An old adventure…
Houston Astrodome Katrina Disaster
Originally uploaded by Houstonian.
"Hope is the thing with feathers
that perches in the soul
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all
And sweetest in the gale is heard."
Emily Dickinson
Sept 5 (Irish Examiner) Europe ‘ready’ as US asks for help
Sept 4 (LA Times) — Depite warnings, Washington Failed to Fund Levee Projects
Sept 3 (CNN) — At a New Orleans street corner, Lt. Gen. Russel Honore directed the deployment of National Guard troops
His staff calls him the ragin cajun.
Sept 3 (CNN) — New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin calls Lt. Gen. Russel Honore a “John Wayne dude” who can “get some stuff done.”
WASHINGTON, Sept. 3, 2005 – President Bush announced today the deployment of 7,000 more active-duty forces to support hurricane relief operations along the Gulf Coast.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 2, 2005– As National Guard vehicles forded floodwaters in downtown New Orleans today delivering critical relief supplies and helping law enforcement officials restore order, workers from the Army Corps of Engineers were focused on draining the city and repairing gaps in its levee system.
Sept 1 (DOD) Special Defense Department Briefing with Commander of Joint Task Force Katrina
DOD Briefing
A small boy is sent to bed by his father.
Five minutes later… “Da-ad….”
“What?” “I’m thirsty. Can you bring me a drink of water?”
“No, go to sleep. ”
Five minutes later… “Da-aaaad….”
“WHAT?” “I’m THIRSTY. Can I have some water?”
I told you NO! Don’t ask me again or you will get a spanking!”
Five minutes later… “Da-aaaaaad…..”
“WHAT!” “When you come in to spank me, can you bring some water?”
It has happened twice now. Faith (my dog) and I were out up a local canyon dirt road this evening. She was running and I was riding my bike. We were on our way back home when someone passed us on a motorcycle. It was a bit crazy for a moment keeping an eye on her without falling off of my bike, and then I saw it. A coyote saw Faith and came for her out of the weeds. The coyote’s back arched and started moving slowly towards Faith. Not knowing what to do, I yelled at the coyote which stopped it in its tracks. But then it started after Faith again. I yelled at the coyote again got Faith moving and off we fled. As I was peddling I kept an eye out for the coyote which turned out was following us from a while. This has been the second time this has happened in the last month.
Babies below our window
Originally uploaded by TheGrandDad.
These hummingbird babies are just a couple of days old. When we found them they were very curious. Maybe they were waiting for mom to come back with the groceries.
Press the picture for a closer view.
Today at 6/16/2005 01:53:25 PM PDT our whole family felt a 5.3 earthquake though we were several miles apart. The quake originated 16 mi. ( 26 km) ESE of San Bernardino, CA. I was on the 9th floor of a building in Glendale and you could feel the whole building sway. That was not so bad but when the announcement over the loud speaker said there could be aftershocks and to stay away from the windows is when everyone got a bit nervous.
My wife today delivered her first baby after more than 20 years working as a nurse.
My son today received an offer for a new position.
Today has been exceptional.
Lion-Cat
Originally uploaded by TheGrandDad.
I thought with all the press talking about the war in Iraq, it would be interesting to see a face of one of our warriors. He seems like someone that would live next door.
A 4 year old boy came screaming out of the bathroom to tell his mother he’d dropped his toothbrush in the toilet. The mother fished it out and threw it in the garbage. The boy stood there thinking for a moment, then ran to the bathroom and came out with his mother’s toothbrush. He held it up and said with a charming little smile, “We better throw this one out too then, ’cause it fell in the toilet a few days ago.”
(Written after she found out she was dying from cancer.)
I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren’t there for the day.
I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.
I would have talked less and listened more.
I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.
I would have eaten the popcorn in the ‘good’ living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.
I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.
I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.
I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.
I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains.
I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.
I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn’t show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.
Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I’d have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.
When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, “Later. Now go get washed up for dinner.” There would have been more “I love yous.” More “I’m sorrys.”
But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute…look at it and really see it.. live it and never give it back. Stop sweating the small stuff.
Don’t worry about who doesn’t like you, who has more, or who’s doing what.
Instead, let’s cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us.
After the rain
Originally uploaded by TheGrandDad.
This is what I found just up the canyon from where we live just after the recent rain. It looks like Mother Nature won another one yet again.