Hey Ford Mike:
Saw the new photo's. I'm with your mom in thinking Baylor would enjoy having a camel as a friend.
April is definitely home. Talked with her a couple of days ago. She will be pinning on Lt. Col., probably in October. Kurt is up for his 1st star. Pretty awesome! I will be at April's pinning if at all possible. She is a very special young woman and I love her dearly. I sent her and Nancy the info on the blog and I know Nancy has already written. April told me she got it and will be writing also. Lot's of folks thinking of you sweetie, especially your auntie.
California is burning up. We have wild fires going everywhere. The air is blue with smoke and of course the air quality sucks. Seems like every region is having there own unique problems.
I'll say bye for now. Stay safe and know you are always in my thoughts and prayers.
Love,
Aunt Carla
Monday, June 30, 2008
Friendship..
And this...is the best friend in the Newburgh, NY airport waiting to return home to Atlanta after the "Wedding Event of the Century." Trying to dream of JUJU and Eric...but instead seeing visions of carrying Kate's train, doing karate stealth moves to shield Kate from any potential stress and devising ways to support Kate and Ford in their new life ahead.
Mission accomplished, ZoeZoe.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Michael..I really enjoyed your prayer for Ford and the photo of the flag was awesome..Thank you. You are a good friend. I know he appreciates hearing from you.
Fordo..Kate forwarded some awesome photo's! I think I need to send you some "just for men" hair dye..the red looks a bit too Irish!! I'm almost certain that you won't blend! Can you bring one of those camels home? Baylor could use a friend. I think Linda Menard will win the the Senate race. She is definetly a Ford fan..kind of cool! I saw her a couple of weeks ago and she told me to let you know that she and Curt think about you often and to say ..Thank You. Hey, you got a jury summons for August..Do you think they'll let you come home?? I wrote back with your current location so I imagine that you'll be excused...Darn it!!! It would be awesome if they insisted you had to be here! Dad just mailed you a case of Starbuck's double shots..to the correct address! I love you infinetly..MOM
Fordo..Kate forwarded some awesome photo's! I think I need to send you some "just for men" hair dye..the red looks a bit too Irish!! I'm almost certain that you won't blend! Can you bring one of those camels home? Baylor could use a friend. I think Linda Menard will win the the Senate race. She is definetly a Ford fan..kind of cool! I saw her a couple of weeks ago and she told me to let you know that she and Curt think about you often and to say ..Thank You. Hey, you got a jury summons for August..Do you think they'll let you come home?? I wrote back with your current location so I imagine that you'll be excused...Darn it!!! It would be awesome if they insisted you had to be here! Dad just mailed you a case of Starbuck's double shots..to the correct address! I love you infinetly..MOM
Friday, June 27, 2008
Janelle sniffles alone on the couch
Hey Fordo.
Just sittin' here watching a re-run of the god awful Men In Black and stumbled back to this blog spot... Not a bad way to waste the movie's run time.
It's hot here in NYC - and muggy. So we've had the A/C running practically nonstop, which makes the house really cold, really, really cold. At night while I'm sleeping I've been slowly coming down with some sort of sniffle. Yup.
I bet you'd give anything to be sniffling in bed with Kate from A/C on too long or even watching this lame ass re-run of a mildly entertaining Will Smith flick. Well, kid, I don't blame ya, but right now I'm wishing I was doing something else other than EITHER of those things... like, uhm, dancing to crazy music with Uncle Mike, singing at the top of my lungs with Uncle James, or simply enjoy your company doing something awesome like - eating a good meal.
Well, just wanted you to know that that's what I'm wishing for.
Miss you. And keep in mind May 31st, 2009 for a trip to Brooklyn, NY to return the favor of celebrating nuptials, k?
xoxox,
Your cousin,
Janelle
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Stosh is o.k.!
So, Uncle Stosh had surgery on Tues. He did well, according to his surgeon, but had some bleeding. I kept him at my house Tuesday noc and all day Wednesday. Tried to keep him 'well' medicated. He got really sick once but did better after I put a patch, to keep him from getting nausea, behind his ear. The tonsil was sent for biopsy.
Stosh called me at work today and told me the biopsy was benign. I burst into tears! Don't think I have ever felt such relief.
Kate, how is your mouth doing. Hopefully you are able to eat better now. You're a trooper missy. Know you miss Ford bunches and it's hard to be alone. Just know we all love you dearly and we are always here for you.
Ford: I love you so much. I know you are o.k. but I will still worry until you are home again. I say a prayer for your safety every day as does Gramma. Can't talk to her much about you because she starts crying.
I'm looking forward to seeing your mom and dad when we go to Mexico. Hope you will beable to be with all of your crazy relatives on the next trip.
Bye for now.
Love
Auntie Carla
Stosh called me at work today and told me the biopsy was benign. I burst into tears! Don't think I have ever felt such relief.
Kate, how is your mouth doing. Hopefully you are able to eat better now. You're a trooper missy. Know you miss Ford bunches and it's hard to be alone. Just know we all love you dearly and we are always here for you.
Ford: I love you so much. I know you are o.k. but I will still worry until you are home again. I say a prayer for your safety every day as does Gramma. Can't talk to her much about you because she starts crying.
I'm looking forward to seeing your mom and dad when we go to Mexico. Hope you will beable to be with all of your crazy relatives on the next trip.
Bye for now.
Love
Auntie Carla
Monday, June 23, 2008
Hey Brother
So Shanna, Tehya, Kayla, Kyleigh and I just returned from a weekend camping trip along the Columbia River Gorge near Hood River Oregon.
Shanna, Tehya, Kayla, and Kyleigh left last Friday afternoon. I had to work, so I didn't get down there until Saturday evening.
It was Shanna's first attempt at putting up a tent by herself. I have to admit I was pretty amazed at the result. It even looked like a real tent when she was done...Fortunately there were about 15 teen-agers staying in the campground who were able to offer some assistance.
Tehya wandered around the campground and would bring "kids" back to meet her family, by holding their hand...and escorting (pulling) them back to the site. No fear in that kid.
Her favorite thing lately is to walk around the house completely naked at all hours of the day and night. I have always been a fan of little or no clothing...maybe thats where she gets it.
Hood River Oregon is the home of the Full Sail Brewing company, and is also one of the top world destinations for windsurfing and kite-boarding. Fordo...along with getting back into skydiving when you return, I suggest we both try our hand at this "kite-boarding" thing.
Basically you strap a board that looks like a wake board on your feet, and use a kite about 1/4 the size of a paraglider to propel you through the water. I saw guys getting 20 feet of air...being pulled out of the water by a kite....Can't wait to check it out with you next summer.
Anyway...Beau's baseball team ended up in 2nd place. The kid is hitting the ball harder and more consistant than I have ever seen. He ended up being moved to the #2 spot in the line-up as a result of his efforts.
He and I are headed to sea-tac tomorrow at 0430 so he can catch a flight to Green Bay for a few weeks. He will be back for about 12 hours, then its off to Anchorage for a week. I hope to see him for a day or two before summers end.
So my friend...thats all there is for now....oh..one more item..Tehya is in "big girl panties" pretty much 24/7 except for when she goes to bed....yay...no more shitty diapers...although she did squat and crap in the shower about a month ago...
I hope all of this info brightens your day. I think of you often, and I miss you very much. It has been amazing having you and Kate less than an hour away.
I look forward to your return, and you and your boys are always in my thoughts and prayers.
I am proud of who you are, and what you are doing. You have always been, and will always be one of my heroes, and an inspiration to me...even if you did find my porno stash underneath the stairs at 7 West Colorado Street when I was a sophmore...and you were 3...and handed it to pops....he probably still has the old 16mm reel to reel tape hidden from mom somewhere in the house...
I love you brother...more than you will ever know.
I wish you peace, and love.
Namaste
blayner
Shanna, Tehya, Kayla, and Kyleigh left last Friday afternoon. I had to work, so I didn't get down there until Saturday evening.
It was Shanna's first attempt at putting up a tent by herself. I have to admit I was pretty amazed at the result. It even looked like a real tent when she was done...Fortunately there were about 15 teen-agers staying in the campground who were able to offer some assistance.
Tehya wandered around the campground and would bring "kids" back to meet her family, by holding their hand...and escorting (pulling) them back to the site. No fear in that kid.
Her favorite thing lately is to walk around the house completely naked at all hours of the day and night. I have always been a fan of little or no clothing...maybe thats where she gets it.
Hood River Oregon is the home of the Full Sail Brewing company, and is also one of the top world destinations for windsurfing and kite-boarding. Fordo...along with getting back into skydiving when you return, I suggest we both try our hand at this "kite-boarding" thing.
Basically you strap a board that looks like a wake board on your feet, and use a kite about 1/4 the size of a paraglider to propel you through the water. I saw guys getting 20 feet of air...being pulled out of the water by a kite....Can't wait to check it out with you next summer.
Anyway...Beau's baseball team ended up in 2nd place. The kid is hitting the ball harder and more consistant than I have ever seen. He ended up being moved to the #2 spot in the line-up as a result of his efforts.
He and I are headed to sea-tac tomorrow at 0430 so he can catch a flight to Green Bay for a few weeks. He will be back for about 12 hours, then its off to Anchorage for a week. I hope to see him for a day or two before summers end.
So my friend...thats all there is for now....oh..one more item..Tehya is in "big girl panties" pretty much 24/7 except for when she goes to bed....yay...no more shitty diapers...although she did squat and crap in the shower about a month ago...
I hope all of this info brightens your day. I think of you often, and I miss you very much. It has been amazing having you and Kate less than an hour away.
I look forward to your return, and you and your boys are always in my thoughts and prayers.
I am proud of who you are, and what you are doing. You have always been, and will always be one of my heroes, and an inspiration to me...even if you did find my porno stash underneath the stairs at 7 West Colorado Street when I was a sophmore...and you were 3...and handed it to pops....he probably still has the old 16mm reel to reel tape hidden from mom somewhere in the house...
I love you brother...more than you will ever know.
I wish you peace, and love.
Namaste
blayner
Gretings from your little budy Malk
Hey Fordo
I hope this email finds you and your team safe and healthy. First of all...THE MOUSTACHE IS FREAKIN' MONEY!!!! You've inspired me to try and grow one. Since I still only shave about four times a week, I figure it should be filled in nicely sometime around November...2009.
I've been meaning to write you for quite a while and I was reminded of the fact that I haven't in a pretty interesting way....allow me to elaborate.
Every summer a couple of buddies and I do a SCUBA trip to so some pretty cool locations and a few weeks ago we arrived on Isla Morada which is about half way down the Florida Keys. There are a tonn of pretty big wrecks down there and one morning we found ourselves diving on the USS Spiegel Grove (about 450ft feet long!) which was a old Navy Landing Ship (LSD-32). From the dive boat we descended about mid-ship and then proceeded down to the bottom at about 125 feet and made our way the stern where the troop/vehicle/equipment bay is. We swam into the bay an then started navigating our way through the hallways and rooms of the wreck until I found myself inside the Captains Bridge about 20 minutes later. I was totally pumped after doing probably one of the coolest dives of my life and regretfully, it was time to start heading back to the surface. I swam out one of the doors, turned left to head towards oneof the accent lines and found this as the view out my mask...
Before I headed to the ascent line I closed my eyes and said a little prayer:
Be safe, be strong and always know that you are in our thoughts and prayers. Talk to you soon!
Your little buddy,
Malk
PS - we need to work on getting the ARMY to pay for some SCUBA training for you!!!
We see American flags daily but for some reason this one made me immediately think of you and what the men and women like you do for all of us. It's because of everyone who is currently (or has ever been in uniform) that I have the freedom to go on these incredible adventures and at the end of the day, go to my home and know I'm safe. I know I'm safe because I've got my buddy Ford watching my back and for that I am truly humbled and grateful. Although I wish you were back home with us, I know your are fighting the good fight and serving our country with honor and I can't tell you what a sense of pride it gives me when I think about you...even at 125 feet underwater!
Before I headed to the ascent line I closed my eyes and said a little prayer:
May God walk beside you each day May He protect you if harm comes your way.
May He give you wisdom in all that you do and keep you safe with each task you pursue.
May He bring swift end to the world's troubled brow and His most precious peace on us then endow.
May you know you stay in our thoughts and our hearts when your path and your duty keep us apart.
May the days pass quickly until you're back home again.
May He give you wisdom in all that you do and keep you safe with each task you pursue.
May He bring swift end to the world's troubled brow and His most precious peace on us then endow.
May you know you stay in our thoughts and our hearts when your path and your duty keep us apart.
May the days pass quickly until you're back home again.
Be safe, be strong and always know that you are in our thoughts and prayers. Talk to you soon!
Your little buddy,
Malk
PS - we need to work on getting the ARMY to pay for some SCUBA training for you!!!
Address Correction !!!!!!!
Email Kate for address:
The old address is getting to him, its just taking longer than it should. Please replace with above.
Thanks for your patience as we work this out, if you have any questions, feel free to contact me.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Hi Ford. This is your Aunt Nancy in Montana. Carla sent me the info to blog. Have never done such a thing - but as they say in Butte, here's a go.
We are thinking of you over there and praying for you. I say my beads for you every day and pray for your safe return - but know that you are doing what is necessary to keep us safe and secure in America.
We love you here and wish you could see little Wade growing and a new little man on the way. Bino and Melissa, Wade and I all wish you well and love you. Nancy
We are thinking of you over there and praying for you. I say my beads for you every day and pray for your safe return - but know that you are doing what is necessary to keep us safe and secure in America.
We love you here and wish you could see little Wade growing and a new little man on the way. Bino and Melissa, Wade and I all wish you well and love you. Nancy
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Note from Auntie Carla
Just finished reading Stosh's blog. He's such a 'good' guy! Everyone should be blessed with a brother like Corliss and I have. He's not bad in the Uncle department either.
Saw Kate's picture of her red Friday. Just want you to know that I wore red scrubs with red sock's and red shoes! My scrub jacket was a Corliss Lannan original and also had red crosses, pill bottles, syringes, etc., on a white background. All of my nurses wore something red also.
