-P, sorry you got tricked and thanks for the warning. I have been getting all sorts of pharmacy, viagra, and such email spam for about a year now- most irritating !

IH- how true- it was a spiritual drive today.

'Night, joe.

Anyone seen vet since chat ?

Sounds just like central Florida !

Good to hear that Tran has such a great attitude. Wow- I cannot imagine. Let him know there are folks here who wish him (and his) the very best. Great program your schools have going. TeenPie started college with 30 credit hours but no foot in the door to Brown- which he visited a few years ago and loved. (Probably just as well, as without a mega scholarship, I'd be working as a greeter at WalMart for the rest of my days to try to pay for it.)

The charter school they're goin' to has the kids do the grant research and letter writin' that leads to these scholarships, and college coop programs, so methinks whatever success they've got in this endeavor relates to their ability to take normal kids and motivate 'em, eh? 'Tis all done after school with teachers voluntarily stayin' late to help.

Here in Little Rhody the charter schools are so successful that the teachers' unions (AFT and NEA) felt threatened and used their leverage in the state legislature to get a moratorium passed on new charter schools. Betcha Noonan knows well what I'm talkin' 'bout, eh?

We got charter schools here with long waitin' lists of students wantin' to get in, and teachers wantin' to teach in an environment away from union control and that requires parental involvement. School districts, even them tryin' to contend with overcrowded classrooms, methinks are also scared of the competition. 'Tain't pretty!

Here is a cover for an album. Makes one long for the good old days when people knew what fashion was all about.

Here is the cover for a Millie Jackson album. It looks like she's attempting to make a statement of some kind.

Indianhead, if you had the use of my tractor you'd also discover the joy of gas welding. I bent the pickup arm (again) this weekend running that new disk harrow across the field. It perplexes me what I did to do it too.

I kept ripping the top end off the old disk and now on the new disk I keep screwing up the tractor. It's got to be something in the draft not picking up straight or something.

Well got to pull a pickup arm off, heat it red hot, beat it back straight, heat it red hot again, and quench it in water. I'm getting to be good at this routine, lot's of experience. Think I'll weld a gusset full lengh to add a little more strengh this time.

I've been watching a charter school which opened up in an old furniture store here Doc. First couple of years they had a packed parking lot, last year they built about a 10,000 square foot real school building, and this year they got under construction a full fledged campus. At this rate they will be the biggest single school in the area.

I thought about doing what the Gunny did and become a school teacher. I don't think they'd condone me disciplining somone with the order for them to do squat thurst until I get tired though.

For the women of RA:


SISTERS

Fifty years ago, a young wife sat on a sofa on a hot humid day, drinking
iced tea and visiting with her mother. As they talked about life, about
marriage, about the responsibilities of life and the obligations of
adulthood, the mother clinked the ice cubes in her glass thoughtfully and
turned a clear, sober glance upon her daughter.

"Don't forget your Sisters," she advised, swirling the tea leaves to the
bottom of her glass. They'll be more important as you get older. No matter
how much you love your husband, no matter how much you love the children you
may have, you are still going to need Sisters. Remember to go places with
them now and then; do things with them.

"Remember that 'Sisters' means ALL the women... your girlfriends, your
daughters, your women friends, and your other women relatives, too. You'll
need other women. Women always do."

"What a funny piece of advice!" the young woman thought. "Haven't I just
gotten married? Haven't I just joined the couple-world? I'm now a married
woman, for goodness sake! A grownup! Surely my husband and the family we may
start will be all I need to make my life worthwhile!"

But she listened to her mother. She kept contact with her Sisters and made
more women friends each year. As the years tumbled by, one after another,
she gradually came to understand that her mom really knew what she was
talking about. As time and nature work their changes and their mysteries
upon a woman, Sisters are the mainstays of her life.

After more than 50 years of living in this world, here is what I've learned:

- Time passes.
- Life happens.
- Distance separates.
- Children grow up.
- Jobs come and go.
- Careers end.
- Love waxes and wanes.
- Colleagues forget favors.
- Men sometimes disappoint.
- Hearts ache.
- Parents die.

