A mixed week

This has been a decidedly mixed week.  On the minus side, our friend and my son-in-law's father passed away after a series of illnesses.   It has been a difficult time for the family.  It happened just a day after my son-in-law's birthday so obviously that celebration got put on the back burner. 

Dealing with a loss of that kind has many different ramifications.  Take for example the task of explaining all of this to a large number of  children who range in age from 2 to 10. 

The younger ones don't get it so it doesn't usually result in awkward situations.  The older ones do get it but they have better coping skills and they seem to have a fairly good grasp of the finality of a death.

It's the children in the 4, 5 and 6 year old range where it can get dicey.  For example 5-year-old grand daughter Courtney wanted to know if when he died his tongue was hanging out.  And then my 4-year-old grand son Cole who while not really related to Don liked him very much so when the family finally got together to celebrate his Uncle Mike's birthday, he kept asking "where's Pops?".  My son took him to a quiet place and tried to explain as best he could that Pops wouldn't be at any more birthday parties.

 Don's passing resulted in our having to cancel a 4 day vacation to a children-oriented hotel complex that we were all going to including Sandi's visiting niece and her son who were with us from Texas all week.

Nevertheless, we found things to do and ways to enjoy ourselves.

Michelle and TJ have left and Don's calling hours and funeral are tonight and tomorrow.  Then, like always, things will settle  down and life will go on--except for Don's wife.  She faces the grim task of making all the necessary calls and trying to get used to being alone but she  has a large family and many friends so they'll be there to help.

Now it's off to babysit for the boys.

He's his own worst enemy!

Well, let's see. First there was the American Revolution. Then there was the war of 1812. Now thanks to Mitt Romney and his out of control, big mouth we're about to have the war of 2012! Way to go, loser.  What a jerk!

Rest in Peace, Don. You'll be missed.

Don Sullivan
Donald Edward Sullivan, 70, beloved husband of Cathy( Fitzpatrick) Sullivan died July 23 after a hell of a fight.

Mr Sullivan was born September 30, 1941, the son of Leo and Gertrude (Shields) Sullivan.

He and his wife Cathy had been residents of Newtown for more than 30 years. Don and Cathy were married June 19, 1965.
He loved Newtown.

Don is survived by three sons and their spouses, Timothy and Debra Sullivan of Newtown CT, Patrick and Patty Sullivan of Oxford, CT, and Michael and Becky Sullivan of Beacon Falls, CT. He is also survived by seven grandchildren: Shay, Logan, Brooke, Lianna, Courtney, Kaila and Mia.

He was a proud Vietnam War Veteran, having honorably served in the US Army Special Forces.

Don retired from Pitney-Bowes, following a successful 38-year career with the company. He was the Director of Quality Control, Facsimile Division at the time of his retirement. His business frequently brought him to Japan where he made many lasting friendships.
When his sons were young, Don was involved in Scouting acting as a Webelo and cub Scout leader in several states.

He was a Lifetime Member of both the Special Forces Association, and the American Radio Relay League. He loved HAM radios (he built his first one), and enjoyed making contact with fellow HAM's in other countries. He was particularly thrilled when he was able to reach HAM's living behind the Iron Curtain.

Mr Sullivan was a member of Newtown Congregational Church.
He and his wife Cathy enjoyed helping others, volunteering with Newtown Meals on Wheels and the Newtown Fund's Holiday Basket program. He was known as the “fix it guy” at the Newtown Congregational Church's Cornerstone Thriftshop.

Mr Sullivan loved music-especially music from the 50’s and 60’s.

More than anything, Mr Sullivan loved and lived for his family. He married the Love of his Life, couldn’t be prouder of the men and fathers his sons had become, and he adored his Daughter in- Laws and Grandchildren.
He told corny jokes, always sang out of tune and was never ever ever late. He was the Toughest Man in the World.

Calling hours will be Monday, July 30, from 5 to 8 pm, at Honan Funeral Home, 50 Main Street in Newtown. A funeral with full Military Honors will take place at Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West Street, on Tuesday, July 31, at 10 am.
In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that friends consider making a donation to The Special Operations Warrior Foundation at www.SpecialOps.org or the Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West Street, Newtown CT 06470

Here we go again.

I've been following an interesting thread on Facebook.  With the nation still reeling from the horrible situation in Colorado, gun enthusiasts have been quick to defend the sacred Second Amendment.

