Dinner Guest List, My Favorite Who Am I?

The answer to yesterday's question was former Supreme Court justice, Byron "Whizzer" White. Today's question is at the end of the blog.

Sometimes I review old blog writings and in doing so I found an entry at the time when there were few readers and fewer posters. Since there are more readers and posters now I am going to use that post again today. It is called "Dinner Guest List". What you do is name five people, famous or not, dead or alive, that you would like to invite to dinner. You do have my permission to break the rules and list more than five since that is what I am going to do:

The famous folks:

Audrey Hepburn - Classy. Beautiful. Interesting.

Thomas Edison - An idol.

Sandra Bullock - I just think it would be fun to spend a couple of hours with her.

George Clooney - He just seems like a nice guy and I'd be happy with his leftovers.

RFK - "Some people see things as they are and ask why, I see things that never were and ask why not." Another idol.

The normal folks:

Phil - My roommate from college. He graduated and went to Vietnam. We exchanged many letters while he was there. Then we just lost touch. I am sure he is alive. Would love to meet up with him again.

Debbie - My cousin that died when she was 14. I tutored her in math the day before she died. I'd just want to tell her that although her life was short she influenced all those around her with her kind spirit.

Dad - Obvious reasons for the regular readers of this blog.

Aunt Ella - Just to say thank you.

Aunt Clara - She helped me choose a career path.

Now on to the question of the day. This is one of my favorites and I hope that you will be surprised at some of her background. I admit it is long but it is in my opinion as amazing as it is suprising:

I was born on May 4, 1929 and died of cancer on January 20, 1993. Although I thought was to tall or to fat to be attractive I was referred to as one of the most beautiful women in the world. A man nameed Cary once said "All I want for Christmas in another picture of you."

I was born in Brussels and spent much of my early childhood in the Netherlands. I spent six years in Nazi occupied Arnhem, Netherlands during World War II. Due to my experiences during World War II, I developed a passion for humanitarian work. During World War II I studied Ballet. I was born to my father and his royal second wife. My father changed our last name to the name his grandmoter's maternal last name. During the Nazi occupation of The Netherlands I temporily changed my name becuase having an English name was dangerous and sometimes deadly. In the most traumatic moments of my life, my father divorced my mom, became, and Nazi sympathizer. I secretly danced for groups of people to collect money for the Dutch resistance. I was once quoted as saying "The best audience I ever had made not a single sound at the end of my performances." During the war my half brother was in a German concentration camp. I became anemic and suffered malnutrition. More than once I was at the station seeing trainloads of Jews being transported, seeing all these faces over the top of the wagon. I remember, very sharply, one little boy standing with his parents on the platform, very pale, very blond, wearing a coat that was much too big for him, and he stepped on to the train. I was a child observing a child. I often passed the time during the war by drawing. My childhood drawings are now on diplsay in many areas.

I wanted to be a famous ballet dancer but when I asked my ballet teacher what my future hold I was told that although I would have a nice career that due my height and war time malnutrition I would never be a prima ballerina. I then changed to the career where I gained most of my fame. My first big job in my second career was with a dude that has the same last name as frequent poster on The Dahn Report. Greg was such a good dude that he called the producers and had my name listed first despite his fame. He wanted my name first because he correctly predicted I would win an academy award. During one movie I became Holden to William but dumped him when I found out he had had a a vasectomy. Kay Kendell's husband called me his favorite leading lady. Don't worry Rex and I didn't have an affair, I couldn't do that to my friend Kate. When I died the aforementiond Greg went on television and recited my favorite poem, "Undending Love".

The filming of the movie that the owner of The Dahn Report says has the most frigtening scene in it of any movie was very stressful for me to film not only being kept in the Dark but because the producer of the movie and I were going through a divorce at the time.

Other notes about me. I had two miscarriages before having my first child. While filming one firm I broke my back. I once sang happy birthday to JFK who said I was his favorite actress.

I nwas appointed a goodwill ambassador to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). Grateful for my own good fortune after enduring the German occupation as a child, I dedicated the remainder of her life to helping impoverished children in the poorest nations. Who Am I?

Hope today brings you happiness and that you enjoy an nice dinner alone or with friends. And if you could who would invite to dinner tonight?

Embarrassing Moments

The answer to yesterday's question was William Howard Taft. Since two of you commented on how easy that question was, we are going to try a little more difficult one today:

I was Born in Fort Collins, Colorado on June 8, 1917 and died in Denver, Colorado on April 15, 2002. Married to Marion in 1946 and we had two children, one girl and one boy. I went to the University of Colorado on a sports scholarship. I was an All American Halfback in football and served as senior class president. I also played basketball and baseball in college. I deferred my Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford University one year to play professional football for the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers, leading the league in rushing and at the time becoming the highest paid player in football. I hate the nickname given to my by a columnist due to my amazing speed. Despite my hate of that nickname it would follow me through both my sports and legal career. In 1940 I returned form Oxford to once again play professional football, this time with the Detroit Lions. I retired from football after thirty-three games. I hold an embarrassing NFL record: While against the Los Angeles Rams in November of 1952, during a game I took a snap and ran backwards 51 yards towards my own goal fumbling at the 1-yard line, at which point the Rams recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchdown. To this day, it is still the biggest loss of yardage on a single play in NFL history. During WWII I was refused entry into the US Marines because of colorblindness. I still was able to serve my country as an intelligence officer in the US Navy. I graduated magna cum laude from Yale Law School in 1946. In the 1960's my first political appointment was as RFK''s second in command. On January 20, 1993 I administered the oath of office to the second banana of the United States. I believed strongly in affirmative action. When retiring I was touched by what one of my co-workers said about me, "He saw life steadily and he saw it whole. All of us who served with him will miss him." While Pat might think that the owner of The Dahn Report violated his promise not to use sports stars in his daily quiz, she would be judging him incorrectly as I served the fourth longest term of anyone in history in a job where I gained my most fame. Who Am I?

