Coming Back to Life!

Chocolate Covered What?!

2011-06-19T01:17:00.000-04:00

We enjoyed a trip in the 90 degree heat down to the Lansing City Market and Riverwalk Saturday. You can see more about that trip on my other blog.

We didn’t end up buying much at the market because it’s still early in the season and there wasn’t much local produce.

However, in our wandering around the market we found a chocolate shop. They make all their own chocolates and they all looked delicious. But they had something there that I’ve only seen on TV. Bet you can’t guess!

Oh, yeah, chocolate covered bacon. I thought this was very strange when we saw it on TV, but we decided we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to taste it. Yes, I know I’m eating like a vegan, but come on—this is bacon! I was amazed at how tasty, and chewy, this treat was. If I was still my old self, I would probably have bought several pieces to take home. As it is, MWH and I just shared one piece. If you ever get the chance to try this unique treat … DO IT!! Yum!

Bitter?

2011-06-16T13:53:00.001-04:00

Have you ever been so mad at someone you could hardly speak their name without the anger spilling out like acid? And all the while that person probably has no idea that you’re so bitter and angry – and doesn’t care! The definition on the shirt is so true. That inner turmoil is why it’s so important to forgive instead of ‘drinking poison’.

Now, before you get all angry with me, let me clarify what I’m saying. Forgiveness does not necessarily involve reconciliation and trust. It’s more like dropping that slimy thing you found on the beach, washing your hands, and continuing on your way. Jesus said this:

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:14-15 (NIV)

When you forgive someone you are releasing them from that whipping post in your mind. You are letting go of the anger and bitterness. And you’re letting God’s comfort soothe and heal.

This was a lesson it took me a long time to learn. I hope that if you are experiencing bitterness and unforgiveness that you’ll take this lesson to heart and drop that slimy thing!

Wednesday Hero

2011-06-14T23:35:00.001-04:00

Tech. Sergeants Abner Berrios & Alan Hunter

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sergeants Abner Berrios (left) and Alan Hunter display their letter perfect "black-letter initial" aircraft checklists at Pope Field, N.C. In an effort to set a positive example for the unit's newer crew chiefs and members, the two used their professional rivalry to try to out-work and out-inspect each other. The end result was the rarity of both crew chiefs obtaining discrepancy free checklists. Both sergeants are crew chiefs with the 440th Airlift Wing.
Photo Courtesy AF.mil Taken By Staff Sgt. Peter Miller
These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives just so others may get to enjoy freedom. For that I am proud to call them Hero. Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Waving At The Bus

2011-06-13T23:46:00.001-04:00

Now this is a what I call a great Dad. He knows how to have fun and make his family laugh. And now he’s making the rest of us laugh.

Dale Price waved to his 15 (now 16) year old son, Rain, every school day this year as he left on the bus. The video above is a collection of the costumes he wore. A different costume every day. On the Waving At The Bus blog I read that he spent only about $50 on costumes. The rest were already owned by the family or borrowed from neighbors and friends. He’s become world famous for waving.

You really have to check out the blog. The video is just a sampling of the costumes. There is an entry for every day. Some of the quotes posted with the pictures are really funny. And don’t panic. All those guns are paintball guns. He used to own a paintball business. So go look and laugh. It’s healthy!

White Kousa Dogwood

2011-06-12T12:01:00.000-04:00

This week I’ve been seeing this tree blooming in my neighborhood and around town. The blossoms made me think of dogwood, but this isn’t like any dogwood I’ve seen before. But it is a dogwood. A White Kousa Dogwood. I think I’m in love! But since they cost between $80 and $100 apiece I think I’ll have to admire them from afar.

I Love lolcats

2011-06-10T22:37:00.000-04:00

I’ve always thought this was the dumbest pickup line ever. And this the smartest reply.

Wednesday Hero

2011-06-08T01:07:00.001-04:00

Soldiers render salutes through a rendition of taps during a ceremony May 26 at the Mountain Post Warrior Memorial. Fort Carson honors the lives lost in support of Overseas Contingency Operations by adding names to the memorial stones.

Photo Courtesy Army.mil Taken By Dustin Senger

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives just so others may get to enjoy freedom. For that I am proud to call them Hero.

Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Chilean Volcano Erupts

2011-06-06T19:12:00.001-04:00

I found this dramatic picture and several more here.

Smoke and ash shot more than six miles into the the sky when the Puyehue-Cordon Caulle volcano complex in southern Chile first erupted Saturday afternoon. Authorities evacuated about 3,500 people from the area.

National Doughnut Day

2011-06-04T09:39:00.001-04:00

Yesterday was National Doughnut Day here in the US. I can’t believe I missed it! Doughnut Day started in 1938 as a combination fund raiser and commemoration of the women who served doughnuts to the service men in World War I. National Doughnut Day is the first Friday of June.

Wednesday Hero

2011-06-01T01:10:00.000-04:00

This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Pet

Col. Van T. Barfoot 91 years old from Henrico County, Virginia 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division In December 2009 Van T. Barfoot made national headlines when he wanted to fly his American flag in his yard but was told to take it down by his homeowners association. It's still flying proudly today. But that's just one small event in the life of Mr. Barfoot. Long before he decided to fly that flag he defended it during W.W.II.
Barfoot joined the Army in 1940 and was shipped to Italy in 1943 where distinguished himself in 1944 when, in the course of a single day, he advanced alone through a minefield, took out a German machine gun with a hand grenade, single handily killed eight German soldiers, captured seventeen, disabled a tank with a bazooka and then returned to his own lines and helped two of his own wounded squad members. All which earned him the Medal Of Honor. So it comes as no surprise that when he wanted to fly the American fly he wasn't going to take no for an answer.

You can read more about Col. Barfoot here.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives just so others may get to enjoy freedom. For that I am proud to call them Hero.

Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Memorial Day

2011-05-30T01:10:00.000-04:00

When I was growing up Decoration Day was all about the parade and Dad grilling chicken. I was 15 when the name changed to Memorial Day and 20 when it was moved from May 30 to the last Monday in May. And this year it’s on the 30th!

Five years after I got married and moved away from my home town, my young family moved back. The home we bought was on the street where the parade formed. What fun! We got to watch it all from our front porch. Or walk up and down the street talking to the people getting ready. My daughter rode her bike in the parade one year. Only one. Like mother – like daughter. I only rode once, too.

Here’s a little glimpse of our parade. There’s much more to it than just the band and the kids. There are, of course, the veterans, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, politicians (yes even in our tiny town), fire trucks, tractors (we are a farming community after all) and horses. There’s more, too, but you get the idea. It’s not real fancy, but it’s REAL. And we love it!

That’s just the fun side to Memorial Day but there is a more serious side. As you know, this blog recognizes our heroes in uniform every Wednesday. I’m very proud to honor these men and women and to say ‘Thank you. I will always remember what you’ve given to serve our country and keep us safe and free.’

