crumpets and tea (:: 2008

June 19, 2008

coast;

This weekend at the coast was very lovely, minus a few unsightly outbursts from bickering family members (including myself). The spreading of my grandfather's last ashes was very beautiful. Regardless of the people on the jet skis, I believe that he would have loved where we released him; where I finally decided to let him go. It was nice to give him one last thing for his Father's Day, be it my birthday or not. It was the only gift that I wanted and thankfully my family supported me. Here are some pictures complimentary of myself and a few from Cristen. (: (Just click to enlarge them.)

June 1, 2008

loving memories

Today is going to be a special day. I want everyone to remember and pray for the families of those who have lost a loved one. No, they have not died in battle. In fact most have passed on from natural causes. Having experienced the feeling of loss for the first major time in my life, I think it's decent to remember those who others have thought to be forgotten. Those who pass on will always live on as long as their memories never die. (Each obituary has been taken out of a newspaper from that state. I took the first name displayed on the list. There was no bias. Also, some states did not have obituaries from today, so please don't be offended that you don't see exactly fifty.)

BAGWELL, VERA COLEMAN,_{age 90, of Morris, AL, passed away on May 31, 2008. She was a member of Glennwood Baptist Church. She has been a resident of St. Martin's-in-the-Pines for the last nine years. She was preceded in death by husband, Robert Jason Bagwell; granddaughter, Pamela Abney; and sister, Mildred Horst. She is survived by her three daughters, Sara Owen-Wiley (Ron), Mildred Abney (John) and Nancy Hodges (James); five grandchildren; and three great grandchildren. Graveside service will be held on Monday, June 2, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. at Glennwood Baptist Cemetery in Morris. Rev. David Bays officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to New Beacon Hospice.}

Abood, Mitchell,_{Former Alaska state Sen. Mitch Abood, 87, died peacefully May 24, 2008, in Anchorage. "Mitch lived a life as large as Alaska, filled with humor, friendship and achievement," his family wrote. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Fort Richardson National Cemetery. Everyone is welcome. Assemble at the main gate (Glenn Highway and Arctic Valley Road) by 1:30 p.m. for escort to the cemetery. After the Fort Richardson graveside service, a celebration of life for this "remarkable man" will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. at O'Malley's on the Green. Mitch was born Feb. 14, 1921, in Plattsburgh, N.Y., to Mitch and Marion Abood, spending his formative years in North Creek, N.Y. Mitch came to Alaska in 1946 while serving in the military. He served with distinction in the U.S. Army during World War II in the European Theatre, where he earned the Combat Infantryman Badge and was awarded the Bronze Star, a Purple Heart and nine other decorations. Upon leaving the military, Mitch was in sales with MONY, 3M and later heavy equipment, which he thoroughly enjoyed. He loved theater and had the opportunity to play Tevye in "Fiddler on the Roof" in 1970 in Anchorage. Mitch served in the Alaska state House and Senate from 1981 to '88 and served as majority whip and chairman of the Committee on State Affairs. Mitch was responsible for the first comprehensive revision of Alaska's drunk driving law. Mitch also distinguished himself as a senior citizen. Few will ever forget his 65th birthday, when the candles on his birthday cake set off the smoke alarm in his legislative office, resulting in the evacuation of the entire state Capitol building in Juneau. There was not enough cake to go around that day. Mitch was a lieutenant colonel and deputy wing commander in the Civil Air Patrol during the 1970s and 1980s and joined the Alaska State Defense Force in 1987. After retiring from the Senate, he became commander of the Alaska State Defense Force in 1993. The adjutant general awarded him the Alaska Distinguished Service Medal. He achieved the rank of major general. Mitch also served as a chapter commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Chapter 593. His family wrote: "Among his many accomplishments, Mitch loved umpiring for the American Legion and Babe Ruth leagues as well as the Glacier Pilots. Whenever it was time for a young batter to take a base on balls, umpire Abood was known for telling the player to take a walk in the sun. It is with abiding love that we now say the same to Mitch. "Mitch adored Alaska and the wonderful fishing on the Kenai River with his wife Dinah and many other friends. Golf became a favorite pastime in recent years. He loved life, and life loved him back." Mitch leaves his beloved wife and best friend of 35 years, Dinah Abood of Anchorage; and three sons from his former marriage to Viveen Abood: Patrick of Anchorage and Gary and Jon Washington. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Chapter 593, 1945 N. Salem Drive, Anchorage 99508.}

Helen "Mickey Dominguez" Akers,_{85, of Scottsdale, Arizona passed
away on May 29, 2008. A lifelong resident of Scottsdale, Helen was preceded in death by her parents, Guadalupe and Miguel Dominguez and sisters Gloria West and Jessie Noriega. She is survived by daughters Sandra Jones and Linda Clutter and sisters Lupe Sedgemore, Connie Yniguez, Esperansa Dominguez, Amparo Acevedo and brothers Greg and Mike Dominguez. She also leaves 6 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at 7:00 PM Sunday, June 1st, at Messinger Mortuary, 7601 E. Indian School Rd., Scottsdale.}

BACCETTI, Elsie,_{A long time resident of Sacramento, passed peacefully on Tuesday, May 27th at the age of 93. Widow of Italo Baccetti. Beloved mother of her children, Marge Scomazzon, Elaine Carrington and Jerry Baccetti. Grandmother to Scott Carrington, Michele Miller and great-grandmother to Alyssa and Kristin Miller.}

Bain, Minnie,_{Sept 15, 1926 - May 29, 2008 Minnie Bain came into the world on September 15, 1926 in Lubbock, Texas. She was the youngest of 3 girls born to parents Sam and Esther Schmerman. Rose is the eldest sister and lives in Denver with her husband Julius. Dorothy, the middle sister recently passed away. Min's family eventually moved to Denver where she attended East High School, The University of Colorado, and The University of Denver. She married the love of her life Norton Bain on August 5, 1945. Together they shared 63 years and brought 3 children into the world: Steven (spouse Yani) of New Zealand, Jeffrey (spouse Anat) of Denver and Teri Rajinder (spouse Harbhajan) of Taos, New Mexico. Min is also survived by her grandchildren Moriah Jo (spouse Bradley), Sheldon Jeffrey, Dylan and her great-grandson Hayden Joseph. Min was an elegant lady who had a lot of energy and enthusiasm for life. People were often taken with her spunk and social elegance. Min was partnered with her husband in philanthropic and charity work, business and politics. She had a natural talent for communication, this coupled with her intuition and intellect made her a wonderful help-mate for Nort and his ventures. When their children were young she was what we would now call a Soccer-Mom, active in their activities and of course driving them here and there. Her participation in life was not limited to raising a family and work. Min was a natural athlete from childhood. She loved the competitive nature of sports. In her younger years she was active as a Tennis player and later on turned to golf. Winning a golf game was not the only part of the sport she loved, her favorite part of the game was the many wonderful friends she made. She would say that the way to improve your game was to play with so many incredible and varied people. These friends have become family and they have been very dear and close to her heart. Her presence, joy and accomplishments will live on in the lives of those people she shared her journey with. We will all remember her wonderful smile, her sweet nature and her love of life. We will miss her honesty, her bright energy, grace and dignity. She will be sorely missed by her family and friends. Funeral services for Min will be on Monday, June 2nd, 11:30am at Sons of Israel Cemetery in Colorado Springs.}

Brechlin, Carl R.,_{53, of 42 Sandy Lane, husband of Mary Ellen Deno Brechlin, died unexpectedly Friday, May 30, 2008, at Frederick Memorial Hospital in Frederick, MD.}

Brittingham, Russell D.,_{of Salisbury, formerly of Selbyville, Del., passed away on Friday, May 30, 2008, at home. He was 78. He was born to the late Dee and Mildred Williams Brittingham on April 18, 1930. Russell was a retired banker retiring with 46 years of service. He retired in 1995 from the Baltimore Trust Co. in Selbyville, Del. Russell was formerly a member of Salem United Methodist Church, Selbyville. He was a member of Asbury United Methodist, Salisbury, a member of the Doric Masonic Lodge 30 A.F. & A.M., Millville, Del., and the Delaware Consistory, Wilmington, Del. Russell was a veteran of the Korean War serving in the U.S. Navy. He was an avid golfer. He was a member of the Ocean City Golf Club and a member of the Salisbury Elks Club, Salisbury. Russell had been a member of the American Institute of Banking. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Iris Clogg Brittingham who passed in 2000. He is survived by his fiance, Shirley Tyndall; a brother, Wayne L. Brittingham and his wife Doris of Dagsboro, Del.; a niece, Denise J. Farber of Dagsboro; two great- nieces, Katlyn and Kara Farber; adopted sons, Tim Tyndall and his wife Beth of Newark, Md., Larry Tyndall and his companion Bob Feuer of Kansas City; and adopted grandchildren, Danny, Megan, and Ashley.}

BARITZ, REBA,_{June 1, 1918 - June 1, 2008 Happy 90th Birthday! Your beautiful presence, warm smile, sense of humor and generous love are missed each and every day. Stanley, Sidney, RIckey, Margie, Jeffrey, Janie, Allison, Ted, Andrew, Kylie and Ashley.}

Aguon, Jesus Fejeran,_{We, the family of the late Jesus Fejeran Aguon Have been blessed with relatives, friends, service providers and Spiritual Leaders who surrounded us with love and support during our loved ones' passing, rosaries and funeral. Our hearts will forever treasure the overwhelming deeds of compassion and support we received. We ask our Eternal Father to look upon each of you with kindness, to bless you, and to continue supporting you, for we are certain of your goodness.}

ACOSTA, LOUIS "PAPO",65, of Honolulu, died May 27, 2008. Born in New York. A retired truck driver; U.S. Army veteran. Survived by wife, Janet; sons, Eric and Baron; granddaughter, Casey; sisters, Norma Rodriguez, Catherine Pirez and Brunhilda.