When researching this famous dude I was struck by how someone of his obvious intelligence could do something so dumb as to run the wrong way on a football field. That moment must have been on the news for a week after he did it. He must have felt awful about it. Yet he recovered from it and when on to make an impact on history in other arenas the rest of his life. This begs a question. Do you have an embarrassing moment that you have recovered from?

In sports I once scored two points for the opposing team in a basketball game. And it was the winning basket for the other team too. I was in junior high at the time and boy did I take a terrible amount of ribbing. However, by high school it was all forgotten when I set the record for points in a summer league basketball game. Other than my one and only attempt at roller skating reported on here http://thedahnreport.blogspot.com/2008/06/visit.html the winning basket for the wrong time ranks as my most embarrassing moment.

OK, confession is good for the soul. I told you an embarrassing moment in my life, tell me one in yours!

A New Contest & A Nice Fourth.

The answers to yesterday's questions:

Who proposed the resolution of independence on July 2, 1776? Richard Henry Lee of Virginia.

What date did most of the patriots sign the Declaration of Independence? Hint, it wasn't July 4, 1776? Most signed the Declaration of Independdence on August 2, 1776. There was so much confusion about the signing date and so much misreporting about the signing date that John Adams went to his grave sure it was signed on July 4, 1776

Name the three former presidents that died on July 4? John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died on 7/4/1826; James Monroe died on 7/4/1831 and thanks to Pat's outstanding research Calvin Coolidge was born on 7/4/1872.

What state become the first state to celebrate July 4 as a state celebration? Massachusetts.

Where is the Declaration Of Independence stored, how many people visit it every day (within a 1000) and what happens to it at night? It is visited by 6,000 people per day at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. and at the end of each day it is lowered 22 feet into a vault.

Today a little more presidential trivia:

I was born September 15, 1857 and died March 8, 1930. I graduated from Yale and Cincinnati School of Law. I only served one term as head honcho of The United States. I founded The League to Enforce Peace. I met my future wife when I was 18. The Yale Debate Society, Skull and Bones, was co-founded by my father. In 1900, President William McKinley appointed me as the chairman of a commission to organize a civilian government in the Philippines. From 1901 to 1903, I served as the first civilian Governor-General of the Philippines. When President I appointed six judges to the US Supreme Court ranking third behind George Washinton (who appointed the entire court) and FDR. I am the first president to be buried in a place where a cousin of the owner of The Dahn Report is buried. Triple the weight of the smallest president and you would will come up with a number that wouldn't reach what I weighed as president but would exceed what I weighed after I left office. After my stint as president some people might have said I did a lot of judging. Who Am I?

OK, everyone be watching for an annoucnement of another contest here on The Dahn Report. It will be twenty-five to thirty questions from three things in common, trivia, Who am I?, Where Am I, and a myriad of other subjects. Anyone that has posted on The Dahn Report since inception will be able to participate. Also anyone that posts on The Dahn report from the time the contest is annoucned to the time the contest starts can play. Unlike the last contests, on this one you will only be allowed one entry.

How was everyone's Fourth of July? Everything was great here, everyone I snow still has all their fingers and hands afte the holiday. I didn't hear any reports of anyone's house buring down. We had a really had a nice time. I fixed a dynamite low-fat bbq lunch. We played some Scrabble and watched a tiny parade. I always enjoy being a host. It kind of goes against my shyness but when I am on my home court I can fake it!

Hope you are enjoying today!

Freedom Weekend Update

Happy 4th of July weekend. If the truth be known this is my least favorite holiday of the year. It isn’t that I don’t treasure our independence, the men that fought for it, and our right to be free. I do. It is that I don’t treasure a holiday that turns adults into idiots and children into managers of explosives. The emergency rooms will be filled with adults and children that held on to explosives to long or set off illegal ones that injured themselves or their son, daughters, or neighbors. The fire departments will be busy putting out fires started by the careless handling of fireworks. The roads will be filled with drunk drivers causing accidents. Loved family pets will get scared and run away never to be found again. Enough venting, let’s move on to Update Day. But first let’s welcome back the questions of the day with a special Fourth of July Edition:

Who proposed the resolution of independence on July 2, 1776?

What date did most of the patriots sign the Declaration of Independence? Hint, it wasn't July 4, 1776

Name the three former presidents that died on July 4?

What state become the first state to celebrate July 4 as a state celebration?

Where is the Declaration Of Independence stored, how many people visit it every day (within a 1000) and what happens to it at night?

As part of this week’s update tell me how you are going to celebrate the nation’s holiday. And if you would like to share an act of kindness please do so. That is in addition to the normal updates about your life, your elderly, your children, events attended or going to attend, books read or movies attended, concerns, joys, vent if you need to, and just post anything on your mind. No rules today.

I am going to celebrate the 4th with a small party at my home. Hot dogs, fruit salads, and chips. Mom and a couple of friends are coming over for lunch, a few games of Scrabble, some conversation, and then we will watch the little neighborhood parade that they have here.

