| Late Memorial Day Tribute | |||
| 05.31.05 (3:29 pm) | |||
This is to honor the sacrifice of my GF's oldest brother, Mike who died in Vietnam in 1969. I was going to post this yesterday but could not find it again until today, better late than never.
In the afternoon of 14 Apr 1969, HMM-364 was alerted for an emergency medevac in support of an element of Fox Company, 2/3 Marines. The pick-up was to be made on the south slope of "Charlie Ridge", a hill normally populated by "Victor Charlie" - hence the name. The pick-up aircraft, CH-46A BuNo 153361 (call sign "Yankee Kilo 5"), would be escorted by a second CH-46 and a pair of UH-1H gunships from HML-167. On arrival the gunships contacted the ground troops and were advised that they had not had contact with the enemy for some time. There was no available landing spot, so the pick-up would have to be made by lowering a hoist through a triple-canopy jungle while the pilot maintained a hover above the 100-foot trees. YK-5 entered the area with the two gunships in trail abreast, came to a hover, and lowered the jungle penatrator. As the penatrator approached the ground, YK-5 came under intense enemy fire, wounding both pilots and two of the other five crewmen, and shooting out the aircraft's hydraulic systems. As the pilot struggled to maintain control of the CH-46 he was hit again and killed. The wounded copilot took control of the faltering aircraft and attempted to autorotate down the slope of the ridge to the valley below but had neither airspeed, altitude, nor hydraulic controls. The CH-46 went into the trees. As it plunged through the jungle, two crewmen were thrown free before the aircaft stopped moving, nose-down and tail-up and beginning to burn. The two crewmen, both injured, found themselves on the right-hand side of the burning CH-46. They saw one man, apparently dead, still in the cargo bay - but no-one else. As munitions aboard the CH-46 began to cook off, the two withdrew to a safer distance and prepared to defend themselves with a single M-16. On the left side of the aircraft, invisible to the crewmen, the copilot had been thrown free on impact. Although his left arm was broken, he was able to assist three others, all injured, from the aircraft, and they too prepared to defend themselves - with the copilot's 38-caliber pistol. The CH-46 had gone down in heavy jungle about a quarter-mile distant from the Fox 2/3 element, there were enemy troops between the downed helicopter and the friendly force, and neither of the two groups of survivors knew the other was there. At this point even the weather turned against the downed crew: it began to rain. Back at Marble Mountain, the squadron Commanding Officer, LtCol Brady, ordered a CH-46 fitted out with additional machineguns - a total of five - and departed with a crew of nine others. As dusk approached, so too did the rescue helicopter ... and the copilot attracted his rescuers' attention by using his .38 to fire flare rounds at them. Fortunately the flares were not mistaken for tracers. Corporal James V. King was lowered by hoist, located the two isolated crewmen, and sent them up. A second uninjured Marine came down and assisted King in sending up the remaining three wounded crewmen, but they were forced to leave the two dead Marines with the wreckage. All during this time the CH-46 above was exchanging heavy fire with enemy troops, but nothing vital was hit aboard the aircraft. With the five survivors and two crewmen aboard, LtCol Brady withdrew. Unfortunately, one of the wounded died enroute to Danang. A day or so later an element from Lima 3/7 Marines walked into the jungle to retrieve the two Marines who had been left behind. The Yankee Kilo 5 crew consisted of
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| The Ultimate Geek?? |
| 05.31.05 (3:16 pm) |
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I went shopping for groceries on Saturday for the upcoming week. The store I go to is part of a rather large local chain and it offers discount prices on many items. As I’m shopping I notice this guy pushing a shopping cart with a laptop computer perched on the top of the handles and “kiddie” carrier. His cart is filled with groceries and he keeps referring to the screen and items on the shelves. Wow, this guy has out geeked even the most geeky person around! Even more geeky than I am!! I’m just sure this guy has an inventory program loaded on that baby. He has his whole stock of food in there so he knows what he has at home and how much he uses every week, well I’ll bet he even knows the EOQ of all the stuff he eats! He could be able to see if he is spending more than he wants to on certain foods and adjust his buying habits. This is so cool, just like at work! Now that is really smart. Gosh what if he also has the food values of the stuff he’s buying in that program he could be making sure he was getting a healthy diet! Brilliant!! Why hadn’t I thought of it!! Not being a shy guy I say something to him like, “Wow and I thought I was a geek, I never thought of bringing my laptop to the store!” He laughed and said “No, I’m doing inventory for my company and checking the price of competition.” “I left my scanner at the warehouse, so I’m using the laptop instead, not as easy but it works” So I told him what I was thinking and then he really started to laugh!! Oh well I still have this fantasy…. |
| 11 Comments |
| My Chinese Horoscope |