Anderle,Sherril Lee,_{Sherril was born on Sept. 30, 1943 to Lee and Norma Forbes in Emmett, Idaho. She passed away on May 28, 2008. Her father was killed in Italy in World War II. She gained a new father when Bill Chamberlin married Norma on May of 1947. They have been father and daughter since that time. Sherril was raised in Boise and attended Jefferson, South Junior High and graduated from Borah High in 1961 with honors. She then graduated from the University of Southern California. While at USC she met her future husband, David Anderle. They were both active in the drama department and starred in plays at USC. She married David Anderle on July 30, 1967. They made their home in Los Angeles where David was in the entertainment business. They were blessed with a son, Jonathan, in May of 1971. Sherril was loved by everyone for her kind and gentle ways and loving and forgiving nature. She is survived by her husband, David Anderle of Los Angeles; son, Jonathan Anderle of Los Angeles; and her father, Bill Chamberlin and his wife, Drue of Boise, Idaho. She was preceded in death by her father, Lee Forbes; her mother, Norma Chamberlin; and brother, Gale Chamberlin.}

Beilman, Michael Edward,_{died peacefully at his home, surrounded by his family, May 29, 2008 after a brief, but courageous battle with cancer. Michael was born in Aurora, April 21, 1948. Our hearts are broken, but we are comforted knowing that he has moved forward to everlasting life. We would like to share some of Michael's long list of accomplishments with you. After graduating from NIU, Mike worked for Arthur Anderson in Chicago. He was then approached by Jerry Nickels of Aurora, and along with Jerry, formed the partnership of Nickels, Beilman & Co. In 2005, Mike, using his incredible foresight, merged and became a partner at Mueller and Co. based in St. Charles. Mike served with the National Guard for six years. He was on the Board of Directors and was Chairman of the Finance Committee for Rush-Copley Medical center in Aurora. He was also Chairman for an Annual Fund Raising for the hospital. He was on the Aurora Downtown Committee for the city of Aurora, along with the Committee for Land in downtown Aurora. He had been on the Board of Directors and was the Treasurer for the Aurora Chapter of Girl Scouts. Mike was on the Board of Directors of AID for ten years, along with being the President of the organization during his service. He was on the Board of Directors of the BAR Foundation as well as the Treasurer. Mike was on the Board of Directors for the Aurora Country Club for six years. To add to this list, Mike wrote a chapter concerning the understanding of finances for the American Journal of Family Law. His list of degrees and accreditations included CPA, CCIM, ABV, and CVA. He was one of only 42 CPA's in the US to also have the CCIM accreditation. Michael is preceded in death by his parents, Normajeanne and Andrew Beilman. He is survived by the love of his life, his wife of 36 years, Trish; his children, Ryan (Phillip Banasiak), Lauren, Raegen (Douglas) Thatcher; grandchildren, Billy and Sadie; and sister, Barb (Bill) Stanley. The family wishes to thank the many doctors and staff members at Rush-Copley Cancer Care Center for their kindness and loving care, along with Seasons Hospice. You have all helped us through this very sad time in our lives. Donations to either organization would be very much appreciated and welcomed. To all of our many friends and family, thank you for lifting our hearts at time when they have been so heavy, they've forgotten how to fly.}

Arrowood, William Drew,_{72, died Friday, May 30th. Service, Monday 1pm at McGill Baptist Church. Visitation, Sunday 6-8pm at Wilkinson Funeral Home, entrusted.}

Amabile, Ernest A.,_{84, died Thursday, May 29, 2008 in the Hospice Inn at St. Peter's Hospital. Born in Benevento, Italy, he was the son of the late Henry W. and Guillimina Pescatore Amabile. Ernest was a service connected disabled U.S. Army World War II veteran, serving in both the European and Pacific Theaters. He retired from the New York Central Railroad and began a career in the insurance industry, retiring in 1985. He was predeceased by his wife, Margaret N. Logan Amabile in January of 1998. He was the beloved father of Ernest Amabile (Elaine), Patricia Ann Ficalora, Deborah Horton (Steven) and Mark S. Amabile; grandfather of Steven Horton (Melissa), Sarah Martin (Christopher), Rachel Amabile, Nicholas Amabile, Cara Ficalora, Alison Amabile and Katelyn Ficalora; brother of Jane Ferrara (Anthony) and the late Lena Falzano; uncle of Judy Wesley (Charles); several other nieces and nephews survive Ernest. Funeral services Monday at 8:15 a.m. from the McVeigh Funeral Home, 208 North Allen Street, Albany thence to St. Catherine of Siena Church, Albany at 9:00 a.m. where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated.}

Bency, Frederick Charles,_{passed away from cancer in Florida Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008. He was a resident of Alamogordo during most of his childhood and teenage years, and graduated from Alamogordo High School in 1973. He was a member of the Pipe Fitters Union and worked both as a pipe fitter and welder. He is survived by his daughter Roseanna Bency and three brothers, Michael Bency, of Topeka, Kan.; David Bency, of Rio Rancho; and Douglas Bency, of Moriarty. A memorial service will be held at Monte Vista Cemetery Saturday, May 31, 2008, at 10 a.m. Fred was a gentle person who cared much about children and animals. He was gifted in raising and training horses. Fred was a great mechanic and all around fix-it/repair man. He loved to cook. Most of all, Fred was a loving father. He overcame many battles during the last six months of his life.}

Anderson, Ross,_{was born in Rawlins Wyoming on April 2, 1940. He took great pride in his family and his job. His greatest pleasures were playing with his little dogs Tinker and Misty, fishing a stream, camping, and woodworking. Ross is survived by his wife of 23 years Pam; sons, Scott Winer and fiancée Lisa Wilson of Greenriver, Wyo., James and Amaya Winer of Elko, Nev.; grandchildren Steven and Zack Winer and their mother Lesta Winer of Pinedale, Wyo., and Katharine Winer of Elko, Nev.; brother, Paul Anderson of Cody, Wyo. and a sister Cherie King of Cheyenne, Wyo.; sisters-in-law Betty Moses, Linda and Pete Busch of Houston, Texas; Caroline and Daniel Pedrotti of Corpus Christi, Texas, and Marilyn Martin of Apple Valley, Calif.; brothers-in-law Michael and Sandy Martin of Fredericksburg, Texas and Charlie Martin of Del Rio Texas. Along with many nieces and nephews.}

Schmit, Rose A. (Kozisek),_{98, of David City, died May 24 at David Place in David City. Schmit was born on Jan. 5, 1910 to Frank and Ann (Hlavac) Husak in Bruno. She was a life-long resident of Butler County. She married William Kozisek in 1929 and then she married Peter Schmit in 1961. She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and PCCW and volunteered at St. Joseph's Villa. She was preceded in death by her husbands; three grandsons, Billy Kozisek; infant twins, Mark and Mike Kozisek; one granddaughter, Karen Bredahl; two infant brothers; a brother, Fritz Husak; two sisters, Blanche Beckius Rohs and Tillie Stevens; step-son, Eugene Schmit; step-daughter, Dorothy Moyer and one step-grandson, Cory Kallenbach. She is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, LaVerne and Norma Kozisek and William and Betty Kozisek, both of David City, Eugene and Claudia Kozisek of Garden City, Mo.; daughter and son-in-law, Maxine and Roger Bredahl of Columbus; step-sons and spouses, Donald and Norma Schmit of Fremont and Orville and Peggy Schmit of Columbus; step-daughter, Lorene Kallenbach of Bellwood; 11 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; eight great-great-grandchildren; 18 step-grandchildren, 38 step-great grandchildren and 11 step-great-great grandchildren.}