As Stosh said, the weather is hot. Over 100 for the last couple of days. I know Ford's weather is much hotter than California so I'm not going to bitch.
Kate, hope you received your Dillard's package. Ford, I will get your things in the mail to you on Tuesday. Sorry it has taken me so long. Seems like I get slower every year.
Be safe Ford and know you are always in my thoughts and prayers. I love you.
Love to my family,
Auntie Carla
Saw Kate's picture of her red Friday. Just want you to know that I wore red scrubs with red sock's and red shoes! My scrub jacket was a Corliss Lannan original and also had red crosses, pill bottles, syringes, etc., on a white background. All of my nurses wore something red also.
As Stosh said, the weather is hot. Over 100 for the last couple of days. I know Ford's weather is much hotter than California so I'm not going to bitch.
Kate, hope you received your Dillard's package. Ford, I will get your things in the mail to you on Tuesday. Sorry it has taken me so long. Seems like I get slower every year.
Be safe Ford and know you are always in my thoughts and prayers. I love you.
Love to my family,
Auntie Carla
One more from Uncle Stosh - dissing France - it's so easy
Hi Fordo,
Thought you might like these.
Then there was a conference in France where a number of international engineers were taking part, including French and American. During a break one of the French engineers came back into the room saying 'Have you heard the latest dumb stunt Bush has done? He has sent an aircraft carrier to Indonesia to help the tsunami victims. What does he intended to do, bomb them?' A Boeing engineer stood up and re plied quietly: 'Our carriers have three hospitals on board that can treat several hundred people; they are nuclear powered and can supply emergency electrical power to shore facilities; they have four cafeterias with the capacity to feed 5,500 people four meals a day, they can produce several hundred thousands of gallons of fresh water from sea water each day, and they carry half a dozen helicopters for use in transporting victims and injured to and from t heir flight deck.. We have eleven such ships; how many does France have? '
You could have heard a pin drop.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A U.S. Navy Admiral was attending a naval conference that included Admirals from the U.S. , English, Canadian, Australian and French Navies. At a cocktail reception, he found himself standing with a large group of Officers that included personnel from most of those countries.
Everyone was chatting away in English as they sipped their drinks but a French admiral suddenly complained that, 'whereas Europeans learn many languages, Americans learn only English.' He then asked, 'Why is it that we always have to speak English in these conferences rather than speaking French?' Without hesitating, the American Admiral replied 'Maybe it's because the Brits, Canadians, Aussies and Americans arranged it so you wouldn't have to speak German.'
You could have heard a pin drop.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AND THIS STORY FITS RIGHT IN WITH THE ABOVE...
A group of Americans, retired teachers, recently went to France on a tour. Robert Whiting, an elderly gentleman of 83, arrived in Paris by plane..
At French Customs, he took a few minutes to locate his passport in his carry on.
'You have been to France before, monsieur?' the customs officer asked sarcastically. Mr. Whiting admitted that he had been to France previously.
'Then you should know enough to have your passport ready.' The American said, 'The last time I was here, I didn't have to show it.' 'Impossible.
Americans always have to show your passports on arrival in France !' The American senior gave the Frenchman a long hard look. Then he quietly explained. 'Well, when I came ashore at Omaha Beach on D-Day in '44 to help liberate this country, I couldn't find any Frenchmen to show it to.'
You could have heard a pin drop
Thought you might like these.
Then there was a conference in France where a number of international engineers were taking part, including French and American. During a break one of the French engineers came back into the room saying 'Have you heard the latest dumb stunt Bush has done? He has sent an aircraft carrier to Indonesia to help the tsunami victims. What does he intended to do, bomb them?' A Boeing engineer stood up and re plied quietly: 'Our carriers have three hospitals on board that can treat several hundred people; they are nuclear powered and can supply emergency electrical power to shore facilities; they have four cafeterias with the capacity to feed 5,500 people four meals a day, they can produce several hundred thousands of gallons of fresh water from sea water each day, and they carry half a dozen helicopters for use in transporting victims and injured to and from t heir flight deck.. We have eleven such ships; how many does France have? '
You could have heard a pin drop.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A U.S. Navy Admiral was attending a naval conference that included Admirals from the U.S. , English, Canadian, Australian and French Navies. At a cocktail reception, he found himself standing with a large group of Officers that included personnel from most of those countries.
Everyone was chatting away in English as they sipped their drinks but a French admiral suddenly complained that, 'whereas Europeans learn many languages, Americans learn only English.' He then asked, 'Why is it that we always have to speak English in these conferences rather than speaking French?' Without hesitating, the American Admiral replied 'Maybe it's because the Brits, Canadians, Aussies and Americans arranged it so you wouldn't have to speak German.'
You could have heard a pin drop.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AND THIS STORY FITS RIGHT IN WITH THE ABOVE...
A group of Americans, retired teachers, recently went to France on a tour. Robert Whiting, an elderly gentleman of 83, arrived in Paris by plane..
At French Customs, he took a few minutes to locate his passport in his carry on.
'You have been to France before, monsieur?' the customs officer asked sarcastically. Mr. Whiting admitted that he had been to France previously.
'Then you should know enough to have your passport ready.' The American said, 'The last time I was here, I didn't have to show it.' 'Impossible.
Americans always have to show your passports on arrival in France !' The American senior gave the Frenchman a long hard look. Then he quietly explained. 'Well, when I came ashore at Omaha Beach on D-Day in '44 to help liberate this country, I couldn't find any Frenchmen to show it to.'
You could have heard a pin drop
Hi from Uncle Stosh and Aunt Sharon
Fordo,
Glad to see that you're doing well. Kate told us about this blog when we visited to pin Jill to Colonel (isn't that awesome?). Well, I came home and tryed to log on. It said to create an account I had to enter a user name... tried about 20 or so and kept getting kicked out so I got pissed and said to heck with it.
Today I decided to try again. Guess I should have read it closer (I didn't catch the username must already exist part - LOL). Anyway, I'm finally on and will stay in touch from now on.
I'm getting ready to retire so I've been running around getting all my old injuries taken care of. As you saw in Jeanie's blog, got to get a tonsil out - not looking forward to that but I guess it's necessary. Doc found something on it he didn't like the looks of. After that I'll probably get the torn rotator cuff in my shoulder fixed (haven't decided on that yet - it's not too bad - certainly nothing like your dad's). Then I should be pretty much ready to start the new chapter in my life - post Navy.
Haven't decided what, if anything I'm going to do when I get out. Haven't found anyone who will pay me to play golf - so that's a bummer ;-)
Aunt Sharon has been staying really busy at work. She got another couple of patents for some designing she did for Britta. That was pretty cool.
Whether here has been hot... not your kind of hot but up around 100. We've been walking the golf course instead of riding as of late so it gets pretty warm. LOL, I just thought of how goofy that sounds when you carry all that gear around in that heat. What da ya expect, I'm just a sissy Navy guy who has had AC all my career :) I guess down in the power plants it was about 125 to 140 but for the last 8 or 10 years I haven't had to spend a whole lot of time down there.
It was great to see everyone when we went to WA. Kate is looking really good and appears to be doing well. Beau is growing like a weed. Seems like he grew an inch or two from just a couple of months ago when he was down here. Blayner, Shanna and princess Teyah looked really well and their new family members Kayla and ?Kaile? are sure sweet little girls. Our visit was far too short and we didn't get much chance to visit but it was better than not getting to see everyone at all.
It sucked that your dad fell out of the truck and jacked up his elbow and rotator cuff. But, he's already back to work, with a broken elbow and basically no rotator cuff. Don't know how he does it. He sure is a tough son of a gun.
We loved getting to meet Baylor. He sure is a great dog. He loved the company because of course that meant "lots" of treats. He probably gained 10 pounds over the weekend. You know Aunt Jeanie, he'd look at her with that "I need a treat Aunt Jeanie look" and she would feed him.
We got a new pup so Sega will have a friend to play with. He's a Lab/Pointer mix. His name is Bogey. Not sure why I named him after a badly played golf hole - guess cause par, birdie or eagle didn't quite sound right. Anyway, he sure is cute... otherwise he'd be a goner. So far he's chewed up some of the carpet, wood work, all the throw rugs in the house, a pair of Ray Ban's, a couple of remote controls, some shoes, etc... We forgot we had a puppy and the things you have to do to train them right from wrong when you have one. Since we've been working with him he's been much better and hasn't chewed up too many things for the last month or so.
Sega is getting pretty big - about 85 pounds. Not super big for a Pit Bull but pretty stocky. He's still a little clown and loves having a friend to wrestle with. Kuska is getting old but still doing pretty well. Most 120 pound Akitas never see 14 years. When Isis bit her ear off she was on Altram (a pain killer). We found that she was able to move around much better at that time so we just put her on daily doses of it and she gets around as well as she did 3 or 4 years ago. She's Aunt Sharon's beloved and it will be really hard on her when she goes.
Well that's what is going on down here. We miss you and hope you are doing well and staying safe. Know that you are always in our thoughts and prayers.
We love you,
Uncle Stosh and Aunt Sharon
Glad to see that you're doing well. Kate told us about this blog when we visited to pin Jill to Colonel (isn't that awesome?). Well, I came home and tryed to log on. It said to create an account I had to enter a user name... tried about 20 or so and kept getting kicked out so I got pissed and said to heck with it.
Today I decided to try again. Guess I should have read it closer (I didn't catch the username must already exist part - LOL). Anyway, I'm finally on and will stay in touch from now on.
I'm getting ready to retire so I've been running around getting all my old injuries taken care of. As you saw in Jeanie's blog, got to get a tonsil out - not looking forward to that but I guess it's necessary. Doc found something on it he didn't like the looks of. After that I'll probably get the torn rotator cuff in my shoulder fixed (haven't decided on that yet - it's not too bad - certainly nothing like your dad's). Then I should be pretty much ready to start the new chapter in my life - post Navy.
Haven't decided what, if anything I'm going to do when I get out. Haven't found anyone who will pay me to play golf - so that's a bummer ;-)
Aunt Sharon has been staying really busy at work. She got another couple of patents for some designing she did for Britta. That was pretty cool.
Whether here has been hot... not your kind of hot but up around 100. We've been walking the golf course instead of riding as of late so it gets pretty warm. LOL, I just thought of how goofy that sounds when you carry all that gear around in that heat. What da ya expect, I'm just a sissy Navy guy who has had AC all my career :) I guess down in the power plants it was about 125 to 140 but for the last 8 or 10 years I haven't had to spend a whole lot of time down there.
It was great to see everyone when we went to WA. Kate is looking really good and appears to be doing well. Beau is growing like a weed. Seems like he grew an inch or two from just a couple of months ago when he was down here. Blayner, Shanna and princess Teyah looked really well and their new family members Kayla and ?Kaile? are sure sweet little girls. Our visit was far too short and we didn't get much chance to visit but it was better than not getting to see everyone at all.
It sucked that your dad fell out of the truck and jacked up his elbow and rotator cuff. But, he's already back to work, with a broken elbow and basically no rotator cuff. Don't know how he does it. He sure is a tough son of a gun.
We loved getting to meet Baylor. He sure is a great dog. He loved the company because of course that meant "lots" of treats. He probably gained 10 pounds over the weekend. You know Aunt Jeanie, he'd look at her with that "I need a treat Aunt Jeanie look" and she would feed him.
We got a new pup so Sega will have a friend to play with. He's a Lab/Pointer mix. His name is Bogey. Not sure why I named him after a badly played golf hole - guess cause par, birdie or eagle didn't quite sound right. Anyway, he sure is cute... otherwise he'd be a goner. So far he's chewed up some of the carpet, wood work, all the throw rugs in the house, a pair of Ray Ban's, a couple of remote controls, some shoes, etc... We forgot we had a puppy and the things you have to do to train them right from wrong when you have one. Since we've been working with him he's been much better and hasn't chewed up too many things for the last month or so.
Sega is getting pretty big - about 85 pounds. Not super big for a Pit Bull but pretty stocky. He's still a little clown and loves having a friend to wrestle with. Kuska is getting old but still doing pretty well. Most 120 pound Akitas never see 14 years. When Isis bit her ear off she was on Altram (a pain killer). We found that she was able to move around much better at that time so we just put her on daily doses of it and she gets around as well as she did 3 or 4 years ago. She's Aunt Sharon's beloved and it will be really hard on her when she goes.
Well that's what is going on down here. We miss you and hope you are doing well and staying safe. Know that you are always in our thoughts and prayers.
We love you,
Uncle Stosh and Aunt Sharon
Friday, June 20, 2008
Parallels Supports Ford...
Ok...so, it helps that our logo color is red - but still- getting this many of the people from my office to wear the red shirts and go outside to take a picture was pretty amazing!
Even the sun cooperated!!
We wear red on Fridays to support the troops, thanks Ash!
Even the sun cooperated!!
We wear red on Fridays to support the troops, thanks Ash!
Just read Ford's note and saw the photo - awesome stash nephew! Gramma reads the notes from Ford and then gets a tear cause she misses and worries about you Ford. She is soooo proud of you, even though she would rather you be here.
Got a few thing to put in a package for you so will be sending it soon as I complete my shopping. Try to think of things I don't think you can get there.
Uncle Stosh is having surgery, toncillectomy, on Tuesday. I am taking him in and will bring him to my house post-op. Will let everyone know how he does. This surgery in adults is not pleasant so I will keep him well medicated!
Congrats to Beau Lannan on the graduation. I think I have that picture of him in the basket. Boy does time fly. Can't believe he is going into high school. He will be graduating from that before we know it. I'm thinking that makes me 'old'.
All my love to my family. Be safe nephew.
Aunt Carla
Got a few thing to put in a package for you so will be sending it soon as I complete my shopping. Try to think of things I don't think you can get there.
Uncle Stosh is having surgery, toncillectomy, on Tuesday. I am taking him in and will bring him to my house post-op. Will let everyone know how he does. This surgery in adults is not pleasant so I will keep him well medicated!