I decided to find out a little bit about Memorial Day to share with you. Rather than rewrite it all ‘in my own words’ I decided to quote directly from http://www.usmemorialday.org/backgrnd.html

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. There are many stories as to its actual beginnings, with over two dozen cities and towns laying claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day. There is also evidence that organized women's groups in the South were decorating graves before the end of the Civil War: a hymn published in 1867, "Kneel Where Our Loves are Sleeping" by Nella L. Sweet carried the dedication "To The Ladies of the South who are Decorating the Graves of the Confederate Dead" (Source: Duke University's Historic American Sheet Music, 1850-1920). While Waterloo N.Y. was officially declared the birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in May 1966, it's difficult to prove conclusively the origins of the day. It is more likely that it had many separate beginnings; each of those towns and every planned or spontaneous gathering of people to honor the war dead in the 1860's tapped into the general human need to honor our dead, each contributed honorably to the growing movement that culminated in Gen Logan giving his official proclamation in 1868. It is not important who was the very first, what is important is that Memorial Day was established. Memorial Day is not about division. It is about reconciliation; it is about coming together to honor those who gave their all.

Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states. The South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I (when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war). It is now celebrated in almost every State on the last Monday in May (passed by Congress with the National Holiday Act of 1971 (P.L. 90 - 363) to ensure a three day weekend for Federal holidays), though several southern states have an additional separate day for honoring the Confederate war dead: January 19 in Texas, April 26 in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi; May 10 in South Carolina; and June 3 (Jefferson Davis' birthday) in Louisiana and Tennessee.

If you celebrate Memorial Day, I hope you take some time to remember those who have served so valiantly for us. Then have a wonderful time with family and friends. If you live outside the US and do not have this holiday, I hope you’ll take a moment to remember the men and women who have given their all for you and your country.

Happy Memorial Day!

Kitty Kastle

2011-05-29T23:50:00.001-04:00

Now this kind of a kitty maze is affordable. Those fancy carpeted ones are SO overpriced. The best thing is that cats, like kids, don’t care. They’re happier playing with the box(es)!

Catnip and lolcats

2011-05-26T22:05:00.001-04:00

This makes me think of a cat who once owned me. His name was Skittles. He managed to get a sealed plastic bowl of catnip from the top of the fridge and actually get the lid off. By the time I got home he was so high he couldn’t stand up. He was putting the side of his face on the carpet and using his back toenails, um… I mean claws, to push himself through the catnip. I set him on his feet and he wobbled around a bit and fell over. I laughed so hard I thought I’d have an accident. Poor Skittles wasn’t happy with me when I vacuumed up all the catnip.

For months, he would sniff around in front of the stove, reach under as far as he could and pull out a piece of catnip. Then he’d roll around on it and purr really loud. He was a good cat and I miss him still after 15 years.

Wednesday Hero

2011-05-25T01:26:00.001-04:00

This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Michael

First Lieutenant Audie Murphy 3rd Platoon, Baker Company,

1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division

June 20, 1924 – May 28, 1971

Most people know Audie Murphy as a popular actor, but before that he was a highly distinguished Soldier in WWII. First Lieutenant Murphy was, in fact, the most decorated American Soldier in the war earning a total of 39 medals from the U.S., France and Belgium. He was awarded every medal the U.S. had at the time including 2 Silver Stars, 2 Bronze Hearts, 3 Purple Hearts and the Medal Of Honor.

You can read more about First Lieutenant Murphy here.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.

We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

The Sounds of Joplin

2011-05-23T20:32:00.001-04:00

There isn’t much to see in this video, but lots to hear. The person who recorded it has this to say.

The video i took while at Fastrip on east 20th street. We huddled in the back of the store until the glass got sucked out , then ran into the walk in storage fridge. Sorry for the lack of visuals but the audio is pretty telling of how intense the storm was. The tornado hits at around 1:20 seconds.

The pictures I’ve seen on TV are worse than any I’ve seen before. Please keep the people affected by this spring’s tornado outbreaks and especially the people of Joplin in your prayers.

The Power of Your Love

2011-05-22T17:53:00.001-04:00

I Love lolcats!

2011-05-19T15:45:00.001-04:00

There is nothing more cuddly than a sleepy kitten. What great medicine for the lucky person who encounters one.

Wednesday Hero

2011-05-18T02:53:00.001-04:00

This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Cindy

SSgt. Jason Rogers 28 years old from Brandon Mississippi 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force
April 7, 2011
"The loss of Jason Rogers is going to make this world an emptier and lonelier and colder place," said childhood friend Brandon Winfield. "I could write a War and Peace-sized story of the kind of person he was. Some people have it — the room just seemed to be dizzier and brighter with him in it." SSgt. Rogers was KIA on April 7 by an IED while on patrol with his unit in the Helmond Province of Afghanistan. "He was doing something voluntarily that he loved to do, and he felt like he was making a difference and doing something that made other people proud," said friend Derrick Brownlee. You can read more about SSgt. Rogers here.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero. We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Selective Sunshine

2011-05-16T22:38:00.001-04:00

This picture was taken from my front porch today. The clouds rolled in this afternoon and it was quite gloomy. As the sun was setting, it peeked out below the clouds creating this unusual lighting effect. The houses already in shadow and the brightly lit trees against the dark sky looked really great. The sky was darker than it looks in the photo but it’s still quite a striking contrast.

Look Ma, No Cat-vities!

2011-05-14T19:34:00.001-04:00

I got this one in an email from my brother. It made me laugh so I decided to share it with you. It’s not a lolcat, but just as good.

I guess I’m showing my age with the title of this post. Are you old enough to remember that old Crest toothpaste commercial?

A Fairy Tale Wedding

2011-05-12T22:25:00.000-04:00

I’m one of the few people in the world how had little interest in the recent royal wedding. Until a friend posted this picture on Facebook.

Wednesday Hero

2011-05-11T01:17:00.000-04:00

This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Kathi

SSgt. James I. Spurrier, Jr. (Left) 61 years old from Tennessee 134th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division December 14, 1922 - February 25, 1984 SSgt. James I. Spurrier, Jr., aka Junior J. Spurrier, distinguished himself multiple times during WWII. One of which, almost single handedly capturing the village of Achain, France, won him the Medal Of Honor. But after the war, SSgt. Spurrier had a tough time. Trouble with alcohol and run ins with the law. All due to PTSD. You can read more about SSgt. Spurrier here and here. And if you, or someone you know, is suffering with PTSD there is help.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.

We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

I Love lolcats!

2011-05-09T23:05:00.001-04:00

If you’re a regular visitor to Secondary Roads you may remember when Midnight got his toenail covers. They were cute white acrylic covers to prevent pain and/or damage. Looks like this little guy’s hooman has a thing for rainbows. Cute, huh?

Coke vs Pepsi

2011-05-07T11:08:00.001-04:00

First off, let me say that I drink neither. I don’t care for carbonated drinks and almost exclusively drink water. My MWH and my younger sister both insist on Coke products. However, my brother and brother-in-law both drink only Pepsi. That makes this commercial even funnier. I found it on Secondary Roads, my brother, Chuck’s, blog.

I’ll bet this made you laugh even if you’re a Coke drinker. Am I right?

Why I’m Fat

2011-05-05T03:43:00.001-04:00

I figured out why I’m fat! The shampoo I use in the shower that runs down my body says “for extra volume and body.” I’m going to start using Dawn dish soap. It says “dissolves fat that is otherwise difficult to remove.”

from our Women’s Ministries newsletter

It’s true! Really! I use this shampoo. It’s Flat to Volume.