BUT.........

Sisters are there, no matter how much time and how many miles are between
you. A girl friend is never farther away than needing her can reach.

When you have to walk that lonesome valley and you have to walk it by
yourself, the women in your life will be on the valley's rim, cheering you
on, praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on your behalf, and
waiting with open arms at the valley's end.

Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk beside you.

Or come in and carry you out.

Girlfriends, daughters, granddaughters, daughters-in-law, sisters,
sisters-in-law, mothers, grandmothers, aunties, nieces, cousins, and
extended family, all bless our life!

The world wouldn't be the same without women, and neither would I.

When we began this adventure called womanhood, we had no idea of the
incredible joys or sorrows that lay ahead.

Nor did we know how much we would need each other.

Every day, we need each other still.

Pass this on to all the women who help make your life meaningful.

I just did.

Good morning everyone!
(or what ever 'tis where ever you is, eh?)

Bummer! Thought I'd get away easy tryin' to contest our property revaluation, but methinks the system's set up to discourage them attemptin' to do so. Got to the Assessor's office at city hall real early, was third in line, still waited over an hour to find out I was missin' some paperwork. Came home, checked CGCS and found more off topic postin' in the mil/vets section, dropped a pm to a mod 'bout it, went back with my paperwork only to be told I gotta come back Wednesday.

Oh well....hope the weather's good where ever y'all are at. Enjoy the day, be safe, stay well and remember to play nice!

Man, you put it into perspective pretty well...it's always something.

I drove to the office this morning (I had to drop off money for the Girl
Scout cookies I ordered) and on the way saw my neighbor (father of
a Marine in Iraq) at his mail box. I found out his boy (a 25-year-old man
who is a recon sniper with several confirmeds) will still be coming
home this month. I also learned he had been hit three times on his tour,
this time he took scrapnel from an RPG. Also had some hand-to-hand
after ammo depletion. He's worked out in the most western part of Iraq
near Syria most recently. Usually in three-man teams out of his 17-man
unit. Of the 17: 4 KIA, and 10 wounded, I learned. Well, he'll come home
in on piece, but he'll drive the metal detectors crazy for the rest of his
life...and he has asked his father for no parties...just wants to be left
alone with immediate family for awhile. My hope is that
none in my parish make the mistake of confronting this guy for quite
awhile...the coroner has enough business. I have a feeling that he
may find it easier to talk with a guy I know who worked similar
missions around Vietnam in the late 60s...but I couldn't tell his dad,
a non vet, that he may have trouble opening up...so I'll hang loose
and see if he calls. I told his dad to thank him, for me, for his service.

Vegetable gardening is so much simplier...
sometimes I think we heat, form and cool
our guys off pretty much too...

Every soldier comes home wounded from every war. The best thing we could do for veterans is quit making so many of them.

WS

IH, when this young man makes it to a point that he will talk about his Iraqi experience, please get him back on the right of the wire, or he will end up with a life time of pain that nobody should have to sholder, brother.

Also, please tell him that this ol' sea-dog said 'thank you for your service to our country...'

Thank you, WS...

We don't have that sort of 'problem' around here. Milwaukee schools were so messed up that they allowed a voucher program, but there are some serious allegations of corruption at some of them. Attempts to expand the program haven't been well received, and that's not coming from the teachers. We like our schools here (for the most part) and don't want to tinker with a good thing that's working. As far as the power of the teachers' union here: we're a joke that no politician fears.

We have a guy here in town who was a sniper in 'Nam. He and I talked one night (more like he talked and I listened). I'll have to echo what Winston said.

Spent an entire night talking with an older cousin who served as a medic in 'Nam. He did almost all the talking while I listened as we drank beer. It was almost like I wasn't there though and he just wanted to talk. I don't know if I'm describing this right but the conversation wasn't the normal give and take two people have. He just wanted to spill his guts that night and I was there.