Congrats to Beau Lannan on the graduation. I think I have that picture of him in the basket. Boy does time fly. Can't believe he is going into high school. He will be graduating from that before we know it. I'm thinking that makes me 'old'.
All my love to my family. Be safe nephew.
Aunt Carla
Thursday, June 19, 2008
YAHOO!! A note and photo from Fordo!! I wish I could have been at Beau's graduation. Gramps(CRASH LANNAN) does too. We get him to ourselves for a week in July though so we'll make it up to him. Kate just called to verify addresses. We have the same one she does so I'm certain her packages will get to you. Dad is already stocking up for the next package..Lots of
starbuck's double shots!! Your Dad already went back to work.. Are you surprised? Why would you let something like 2 fractures and a torn rotator cuff keep you from using your arm all day? What can I say? Kate..you are doing a great job of "hanging in there." I know that having Ford gone is really hard on you. I also know you'll pass this test with flying colors! Thanks for all that you do..
starbuck's double shots!! Your Dad already went back to work.. Are you surprised? Why would you let something like 2 fractures and a torn rotator cuff keep you from using your arm all day? What can I say? Kate..you are doing a great job of "hanging in there." I know that having Ford gone is really hard on you. I also know you'll pass this test with flying colors! Thanks for all that you do..
Thanks 40
I was driving home tonight....lost in thought...after a pretty magical day where everything worked out pretty much as I hoped it would
I rounded the corner and thought of how long it had been since I had heard from the kid...
I pulled into the driveway and pulled up this silly little blogspot...and there it was
Thanks little brother, thanks universe, thanks God
Namaste
blayner
"The mind has to be empty to see clearly."
"The little book on LIVING: J.Krishnamurti.", published Montville (Queensland)
I rounded the corner and thought of how long it had been since I had heard from the kid...
I pulled into the driveway and pulled up this silly little blogspot...and there it was
Thanks little brother, thanks universe, thanks God
Namaste
blayner
"The mind has to be empty to see clearly."
"The little book on LIVING: J.Krishnamurti.", published Montville (Queensland)
Good to hear from you!
Ford,
So good to hear from you!! Words can't even begin to explain...Blayne was just saying he'd love to hear from you & know you're doing well. We're just hoping for sunshine here, we should feel blessed not to have that kind of heat. We're still praying with the girls for you nightly and we know our prayers will continue to keep you safe. I really do love you, Ford! God bless you & your team.
Shanna
So good to hear from you!! Words can't even begin to explain...Blayne was just saying he'd love to hear from you & know you're doing well. We're just hoping for sunshine here, we should feel blessed not to have that kind of heat. We're still praying with the girls for you nightly and we know our prayers will continue to keep you safe. I really do love you, Ford! God bless you & your team.
Shanna
From Afar......
So things here are good. The temps slowly rising. Hit 104 today when we were out and about. 1 month down...and so far so good. I apologize....I have a hard time going into too much detail about anything because this is open for everyone to see. So usually when I write I won't talk about much more than the weather and other generalities as well as writing notes to different people. And Speaking of notes...here are a few.
Beau-sorry I missed your graduation. I love you and am very proud of you...and not just because you passed the 8th grade. I am proud of what kind of man you are becoming. A leader, a hard worker, a charismatic individual and overall just a good person. I love you.
Dad, mom- the worrying should be the other way around. Take care of yourself. I love you both.
Brother- I love you very much and I appreciate how you remind me of the important things in life which are highlighted and emphasized when I am over here.
Jill- congratulations. I love you and just so you know you will always be my big sister.
There are too many people on here to go through by name and write a note to everyone...but I appreciate all the love and support. You all make it easier to be over here and I love you all. Thanks so much. I will try and write everyone little notes as I get the chance. Here is a pic for your viewing pleasure. I will send more to Kate and she can send them out in a more private forum. And yes that is a mustache in the making.
I love you all. Fordo
Beau-sorry I missed your graduation. I love you and am very proud of you...and not just because you passed the 8th grade. I am proud of what kind of man you are becoming. A leader, a hard worker, a charismatic individual and overall just a good person. I love you.
Dad, mom- the worrying should be the other way around. Take care of yourself. I love you both.
Brother- I love you very much and I appreciate how you remind me of the important things in life which are highlighted and emphasized when I am over here.
Jill- congratulations. I love you and just so you know you will always be my big sister.
There are too many people on here to go through by name and write a note to everyone...but I appreciate all the love and support. You all make it easier to be over here and I love you all. Thanks so much. I will try and write everyone little notes as I get the chance. Here is a pic for your viewing pleasure. I will send more to Kate and she can send them out in a more private forum. And yes that is a mustache in the making.
I love you all. Fordo
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Beau's 8th Grade Graduation
Yesterday, at 1:00 P.M., Beau Lannan officially made it!!! His school had a "moving up" ceremony.
He was texting Jill and I frantically about 20 minutes before the ceremony. Jill was messing with his head, saying that she had "forgotten" it.
I waited in the lobby for Jill, and when she arrived we walked into the gym together. We both looked up at the wall and saw a projected image of Beau at 10 months old in a laundry basket followed by an image of Beau at some point during his 8th grade year on the wall of the gym. It was perfect timing. Had we walked in 10 seconds later we wouldn't have seen it. I was remimded again how time "flies" and how important it is to let our friends, kids, loved ones, etc.. know how much we love them and how important they are to us.
Shanna and Tehya arrived shortly thereafter and we sat on the bleachers together as a family. I sat between Jill and Shanna. The family "dynamic" amazes me. I am very blessed to have two amazing moms, and women in my life.
So, for anyone reading this, embrace the time you have with one another. Let petty disagreements and arguments go by the wayside. We are only here for a very short amount of time.
Fordo, I love and miss you man. Beau and Tehya talk about you all the time, and miss you very much. We are all praying for you and sending you positive energy. We are all very proud of you.
Namaste
blayner
He was texting Jill and I frantically about 20 minutes before the ceremony. Jill was messing with his head, saying that she had "forgotten" it.
I waited in the lobby for Jill, and when she arrived we walked into the gym together. We both looked up at the wall and saw a projected image of Beau at 10 months old in a laundry basket followed by an image of Beau at some point during his 8th grade year on the wall of the gym. It was perfect timing. Had we walked in 10 seconds later we wouldn't have seen it. I was remimded again how time "flies" and how important it is to let our friends, kids, loved ones, etc.. know how much we love them and how important they are to us.
Shanna and Tehya arrived shortly thereafter and we sat on the bleachers together as a family. I sat between Jill and Shanna. The family "dynamic" amazes me. I am very blessed to have two amazing moms, and women in my life.
So, for anyone reading this, embrace the time you have with one another. Let petty disagreements and arguments go by the wayside. We are only here for a very short amount of time.
Fordo, I love and miss you man. Beau and Tehya talk about you all the time, and miss you very much. We are all praying for you and sending you positive energy. We are all very proud of you.
Namaste
blayner
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Monday, June 16, 2008
Nostalgia
Fordo,
Steve Remelius sent me this article today. It's the second one he's sent in a week - Shattuck is the new breeding ground for the nation/world's best hockey players. And I hear it's a great place to get a little ass too, but I digress.
I read it and felt happy and sad at the same time. I forwarded it to Tara and she is so smart - she asked what I missed most. Of course I mentioned the hockey trips, and visiting family and friends in destination cities, and studying in the library, and I said I missed you. It's funny, some things in life will always remain a memory, and it's so fun to look back and relive those feelings. I'm grateful we've remained close for so long even after leaving the arches. I love you Fordo. Enjoy the article...
Hockey's finest are currently kocking themselves silly chasing the Stanley Cup. But for Sidney Crosby and dozens of other NHL hot shots, the fun really started at a little hockey factory in rural Minnesota.
At first glance, they appear to be just another group of boarding school students, standing in the oak-paneled hallway that leads to the stone arch over the doors of the Gothic dining hall. There are 19 of them on this Saturday morning in January, looking anxiously at their watches (8:59), some peering menacingly down the hall. That's because of a team rule: They can't go inside until all 20 members of their little fraternity are together.
Then, just as the campus clock chimes nine times, Jordy Murray comes racing down the hall. The 17-year-old son of St. Louis Blues coach Andy Murray had been on the ice at dawn, but that's hardly an excuse, not when stomachs are growling. Besides, even after seven years at the school, Jordy is often the last one to arrive for breakfast.
Upon his arrival, the players file in and take their seats at two long mahogany tables under wrought-iron chandeliers and the penetrating gaze of Bishop Henry Whipple. He died in 1901, but his oil portrait still watches over the students at the Episcopal institution he founded in Faribault, Minn., 148 years ago. Right now, the bishop is watching David Toews shovel it down as fast as he can so that he can get in a one-hour skate to test out his sports hernia before the Sabres' big game against Culver Academy tonight.
Welcome to Shattuck-St. Mary's School. Welcome to the Hogwarts of Hockey, where carbon-fiber sticks take the place of magic wands.
Legendary football coach Bud Wilkinson went here. As did Brent Musburger. As did Marlon Brando—actually, he was kicked out back in 1943, when it was a military school. But it's hockey that has put Shattuck-St. Mary's on the map: 50 miles south of St. Paul, off Exit 21 on I-35. This is where Zach Parise, the Devils' leading scorer, matriculated. Add to that the Blackhawks' Jonathan Toews (David's older brother), Drew Stafford of the Sabres, Jack Johnson of the Kings, Kyle Okposo of the Isles and 2007 Hobey Baker Award winner Ryan Duncan of the University of North Dakota. Oh, and three Pittsburgh Penguins: Ty Conklin, Ryan Malone and a young wizard called Sid the Kid.
The school has a slew of regional and national titles, for both its men's and its women's teams. But neither the banners in the new rink nor the list of NHL players who went there does justice to the special qualities of SSM. They only partly explain why Wayne Gretzky sent his son here, why Mario Lemieux probably will too. "A little like a cult," is how J.P. Parise, the NHL journeyman and father of Zach (and the hockey program), explains it.
Here's another way: On the only day off during the World Junior Championships in Prague, dozens of NHL scouts forgot about food and sleep to watch a meaningless morning exhibition game between Slavia, a local team of 19- and 20-year-olds, and Shattuck-St. Mary's.
"You go see Shattuck whenever you get a chance, especially if they're challenged" says Dave Morrison, the Maple Leafs' head scout. "There's something about their teams and their players that scouts love. They have this swagger, a confidence in their ability, and they earn it, every game and every shift."
In the end, the bigger, older, chippier Czech team beat the jet-lagged Sabres by a couple of goals. But Thommie Bergman, the Leafs' European scout, still came away impressed. "I wanted to see what they were talking about," said Bergman. "Now, I know."
Shattuck has other sports, mind you. A few years ago, in a JV baseball game, a pitcher from a local school made the mistake of beaning the Sabres' hurler, a stocky smack-talking sophomore. A Shattuck teammate rushed from the dugout and decked the pitcher. The decker was Jack Johnson, the No. 3 overall pick of the 2005 NHL draft.
The HBP: Sidney Crosby.
Lifetime memories are made of stuff like this. Crosby spent only that one year at SSM, but he says it changed his life: "It was my first experience away from Nova Scotia, and I had to catch up academically. I struggled with it at first. But I loved the atmosphere. You can have friendships wherever you play, but at Shattuck, you lived together, went to class together, traveled and played together. You get to know each other—everyone—a lot faster and a lot better. Leaving Shattuck was the hardest decision I've had to make."
In his year at SSM, Crosby had 72 goals and 162 points in 57 games, impressive since coach Tom Ward rolled four lines and didn't give him extra shifts. "I think he liked the fact that he didn't get special treatment," Ward says. "He had to try out like everyone else. And I think at some level he knew this was going to be the last time he was just Sid from Halifax, not Sidney Crosby, Hockey Star."
If the literary world has J.K. Rowling to thank for Hogwarts, then the hockey world has J.P. Parise to thank for Shattuck. A native of Smooth Rock Falls, Ont., he spent 14 seasons as a two-way left wing in the NHL, playing for five different teams. On YouTube you can find a clip of Parise threatening to decapitate incompetent referee Josef Kompalla in the 1972 Summit Series between Canada and the Soviet Union. (The threat wasn't real, but the cowering Kompalla didn't know that.)
Parise recalls that when he was playing junior hockey in Niagara Falls, Ont., in the 1960s, he was called into the office of his coach, Hap Emms. "You're going to have to make a decision," Emms told him. "School's starting to interfere with your hockey." Parise promptly quit school.
After his playing days ended in 1979, Parise decided to get a proper education. He took a course at a local college in Minneapolis, but got discouraged—pushing 40 in a class of 18-year-olds—and did not complete it. Parise regretted that he had sacrificed his youthful school days to his prowess with the puck, and he hoped returning to school might prepare him for future opportunities: "I thought if I ever had a chance to be in a hockey program, I'd want to get it right."
That chance came in 1996, when SSM approached Parise, who had coached with the Minnesota North Stars for six years and was selling insurance in Minneapolis. Parise was still a popular figure in the community and highly respected around hockey arenas everywhere. In other words, he was just what Shattuck needed. At the time, the school was in a bit of a downturn, with enrollment having fallen below 200. The administration wanted to build an elite hockey program, to pair its old-school ideals with new-school ideas.
Parise's first speech to his charges at the school became the same speech he gave over his next nine years at Shattuck, first as coach, then as director of hockey, now as director of prospect evaluation. "I told the players three things," he says. "One, you have to work hard on the ice. Two, you have to keep your marks up. Three, more than anything else, you have to be good guys." Parise also has two hockey-playing sons: Jordan and Zach. "Shattuck was the best gift I could give my sons," says J.P. "A chance to become pros and complete guys."
At first, SSM worked in partnership with Faribault High, but state high school rules restrict teams to a limited number of games within the state. Shattuck had national ambitions, so the Sabres went independent. Parise also expanded a feeder system of midget and bantam-age teams that played in tournaments across the continent.
