Our anniversary is on February 27th. I mention that because of Steinbeck's birthday and because of another coincidence. I started my current job 11 years ago on March 24th. I found out several months later when I looked at my boss's service award that he started on March 24 also (albeit 22 years prior to me). Well, on Wednesday, February 27th I happened to be in my boss's office when his phone rang. He answered and told his wife "happy anniversary". After he was off the phone I remarked that it was also my anniversary. It was just amazing that we shared two anniversarys. What are the odds on that?
I just had to share that. No other coincidences here. Yet. Take care all.
David.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Anniversary
I know it has been some time since I posted. I have been busy. I had a big party to plan. My wife and I just celebrated our twentieth wedding anniversary. I knew I would spend the rest of my life with her but for some reason this milestone meant a lot to me. I wanted to do something special for her. So, I arranged a surprise party. I started planning way back in the summer of 2007. You see my wife is the sweetest lady anyone could ever hope to know. She is just a very kind person. And I wanted to give her something special. She deserves it. I know she wanted jewelry (I'm not done yet) but that will have to wait. Maybe next week.
We were married on John Steinbeck's birthday. No, he wasn't invited. He was long dead when we got married. We did go to his house on our honeymoon. It only seemed fitting. But for our anniversary I knew I would have the party on the Saturday before our day. I had invited the entire wedding party and all of her family and all of mine. I knew that those from out of town might find it difficult to travel, but this town is our hometown and I thought that maybe some might schedule their trip "home" during this weekend. That thought proved in error. No one from out of town made it. It was just too difficult. But those that were in town sure made up for it.
I ordered food and I bought a cake. I had sodas, water and beer. I got everything over to the venue the night before. My wife did not have a clue. I sent my daughter down to the restaurant to pick up the food. She drives a pickup truck so she would have to borrow my wife's SUV. She made up a story about needing the car so that she could take her brother and her best friend to the mall. They just wanted to hang out. My wife got all choked talking about this. "Isn't that sweet?" she said. "She knows she is going to school away from us next fall and so she wants to spend time with her brother. She is such a good kid. What a kind heart." I didn't have the heart to tell her that they really don't get along that well and that my daughter needed the car for the food.
I had every thing planned. One of my wife's bridesmaids who we hadn't really talked to in years, offered to make party favors. Other offered all kinds of help. My parents offered their back yard. I had everyone arrive early on that Saturday. My wife and I got home about noon. The kids had already left. I told her we were going to go out to lunch. I was looking for all sorts of chores to keep me busy until 1PM. My sister called with an excuse to get us over to my parents house. Worked like a charm.
I told my wife that I needed to stop by to help my sister. I coerced her into the backyard because the housecleaner just mopped the floor. When we turned the corner of the house everyone yelled "Surprise". It was classic. My wife had this incredible surprised look on her face. Priceless. It made my day. I told her of the plans that I had. I had invited the entire wedding party and I wanted to do something special for her. She started to cry a couple of times. It was worth it for me. She is a beautiful lady and deserves all the happiness in the world.
I just wanted to share a little bit about that. It was a great time. She got to see most of her bridesmaids. I think she enjoyed it.
Thanks for reading.
David.
We were married on John Steinbeck's birthday. No, he wasn't invited. He was long dead when we got married. We did go to his house on our honeymoon. It only seemed fitting. But for our anniversary I knew I would have the party on the Saturday before our day. I had invited the entire wedding party and all of her family and all of mine. I knew that those from out of town might find it difficult to travel, but this town is our hometown and I thought that maybe some might schedule their trip "home" during this weekend. That thought proved in error. No one from out of town made it. It was just too difficult. But those that were in town sure made up for it.
I ordered food and I bought a cake. I had sodas, water and beer. I got everything over to the venue the night before. My wife did not have a clue. I sent my daughter down to the restaurant to pick up the food. She drives a pickup truck so she would have to borrow my wife's SUV. She made up a story about needing the car so that she could take her brother and her best friend to the mall. They just wanted to hang out. My wife got all choked talking about this. "Isn't that sweet?" she said. "She knows she is going to school away from us next fall and so she wants to spend time with her brother. She is such a good kid. What a kind heart." I didn't have the heart to tell her that they really don't get along that well and that my daughter needed the car for the food.
