the graduate

Proud parents--This is my niece Sarah on a great day--her youngest son, Mac, graduated from high school (top ten) yesterday. Dad, Dean, had something to do with it too!

Pround grandparents--My brother Hal and sister-in law Pat.

Proud Great-Grandma--with Mac and the B-girl. B-girl was so happy because she had won Fuzzy at school, so he came along to the graduation with us.

It still feels like a Monday

even though it is Tuesday!

Today is Memorial Day.

For most people that means the first weekend of summer.

That is not what it means.

It is a day to honor our soldiers who were killed in action,
and we have more than just a few of them.

Today I will place my flag out and take my daughter to the
Lest They Be Forgotten Ceremony at the City Courtyard.

Today they are unveiling a statue dedicated to

Pfc. Holly J. McGeogh
Killed in Action January 31, 2004

so far, the only person from our town who was killed in Iraq.

Why take a seven year old to such a solemn event?

If you ask my daughter what Memorial Day is she will tell you

"It is the day for the soldiers who died in war".

I like that at her age she already knows the real meaning.

Today she will know that Holly should not be forgotten.

That dying for your country is truly

the supreme sacrifice.

The History

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service.

There are many stories as to its actual beginnings, with over two dozen cities and towns laying claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day. There is also evidence that organized women's groups in the South were decorating graves before the end of the Civil War: a hymn published in 1867, "Kneel Where Our Loves are Sleeping" by Nella L. Sweet carried the dedication "To The Ladies of the South who are Decorating the Graves of the Confederate Dead" (Source: Duke University's Historic American Sheet Music, 1850-1920).

While Waterloo N.Y. was officially declared the birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in May 1966, it's difficult to prove conclusively the origins of the day. It is more likely that it had many separate beginnings; each of those towns and every planned or spontaneous gathering of people to honor the war dead in the 1860's tapped into the general human need to honor our dead, each contributed honorably to the growing movement that culminated in Gen Logan giving his official proclamation in 1868. It is not important who was the very first, what is important is that Memorial Day was established. Memorial Day is not about division. It is about reconciliation; it is about coming together to honor those who gave their all.

General John A. LoganLibrary of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, [LC-B8172- 6403 DLC (b&w film neg.)]

Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states. The South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I (when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war).

It is now celebrated in almost every State on the last Monday in May (passed by Congress with the National Holiday Act of 1971 (P.L. 90 - 363) to ensure a three day weekend for Federal holidays).

Traditional observance of Memorial day has diminished over the years. Many Americans nowadays have forgotten the meaning and traditions of Memorial Day. At many cemeteries, the graves of the fallen are increasingly ignored, neglected. Most people no longer remember the proper flag etiquette for the day. While there are towns and cities that still hold Memorial Day parades, many have not held a parade in decades. Some people think the day is for honoring any and all dead, and not just those fallen in service to our country.

Remember Me

I nabbed this one from E.L's blog but I just had to give more airplay this "holiday" weekend.

John Edwards Feeling Pretty

somebody stop me


Let's face it, shall we?

You were my first love.

Now I am calling on you

because I can't help but make that personal contact.

Oh I thought I could get you out of my mind.

Out of my life.

Deep down I know how bad you are for me

but I can't resist

all the pleasure

and the guilt.

As hard as I try

I can't keep away.

I think of you often...

at work

while shopping,

or on the computer.

I must be addicted

to your sweetness because

over the years you have caused me

multiple meltdowns and it keeps

getting better each time.

I can't have you tonight because

it is now past midnight and

my tastes have become more refined.

I can't get to you and

I wouldn't be able to settle

for some cheaper version of you that

I could pick up at the corner, so

Tomorrow,

during the light of day,

I will seek you out

and I will find you.

And for a few satisfying moments...

Chocolate,

you will be mine

again and again!

the big boss man and the Google


Shame on the person who taught the

Clowns and Jokers (reference last post)

how to google!


Word of the advice to the young seeking a job this summer,

or the old (like me) who need to find that perfect job:

Be careful what you say online because

SOMEONE IS CHECKING

your MySpace page or reading your blog.

Here's a hint:

Use a pseudonym.

Like MSU Gal for instance.

Clowns to the left of me,

Jokers to the right,

Here I am

Stuck in middle management

With a higher I.Q.

Woman calls 911 over wrong burger

To Protect and Serve...It Your Way!

if you have ever...

taken vitamin tablets to aid in brain development

waited patiently in pain for an epidural

let someone cut you open to pull the kid out

cried at the very first sight of that precious child

endured more sleepless nights with a crying baby than college exam week could ever hope to bring

changed messy diapers with a song in your heart

tripped over a stump and broke your ankle in two places in order to avoid dropping the kid

stayed up all night to try and get your child's fever down

faithfully attended Gymboree and Mommy and Me

witnessed the first crawl, first word, first step

cried the first day of kindergarten

drove to school, dance classes, sports and recitals

made cupcakes for the masses

acted as chaperon just to be with the kid on field trips

listened to Radio Disney and watched the Disney classic movies until you knew every line

kissed the boo boo a million times

washed the face a million and one

Went to the E.R. to have the "Don't Spill the Beans" bean extracted from your child's nose

helped with the kind of homework you never remember having

smiled and pretended to be alright even though you had the flu

cried at work because you would rather be at home with the kid

played the same board game over and over just because the kid is having so much fun

said things that sounded frighteningly like something your parents have said

smiled just looking at your child

laughed so hard it hurts

loved so much it hurts,

then

you are

a mom

and today

is your day.

Happy Mother's Day.

da pain, da pain !


Last Friday I lifted a heavy box at work and pulled my back.

I didn't think anything of it.

At the same time I was all PMS'd out (sorry fellas) and had an extraordinarily busy weekend.

I attributed my backache to the PMS thing.

By Monday night, however, I was doubled over in pain.

The pain was so intense I was convinced I had a kidney stone or some sort of internal ailment.

By Tuesday morning I couldn't really think because I was in so much pain.
I got the kid to school and ,because my doctor wasn't yet open, I went to the Emergency Room. They took x-rays and it went like this...


Doctor: Well no kidney stone, but you did strain your lumbar lifting that box.

Me: Well I have pulled my back before and have never had this much pain.

Doctor: It's probably making the arthritis flare up.

Me: What arthritis?

Doctor: The arthritis you have in your back. You mean you haven't seen a doctor about your arthritis?

Me: Well I try not to see any doctors.

Doctor: May I suggest you see one regarding the degenerative arthritis in your back that is visible in your x-ray. Please follow up.

Me: Follow up? What? Huh? Did you say arthritis? Listen I'm only 44!

Docotr: Doesn't matter. You have arthritic changes in your back now.



So here I am with a strained lumbar and arthritis.

I have to go back to work tomorrow even though I am not ready because I have too much work to do and a student tour coming through Spin City Hall. I conduct the tours and if I can't show up it would be cancelled. Not fair to the kids. Guess I will have to take the pain pills and go with it.

This getting older and having pain thing...I don't like it.

And how's your week going?

yeah baby!


The Sharks have been tanked.

Bring on the Ducks!

it seems

there is

nothin' good

to write about

today