And won a lot of them. The teams' performances and Parise's connections persuaded Andy Murray to come to Shattuck in 1998, just months after he returned from the Olympics, where he was an assistant coach for Canada. In his one season behind the bench, the Sabres went 70–9–2, won their first national championship and made Shattuck the No. 1 destination for North American youth hockey. Even the NHL took notice. "I intended to stay on," says Murray, whose two sons and daughter attended the school. "But the [head-coaching] offer from the Kings came along, and I couldn't refuse it." Ward succeeded Murray as coach in '99 and Parise as director of hockey in 2005. Under Ward, the Sabres have won five of their six national titles.
For all the travel that elite hockey entails, SSM has not sacrificed academic standards. The Sabres are more likely to be reading and studying on trips than playing video games. Bus trips are like rolling study halls, with at least one teacher on board to help. As Jonathan Toews recalls, "We never got a class off or any break. One weekend we had an eight-hour bus ride, then we had to get off and play six games in three days. Getting back to Shattuck, we dropped our equipment off at the arena at 4 a.m. and had to be ready for class at 8."
That holds true today. "For seven years I've had classes I couldn't miss, homework that had to get done, chapels to attend, practices and games. A lot of kids have trouble getting the discipline they need going to college. I'm going to have to adapt to having so much freedom," Jordy Murray adds.
No player, no matter how skilled, can expect special treatment. "The school has a genuine concern for character development," says Oilers GM Kevin Lowe, whose son Keegan plays for the Sabres' top bantam team. "All the right messages are sent. There are no corners cut, no elitism."
Ward's tough love scores grea marks from players and parents.
Yet special players continue to emerge from Shattuck, starting with Conklin. Last year's team produced Tyler Ruegsegger, a plugger who will never be mistaken for Crosby but who was drafted in the sixth round by the Leafs. "I could try to put into words what's special about Shattuck," Ruegsegger says, "but, really, you have to go through it to understand it. It's a brotherhood." And a sisterhood: Rebecca Ruegsegger, Tyler's younger sibling and a Sabre, helped the U.S. win the world U-18 title in January.
The hockey program has offered a model for other areas of the school, says headmaster Nicholas Stoneman: "We've built our soccer program exactly the same way, and now we have a young man who's ready to sign with a team in the Premiership in England. We've started a preconservatory string music program and another in bio-med with the Mayo Clinic. Hockey was just the start."
The evening's opponent, Culver Academy, is a military school in Indiana. But by the look of the game, Shattuck is more disciplined. It's not so much what the Sabres do as what they don't do: no vanity shifts, just 35 seconds at sprint speed. No facewashes. No trash-talking. No garbage after whistles.
The Sabres roll out four lines, each one pretty much like the other, with buzz-saw forechecking, credit-collector pressure. Even in the home stands, there's a certain uniformity, as the kids cheer with open textbooks in their laps.
David Toews, who'll probably be Shattuck's highest pick in the June entry draft, has his moment in the third period when he makes a slick little deke in tight quarters, then slides a backhander between the pads of the Culver goalie. Jordy Murray, the last one to breakfast? He's going as hard in the 60th minute as he was running down the hall, scoring two goals in the game.
Game over: Shattuck-St. Mary's 4, Culver 1.
A tidy win, almost as tidy as the dressing room. Even after the long day, none of the Sabres leave until the area is spotless. (Actually, that's what Crosby remembers first about SSM: "The locker room is cleaner than any I've been in.")
Season over. In early April, the Sabres beat Team Illinois, 5-1, at the national Tier-1 U-18 championships in Buffalo, Shattuck's second-consecutive national title.
And for seniors Toews and Murray, their school days are almost over. A few assignments to hand in, some Sunday chapels to attend, but no long bus trips, no morning skates. They'll be packing equipment and saying good-bye to friends in a few weeks.
But no one ever really leaves Shattuck-St. Mary's. There are all those alumni to watch in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Then there's the June draft. And then comes summer, when former players find their way to Faribault to vacation by the lakes and give back to the school—and maybe get in some ice time. ("It's unbelievable not just to play with those guys, but to be around them and hear them talk about the league and what they had to do to get there," David Toews says.) On any given day, you'll find NHLers playing three-on-three shinny with 14-year-old boys, 16-year-old girls, maybe even with the Parises.
Why Shattuck-St. Mary's? You had to be there.
The article is on ESPN.COM
Peace.
Zimmy
Steve Remelius sent me this article today. It's the second one he's sent in a week - Shattuck is the new breeding ground for the nation/world's best hockey players. And I hear it's a great place to get a little ass too, but I digress.
I read it and felt happy and sad at the same time. I forwarded it to Tara and she is so smart - she asked what I missed most. Of course I mentioned the hockey trips, and visiting family and friends in destination cities, and studying in the library, and I said I missed you. It's funny, some things in life will always remain a memory, and it's so fun to look back and relive those feelings. I'm grateful we've remained close for so long even after leaving the arches. I love you Fordo. Enjoy the article...
Hockey's finest are currently kocking themselves silly chasing the Stanley Cup. But for Sidney Crosby and dozens of other NHL hot shots, the fun really started at a little hockey factory in rural Minnesota.
At first glance, they appear to be just another group of boarding school students, standing in the oak-paneled hallway that leads to the stone arch over the doors of the Gothic dining hall. There are 19 of them on this Saturday morning in January, looking anxiously at their watches (8:59), some peering menacingly down the hall. That's because of a team rule: They can't go inside until all 20 members of their little fraternity are together.
Then, just as the campus clock chimes nine times, Jordy Murray comes racing down the hall. The 17-year-old son of St. Louis Blues coach Andy Murray had been on the ice at dawn, but that's hardly an excuse, not when stomachs are growling. Besides, even after seven years at the school, Jordy is often the last one to arrive for breakfast.
Upon his arrival, the players file in and take their seats at two long mahogany tables under wrought-iron chandeliers and the penetrating gaze of Bishop Henry Whipple. He died in 1901, but his oil portrait still watches over the students at the Episcopal institution he founded in Faribault, Minn., 148 years ago. Right now, the bishop is watching David Toews shovel it down as fast as he can so that he can get in a one-hour skate to test out his sports hernia before the Sabres' big game against Culver Academy tonight.
Welcome to Shattuck-St. Mary's School. Welcome to the Hogwarts of Hockey, where carbon-fiber sticks take the place of magic wands.
Legendary football coach Bud Wilkinson went here. As did Brent Musburger. As did Marlon Brando—actually, he was kicked out back in 1943, when it was a military school. But it's hockey that has put Shattuck-St. Mary's on the map: 50 miles south of St. Paul, off Exit 21 on I-35. This is where Zach Parise, the Devils' leading scorer, matriculated. Add to that the Blackhawks' Jonathan Toews (David's older brother), Drew Stafford of the Sabres, Jack Johnson of the Kings, Kyle Okposo of the Isles and 2007 Hobey Baker Award winner Ryan Duncan of the University of North Dakota. Oh, and three Pittsburgh Penguins: Ty Conklin, Ryan Malone and a young wizard called Sid the Kid.
The school has a slew of regional and national titles, for both its men's and its women's teams. But neither the banners in the new rink nor the list of NHL players who went there does justice to the special qualities of SSM. They only partly explain why Wayne Gretzky sent his son here, why Mario Lemieux probably will too. "A little like a cult," is how J.P. Parise, the NHL journeyman and father of Zach (and the hockey program), explains it.
Here's another way: On the only day off during the World Junior Championships in Prague, dozens of NHL scouts forgot about food and sleep to watch a meaningless morning exhibition game between Slavia, a local team of 19- and 20-year-olds, and Shattuck-St. Mary's.
"You go see Shattuck whenever you get a chance, especially if they're challenged" says Dave Morrison, the Maple Leafs' head scout. "There's something about their teams and their players that scouts love. They have this swagger, a confidence in their ability, and they earn it, every game and every shift."
In the end, the bigger, older, chippier Czech team beat the jet-lagged Sabres by a couple of goals. But Thommie Bergman, the Leafs' European scout, still came away impressed. "I wanted to see what they were talking about," said Bergman. "Now, I know."
Shattuck has other sports, mind you. A few years ago, in a JV baseball game, a pitcher from a local school made the mistake of beaning the Sabres' hurler, a stocky smack-talking sophomore. A Shattuck teammate rushed from the dugout and decked the pitcher. The decker was Jack Johnson, the No. 3 overall pick of the 2005 NHL draft.
The HBP: Sidney Crosby.
Lifetime memories are made of stuff like this. Crosby spent only that one year at SSM, but he says it changed his life: "It was my first experience away from Nova Scotia, and I had to catch up academically. I struggled with it at first. But I loved the atmosphere. You can have friendships wherever you play, but at Shattuck, you lived together, went to class together, traveled and played together. You get to know each other—everyone—a lot faster and a lot better. Leaving Shattuck was the hardest decision I've had to make."
In his year at SSM, Crosby had 72 goals and 162 points in 57 games, impressive since coach Tom Ward rolled four lines and didn't give him extra shifts. "I think he liked the fact that he didn't get special treatment," Ward says. "He had to try out like everyone else. And I think at some level he knew this was going to be the last time he was just Sid from Halifax, not Sidney Crosby, Hockey Star."
If the literary world has J.K. Rowling to thank for Hogwarts, then the hockey world has J.P. Parise to thank for Shattuck. A native of Smooth Rock Falls, Ont., he spent 14 seasons as a two-way left wing in the NHL, playing for five different teams. On YouTube you can find a clip of Parise threatening to decapitate incompetent referee Josef Kompalla in the 1972 Summit Series between Canada and the Soviet Union. (The threat wasn't real, but the cowering Kompalla didn't know that.)
Parise recalls that when he was playing junior hockey in Niagara Falls, Ont., in the 1960s, he was called into the office of his coach, Hap Emms. "You're going to have to make a decision," Emms told him. "School's starting to interfere with your hockey." Parise promptly quit school.
After his playing days ended in 1979, Parise decided to get a proper education. He took a course at a local college in Minneapolis, but got discouraged—pushing 40 in a class of 18-year-olds—and did not complete it. Parise regretted that he had sacrificed his youthful school days to his prowess with the puck, and he hoped returning to school might prepare him for future opportunities: "I thought if I ever had a chance to be in a hockey program, I'd want to get it right."
That chance came in 1996, when SSM approached Parise, who had coached with the Minnesota North Stars for six years and was selling insurance in Minneapolis. Parise was still a popular figure in the community and highly respected around hockey arenas everywhere. In other words, he was just what Shattuck needed. At the time, the school was in a bit of a downturn, with enrollment having fallen below 200. The administration wanted to build an elite hockey program, to pair its old-school ideals with new-school ideas.
Parise's first speech to his charges at the school became the same speech he gave over his next nine years at Shattuck, first as coach, then as director of hockey, now as director of prospect evaluation. "I told the players three things," he says. "One, you have to work hard on the ice. Two, you have to keep your marks up. Three, more than anything else, you have to be good guys." Parise also has two hockey-playing sons: Jordan and Zach. "Shattuck was the best gift I could give my sons," says J.P. "A chance to become pros and complete guys."
At first, SSM worked in partnership with Faribault High, but state high school rules restrict teams to a limited number of games within the state. Shattuck had national ambitions, so the Sabres went independent. Parise also expanded a feeder system of midget and bantam-age teams that played in tournaments across the continent.
And won a lot of them. The teams' performances and Parise's connections persuaded Andy Murray to come to Shattuck in 1998, just months after he returned from the Olympics, where he was an assistant coach for Canada. In his one season behind the bench, the Sabres went 70–9–2, won their first national championship and made Shattuck the No. 1 destination for North American youth hockey. Even the NHL took notice. "I intended to stay on," says Murray, whose two sons and daughter attended the school. "But the [head-coaching] offer from the Kings came along, and I couldn't refuse it." Ward succeeded Murray as coach in '99 and Parise as director of hockey in 2005. Under Ward, the Sabres have won five of their six national titles.
For all the travel that elite hockey entails, SSM has not sacrificed academic standards. The Sabres are more likely to be reading and studying on trips than playing video games. Bus trips are like rolling study halls, with at least one teacher on board to help. As Jonathan Toews recalls, "We never got a class off or any break. One weekend we had an eight-hour bus ride, then we had to get off and play six games in three days. Getting back to Shattuck, we dropped our equipment off at the arena at 4 a.m. and had to be ready for class at 8."
That holds true today. "For seven years I've had classes I couldn't miss, homework that had to get done, chapels to attend, practices and games. A lot of kids have trouble getting the discipline they need going to college. I'm going to have to adapt to having so much freedom," Jordy Murray adds.
No player, no matter how skilled, can expect special treatment. "The school has a genuine concern for character development," says Oilers GM Kevin Lowe, whose son Keegan plays for the Sabres' top bantam team. "All the right messages are sent. There are no corners cut, no elitism."
Ward's tough love scores grea marks from players and parents.
Yet special players continue to emerge from Shattuck, starting with Conklin. Last year's team produced Tyler Ruegsegger, a plugger who will never be mistaken for Crosby but who was drafted in the sixth round by the Leafs. "I could try to put into words what's special about Shattuck," Ruegsegger says, "but, really, you have to go through it to understand it. It's a brotherhood." And a sisterhood: Rebecca Ruegsegger, Tyler's younger sibling and a Sabre, helped the U.S. win the world U-18 title in January.
The hockey program has offered a model for other areas of the school, says headmaster Nicholas Stoneman: "We've built our soccer program exactly the same way, and now we have a young man who's ready to sign with a team in the Premiership in England. We've started a preconservatory string music program and another in bio-med with the Mayo Clinic. Hockey was just the start."
The evening's opponent, Culver Academy, is a military school in Indiana. But by the look of the game, Shattuck is more disciplined. It's not so much what the Sabres do as what they don't do: no vanity shifts, just 35 seconds at sprint speed. No facewashes. No trash-talking. No garbage after whistles.
