Friday, May 9, 2008

The new Five Dollar Bill...


I'm back... just for a few minutes... Here is a copy of the new 5 dollar bill that is currently being circulated...Since February 28, my husband and I and our beloved dog, Mize, have been living in 3 room motel in Hinesville. I have continued to work and will retire on May 30, 2008. We are waiting for our house to be completed and found out this past weekend it will not be until May 21... I am so anxious to move back into a real house... Lou and I are always getting in each other's way.... we just laugh and tell each other ... only so many days left... and then we will be retired...together...
Well, time to close... hope to visit with you'all soon. MMM


Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Gotta go, gotta go!


So long, farewell, Auf wiedersehen, good night,

I hate to go and leave this pretty sight.

So long, farewell, Auf wiedersehen, adieu, Adieu, adieu,

To yieu and yieu and yieu.

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Being a Grandma, I can do anything...



PSALM 127: 3 Children are God's heritage.

Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

Thank you God for letting me be a Grandma!

MMM

Thursday, February 21, 2008

I'm thanking You... because you haven't given up on a wretch like me...


DEAR GOD:

I want to thank You for what you have already done.
I am not going to wait until I see results or receive rewards; I am thanking you right now.
I am not going to wait until I feel better or things look better; I am thanking you right now.
I am not going to wait until people say they are sorry or until they stop talking about me; I am thanking you right now.
I am not going to wait until the pain in my body disappears; I am thanking you right now.
I am not going to wait until my financial situation improves; I am going to thank you right now.
I am not going to wait until the children are asleep and the house is quiet; I am going to thank you right now.
I am not going to wait until I get promoted at work or until I get the job; I am going to thank you right now.
I am not going to wait until I understand every experience in my life that has caused me pain or grief; I am thanking you right now.
I am not going to wait until the journey gets easier or the challenges are removed; I am thanking you right now.
I am thanking you because I am alive.
I am thanking you because I made it through the day's difficulties.
I am thanking you because I have walked around the obstacles.
I am thanking you because I have the ability and the opportunity to do more and do better.
I'm thanking you because FATHER, YOU haven't given up on me.

God is just so good, and he's good all the time.

Monday, February 18, 2008

The latest in vehicle security...

I rec'd this little movie over the weekend... and I am still laughing...

probably would need to get a huge supply of bananas...

MMM

Friday, February 15, 2008

Going to the highest bidder - Yikes!

If this is contracted out... we are all in a world of HURT!

MMM

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Get a job by learning wetback English...

I wish I had taken this language course instead of Spanish... I may have found a better job...

No, seriously... I do have something to say about when I appled for a job while working for Los Angeles County Public Library System ... While in Library School, I specialized in Audio-Visual, hoping to be an A-V Librarian... After receiving my Master of Science in Library Science (MSLS) from the University of Southern California, I applied for an A-V Librarian position with LA County. I interviewed but was not selected for the position... now, here is the kicker... Because I had worked in the A-V department for over 5 years... I was asked to train the new AV Librarian... I refused and asked to be transferred to another Library within the County System. It was not long after that I was selected by the Army Library Program, and I began my professional career as the Reference Librarian at Leighton Barracks for the Wuerzburg Military Community... I have been an Army Librarian for over 32 years... and I love it. My husband has always said..."Your job is like a paid hobby."... MMM

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Don't let the devil leave his bags...

You got out of a bad relationship because it was bad,
but you are still resentful and angry,
You let the devil leave his bags

You got out of financial debt, but you still can't
control the desire to spend on frivolous things.
You let the devil leave his bags

You got out of a bad habit or addiction, but you still
long to try it just one more time
You let the devil leave his bags

You said, I forgive you, but you can't seem to forget
and have peace with that person
You let the devil leave his bags

You told your unequally yoked mate that it was over,
but you still continue to call.
You let the devil leave his bags

You got out of that horribly oppressive job, but you are
still trying to sabotage the company after you've left
You let the devil leave his bags

You cut off the affair with that married man/woman, but
you still lust after him/her.
You let the devil leave his bags

You broke off your relationship with that hurtful,
abusive person, but you are suspicious and distrusting of every
new person you meet.
You let the devil leave his bags

You decided to let go of the past hurts from growing up
in an unstable environment, yet you believe you are unworthy
of love from others and you refuse to get attached to anyone
You let the devil leave his bags

When you put the devil out, please make sure he takes his bags!