As to last week? Read THE APPEAL by John Grisham. Not bad but not great. Went to the movie PUBLIC ENEMIES. Review on yesterday’s blog. Three days, two nights as a caregiver. Preparing two houses for a coming heat wave (mow lawns, water lawns, etc.). Shopping for two households. One dinner out, one lunch out. The lunch out was at new restaurant in King City called Biscuits. It was great. I Cooked a couple of meals, had one cooked for me. Rode with mom when she tried to drive. She did great. Walked with Mom when she tried the mobile wheelchair. She was a little nervous about the mobile wheelchair because of an incline to get out of the garage. Of course she did great but she did say the wheelchair scared her more than driving. Upcoming this week is a visit from my sister and THEN if everything goes to plan two weeks on my own because Mom is going back to Utah!

OK, enough about me. Your turn. Tell me about your life. Tell me all your secrets. If you are new or have been reading the blog for a while come on now introduce yourself. I mean if I can ride with a 93 year-old driver and survive you can post an introduction here and survive!

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY EVERYONE!!!

Public Enemies

Expectations were my downfall. Like an Internet date where she sends you her picture, you go to the date expecting to spend time with Ashley Judd and end up spending time with The Bearded Lady from the circus. That is they way it was for me with PUBLIC ENEMIES. I went expecting to spend my time with greatness and ended up spending my time with average.

In this movie goers opinion one of the best acted scene in any movie was the scene in THE DARK KNIGHT in the jail between Christian Bale’s Batman and Heath Ledger’s The Joker. It was tense, had tremendous chemistry between the actors, chilling, and exciting. There was no such scene in PUBLIC ENEMIES.

Directed by Michael Mann of THE AVIATOR fame and Staring Johnny Depp as John Dillinger, Christian Bale as FBI Agent Melvin Purvis, and the stunning Marion Cotillard as Dillinger’s girl friend, Billie Frechette. With numerous supporting performances including Billy Crudup as J. Edgar Hoover, Bill Camp as Frank Nitti, Stephen Graham as Baby Face Nelson, Channing Tatum as Pretty Boy Floyd, Giovanni Ribisi as Alvin Karpis, and my favorite supporting performance in the movie, Stephan Lang as the FBI agent that shot John Dillinger.

Here is part of the synopsis from Moviepone.com

“No one could stop Dillinger and his gang. No jail could hold him. His charm and audacious jailbreaks endeared him to almost everyone--from his girlfriend Billie Frechette to an American public who had no sympathy for the banks that had plunged the country into the Depression.”

“Hoover hit on the idea of exploiting the outlaw's capture as a way to elevate his Bureau of Investigation into the national police force that became the FBI. He made Dillinger America's first Public Enemy Number One and sent in Purvis, the dashing "Clark Gable of the FBI."

“However, Dillinger and his gang outwitted and outgunned Purvis' men in wild chases and shootouts. Only after importing a crew of Western ex-lawmen (newly baptized as agents) and orchestrating epic betrayals--from the infamous "Lady in Red" to the Chicago crime boss Frank Nitti--were Purvis, the FBI and their new crew of gunfighters able to close in on Dillinger.”

Back to me. Cotillard out acted the men in this movie, her performance was more than Oscar worthy, Bale’s performance was extremely close to Cotillard ‘s but in this person’s opinion Depp’s performance was average at best.

The movie is entertaining enough to justify its two hour and twenty-three minute length. It is a little violent, it is a gangster movie after all, it does lack drama, and at times is a little repetitive. I do love the era that the movie took place in and the movie captures that era in spades. The performance of Stephen Lang alone is worth the price of the ticket. Lange gives the best quote in the movie “Dillinger isn’t going to a Shirley Temple movie.” And together with Cotillard at the end of the movie gives the best acted scene in the movie, like the scene in THE DARK KNIGHT, taking place in a jail.

Two Footballs for Cotillard, one Football for Bale, one football for Lang, one football for the cinematography, and a minus two footballs for Depp who in my opinion didn’t live up to his absolutely amazing talent. A total of three footballs.

Go to PUBLIC ENEMIES expecting entertainment you will love the movie, go to PUBLIC ENEMES expecting greatness you will be disappointed.

The Right To Believe, The Right To Parent, The State's Right To Intercede

I was going to go to the 10:30 AM Showing of Public Enemies but Mom’s air conditioner broke just at the start of a heat wave where we are going to have temperatures in the nineties three days in the row. I’m sitting here waiting for the repair guys and that pushes back the movie to late this afternoon or tomorrow morning.

While waiting for the repair guys I was reading an article in The Oregonian that just begs some really tough questions to discuss here. What is more important the parents right to follow their religious beliefs or the State’s right to force the parents to seek treatment for their ill daughter?

Quoting directly from Ogegonlive.com

“Carl and Raylene Worthington, members of the Followers of Christ church in Oregon City, are accused of manslaughter and criminal mistreatment in the death of their 15-month-old daughter. Ava Worthington died in March 2008 from complications from pneumonia and a blood infection, both treatable conditions. The Worthington case will be the first test of a 1999 Oregon law that removed legal protections for parents who withhold medical treatment on religious grounds.”

You can read all of the articles about the case and the trial that just started this Tuesday by going to Oregonlive.com and search the reporter covering the story, Steve Mayes.

Here are some of the highlights of the case as paraphrased from an article written by Mayes.

