Thanks’ for Coming!

Tomorrow the signing of the Declaration of Independence was signed by our forefathers occurred.  233 years later we take the day to celebrate that day. 

So everyone have a great weekend and a safe one. 

Summer is H*ll. it is hot, storms and high winds, humid; what else can i say?  The summer here drains me.  Then all the news of deaths has not cause me to move, except my emotions. 

I need to move as next week we leave for Haiti and Santo Domingo.  We need to get everything taken care of this week before we go.  I need to move.  Well, it is going 71 degrees and the high is going to be eighty, much better. 

I guess that is why i haven't blogged for a while.  No gumption.  Plus i have nothing to talk about. 

Well, how about this; I wake up, drink coffee, fall asleep (nap) around noon, wake up, get something to eat, etc, etc., etc.  How is that about an active summer?  I am not as young that my mind tells me i am.  Darn it!!

Okay folks, it is hot outside.

It is summer, and I have spare time.

In this heat what is someone to do?

      ?    

 

 

     ?       

 

 

       ?         

 

 

    ?

*

I am dry and i do not mean thirsty. 

 

I mean FRIED!!!  

 

 

My  

 

is .

 

Ergo, nothing to

 . 

We have purchased tickets to Haiti.  This year we will spend a week in Santo Domingo and the return to Haiti for another week.  We will see a different side of C*rl  and D*wn are working with USAID.  Their offices in in the US embassy so I am hopping to meet diplomats of many other countries who have embassies in Pot Au Prince I think that this is going to be a learning and educational experience and i am very excited. 

As we are going to spends time on the majority of the time we went to get some of the items that we could not fins in Columbia.  We knew that the outlet mall in the Lake of the Ozarks.  We find stores that opened up in the mall that ere not there the last time we were there.  A totes outlet store opened up and i wanted to get some foot wear so i could get them wet when i am am at the beach or in the swimming pool (As C*rl and D*nm  have one as they moved to another living compound nearer to the embassy and where others have). I plan to go swimming with C*rl, Jr.  He just had turned four years old last month so we will be there for another belated birthday party.  I asked D*wn not to cut his hair as last time he had a mop of curly, curly hair. 

Doesn’t he make you smile with that mop?  I wanted to see him with that mop before she cuts it the mop off. 

I am going to work put at the new rec center the city  built  for the citizens to use.  I plan to lose twenty to thirty pounds before we take off  next months.  I think that will make me look like a baby whale, not like a daddy whale!  Don’t you think that is a good goal?

A short note. when something personal it is hard to write about it.  I feel fine to blog about it but my wife does not like people that blog.  That is why i asked my question of you.  When i blogged about Br@@n.  She will see this blog entry if I did not edit when she looks for more when looks for more information via the internet, i.e. Bing, My  past blogs shows up.   

She feels uncomfortable about it.  I am going to take here concern to heart and edit my entries.  Two people, two views. 

We are going to see ah th***ist this morning due to the passing last month, or so.  Friday we are going to a group about also. I am sure you all know that it will take time. 

I have my first meeting with the CDC (Centralia Disability Committee) to walk through ht he town with the mayor and the town council and the chamber of commerce and show them how it is to travel the town and enter businesses and show the need for changes to be corrected.  We are going to investigate what assistance is available to the town and the business for appropriate changes needed. 

I hope all is well with all that rain/storm in the northeast right now.  The weather appears not to change, winter, spring, summer or fall.  Take care all.  

Thank to all of you who responded to the last blog.  It was nice to see that you are, all of you, started to blog to beginning to write. 

It has been a busy week.  sue and i went up to St. Louis on Thursday to have a belated birthday gift to my mother.  We took her to the restaurant in the city called vin De Set.  In english translation it means 1717.  1717 is the adress of the resturant.  This is the place were Sue took her frewnch classes for a true french meal.  It was my first time there.  My mom has heard about it also never has been there.   It was a great meal.The french flavor of the meals came through like i never had before.  I smoked smoked crepes with capers (Jen, i believe we need to discuss them again, I had a green round salty , items that i take as capers.  It did not look like herring that i was picturing).  My mom had another type of crepes. Sue had a Monte Cristo .  Each meal was presented in a way that we world receive in France.  Wonderful. 

A new recreation center just opened this week  herein town.  It is not what i expected.  It id better.  Sue and i took a tour before it open for business last week and it provides more that were i am currently going.  I plan to go there today or tomorrow try it out. 

Last week i read the newspaper in town and heard that the mayor has created a Centralia Accessibility committee to enhance the city to comply with the ADA (American Disability Act) for the local merchants and to locate a grant to assist the city and merchants with the cost of the modifications that may be needed.  I have spoken with the original members of the committee and offered my help with knowledge and working with The Services for Independent Living  as a board member as well as my education.  It is in the beginning but i hope to provide go see advancement here in town. 

Ok fellow MWL bloggers and all bloggers in space, My wife, Sue, has asked me why do i blog?  What do all of these people, bloggers, write about.  I gave Sue my answer, that all of you write/talk about everyday things in your life. 

so the question for all of you:

Why do you blog?  What do you write?  Why did you start to a blog site?  

