I had one of the most frightening experiences that I ever had. Yes, guys can have bad experiences as well. I had just finished driving thirty minutes on the freeway, had gotten off the exit ramp and was making a left hand turn to continue on to my office. My car died. I tried to restart it over and over again without any luck; I was not succeeding. There I was stuck in to the middle of traffic, frustrated, and surrounded by hostile drivers and unsympathic horns, feeling very sorry for myself. I heard the sound of a very familiar voice from a rolled down car window— it was "M" from my office. "K, do you need any help, is there something I can do?" I blurted out "I think I can get it started if I had a can of starting fluid," I said. "Where can I find it?" she replied and after receiving me instructions she drove off.
Another car pulled up; it was a second co-worker, "L" with her darling blond haired child in a car seat behind her. Even though she had the day off, and was going to her mother's house, she asked that familiar question as well "How can I help?" I start to feel better already when a third co-worker "J" called me on my cell phone and asked me if I was all right. I assured her help was on its way when the fourth co-worker, Sean pulled up behind me in his car. His four-way flashers signaled others behind him of my distress and not to use our lane. How can I say this without being silly? Sean was the best thing that ever happened to me just at that moment: he is very a familiar face, a confidant, and better yet a good friend.
For the next hour and a half he stayed with me, we joked, traded stories back and forth and tried to trouble shoot the no start problem. When "M" arrived with the stating fluid, he helped me try to restart my reluctant vehicle. He was my lifesaver, keeping me from going ballistic, or absolutely insane. The police arrived and finally the AAA tow truck, yet Sean stayed with me the entire time even giving me a ride to the office as well as helping me to chase down the parts needed to make the repairs.
These four people personify the story of "The Good Samaritan." I really can't say enough about them, some of which are less than half my age and old enough to be my children. They are a true friends who I shall always be thankful.
K.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Sunday, May 18, 2008
It’s OK to Do What You Would Like to Do, Just Don’t Get Caught
We all believe in our inalienable rights of the freedom of speech, but just how far can it go? Forty-four students at Stevenson High School in Lavonia, MI were suspended for wearing tee shirts that said "Puschin' It To The Limit" on one side and "Class of .08 Seniors" on the other. The .08 refers to Michigan alcohol limit for intoxicated drivers. The high school principal, Steven Archibald, felt that it was the wrong message and promoted underage drinking. When asked by a local TV station whether it had anything to do with drinking, a student replied, "Oh, yah …it (the reaction from the administration) is kind of pointless…it's just a joke."
Archibald had gotten wind of the upcoming senior prank back in April and had sent parents two messages one by mail and the other via email warning them there would be consequences if this happened. The suspended students involved will have to earn back their right to attend Senior Prom and "walking" (across the stage) during the graduation ceremony. The suspended students were prevented from attending an honors award assembly that same evening.
Mother Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) felt the actions against the student were appropriate as most if not all are underage to begin with; while some suspended students felt that they were being unfairly singled out for their prank. One mother, Dawn Lewis, felt that it was unfair to punish the students who worn the tee shirt and to go after the person who designed the shirt in the first place. "They are kids…what are you going to do?"
Anheuser-Busch in a press release from the headquarters in St. Louis on May 9, 2008 may have anticipated such high jinks. "Especially during the prom and graduation season, parents may face pressure to host teen parties with alcohol," said Carol Clark, vice president of Corporate Social Responsibility at Anheuser-Busch. "By exchanging best practices through this new forum ( the Positive Parenting Connection page on MySpace at www.myspace.com/positiveparenting), parents can better understand their role in preventing underage drinking and also realize they're not alone in saying no."
K's comments: hmmm—two notices to "Cease and Desist" or "halt this planned activity" before the event happened are excellent points in Principal Archibald's favor, he is a good high school administrator. MADD spokesperson said the goal was to prevent underage drinking with zero tolerance, is also a good point. The adage "Kids will be kids" and "People have worn tee shirts worse than this."– are poor arguments. I recommend the American Civil Liberties Union or other lawyer groups not even think about getting involved in the one. You have bigger fish to fry.
K.
Archibald had gotten wind of the upcoming senior prank back in April and had sent parents two messages one by mail and the other via email warning them there would be consequences if this happened. The suspended students involved will have to earn back their right to attend Senior Prom and "walking" (across the stage) during the graduation ceremony. The suspended students were prevented from attending an honors award assembly that same evening.