I had every thing planned. One of my wife's bridesmaids who we hadn't really talked to in years, offered to make party favors. Other offered all kinds of help. My parents offered their back yard. I had everyone arrive early on that Saturday. My wife and I got home about noon. The kids had already left. I told her we were going to go out to lunch. I was looking for all sorts of chores to keep me busy until 1PM. My sister called with an excuse to get us over to my parents house. Worked like a charm.
I told my wife that I needed to stop by to help my sister. I coerced her into the backyard because the housecleaner just mopped the floor. When we turned the corner of the house everyone yelled "Surprise". It was classic. My wife had this incredible surprised look on her face. Priceless. It made my day. I told her of the plans that I had. I had invited the entire wedding party and I wanted to do something special for her. She started to cry a couple of times. It was worth it for me. She is a beautiful lady and deserves all the happiness in the world.
I just wanted to share a little bit about that. It was a great time. She got to see most of her bridesmaids. I think she enjoyed it.
Thanks for reading.
David.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Things found in my file drawers
Cosmo (http://regularlatte.blogspot.com/) asked what else I found on my desk or in my filing cabinet filled with newspaper clippings. When I first went electronic I tried to digitize some of the longer articles, but I gave up. It seemed like so much work. Now I know it is easier to just drag the article to the appropriate directory on my hard drive. But Cosmo is right, do we ever get back to them? Only when cleaning. I rarely clean up my hard drive. Some of these articles I really intend to get back to.
I remember I had a 7 or 8 line obituary taped to my monitor. I looked at it everyday. I didn't know the person but it caught my eye. This lady died at the age of 94. The significant item in her obit was that she worked as a waitress in the same restaurant for over 50 years. I used to work as a chef and spent 14 years in that career. In those 14 years I worked for 8 different employers. It amazed me that someone could stay in one place for all that time.
Another article that sticks out is the one about the saloon in, I believe it was Yellowknife, NWT, Canada. There was a gentlemen who frequented this saloon. He died with no heirs. He left his small fortune to be spent each year on his birthday or the anniversary of his death so that he would buy a drink to anyone in the bar. And on that day the patrons would all toast him. This showed me the sense of community and friendship that can exist in this world.
There are so many other articles that are in there. I really should compile them into some kind of collection. The knowledge in there, the humanity, the love would be something to read. Some day, when I get back to cleaning out my papers, maybe I shall.
Thanks Cosmo for asking that question. I know there are other interesting things in there.
I remember I had a 7 or 8 line obituary taped to my monitor. I looked at it everyday. I didn't know the person but it caught my eye. This lady died at the age of 94. The significant item in her obit was that she worked as a waitress in the same restaurant for over 50 years. I used to work as a chef and spent 14 years in that career. In those 14 years I worked for 8 different employers. It amazed me that someone could stay in one place for all that time.
Another article that sticks out is the one about the saloon in, I believe it was Yellowknife, NWT, Canada. There was a gentlemen who frequented this saloon. He died with no heirs. He left his small fortune to be spent each year on his birthday or the anniversary of his death so that he would buy a drink to anyone in the bar. And on that day the patrons would all toast him. This showed me the sense of community and friendship that can exist in this world.
There are so many other articles that are in there. I really should compile them into some kind of collection. The knowledge in there, the humanity, the love would be something to read. Some day, when I get back to cleaning out my papers, maybe I shall.
Thanks Cosmo for asking that question. I know there are other interesting things in there.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
How we got here....
I was going through my desk tonight and I found an old Ann Landers column that I clipped from the newspaper. Some lady wrote in that she was depressed about the world situation. Not the world only but her own neighborhood and town, as well. This lady had heard the grandson of Mahatma Ghandhi speak and she remembered his grandfather’s words about the causes of violence.
I thought it was very profound. I wonder if you do too.
Let’s think about these causes……
Wealth without work.
Pleasure without conscience.
Knowledge without character.
Commerce without Morality.
Science without humanity.
Worship without sacrifice.
Politics without principles.
Seems plausible to me. And maybe I have some guilt that goes with it. No, not guilt, but maybe the knowledge of participation.
I thought it was very profound. I wonder if you do too.
Let’s think about these causes……
Wealth without work.
Pleasure without conscience.
Knowledge without character.
Commerce without Morality.
Science without humanity.
Worship without sacrifice.
Politics without principles.
