Si Hoc Legere Scis Nimium Eruditionis Habes

Monday, April 27, 2009

All Good Things...

They say “a thing of beauty is a joy forever," I wish that were so. Penny Park was a thing a beauty, and a good thing, but "all good things must come to an end" or so they say. I remember we would take youth groups over to the park site when it was being built so that they could help with its construction. The community of Silver City pitched in, and built something nice for the children. It was not only for the kids, but it was a family park. We would take students to Silver City on a field trip, and often no matter what they went up for, going to Penny Park was on the agenda. It had an amphitheater, and gazebos. It had the most beautiful wooden playground that a person could imagine. It was treasure.
Unfortunately the fact that it was made of wood made it vulnerable to fire. I looked at it a long time ago thinking “if only it could last," but I also, being negative, predicted that its days were numbered, and eventually it would burn. I HATE having been proven right. I know I should not have thought in such negative terms, and I will work on that, but seeing our park in ruins doesn’t go far toward helping me shed that negative light. Call it mourning…
I hope with all of my heart that the town of Silver City rebuilds it just like it was, but with security measures in place.


http://pennypark.org/

The news report about the fire

SILVER CITY — The state fire marshal's office has been called in to help with the investigation of Saturday's fire that burned a large portion of Penny Park, authorities said.
"It appears it may have been caused by fireworks," police chief Ed Reynolds said.
No injuries were reported and no damage estimate was provided.
The fire was called in about 2 a.m. by a police officer who saw the fire and smoke from a hilltop.
"We are working every possible angle on this fire," said Milo Lambert, Silver City fire marshal. "We have called in the state fire marshal and we expect them to be here anytime." The police department also is conducting an investigation.
Firefighters had the fire out by about 4 p.m., authorities said.
Lambert praised firefighters for saving the amphitheater and other nearby structures. "The fire was so hot it melted those plastic slides over there (yards from the fire)," he said.
Police had to coordinate traffic control into the afternoon as people drove by to see the damage.
A grassroots effort began about 10 years ago to build the park, with volunteers and businesses giving of their time and materials. Wood was a prominent feature in the construction.
While officially called Community Built Park, it was dubbed Penny Park because children brought their loose change to school to donate to the cause.
A crowd of people, including many who helped build the park, gathered Saturday, some visibly shaken and crying.
"I raised my son here," said Janet Wright, who had tears running down her face. She and others had already begun to collect donations to help rebuild the park. "It helps me not to be so emotional," she said. "I love this park ... it's hard to talk about it."
Doug Shoaf was among those who helped build the park, which featured. "I put in all this for the kids. You should have seen all the people here working on this."
Members of the Silver Sam's RV Club were also looking over the damage Saturday. "We had RVs parked here when we were building it and someone stayed here so no one would steal the tools or building materials," said Sally Lucero. "We helped build this from the beginning. It is so sad, my grandkids come here."
Earlier this year the group overseeing the park disbanded and turned ownership over to the town.
"The park is covered by insurance," town manager Alex Brown said. "To what extent we don't know. We will have to wait until we meet with the insurance people on Monday."

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

SMILE

HAPPY SECRETARY'S DAY


HAPPY EARTH DAY

SMILE!

Hope this counteracts the creepiness of my last post...

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Twilight...1922


Max Schreck (the scariest vampire)
Nosferatu (1922)

Here is what passed for a vampire 87 years ago. Patti is on book two of the Twilight book series, and is hooked. She even avoided watching the movie until she could finish the book, and then my niece took her movie home before Patti could see it.

"Ich möchte einige Blut saugen!"


Bella Lugosi looking creepy
Dracula (1931)

Gary Oldman

Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)

Tuesday Night Classes ~or~ Be Careful Deer...


Oooo look the road is lit lets cross now!

This one looks particularly evil... The grill killin' stare.

Okay I am four for four in weeks romping on the breaks. This is getting ridiculous! I am starting to think that they should make highway 90 a game preserve. Not the land around it... the actual highway. I am in good health thank goodness or my ticker would have stopped. I had just gone to Wal*Mart and all of my groceries were now on the floorboard. I am getting paranoid! It's like they are just really depressed, and are looking for a way to check out. Anyone taking that trip, be careful, highway 90 is wild!

B-dee, b-dee, b-dee...