Below are my first two blogs.  Please send this question to your friends and as I would like hear why do we all blog.  I know that everyone has different reasons but it will may interesting reading. 

Thank you all to all leave a comment.

February 08

Thanks for coming!

Thanks for commenting on my first blog and your previous one.  I think I have the hang of it.  Let's see.....

It's cold day but I see you and those up north are much colder than we here in  Centralia, Missouri.  It is cloudy with some sun shining thru.  I hop the sun lets others to see my blog and will send me their blogs.

I have recently retired, if one want to refer to it like that, it has a better ring to it than unemployed, so I have lots of time on my hands.  Let me go to the begging.  I am a social worker.  I have worked in nursing homes and the geriatric populations for some time.  I moved to Columbia, Missouri from St. Louis has one company I was working for wished to move to be centralized for all in Missouri, they served the whole state.  I was the only one from St. Louis that took the offer to move with the company.  Columbia was less polluted in the air, which helped my wife think it was a good move.  It was decided sometime later that they decided they no longer decided my services.  I then worked for a nursing home in a rural area, where I now live, out of the college town .  In 2004 I had a stroke.  I was in the hospital fir two 1/2 seeks.  It was told to me that in my stupor, in and out out consciousness,  I always I thanked the doctors, "Thank You for Coming", ergo my tag of my Blog.  

After months rehab, I decided that I was okay to go back to work.  While I thought the short term memory that was caused by the stroke, was still active and always is.  I found after months back at work that I was forgetting names and items that needed to be entered in my notes for the residents, that it was effecting my Job.  I spoke to my new neurologist and he stated that I was disabled and should seek disability insurance.  I did, was found to be 100% disabled, and here I am, retired and disabled. 

I to have time on my hands and it took awhile for me to find things to do at home.  I found reading a great thing to do.  As  am disabled I was able to get books on tape and a player from a state agency that serves the disabled.  Sitting down and listening to the book I have found that I have gone through many more books that I would ever thought.  After reading I have the Internet.  I like to stay on top of news and politics, though it is too, to, early to be concerned about a possible candidate to run for president in 2008.   I do serve on a board of directors for a local Center for Independent Living, an agency to assist those who are disabled to live in the community.  As I had a disability since birth I did not consider it a hindrance in my life and my life, except for my stroke. 

I also plan to volunteer soon, to offer my education to others.  I know this was long but I thought it was a good way to say hello to you and others.  Please send this blog to others to build up my  friends, I want to hear from others. Until then take care and stay warm,  Let others do the snow plowing until you know that the snow has stopped.  My wife is from Canada, and wants more snow here in Missouri, or at least here in Centralia.  

8:53 AM | Add a comment | Read comments (8) | Permalink | Blog it

February 07

First Blog Test

Yes, This is a test!

Hello everyone.

This my first attempt to blog from my space.  I just want to know that I have found out how to blog out to you.  Your respond will let me know that I have found how to blog to all. 

My space is bland , I would appreciate your help to assist me to add to life to it.  I am sending this out to see if it works.

I hope this is right!  Take care all!!

Steve

I cannot believe it but the birds have gone thru one days refill in one day!  I mean i fill it up at eight in the morning and it is gone by eight in the evening.  I believe it was a new find for the neighborhood birds.  I believe some birds invited their extended family over to have a meal out.  When the bird house was empty the birds continue to poke in the ground to see if they can get any leftovers that fell out.  I will get more seeds today or tomorrow so the birds weekend will be pleasant for them, ain’t i sweet..lol! 

The bird watch update:  A woodpecker came three days ago to get some lunch.  This was my first time i saw a real woodpecker.  I and i bet others have seen one in  movie while going to school.  Or was it Woody Woodpecker?

This weekend here in town is Anchor Fest.  It is named that as AB Chance developed anchors for building radio/electric post, etc.  AB chance is the largest manufacture in Boone County.  The AB Chance rose garden  show twenty two different varieties of roses.  The city square will be closed at 2:00 pm and will be until 3:00 pm on Sunday.  A large crowds shows up for the weekend after Manorial Day.  Take care everyone and have a wonderful weekend.

It is summer now.  It is the day where Sue has her last day of school.  Yesterday was graduation and today is a picnic for the the teachers and their families.  After that she’s free..she is “free-eeee..she’s free..she is free-eee” (think of The Who).  Two days ago i got into my landscaping mode.  I bought a bird house.  it is up now and i will get back to it soon.  I bought our first hanging basket.  i got one as Sue wants to do the rest. 

Ah, the birdhouse…I am sitting next to the open window watching and listen to them chirp.  The house has been up fro four days now and each morning we are glued to them watching them eat and congregate by.  I am considering myself as a bird watcher now.  I have noticed the birds and what they look like.  We have three hummingbirds..robins (there is a mother and a baby who comes together; the mother picks up the seeds and then feeds the baby as he chirps), wrens, cardinals and those blackbirds.  We have a robin that gets seed and then feeds his child that follows mom on the cement of the patio. 

I found that the hummingbirds have reddish  heads.   The blackbirds have bluish tinted heads. 

