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 |   My journey through (and beyond) the valley with Cancer as my companion. |
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Dear Friend: This is not a Blog about writing! (I already have one of those.) This is a blog about a journey I am taking with illness. I have recently been diagnosed with Cancer. My goal is honest therapy as I progress through, and beyond this new reality in my life. I hope that, somewhere along the way you will find some words that will help you too. While this is, in fact, an interactive Blog, I hope that you will scroll slowly down this page. For you see, the front of this Blog IS my journey. The entries are conversations that are held along the journey.Yes, there is a lot on it--before actually getting to the Blog entries. But, I hope that by the objects and words which appear before the Blog itself, you might come to understand just a little bit about me, and my journey, and some truly amazing friends who have agreed to journey with me. I hope that you, too, will choose to accompany me on my walk--through the Valley. I invite you to join me, and discover the wondrous truths, meet some truly amazing people, and share those "memorable" moments this journey will undoubtedly present. Come along, won't you? In His Care, ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Would you like to help me help others? I found this amazing organization, and I am proud to be a sponsor. I hope you will check it out. It's called The Network For Good.  ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** "RISUS OMNIA - INCRUMENTUS PER DEDECUS - SAPIENTIA PER DAMNUM" ("Every thing is funny - Growth through humiliation - Wisdom through loss") ~Leunig~ The hilltop hour would not be half so wonderful if there were no dark valleys to traverse. ~Helen Keller~ "If you do not tell the truth about yourself you cannot tell it about other people." ~Virginia Woolf~ ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** "There is strength in truth." ~The Barton Family Crest~ ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** “Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved.” — Helen Keller, American social activist, public speaker and author (1880-1968) I have moved the list of my thanks for those who have helped to make this little Blog so very special. I hope that you will take a moment to read the list, growing every day, and let these fellow travellers along this journey know that you appreciate the contributions they make to our walk together.
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4 ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Please feel free to click on the Blog Rings icon below to be transported to some of the very best of the Best Bloggers around WDC. ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** If you are new to WDC, or to our Blogging community, I highly recommend the monthly edition of "The Blogville News". Feel free to click below, and let scarlett_o_h know that a Blogger sent ya! Hey! We've started a Christian's Blog Ring on WDC. Click on the logo, and join us! ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Budroe
 Ring LeaderI have three publications at the moment. Here is a link to purchase my latest one. Buy a great read, and help a fellow writer out, Okay?  ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |
| For those of you who are friends along this journey, you know a bit about my family. You know that, as much as is possible, my family and I are as close (for the most part, anyway) as we can be. You also know that one of my dearest friends, and strongest supporters along this journey is my beloved cousin, Annie B. Royster. She is doing something for her Mom and Dad, and my Mom and me, that I cannot do. She is, for all of us, not only coordinating and producing, but also participating in the 2007 American Cancer Society Relay for Life. Her Relay will be at Darling Stadium, in Hampton, Virginia in June of this year. She is walking, and working, for all of us. I cannot financially assist her in this endeavor. That's where I need your help. Annie sent me this letter. I told her I would put it up here, as an entry. It is the least I can do, for someone who is doing so very much for me. Here is the letter: Buddy, I have chosen you to email this message to because I know you know my personal connection to Relay For Life. My father lost his battle to lung cancer on September 9, 2003. My mother is now under hospice care for lung cancer. I'm not sure she'll be able to walk at this year's Relay For Life which is June 1st. I'm not asking for much - whatever you can spare. I know many of you have also been touched by this awful disease and hopefully if enough of us contribute - maybe one day we won't have to do this anymore. Can you believe that more than 1.3 million new cancer cases are expected to be diagnosed in the United States this year? Those are staggering statistics, but there is hope. Each of us can do something to save lives and help those already fighting this disease. That’s why I’ve decided to take action against cancer by supporting the American Cancer Society Relay For Life®. Relay For Life is an overnight event that brings our community together to help support the American Cancer Society and its lifesaving mission to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. The Society works hard every day to prevent cancer and save lives by supporting groundbreaking research, affecting public policies that protect us from cancer, and educating people on how to