Wednesday Hero

2011-05-04T01:10:00.000-04:00

Sgt. Jorge A. Diaz Sgt. Jorge A. Diaz, a squad leader with Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, receives a Bronze Star Medal with Combat V from Lt. Gen. Kenneth J. Glueck, Jr., commanding general, III Marine Expeditionary Force, during Glueck's visit to Marine Corps Base Hawaii with Sgt. Maj. Daniel J. Fierle, III MEF sergeant major, April 28, 2011. Diaz received the award for heroic achievement in connection with combat operations against the enemy during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, Sept. 17, 2010.

Photo Courtesy Of Marines.mil

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.

We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

I Love lolcats!

2011-05-02T20:32:00.001-04:00

Have you heard this old saying? It’s one that I remember from my childhood. I’ve always loved it because it’s so funny.

What’s your favorite idiom?

Tornado in Ringgold, GA

2011-04-28T10:44:00.001-04:00

This video is of the tornado that struck Ringgold, Georgia, last night. My sister-in-law lives there. This tornado missed them by just a couple of miles.

The video was on the Rome News Tribune website. They reported that 13 people were killed in a series of tornados that struck the state last night.

In an email very early this morning, my SIL reported this from a midnight newscast:

3 dead in Ringgold so far, and that number could climb overnight. Multiple injuries. A 3 story motel has collapsed. Multiple rescues in various businesses along Alabama Highway. Crews are going through neighborhoods looking for survivors and finding no homes left. Reports that a half mile of businesses have been flattened on Alabama Highway.

This is only Ringgold. There were tornados in several states last night resulting in destruction and death.

My prayers and thoughts are with all the families who suffered damage and loss last night. I’m so thankful that God protected my family.

Wednesday Hero

2011-04-27T01:10:00.000-04:00

This Weeks Post Was Suggested by Michael Col. Robert L. Howard 70 years old from Waco, Texas Army Special Forces MACV-SOG Special Operations Command Korea July 11, 1939 – December 23, 2009 You learn very quickly that Col. Robert Howard was an amazing man. Wounded 14 times in 54 months of combat. 8 Purple Hearts, 4 Bronze Stars, 2 Distinguished Service Crosses. And the awards go on from there. But it's the three Medal Of Honor nominations for three separate actions within a thirteen month period that stand out. 1st Lt. Robert Howard Receives The Medal Of Honor You can read more about Col. Robert L. Howard here and here and a tribute page dedicated to him here. These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero. We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

I Love lolcats!

2011-04-25T21:58:00.000-04:00

Isn’t it cute how all little ones – of every species – want to ‘help’ in the kitchen?

He Is Risen!

2011-04-24T01:10:00.000-04:00

Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

   “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

   Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

   She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).

This is what the empty tomb looks like today. I talked to a man who has been there. He said that he went in and out of the tomb several times. He was unable to speak and tears flowed down his cheeks. He had never been more moved in his life. What an awesome experience.

Without the Cross

2011-04-22T10:25:00.000-04:00

On this day when we remember the death of Jesus on that cruel Roman cross, we shouldn't forget why he died. It wasn't for any crime he committed. He died so that we could have life. He paid the price for our sins so that we could be forgiven. Listen to the beautiful words of this song that tells what the cross means to each of us.

Wednesday Hero

2011-04-20T01:14:00.000-04:00

Capt. Lawrence Rollo Capt. Lawrence Rollo cradles a Nigerian baby while visiting with locals during a community relations project at the Light of Dawn Government Junior Secondary School Tomarow as part of Africa Partnership Station (APS) West. APS is an international security cooperation initiative designed to strengthen global maritime partnerships through training and collaborative activities to improve maritime safety and security in Africa.Information And Photo Courtesy U.S. Navy. Taken by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Darryl Wood

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Daffys in the Snow

2011-04-18T23:04:00.000-04:00

Sunday I saw the first daffodils of the season. Monday I woke to snow! This picture was taken in my front yard late this morning when most of the snow had already melted. It’s all gone now but we may get more by morning. Spring is such a volatile season. And so beautiful – even in the snow.

Trivia From Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader

2011-04-16T23:15:00.001-04:00

This year my Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader Page-a-Day Calendar is round. And the watermark behind the text is … water. It looks like the inside of a toilet. I love this calendar. It’s full of crazy, useful, un-useful trivia. At the bottom of each day is a one line trivia fact. Here are some from this year.

-- About 230 marriage licenses are issued in Las Vegas every day.

-- Who invented the hula-hoop? -- Spud Melvin

-- The strawberry is the only fruit with its seeds on the outside of its skin.

-- At least one UFO abduction is reported in California every day. (Hmmmm…)

-- What is a piddlin? -- A baby Beluga whale.

-- Egyptian pyramid builders got three beer breaks a day.

-- Turtles fart.

-- Outer space officially begins 62 miles up.

-- One of Henry VIII’s first acts king was to have tax collectors executed. (Do you suppose he had them beheaded?)

-- A black hole in the Perseus Galaxy emits sound waves in B-flat.

-- The name Pocahontas means “Playful One.”

-- Clams can live up to 150 years.

-- An average of two people per year die from flatulence.

-- The first draft of John Steinbeck’s Of Mice And Men was eaten by his dog.

-- There are about 140,000 ladybugs to the gallon.

I Love lolcats!

2011-04-15T22:47:00.001-04:00

It’s a good thing I was at home when I was browsing lolcats today. I laughed right out loud and startled my MWH. I hope it gives you a good laugh, too. Makes you think of the old fashioned cartoons in live action instead of animation, doesn’t it?

Wednesday Hero

2011-04-13T01:29:00.000-04:00

This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Steve.

Lt. Col. Charles L. Brown 86 years old from Miami, Florida October 24, 1922 - November 24, 2008 For extraordinary heroism in military operations in WWII he was awarded the Air Force Cross our nations award for valor second only to the Medal of Honor. He flew 29 combat missions as a B-17 pilot. His many other military decorations included the Purple Heart for wounds received in combat. Upon being offered a position with the United States Department of State he took early retirement from the Air Force and continued to serve his nation as a senior Foreign Service Officer spending six years in Southeast Asia as Inspector-In- Charge, Agency for International Development, U.S. Dept. of State. Sadly couldn't find too much information on Lt. Col. Brown. The best source was his obituary. These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.

We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

I Love lolcats!

2011-04-11T20:48:00.001-04:00

I’ve been browsing over at http://icanhascheezburger.com again. This picture really grabbed me. Isn’t this a beautiful family picture?

Mark Lowry … For President?

2011-04-10T01:44:00.001-04:00

I heard this tonight for the first time and had a great laugh over it. Mark Lowry is one of my favorite comedian/singers. He loves to joke with Bill Gaither. Check out this bit.

Living Small

2011-04-08T22:30:00.000-04:00

It's really hard to believe that apartments this small actually exist. But it looks like they do. This woman will show and tell you about her life in a 90 square foot apartment. Yes, really. Ninety square feet.

Could you live in such a small space? I don't think I could.

