Perspectives from NH (that's in the Upper Area of the Right Coast)

My daughter Kristen graduated from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville today!

2009-12-14T04:35:08Z

My daughter Kristen had her graduation ceremony from University of Tennessee in Knoxville today, and I was one proud daddy!

She walked with about 1600 other students in the Lady VOL's stadium on campus. (which is about the size of the Verizon Center in Manchester, NH)

She walked with about 1600 fellow students, and the ceremony was great. I know how hard she worked to get here, and as I said, I am one proud father.

I am working to upload photos and videos of not only the graduation but the whole weekend too! All in all, it was a blast, and now Kristen is on the the rest of her life....where surely she will continue to work hard, and do good.

I love both my girls, and while I know their age they are always going to be my girls....and they are both so grown up..

Doreen's Ordination Yesterday was a Wonderful Start

2009-11-23T18:54:56Z

DOREEN10
Originally uploaded by bigqueue_qlewis

Doreen had an Ordination ceremony at First Church in Westford, and it was a wonderful ceremony. It was not only a wonderfully scripted service with lovely readings, wonderful sermons and plenty of love for her.....but was also a wonderful beginning too!

This journey that Doreen has been taking started quite a few years ago...something like 7 or 8 years. She had become captivated by a meeting and event in the church, and wanted to be closer to God. She had experienced a loving connection through the has Pastor and said, "I want to do this for others"!

So she started out on the journey to learn, get her Divinity degree and search for a church. She found a wonderful church in the Leicester Congregational Church in Leicester, Mass.....a church with a wonderful congregation that love Doreen almost as much as she loves them!

So yesterday was the say she became Reverend Oughton....and a happy and proud day it was.

I am as happy as anyone to see my sweetheart achieving such a wonderful thing....it isn't just a long-fought for goal, but it is the start of a very worth-while and worthy career of helping narrow the gap between people and God.

Doreen so love God....she is the perfect person for this work..

Nick's wake and funeral....and what I think of the whole death closure process.....

2009-10-13T20:24:12Z

Last night was the wake for Nick Mandella and today was the funeral. I attended both out of respect for Nick, his family and all the people at First Congregational Church in Leicester. It is true that I only knew nick a few months, but he was one of the first people to pull me in and sort of pull me under his wing....when he did this, it made me feel like I belonged.....I wasn't just looking in from the outside.....I felt I was helping and welcome as well.

Everyone at the church has been great, but Nick was my first contact....and while he told me quite a few stories about his life, I found out during the wake and funeral that Nick had many more aspects about his life he didn't talk to me about....he was a great guy who was the real deal....and his friends and family knew it.

At the wake last night, I saw the love and affection that I felt at my mom and wife's wake. Nick was clearly loved, and he clearly loved people. I was quite moved not only by the number of people who came.....but the stories I was hearing so many tell of things that Nick had done.....helpful things, loving things, a friend and helper to many and a calm and caring person.

Oh, and it was clear that these same people who loved Nick (friends and family) were also nice people....and so I decided I had to come down for the funeral.....to honor Nick, and to honor and respect the people who he left behind.

Wakes and funerals are sad events....and I don't know anyone that will ever say they love or enjoy them. I don't think they are meant to be enjoyed, but I do think they have a valuable place in out lives. I am not even sure how they work, but the wakes and funerals that have happened in my family have given me a closer connection to the others left and much more of a sense of closure.

I suppose it puts everyone on the same page....brings everyone up to date.....connects everyone at least at the moment of the event itself...and the outpouring of stories and love for the person that died can't help but ground people what it means to be good in life.

I also find them useful because I honestly believe that I don't pray enough.....and I feel my job at these events is to pray as much as I can for the deceased, but even more importantly, for those left behind. I feel such a connection with God and those in my family that have gone already that it makes the back of my neck and the hair on my head tingle.

As I prayed at the wake last night, I always pray asking that one of my relatives who have died be allowed to meet Nick, befriend him and sort of give him the $0.50 tour.....I don't know what the protocol is, but I imagine that there are many new things and while I'm sure there are plenty of friendly faces to help....I ask my relatives, I guess sort of as an extension of myself.