Ava Worthington died surrounded by loved ones and 200 church members ones who believed their prayers would heal the young child. As the 15-month-old girl struggled to breathe, church members anointed her with oil and pleaded with God to provide a cure. But Ava died March 2, 2008, of bronchial pneumonia and a blood infection. Antibiotics could have saved her life, the state medical examiner's office said.

“The Worthington trial will touch on some profound questions. When does a child's welfare outweigh religious freedom? When does the state's responsibility to safeguard children trump parental rights? Perhaps the most haunting question is this: What kind of parent stands by while a child writhes in pain or suffers a lingering death? If the parents are doing what they think is best for their child, can there be criminal intent?

The Worthington’s maintain that the state and federal constitutions give them the right to care for their children according to their religious beliefs.

Prosecutors say religious and parental rights do not give the Worthingtons the right to endanger the life of a child.

“The Worthington case has opened a window on the Followers of Christ church.
The Followers never grant media interviews, but church President Fred Smith briefly discussed the church's approach to healing the sick in a recent court hearing. "We believe in Jesus Christ ... and he tells you to anoint them with oil and pray for them. So that's what we believe in."

The church's reliance on spiritual healing over medical treatment stems from a passage in the Book of James: "Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him."

Former church members that seek medical care for either themselves or family members say they are shunned. The church disputes this.

By all appearances, Carl and Raylene Worthington are law-abiding parents who deeply grieve the loss of their daughter. But under Oregon law, they could each receive more than six years in prison if convicted.

Where do you stand on this issue? I think it is tragic all around but I come down on the side of law. I believe that saving the child is more important than the parents’ right to raise their child according to their religious beliefs. My heart just goes out to the parents, I just think they were wrong. And although I think they were wrong I don't think they should be sent to jail.

I Survived

Before Bob Newhart became a TV Icon he not only appeared on radio but he recorded comedy albums. One of his best selling and most famous recordings was titled “The Driving Instructor”, you can read a transcript of that performance here: http://www.wepsite.de/driving_instructor.htm

For me it all started with a dream. Yesterday I showed up at Mom’s for the first of my two nights at her house. We were talking and she said to me “I had a dream last night.” That isn’t really that unusual, she usually dreams about chocolate or dad or both. I’m thinking this will be an easy story to listen to. She continued “I had a dream that you needed me and I couldn’t get to you”. “It’s OK Mom if something happened to me I could just call Ryan, my nephew, and he would help me. His wife would come get you.” “Yes, Bill, but what if you couldn’t get them, then I would need to help you.” “OK, Mom, what would you like do it about it?” "I would like to try driving."

I was thinking to myself, “she still has a legitimate license, she sees pretty well, has a sharp mind, it wouldn‘t be illegal, good for her for wanting to try something she hasn't done for a while.”

“OK, Mom don’t go to far.”

“I would feel more comfortable if you would go along with me.”

“Hmmmmm. You want me to ride with you?” (I’m not sure she heard the panic in my voice. All of a sudden snakes didn’t seem so frightening.)

“Yes, if I get stuck you can help me out.”

Gulp. However, I am a supportive dude of the woman and men in my life. I called and reserved an urn. That way if I die in a car accident, my epitaph can read “Kiss my ash.” Then I looked for the list of people to notify in case of my early demise.

“You really want me to ride with you? Are you sure?” What can I say, I’m an optimist, I thought for sure she was going to say no.

“Yes, I want you to ride with me.”

“OK. Can I borrow your nitro?”

I backed the car out of the driveway. Helped mom into the car. Helped her into the driver’s seat. I got into the passenger side. I sat in the seat often referred to as the suicide seat. Off we went. We drove about three our four miles, through King City. And, you know what? She did absolutely great. She drove exactly the speed limit. Used her turn signal appropriately. Stopped at all the stopped signs. She turned into the driveway and pulled the car into the garage, expertly judging the distance between garage doors. I was really proud of her. For not only trying something new but for doing so great at it. I was proud of me too because during the whole trip I didn’t say one word. I will admit, however, that it is really difficult to talk with a nitro under your tongue.

The bottom line is Mom isn’t going to drive either that much or that far. She isn’t going to get on freeways or hot rod it anywhere. She is just going to be to drive the three blocks to the grocery store and the four blocks to her bridge club. There is no traffic going to either place, everyone should be safe from my hot rod mother.

No questions of the day until July 4. I need a break from researching the questions. The answer to yesterday’s questions are: Teddy bears were named for Teddy Roosevelt and because he wouldn’t shoot a caged bear. Sylvester was originally a clown, which is why he has a red nose. Tweety was originally a baby. A group of Dolphins is called a pod. Put a raisin in a soda and it will bounce up and down continually. The British pilots were given playing cards because supposedly If they were captured, the cards could be soaked in water and unfolded to reveal a map for escape

Hope this is a great day for you all! What harrowing experience have you survived lately?

What I've Learned.

Yesterday’s answers: Mother is to girl as father is to boy, Wall is to window as face is to eye, Island is to water as center is to perimeter, high is to deep as cloud is to coal, form is to content as statue is to marble.

Today let’s do some trivia questions. Tell us how teddy bears were named and why they were named that way. Sylvester and Tweety are well known Looney-Tune as a cat and bird, tell us what they were originally. A group of dolphins are often erroneously referred to as a school, what is the correct answer? What will a raisin do if dropped into a fresh glass of soda? Why were playing cards issued to British pilots during World War II? I obtained the questions from a couple of web sites that I won’t mention right now because if I did you could just go to those web sites and get the answers! I’m also going to trust that the answers given on those web sites are the right ones.