Bauni, Henry,_{age 73, of Joplin, Mo., passed away on Sunday, May 25, 2008, after a brief illness. Henry was born on Dec. 21, 1936, in Vicksburg, Miss., to Henry and Josephine (Chisholm) Bauni. Henry graduated from St. Aloysius High School in 1952. He received his Bachelor of Science from the University of Arkansas where he met his future wife, Nancy Strub. Henry and his family lived in Texas and New Jersey, where he worked for Exxon Oil for 35 years. After his retirement in 1994, they moved to Joplin. Henry volunteered at the Community Health Clinic, of Joplin. He was an active member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Henry was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; his son, Hank; and his daughter, Beth. He is survived by his sisters, Joanne Bauni, of Joplin, and Mary E. Stone, of Louisville, Ky. He is also survived by three granddaughters; two great-grandchildren; four nieces and nephews; and six great-nieces and nephews.}

Boswell, Meta Faye,_{73, died Friday, May 30, 2008, at home.}

Asher, Beverly Jean,_{63, of Esko passed away peacefully on May 29, 2008 in her home. She was born in Hibbing, Minn., on Aug. 13, 1944 to Howard and Jeannette Pixley. Genealogy was her passion; she belonged to the Carlton County Genealogical Society for 30 years. She was also a member of the Red Hat Society. Beverly managed Bergquist Gift Shop for 18 years. Beverly's life was blessed with so many wonderful friends and relatives. She was preceded in death by her parents. Beverly is survived by her husband, Richard; children, Sherry (Dave) Sunnarborg of Esko, Lorie (Wes) Jones of Esko and Alan Asher of El Cerrito, Calif.; she was blessed with five grandchildren, Keifer Sunnarborg, Jordann Sunnarborg, Justin Jones, Landin Jones and Asher Jones; two brothers, Bob and Ron Pixley of Vequita}

Haltmaier, Richard George,_{A virtual native of North Andover, Richard George Haltmaier, of 13 Chestnut St., died Tuesday, May 20, 2008 of natural causes at the Prescott Nursing Home in North Andover. Richard, known as Dick to his family and friends, was born in Augsburg, Germany on Nov. 29, 1922 and emigrated to North Andover in July, 1927 with his parents, Albert and Klara, and his twin brother A. Joseph. The family lived at numerous locations in North Andover, Methuen, and Lawrence before settling down at 271 Stevens St.. Richard and his brother attended the Center School at the site of the Drummond playground, the Merrimack School, which became St. Michael's old school, the Bradstreet School, and Central Catholic High School in Lawrence, where they finished at the top of the second graduating class in 1940. At Central Catholic, Richard was on the varsity football, basketball, and baseball teams. After graduation, he continued to play for the Lawrence City League baseball team as a catcher. Before enlisting in the U.S. Navy in 1944, Richard studied at the Wentworth Institute and worked at GE in Lynn. After seeing service on a mine-sweeper in the Pacific theatre during World War II, he attended MIT on the GI Bill, graduating in January, 1950 with a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering. He met his wife of 57 years, Margaret, while she was a student at Boston College and he was at MIT. For 38 years, he worked at the Charles Stark Draper Labs in Cambridge, primarily on guidance systems for the first generation of nuclear warhead missiles that were designed to be carried on submarines, including the Polaris, the Poseidon, and the Trident programs. Richard took his young family with him when he was sent to the missile testing facilities at Cape Canaveral in Cocoa Beach, Fla. from 1959-1960. In September, 1959, the first Polaris tactical prototype missile, which included the inertial navigation system that Richard's team helped to design and manage, was successfully launched. Richard was also on board for the first successful underwater launch of a Polaris missile from the USS George Washington on July 20, 1960. Richard was an active member of his community who was known for his integrity. During his tenure on the North Andover School Committee from 1968-1980, he worked tirelessly to build a new high school, one of his proudest accomplishments. He also belonged to the Knights of Columbus, the VFW, and the American Legion. He took great pride in wearing his veteran's uniform to march in the parades on Memorial Day and Veteran's Day. Richard was an avid golfer, joining the Portsmouth Country Club in 1980, where he was a fixture in the Thursday Men's League until last year. He could also be found on the same links with his foursome on Wednesday and Saturday mornings as long as the club was open. After he retired in December, 1987, he and Margaret spent part of each winter in Cocoa Beach where they had made so many friends over the years. He is survived by his wife, Margaret (McDonnell), his six children, Susan of North Andover, Jane Haltmaier and her husband, John Yurechko, of McLean, Va., Mary Morrisett and her husband Russell of Marietta, Ga., Richard Jr. and his wife Linda, of Andover, John and his wife Allison of Short Hills, N.J., and Ann Cavanaugh and her husband Richard of North Andover. He also leaves 13 grandchildren as well as his brother A. Joseph of Hawaii, his sister, Barbara of Jamaica Plain, and several nieces and nephews.}

Beacham, Edmund,_{He described his experience at the Allied invasion of Europe as "90 percent boredom and 10 percent terror." Dr. Edmund G. Beacham, who as a young Army physician crossed the English Channel to land in France on June 7, 1944, died of heart disease Tuesday at Stella Maris hospice. The Towson resident was 93. "Almost whole neighborhoods of men were killed. I don't think anyone envisioned those kinds of casualties. We had clearing stations set up for maybe 900 men over a three-day period. And we were getting 2,100 casualties a day," he told a Sun reporter in 1989. "One of the main things I remember," he also recalled, "we had a sense of what we were there for. A sense of adventure and patriotism carried us along pretty well. Most people in our community back home had people involved in the war. We got great support." Born in Baltimore and raised on Linwood Avenue, he played tennis and soccer at Patterson Park as a young man. A 1932 City College graduate, where he was later alumni president, he earned a bachelor's degree at the University of Maryland, College Park. In August 1939 - a year before he graduated from the University of Maryland School of Medicine - his roommate talked him into joining the Army. He had a brief internship at the old Baltimore City Hospitals, now Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, where he would later devote his career in tuberculosis care and geriatric study. Dr. Beacham was called to active duty in early 1941. He held the title of regimental surgeon (although not trained in actual surgery) in the 5th Maryland -– or the 175th Infantry Regiment of the 29th Infantry Division. "He held a position of extraordinary responsibility because he was in charge of the medical care of more than 3,000 men who were about to enter the most significant battle of World War II," said Joseph Balkoski, a Towson resident and 29th Division historian. "Very high casualties were expected on D-Day and afterward. This was an era when medical advances (blood plasma and sulfa powders) were becoming pronounced and he would employ them to save the lives of wounded who in past wars would not have been saved." In October 1942, Dr. Beacham sailed on the Queen Elizabeth, then a troop transport, and landed in England. Then a major, his outfit included 125 enlisted men, eight physicians and two dentists. They spent nearly 20 months anticipating the Allied amphibious invasion of German-occupied Europe. He and his company trained in mock invasions on England's southern coast at Cornwall. He landed on D-Day plus one - June 7, 1944. He stayed initially nearly a mile behind the front lines in aid stations, the first effort to give substantive treatment to the wounded and where battle casualties could be stabilized and later shipped to rear-area hospitals, Mr. Balkoski said. "Within four months of D-Day, he was promoted to the senior physician in the 29th Infantry Division," Mr. Balkoski said. "For him to be picked as the No. 1 was a tremendous mark of respect for his abilities. His job was intense because his division suffered more than 20,000 casualties in 11 months of continuous combat. It was one of the highest casualty rates of any unit in World War II." Dr. Beacham was wounded in the upper right arm by a German bullet, according to a family member. He received the Bronze Star with an oak leaf cluster and a Purple Heart. After the war, he completed his residency at City Hospitals and remained at what became Hopkins Bayview until retiring in 1984. In his 40 years at Bayview, he served as chief of the tuberculosis department and later chief of chronic disease, community medicine and geriatrics. "He was a very publicly and civic-minded individual who strongly believed in public institutions," said his son, Dr. Bruce E. Beacham of Woodbrook. "City Hospitals was once owned by the city and was one of the oldest hospitals in the U.S. He felt it was his mission to work there." In the early 1980s, Dr. Beacham founded, with several others, the Maryland Military Historical Society to preserve the World War II history of the 29th Division. "He assured that the archival records of the division were conserved and promoted the writing of the history, and he supported it actively," Mr. Balkoski said. "It was not fashionable then, but he made it plain to veterans it was important for them to recount their experiences." In 1974, he retired from the Army Reserves Medical Corps with the rank of colonel. He held the Legion of Merit and the Maryland Distinguished Service Medal. In 1982, he retired as a brigadier general from the Maryland National Guard. In 1994, according to his son, he returned to Normandy for the 50th anniversary commemoration of the invasion. Dr. Beacham, possibly the highest-ranking American survivor present, marched through the streets of St. Lo. "He thought it was great," his son said.}

Barker, Elsie Harris,_{died at 8 a.m. Wednesday, May 28, 2008, at Tangi-Pines Nursing Center in Amite. She was 94, a native of Provence, Okla., and a resident of Amite. She was a member of First Baptist Church, Amite, and Order of Eastern Star. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, on Monday, June 2, from 10 a.m. until religious service at 11 a.m., conducted by the Rev. Mike Foster. Interment in Amite Memorial Gardens. She is survived by her step-daughter, Linda Roberts, Plano, Texas; niece, Judy Trecost and her husband, Al, Bristol, W.Va.; nephew, Charles Wheeler and his wife, Kathleen, Evergreen, Colo.; great-nephews, Jason Wheeler and his wife, Anita, Pensacola, Fla., Bert Trecost and his wife, Fulvia, Philadelphia, and Jeffrey Trecost, Frederick, Md.; great-niece, Rachel Bangs, Evergreen; several great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Travis Barker.}

