December 31, 2010

Tomorrrow we start the new year. I love fresh starts and I am especially looking forward to this one. Many resolutions are rolling around and of course the wording of them is what is important. Not the standard I am going to lose weight this year. But rather I am going to eat healthier and get more exercise. I started running again last year and I would like to get back into non competitive racing as a way to motivate the  run training. I am looking at some of the race calendars and would like to pick out a charity race to run every month starting in April...maybe March if I can find one in Florida. I would also like to read more. This past year I have only read a handful of books. Probably because more (read that too much) time has been spent on the computer. I got caught up in the facebook gaming and while it is fun and I have enjoyed it, it has become too much of a non productive pastime. Sorry facebook friends but I won't be checking in nearly as often...another resolution.

And blogging... I have a couple of ideas to keep in more regular touch. Self improvement and fun I hope. Trees, plants, birds and fish. I recently read that most 10 year olds can name more action heroes than tree species. My first blog series is going to address that issue so I might be able to insure when AJ is 10 he will know his trees. Stay tuned.

Happy New Year!

Happy Birthday John

We love you and miss you. Life goes on however hard it seems sometimes. Pictures from our holiday this year. Christmas eve at Janet's, Christmas day at home. Your birthday with the Georges. You were remembered at every event.

The gift of Life

After John and Jessica started donating blood in high school we established the tradition of giving blood at Christmas as a family. It was fun to go to the donation center together and know that we were doing something worthwhile. After John was diagnosed with cancer we really understood the value of giving blood. Chemotherapy is very hard on a persons physical system. Often John got a unit or two of blood after a treatment. Sometimes he needed a unit or two before he could receive a chemo treatment because certain levels like white blood cell counts were too low. I particularly remember his last Thanksgiving when he received 3 or 4 units of blood before he came home to Perrysburg. He remarked several times that weekend about how he almost felt good. He would definitely have more energy after receiving the blood. I too have been the recipient of another persons blood after Jessica was born. After delivery complications I received what I always called, the blood of some big strong iron rich guy because I felt great. Of course it was shortly after that when it became known there were no HIV screening guidelines for blood donations. Poor Steve couldn't get a life insurance policy on me until I had a negative HIV test.

And so today we made the trip to the donation center in Toledo. Jessica was a better picture taker than me. She finished first. I was off in a corner with my back to she and Steve,  hence the partial finger in the shot of Jessica. Mike came with us. He remembers doing it with John. But he is not a giver. We kid him but understand. Today I encourage everyone to think about what a blood donation has meant in your family. It might be the best Christmas present you could ever get or give.

Merry Christmas 2010

John Stanford Memorial Bowl Pool

John always loved the college bowl season and he ran a football bowl pool every year. Steve and I have continued the tradition. Today after 4 games I was in first place. Yay!!! Not only do you pick a winner but also you must assign a confidence number. I am never sure quite what to do other than pick the team I want to win. Unfortunately my Spartans are not going to be favorites. I picked them with a low confidence number. Today I see the report that one of the better receivers has a broken foot. I can only hope to avoid an embarrassment.

Great dinner tonight with close friends. There is something to be said for the art of entertaining. Way to go Lois! My style will never quite be that good. Elegant comfortable and great food.

Metals and Ribbons for Mike

Mike is in Columbus this weekend for the Special Olympics State Swim meet. He called yesterday after getting a silver, second place metal in the 50 meter free style and a fifth place ribbon for the 25 meter free style. He is in a relay today but I have not heard how they did yet.

We had a great time at a holiday party last night and Jessica and I have been baking up a storm since she got home. Her latest indulgence is scones so we are tweeking scone recipes to see if we can compete with the $$$ pricey Starbucks variety.

More holiday festivities today then hopefully a quiet Monday to get back in control. Looking forward to the annual new years resolutions.

We'll have a White Christmas

COLD temperatures are forecast through next week so it seems apparent that Northwest Ohio will have a white Christmas this year. The snow has been pretty. The cold temperatures have been bearable because the sun has been out. The wind on Monday was the killer.

Jessica has finished her first semester of grad school and will be driving home from Boston on Thursday. It will be nice to have her in the house to brighten and lighten the mood. I am sure it will be busier than I have become accustom to. That will be good. I am heading out today to finish up some shopping then will do some more baking and finish the Christmas cards. I actually might get it all done this year. Having the cookie exchange was great because it forced me to bake earlier than I might otherwise have. It will be nice to sit by a fire and write cards.

Holiday parties still abound. It is great spending time with family, friends and colleagues.

Sometimes I feel bi-polar

This time of year is going to be wonderful/awful for the rest of my life I have decided. I love Christmas! I love peace on earth, goodwill to men! I love the cold weather and snow in December. I love the whole spirit of Christmas.I love seeing people in such giving moods.

But it hurts now too. It should be a happy time and in a day to day measure it is; but there will always be something missing. It can't be fixed. No matter how happy and into the moment I am at some point it always seems to come back to what isn't here. My family, no matter how big it ever gets will never be complete again. I am happy, but at the same time I am sad. I have a hole in my heart that cannot be filled and it seems so much closer to the surface this time of year.

I am putting up the shield again and heading for the decorations. The Christmas tree is up and needs lights and ornaments... There is an ornament for each of my children's first Christmas. One for Jessica, one for Michael,... and one for John. See how much fun decorating the tree is.

Coming back for an edit I must add something of my experiences today to set the mood for this post. I started the day with a funeral of a dear friends mother. Sad, emotional, and a reminder of life and death. From there I immediately went to a Christmas cookie exchange. Good friends, good food, singing Christmas carols and having fun. The roller coaster of life. The tree is lit. But I never got to the ornaments. They will be my start for Sunday.

Pearl Harbor Day December 7, 1941

My Dad September 1943 (18 years old)

I am sure there are many people today that can tell you exactly what they were doing on December 7th, 1941. I am not one of them but I surely know the feeling of memorable dates in history and how easy it is to place yourself back into the exact moment. My greatest historical moment would be the assassination of President Kennedy. I was in a band rehearsal when the announcement came over the school intercom. I can remember the conversations with friends between classes for the rest of the afternoon. I can remember it like it was yesterday. And with that knowledge I know today must be a painful reminder to many people.

Today I want to take a moment to salute the many veterans who served in the military branches during World War II. This includes my Dad, Harry Cornell, who served as a tail gunner in a B-17. Many of the details of his time during WW II can be read about in the book, "Dead Engine Kids : World War II Diary of John J. Briol, B-17 Ball Turret Gunner". John was a crew member with my Dad. This website shows some of the details and pictures of the crew. http://www.cloudnet.com/~jfb/. The book is an excellent read for WW II buffs.

 Take a minute to look at it and thank a veteran today.

Thanks Dad! Glad you are still here to remind us our freedoms are worth fighting for.

A matched set

Technical difficulty! Picture of the new dryer will not upload. Hope this isn't indicative of future with this appliance. Will try again. Got it today. Something up with some new google software to upload pictures. Monday laundry was a pleasure.

Why do appliances break (during the holidays)

Last year I got a new furnace for Christmas. This year I get a new dryer. Yesterday my nearly 30 year old dryer went bang and stopped. I quickly had a mental debate about calling a serviceman or going to the appliance store. It seemed to be a no brainer. Two years ago when my washer died I replaced it with a shiny new one that had a much different look than the dryer. I have lived with the mismatch because it seemed silly to replace something that worked just for the esthetics's of a matching set. Well I now have the matching set again but for who knows how long.

Happy December first. Let the holiday season begin.