Anyways....my first thoughts were that my Uncle Joe or perhaps my Uncle Jimmy would be perfect to befriend Nick.....My Uncle Jimmy having been in the Air Force and my Uncle Joe having something almost in common because he was a Merchant Marine who could not swim. (I learned that Nick was afraid of heights, yet he was a member of the Army 101st Airborne 'Screaming Eagles" and made several jumps while serving in Vietnam!)

But as I prayed on this, I was sort of "felt" that my Dad would really love to see Nick and would be the one. I was thrilled not just because I thought Nick was going to be in good hands, and because I felt they had sort of similar personalities....but I was also thrilled because this was the first time I had felt the spirit tell me that my Dad would be the candidate. It isn't that I have been to many funerals, but when I pray for help or support I often get the feeling that my mom or Cheryl would be trying to provide the guidance.....I was thrilled to feel my Dad this time around.

So I already noted how special the wake was last night.....well, the funeral was very nice as well. There was a Mass which again showed the love he had from so many friends and relatives.....and the Eulogy given my his close friend Lenny and I believe a sister in-law was just wonderful....again, more views of the wonderful caring life of Nick Mandella.

The day was rainy.....and the trip from the Church to the cemetary had the windshield wipers on all the way.....but when we arrived at the cemetary....the sun burst through the clouds and the complextion of the whole day changed. I am going to resist calling it a miracle, but it sure felt as though God was there to welcome Nick.

The rain had stopped, the sun was out...and everyone was able to stand around the coffin at the grave-side ceremony sans-umbrella.

There is no getting around it....I write this as almost as though it was a happy occasion......it was NOT. There was a lot of weaping and heart ache. I myself had a difficult time holding it back, so this wasn't the sort of think the people WANT to see happen. But given the horrible loss that happens when good people like Nick pass on, it seemed to me that this the sort of service that probably helps....it helps as much as anything can....which might not be possible no matter how you do it.

God bless Nick.....God bless his mother, wife, kids, grand kids and the whole legion of friends and other family that he has left behind.

Nick now lives in spirit, and in our hearts and soul. Perhaps our memories of Nick will help is strive to be more like Nick.....and better people in general.

Up and down day.....a bit lonely, but all is good.

2009-10-11T22:56:26Z

Well, today was not the worst day of my life for sure....but it has been a difficult day to day the least. I think that writing might help me put things into perspective and help me feel better.

My last post talked about a fellow I knew at First Church in Leicester, and a great guy too. As I noted before, he welcomed me in and took me under his wing and helped me be (and feel) useful during the Concerts on the Common. I had met others before Nick, but he was about the first to engage me.

So his passing is a shock to me.....sure, not as much as to his friends of many years, or especially his family....but having had a bit of loss in the past, his passing brought some of those thoughts to the forefront.

So today was a bit of an emotional roller coaster of sorts for me.

It started off with my going to church (actually a lovely service) and after during the coffee social time some of the sadness about Nick came out....and I began to think.

I thought of how my wife Cheryl had died like Nick, suddenly of a massive heart attack....ditto for my dad on the couch back in '97. I remembered how alone I felt when my mom died....even though I still had my wife and kids.....and I again felt alone and lost when Cheryl passed away.

My circumstances today especially fed this feeling because I stayed back at the church to fix the slow-boot problem the computer was having. I was alone, and it would not have been half bad except my progress at solving the problem was ZERO.....I felt alone and powerless....almost lost....a very similar feeling to what I felt before....with no one to call and talk to.

Kristen called me in the middle of my work, and that actually made me feel a lot better.....but I didn't load my problem thoughts on her...well, not most of them except for the uneasiness I feel for my job these days.

Kristen was actually very reassuring to me about my being able to get a better job out in the Leicester area....and that actually made me feel better.

I called people at about the rate of one every 30 minutes, and they were either not home, or suffering with a recent death of their own.....it was not a good situation, for any of us.

But I did finally get the computer problem resolved (about 4 hours later) and at least went on my way home having felt I had accomplished a small victory. But I still felt alone.

I almost decided to go into work tonight, but that didn't seem like a good idea....I would just be alone there and I'm not sure how productive I would have been.

I am looking forward to a call from Doreen later. We spoke a little earlier, as she was traveling in between appointments. (her mother in-law had a relative die....and I found the same when I called my mother in-law Florence.....so it seems like a very bad week for people passing on)

Nick's wake is tomorrow night, and I am hoping to go.

