Dackel Princess

Looking Back

That Fateful Day
Milestones

I think we all can tell you where we were, and what we were doing on that fateful day, five years ago.

September 11, 2001

It was a beautiful day here in New Hampshire. Sunny, bright, clear with blue skies. I was taking a shower getting ready for a dental appointment, while Hubby was working on shingling the house. It was a day like any other here.
Hubby had the TV in our bedroom pointed out the window so he could listen to the morning news.

Suddenly, I felt a hand on my arm and Hubby told me I had to get out of the shower now, something was happening. I was a little dazed and confused. I shut the water in the shower off and grabbed my towel.

Hubby and I sat in our family room watching Fox News, ABC, and CNN. A plane had hit one of the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center in downtown New York City.

While we watched, suddenly another plane came in and hit the other Tower!
We were both in shock. We listened to reports. No one was saying terrorism, not at first. But both Hubby and I knew.

We watched the Tower’s come down one and then the other. We knew people had died. We just didn’t know how many.

At 12:30 I drove to my dental appointment. There was not another car on the road. Not one. I got to my dental appointment and found that I was the only patient that hadn’t cancelled that day.
When I got home we watched the TV all day. I called my family and my close friends. Just to hear their voices.

It doesn’t matter your political affiliations, or how you feel about the war.
What matters is on September 11, 2001 innocent people died in New York City, In Washington, DC and in Shanksville, PA.

People like you and like me. Just because they were Americans.
That was the day I learned that we are no longer safe here at home.

I also learned that when our country is attacked in such a manner, we pull together and unify.

God Bless all who lost their lives that day, and all who serve this country each and every day to protect and defend us.

September 11, 2001: Basic Facts

Chronology
8:46 AM Plane crashes into the north tower of the World Trade Center.
9:03 AM Plane crashes into the south tower of the World Trade Center.
9:17 AM The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) shuts down all New York City area airports.
9:21 AM The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) halts all flights at U.S. airports. It is the first
time in history that air traffic has been halted nationwide.
9:38 AM Plane crashes into the Pentagon. Evacuation begins immediately.
9:45 AM The White House evacuates.
10:05 AM The south tower of the World Trade Center collapses.
10:10 AM A portion of the Pentagon collapses.
10:10 AM Plane crashes in Somerset County, Pennsylvania.
10:22 AM The State and Justice Departments, as well as the World Bank are evacuated.
10:28 AM The World Trade Center’s north tower collapses.
10:45 AM All federal office buildings in Washington, D.C. are evacuated.
1:44 PM Five warships and two aircraft carriers are ordered to leave the U.S. Naval Station
in Norfolk, Virginia to protect the East Coast.
4:10 PM Building 7 of the World Trade Center collapses.

The Flights
American Airlines Flight 11
From: Boston, Massachusetts (Logan Airport)
To: Los Angeles, California
Lives: 92 people on board
Crashed into North Tower of World Trade Center at 8:46 AM

United Airlines Flight 175
From: Boston, Massachusetts (Logan Airport)
To: Los Angeles, California
Lives: 65 people on board
Crashed into South Tower of World Trade Center at 9:03 AM

American Airlines Flight 77
From: Washington, D.C. (Dulles Airport)
To: Los Angeles, CA
Lives: 64 people on board
Crashed into the Pentagon at 9:38 AM

United Airlines Flight 93
From: Newark, New Jersey
To: San Francisco, California
Lives: 44 people on board
Crashed into rural Pennsylvania (southeast of Pittsburgh)

Victims
Victims came from more than 90 countries around the world.
The following are the number of people who died at each site:

World Trade Center 2,823 (includes airline passengers)
Pentagon 125 (not including plane victims)
Flight 11 – 92 people on board
Flight 175 – 64 people on board
Flight 77 – 64 people on board
Flight 93 – 44 people on board

The initial numbers are indelible: 8:46 a.m. and 9:02 a.m. Time the burning towers stood: 56 minutes and 102 minutes. Time they took to fall: 12 seconds. From there, they ripple out.

Fact Sheet
U.S. Department of State
Washington, DC
August 15, 2002

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. On Thursday we pause to remember a dark day in history-9/11. Will you mark it in some special way?

I think I mark it each and every day, when I pray for the members of the military, those who have lost their lives to the militant Islamists, and all others. It seems since 9/11 my prayer time has gotten longer.