Mother Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) felt the actions against the student were appropriate as most if not all are underage to begin with; while some suspended students felt that they were being unfairly singled out for their prank. One mother, Dawn Lewis, felt that it was unfair to punish the students who worn the tee shirt and to go after the person who designed the shirt in the first place. "They are kids…what are you going to do?"
Anheuser-Busch in a press release from the headquarters in St. Louis on May 9, 2008 may have anticipated such high jinks. "Especially during the prom and graduation season, parents may face pressure to host teen parties with alcohol," said Carol Clark, vice president of Corporate Social Responsibility at Anheuser-Busch. "By exchanging best practices through this new forum ( the Positive Parenting Connection page on MySpace at www.myspace.com/positiveparenting), parents can better understand their role in preventing underage drinking and also realize they're not alone in saying no."
K's comments: hmmm—two notices to "Cease and Desist" or "halt this planned activity" before the event happened are excellent points in Principal Archibald's favor, he is a good high school administrator. MADD spokesperson said the goal was to prevent underage drinking with zero tolerance, is also a good point. The adage "Kids will be kids" and "People have worn tee shirts worse than this."– are poor arguments. I recommend the American Civil Liberties Union or other lawyer groups not even think about getting involved in the one. You have bigger fish to fry.
K.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
The Lord is my Sheppard... He Restores my Soul
My experiences this past week, have put me into a stunning, traumatic shock. Could I be so oblivious to the world around me that I could not see what was happening? Was I so trusting that I was setting myself up for the biggest downfall of my life? Did I have horse's blinders next to my eyes? We see our children grow up before our very eyes, watch them metamorphous into adolescence and then mature into adulthood. Then we turn them nonchalantly loose. We turn them loose into a world, like sheep that are sent out into a pasture full of lurking, ravenous wolves, waiting to pounce upon them like so much meat at a butcher's shop window.
We as parents can only watch, hope and pray that all will turn out OK. We can only trust those eighteen years of education in school, teachings in Judaeo-Christian principles and instruction in scruples and ethics, have had an effect. It is like making a cake, we have mixed together all the ingredients, have set the timer, turned up the heat and have put the cake into the oven. Now, what remains is to watch and see (and hope for the perfect cake). If the makeup of materials lack something, if the temperature is incorrect, if the over door is opened at the wrong time, the cake will fail. They say that each of us has a guardian angle, pray for two angles for each of your children. One to diligently watch and the other to standby as a backup— a redundant system, just in case.
K.
We as parents can only watch, hope and pray that all will turn out OK. We can only trust those eighteen years of education in school, teachings in Judaeo-Christian principles and instruction in scruples and ethics, have had an effect. It is like making a cake, we have mixed together all the ingredients, have set the timer, turned up the heat and have put the cake into the oven. Now, what remains is to watch and see (and hope for the perfect cake). If the makeup of materials lack something, if the temperature is incorrect, if the over door is opened at the wrong time, the cake will fail. They say that each of us has a guardian angle, pray for two angles for each of your children. One to diligently watch and the other to standby as a backup— a redundant system, just in case.
K.
My Life's Partner, My Friend, My Equal
I met a couple today that had been married some fifty-two years who have shared a project that kept them both busy with displaying an egg decorated lawn these past fifty years. Called Eggshellland, see http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/eggshellland/ for a photo montage, this couple has put their entire free time in emptying, painting, planning designs and building eggshell displays that are up for only an eight day period between Palm Sunday and two days after Easter. Their designs are based on common and popular themes such as Disney and Warner Brothers characters, local sport teams and a perennial, brightly decorated cross.
They are a true husband and wife team, with the wife doing the entire theme designing and planning and her husband, the painting and production. The eggs are painted in 24 brilliant outdoor sign paints called 1Shot, made in Gary, IN. Their children, grandchildren and other interested people have helped with the set up and execution of the design layout. Only four times has the weather threatened their fragile project with hailstones or crushing heavy snow, damaging thousands of brightly painted shells. Vandals have too have had their effect, but only once, a decade ago.
I guess, the real reason for this blog is to tell you about a couple who have decided to put their lives in a fish bowl one a year, for eight days; to let people see, experience and admire their creative talents. They have enjoyed showing their displays just as much as the visitors who have goggled in front of their home during Holy Week. They were not afraid to put themselves out and in some cases, have let others in on their creative venture.
