FATHER'S DAY 2008

I had the honor of spending Father's Day this year, not only with my own Dad (in the red tie in the picture of the three men by the car), but also with my maternal Grandfather.

Cletus T Rogers is 94 years old and, while he is more frail lately, he is still going strong. This man is a great example of love and determination. He's been a widower for 23 years now and continued to live a very full life after my Grandma Mary (or Murray as my cousin Michael called her when he was little) passed away. They had 7 children (6 living), 20 grandchildren, and now have 27 great-grandchildren with #28 on the way, due in October.

When I was born (40+ years ago), I had both sets of grandparents, 2 great-grandmothers, a great-grandfather and a great-great-Grandmother that were all still living. He is the last grandparent I have still living. I am so grateful to have had him in my life for so long and hope he will be around for many more years...

I love you Grandpa!

THE GREAT STATE OF COLORADO

My friend Heather and her family have decided to do STAY-CATIONS this summer because of the cost of travel. To accommodate this, she has asked fellow bloggers to write about where they live and give some interesting details about our homes. So here is my page about COLORADO:


My family has been in the state of Colorado since before it was even a state. My paternal Great-Great-Grandmother was born in the territory in 1870 and is thought to be the first white child born here. Up to that point it had all been Indians (Native Americans). I am a fifth generation Coloradoan, but I was the first one in five generations not born here. My Dad was in the Air Force at the time of my birth, so I was born in San Antonio, Texas. However, we made our way back to Colorado as soon as possible.

Colorado is a great state and I invite anyone out there to come and visit us.

COLORADO - Let me start with a mini-Wikipedia description but be sure to check out the links at the end:

38th State - officially proclaimed a state on August 1, 1876, 28 days after the United States Centennial. For this reason it is nicknamed "The Centennial State."

State Capital - Denver, the Mile High City, so called because it is exactly one mile above sea level. There is one step to the state capital building that is marked at the exact spot that is one mile above sea level.

Famous Coloradoans:

Amy Adams (Enchanted)

Tim Allen (Santa Clause movies & Home Improvement)

Jessica Biel (Seventh Heaven)

Zachery Ty Bryan (Home Improvement)

Jack Dempsey - The Manassa Mauler (Boxer) - It just so happens that this man was from the same small town the my maternal grandfather is from. My great-grandfather used to be Dempsey's sparring partner from time to time.

Chauncey Billups - Detroit Pistons

Horace Tabor - Business Man

"The Unsinkable Molly Brown" - Although she was not born in Colorado she had great ties to the state later on, especially Leadville and Denver. She is one of the most famous survivors of the of the Titanic. There is even a movie about her starring Debbie Reynolds. It's a good movie, but it has been fictionalized.

Mamie Doud Eisenhower - Wife of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, 34th President. Although she was borne in Iowa, she grew up in Denver.

John Denver - Musician

Glenn Miller - Leader of the Glenn Miller Orchestra

Jack Swigert - Astronaut on Apollo 13

Don Cheadle - Actor

Big Head Todd & the Monsters

Firefall


Professional Sports Teams:

NFL - Denver Broncos

NBA - Denver Nuggets

NHL - Colorado Avalanche

MLS (Soccer) - Colorado Rapids

NLL (National LaCross League)- Colorado Mammoth

MLL (Major League LaCross) - Denver Outlaws

AFL (Arena Football League) - Colorado Crush


State Symbols:

Flag








Flower -Rocky Mountain Columbine
- it is illegal to pick a wild Columbine.

Bird - Lark Bunting

Geography:

Mount Elbert, at an elevation of 14,440 feet is the highest point in the state, as well as the highest point in the entire Rocky Mountain Range, which runs from upper British Columbia, Canada on the North into New Mexico on the South

Other facts:

The first commercially sold cheese burger was sold in Denver, Colorado at the Humpty-Dumpty Drive-in in 1935.

Home to 4 National Parks and 6 National Monuments

Links

Colorado National Historic Landmarks

Geography of Colorado

Colorado's Official State Web Portal

Colorado Photos

Havin' fun... but watch out for the shoes.

So a friend of mine bought a motorcycle a few months ago. I get invited from time to time to ride with him. It's a lot of fun.

He took the motor safety course and is a very good bike "driver." I was also given my instructions on what to do as a good rider: Arms around his waist, lean when he leans in the same direction he leans, when he turns I look over the shoulder to the direction he is turning, feet on the pedals at all times - even when stopped, etc.

Normally I wear my jeans, "tennis" shoes, jacket and helmet. However, last Friday night we went out to dinner for his birthday. Afterwards we decided to go for a bike ride. I had on my casual dress shoes with heals about 2" high. I got on the bike and didn't think about the rubber soles and heels on the shoes. We had been riding for about 20-30 minutes when I realized my heels were getting kind "squooshy." It was then that I gave it some thought and I realized my rubber heels were resting on the hot exhaust pipes. THEY WERE MELTING!!!






So, my warning here is, MAKE SURE YOU WEAR THE RIGHT SHOES WHEN YOU'RE RIDING A MOTORCYCLE. It was fun, but it left melted rubber on the pipes and ruined a comfortable pair of shoes. Oh well, good reason to go shopping...

NOT JUST A MOM

An Inspirational Story, Motivational Story - Not "Just a Mom" By Author Unknown, thanks to Claire for submitting!

http://www.wow4u.com/notjustamom/index.html


A woman named Emily renewing her driver's license at the County Clerk's office was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation. She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself.

"What I mean is," explained the recorder, "do you have a job, or are you just a...

"Of course I have a job," snapped Emily. "I'm a mother."

"We don't list 'mother' as an occupation... 'housewife' covers it," said the recorder emphatically.

I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same situation, this time at our own Town Hall. The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient, and possessed of a high sounding title like, "Official Interrogator" or "Town Registrar." "What is your occupation?" she probed.

What made me say it, I do not know... The words simply popped out. "I'm a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations."

The clerk paused, ballpoint pen frozen in midair, and looked up as though she had not heard right.

I repeated the title slowly, emphasizing the most significant words. Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.

"Might I ask," said the clerk with new interest, "just what you do in your field?"

Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply, "I have a continuing program of research, (what mother doesn't), in the laboratory and in the field, (normally I would have said indoors and out). I'm working for my Masters, (the whole darned family), and already have four credits, (all daughters). Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities, (any mother care to disagree?) and I often work 14 hours a day, (24 is more like it). But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money."

There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she completed the form, stood up, and personally ushered me to the door.

As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants - ages 13, 7, and 3. Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model, (a 6 month old baby), in the child-development program, testing out a new vocal pattern.

I felt triumphant! I had scored a beat on bureaucracy! And I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than "just another mother."

Motherhood...What a glorious career! Especially when there's a title on the door.

Does this make grandmothers "Senior Research Associates in the field of Child Development and Human Relations" and great grandmothers "Executive Senior Research Associates"? I think so!!!

I also think it makes Aunts "Associate Research Assistants".