They're quick to point out that people kill people so it's not the gun's fault nor is it the fault of the millions of law abiding hunters and sport shooters.

This is true to an extent but the point that I believe is missed by many of these people is the simple fact that it is altogether too easy for guns to fall into the wrong hands.

Come on!  You mean to tell me it's OK for absolutely anyone to go to a gun show in, say, Texas or Alabama, pick out your weapon of choice, pay your money and  leave right then and there with it?

How can any reasonable person accept this?  Absurd.

Another busy day

As I sit here and write this at 7 A.M. Wednesday morning, I await the arrival of Cole & Nicholas.  It's going to be another hot day so I'm sure we'll be in the pool.

Also coming today is our water treatment company to treat our well with chlorine.  A recent water test revealed we have Coliform bacteria in our water.  My research reveals that this type of bacteria does not directly cause disease and will probably not make one sick.  Nevertheless, it is recommended that it be treated.

Apparently the source of this type of contamination is not necessarily due to a polluted well.  It could be any number of things such as improper sampling, water softener equipment or contamination around the source of sampling.

One thing that could very well be the problem in my particular case is that I dump water from our dehumidifier in our basement into the water softener tank.  Our basement has been known to have a mouse or two in it along with all sorts of dust and debris. 

After the well is treated, water can not be consumed for 3 to 5 days.  Then you have to wait another 10 days before retesting.  So stay tuned.  Results to follow.

A Busy Weekend

Saturday morning with Mike, Becky and the girls at Lyman Orchards in Middlefield which as it name implies is almost exactly in the geographic middle of Connecticut.  Then fussed in the yard and cleaned the pool.

Sunday morning shopping, update my website, mow grass, and spray poison ivy.  Next on the agenda was working on Sandi's quilt frame after which Birds Unlimited opened so I could buy a book and birdseed. 

Then by late afternoon Cole & Nicholas came over to spend the night.  Pete & Jen have to be out very early tomorrow morning so since I'm with the boys every Monday they might as well spend the day here so we can go swimming.

Thanks, Mitt

Tax breaks for the rich.  Screw the middle class.  Thanks, Mitt, but why would anyone be surprised???

Two great discoveries

Who said there's nothing but junk on the Internet?  I've made two great discoveries.  The first is a website called the Khan Academy.  It's a series of thousands of tutorials on just about anything you've ever wanted to know.

The other is a site that streams live web cams of various animals in the wild.  It's great for all ages.  Here's the link to it.  Explore.com live cam.

There's plenty of other good stuff too but you have to be careful--especially if children are using the web.  There's all too many ways to find yourself where you definitely don't want kids to be.

Are you feeling nauseous too?

You'll have to excuse me if this post doesn't make its usual sense.  I'm still quite dizzy.

The latest spell comes from Mr. Romney's sudden turnaround regarding Obamacare.  Now it appears it IS in fact a tax.  A short time ago it wasn't a tax.  Looking back further to when he was governor of Massachusetts the identical health care reform act was a GOOD thing.  Now it's a BAD thing.

Are you feeling nauseous too?  Is there anything Romney is willing to stick his neck out for (aside of course from low taxes for the wealthy, the right to outsource American jobs and his devotion to the foreign banking system)???????

What a pathetic loser!

Happy birthday, U.S.A.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Some things people don't understand about Obamacare

   I've been following a Facebook thread (that in itself is a big mistake but...) lately wherein people weigh in with their thoughts regarding the health reform act the Supreme Court recently ruled constitutional.

The people commenting were responding to something someone put up regarding some remarks Donald Trump made.  As 'most' everyone knows Trump is one of the world's leading gas bags whose hypocrisy is so blatant as to be laughable but that's not really the point.  The point is that so few people understand some of the key components of the health reform act--including Trump himself.

The chief criticism of the act is that people think it will result in more taxes.  What they don't understand is that we are already paying a premium because every time someone who chooses not to buy health insurance goes to a hospital, guess who picks up the tab.  That's right.  You and me.

By requiring people to purchase health insurance, this penalty is removed.  Get it?  Actually, whether or not anyone understands this aspect of the bill is irrelevant.  The real issue isn't really health care reform.  The issue is Barack Obama.  The plain fact is there are a significant number of people who would resist absolutely anything he did simply because of who (or what?) he is.

We have a word for that.  It isn't pleasant.  We have a long way to go in this country!