Thursday, December 18, 2014

Sunday, December 7, 2014

I recently discovered accounts of the Battle of Leyte Gulf on YouTube.   In one titled The Battle of Surigao Strait, the Aulick is mentioned as part of Destroyer Division Xray.   There are two longer accounts, The Battle of Leyte Gulf, Parts 1 and 2.   They are long and somewhat repetitive    I have seen them all the way through, but doubt if you want to.   Anyway, a part of family history is there in  a more complete form that I was able to describe.

Monday, December 1, 2014

Remembering your 71st Anniversary with Mom today, Dad!

Friday, November 28, 2014

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Saturday, November 22, 2014

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Friday, November 14, 2014

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Happy Veterans Day to you Dad, and to all our family who have served and are currently serving!
HAPPY 18th BIRTHDAY, JORDAN!

Monday, November 10, 2014

Happy Veterans Day, Dad!  Thanks for your service for our country.  You fought the good fight!

Friday, November 7, 2014

Sunday, November 2, 2014

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ANYA!

Remembering Scott

On the second anniversary of his death, I thought I'd post a couple of my favorite photos of us as kids.

Saturday, October 25, 2014

Thursday, October 23, 2014

October birthday, anniversaries

I should have kept these up for you Dad:
Happy 1st anniversary to Andrew and Hannah Campbell on October 5!
Happy birthday to Ryan on October 16!

Battle of Leyte Gulf 70 years ago

Chris posted this on Facebook today, with a dedication to you, Dad.

http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/worldwari1/p/leytegulf.htm

Monday, September 29, 2014

REMEMBERING SAMUEL JOSEPH KRAUSE   He would have been two years old today.

Saturday, September 27, 2014

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ALISON!  (a day late)
HAPPY 13th BIRTHDAY, CYNTHIA!
REMEMBERING MOM ON HER BIRTHDAY.  She would have been 93.

Saturday, September 20, 2014

Whitney and Bryan

Great news - we will soon have another member of the family! Bryan Wallach proposed to Whitney last night, and she said yes! Bryan had called Steve earlier in the week, asking for her hand. Soon after Whitney returned home from a business trip to Chicago, Bryan said he had something to give her - first a dozen red roses then her ring! They celebrated with champagne, then went out for a nice dinner. They are very much in love, and Steve and I couldn't be happier! We visit St. Louis again in October, so I'm sure wedding planning will be a topic of discussion!
Why did the chicken cross the road?

BILL GATES: I have just released eChicken2014, which will not only cross roads, but will lay eggs, file your important documents and balance your checkbook. Internet Explorer is an integral part of Chicken 2014. This new platform is much more stable and will never reboot.

 
ALBERT EINSTEIN: Did the chicken really cross the road, or did the road move beneath the chicken?

 
COLONEL SANDERS: Did I miss one?

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Friday, September 12, 2014

From today's Columbus Dispatch:

Nelson Newsom, age 96, died peacefully on September 8, 2014 at Summit's Trace Healthcare Center in Columbus, Ohio.

There is a nice picture of Nelson as a younger man.   He was a good man and a good friend.

Monday, September 8, 2014

Why did the chicken cross the road?

BARBARA WALTERS: Isn't that interesting? In a few moments, we will be listening to the chicken tell, for the first time, the heartwarming story of how it experienced a serious case of molting, and went on to accomplish its lifelong dream of crossing the road.

 
ARISTOTLE: It is the nature of chickens to cross the road.

 
JOHN LENNON: Imagine all the chickens in the world crossing roads together, in peace.

Friday, September 5, 2014

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Why did the chicken cross the road?

DR SEUSS: Did the chicken cross the road? Did he cross it with a toad? Yes, the chicken crossed the road, but why it crossed I've not been told.

 
ERNEST HEMINGWAY: To die in the rain, alone.

 
BARBARA WALTERS: Isn't that interesting? In a few moments, we will be listening to the chicken tell, for the first time, the heartwarming story of how it experienced a serious case of molting, and went on to accomplish its lifelong dream of crossing the road.

Monday, September 1, 2014

If any of you have not seen the movie, "God's not dead" it is a must see.  You may think that the situation in the movie isn't realistic but it is based on many sad but true court cases in public schools and universities.  Let me know what you think of it.

Sunday, August 31, 2014

Why did the chicken cross the road?


DR. PHIL: The problem we have here is that this chicken won't realize that he must first deal with the problem on this side of the road before it goes after the problem on the other side of the road. What we need to do is help him realize how stupid he is acting by not taking on his current problems before adding any new problems.

 

OPRAH: Well, I understand that the chicken is having problems, which is why he wants to cross the road so badly. So instead of having the chicken learn from his mistakes and take falls, which is a part of life, I'm going to give this chicken a NEW CAR so that he can just drive across the road and not live his life like the rest of the chickens.

Saturday, August 30, 2014

Why did the chicken cross the road?

AL GORE: I invented the chicken.

 JOHN KERRY: Although I voted to let the chicken cross the road, I am now against it! It was the wrong road to cross, and I was misled about the chicken's intentions. I am not for it now, and will remain against it.