I guess sometimes the part of life we thought we had worked through come back up. That's OK because moments like these serve to remind me how good I had it then....and how good I have it now to. I think with thoughts like that, I have a chance of not taking anything for granted and trying to take care of the people I love while we are all alive and feeling good. (easier said than done)

I suggest everyone take a moment, reach out and kiss / say I love you to the people you love.

May God Bless Nick, a wonderful man I knew at The First Congregational Church in Leicester

2009-10-10T19:00:37Z

This morning I got word that Nick, a wonderful guy that I only new a few months, had died of a heart attack.

I have to admit to no knowing Nick very long, or very well, but he did have a special place in my life even so. He was the first person I worked with at The First Congregational Church in Leicester. I first worked with Nick making popcorn for the concerts on the common....and he sort of took me under his wing.

I admit to not knowing him for very long, but I found him to be a wonderful, kind and caring person. He apparently loved photography (taking ribbons at the Harvest Fair contest), and also seemed to like Apple Pie. (being a judge at the Harvest Festival and then buying pies after the contest.)

He like many of the others at the Leicester church was very much in love with his church, and with the town and history both. Nick and I spent a lot of time talking about all the activities past and present within the church and town....all while we worked as a team making popcorn.

I believe he was the church photographer, taking photos of all the church events and posting them to the church website. He was an avid 35mm photographer who had just recently begun talking about going into the digital age of photography.

As I said....I knew him very little....but even for that short time, it was clear to me that Nick was a great guy. I will miss him, and will keep him in my thoughts when I do anything even remotely related to the church....he was one of my first mentors there.

I hope his family and friends are comforted by God in their time of loss.

I don't know how Heaven works, but I'd bet that Nick would be asking for permission to be with and help those he left here. He seems like that kind of guy....caring, sensitive and unselfish.

God Bless you Nick.

Happy Belated Birthday to my Sweetheart Doreen!

2009-10-10T16:32:21Z

I didn't actually forget Doreen's birthday, but I have been so lax about my blogging that I didn't write anything up about it. That's just not right because my Journal is just that, an online memory of thing in life.....events and people I want to look back on and remember.

Her actual birth day was October 7th, so I am more than a couple days late with this post....though lucky for me I did get the various cards, gifts and e-greetings to her on time! :-)

This was a very special birthday for my sweetheart, and she has celebrated it in several ways already. I'm pretty sure Doreen is fine with her age, but it isn't proper for me to discuss it directly. But this birthday is a special one. (Here is a clue though, In the USA, "Mack the Knife" by Bobby Darin was the #1 song on the day of her birth. BTW: The #1 song on my birthday was "To Know Him, Is To Love Him" by the Teddy Bears)

On the evening of her birthday this past Wednesday, Doreen took her brothers, sisters, kids and me out to Vinny-T's in Lexington for a wonderful meal. We all thought we were taking her out, and she pulled a quick one on us and paid before we even knew what his us! That was such a wonderfully considerate thing for her to do.

We had a great time eating and talking....but then, it is always great to go out with Doreen and her family because they are all so nice and are always fun.

So now for the next two months or so, Doreen and I will both be the same age....but then, I have a birthday and gain a year. (and at the same time, once again have a "younger woman" for a fiancee'.)

She still has at least one more celebration this weekend when she goes out to brunch with her friends who are coming out to see her preach this Sunday.

Her next birthday will have the two if us married for about 3 months, and I am so looking forward to our sharing our lives together.

For now, Happy Birthday to my sweetheart, and I wish for you many, many for to come in the future.

Love,
-Quentin

Feed a cold and starve a fever....and feed it Chicken Soup!

2009-09-23T00:58:58Z

The past two days I have felt run down and sick. My day starts out just fine, but at about noon I would start to get all kinds of muscle pain and a general run down feeling.

This is quickly followed by off and on chills, and of course an on and off fever.

Yesterday I took a nap at about 3:00pm and that let me tough it out until about 9:00pm. But today I decided I would take off at about 3:00pm when the chills and tired feeling started creeping upon me.

This morning I started drinking my Juice regiment, as well as taking mega-dose of vitamins. (three big multi's in the morning, and three at dinner time)

Today I also came home and cranked up a big pot of chicken soup.