Twenty Years Ago

2011-04-07T21:32:00.000-04:00

Twenty years ago today this wonderful man walked into my life and changed everything. We both dropped in unexpectedly on a friend. She introduced us and then told us we had to leave because their tax man was arriving. We went to a park and talked for a couple of hours. It was almost two months before friendship turned to romance and we were married the next February. It's been a great 20 years and I can hardly wait for the next twenty! I love you Rick!

Wednesday Hero

2011-04-06T01:06:00.000-04:00

This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Cindy

Marvin Hume 89 years old Cape May, New Jersey 89-year-old Marvin Hume loves his country and the Man and Woman who fight for it. Every evening, between Memorial Day and mid-October, for the last 38 years Mr. Hume, a Navy vet himself, has held a ceremony in New Jersey where he raises a flag that has been draped over a the casket of a veteran. You can read the rest of the story here. These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.

We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

My Weekend Project

2011-04-04T23:21:00.000-04:00

I've been putting off a project for quite awhile. I can blame my foot surgery for part of it, but only part. I've had peel and stick vinyl tiles for our tiny master bath for quite some time. Saturday I finally got to it and tiled that floor. The hardest part, of course, is cutting around the soil pipe. I did a good job, didn't I?

The room really is that small. The total width of that vanity really is one door and those two drawers and it's right up against the wall. But it's big enough and I love the large shower stall.

Once I finished the floor, my MWH replaced the quarter round and the toilet. Now I have to carefully scrape off all the silicone and clean the shower enclosure and doors so they can be put back. Then I think the season of remodeling will officially be finished.

Spring Really Is Coming!

2011-03-31T17:46:00.001-04:00

Spring is struggling to come. There is evidence in my front yard that winter is drawing to a close. We’ve had beautiful sunshine this week, but it’s still pretty cold. Be patient, though, and we’ll all be complaining of the heat in about 3 or 4 months.

Wednesday Hero

2011-03-29T22:59:00.000-04:00

This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Michael

Cpl. Lloyd Oliver 88 years old from Glendale, Arizona April 23, 1923 - March 16, 2011 "Am I a hero? I don't know. Yeah. I'll be a hero. I'll go for that. Yeah." Wednesday Hero profiled the Code Talkers way back in 2005. But this week it is honoring Cpl. Lloyd Oliver. Cpl. Oliver was one of the original 29 Navajo Code Talkers. He joined the Marines in 1942 at the age of 19 because he wanted to serve his country. Which he did, proudly, for three years. In 2001 he received the Congressional Gold Medal for being one of the original 29 Navajo Code Talkers. He passed away on March 16 of pancreatitis. Cpl. Oliver was only one of two remaining original Navajo Code Talkers. Not only have we lost a great man, a brave man, but a piece of history is another step closer to being gone forever. We must keep them, and their place in it, alive for future generations. You can read more about Cpl. Lloyd Oliver here and here.These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.

We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

I Love Other People's Dogs

2011-03-28T23:55:00.000-04:00

If you know me at all, you've probably heard me say that I love other people's dogs. I really do. Dogs are great as long as they don't go home with me. They're a little too high maintenance for me. But I love them.

This adorable trio came to me in an email. They're just so cute I had to share them with you.

The Cat Ate Who???

2011-03-28T01:10:00.001-04:00

This guy is so funny! I posted another video by him last week. You should check him out on YouTube.

I Can NOT Has Cheezburger

2011-03-26T23:11:00.000-04:00

I found this picture yesterday and had a really good laugh. Look at those eyes! The caption is perfect, isn't it?

This cat reminded me of poor Lyle. Neither kitty gets to enjoy a cheeseburger.

Wednesday Hero

2011-03-23T13:11:00.000-04:00

This Weeks Post Was Inspired By Sgt. Epler

Sgt. Ed Eaton
From Tillamook, Oregon

While many view snipers as the hidden (safe) threats in war based on their forays in First Person Shooter video games and movies like Saving Private Ryan and Enemy at The Gates, the fact of the matter is that snipers like any other soldiers in war are very susceptible to danger – especially in the case of Sergeant Ed Eaton’s brave protection and rescue of comrade in arms Major Mike Perkins when he had fallen injured in a night assault during the Vietnam war 1969

You can read more about Sgt. Eaton here. A quick caveat though. In doing research for this post this is the best site I could find for information on Sgt. Eaton. It's not a site that I would normally link to for Wednesday Hero, but, like I said, it has the best information. There's nothing really bad on it, but it may have some posts that some may not like.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

I Love lolcats

2011-03-22T07:00:00.001-04:00

And I especially love Itteh Bitteh Kitteh Committees.

Country Music Can Be Funny

2011-03-19T20:09:00.000-04:00

Need a good laugh? Check this out.

World Guitar Speed Record

2011-03-17T01:14:00.000-04:00

Holy Cow!! This guy is unbelievable. You have to watch this. I had to look pretty far to find his name. And, yes, he’s in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Tiago della Vega is a Brazilian guitarist.
Born, March 8, 1984 (age 26)

World Guitar Speed Record - Watch more Videos at Vodpod.

Wednesday Hero

2011-03-16T01:10:00.000-04:00

This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Michael Cpl. Frank Woodruff Buckles 110 years old from Charles Town, West Virginia 1st Fort Riley Casual Detachment February 1, 1901 – February 27, 2011 On February 27, Frank Woodruff Buckles, America's last surviving WWI veteran, passed away at the age of 110. During The Great War he served as an ambulance driver. In 1920 he was discharged from the Army. In 1942, while working for the White Star and W.R. Grace shipping companies, he was captured by the Japanese and spent three years in the Los Baños prison camp. He became malnourished and dropped down to to below 100 pounds. You can read the rest of Cpl. Buckles story here and here. These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.

We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Adorable Kittens

2011-03-14T23:46:00.001-04:00

Aren’t these the cutest kittens ever? OK, OK, I know they’re cubs not kittens. But they’re obviously still babies. I think it would be awesome to get loving like this!

Japan Before and After

2011-03-13T15:48:00.001-04:00

I don’t have a picture for this post. But I’m going to direct you to the most dramatic before and after pictures I’ve found. These photos have a sliding bar thru the pictures. If you pull it to the right you see the before picture. If you pull it to the left you see after. Please pray for the people and nation of Japan.

Philoslothical

2011-03-10T23:40:00.000-05:00

I have a thing about spelling words correctly. For example I hate it when someone uses your instead of you’re. But I also love to make up words. This one is so perfect. And that adorable face! How could you not love that face.

So I’ve told you about one of my obsessions and the contradiction which just doesn’t seem to me to make any sense. What obsessions do you have?

Wednesday Hero

2011-03-09T01:10:00.000-05:00

Senior Airman Nicholas J. Alden and Airman 1st Class Zachary R. Cuddeback March 2, 2011 On March 2, a gunman walked into a Frankfurt, Germany airport and shot four people, killing two of them. They were: Senior Airman Nicholas J. Alden who was 25-years-old from Williamston, S.C. He was assigned to the 48th Security Forces Squadron at RAF Lakenheath in England. Airman 1st Class Zachary R. Cuddeback of Stanardsville, Va. He was assigned to the 86th Vehicle Readiness Squadron at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. Both Men were being deployed to Afghanistan. I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say our thoughts and prayers go out to the friends and families these Men left behind. Information Was Found On And Copied From MilitaryCity.com These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero. We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

A Creek in the Back Yard

2011-03-07T22:50:00.001-05:00

It’s only temporary. It appears when snow is melting and the ground is still frozen. We also see it in the summer following a really heavy rain. The little stream flows into a pond behind our neighbor’s house. You can see it at the left in the photo below.

