Monday - September 7, 2009
Did you realize that labor Day has been celebrated here in the United States for over a hundred years? It was a celebration and parade that had been organized by the Knights of Labor in 1882 in New York City. Through the years in eventually evolved from a labor union celebration into a general "last fling of summer" festivals. Families gather together for one last cookout - providing the weather cooperates. There are labor organizations that will put together a day of entertainment with well known musicians performing as a means to tell their employees how important they are to them and to say "thank you". It is also the realization to most that summer is almost officially over and back to work we go with fall and winter right around the corner!
Bill thinks of his dad on Labor Day. He was a strong union man, and secretary for his local UMWA District 50 for many years.
I think of my younger days when Dad would take us all up to my grandparents for a day of "labor" in the potato patch!!! Labor Day was the day Pappaw would dig up the huge rows of potatoes and store them for the winter. These rows were at least the length of a football field. There had to have been at least a dozen rows!!!! We had to gather up all the bushel baskets so we could put the potatoes in once they were out of the ground.
During the summer, we would go with Pappaw to the potato patch and he would "gravel" out enough potatoes for supper! He used the hoe and we would pick them up and place them in a small basket. We thought that was fun - it didn't take long and we knew that Mammaw was going to fix the best fried "taters" you could ever imagine!!!
Uncle Pete would bring his horse he had at that time - I remember Daisy being the horse's name - and hook her up to the plow! Whew - we didn't have to dig the potatoes by hand!!! Once the rows had been plowed we would place the baskets out between the rows. The the fun times would begin!! Right - glad our backs were young and strong!!!!! Actually, Dink, John, and I - can't remember Mike doing it for a long period of time (he was the baby) - would start filling the baskets full with potatoes. Uncle Pete and Dad would then go and hook the sled up to Daisy and would come back and load the baskets on the sled. They would take the baskets to the crib, where Pappaw would spread them out on the benches and in the floor to dry off!!!!
There was a lot of hard "labor" done that day by all of us, but as Mammaw always said, "They will taste better than snowballs this winter!" She was right!!!
Not only did we work hard that day, but Uncle Pete and dad would let us have a little fun when the work was completed! They would take us a ride on the sled with Daisy pulling us around the bottom!! For "city" kids, this was a blast - we tended to forget just how much work we had done!!!
For a very long time as I was growing up, I always connected Labor Day as a day of hard work for us, and as school beginning the next day. Both thoughts at that time in my life never brought a smile to my face. But today, when I think back on those memories, not only do I have a smile remembering how much fun we really did have, but tears in my eyes that so many those I love are not here any longer! These are memories I will always cherish. Pictures are embedded in my mind, and I wish I had access to a digital camera way back then!!!! :):)
Hope you are all making memories today!!!!!!
Monday, September 7, 2009
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Life - Leaving this World and Being So Young!
Saturday - September 5, 2009
When watching the news today, Bill and I discovered that another former student of ours - age 24 - had died in what they are saying was a murder/suicide. It is so sad that two lives have ended so tragically. Reading through some of the comments for the story, you soon realize how insensitive some people can be!!! Apparently the young lady had some problems in the past, but was trying to get her life in order. I am not about to make judgement on either one of the victims as some of those who left comments have, but will offer a prayer up for the families as they deal with what has happened to their loved ones.
This is just so sad to see young lives taken in such a manner. We have lost many former students due to tragic accidents. To read about a student who sat in our classroom for at least a year - and in some cases we had them three years in a row (6th, 7th, & 8th grade) - makes me think not to take life for granted! Such young lives lost in what at times appeared to be in a senseless manner. Two boys died riding four-wheelers on a school day during school hours. Why were they home? They had opted out of a public education and were being home schooled.
We have both had several who have died as the result of a car accident. The latest being two sisters who apparently hit "black ice" on a bridge, lost control of the car, and ran into a moving train. So many lives have been affected by these tragedies.
It is during these times that a quote from Corrie ten Boom - a concentration camp survivor - might help those who are grieving at the untimely death a loved one taken at what we deem as "too young" to leave this world.
She said, "There is no pit so deep that God's love is not deeper still."
