Hotel Lakeside - End of November

It was a busy month with the trip to Lakeside Ohio for Mom's memorial service and burial. The cottage was huge and very nice. The Breeze Inn right next to the Hotel Lakeside and a short walk to the pavilion and Lake Erie swimming and fishing dock. There was a nice gathering of the family as well as friends and the service. Mom is now at rest and enjoying life again with Danny. We spent Sunday night there just the four of us in that huge house. It was nice, hearing the Lake and bells ring from the Pavilion Steeple. It is much more quiet in Lakeside Ohio in November compared to the Summer months.

Thanks giving was nice. Got to spend time with Dad and Martha's family is always enjoyable. Feel old talking to Ben and Jake who I use to see run around as 1 year old kids. Got news we maybe going on a cruise on the Oasis this summer. Now that would be very cool. The ship is huge and it would be fun to photograph.

Did something to my foot Friday night, not sure what but it sure hurt Saturday morning. Wanted to go to Rowe Woods but the cold and my foot put the trip off till afternoon. Met Ken Dunn who is one excellent photographer for a walk in Rowe Woods. Ken and I met last year at Capture Cincinnati's Book awards and book signing. My foot was still hurting but I can not recall anything that could cause it, so I went for a nice long walk showing him some of my favorite locations in Rowe Woods. It felt a little better till last night. Was very sore but I put on a cast and it feels better today. I guess I will gimp around unless it gets worse, same foot I broke a couple years back. It is hell getting old, but I prefer it to the alt.

Last Party

We had a birthday part for my mother in law last month in the nursing home. It was like many of the other parties we have held at her bedside over the last 10 years. But unlike the other birthday or holiday parties this one would be the last party. Mom had been told she was dieing and there was really no long term solution to the illness. She chose to refuse treatments and let life take it's course. The birthday party was in September and it was her 71st birthday which would prove to be her last one. Everyone was able to gather and enjoy cake and some time to talk about days and life events. Things she liked to hear about that was going on in her families daily lives. This would be the last time I saw her before her passing, my final kiss on her forehead.

Mom passed away on October 20th 2009 around 12:30PM with hospice at her side. Min and Jim were on there way but she like many mothers did not want to pass on in front of her kids. She she checked out about 8 minutes before they were able to get to her bedside. This is very common, I know my mother chose to pass on that way as well. There is something about mothers not wanting to pass on in front of their sons. She had Hospice and other friends with her when she went peacefully. I wish I could have done to comfort Min but I was in the Hospital at the time, a unplanned visit. Just more stress on Min's plate, something I was trying to avoid. I was able to get out and home that evening to at least be with her as she grieved. She has taken her mother's passing very hard.

We will be putting her to rest near Lakeside Ohio where she grew up and has many friends. She will rest next to Danny and her parents. Lakeside has always been a special place in our families lives. It over looks Lake Erie and it is where her family's roots run deep. We have spent many summers in Lakeside but we were not able to make up this year do to a cruise and Ty heading off to O.U. I did not think we would be up there this year. Ma proved me wrong, we will spend time there over the week end. Not our normal trip to Lakeside but it will bring back memories of winter trips to Lakeside to see Mom and Danny as we did many times for Thanksgiving.

R.I.P Ma and there will be no longer need to worry about the kids, or family, just time to rest. Sleep well.

Nobel Joke

Ghandi doesn't get one but Obama does? LOL I thought that it was ridiculous joke when I first heard it, but it turns out the joke is now the Nobel Committee and their political motivations, they just marginalized their peace prize and prior winners. Obama was nominated for a Nobel Prize 11 days after he took office, having done nothing except party. These many months later, he's still done nothing except give speeches saying 'gosh we suck as a country'. You cannot make this up. It is almost surreal in how he is changing America and how the people will live. MSM doesn't report it and people seem ambivalent. Who is going to pay the bill, it is coming do at some point?