Does chicken soup work.....who knows, but any advantage, even if just a mental one that gets me thinking more positively can't hurt.....I heal when I KNOW my body is strong.

I have another 20 minutes or so before my creation is complete.....I am bout to go down and separate the chicken from the bones....and just wait it all out to be done.

What did I put in it.....what did I NOT is the question...let me try and remember.
Chicken (duh :-)
Diced Tomato in tomato juice
Carrots
Parsnips
Rudibaga
Onion
Celery
Cabbage
Mushrooms
Garlic
Olive Oil
Orange Juice
Soy Sauce
Corn (from a can)
Broccoli
Collard Greens
Red Kidney Beans
Black Beans
Oregano
Now what do you think? (I'll report on the taste...but it sure smells nice right about now :-)

Lessons in my life: Have faith and never give up.....

2009-09-15T04:56:13Z

Never give us is probably always a good way to live....but in this post, I am specifically talking about keeping the faith and a strong positive attitude when a friend or loved one is sick, or even close to the end.

We humans are stronger than you think....and our bodies are capable of some amazing things!

This afternoon I was at work in the lab talking with a couple of friends / co-workers, when one other came over and in a very sad tone told us the story of his sick mother just recently admitted to assisted living home, and suffering from dementia.

She is often in and out and will often get angry with him and call him all sorts of nasty things. He feels very bad for his mother because he loves her so much and can't bear to see her this way.

He goes to see her every day (before and after work), talks and helps her to do so many things....and often times she does not recognize him and yells for him to leave.

He worries that his mother will never see or react to him again...that she has effectlvely died mentally and is only being kept alive physically.

I tried my best to suggest that he not give up on her so easily....that the human brain and spirit is very powerful and that I would bet that the same person he came to love is most likely still functioning.....though perhaps now only down deep inside his mom.....and that this person inside her is still just as bright eyed and "with it" as she was in times gone by.

I shared with him two stories I have witnessed in life that simply amazed me.

First I told the story of my mom who had cancer and while in the hospital seemed to be at deaths door. So close that at one point the attending nurse told me she would only be alive another couple of minutes or so. I was crushed and at which point I pulled up a chair, held my mom's hand, told her I loved her and proceeded to tell her all kinds of stories of my life with her....

To make a long story short, the next morning my mother was awake, sitting in bead eating breakfast. If that isn't exciting enough, the next bit will shock you. As she was waking up, I told her how happy I was that she was looking better and how close she was to death.

She then told me that she remembers my sitting down and holding her hands....and she then went on to tell me several of the stories I had told her at that point. She repeated the stories to me, and tole me what she was thinking as she listened! I was floored to say the least!

She told me that she could hear me, and that she was trying to talk back but she knew I could no hear. As she came out of her coma, she slowly started to speak. (she passed away two days later...but the extra two days sure seemed like a miracle to me)

In my next story I told my friend about a man I encountered at the Hunt Community Center when I was working there part time as a security guard. (in 2004 when I had been laid off) This man was a client with Alzhiemers in the ward at Hunt Memorial for people with it. I saw this man and said hello every night as I did my rounds. He would normally just sit at his chair watching TV. His name was "hoppy" and he had Alzhiemers.

Well, after about 4 months of going through the room and saying hi to him (and his not even looking back) this one night I went in and as I said hello, he turned to me and welcomed me.....asked me how I was and thanked me for always saying hello every night.

We went on to have a wonderful 5 minute conversation about how he liked the place, how the nurses were great and how they let him watch TV which he loved.

For the next two months, I never saw Hoppy as lucid and clear.....but I knew he was alive and alert, and my respect for people in this state jumped up 100 fold.....

So NEVER GIVE UP!

Benefits of a poor memory and high tolorance for "stuff"........

2009-09-12T04:18:49Z

I believe I have a pretty level temperament, and am pretty cool and calm. I don't think I've always been this way, but have learned what I feel is a certain discipline where I can regulate emotions.....at least on the outside. I admit to still feeling the worry, sadness and disappointment deep inside, but I will more often than not just "take it".....I believe the saying is "Take on for the team".

I know that sounds horrible to some people, but I've learned that this is the best thing for the short and long term....and best of all, I have a short memory for disappointment and a great capacity to let things roll off my back. So I take advantage of my strength and "absorb" stuff at times. I admit that I do it at times physically, and at times mentally.