Seems plausible to me. And maybe I have some guilt that goes with it. No, not guilt, but maybe the knowledge of participation.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Tagged
I just got tagged. Initially I was leary about what that entailed but as I read about it I realize that the most difficult task is finding 5 other people to tag. Since I am relatively new at this, it looks as though I may be tagging 5 strangers. That will make friends. I shall be very selective. Thanks Cosmo (http://regularlatte.blogspot.com/).
Here are the requests of the tag:
1. Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages).
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five other people.
Here is my tag:
Prologue: I am reading a book called "Undaunted Courage" by the highly esteemed American Historian, Stephen E. Ambrose. Ambrose taught at the University of New Orleans (where I began my college education). He died in 2002.
"Undaunted Courage" is about the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804 -1806 in which two American explorers led a party of a couple of dozen men across the American continent to the Pacific ocean and back. This exploration was initiated by Thomas Jefferson shortly after he directed the purchase of Louisiana from the French in 1803. This is a fascinating book about the planning and execution of this exploration. In 2006 I was able to take my family to Montana and retrace some of the steps that Lewis and Clark may have taken on that journey. It was truly a great experience for me too. Note that on page 123 of the book the expedition is still in the planning stages.
Tag:
"Most of the trade goods came from across the ocean, then crossed the continent to reach St. Louis. From that central point, the goods fanned out via individual traders to the farthest reaches of the frontier. And the pirogues and keelboats that carried the trade goods to the Indians brought back stacks and stacks of beautiful furs that brought king's ransoms in Europe."
Whew! That wasn't so bad. I love history. I read a children's book about the Lewis and Clark expedition when I was a kid. I am thoroughly enjoying Ambrose's book.
Thanks again Cosmos. I shall have to get back to you on who I tag.
Here are the requests of the tag:
1. Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages).
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five other people.
Here is my tag:
Prologue: I am reading a book called "Undaunted Courage" by the highly esteemed American Historian, Stephen E. Ambrose. Ambrose taught at the University of New Orleans (where I began my college education). He died in 2002.
"Undaunted Courage" is about the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804 -1806 in which two American explorers led a party of a couple of dozen men across the American continent to the Pacific ocean and back. This exploration was initiated by Thomas Jefferson shortly after he directed the purchase of Louisiana from the French in 1803. This is a fascinating book about the planning and execution of this exploration. In 2006 I was able to take my family to Montana and retrace some of the steps that Lewis and Clark may have taken on that journey. It was truly a great experience for me too. Note that on page 123 of the book the expedition is still in the planning stages.
Tag:
"Most of the trade goods came from across the ocean, then crossed the continent to reach St. Louis. From that central point, the goods fanned out via individual traders to the farthest reaches of the frontier. And the pirogues and keelboats that carried the trade goods to the Indians brought back stacks and stacks of beautiful furs that brought king's ransoms in Europe."
Whew! That wasn't so bad. I love history. I read a children's book about the Lewis and Clark expedition when I was a kid. I am thoroughly enjoying Ambrose's book.
Thanks again Cosmos. I shall have to get back to you on who I tag.
Notes
I haven't written for some time. A combination of things. Work, boredom and just a lack of brain stimulation. I tried to get some scientific discussion going with that bubble and snow thing but I haven't heard any as of yet. I think people are being overly scientific on it and really setting the thing up. Just kidding.
My wife, my daughter and I watched a good movie this evening. We saw "The Namesake". Very well done. Good story, good acting. We all enjoyed it very much. It kind of reminded me of an old friend that i haven't spoken to in a few years. We used to talk but not much any more. I lost his number. I really must try to find him.
I know I said I was working on an essay, and I do plan to post it, but I got sidetracked and I have been jotting down notes for other projects -- making no progress whatsoever. Such is the state of my thoughts. Too many irons in the fire. I just need to learn to focus.
Thanks. That is all for tonight. It is after 1AM and I am tired. Good night.
D.
My wife, my daughter and I watched a good movie this evening. We saw "The Namesake". Very well done. Good story, good acting. We all enjoyed it very much. It kind of reminded me of an old friend that i haven't spoken to in a few years. We used to talk but not much any more. I lost his number. I really must try to find him.
I know I said I was working on an essay, and I do plan to post it, but I got sidetracked and I have been jotting down notes for other projects -- making no progress whatsoever. Such is the state of my thoughts. Too many irons in the fire. I just need to learn to focus.
Thanks. That is all for tonight. It is after 1AM and I am tired. Good night.
D.
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