Lest We Forget... The Heroes of Apollo I

Ever since I was a little kid... I have been absolutely in love with the U.S. Space Program.  Alan Shepard blasted into space for a suborbital flight in May, 1961.  By the time John Glenn orbited the earth in February, 1962, I had a new love, NASA.  Nothing was cooler to a nine year old kid than someone blasting into space and coming back in one piece.  It was inconceivable to me that someone could actually survive being blasted into space atop a big fireball, and splash down into the ocean and be picked up.

I remember waiting for John Glenn to splash down, and be picked up by the helicopters of the USS Hornet.  I remember it clearly, as if it were yesterday rather than 50 years ago.

Throughout the years following, I don't think I ever missed a launch or recovery of a space capsule, from the Mercury flights, through the Gemini flights, through the Apollo flights, through the Shuttle flights.  I promised myself that someday I would see a live launch, and DID get to see the last launch of the Shuttle Atlantis in person, on July 8, 2011 from a highway about five miles from Cape Canaveral.  It was one of the highlights of my life, something I will forever remember.  It was incredibly exciting, and so loud the ground shook!  (Note: By the way, if you want to experience the feeling of real space flight, go to Disney's EPCOT and make sure you ride Mission Space.  Check it out on Google or Wikipedia... it's an awesome and intense experience.  And I DID IT!!  I figured it was the closest I'd ever get to actual physical space flight.)

On the flight of Gemini IV, in June of 1965, Ed White made the first "space walk" and I was spellbound and in awe that this human could be tethered to a spacecraft moving through space at an alarming speed, and survive.  When he had to reenter the capsule, he said it was the "saddest moment" of his life.  In July, 1969 I sat transfixed, immovable, in front of a black and white TV in the living room of our house, watching man land on the Moon.  Again, I was in awe and amazed at the footprint of Neil Armstrong, looking like a footprint in a puddle of flour. I instantly felt sorry for Michael Collins, the astronaut in the capsule orbiting the Moon as Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked and hopped around on the Moon like little kids.  He had to watch it and not be on the Moon with Armstrong and Aldrin.  Bummer!

I followed in fear as Apollo 13 was in danger of never returning to Earth, saved by the ingenuity of Astronauts James Lovell, Jack Swigert, Fred Haise and Lead Flight Director Gene Kranz and his crew.  They rigged the life support system of the ship to safely bring them home, though it was a crapshoot, and very scary.  I don't remember the media making lots of noise about the problem, but I remember being scared for them, and their families.  I am proud to say I have James Lovell's autograph on the book he co-wrote, "Lost Moon: The Perilous Voyage of Apollo 13".

I remember being thrilled to the bone when the Shuttle Columbia launched for the first time in April, 1981.  Again, amazed that this craft not only took off from Earth but landed on Earth like a glider, piloted by a human crew.  I wept openly in my office on January 28, 1986 when someone told me the Challenger exploded, for the crew, their families, and for Mission Control.  I didn't breathe for hours as we waited for news of the fate of the Columbia as she fell apart in the atmosphere in February, 2003.  I prayed at the memorials of both shuttle crews and graves in Arlington National Cemetery.  I remembered the words of another of my heroes, President Ronald Reagan, as he eulogized the Challenger astronauts, saying they "...slipped the surly bonds of Earth to touch the face of God."  (paraphrased from "High Flight", a poem, printed below.)

In all this, over the years I've heard people bitch about the money spent, the lives lost, and the 'uselessness' of NASA and space travel.  Though it absolutely INFURIATED me, I always backed away from those arguments.  No more.  If people bitch about it now...  I have a short list of things to throw at them.  Things that we would NOT have if it weren't for the Space Program.  For instance:  Teflon, GPS, solar panels, cable television, satellite radio, hand held video cameras, and hello... the INTERNET.  I ask if they like their little playtoys, Iphones, Ipads, GPS systems, HBO.  Most people just don't think.

ANYWAY, this started as a little tribute for the anniversary of the deaths of three of my childhood heroes:  Edward White, Roger Chaffee and Gus Grissom, the three astronauts of Apollo 1, which exploded in fire on January 27, 1967.  

So... God rest them, along with the heroes of Challenger and Columbia.  Thank you, astronauts, both those who gave their lives, and those still alive.  Thank you, National Aeronatics and Space Administration.  You gave me countless happy hours and inspired me to become the avid reader I am.  You gave me hope that yes, ordinary people could become astronauts.  You gave me a great interest in Astronomy and a love of science (even though I sucked at it in school) and in the skies, stars, and everything space related.  You gave me images from the Hubble Telescope which are awe inspiring and breathtaking.  You gave me the ultimate item on my bucket list, witnessing the thrill of a live space launch.  In my minds eye, I traveled with you all.  

