International Readers , Sweden

After my Swedish relatives went back home, Ingalil decided to now check my blog once in a while. Ofcourse her english skills are not exactly great yet. Each entry will have something in Swedish written for the family over seas.
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Hej!Du förstår engelska? Hur mår du? Och ja I metod för bli besök Sverige gärna in få brittsommar.

I found off cnet this software that turns your keys on keyboard to allow swedish grammar to be typed etc. Why does it take me for ever to find things like this? Ugg!
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Help support the victims of the Tsunami by going to the American Red Cross website.

The joys of doing nothing

Well this week has been rather lack luster in events. It’s not till Feb. and April vacation wheN I’m going to be traveling.

I went to the mall yesterday and people are literally crazy. The after-Holiday rush appears to be in full swing. I am waiting till after it dies down to really go shopping with the gift card I have received from Christmas.

I need to go to Barnes and Noble for a few things, plus to just look around. I need to get a lot done this vacation. No time for relaxing it seems.

Ride Alongs seems scarce until January.

Bush has some sense!

Bush authorizes $300M for Sudan

President Bush signed legislation Thursday authorizing $300 million to help victims of violence and support peace talks in Sudan. I say its about damn time. People in Sudan are facing genocide. May god be with those in Africa, but I fear god has already left Africa long ago.

... Christmas

Christmas started on the Eve. I went to church at 5pm, then it was off to Great Aunts house in Westport for dinner. I got home at about 10:00 pm. After showering and putting on sweats, I brought down all of my presents for people. Getting to sleep at about midnight I got 7 hours of sleep. I woke at 7 am and my grandparents and I ate a lavish breakfast. We then went into the living room to distribute presents to one and other. I received:

Alpine Car Stereo
Wool Coat
2 Brooks Brothers Sweaters and 1 polo
Slippers
Flannel pants
Throw Blanket
Poker Set

After exchanging gifts at home, we packed the car to the gills with presents and proceeded to my Aunts who lives here in Easton. We had a nice lunch ( a Turduckin = Chicken inside a Duck which is inside a Turkey.)

New Orvis leather gloves
GTA San Andreas
Gift Certificate to Eddie Bauer
EBAY T Shirt

Had a nice fire going in the main fireplace and everything was picturesque. My other Aunt and Uncle met us there and then we went back home where my other aunt and uncle exchanged gifts. I had about 2 hours to relax a bit until my great aunt and great grandmother and 2 cousins arrived, whom we saw Christmas Eve for dinner.

The night ended with watching Liar Liar and Scent of a Woman with my Uncle. That my friend was my Christmas.

All day today I have this rather depressing feeling that Christmas, which I have been preparing for is now gone. Spending a month of preparation and joyous occasions all come down to one day and its gone quicker then I can imagine. Of course now I have a week to relax but it’s not the same. But it’s ok. Time goes on, we go on.

My plans seem to be undecided for now though I have a few things on the burner, it’s just a matter of when. This week I may visit extended family, spend some time with friends and family.

I hope your Christmas was joyous.

To Be Continued

I will post an entry on my christmas tomorrow. Its crazy with people all here. Woa...

Merry Christmas one and all. May god be with the troops in Iraq and soldiers stationed around the world.

Festivus

HAPPY FESTIVUS, EVERYONE!

"A Festivus, For the Rest of Us!" - Frank Costanza



In the episode, Kramer had become interested in resurrecting the holiday after hearing the plight of his friend—Frank Costanza's son—George, who used the holiday celebration he hated in his youth as a defensive excuse to his employer, Kruger (played by Daniel Von Bargen). George had been confronted by Kruger after handing out cards for Christmas to his fellow employees stating a donation had been made to a fake charity called The Human Fund ("Money For People") in lieu of exchanging Christmas presents. George defended himself saying that he feared persecution for his beliefs, for not celebrating Christmas. Calling his bluff, Kruger came home with George to see Festivus in action.

The Festivus idea came to the show through writer Daniel O'Keefe. His father, Dan O'Keefe, had invented a Festivus holiday in 1966, including many of the features later included in Seinfeld.
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Kudos to NY Times for publishing an article on the made up holiday .

Budget

Budget Passed

Total Votes Tally

YES : 3571

NO :1147

Goodness

A good deed was done today. It warmed my heart but at the same time saddend me.
I had gone to a house to help a family in need and brought them gifts I bought at the mall. I have known this family for about 10 years and each year I bring them gifts for there kids and extended family as there Christmas is very bleak with out them. It really made my day to see the kids open the presents they normally would never get.

Wisdom , something new to me

Many guys have a problem with their girlfriends being close to other men. Maybe it’s jealousy, or possessiveness, or maybe it’s some other emotion they can’t quite get a grip on, but often its a un reasonable feeling.

The problem may root with in trust. It could be the bottom line is that you do not trust your girlfriend. I have noticed this more and more. I dont see anything wrong with girls having guy friends, but at the same time I understand where the guy is coming from. Living now in the year 2004 we must come to expect more independent and free choosing women who are going to possibly bend outside of most mens comfort levels.

Depending on the sort of person she is, you might be able to discuss this with her. But men, hear me when I say stressing over your girl friends guy pals is going to worsen your relationship with her. She will think you dont trust her and you will also go crazy trying to either stop it or find information out all the time.