Betty and Ron Manolio, I wish you many more years together in your creative journey as show us your combined talents. You are a couple this world should admire as well as emulate.
K.
They are a true husband and wife team, with the wife doing the entire theme designing and planning and her husband, the painting and production. The eggs are painted in 24 brilliant outdoor sign paints called 1Shot, made in Gary, IN. Their children, grandchildren and other interested people have helped with the set up and execution of the design layout. Only four times has the weather threatened their fragile project with hailstones or crushing heavy snow, damaging thousands of brightly painted shells. Vandals have too have had their effect, but only once, a decade ago.
I guess, the real reason for this blog is to tell you about a couple who have decided to put their lives in a fish bowl one a year, for eight days; to let people see, experience and admire their creative talents. They have enjoyed showing their displays just as much as the visitors who have goggled in front of their home during Holy Week. They were not afraid to put themselves out and in some cases, have let others in on their creative venture.
Betty and Ron Manolio, I wish you many more years together in your creative journey as show us your combined talents. You are a couple this world should admire as well as emulate.
K.
A Tale of Two Universities
It was the best of times; it was the worst of times; that happened in the month of May 2008. The best of times—Mallory Holtman, first base for the Central Washington Wildcats softball team, and shortstop Liz Wallace helped an injured opposing team member "walk" the bases. Sara Tucholsky from Western Oregon had just hit a homerun over the fence and was starting for second base when she realized she hadn't touched first. As she doubled backed to tag the base, her knee crumpled beneath her making it painfully impossible for her to run the bases. The ball would have counted as a single if anyone attempted to replace her, wiping out Tucholsky's only college career homer.
Holtman and Wallace opposing team members picked Tucholsky off the ground, cradled her between them and walked all four bases, stopping to let Sara's good leg gingerly touch each base in succession. The trio received a standing ovation from the crowd for this unheard of display of good sportsmanship. This act of kindness enabled them to appear on several morning television shows.
The worst—also in the TV news was announcement that 75 students from San Diego State University were arrested for possession and selling drugs. The grocery list of seized illicit drugs included: four pounds of cocaine, 50 pounds of marijuana, 48 indoor grown marijuana plants, 350 ecstasy pills, hallucinogenic mushrooms, 30 vials of hash oil, methamphetamines, and various prescription drugs. Also confiscated was $60,000 in cash. 25 others, not attending the university were also arrested.
Members of three fraternities, Theta Chi, Phi Kappa Psi and Delta Sigma Pi, were arrested, according to law enforcement. Three other fraternities were suspended Tuesday (May 6th) pending a hearing on evidence gathered during the investigation. Two drug related deaths of students at SDSU, prompted the investigation. Ray Poliakoff, father of one of the dead students, and an emergency room physician from Poway, CA, said SDSU "could have chosen to turn a blind eye to the whole thing. ... [but] if one kid gets saved, if 10 kids get saved, then it's worth doing."
The good—college sport rivals helping each other out; the bad—students preying upon others in their community and the ugly—San Diego's drug ring may be only a microcosm of the drug related extra curricular activities of the entire student population. Let us pray that this is not the case.
K.
Holtman and Wallace opposing team members picked Tucholsky off the ground, cradled her between them and walked all four bases, stopping to let Sara's good leg gingerly touch each base in succession. The trio received a standing ovation from the crowd for this unheard of display of good sportsmanship. This act of kindness enabled them to appear on several morning television shows.
The worst—also in the TV news was announcement that 75 students from San Diego State University were arrested for possession and selling drugs. The grocery list of seized illicit drugs included: four pounds of cocaine, 50 pounds of marijuana, 48 indoor grown marijuana plants, 350 ecstasy pills, hallucinogenic mushrooms, 30 vials of hash oil, methamphetamines, and various prescription drugs. Also confiscated was $60,000 in cash. 25 others, not attending the university were also arrested.
Members of three fraternities, Theta Chi, Phi Kappa Psi and Delta Sigma Pi, were arrested, according to law enforcement. Three other fraternities were suspended Tuesday (May 6th) pending a hearing on evidence gathered during the investigation. Two drug related deaths of students at SDSU, prompted the investigation. Ray Poliakoff, father of one of the dead students, and an emergency room physician from Poway, CA, said SDSU "could have chosen to turn a blind eye to the whole thing. ... [but] if one kid gets saved, if 10 kids get saved, then it's worth doing."