Belcher, Robert G. “Bob”,_{68, of Hilltop Road in Somerset, Ky., passed away Wednesday, May 28, 2008, at Oak Tree Baptist Regional Hospital in Corbin, Ky.He was born in Pike County, Ky., on May 27, 1940, son of the late John Wess and Virda Potter Belcher. He retired after 21 years as a Kentucky State Police Trooper and was a member of Eubank Baptist Church. Robert loved bluegrass music, UK basketball, horseracing, coaching youth baseball, and lots of fellowship with family and friends.He is survived by one daughter, Debbie Belcher (and Mike) Reid of Greensboro, N.C.; two sons, Greg Belcher of Atlanta, Ga., and Brent (and Angie) Belcher of Bowling Green, Ky.; one brother, Gene (and Mary) Belcher of Somerset; two sisters, Violet (and Oral) Elkins of Youngstown, Ohio, and Velma (and Kendal) Polston of Somerset; four grandchildren, Rusty Rutherford, Lindsey Reid, and Ellie and Emily Belcher; and several nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Donley Belcher, Conley Belcher and Harold Belcher; and one sister, Shirley Dyer.}

Alwin, Ellen,_{died peacefully on May 31, 2008 at Stoneybrook nursing home in Manhattan, following a brief illness and recent hospitalization at the Mercy Regional Health Center. Formerly, she resided at the Homestead assisted living facility of Manhattan. She cherished her family and many friends and was loved by all who knew her. She was born Ellen Margaret Bonewitz on May 17, 1917 in Meriden, Kansas, the daughter of Frank and Martha (Shank) Bonewitz. She attended grade school and high school in Meriden, and upon graduation attended Strickler's Business College in Topeka. She was a secretary and bookkeeper for the Extension Division of the Kansas State Agriculture College at Manhattan, Kansas prior to her marriage on June 29, 1938 to Lawrence S. Alwin in Meriden. For many years, she lived in Holton, where her three children attended school and where she and her husband were active in the Methodist Church, scouting, PTA, 4-H, and other community activities. She was a Past Matron of Columbia Chapter No. 152 of the Order of the Eastern Star at Holton. Over her adult years, Ellen contributed richly to the lives of many people in several Kansas communities where her husband was a teacher, including Barnes, Burns, Seneca, Holton, and Hiawatha. She and her husband also lived in Garden City. In 1982, prior to moving to Manhattan, she retired from the Garden City Community College where she was secretary to the Dean of Community Services. In Manhattan she was an active member of the College Avenue United Methodist Church, a member of the United Methodist Women, and the Konza Prairie Quilters Guild. Throughout her life, Ellen was active in church, school and community activities, witnessing her deep Christian faith and caring for the lives of those around her. She will be remembered for her uncompromising love of God, her family, and her fellow humans. She always encouraged the best qualities in people and had kind words for everyone. She also had a passion for Bible Study and an abiding interest in quilting, both of which she had cultivated since childhood. She was preceded in death by her husband Lawrence Alwin, her parents, her brother Ralph Bonewitz, and a grandson Gregory Scott Alwin. She is survived by a daughter, two sons, one grandson, six granddaughters, thirteen great grandchildren, her sister-in-law Cora Jane Bonewitz (of Manhattan), and many nieces, nephews and other family members. Daughter Sherilyn Weatherford and her husband Willie, live in Manteca, California. Son Lawrence (Larry) Alwin and his wife Paula live in Gatesville, Texas; and son Duane Alwin and his wife Linda Wray, live in State College, Pennsylvania. Her immediate and extended family and many good friends were all present for the joyous celebration of her 90th birthday in May 2007.}

Allen,William "Bill" Robert,_{died Monday, May 26, 2008, at his home in Whittemore. He was 79. Visitation will be held on Thursday, May 29, 2008, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Garry-Roberts-Murphy-Schaaf Funeral Home in Algona. A private family funeral service will be held on Friday, May 30, 2008, with Reverend Mike Botsford officiating. Inurnment will be at a later date. Bill was born Aug. 14, 1928, in Algona, the son of James and Bernadine (Cavanaugh) Allen. He grew up and attended school in Algona and in 1946, graduated from Algona High School. After his schooling he entered the United States Marine Corps on Aug. 2, 1946, and served his country until March 15, 1948. Upon being honorably discharged from his military service he returned to Algona. On Aug. 15, 1948, Bill was united in marriage to Janice Hanna in Fairmont, Minn. After their marriage the couple lived in Algona where Bill worked at Lindsay EcoWater of Algona. Bill enjoyed watching sports, especially following the Boston Celtics, but his biggest enjoyment came from spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He is survived by his wife of almost 60 years, Janice of Whittemore; children, Diane and husband Doug Moehle of Northwood; Linda and husband Tom Ristau of Whittemore; Nancy and husband Jerry Johnson of Arizona; Jim Allen and wife Mary of Apple Valley, Minn.; John Allen of Loveland, Colo.; 11 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren. Also surviving is his brother, Jack Allen of Des Moines.}

Anderson, Marcia Marie,_{72, passed away May 30, 2008, after a courageous year-long battle with cancer. Memorial services will be held July 2 in Cambria, Calif., and at a later date in Bismarck. Marcia was born June 27, 1935, in Glendale, Calif., the daughter of Hazel House Rohde and Ralph Louis Rohde. She grew up in Grand Forks and graduated from Red River High. She received a BS in medical technology from University of North Dakota. She married Gary Anderson Aug. 22, 1957. After graduation from UND they moved to Bismarck where she worked as a medical technologist at Bismarck Hospital. They returned to Grand Forks where Gary started working in the Rohde family business, Congress Inc. They spent 10 years in Grand Forks expanding the business and their family. In 1968 they purchased Buck Distributing and opened the Bismarck operation of Congress Inc. Marcia found her calling as a bookkeeper for the business. She was instrumental in developing the accounting department and bringing computerization to the business. She and her husband developed Front Street Station, Bismarck. The Front Street property consisted of five buildings built in 1911 and Marcia was proud to be a part of restoring a treasured landmark. Marcia traveled extensively to wineries in Europe, the U.S., South America and Australia. She and Gary had a passion for traveling. They explored the top of the world, the bottom of the world and everywhere in between. In the late 1990s Marcia and Gary retired and began spending more time at their home in Cambria. She loved the picturesque views and the calming rhythm of the ocean. Marcia was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority, Bismarck Women's Book Club, PEO, Cambria Garden Club, Cambria Computer Club and several yoga groups in Bismarck and Cambria. Marcia is survived by her loving husband of 52 years, Gary; her children, Geoffrey (Deb) Anderson, Naomi Anderson Hummel and Jared (Denise) Anderson; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and one brother, Russell (Moe) Rohde, M.D. She will be greatly missed by her many friends and family.}

Ammerman, Margarett E. McMains,_{age 100, of Columbus, a resident of Wesley Glen Retirement Community, passed away Wednesday, May 28, 2008. She was born November 25, 1907, in Columbus, to Charles M. and Elizabeth K. (Schumacher) Schaffner. She was preceded in death by her husbands Robert McMains and Robert Ammerman. Margarett is survived by her son, Bob McMains; three grandchildren, Linda (Dave) Waite, Sharon (Bruce) Gnandt and Jim (Peggy) McMains; seven great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and sister, Etheyl (Bill) Behmer. She was a member of the Order of the White Shrine and the Order of the Eastern Star, where she was a member for more than 60 years.}

McIntosh, Loretta Lilliam_{Funeral services for Loretta Lilliam McIntosh Broadway, 89, will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 31, at Pickard Funeral Home Chapel. Darrell Pults will officiate. Burial will follow at McGee Cemetery in Stratford. Ms. Broadway was born June 22, 1918 in Lula, Okla. to Thomas and Nettie (Fitts) Phares. She died May 28, 2008 in Ada. She was a housewife. Ms. Broadway lived most of her life in Fort Worth then Ada for the past 25 years. She was a member of the Southwest Church of Christ. Ms. Broadway was preceded in death by two husbands, Harold McIntosh and Oliver Broadway; her parents; three brothers, Jimmy, Bill and Oliver; three sisters, Mammie, Racheal and Ivy; one grandchild Shane. She is survived by one son, Robert Wilson of Fort Worth, Texas; four daughters, Gail Williams, Linda Callaham, Becky Griffin and Cindy Cooke, all of Ada; two brothers, Heck Phares of Latta and Jack Phares of Eufaula; two sisters, Esther Davis, Ada, Barbara Womack of Holdenville; 11 grandchildren, Scott, Robin, Morgan, Kelly, Randa, Chelsea, Candice, Jason, Curtis, Cassie and Brandon; and nine great-grandchildren. Pallbearers will be Curtis, Brandon, Jason, Patrick, Mike and Jimmy.}

