Saturday, January 24, 2015

A Rainy 24th of January



Writers Block  
Posted in front of Scottish Pub.

This week I’ve seemed to develop writers block. Sometimes it’s been distractions, other times I just didn’t feel motivated. That creative flow which whimsically appears to allow me to publish a new edition just ain't there. So, I might just as well write about it and make it right.

I’ve really tried to get an edition of “The Rooster” out every week. Most of the time I make good on that personal goal. This week has just seemed like a struggle. I strive to make the content inspiring for my readership and not a whole lot of lightbulbs have been going off. The fuse to the old brain just can't find an ignition point.

So today I said to the little woman, I’m headed to the Annex, it’s where my writing studio is, in a converted old garage with heat and full bath for those who don’t know. There's even a Fridg stocked with Uncle Bobbie's favorite, Coors Lite. We’ve hosted 40 plus people in this edifice for Thanksgiving family dinners in the past. And the little woman, is upstairs in her sewing studio creating a quilt. Just this past week she completed two baby quilts for two recent family and a friends newly arrived babies. The third is for a gentleman who donates a Deer each year to our cause. Our cause you ask,  "cause we're hungry."

My den of creativity.


From the Sewing Studio of Mary Agnes.

During the week as I’m writing my journal I attempt to locate a Brain Storm. Usually I only get what some call “ a tip of the tongue phenomenon,” other folks might call it a “Brain Fart.” It just appears that nothing viable for “The Rooster” is coming about. 

As with just about everything today, there is an app for this tribulation, it’s called ironically enough http://www.brainstormsw.com  I’ve never used the app myself, but if you’r a writer and you need some help sometime, you might want to check it out. It is an app that charges a fee though. Being retired and thrifty, that’s why I don’t use it. 

One App I am using as a reference is “Purdue University’s On Line Writing Lab.” They actually have a segment dedicated just to writers block. Earlier today (Saturday 01/25/15) I was glancing at that resource. The best part of the site, it’s free. "Free at last, Free at Last," belated birthday wishes Martin, the kids enjoyed their day off of school. Thank You.



During the week as I’m writing my Journal I attempt to reflect back a few days and see if there’s content for The Rooster. My Journal writing failed me this week. However, Facebook came through with the below web site and it’s a must read if you write or are taking notes for any purpose. It's even more worthy, (a great wine by the way) if your in school or college.


Hopefully a few of you will have gained a bit of insight into the writing mind of The Rooster as he crows each week. I never would have thought I’d garner close to two thousand plus words from something as bland as “Writers Block.”


Longevity In Marriage (Thanks to a Facebook Post)



10 Forgotten Habits Happy Couples Have That Make Their Relationships
Last



Where In The World is Jeff Berthiaume

We have heard that El Jeffe has made it to Islamabad, Pakistan. He was to motor via convoy up to Peshawar and complete some work at the United States Consulate. For those interested, this is a distance of about 90 miles and is usually a two hour trip. As far as we know at this writing he's still holed up in Islamabad. Hopefully in a Bunker. How's it going Jeff?

Bolt Bus to NYC?

Shopping in Islamabad. Is this Giant or Stop and Shop?







Sighted In Allen


This past week on three separate occasions I have observed a large Albino Squirrel on Collins Wharf Rd. several hundred feet east of Noble Farms Rd. in Eden, MD. Mary Agnes was with me on one such sighting. 

My sister Megan lives in Sterling, VA and I have observed them there many times. If this one wandered over here from the DC suburbs, it’s either a good swimmer or it hitched a ride across the Bay Bridge. I’ve heard Camels do it all the time.

Sterling, VA is in Loudon County. They do have a Squirrel Ridge over there and a monument is erected to the 1st Massachusetts Cavalry, 3rd Brigade. If you’r a Civil War enthusiast you know of the Battle of Aldie that took place in 1863 when Lee’s Army was heading to Pennsylvania, I bet he wished he had a few Camels back then.



Just simply amazing, no TV, a grey and gloomy day in my Annex and I come out with a Blog. Who would have Thunk it?

Have a great day everyone and don't let the weather deflate your personality.

Just a little Patriotic jab.


Semper fi


Sunday, January 18, 2015

Post #2 2015

Aches, Pains and the Weather


Things are beginning to freeze.


Achs, pains and births, how does the weather effect you? Way back in May of 1997 I injured my back in a vehicle mishap that has put me on a 38 year roller coaster ride for a pain in the
back, neck or whatever. I have learned that the weather has an effect on my aches and pains, especially when the Barometric Pressure rises or falls suddenly. Personally I feel the rising of pressure tends to cause things to ache a little more than the drop associated with a low pressure.

A child I know had some Arthritic flare-ups back in their high school years that influenced them to do a Pain related Chart influenced by Barometric Pressure for a Science class. If I remember correctly that assignment was an "A" . Can you say "good job?"

I do not want anyone out there to think I'm posting "I don't feel good" messages like you see on face book, really people, "Get over yourself." Mary Agnes gets my moans and groans from time to time, but thats where I leave it. I'm in year 72 and marching along to the same Old Drummer, just a little different beat from time to time. 

The below article posted by Damon Lee caught my eye two fold. One, I had worked in Meteorology while in the Marine Corps, and two, Barometric Pressure does have an effect on my personal well being as it does for my daughter.  The below listed site adds credence to Mr. Lane's post.


Damon Lane is a Chief Meteorologist in Oklahoma City, OK and since Sam, Zed and family reside there also, the article really caught my eye. If your interested in Weather, the birthing of babies or Barometric Pressure and it's effect on us physically, this may be of interest to you. If not. so be it.

A rise in births this week..because of the weather?

High pressure leads to wild weather lore.
UPDATED 6:27 PM CST Jan 05, 2015



OKLAHOMA CITY —Weather folklore at it's finest. When the pressure changes...we see a rise in births.

If you pay attention to what the barometric pressure is doing every day then this entire week is one that you're following closely. Not only can the pressure predict how achy our bones will feel but it can also spark childbirths.

From the National Center of Medicine on days when there was a large change in pressure whether it was an increase or decrease, the number of deliveries was significantly higher. 




And this Wednesday from Oklahoma to Montana there will a surge in high pressure. A high pressure with a pressure of 1057mb. This is huge..and not something we see a whole lot. Average pressure is 1013mb.

The weather won't be any different because of it but if you're sensitive to pressure then you will feel it...and if you're 36-40 weeks pregnant..then you may be busy this week. And yes...my wife and I are paying close attention to this too :) If I'm not at work for a few days...you'll know why.


Chickens and the Cold

The weather has taken a turn and winter appears to be upon us with a bit of a Vortex coming down from Canada. We awoke to 27 deg. this morning at 0430 and upon letting the dog out I was not prepared for the likes it.

No more outside water for the chickens. Normally there is five gallons hanging outside for them, it would become nothing but a block of ice over the next few days with the present forecast. The red heat light is hanging in the coop to keep the water from freezing. Must keep a close eye on my girls and Casper these next few days.

Thanks to Kathryn they had a treat of Celery diced up this morning. Tomorrow it will be a Cauliflower head. Gifts from kids and neighbors continue to fill the menu throughout the year. Thanks everyone.

The attached Web Sit from "Off The GridNews" has some great resources for your fine feathered friends in this cold weather.



"What, no worms? Tell me again why he didn't move further south when he retired."



Portland, Maine

Portland Harbor 01/06/15

Our daughter Sarah has spent the beginning of the week  (01/06/15) in Portland Maine for her job. She sent me a text saying she had walked just two blocks and had a brain freeze.

I'm thinking I made my first trip to Maine in the early fifties. My parents were separated and divorced when I was very young. I would throughout my youthful life spend time much like a Ping Pong ball bouncing back and forth between my mother and step-father and father and step-mother. New Jersey and Connecticut and the not yet built I-95 corridor would be my stomping grounds.  My father was re-married to a woman who grew up in Maine. They would settle in Connecticut and I would spend summer vacations and holidays in the Nutmeg state. On occasion I was known to just leave NJ and head to CT by train, bus and thumb. A bit of Tom Sawyer, or was it Huck Finn that was in me as a youth. Ah, the wanderlust of youth and a bit of a Rebellion at times.

There are not many places one can go in the State of Maine without first going through Portland. Back in the day there was a saying that in order to get to Maine, one had to clear customs first in New Hampshire. Little did I know at the time of my first trip through the Pine Tree state that my own family would vacation often in Maine. Never would I dream of living in Connecticut for 20 years and raising our three children there. I also could never have imagined graduating from college in New Hampshire as I cleared customs. Looking back it's quite intriguing where life takes us and the roads we travel. It brings to mind Yogi Berra's quote, "When you come to the fork in the road, take it."

So here we have my daughter Sarah in Maine 60 plus years later, who sent me a text just yesterday, (01/06), saying how much she liked Portland, save the bitter cold of course. And our daughter Kathryn and her husband Jeffrey first settled in Bangor, ME in 1989 after they were married. Kathryn was in the Air Force at the time and Jeff was beginning his career in the Fire and Security Monitoring industry. At this posting Jeffrey is home for the moment.

Oh, so where am I going with this you might ask. Well, back to that ten year old in 1953, it was off to far north Maine and the town of Shirley Mills.
Downtown Shirley Mills, population 233.


My step-mother had relatives in Shirley and we would visit there after a stop in Dover Foxcroft. I also had an Uncle Earl, and his family was from Gardiner, Maine. His wife, my Aunt Natalie came from the same lineage as my step-mother, they were sisters.


Gardiner, ME - 1920's

My wife, daughter Kathryn, born in NJ, daughter Sarah, born in Havre deGrace, MD and son in the womb Matthew, soon to be born in Manchester, CT would move from Maryland to Connecticut in 1969. We would spend 20 years in Connecticut and vacation often in Maine while living there. Our favorite little piece of Heaven was Northport (Bayside), just south of Belfast on Penobscot Bay.

We would spend those 20 years living on the same street where my step-sister Donna and half brother Richard would have their homes. Our children would grow up living next door to their cousins Mark and Sue. Many wonderful memories.


Our summer vacation spot at Bayside,ME. Thanks for many great memories Pete and Nancy.


With the bitter cold weather this week it certainly is nice to reflect back to summers past and warmer days. It's time for a bit of tea so I shall take a break.

Déjà vu All over again “Yogi”
The Barbary War


This attached link shall take you to a New York times article from 2009. The article will be in reference to the Barbary Wars of the early 1800s. I only reflect back to this era as it is where we, “The United States of America,” were officially first at war with the “Muslim World.” The rest of the world endured it's terrorization from the Muslim world millenniums before.

 Thomas Jefferson would undertake this problem after his inauguration in 1801. Jefferson was very aware when becoming President of the issues at hand, since serving as Secretary of State in 1790 he had reported to Congress on this topic. There were 245 Piracy incidents reported in 2014, little of this becomes news today as the focus in reporting covers ISSIS, ISIL and Al Queda. 


For 225 years we have encountered the Pirates on the waters of the world. Global Piracy declined in 2014 but SE Asia piracy increased by 21 incidents. At last check SE Asia is primarily a Muslim World. Should our sitting Congress not look to reinstating the deep cuts endured by our Navy?  Is it not for our Naval Prowess that our shores have stayed unbreached?
Modern day pirates.

The “Five Deadliest Terrorist Groups” as reported in “The National Interest” are ISIL, Boko Haram, Quds Force, The Haqqani Network and Kataib Hezbollah. Are these monikers not attached to radical Muslim elements?

In all that I read, and I do read a lot, I have yet to see mentioned, Methodists, Lutherans, Baptists, Mormons, Catholics, Jews and other non-Muslim religions as being at the forefront of these terrorist organizations. Am I missing something here?

Of course no mention of conflict against a radical Muslim element is uttered from the sitting government in the big white house in Washington, DC. We only hear the words Radical Terrorist. 

Obama vs. Cameron: British PM takes hard line on ‘Islamist’ extremists, Obama avoids I-word

I try not to be political in my writings but I must admit after this past week's events in Europe, I just needed to add my two cents worth. It is time for our Executive Branch to call it what it is "Radical Muslim Terrorism." Without this becoming a Doctoral Thesis, I only want to add once again that this has been going on since the 7th Century. I guess Constitutional Lawyers don’t have to take History. 
Muslim expansion 622 - 750

I recently heard it said that Arabs and Muslims are all the same. No, they are not the same. Less than a quarter of the worlds 6.1 Billion Muslim population reside in the Middle East and North Africa. There are Jew and Christian Arabs, and Iran and Turkey are not Arab states. I’m positive that will get one or two people thinking.

At least Al Sharpton is out west mouthing on the Liberal Hollywood, Obama Financial Bank this week. “Give em Hell Al.” 

Have a great rest of the weekend everyone.

         Silhouettes, the original in 1957



Semper Fi.








Thursday, January 8, 2015

January 8, 2015

Editors Note

The below written work was posted on Facebook earlier today. I'm aware many of you do not go on Facebook. So my friends, with a rather important game of American Football to be played in Foxboro Mass this weekend I'm posting this here also.



In case you are unaware, the Baltimore Ravens shall travel to Foxboro to play the New England Patriots. As anyone who has studied history during the War of 1812 these two geographical locations were on the same side. This however shall not be the case for this encounter between two heated rivals.


The Baltimore Sun had a great article today about the coming conflict, the rights to Edgar Allen Poe and it's slant on the game. No matter a Raven or a Patriot fan, it's good reading.
The Boston Globe had their own slant on the game. I have always, since the inception of the Internet, enjoyed reading the pre and post banter by the local press.

There are actually four games this weekend. On Saturday as previously mentioned, it will be the Ravens vs Patriots from Foxboro at 4:35 on NBC. Also on Saturday we will have the Carolina Panters traveling to Seattle to take on the Sea Hawks brought to you by Fox at 8:15.






On Sunday the Dallas Cowboys will travel to the frozen tundra of Green Bay to take on the Packers. This game will be aired on Fox at 1:05. 







The late game will feature the Indianapolis Colts traveling to the Mile High City, home of the Denver Broncos and Payton Manning. CBS will air this game beginning at 4:40. All game times are Eastern Standard Time.


Put on your colors, cheer your team on and may the Refs not be responsible for the outcome.
If your at all interested in football, just click on the highlighted team name to get the local news on each team. Get some cold ones in the fridge, a bowl of snacks, don't forget that New Year's resolution now, and enjoy the games. 

Depending on which spouse is the one cheering, be kind, be patient and remember,"Life is like a box of chocolates," sorry Alabama.


One More Time  

By: W.L.F.
Edgar contemplating victory in Baltimore.


A spat goes on tween north and south, Patriots and Ravens working the 

mouth. Both cities claiming to be the home of Poe. One statue has him 

thinking while in the other he’s ready to go. Born in Boston, died in Charm

City, he was only forty, oh what a pity. His work carries on each year in the 

Fall, with purple Ravens playing ball.


It’s Foxboro not Boston where the Pats reside, where the Ravens from

 Baltimore will travel to collide. Belichek, Brady and the Gronk get 

prepared, for the Purple Defense that soon will be there. They’ll swarm and 

they’ll flap their wings in the air, awaiting the spherical ball to appear. 


The game plan devised by a man named Pees, so on defense the fans 

should be exceptionally pleased. The fans in the stands dressed in red 

white and blue will be in despair, with Brady on his back and all the Ravens 

there. 


Joey will drop back, not rattled or riled, and if knocked on his butt he gets 

up with a smile. No errant throws to opposition on this cold winters day, he 

remains competent and in the pocket he’ll stay. Harbaugh and Kubiak will 

have something up their sleeve, with the hope in the end that Belichek will 

grieve.



So travel up north where you’ve been times before, we root for you Ravens 

and a good final score. From the church towers he rides where he’s ridden 

the shore and shouts to the masses “Here comes the Ravens again once 

more.”


And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain, upon the Pats 

shall deliver a Hurtin
After defeat Poe leaves Boston.











W. Lee Fiddler
01-08-2015, Allen, MD

Monday, January 5, 2015

Happy Birthday World




The Davies head back to Oklahoma

The Davies return to Oklahoma was not without drama. Rather than heading somewhat due west through the Rockies, the crew took the southern route to Las Vegas then east through Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and finally home in OKC. This was also the path of the storm that entered California dropping record rains and snow in the mountains.

Shortly after entering Arizona the snow was falling and traffic issues developed on I-40 west. All traffic on I-40 would come to a halt for hours on end and the four travelers Davies would spend time "Hunkered Down" as Jim Cantore would say. Being a good Boy Scout, Zed had the Ford Excursion stockpiled with a 72 hour survival package and all ended without incident.

The weather uncertainty led the kids to do a bit of sight seeing, taking in the Grand Canyon and Petrified Forest to name a few. Snow seldom falls in the Canyon, every 10-15 years said Sam I am. So the kids took in a rarity.

Zed will now begin his training in the A-3 AWACS and ultimately begin to be part of the flight crew helping to keep us safe in far off places around the world. Shall not be long and Zed will join his father in-law in the "Where in the World?" category. Glad your crew is safe Davies. Love you all and "Happy New Year."

Ana Davies 5 mos.
Mia, 23 months @ Uncle Jeff's Game.


Modern gas station in the Northwest USA outback.
The return trip to Oklahoma City begins.





A lonely Elk

Sam and Mia


The Grand Canyon

Safely back home in Oklahoma. Nice beard Zed, you could be Amish.



Sarah and Rachael Palmer

Rachael Palmer awaiting the bus for her Birthday jaunt with her mother to NYC to see Cinderella.

Rachael NYC December 29, 2014
Happy Birthday Ray!

Sarah Palmer NYC, December 29,2014



The Connecticut Fiddler's come to visit The Eastern Shore.

The Fiddler clan with a Berthiaume or two thrown in to boot.

Matt, Beth and Abby




The Berthiaume Christmas Tree






The Sternat Clan

The Sternat family of Columbia, CT was once again whole for Christmas. Noah home for the first time since June and his start at the USAFA. With Noah are his sisters Emily and Hope or Hope and Emily, his father Matt and Mother Babbette.



The Zimmermans of Soldotna


Joe and Sue Zimmerman with friends in Alaska completed a six mile trek on Christmas  day.

New Years Day

Our entire family were the invited guests of the Wojciechowski's at their little piece of heaven on the Wicomico river for New Years Day dinner. Their next door neighbors Sidney Schneider and Judith Hearthway also joined in the festivities.

Jan made her trademark Pork Loin with Sauerkraut and more sides than a cooler of swinging beef. A homemade Cheese Cake finished off the caloric intake for the day.

Thank you for your kindness and generosity Jan, Chuck and Emily for what has become a New Years tradition.

Grace





Correction

In the previous issue of the Rooster I mentioned that Frans vanWagenberg was training as a Thoracic Surgeon. Well, I erred, Frans is actually in his fourth year of Surgical Residency, a five year program. After the residency is completed he aspires to go on further for the Thoracic Training Pathway.

To Frans and others who choose this and similar pathways, you are truly dedicated. Sorry for establishing the cart before the horse Frans.


Happy New Year to One and All

My internet has been down since last Wednesday, thank you Verizon. I had anticipated this going out on Saturday, but not to be. May 2015 bring that which ye seek. Thank you to Kathryn and Sarah to allow me to use their Internet.