| 05.27.05 (7:47 pm) |
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I think this stuff is for the birds (I'm trying to be PC here) but some others have posted their Horoscopes so I thought I'd give it a go! This type of Rabbit could be sturdier physically and mentally than Rabbits belonging to other elements. He will not be as compromising either. He has unshakable faith in his own powers of observation and deduction and more often than not he is convinced he has the right answer and solutions to this problems. He can assume responsibility admirably well and will displays a good deal of initiative in his work. Metal matched with his animal sign will make him more preoccupied with his desires, goals and creative urges. He will be more cunning, but his ambitiousness will be carefully concealed with cool logic and intelligence. A connoisseur par excellence, he will know how to live and will savor the good things life has to offer in a refined way. While he may be indifferent to the opinions of others, he is emotionally and physically moved by good art, music and other forms of beauty. His basic self-assurance and discerning eye will make him an excellent judge of any kind of creative art forms; he may become a collector of great distinction, if he has the means, because of his impeccable taste. Whatever career he chooses he will make his mark early as he is naturally a thorough and devoted worker. But like all true romantic spirits, this type of Rabbit could be inclined to dark moods, and works well only when he is sufficiently inspired. Ardent in love and with great depth and foresight, still he will allow only a handful of people into the inner sanctum of his life because of his many hidden inhibitions. |
| 5 Comments |
| More house/garden work |
| 05.22.05 (6:12 pm) |
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My GF and I went to Lowes this weekend and bought more plants for each of our houses. I bought a nice collection of plants in a planter and found a nice holder so I could put it on my front porch, My GF bought some more flowers for her garden in the back of the house and a couple of planters for the front of her house too. I got home and put the planter on the front porch, and decided the front of the house needed more flowers. I still had a full flat of flowers left over from the first weekend of the month when I planted my back garden. I planted the rest of the flowers in the front of the house and watered them. As I looked at my shrubs in the front of the house I could see that they needed trimming so I got my shears and went to work on them. I'm very pleased at how things came out.
I took a couple of pictures to let you see how things look now. |
| 25 Comments |
| Friday joke |
| 05.20.05 (8:35 am) |
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OK here is one that is sure to offend at least someone. However, if you want to read keep and open mind on how very funny this truly is!! DEMOCRATIC You have two cows. Your neighbor has none. You feel guilty for being successful. Barbara Streisand sings for you. REPUBLICAN You have two cows. Your neighbor has none. So? SOCIALIST You have two cows. The government takes one and gives it to your neighbor. You form a cooperative to tell him how to manage his cow. COMMUNIST You have two cows. The government seizes both and provides you with milk. You wait in line for hours to get it. It is expensive and sour. CAPITALISM, AMERICAN STYLE You have two cows. You sell one, buy a bull, and build a herd of cows. BUREAUCRACY, AMERICAN STYLE You have two cows. Under the new farm program the government pays you to shoot one, milk the other, and then pours the milk down the drain. AMERICAN CORPORATION You have two cows. You sell one, lease it back to yourself and do an IPO on the 2nd one. You force the two cows to produce the milk of four cows. You are surprised when one cow drops dead. You spin an announcement to the analysts stating you have downsized and are reducing expenses. Your stock goes up. FRENCH CORPORATION You have two cows. You go on strike because you want three cows. You go to lunch and drink wine. Life is good. JAPANESE CORPORATION You have two cows. You redesign them so they are one-tenth the size of an ordinary cow and produce twenty times the milk. They learn to travel on unbelievably crowded trains. Most are at the top of their class at cow school. GERMAN CORPORATION You have two cows. You engineer them so they are all blond, drink lots of beer, give excellent quality milk, and run a hundred miles an hour. Unfortunately they also demand 13 weeks of vacation per year. ITALIAN CORPORATION You have two cows but you don't know where they are. While ambling around, you see a beautiful woman. You break for lunch. Life is good. RUSSIAN CORPORATION You have two cows. You have some vodka. You count them and learn you have five cows. You have some more vodka. You count them again and learn you have 42 cows. The Mafia shows up and takes over however many cows you really have. TALIBAN CORPORATION You have all the cows in Afghanistan, which are two. You don't milk them because you cannot touch any creature's private parts. You get a $40 million grant from the US government to find alternatives to milk production but use the money to buy weapons. IRAQI CORPORATION You have two cows. They go into hiding. They send radio tapes of their mooing. POLISH CORPORATION You