Letter Writing

A few friends on Facebook having been writing about the art of letter writing - better known as "snail mail."  With the demise of cursive writing in the school systems across the country, letter writing has become a dead art. 

I love and own quite a bit of stationary, post cards and fountain pens.  It's time to start writing and sending real mail to my friends and family as opposed to always using Facebook, emails, and blogs.  Watch your mail, you don't know when I'm going to send a letter to you!

Thank you!

My sincere thanks to my family and friends for their warm birthday wishes and greetings.  It's wonderful to feel the love and friendship!

Memorial Day 2011

Thank you, LCPL Daniel Riley and all veterans of our armed forces on this Memorial Day.  I remember especially with love and gratitude SP5 Mark J. Lucia, my brother who served in Viet Nam.  Mark, I miss you and love you.  Rest in peace, dear brother.

Please, regardless of your position on the military or our current wars, thank a veteran and the members of our armed forces who currently service this country.  They truly serve and served with honor.

Fuch's Corneal Dystrophy

What the "Fuch?" was my reaction two weeks ago.  Fuch's Dystrophy is an inherited recessive gene from one or both of my parents. Since my parents are dead, I don't know which one gave it to me! And they might not have actively had the dystrophy.

In any event, it affects the backs of the corneas causing the cells to die.  I have the disease in both eyes.  The only "cure" for this is corneal transplant surgery.  The only question now is when will I have the surgery?  That answer I hope to know shortly when I visit the cornea specialist.  My eyes could stay the way the are for several years or I could wake up tomorrow morning and be blind. 

For those who know how much I love to cook, I'd rather not be blind, thank you!  Books on tape doesn't exactly trip my trigger either, but I could adjust to it.  But not cooking???  Perish the thought!

Any prayer lists or prayers you can send my way would be most appreciated.  Patience is NOT one of my virtues.  I'd like to have the surgery and get it over with quickly.

I've written about my chaplain days as a certified tissue/organ requestor.  It's something that I have always felt very strongly about when the time to shuffle off Mother Earth occurs. Now it's become a personal issue.  As the bumper sticker on one of my cars says: "Please don't take your organs to Heaven.  Heaven knows we can use them here."

Don't Ask, Don't Tell

I have read with interest the letters to the editor of my local newspaper that have been sent concerning "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."  SGM M's letter finally prompted me to write of my experiences.  The SGM opines that "soldiers who serve alongside the homosexuals do not all [emphasis mine] agree that this was a good idea." SGM, that's probably true.  ALL soldiers may not agree. But many soldiers/sailors/marines and air force personnel do agree!  I served in leadership positions in both the Navy and Army during the period long before "DADT" was even a glimmer of an idea.  I served with gays and lesbians in both branches and would gladly do so again today.  My biggest disciplinary issues in both services was the conduct of heterosexual military personnel and not gays and lesbians!  I would gladly exchange my heterosexual troops/sailors and all their sexual issues for gay and lesbian troops/sailors any day.  Those with whom I served with were "mission oriented" first and foremost.  They were not concerned about who to have a sexual relationship or who to flirt with while on duty! Furthermore, SGM, the last time I checked, gays and lesbians' blood bleed red just like yours and mine.

Prayer Request

http://danielcwriley.blogspot.com/

Prayers please for a most special young man.  Thank you for your service, Daniel. 

Happy New Year!

Throughout all of 2011..

May you always make the right moves.

May your cup runneth over with love.

May you always find shelter from any storm.

May you remain good looking and looking good!

May you find the perfect diet for your soul.

May you find perfect balance in the company you keep.

May you have as much fun as you can before someone makes you stop.

May the worst thing that happens to you come in slobbery pink and furry tan.

May you manage to make time for siesta.

May all the new folks you meet be interesting and kind.

May your accessories always harmonize with your natural beauty!

Should your mouth be bigger than your stomach, may you have a chewing good time!

May you always know when to walk away and know when to run.

And may your friends always bring you joy!

