SUNDAY BLOG

I'm considerring changing the name of this to,"
Sunday Blog".
It seems that Sunday is the only day that I ever have the motivation to write.

As Sundays go here in the frozen tundra we call New England, this one is marvelous.
There's a beautiful deep blue sky, the temp. is a balmy 17 degrees, and the sun shining through the snow covered pines makes a sparkle. If it was January this would all be fantastic.
However, it is February.
Where's the 50 degrees, and melting snow?
I'm ready to bitch about some mud...
Here's a couple of pictures, because we all know, "a picture is worth a thousand words".

I was amazed at how the snow looked like a blanket draped over the car.

Our driveway is usually a mud rut by now.
Spring will come.
Soon.
I hope.

Heard from Matt, Friday.
It' was a tough week in Diyala Province.
The 4th BDE lost a couple of men on the 17th.

(I'll be putting together a second post with info today).

And his platoon was on patrol in a neighborhood when a suicide bomber took out a crowd of people.
He and his fellow soldiers got to help with the clean up.
All in all he wasn't very upbeat.
A friend asked, "what do you say when he shares this kind of information".
I guess there's no clear answer to that question.
I try to be supportive.
Tell him that, "it's all part of the job." "Hang in there, it'll get better." All the while wishing that he wasn't there, and didn't have to see and be a part of these things that no human being should have to endure.
We can only hope that he'll be one of the lucky ones.
Those who can put it all behind them, pick up the pieces, and live a happy successful life.
If he survives it.
Matt has a degree in criminology. He, at one time, aspired a career in police work. The last time he was home he talked of maybe going into fire fighting and EMT work. What he's dealing with in Irag should be good training for what he will have to deal with in either line of work.
Or change his mind about what he wants to do.
They've received word that they should be home, May 1st or 15th. Or June 1st or 15th.
He complains about never getting a definite answer about the timing of anything.
Yet knows there's a reason for that.
You never know who's watching, and reporting to the enemy.
Especially with Iraqis working for subcontractors on all of the FOBs.
But that's a story for another post.
They're suppose to be regrouping, the brigade was divided up and sent to many different areas, and heading to Kuwait, in the next month or so.
Once there they clean and pack everything up to go on a boat and ship back to the port of Washington.
I'm like a kid waiting for Christmas.
The day that I see them march onto that parade field, to be dismissed, at FT. Lewis will be one of the happiest days of my life.

SUNDAYS IN NEW ENGLAND

Today I’ll share with you a very well kept secret.

Keene, New Hampshire.

Keene is located in the south west corner of New Hampshire.

While it is not a hot spot of tourist attractions, it is a beautiful little city with a lot to offer. This is a picture of Keene as it usually looks this time of year. After three weeks of rain and snow, and lower than average temperatures, we won't see this lovely view for another week or two.

The downtown area of Keene, Central Square pictured above, is a wonderful place to stroll, shop, and just relax and take in the views. For information on the city, and what to do, where to stay and dine, and area attractions,

CHECK HERE

If your planning on being in Keene in the fall, the world famous Pumpkin Festival,

takes place the third weekend in October.
If you are not afraid of crowds, this can be an amazing extravaganza.
If you want to attend this year, you are probably to late to get a room, as they book up from one year to the next.

I would recommend a visit to the beautifully refurbished Colonial Theatre while in Keene.

For information check here.THE COLONIAL THEATRE

If your visit brings to Keene during the summer season and you are a baseball fan, don't miss the Swamp Bats.


A perennial power in the NECBL, they are a treat to watch.
Several former Swamp Bats are playing in the major leagues at this time.
Alumni Field, the home of Swamp Bats baseball is a beautiful setting on a warm summer evening to take in a game of baseball, the way it ought to be played.
For all the information you'll need, CLICK HERE

This is but a small sampling of things to enjoy in the Keene area.
I'll try to feature more attractions in this wonderful area of New England in future Sunday morning posts.

I can be contacted by following my email address posted in the information section of the blog, for more personalized information.