2. Do you ever/still…listen to an actual radio? Watch a videotape (VCR)? Look up a number in a phonebook? Refer to a paper map while traveling? Set an alarm on an alarm clock as opposed to your phone?

Radio? Yes. VCR? Yes, but I notice that they are not as good to watch as a DVD. Phone book? Still use them all the time. Paper map? Oh yes. One road trip we thought we’d just use the GPS. Well we got as far as Connecticut and stopped to get maps for the trip to DC. And yes, I do use an alarm, when I have to.

3. Is it ever a good idea to discuss religion or politics with people you don’t know?

No. I made this mistake once and a friend defriended me. I appologized for offending them, but to no avail.

4. What’s a dish you haven’t eaten all summer, but come September find yourself craving? Have you made it yet this month?

Beef stew. I love it, but not in the summer.

5. What’s something you know nothing about?

Science. But I am learning more each and every day, as Lili’s medical problems force me to.

6. September is Classical Music Month. Do you like classical music? If so, what’s your favorite piece?

Not a big fan, but I do love Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganin.

7. What’s the oldest thing you own?

Several items from my grandmother and grandfather. But probably my Noah’s Ark. Papa brought it from Germany and we were only allowed to play with it on Sundays.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I will do more of a post on our upcoming vacation later. I am just so happy we are going on this trip!

Vacation Time…Here I Come!

After several weeks of trying to find a house/doggy sitter so Hubby and I could go on vacation, I was becoming increasingly nervous. You see, we had a free cruise to use before the end of the year and unless I found that special “Angel”, we were stuck.

Both Hubby and I need the vacation. We’ve had sort of a tiring year. And I found one cruise at Thanksgiving that would be perfect. You see Mandy, Matt and Savannah always spend Thanksgiving with his family.

Then we found her! We’ve known her for a while, and known her family and she is happy to come and work for us! Oh, be still my heart!

So we will be heading to the Caribbean, Hubby and me, and we will have 10 days of rest, relaxation and sunshine.

Best of all, it is on the new “Royal Princess”!

I promise to get my picture taken with “Princess Kate’s” picture!

Happy

I was feeling pretty happy today, thus I got a lot done. The dreaded dusting, the washing of counters, cooking up Lili’s food, and making more spaghetti sauce from my garden full of tomatoes.

I watched a few movies, tried to get interested in sporting events, but that just didn’t happen. So I made Hubby a nice dinner and believe it or not we watched a Doris Day movie (with James Garner) and now Hubs is watching “Planet of the Apes”. It’s not one of my favorite movies, that’s for sure.

I am hoping to get Lili bathed tomorrow, after that it’s a go round with my rug cleaner. All I can smell is dog, and that is upsetting.

Now here is a funny story. I’ve been telling hubby to close the half bathroom door in the puppy room. Well, last night he forgot, or I forgot, anyway, the door stayed open. This morning when I got up I found shredded magazines all over the puppy room.

Looks like she had fun!

Working On Me

I got my hair done today, and I have gone back to wearing my smaller glasses. The larger ones hurt my nose. Anyway, since losing fome 18 pounds I thought I looked a bit better.

This is me with no make-up! Isn’t the nose looking good?

Last night I stayed up watching The US Open Tennis. I love Roger Federer, and I was hoping he would pull it out. I simply could not close my eyes. However there is a price that I pay. I have no energy the next day.

Thus, I did not get too much done today. I did start a search for someone to help me with the dogs, and I am not having much luck. Hopefully I will find someone soon to care for them so Hubby and I can escape on a nice vacation.

Anyone looking for a job?

Happiness

Okay, it was back to the Market Basket Grocery Store this week. There I was standing in front of the Mexican food section looking for Peach Salsa, (my new passion) when I heard the most wonderful, and the happiest giggles around. The giggles appeared to belong to a small female child, although I couldn’t see them in the next isle.
I finally found Neuman’s Own Peach Salsa, and then went back to retrieve Hubby from the meat counter before our grocery bill resembled the National Debt! As I turned the corner there they were. Three blonde haired, blue eyed pixies in two shopping carts being pulled through the grocery store by their good natured, no, great natured Dad! He asked them what they liked for a treat and they said, “Kwaft Macroni & Cheese!!” And he went over and got 6 boxes. “How come we need so much Daddy?” one of the girls asked. “Cause you’re really good girls!!!” he answered.
I asked if they were triplets. They were all about the same size, all looked nearly identical. But no a set of twins and a single. So I said, “Oh twins and a spare!” And he laughed. “Why’d she say I was a spare Daddy?” echoed the little girl. “Cause I’m lucky to have all three of you!”
It turns out that the happy laughing family was giving the Mom of the family a break. I saw them and heard them as Dad pulled them wildly through the rest of the store. And I thought how lucky these three girls were to have such a wonderful warm, fun Daddy who gave his wife a break, and the girls the best gift of all, a fun day at the grocery store with the man who gave them life.