Here's a handy reference talble that might come in useful some day.



You all can thank me later for the information!

Well thank you, Des. My life would not have been nearly as complete had you not provided this info...

Exactly. The guy I listened to has been doing the same thing for the past 30+ years, unfortunately.

I do a lot of work with the DAV, and this, unfortunately, is way too abnormally normal for many...

joe e

Same with my cousin.

Don't know if this is real or not (I'm refering to the credit card) but is sure is a step away from getting a new toaster or airline travel mileage.

The Plastic Assets Card

My cousin did the same thing one night in a Tijuana bar. I was never in-country long enough, and was in a branch that generally was not involved in the gruntwork of war. I saw most of it as we made a combat approach into somewhere: slipping from 30,000 feet to the tarmack by sliding down an elevator shaft. Offloaded and left, stayed just long enough to collect my combat pay and tax exemption.

He was in it. We started goofing off by doing shooters, then he started talking. It got real serious and he ended up crying a lot. Some of it was the alcohol, but all the booze did was break the glass in which his emotions had been bottled. What poured out was vile, vitupertive, and horrible to ponder.

You know, if you were to ask me exactly what he said, to this day I couldn't tell you. I just remember being there, bleary-eyed, with my jaw clinched as his body was wracked with deep sobs and tears. Hellava nite.

Snuff,

And the same right back at you.

Thank you. That's some of the best advice I've ever read. I'm going to be forwarding it to a few other special women in my life. Especially to my daughter, who just this afternoon afforded me an honor that I'll always treasure. She called me her best friend.


-Pegatha

edit: Shoot! I was so moved that I didn't even realize that I forgot to hit "quote!" But I guess you can probably figure out what I'm responding to!

They have a pretty impressive credit-line, eh?

Coupla posts here today kinda hit home, so I been quiet. 'Twasn't anything negative on anybody's part, just brought back memories that I'd rather not relive.

Here's one for ya: Non-Agressive Marine

News anchor Dan Rather, The Reverend Jesse Jackson, NPR reporter Cokie Roberts, and an American Marine were hiking through the jungle one day when they were captured by cannibals.

They were tied up, led to the village and brought before the chief. The chief said, "I am familiar with your Western custom of granting the condemned a last wish. Before we kill and eat you, do you have any last requests?"

Dan Rather said, "Well, I'm a Texan; so I'd like one last bowlful of hot, spicy chili." The chief nodded to an underling, who left and returned with the chili. Rather ate it all and said, "Now I can die content."

Jesse Jackson said, "You know, the thing in this life I am proudest of is my work on behalf of the poor and oppressed. So before I go, I want to sing "We Shall Overcome" one last time." The chief said, "Go right ahead, we're listening." Jackson sang the song, and then said, "Now I can die in peace."

Cokie Roberts said, "I'm a reporter to the end. I want to take out my tape recorder and describe the scene here and what's about to happen. Maybe someday someone will hear it and know that I was on the job til the end." The chief directed an aide to hand over the tape recorder, and Roberts dictated some comments. She then said, "Now I can die happy."

The chief turned and said, "And now, Mr. Marine, what is your final wish?"

"Kick me in the ass," said the Marine.

"What?" said the chief. "Will you mock us in your last hour?"

"No, I'm not kidding. I want you to kick me in the ass," insisted the Marine.

So the chief shoved him into the open, and kicked him in the ass. The Marine went sprawling, but rolled to his knees, pulled a 9mm pistol from his waistband, and shot the chief dead. In the resulting confusion, he leapt to his knapsack, pulled out his M4 carbine, and sprayed the cannibals with gunfire. In a flash, the cannibals were dead or fleeing for their lives.

As the Marine was untying the others, they asked him, "Why didn't you just shoot them? Why did you ask them to kick you in the ass?"

"What!?" said the Marine, "And have you jerks call ME the aggressor?!"

Where dat Red Bird? She still recoverin' from burns where the sun don't normally get to shine?