The deer in the headlights look

Friday, April 17, 2009

Just testing my mobile to blog. Now I can blog on the go... Maybe.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Remembering Another Time


I was going through some of my pictures earlier, and ran across this one. November 6th 1992. I was working on a model railroad that I had gotten for my birthday. I still have a weight problem today, but I thank God that I am not like I was then! I can walk up several flight of stairs now, where then it would have taken me time, and considerable pain. I can walk more than 50' without being winded, heck, I can run for a short distance. I was home bound and miserable at that time, and now I can get around. I can put in a full day of physical labor, where back then I could only do brief tasks. I was strong, but all of my strength was focused on maintenance of living. I was on oxygen 24-7, and suffered from a congestive heart problem. I had a rattle in my lungs, and fluid retention in my extremities. I was in pain, I was lonely, I was dying.
.
When I see someone who is in the condition of the man in the picture, I hurt for them. I have empathy for the life that they live, for the pain that they feel, and for the lonely life they lead. I feel for them, the brunt of jokes, the staring eyes, the laughing children, the comments from jerks and misinformed advise givers. I was surrounded by good friends that supported me through this time, but at times I felt like I was the only person in the world. It is impossible to explain, unless you have been there. It is a prison, it is a torture, it is a hell.

Today, I am not perfect, but I am a darn sight better off than I was. I am healthy, and I thank God for that everyday. I can go to movies, fly on planes, drive cars, ride in (some) roller coasters. I am living.

Once upon a time when I was the man in the picture I was asked why I wanted to lose weight. My response was I want to live. They then asked if I was afraid I was about to die. I said, "no you misunderstand, I am alive, but I am not living." Living and being alive are two different things. Now I am living, where back then I was pretty much dead. I was just waiting for my body to give out, and not dreading the day.

When I had my first gastric bypass surgery, I was given about a 20% of dying during the surgery, but I decided that the risk dying was outweighed by the desire to live. Besides what did I have to lose, virtually I was dead already. I was at peace with the whole idea. I did die on the table, but was resuscitated. Of that I am very pleased.

I had a revision of the surgery done a year and a half ago. The mortality rate was considerably more in my favor this time. Also there have been wonderful advances that help people to maintain weight loss, than when I went through the surgery the first time. Education is the key. Now I am working on losing more, but if I never lose another pound I am living, and I am happy.

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Happy Easter


A man was blissfully driving along the highway, when he saw the Easter Bunny hopping across the middle of the road. He swerved to avoid hitting the Bunny, but unfortunately the rabbit jumped in front of his car and was hit. The basket of eggs went flying all over the place. Candy, too. The driver, being a sensitive man as well as an animal lover, pulled over to the side of the road, and got out to see what had become of the Bunny carrying the basket. Much to his dismay, the colorful Bunny was dead.
The driver felt guilty and began to cry. A woman driving down the same highway saw the man crying on the side of the road and pulled over. She stepped out of her car and asked the man what was wrong. "I feel terrible," he explained, "I accidentally hit the Easter Bunny and killed it. What should I do?"
The woman told the man not to worry. She knew exactly what to do. She went to her car trunk, and pulled out a spray can. She walked over to the limp, dead Bunny, and sprayed the entire contents of the can onto the little furry animal. Miraculously the Easter Bunny came to back life, jumped up, picked up the spilled eggs and candy, waved its paw at the two humans and hopped on down the road. 50 yards away the Easter Bunny stopped, turned around, waved and hopped on down the road another 50 yards, turned, waved, hopped another 50 yards and waved again!!!!
The man was astonished. He said to the woman, "What in heaven's name is in your spray can?" The woman turned the can around so that the man could read the label. It said: "Hair spray. Restores life to dead hair. Adds permanent wave."

Thursday, April 9, 2009

hApPy BiRtHdAy MaRyNdA


Happy happy birthday, Marynda dear;
Happy days will come to you all year.
If I had one wish, then it would be
A happy happy birthday to you from me!




This month is such a special one;
It’s birthday-time for you.
We’d really like to celebrate
Your happy day with you.
Zip-a-dee-ay and heigh-dee-ho,
Here’s something we can do.
We’ll sing a song that we all know,
Happy Birthday to you!


Monday, April 6, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!


Happy Birthday!

~~~~~~ Happy 14th!~~~~~~~Happy 16th!~~~~~~


I did not want the day to go by without having the chance to wish you a happy birthday! I am so proud of you! You are becoming such a beautiful young woman, and an exceptional person. You are a great sister, wonderful daughter to your parents, and a fantastic niece!


Sorry you have to share billing with my dog, but you do share a birthday with Ari, and hey he's 112 (in dog years). Hanna you were sweet when you wished me a happy birthday on your blog, so I thought I would return the sentiment. Aunt Patti and I are so proud of you and what you have become, as we are with all of our nieces and nephews. We look on all of you with pride and see a bright future for you all. God bless you on your special day, and always.

Some people give the gift

of peace and tranquility to every life they touch.

They are always who they really are.

They are blessedly reliable,

dependably good,

predictably pleasant,

loved and treasured by all who know them.

You are one of those people.

You are the gift.


Happy Birthday!