Now that’s happiness!!!

Prayin’ For Lili

Now that we know that Lili has EPI I have started working wth her. You see, when she was really suffering before the start of her medication, the poor thing was in pain, had terrible diarrhea, and was wasting away. A terrible thing for a dog to be going through.

The trainer kept telling me she was willful and to be harsh with her. Well, I stopped going to her. You simply cannot be harsh with a dog who is frantically hungry all the time.

There was that look in her eyes. That terrible look that told me that she was scared. So, after praying to God for assistance, I started to behave calmly with my constant shadow.

After lunch today, I allowed her to come up on my loveseat with me. Then I softly, gently, stroked her back, her ears, and down her legs. Her eyes closed and she sighed.

I thought then that here is a dog that has been abused by illness. She was counting on us to recognize that and help her. I have to admit that Hubby was the biggest help. He’s been involved in a genetics project for years and this was one of the illnesses that was discussed.

So I ask, if you are the praying sort of person, please include Lili in your prayers. She will need all of them if we are to get this disease under control.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What’s something you wanted to do this summer that you never got around to actually doing?

Going to the local Fairs. Actually there is one more close by and I will go. Either by myself or with someone.

2. Share a favorite memory of your own back -to-school days as a child.

New clothes, new shoes and braided hair.

3. What’s one chore or daily task you prefer doing ‘old-school’ ?

I know this will sound funny, but scrub the toilet. So many people use the drop in the tank stuff, but I prefer the cleaner, scrub brush and scour. Oh yes, and done with old fashioned gloves

4. Share something you’ve learned in life through the ‘school of hard knocks’.

Enjoy today. Love the ones you love, never let a day go by when you do not tell them or show them. You never know when their last day, or your last day will come.

5. As a child, did you mostly bring or buy your lunch for school? What was your favorite thing to find in your lunchbox?

In the early years I bought my lunch. I loved Friday Fish Sticks and mashed potatoes and mixed vegetables and a fruit cup. Of course that came with a carton of milk. Later, my Dad made our lunches. It was the same every day. An American Cheese Sandwich, Apple and I would buy a carton of milk.

6. Football season is upon us which has me wondering… how big of a sports fan are you (not just football) ? On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being ‘I scream at the players through my television screen’ and 1 being ‘is knitting a sport?’ where do you fall in fandom?

I am not a big football fan, but I do watch (kinda, sorta, ya know?) But I love tennis! I also love figure skating, and skiing, and gymnastics.

7. Share a favorite quote you think might inspire students of all ages at the start of a new school year.

“Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one’s definition of your life; define yourself.” – Harvey Fierstein

Positive Defeats Negative

As you all know, a few weeks back, I returned to Weight Watchers and started to follow the Simple Start plan. I love it! I’ve found it easy to follow, and have lost quite a bit of weight.

In fact, yesterday I was running around the house doing various things and my “fat” shorts fell off me! Thus making me feel good and also making me anxious for Wednesday when I can weigh in.

I’ve been really working at staying positive in my mind. You see the depression monster came to visit a few weeks back and I’ve had one heck of a time, but I refuse to give in.

This week I have two thing I really want to do. Get my hair done and go to Market Basket and shop! The employees and customers won and Artie T. DeMoulas is back as CEO!

Positive thinking! Yes that’s how I will start and finish each day!

Broken

My glasses broke today! I think they can be fixed, but for now I am back in my old ones until I can either get my glasses fixed or get a new pair.

Here I am in my regular glasses.

And here I am in my old glasses.

I like the new glasses better because I have a wider peripheral field of vision. This means I must get myself down to the eye glasses shop and get these glasses repaired. You know, I am noticing that my old glasses are more comfortable. Hmmmmmm. Maybe I should wear these for a while and see how thesy feel on my new nose.