AL SHARPTON: Why are all the chickens white?

Friday, August 29, 2014

Why did the chicken cross the road?

GEORGE W. BUSH: We don't really care why the chicken crossed the road. We just want to know if the chicken is on our side of the road or not. The chicken is either with us or against us. There is no middle ground here.

 
DICK CHENEY: Where's my gun?

 
COLIN POWELL: Now to the left of the screen, you can clearly see the satellite image of the chicken crossing the road.

 
BILL CLINTON: I did not cross the road with that chicken.

Thursday, August 28, 2014

I didn't include the question in the previous post.  It obviously is, "Why did the chicken cross the road?"
Sophia Bailey, a woman who eats at the same table as I do, forwards me some good stuff.   Instead of forwarding this one (it's long) I'm going to put it on this blog a few items at a time.   Whoever wrote it knows a lot about well known people and authors.
 
 
SARAH PALIN: The chicken crossed the road because, gosh-darn it, he's a maverick!

BARACK OBAMA: Let me be perfectly clear, if the chickens like their eggs they can keep their eggs. No chicken will be required to cross the road to surrender her eggs. Period.

 JOHN McCAIN: My friends, the chicken crossed the road because he recognized the need to engage in cooperation and dialogue with all the chickens on the other side of the road.

 HILLARY CLINTON: What difference at this point does it make why the chicken crossed the road.

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

I posted some new stuff on www.70plus25.com     Moved everything up and made the picture a little smaller, but still didn't get rid of the unwanted words.  
HAPPY 4th BIRTHDAY, ANDREW ROBERT (ANDY BOB) PAVLESICH!

Monday, August 25, 2014

I did something a little different in the latest posting on www.70plus25.com     I put NEW in boldface before what I added.   So you can scroll down to that point and read the new stuff.   When I add something new again, I'll  remove the NEW and put another ahead of what I just added.   I don't often change what has already been posted.   If I should choose to make a significant change in what was posted before, I'll tell you about it.

Sunday, August 24, 2014

I made a new posting on www.70plus25.com    My picture is bigger than I would like it to be, it cuts off a little of my generation notation, and I still need to get rid of the words Company Name.   Still, it's not too bad for an amateur.   It's interesting that I'm getting emails wanting to help (at some expense) improving it, listing it on search engines like Google etc.   It's obvious that the bargain offer to purchase the domain name was expected to generate other income for them.     
Remembering that Maureen and Scott were married 13 years ago today.   It was a beautiful day, and so was the weather.   A picture of Mom and me dancing is on my desk.   We got lost on the way back to the hotel.   Scott gave me good directions, but I went by the first left turn I was supposed to make.   Mom's sense of direction was always better than mine, but it didn't help that time.   We did finally see a convenience store, and a police car was just pulling in.   They were sort of surprised to see me in a tuxedo and admitting we were lost.   Turned out we had been sort of circling and weren't too far from the hotel.  

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

I made a posting on www.70plus25.com     You can see it if you click on the site, then click on about us.   There's a picture and some other stuff I want to take off, but you can see how the story begins.
Today I received an email offering a special price to set up a new website like the one I had before.   So I started to take the steps to do so.   It's  www.70plus25.com  You can click on it if you want to see it, but I haven't made any entries there yet.   The new book I've started to write will be "Threescore and Ten Plus 25", so I can start to post it over time the same way as I did with dontsaygoodbye.    I have to relearn how to make postings at the new site.   I'll let you know when there's something new posted there.

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Some of you know that Ron Simon, a semi-retired reporter, interviews veterans and writes about them.   He interviewed me last week, and his article is in today's paper.

www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Thursday, July 31, 2014

Thursday, July 24, 2014

Had a surprise phone call from Jordan last evening.   She was at the WWII memorial, saw my name and gave me a call.   Didn't have much time to talk - her group was on the move.   Made me realize how little I know about the place.   For example where she would have seen my name.    I know Mom entered it on some kind of a register, but I don't know where or how it may be displayed.   I also would like to know more about Jordan's trip, but I don't have her email address.   Will one of you send it to me? 
HAPPY 6th BIRTHDAY, ETHAN!

Saturday, July 12, 2014

Remembering Scott on what would have been his 67th birthday.

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

We had a nice program this afternoon outside on the paved area you can see out of my window.   Chairs were set under a temporary awning.   A group of veterans came who serve regularly at flag presentations at veterans gravesites.   They folded a flag, and one of them read the meaning of each triangular fold as it was made.   When the folding was completed a bugler played taps.   Very impressive.     The Activities Director pinned each Primrose veteran present with a flag pin.   Although I don't think all the veterans were there, someone mentioned that the last four men who moved here are veterans.    Tony DeLong of the Richland County Veterans Commission spoke here last week and said forty Primrose vets receive some form of VA benefits.  

Monday, June 30, 2014

Tornado in Pilger, NE





Sally and I spent several days in the Pilger, Nebraska area last week helping with the tornado clean up through Samaritan's Purse (www.samaritanspurse.org). The top photo is the front walk leading up to what was a house.  In the second photo you can see the place where the owner survived, behind the trash can in the corner of an inside wall of the basement.  He said he never prayed so hard in his life.  Everything on his property was destroyed.