prevent or detect cancer early. The Society helps people with cancer right here in our own community. And our efforts at Relay For Life can help the American Cancer Society to keep working toward a cancer-free future. I want to invite you to show your support in the ongoing fight against cancer by joining us for this year’s event. Please click on the link below for more information, including details on the inspirational Survivors’ Lap and the moving Luminaria Ceremony. We hope to see you there! If you can’t join us, will you please visit the site and make a donation to support our efforts? Either way, you will make a real difference in the lives of people facing cancer – and in the lives of the people who love them. Thank you! For state fundraising notices and the American Cancer Society’s Privacy Policy, please paste this link into your browser: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/SU/su_0.asp Follow This Link to visit my personal web page and help me in my efforts to support RFL of Peninsula - Darling Stadium, VAhttp://www.acsevents.org/darlingstadium/anne?faf=1&e=1046638276 I see that Annie has added a picture of her Mother, my dear AJ, from last year's event. If you can, I would really be grateful if you could help Annie B. out with her goal to raise $1,000.00 this year. Any amount is really enough. If 100 of the friends along this journey were to give just $10.00 each, Annie would be able to make her goal for this year for her Mom, for me, for us all. I'm asking you to help her with her goal. I can't contribute financially. If you cannot assist financially, I ask that you would join my personal prayer team for her, and this event. I cannot pay, but I can surely pray. Follow the links to see what it is all about. It's to the American Cancer Society, Y'all. I won't ask but this one time. I'm hoping I don't have to ask twice. Give what you can, ok? Annie and I will most definitely appreciate it. Thanks, Dad. We love You, too! In His Care, and Yours! Budroe |
| I'm just being quiet at the moment. I have been working on classes for A-1 Academy, and working on things of life off-line. Yes, i know. Go ahead, I'll wait! I will be back in the writing mode soon. I hope you are all safe, well, and happy. Think good thoughts for this one of Dad's kids. It seems that, for the last couple of days I've been forced to feel like a patient, and I just really don't like that much. It is okay, just a terribly inconvenient truth. (Sorry, Mr. VP!) :) In His Care, and Yours! Budroe |
| Mine has done got up and went. I have had the opportunity, energy, creativity, and ambition to do some writing in the past week. It's not what I would consider really good writing. I would say it is lying somewhere between alright, and good writing. Right now, that is sufficient to the purpose. If you haven't yet, you need to go read this month's edition of "The Blogville News". Believe me, it's worth it. Go ahead. I'll wait. "Invalid Entry" I have been very happy to see so many friends favoring me with a visit to my Guest Book. I want to thank you for that kindness. I wasn't sure IF that was such a good idea. I also was not, and to some degree still am not certain how to set it up appropriately. It does seem to be working, at least for the time being. I do know that the entries, comments, and replies have really cheered me up in the past couple of days. I am very grateful for that. Please feel free to visit, and leave a comment. I was able to get a new message under the stone the other day, as well. I believe it is a good transition to the next critical part of the series. Hopefully, that transition will lead to the nexus moment that will allow that particular series to be concluded. I am sort of wanting that for this particular writing. The subject matter is so important, and time needs to be taken to experience the reality that the writing talks about. As important as that is, it also tends to make the series longer than I would like. Editing stinks. Interestingly enough, the beginning of the mystery short story that I am using as an example for the Mystery Writing course has, thanks again to my friends along this journey, gotten some exposure. I would like to thank those of you who have so generously offered your input on that work. I would especially like to thank scarlett_o_h for her review. She pointed out a POV issue that had me completely stumped, and had brought the writing of that story to a standstill. Sometimes, having a second set of eyes can really bring clarity to the fogged mind of the writer. When I looked at her suggestion, the entire story just laid itself out before me. It was exactly as I had first envisioned it. But now it is in front of me. All I have to do is trace what I see onto the "page". Thank you, friend! :) Relative to that, a rather strange thing happened this week with that particular work. I received a Review from a friend of this journey (not strange at all, given the quality of my friends along this journey, by any means!). The next thing I know, the work is being highlighted in the current issue of the Mystery Newsletter! "Mystery Newsletter (April 25, 2007)" A title, a tag (log) line, and a few introductory paragraphs with an author's explanation--in a Newsletter? What is one supposed to make of that? I believe the story will work quite well for the class as an example. It will probably even be a good story. I truly hope it will serve to create many excellent stories. We will see. Medically, the journey continues. I have appointments in May for the Opthamologist on the 24th. I would