It is during these intense moments of sadness that we should all remember to keep our focus on God and His Word. These are the type of days that we may feel we just can't go on to face another day alone - but remember, you are never alone!
Being older and seeing the death of our former students in the newspaper, reminds me age has no bearing on when we leave this world! We all must remember that when trying to get beyond the blackness of this moment in our lives to rely on our Lord and Savior.
When watching the news today, Bill and I discovered that another former student of ours - age 24 - had died in what they are saying was a murder/suicide. It is so sad that two lives have ended so tragically. Reading through some of the comments for the story, you soon realize how insensitive some people can be!!! Apparently the young lady had some problems in the past, but was trying to get her life in order. I am not about to make judgement on either one of the victims as some of those who left comments have, but will offer a prayer up for the families as they deal with what has happened to their loved ones.
This is just so sad to see young lives taken in such a manner. We have lost many former students due to tragic accidents. To read about a student who sat in our classroom for at least a year - and in some cases we had them three years in a row (6th, 7th, & 8th grade) - makes me think not to take life for granted! Such young lives lost in what at times appeared to be in a senseless manner. Two boys died riding four-wheelers on a school day during school hours. Why were they home? They had opted out of a public education and were being home schooled.
We have both had several who have died as the result of a car accident. The latest being two sisters who apparently hit "black ice" on a bridge, lost control of the car, and ran into a moving train. So many lives have been affected by these tragedies.
It is during these times that a quote from Corrie ten Boom - a concentration camp survivor - might help those who are grieving at the untimely death a loved one taken at what we deem as "too young" to leave this world.
She said, "There is no pit so deep that God's love is not deeper still."
It is during these intense moments of sadness that we should all remember to keep our focus on God and His Word. These are the type of days that we may feel we just can't go on to face another day alone - but remember, you are never alone!
Being older and seeing the death of our former students in the newspaper, reminds me age has no bearing on when we leave this world! We all must remember that when trying to get beyond the blackness of this moment in our lives to rely on our Lord and Savior.
"He gives power to the weak, and to those
who have no might He increases strength."
Isaiah 40:29 (NKJV)
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Moody Blues' Review
Wednesday - September 2, 2009
This is the last of the pictures and reviews from our trip to Cincinnati. We saw the Moody Blues on Saturday - August 29 at Riverbend. I opted to "use" Bill's review he posted about the concert. I have to say he was more familiar with the songs than I was. I did recognize some of them. I enjoyed the concert very much, and we had fantastic seats.
These are the words of Bill:
The show was in the much smaller (4,400 seats) PNC Pavillion at Riverbend. It was probably 90-95% full. The weather was fantastic. Temps in low 70's and no humidity. We had 3rd row seats in the center (orchestra pit). Got them from Stub Hub and paid too much, but I really wanted to be close for this one. I have only done that for three other concerts, Bob Dylan, James Taylor, and Gordon Lightfoot. Guess that will show you how far up my list the Moodies are. Again the stage was nothing special, and the lighting was adequate. You could tell it was a show about the music. However, they did you a screen behind the band to show live shots interspersed with videos from the past.
From our seats we were never more than 12-15 feet from Justin Hayward who stayed at the mic in the center most of the time. John Lodge was just off to our right about 20-25 feet. Graeme Edge was on a riser at the back of the stage. He had to have help to get up and down the steps, (or he just wanted to hold a pretty woman's hand:) She was the person who took Ray Thomas' place when he retired. There was another woman on keyboard, but they stayed in the background. There were two sets of drummers. I read somewhere that Graeme couldn't keep up now, don't know. Seemed fine to me. Justin and John still have their voices, but they may be saving them and that's why the show was a little under 2 hours. Graeme's voice on his recitations was not quite as full and deep as it use to be, but was still good.
Overall, the music was really all a Moody's fan could have wanted. They sang mostly hits and old songs, and made everyone feel good. Justin did mention one song that they had dusted off and were doing this summer. He said they hadn't done it live since the Isle of Wight in 1970, "Lunch Break:Peak Hour." John Lodge said on the Isle of Wight DVD, (I got one at the concert) that he felt they were better now than 40 years ago. I listened on line to some of the tracks from them and he may be right. They were near perfect that night in Cincinnati.
