Classmates, Indialantic, FL, 27 February 2009

This has been a gathering of a few of the folks who graduated from Warren G. Harding High School in Warren, OH in 1958. We have some activities planned for tomorrow then this blogger will begin the trek homeward on Sunday. I have to be at a rehearsal in Pittsburgh by 7 pm on Tuesday. And of course I'm not going straight home. Too many friends.

Southern bloggers plus me

We ate at Feast in Decatur, GA.

I tend to not identify the people in my photos unless they are easily identifiable elsewhere. These include this, this and this among others.

Question of the day. Why are the bloggers I love so funny?

Friday cat blogging on Saturday

Cliff and Heath

Heath

Cliff

New Bern

Lisa, Shel and Margaret

Friday cat blogging: Bishop Maya Pavlova, FBE

and her Canon to the Extraordinary on 20 February 2009

Non Sequitur Silly Meme

1. Grab the nearest book - no matter what it is. Textbook, novel, pop-up book, building code study guide, whatever.
2. Turn to page 25.
3. Read the 10th word on that page, or the following if that one is blank.
4. Type that word into Google Image search.
5. Post the third image.
6. Tag 4 people and tell them.
7. Link back to this post

Here's the result!

And I won't tag anyone. Thanks to Padre Mickey, FranIAm and Facebook folks as well.

The book is When in Doubt, Sing by Jane Redmont with whom I'm doing lunch tomorrow.

On to the party

Happy birthday, Paul.

Lee's roomies

Oscar

Hildy

Willa

Clarabelle

Emmanuel Episcopal, Bristol, VA

Lee, Shel and Kim at Emmanuel.

On the road again

The bed is covered with clothing to be sorted into days then packed. I'm headed south tomorrow night after Bach Choir rehearsal. The first stop will be at a motel near Weston, WV. Wednesday morning I have a 6:30 am breakfast date with Janis. From there I'm headed to Bristol, TN after a stop at Tamarack. I'll stay one night with Lee (permission required to access blog) and hope I have a chance to at least give Kim a hug. From there I'll travel to Hickory, NC to attend the 60th birthday party of a Lutheran pastor friend. On Friday I'll cross North Carolina hoping to visit Jane then family before landing in Sharecropper's home for a couple of nights. Sunday I'll be back on the road to Kennesaw, GA where I'll replace a blueberry iMac with a slotloading iMac for my friend. While there I have a dinner date with Suzer and Luiz. From there I will go to a mini-high school reunion in Indialantic, Florida. If any of those folks have blogs or are on Facebook, I don't know about them. I'll stop at our folks' surrogate kids' on the way home and be in Pittsburgh in time for rehearsal on 3 March.

Did I mention that I like to drive?

Why I'm not a Republican

Years ago I left the Republican Party in disgust when all they wanted to do was impeach President Clinton. I am still a Republican to some extent tho not one of these Republicans. I believe in fiscal responsibility and as little government as possible. I have a Libertarian streak.

I'm also somewhat socially liberal tho I believe people need to assume responsibility for their own behavior and survival.

Unlike the people who now claim the label Republican, I care about people. Let the super rich share the terror the rest of us know as their greed which convinced them to invest with Madoff has reduced them to something resembling us for a change.

But I resent the Republicans who now populate Congress especially the House of Representatives. Is there no free-thinking Republican there who cares about the people served? The three senators who violated the rules are already reaping the anger of those who believe the party should be uniformly opposed to anything the Dems come up with. What ugliness!

The Republican Party is the domain of hate despite the "Christianity" many profess. They are an embarrassment to the Gospels. The party controls those in Congress via punishment. They are cruel. Ugh.

Microsoft to open retail stores

So of course, someone had to comment. See 10 ways Microsoft's retail stores will differ from Apple's. snicker.

Ice still on the lake

This is the spot. Always a thrill to see them even after 40 years.

Friday cat blogging

The gals eye each other.

Dude looks up from breakfast.

Jellico waits.

He waited awhile.

Friday shuffle

1. Good Lovin' - Young Rascals
2. Stoned Soul Picnic - Fifth Dimension
3. Zosia Polka
4. Sweet Dreams - Tommy McLain
5. Dawson: Soon-ah Will Be Done - Bach Choir of Pittsburgh
6. Pandora's Golden Heebie Jeebies - The Association
7. Abraham, Martin and John - Dion
8. Anon: Salve Mater Redemptoris - Anonymous 4
9. Make Me Smile - Chicago
10. Sunrise Serenade - Glenn Miller Orchestra

And an extra that Greg Smith posted on Facebook. I've loved this since we sang it in chapel at Westminster Choir College.

Prayers for Roseann

Our friend Roseann from Beliefnet's Anglican/Episcopal discussion board, the blogosphere and Facebook is in the hospital. She needs a kidney transplant and seems to be failing. She's having a tough time keeping a positive attitude. Please help us send healing love and light by whatever method you use to do such things. And support organ donation!

(Click on invitation to enlarge)

2009 thaw

R.I.P. Mary Louise Herrick

Another good organist went to the other side Saturday. Mary Lou Herrick played and directed at Mount Airy Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia for many years. After her husband Clyde died she moved to our town which was actually her husband’s hometown where they still owned a home. Mary Lou was active in the American Guild of Organists and for years sponsored the third prize for improvisation. She studied with and babysat for Vincent Persichetti. She was 81.

Fire comes very close

Fires in Australia are killing people as well as destroying property. One came too close to our friend Alcibiades for comfort. He hasn't blogged about it but he told us he is ok in the comments on OCICBW.

If you are so inclined, please pray for rain for the Australians, do a rain dance or implore the rain gods in any method you think might work.