Gooding, Carole Lee,_{the light of our family, went home to the Lord on May 29, 2008. At her request, no public services will be held. Private burial will be in Jacksonville, Ore. Carole was born in Dawson, N.M., to Fred and Valia (Saracino) Horn. When she was 4 years old, she moved with her parents to Klamath Falls, eventually graduating from Klamath Union High School. She married Steve Gooding on Jan., 5, 1974, and spent most of her life in Klamath Falls. She moved to Jacksonville in the summer of 2005. While in Klamath Falls, she was very active in Assistance League where she made many friends and enjoyed helping children in the community.
Carole loved the city of San Francisco, which was her favorite place to visit. She was gifted artistically and had a remarkable eye for beauty, design and color. Multi-talented, she would create stunning stained glass art, beaded jewelry, and knit and sewn items that rivaled anything sold in stores. She was an outstanding cook and interior decorator. She adored flowers and always had a gorgeous flower garden, which was never complete without an explosion of Gloriosa daisies throughout the summer.
Her most cherished activity, however, was being a mother. The greatest joy in her life were her husband and family, whom she loved dearly. She was beautiful in all the ways a person can be beautiful, and her family will miss her every day of their lives. Survivors include her husband Steve and mother Valia, both of Jacksonville; daughter and son-in-law Kimberly and Marvin Dykstra of Klamath Falls; son John Crowe of Klamath Falls; daughter Regina Gooding of Talent; brother Rick Horn of Klamath Falls and grandchildren Ashley McKean of Eugene and Ciara Dykstra of Klamath Falls. She was preceded in death by her father in 1977.}

Funkhouser, Helen Marie,_{85, of Sarver, formerly of Gristmill Road in Butler, died Thursday at Fair Winds Manor in Sarver. Helen was born Feb. 5, 1923, to Jack and Charlotte Carothers Hanna. Helen was a member of St. Johns Lutheran Church in Ford City and a former member of St. Marks Lutheran Church of Butler. She was formerly employed at the Nixon Hotel in Butler and then worked at the Butler County Community College cafeteria. Helen enjoyed working crossword puzzles, baking and cooking, working with animals, spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and spending time in Florida with her friends. She also enjoyed traveling and playing "500" with her friends. Helen is survived by one daughter, Carol Stivason and her husband, George, of Ford City; two grandchildren, Lori Fair and her husband, David, and Shari Cupka and her husband, Michael; four great-grandchildren, Samantha Fair, Rebecca Fair, Austin Cupka, and Ashlyn Cupka; a nephew, Richard Miller; her cat, Peaches; and her dog, Trevor. Helen was preceded in death by her spouse, Frank E. Funkhouser, who died April 25, 1988; a son, James E. Funkhouser, who died Jan. 18, 1980; a brother, Ardell Carothers; and two sisters, Betty Plunkard and Ruth Miller.}

BAZAR, GLADYS L. (HOPKINS),_{84, of Beachmont Ave., passed away Friday, May 30, 2008 at Kent Hospital. She was the wife of the late Martin L. Bazar. Born in Scituate, she was the daughter of the late Arthur and Agnes (King) Hopkins. Gladys was an inspector at the former Giovanni Jewelry Mfg. Co., Providence for many years before retiring. She enjoyed traveling and she loved animals, especially her three cats Tiger, Munchkin, and Daisy. She was the mother of Jerilyn G. Coyne and her husband, John; and Carol P. Banks and her husband Richard; all of Coventry, and the late Steven O. Bazar. Sister of Marion Hawkins, Marjorie Hamilton, Dorothy Paulhus, and the late Arthur Belanger, Ernest Hopkins, and Blanche Vanasse. Grandmother of 7, great-grandmother of 8.}

Bozeman, Kevin Daniel,_{A Special Thank You.. The Bozeman family wishes to express sincere thanks for all the acts of kindness shown during our hours of bereavement. The many comforting messages, floral tributes, prayers and encouraging words were greatly appreciated. A special thanks to Reverend Kenneth Dean, Rev. William Cowan and Rev. James F. Davis III, The Belton Meal site, Mt. Zion Baptist Church and The Holloway's Funeral Home. May God bless each of you in a special way and enrich your lives abundantly. The Family Of Kevin Daniel Bozeman Thank You, Minnie L. Bozeman Diane Bozeman Veronica Bozeman}

Albers, Carl W.,_{93, of Faulkton died Friday, May 30, 2008, at the Faulkton Medical Center.}

Chaney, Annabelle Goff,_{84 years of age, passed away Friday, May 30, 2008, at the Johnson Memorial Hospital in Abingdon following an extended illness. Born in Buchanan County, she was the daughter of the late Marquis L. and Mary Trula Looney Goff. She was a former resident of Buchanan County and was a member of the Grundy Church of Christ. Mrs. Chaney graduated from Grundy High School in 1940, attended Radford College and graduated from Johnson City Business School. After graduating, she worked at the Tri-City Airport for a number of years and then moved to Alabama, where she lived for 20 years. She then moved to Atlanta and worked as a secretary and bookkeeper for the Olin Mathieson Co. until she retired. She had been a resident of Abingdon for the past 3 years. Mrs. Chaney is survived by her husband, Dale E. Chaney, Bristol Virginia; two sisters, Edith Goff Street and Colleen Goff Oppenheimer, both of Grundy, Va.; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by three brothers, Warren Hassel Goff, C. Ellis Goff and Eugene Goff.}

Caldwell June Alexander,_{June Alexander Caldwell passed away on May 29, 2008. She was a resident of Collin Oaks Assisted Living in Plano at the time of her death. June and her late husband, W.R. Caldwell, moved to Athens in 1962 where she resided until relocating to Plano in September of 2007. June was born Aug. 14, 1924, in Sapulpa, Okla. In addition to her husband, June was preceded in death by her parents, Ray and Mary Athelma Alexander and a brother, Donald Alexander. June and her husband Bill were married in Los Angeles, Calif., on April 27, 1945 and were married for 61 years.June was involved in a variety of community, school and church activities throughout her life, serving as a Brownie and Girl Scout leader, helping with various Athens High School Band activities, serving as chairperson for the Methodist Church Parsonage committee and assisting with the Methodist Church Bazaar.June is survived by her children and their spouses: Karen Foster and husband Charles, of Plano; Kim Caldwell and wife Cynthia, of McKinney; and Kathryn Davis and husband Barton, of Athens. Additionally, she is survived by the following grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Amy Foster and daughter Susan, of Windermere, Fla.; Chris and Carol Foster and son Thomas, of Manassas, Va.; Brad and Amanda Caldwell, of Dallas; Heather Davis, of Athens; and Eric and Gina Davis and daughters Hali, Hannah and Heidi, of Athens. Additional survivors include a sister, Mary Louise Gray and husband Ray, of Sapulpa, Okla.; and a brother, Jerry Alexander, Cleveland as well as several nieces and nephews.}

Allen, James Vincent,_{1928 ~ 2008 James Vincent Allen, 80, passed away Wednesday the 28th of May 2008, at home surrounded by family. He was born in 1928 to Vincent Agrippa and Vera Andrus Hoagland Allen in Nampa, Idaho. He attended schools in Nampa, Salt Lake City, and Holliday, Utah, as well as BY High School in Provo. He served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Uruguay, South America, one of the first to serve in the area. November 18th 1950, he joined the Air Force during the Korean War. He met Maurine Chadwick while on leave in Nampa, Idaho, and they were married September 17th, 1951 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. He received an honorable discharge from the Air Force September 14, 1954. They moved to Provo, where he attended Brigham Young University, and in the spring of 1955 Jim and Maurine moved to Seattle, Washington for the summer. He got a job with the Boeing Airplane Company on their applied physics staff and worked there for ten years. In 1965, they moved back to Provo, where Jim attended Brigham Young University and received a Bachelor of Science, and a Master of Science degree in Botany. He joined the faculty of Brigham Young University in 1969 in the department of Botany and Range science. He was an electron microscopist, taught the graduate classes in electron microscopy and supervised and maintained the electron microscopy facility at BYU until his retirement in 1993. He loved hunting, camping and enjoyed membership in the Utahah Frontiersmen Black Powder Gun Club for many years. He was a skilled craftsman, and excelled at several different crafts including carving powder horns and making quilts. He is survived by his wife, Maurine, of Orem; and four children: Elayne (Sandy) Boyce, of Juneau, Alaska; Tina (Ethan) Barnes, of Pleasant Grove; Russell (Barbara) Allen, of Stanwood, Washington; Glen (Tawnya) Allen, of Orem; 14 grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; many loving nieces and nephews; and Muggles his dog, who was his constant companion. He had a strong impact on many lives, and will be greatly missed. He was preceded in death by his parents; and a sister, Elayn.}