HIGH FLIGHT Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air. Up, up the long delirious, burning blue, I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace Where never lark, or even eagle flew - And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod The high untresspassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand and touched the face of God.

Pilot Officer Gillespie Magee No 412 squadron, RCAF Killed 11 December 1941

On this day in 1977, a very long time ago, I was in Washington, DC working at the then-US Marshals Service Headquarters.  It was the inauguration of Jimmy Carter.  It doesn't seem so long ago.

I remember having very little respect for him, but I don't know why other than I was pretty young then.  My first priority was trying to get ahead in the Marshals Service and make a name for myself.  And to maintain my meager, one bedroom apartment in Blackwood NJ.  I thought I was hot shit.  Rent $177 a month.  I had a car payment, utility bills, a charge card and a phone bill.  I ate baloney alot of nights and worked alot.  I just thought I knew it ALL.  My priority was to become an independent adult of the middle class.

I had a few years, a few bills, a few financial disasters to come before I can actually say it was a success.  Since then, I've retired from the US Marshals after a 37 year career which I mostly loved.  If not for the cheating little bastard that was my last boss, and that he wanted to 'cook the books' on arrest records, I might still be there.  But since I refused to cheat on the numbers, he made my life miserable.  It started an internal investigation which ruined my attitude toward my beloved job and squad, but maintained the integrity and honesty I swore to uphold when I took the job.

But that's another rant for another day.

Since I now am considered a member of the taxed to death 'middle class'... let me say this.  If you're going to be offended at my ranting about this president, or you're an outright Obama lover, for the love of God stop reading NOW because I don't want to hear about how offended you are.

I think this president is the worst one of my lifetime.  I think he is a know nothing, incompetent little committeeman from Chicago, who was a local yokel who rose in the ranks from 'community activist' to senator.  Then, by the stupidity of the American people, elevated to the leadership of the free world.  I have no respect for him, his rhetoric, his politics.  Of course he is not alone in my utter disdain of politicians.

It is my opinion that the lions share of politicians of BOTH parties are self centered, egotistical, greedy bastards who have absolutely NO interest in you, me, the lower class, poverty,  the middle class.  In fact neither the president nor Congress has any regard that the middle class is fading fast.  They only care about themselves, their 'free' travel, 'free' vacations and 'free' benefits.  Yeah, free.  WE are paying, morons!!!  YOUR tax dollars at work.  Hah.

Unemployment... they will try to get you to believe it's falling.  I call bullshit.  Companies close, people are laid off, stop looking for work and run out of unemployment. They say "unemployment fell".  Again, bullshit.  Then when companies want to hire part timers so they don't have to pay benefits or fall victim to the price of obamacare, they say how many people have been hired.  Yeah, unemployment fell.

Smokescreens.  And the American people believe it.

Well, as far as I'm concerned, the Congress don't pass a budget, can't get along?  They shouldn't get paid, their benefits should be suspended.  The ARMED guards to which they think they're entitled should disappear.  Oh by the way, let's not even get INTO the debate about how THEY and this president are deserving of armed guards but some of them don't want YOU to have a legal firearm.  Ohhhh don't EVEN get me started on that one.

No I don't have the answers.  But I'm sitting here listening to the pompous ass and his pompous ass kissers taking oaths and making nice with all the other politicians and assorted ass kissers.  He has no clue. As I said, I offer no answers... I'm just taking advantage of my own blog, and my right to rant as I please about a man who masquerades as president and surrounds himself with idiots like Joe Biden.  Nuff said.

Offended?  Well I told you to stop reading.  If you didn't and you're offended, tough shit.

A New Year's Memory...

For those of you who may not know, I am originally from South Philly.  We moved to Southwest when I was about five, and moved back to South Philly when I was 16.  But for every year, no matter where we lived, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day were very special.

On New Years Eve, my grandmother Angela (Dad's mother) always had a big open house party.  She lived (for most of those years) on 1121 Tasker St.  All her sisters and brothers, nieces and nephews would come. There was LOTS and lots of food, drink and laughter.  My grandmother, in those years, was a wonderful, fun woman.  And her talent.... well, she was a commercial artist, a dressmaker and an interior designer.  I can't draw a straight line, and can't sew a button.  All I got was her temper!  But that's another story for another time.  Those New Years Eve parties were enjoyed for many years, until I guess she got tired of them.  When she moved to 12th St., they ended.