Why do I feel compelled to write about this, well I suppose I write many of these posts to let people know a bit about me...and to let myself explore myself and my thoughts.

A long time ago I was told by Cheryl that I needed to be more of a feeling person.....I made too many choices and decisions based on logic and via a logical process......I suppose my choice to do all of the above is the result of exactly that "flaw"......I choose to because I am a long term planner....and in the long run, a little pain now for less later (like forever later) is a no-brainer. I've seen people say or do things that quite simply ruin their lives.....something as stupid as an emotional outburst that causes them to say or worst DO something that is just plain unacceptable....and a relationship is forever damaged.....or they are thrust into the legal system.....or into a life of crime. (I know that sounds way over the top...and it could actually be....but you get the idea.)

I'm far from perfect.....I'm not saying I will NEVER get fed up and snap.....I do have a large capacity to absorb pain and disappointment....but I know it isn't unlimited. (I'm proud of my discipline, but I'm not supernatural)

I do think that Cheryl would be proud of my strength and desire to do the best not just for myself but for my considering the importance I put on my friends and people I relate to. (and not a selfish act)...but I think she would also remind me to connect more with my emotions....let things "come out" every now and then.

But you know what.....I think my strengths and weaknesses are pretty well balanced and I have cultivated my strengths so that the compliment or cover my weaknesses. That's hopefully the least humble thing I will say.....

For more "fun" info on me....look at an old "Johari Window" some of my friends did with/on me. (including Cheryl...hover over the results and see who said what about me.)

Take this True Friend Test too....see how much you know about me! :-)

Another September 11th is here..... (even with the economic mess going on now, we must never forget)

2009-09-11T06:15:50Z

REMEMBERING SEPTEMBER 11, 2001:

Today is September 11th, and a day I will certainly never forget so long as I draw a breath.

It was like the day we landed on the moon...or the day the space shuttle blew up....or the day Kennedy was shot.....if you were over 10 years old you know where you were on those days!

I was in the parking lot of Kentron Technologies listening to Howard Stern....who was just down the street from Ground Zero was was actually reporting on it as it was happening.

I BLOGGED about this several times several years ago, and those entries in 2006 and 2008 have insights into what I remember about that day in 2001 and the 2008 page specifically has links to the audio of all those Stern shows. (here is the breaking news announcement from his show)

No matter what you thought of Stern, (and I'm not sure why I used to listen at this point) this was his greatest moment.

As for that September 11th, everyone at Kentron spent the day watching the TV in shock. It felt like the start of WWIII to me, that's what I remember feeling. (and you know the events between then and now have not exactly been the best in worlds history, so when we look back 100 years from now I suspect it will seem like a very lost decade...and 2001 had not only the 9/11 twin towers attacks, but the Anthrax attacks too!)

It was a day of horrors, and a day of heros too....all in the same place side by side. This is what I remember most....it was the start of a time where we respected the work and heroism of average people doing what we once considered average jobs....but jobs that help when we are in far from typical situations.

Even if only for a short time, our country seemed to respect the labors of people like the police, fire and the other various first responders. That respect lasted about 12 months, and it was good.

It seems that everyone in the USA knew a victim of the 9/11 events....either in the planes or in the buildings. It touched so many so closely. Our daughters were friends of one of the pilots, John Ogonowski, and it was it was very hard for that family to get through that time. Here are several tributes to John that describe him a lot better than I ever could. (Wiki, 9/11 Wiki Tribute, a legacy.com site, then a Victims site page )

PS: Here is a page outlining some of the events and reactions as they happened at Sun Microsystems around September 11th, 2001. They had an office in the World Trade Center with about 350 people.....fortunately, all in the office survived.

REM: Everybody Hurts...a song that brings back memories and a tear to my eyes....

2009-08-27T06:29:38Z

I was riding home from Leicester tonight and popped in the Best of REM CD and as it was playing it got to song #8, Everybody Hurts, and as it played it brought back memories of a day back in December 2006 when I was riding around in my car and listening to this song over and over and over and over......

I drove for a long time....listening and remembering the 25 years that my just recently deceased wife Cheryl had lived together. (We met on Friday, November 27, 1981 and she died on December 21, 2006) Tonight when I heard that song....I played it over about 3 times, and remembered that day in December 2006 where I did the same. That night in 2006 I just rode around, listened, remembered and cried.

Tonight I also thought about Cheryl, but I mostly thought about that night....and how sad I was as I drove and played this over and over......I felt that sadness again tonight.

Except tonight it wasn't a lasting sadness, as it actually turned into a realization that I have a great life......I'm feeling great now, and while I do miss Cheryl still, I've come to realize that not only is she in a better place, but that my life is good too. Tonight I was almost sad for that guy who had sat alone in his car in December 2006 and cried and felt so all alone. That guy was me....and I remembered that feeling.

The lyrics that struck me then and now are those that talk about feeling alone:

If you feel like you're alone, no, no, no, you are not alone

If you're on your own in this life, the days and nights are long,
When you think you've had too much of this life to hang on

Well, everybody hurts sometimes,
Everybody cries. And everybody hurts sometimes

So as I said....I am not alone.....and actually wasn't then either. I now have a wonderful fiancee in Doreen, and of course two wonderful daughters. I never lost my family and friends, and in all of these great people, I have a wonderful and loving relationship.....

But yes, I also can't minimize the void left when Cheryl passed away....I was not alone, but I had lost a very great friend and love....and it indeed hurt.....and while that hurt is gone, the memory of that hurt remains....and that's a good thing because I want to try and do my best to keep my current loves of my life close.

Scott Adams has his finger on the pulse with Dilbert!

2009-08-27T04:51:52Z

Anyone have issues with a utility company.....oh, like perhaps Verizon?

Have you ever gotten the run-around.....filled with promises of a solution....promises of great service....phone calls filled with empathy only to find out the work they said was done was no where to be seen.

Have you ever felt used and abused.....

Doreen and I worked with Verizon for about a month and a half to get her DSL turned on after Verizon mistakenly turned it off. We literally spent tens of hours on the phone working it all out....promised time and time again that it would be fixed in an day....in an hour....heck, it's working right now!

Well....about 45 days later and it was still broken.

Here is the Dilbert cartoon that I found that speaks directly to this situation!

Ensnared Memories

2009-08-18T19:26:40Z

Ensnared Memories
Originally uploaded by WayneWho?.

Another one......

Life's a beach

2009-08-18T19:17:33Z

Life's a beach
Originally uploaded by WayneWho?.

I'm not sure why I was interested in this composition when I stumbled upon it this afternoon.

For those of you who are Camel and Mt Washington Lovers

2009-08-16T03:02:11Z

Also, check out this WMUR video on YOUTUBE.

It is a small world.....Longest Yard Sale in the world....what do they have in common?

2009-08-16T02:29:24Z

I was talking to an old friend of mine who worked with me at the Blue Hills Drive-in...and we have not spoken in about 3 years.

Well, as we were talking about what we were doing with out lives, he mentioned that he had gone to the worlds longest yard sale in Tennessee....and it turns out to be just north-west of Knoxville....the place my daughter Kristen drove back to tonight! (it is 654 miles long!)

Small world indeed! (and a cool yardsale too....I bet my daughter Kim would be in 7th heaven there! Me too!!)

Check it out on HGTV, and their 2008 slideshow.

Unusual Journal Entry for Unusual Times!

2009-08-15T04:01:23Z

I used to be a boxers guy about 30 years ago...but once I converted to briefs and never looked back.

But today I did something very unusual.....I threw away ALL my briefs, and replaced them....all in one smooth motion!

Yup.....I found a deal on Fruit of the Loom Tidy Whities at 7 for $5.00....and I bought 3 packages of them and the rest is history.

No more shame for my tidy whities.....though I do wish they were tinted.....I like the price!

Wonderful day at the beach.....

2009-08-15T03:21:36Z

Doreen took Sarah, two of her friends and me to Wingaersheek Beach in Gloucester, MA and it was fantastic. The weather was perfect, the beach sand was warm and crowds on the beach was not really that bad. Traffic could have been a little better, but still, it was just wonderful even with that.

I'd say we arrived at about 12:30pm, and stayed until about 4:00pm.

The beach lot was full, but we lucked out and found a local land owner selling "parking" spots in his driveway for the same $20 the beach lot cost.

Sorry....I didn't take any photos myself as I was there to soak up the sun.

