Saturday, October 18, 2008

My Dad's Special Day

I am taking time out today to post about my Dad. This would have been his 80th birthday. He passed in 2005 from complications due to Alzheimer's. So today I will make a special trip to the cemetary to spend some time with my Dad. The flowers will be changed and a nice Fall arrangement will be put in place. Days like today make me cry, but I will have my family with me. It's nice to know that we will all be leaning on each other. I MISS YOU DAD!

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Happy Birthday Big Brother!

Glitter Photos

A Note to my Big Brother....

Happy Birthday! This is your special day and a special day for your little sisters. We love you so much! I hope this day brings you much joy and love!

What does my Big Brother mean to me? He is the guy that taught me how to tie my shoes, ride a bike, improve my reading and play board games. He is the guy that would buy his little sisters big bottles of soda and yum yums and let us ride with him in his car! When he married SIL, he never forgot his little sisters. When he and SIL went on vacation, he would always bring us back some little treasure. He still comes South to visit his little sisters and Mom at least once or twice a year.

Big brother loved sports growing up and still does. Now he has his own family of three children and nine grandchildren. He is an integral part of their lives. He loves to watch his grandchildren participate in sports and other activities. If you ask him what he has been up to, he will usually tell you something surrounding the children or grandchildren. He and SIL are on the go constantly keeping up with the grandkids.

But it is not always the children and grandchildren. Big Brother and SIL have volunteered at the local elementary school to tutor children. Big Brother also watches out over SIL's mother. She is elderly and a widow. He takes her to doctors appointments, to visit family and friends. He also spends the week nights with his elderly MIL so she will not be alone. SIL still works. Big Brother is retired. So care of his MIL is foremost too in his life.

I believe my brothers best attribute is his ability to give of himself, but he is also probably one of the best conversationalists I know. He can engage you in conversation and never make the conversation about himself. His conversation will be questions and general points. When the conversation is finished, you will know he never talked about himself. I don't really know many people like that and can name maybe two others in my lifetime that have that ability.

Big brother also loves history. He watches TV, reads or listens (books on tape or cd) to whatever he can on history. I don't believe I could win a game of Trivial Pursuit against Big Brother when it comes to history. He has instilled in his little sisters the drive to know more about history. So we all dig into history in some form or fashion in our own ways because of him.

My very favorite things is to hear that deep voice of Big Brother say "hello" to me on the phone and his wonderful laugh!

I could say so much more, but I will save that for another day and blog. So ending this special post to Big Brother, have a great birthday on this your very special day!

Love always,

Little Sister #2 aka Snowbird

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Election Year 2008

I thought I would take a minute to reflect on election year 2008. Suffice it to say, there is a lot of mud slinging going on out there. It is hard to believe what people are saying on both sides. Some is spoken with truth and some is spoken in pure ignorance. I pride myself in making sure what I know about either candidate is supported. It would behoove other Americans to do the same. It appears that very few are checking their facts. This causes me great distress. We are supposed to be a nation of informed individuals. But, are we? From things I've read and conversations I've had recently, it appears people are taking everything at face value or because so and so said this or that. Shame on you for not doing your homework America. Both candidates have web-sites to check their platforms and there are watchdog groups to make sure facts are in order.
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I work in a profession where everything I do is based on facts and knowledge. I pride myself in being able to offer correct information and answers to my customers with supported, approved documentation and facts. In my field of endeavor, incorrect information or wrong answers could mean lawsuit.
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To make this election year more meaningful, do your homework. Check your candidates fact sheets. Know what your candidate stands for and what he doesn't stand for. Then vote responsibly for the candidate of your choice. Responsible voting is not gut feelings and warm fuzzies. Responsible voting is a careful check of everything your candidate stands for, your candidates record past and present on issues related to: economy, energy, war, education, health, etc., and how your candidates position makes that person the right one for the highest job in the nation for the next four years. All of this information is public record.
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America is feeling very troubled over the last few weeks. Our troubles have become the worlds troubles. When we show high levels of ignorance, remember the world is watching. Technology has made America an open book. I have seen and heard things on both sides of this election that must be appalling to outsiders--the world connected to us by technology. Remember we are supposed to be a nation of "informed" individuals. I hope I am not taking that word "informed" for granted.
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In November, vote for your candidate of choice and vote with pride knowing that you have done your homework. Voting is your right and your privilege. By living in America, we are proud to be able to vote Republican, Democrat or Independent. Our great nation has given us choices. Again, vote for your candidate in November and vote with pride knowing you have made an informed choice.

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Up and Down the Road and an Estate Auction

Sometimes you tend to take for granted what you see traveling the same road for over thirty years and then one day something changes. That is what happened to me this week. It started with a notice that someone had put next to my mailbox about an estate auction on the main road near where I live. I looked at the information and then dismissed the notice.
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The notice hit particularly hard yesterday driving down the main road. I looked and it was the auction. Cars on either side of the road. A white tent was up with chairs. I looked again and could not believe my eyes. I had watched the lady that lived in this house for years tend her flowers, mow her lawn, maintain the gates and take care of her house and property. Now everything she had was being auctioned away. Sometimes you take for granted that everything behind those gates to the property and doors of the house is okay as usual. I now recall I had not seen the little old lady with the cotton bonnet outside for quite some time. Just knowing that everything she had would now become the property of someone else just about broke my heart. I could not stop. I did not want to intrude on her property and privacy which she had guarded so well for many many years. Now everything was in public view.
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I hope the people who purchased this lady's possessions will take care of them as well as she did. I will never look at the house or property the same.
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This auction was also a realization for me that time does go by and things do change.