The strip with the ‘creek’ is owned by the county so we don’t actually back up to the lot on the other street. During the summer we have a green wall between us but during the winter we can see through. It’s really nice at Christmas. Quite a few people decorate their decks. It looks really nice.

The Story of Jonah

2011-03-05T16:25:00.000-05:00

This little girl is a great story teller. She really gets into it with voice changes and motions. You'll love it.

The story of Jonah from Corinth Baptist Church on Vimeo.

Finally Back On Two Feet

2011-03-04T21:59:00.001-05:00

On Feb 1 I had surgery to straighten the big toe on my right foot. I couldn’t put any weight on it for a month! Who would have thought that sitting in my recliner in front of my computer would get so old. I didn’t have to use crutches, a walker, or a wheelchair to get around. I had this wonderful little scooter to kneel on. I loved it! I had to constantly remind myself to behave because I just wanted to scoot around really fast.

Yesterday I received permission from my doctor to walk in the surgical boot. And it 2 weeks I expect to be wearing a shoe! Here’s proof.

Wednesday Hero

2011-03-02T17:42:00.002-05:00

This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Michael

Lt. Cmd. Edward Henry "Butch" O'Hare
From St. Louis, Missouri
Fighting Squadron Three (VF-3)
March 13, 1914 – November 26, 1943

From Butch O'Hare's Medal Of Honor citation:

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Lieutenant Edward Henry "Butch" O'Hare (NSN: 0-78672), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in aerial combat, at grave risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty, as section leader and pilot of Fighting Squadron Three (VF-3), attached to the U.S.S. LEXINGTON, on 20 February 1942. Having lost the assistance of his teammates, Lieutenant O'Hare interposed his plane between his ship and an advancing enemy formation of nine attacking twin-engine heavy bombers. Without hesitation, alone and unaided, he repeatedly attacked this enemy formation, at close range in the face of intense combined machinegun and cannon fire. Despite this concentrated opposition, Lieutenant O'Hare, by his gallant and courageous action, his extremely skillful marksmanship in making the most of every shot of his limited amount of ammunition, shot down five enemy bombers and severely damaged a sixth before they reached the bomb release point. As a result of his gallant action--one of the most daring, if not the most daring, single action in the history of combat aviation--he undoubtedly saved his carrier from serious damage.

The U.S. Navy's first Flying Ace. Awarded the Medal Of Honor, Navy Cross, 2 Distinguished Flying Crosses & the Purple Heart. An airport and a Navy destroyer named after him. And a connection to Al Capone. You can read much more about Lt. Cmd. O'Hare here.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

I Love lolcats

2011-03-01T14:14:00.001-05:00

I’ve been prowling around over at I Can Has Cheezeburger again. This ‘kitteh’ made me laugh and cry. Isn’t she cute? That tail looks pasted on because of the coloring. She has to be the most unusual calico I’ve ever seen.

The thing that made me tear up is that I knew a cat who was all white with a yellow tail. She was sweet and loving. Sadly she went the way of too many outdoor cats. So this is in part a humorous picture and part a tribute to Yellow Tail. My brother, Chuck at Secondary Roads, was owned by Yellow Tail. He was kind enough to send me a picture of her and this comment.

I remember how she would walk with me down to the mailbox and back. Every few steps she’d flop on her back in front of me so that I’d give her some tummy rubs. I miss that!

Wednesday Hero

2011-02-23T01:11:00.000-05:00

Cmd. David John Sperling 78 years old from Pensacola, Florida Attack Squadron 153 April 3, 1929 - March 17, 2008 From the citation upon being awarded the Silver Star: The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Commander David John Sperling (NSN: 0-555189), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action as the Pilot of a jet aircraft while attached to Attack Squadron ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-THREE (VA-153), embarked in U.S.S. CORAL SEA (CVA-43). On 25 October 1967, Commander Sperling flew as a major group leader in a coordinated Air Wing assault on the Phuc Yen Air Base near Hanoi, North Vietnam. Being the prime operating base for MiG fighter aircraft, Phuc Yen was defended by the most concentrated and formidable array of surface-to-air missiles, anti-aircraft artillery and automatic weapons to be found in all of North Vietnam. Courageously leading his group of attack aircraft over 120 miles of hostile territory into this bastion of defensive armor, Commander Sperling exhibited outstanding airmanship and unwavering determination while maneuvering for the highly vulnerable attack position. In spite of the unprecedented barrage of surface-to-air missiles and anti-aircraft fire, he calmly established the essential bombing pattern and delivered his ordnance with exceptional accuracy on the revetted enemy airplanes to destroy or damage several parked MiG aircraft. His resolute actions and professional skill set the tone for the remainder of his force and succeeded in turning a potentially disastrous situation into a highly successful assault on the enemy. Commander Sperling's gallant and inspirational leadership upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. Cmd. Sperling's obituary.These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.

We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

2011 Best In Show

2011-02-21T06:58:00.001-05:00

I love other people’s dogs. They’re just a little too high maintenance for me. My daughter got me interested in the Westminster Dog Show when we first had cable way back when. This beauty is the winner of Best In Show this year. The ribbons and trophies are pretty impressive, too. Info below is from this website.

The 2011 Best In Show Trophy was awarded to "GCH Foxcliffe Hickory Wind" a.k.a. "Hickory," a Scottish Deerhound.

19 GCH Foxcliffe Hickory Wind
Breed: Scottish Deerhound
Sex: Bitch
AKC: HP 20581907
Date of Birth: December 20, 2005
Breeder: Cecilia L Dove & Dr R Scott Dove
Sire: Thistleglen Newell
Dam: Foxcliffe Summoning Charms
Owner: Sally Sweatt & Cecilia L Dove & Dr R Scott Dove
Photos: Breed judging / Group judging

More lolcats!

2011-02-18T01:18:00.000-05:00

Studies have shown that laughter is very healthy. So I regularly go to icanhascheezburger.com and laugh. Here a a few of my favorites with captions related to the attitudes cats have regarding food and our duty to feed them.

Wednesday Hero

2011-02-16T01:15:00.000-05:00

This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Michael

Petty Officer First Class Robert R. Scott 26 years old from Massillion, Ohio December 7, 1941 Robert Raymond Scott joined the U.S. Navy in 1938. Was was assigned to the U.S.S. California and was stationed in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. On December 7, 1941 the California was hit by a torpedo during the attack. While other personnel were evacuated, Machinist's Mate First Class Scott remained at his station. He didn't survive. For his actions he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. And the U.S. Navy named the destroyer escort USS Scott (DE-214) in his honor in 1943.From his citation: For conspicuous devotion to duty, extraordinary courage and complete disregard of his own life, above and beyond the call of duty, during the attack on the Fleet in Pearl Harbor by Japanese forces on 7 December 1941. The compartment, in the U.S.S. California, in which the air compressor, to which Scott was assigned as his battle station, was flooded as the result of a torpedo hit. The remainder of the personnel evacuated that compartment but Scott refused to leave, saying words to the effect "This is my station and I will stay and give them air as long as the guns are going."These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.