The Sabres roll out four lines, each one pretty much like the other, with buzz-saw forechecking, credit-collector pressure. Even in the home stands, there's a certain uniformity, as the kids cheer with open textbooks in their laps.
David Toews, who'll probably be Shattuck's highest pick in the June entry draft, has his moment in the third period when he makes a slick little deke in tight quarters, then slides a backhander between the pads of the Culver goalie. Jordy Murray, the last one to breakfast? He's going as hard in the 60th minute as he was running down the hall, scoring two goals in the game.
Game over: Shattuck-St. Mary's 4, Culver 1.
A tidy win, almost as tidy as the dressing room. Even after the long day, none of the Sabres leave until the area is spotless. (Actually, that's what Crosby remembers first about SSM: "The locker room is cleaner than any I've been in.")
Season over. In early April, the Sabres beat Team Illinois, 5-1, at the national Tier-1 U-18 championships in Buffalo, Shattuck's second-consecutive national title.
And for seniors Toews and Murray, their school days are almost over. A few assignments to hand in, some Sunday chapels to attend, but no long bus trips, no morning skates. They'll be packing equipment and saying good-bye to friends in a few weeks.
But no one ever really leaves Shattuck-St. Mary's. There are all those alumni to watch in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Then there's the June draft. And then comes summer, when former players find their way to Faribault to vacation by the lakes and give back to the school—and maybe get in some ice time. ("It's unbelievable not just to play with those guys, but to be around them and hear them talk about the league and what they had to do to get there," David Toews says.) On any given day, you'll find NHLers playing three-on-three shinny with 14-year-old boys, 16-year-old girls, maybe even with the Parises.
Why Shattuck-St. Mary's? You had to be there.
The article is on ESPN.COM
Peace.
Zimmy
Sunday, June 15, 2008
The Carrot, the Egg and the Coffee Bean...
A young woman went to her mother and told her about life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.
Her mother took ger to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and brought each to a boil. In the first, she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs and in the third she placed coffee beans.
After 20 minutes she turned to ger daughter and said "now...what do you see?"
"Carrots, eggs and coffee," she replied.
Her mother explained that each of the objects had faced the same adversity - boiling water. Yet each reacted differently.
The carrot went in strong and unrelenting, however...being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.
The egg had been fragile, but after sitting in the boiling water...became hard.
The coffee was unique...it changed the water.
Think of this: Which are you?
The carrot that seems strong, but under pain and adversity wilts and loses its strength.
The egg, that starts with a malleable heart, but changes under heat...with a shell that looks the same, but on the inside - has your heart hardened?
Or are you like the coffee beans - that actually change the hot water - the very circumstance that brings the pain. If you are like the bean - when things are at their worst - you get better and change the situation around you.
To my husband - who may not have the best of everything, but always makes the best of everthing that flys at him.....the strongest "bean" I know.
Thanks to my mom - who always has great advice...and...on Father's Day...to my Father - who has been calling me "bean" for almost 30 years. Dad, thanks for giving me the strength and courage to change the waters, I love you.
The Bean.
Her mother took ger to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and brought each to a boil. In the first, she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs and in the third she placed coffee beans.
After 20 minutes she turned to ger daughter and said "now...what do you see?"
"Carrots, eggs and coffee," she replied.
Her mother explained that each of the objects had faced the same adversity - boiling water. Yet each reacted differently.
The carrot went in strong and unrelenting, however...being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.
The egg had been fragile, but after sitting in the boiling water...became hard.
The coffee was unique...it changed the water.
Think of this: Which are you?
The carrot that seems strong, but under pain and adversity wilts and loses its strength.
The egg, that starts with a malleable heart, but changes under heat...with a shell that looks the same, but on the inside - has your heart hardened?
Or are you like the coffee beans - that actually change the hot water - the very circumstance that brings the pain. If you are like the bean - when things are at their worst - you get better and change the situation around you.
To my husband - who may not have the best of everything, but always makes the best of everthing that flys at him.....the strongest "bean" I know.
Thanks to my mom - who always has great advice...and...on Father's Day...to my Father - who has been calling me "bean" for almost 30 years. Dad, thanks for giving me the strength and courage to change the waters, I love you.
The Bean.
Just did a post for mom (gramma Lois). She really worries about Ford. I assure her he's fine and very well trained. Not sure that helps her much.
I read Ashley's post. Cried through most of it. I remember talking to Chuck's (my deceased husband) children and having them tell me how hard it was for them when he was in Viet Nam. I'm truly thankful that our troops deploying and coming home are being welcomed instead of being spit on. As a Viet Nam Era Vet, I do remember all of that nastiness. As for Red Friday, I'm there. I will wear red and encourage my co-workers to do the same. I work with very patriotic folks so I don't think I will have to do much to encourage them.
April is home from Afghanistan. For those of you reading this that don't know who April is, she is my step-daughter (Chuck's youngest) and a Major in the ANG on active duty. She flies the C-130. Her husband, Kurt, is also active ANG, a pilot and he is a Colonel. For those of you going to Mexico with us, you will probably get to me Kurt and April. That will be awesome.
Katie girl, expect a package from Dillard's. My thanks for your hospitality. Wish I lived closer so I could see all of my Washington family more often. However, I do like the California sunshine a lot. I will be going to San Francisco Wed. for a seminar. I always think about you and Ford when I'm in the city. That was a fun day. Next time you come to visit maybe we can go in and stay at the Marine Memorial Hotel. It's a beautiful place and has a great restaurant on the top floor that overlooks the city. Something to think about.
Ford, you are always in my thoughts and prayers. I love you. Be safe.
Love to all of my family,
Aunt Carla
I read Ashley's post. Cried through most of it. I remember talking to Chuck's (my deceased husband) children and having them tell me how hard it was for them when he was in Viet Nam. I'm truly thankful that our troops deploying and coming home are being welcomed instead of being spit on. As a Viet Nam Era Vet, I do remember all of that nastiness. As for Red Friday, I'm there. I will wear red and encourage my co-workers to do the same. I work with very patriotic folks so I don't think I will have to do much to encourage them.
April is home from Afghanistan. For those of you reading this that don't know who April is, she is my step-daughter (Chuck's youngest) and a Major in the ANG on active duty. She flies the C-130. Her husband, Kurt, is also active ANG, a pilot and he is a Colonel. For those of you going to Mexico with us, you will probably get to me Kurt and April. That will be awesome.
Katie girl, expect a package from Dillard's. My thanks for your hospitality. Wish I lived closer so I could see all of my Washington family more often. However, I do like the California sunshine a lot. I will be going to San Francisco Wed. for a seminar. I always think about you and Ford when I'm in the city. That was a fun day. Next time you come to visit maybe we can go in and stay at the Marine Memorial Hotel. It's a beautiful place and has a great restaurant on the top floor that overlooks the city. Something to think about.
Ford, you are always in my thoughts and prayers. I love you. Be safe.
Love to all of my family,
Aunt Carla
Hi Ford Mike:
First of all I want to let you know how much I love you. Second, I hope everything is going very well for you. Aunt Carla is sending this message for me cause I don't know how to work the computer. If there is anything you need please let us know and we will try and get it for you.
The weather is hotter than heck here, as it probably is there. We're having a new light put in over Frankie's cage and then maybe Frank Bird will be able to see better at night.
I'm so sorry Tom got hurt. Lots of stress for both your mom and dad.
We really miss you, stay safe and come home soon.
Love you,
Gramma Lois
First of all I want to let you know how much I love you. Second, I hope everything is going very well for you. Aunt Carla is sending this message for me cause I don't know how to work the computer. If there is anything you need please let us know and we will try and get it for you.
The weather is hotter than heck here, as it probably is there. We're having a new light put in over Frankie's cage and then maybe Frank Bird will be able to see better at night.
I'm so sorry Tom got hurt. Lots of stress for both your mom and dad.
We really miss you, stay safe and come home soon.
Love you,
Gramma Lois
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Humility
First of all, thanks for sharing an amazing story Ash. I have seen similar stuff in airports and on airplanes with soldiers. I'm greatful we as a nation for the most part can set aside any differences we might have with respect to agenda and middle east policy, yet still support all the men and women who signed on to do a job for their country. If you ask anyone who was around during the Viet-Nam era, the scenario you so wonderfully described would have looked much, much different.
Thanks for supporting my little brother. I like you even more than I did when I met you at the wedding.
Anyway, I was awoke about ten minutes before I was supposed to be out the door for work today. Sometimes it's a struggle in the morning because I feel like I have been called on to do something more than "sell cars." Sometimes my Ego even tells me i'm "above" doing the work I do anymore because i'm really supposed to be writing books, and speaking, and inspiring people, and helping humanity achieve enlightment, and blah blah blah.
In the past two days, both of my "customers" have had varying amounts of pain and loss in their lives, and I was able to help them work through some stuff they were dealing with.
So really, I'm exactly where I was supposed to be today. The other "stuff" will happen exactly when it is meant to happen, and not a moment before.
Here is what I learned today as I moved from being selfish to being selfless.
I "get" to go to work today. There are many folks globally that would do anything to be able to "go to work." Many of those folks have families that they can't feed, or cloth, or support.
I "get" to help a couple little girls have a safe/pro-social environment as their mom works through the dis-ease of addiction.
I "get" to hang out with my son and daughter for fathers day tomorrow. There are tons of kids globally who don't have "dads" fo a variety of reasons, and there are a ton of dads deployed right now. Any dads on the team, I salute you for your sacrifice.
I "got" to watch Beau pitch a few innings this evening, then we all went home for a barbeque.
I "got" to cook dinner for four kids and a mom. While I was cooking I watched Beau interact with Tehya, and I could see the Love they have for each other, and it truly amazes me.
During dinner I got to listen to everyone share their favorite part of the day. I got to watch Tehya sing a Carrie Underwood song pretty much ver-batim, while she shakes her hips, and does the "head weaving" thing.
Tonight after I write this, I get to go hop in the rack and sleep without really worrying about much.
Tomorrow, I "get" to spend fathers day with four amazing kids, and a woman who does alot of work behind the scenes.
The truth is I am blessed. I am blessed to have an amazing family. I am blessed to have healthy kids. I am blessed to have people who support my brother by sharing on this site, and praying each day. I am blessed to have one of the finest Special Forces Captains the army has ever seen as a little brother. Forder, you are one of my hero's.
For any dads on the team, thank you for all that you do. God speed to all of you, and HAPPY FATHERS DAY!
For all the other dads out there reading this, especially Big Nick, and "Crash" Lannan, Happy Fathers Day!
May God hold the men in the palm of his hand until they return safely. De Opresso Liber!!!
I wish you all Peace in your hearts
blayner
Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.....
-Mahatma Gandhi-
Thanks for supporting my little brother. I like you even more than I did when I met you at the wedding.
Anyway, I was awoke about ten minutes before I was supposed to be out the door for work today. Sometimes it's a struggle in the morning because I feel like I have been called on to do something more than "sell cars." Sometimes my Ego even tells me i'm "above" doing the work I do anymore because i'm really supposed to be writing books, and speaking, and inspiring people, and helping humanity achieve enlightment, and blah blah blah.
In the past two days, both of my "customers" have had varying amounts of pain and loss in their lives, and I was able to help them work through some stuff they were dealing with.
So really, I'm exactly where I was supposed to be today. The other "stuff" will happen exactly when it is meant to happen, and not a moment before.
Here is what I learned today as I moved from being selfish to being selfless.
I "get" to go to work today. There are many folks globally that would do anything to be able to "go to work." Many of those folks have families that they can't feed, or cloth, or support.
I "get" to help a couple little girls have a safe/pro-social environment as their mom works through the dis-ease of addiction.
I "get" to hang out with my son and daughter for fathers day tomorrow. There are tons of kids globally who don't have "dads" fo a variety of reasons, and there are a ton of dads deployed right now. Any dads on the team, I salute you for your sacrifice.
I "got" to watch Beau pitch a few innings this evening, then we all went home for a barbeque.
I "got" to cook dinner for four kids and a mom. While I was cooking I watched Beau interact with Tehya, and I could see the Love they have for each other, and it truly amazes me.
During dinner I got to listen to everyone share their favorite part of the day. I got to watch Tehya sing a Carrie Underwood song pretty much ver-batim, while she shakes her hips, and does the "head weaving" thing.
Tonight after I write this, I get to go hop in the rack and sleep without really worrying about much.
Tomorrow, I "get" to spend fathers day with four amazing kids, and a woman who does alot of work behind the scenes.
The truth is I am blessed. I am blessed to have an amazing family. I am blessed to have healthy kids. I am blessed to have people who support my brother by sharing on this site, and praying each day. I am blessed to have one of the finest Special Forces Captains the army has ever seen as a little brother. Forder, you are one of my hero's.
For any dads on the team, thank you for all that you do. God speed to all of you, and HAPPY FATHERS DAY!
For all the other dads out there reading this, especially Big Nick, and "Crash" Lannan, Happy Fathers Day!
May God hold the men in the palm of his hand until they return safely. De Opresso Liber!!!
I wish you all Peace in your hearts
blayner
Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.....
-Mahatma Gandhi-
Fordo&Kate.. Once again, from one who avoids computers like the plague, I am signing on almost every night in the hope that there might be something from FM ..when there isn't.. I still totally enjoy reading the blogs from everyone! The support for him is awesome! Thank you all so much. The other positive about the spot is that since I am already on the computer I read and clean up my e-mails. For those of you that have sent e-mails for years that haven't come through because I'm over capacity..try again!! I wanted to let everyone out there who read Princess Tehya's Blog.. Mikey and Wassa are her imaginary friends. I can just visualize that conversation. I know that Uncle Ford can as well and got a good laugh! Your Dad is OK Ford. I have expected a serious injury for a very long time. You know how he points his skiis downhill and never turns(especially on the North Face) rents trick skiis to race in the "slushcup" so he can make the biggest splash, punches out 25 year olds who would dare make an anti-military comment?? and on and on... He is truly fortunate that he only has a fractured elbow and torn rotator cuff!! (I"m working on empathy.. I'm not quite there:) We had a lot of fun with when we were down for JB's pinning. Your house looks great and your yard is amazing. Kate has worked really hard. I'm not sure it would be appropriate for me to call her "BadAss"..but she is..We are very lucky to have her in our family. You done good!! Kristen, your news update for Fordo was impressive! I know how much he needs to be kept up to date with all the really important stuff that's going on in the USA. I just love the media!!They do an amaaazing job. Ashley..Thanks for your story and God Bless our Troops. I will wear red on Fridays..