Last year at this time I was excitedly getting ready for a visit of an old lover. It didn’t work out. Since that time that there has been many joys, many frustrations, many enlightenments and many discoveries. I thought the week during which we celebrate the independence of our country would be a good time of share with you what I learned in the past twelve months. This is some of what I’ve learned:

You can become very close to people that you haven’t met through the magic of the internet. I consider all of you friends and each day I give thanks for each and every one of you.

That I am not alone. I can come here anytime and see friends I enjoy and enjoy their support and hopefully support them.

I’ve had confirmed my feelings of how difficult it is to be the primary caregiver for an elderly relative. I am not alone in my frustrations that come with care giving and that I am not alone in often feeling trapped. It is best for me if my Mom is in assisted living center but it is best for mom if she stays at home and never the twain should meet. It isn’t selfish to want your own life.

I can get inspiration both from strangers and friends.

At times I can be inspiring.

Sometimes going out of your comfort zone can be a wonderful experience and a discovery of a hidden talent. The stage is frightening. The result is rewarding.

To let my funny side come out more often because I love to make people laugh.

It is more fun to being the person offering contests and prizes than it is being the person entering the contest and winning the prizes.

Kindness is catching.

Aging is often difficult but easier when we share our experiences.

Through a few dates I’ve learned more about what I want in the woman that will be my life partner than I have learned about myself. Looks really don’t matter. I just want someone fun, intelligent, and most importantly one wwho enjoys being with me.

That I despise men that cheat on their wife. That because of those feeling I *probably* would never cheat on my wife. I can’t say for sure that I wouldn’t because the situation has never presented itself. I do know three things, that it would show no respect for the relationship I was in, that I would despise my actions if I succumbed, and that sure as shooting I’d get caught. I just can’t hide those things. Everyone within ten thousand miles can tell I am lying by the look on my face.

Finding old friends is very rewarding and that you often impacted their life as much they have yours.

Sometimes my writing sucks. Sometimes My writing is very good.

To get of my ass and get my book done because although I don’t think I have enough talent to be published others do.

That at work I produce twice as much as people half my age.

That you have to be prepared to have your dreams come true.

That a hug from a stranger can make the day.

That I truly am different than the rest of the family.

Venting and laughing are both good for the soul.

That I have so much to be thankful for and I am the most thankful for all of you here and what you have taught me.Certainly I’ve learned a lot more from you than just the highlights posted here. What have you learned in the last year? Since the last time we celebrated the United States’ birthday? Inquiring minds want to know?

Dona's Pictures, What's To Come, What May Come, & Analogies

The answer to the where am I question yesterday really described where I am. The answer was Sherwood, Oregon. Today at the end of this blog entry we test how well you know analogies. In between Dona's pictures and the daily test we will discuss what will come and what may come on the blog in the not to distant future.

I loved all of the descriptions in the comment section of yesterday's post describing the cities where you live. Learned a little more about each one of you. Dona's husband, lovingly referred to as "The Shankster", had some solid conenctions to fame. I was honored to see the picutres that Dona sent me. I know you will enjoy them too. First let me quote what Dona wrote":

"the Hall of Fame Museum which holds Tons of memorabilia and a special place in The Shankster's heart as there is the Borg-Warner Trophy which was originally designed by his daddy. As a jeweler he designed the cup and the faces for each year on the cup, which looked very much like each winner (until his death and now they all look the same) I have pictures if you like. He also designed & made the rings for the winners as well which are in the museum. Also The sword that the Japanese surrendered toward the end of the war, his dad made the only replica of it and it was out at Fort Harrison, which is in Indiana. Now they show it on a tour with the Smithsonian all around the U.S."








These are stunning pictures.

What will come on the blog either tomorrow or some day next week is a blog entry titled "What I've Learned." I've been thinking we have been through a lot in the last year. If you remember last 4th of July was the weekend that an old lover visited me to see if we could renew, rebuild, or move the relationship forward. The answer to all of those questions were no. When she left I ended the relationship for good. Other than the socially required thank you note, there has been no contact since then. After that weekend there has been tryouts at assisted living centers, going out of comfort zones (comedy classes), a few dates, some trips, some memories of dad, honoring of mothers, medical questions, an absolutely amazing birthday experience, some contests, some questioning of our lives, some vents, a lot of news stories, a lot of public figures cheating on their spouses, some of us discovering we have sexy legs, finding out snakes still are frightening, some amazing discoverings in cleaning up the clutter in both my life and my garage, love vs. like, some good and bad movies, some reality TV, a lot of supporting each other, a lot of frustations with the caring for our elderly and of our siblings for not picthing in, a lot of prayers and good thoughts, and the list goes on. I've learned a lot through all the experiences and from you and will share what I've learned from the experiences and from you. I would also love it, if you would share with me what you have learned in the last year through your experiences. So start the thinking process now. That is an order!

Then the next subject is one that I haven't decided if I should post here. However, I may ask you to help me write a profile for a dating site. I'm having a lot of trouble drafting one for a number of reasons. One is that I don't really see myself as others describe me. I cannot tell you how much I was touched by a comment by a neat happily married woman in an email to me, that comment was "Why a woman hasn't plucked you up before now is beyond me!." Nobody has ever said that to me. But I honestly don't know if I am a good catch or not. I'd definitely be tough to live with but I think I can work to improve at that. Another reasaon is the minute you do a profile you put what you are searching for in a box and what if the woman that is perfect for you is outside that box? So just in case I get up enough nerve to ask for you help, I want you to think of how you would write my profile. Complete honesty is a requirement. Might be a fun post!