Butler, Jake, Sr._{of Rixeyville, Virginia, departed this life on Thursday, May 29, 2008 at Culpeper Regional Hospital. Mr. Butler is survived by the mother of his children, Sheila Butler. He is also survived by two sons, Jake, Jr. (Brenda), Quentin (Michelle); five grandchildren, Myeshia, Jake III, Tyrone, Quentin, Jr. and Lachelle Butler, two great-grandchildren, India and Ja'lea. He was preceded in death by one grandchild, Quinchelle Butler.}

Bena, Tim,_{Tim, a former Bellingham resident, passed away in Portland, OR, on May 28, 2008, at the young age of 52. Born Aug. 5, 1955, he is survived by his mother and siblings.}

Cooper, Walter Edgar (Louie),_{age 70, of Cedar Bluff, Va., passed away Thursday, May 29, 2008 in a Richlands, Va. hospital.Born May 8, 1938 in Jolo, W.Va., he was the son of the late Walter Dotson and Gracie Mae Wimmer Cooper. He attended the Seaboard Church of God and was an ordained Pentecostal minister. He was a retired coal miner. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Clara Hagerman Cooper and several brothers and sisters.He is survived by his wife, Dixie Cooper; five sons, David Cooper and wife, Natalie of Abingdon, Danny Cooper and wife, Sheilah of Cedar Bluff, Douglas Cooper and wife, Kathy of Cedar Bluff, Walter Cooper, Jr. and wife, Sally of Claypool Hill and Brandon Cooper and wife, Carrie of Lebanon; two daughters, Carolyn Wolfe and husband, Pete of Bristol, Tenn. and Regina Cooper and fiancé, Torrez Woodberry of Whitewood; three brothers, Thurman Cooper of Cedar Bluff, Douglas Cooper of Appomattox and Kirby Cooper of Greenville, S.C.; three sisters, Liza Cooper, Ocie Gilbert and Cretta Wright all of Greenville, S.C.; 21 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews and many friends also survive.}

May 27, 2008

humanity: the weak condition

Good morning, folks! This morning is a very special morning because I will be making points that refer directly to the people in my life. It is all up to you to piece together which is for you and which is for another person. If you can't do that, tough shit. (: You may ask if it is or not, but you have to do it in a comment here. I don't want to sort through it on MySpace, okay kiddos? Fabulous! (Side note: Yes, I'm aware certain things that I'm writing apply to me and I'm WORKING on them. Don't you dare call me hypocritical or so help me gosh.)

#1. I believe that everyone lies at least a small bit, whether it's for personal amusement or to try and benefit another. There is, however, a line that should not be crossed. There are days when it is just simply beyond stupid to lie about and there are subjects that you should never lie about. If you say something knowing that someone has their hopes counting on it and you never follow through - that's a prime example.

#2. A key point in a friendship is knowing how to put yourself in the other person's shoes. That means that you have to take yourself out of your little content box and understand that not all things are easy to get over. Some things don't just go away and they take more than a week to deal with. Stick your feet in their shoes before acting irritated. Learn how to be understanding and accepting. Hell, one step further, be open-minded.

#3. If you don't like how someone handles their business or how what they say to you, say something to them. It really serves no point to make a generalized statement about "everyone" when it includes that person. It's quite rude and I'm getting quite tired of it.

#4. This applies to one person, not a group/numbers of you. Believe in me. For once. Believe that I won't hurt you and believe that I'd do anything you ask me to do. Just humor me, please. For God sakes, if I'm still loving you now, it isn't going away. Wake up. Smell the roses, darling.

Things are not easy as pie for me at the given time. Don't give me your pity, there's no reason to and it is very unnecessary. My mentality isn't perfect and I'm not concerned about myself or much of anyone besides exactly seven people. Lately things are really busy over here and my grandmother is not doing well, m'kay? Who do you think is going to take priority, really. She gave my mom life, she just lost her husband. Get the point that I'm not going to be able to chill with you every day or call or write, etc. I'm trying, more than you can see, obviously. I need slack right now, graduation is coming up and I'm trying to get my classes caught up in. Unless you're a senior right at this moment, don't give me that bullshit about calming down and that I can do it. I'm aware of what I'm capable of and I know how hard I'm going to push for it to get done, but in order to that, I can't have people breathing down my throat 24/7.

UNDERSTAND. I try my best to do it with each of you. Doesn't make me perfect. Doesn't make you perfect. Everyone is entitled to their flaws and this is my opinion right now. If it offended you for how blunt those little four numbers were, you shouldn't have read it. That's it, no apologies. You don't have to be talkative with me, you don't have to even acknowledge me. The end. (:

May 24, 2008

A lovely reminder.

This one of many to come posts devoted solely to those who have been my support through hardship. Without you gals and guys I would be pretty screwed in most of the situations that I've wandered into. :p This is in the order of how long that I've known each person, that doesn't mean that I love any one of you more than another, so don't get pissy now. Haha. (More will be added as my brain functions more. Sections may be expanded after I drink a delicious Monster.)

Timie: Your are the equivalent to my brother. I've known you for so long now that I really can't count the years, although I'm sure you could. Damn you and your math! :p You grew up with me since I really was just a kid. You've always been the one to beat the snot out of my troublesome ex-boyfriends and to let me cry on your shoulder when it's just too much. Even though you don't know most of my family, you have been there if something happened. You haven't judged my actions, but instead my personality. You were actually the first person that came into my life who has done that. It showed me what to look for in a person, especially in a guy and for that I'll always be in your debt. You're a loud-mouth and I absolutely adore that. You aren't afraid of how others may or may not perceive your actions or your beliefs. You're the person who's seen all of my stupidity in actions - the drinking, drugs, and random things that I will leave unmentioned here. You are stuck being a member of my family, whether you enjoy that or not.

Brandi: You have been the closest thing to a sister that I have ever known. We've fought, loved, and most of all, experienced life together. With the recent loss in my family, you have shown me just how amazing you can truly be. Not many girls are capable of putting aside anger to comfort another, but you have. I'm glad that we're on speaking terms again and I'm certainly glad that you allow me to pester you so frequently with random questions for insight. You're stubborn, opinionated, and emotional. You have the ability to love and move past the bad to see the better in people. If someone hurts you, you always give them another chance. I've seen you mature more quickly than I would have liked, but you have grown into a very beautiful young lady. You will always be a member of my family. Your family will always mean the world to me, especially your mom and grandma. Those two are just spectacular. I know things have been difficult for you lately, but it will get better. You have a strange way of making it happen. One day you'll have tell me your trick with that one. (:

Rikki: I honestly never thought that I could make such a spectacular friend in group counseling of all places. You have always been there for me, regardless of how much or little we spoke that month. Whenever I get the chance to visit California, you've always been the first phone call that I've ever made. I miss you more than words can express on their own. You were the light in my life for a very long while. You were the person who got me out of bed and gave me the hope to motivate me through the day. No matter what choices that I made, you never held them against me. Instead you pushed me to better myself as a whole. You taught me more than anyone else that you don't have the stay the same, that you can change drastically without needing the approval of friends or family. You are always in my heart and definitely in my thoughts. All I can say is that I look forward to seeing you the moment that car gets over the California border. (:

Lisa: We haven't talked much lately, but you still mean the world to me. We have our difference of opinions and I do believe that's why it's been so ridiculously enjoyable when we do talk/spend time together. You aren't afraid to question things and you're too damn smart for your own good at times. I love how we splurge on Diet Pepsi before all else and I absolutely adore how compassionate you are, even if it takes time to get that side of you to come out. You have given me better advice than most anyone my own age. You've been a motivation for me to stop procrastinating with homework and life itself. Whether you're aware of it or not, you took a lot of my fear away. Even if we may not speak as much as we used to, you're still in my thoughts and I still wish only the absolute best for you. <3

Cristen: You were the first person that I noticed in Spanish class that day. You are quiet, but amazing once you open up. You have a stunning taste in fashion and you're the healthiest person that I've ever met. No matter how awful things get in your life, you still find the ability in your heart to be there for your friends and others who are close to you. We've had our disagreements, but that's normal for any family member. (; I will always be here to listen to your thoughts or to murder whoever hurts you. Whichever the case may be, you're always going to be in my life. It could be something as lame as an e-mail, but you aren't escaping my dear. :D You are more than a beautiful girl, you're flawless. It doesn't matter much whether you disagree or not because that won't change my opinion. You are bright and have more potential than the majority of the idiots in this state. Never let go of your dreams and never forget the grass always gets greener. It just needs a little more water some times than others.

Dani: Firstly, I will always love you. No, not as family, but as more. I'm not afraid of admitting that, regardless of how cranky Zachary or Donovan decide to get. You have been my unfaltering support and my violence buddy. When things got truly miserable, no matter where you were at, you called, you came. You've been my muse with a lot of the writings that no one has ever seen. You've been the inspiration to keep me from doing something dreadful, which isn't the easiest thing to do lately. I know how strong you are, but I've seen you at your most vulnerable state. No matter what you believe or see as right, to me you will always be the small glimpse of perfect that only shows around a few times in a lifetime.

