My Dad

My friend 'M' writes in her blog about Veteran's Day and those that fought and in particular those people that lived during the time of World War II. It made me think of my father.
Dad served on a ship in the Pacific towards the end of the war. He entered the Navy the day after he graduated from High School. He was lucky in that respect. Not everyone was allowed to stick it out long enough to graduate.
He seldom talked about his experiences. Only as he got older, and having been in touch with some ship buddies, did we learn more. We knew he was a radar guy. We were told by a shipmate, Mr Letourneau, who found Dad in Manchester after they had lived in the same town for nearly 30 years, that Dad was given the job because he was smart. He was known as Frenchie because of his very heavy accent. The language thing might have put him in that somewhat isolated position as well.
We don't know how much action he saw but we do have photos of him taken in China. We know he met up with his brother, who was serving as a Photographer on an Air Craft carrier, while on some island out in the middle of nowhere.
He started going to some of his ship's reunions only a few years before he died, much like our friend's dad, Pete did. He loved those reunions. My mom loved them, too. I think it brought them all back to a time when they were so young, vigorous and had nothing but hopes for a better future. Tom Brokaw wrote a book, "The Greatest Generation" about these people.
Dad won a few Medals. My sister did the research and sent to the federal government to get the actual medals. My dad never kept the ones he received at the time.
After coming home and spending some time in prep school, he went to College on the GI bill.
This changed his and the lives of everyone in our family. He didn't go back to the furniture factory his parents worked in, which was meant to be his future. Roland got a degree in accounting with a minor in Philosophy. He was adamant that all his children would go to college. We did and all the children of his children are doing the same.
12 BAs, 5 MAs, 1 CPA, 2 PHDs in progress, 2 undergrads and 2 to go...a legacy from the greatest generation.

Audi add

I saw an add for Audi last night that was filmed in SF. Spouse A and I both responded at the same time when they showed what appeared to be Castro St in Noe Valley.
The very last scene was down along the Embarcadero some place. The besty part was that the view included my Rincon Tower. Yes, it is my personal building. Well, I did do the doors.
It's cool to see buildings you've worked on over the years becom part of a skyline.

Religions A La Carte

I haven't posted lately because I have recognized and now celebrate my laziness.
That being said, have you seen the news about the Anglican Church members being welcomed into the One, Holy and Apostolic Catholic church? How nice.
Anglicans, once upon a time, broke away from the old fashion, fuddy duddy, catholics because the church had an issue with d-i-v-o-r-c-e. It appears they might be craving some of those old time conservative values they shunned so long ago.
The Anglican church is very much in line with the teachings of the catholic church, using the Bible and old catholic teachings but with a bit of the Reformation tossed in where needed to mellow out those old Roman rules.
So now the Anglicans are ticked off that women can become priests, gays can get married, and the worse case scenario, a gay can become a priest (Bishop even!!!). Jesus, what next? A married lesbian priest?
Well, the club that wanted to break away because the constraints of man made rules didn't suit their needs, is now angry that they are loosing that power to a new society where white, powerful men don't reign supreme.
Aren't churches all a bit crazy?

How does one get away with this?

A 61 year old girls basketball coach repeatedly rapes a 16 year old autistic child under his tutelage and all he gets is 2 1/2 years, max.
Sex is legal with a 16 year old in North Carolina.
She's not retarded, only disabled. According to the law, she should have been able to just said no.
The bastard that took advantage of this kid was arrested for having sexual relationship with someone under his temporary guardianship. Hell, even if that was the appropriate call, which it wasn't, 2 1/2 years is far too little time to spend in prison being someone's bitch.

Trying to be cool.

I listen to 'Accuradio (accuradio.com) from my desk often. They have all sorts of stations to choose from...Broadway tunes to French Canadian Pop. I lean towards Broadway, the 70s's and Traditional Folk Music.
Well, I was going to give Contemporary R&B and Urban sounds a try. I was grooving with the tunes. Sure. Hell, I wouldn't know Chris Brown if he hit me.
I'm more of a Motown chick.
Well, I finally liked a song sung by a girl group named 'Total'. I even did a Wikipedia search. They disbanded in 2000.
How cool am I?

Things I haven't done. . .

. . since moving to the southeast.
Worn long pants more than the one time I wore jeans to the movies.
Wear anything but sleevless t-shirts and shorts to work.
Wear socks, except for those little white anklets you wear with golf shoes.
Bitch about traffic.
Sleep with a blanket.
Not go a day without thinking about my friends in SF.
This was taken in our back yard.

He throws like a girl!

Since the suggestion came from the mouth of Rush "the Oxy Ass' Limbaugh, I don't think it was a compliment. It seems like all the sports sites on the web have used the same line.
I doubt if many men of Obama's age, could throw any better than he did but that's not why I felt a need to comment.
My issue is why is it a weakness thing and why does weak = girlie, girl? And unless you're into beating the crap out of someone, or need to kill a large animal with your bare hands to bring back to your breeder in the cave, tools and weapons have somewhat leveled the physical strength playing field. Sarah Palin can drop a moose with one shot.
Actually any man would be damn lucky to be able throw like a girl..say like Cat Osterman, Jennie Finch or the 3 time Olympic gold metal winner, Lisa Fernandez. My favorite all time softball star, Spouse A, never allowed a stolen base from her position as catcher.
Girls can throw.