorists have increased in Helmand. <p> Governor Mangal told reporters in Kabul that after the Pakistani army offensive in Swat and Buner, foreign national terrorists entered Afghan soil through Helmand... </p></blockquote><p></p><br />~~~~~<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAwWCsG7nwV8kUSf0eyC1HgTwtZKUWSdhx-bSo3Oojt1-PFFRR5nWGRwSDtaA1c9Oq6Vc7YGNnDTzydxgzTVqlQPGdxUZQB1fb2YLomerBEOHXB8retE2wQP61f0yA8N5w722tsaAymMT_/s1600-h/karzai-38.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 257px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAwWCsG7nwV8kUSf0eyC1HgTwtZKUWSdhx-bSo3Oojt1-PFFRR5nWGRwSDtaA1c9Oq6Vc7YGNnDTzydxgzTVqlQPGdxUZQB1fb2YLomerBEOHXB8retE2wQP61f0yA8N5w722tsaAymMT_/s400/karzai-38.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347564789091260802" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://quqnoos.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3198&Itemid=48">Afghan President Hamid Karzai to visit Russia for Shanghai Summit.<br /></a><br /><p> </p><blockquote><p>...Afghan President left for Russia Monday morning to attend a multilateral summit to discuss counter terrorism and counter narcotics<b><br /></b> </p> <p> Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit will be held Tuesday in Ekaterinburg, a major city in the central part of Russia where leaders of many countries including Pakistan and Iran will participate... </p></blockquote><p></p><br />~~~~~<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nato.int/isaf/docu/pressreleases/2009/06/pr090615-430.htm"><span style="font-size:100%;">ISAF paratroopers discover weapons caches</span></a><br /><br /><div></div>KABUL, Afghanistan (June 15) - International Security Assistance Force soldiers (ISAF) have confiscated two insurgent weapons caches in eastern Afghanistan, 11-12 June . <br /><blockquote>...ISAF soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 377th Parachute Field Artillery Regiment found a cache of weapons and Improvised Explosive Device (IED) making material, in Khost province...</blockquote>~~~~~<br /><br />I'm sure that there is more news from and about what is happening in Afghanistan. Are you looking for it? If not, you should be. But that's just my own personal opinion. <br /><br />I'm happy to note that <a href="http://www.thesuck2.blogspot.com/">MudPuppy</a> is back on the web. His time in "the suck" is about up though. Drop by to see what he's been writing and tell him <span style="font-style: italic;">"Hey"</span>. Some of his stories are sure to make you laugh out loud. Okay, maybe it was just my weird sense of humor. Still... go visit him, please.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />And so it goes......K-Dubyahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11521926527381863273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3481570115600924929.post-8422666905333611592009-06-14T13:16:00.000-04:002009-06-14T13:11:27.902-04:00Forever Long May She Wave...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfGqqD33A2qfEw8tBg6q16Yy97iWq0erU-of2SR85yjFVpzjV6wWvZlIXpXQRFkGDNQ7jr8Sjb_uHXiCykjiOwd4YDi9bYJr0MjjJsvd-IJAJ8yITn4c2FzC1iw3vlb8vrnes16kRzxifd/s1600-h/792_UnitedWeStand2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfGqqD33A2qfEw8tBg6q16Yy97iWq0erU-of2SR85yjFVpzjV6wWvZlIXpXQRFkGDNQ7jr8Sjb_uHXiCykjiOwd4YDi9bYJr0MjjJsvd-IJAJ8yITn4c2FzC1iw3vlb8vrnes16kRzxifd/s400/792_UnitedWeStand2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347222705965111570" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-family:georgia,bookman old style,palatino linotype,book antiqua,palatino,trebuchet ms,helvetica,garamond,sans-serif,arial,verdana,avante garde,century gothic,comic sans ms,times,times new roman,serif;" ><br />Your </span><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-family:georgia,bookman old style,palatino linotype,book antiqua,palatino,trebuchet ms,helvetica,garamond,sans-serif,arial,verdana,avante garde,century gothic,comic sans ms,times,times new roman,serif;" >flag and my flag,</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-family:georgia,bookman old style,palatino linotype,book antiqua,palatino,trebuchet ms,helvetica,garamond,sans-serif,arial,verdana,avante garde,century gothic,comic sans ms,times,times new roman,serif;" > And </span><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-family:georgia,bookman old style,palatino linotype,book antiqua,palatino,trebuchet ms,helvetica,garamond,sans-serif,arial,verdana,avante garde,century gothic,comic sans ms,times,times new roman,serif;" >how it flies today</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-family:georgia,bookman old style,palatino linotype,book antiqua,palatino,trebuchet ms,helvetica,garamond,sans-serif,arial,verdana,avante garde,century gothic,comic sans ms,times,times new roman,serif;" > In your land and my land</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-family:georgia,bookman old style,palatino linotype,book antiqua,palatino,trebuchet ms,helvetica,garamond,sans-serif,arial,verdana,avante garde,century gothic,comic sans ms,times,times new roman,serif;" > And half a world away!</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-family:georgia,bookman old style,palatino linotype,book antiqua,palatino,trebuchet ms,helvetica,garamond,sans-serif,arial,verdana,avante garde,century gothic,comic sans ms,times,times new roman,serif;" > Rose-red and blood-red</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-family:georgia,bookman old style,palatino linotype,book antiqua,palatino,trebuchet ms,helvetica,garamond,sans-serif,arial,verdana,avante garde,century gothic,comic sans ms,times,times new roman,serif;" > The stripes forever gleam;</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-family:georgia,bookman old style,palatino linotype,book antiqua,palatino,trebuchet ms,helvetica,garamond,sans-serif,arial,verdana,avante garde,century gothic,comic sans ms,times,times new roman,serif;" > Snow-white and soul-white -</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-family:georgia,bookman old style,palatino linotype,book antiqua,palatino,trebuchet ms,helvetica,garamond,sans-serif,arial,verdana,avante garde,century gothic,comic sans ms,times,times new roman,serif;" > The good forefathers' dream;</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-family:georgia,bookman old style,palatino linotype,book antiqua,palatino,trebuchet ms,helvetica,garamond,sans-serif,arial,verdana,avante garde,century gothic,comic sans ms,times,times new roman,serif;" > Sky-blue and true-blue, with stars to gleam aright -</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-family:georgia,bookman old style,palatino linotype,book antiqua,palatino,trebuchet ms,helvetica,garamond,sans-serif,arial,verdana,avante garde,century gothic,comic sans ms,times,times new roman,serif;" > The gloried guidon of the day, a shelter through the night.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-family:georgia,bookman old style,palatino linotype,book antiqua,palatino,trebuchet ms,helvetica,garamond,sans-serif,arial,verdana,avante garde,century gothic,comic sans ms,times,times new roman,serif;" > ~Wilbur D. Nesbit, <i>Your Flag and My Flag</i><!--MCTO--></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia,bookman old style,palatino linotype,book antiqua,palatino,trebuchet ms,helvetica,garamond,sans-serif,arial,verdana,avante garde,century gothic,comic sans ms,times,times new roman,serif;"> </span></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><object width="410" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LPbIls0iOnI&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LPbIls0iOnI&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="410" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJKoSAXmypBXdzBV1uY1lKJXyPuF1qm0bPX9-PwZ3mdhfVR2IQL8rtwddNbhk6RcfO4Z3c0tKHoMEbPlbJXQyy1lvy2Xl_-GRAtdBwTkiRnKPcUDGNzaADqqRaNRnpZcAZitnht42X2zw/s1600-h/500_pledge_large.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 316px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJKoSAXmypBXdzBV1uY1lKJXyPuF1qm0bPX9-PwZ3mdhfVR2IQL8rtwddNbhk6RcfO4Z3c0tKHoMEbPlbJXQyy1lvy2Xl_-GRAtdBwTkiRnKPcUDGNzaADqqRaNRnpZcAZitnht42X2zw/s400/500_pledge_large.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347223022464857394" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Please<span style="font-style: italic;"> remember</span> all those who willingly gave their lives to ensure that Our Flag will forever be seen as the emblem of freedom.K-Dubyahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11521926527381863273noreply@blogger.com0