I have had trouble coming up with this setlist because songs I wanted to hear, have heard on CD, or just locked in my mind are jumbled up, but here goes;
These I know for sure;
Tuesday Afternoon
Lean on Me (Tonight)
Never Comes the Day
Steppin' in a Slide Zone
The Voice
I Know You're Out There Somewhere
The Story in Your Eyes
Isn't Life Strange
The Other Side of Life
Higher and Higher
Are You Sitting Comfortably?
I'm Just a Singer (in a Rock n Roll Band)
Nights in White Satin
Question?Your Wildest Dreams
GypsyThe Dream
New Horizons
Ride My See SawMaybe??
When You're a Free Man
Melancholy Man
Notable songs I would have liked to have heard;
For My LadyGo Now
Lovely to see You Again
Dear Diary
Lazy Day
Have You Heard
Lost in a Lost World
The stage!!!!
This is the last of the pictures and reviews from our trip to Cincinnati. We saw the Moody Blues on Saturday - August 29 at Riverbend. I opted to "use" Bill's review he posted about the concert. I have to say he was more familiar with the songs than I was. I did recognize some of them. I enjoyed the concert very much, and we had fantastic seats.
These are the words of Bill:
The show was in the much smaller (4,400 seats) PNC Pavillion at Riverbend. It was probably 90-95% full. The weather was fantastic. Temps in low 70's and no humidity. We had 3rd row seats in the center (orchestra pit). Got them from Stub Hub and paid too much, but I really wanted to be close for this one. I have only done that for three other concerts, Bob Dylan, James Taylor, and Gordon Lightfoot. Guess that will show you how far up my list the Moodies are. Again the stage was nothing special, and the lighting was adequate. You could tell it was a show about the music. However, they did you a screen behind the band to show live shots interspersed with videos from the past.
From our seats we were never more than 12-15 feet from Justin Hayward who stayed at the mic in the center most of the time. John Lodge was just off to our right about 20-25 feet. Graeme Edge was on a riser at the back of the stage. He had to have help to get up and down the steps, (or he just wanted to hold a pretty woman's hand:) She was the person who took Ray Thomas' place when he retired. There was another woman on keyboard, but they stayed in the background. There were two sets of drummers. I read somewhere that Graeme couldn't keep up now, don't know. Seemed fine to me. Justin and John still have their voices, but they may be saving them and that's why the show was a little under 2 hours. Graeme's voice on his recitations was not quite as full and deep as it use to be, but was still good.
Overall, the music was really all a Moody's fan could have wanted. They sang mostly hits and old songs, and made everyone feel good. Justin did mention one song that they had dusted off and were doing this summer. He said they hadn't done it live since the Isle of Wight in 1970, "Lunch Break:Peak Hour." John Lodge said on the Isle of Wight DVD, (I got one at the concert) that he felt they were better now than 40 years ago. I listened on line to some of the tracks from them and he may be right. They were near perfect that night in Cincinnati.
I have had trouble coming up with this setlist because songs I wanted to hear, have heard on CD, or just locked in my mind are jumbled up, but here goes;
These I know for sure;
Tuesday Afternoon
Lean on Me (Tonight)
Never Comes the Day
Steppin' in a Slide Zone
The Voice
I Know You're Out There Somewhere
The Story in Your Eyes
Isn't Life Strange
The Other Side of Life
Higher and Higher
Are You Sitting Comfortably?
I'm Just a Singer (in a Rock n Roll Band)
Nights in White Satin
Question?Your Wildest Dreams
GypsyThe Dream
New Horizons
Ride My See SawMaybe??
When You're a Free Man
Melancholy Man
Notable songs I would have liked to have heard;
For My LadyGo Now
Lovely to see You Again
Dear Diary
Lazy Day
Have You Heard
Lost in a Lost World
Saturday - August 29, 2009
The stage!!!!
One of the members of the band ???? Oh no - it's Bill ready to go! :):)
Yep, I'm ready to go too!!!!! :):)
John Lodge
Graeme Edge
Norda Mullen - back vocalist and flutist
Norda Mullen and Bernadette Barlow
Waving goodbye - the finale!!!!!