But another tradition lived on for many MORE years... On New Year's Day, there was this little parade on Broad Street...  Of course, the Mummers.  When I was little, I thought it was called Mummer's Day because that's what I always heard.  I thought everyone in the world came to it, and thought that every city had one.  Only later did I learn that the Mummers are distinctly and only Philadelphia.  I love my city (even though it's changed and I don't live there anymore!)

My dad's uncles, Ralph and Paris, would get their prime spot on Broad St. directly across from the St. Agnes Hospital.  They always brought a ladder, and the nieces and nephews always had a prime viewing spot.  And Dad always had a thermos full of "special" coffee... spiked!  I remember him letting us sip it when we got too cold.

When it would get unbearably cold, we would walk back to Grandmom Rucci's house on Iseminger St., where you were sure to get laughs, and hot chocolate and cookies.  Then when you were warm, you would go back out to Broad Street in time for the String Bands.  Then you would go back to Grandmom's where there would be food, laughs, fun, card games and (mostly friendly) arguments!  Great times.

This went on for most of my youth, up till I was in my late teens.  The memories are burned into my mind, and they are sweet memories of a family long gone.  The only of my grandmother's siblings still alive is Aunt Chets... she is in her mid 80s and looks fabulous.  The Ruccis always held their age remarkably well.

Since those days ended, we had many other New Years Eve parties, some at Mom's house (one of which lasted three days because the parade was canceled!) and some we celebrated with the Archer Epler drum corps brothers and sisters.  All good times.

Maybe its a sign of age that New Years Eve and New Years Day are now just days to me.  I prefer to stay in now, and prefer to not travel far even on New Years Day.  I'm happy to stay here, warm and comfy, maybe in the company of a few close friends, maybe not.  And I'm happy to see in the New Year quietly, and stay home and watch the parade without having to trek a couple of blocks to get warm.

I prefer to let those memories flow and keep me warm.  I truly value the family I have, the friends I've made, and the traditions that once graced our lives.

Make yourself some good memories.  Even though Grandmom Rucci, most of the aunts and uncles, and Dad are gone, they live in our hearts, and most of all, in our smiles.

Happy New Year, everyone.  Be safe, and make sure you tell your family and friends you LOVE THEM.  Say it, Mean it, Show it!  Good night.  <3  I love you all.

It occurred to me that I have my own blog so I can rant about this effin snow...

Hey if you love snow fine but know this:  I hate winter, snow, ice and being cold.  I love the change of seasons, but would be glad if winter lasted oh, maybe ONE day.  I am happy when December 21st passes because I know that after the winter solstice, the days start getting longer again.

Anyway, here's the latest rant.

My husband drove a tractor trailer for thirty five years.  In all kinds of weather, and every day, winter, summer, spring and fall, and on almost every holiday.  When he drove in this kind of weather, I wasn't worried about him, as he was (and is) a professional driver.  I worried about all the other asshats who don't know how to drive in dry weather, let alone this snow crap.  I spent alot of sleepless nights when he worked, even when I had to get up myself the next day for work.

That is part of the reason I hate winter.  Now, a son of a very close, dear friend of mine is a tractor trailer driver.  And Lou is a volunteer fire policeman.  So they both get to be out in all kinds of weather.  Here's the thing...  Some people are out in this, thinking "Oh boy, wheee it's snowing and I got four wheel drive so I can go ANYWHERE and do ANYTHING just like its dry outside because NOTHING can happen to ME."

Well guess what, dumbass.  ICE is not picky about what kind of vehicle you're driving.  An 18 wheeler fully loaded can SLIDE on the ice.  YOU cannot drive your almighty four wheel drive like some invincible a-hole.  You will endanger yourself, but most of all you endanger PEOPLE I LOVE.

Anyone who knows me knows this:  If you do ME wrong, well, fine.  If you lie to me, I have not a second to spare you.  But if you hurt or do wrong to someone I love...  you might as well be dead because you are, to me.  So I'm NOT ok with you four wheel drive idiots out there endangering those I love.

Maybe now, if you care, you will understand why I carry on so when it snows.  And I don't care that people make fun of me for hating winter...  this is why.

So yeah, it looks pretty but if you don't know how to drive in it, please do everyone including yourself a favor, and stay the #(*&*#@ home.  Don't endanger yourself or SOMEONE I LOVE.

If you do have to go out, if you see signs saying ROAD CLOSED, or ROAD FLOODED or DO NOT ENTER... yes, the sign means YOU too.  Don't endanger first responders' lives because you think you're so effin special that your stupid four wheel driving ass can drive anywhere.  You can't.  So don't.

Lastly... I hate winter.  So there.  :)

Merry CHRISTmas!

Hmmm.. Where to start...