The Snuff sure hit home with her "sisters" post ! Too true and gets more true as one ages.

And to Sister Mary Pegatha: too cool that your daughter thinks of you as her best friend. Absolutely awesome !!!!!

--------

And, yep- I, too, was moved by the earlier discussion. There are no words that adequately express my deep sadness, so I will not even try.

--------

Buddy, Mr and I are home. And tired. TeenPie pretty much 'nuked' the house in the three days he was home alone. I'll deal with him tomorrow. Any suggestions ? He's home until Sunday or Monday for spring break.

To lighten the mood, ever wonder if the Simpsons were real people?

Awesome!

Strangulation is an option. Or a small thermonuclear device in his bedroom while he's asleep- or even awake!

Have him pay for a cleaning service....

Or just make him clean it up!

Yes,that's the ideal option...my thought was that college students usually don't have much money to spare, so if he had to pay for a cleaning service to get the house back in shape the way Pie left it, hitting his pocket might make an impression...depends on how the word "nuked" is defined...

I would wonder why TeenPie got the idea that it was okay to 'nuke' the house while you and Mr. Pie were gone. Considering his age, it's probably too late trying to deal with him on this.

I would also like to know what "nuked" means. Is the house utterly trashed or was the toilet seat left up and there was some dirty dishes in the sink?

A suitcase thermonuclear device cleans and sterilzes- for several million years- in one quick flash! Plus, they're fun to watch!

Question: Am I the only person here who has never ever watched ?

TWO, i've never watched the simpsons

hey skillet these pictures look like tohoe, i've never been their thought you might like to see them
http://homepage.mac.com/ryan_a/PhotoAlbum35.html

I'm sure she'll enjoy your pictures of Tohoe, and maybe, if you're real nice to her, she'll send you some pictures of Tahoe!

(am I mean, or what!)

It's mellow time and the work day is pretty much done. Doing laundry right now and will soon start on the dishes after I take a shower. Should have taken a shower earlier but I didn't know if I would be called out again in hte evening and when I got home about 6 or so, I was too whooped to do anything but crash out on the couch fully dressed with my jacket and boots still on (TeenPie is a wannabe compared to me in the nuking the house department).

I know you will always treasure that from your daughter. That is so wonderful. I'm thrilled for you. The Snuff

WS - Shame on you...I'm going to subject you to a image presentation with the most boring narrative on each one! You have the most wicked sense of humor!

vets- Those are beautiful pictures. Thank you. When you live here, you forget to take the time to look around and enjoy the incredible surroundings. Your post and pictures remind me of the awesome place that I have the pleasure to live in. I recognize several places in the picture. Thank you for reminding me to look around as I go about my day. Thanks again.

Serious thoughtful posts earlier on this thread. Makes one stop and think doesn't it? Nuff said...

Good morning everyone!
(or what ever 'tis where ever you is, eh?)

Oh yeah, that'll work, eh? Mothers may have patience, but not that much! Methinks Pie'd see a Democrat occupyin' the White House sooner'n she'd see the kid clean up his mess. No!

Geez, methinks Winston and I seem more alike every day, eh? Y'all don't suppose he's really my (two years) older twin brother, do ya?

Well, 'twould seem someone's gonna nail #200 today, so I guess I'll leave it to y'all to fight it out for the honor.

Hope the weather's good where ever y'all are at and that Red Bird checks in again soon. Enjoy the day, be safe, stay well and remember to play nice!

Got a nice little addendum from a friend to whom I sent Snuff's "sisters" post.


A friend is someone who would bail you out of jail, if necessary.

A really good friend (sister) would be in there with you, saying, "That was one hell of a party, wasn't it?"

Count me out of the #200 sweepstakes, we're watching "Inherit the Wind" today.

So Doc, which one of us is Divito, and which is Ahhhhnold? And yeah, I think we've got more in common that we do differences.

This one deserves to be in a place other than hiding out in my picture thread, so here it is. Enjoy...