Get thee behind me, devil

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Random political thoughts... I'm a little ADD...



Agenda for the 2008 Democratic National Convention (Just Released)
7:00 pm Opening flag burning
7:15 pm Pledge of Allegiance to the U.N. in Spanish
7:20 pm Ted Kennedy proposes a toast
7:25 pm Nonreligious prayer and worship with Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton
7:45 pm Ceremonial tree hugging
7:55 pm Ted Kennedy proposes a toast
8:00 pm How I Invented the Internet - Al Gore
8:15 pm Gay Wedding - Barney Frank presiding
8:35 pm Ted Kennedy proposes a toast
8:40 pm Our Troops are War Criminals - John Kerry
9.00 pm Saddam Memorial Rally - Cindy Sheehan and Susan Sarandon
11.00 pm Ted Kennedy proposes a toast
11:05 pm Collection for the Osama Bin Laden kidney transplant fund - Barbara Streisand
11:15 pm Free the Freedom Fighters from Guantanamo Bay - Sean Penn
11:30 pm Oval Office Affairs - William Jefferson Clinton
11:45 pm Ted Kennedy proposes a toast
11:50 pm How George Bush Brought Down the World Trade Towers - Howard Dean & Rosie O'Donnell
12:15 am "Truth in Broadcasting Award" - Presented to Dan Rather by Michael Moore
12:25 am Ted Kennedy proposes a toast
12:30 am Satellite address by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
12:45 am Nomination of Hillary Rodham Clinton by Nancy Pelosi
12:50 am Speech and toast by Hugo Chavez to the departure of "the great Satan", 'W' Bush
12:55 am Hillary proposes a toast to our 89 million new Democratic Mexican voters
1:00 am Ted Kennedy proposes a toast to the extinction of the Republican party.
1:05 am Coronation of Hillary Rodham Clinton
1:30 am Ted Kennedy proposes a toast
1:35 am Bill Clinton asks Ted Kennedy to drive Hillary home



Here is an example of government sponsored health insurance and how it can go so very, very wrong...http://www.freemarketcure.com/brainsurgery.php


Be Careful What You Vote For…


A joke that is making the email rounds… but it is something to think about…

While walking down the street one day a US Senator is tragically hit by a truck and dies. His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance."Welcome to heaven," says St. Peter. "Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you."

"No problem, just let me in," says the man.

"Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity."

"Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven," says the Senator.

"I'm sorry, but we have our rules."

And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him.

Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people.They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and champagne.

Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that before he realizes it, it is time to go. Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises...


The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens in heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him."Now it's time to visit heaven."So, 24 hours pass with the senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns."Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity."


The senator reflects for a minute, then he answers: "Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell."


So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage. He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above. The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder. "I don't understand," stammers the senator.

"Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?"


The devil looks at him, smiles and says, "Yesterday we were campaigning. Today you voted."
A new drug for Democrats: OCYCLINTON





Now, I want to put in this little thought... I was taught it was not polite to talk about religion nor politics... So, I'm a very bad girl today... ah-mmmm!

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

They say a picture is worth a thousand words...

I love this photo and found it at one of my favorite sites:
http://www.wunderground.com/ I'm always visiting the site, looking for photos to put on my desk top.

I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

I remember learning the pledge while in grade school... Julia B. Morrison Elementary School in Norwalk, California. My teachers were the following:
Kindergarten: Mrs. Johnson
1st Grade: Miss Arhens
2nd Grade: Mrs. Rucker
3rd Grade: Miss Minkler
4th Grade: Mrs. Munklebee
5th Grade: Mrs. Weiner
6th Grade: Mr. Gertz
I took piano lessons from Mrs. Vivian Petlock. I learned to play the clarinet from Mr. Ewing, the music teacher that came to my elementary school once a week. Wow - all these memories are from the 1950s... I wish I could remember things I need to remember now... now I have "senior moments"... MMM

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Having lived in Germany... I can see how this could be a reality...

Yes, I can see this happening... maybe in Baumental, Germany, a village just outside of Heidelberg that I lived in before I moved to Schweizingen... MMM

Sunday, February 3, 2008

Eating at the Crystal was an adventure...