Riley: You're the newest person that I have accepted in my circle of care. In the short time that we have known each other, you have managed to make me laugh more than half the people that I know. You have changed my negatives into positives, even if it turned out awkward in the end. With the events that have been happening lately, you have been extremely accepting. Not many people have the capability to be so patient with someone else's loss. You've got a seriously adorable voice, but you have a personality that is so far off that. Even as silent as you may get at times, you've been incredibly protective of not only me, but even Cristen. It honestly shocked me the first time you said you wanted to hit Zack with the bat. In a good way though, like having one of those HUGE Monsters good way. :D I hope that we'll always stay close. After all, without you, we're not the flawless triplets. (;

May 23, 2008

Wtf m8? Haha.

There are various things that make my skin crawl. Dirty politics, ignorance about hygiene, negligent parents, etc. The latest thing to add upon my list is Zachary's father. Oh hell, he's been there, but not quite so much as he placed himself last night. I've had my fair share of dealing with disgruntled adults, but this man acts as though he's seven years old. It has gotten to an absolutely ridiculous point. He actually told my mother, who was exhausted, that he would keep calling every five minutes until she brought him home. Naturally this lead to a great deal of yelling. It's never a wise idea to screw with anyone that tired. I defused the situation, being the nice little girl that I am. In fact I even let him bitch to me about my own mother, having no idea what was said on the phone. It is probably the last time that I'm remotely decent to that blob.

I know how short my mother's fuse can get and part of it was chalked up to that in my mind. Oblivious to me, she had a damn good reason to be pissed off. She has provided for their entire family, giving them a home as long as we could afford, for of course, they didn't pay a dime. He is an inconsiderate man to the point where it is disgusting. She just lost her father. Does that matter? Not in the least bit. Does it matter that we supported his family as much as possible when his father passed? Nope. Not one tiny bit. Yes, it wasn't the largest contribution ever made to a grieving family, but we hardly knew any of them at that point. He knows our family.

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Alright, that was only my part one in this damn thing. Part two comes from a situation that has really nothing in particular to deal with me directly. Now, this is your big, glorious moment to scamper away before I rant about bullshit. Yes, it really is bullshit because the situation is god damn ignorance and nothing else.

So my good friend, (name has been changed) Janice, has been dealing with quite a pestering situation. One of the friends that she had made back when we weren't talking decided to pull absolute ridiculous things. Janice has been dealing with being lied to frequently by this ragamuffin. She has watched this girl befriend her ex-boyfriend and spend more time with him than Janice, but she took this on the chin all in good humor. Then the lying began. This girl, who is going to remain nameless for the sake of Janice, decided to turn around and call Janice the liar. Clever way to get out of something? Not really. In fact it is absolutely absurd that it would come to that. I had my doubts about this girl when Janice and I started communicating again simply for how many times she had blown off Janice. I let it go, not wanting to cause Janice, who by this time was already so far into stress-headaches it was unreal, any more issues. Things just progressively got worse and worse to the point where it is now. Janice is actually pissed off at this girl. Did it need to get this far? NO. Hell no. The girl decided to let it drag on this long. Why? Her own ignorance. Her own pleasure perhaps. There is no decent answer to that nor is there one that would amount to anything.

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Okay, I'm done for tonight.
Thank you for reading my
ridiculous blog full of rants.

May 14, 2008

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When people can breathe for a moment, with no interference, perspective seems to come rushing in. Perhaps denial is the safest way for the mind to deal with something simply too traumatic. Perhaps it's just a way to give false hope in the feeble minded. To deal with certain events that happen to other so frequently to others, feels strange and cold. No matter how many I'm-so-sorry's and how many times I'm told "he's in a better place," it feels like I'm alone. It's a ridiculous notion, my family is suffering just as much, but in my mind, nothing that needs to be expressed can find words. They simply stumble out in a blind fashion that is incoherent, pointless, even exhausting. Being an optimist is just gone and it does feel like one of my brightest stars burned out.

I will live for him. I will carry on his values, but may not always follow in his footsteps. He was a good man, but everyone must become an individual before truly accepting conformity logically. I will help her get through and survive. I will be there for his children, even if they are fifty or more years older than me. Eventually, I will provide what he couldn't and tried so desperately to the family. I will work through and support those in need not necessarily with money, but with advice that has been passed from him before it happened. He can never die because his memory will always live on in me and the younger generations in the family.

He was the closest thing to a father that I had.
I will never forget what he has taught me.
I will honor his wishes.

---

April 13, 2008

-frustration

As my personal storm grows, another for a loved one begins. Recently I have confronted my fiancee about his family's issues with mine. It was more or less out of the sheer curiosity for what in the bloody hell we did. As it turns out, we've done nothing (much as was suspected). Through passing days, he has began to notice the escalating problem himself and has come to a head with his father's behavior. What this means, I'm not quite sure. People are creatures of habit, but also of change. Things could get better immensely and shock everyone. It is frustrating to be there to help someone who you can't help. I cannot give him advice to follow because it isn't my family and I've never even witnessed a similar experience. He is a resilient young man and tends to be the one who has hope in those catastrophic storms. This seems to be something that even he cannot overcome and it is a frightening thing to watch.

In my own storm, the calmness has passed. It was quite lovely the other day and until this afternoon to be honest. My grandfather was moved out of CCU into his own room on the cardiac floor. He was eating and things were looking up for everyone. Unfortunately, he was moved back late in the afternoon due to an infection and breathing difficulties. He has seemingly given up hope and refuses to eat. He wants more than anything to go home, to be in his safety net. No one in the family is alright with it because they know the risks that he runs and how much more his pain levels will increase. We are hoping for a miracle at this point. We hope that he sees what he can do with the time he has left. He is an amazing person and to lose him would wither many peoples' hearts.

Keep praying.

April 10, 2008

-weather

Life is like the weather. It is ever changing. At times it may be unstable and frequently changing pattern. There are those glorious sunny days where everything simply feels wonderful, perfect even. Then there are the days when it feels like the storm of the century is hitting and all you can do is endure or wither away.

Lately it is feeling like one of those storms equipped with the insecurities of the next change that it will take. Things are easily denied and when a person is faced with a situation they cannot ignore, they are forced to handle it. Of course there is always the option of hiding away, locking you inside away from outside contact. It sounds so simple and blissful, but everything must come to an end eventually. This morning was my end. My door’s lock rusted off and the misery broke through with a vengeance. There was no warning as is the case often; only a wave of water that felt like it would truly drown me. Things no longer were easy to fix and the lines became blurred beyond recognition.

The question now has become: how do you change the weather? How can you fix something that is out of your hands? My conclusion has been this – writing until my heart bleeds upon my keyboard. I have not been able to change this weather thus far and it is looking even grimmer as the minutes fly past. This is based upon my life currently and no, I don’t need you to sympathize nor give advice. Journaling is my healing process.

We shall start from the beginning. Four weeks ago, my grandfather was admitted into the hospital with a mild stroke/heart attack. He had a 90% blockage of his carotid artery. Because of this, the doctors couldn’t perform the operation to put the stint in his neck to help blood flow. If they had, they would have pushed the clot into his brain and caused a massive stroke. He had his surgery and was recovering very quickly for the fact of his age and how many health problems he has had in the past. At midnight, he was re-admitted for complications. The doctors found a mass in his side that is hypersensitive and have no idea what it could be. The first assumption was his appendix, but that was removed years ago. No one has heard from the hospital since he has been there. We are praying for the best, but bracing ourselves to be safe. I am truly frightened of losing him. He has been the father figure in my life that I never had. We haven’t been that close since I’ve gotten older, but have been working on it together. At the same time that I don’t want him to pass on, I don’t want him to be in pain either. Uncertainty is the worst feeling a person could have.

Another part of my own storm is my beautiful fiancée. Things with his family have been very difficult for everyone since they were evicted. We took them in as long as our finances would allow us to. With doing so, we took on the responsibility of his sisters, one of which caused problems frequently. This naturally hurt my mother greatly and I took on the role of watching them as much as I could. Zack naturally helped with this because he was worried about my stress levels. The problems really came in two days ago when he mentioned emancipation. We talked about it for a couple of minutes, but didn’t dwell on it. Things at that precise moment were pretty hectic and I was just too tired. (Yes, I’m guilty of ignoring his social needs at times. I admit it.) Last night, my family was discussing what he could do if he did get emancipated and my mother asked me to discuss it with him. I did. My response was quiet hostility that really was upsetting. The night before last, he was hostile on the phone as well. Naturally, I’ve been wondering if it was the subject, how I approached it, or the fact it was just the phone. There are so many things it can be and each one of them is so difficult with their own approaches.