have two bulls. Employees are regularly maimed and killed attempting to milk them. BELGIAN CORPORATION You have one cow. The cow is schizophrenic. Sometimes the cow thinks he's French, other times he's Flemish. The Flemish cow won't share with the French cow. The French cow wants control of the Flemish cow's milk. The cow asks permission to be cut in half. The cow dies happy. FLORIDA CORPORATION You have a black cow and a brown cow. Everyone votes for the best looking one. Some of the people who actually like the brown one best accidentally vote for the black one. Some people vote for both. Some people vote for neither. Some people can't figure out how to vote at all. Finally, a bunch of guys from out-of-state tell you which one you think is the best-looking cow. CALIFORNIA CORPORATION You have millions of cows. They make real California cheese. Only five speak English. Most are illegals. Arnold likes the ones with the big udders. |
| 14 Comments |
| Things you learn from raising boys |
| 05.19.05 (10:25 am) |
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I usually post jokes on Friday but I got this one today and just HAD to post it today!! Things I've learned from my boys (honest and not kidding): 1.) A king size waterbed holds enough water to fill a 2000 sq. ft. house 4 inches deep. 2.) If you spray hair spray on dust bunnies and run over them with roller blades, they can ignite. 3.) A 3-year old boy's voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowded restaurant. 4.) If you hook a dog leash over a ceiling fan, the motor is not strong enough to rotate a 42 pound Boy wearing Batman underwear and a Superman cape. It is ! strong enough, however, if tied to a paint can, to spread paint on all four walls of a 20x20 ft. room. 5.) You should not throw baseballs up when the ceiling fan is on. When using a ceiling fan as a bat, you have to throw the ball up a few times before you get a hit. A ceiling fan can hit a baseball a long way. 6.) The glass in windows (even double-pane) doesn't stop a baseball hit by a ceiling fan. 7.) When you hear the toilet flush and the words "uh oh", it's already too late. 8.) Brake fluid mixed with Clorox makes smoke -- lots of it. 9.) A six-year old boy can start a fire with a flint rock even though a 36-year old man! says they can only do it in the movies. 10.) Certain Lego's will pass through the digestive tract of a 4-year old boy. 11.) Play dough and microwave should not be used in the same sentence. 12.) Super glue is forever. 13.) No matter how much Jell-O you put in a swimming pool you still can't walk on water. 14.) Pool filters do not like Jell-O. 15.) VCR's do not eject "PB & J" sandwiches even though TV commercials show they do. 16.) Garbage bags do not make good parachutes. 17.) Marbles in gas tanks make lots of noise when driving. 18.) You probably DO NO T want to know what that odor is. 19.) Always look in the oven before you turn it on; plastic toys do not like ovens. 20.) The fire department in Austin, TX has a 5-minute response time. 21.) The spin cycle on the washing machine does not make earthworms dizzy. 22.) The spin cycle on the washing machine will, however, make cats dizzy. 23.) Cats throw up twice their body weight when dizzy. 24.) 80% of men who read this will try mixing the Clorox and brake fluid. 25.) 80% of women will pass this on to almost all of their friends, with or without kid. a) For those with no children - this is totally hysterical. b) For those who already have children past this age, this is hilarious. c) For those who have children this age, this is not funny. d) For those who have children nearing this age, this is a warning. e) For those who have not yet had children, this is birth control. |
| 14 Comments |
| Thai Black Bean and Garlic Chicken |
| 05.19.05 (8:50 am) |
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Thai Black Bean and Garlic Chicken Guess I'm in the mood to post recipes this week. And besides I was asked for this recipe yesterday after posting what I was eating for dinner on Tblurt. Actually I caught lots of flack from BerlinBear for my eating habits yesterday, or at least in disclosing my eating on Tblurt! But a very nice woman who'd just lost her dear sweet mother asked me for this recipe, so this post is for Loop51! This is my own recipe made after some experimentation and after buying a boxed Thai dinner at the grocery store. Ingredients: 3 chicken breasts, cut into bite sized pieces 2 to 3 tbs. Black bean and Garlic sauce 1 tsp. ground or ½ tsp. fresh ginger (optional for frying the chicken) Fish sauce or chicken broth (optional for steaming the vegetables) 3 or 4 carrots thin sliced in 3 to 4” pieces for stir frying 1 bunch of green onions ½ lbs. Mushrooms cut up for stir frying 1 can bean sprouts 1 package Rice noodles Oil for stir-frying Preparation: Prepare the rice noodles per package directions Stir fry the chicken in the Black Bean and Garlic sauce, set aside Stir fry the carrots, onion and mushrooms in a small amount of oil (you may also add a bit of the water the sprouts were packed in to steam the veggies) Combine the chicken and vegetables and bean sprouts to heat through. You may also add more Black Bean and Garlic sauce at his point if you want a more strongly flavored dish. Finally either mix in the rice noodles and serve, or serve the stir-fry and the noodles separately. Serve with Hot and Sour soup as a first course.