Merry Christmas!  I know it's not Thanksgiving, but at this time of year, there are so many things for which we should be thankful.

Thank God for our military, past, present and future without whom we might be speaking Japanese or German.  And not of our own choice, either.  I hope that our military people who are away from their loved ones at Christmas will return safely and make up that time and more.

Personally, I thank God for so many things... for letting me be born in THIS country, for giving me the family I was born into.  My brothers and I had the greatest, most wonderful Dad, who is spending his 9th Christmas in Heaven.  We are blessed with a wonderful, independent and strong Mom, who continues to be advisor and friend to all of us.  I have two brothers who I know are there for her, me, and each other at ALL times, every time.  I was lucky to find a good man to marry, and a great family to marry into.  Loud, boisterous, partying and loving.

I have many wonderful friends.  And my "faves".  They know who they are.  I love each and every one.  They have been 'adopted' into our home, and into our lives, and they know I would do anything for them.  And I know they're there for us.  Always.

I retired young (55) from a wonderful, fulfilling 37 year career with the U.S. Marshals Service.  They sent me many places (good and bad) for many reasons (good and bad) to transport people (good and bad) and to work for many people (yep, good and bad!).

So, Please...  if you can HELP someone less fortunate than you... do it.  If you have had good fortune this year, pay it forward.  And for heaven's sake... tell your loved ones TODAY that you love them.  We don't know the hour or minute that circumstances can change lives forever.  Don't wait.  DO IT NOW.  SAY it, MEAN it, SHOW it.

REMEMBER what CHRISTmas is all about... A Holy night, the Holy Virgin birth to a King in a stable, surrounded by the barest of circumstances... but heralded by Angels... adored by shepherds and the Magi.  Follow the star in your own soul.  It's there.  Let it shine!

I hope that each and every one of you, friends and family, have a wonderful, blessed Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year.

I love you all.  <3

BOY, there's a lot for me to say these days...

As I've said in other posts, I am not a (biological) parent. However, I know a bit about kids because I used to BE one!  But, hey guys, if you have a kid, and for whatever reason, need him to be occupied for awhile, do you think sitting him in front of the boob tube with a violent bloody video game is the answer vs a babysitter?  NO, I don't think so.  And before you start on me about video games not being the cause of violence, hear me out.  Not that they're the solo cause, but...

It is my opinion that exposure to many hours of violent movies, tv or video games will desensitize anyone to REAL life violence.  Especially if we're talking about a very young, impressionable mind.  Add to that the fact that some parents think its peachy to sit in front of the boob tube and play the game or watch the movie WITH the kid.

Ok, now take that scenario, and add to that the fact that the kid may not be required to behave, they may have no consequences for misbehavior.  "Oh look, little *insert name here* has just pretended to kill the cat, isn't that cute?  Let me get my camera!"   Therefore, the kid has no 'fear' of repercussion or any kind of discipline (and we're not necessarily talking physical discipline).  They must not be dealt guilt, because that's bad for self esteem.  They must not be allowed to lose at games, because that's bad for self esteem.  They must not be scolded on what's right or wrong, or REAL OR IMAGINED because you don't want to screw around with the kid's self esteem.  I call bullshit.  How else is the kid ever going to learn that NOT always 'feeling good' is the consequence for doing the wrong thing?  It didn't kill me!

Now add to that volatile mix the possibility of there being a firearm in the home.  Well, if you ain't going to educate the kid on right vs. wrong, bad vs. good,  you better not be leaving a GUN around that he could get to. He won't know he isn't allowed to touch that, because... it might be bad for his self esteem?  NO, because he may do HARM to himself or others.

It is incumbent of the ADULT in the situation to take matters into his or her hand.  Right from wrong, real from imagined.  In other words, teaching the kid about Personal Responsibility for his actions!  Do you spend time with him?  Talk with him about his day?  Have any kind of dialogue with him?  Or do you let him sit at a dinner table (if you can get him to) with his Iphone in his hands, earphones and maybe earrings in his head???  How is he going to learn to live?  Not like that.

While I'm busy pissing people off here, let's go one step further and introduce GOD and PRAYER into the situation.  Do you teach the child that there is an Almighty, Benevolent and Merciful GOD who loves him and us beyond all measure?  That you can talk to Him anytime, anywhere?  That there is certain accountability in this life which will lead to where you spend the next?  Does the parent know this himself?  There are choices to be made, some of which are bad and others good.  And the choice matters!  This life is but a speck of time on the face of eternity!