While living in the Watertown, NY area... and we did so for over 12 years, we would frequent the Crystal Resturant, which was located across from the Watertown Public Square... mainly on Wednesdays when we either went to have our hair cuts/color at Richard's Hair and Antiques or when we took our car in for servicing...the Crystal was in walking distance from the car dealership we used...The Crystal was built in the late 1880s... yes it was really old... like most other buildings in Watertown... the place was frozen in time...Anyway, Lou and I would order breakfast and for the both of us, it would cost on $7.50... not counting the tip... This one particular time we went to have breakfast, as we were being seated, we noticed a man in shabby clothes.. sitting at a table by himself... and his whole table was filled with breakfast items... plates of eggs, toast, bacon, pancakes... Lou said to me "It looks like the man ordered from the left side of the menu." I smiled and agreed with his thought...then our favorite waitress, Miriam, came took our order... Lou said to her " Please give me the check for the man sitting by himself." Miriam said "Are you sure... it will cost more than you are use to paying..." Lou said " That's okay... the man looks like he could use a break...and, please do not tell him we took his check... we want to remain anonymous... " and that's what we did... and our check only came to $17.50... "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. - Philippians 2:3 "...
Another time, when we were eating breakfast, we noticed a mixed group of people (male and female) sitting at a large table in the center of the restrurant... and they had just finished their breakfast... all of a sudden, they broke out in song in a barbershop quartet sytle... singing some very old songs like... 'Bicycle built for two'... we asked our waitress what was going on... and she replied that it was a singing club that came and shared breakfast once every couple of months... Lou and I learned to appreciate a simpler life while living in Upstate NY as it is very rural up there... I miss people and I miss the seasons of Spring, Summer and Fall... but not the winters... winters can be very brutal... esepcially if you are "Southern People" like Lou and I... he's from Southside Chicago and I'm from Southern California... so as far as I am concerned.. we are Southerners...
MMM

Saturday, February 2, 2008

Oh Dear! I'm in trouble now...


Oh Dear! I’m in trouble now…

Our Presidental Visit pass... and here is my story for today...
This letter was written by Martin Niemoller during World War II.
“In Germany they came first for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, but I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time there was no one left to speak up.”
To make sure this doesn't happen again, the injustice to anyone anywhere must be the concern of everyone everywhere. Written in October 1945, Niemöller was a Protestant pastor, one of the pillars of moral resistance to the Nazis, who imprisoned him for four years in solitary confinement.

They (Al Qaeda) came for the Americans on September 11, 2001 and we did speak up!

MMM added this last line...


Sometime in early September, 2003, prior going to work, I had sent the above email to the White House email address… showing my support for the War effort… and to my surprise, later that day, we rec’d a call from the White House… I’m thinking…OMG, I’m in trouble now… I’m a federal employee and I have ruffled someone’s feathers… am I going to lose my job? Egads.. when I finally spoke to the person on the line… it was a speech writer for Prez Bush, calling for some historical information about Fort Stewart and also about the time when Prez Kennedy came to Fort Stewart…he was working on the speech the Prez would deliver when he came to Fort Stewart September 12, 2003…the speech writer gave us his direct fax number and we were to fax him the information…. And we whole heartedly complied…My staff was a buzzing with enthusaism... and being library people, we never throw stuff away... may use it again... I can be a passionate person when it comes to patriotism and the military. Mainly because I have worked as an Army Librarian for over 30 years… and one supports the troops through thick and thin… Anyway, my story goes like this… Sometime in September 2003, President Bush came to Fort Stewart… here is a link to his speech…
http://www.crispexi.net/news/releases/2003/09/images/20030912-3_d091203-2-515h.html