The photos in this post have been taken from places on the net....next time!

Anyways, it was a great day, and I am as relaxed as you can imaging. (and the weekend has not even begun!)

Where are the Journal posts!??!

2009-08-15T03:02:27Z

I guess I have been pretty busy beaver these days....with work, school and all kinds of side things.

WORK:
Work has been busy....my product is selling well, yet there are things happening in the economy that have caused us to churn a little more than normal. Vendors going out of business.....products going end-of-life....etc....

The other thing that has made people slightly edgy at times is this Oracle Acquisition of Sun....no one knows exactly what will come out of it.

SCHOOL:
My MBA work has kept me hopping too! (not exactly following the beaver theme though....huh :-)

I had two classes going on. and one of them was my CAPSTONE. I created a business plan for a company I had thought of starting off and on over the years. I'm not sure it would be viable, but still....I'd love to do something at some point. (Small business is tough...most fail, so maybe I'm smart to not jump right into this kind of thing w/o a lot of thought)

CHURCH:
I want to spend more time getting involved with Leicester First Congregational Church....and now that things like school are shifting to a new phase, I hope to get more involved there. I did help two Wednesday ago selling refeshments at the Concert on the Common...and that was a real blast.

I like the people in the church a lot, and want to become a useful part of the church. (I only wish I was living in town, but I will do my best regardless)

Doreen's Candidating Day Photos......

2009-08-10T20:25:26Z

013_13
Originally uploaded by leicesterfcc.

Photo of Sarah, Doreen and me at the Leicester First Church reception for Doreen on her candidate day.

Check them all out here!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/leicesterfcc/sets/72157621949202760/

Search the net....and give to Charity!

2009-08-06T23:21:35Z

From their website:
Do Great Good is here to help you make a difference. Support causes you care about and make the world a better place little by little just by searching the Web on Do Great Good.

By searching the Web on Do Great Good, you can help support charities of all kinds. Here's who we've donated to so far:

Alley Cat Allies
American Hospice Foundation New!
American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation (AKCCHF)
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)
Animal Charities of America
Animal Friends Rescue
Animal Legal Defense Fund
Animal Welfare Association
Best Friends Animal Society
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound New!
Canine Partners for Life
Citizens for Animal Protection
Doctors Without Borders, USA New!
Feeding America's Hungry Children New!
Guide Dogs of America
Hopelink New!
Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)
The Jericho Alliance New!
Missing Pet Partnership
National Education for Assistance Dog Services (NEADS)
New Beginnings Pet Rescue
Pet Adoption Fund
Petfinder.com Foundation
Progressive Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)
SAFE Haven For Cats
Seeing Eye Inc.
United States Fund for UNICEF New!

Working on our wedding! (and loving it!)

2009-08-05T12:12:20Z

I'M PSYCHED:

I can't believe the excitement I am getting as I slowly start thinking about our wedding.

Yes, the event isn't for a little under a year away on July 24, 2010, but it has been a -LONG- time since I have had anything to do with a wedding (June 12, 1982) and it is exciting to me. (and quite honestly, I wasn't all that helpful in working on my first one)

THE HONEYMOON:
The first thing we did was talk about what we were doing after the wedding.....we decided it was not really a honeymoon, but a week away.

So the first thing we did was invite my daughters to go with us down the Cape for perhaps 3 days. (Sunday, Monday, Tuesday) where we will stay at Doreen's sister's house. (they will be up at Purity Springs with the rest of her family)

Then, Kim will be needing to go home to NYC, and Kristen can either go back to NH, back to TN, or come with Doreen and me to Purity Springs Resort where we will stay with Doreen's family for the remainder of their family vacation week. (Doreen's kids will be there....so we will take half the "Honeymoon" with my kids, and half with hers)

I have the room at Purity on hold for us....we just have to coordinate with Doreen's sister.

THE MINISTER:
Doreen has already spoken to the Pastor from her home church, Cindy, who will be officiating the service. She is excited about our wedding, and I like her and an thrilled she said yes to doing the service.

I am not sure what sort of pre-ceremony meetings we will be having, but I understand that one is planned. I am looking forward to this actually....

THE CHURCH:
As of right now, we will be wed at First Church United in Westford, Ma. This is Doreen's home church, and the one she is currently a member of. The other strong possibility for the service would be Doreen's new church, First Congregational in Leicester, Ma. I would be happy with either venue, though it does seem that the Westford location is closer to most going.

