Today is D-bug’s 10th birthday. We understand there is to be a (cake) party sometime today. We are just waiting to hear when (we can come and have cake) from the Ladybug herself.
(Cake)
did I mention that it is rumored that there will be (cake) sometime today?
Tomorrow, too – as that is the middle bug’s birthday.
yummm – (cake)!
:moose:
When is the last time you dug deep into your family history?
If you have parents and grandparents still living, may I suggest that today is a good day to do so?
My aunt – the youngest sister and only living sibling of my mother – and I have been going through our papers and information recalled from her mother, my grandmother, and others. It’s not easy. As I said – she is the only living sibling. And, she is only 19 years my senior. We had other things on our minds when Grandma Abbott was trying to tell us about her forbears.
I mentioned in passing yesterday that a grandmother had stood her ground before Morgan’s Raiders. The following is deciphered from two accounts – in my Grandmother’s own words:
Grandmother (Elizabeth Ann Jackson) [Lessa!! how about that?!] – when Morgan’s Raiders came – took her riding mare and side saddle – her silver, feather beds and in middle of a corn field took her gun and said if one of those Rebels stuck his head in she would have killed him.
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In the same history of sorts, Grandma tells of both sides of her lineage – at least her memories of same. At the time she wrote it she must have been in her later years, too. She passed away in 1976 when I was 26 years old. She was born in 1893 so that would have made her – what? – 83? I think that’s about right. Anyway, on this Veteran’s Day I would like to salute my Great-great-great(?) grandmother Elizabeth Ann Jackson for her stand against Morgan’s Raiders.Â
I also salute the other veterans in my family history – Arthur Carl LeForge (Army) who was killed in WWI (My great uncle), Robert Ward (Army) who was killed in France in WWII (my uncle), and my father, George C. Mulholland (Army), who served (and was honorably discharged) during WWII.  I salute my nephew, Gary D. Keaton (Navy), who served during Desert Storm.Â
I salute those from my town who are serving currently in Afghanistan and Iraq.    Â
I salute the memory of Lance Corporal Michael H. Laskey (Marines) of Soldotna who died while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar provice. A memorial service will be held Sunday afternoon. Â
Now – you all go out and hug your family members and salute the vets in your town, okay? Â Â
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Yup – the grands are all way too excited. After all, tomorrow is Saturday and they can play, play, play in the white stuff.
As for me? Well, it’s okay and all that – but when is spring? hahahaha
And, for your choosing pleasure – if you are a NaBloPoMo’er, that is –
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My stash of purply moose things is getting smaller, but I am happy to share what I have. So, I have sent an email off to Fussy and the folks over at NaBloPoMo telling them these are up for grabs however they would like to give them away.
I’m looking at this picture and smiling – the curve of the socks makes it look like my little purple moosie signature tag is smiling – too much fun.
I have the day off today – due to it being Veteran’s Day tomorrow. Received an envelope of information from my aunt yesterday – it has lots of family history in my grandmother’s handwriting – kind of cool to read. But it also has the funeral notice of my Uncle Bob who was killed during WWII in France. I knew about him, of course, but the article told me some things I didn’t know about him, too.
My grandmother also lost a brother to war – WWI. And, a great-great grandmother of mine on her side stood up to Morgan’s Raiders!
Lance Corporal Michael H. Laskey of Soldotna died while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar provice. No additional details . . .
Today’s issue of the local newspaper is not online yet, but I will give you the link if you care to check later – Peninsula Clarion.
Mike was a member of the local unit of Young Marines. He and his unit, with his mother being the CO, volunteer each year at my agency’s largest awareness activity. Their help has been invaluable to us.
Two summers ago his then very pregnant wife, also a member of the unit, came along to help. My first sight of her that day was her bending down, then lying down on the ground, to look under her car. I was, gramma that I am, worried that she was either in labor or going to go into labor due to this exertion. She, just like I would have 30+ years ago, laughed off my worries.
Their little girl, Liberty Lynn, was born two months later. Daddy didn’t get to come home for her birth, but did get to come shortly afterwards for a short leave to meet her. His tour was over the following summer.
He signed up for another hitch in March. He called his Mom Wednesday to tell her he loved her. He was killed Thursday.
This is happening all over the United States. And, now it has happened in tiny Soldotna, Alaska. We all grieve with the family.
but let me quote what his mother Carol said to the reporter:
“He knew his chance of being killed over there was very possible, but he felt because he was doing something for his country, he would die for his country.”
“My son wanted to be a Marine. The day 9-11 hit he went and signed on the dotted line.”
Mike will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery at his request. He has asked not to be taken there in a hearse, but in his favorite conveyence – a beach-truck covered in mud. I trust he will get his wish.
And, in 2008 when my granddaughter and I visit Washington D.C. with her eighth grade class, we will look for his gravesite to leave a memorial there.
Rest in peace, Mike. I’m glad to have known you.
The sun is shining brightly through my window . . . and, no, that does NOT mean that it is warm outside. Not on November 4th! Nope – it’s only about 10 degrees! Of course, I am not wearing a coat yet – at least not a WINTER coat. Sheesh, people, what do you think this is – penguin land or somesuch? 😉
I have consented to wearing a sweater under my jean jacket. How’s that for ya? And, believe it or not, someone from another agency came in yesterday (I was womanning the desk for the receptionist who went home ill – a cold – heh) in his shirtsleeves! I teased him gently about it and he assured me that it was probably because of his “eskimo” blood (he IS part native and can say such that might seem non-pc, thank you). And, then – THEN – he told me that he is running the AC in his vehicle. Now, I am almost sure that he was kidding. But he said it with such a straight face on him. 😉
Okay – so this post has gone all over the place and I haven’t even touched on what I was planning to talk about on this here fourth day of NaBloPoMo.
For one thing – I just finished a gripping book by Geraldine Brooks – Year of Wonders: a Novel of the Plague. My boss buys such great books and when she can no longer see over the stack, she boxes them up and brings them in for all of us to enjoy. Sure saves on MY book budget, I’ll tell ya. This is a novelized version of the happenings in the English Village of Eyam (pronounced Eem – although it is not named so in the book – only the writer’s final words) during the outbreak of the Black Plague in the 17th century.
I promise you will enjoy the book – and it looks like they have hardback copies at the place linked for about $5.
okay – for another thing I was going to talk about . . . hubby moose got a job! He starts Monday. He will work during the school hours and on the school calendar – as a shadow for a middle school student whose biggest problem seems to be “inattention”.
After essentially being out of work for a year (we sold our business October 2005) this is welcome – to me, at least. It will help with the groceries and such – and free up a bit of money in the long run. So – all fingers crossed that he keeps his nose clean (hahaha) and finds he can handle the work – which is much different than anything he has done.
I asked about on the job training and he shrugged and told me that they, in essence, told him that he had 7 grandchildren, surely he could handle one more.
In other news . . . tomorrow is little Potty Mouth’s first shopping day with us since this episode . . Â Ladybug, Paw-Paw is working on another project tomorrow, so we will see if we can arrange to take the little guy shopping this evening, okay?
Well, there you have it – dribblings from the nuggety mind of the moose. Hope you all have a wonderful Saturday. Stay warm and dry out there.
:moose: