Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Baseball Season begins




Where in the World is JB?

Jeff is back here in the good old USA. He arrived at DCA around 0200 Monday, 04/20 early  Morning, a bit under the weather but seems to be getting his legs back under him. Diet issues do take their toll when traveling the world's finest places.

Jeff should be home for an extended stay and have plenty of time to get back to normal. He's taking a trip to OKC to visit Sam and Family, grabbing Mia for a trip to MSU in Starkville, MS and help Abby move out of her dorm. Once that's completed, Jeff, Abby and Mia will head out for the return trip to the Eastern Shore. 

Traveler's Tummy

It's probably the most unpleasant minor traveler's malady. Unfortunately, it's also probably the most common.
Call it what you will -- Montezuma's revenge, the traveler's trot, the Toltec two-step, Delhi belly, the runs, traveler's tummy or the commonly accepted TD (for traveler's diarrhea) -- but don't call it fun. Symptoms include diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea and vomiting. Further, it can be dangerous, causing severe dehydration, malnutrition or worse.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that between 20 and 50 percent of international travelers suffer some form of TD. A vaccine against E. coli, the most common cause of TD, has been under development for over a decade now -- and there's no sign that it will be released any time soon. Until then, here are our tips for preventing, identifying and treating traveler's tummy.

Kathryn


Congratulations to our daughter Kathryn who recently completed her Defense  portion of her Doctoral program at Salisbury University. Kathy will make the Grand March on May 20th and will be known as a Doctor of Nursing Practice after that date. Congratulations to our first born.


The Davies

Zed and Mia went to their first Father - Daughter Dance on Base.
Great Picture kids.

Mia and Ana, having fun with Granny Elaine snapping the photo
while Mom is off in Las Vegas on an assignment.
The Vegas skyline.


The Wasik extended family.

Many years ago two brothers, John and Bobby Romspert married two sisters, Elizabeth (Bunny) and Barbara Wasik. The
two brothers have travelled to a higher calling in Heaven. The sisters have since remarried and here is the extended family.
Bunny recently got her children to join her on a Caribbean cruise, and Barbara her daughter Carolyn and husband Mike joined the party. Seated L-R, Sharon Romspert-Gargula and Carolyn Romspert. Kneeling L-R, Barbara Wasik-Romspert-Gilsenen, Elizabeth (Bunny) Nasik-Romspert-Bode, Rebecca Romspert(wife of John Michael) and Colleen Romspert-Bifferato. Standing L-R David Gargula, John Michael Romspert, John Bode, Michael Gilsenen and Gary Bifferato.

Last week my wife and Aunt and sister in-law to this crew, met Barbara and Mike at Jerry's Seafood in Lewes, DE for lunch. We kept the wait staff occupied for a full two hours getting a briefing on a great cruise and a good time had by all. I had a great Oyster sandwich. All the food was fantastic, if in Lewes, give them a try and say "The Rooster sent you."

Our "Love" to all of you.


CT Fiddlers

The Fiddler clan, less David who's still in school in VT, recently took a family road trip to Washington, DC. Nothing like a little visual history lesson.
L to R, Jill, Rebecca and Kevin

Matt with Rebecca, Kevin and Jill


A Tar Heel Shout Out to Austin Baird


Topsail H.S. Baseball Team, Wilmington, NC

Way back in 1985 the Fiddler family resided in Vernon/Rockville, CT. Our eldest child Kathryn Marie was a senior that year. We lived in a very close community of houses and two of Kathryn's three best friends lived but a few houses away right around the corner from our home. The three friends that made up the foursome were Della Cordner, Sue Lamb, and Babette Lataille. Della and Babette lived right around the corner from us.

After graduation the girls headed to college.  Della would travel to Boston College, Sue to University of Rhode Island and Babette wound up at Quinnipiac. Kathryn would head north to Vermont.  Their lives would take different turns through the years, however they have remained close friends throughout the past thirty years.

Della would head south to the Wilmington, NC area, marry Mitchell Baird and have two sons, Austin and Eli. In this edition of "The Rooster" I wish to give a little shout out to Austin Baird and his #19 ranked high school baseball team in the USA, Topsail High School in Wilmington, NC.

Team info below. It's worth clicking on the links to see just how this young man pitches and how good his team is.

http://www.maxpreps.com/high-schools/topsail-pirates-(hampstead,nc)/baseball/home.htm

Austin's Statistics

http://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/austin-baird/BhkUbPTtEeKZ5AAmVebBJg/default.htm

Austin is up for the Star News player of the week this week!!!  Please vote for him.  Here is the link:


http://varsitynow.blogs.starnewsonline.com/25892/player-of-the-week-nominees-april-19-25/





http://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/austin-baird/BhkUbPTtEeKZ5AAmVebBJg/default.htm


Health and Welfare 

In closing I'd like to say Andrew Farley of Port Orange Florida, we're thinking of you. Andy as many of you know, was a neighbor growing up in Wilmington, DE of my wife Mary Agnes and her family. Her brother Bobby and Andy were best friends for ever and he's been a good friend of mine for the past fifty years.

Andy recently suffered a stroke and is in a rehabilitation facility in Florida. I spoke with his wife Rika on Sunday while Andy was busy with PT. Riki said he's doing well and should be there in Rehab 3-4 weeks. Andy has some weakness on his right side, speech is good and so is his morale. The stroke affected his right side which normally would be good for the Left Handed Andy. However, Andy recently had Rotator Cuff surgery on his dominate Let side. Most likely from too many "First One Todays" with Uncle Bobby over the years. 

Andrew, "Get Well Quick." Misty misses you I'm sure.

Should you like to drop Andy a get well note, this is the address:

Andrew Farley

%Florida Memorial Hospital Rehab
301 Memorial Medical Pkwy
Daytona Beach, FL 32117

In Closing

I wish everyone a great end to the month of April and apologize for the delay. I've had a busy past couple of weeks and apologize for the delay in getting this out. 

To the people of Baltimore " I wish you Peace."





Sunday, April 5, 2015

Happy Easter

Sunrise Service St. Augustine Beach, FL ( Credit to Augustine.com)

"Christ the Lord is risen to-day," 
Sons of men and angels say. 
Raise your joys and triumphs high; 
Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply. 
(Charles Wesley)


Easter sunrise in Eden



Have you ever wondered where many of the Easter traditions come from? Click on the following web site to learn a thing or two you might not have know.

http://www.factmonster.com/spot/easterintro1.html

In the Village of Allen

I'm sure many of the AMW Army caught up on some much needed rest this past week. Yesterday did bring about more work for some as an Easter egg hunt took place for the children. There is always something going on in this tiny little oasis.

Even President Obama sponsors an Easter egg roll. I wonder what ISIS thinks of this?


Where in the World is JB?

Jeff will be doing a quick stop in Istanbul, Turkey today on his way to another fun filled trip
to Islamabad, Pakistan. Jeffrey, be safe. See you soon and then we get to do a road trip to MS and OK.
Rib joints and Sports Bars, here we come.


Remember the market last week in Tel Aviv? It's just not quite the same in Islamabad.

By the way Jeff, yesterday there was a birthday surprise party for Mary Agnes' adopted son Edmund O'Leary at Specific Gravity. There were quite a few who showed up. It was kinda sad though. Ed thought they were there to honor him when actually it was the noon hour and the came for the free Beer, Wings and Pizza. Happy 50th old friend.


That would be Edmund on the left with three of the freeloaders who showed up for the Beer and food.
They were feigning affection for dear sweet Alexis who's snapping the photo." Feed them and they will come."

Quilting, Where it all comes together for Mary Agnes, (Her Studio)

The Entryway to the sewing studio. This door has a lot of miles posted on it. I liken it to a peek at a walking legacy.


For those who don't know, Mary Agnes (Ree to some) Fiddler, my wonderful tolerant wife is a quilter. For the past few months "T" shirt quilts have been the normal course of time consumption. The months leading up to graduations from school lends it's self to Mary Agnes getting numerous requests for this school ending presentation. Quilts for upcoming weddings has been the customary gift quite frequently over the years. I do contribute to this endeavor also. I'm often sent off to pick up assorted supplies or just emptying my wallet for the purchase of material and batting. Late in the afternoon when for the past eight hours she has spent bent over the sewing machine and ironing board, I'll hear a call from the sewing studio. "Honey, I'd love it if you brought up a glass of wine." Yes, the day is winding down as I notice her stretching and doing all kinds of gyrations to limber her back and shoulders up. And I must mention, me and Hoover have become great companions, sucking up the threads and cuttings that wind up all over the house.


Following directions.
Organizing the pieces.

Putting the puzzle together

Awaiting the vacuum man.

Supplies and cutting board.

Old friend and stuff.

SE exposure.

NE exposure.

Chicken Scratch

Harry and Rebecca McElhone live a half mile up the road from us. Harry has joined the growing number of person's with backyard flocks of chickens. He recently built this, his newest coop to house his birds. Harry stated that the dish antenna is for them to view Chic Flicks. Nice one Harry.

What do Literary chickens have when they go to the bathroom?



73 deg. and the first "Lawn Mowing" of the season (on 04/03)

Wow, thank you "O" mighty God of the Meteorologic world. Where have you been? No coat and a feeling of blessedness, it must have something to do with Easter. I was motivated to get my John Deere out today, I've been prepping it for the past few weeks. I've charged the battery, done an oil change and filter and put in a new spark plug. About 10:00 AM I climbed aboard, put the throttle into the Choke position, turned the key, and said thank you Lord. It purred like a kitten, I was ecstatic. The chickens followed me around the back yard for thirty minutes feeding on bugs being sent scurrying. Yep, Spring is in the air.

I have a one acre lot, 0.404685642 hectares should you be in Europe. Didn't they say many years ago that we, the USA, were going to the Metric system? What ever happened with that, does anyone know?

Wow, almost 40 years ago. What strides we make, I'm guessing it must be a Congressional thing.



The United States Metric Board (USMB)

USMB logo
On 23 December 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed the Metric Conversion Act of 1975, which finally gave official federal sanction for the U.S. to convert to using the metric system.
Among other things, this 1975 law established the 17-member United States Metric Board (USMB) “to coordinate the voluntary conversion to the metric system.”
Although the USMB no longer exists — it was dissolved in 1982 — its history might be of interest. We'll start by describing the intended membership and functions of the Board.

Abby Took a Road Trip

Abby and her roommate Molly Redfern at Mississippi State, took a trip west to Hot Springs Arkansas to celebrate a birthday for Molly and her twin sister Kelsey. While there, they adventured a bit by going Zip Lining.

L/R Abby Berthiaume, Tatum McNeil and Molly Redfern outfitted for the Zip Line.


A Final Tribute

 James (Jim, The Bear) (August 29, 1940 – August 4, 2014) and Sarah Brady (née Kemp; February 6, 1942 – April 3, 2015)

Sarah Brady died April 3, 2015 in Alexandria, VA.  I had the privilege of working for the Brady's from 1997 - 2000 as a driver and companion for Mr. Brady at times. They were wonderful to work for and travel with for this period in my life. Jim was such a man of upbeat character, he would always bring a smile to peoples faces. I was fortunate to travel to some interesting places, and meet many unique people while in their employ. Ever present in my mind was a cemetery on Route 1 in Delaware. When traveling north to Wilmington, whenever passing this cemetery, Jim would say, " Lee, do you know how many people are dead in that cemetery?" Of course I wound say "No Jim, how many?" "All of them," he would say, and then he would laugh with that big jovial laugh of his. I could always anticipate this same question on our return trip.

Whenever traveling between the hours of 12:00 and 3"00 PM, "The Rush Limbaugh Show" was always on. The Brady's were very up on the political scene. I'm not alluding to Rush being an enamored sole, actually quite the contrast. Quite often I would glance over at Sarah when Rush was speaking on "2nd Amendment" rights and Sarah would just be gritting her teeth.

After my Bypass surgery (CABG) in October of 2000 I could no longer physically handle Jim and his wheel chair and had to leave what was a great job for an old retired Trooper. I'm sure Jim, Sarah and President Reagan are catching up on old times and Jim can now write epithets for those applying for Angel positions.Sarah and Jim, this writer shall never forget you. I thank you for the honor of working for you and all the memories.


OKC and the Davies


Must be a bad hair day.
Always happy Ana
My guess, "The Easter Bunny" was there

Ana, the gatherer.


































Mia after gathering eggs at the Easter Egg Hunt.