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| 7 Comments |
| Blogging on NPR |
| 05.19.05 (7:44 am) |
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As you all know I'm a bleeding heart liberal and one of my passions is listening to NPR. I listen when I get up in the morning (my clock radio is set to NPR), on my way to work (my car radio has 2 different NPR station buttons), and on my way home. Today was the day to talk about blogging on NPR. For those of you who are regular NPR listeners you've most likely already heard the program today, but for those of you who don't here you go! I Blog, I Said: Writing Amid the RabblebyMorning Edition, May 19, 2005 · Blogs have gained currency as a buzzword among the tech-savvy. But for commentator Catherine Seipp, a Web diary isn't just a fad: It's a compulsion. Many of her ideas about politics and the media, her family and friends, are making their way into cyberspace. For Seipp, who writes for a living, a blog embodies the fun, stress-free side of writing. But the news that celebrities like Arianna Huffington are adopting an outlet favored by anonymous scribblers -- who are now getting peeved -- made her wonder why anyone, famous or not, would write a blog. There was a second piece too this one dealing with the unexpected consequences of blogging by a worker at Los Alamos National Lab. Los Alamos National Lab Blog Draws Ire on HillMorning Edition, May 19, 2005 · Last winter, a scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory began a Web log, or blog, for employees to post concerns and complaints about fixing problems at the government nuclear facility. But now, some members of Congress who've seen the blog see it as a reason to shut Los Alamos down. |
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| Star Wars Name | ||
| 05.18.05 (2:38 pm) | ||
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| 2 Comments | ||
| No bake Cookies |
| 05.18.05 (9:45 am) |
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This is for BerlinBear who's never heard or had No bake cookies! INGREDIENTS:
DIRECTIONS:
The end result!  (in the MP3 player shuffle today - Three Doors Down, Ravel, Matchbox 20, Gaelic Storm, John Mayer, Fleetwood Mac, Aaron Copeland, James Taylor, Alison Krauss and Five for Fighting)
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| 13 Comments |
| To my brother |
| 05.17.05 (9:05 am) |
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My 13 yo daughter has had quite a childhood growing up with her older bipolar brother. She has been the brunt of his anger and rage more than once. She has learned to stand up for herself and not take his verbal abuse at least. As part of her 7th grade science class she had to do a pamphlet on some topic for which she would perform research. She chose Bipolar disorder, and has been doing lots of reading on the subject. She told me the other day that her brother fit all the typical symptoms of bipolar disorder, except two, drug abuse (as far as she knows) and hyper-sexuality. He has been diagnosed as Bipolar last December after a number of years of treatment for ADHD. She has begun to understand why her bother has been acting the way he does and treating her and everyone else as he has. Well yesterday she tells me she had an assignment in English class to write an apology, and this is what she came up with all on her own! To my Brother I’m sorry you were always in detention I’m sorry I never cared or paid attention I’m sorry I took things from you, only because you did it to me I hated how we could never agree I know we had our problems we shared I’m sorry I’ve never cared I think you’ve tried to tell me with expression That you have a case of Manic Depression Now I know that you are bipolar How about starting our lives back over? |
| 33 Comments |
| What I am! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 05.16.05 (2:29 pm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Well if JT had a test I figured I better take it too, and see where I came out! You scored as Cultural Creative. Cultural Creatives are probably the newest group to enter this realm. You are a modern thinker who tends to shy away from organized religion but still feels as if there is something greater than ourselves. You are very spiritual, even if you are not religious. Life has a meaning outside of the rational.