Now today's question. We are doing analogies today. I give a sentence and four choices. You are to pick two of the four choices that most relate to the two in the sentance:

Sample Question. Dona is to The Shankster as (Wife, Brother, Sister, Husband)

Answer: Wife is to Husband.

Here goes, five questions. And remember you cannot use the words in the first sentence in the answer. It is basically what two of the answers in () most relate to the stated relationship.

Mother is to girl as (man, father, male, boy)

Wall is to window as (glare, brick, face, eye)

Island is to water as (without, center, diagonal, perimeter)

High is to deep as (sleep, cloud, float, coal)

Form is to content as (happiness, statue, marble, mold)

Thanks for the pictures Dona! May you all have a great day filled with happiness!

Let's Talk Cities

Yesterday’s answer to the Where Am I question was Estonia. Tell me where I am today. In 2006 my population was listed as 16,115. Originally inhabited by the Atfalati band of the Kalapuya nation in 1843. I was originally named after my co-founders. Not even the co-founders liked the original name, so the name was changed to be named after a city in a midwest state. The US Post Office began sending us mail on July 5, 1891. The city was officially incorporated in 1926. Go seventy miles one direction from our city and you will run into a famous ocean. Go seventy miles the other direction and you will be at the base of a well-known mountain that at times has made the national news for being deadly. According to the 2000 census, 46.3% of the households had children under 18. For every hundred females, there were ninety-five males. Now largely a residential community, in its early years the main industry was a pressed brickyard. A recession changed that and the economy of the city was jumpstarted by the Klondike Gold Rush. Not all that many years ago a well-known magazine named us as one of the 15th most livable towns in the United States. People that know my name know the forest through the trees and assume I was named for where a raggedy England bunch resides, instead of a city in a Midwestern state. Where am I?

Now lets talk about some other cities, trip advisor.com surveyed 3,400 people and some of the results of their survey:

Friendliest and Most Helpful: New York City
Least Friendly and Helpful: New York City

Least favorite cities:

Detroit, Michigan. Followed by Los Angeles, California, and Atlanta, Georgia.

Favorite Cities:

New York, New York, San Francisco, California, and Chicago, Illinois.

The nicest sounding accent:

Atlanta, Georgia.

The most annoying accent:

Boston, MA.

Sexiest city was Miami. The most romantic city was Honolulu. Seattle, Washington was healthiest. Washington, D.C. had most free attractions. Cleveland, Ohio was the most boring city.

You can read the entire article here:

http://www.gadling.com/2009/06/25/apparently-everyone-hates-detroit/?icid=main|htmlws-main|dl4|link5|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gadling.com%2F2009%2F06%2F25%2Fapparently-everyone-hates-detroit%2F

Tell me about where you live, the highlights and the lowlights. Hope today will bring you happiness, fun, love, and be stress free!

What Country Am I In? Update Me On Your Life!

Answers to yesterday’s trivia questions: What Samuel Beckett play’s London premiere was greeted with a mass walkout by the audience? Waiting For Godat. What four elements make up 90% of the human body? Oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen. Name the movie and the actor that said the following: “Can I borrow your towel, my car just hit a water buffalo? Chevy Chase in Fletch. What game show included contestants, Tom Selleck, Michael Jackson, Arnold Schwartzenegger, Farrah Fawcett, and Joe Namath?. The Dating Game. Which weighs more, hot water or cold water? Cold water. According to the National Sausage and Hot Dog council, what did kids say they would prefer on their hot dogs as long as their mom wasn’t watching? Chocolate sauce. How many bolts of lightening strike each day in the United States (be within 50,000)? 250.000 per day.

Today is a where am I? In 2005 my estimated population was 1,333,000. Despite my northern location my climate is mild because of marine influences and numerous lakes. Russians constitute 25% of my population and minorities within my border include Finnish, Ukrainian, and Belarusian. The majority of those here that practice religion are members of either Evangelical Lutheran or the Russian Orthodox church. I gained independence in 1991. We are governed by the Constitution of 1992. We are the world’s second largest producer of oil. The president, who is the head of state but has little substantive power, is elected by parliament for a five-year term and is eligible for a second term. The government is headed by the prime minister, who is nominated by the president and approved by parliament. The unicameral Parliament has 101 members who are popularly elected to serve four-year terms. Administratively the country is divided into 15 counties. I’ve been owned at times by Poland, Sweden, Russia, and Germany. My capital city starts with the letter T. If the owner of The Dahn Report were within my borders what country would he be in?

Today is Update Day. You know the drill. Let me know everything going on in your life and in addition if you would like to share an act of kindness with us please do so. If you are new to the blog or have been reading the blog for a while and not posted we would love to know a little about you, so if the mood strikes you please introduce yourself. This is the day when there are no restrictions on what you do here. Post about any subject you damn well please!