Yep, I'm ready to go too!!!!! :):)Justin Hayward
John Lodge
Graeme Edge
Norda Mullen - back vocalist and flutist
Norda Mullen and Bernadette Barlow
Waving goodbye - the finale!!!!!
Bill and I both enjoyed the concerts as well as the games we attended in Cincinnati. It was a great four days!!!!!!
Another Birthday - and We are so Thankful for you Dink
Wednesday - September 2, 2009
Dink,
Another year has come and gone and so much has happened since your last birthday my dear brother! We are so thankful for the progress you have made since February. I hope you know how much you are loved - not just by Rhonda and the boys, but by Mom, Mike, and myself as well. ( . . .and the extended family as well!) The thought of losing you when you had the stroke and heart-attack makes my hear quiver from fear. The thought of not having you here with us scared me so much. You have always been the rock, the one we (your siblings) always looked up to as we were growing up. You possesed that leadership quality even though you were a tad bit shy. I really believe John and Mike were a little more outgoing than you or I when we were younger. We just make up for it now that we are older! :):)
It is so good to see you smile and see the progress you hve made. You have worked so hard with your therapy, and we are all so proud of you. seeing you operate the riding lawn mower was unbelievable. I feel that you are to have even more great steps toward your recovery!! You are just like Pappaw and Dad - never give up!!!!!!!!!
I'm reposting the Birthday Wish from last year - I love the pictures I found and posted of you!! Dink, I love you and am sooooooo proud of you!
Your "favorite" sister,
TP aka: Sue
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Dink,
Another year has come and gone and so much has happened since your last birthday my dear brother! We are so thankful for the progress you have made since February. I hope you know how much you are loved - not just by Rhonda and the boys, but by Mom, Mike, and myself as well. ( . . .and the extended family as well!) The thought of losing you when you had the stroke and heart-attack makes my hear quiver from fear. The thought of not having you here with us scared me so much. You have always been the rock, the one we (your siblings) always looked up to as we were growing up. You possesed that leadership quality even though you were a tad bit shy. I really believe John and Mike were a little more outgoing than you or I when we were younger. We just make up for it now that we are older! :):)
It is so good to see you smile and see the progress you hve made. You have worked so hard with your therapy, and we are all so proud of you. seeing you operate the riding lawn mower was unbelievable. I feel that you are to have even more great steps toward your recovery!! You are just like Pappaw and Dad - never give up!!!!!!!!!
I'm reposting the Birthday Wish from last year - I love the pictures I found and posted of you!! Dink, I love you and am sooooooo proud of you!
Your "favorite" sister,
TP aka: Sue
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
What do you say to your oldest brother on his birthday? Happy Birthday Dink! This doesn’t really tell you how much you are loved – regardless of all the hard times you have given me through the years. You are the big brother, John, Mike, and I have always looked up to – even though we may not have told you that!
I remember when John and I were first graders and we thought it was so neat to have a big brother out on the playground with us. Little did we know that we had embarrassed you by running up and saying “Hi Dinky!” Woe is me - we had NO idea you went by the name of Bill when at school! You came home and told Mom to tell us NOT to call you Dink or Dinky at school. So the next day, we saw you on the playground and we just waved at you! We didn’t call you Dink at school anymore. It wasn’t until we were older that we realized you weren’t ashamed of us – just that you wanted to be called Bill at school. We never did call you Bill at school or at home – you will always be Dink!
I also remember how much of a protector you were – especially with Mike! When he was little, you always took his part with the neighbors who thought they could pick on him because he was so much smaller. Look at him now – he can protect us all!
We were the two who always went up in the “holler” to stay with Mamaw and Papaw. You were there to help in the fields and the garden, and I was to help at the house. But somehow, I ended up helping both in the house, the garden, and even the hay field. Those were really the “good old days” and I wouldn’t change anything about what we did.
I hope and pray that you have had a great birthday! You have a wonderful family – Rhonda, Billy, and Bobby who love you so much! Don’t forget that Mom, Mike, and I love you as much. I know that if John were here he would have called to say happy birthday as well.