SUNDAY MORNING IN NEW ENGLAND

Sunday Morning in New England, and you are here in person to witness the very first post of what I hope to be many in a series of blatherings about my corner of the world.
Those of you who visit this space on a regular basis know that I have a different twist on a lot of different things.
I like to cruise the Internet and find things to put up that can be thought provoking, inspiring, or sometimes make you want to delete me, and my blog, from the face of the blogosphere.
A couple things you need to know before wandering into my world.
I am accepting of most everybody.
Even though it may not always look it.
I don't intend to hurt feelings, or demean anyone.
Keep in mind that during serious posts I will employ spell check, but at other times I write in hic mode, so hooked on phonics is the modus operandi.
And I ain't takin no shit about it without retorting in kind.
Except from,Suzy , who writes a great blog, and use to give me grief about such things a diction, spelling and grammar.
She's to embarrassed by me to add me to her blog roll.
I consider her a friend anyway.

You may feel free to post comments.
If your writings are hilarious, I might ask you to be a guest author.
Just keep in mind when commenting.
I operate by the law of payback. And, I show no mercy!!
PLEASE, whether you comment or not, take the time to put a pin in my map. The Bravenet button over to the left there. I want to brag about where y-all (I'm from southern NE) come from!!
So please, take a few minutes to look around, stick the map, and comment if you care to.

The picture to the top is of Mount Monadnock. This is a view I get to see every day. The name is from the Squantum native American, (I still call em Indians)but my friend and co part native American, Mohawk Chieftan the chief gets a little testy with me about it., and means something like vast up cropping of rock.
It is located in Jaffrey New Hampshire and considered to be the second most climbed mountain in the world.
To see and learn more about Monadnock, check it out here. Jaffrey.
Anyone thinking about visiting New England, drop me a line, I can get you a wealth of information, and save you some time and aggravation.
In future Sunday Mornings In New England posts, I will feature other areas of interrest in this neck of the woods.

Today is the second of life without being able to get in touch with Matt.
As you can see, he shares the old man's sarcastic way.

His unit flew out on Friday eve or early Saturday morning with stops in Bangor, Maine, Ramstein Germany, and destination Kuwait.
He is on black out, and we probably won't hear from him until next week sometime.
All we know is that they are to train in Kuwait for a month, and then they are headed somewhere north.
I actually know a little more than that, but would not disclose it in this forum.
So this morning at eight am the phone rings bringing on the first attack of anxiety.
Who the hell is calling us on Sunday morning, no one ever calls us on Sunday morning!!Ah hell was there a plane crash, oh god.
I remember that I am on call for the business I manage, in case questions arise, but no, it's not them, my wife has answered the phone at the other end of the house, and I don't hear anything alarming going on in her tone, so I start to breathe normally, and the sick feeling in the pit of my stomach goes away.Turns out it's just son #2 wanting the s.o.p for Easter dinner.
Our tradition has turned from the big family gathering at grams house to us, my wife and I, taking the family out for a relaxing dinner, and conversation. No cooking, dishes, and cleaning.
The one empty seat at this years table is going to be hard to deal with.
Back to the phone call. he wrote, eyes welling with tears. It is certain too be the first of many over the next twelve, fourteen, or who knows how many months.
We keep telling ourselves "we'll get through this, everything will be alright", but deep down inside we know that this may not be true.
So if you are amongst those lucky enough to enjoy this wonderful celebration of the coming of spring with your family in tact. Please take a moment to think of all the families who will have someone out there doing the things that need to be done to insure that we are free to enjoy our way of life here in the greatest country on earth.
If your of a mind to, say a little prayer for all in harms way.
May god bless and keep them safe, and may you and yours enjoy health,happiness and prosperity in the coming months.

HAPPY EASTER.

PS. I was going to post an article from the Providence Journal about the lengths some individuals will go in the zeal to protect kids from religion. And to be politically correct.
It is this old guys opinion that this is what's wrong with our world.
An excerpt from the article.
TIVERTON — The ban on the Easter Bunny’s appearance at the middle-school craft fair today has raised the ire of cottontail lovers everywhere — especially at the New York offices of the Catholic League.
At the direction of Schools Supt. William Rearick, Peter Rabbit will replace the Easter Bunny at a photo booth sponsored by the Parent-Teacher Council at today’s craft fair, a switch that caught the attention of Catholic League president Bill Donahue in Manhattan.
Donahue, who represents 300,000 members nationwide, said in a statement that it is “unconscionable that in this day and age Superintendent Rearick would choose to honor a thief.”
“As every schoolchild knows, Peter Rabbit stole from Mr. McGregor’s garden,” Donahue said.
READ MORE.