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| My body of water |
| 05.15.05 (7:59 pm) |
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Anastacia has posed a challange about describing&nbs p;our favorite body of water. Here is my description of my favorite water and the activity I enjoy upon it's surface. Mine is a lake, a wide lake, and one so long you can not see the far end from where you start. The wind blows in just the right direction, the direction on which you can sail a sailboard for a long way without having to turn, or "come about". The water is blue and clear and the surface disturbed as if by the ruffling feathers of a flock of birds on a migration flight. The air is warm and the sun shines brightly. You mount the sailboard and it lifts you as you gain speed. You angle the sail and mast to catch the wind to take the course you desire. The shore is tree lined and the houses set back from the waters edge so that they are hidden from your view as you sail the length of the lake. As you sail the wind picks up so you lean away from the sail as it can now carries your weight and you can lean back to get closer to the water while traveling ever faster toward the far shore. The lake feels your speed, and splashes at you feet and ankles as if to tease you. The waves are at angles to your course and as you cross each one in succession the lake reaches up again and again to challange you, to test your skill. It is fighting against you and playing with you all at once. The wind plays on your face your back, as it changes direction every so slightly. You compensate as you continue on your tack to your destination. You see other sailing vessels too, on your same tack. You being a lighter, faster vessel are gaining on them. They wave as you overtake them, and all you can do is nod your head as sail past. You feel free, liberated from not only the normal modes of transportation but from care and worries. The wind, the water, the feeling of sailing in our hands is a pleasure, a welcome change to all the things you normally do. A welcome challange to your body and mind as you must read the water and the wind upon it, the pressure of the wind on the sail and the balance of the board beneeth your feet. When they are all in harmony and you sail freely and purposfully on the lake, you feel at peace in your body and mind. I am not a relgious man but it is at these times I feel God and I thank him for allowing me to be strong in body and mind, able to enjoy this life and the pleasures this activity afford me. |
| 6 Comments |
| ARGGGG! |
| 05.15.05 (5:04 pm) |
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Wow, this weekend the wind just would not stop! Saturday morning my daughter had a soccer game at Later in in the afternoon the skies cleared and the sun came out. It actually warmed up to near 60 degrees, so I decided to take a long bike ride of at least 30 miles. I started out and too keep warm in the steady breeze I wore a long sleeved jersey. The wind was coming out of the north, by north-west about 12 to 15 mph, typical spring weather. My route runs north by north east so much of the time it seemed like the wind was in my face or on my left quarter. I peddled more slowly then normal feeling the wind pushing against me. I got to the most northern part of my route and headed west, supposedly with the wind at my back. Now much of the summer with the wind blowing that direction I can bike the 3 to 4 miles at nearly 25 mhp. But it seemed the wind changed direction, I pushed the peddles ruing my decision to take a longer route. Then I turned south and headed home, till I had to push and my average speed was only about 16 to 17 mph, pitiful by my standards. Finally the last leg against he wind was in front of me. I saw a rider up ahead and pushed my pace to catch up with the rider. My plan was to draft behind the rider then offer my draft to him, by working together we would have an easier time than if we ride alone. When I caught him he as more than happy to take me up on my offer. We rode the last 4 miles together then said good-by when I got into my village, and he continued on to him home about 5 miles down the road, alone. I pulled into my garage and dismounted took off my helmet and looked at my cycling computer on my handle bars. 17.5 mph average speed for 33 miles, arggg, slow, but considering the wind and how my legs felt I was happy, but disappointed all the same. As I tried to move my bike inside I noticed my rear wheel was not moving like it should. I lifted the rear of the bike and tried to spin my rear wheel, nothing. I looked at the brakes and it looked like the left pad was touching the rim of my tire. I tried to adjust the brake knob to move the pads outward, nothing, so I twisted the whole assembly and found it had been moved off center. But as the tire turned it was out of true so it still contacted the rim part of the time, so I adjusted the brake more, finally I got the wheel to rotate as it should. Well that explains why my ride was so fricking hard, my brake was on for then whole ride and had worn the pad down to nearly ½ of what it should be!! OMG I was working so hard because the brake was keeping me back, not the wind. My legs ached and I was really tired. Lesson learned check the alignment of my wheels along with the tire pressure before each ride!!! You’d think after riding for nearly 30 years I’d know this!! Well to tell the truth I’d just had my bike in the shop for a tune up and they’d adjusted the whole bike. The bike must have fallen (could have been one of the cats or my son) and twisted the brake and put the pad on the rim. Waking up this morning my legs still felt tired! Guess I'll just say it was good training for my competition this summer at the senior olymipcs! |
| 10 Comments |
| TWISTER! The 1980 Tornado |
| 05.13.05 (2:35 pm) |