For me the week was three days, two nights at Mom’s. A lot of birthday meals, lunches, and dinners out. And yesterday mom took me to a movie for a belated birthday gift, THE PROPOSAL. I will review it at some point but will just say now that it is such an effort for mom to get ready to go out, to switch from the wheelchair to the theater seats ,that I will enjoy any movie with her. Because when you first come into the movie it is so dark, I always take a little flashlight along. Then when Mom transfers from the wheelchair to the seat, I can use the flashlight to show her where she is and where she is going so that she doesn’t fall. Having that flashlight allowed me to do my act of kindness for the week. During the movie a woman that was using a cane and could barely walk got up to be taken to the rest room by her daughter. It was pretty dark and they looked like there were struggling, so I got up and used my flashlight to guide them to and to open the door for them.

That was my week. Now tell me about your week. Tell me everything!

Should I Become Rich or Stay Poor? Hoax or Real?

The answer’s to yesterday’s trivia questions: Chickens can travel up to 9 miles per hour, 44 stars are in a can of Campbell’s Chicken & Stars Soup, If you simulate a longer day chickens will lay thicker and bigger eggs, Christmas is a good holiday in Japan to eat fried chicken and strawberry shortcake, and Brad Pitt used to dress up as chicken.

Today’s questions: What Samuel Beckett play’s London premiere was greeted with a mass walkout by the audience?, What four elements make up 90% of the human body?, Name the movie and the actor that said the following: “Can I borrow your towel, my car just hit a water buffalo?, What game show included contestants, Tom Selleck, Michael Jackson, Arnold Schwartzenegger, Farrah Fawcett, and Joe Namath? Which weighs more, hot water or cold water? According to the National Sausage and Hot Dog council, what did kids say they would prefer on their hot dogs as long as their mom wasn’t watching? How many bolts of lightening strike each day in the United States (be within 50,000)?

Yesterday I used sleazy television shows and sexy movies for ideas for my blog. Today I am using my own personal email. I need to know what you would do if you got the following email:

Dear Sir/Madam
I wish to notify you again that you were listed as a beneficiary to the total sum of USD$11,000,000.00 (Eleven Million United states Dollars) in the codicil and last testament of the deceased (Name now withheld since this is my second letter to you). I contacted you because you bear the same surname identity and therefore can present you as the beneficiary to the inheritance therein.
I therefore reckoned that you could receive this fund as you are qualified by your name and all the legal papers will be processed in your acceptance.
In your acceptance of this deal, I request that you kindly forward to me your letter of acceptance; your full name and occupation, current telephone and fax numbers and a forwarding address to enable me file all the necessary documents at our high court probate division, for the release of this sum of money. Please get back to me ASAP so as to get this done immediately: PLEASE KINDLY REPLY ME THROUGH MY PRIVATE EMAIL ADDRESS: fileclaim90@uku.co.uk


Yours faithfully,
Barrister William Henson


First of all this isn’t the second email to me because I never got the first one. Secondly, if I was to inherit any money they would send a certified or registered letter to my snail mail address. If they can find my email address, they can find my snail mail address. Last, I have no relatives that I know of in England. So what I am going to do is to ignore the email. What would you do?

Hope you enjoy all the richness around you today!

Moral Dilemmas & Chicken Trivia.

Sandra Day O’Conner was the answer to yesterday’s question. Today’s trivia is after today’s blog entry.

I’m not above using sleazy television shows or movies with a lot of sex scenes in them for subjects to discuss on my blog. Today we get the idea for the moral dilemmas from The Real Housewife’s Of New Jersey and from THE READER.

The Real Housewife’s of New Jersey is a reality show on Bravo. I never knew it existed until I read about it on a blog I frequently visit. I watched a couple of episodes of the show and it turned out to be my cocaine, I got addicted. Rich bitches and drama queens and one woman true to herself. Who could want more? But it begs a couple of questions. A couple of moral dilemmas. What would you do if in your circle of friends you found out that one of them had a shady past? Maybe she used to be a prostitute. Maybe she changed her name. Maybe she spent time in jail. This came to light because a book was found that had been written about her. If you were the one that found the book, would you out the woman behind her back? Would you make the book public by taking it to a local hair salon? Would it matter to you because it was 24 years in the past and it really isn’t who she is now? And what if you were the woman that the book was about and you knew who outed you? Would you go to that woman and confront her in private or would you wait until everyone in your circle of friends were together for dinner at a popular restaurant to confront her? Here is my thinking on the subject:

We all make mistakes, we all deserve to be accepted for who we are TODAY not who we were twenty-four years ago. If I had found out about the book I would have not made it public, I would have gone to the woman that was the subject of the book and let her know about the book being out. Then I would have suggested that she go privately to each one in the circle of friends and out herself. I would basically let it be her decision not mine. If I liked her today, the book wouldn’t matter, I’d still like her. If I didn’t like her today, I’d fell a little more sorry for her but I still wouldn’t like her. And if the book was about me, I’m going directly to the person that brought the book to light to confront her. No public scenes for me. What would your game plan be as either the subject of the book or as the outer of the book?