Quote , had to mention it

(To those -EMT'S and family- standing around in a bedroom at a house at a call )

" Either go and get bleechers or get out because child birth is not a spectator sport!"

Cooper , 12/17/04

schedule

Tomorrow

Haircut, Bank , Lunch out with family , mall , Boaders , Brooks for RX then possible ridealong

Sunday

Church , youth group stuff til 12 , mall , aunts house, brooks RX , Sikorsky , HW

Feeling better

I am feeling back to about 60-70%. I no longer have a headache but my lungs seem weak still. That all really sucked. I am almost done taking antibiotics and still take cough syrup stuff to loosen my chest. I also take something else to help the infection in my lungs. Its not that serious or anything but attributes to my difficuly breathing.

I should be back to normal in a few days. Got more christmas shopping to get done. Looks like snow monday.

School is getting to be crazy. Need this break like I need a breath of air. :)

Bronchitis

... is a bitch.

Cure

Anyone know of a cure or alteast meds to help the flu?

Sick

Sick with flu.

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Put up christmas tree with Lily and grandparents this afternoon.

Confidence and XM Radio

A new sense of confidence today. I don’t know if it was just running the full code and doing well ( well enough) or something else. Likely its a two prong effect. Wait I got it! Christmas ! It must be Christmas that’s doing it. Well anyhow I feel more confident then before and happier then before.

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Online apps being filled in tomorrow. Panos must send out things ASAP!!

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Ross got XM Satellite radio .... hmmm .... maybe something I would look into for my car. After the holidays with the money I have, I go a shopping again.

Calls and progress and family

I got home around 2:20pm today. By 2:45 I had my backpack etc all set and put downstairs to do homework. I go out to grab the mail and then grab something to eat and head downstairs to relax for a bit. Rummaging through the mail I check my voicemail I have 2 new messages. 1 was from family and other was from Congressman Christopher Shays. His office has called me to schedule a phone apointment with me and Shays. ( If you recall Shays visited barlow , I had expressed the importance of stem cell research and funding to the american diabetes association. That day he took my name and #. Honeslty I didnt think much of it. ) So , I put the phone down and its his office calling again. They ask for me and if I have time to talk with Christopher Shays. I oblige and the call is transfered to his office. Him and I talk for about 6 minutes and he asks me if I would like along with many others join him in DC in April to the hill. He is going to try to pass along with other congressman and reps etc what seems to be a very imporant stepping stone law towrds advancement in stemcell research. I am estatic.

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Today is my Great Grandmothers Birthday. She is 99 years old. In the past few weeks her health has been declining some. She is extremely healthy , not on any meds. Two weeks ago she was hospitalized with symptoms of feeling faint. He heart is just begining to give out. She is back to speed but not exactly the same. But keep in mind she is 99.

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Her relatives ( my cousins ) are here. They will be living at my great aunts house for the duration. One or two may live here for a few days. I do not know. Let the games begin.

Its working

Well , my new "policy" has been working these past few weeks. No worries.
No cares. :)

Not to be forgotten

I sit babysitting my cousin Lily and I cant help but see the future. She is as bright as the north star and as cute as any model could only pray to be. As her and I rumage through christmas decorations, I find the stocking I hang each year for myself at the fireplace manlte. I notice at the bottom right of the stocking it says " CC 89 " . That means my mother ( Cynthia Caldwell ) made ( counter cross stich ) the stocking for me in 1989 when we were all just toddlers. I told Lily my Aunt Cindy made the stocking and she looked at me puzzled. Then I asked her why she was puzzled (I of course knowing the reason). She some what ignores my question then I ask it again. I ask her if she knows who Aunt Cindy is. She said yes and that she is in Heaven. Right then and there I thanked God for that. I was thrilled that she remembered. She remembered it all , her life and her death.

Looking deeper into the issue, its amazing how simple everything is to her. My mothers death to her was simply that Aunt Cindy went to heaven and thats it. She was in her own way visibly upset when my mother passed on , but for her to remember mom was something I just assumed. Today I first questioned if she actually did , and she did! Yes she was only 3 years old when she passed but all I was hoping was for her to remember the name.

My mother in her last years was sooo good to Lily, the daughter she never had. Mom treated her so good even when she was ill. Each day I look at Lily and see my mother in the way that she is still looking over her and protecting her in some form.

I think its just the reassurance I was looking for tonight.

Gone but not forgotten

Plans

I have come up with many small and large items I would like to acomlish before going off to college.

January - BIG Birthday Party ,Obtain Liscense , register for draft with Brian (as we have made a pact if one gets drafted we both go)

^Know what college im attending^
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Feb/March - Get a job , Finalize/edit my book and have it PDF form

April - Help Mark organize April Fools race and hopefully get back into shape to run it,

Go to Sweden during break
Have sitcom written and edited.

June- Graduate HS , EMT Certification , attend Prom?
July - Trip to Bahamas with Brian , work carnival w/ explorers
July into August - Australia !!! Finally .( one more trip for ole' time sake)

NYC

Great trip to NYC today. Went with Explorers and walked around then went to lunch and then to radio city. Very well done show.

Quote of the day

"Are there black people in Russia?"

- Our favorit Sgt. , (caldwell) - text came from Link .

I also am being called a undeveloped fetus so , go figure. It was a great day. I feel sorry for those 2 who didnt go.

I LOVE NY!