Red shirt fridays--xoxo Ford's way
While in the Atlanta airport , returning home, I heard several people behind me beginning to clap and cheer. I immediately turned around and witnessed one of the greatest acts of patriotism I have ever seen. Moving thru the terminal was a group of soldiers in their camos. As they began heading to their gate, everyone (well almost everyone) was abruptly to their feet with their hands waving and cheering. When I saw the soldiers, probably 30-40 of them, being applauded and cheered for, it it me. I'm not alone. I'm not the only red-blooded American who still loves this country and supports our troops and their families. Of course I immediately stopped and began clapping for these young lives on the line everyday for us so we can go to school, work and home without fear or reprisal. Just when I thought I could not be more proud of my country or of our service men and women, a young girl, not more than 6 or 7 years old ran up to one of the male soldiers. He kneeled down and said 'hi.' The little girl then asked him if he would give something to her daddy for her. The young soldier, who didn't look any older than maybe 22 himself, said he would try and what did she want to give to her daddy. Then suddenly the little girl grabbed the neck of this soldier, gave him the biggest hug she could muster and then kissed him on the cheek. The other of the little girl, who said her daughter's name was Courtney, told the young soldier that her husband was a Marine and had been in Iraq for 11 months now. As the mom was explaining how much her daughter Courtney missed her father, the young soldier began to tear up. When this temporarily single mom was done explaining her situation, all of the soldiers huddled together for a brief second. Then one of the other servicemen pulled out a military-looking walkie-talkie. They started playing with the device and talking back and forth on it. After about 10-15 seconds of this, the young soldier walked back over to Courtney, bent down and said this to her, 'I spoke to your daddy and he told me to give this to you.' He then hugged this little girl that he had just met and gave her a kiss on the cheek. He finished by saying your daddy told me to tell you that he loves you more than anything and he is coming home very soon.' The mom at this point was crying almost uncontrollably and as the young soldier stood to his feet, he saluted Courtney and her mom. I was standing no more than 6 feet away from this entire event. As the soldiers began to leave, heading towards their gate, people resumed their applause. As I stood there applauding and looked around, there were very few dry eyes, including my own. That young soldier in one last act of selflessness, turned around and blew a kiss to Courtney with a tear rolling down his cheek. We need to remember everyday all of our soldiers and their families and thank God for them and their sacrifices. At the end of the day, it's good to be an American.
RED FRIDAYS ----- Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing Red every Friday. The reason? Americans who support our troops used to be called the 'silent majority'. We are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for God, country and home in record breaking numbers. We are not organized, boisterous or over-bearing.. We get no liberal media coverage on TV, to reflect our message or our opinions. Many Americans, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to recognize that the vast majority of America supports our troops. Our idea of showing solidarity and support for our troops with dignity and respect starts this Friday -and continues each and every Friday until the troops all come home, sending a deafening message that. Every red-blooded American who supports our men and women afar will wear something red. By word of mouth, press, TV -- let's make the United States on every Friday a sea of red much like a homecoming football game in the bleachers.
If every one of us who loves this country will share this with acquaintances, co-workers, friends, and family. It will not be long before the USA is covered in RED and it will let our troops know the once 'silent' majority is on their side more than ever; certainly more than the media lets on. The first thing a soldier says > when asked 'What can we do to make things better for you?' is... We need your support and your prayers. Let's get the word out and lead with class and dignity, by example; and wear something red every Friday.
RED FRIDAYS ----- Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing Red every Friday. The reason? Americans who support our troops used to be called the 'silent majority'. We are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for God, country and home in record breaking numbers. We are not organized, boisterous or over-bearing.. We get no liberal media coverage on TV, to reflect our message or our opinions. Many Americans, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to recognize that the vast majority of America supports our troops. Our idea of showing solidarity and support for our troops with dignity and respect starts this Friday -and continues each and every Friday until the troops all come home, sending a deafening message that. Every red-blooded American who supports our men and women afar will wear something red. By word of mouth, press, TV -- let's make the United States on every Friday a sea of red much like a homecoming football game in the bleachers.
If every one of us who loves this country will share this with acquaintances, co-workers, friends, and family. It will not be long before the USA is covered in RED and it will let our troops know the once 'silent' majority is on their side more than ever; certainly more than the media lets on. The first thing a soldier says > when asked 'What can we do to make things better for you?' is... We need your support and your prayers. Let's get the word out and lead with class and dignity, by example; and wear something red every Friday.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Hey Miss Kate and Ford:
I am really enjoying reading the blogs on this site. Blayne, you are an awesome young man and have incredible insight. I love you very much.
This morning, Boo (the cat) brought a baby bird into the house. I screamed at him, he ran and I promptly yelled for mom. The baby appeared to be o.k. when he was picked up. He did want food though and had that little beak wide open. Called my vet and was instructed to water down cat food or dog food and feed him with a syringe or eye dropper, so - - - seems we now have a wild bird in McGee's dog carrier (with lots of fluffy towels, etc.) and he is being fed cat food soup about every 2 hours. Hopefully he survives and we will eventually return him to the wild.
I have two new employees that are being trained today. Both seem to have a good knowledge base (both ER and ICU) so hopefully they will catch on quickly to the detention scene. This is a difficult place to work but it is always interesting and definitely always a challenge.
So it looks like Tom won't have to have surgery on his elbow, or at least that's what Corliss told me. I'm anxious to see what the MRI shows for his shoulder. I so what them to come to Mexico in September. I'm crossing my finger's, toe's and what ever else I can come up with. Kate, please think about working from the beach!!! And - - - Jill and Paul, if you are reading this, we do not take no for an answer!
Kate, the Chuck Norris Dog looks very much like Sega, Stosh and Sheri's dog. I think you and Ford saw him when you were here visiting Gramma. He and Baylor would have fun playing together. Baylor is the best dog ever.
Ford, I think about you every day and pray you are safe. I believe I have shown almost all of the deputies on my shift your picture. Most of these guys are out of the military, and in a lot of cases they are still in the reserve or guard. Needless to say, they are most impressed with all of the people in our family that are or have been active duty military. I'm very proud that you are my nephew and I love you to pieces.
To all my family, I love you.
Aunt Carla
I am really enjoying reading the blogs on this site. Blayne, you are an awesome young man and have incredible insight. I love you very much.
This morning, Boo (the cat) brought a baby bird into the house. I screamed at him, he ran and I promptly yelled for mom. The baby appeared to be o.k. when he was picked up. He did want food though and had that little beak wide open. Called my vet and was instructed to water down cat food or dog food and feed him with a syringe or eye dropper, so - - - seems we now have a wild bird in McGee's dog carrier (with lots of fluffy towels, etc.) and he is being fed cat food soup about every 2 hours. Hopefully he survives and we will eventually return him to the wild.
I have two new employees that are being trained today. Both seem to have a good knowledge base (both ER and ICU) so hopefully they will catch on quickly to the detention scene. This is a difficult place to work but it is always interesting and definitely always a challenge.
So it looks like Tom won't have to have surgery on his elbow, or at least that's what Corliss told me. I'm anxious to see what the MRI shows for his shoulder. I so what them to come to Mexico in September. I'm crossing my finger's, toe's and what ever else I can come up with. Kate, please think about working from the beach!!! And - - - Jill and Paul, if you are reading this, we do not take no for an answer!
Kate, the Chuck Norris Dog looks very much like Sega, Stosh and Sheri's dog. I think you and Ford saw him when you were here visiting Gramma. He and Baylor would have fun playing together. Baylor is the best dog ever.
Ford, I think about you every day and pray you are safe. I believe I have shown almost all of the deputies on my shift your picture. Most of these guys are out of the military, and in a lot of cases they are still in the reserve or guard. Needless to say, they are most impressed with all of the people in our family that are or have been active duty military. I'm very proud that you are my nephew and I love you to pieces.
To all my family, I love you.
Aunt Carla
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Some More Perspective.
As alot of you are aware I had a little spiritual awakening that started on 7-1-07. I lived in alot of fear for the better part of 38 years for a variety of reasons.
Since my awakening I thought I had the whole "fear" and "ego" thing licked. It has been pretty simple really. I try to live each day like its my last. I try to be in the "present" all the time, and I would rather take being at peace over being "right" most of the time.
Don't get me wrong, i'm not a master of it by any means (yet.) I still move in and out of "tiny" pieces of fear throughout the day.
The one area I am still struggling with, is trying to find the higher purpose in my brother being in harms way, yet have a "knowing" that everything in our lives happen with complete purpose.
So to make a long story longer...I have been living in fear over my brother being in Iraq. Then I looked at the picture he posted.
I didn't notice it until I was looking for it. What I noticed, because i'm a tactically minded guy with a simliar military background is there are three guys in uniform standing in a tight "circle." Each one scanning over the others shoulder looking for anything that could harm them.
This simple photo gave me the peace I was looking for, only when I started looking at it "differently." When I first looked at it...I saw Fordo....surrounded by a bunch of civilians with AK's and pipe bombs under their robes...I mean that might be overdoing it a little...but you get my idea right?
Anyway...
So thanks for sending the pic and giving me some peace Fordo. Keep doing what you do, and if you have a chance to help a kid out, please do it. I'm pretty sure they just want peace too.
Namaste
blayner
I have decided to stick with Love. Hate is too great a burden to bear. -Martin Luther King
Since my awakening I thought I had the whole "fear" and "ego" thing licked. It has been pretty simple really. I try to live each day like its my last. I try to be in the "present" all the time, and I would rather take being at peace over being "right" most of the time.
Don't get me wrong, i'm not a master of it by any means (yet.) I still move in and out of "tiny" pieces of fear throughout the day.
The one area I am still struggling with, is trying to find the higher purpose in my brother being in harms way, yet have a "knowing" that everything in our lives happen with complete purpose.
So to make a long story longer...I have been living in fear over my brother being in Iraq. Then I looked at the picture he posted.
I didn't notice it until I was looking for it. What I noticed, because i'm a tactically minded guy with a simliar military background is there are three guys in uniform standing in a tight "circle." Each one scanning over the others shoulder looking for anything that could harm them.
This simple photo gave me the peace I was looking for, only when I started looking at it "differently." When I first looked at it...I saw Fordo....surrounded by a bunch of civilians with AK's and pipe bombs under their robes...I mean that might be overdoing it a little...but you get my idea right?
Anyway...
So thanks for sending the pic and giving me some peace Fordo. Keep doing what you do, and if you have a chance to help a kid out, please do it. I'm pretty sure they just want peace too.
Namaste
blayner
I have decided to stick with Love. Hate is too great a burden to bear. -Martin Luther King
HOT-RAQ Issue 1
HOT-RAQ
The "Important" things going on in the US of A:
Issue 1
Alright Ford- I’ve been charged with keeping you up to date on all the “important” things going on while you’re away. I wouldn’t want you to fall behind so let’s get started.
The "Important" things going on in the US of A:
Issue 1
Alright Ford- I’ve been charged with keeping you up to date on all the “important” things going on while you’re away. I wouldn’t want you to fall behind so let’s get started.
The Hills- So I don’t know if you heard or not but LC and Audrina have been on the outs since LC’s best friend from college LO moved in with them. They were recently seem out together to try to put an end to the rumors that their relationship is now forced, but we’ll see what’s real…later.
Brangelina- Yea, don’t know if you’ve heard, but they’re having twins. There were rumors that the babies arrived last week, but no such luck. She’s still prego and talking to magazines about how it’s good for your sex life. Um- ew. Even if you are having sex with Brad Pitt.
Brangelina- Yea, don’t know if you’ve heard, but they’re having twins. There were rumors that the babies arrived last week, but no such luck. She’s still prego and talking to magazines about how it’s good for your sex life. Um- ew. Even if you are having sex with Brad Pitt.
Top Seller- Don’t know if you’ve heard the new hit “Lollipop,” over there in Hot-Raq but Little Wayne is now set to beat both Mariah AND Madonna in top album sales this year. I know…nuts. We’ll burn you the CD.
Little David- Speaking of Madonna…she finally won custody of her son, David that she adopted last year. Remember- the birth father tried to say that he didn’t even put him up for adoption. Don’t worry- Madge won and he’s legally allowed to be the luckiest kid on the planet.
Bad Bro- Oh and one more thing about Madonna- her brother Chris Ciccone has decided to write this tell all book about his famous sister. She’s worried that he’s going to lie about all this stuff and she’s especially POed because she gave that fool millions over the years. Wack if you ask me. We’ll send you the book. :)
Boo Hoo For You- You’ll be excited to return to the states especially now that Oral Sex has been directly linked to throat cancer. I don’t make this stuff up…these are the facts people! Here’s some proof…google it! http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn11819-oral-sex-can-cause-throat-cancer.html
NKOTB- I know you’re far away, but did you hear that the NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK (NKOTB) got back together? I’m super sad for you if you didn’t. Your wife and I are totally getting tickets.
Idol Frenzy- Speaking of dudes singing…did you hear that David Cook won American Idol? He was seriously awesome. He remix Miriah Carey’s “You’ll Always Be My Baby” and it was rockin. Didn’t sound anything like the original junk. Now he’s doing his media tour and I have to look at him every 5 seconds so I’m almost over him.
SYTYCD- and TV…dude- the best show just started. So you think you can dance. I don’t lie when I tell you that it’s more important to my life than the news. Well, at least right now. Just thought I would throw that out there.
