Laura's Birthday Party!

February 5th, Laura's Birthday! Time to party. First we went out to dinner at Carve, the steak house at Eastside Cannery. We then went into Marilyn's Lounge, where "The Fab" was playing.

We were joined by Leslie, Renee', & many other followers of The Fab, and their Beatles music.

As you can see, we even had a Birthday Cake!

The video is The Fab singing "Birthday" to Laura. Though the latter part is fairly dark, you should be able to recognize a couple dancers.

Hockey game, other items

Yep, Hockey in Las Vegas! Last night we went to see the Las Vegas Wranglers defeat the Bakersfield Condors 5-1, and since the home team scored 5 goals, everyone in attendance got a coupon good for a free taco at Del Taco. Good game (from the home team view), team looked much better than the past couple of times we saw them play. And YES, I wore my "WINGS" shirt! During the game, I reflected on how the game of hockey is played, and decided on my "Thought of the Week" for today.

After the game, we went down to the "Strip" to watch "The Fab", a Beatles tribute band. Great time, busy, Super Bowl Weekend in Las Vegas! Gee, got to bed just before 4:00am, and then over to Samstown for Champagne Brunch this morning.

Now, time for a nap, before watching the Super Bowl.

Postscript:

Darn, as I was finishing this posting, the Detroit Pistons blew an 8 point lead at the end of the 3rd period, and lost their game. Looks like the pistons record in Jan was 6 - 9, and now today? 6 losses in a row at home? And they were looking so good in Dec.

And the Red Wings - now 5 losses in a row, even losing to "Dallas"? Ouch!

Sure hope the experience of the Lions isn't rubbing off on all the Detroit teams. :-) Can we say, "Time to change allegiance"?

On My Soapbox Again!

"Congressman Frank and Senator Dodd wanted the government to push financial institutions to lend to people they would not lend to otherwise, because of the risk of default. ... The idea that politicians can assess risks better than people who have spent their whole careers assessing risks should have been so obviously absurd that no one would take it seriously." -- Thomas Sowell

Was this the beginning of our current economic problems? Maybe not totally, but it certainly was a major factor.

"Serving in Congress is like having a second shot at high school." -- Rep. Barney Frank

Maybe one of these days, he will graduate?

"A famous French economist by the name of Frederic Bastiat once suggested that when social policies turn out to be harmful to the citizenry, it is because politicians often react to economic problems that they can see, without any regard for the unforeseen consequences of their solutions to those problems." -- Jack Chambless

So what are the consequences of the 1st Bailout (TARP), and the proposals now being pushed through Congress? Who really thinks they will solve the crisis we are in? Investors? The Dow was at 9625 on Election Day, today it is at 8077. That tells me that “someone” isn’t sold on the steps our Government is taking.

"People often ask me why I left the Senate, and I always tell them after eight years in Washington, I longed for the realism and sincerity of Hollywood." -- TV actor Fred Thompson, Former U.S. Senaator

I love this comment! Unfortunately, I think many of us really think Washington is “out of touch”. I want President Obama to succeed, not for me personally, but for my kids, grandkids, and especially for my Great-grandchildren. But will he? I am concerned that so many of his appointments are former Washington “insiders”, financial people who couldn’t even pay their own taxes, and yes, even former lobbyist who are given waivers one day after declaring strict ethics rules.

The jury is just being seated, the trial is just beginning. I pray that this GREAT country we live in will come through these difficult times stronger than ever.

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

B-29 Bomber

Homemade B-29 bomber.........
This aircraft runs on four chainsaw motors.
You can just imagine how much time, effort, skill and money these guys have put into this thing.

Enjoy!

http://users.skynet.be/fa926657/files/B29.wmv

End of Parshallburg Bridge?

Some of you may remember the Parshallburg Bridge, which stood along the riverbank in Chesaning's Cole Park where we held some of our Family Reunions. It eventually was placed across the river below the dam as a pedestrian bridge, the entire project cost about $1.4 million dollars. While living in Chesaning, we would often walk down to the bridge, watch the river waters, and just relax.

From the Saginaw News on December 29, 2008.

The single-lane iron bridge stood on the banks of the Shiawassee River in Parshallburg for 109 years. It lasted nine years in Chesaning's Cole Park. Ice floes on the swollen river Sunday morning struck the footbridge, pushing it half off its base.
Just after 2 p.m., the bridge -- on the National Register of Historic Places -- succumbed to the relentless pressure of rushing water and ice and slid into the river, where it floated about 20 yards downstream in seconds and halted against a stand of trees on an island.
Witnesses called it ''the new St. Charles bridge'' as it went.
Photography was still young in 1889, when workers used the ''Thacker'' method to assemble the trusses on the bridge. Sunday afternoon, nearly all the 25 to 30 people watching from the banks held up cell phones to take pictures as the bridge slid. A few videoed the event.

Here is a link to one of those videos, such a sad event!

http://videos.mlive.com/saginawnews/2008/12/parshallburg_bridge_floats.html



Here is a picture of it today.

50 Years!

January 1, 2009. Fifty years ago today, some people said it would never last. Ahhh, but we proved them wrong. And today, we are still together, still love & respect each other, and are looking forward to many more years. We are so fortunate to have family, good friends, and good health so that we may enjoy each new day.

Memories of Christmas 2008

Dutchess opening her gift from Santa.














Dutchess making sure no one else gets her gift from Santa














Dutchess playing with her gift from Santa.


Oh yes, we did go over to Leslie's to have dinner with several members of her family. A good time was had by all!