Memorial Day Service

Today was another first. As many of us from our New Horizon's Band that could make it, gathered at the New Tacoma Cemetery in the Veteran's Garden and played our hearts out for those in attendance and in honor of the many veterans buried beneath us. There was also an ROTC demonstration by the Clover Park High School Junior ROTC, a National Guard Gun Salute and at twelve o clock sharp, a flyover of one of the planes from McChord Airforce Base. It poured on us, but we were under cover so just our feet got wet. I can't think of a better way to spend part of Memorial Day!

Ingrid pooped out

After helping decorate for the Gig Harbor Fishermen's Civic Club dance, Ingrid came home with me and ran out of gas. I put on the CD of Carnival of the Animals and I think the aquarium piece sent her off to sleep. I told her to shut her eyes and imagine a fish swimming in the tank. With a smidge of rocking along with the soft music, she completely sank.

Oh for pete sake

Fresh snow at Paradise on May 28th. Good Grief !!!

Good read by Peggy Noonan.

You gotta love this guy.

Out for a walk

Ingy and I went for a walk today. First to the store for bread, then to Rexall to get a windmill. I had promised when we passed the drug store that we would stop and look at them on our way home and as you can see, my word is good.
As we passed the Post Office, we ran into mama and she took our picture with her new iphone. Remember the days when all you could do with a phone was make a call. She showed me some of the free apps. she downloaded on hers and heck, a child can practice math, learn about the presidents, play pacman or you name it. There is no end to what they can do. I wonder what it's like to be a teacher now....what in the world is there left to teach them.???

Mt St Helens 30 years later

This is a neat shot of Mt. St. Helens.
This is also a neat video of St Helens of shots taken from space the last 30 years.
And just for fun...here's Jacob tackling his first birthday cake.
Oh...and there was new snow at Paradise this morning...on May 23rd !!!

Snowy Paradise

Here it is, May 22nd, and the parking lot at Paradise is covered with snow. Last year at this time it was a warm sunny day and Jacob was on his way into the world.
Happy Birthdy Jacob .

German Gold Cross of Honor

U.S. Soldiers Awarded Highest German Medal for Bravery During Rescue
International Security Assistance Force HQ Public Affairs
Story by Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Chlosta
05.12.2010 PROVINCIAL RECONSTRUCTION TEAM, KUNDUZ, Afghanistan—Under an overcast sky, on the same airfield where they carried wounded German Soldiers to safety only 5 weeks before, 14 U.S. Soldiers were awarded the highest German medal for bravery, May 12. International Security Assistance Force Chief of Staff German Army Lt. Gen. Bruno Kasdorf, presented the German Gold Cross of Honor medals to the medical evacuation helicopter pilots and crew from the 5th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment, Katterbach, Germany. The German Gold Cross is equivalent to the U.S. Medal of honor, only four other German Soldiers have ever been awarded it. The medal is for outstanding deeds at the risk of one's life.
The aircrew rescued eleven German Soldiers who had come under attack by insurgents during a dismounted patrol outside the Chahar Dara district, southwest of Kunduz, April 2."It is an honor for me to day to hand over these badges to the U.S. servicemembers, who risked their lives to bring their German wounded comrades to safety," Kasdorf said.On that day, the German Soldiers had been on a foot patrol searching for IEDs when insurgents attacked them with small arms fire and rocket propelled grenades. The volume of fire was so intense that the American MedEvac helicopters couldn't land on their first attempt."I was the responsible person on the ground for getting the helicopters to the landing zone," German Paratrooper Master Sgt. Patrick Bonneik, joint terminal attack controller, said. "My biggest concern was that they would leave us. You could see the sparks coming off the helo [from small arms fire]."The helicopters made a successful second attempt to land. They continued their rescue mission under fire as they evacuated the dying and wounded German troops back to the PRT Kunuz base.Rocket propelled grenades passed under one of the helicopters by 10 yards, added the bearded Bonneik."Our doctors said, if the helicopters wouldn't have landed three more would be dead," Bonneik said. "They're amazing Soldiers. On that day, those guys showed - [guts]. They just did what they would've done for an American unit. It was extremely brave.""My thought was just for the wounded Soldiers," after the ceremony a tearful U.S. Army Sgt. Steven Shumaker, crew chief, 5th Bn., 158th Av. Regmt., said. "My own safety wasn't a concern. Our goal was to get those guys out or die trying."Three of the Germans rescued later died from their wounds. The other eight survived.After the ceremony concluded the German Soldiers and Americans lined up and faced each other like at the end of a tightly contested sports match. They shook hands with each other and then each and everyone gave the other a hug, a deep heartfelt embrace. One could sense that these Soldiers had shared a life changing moment in time. "We didn't know each other before," Bonneik said, "but now we're like brothers."

Check out my favorite conductor on 60 Minutes last night !!!

Thomas Sowell always has something worthwhile to say.

Happy Birthday Andy

Hard to believe this cute little fellow is 44 today. I am sure his two daughters will appreciate seeing him in this lovely head scarf :o)

And I'm sure the cake was delicious.

This is a must read.

Last Day

Today is the last day to cast your vote for the Skansie net shed.

This pix was among the many pictures sent in by the public to the SaveSkansieNetShed web site and it is absolutely beautiful.

Also, check this out...she is a doll !

Jacob spent the day

Jacob spent the day with granny yesterday while mama and daddy removed the plywood on the two inside/outside walls of their bedroom. Once off, they put in insulation and covered it with sheetrock. Next will be new double paned windows which will keep it a lot warmer and quieter. Jacob took a two hour nap here and probably loved the quiet of a dead end street. NO NOISY TRAFFIC !!! He will be one in ten days...hard to believe !!

Something altogether different !!

Exhibit

Inside the Skansie net shed there were exhibits of the tools and gear that commercial salmon fishermen used in the industry, much of which they still use today. Along with that, there were wonderful pictures of some of the old time fishermen and boats, boats, boats. I wish I had taken along my trusty digital recorder because there was no end to the stories being told.

Here is a look in the other direction.

Vela Luka

The Vela Luka Dancers performed yesterday at the Skansie Net Shed Centennial. The guest of honor was the grey shed you see on the left, built in 1910. The town folks got together to celebrate and to try to get more people to vote for grant money to help with it's restoration.
There were computers available for people to cast their vote, along with wonderful chum salmon burgers, face painters, singers and dancers, and of course birthday cake.
Oh..and it's still snowing in Paradise.

Skansie Shed

Today from 10am to 4pm will be the "Net Shed" event at Skansie Park. There will be chum burgers by the Gig Harbor Fishermen's Club, Chowder by Tides Tavern and oodles of other booths. You'll even get a chance to vote, using one of the many laptops available, to try and win $125,000.00 for restoration of the Skansie Shed.