The good—college sport rivals helping each other out; the bad—students preying upon others in their community and the ugly—San Diego's drug ring may be only a microcosm of the drug related extra curricular activities of the entire student population. Let us pray that this is not the case.
K.
My Country ’tis of Thee, Sweet Land of Liberty..."
I have a friend who is going blind. He has had sight difficulties since high school some forty years ago, but now the doctors tell him that here is nothing more they can do for him. How very final that sounds; blindness is just around the corner. There is nothing that I can do for him except be there to hear his frustrations, listen to his dashed hopes and befriend him.
Today, Mrs. K. and I went over to his house and talked to him and his wife. He wanted to put up an American flag so he could still see it before he totally lost his sight. Two holidays are coming up: Memorial Day and Fourth of July and he wanted to be prepared. The two of us spent some time deciding where to mount the flagstaff, finally deciding to place it on a fencepost right outside of his front door. The sun shone brilliantly on it, really lighting it up. He was very pleased with the results and I was happy that the two of us could work on it together. He was never able to serve country even though he had gone to enlist. Yet, he is as patriotic as anyone you could ever find.
What brought me to write this blog is that he gave me almost all of his entire collection of military history books; some five shopping bags filled to the top. These were his favorite pastime. You could almost say that he was a voracious reader and was very knowledgeable of American wars. I can't imagine what I would do if blindness was my ultimate fate. He is still very optimistic; he and his wife went out and bought an illuminated optical viewer so he can read the books he hadn't given away.
If there ever was a person who could use a prayer to stop the progress of his blindness (or even possibly reverse the outcome) my friend could use it. His name is Ron and I don't he'll mind if you put in a good word for him with the Man Upstairs. God has helped the blind to see before.
K.
Today, Mrs. K. and I went over to his house and talked to him and his wife. He wanted to put up an American flag so he could still see it before he totally lost his sight. Two holidays are coming up: Memorial Day and Fourth of July and he wanted to be prepared. The two of us spent some time deciding where to mount the flagstaff, finally deciding to place it on a fencepost right outside of his front door. The sun shone brilliantly on it, really lighting it up. He was very pleased with the results and I was happy that the two of us could work on it together. He was never able to serve country even though he had gone to enlist. Yet, he is as patriotic as anyone you could ever find.
What brought me to write this blog is that he gave me almost all of his entire collection of military history books; some five shopping bags filled to the top. These were his favorite pastime. You could almost say that he was a voracious reader and was very knowledgeable of American wars. I can't imagine what I would do if blindness was my ultimate fate. He is still very optimistic; he and his wife went out and bought an illuminated optical viewer so he can read the books he hadn't given away.
If there ever was a person who could use a prayer to stop the progress of his blindness (or even possibly reverse the outcome) my friend could use it. His name is Ron and I don't he'll mind if you put in a good word for him with the Man Upstairs. God has helped the blind to see before.
K.
Sunday April 27, 2008
Mrs. K . and I went to hear a masters candidate thesis presentation at Ursuline College on April 22. Ursuline fashion professor, Susan Powers discussed The Changing Silhouette of the American Wedding Gown. She highlighted how American wedding gowns can be learning tools when studied as historical artifacts of material culture. An exhibit of wedding gowns was included in her presentation.
The main reason why I was there was that my sister and her husband had donated a wedding gown worn by my brother-in-law's grandmother in 1914. It was quite interesting to see how the wedding dress had evolved over the last 100 years. Then again there hadn't been any real drastic change at all. The dress still represented the vestages of a young woman's crowning moment—the day of her wedding. It represented a young couple's hope and asperations, the future they were to share from that moment on. The bouque of flowers were long gone, in some instances even the bride, groom and wedding guests. Only the gown itself remained—a testiment to its loving care and sentiment.
The candidate, Mrs. Powers. worn a gown of her own creation as she presented her paper; her husband dressed in a groom's tuxedo—wedding cake and coffee were served after the presentation. I was quite impressed in Mrs. Powers' paper, the self-designed gown she wore and her husband's participation and support in her disertation. Mr. and Professor Powers can be very proud of each other.
K.