More on this story…It was an awesome experience to be there and to see how the President arrived…My hubby and I said to each other… “We are making history with this once in a lifetime experience…” There were three helicopters that came from Hunter Army Airfield… and you dinna know which one the Prez was on…Snipers were everywhere… but you didn’t know it…My hubby Lou and I proudly wore our passes that allowed us to get on the field to see the Prez speak…
We had parked our car at the Post Library and were walking to the site… my hubby needed to make a pit stop at the Burger King… I waited outside… I was approached by a Hispanic looking man (could have been Middle Eastern for all I know…) with his right arm in a cast… now my mind was working on this… is his arm really injured? Or is he a terrorist… hiding some kind of gun/rifle in the cast… I read to many mysteries I guess… anyway, the man asked me what was going on? Was some VIP here at Fort Stewart… well, the hairs on my head really began to stand up… he wanted to know if he could just walk over… I tried to be as evasive as I could...not really giving him any information.. and I changed the subject… I didn’t want to spill the beans that the Prez was at Fort Stewart… then, for some reason, I asked him if he played baseball…I further said… I bet you can’t do any pitching until your arm is better… he kind of smiled and said yes… by that time, my hubby was back from his pit stop, and we quickly walked over to Trent field for the event … and showed our pass to get on the field.
We stood for the whole event… Lou snapped a few pictures… and I will post them at a later time… I have other pictures … if I can find them that I will post also…

That’s my story for this posting… MMM

Friday, February 1, 2008

Just to keep it interesting, cuz I've run out of time...

Arrogant people habitually overestimate their abilities and underestimate the abilities of others......

D. Baldacci

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Saturday, January 26, 2008

It's bigger than you think!

Comparing a photo with the actual monument site... you will have to agree with me... the Iwo Jima monument is bigger than you think... A lot bigger! Lou and I love to visit DC and everytime we go there, we see something new ... This one particular time, we went in early spring... it was a nice day for a walk... we didn't have to wear jackets, but we did wear long sleeves. We took the Metro as far as we could to get to the monument. Then we took a short hike... even walked past the USA Today building... we came up to some stairs and were slowy walking down them... into the monument grounds... We paused to take the site in... and then we noticed a young soldier sitting on a concrete wall... it appeared as if he was meditating or maybe praying... his head was bowed and we heard him murmuring... a prayer or two perhaps... And, so as to not to disturb him, we walked back up the way we came and found another way into the site... As we walked closer to the monument... we both felt the power of the pose... the closer we got to the site... the smaller we felt...You really must see this monument in person in order to feel the full power of the sculpture and what the artist is trying to convey... Freedom isn't free... you must earn it, one step at a time...MMM

Thursday, January 24, 2008

A Snowy New Years Eve 2001

Yes, before moving "down South", we lived in Upstate New York... and the winters could be brutal...We live in an area that was prone to "whiteouts"... where it snowed so hard and you couldn't see in front of your car... very dangerous to drive in...
The top picture is of our house, before we re-sided it with vinyl siding... it is a beautiful picture with all the fluffy snow... the sun was out and the light on our house was just perfect for a picture...we had just cleaned out the driveway and thought this would make a great picture postcard. The middle picture is of Lou, using the snow thrower... he always started out at the beginning of the driveway and worked back toward the garage. He would make a swipe with the machine, and I would follow after him, cleaning up the "scrumbles" with my shovel... In the smaller spaces, I would go in first and push the snow out so he could get in the area with his machine.. we don't miss those snowy days... we love being in the sunshine...and living "down South".... Both Lou and I are from the "South"... he is from Southside Chicago and I'm from Southern California... so, we fit right in... down South...
The third picture is Mizey, "supervising" our project... It doesn't matter what Lou and I are doing, Mizey is right there too...being nosey and watching what we are doing... it's his job... and he does it well... nary a complaint from Mizey...just woofing and tail wagging and smiley brown eyes... woof! woof! MMM

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Oh Dear!... I let her eat paper!



We were at Niagara Falls, NY, and I was watching Baby Rose (our first grandchild) while Mark and Terri were off seeing the sites... Lou took the picture. It appears, Baby Rose was amusing herself with something... I not really paying attention because I am smiling at the camera... We had a lovely time at Niagara Falls... what an awesome place to see... when you are overlooking the Falls... you can feel the power of all that water flowing over the rocks and falling down into the Niagara River. But, then again, we always had a lovely time while at Niagara Falls... it is an awe-inspiring, breathtaking place to be... I confess, I was really nervous when I was watching Rose... I was not use to being around children... having never had any... not that I didn't want children... it was just a fact of my life ... At any rate, as I remember this mis-adventure, Lou had wondered off to find Mark and Terri... it was time for us to move onto another venue at the Falls. Rose was fiddling with a piece of paper while I was pushing her around in the stroller... All of a sudden, Rose had the paper in her mouth, and really going at it... at that time, she didn't have any teeth, so she was gumming it... slobber all over the place, and then, she ate a small piece of the paper... I was horrified... and ashamed that something happened on my watch! I was so afraid Rose would become sick... As soon as Terri came back... I blurted out that I let Rose eat paper and I was so sorry about it... Terri just looked at me and... smiled... reassuring me that Rose would live to see another day... babies like to put things in their mouths... it is a way of finding out stuff... and Boy, did I feel so much better... So, now, being a lot more experienced, when I'm watching the grandkids... I am in Heaven on Earth! We have seven "grands"... 5 from Mark and Terri and 2 from Marshall and Sharon. Each time we see them, it is such a delight... I enjoy every minute with them... as if our lives would end at midnight... MMM

