Today I walked (and walked) in the WE ARE OHIO parade with 6500 people who made their voices heard with "We Are Ohio" and "This is what democracy looks like" sounds all along the route. We walked from COSI to the Secretary of State's Office escorting a semi truck loaded with more than 1500 boxes filed with petitions signed by 1.3 million voters in Ohio. Columbus Mayor Coleman led the parade filled with banners, firefighter bagpipers, drummers, a fire truck, and many others.
About 10,000 volunteers all over the state, including myself, collected signatures to show our support for the repeal of Senate Bill 5 which takes away the benefits of firemen, policemen, teachers, nurses, state workers, and many more across Ohio. The issue will now be on the ballot in November.
Because of the governor reaching out to the Koch Brothers for funding to stop the repeal - because he WON'T LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE OF OHIO - our campaign work now begins to educate the people as to what this disaster of a bill does to the working families of Ohio. The governor does not listen to the PEOPLE, he has his own personal agenda to KILL OHIO and all it has been for many years.
It was a great experience to be a part of this parade. After the semi was parked, and the totals were announced, many walkers went to Columbus Commons (park) to socialize and food was available.
State Representative Dale Mallory was walking in the parade - brother to Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory.
Congressman Ryan spoke today against Senate Bill 5 and it's terrible affect on Ohio workers. Why penalize workers to make the rich - richer?
The answer to that question is - I don't know, I've never been one before. I was never able to be a real grandmother either. For a brief time, I was in the role of a grandmother when a child was born into my family, however, not biologically. For about six years, I enjoyed nurturing and spoiling the little boy. But after the divorce, I didn't see him again until he turned 18 and am no longer considered part of "his" family.
I am hoping that maybe I'll get another chance to try "grandmothering" again. Welcome to the world little Raiden Zain, born Sunday, June 26th. Raiden and I will forever share the same birthdate, even though, at my age, mine are "just another day" most of the time.
My "son" John raised a son named Michael, and his fiance had their little boy Sunday afternoon at Clinton Memorial Hospital. John is just finding out what it's like to be a grandfather at his young age (young to me). John was able to see Raiden today; I've only been able to see him in photos so far.
I hope Raiden will have the love and support from all his family members, even the ones who aren't biological. A bundle of joy that will last a lifetime in the hearts of many - a baby is born and now shares that day with me.
I was at the local post office Saturday morning from 9am to noon collecting signatures for the SB5 repeal petitions. I got more signatures than last week, plus I visited a few people at their homes - those who had expressed an interest in signing. Wednesday morning at 10am is the Petition Parade in downtown Columbus where we will travel to join many other counties who will be delivering all their signed petitions to WE ARE OHIO to soon go the Secretary of State's office. WE ARE OHIO has already collected over 800,000 signatures, more than three times the total needed to put the SB5 issue on the ballot in November. With all the petitions still outstanding, we might actually get to one million. Fayette County is leading the 44 counties in total signatures collected so far. We've had a great turnout at our events and many local volunteers.
After my active morning, I went to the Wayne Township Fire Department Steak Cookout in Good Hope. The fire trucks were out front of the station on display, and Leah was there too. Leah is the name of the Pink Heals firetruck which is part of the Guardians of the Ribbon campaign to raise money for breast cancer nationwide. Ryan McMurray is the Fire Chief of Station 200 and very proud of Leah, the truck he drives and maintains. Leah was on display at the Fayette County Fair last year and travels to several firefighter events.
I always support the firefighter activities. Most of the firemen in Fayette County are volunteers and provide a great service to the community. They put their lives on the line for others in fighting fires. When I was in the news service, I went to and observed many large, severe fires, such as Colonial Stair in Jeffersonville. It takes a lot of manpower and equipment to control a large fire.
The food at the cookout was very good. A steak sandwich, baked beans, horseshoe french fries (cooked by the Chief himself), dessert, chips and a drink, all for only $7.00. A meal well worth the price. Thanks guys for a great meal!
This morning was also the "Fire In The Sky" drive-through donation drive to raise money for the Washington Firefighters Association Fireworks Fund. As I turned into the open bay door to drive through and make my donation, I was greeted by the Acting Fire Chief Tom Youtz, and recently retired Chief Dan Fowler. Fowler is still the licensed pyrotechnic in charge of our local fireworks display at the fairgrounds. He has done a great job for many years and owns most of the equipment used in the event. I made my annual donation and enjoyed seeing my old friend again. I'm looking forward to this year's display.
If you have not already done so, be sure to make a donation to our fire department fireworks fund to help insure a great 4th of July fireworks display this year! Thanks guys for all you do for our community!
Visit their NEW website at www.fayfireinthesky.org for more information.
Farmer Joe decided his injuries from the accident were serious enough to take the trucking company (responsible for the accident) to court. In court the trucking company's fancy lawyer was questioning farmer Joe. "Didn't you say, at the scene of the accident, 'I'm fine'?" said the lawyer.
Farmer Joe responded, "Well I'll tell you what happened. I had just loaded my favorite mule Bessie into the..."