MAY YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL NEW YEAR

FILLED WITH LOVE, HAPPINESS, AND HOPE.

TBTG!!!

At 1530 the main level of the house except for the area rug, meets my standards. Bring on the white glove test. However, the living room area rug does not meet standards as I ran out of rug cleaner. At 1525, I drank a Martini outside while the kitchen floor dried. I shall now take a shower before the El Paso County Health Department declares me a health risk!

Living Will

This says it all...

Swearing-In!

I was sworn into office prior to last month's meeting on May 27th.  Now... every politico regardless of office hopes to have a dignified swearing in ceremony.  After all, I was swearing to defend the Colorado and US Constitutions!  Dignified... nope not for me! 

On May 24th I was admitted to the hospital with facial cellulitis as a result of a staph infection that I picked up somewhere.  So... one of our directors came to my hospital room to swear me in lying in those beautiful hospital gowns and with a blown up face that could stop an 8-day clock! Thanks be to God, there are NO pictures. However, I did "attend" my first meeting via telephone conference so all was not lost.

Here's my first "official" photog... a ground breaking ceremony for a new waste treatment facility.  Ah... I've hit the big time!

Director-Elect

Last night I won my first political race and was the top vote getter! I am a director-elect for the Colorado Centre Metropolitan District.  http://www.coloradocentre.org/  I will be sworn into my 4 year term on May 27, 2010.  Thank you so much to the voters for Colorado Centre.  I will be working hard for you and our district!

Shrove Tuesday!

Enjoy eating your share of pancakes and sausage today!  I'll be cooking at my church.  Can't wait for all the fun to begin!!

Need Alka Seltzer?!

Some things NEVER cease to amaze me. But after all this time, you would THINK I would know better.  Today is the first anniversary of the Obama Administration and people want to know WHY all the problems of the world and the country haven't been solved?! Nevermind that some of these problems go back 40+ years, nevermind that we endured 8 years of Bush, Cheney and Company... EVERYTHING should be solved in a heart beat!  We've become such an instant gratification society.  If God was the President of the United States, people would complain that he isn't moving fast enough!  Folks need to wake up and smell the coffee!!

Happy New Year!!

A New Year's Prayer

Dear Lord, please give me

A few friends who understand me and remain my friends;

A work to do which has real value,

without which the world would be the poorer;

A mind unafraid to travel, even though the trail be not blazed;

An understanding heart;

A sense of humor;

Time for quiet, silent meditation;

A feeling of the presence of God;

The patience to wait for the coming of these things,

With the wisdom to recognize them when they come.

Amen.

Unknown

Rest in Peace, Badger

I have just learned that another friend has died while on vacation. Kendall Sims, aka "Badger" was one of my many on-line buddies from Beliefnet and Facebook.  We also corresponded by email and our blogs. Rest in peace Kendall and may you rise in glory!

You will be missed, my friend.

Coming Soon...

Christmas Day will be here before we know it!

Blessings to All during this Holy Advent Season!

Roseann Allen-Matthews

A truly beautiful lady who was an inspiration to many.

Rest in peace, Roseann and rise in glory.

Prayers for Gary and their family and friends.

Roseann was a gem and truly one of a kind!

I will miss her.

George Bland

My dear friend Janis lost her father on November 15th. Janis shared with many of us the beautiful art work that her father created. Such a talented man! As Janis said on Facebook, George is now in his heavenly studio.  Prayers and love to Janis and her family at this time. Rest in peace George and rise in glory!

Prayers

Prayers ascending for our friend, Roseanne who has begun hospice home care.  Prayers & love to Roseanne and Gary.

Finally!

U.S. to Order Steep Pay Cuts at Firms That Got Most Aid 

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/22/business/22pay.html?_r=1

IT'S ABOUT TIME!! If we have restrictions on those folks receiving "welfare," then it's NO different for the corp execs who ran their businesses in the ground and received my tax dollars to bail them out!! You want to suck on the public teat, then here are the rules!!!