The economy is in the tank, he's taking the deficit and debt to historic, epic, impossible to deal with levels, with nothing to show for it, while shilling for more domestic programs that will probably literally annihilate the middle class. Ah, but that will probably happen even if none of them pan out. The mounting debt is frightening. No worries, Barry gives good socialistic speeches and the god like swoon in wonderment. There is a large segment of people here who are terrible at math and who believe in unicorns. I see that there are also some of these folks in Europe. But even the Germans, French and English are turning more to the right and capitalism.

This country was built on freedom and sweat equity. We've turned into a nation of whiners and weenies. Needing government handouts instead of knowing that the answer is to work harder. The grownups are dying out and all that will be left will be people scrambling for the dole. Like siblings after the funeral of the last parent.

If you can clap for that, you probably are receiving government checks. When you take away personal responsibility, you end up with irresponsible people. Modern America.

Tyler's trip to OU for College

The van was on loan from Frank & Cindy a kind thing for them to do. Lots of room for the move and ride in real comfort. We headed out early to get in line to unload the college dorm room furnishings and supplies.

Got to the Jeff and it was well organized and were unload and I was parked in about one hour. Forth floor all steps and my back is feeling it. The room has no A/C but seems nice for the two guys. The dorm is a short walk from downtown Athens.






Mother and Son as he heads of to his first year of college. One of life's defining moments in time. A real memory.

Obama Propagandist

I thought I would leave the empty CNN feed to show how the MSM filters what people see. The story showed out government Obama style in a not so good light. It was all about Drudge Report and misinformation was being spread. It told you how you could contact flag@whitehouse.gov would help to correct misinformation. It was pulled. It is kinda of scary when government wants us to send information about people and what they are talking about for the government to look it over.

She says what he said before does not count, that is not what he is saying now. Linda we all know he will do what he wants once Nancy and Harry get Rahm to put the hammer on the blue dogs to fall in line. Obama says one thing and does another. Just like in the election when he talked about working with all people and reaching across the isle. He never had done that and now has become the most divisive President in modern history.

Bronco II XLT

It is kind of sad to see the old truck go. It was one of those projects you want to do but never seem to get the time to work on it. I bought the truck back in 1990 when I was in outside sales. It was a cool 4 wheeler and worked well as a family car. We took many a trip in the truck and I had 150,000 on it when Oil Express worked on it.

They put the wrong fluid in the brakes and Min lost brakes while in traffic near a parade. All the brake lines and cylinder needed replacing and Min hit someone causing damage to the right front. It needed more work and Oil Express refused to take any responsibility. One reason I only have dealerships or myself replace oil any more. The Bronco sat waiting for me to have it fixed but time passed and it started to rust. The sitting caused problems, so it was time to say good bye to the old friend. Many people wanted it for parts.

It has been busy around here of late. We are having a lot of work done to the house to repair and fix up the old home. New coat of paint, gutters and landscaping. Throwing stuff away we do not need or use and getting the garage ready. All this and a cool trip to the Caribbean on a huge cruise ship. Spent some time in Old San Juan before boarding the Adventure of the Seas. It was a great cruise with good weather, service and rooms. Next post I will add some pictures. Time is short of late with work and getting stuff done that I have needed to do for some time.

Obamanomics

It is the month of August, on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean.

It is raining, and the little town looks totally deserted.
It is tough times, everybody is in debt, and everybody lives on credit.
Suddenly, a rich tourist comes to town.
He enters the only hotel, lays a 100 Euro note on the reception counter, and goes to inspect the rooms upstairs in order to pick one.
The hotel proprietor takes the 100 Euro note and runs to pay his debt to the butcher.
The Butcher takes the 100 Euro note, and runs to pay his debt to the pig grower.
The pig grower takes the 100 Euro note, and runs to pay his debt to the supplier of his feed and fuel.
The supplier of feed and fuel takes the 100 Euro note and runs to pay his debt to the town's prostitute that in these hard times, gave her "services" on credit.
The hooker runs to the hotel, and pays off her debt with the 100 Euro note to the hotel proprietor to pay for the rooms that she rented when she brought her clients there.
The hotel proprietor then lays the 100 Euro note back on the counter so that the rich tourist will not suspect anything.
At that moment, the rich tourist comes down after inspecting the rooms, and takes his 100 Euro note, after saying that he did not like any of the rooms, and leaves town.
No one earned anything. However, the whole town is now without debt, and looks to the future with a lot of optimism.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how the United States Government is doing business .