The main reason why I was there was that my sister and her husband had donated a wedding gown worn by my brother-in-law's grandmother in 1914. It was quite interesting to see how the wedding dress had evolved over the last 100 years. Then again there hadn't been any real drastic change at all. The dress still represented the vestages of a young woman's crowning moment—the day of her wedding. It represented a young couple's hope and asperations, the future they were to share from that moment on. The bouque of flowers were long gone, in some instances even the bride, groom and wedding guests. Only the gown itself remained—a testiment to its loving care and sentiment.
The candidate, Mrs. Powers. worn a gown of her own creation as she presented her paper; her husband dressed in a groom's tuxedo—wedding cake and coffee were served after the presentation. I was quite impressed in Mrs. Powers' paper, the self-designed gown she wore and her husband's participation and support in her disertation. Mr. and Professor Powers can be very proud of each other.
K.
Pearl Harbor Revisited
All of us know about the Pearl Harbor sneak attack on December 7, 1941. The time was 8:00 a.m. (or as they says in the Navy --0800 hours) when a crewman went to the fantail, the rear portion, of his ship to raise the American flag. One minute later a torpedo from a Japanese bomber struck her on her port side. The ship began to take on water so rapidly that she began to list 15 degrees. The senior officer aboard, Lt. Commander S.S. Isquith, realizing that she was sinking gave the order for "All hands on deck and all engine room and fire room, radio and dynamo watch to lay up on deck and release all prisoners." The men were to go the starboard side of the she to avoid the shifting loose heavy timbers that had been stored on deck earlier. Four minutes later the list increased to 40 degrees and the order was given to abandon ship over the starboard side.
As the crew scrambled for safety, the increased list caused the timbers to loosen and slide into the water, crushing the men below. At about 8:12 a.m. the ship capsized after mooring lines snapped. "One of the ship's boats rushed in and picked up men in the water and commenced ferrying them to the beach. Constant strafing made the job hazardous, and many men sought shelter by swimming to the side of the mooring quay. The wounded and injured were treated along the shoreline or sent to the dispensary at the Naval Air Station at Ford Island. As survivors continued to struggle ashore, most sought protection in a pipeline trench dug by the Public Works Project."
Thirty officers and 431 men were reported to have survived the loss of the ship. The balance of the ships company, 58 men, remained entombed to this date aboard this ill-fated ship. Her hull in mostly submerged on the west side of Ford Island in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Its location and fate are not mentioned in the tourist brochures. Most persons visiting the historical sights at Pearl Harbor see the more publicized sites, including USS Missouri Museum, and the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum.
While 1.5 million people annually visit the more famous memorials, few know or visit the site of this sunken ship. Did I forget to say that the timbers stored aboard her deck were to protect it from target bomb practice? Had I failed to say that she was a target ship and wasn't deemed worthy to be on the Japanese hit list but was sunk in error? Did I mention the battle number of this forgotten shrine? It'sBB31-- the number of the battleship USS Utah. BB39 was the battle number of the more famous USS Arizona and now you know the rest of the story.
K.
As the crew scrambled for safety, the increased list caused the timbers to loosen and slide into the water, crushing the men below. At about 8:12 a.m. the ship capsized after mooring lines snapped. "One of the ship's boats rushed in and picked up men in the water and commenced ferrying them to the beach. Constant strafing made the job hazardous, and many men sought shelter by swimming to the side of the mooring quay. The wounded and injured were treated along the shoreline or sent to the dispensary at the Naval Air Station at Ford Island. As survivors continued to struggle ashore, most sought protection in a pipeline trench dug by the Public Works Project."
Thirty officers and 431 men were reported to have survived the loss of the ship. The balance of the ships company, 58 men, remained entombed to this date aboard this ill-fated ship. Her hull in mostly submerged on the west side of Ford Island in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Its location and fate are not mentioned in the tourist brochures. Most persons visiting the historical sights at Pearl Harbor see the more publicized sites, including USS Missouri Museum, and the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum.
While 1.5 million people annually visit the more famous memorials, few know or visit the site of this sunken ship. Did I forget to say that the timbers stored aboard her deck were to protect it from target bomb practice? Had I failed to say that she was a target ship and wasn't deemed worthy to be on the Japanese hit list but was sunk in error? Did I mention the battle number of this forgotten shrine? It'sBB31-- the number of the battleship USS Utah. BB39 was the battle number of the more famous USS Arizona and now you know the rest of the story.
K.
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