SKIPPING CHURCH

Pastor Norton woke up Sunday morning and realizing it was an exceptionally beautiful and sunny early spring day, decided he just had to play golf.

So... he told the Associate Pastor that he was feeling sick and persuaded him to give the sermon for him that day.

As soon as the Associate Pastor left the room, Pastor Norton headed out of town to a golf course about forty miles away.

This way he knew he wouldn't accidentally meet anyone he knew from his church. Setting up on the first tee, he was alone. After all, it was Sunday morning and everyone else was in church!

At about this time, Saint Peter leaned over to the Lord while looking down from the heavens and exclaimed, "You're not going to let him get awa y with this, are you?"

The Lord sighed, and said, "No, I guess not."

Just then Pastor Norton hit the ball and it shot straight towards the pin, dropping just short of it, rolled up and fell into the hole.

IT WAS A 420 YARD HOLE IN ONE!

St. Peter was astonished. He looked at the Lord and asked, "Why did you let him do that?"

The Lord smiled and replied, "Who's he going to tell?"

DONATION

Father O'Malley answers the phone.
"Hello, is this Father O'Malley?"
"It is."
"This is the IRS. Can you help us?"
"I can."
"Do you know a Ted Houlihan?"
"I do."
"Is he a member of your congregation?"
"He is."
"Did he donate $10,000 to the church?"
"He will."

THE DECEASED DOG

Muldoon lived alone in the Irish countryside with only a pet dog for company. One day the dog died, and Muldoon went to the parish priest and asked, "Father, me dog is dead. Could ya be sayin' a mass for the poor creature?"
Father Patrick replied, "I'm afraid not; cannot have services for an animal in the church. But there are some Baptists down the lane, and there's no tellin' what they believe. Maybe they'll do something for the creature."
Muldoon said, "I'll go right away Father Do ya think $5,000 is enough to donate to them for the service?"
Father Patrick exclaimed, "Sweet Mary, Mother of Jesus! Why didn`t ya tell me the dog was Catholic?"

George Carlin's Views on Aging

Do you realize that the only time in our lives when we like to get old is
when we're kids? If you're less than 10 years old, you're so excited about
aging that you think in fractions.

"How old are you?" "I'm four and a half!" You're never thirty-six and a
half. You're four and a half, going on five! That's the key.

You get into your teens, now they can't hold you back. You jump to the
next number, or even a few ahead.

"How old are you?" "I'm gonna be 16!" You could be 13, but hey, you're
gonna be 16! And then the greatest day of your life . . . you become 21.
Even the words sound like a ceremony . . YOU BECOME 21. YESSSS!!!

But then you turn 30. Oooohh, what happened there? Makes you sound like
bad milk! He TURNED; we had to throw him out. There's no fun now, you're
Just a sour-dumpling. What's wrong? What's changed?

You BECOME 21, you TURN 30, then you're PUSHING 40. Whoa! Put on the
brakes, it's all slipping away. Before you know it, you REACH 50
and your dreams are gone.

But wait!!! You MAKE it to 60. You didn't think you would!

So you BECOME 21, TURN 30, PUSH 40, REACH 50 and MAKE it to 60.

You've built up so much speed that you HIT 70! After that it's a
day-by-day thing; you HIT Wednesday!

You get into your 80s and every day is a complete cycle; you HIT lunch;
you TURN 4:30; you REACH bedtime. And it doesn't end there. Into the 90s,
you start going backwards; "I Was JUST 92."

Then a strange thing happens. If you make it over 100, you become a little
kid again. "I'm 100 and a half!"
May you all make it to a healthy 100 and a half!!


HOW TO STAY YOUNG
1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height.
Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay "them "

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.

3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening,
whatever. Never let the brain idle. "An idle mind is the devil's
workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.

6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is
with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family,
pets,keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your
refuge.

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is
unstable,improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9 Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next
county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.

10.Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.


AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments
that take our breath away.


And if you don't send this to at least 8 people - who cares? But do share
this with someone. We all need to live life to its fullest each day!!