Monday, January 21, 2008

Let's see... "where can I take a nap today?"

So, I wonder where Mize is? Probably off somewhere in the house... doing his second favorite thing... taking a nap...In this posting, I am including some snaps of Mize in various spots in the house and in some of his favorite positions... The one that looks the least comfortable to me is when he is laying half off his pillow... Anyway and any rate, Mize is so much fun... even in his senior years... he is now 11 years old... and still has some puppy in him...We found Mize at the pound at Fort Drum... We wanted to get a dog, and we already had a name for him before we even found him... We gave him my maiden name, Mize. We had him neutered and then called Dad... Lou told Dad that Mize was the only Democrat in the house... Dad was a little taken aback, but none-the-less, he saw the humor in it... and was delighted he had a name sake. So, this morning, while I am creating this posting, Mizey has squeezed himself between Lou's desk and the window sill... taking a nap... snoring of course...I guess it is like being in a cave... looks mighty uncomfortable to me... I'm on my way to Curves and when I return, I will take him for a short jaunt up to the pond so he can check his "P-mail"... and I know Mizey will leave a few messages (squirts) and maybe a stinky package too!


MMM

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Thoughts for living our lives...


Credenda From "The Gift of Acabar" Written by Og Mandino and Buddy Kaye.


Turn away from the crowd and its fruitless pursuit of fame and gold.

Never look back as you close your door to the sorry tumult of greed and ambition.

Wipe away your tears of failure and misfortune.

Lay aside your heavy load and rest until your heart is still.

Be at peace; already it is later than you think, for your earthly life, at best, is only the blink of an eye between two eternities.

Be unafraid; nothing here can harm you except yourself.

Do that which you dread and cherish those victories with pride.

Concentrate your energy.

To be everywhere is to be nowhere.

Be jealous of your time, since it is your greatest treasure.

Reconsider your goals.

Before your set your heart too much on anything, examine how happy they are who already possess what you desire.

Love your family and count your blessings.

Reflect how eagerly they would be sought if you did not have them.

Put aside your impossible dreams and complete the task at hand no matter how distasteful.

All great achievement comes from working and waiting.

Be patient. God's delays are never God's denials.

Hold on. Hold fast.

Know that your paymaster is always near.

What you sow, good or evil, that you will reap.

Never blame your condition on others.

You are what you are through your choice alone.

Learn to live with honest poverty, if you must, and turn to more important matters than transporting gold to your grave.

Never meet trouble half way.

Anxiety is the rust of life; when you add tomorrow's burden to today's, their weight becomes unbearable.

Avoid the mourners bench and give thanks instead for your defeats; you would not have them if you did not need them.

Always learn from others.

He who teaches himself has a fool for a master.

Be careful. Do not overload your conscience.

Conduct your life as if it were spent in an arena filled with tattlers.

Avoid boasting, if you see anything in you that buffs you with pride, look closer and you will find more than enough to make you humble.

Be wise. Realize that all men are not created equal, for there is no equality in nature, yet no man was ever born whose work was not born with him.

Work everyday as if it were your first, yet tenderly treat the lives you touch as if they will end at midnight.

Love everyone, even those who deny you, for hate is a luxury you cannot afford.

Seek out those in need.

Learn that he who delivers with one hand will gather with two.

Be of good cheer. Above all, remember that very little is needed to make a happy life.

Look up. Reach out.

Cling simply to God and journey quietly on your pathway to forever with charity and a smile.