As the months draw near we will be thinking and praying about this decision I am sure.

THE WEDDING PARTY:
We decided that the service would be simple, and the wedding party would be almost non-existent. We were going to have Doreen and my kids process up with us....perhaps stand with us at the top of the church....but not really take any of the duties of anyone in a more traditional wedding party.

Our dress will be formal, but not supper dressy. That is, we will wear suit and dress, but no need for Tux and Fancy gown.

MY COUSIN JIMMY:
My cousin Jimmy was in my first wedding party (best man?) and I really want to have him involved in this wedding too. So while we don't have the service planned yet, I definately want to have a place in the service for Jimmy to sing and perhaps read. Jimmy is such a wonderful singer with such a wonderful voice that I would be thrilled to have him involved.

THE RECEPTION:
Fellowship hall at the Westford church is a wonderful place for a reception. It is said to hold about 200 people, but that is probably w/o a dance floor so I am guessing 125 to 150 would be more like it.

We have talked about the reception being a light, social environment, so it is not clear what sort of food we will be shooting for.

THE CATERER:
I've already contacted 4 caterers and exchanged emails and phone numbers. These businesses are small and seem very flexible. They have events known as food tastings, and I'm thinking Doreen and I need to go on a roadtrip to check them out!

THE DJ:
How to find a good DJ? Look around and you shall see....there are all kinds of services out there. They plenty of good results that help us find a good song players..... More research is needed!

THE RIDE:
Transportation from home to the church is another area I forgot to look at. I suppose it isn't remember.... (do you think I should do anything for that? :-)

It is all very exciting....let the goodness of our heart be our guide.....

Lobster at Purity Springs!

2009-08-02T17:59:10Z

I've been to Purity Springs for two years now with Doreen's family, and I've missed the much talked-about Lobster Bake. (it was raining last year and it was indoors....and this year I had to leave early to go to school)

Well, below a NH Chronicle segment on this very thing.....

Now, the perfect gift for those who have everything (or those you are not so fond of I suppose :-)

2009-07-27T17:27:54Z

The "Perfect Gift"

Got that impossible gift to buy for someone's 50th birthday (or 30th or Sweet 16)?
Going to a party and want to bring a house warming gift to that someone who has everything?
Want to say thank you to that special boss, teacher, friend, but don't want to just buy a candle?
Want a gift that you know everyone needs... and we bet no one has the true thing.
How about a gift they have never received and will be a lasting memory forever.

That's right - the gift that has true meaning and everybody...and we mean everybody...uses!

Sponsor the Port-a-Potty

It is easy to purchase the perfect gift through Habitat for Humanity of Greater Lowell.

To donate on line go to

http://www.lowellhabitat.org/donatehfhgl.htm

then send us an email to info@lowellhabitat.org and tell us who your special person is and where you would like to card sent to. If paying by check, please make payable to Habitat for Humanity of Greater Lowell and send to 66 Tadmuck Road, Suite 5, Westford, MA 01886. Be sure to include the persons name and address as well as any special reasons (ie: birthday, anniversary etc.)

Then sit back and wait for that special "thankyou".

Quick Links...

Greetings!

Give a gift in honor of that special person in sponsorship of the Habitat for Humanity of Greater Lowell worksite Port-a-Potty!

That's right for only $18 you will sponsor the port-a-potty on the construction site for a week. Your honored friend (hope they still are!) will have their name displayed on the signage at the special site for all to see. A card with a picture of their honored place will be sent to your friend acknowledging that special gift you have made and how "special" they are to you.

But hurry. There are only 32 weeks left in this build and we know that special person will want to see their name proudly displayed.

Sincerely,

Your friends at
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Lowell

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Happy 21st Birthday to my youngest daughter Kristen!

2009-07-25T23:08:21Z

Happy birthday to my Kristen Nicole Lewis, 21 years old tomorrow!

I can't believe how time has flown....and here is my baby, already 21 years old.

It only seems like yesterday when she was running around in diapers and running back and forth between Cheryl and I, giving us hugs.

This December, Kristen will be graduating from UTK (University of Tennessee in Knoxville)....not that she isn't all grown up, it's just that it happened so fast.