Tyler's Graduation

I guess I should have taken a lot more pictures but two things kind of kept me in check. One thing is Ty has not always been a big fan of Dad taking pictures of him. Also I was feeling a little introspective that evening since it all started to hit me that my oldest son was graduation from Clermont Northeastern High School. It does not seem it was just 18 years ago he was just a little boy running around the house. The whole moment hit me as I watched them walk in and gather for the diplomas. Should have gone down and taken some pictures closer to the hand out of awards but felt kind of drained.

Ty will be heading off to college in September to OU and will work on being a creative writer. He is one now, but this will open up new ideas and doors to his works. It is a great University, Harvard on the Ohio it is often called. It will be close enough we can visit but far enough where he can learn some independence and more personal responsibility growth. I guess this is where we find out how well we did over the last 19 years. Min and I are both very proud of Ty he worked hard in school and graduated with honors and the top ten of his class. I will miss having him here at home more than he really knows.

Concert at the Lake

This years Concert at the Lake had good weather for a change. Director Mr. Chris Moore handled the concert and marching Clermont Northeastern Rockets. There was a nice crowd and it was the last concert for the class of 2009. A large part of the band is graduating. Chris Moore has been more than a teacher to the kids, he has been a friend. I know the kids and parents very much appreciate what he has done for the school band and music program and Clermont Northeastern High School.

Change We Can Believe In

Barack Obama, through his spokesman, claimed today that he was unaware of the tax day tea parties.
Granted, the MSM has done a good job in suppressing any sort of coverage ahead of time (and the little coverage they did provide was derisive at best)…
but how out of touch is the Community Organizer in Chief, really?

This much.
- He was unaware that he was attending a church (for 20 years) with a racist pastor who hates America .
- He was unaware that he was family friends with, and started his political career in the living room of, a domestic terrorist.
- He was unaware that he had invested in two speculative companies backed by some of his top donors right after taking office in 2005.
- He was unaware that his own aunt was living in the US illegally.
- He was unaware of the AIG bonuses that he and his administration approved and signed into a bill.
- He was unaware that the man he nominated to be his Secretary of Commerce was under investigation in a bribery scandal.
- He was unaware that the man he nominated to be his Secretary of Health and Human Services was a tax cheat.
- He was unaware that the man he nominated to be his Secretary of the Treasury was a tax cheat.
- He was unaware that the man he nominated to be the U.S. Trade Representative was a tax cheat.
- He was unaware that the woman he nominated to be his Chief Performance Officer was a tax cheat.
- He was unaware that the man he nominated to be #2 at the Environmental Protection Agency was under investigation for mismanaging $25 million in EPA grants.

________________________________________________________________________________

How many times can Prez (Tweety Bird) O say it? The good ole USA is just a piece of crap!

Does the word "neutered and spineless" mean anything to you?

During the 2008 presidential race, President Bush took heat for seeming to criticize Obama as an appeaser during an address to Israel's parliament.

It was considered poor form to take shots, direct or indirect, at a U.S. Dignitary while overseas.

But since taking office, Obama has made a habit of using overseas podiums to delicately jab at his predecessor by apologizing and expressing regret for American behavior in recent years.

While the move could yield diplomatic fruit by easing tensions between the U.S. And nations that felt sidelined during the Bush administration, Republicans have also criticized the president for using the world stage to scold his own country.