love to have a pair of eyeglasses that actually are the correct prescription! The ones I have used for almost a year are a very old pair. Broken glasses stink,too! :) On the 31st (tentative) is the repeat Colonoscopy. The Social Security folks are trying as hard as they can, but documents are not forthcoming to support their assessment of Total Disability. It seems there is a professional snit at play. I may well be required to bring in a bazooka to deal with a Squirrel. I will do what needs to be done. Time is of the essence, here. I remain hopeful of all things. The energy levels are down below half at the moment, and for me that is a new frustration that I find difficult to deal with. I have always been able to find reserves when necessary to move ahead, or hold my ground. These past few days, it seems I have not even been able to hang on. That's not a complaint, merely an observation that interests me. As I learn more about this journey, some things are more readily learned than others. This one is causing some angst. I just do not do angst well. But, the energy required to overcome the angst seems to have gotten on a bus for Abilene. My "Get up and Go!" seems to have got up and went. But, that is part of the journey, too. I turned on my air conditioner in my little bedroom for the first time last night. It seems to only work on "High". I don't know why the "Low" setting just doesn't want to work. That unit is, evidently, on a dedicated circuit. The other one seems to pull all the power when I turn it on, which inevitably leaves my little house completely in the dark. If it weren't for a battery backup on the computer system, life would be very frustrating. But, I DO have an APC backup system now, so I have sufficient time to power down without losing current work. That is a very good thing. It is interesting to me to note how many times in this entry I have used the word "sufficient". I didn't do so purposely. My personal devotions this morning landed on a Scripture that I have clung to tenaciously in the past: "My Grace IS sufficient for you." Indeed, it surely is. Thanks, Dad. I love You, too. In His Care, and Yours! Budroe |
"Today is about compassion, about endurance against overwhelming odds, about mateship, it is about a 'fair go' - these are the values that were lived by our Anzacs and our Aussie boys on the Western Front and at Gallipoli" NSW Veterans Affairs Minister Danna Vale, Sydney Morning Herald, Anzac Day 2002 "It is a story of great valour under fire, unity of purpose and a willingness to fight against the odds that has helped to define what it means to be an Australian." Prime Minister John Howard, on the death of the last Anzac, Alec Cambell, Sydney Morning Herald, 17 May 2002 ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** I have several friends who call Australia, New Zealand, and the outer Islands home. Today, April 25th, 2007 is a very special and solemn day to all those "down under". I want very badly to recount the history lesson that my friends know by heart, but I do not feel qualified to even discuss it. There are, however, a couple of things that have made a difference in my life because of this celebration. I would like to tell you about one of them, if I may. There is, as a regular part of this remembrance of the brave soldiers of ANZAC (The Australian and New Zealand Army Corps), a ritual that is a part of the "official" ANZAC Day Celebration. It is called the Dawn Service. It begins in the brush-covered cemetary in a small town a little ways out of the Northern Queensland town of Heberton. I know of this story from a personal visit that I was privileged to make some years ago. I believe it is an important story to tell, and an even more important story to remember. So I shall tell it, as it was told to me. In this small cemetary, of all the graves there is one that is most noticable because of its stark simplicity. It really looks like what it is: a simple, white concrete slab with a white cross on top. There is no name on the marker, and but for two words, no one would know of the brave heart contained within it. On the cross are two words: "A Priest". The marker has been given its due by a marker of explanation, which reads: "Adjacent to, and on the right of this marker, lies the grave of the late Reverend Arthur Ernest White, a Church of England clergyman and padre, 44th Battalion, First Australian Imperial Force. On 25th April 1923, at Albany in Western Australia, the Reverend White led a party of friends in what was the first ever observance of a Dawn parade on ANZAC Day, thus establishing a tradition which has endured, Australia wide ever since." Research on my part has yielded the following information. I am grateful to the guides, hosts, and members of ANZAC who have shared this story with me. Many of these facts come via Wikipedia, and the Australian National Archives, and the written memories of my journeys to visit "down under". "Reverend White was serving as one of the padres of the earliest ANZAC's to leave Australia with the First AIF in November 1914. The convoy was assembled in the Princess Royal harbour and King George Sound at Albany WA. Before embarkation, at four in the morning, he conducted a service for all the men of the battalion. When White returned to Australia in 1919, he was appointed relieving Rector of the St John's Church in Albany. It was a strange coincidence that the starting point of the AIF convoys should now become his parish. No doubt it must have been the memory of his first Dawn Service those many years earlier and his