Brian Williams- Ew- and the news. I made a New Years resolution at your wedding to watch the new every night and I’m doing pretty good, but I think that’s why I’m on these anti-depressants. For real though- last night I learned that no on in America is allowed to eat Tomatoes for a while. Sure enough I went to Chick-fil-a today and ordered my usual grilled sandwich that normally comes with a huge slice of tomato and guess what- nada. Chick-fil-a does not support E-Coli contamination.
Team Wentz- Did you know that Pete Wentz and Ashlee Simpson got engaged, married and knocked up all in like 3 months. True story. They think she’s having twins now…I know. I’ll keep you posted as I’m sure you’re riveted with excitement.
Kate (not yours) gotta man- Did you hear that Kate Hudson dumped Owen Wilson and now is dating Lance Armstrong? Totally true.
Cuba- Something that actual might interest you is that the Cuban government is moving to a more capitalist state. I know this doesn’t fit my “lighten the mood” blog here, but I find it awesome. They are actually ser to abolish their equal pay system which will allow for workers to earn performance bonuses. Cool huh?
Triple D- Seriously- Tommy Lee and Pamela Anderson are back together. I can’t make this stuff up. This is like round 801? Ridic.
SATC- The Sex and the City movie came out last weekend and it had a bigger opening night then expected- like super big. I can tell you that 20 of us went here in Atlanta at 10:30 dressed to kill and definitely had martinis before. Stereotype? Yup.
Lovers- Did you know that they’re making movies out of all the comic books now…Yup…Eric and Chet have been in movie theatre heaven now that Iron Man and The Hulk have come out. Oh- and those video games. I swear…sometimes I think they’re dating since they spend so much time together! I’ll take Zoe any day so it’s cool.
Maybe you and your buddies will be bored one day and read this…maybe not. That’s okay too. I would like to remind everyone that I am actually intelligent even though this blog begs to differ. HOLLER! I have to make sure you’re ready to communicate with the world about the things they care about when you get back.
:)
My New Number~
I have a new cell phone and local number - it will be the only way to get ahold of me. Both Ford's 254 number and my 404 number are gone forever...
We have merged to a family plan (awww how cute) on at&t....it's done Eric...(I know you wanted to get Zoe and I on the same carrier to save some g's) sorry!
When he gets home he will get the 3G and his number will be (253)-670-9786
Until then he will have no phone, but feel free to call me at:
Kate's Cell ----- (253)-670-9726
We have merged to a family plan (awww how cute) on at&t....it's done Eric...(I know you wanted to get Zoe and I on the same carrier to save some g's) sorry!
When he gets home he will get the 3G and his number will be (253)-670-9786
Until then he will have no phone, but feel free to call me at:
Kate's Cell ----- (253)-670-9726
Sign My Yearbook Kate!
Well Kate,
HA! And don't worry, detention isn't that bad.
Looks like maybe Ford needs to send you back something.
HA! And don't worry, detention isn't that bad.Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Because I love my husband....
...and he's been asking for a picture of his braceface - (thank you Beau).
THIS is love people. Let the torture begin...
THIS is love people. Let the torture begin...
NANA's first blog....where's TREVA?????
Ford and Kate,
Good to see your blog comments. I am in Boston with Gregg and Sue and the boys. Hope all is going well. Love and prayers.
Nana Booth
Good to see your blog comments. I am in Boston with Gregg and Sue and the boys. Hope all is going well. Love and prayers.
Nana Booth
1 down 8 to go…
Today is officially 1 month. So in your honor, a month in review –
I got braces, planted a bunch of new flowers and bought patio furniture, I went home for Memorial Day, Seattle temps are still in the low 60’s, your whole family came to visit and Jill is a Colonel…
It took you leaving, but I finally appreciate all the things you do around this place…the lawn-mowing and edging (that’s a lot tougher than it looks), the gutter cleaning – can I just say…ewww. The pumping of gas (in the rain), taking the trash out (in the rain), doing all the car maintenance, budget calculating, bill paying and bathroom cleaning….hurry home, its exhausting!
I miss you terribly and not just because you do the heavy lifting around here….be safe and come back to where you belong just as soon as you can.
I got braces, planted a bunch of new flowers and bought patio furniture, I went home for Memorial Day, Seattle temps are still in the low 60’s, your whole family came to visit and Jill is a Colonel…
It took you leaving, but I finally appreciate all the things you do around this place…the lawn-mowing and edging (that’s a lot tougher than it looks), the gutter cleaning – can I just say…ewww. The pumping of gas (in the rain), taking the trash out (in the rain), doing all the car maintenance, budget calculating, bill paying and bathroom cleaning….hurry home, its exhausting!
I miss you terribly and not just because you do the heavy lifting around here….be safe and come back to where you belong just as soon as you can.
Finally
And I thought I knew how to use a computer...this only took me a couple weeks of trying. I have really enjoyed reading this site in the meantime though. Does make you feel close to family & friends and to Ford, when he feels so far away otherwise.
It sure was nice this last weekend to feel surrounded by the love of family. Thank you, Kate, for your hospitality (and your clothes) when Blayne & I unexpectedly spent Sat. night. Thank you too to all the Lannans for making Kyleigh & Kayla feel a part of the family. They are going through a rough time & it meant a lot to them. I could see them just soaking up the attention. Sorry, Grandpa, you got hurt. You were a real trooper still sleeping with the wiggle worm, Tehya, anyway. Ford, it was nice to see Kyleigh and Blayne sleeping in your shirts as it made it feel like a part of you was there too. Don't worry, Blayne says he will give you your shirt back- it's the second time he's stolen this one.
We miss you, Ford! We pray for you all the time. The four of us girls say prayers at bedtime and include you. You are very loved. Kate, you too. We are so happy to have you here and really enjoy whenever we are able to spend time with you. Lots of love and God bless you all!
Shanna
It sure was nice this last weekend to feel surrounded by the love of family. Thank you, Kate, for your hospitality (and your clothes) when Blayne & I unexpectedly spent Sat. night. Thank you too to all the Lannans for making Kyleigh & Kayla feel a part of the family. They are going through a rough time & it meant a lot to them. I could see them just soaking up the attention. Sorry, Grandpa, you got hurt. You were a real trooper still sleeping with the wiggle worm, Tehya, anyway. Ford, it was nice to see Kyleigh and Blayne sleeping in your shirts as it made it feel like a part of you was there too. Don't worry, Blayne says he will give you your shirt back- it's the second time he's stolen this one.
We miss you, Ford! We pray for you all the time. The four of us girls say prayers at bedtime and include you. You are very loved. Kate, you too. We are so happy to have you here and really enjoy whenever we are able to spend time with you. Lots of love and God bless you all!
Shanna
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
I pinned a Colonel....
For those of you who don’t know…my sister Jill (its just easier that way) was promoted to Colonel on Saturday….it is a huge honor, deserving of what the military calls a pinning ceremony where the shoulderboards on the recipients uniform are exchanged for the new rank insignia – family came from all over and stayed at our house for the weekend--
Aunt Carla, Uncle Stosh and Aunt Sherry, Mom and Dad all flew in Friday night, rented a car and showed up at our house around 9pm. Blayne brought Tehya over and Moggie promptly gave her about 12 new adorable outfits – essentially unpacking her entire suitcase. We all stayed up late talking, telling stories and drinking beer. Baylor slept with Grandpa, his new BFF.
Saturday, most everyone slept in and I made breakfast for the bunch. We were busy with food, showers, ironing, wrapping finding cameras, picking jewelry, hair, directions and cars – the house was alive! There were people all over, in every room, in every corner…and it was perfect.
The ceremony was packed! A real tribute to Jill who promptly made it a tribute to you. She talked about your dedication and service to your country, the fact that you missed two birthday’s last time you went over and another one this time, she wanted you to be the one that “pinned” her on her very special day….and prayed and prayed that it would work out that you were still here. (I think we were all hoping for that…) However, the Army had different plans, so you were gone and Jill was left to decide who you would want to fill your place and she thought…. that you would have picked me. (“or your brother, her ex husband and THAT would have been weird”) So in front of your family and 300+ highranking military personnel – I pinned a colonel, my sister – Jill Lannan. How freakin’ cool is that?!?!?!?
Afterwards we partied!!! Lannan style – those of you at the wedding know what I mean – there was cake and scotch, enough said?
I put your parents on a plane on Sunday (one in a HUGE leg cast, the other in an arm sling) it’s a long story that I’ll tell you when you get back…and cried the whole way home like I did when you left.
They are all amazing people. Aunt Carla is just so full of life and generous. Uncle Stosh & Aunt Sherry are us…totally us, down to the last detail – I think they are our kindred spirit couple. And your Mom and Dad – there’s nothing they wouldn’t do for their kids…they are real salt of the earth Fordo…you are one lucky guy! Baylor and I miss them terribly – Baylor mostly misses Carla who fed him salami and crackers…(but still the sentiment is there).
I would also like to remind you that Jill – who we like NEVER see – lives close and loves you a whole lot…and I am just so honored that she included me in a such a major way in her ceremony. I don’t think I’ve ever been honored liked that, and from someone who is doing such an amazing job at life. She has raised the coolest kid I have ever met and in addition to being good at what she does, seems to be genuinely happy doing it, which is obvious by the amount of people that follow her. She has built a wonderful life with Paul and her new promotion and it is inspiring to know that you can balance a career, a relationship, family and friends and have it all!
You meet cool people everyday – I am luck enough to be related to them. Before I met Ford, I was pretty sure that I had the coolest family ever...now, with the Lannan/Olson addition - it's clinched....our families rock!
To my new family – I love you all and appreciate all that you do for both Ford and I, especially while he is away. It is an honor to be welcomed into the family in such an overwhelming way – thank you. Also – sorry I lost it at lunch, I couldn’t believe that I missed another call from him – but way to go Mom for solving the mystery!!!
Aunt Carla, Uncle Stosh and Aunt Sherry, Mom and Dad all flew in Friday night, rented a car and showed up at our house around 9pm. Blayne brought Tehya over and Moggie promptly gave her about 12 new adorable outfits – essentially unpacking her entire suitcase. We all stayed up late talking, telling stories and drinking beer. Baylor slept with Grandpa, his new BFF.
Saturday, most everyone slept in and I made breakfast for the bunch. We were busy with food, showers, ironing, wrapping finding cameras, picking jewelry, hair, directions and cars – the house was alive! There were people all over, in every room, in every corner…and it was perfect.
The ceremony was packed! A real tribute to Jill who promptly made it a tribute to you. She talked about your dedication and service to your country, the fact that you missed two birthday’s last time you went over and another one this time, she wanted you to be the one that “pinned” her on her very special day….and prayed and prayed that it would work out that you were still here. (I think we were all hoping for that…) However, the Army had different plans, so you were gone and Jill was left to decide who you would want to fill your place and she thought…. that you would have picked me. (“or your brother, her ex husband and THAT would have been weird”) So in front of your family and 300+ highranking military personnel – I pinned a colonel, my sister – Jill Lannan. How freakin’ cool is that?!?!?!?
Afterwards we partied!!! Lannan style – those of you at the wedding know what I mean – there was cake and scotch, enough said?
I put your parents on a plane on Sunday (one in a HUGE leg cast, the other in an arm sling) it’s a long story that I’ll tell you when you get back…and cried the whole way home like I did when you left.
They are all amazing people. Aunt Carla is just so full of life and generous. Uncle Stosh & Aunt Sherry are us…totally us, down to the last detail – I think they are our kindred spirit couple. And your Mom and Dad – there’s nothing they wouldn’t do for their kids…they are real salt of the earth Fordo…you are one lucky guy! Baylor and I miss them terribly – Baylor mostly misses Carla who fed him salami and crackers…(but still the sentiment is there).
I would also like to remind you that Jill – who we like NEVER see – lives close and loves you a whole lot…and I am just so honored that she included me in a such a major way in her ceremony. I don’t think I’ve ever been honored liked that, and from someone who is doing such an amazing job at life. She has raised the coolest kid I have ever met and in addition to being good at what she does, seems to be genuinely happy doing it, which is obvious by the amount of people that follow her. She has built a wonderful life with Paul and her new promotion and it is inspiring to know that you can balance a career, a relationship, family and friends and have it all!
You meet cool people everyday – I am luck enough to be related to them. Before I met Ford, I was pretty sure that I had the coolest family ever...now, with the Lannan/Olson addition - it's clinched....our families rock!
To my new family – I love you all and appreciate all that you do for both Ford and I, especially while he is away. It is an honor to be welcomed into the family in such an overwhelming way – thank you. Also – sorry I lost it at lunch, I couldn’t believe that I missed another call from him – but way to go Mom for solving the mystery!!!
Monday, June 9, 2008
Got back from WA yesterday evening. What a wonderful weekend we all had. Kate, you are the best and thank you so much for your hospitality.
Jill's pinning ceremony was amazing. What an awesome young woman she is.
Stosh, Sheri and I all commented on how good it was to see everyone again. Sorry Tom got hurt though. Sure hope you don't have to have surgery.
Wish you could have been with us Ford. You were missed!!! It was very cool that Jill had Kate and Stosh (who looked absolutely stunning in his whites) put on her shoulder boards. Kate was totally surprised. Jill couldn't have picked a better person and Kate did an awesome job of it.
From my homefront, nothing new except gas prices! Today a gallon of regular unleaded is $4.49. Sure hope it stops going up soon.
April is on her way home. I'm so glad she is returning safe and sound.
I love you nephew and niece. Again, thank you Kate for putting up with this crazy family all weekend.
Love to all,
Aunt Carla
Jill's pinning ceremony was amazing. What an awesome young woman she is.
Stosh, Sheri and I all commented on how good it was to see everyone again. Sorry Tom got hurt though. Sure hope you don't have to have surgery.
Wish you could have been with us Ford. You were missed!!! It was very cool that Jill had Kate and Stosh (who looked absolutely stunning in his whites) put on her shoulder boards. Kate was totally surprised. Jill couldn't have picked a better person and Kate did an awesome job of it.