"I didn't ask for any details," the lawyer interrupted, "just answer the question." "Did you not say, at the scene of the accident, 'I'm fine'!"
Farmer Joe said, Well, I had just got Bessie into the trailer and I was driving down the road..."
The lawyer interrupted again and said, "Judge, I am trying to establish the fact that, at the scene of the accident, this man told the Highway Patrolman on the scene that he was just fine. Now several weeks after the accident he is trying to sue my client. I believe he is as fraud. Please tell him to simply answer the question."
By this time the Judge was fairly interested in Farmer Joe's answer and said to the lawyer, "I'd like to hear what he has to say about his favorite mule Bessie."
Joe thanked the Judge and proceeded, "Well, as I was saying, I had just loaded Bessie, my favorite mule into the trailer and was driving her down the highway when this huge semi-truck and trailer ran the stop sign and smacked my truck right in the side.
"I was thrown into one ditch and Bessie was thrown into the other. I was hurting real bad and didn't want to move. However, I could her ole Bessie moaning and groaning. I knew she was in terrible shape just by her groans.
"Shortly after the accident a Highway Patrolman came on the scene. He could hear Bessie moaning and groaning so he went over to her. After he looked at her, he took out his gun and shot her between the eyes. Then the Patrolman came across the road with his gun in his hand and looked at me.
"He said, Your mule was in such bad shape I had to shoot her. How are you feeling?"
I put 470 miles on my "baby" in three days this week. I'm now up to 25,725 miles on my 11 year old car. It drives like a dream. I drove to the Youngstown area on Monday to see my nephew; then to Willoughby on Tuesday to see an old friend; then home on Wednesday. I just love to drive the open road.
This weekend is Father's Day so many families may be on the roads for visits. I'll stay home since I have so much to do around the house.
Next weekend, however, the open road is calling me again. I have two or three ideas to get my car out of the garage and cruising. I don't know where I'll go yet. I have to do some planning, but there is no reason to stay in town when the weather is sunny and bright. I'll go somewhere to see the sights, or visit a gal friend - just me and my little gal (dog) who goes where I go. Two things I never leave home without when going for more than 12 hours - my dog and my computer. I feel lost without them.
A Kentucky couple, both bona fide rednecks, had 9 children. They went to the doctor to see about getting the husband “fixed.” The doctor gladly started the required procedure and asked them what finally made them make the decision – why after nine children, would they choose to do this.
The husband replied that they had read in a recent article that one out of every ten children being born in the United States was Mexican, and they didn’t want to take a chance on having a Mexican baby, because neither of them could speak Spanish.
I have been watching the flowers grow in my garden out front. I check them daily for new blooms.
A few days ago my beautiful yellow lilies blossomed and I took pictures of them to show a friend who loves flowers. I was able to look at them for two days.
After running an errand today, I returned home to my new routine of looking at my flowers. Before I opened the front door, I noticed that the bright yellow blooms were GONE. I checked the flower bed and the ground and could not find a single pedal or remnant of a yellow flower that might have fallen apart.
The stems had been cut. My three lilies were gone. Who knows what vase they might be adorning in this neighborhood or one nearby. I'm sure they are being loved by someone else tonight. I hope that "someone" gets as much pleasure out of them as I did.
Happy Birthday to Les Paul, born June 9, 1915 (died August 12, 2009) in Wisconsin. Born Lester William Polsfuss, he started playing the harmonica at age eight, then learned the banjo and guitar.
In 1962, he patented the Gibson Les Paul guitar which he invented, and contracted with Gibson Guitar Corporation to build. Les Paul and his wife, Mary Ford, recorded together and sold millions of records over their career.
One of my favorites from the early 1950s is "Mockingbird Hill," and yes, I was around when the song first came out.
D-Day was June 6, 1944, the Normandy landings in World War II. To visit The National D-Day Memorial website, click here. I think about this today because my uncle was a 30-year Army veteran. After his tour in the Korean War, he was stationed in Texas for the remainder of his tour of duty. He died in the mid-1980s.
A LITTLE THREE YEAR OLD BOY IS SITTING ON THE TOILET.
HIS MOTHER THINKS HE HAS BEEN IN THERE TOO LONG, SO SHE GOES IN TO SEE WHAT'S UP.
THE LITTLE BOY IS SITTING ON THE TOILET READING A BOOK.
BUT ABOUT EVERY 10 SECONDS OR SO HE PUTS THE BOOK DOWN, GRIPS ONTO THE TOILET SEAT WITH HIS LEFT HAND AND HITS HIMSELF ON TOP OF THE HEAD WITH HIS RIGHT HAND.
HIS MOTHER SAYS: "BILLY, ARE YOU ALL RIGHT? YOU'VE BEEN IN HERE FOR A WHILE".
BILLY SAYS: "I'M FINE, MUMMY... I JUST HAVEN'T DONE IT YET. "
MOTHER SAYS: "OK, YOU CAN STAY HERE A FEW MORE MINUTES.
BUT, BILLY, WHY ARE YOU HITTING YOURSELF ON THE HEAD?"