experiences overseas, combined with the awesome cost of lives and injuries, which inspired him to honour permanently the valiant men (both living and the dead) who had joined the fight for the allied cause. "Albany", he is quoted to have said, "was the last sight of land these ANZAC troops saw after leaving Australian shores and some of them never returned. We should hold a service (here) at the first light of dawn each ANZAC Day to commemorate them." That is how, on ANZAC Day, 1923 he came to hold the first Commemorative Dawn Service. As the sun was rising, a man in a small dinghy cast a wreath into King George Sound while White, with a band of about 20 men gathered around him on the summit of nearby Mount Clarence, silently watched the wreath floating out to sea. He then quietly recited the words: "As the sun rises and goeth down, we will remember them". All present were deeply moved and news of the Ceremony soon spread throughout the country; and the various Returned Service Communities Australia wide emulated the Ceremony. After the First World War, returned soldiers sought the comradeship they felt in those quiet, peaceful moments before dawn. With symbolic links to the dawn landing at Gallipoli, a dawn stand-to or dawn ceremony became a common form of ANZAC Day remembrance during the 1920s; the first official dawn service was held at the Sydney Cenotaph in 1927. Dawn services were originally very simple and followed the operational ritual; in many cases they were restricted to veterans only. The daytime ceremony was for families and other well-wishers, the dawn service was for old soldiers to remember and reflect among the comrades with whom they shared a special bond. Before dawn the gathered veterans would be ordered to "stand to" and two minutes of silence would follow. At the end of this time a lone bugler would play the "Last Post" and then concluded the service with "Reveille". In more recent times the families and young people have been encouraged to take part in dawn services, and services in Australian capital cities have seen some of the largest turnouts ever. Reflecting this change, the ceremonies have become more elaborate, incorporating hymns, readings, pipers and rifle volleys. Others, though, have retained the simple format of the dawn stand-to, familiar to so many soldiers. Each year the commemorations follow a pattern that is familiar to each generation of Australians. A typical ANZAC Day service contains the following features: introduction, hymn, prayer, an address, lying of wreaths, recitation, "The last post", a period of silence, "The rouse" or "The reveille", and the National Anthem. At the Australian War Memorial, following events such as the ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day services, families often place red poppies beside the names of relatives on the Memorial's Roll of Honour.Which is now called anzac day." ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** My special thanks to my friend, Chaplain Peter Smith, who was my guide then, and shall always be my very dear friend. Peter, when you read this, please recall with joy those days we shared as I learned this most important lesson from you. I love you still. I am proud to call you "Mate!" ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Ah, now THERE was a lesson! Here are some notes on that particular lesson: "'Mateship' is a concept that can be traced back to early colonial times. The harsh environment in which convicts and new settlers found themselves meant that men and women closely relied on each other for all sorts of help. In Australia, a 'mate' is more than just a friend. It's a term that implies a sense of shared experience, mutual respect and unconditional assistance. Mateship is a term traditionally used among men, and it is a term frequently used to describe the relationship between men during times of challenge. The popular notion of mateship came to the fore during the First World War. During this period the word 'mate' became interchangeable with the word 'digger', which had its roots in the gold digging fields of the 1850s. " ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Marching against the tide, Sydney Morning Herald, April 9 2006 "A digger is an Australian solider, typically from WWI and WW2. They are revered, and, in many ways, epitomise the real Australian culture that is perhaps dying with them. This reverence, very much alive in our children, is the closest thing most Australians have to a religion. We, some of us, may not believe in God, but we respect our diggers like Gods. And with good reason. Although not well known around the world (many would not even know Australia was involved), those diggers have given more than their fair share during both World Wars - especially as they had to travel half the world to give it, and they gave it for people who would be unlikely to return the favour. The truth is that Australia has the highest casualty rate in the world, during WW1. That's right. In the world. And all of our boys were volunteers. We volunteered to be slaughtered at a higher rate than any other: 70%, 70%! of our boys were either wounded, killed or lost. Every family was affected, from every town, and that can be seen in memorials all over the country. Someone died from every second family. Think about that. In all, 100,000 Aussies were killed in wars during the 20th Century. 100,000 dinkum Aussies, who were more Australian than the current generation can imagine." The following is a poem in their honour. Diggers Lament It was with great sadness, that we saw a dusty old digger, turned from the door for a century he and his mates had drunk and laughed and cried, and lived through war But now it seems, he is not the right class No suit, no tie, no belt of brass To him it was all a tragic mystery Who were these Australians, who had forgotten their own history? Somewhat in shock, we skulled our beers and rushed to join, our aging peer hey cobber, we yelled, knowing his tounge he turned and stared, eyeing us one by one We built this bloody country, said he with our bloody hands we spilt our blood, we gave our youth and this is the thanks we have In our day the pub was for one and all a place for laugh and cheer at the very least, an honest bloke could find an honest beer Now noone wants to know us they throw us on the street sometimes I wonder why we bothered getting butchered, like raw meat the fair dinkums we were known as as we fought the war of hate but most of all, we aussie blokes fought for one another - as good mates Now I look around at Sydney Well, it just ain't the same the crowds - they aren't my people what they are is just a shame they shove, they push, they toot their horns they speak american if you're lucky the dinkum aussies, my cobbers and I we're disappearing in a hurry there's no shouting, mateship or blokeyness and 'bloody oath' is considered crude they think they are all winners I just think they're bloody rude they carry on, throughout their lives chasing the almighty zac but they know no joy, they have no mates they'll die alone - for moneys sake and what's worse, he sighed, is not here and now but where we're going to be and I ask myself, as I slowly die what happened to my country. David Downie, 2000 There are several friends along this journey who speak regularly of being a "Mate", and offering "Mateship". I hope that, today, we might all take a moment to consider that for just what it truly is: one of the most selfless displays of humanity one can ever witness. G'Day, Mate! In His Care, and Yours, Budroe |
| I have been examining Guest Books around WDC of late. I have been considering establishing one for some time now. Many of my favorite writers here on WDC have Guest Books, and I generally approve of the way they are used. Some are for introductions. Some are just points of contact between friends. Some are for staying in touch with family. But, I believe they all serve a positive purpose. I wanted a place to keep track of the many, many friends that I have been honored to make here, among the varied activities I have pursued during my WDC membership. I didn't really have a single place for them to gather. Now I do. Today, I created my Guest Book. It is interesting to note that the final impetus came from, of all places, a writing assignment I have as a student at the A-1 Academy. I am a person that does not believe in coincidence, or circumstance. All things happen in their own time, for their own reason. I will be editing this Guest Book for some time, I suspect. It is difficult to create "the perfect" first impression. I want this one to be real. It may be fancy (I like fancy, so long as it doesn't breach the "gaudy" barrier! It may be, as it is presently, rather plain. I am, as a man, very simple. My life is centered around, and wholly dedicated to my faith, my family, and my friends. Now, among all the items in my Portfolio, there is a place where those three concentrations can come together. I am happy about that. I hope you will visit, and sign my Guest Book.
In His Care, and Yours, Budroe |
| The Atlantic Monthly, in December of 1944, ran an installment serial in, I believe, seven parts written by newspaper reporter and fiction author Raymond Chandler. Chandler wrote in the Hard Boiled Detective Mystery genre. He did it better than anyone before, or since in my personal view. His is an amazing ability to combine the observational parry and thrust of the newspaper man with the longer view of the fiction author in tones that infuriate, humiliate, and engratiate simultaneously. His wit is so dry it will blow away with the first whiff of moving air. I find him to be absolutely unstoppable reading! He does to A. A. Milne (one of my favorite authors, btw) what Twain did to Fennimore Cooper. He just does it better than Twain. To me, that is saying something! Twain's title is "Fennimore Cooper's Literary Offenses", and is a required reading of any serious writer, in my view. To really put the appropriate spin, and "polish" on the deed, however, one is compelled to read "The Simple Art of Murder". First published in April, 1944, Chandler's discourse is still required reading among those who would write the mystery fiction novel. NO, really! You do truly need to read these two amazing discourses--now! You will hurt though, I know that. In His Care, and Yours, Budroe Here is a rather succinct display of some divergent points of view regarding Mr. Clement's work and rationale, including not only discourse, but the original article de jour: http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/HNS/Indians/critic.html I am particularly fond of this Chandler reference. It gives a reasonably accurate biography, a serviceable picture of the newspaper Chandler, and the article in question: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Simple_Art_of_Murder which is required reading prior to taking my new A-1 Academy Mystery Writing Course. I hope this piques your interest, and whets your appetite for what will surely be an interesting journey. I know it certainly has revved my engines. B |