I was taught from a very young age what was right and wrong, about God and the Devil (who is very real!), and real and imagined.  I didn't win every game, didn't win every argument, didn't always get my own way.  If I did wrong, I was disciplined.  I knew it was going to happen, so I planned accordingly and didn't do much to offend my parents.  I had a healthy fear of being smacked in the ass.  And that was the extent of the physical discipline as opposed to beatings.  I knew one LOOK from my father was enough!

I was taught faith, hope and charity, and that you did unto others as you would have them do unto you.  Be nice to others because you want to be treated nicely.  I didn't always understand, but grew into the understanding.  I had to consider the path I chose, knowing that I was responsible for choosing, and living with the choice.  I praise my parents for their love, faith and perseverance.  Many parents now would do well to emulate them.

Oh, and I did (and do) have a temper.  But I learned to dispel my anger at an early age by writing, drawing, yelling, stamping my feet, and periodically throwing stuff (and that continues to this day).  I am a law abiding, level headed, responsible, permit carrying gun owner.  I WILL shoot to kill anyone who enters my home with intent of harming anyone I love.

I don't know if this made much sense to anyone.  But my writing dispels my unease and bad humor over what's happened in CT this week.  It helps me, and hopefully, some kids will take my path rather than the path of the unspeakable evildoers we have encountered in our world.

Thank you and good night.  Peace be upon your homes, and God be with us.

I could NOT have written or expressed this any better.  God bless Mike Huckabee.  I wish he would have run for President, but that's water under the bridge.  I know this is long, but his words are ABSOLUTELY TRUE and I don't think anyone (with sense) including those who have unfriended me because they couldn't handle my opinions, could argue this.

"I’ve said some controversial things from time to time, but none which prompted such a backlash as when I stated that the horrific shooting in CT of school children and teachers couldn’t be blamed on God because we’ve systematically marginalized God out of our culture by removing Him from all aspects of the public square. The vicious attacks that have resulted, most of all of which are based on total ignorance of what I actually said have actually validated my point, but I’m quite certain that was not the intent of both the professional and amateur critics who have demanded everything from my being banned from ever speaking in public again, or wished me a slow and painful death.

On that alone, I wish to acknowledge that the left has again shown that it defines tolerance and diversity as being tolerant only of that with which it agrees, and diverse only to include slight shades of the orthodoxy of liberalism to which they adhere. They abhor censorship of their own profanity, obscenities, or graphic violence, but are the first to demand that a voice that invokes the name of God to be silenced. A specific act of violence is rarely the result of a specific single act of a culture that prompts it. In other words, I would never say that simply taking prayer and Bible reading from our institutions or silencing Christmas carols is the direct cause of a mass murder. That would be ludicrous and simplistic. But the cause and effect we see in the dramatic changes of what our children are capable of is a part of a cultural shift from a God-centered culture to a self-centered culture.

We have glorified uninhibited self-expression and individualism and are shocked that we have a generation of loners. We have insisted on a society where everyone gets a trophy and no one loses and act surprised that so many kids lack self-esteem and feel like losers. We dismiss the notion of natural law and the notion that there are moral absolutes and seemed amazed when some kids make it their own morality to kill innocent children. We diminish and even hold in contempt the natural family of a father and mother creating and then responsibly raising the next generation and then express dismay that kids feel no real connection to their families or even the concept of a family.

We scoff at the need for mothers and fathers to make it their priority to train their children to be strong in spirit and soul and responsible for right and wrong and exalt instead the virtue of having things and providing expensive toys, games, and electronics that substitute for parenting and then don’t understand why our kids would rather have ear buds dangling from their ears, fingers attaching to a smart phone, and face attached to a computer screen than to have an extended conversation with their family at dinner.

And we don’t teach them there is a Creator God who sets immutable rules, a God who is knowable, and to whom we are ultimately responsible. Instead we teach that God was not involved in our origins, that our very lives are biological happenstances and in fact are disposable should they be inconvenient to us, and that any outrageous behaviors are not sin, but disorders for which we should be excused and accommodated.

I realize my viewpoint sounds out-dated and archaic, but when that world view was the foundation of our nation’s social contract, we got in trouble at school for talking in class, chewing gum, pulling a girl’s pigtails, or slouching in our school desks. We took guns to school, to be sure, but they were in the gun racks of our trucks and we used them to hunt before and after school. It never occurred to us to use them to murder our teachers and fellow students. So yes, I can stand the contempt and criticism of the left.

I’ll gladly accept their scorn as they substitute creative language with a steady stream of profanity-laced tirades that I’m an idiot, a throwback to the past, and a person who should be forever silenced. But when we as a nation feared God, we didn’t fear that a 20 year old with a high powered rifle would gun down our children in their schoolrooms."