We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

I Love lolcats!

2011-02-14T12:07:00.001-05:00

OK, so it’s a tiny pig not a cat. Isn’t he just adorable? And I really love the caption that’s a takeoff on the movie Babe.

picture from icanhascheezburger.com

Infinite Cat Project Challenge

2011-02-11T14:59:00.001-05:00

Have those of you owned by cats found The Infinite Cat Project yet? Have you submitted your furry master’s picture? If you have, please put the link in the comments so I can go see him/her. If you haven’t you might want to do it.

This is kitty #22 - Jackie watching Tiger watching Farrusko...

All you have to do is bring up the most recent cat – 1705 as of the writing of this post – and take a picture of your cat looking at the screen and submit it. Simple right? Then go look at the other pictures and say “Oh, this one is so cute” until you realize it’s 3:30AM and you have to go to work in the morning.

I had to let my cats go live with someone else so I don’t have a lovely feline to snap a picture of. But if you have one please accept this challenge. Take a picture of Midnight or Hobbes or Fluffy or Daisy looking at the latest cat in the project. Then go to The Infinite Cat Project and submit your baby’s picture. Finally, please leave a link to it in the comments so I can go coo over it.

Wednesday Hero

2011-02-09T01:56:00.000-05:00

This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Cindy

SSgt. Ronell Bradley

On Sept. 21, 2005, SSgt. Ronell Bradley gave two legs and part of a hand for his country when the Humvee he was riding in was hit by a roadside bomb and now he needs our help to get his handicapped-accessible home built. If you're in the Charlotte, South Carolina area you can help. You can read the piece here.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Vince Lombardi

2011-02-07T01:30:00.000-05:00

If you aren’t way up here in the Boomer generation with me, this is probably what you think of when you hear the name Lombardi.

But I have different memories associated with that name. When I was a kid I loved to watch football with my dad. He was a Detroit Lions fan, but even more he was a fan of The Great Vince Lombardi. You may not always see it capitalized like that, but that’s how you say it. Capitalized. In a reverent voice.

I remember him as the head coach of the Green Bay Packers from 1959 to 1967. Dad admired him because he believed in discipline, excellence, and commitment. Dad believed in those things, too. This Lombardi quote embodies Dad.

“You don’t do things right once in a while…you do them right all the time.”

Oh, yeah, the Vince Lombardi Super Bowl Trophy when home to Green Bay last night.

Rick Mercer Report

2011-02-05T23:00:00.001-05:00

I have a new favorite. Or should I say favourite? This is definitely my kind of humor. I hope you enjoy it.

So Thankful For New Windows

2011-02-03T18:56:00.001-05:00

We went thru some major home renovations in November and December of 2010. It was exciting and stressful and wonderful and SUCH a mess. But we survived it and are loving our changes. We had all new windows installed, some roof repair done, painted everywhere on the main floor and replaced all the carpeting on that floor with a beautiful walnut laminate.

Today I’m extremely excited about our new windows. Here’s why.

It’s not because I can see out to the woods thru them. It’s because a full day and a half after we received 20 inches of snow there is still snow on the edge of the window! Our old windows leaked like crazy. I could easily feel a draft around all the entire window but especially where the two windows came together. We never had snow accumulate on the old windows like this. It always melted too fast. This is so amazing! It’s also why we’re much more comfortable inside this winter.

I’m so thankful for our new windows. What are you thankful for today?

Wednesday Hero

2011-02-01T23:20:00.000-05:00

Gunnery Sgt. Richard Romo Gunnery Sgt. Richard Romo, team chief with Civil Affairs attached to 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 2, speaks to several Afghans during a patrol through the bazaar in Musa Qal'eh, Jan. 25. During the patrol the Marines inspected the location of an up-coming traffic circle in the bazaar. Photo Courtesy United States Marine Corps.

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Deer In The Night

2011-01-28T13:45:00.001-05:00

We’ve had some beautiful snowy days and nights here in Michigan. Sometimes we get a few inches and sometimes we just enjoy the beautiful flurries for an hour or so. I love it when the flakes clump together to form what I like to call Christmas card snow.

If you live in an area that gets snow you know that when the moon is out and the ground is snow covered it can be quite bright. A few weeks ago I was up much later than I should have been. I looked out and saw a deer in the street and another coming out from behind a house across the corner. And another! There were four in all. They just roamed around the lawn across the street. Then they came across the street and went beside our house into the back yard. I quickly switched windows but something – probably me – spooked them and they took off.

I wish I had been able to take a picture to show you how beautiful they were. As I was browsing around the internet I found this picture. It could have been taken in our back yard that night. They’re such beautiful animals.

I’m using the picture with the artist’s permission. Please go check out Joni Johnson-Godsy’s site. She takes and paints amazing pictures.

Wednesday Hero

2011-01-26T00:22:00.001-05:00

Cpl. Jason A. Karella
20 years old from Anchorage, Alaska
2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force
October 9, 2008

Cpl. Jason A. Karella died supporting combat operations in the Farah province of Afghanistan when the Humvee he was riding in rolled over. He had given up his, as his Father described "best seat in the armored Humvee" to the turret gunner who wasn't feeling well that day.

"My son was proud of what he stood for," said his father, Kevin. "He had a fiancee named Beth and he said to me, 'Dad, I don't have to worry about Beth getting blown up in a market over there because we're keeping them busy here.'"

Karella grew up in a strong military family, with his father a former chief warrant officer in the Army, and his brother Josh also having served in Iraq.

Marines recognized Karella for his incredible strength, which he used to carry large amounts of ammunition with him in the battlefield. They referred to him as "the walking ammo supply point" and "the walking arsenal." Well-respected among his peers, he was awaiting a promotion to Sergeant at the time of his death.

This page has a nice background piece on Cpl. Karell.

Information Was Found On And Copied From MilitaryCity.com

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Exercise–Stair Climbing

2011-01-24T04:29:00.000-05:00

Most of us avoid exercising as much as possible. I certainly do. Stair climbing is excellent exercise. A quick way to get out of breath and all sweaty. So let’s take the elevator or escalator!
I really need to add regular exercise to my life. It will lower my blood sugar and my weight. Blood sugar is pretty good, but the weight isn’t. I wish someone would install a staircase like this one in Lansing. I’d spend all my time playing on the stairs!

Wouldn’t this be fun?! If you could get a few other people to help out you could play some simple tunes.
Would you take these stairs or use the escalator?

Fuzz Lightyear

2011-01-22T00:52:00.000-05:00

My grandson is a big fan of Buzz Lightyear. I prefer little fuzzy in the picture. Isn't he cute?