Needless to say, my storm still has a very long while before things will be sunny again. Days feel longer than what they are, but it’s only a matter of time before things improve. Even the smallest of things will help. The eighteenth can’t come sooner. Cupcake is sure to cheer me up. She always does. (:

March 11, 2008

-knowledge

In life, you choose the path that you want to follow. You take the opportunities that are presented to you along the way to attain what you desire. Once you have reached your goals you have a number of options that you can take. You can keep striving forward to try and obtain better than what you've had. You can choose to stay where you are and remain happy with standing still. Lastly, you can choose to take all of your hard work and flush it down the drain.

Numerous politicians have fought dirty to win elections. They have given it their absolute best attempt to achieve their own five minutes of fame. Once they get there, some follow through with their duties faithfully. Others choose to have a quick bang with a hooker. Because their lives are already under immense scrutiny from the public, they can't protect themselves very well from the vicious attacks that shortly ensue being caught in the act.

In my safely knit world that I have cradled myself in for my seventeen years of existence, it appalls me to see such garbage in the media. There are many other causes that are benefiting humanity that get little recognition compared to these herpes infested morons. There are so many of these causes in fact, people can actually choose from them. It's utterly amazing, I know.

Why not, instead of taking your many painstaking hours to research scandals, research something positive instead? Just because I actually want people to take the time to see some of these causes, I'm going to list a site to varies places you can contribute and learn about these positive organizations.

Environment:

March 10, 2008

-forward

One fact will remain true until the end of time and that is that discrimination, in some aspect, will always be around. This can be seen by different religious groups, different ethnic backgrounds, and of course the struggle between man and woman. In the last decade, women have made leaps and bounds to expand the horizons for many others like themselves. It is true that some countries hold strict laws in place solely for the female gender, but others view women as equals, or at least as close to equals as we've ever come. South Korea for instance has named a female to be their first astronaut sent up into space by the country.

Of course there has been large set-backs. This would be in reference to the air-headed fools that sing about how they adore their boyfriends or about lying down and spreading their legs to reveal their herpes infested cooch. I believe that women have the power to rock the very foundations that America was built upon. I believe they can make a difference in where ever they choose to apply themselves. What is completely disgusting is how so many choose not to. They would rather live in their ignorance-filled world than to speak out about something that truly matters. It could be something simple, maybe have a conversation about global warming, perhaps post a blog about politics. Something to show the world that they aren't a waste of space.

Another set-back is the women who choose, yes choose, to become prostitutes; to sell their bodies for a piece of paper. There are the ones who will commit murder and be proud of it. What the bloody hell? Yeah, some are actually proud of their crimes. It is a very sad day when a mother cares less about her child than a worm in the dirt.

Women have the ability to make so many positive things happen in this world. It just takes a little determination to get there and once you do, you'll reap the many rewards. You can see the lives that you've impacted and the push forward out of the narrow-minded fucks who are arrogant enough to believe women are only good for being a maid to their every need.

Speak your mind, no matter the cost.

(personal)

I have experienced a number of various relationships; some similar and some completely deranged. Throughout the span of my numerous experiences, I have noticed something for awhile now and that is that I'm completely incapable of taking my own advice. That isn't saying that I'm giving poor quality advice, it just never works out the way as planned out when I apply it in my relationship. The common quality of any relationship is that it is doomed from the start to have problems. They may be minuscule in size, but they are problems all the same.

With my relationship with Zack, we have both faced growth from rather trying times. Some of the growth has been positive and some has been negative. He has lost much of his free-spirited mind while passing it on to me. He has become outrageously competitive which fits my nature beautifully. The problem is the intensity that it has gone to, which is something that neither of us will or would ever call off. Thankfully I have my beautiful sister who has been supporting my decisions through this growing competition without her really knowing so.

My moods have been getting harder and harder to control. Much of my rational and analytical thinking has gone far out the window. In some ways, this is better for our relationship and in many it is a huge step backwards. He has always been supportive of my drive to improve, but he has limited himself to living in the past. Perhaps because of his will to make my life better and not his own and perhaps because he's terrified of growing older. He will reminisce about his times of partying and doing insanely stupid behavior, yet he remains to just talk about it. Our fighting has stemmed mostly from the lack of respect that he gives when he leaves. If I ask for a phone call, he'll call once and stay out three hours later than expected. It's petty and I'm aware of that, but my mind always worries. It's a curse and a blessing in disguise. He's aware of all of this and nothing has seemed to help provoke him into calling. My patiences at the time being is very thin and breaks from the weight of a hair.

The problems always seem to resolve themselves in a couple of days with no questions asked. We both just drop the issue and move past it onto something else or even nothing at all. It's a very difficult time right now for us and neither are sure what exactly it's coming from. We have concluded that it is by far a joint effort and will probably remain that way until we can come to a solution from the frequent bickering.

Wish us luck.

March 9, 2008

-awareness?

We choose to lead our lives in the most painless way as possible. No one truly enjoys reading about gruesome crimes in the news. Most people don't pay attention from one murder to the next. What can be considered "outrageous" twenty years ago as a crime, now seems almost normal compared to the ones being committed now. People think that something that will aid the health of millions is something that they don't have to do. Maybe because they're too lazy, maybe because they don't truly care. It all comes down to being negligent.

Those who do read the news learn of precautions to take when buying typical household products. Hell, anyone who actually applies themselves to learn something would know. Yesterday it was found out that prescription drugs are in drinking water in certain places in the U.S. Some people still believe that women are incapable of violent acts. There are women on death row for murder. There are other women who are mothers who allow their child to become victimized. Using more environmental friendly products will help the Earth.

All of these things are so simple and people seem oblivious to them. It takes only a couple seconds to search any of a number of topics. Just because you would like to live a life where everything is decent doesn't mean that it's a realistic one.

March 6, 2008

-advancement?

In the world today, we're provided with incredible technology and there are improvements to it nearly every day. Not all of this technology is good, however, and is incredibly damaging to the planet. Iran is has decided to advance their nuclear program. I consider this a large step backwards for the world entirely. These weapons of mass destruction don't benefit anyone because if they are released, it will damage the entire planet in some way. China is also expanding their military, including nuclear intercontinental ballistic missiles and anti-satellite missiles. The world today seems to have become crazed with war and violence. Countries should be able to live in peace with one another without going to such extreme measures. You learn equality in school, but nothing about what has been going on in the world seems to represent it. There is hatred at every corner and acceptance is very little to be found. Radical religious groups are even displaying their violence towards what they consider "morally corrupt." People today, especially children, have very limited good influences on their lives. Even those who you would expect to at least try to be decent role models are getting shipped off to rehab and jail almost weekly.

Leaders of today set the precedence for the younger generations to come. Children are the most susceptible to learning these tendencies, even those who are sheltered. Violence is everywhere from playgrounds to the news and everywhere in between. Society is shocked and appalled with a child seriously injures or kills another living thing, but isn't that precisely what we've been teaching them?

-late addition-
Since the bombing in Times Square on Thursday, outrage has seemed to spread like rapid fire. The truth of the matter is that many of those who find this to be such a despicable act are members of Congress or law officials. Yes, this meaningless violence is a horrible display for a need of attention, but it is also a frequent act in warring countries, such as Iraq. Our soldiers face bombings every day and the media has down played it as of lately. Many brilliant people have lost their lives because of these devices and it isn't just happening in the United States. If you are going to be so outraged for this incident, show your compassion to the men and women who face this grotesque display of brutal behavior daily.

(personal)

We both come from completely different walks of life, neither one of them being remotely glamorous. When we first got into the relationship we had our doubts about the other and things were pretty bad for awhile. After we both got comfortable in our own skins around the other, things began to look up. We have experienced horrible events and beautiful ones, each one bringing us together in a strangely perfect bond. We understand how complex a relationship is and how much work it takes it keep it alive. We also understand the main problem areas in a marriage, which usually lies in children or finances. Both areas we have talked over thoroughly and have come to an agreement upon both. He has been the only person that I've been this close with and he's been the only person that I will trust with my everything.

Zack has been more patient with me than any member of my family. He has begun to understand my mood swings and what small things set off my temper. Not once has he ever complained about my temper and out ridiculously uncalled for it is at times. Instead he has tried (usually successfully) to defuse the situation. He has shone through as my guiding light when I though things were simply helpless. He's the only man that I act like a complete fool over and has been the only one that melts my heart every time he looks at me, that takes my breath away every time he talks to me.

He is the only person that I want to spend the rest of my life with. I'm completely confident in our relationship, especially in him. He's been the only person that has attempted to better every situation, even the ones that don't involve him. He is my definition of perfection in a flawed world. That view will never change. He is the most beautiful person that I have met. His heart is remarkable and his love means everything to me.

I will always love him in a very large way.

crumpets and tea (:

June 19, 2008

coast;

June 1, 2008

loving memories

May 27, 2008

humanity: the weak condition

May 24, 2008

A lovely reminder.

May 23, 2008

Wtf m8? Haha.

May 14, 2008

---

April 13, 2008

-frustration

April 10, 2008

-weather

March 11, 2008

-knowledge

March 10, 2008

-forward

(personal)

March 9, 2008

-awareness?

March 6, 2008

-advancement?

(personal)

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