I'm just now going through my photos and uploading them and below are shots of a Northeast US Spring ritual - Cherry Blossoms in Washington, DC.
A couple weeks ago the weather was unseasonably warm and on a whim I jumped on Priceline and got a great deal at the historic Marriott Wardman Park Hotel so off I went for Passover weekend.
The weather was beautiful there and of course there were hoards of tourists who drive the locals crazy but the spring blossoms were at near peak and very beautiifu
Since we went to the new TF I don't seem to be able to access it on my Blackberry.Whether I use my bookmark or type in the URL I get just a blank screen.Does anybody else have this problem? Is there a trick to fix it?
Is it just me or was "The Who" halftime show a stink bomb?The lights and illuminations were well done but I thought the voices were dramatically bad. I suppose it's from 40 years of singing and, ah, "other" abuses:
Maybe it's just we "old-timers" who can remember the good ole days. Turn up the volume on this one and remember the 70's:
Congratulations to US Navy Commander H. B. Le, Commanding Officer of the Destroyer USS Larsen.This story is especially appropriate given Cdr. Le was born in Vietnam and went on to graduate the US Naval Academy in 1992. From The American Legion Magazine, February 2010 p. 13.
It wasn't me! http://www.politico.com/blogs/glennthrush/0110/Naked_jogger_nabbed_near_White_House.html
Naked jogger nabbed near White House
The AP:
WASHINGTON — A man was taken into custody and later hospitalized for mental-health observation after he took off his clothes and began a jog a few blocks from the White House.
The man was seen taking off his clothes Wednesday evening about 5 p.m. He left the clothes near 15th and E streets, at the northeast corner of the Ellipse, the green sp
While many people do special events, parties and balls, I spent the evening of January 1st at my mother's house for a [sort of] traditional ham dinner.Living alone now she enjoys it when my siblings and their families come by for a feast.This year there weren't many of us but the tradition continues anyway.And here are some photos to archive the event.Ready??? Let's GO!!!Trudging through the falling snow to mom's house next door: Look what the cat dragged in!: Ahh, mom's warm kitchen: Ham and p
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below
.
We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow
,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields
.
Take up our quarrel with the foe
:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high
.
If ye break faith with us who die
We sh
The Wall Came Down
Brothers and Sisters torn apart
Longed for each other with pain in the heart
Mothers in tears held their arms toward the sky
"Where are my children, who took them and why"
A wall stood between them and gave them no rest
The wall in Berlin, between East and West.
Thousands tried passing, were caught and would fall
She claimed her victims, the cursed wall
But their longing and pain was stronger than fear
As they tried to come home year after year.
Their
After a meeting in Ithaca yesterday I went on over to the 'ole Alma Mater to have lunch and walk around on a beautiful afternoon.Stopping by Willard Straight student center I happened upon the Cornell Chinese Student Association's gathering.I caught only the end but there were some wonderful music and dance presentations.Who says there's not Asian culture in the US?Here are some photos of the event. My apologies for the poor quality of my crackberry camera...
This is great - go get 'em Ahnold....
Schwarzenegger drops F-bomb in veto message to lawmaker
By DAVID K. LI
Last Updated: 10:50 PM, October 28, 2009
Posted: 12:24 PM, October 28, 2009Arnold Schwarzenegger dropped a subtle f-bomb on a bitter political rival in a payback for the lawmaker’s recent heckling the California governator. The Golden State’s leading man has Sacramento buzzing with his written explanation of vetoing a finance bill sponsored by Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisc
A little late but he's still on peoples' minds.Here's some classic talent from the good 'ole days. Where have all the great artists gone? (and how the hell did they get my clothes???)
Continuing my series of the 2009 Centre County Grange Fair I want to show you the tractor pull competition.I think tractor pulls are fairly common in rural America and you folks from the cities in the US will probably get a laugh at how we spend our Sunday afternoons here in redneck country.A tractor pull is just that - a competition where a tractor pulls a weighted "sled" down a graded dirt track. The tractor who pulls the sled the longest (without blowing up - not joking) wins. The weight box
Well there are certainly bigger fairs in the US with much more in the animals department but the small Grange Fair has its share.The Grange Fair started of course as a farmer's camp and today the youngsters of the 4-H keep the livestock tradition alive.Here are a few scenes of our furry friends at the fair:The pig competition: This girl's pig is many times her weight and she kept him under control! Rest up boys, you are tomorrow's breakfast: Err, why don't we have a caption contest for this one
The second edition of my Grange Fair 2009 journal series deals with fair food so of course it's dedicated to AAA!As I mentioned in volume I, fairs are a great albeit corny tradition in the summer and fall here.The Central Pennsylvania Grange Fair is probably one of the most traditional, running 135 consecutive years. My grandmother's brother took my mother there as a girl in the 1930's and I have cousins who camp there all week long now. I try to go there for a day or two to see them (it's about
Reading AAAum's journal about a shopping trip to Saigon brought me different memories, sounds, and a tune I can't forget. You guys over 50 will get it.Her memories are better:
This event took place a few weeks ago but I just now have the time and energy to do a couple journals.For you expats this may not be of much interest and for city people it's probably downright cornball but for people who've never been to rural America it's an opportunity to see us as we really are vs. through the perverted lens of Hollywood or the jaded view of CNN.For generations American farmers have been members of the local Grange and for 135 consecutive years those in Central Pennsylvania
Who says we don't have trees and nature in New York?Here's today's pictures of mama robin's second set of babies in an apple tree next to my house: Twins! Er, where's that nest again?