Wednesday Hero

2011-01-18T22:05:00.001-05:00

This Weeks Post Was Suggested & Written By Beth

Maj. Dick Winters 92 years old from Hershey, Pennsylvania Company E, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne Division January 21, 1918 – January 2, 2011 Maj. Richard "Dick" Winters passed away a couple of weeks ago and Beth has written a wonderful piece honoring his service and his life. Some of the awards Maj. Winters was honored with for his service: Distinguished Service Cross, Bronze Star with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart, Presidential Unit Citation with one Oak Leaf Cluster, American Defense Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 3 service stars and arrow device, World War II Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, Croix de guerre with palm, French Liberation Medal, Oorlogskruis with palm, Belgian WWII Service Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge with 2 combat stars and the Medal of the City of Eindhoven These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero. We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

How to Lose 2 Pounds in 2 Days

2011-01-17T11:34:00.001-05:00

OK, I'm a thief. I admit it. But this was too funny not to repost. I found it at We Work For Cheese, a blog I visit regularly through Adgitize.

If you are not already an Adgitize publisher/advertiser, please click the button in the sidebar and sign up. It really increases your traffic and you can make a little money while you’re at it. Plus you find great websites and blogs.

Now back this great article. Enjoy!

I can help you be skinnier, but I can't do anything about that bathing suit.

I know you’re all skeptical. I was too. But it’s true. I did it myself. I discovered the secret to weight loss and I will share it with you. For FREE! Yes, that’s right. For FREE! Because I care about you and your muffin tops, your love handles, your jiggly bits, your spare tires, your thunder thighs, your larger-than-size-4 ass.

It really isn’t a complicated process. You don’t even have to give up your favourite foods. Simply find someone who has the stomach flu, preferably a child. A really young child. Let that child kiss you directly on the mouth. If that child doesn’t already live with you, invite them into your home for a few days. Have that child throw up on your feet a couple of times. Let them sleep in your bed.

It shouldn’t take you longer than 24 hours to starting throwing up yourself. It’s safe to say that when you reach the point where you are throwing up the bubble gum you accidentally swallowed in 4th grade, you’ve lost at least a pound.

Now, I know everyone wants to lose weight without actually having to exercise. And I’ve shown you how you can do that. But if you really want to optimize the weight loss, you’ll need to add just a simple workout routine to your regimen in order to lose that second pound by day 2.

Make sure you and the child sleep as far away from the bathroom as possible. This way you’ll have to run several times a day/night in order to make sure you don’t throw up in bed. Also, when the child needs to throw up, you intensify your run by adding “weightlifting” to the program as you haul said child to the can. Also, when the child starts to vomit mid-run, you further intensify your workout with creative stretching/contorting movements necessary to dodge the spew. Don’t forget the deep knee-bends as you disinfect the bathroom each and every time.

Finish off the routine by carrying all your germ-infested laundry into the the basement for disinfecting after each bathroom run. Changing your sheets 10 times a day is the “cool down” after such an intensive session, and allows you to collapse in a weak, shivering, clammy, feverish pile until you’re ready to start again.

Repeat as necessary.

You’re welcome.

I’m Soooo Glad It’s Over!

2011-01-15T21:16:00.001-05:00

Oh, no. I was never like this (except nearly every day). How about you?

What Would You Do?

2011-01-14T14:52:00.001-05:00

I saw this news story on TV today and had to look into it. This 8-year-old girl won the chance to sing the National Anthem at Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia. She has a beautiful voice and incredible poise. As she is singing there is a technical problem with the mike. You can hear a boom and then nothing. This amazing child doesn’t miss a beat. She just keeps on singing. In less than a measure, the crowd is singing with her. The news story said that the players tapped their sticks at the end as their way of applauding her.

Elizabeth and her mother were on Fox News. She was asked for advice if someone was really nervous about singing in front of a crowd. This 8-year-old’s answer was this. “It’s OK to be nervous. You just have to get out there and keep going no matter what happens.” And that’s exactly what she did. Her parents must be bursting with pride. The crowd is to be commended as well for joining in and helping her finish.

Please enjoy this video. Oh, by the way, Elizabeth has already been invited back to sing again.

Wednesday Hero

2011-01-12T08:22:00.001-05:00

Seaman Leah King

Ship's Serviceman Seaman Leah King brushes off excess hair after cutting a Sailor's hair inside the barbershop aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). Carl Vinson and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 are on a deployment to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility.

Information And Photo Were Found On And Copied From Navy.mil

Photo courtesy Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Travis K. Mendoza

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

From My Inbox – Wilson Footballs

2011-01-11T09:06:00.001-05:00

I have always loved watching shows about how things are made. When I was a kid there was a show on Saturday mornings called Industry On Parade. It was just a short segment between shows or during a break in a show. It was one of my favorite things to watch.

Now I watch How It’s Made, Factory Made, and any other show I can find in that venue. I find it fascinating to learn the secrets they’re willing to share. Some things, of course, are industry secrets and cannot be divulged.

This video came in my inbox and I liked it so much I’ve decided to share it with you. There is a small company in Ada, Ohio, that makes all the footballs for the NFL. It is the only product they make and they make them all year. I was impressed by how long the workers have been with the company. That’s probably why they produce such an outstanding football.

Pretty amazing isn’t it? Do you like to watch ‘how to’ videos?

Amazing Goat

2011-01-10T11:30:00.001-05:00

I was over at Secondary Roads watching a Giggle With Goats video this morning. I love watching kids bounce around. That let me to YouTube looking for more funny goat videos. I watched bouncing kids, fainting goats, When Goats Attack, and more. All were adorable. But this little guy is amazing. How do they manage to stay on those walls?

Is Breakfast Ready Yet?

2011-01-07T21:10:00.000-05:00

These have to be the cutest kittens ever.

Wednesday Hero

2011-01-05T01:10:00.002-05:00

This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Kathi
Jordan Brown An 11-year-old from Lebanon County in Pennsylvania, Jordan Brown has long been fascinated by World War II and one old soldier in particular -- Dick Winters, the Easy Company commander made famous by the HBO mini-series "Band of Brothers." Mr. Winters, a Lancaster native who lives in Hershey, is 92 and has Parkinson's disease. But a statue of him is going up in France, and Jordan has taken it upon himself to raise money for it by selling $1 rubber wristbands in the tradition of Lance Armstrong's yellow "Live Strong" bracelets. You can read the rest of the story here.These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived
This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Sun Dogs

2011-01-04T15:08:00.001-05:00

We arrived home last night from a week spent in Virginia with our daughter, son-in-law, grandkids and granddogs. Our granddaughter is sick – we’re waiting to find out if it’s mono. Other than that it was a very pleasant week.

We spent yesterday afternoon chasing sun dogs across Ohio. As we crossed Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. But in Ohio, as the sun passed us a few wispy clouds began to form and the rainbows began to sparkle. As the clouds moved the sun dogs changed. The view just kept getting better and better culminating in a beautiful sunset.

I love watching the sky no matter the season. It’s never the same. Sometimes there are wispy clouds. Sometimes only jet trails. Sometime puffy little clouds look like animals or people. And my favorite are the towering clouds of thunderstorms. Then there are awesome light shows accompanied by booming thunder!

Do you watch the sky? What is your favorite view?

cows & cows & cows

2011-01-02T01:10:00.002-05:00

My daughter sent me a link to this guy's You Tube channel. He has some crazy videos. I really liked this one and decided to share it with you. Go check out some of his other stuff, too.

What do you think? Too weird or a little bit amazing?

Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T01:04:00.001-05:00

In New York they drop a beautiful crystal ball to commemorate the new year. In Brasstown, NC, they drop a possum.