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It is storming today in West Michigan, reminding a number of us of 20 years ago today. On Tuesday, 13 May 1980, a tornado struck the heart of Kalamazoo, Michigan. First touching down at 4:00 p.m. eight miles west of the city limits, it rapidly moved eastward through downtown until it dissipated east of the city at 4:25 p.m. Only twenty-five minutes had elapsed, but the devastation left in the tornado's 11-mile wake was considerable: five people dead, seventy-nine injured, and over fifty million dollars in total property damage. Governor William Milliken, walking through the area only hours later, remarked, "it reminds me of a bombed-out city." When the tornado first struck over the relatively open terrain west of Kalamazoo, it caused only minor damage to trees, fences, and power poles. This changed dramatically once the storm entered the city limits. Homes were leveled in the Westwood residential district, and monuments were overturned at Mountain Home Cemetery. The gymnasium at St. Augustine Elementary School was severely damaged. Fortunately, school had already been dismissed, so most children were at home when the tornado struck. Bronson Park, the two-acre cultural center of the city, and also the home of numerous century-old oak trees, was also hit. Twenty-six of those trees were downed or damaged, including the one which had shaded Abraham Lincoln when he addressed Kalamazoo in 1856. The roof of the nine-story ISB Building (today the Comerica Building) was ripped away, and its glass exterior was almost completely destroyed; only a handful of its windows remained intact. The entire back brick wall of the seven-story Gilmore Brothers Department Store was removed in one clean slice, depositing a six-foot high pile of bricks in the adjacent alley. In a parking structure nearby, cars were flipped over, their windows popped out by changing air-pressure. Kalamazoo Mayor Edward Annen Jr. commented: "This is the worst disaster our city has ever seen, but we'll come back from this." The impact of the 1980 tornado was immeasurable and continues to be felt today. Most of the damaged buildings were either reconstructed or razed, but the damage to Bronson Park became a focal point in the city's recovery. Seeded by a generous gift from the Kalamazoo Gazette, a fund was started to replace the fallen trees. A wide search, lasting several years, was conducted to replace them with new ones of the same species. New flower beds were cut to showcase the area's bedding plant industry, and to give the park a lift while the new trees matured. Today's Radar showing all the storms that are building in the late afternoon!
... A Severe Thunderstorm Warning Remains In Effect For Kalamazoo County Until 445 PM EDT... |
| 9 Comments |
| What I want to do when I grow up! |
| 05.13.05 (12:41 pm) |
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Our good friend altricial posted the results of the Princeton Review Career Quiz on her blog. I was interested in finding out too find out how I'd score on this test so I took it. Yellow Yellow Careers from The Princeton Review Guide To Your Career linked to "Yellow" interest: Accountant/Auditor ActuaryAstronomer Bookkeeper Court Reporter Dental Lab Technician Economist Financial Aid Officer Financial Analyst Foreign Exchange Trader Health Care Administrator Office Manager Sommelier Surveyor Corporate Lawyer Business Valuator Financial Planner Internet/Intranet Technologies Manager Geneticist Hospital Administrator Quality Assurance Engineer <-- Research Technician <-- Small Business Owner Systems Administrator Systems Analyst Venture Capitalist/ Investor Auditor <-- Consultant Food Service Manager <-- These are jobs I've held or do hold in my career of nearly 30 years. So why did I chose the job of being as an IT project Manager who's job is to select a new ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system software for our world-wide division? I pushed for it because it is something I've never done before and it will be a big challange, something very different than the jobs I've done in the past. |
| 4 Comments |
| Updates |
| 05.13.05 (8:20 am) |
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I've updated my pictures post below with a couple more pictures of me over the years if you haven't seen them alerady. I've also updated the "Living with a Bipolar Child" blog too! I went to the eye doctor yesterday for my annual exam. I wear contacts so I get them checked once a year and buy a new pair. They are expensive becasue of my poor vision and cost $100 apeice! Thank God for insurance! In my exam I ask about having LASIC surgery to correct my vision(perviously he told me I was a good candidate). No I'm afraid you can't anymore. Why not I ask. Your left lens is getting yellow, it is not something you'll notice, but it is a precursor to developing a cateract! Now don't get excited, you will not even notice it for maybe 10 years or so. by the time you need to have the lens replaced the technology will have advanced to where you will see better with teh new lens than ever having had LASIC!! Well this is nice to know, but it still makes me a bit scared. I'm officially OLD. OMG only OLD people get cateracts!! Crap, Damn and Blast!! |
| 11 Comments |
| Pictures of me over the years |
| 05.11.05 (12:06 pm) |
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It seems like this is the week to put up pictures of family and other things. So I'm going to make sure you are truly bored by posting pictures of me from when I was a baby till today. Some of my long time readers may reconize some of these, if so forgive me. Some have never been seen before except by my family!! As a baby in my Dad's car.
As a grade school student in a science fair project picture.
As a boy scout at summer scout camp.
In gymnastics in high school.
As a cool college student!
My family on my parent's 25th wedding anniversary. Can you tell which one is me??
At my Mother's house: early 19080s.
Running the 1999 Chicago Marathon.
At work in a suit and tie!
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| 24 Comments |
| Pictures of my Children |
| 05.10.05 (8:16 pm) |
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This appears to be the week to post pictures of family so here are my children. My son is 14(now 15) and my daughter is 12 (now 13) in this picture.