So from all who love you – Happy Birthday Dink!!!!!!
So from all who love you – Happy Birthday Dink!!!!!!
Oh yeah, I forgot to say I’m posting some pictures! Hope you enjoy them!
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Reds Win! Reds Win!
Tuesday - September 1, 2009
Day 3 of our mini trip to Cincinnati had us in the stands watching the Reds beat the Dodgers!! This was our second game this year, and we saw a win both times! Yippee!!!!!! It was a pleasant evening; one that was a great day in the ballpark! We were fortunate enough to find a parking place in a parking garage right next to the stadium. Again, we had great seats! The crowd was sparse, but the thrill of America's favorite pastime was in the air!!! The smell of the hot dogs, popcorn, and the sound of the bat certainly got us in the mood to watch the game. Needless to say - the Reds have not been playing the beat, while the Dodgers are right up there at the top of their division!!!!! We were there to hopefully see the Reds win, but we were also there to enjoy the atmosphere and each other! We had a great time and wish all we love will some day be able to enjoy mini vacations as we have.
I have again chosen just "some" of the pictures taken on August 28, 2009 - Reds vs Dodgers!
The standings out on the wall in right field.
A view from our seats!!!! Yes that's behind home plate - up in the "Club" level.
We decided to try a different menu tonight - chicken stir-fry! Mmmmmm, good!
. . . also some nachos with cheese and chili . . .
I had the stir-fry . . .
Day 3 of our mini trip to Cincinnati had us in the stands watching the Reds beat the Dodgers!! This was our second game this year, and we saw a win both times! Yippee!!!!!! It was a pleasant evening; one that was a great day in the ballpark! We were fortunate enough to find a parking place in a parking garage right next to the stadium. Again, we had great seats! The crowd was sparse, but the thrill of America's favorite pastime was in the air!!! The smell of the hot dogs, popcorn, and the sound of the bat certainly got us in the mood to watch the game. Needless to say - the Reds have not been playing the beat, while the Dodgers are right up there at the top of their division!!!!! We were there to hopefully see the Reds win, but we were also there to enjoy the atmosphere and each other! We had a great time and wish all we love will some day be able to enjoy mini vacations as we have.
I have again chosen just "some" of the pictures taken on August 28, 2009 - Reds vs Dodgers!
The steamboat out behind center field!
The standings out on the wall in right field.
A view from our seats!!!! Yes that's behind home plate - up in the "Club" level.
We decided to try a different menu tonight - chicken stir-fry! Mmmmmm, good!
. . . also some nachos with cheese and chili . . .
I had the stir-fry . . .
. . . and enjoyed it . . .
. . . looking for Marty and Cowboy - the Reds' announcers!!!
. . . another shot from our seats . . .
Homer Bailey pitched well that night for the Reds!
. . . Manny was boooooed every time he came to the plate - hmmmm, wonder why??????
When leaving the stadium, I caught what I think are some nice shots of the outside of the stadium . . . left field lights and a poster on the huge billboard . . .
. . . I zoomed in capturing the seats across the way in right field . . .
. . . looking back toward the city of Cincinnati . . .
. . .the lights behind home plate!!!!
We both love going to the games - win or lose - the atmosphere in the ballpark makes it enjoyable!! Of course if your team wins, it makes the game that much better!!!!!
. . . and Bill opted to have a brauts with sauerkraut too!!!!!
. . . looking for Marty and Cowboy - the Reds' announcers!!!
. . . another shot from our seats . . .
Homer Bailey pitched well that night for the Reds!
. . . Manny was boooooed every time he came to the plate - hmmmm, wonder why??????
When leaving the stadium, I caught what I think are some nice shots of the outside of the stadium . . . left field lights and a poster on the huge billboard . . .
. . . I zoomed in capturing the seats across the way in right field . . .
. . . looking back toward the city of Cincinnati . . .
. . .the lights behind home plate!!!!
We both love going to the games - win or lose - the atmosphere in the ballpark makes it enjoyable!! Of course if your team wins, it makes the game that much better!!!!!
I have one more posting that deals with our trip, but will do that in a day or two! Tomorrow is a special day fro a special brother of mine!!!!
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