Yes, you read it right. In that glittering cage is a possum. It sounds like a family fun kind of celebration. There is a beauty contest with no women and the church choir sings among other events.

We celebrated with our kids and grandkids, football and the ball drop in New York. Tomorrow will be more football. I love this weekend because I love to watch football on TV. Sadly, Michigan and Michigan State play at the same time. But our SIL has a plan. He’s recording both games and we’ll watch the first half of one game then the other. Then we’ll watch the second halves.

What did you do for New Year’s Eve? Do you spend New Year’s Day watching football? I wish you the very best for 2011.

Ducklings In The Wind

2010-12-31T09:27:00.000-05:00

These little ducklings are no match for the wind. Even Mama has trouble standing against it.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Wednesday Hero

2010-12-29T10:21:00.000-05:00

First Lieutenant Gregory F. Ambrosia
28 years old from Knoxville, Tennessee
2d Battalion (Airborne), 503d Parachute Infantry Regiment, 173d Airborne Brigade

Seven Deadly Sins – lolcat Style

2010-12-27T01:52:00.001-05:00

I love lolcats. Whenever I need a good laugh I go to I Can Has Cheezeburger and browse. I found this the other day and just had to share it with you. I hope it makes you laugh, too.

Have a Blessed Christmas

2010-12-25T01:10:00.004-05:00

Today we celebrate an event that changed the world. You can't escape it. Every time you write the date you celebrate this day. The AD stands for 'the year of our LORD'. Even if you don't include the AD, the year alone is telling how many years ago Jesus was born. He changed so much more than our calendar. We give gifts at Christmas to commemorate the gifts the Wise Men brought. It was churches established to worship God that founded charities and hospitals. Much of our society is based on the teachings of Jesus. Even our laws: don't murder, don't steal, don't be a false witness.... I'm so glad Jesus came to earth as a baby, grew to be a man, and rescued us from the Kingdom of Darkness, bringing us into the Kingdom of His Light. Please enjoy this wonderful song proclaiming all that Jesus is.

Wednesday Hero

2010-12-23T22:33:00.002-05:00

I sat here trying to think how to start this post. What did I want it to say? How long did I want it to be? I wasn't sure how to begin. I turned on some Christmas music to help get me in the right frame of mind to write a Christmas Wednesday Hero post, but it wasn't really helping. I mean, how do you properly thank a group of people who have given up everything in their lives to serve you and protect people all over the world with just a single post on a silly blog? Many of these Men and Women haven't seen their friends and families in months and many won't be seeing them for many more months. How do you thank them? They are away from home during the time of year when everyone should be together. How do you thank them for that? Some of them will never see their home or loved ones again because they laid down their life for a complete stranger. How do you thank them for that? I guess the better question would be are we able to thank them enough?

To all those who have completed their service, the ones who are serving, the ones who have payed the ultimate sacrifice and those who may have never served but help those who have and are, Thank You and Merry Christmas.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

It's Monday!

2010-12-20T13:03:00.000-05:00

This used to be me on a Monday morning.

Now that I'm retired, Mondays are not nearly as stressful as they used to be.

What's your Monday like?

How Great He Is!

2010-12-19T14:32:00.000-05:00

What's The Best Novel You've Read That Was Written Before You Were Born?

2010-12-17T15:50:00.000-05:00

What a question. I've read more novels than I could ever count. Most written by current authors. But I've also read many, many novels written before I was born.

I loved Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House books. My third grade teacher read Little House in the Big Woods to us and I was hooked! I hit the library as soon as she was done to read the rest of the books. I read the series more than once. I introduced them to my daughter and also read some of the series with my granddaughter.

My favorite and arguably the best novel from pre-Clara days, though, has to be Gone With the Wind. I read this book the first time when I was in junior high school. I was probably 12 or 13 years old. I'm pretty sure I chose it because it was the fattest book on the shelf other than War and Peace and I tried reading that. I really did. But I couldn't pronounce any of the names. In all, I read the book three times before I graduated from high school. And I've read it at least once more since then.

I was so into GWTW that I read anything I could get my hands on about Margaret Mitchell. I wanted to read more of her books but discovered that she only wrote this one book. Gone With the Wind became a major motion picture, of course. In 1939 as Margaret Mitchell was crossing the street in Atlanta to enter the theater and see the premier of the movie she was struck by a car and killed. In recent years, several have tried to 'finish' the story of Scarlett and Rhett but none has come close to the original. Here's the trailer for the movie.

When I was in high school, I had a 'date' with my dad to see the movie. That was a memorable experience. It is a memorable book.

So I want to know - What's the best novel you've read that was written before you were born?

Wednesday Hero

2010-12-15T16:53:00.000-05:00

SSgt. Brent Schneider
From Amarillo, Texas
2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment

A Green Country military mom is especially proud of her soldier son. He's on his second tour of duty in Afghanistan, and now he's been honored for his bravery under fire with a Silver Star.

It's not his first medal.

For a mother with a son in a war zone, Lisa Wheat is pretty cool, calm and collected.

"I'm comfortable because I know the training he's had. He's had excellent training. And I just have all of the confidence in the world in him," Lisa Wheat said.

You can read the rest of the article here and the Stars & Stripes piece here.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.

We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Great Christmas Carol

2010-12-14T04:00:00.001-05:00

Hope this helps you get into the Christmas spirit.

From My Inbox - Helpful Hints For Winter

2010-12-13T13:04:00.000-05:00

This is a picture of my backyard taken yesterday from a basement window. Awesome, isn't it? It was still snowing when I took the picture but the snow stopped by about 8:30. That's when it got really cold. Yesterday and today the roads have been really bad. With budget cuts all around, the road crews are unable to put down as much salt as they used to. We saw 4 cars in the ditch last night in about a 1/4 mile stretch.

So I thought I'd share these hints from my inbox. They all sound great. The only one I've tried before is the rubbing alcohol on the wipers. That works great! It not only stops the squeaking but it extends the life of the wiper blades.

Enjoy! And please forgive me I can't help singing "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!"

Keep your headlights clear with car wax! Just wipe ordinary car wax on your headlights. It contains special water repellents that will prevent that messy mixture from accumulating on your lights – lasts 6 weeks.

Squeak-proof your wipers with rubbing alcohol! Wipe the wipers with a cloth saturated with rubbing alcohol or ammonia. This one trick can make badly streaking & squeaking wipers change to near perfect silence & clarity.

Ice-proof your windows with vinegar! Frost on it's way? Just fill a spray bottle with three parts vinegar to one part water & spritz it on all your windows at night. In the morning, they'll be clear of icy mess. Vinegar contains acetic acid, which raises the melting point of water---preventing water from freezing!

Prevent car doors from freezing shut with cooking spray! Spritz cooking oil on the rubber seals around car doors & rub it in with a paper towel. The cooking spray prevents water from melting into the rubber

Fog-proof your windshield with shaving cream! Spray some shaving cream on the inside of your windshield & wipe if off with paper towels. Shaving cream has many of the same ingredients found in commercial defoggers.

De-ice your lock in seconds with hand sanitizer! Just put some hand sanitizer gel on the key and the lock & the problem’s solved!