When you depart it will be said that your legacy was a better world than the one that you found.

Saturday, January 19, 2008

A tale of the cakes...

The picture on the left is of Grandma Mize... Leona was her name.... taken between 1940-1950... Leona Crary Purcell Mize... 1900-1963
A tale of the cakes… a little rivalry is good for the family, and there was always some sort of cooking/baking competition between Mom and Grandma Mize. Every month, Mom would buy the newest issue of “Ladies Home Journal” and “McCall’s Magazine”. She would religiously read all the articles and if there was a recipe that caught her eye, she would try it out on us. I’m taking a guess and thinking this was back in the late 1950s… maybe early 1960s and Mom found the German Chocolate cake recipe in one of the magazines I mentioned before…the recipe was all the “rage” (fad)… The cake is a three layer cake of chocolate with a wonderful icing of sugar with coconut and pecans. When birthdays came around, we would request it as our cake. Since Grandpa and Grandma Mize lived in the area, of course, they were always at our family birthday parties. This one particular year, Mom made the cake for one of us... I really don’t remember for whom, but I do remember the next time Grandpa and Grandma Mize came for a visit, Grandma Mize brought a three layer dark chocolate cake she “invented” and appropriately named it, “Best Ever Chocolate Cake”. So, here is the recipe for Grandma Mize’s cake:
2 ½ cups of flour
½ tsp salt
2 tsp soda
1 cup milk
1 tsp vinegar
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 cup shortening
½ cup cocoa
1 cup hot water
1 tsp vanilla

Cream shortening with the sugar and eggs; blend cocoa and flour with soured milk. Mix all together; add hot water and blend. Pour into 3 cake pans that have been greased and floured...Bake 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes. Frost with your favorite flavor... Grandma Mize would use a dark chocolate frosting she made... sorry, don't have that recipe.
That's my story for this posting... MMM


Friday, January 18, 2008

I'm standing next to a dinosaur thigh bone

It's Friday, or TGIF... and my husband would say, "Toes go in first." Anyway, sometime in the 1990s, Lou and I drove from Upstate New York to California. We were on a trip to visit my family, Dad and my brother Gary. One of the places we visited along the way was the Dinosaur National Monument in Utah... actually, half of the "park" is in Utah and the other half is in Colorado... we were in the Utah part... An awesome place to visit... one should put it on their "bucket list". There is a museum with all kinds of bones to look at...and then one can take a guided tour out to actual digs... and they will let you dig too. Lou took my picture next to this thigh bone... I'm 5 feet, two inches tall, so imagine what the creature was like when it was alive. And, while I am thinking about dinosaurs, I'm remembering when I was attending college... I had to have 9 units of science... and I took a class for 1 unit... it was an 8 week class and met on Saturdays.. One of the places we went to was Cabrillo Beach, in Southern California... where there were huge limestone beds, and yes, if one chipped away at hunks of limestone, and gently cracked a piece open, you would find petrified fish in them...While we were in LA, we took a little side trip and went to see the LaBrea Tarpits... and the pits are still active, bubbling up gases from down deep in the earth.. So, I can cross off looking for dinasaurs from my "bucket list"... been there and done that! MMM

Thursday, January 17, 2008

The tree in front of our house in Upstate New York

I always loved this tree... it was in front of the house we lived in... West Carthage, NY. It is a maple tree... and it was beautiful throughout the year... one the trunk, just above the snow, Lou attached a squirrel... and it always looked like it was scampering up the tree. Winters could be brutal in this part of the world. There were times it was so cold, even the hairs in your nose would freeze... and that is really cold. One could always tell when soldiers from the South were stationed at Fort Drum... when driving to work, you would see all these cars that rolled over in a farmer's field.. because they were driving too fast for the icy conditions. The area around Fort Drum is mainly dairy farmland. When I talk about Fort Drum and upstate New York... everyone envisions New York as one big city. In the spring, summer and fall, when I went out on the deck that was at the back of our house, I could hear the cows off in the distance, lowing... moo... moo... what a peaceful sound. My story today is this...One day in early spring, while driving into work, I saw some cows standing around a cow... in a circle. I noticed there was some steam coming from the center of the circle... just then, several of the cows moved out of the circle and I was able to see that a baby calf was laying on the ground... it had just been born... and it was an awesome site to behold. Yes, I said behold... because I was awe struck to be in this place, at the right time to see this site... I thought to myself.... this is probably what the Wise Men felt when they found Baby Jesus in the manger... to behold such an awesome site... and these thoughts have been with me ever since... MMM

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Wednesday and is this the way to Amarillo or what?