The following is a list, in reverse chronological order, of the Obama administration's overseas apologies and clarifications to date:

April 18: "We have at times been disengaged, and at times we sought to dictate our terms. But I pledge to you that we seek an equal partnership. There is no senior partner and junior partner in our relations." (BS! Like sending troops to Iraq: France with 3 troops sent and Germany with 4 troops by having equality in talks are going to dictate to us?)
-- President Obama, at the Summit of the Americas in Port of Spain, Trinidad

April 16: "Too often, the United States has not pursued and sustained engagement with our neighbors. We have been too easily distracted by other priorities and have failed to see that our own progress is tied directly to progress throughout the Americas. My administration is committed to renewing and sustaining a broader partnership between the United States and the hemisphere on behalf of our common prosperity and our common security."
-- President Obama, in an op-Ed that appeared in U.S. And Latin American newspapers prior to the Summit of the Americas

April 6: "I know there have been difficulties these last few years. I know that the trust that binds us has been strained, and I know that strain is shared in many places where the Muslim faith is practiced. Let me say this as clearly as I can: the United States is not at war with Islam."(Maybe not, but it turns out that about 99.99% of radical terrorists just happen to be Islamists, so what the hell are you saying?)
-- President Obama, in Ankara, Turkey

And don't you just L-O-V-E this one? Leader of whom and what? For all my life plus some, the US has been either kicking Europes' ass or saving for nearly 100 years now.

April 3: "In America, there's a failure to appreciate Europe's leading role in the world. (Please pardon me while I barf). Instead of celebrating your dynamic union and seeking to partner with you to meet common challenges, there have been times where America has shown arrogance and been dismissive, even derisive. But in Europe, there is an anti-Americanism that is at once casual but can also be insidious. Instead of recognizing the good that America so often does in the world, there have been times where Europeans choose to blame America for much of what's bad. On both sides of the Atlantic, these attitudes have become all too common. They are not wise. ... They threaten to widen the divide across the Atlantic and leave us both more isolated." (Why don't the Europeans see a danger and act on it when recognized, not sit back and let the good ole USA handle it for them?)
-- President Obama, in Strasbourg, France

April 2: "It is true, as my Italian friend has said, that the (economic) crisis began in the U.S. I take responsibility, even if I wasn't even president at the time."(No, but your Democrat predessor Billy Clinton started it so don't even mention President Bush as he tried in vain to end it!)
-- President Obama, at the G20 in London, as reported by Germany's Der Spiegel

April 2: "I would like to think that with my election and the early decisions that we've made, that you're starting to see some restoration of America's standing in the world." (Way too early to comment. Right now it's not looking too good.)
-- President Obama, at G20 summit in London

April 1: "If you look at the sources of this crisis, the United States certainly has some accounting to do with respect to a regulatory system that was inadequate." (Again, return to the idiotic lending practices of Clinton)
-- President Obama, at a press conference ahead of the G20 in London

March 25: "I feel very strongly we have a co-responsibility (for drug-fueled violence in Mexico). ... Our insatiable demand for illegal drugs fuels the drug trade. (Is only America drug dependent?) Our inability to prevent weapons from being illegally smuggled across the border to arm these criminals causes the deaths of police officers, soldiers and civilians." (News Flash! Criminals will buy guns from anywhere they can. We just happen to be close to Mexico. How you gonna stop guns from going over the border when you can't even stop illegals?)
-- Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, en route to Mexico City

Jan. 26: "All too often the United States starts by dictating ... And we don't always know all the factors that are involved. So let's listen. And I think if we do that, then there's a possibility at least of achieving some breakthroughs. ... My job to the Muslim world is to communicate that the Americans are not your enemy. We sometimes make mistakes. We have not been perfect." (Is this a unilateral confession, or could there possibly be a tad bit of culpability on the part of the Arab world?)
-- President Obama, in an interview with Al Arabiya

Change we can believe in?