Ok, bird watchers, When i say blackbirds i am describing crows, right? 

The crows/black birds are pushy little things. the are in groups (safety in numbers i guess) push away all other birds except for today.  I looks like the other birds have decided to fight back and show up while the crows hang on to the house.  I saw the crows push the seeds down to the grass where the family of crows eat the seeds if they house is busy with other customers. Should i get a scarecrow?

When the bird house is open the humming birds arrive.  It appears that we have more humming birds that i thought.  Last year when the humming bird feeder was up i saw only a few humming birds. that i saw.  With the bird feeder we have many humming  birds.  That is a lot of humming going on!

We are going to the faculty picnic, then sue is FREEEEEEEEEE!!!

Thank you friends for your support.  Yeas the stress and worry has been abated. 

On Saturday we spent time as a family to see Vancouver as Brian showed us when we were last there two years ago.  We reminisced what Brian meant to us.  We last saw Brian two years ago.  We ere staying at The Inn at the Westminster Quay (pronounced "Key"). It is on the bank of the Frasier River.  It is located next to the famer's market and  a casino that Brian was proud to show us were he went to shop for food.  Brian took us ut to lunch on the restaurant on the casino and we spent time playing the one-armed bandits.  I believe that Brian did spend time, and money(?) at the card games. 

Sue, Carl and i spent time  doing something's that Brian sowed us.  We took the Sky Train (Think of the “L” in Chicago) to downtown Vancouver to see some sights that we saw with Brian.  All along since we arrived in Vancouver were the mountains.  All along this trip mountains were always there.  We passed over the rocky mountains, Mt. Rainer and all the other’s near Seattle, Washington and all other snowcapped mountains.  Remember, i a from Missouri.  Mountains are are things i remember from pictures and movies when i went to school.  There is nothing better than the mountains.  Vancouver is going to have the winter Olympics  and the mountains are going to be great for the skiing.  It looks Like Vancouver is ready. 

At 4.00PM we went to the funeral home and spent time with Brian.  I want to let all know what is like but you will be able to create your own emotions….

Each time we went to the funeral we walked back to were we were staying. It gave us time to process what happened ad talk about Brian.  We thought about the beauty and happiness Brian brought to people of his church and all the others that he came in contact with.  The beauty of Vancouver and the beauty of Brian made me feel that Brian and Vancouver was a great match. 

On Sunday we went to the church for the memorial.  We met many of Brian's friends when we met two years ago.  Many of them we have had contact with before we came up to Vancouver.  There was a program with Brian’s Testimonial that was given by Brian in it.  Many people came up to talk or sing his favorite songs.  Renee sent an email to Pastor Strum to let the church how she remembers Brian.  As a family we asked Carl to speak for the family.  I forgot how Carl is when he speaks in front of people.  He read the Renee’s email and how he and the family remembers Brian and what he meant to us and all the others that he  met. 

Afterward the had a a small lunch for fellowship for us and all of the church members.  All express their condolences to us.  We spent time with the others and all related their concern for us and their feelings on how Brian died and their feelings on his murder.  We found out that Brian was a person who received all the advise that was given to him but did not follow.  Sue and I knew that Brian was not one to accept our thoughts and what he needed to do for himself and what he needed to do for his family.  Everyone in the church offered help to him what to do with/for Vivian and what he needed to do regarding Robert.  He was a thirty + year old who lived with his mother.  He did not want help from the government and did not want to work. Robert was someone that was refused any kind of help.  Robert had thought that “they” were after him. 

We found out that Brian asked for help and met with the Pastor and others about Robert.  After his move up north to Granisle, he kept in contact with his friends from the church and were he worked in Vancouver (oh, by the way all of his friends from work were also at the memorial) told him that Robert was someone to look out for. 

The family fond out that everyone knew that Brian di not want to to bother others to talk to others about his problems/personal issues.  He did not want to burden others.  He listen to others and their suggestions but did not put the offered help into actions.  He thought that he was able to handle it. 

We knew that Brian was like that, not wanted to bother others about his problems.  Brian knew that everyone loved him and wanted to help him before all this happened. 

Brian we all love you.  You are in a better place.    

Okay guys, it has been a rough rough week.  We are going to go to Vancouver, BC on Wednesday to meet some of the church members and those we have been talking to.  On Saturday there is going to a memorial service for  Brian.  Brian will be joining us. 

There has been no move on burial issue as of this date.  The body is tied up in… i don’t know.  We were told that there is help for the burial and money from his estate is there but it has not been released yet.  let me explain.  Brian’s wife is currently in the hospital due to here current mental status.  she was diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder in their marriage. I do not know how Brian met here, but as sweet (not the right word but the word that describes Brian) disposition is help others he to assist her in living in at home.  Vivian received help from resources in the community.  church members visited often to see what they could  

Right now it appears it is all up in the air.  that Vivian is the only one to release money right now.  unfortunately we, do not have the money to afford a burial for him.  As it has been difficult.  We have know idea when any of this id going to be settled.  The memorial service is the best way we could honor Brian.  I will be gone from Wednesday to Sunday.  I know everyone, You will wait!  I really appreciate all with your thoughts and your prayers.