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| 16 Comments |
| If I could be a ... |
| 05.10.05 (12:10 pm) |
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Making the rounds (See JT and Lynne and ...) If I could be a scientist...I’d work on the Unified Field Theory. Once I’ve solved the most basic question in Physics I’d go back to school to learn Psychiatry and delve into the depths of the human mind! If I could be a psychologist...I’d work on treating and solving the most serious Mental Illnesses, Schizophrenia, and Bipolar disorder. If I could be an athlete...I’d be a teammate of Lance Armstrong’s and get to ride in support of his last Tour de France race. If I could be an astronaut...I’d fly the first mission to Mars along with my international crew and land on the surface saying something historical! If I could be a musician...I’d play in the Chicago symphony orchestra, making beautiful music on my violin. |
| 5 Comments |
| Blinded by the light - Manfred Mann! |
| 05.10.05 (10:10 am) |
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This song was written and first recorded by Bruce Springsteen. Manfred Mann's Earth Band did a very successful cover of it that went to Number 1 in the States, (giving Bruce Springsteen his first ever No 1). The song also appeared on The Roaring Silence (August 1976), and a live version on Live in Budapest (February 1984). The version on Roaring Silence also appears on the collection album, 20 Years of Manfred Mann's Earthband 1971-1991 (released paradoxically in 1990!). By posting this I MAY be breaking some copyright laws so it will not stay up too long!! Blinded by the light Wrapped up like a deuce Another runner in the night Blinded by the light Wrapped up like a deuce Another runner in the night Blinded by the light Wrapped up like a deuce (fade out) Madman drummers bummers Indians in the summer, With a teenage diplomat, In the dumps with the mumps, As the adolescent pumps his way into his hat, With a boulder on my shoulder, Feeling kinda older, I tripped the merry-go-round With this very unpleasin, sneezin' and wheezin, the calliope crashed to the ground. (pickup) the calliope crashed to the ground Cause she was blinded by the light Wrapped up like a deuce Another runner in the night Blinded by the light Wrapped up like a deuce Another runner in the night Blinded by the light Wrapped up like a deuce Another runner in the night Blinded by the light Wrapped up like a deuce (fade out) Some silicon sister with a manager mister told me you got what it takes. She said I'll turn you on sonny to something strong play the song with the funky break. And go cart Mozart was checkin' out the weather charts see if it was safe outside Oh little early Pearly came by in his curly-wurly and asked me if I needed a ride. (pickup) asked me if I needed a ride Cause she was blinded by the light Wrapped up like a deuce Another runner in the night Blinded by the light Wrapped up like a deuce Another runner in the night Blinded by the light Wrapped up like a deuce Another runner in the night Blinded by the light (chorus continues) Bridge She got down but she never got tight gonna make it through the night She's gonna make it through the night (break with the soul-stirring solo) Momma always told me not to look into the eyes of the sun But momma that's where the fun is (chop sticks variation) the calliope crashed to the ground. Cause she was blinded by the light Wrapped up like a deuce Another runner in the night Blinded by the light Wrapped up like a deuce Another runner in the night Blinded by the light Wrapped up like a deuce Another runner in the night Blinded by the light (fade, mixed with next verse) Madman drummers bummers Indians in the summer, With a teenage diplomat, In the dumps with the mumps, As the adolescent pumps his way into his hat, With a boulder on my shoulder, Feeling kinda older, I tripped the merry-go-round With this very unpleasin, sneezin' and wheezin, the calliope crashed to the ground. Some silicon sister with a manager mister told me you got what it takes. She said I'll turn you on sonny to something strong play the song with the funky break. And go cart Mozart was checkin' out the weather charts see if it was safe outside Oh little early Pearly came by in his curly-wurly and asked me if I needed a ride. Blinded by the light Wrapped up like a deuce Another runner in the night Blinded by the light Wrapped up like a deuce Another runner in the night Blinded by the light (repeated several times) She got down but she never got tight gonna make it through the night (fade) |
| 9 Comments |
| Senior Olympics |
| 05.09.05 (1:48 pm) |
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Well I’ve done it now, I’ve sent in my registration for the 26th annual Summer games of the Michigan Senior Olympics. OK, OK I know, Senior Olympics, yeah, I’m 53 and I’m in the SENIOR Olympics!! Ha, Ha. Any way, no matter to me, I’m doing it despite all the jokes and ridicule I’m sure to get! And no there are no cane and seeing dog divisions! The completion is in several different areas: ARCHERY BADMINTON BASKETBALL BOWLING CYCLING GOLF HORSESHOES RACE WALK RACQUETBALL ROAD RACES SHUFFLEBOARD SOFTBALL SWIMMING TABLE TENNIS TENNIS TRACK & FIELD TRIATHLON VOLLEYBALL I’m going to be competing in Cycling, the 5 K and 10 K time trials. For you who are metrically challenged that is 3.1 and 6.2 miles in length. Now for someone who typically rides anywhere from 20 to 30 miles 3 to 4 times a week, these distances are very short. However in checking last year’s results I see that speeds for these two events are in the mid 20 mph (mile per hour range)! If you know nothing about cycling this is pretty damn fast even for 3 or 6 miles!! I can routinely cycle in the low 20+ mph range for that distance, but the energy level roughly doubles for every mph close to 25 mph. Looks like I have my work cut out for me!! |
| 11 Comments |
| My weekend garden work |
| 05.08.05 (8:06 pm) |
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I did some work on my flower garden this weekend. Our village volunteer fire department had a flower sale this weekend. I bought 3 flats of annual to plant behind my house near my patio. I spent a couple of hours on Sunday afternoon planting the flowers. I did not take a before picture but did take an after picture.