From my homefront, nothing new except gas prices! Today a gallon of regular unleaded is $4.49. Sure hope it stops going up soon.
April is on her way home. I'm so glad she is returning safe and sound.
I love you nephew and niece. Again, thank you Kate for putting up with this crazy family all weekend.
Love to all,
Aunt Carla
wow blayner-you nailed what we're thinking.
It is amazing how we gain perspective. Sometimes from another wiser person. Sometimes from the glaring mistakes of others. Sometimes the school of hard-knocks or divine intervention :)
Perspective, regardless of your politics, would make us ALL run to line up cross-country, cross continents and back again to support Ford and his men. RIGHT ON, FORD!!
Perspective, would let us all tell Blayne that stepping up to the plate when children need his help is something we all would hope we would do, but wonder secretively if we might find excuses. GO BLAYNER!
Perspective, will be what Tom gets to experience now with his twice fractured arm GO TOM!(also what Corliss gets to experience living with him :)
Perspective, is what Kate experienced this weekend with her new closest 11 family members spending the weekend at their home in Puyallup, as she cried when they left. GO BABY GIRL!
Perspective is what Kate gets when she glimpses her new heavy metal look ( yes - we actually paid for braces when she was 12) but then sees Ford with real heavy metal. GODSPEED, FORDMAN.
Perspective, is knowing that Jill achieved bird-status, witnessed by her x-family in triumph. While she posted a loving tribute to her overseas ex-brother-in-law?????????? Wow - you guys are inventing new relational nouns! YOU ROCK JILL!
Most of all, WE LOVE YOU FORDMAN.
Your home troops :)
Perspective, regardless of your politics, would make us ALL run to line up cross-country, cross continents and back again to support Ford and his men. RIGHT ON, FORD!!
Perspective, would let us all tell Blayne that stepping up to the plate when children need his help is something we all would hope we would do, but wonder secretively if we might find excuses. GO BLAYNER!
Perspective, will be what Tom gets to experience now with his twice fractured arm GO TOM!(also what Corliss gets to experience living with him :)
Perspective, is what Kate experienced this weekend with her new closest 11 family members spending the weekend at their home in Puyallup, as she cried when they left. GO BABY GIRL!
Perspective is what Kate gets when she glimpses her new heavy metal look ( yes - we actually paid for braces when she was 12) but then sees Ford with real heavy metal. GODSPEED, FORDMAN.
Perspective, is knowing that Jill achieved bird-status, witnessed by her x-family in triumph. While she posted a loving tribute to her overseas ex-brother-in-law?????????? Wow - you guys are inventing new relational nouns! YOU ROCK JILL!
Most of all, WE LOVE YOU FORDMAN.
Your home troops :)
A Note From Tehya to Uncle Ford
This is a note to you from your neice, as told to me from my knee, after she got out of the bath.
I want to tell Uncle Ford I like him. I want to tell him Mikey had a problem. He hit her knee and vagina on a humongous rock, and it could talk (the rock I assume?)..He got blood on his knee.
I want to tell Uncle Ford that I love him and I miss him and I want to play with him soon.
ery79oljkhvxgxq257uo[-7d
I want to tell Uncle Ford that Wassa hit his knee on tree too.
Tehya says she likes everyone reading this, and she is ready to go now
I want to tell Uncle Ford I like him. I want to tell him Mikey had a problem. He hit her knee and vagina on a humongous rock, and it could talk (the rock I assume?)..He got blood on his knee.
I want to tell Uncle Ford that I love him and I miss him and I want to play with him soon.
ery79oljkhvxgxq257uo[-7d
I want to tell Uncle Ford that Wassa hit his knee on tree too.
Tehya says she likes everyone reading this, and she is ready to go now
A Weekend To Remember
Hello all, and thanks to the cooooolest little sister in the world for all that you do. This site is awesome, and knowing that my little brother...who's really not so little anymore could be reading this soon gives me a little peace.
Jill Lannan was promoted to Colonel on Saturday 6-7-8. Mom and Dad flew in, as did Uncle Stosh and Aunt Sherrie, and Aunt Carla.
Jills brother Jeff, and her sister Sally flew in as well.
It was pretty amazing. The fact that Jill and I have been divorced for about ten years, yet all of our families are able to set aside any differences we may have to support each other blows me away.
During her ceremony she took about five minutes to talk about Ford. I don't think there was a dry eye in the family section.
I drank a few Coors Lights at the reception afterward for you Forder. There were a good selection of micro-brews...I stuck with the Coors Light, because I know thats a favorite.
We all headed to your house after the reception. Anytime alot of Lannan's are sequestered in one area, its bound to be fun. There was alot of laughter, and love, and warmth in your house.
At one point during the evening I separated myself from the group and went outside to be alone for a minute.
A very powerful thought entered my mind. This is kind of what it was about. I was feeling so much love and warmth coming from my family, and It felt so comforting. What was painful for me in that exact moment was the thought of my little brother...the kid who's diapers I used to change....who at that exact moment....1/2 way around the world was probably not experiencing anything similar to what I was experiencing at that same moment....It was very sobering.
It also reminded me to embrace, as if it was my last, every single solitary moment in time that I am so freely given to spend time with my family and loved ones.
It reminded me again of what is important in my life. What is important to me today doesn't look anything similar to what was important to me a few years ago. Money, and Ego, and material posessions and looking cool, and competing with the neighbors, and status and titles and all those "things" attached with the material world were my focus not to long ago.
Today my focus is on those things that matter to me like family, and relationships, and telling both of my kids I am proud of them at least once a day, and living each day as if it was my last, and sharing my true feelings with others, and the concept of selflessness.
I am so greatful that my brother has such a huge support network in all of his friends, Katies family and friends, etc....With that alone I know there is a ton of positive energy and prayer that is being "sent" out there for God and the Universe to hear. That alone is a peaceful feeling for me.
So, to wrap it up. You have so many amazing, unique individuals that Love you Ford, and that are behind you 100%.
We all look forward to your return, and I look forward to the day when the war is over.
I can't wait to start skydiving again with you.
I love you Ford Lannan, and I love all of you for supporting my brother and my sister through this not so much fun time.
I wish you all Peace and Love on this day and every day.
Namaste
Blayner
"Be The Change You Wish To see In Others"
Ghandi
Jill Lannan was promoted to Colonel on Saturday 6-7-8. Mom and Dad flew in, as did Uncle Stosh and Aunt Sherrie, and Aunt Carla.
Jills brother Jeff, and her sister Sally flew in as well.
It was pretty amazing. The fact that Jill and I have been divorced for about ten years, yet all of our families are able to set aside any differences we may have to support each other blows me away.
During her ceremony she took about five minutes to talk about Ford. I don't think there was a dry eye in the family section.
I drank a few Coors Lights at the reception afterward for you Forder. There were a good selection of micro-brews...I stuck with the Coors Light, because I know thats a favorite.
We all headed to your house after the reception. Anytime alot of Lannan's are sequestered in one area, its bound to be fun. There was alot of laughter, and love, and warmth in your house.
At one point during the evening I separated myself from the group and went outside to be alone for a minute.
A very powerful thought entered my mind. This is kind of what it was about. I was feeling so much love and warmth coming from my family, and It felt so comforting. What was painful for me in that exact moment was the thought of my little brother...the kid who's diapers I used to change....who at that exact moment....1/2 way around the world was probably not experiencing anything similar to what I was experiencing at that same moment....It was very sobering.
It also reminded me to embrace, as if it was my last, every single solitary moment in time that I am so freely given to spend time with my family and loved ones.
It reminded me again of what is important in my life. What is important to me today doesn't look anything similar to what was important to me a few years ago. Money, and Ego, and material posessions and looking cool, and competing with the neighbors, and status and titles and all those "things" attached with the material world were my focus not to long ago.
Today my focus is on those things that matter to me like family, and relationships, and telling both of my kids I am proud of them at least once a day, and living each day as if it was my last, and sharing my true feelings with others, and the concept of selflessness.
I am so greatful that my brother has such a huge support network in all of his friends, Katies family and friends, etc....With that alone I know there is a ton of positive energy and prayer that is being "sent" out there for God and the Universe to hear. That alone is a peaceful feeling for me.
So, to wrap it up. You have so many amazing, unique individuals that Love you Ford, and that are behind you 100%.
We all look forward to your return, and I look forward to the day when the war is over.
I can't wait to start skydiving again with you.
I love you Ford Lannan, and I love all of you for supporting my brother and my sister through this not so much fun time.
I wish you all Peace and Love on this day and every day.
Namaste
Blayner
"Be The Change You Wish To see In Others"
Ghandi
Friday, June 6, 2008
Ford & Zimmy
GREAT to hear from you Fordo! I have your pic at my desk at work, and I have drawn mustaches on everyone in the photo besides you. Also, did anyone notice Opey in the background behind Ford? I think he is wearing a professional rodeo shirt. Talk about not fitting in with the locals.
Anyways, I am writing to inform you and Zimmy about the craziest thing I have ever seen in my life. Hoepuflly, it brings a smile to your face, and reminds you what you are fighiting for. Located in Madison, WI - A squirrel taxedermy museum - created in the basement of a funeral parlor (Cress Funeral Parlor) Have you guys been there? I can never go. For if I do, my life will be complete, and there will be nothing else for me here.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Thanks!
I really appreciate all of you taking the time to write to me and send pics....brings a smile to my face. Pretty busy over here but when I get a chance I will respond to the messages. Mail from home is great, but really don't worry about sending anything...I have everything I need here. As far as the calling cards, we have other means of getting ahold of everyone back home; so I don't need any calling cards as I will probably not use them.
Atlanta peeps...you guys rock...thanks for everything. Tara, please take care of Zimmy...Mere, tell Ryan I said whats up and to my two families..don't worry about me I will be home before you know it. And to my absolutely amazing wife...I love you more than life it self. You make me able to do the things I do and I wouldn't know what to do without you. Every time I get to talk to you it warms my heart and make me feel all gooey. Okay thats enough for the public but I just wanted to give props to my badass wife.
Anyway, got to go...I love you all and thanks again.
Also I am on the right in the PIC..will send a photo of the whole team when I get a chance
Ford
.JPG)
Atlanta peeps...you guys rock...thanks for everything. Tara, please take care of Zimmy...Mere, tell Ryan I said whats up and to my two families..don't worry about me I will be home before you know it. And to my absolutely amazing wife...I love you more than life it self. You make me able to do the things I do and I wouldn't know what to do without you. Every time I get to talk to you it warms my heart and make me feel all gooey. Okay thats enough for the public but I just wanted to give props to my badass wife.
Anyway, got to go...I love you all and thanks again.
Also I am on the right in the PIC..will send a photo of the whole team when I get a chance
Ford
.JPG)
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Kate and FM:
Wonderful reading all of the blogs on this site. I'm so glad my nephew is SAFE!!!
Gramma and I will be sending a 'care package' soon as I return from Jill's pinning. Uncle Stosh, Sheri and I will all attend. Stosh will be pinning Jill. Wish FM was here to do the same. Gramma gets tears every time she talks about you FM. I try to assure her that you will be fine.
Nothing much new in CA. Gas prices through the roof - $4.29 for regular unleaded and of course my BMW doesn't like regular so I'm paying $.10 to $.20/gal more. My commute to work is getting very expensive. Maybe I will take my retirement from this county and go to work in the county I live in. Could happen.
Kate - will you send the blog information to April. She's in FM's neck of the woods right now but will be coming back fairly soon. She is at boulderrocks.com. I was hoping she would be flying FM to his destination. Guess not. Anyway, think she would love adding to the blog.
Gotta go, have to get my end of shift report together so I can go home on time for a change.
Love to all,
Aunt Carla
Wonderful reading all of the blogs on this site. I'm so glad my nephew is SAFE!!!
Gramma and I will be sending a 'care package' soon as I return from Jill's pinning. Uncle Stosh, Sheri and I will all attend. Stosh will be pinning Jill. Wish FM was here to do the same. Gramma gets tears every time she talks about you FM. I try to assure her that you will be fine.
Nothing much new in CA. Gas prices through the roof - $4.29 for regular unleaded and of course my BMW doesn't like regular so I'm paying $.10 to $.20/gal more. My commute to work is getting very expensive. Maybe I will take my retirement from this county and go to work in the county I live in. Could happen.
Kate - will you send the blog information to April. She's in FM's neck of the woods right now but will be coming back fairly soon. She is at boulderrocks.com. I was hoping she would be flying FM to his destination. Guess not. Anyway, think she would love adding to the blog.
Gotta go, have to get my end of shift report together so I can go home on time for a change.
Love to all,
Aunt Carla
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
From Iraq
We have now all arrived safely and are trying to get accustomed to the difference in weather between here and Fort Lewis. For the most part the mercury has risen above 100 degrees in almost all of our locations. The common refrain is, "yeah, but it's a dry heat." Dry heat or not it is simply hot. All our Soldiers are performing in an outstanding manner and doing a great job of looking out for one another. As is often heard we had to hit the ground running. I am amazed at how quickly we were able to get ourselves established and quickly gain an understanding of the areas where we are operating. To say our area is vast is a bit of an understatement, it is equivalent to several Southeastern States lumped together. While we have certainly stayed busy setting up our areas and getting into the rhythm of our operations I know that our thoughts often drift back to our Families at home. We have only been here a couple of weeks but already the countdown timers for when we will be home have shown up on many computers. The one that counts the seconds is a bit like torture to look view.Most of us have a decent ability to communicate with back home but sometimes those systems fail or we are in a surge of activity that prevents us from staying in touch. The fact that we have not called or emailed is most likely based on circumstances not under our control. I cannot tell you how proud you can be of all the Soldiers here in Iraq, there discipline, attention to detail and superb training is already earning all of them an outstanding reputation. The CSM and I have been out an about seeing some of the Companies and teams and we are always impressed with how they are conducting themselves.
-Submitted by Bat. Commander
-Submitted by Bat. Commander
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
.jpg)