I'm posting one of my favorite little movies that I received via an email. It was made by some English soldiers from the Royal Dragoons while they were stationed in Iraq. As part of our mission, Army Libraries provide recreational reading, and of late, we have provided listening also with the purchase of "Playaways"... books in iPod format. We send out paperback book kits, each kit has 20-25 brand new paperbacks with recreational reading and also self-help nonfiction such as study guides for CLEP exams, ASVAB to name a few subject types found in the kits. Prior to deployment, we coordinate with Chaplains and give out kits to be packed up with their gear. Down time is important for soldiers.. to rest, relax and get their mind focused for the next assignment. At Fort Stewart, we assist soldiers with managing and navigating through their AKO accounts; helping them connect with online safety courses they are required to complete prior to deployment. We see lots of Reservists and National Guard units in for training. And they sometimes need lost of help. Back in January 2005, there was a day we had 993 come through our doors, and 90% were going to be deployed that weekend. Many of them never established an AKO account, or even looked at their MyPay account. We went beyond the call of duty because we did not want these soldiers to leave Fort Stewart with unfinished business. Soldiers were doing online banking to set-up automatic payments to their families for child support; mortgage payments, insurance, car payments.. it was an amazing day... And I am so proud of my staff... circulation desk and administrative...each of them stepped up to the plate and delivered... making sure our soldiers left with their affairs in order.

MMM

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Tuesday, the day after Monday


As it has been in our entire relationship, Lou and I have to be even... So, back to my comments on the Wax Museum in NYC on yesterday, there was a foto op for me...and I would have backed up closer to Wolfgang's hand, had there not been people watching us set up the picture. I was a little... shall we say, shy, to do this pose... None-the-less, Lou and I had a good laugh at each other and with each other when it was all said and done. More craziness is promised for tomorrow...
MMM

It's Monday, the start of a new week. Let's see... what to write about... so many stories and lots of time to write them. My husband with Marilyn Monroe at the Wax Museum in NYC...
A dream of his was realized when he saw Marilyn, standing there, big as life... a foto op popped in his head... this is the result... Lou has a great sense of humor! lol We found a very inexpensive place to stay on Staten Island, at Fort Wadsworth... for a fully furnished townhouse - $85 per day... 3 bedroom... 3 minute walk to the bus that takes you to the Manhatten ferry...We took our oldest son, Mark, his lovely wife, Terri and our oldest granddaughter, Rose. We stayed 4 days, and on Friday, on our way back to the Columbia, SC and then onto Savannah, GA area, we spent several hours in Philadelphia. Being retired military, we take advantage of staying at military lodging... can get some really good deals.
MMM










Sunday, January 13, 2008

My first posting






My very first posting today. Been thinking about doing this ever since I began reading my daughter-in-law, Terri's blog. Naturally, I'm kind of nervous about the whole thing. I do have some fun things to share with the world. My first thing is that I actually had an opportunity to meet Hillary Clinton... not that I would ever vote for her! She came to visit Fort Drum for the first time back in late 2000. We rehearsed for about two weeks so we would be comfortable with her. She was escorted by MG James Campbel, the Commanding General of Fort Drum at the time. I watch her walk toward the Library/Education Center. She looked like she was gliding... I think First Ladies to go "First Lady Finishing School" when they first arrive at the White House where they are taught how to walk and talk, etc. She toured the Education Center first and then came to the Library. I gave her a tour of the facility. Besides providing recreational reading, the Library at Fort Drum had 48 patron computers with Internet access. As an Army Library, it is part of our mission to provide our Soldiers with reading materials during deployments. I showed Senator Clinton a sample of a paperback kit we mail to our Soldiers. I gave her the Library's copy of her book, "It Takes a Village". As I presented the book to her to sign, she noticed the binding was torn. Thinking in my head, "OMG! the binding is broken, what am I going to say"...I told her that the book was checked out so much, the binding broke. She smiled and signed the book.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it! MMM