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Did you know that today is Earth Day, 2007? Does that knowledge matter to you,or do you find it merely to be "An Inconvenient Truth"? Just wondering. I do not think I'm being political. I do think I'm being a citizen. Tell me what problem you have with that, please!  Well, today has been quite the quiet day around Chateau de Budroe. I awoke appropriately late (after noon), having had three different opportunities during the night to discern my ability to sleep. A most bizarre occurrence did happen, at one point, however. I awoke, brought my pants with me to my computer, sat my britches down on the living room sofa, sat down to look at my eMail, and proceeded to immediately go back to bed. I remember the entire event. The only thing is--I was never awake! I know it happened. I remembered it happening. I can even tell you the eMail I read. I just happened not to wake up for the entire event. I used to sleepwalk when I was a younger man. I believe I have regaled you with the stories of this before. Yet, lest I check these 139 entries, I will presume you know the story. All those fireworks! They must surely have knocked one, or various, screw(s) loose. Perhaps it was the volume of noise created by the jets flying directly overhead my roof! Whatever the occasion, at least I did celebrate by creating another message, and leaving it under the stone for anyone caring to check at:
As always, your response is always appreciated kindly. Also, as usual, all flames will be directed immediately into The Chasm! The Alpha Class seems to be coming together nicely. It should be ready for the reveal of the new twelve week course on May 6th, along with the entirely new A-1 Academy Catalogue. I am pleased to report my new Intermediate Course of study will be likewise listed, and look forward to the inaugural class. The April Birthday Bash for A-1 Academy continues to go exceptionally well! You are all invited to attend, and participate. A friend, hurt and feeling betrayed, has closed her graphics shop much to my sadness, dismay, and near horror. I know not all the intricacies of the actual events which took place. Needless to say, my friend felt sufficiently abused to take extreme action. She reports that the abuse continues to this day, as her customers are being "warned" about her work--an act which is completely specious, in my view, and worthy of this person being removed from any point of leadership on this site should it not immediately cease and desist, with appropriately "public" apology to my friend for even the inference given. That is my personal opinion, based upon my take of the information I have been given. This is my Blog, where my opinion is unfettered and free to fly about unleashed. My friend Jem's graphic arts grace this--and many a Blog, and my Port--SEVERAL times! They will continue to do so post ex eternam! Soli Deo Gloria! Other than that, I believe I can report a quiet day at home. Yes, I can. I will. I did. In His Care, and Yours, Budroe |
| The world's largest Air Show began approximately 0.35 miles from my little house this afternoon at about 3 PM, EDT. It ended about 8:00PM. Folks, that's just a whole lot of airshow. I just don't care who ya are. Approximately 1.5 hours later, a few of my friends showed up (estimates currently sitting at 1.1 million), and watched a spectacular phenomenon: $60 million in fireworks "lit off" in less than 20 minutes! Yes, this IS the world's largest fireworks extravaganza. This IS "Thunder Over Louisville", the official kick-off celebration of the Kentucky Derby Festival. This kind of genteel, Southernly demeanor will continue (pretty much non-stop) until late in the afternoon of the First Saturday in May, following a 2 minute horse race! By 0700 tomorrow, the accumulated trash, port-o-lets, food vendors, musical venues, EMS, police, and over 7,000 Louivillians who produce "Thunder" will be but a faint memory. By the time we are ready for going to Sunday School, you will not be able to tell that anyone had a party! Not only is that a rule; it is a source of extreme pride around these parts. We know how to clean up after ourselves! Almost like growed ups, and everythin'! I hope your horse wins. I'm gonna go sit in my front lawn, and watch th' crazies for a while. In His Care, and Yours, Budroe |
| There is really not a lot going on today. I've spent part of the day doing *yawn* laundry. This reminds me that I am, in fact, a tad anal about some things. Laundry is one of them. I don't starch my T Shirts, or fold 'em, but I do have a system. Luckily, it only has to come into play about once very nine weeks! Of course, that also means it takes a while to do. And, that means it is a task worthy of putting on a schedule! (Do you think there is hope?) I started a new mystery short story today. That's not really much to talk about. This one, however, I have set up with edit points--the first time I have used them. Does anybody have anything good (or bad) to say about them? There's not much to the story (in writing) yet, but it's gonna be a fun one to get done.
It's gonna have a really kewl twist to it. I really like it when I like what I'm writing. "Hello! I'm Mayhem. He's Chaos!" LOL The Title? WDC, thanks to The StoryMaster   and his technical team, has a brand new Chat interface. This one is useable! Check it out. Schedule a group chat for your group in one of the rooms. USE it! It's really neat!Pretty quiet, otherwise. Have a quiet night, and a legendary day tomorrow. In his Care, and Yours, Budroe |
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