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| 10 Comments |
| Joke Friday |
| 05.06.05 (10:16 am) |
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OK here is my joke for the day! If you are offended by jokes of a sexual nature you should not read any further! A girl asks her boyfriend to come over Friday night and have dinner with her parents. Since this is such a big event, the girl announces to her boyfriend that after dinner, she would like to go out and make love for the first time. Well, the boy is ecstatic, but he has never had sex before, so he takes a trip to the pharmacist to get some condoms. The pharmacist helps the boy for about an hour. He tells the boy everything there is to know about condoms and sex. At the register, the pharmacist asks the boy how many condoms he'd like to buy, a 3-pack, 10-pack, or family pack. The boy insists on the family pack because he thinks he will be rather busy, it being his first time and all. That night, the boy shows up at the girl's parents house and meets his girlfriend at the door. "Oh, I'm so excited for you to meet my parents, come on in!" The boy goes inside and is taken to the dinner table where the girl's parents are seated. The boy quickly offers to say grace and bows his head. A minute passes, and the boy is still deep in prayer, with his head down. 10 minutes pass, and still no movement from the boy. Finally, after 20 minutes with his head down, the girlfriend leans over and whispers to the boyfriend, "I had no idea you were this religious." The boy turns, and whispers back, "I had no idea your father was a pharmacist." |
| 11 Comments |
| My day so far |
| 05.06.05 (10:07 am) |
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I was inspired by ALMSHVN and her posting today so I thought I'd give you a glimse into my morning! Ah great Morning! Watch a bit of CNN headline Time to make coffee, Make and eat waffles, strawberries, Wake daughter Get cleaned up and get DD to school Wonder if DS is at school Drive to ex’s house Damn no key, all doors locked Shit crawl through dog door Ah, the kid is gone, Glory Be, his Mom got him up !!!! Drive to work, listen to NPR Start up laptop, make coffee Talk to friend for a few minutes over coffee What to do today? Let’s see, training 33 slide PowerPoint training presentation done! 6 slide presentation for company president’s meeting done for next week Geeze, time to fire up email and Tblog! Check out bookmarks, check out comments, Who’s on line? Phone rings Shit AP from the High School Crap DS skipped second block after going to first block Tell boss I’m leaving for a few Drive home Thinking hard about the boy, he’s going to drive me crazy yet! Call AP to discuss son’s punishment, leave voice mail Freaking poky drivers, cuss, swear, curse Get home, go to DS’s room, he’s asleep on his own bed! Calmly tell him to get his lazy butt out of bed, “your going back to school” Take 2 potpies out of the oven, he was hungry! Drive DS to school, to the AP’s office AP reads son the riot act, NOW he has to have an escort to and from ALL classes! AP walks DS to second block class, say my good byes Drive back to work Ah now back to Tblog, check email “J” wants me to come for lunch, yeah Great! I know not nearly as well done as ALMSHVN's but hey, I tried! Music in my Win. Media Player (Alison Krauss, Evanescence, Matchbox 20, Fleetwood Mac) |
| 10 Comments |
| Runaway Bride |
| 05.02.05 (5:50 pm) |
From NPR a great piece of humor! Follow the link to listen to this very funny comedy piece.A Cure for Cold FeetAll Things Considered, May 2, 2005 · Satirist Harry Shearer offers a medicine called Jitterin', that cures the jitters of pre-wedding anxiety. He offers this on the heels of news that a bride-to-be who had been feared kidnapped had run away to avoid her wedding. |
| 10 Comments |
| Bleeding Heart Liberal?? - Geeze Maybe???? | ||
| 05.02.05 (11:42 am) | ||
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| 15 Comments | ||