On the way out, we visited with some old friends from seminary days: Steve & Mary Rottgers.  Sally introduced those two years ago and I married them in the seminary chapel.  You might remember Steve performed 3 weddings in our family.  He is now the Canon to the Ordinary (assistant to the bishop) in Western Missouri.  We also had lunch  with Erica on the way out.  Since we were "in the neighborhood" we spent the night with Megan and Steve and had a delightful visit.  Then on the way back we visited with Hannah at Fort Riley.

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Monday, June 23, 2014

I just happened to see Hymn to the Fallen by John Williams on YouTube.   It's worth six minutes of your time to listen and watch.

Sunday, June 22, 2014

Saturday, June 21, 2014

Sunday, June 15, 2014

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day again, Dad! It was great talking to you earlier - we love you!

Happy Father's Day also to my brothers and nephews! Love you all!!

Friday, June 13, 2014

Monday, June 9, 2014

Steve found this interesting article - a photographer has taken D-Day landing sites photos and blended them with what the area looks like in the present day. Quite striking.

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/06/06/d-day-landing-sites-pictures_n_5458026.html?utm_hp_ref=tw

Sunday, June 1, 2014

Friday, May 30, 2014

Now that A Long Farewell has been published, I have shut dontsaygoodbye down and had its contents erased from the internet.   I wish I knew how to correct some of the problems with this blog.   Steve can make comments but can't post anything new.   Eileen can't post comments.   I can make postings and add comments but can't add or delete authors or do anything else.   Andy, if you're reading this, you helped me set this up. so maybe you can give me some advice.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KEVIN!

Thursday, May 29, 2014

I don't know how many log on to this blog anymore.    I don't know, either, if by chance, someone who does log on hasn't heard about the book, A Long Farewell, recently published and available at Amazon.   If you haven't, go to Amazon, type the title in the search bar, and see the book cover and info about it.     

Monday, May 26, 2014

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TARAH!
HAPPY 8th BIRTHDAY,  MIKE III and ANDREW!
Happy Memorial Day, and thank you Dad and all our other family who have served our country!

Saturday, May 24, 2014

Friday, May 16, 2014

Tornado damage in Louisville, Miss

I went to Louisville, Miss. for 4 days to help with disaster relief for Samaritan's Purse.  Here are some photos of the devastation.  These are two locations.  Elderly women died in both sites. Notice that the houses are totally gone.




HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SARAH!

Monday, April 21, 2014

Sunday, April 20, 2014

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

4 Generations of Murphy men

 
 
 
This photo was taken at Dad's apartment on April 5, 2014.  Four generations of Murphy men - well Maxwell will certainly grow into a man - sooner than many would think!
 
 
Steve

Sunday, April 6, 2014

Ryan, Robin, Maxwell, Pat and Steve were here yesterday. First time I had seen Max. Pictures were taken of him, Ryan, Steve and me - four generations of Murphy men. We'll post one here this week. Another four generation shot was taken of Shawn, Chris, Scott and me years ago, but I don't know when that was. I've asked Chris if he remembers.

Saturday, March 29, 2014

Friday, March 21, 2014

Clip of Kearney from NBC News

There are some nice shots of the Platte River Valley in this clip from NBC News. It is about the Sandhill Crane migration, which we've viewed at sunset in past years.

http://www.nbcnews.com/watch/nightly-news/annual-bird-migration-begins-with-a-roar-201503299641

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Not too sure how I managed it, but I think the blog is working OK now.
Today Steve helped me erase browsing history, but when we put this blog back, on it looked different and we had to look under 2014 to get to the most recent posting. So I'm waiting to see where this posting shows up. The blog still starts with Emma's test, so I'll have to find out how to get back to normal.

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Chloe's Baptism

Hi all, I have not posted in a while.  Here are some shots from Chloe's baptism last Sunday at our parish, Our Lady Queen of Peace.  Maureen is Chloe's Godmother, but had a bad fall that morning and could not make it to Arlington.  Alison stood in as a proxy. We missed her dearly.  I left for Ghana a few days later, so it was good to have time with family.  My good friend Eric Young is serving as her God Father.  - Andy













Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Short version of an email forwarded to me by Sophia Bailey, a woman who eats at the same table as I do. A woman was married four times. Her first husband was a banker, the second a circus ring-master, the third a preacher and the fourth a funeral director. One for the money, two for the show, three to make ready and four to go.

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Monday, January 13, 2014

A poem, “Gone from My Sight”, by Henry Van Dyke is on my mind today. He uses the metaphor of a ship moving out to sea and passing out of sight beyond the horizon. He writes: “Then someone at my side says, “There, she is gone.” Gone where? Gone from my sight. That is all.” It’s hard to believe that Peg (Mom, Grandma or MawMaw to some of you) has been gone from our sight for two years. I suppose the sense of loss may diminish as time passes. At this time it hasn’t.
HAPPY 13th ANNIVERSARY, TARA & MIKE!