Now the next dilemma. I finally got around to watching THE READER. Good story. Good cinematography. Great acting. Ralph Fiennes and Kate Winslet give absolute stunning performances. Where it went off track for me is when a man didn’t act with the morality that I thought he should act with. Basic story; teen has an affair with a woman twice his age. Flash forward ten years and the teen is a law student observing a Nazi war trial. The woman who had suddenly disappeared from the teen's life ten years earlier is now on trial for war crimes. She was a guard at a concentration camp during war. The woman is illiterate. She is found guilty and sentenced to life in prison. During the trial the young law student discovers something about the woman that could save her from that life in prison. The woman could save herself but if the secret comes out it would be extremely embarrassing to her. She would rather go to prison for life then to have people know this secret. The law student can save her by going to the judge but he doesn’t, respecting the woman’s willingness and right to keep the secret to herself. What would you do if you could save the person that you were once in love with, that taught you the finer things in life, shared many touching moments with, by going to the judge and telling him the secret that could save her from that life in prison? Do you ignore the want of the woman to keep the secret? Or do you save her from a life in prison? I’m sorry I’d go to the judge and save the woman from the life in prison. I’d tell the secret. She would get over people knowing the secret and I just couldn’t wish a lifetime of suffering on any woman that I loved or had loved. What would be more important to you? Saving the woman from a life in prison or the woman’s right to keep the secret? What would you do?

Today’s trivia: What is the fastest a chicken can run? How many stars does the Campbell Soup Company use in its canned Chicken & The Stars Soup? In Japan what holiday is a good day to eat fried chicken and strawberry shortcake? If you change the lighting to make the day seem to be 28 hours long a chicken will do what? And last but not least, what actor held a job as a costumed chicken for El Pollo Loco Restaurant?

May this be a rewarding day for you!

Only A Puzzle Today

The last two blog entries kind of exhausted my writing skills as they were very emotonal to me as were some of the responses so I am taking a day off from writing to recharge my creative energies. Before the puzzle I would like to mourn the death today of Ed McMahon and send my love and empathy to his friends and family.

The answer to yesterday's "Who Am "?" was Gary Crosby, son of Bing.

Now todays's puzzle. Born in El Paso, Texas on March 26, 1930. I married in 1952. My husband and I have three sons. I have received two degrees from Stanford. Although I wrote a book with one of my brothers about growing up on a cattle ranch and also wrote a children's book my fame came from an occupation other than writing. Because of my gender, firms in California that practiced the occupation that one of my advanced degrees was in refused to hire me. That was despite graduating third in my class at Stanford. I retired in 2007 to take care of a relative with Alzheimer's. I served as a state senator in a state spotlighted in the 2008 presidential election. As being the first woman in a position I felt relief from the media pressure when Ruthie joined me. I was successfully treated for breast cancer in 1998. In 2001 Ladies Home Journal chose me as the most powerful woman in the United States. In 2004 I was listed by Forbes Magazine as the sixth most powerful woman in the world, with the only American women preciding me being fellow Stanford grad, a woman from New York and a well known Texas wife. Since my retirement I have been called to service a few times, wrote some articles, and taught some classes. Some of the awards that I have received? I am in the National Cowgirl Hall Of Fame. I was awarded the Liberty Medal in 2003. For my ideals of "Duty, Honor, Country" I was awarded the Sylvanus Thayer Award by the US Military Academy in 2005. I was also a grand marshall of The Rose Parade. In 2008 I was given the Franklin Award for commitment to community service. I am an avid golfer and scored a hole in one at the Paradise Valley Country Club in 2000. Who Am I?

May you have a bright day filled with love, fun, fulfilled wishes, and time with friends and family.

A Kind Birthday, An Amazing Experience

To enlarge the above photo just click it on because finding this award, that I won several years go, when I was recently cleaning out the garage was how it all began. It brought back memories how happy I was when I was doing things for others. Not big things, little things. It also reminded me of a Margie Boule cloumn in the Oregonian where an elderly woman sent a letter to her family and friends saying that for her 80th birthday she didn't want gifts what she wanted for her birthday was for them to do one act of kindness. I decided that is what I wanted for my birthday, no gifts, but one hundred acts of kindness done by my birthday.

So I asked for help. On June 9, 2009 I sent a letter to my family and friends telling them to put their money away and do one act of kindness for my birthday. I also posted here on the blog asking for your help. One hundred acts of kindness by my birthday. One hundred acts of kindness in nine days.

Did everyone every respond!! Thirty-six people did more than one hundred acts of kindness in nine days. I am so touched by everyone's support that I am typing this through tears of joy. I would love to list every single act of kindness that was done but there just isn't enough room here. So please don't be offended if I leave off your act of kindness. Just know it was recorded and treasured by me and treasured by the person that you did the kind act for.

The first act of kindness was done by Pat. Here is what she wrote: "One of the residents where my mother lives has become very intrigued with my little traveling cup. It's very cute, a small cup, aluminum with a red handle that can clip to a belt or backpack. I take it with me when I visit, since I'm always hitting their coffeepot and don't want to make another cup for them to wash when they just finished the dishes. Irene is 104, and keeps asking me about my cup and whether coffee tastes different in it. So I'm going to order another cup just for her, but catalog orders can take a little time, so she'll get a belated b'day present from you"

Number 100 was done by me. Yesterday morning I stopped by a 7-11 store to check a lottery ticket. There was a delivery driver there stocking shelfs and he really had a frown on his face. I said to him "To bad your have to work Fathers Day", he responded "It stinks, doesn't it?" The lottery ticket I had won fourteen dollars (I used the automatic machine to chek it instead of having the teller check it), on my way out of the store I gave him the lottery ticket then went out and got in my car. I watched as the clerk and the driver talked to each other. You could just see that they thought that I gave them a losing ticket. Then the clerk checked it. Frowns turned to smiles and they both waved at me. That was the exclamation point about what this was all about, turning frowns to smiles.

Again if I fail to list your act of kindness here please forgive me but there just isn't room to describe all of them. Between 1 and 100? Three dogs were rescued. One child was sponsored. In twelve instances the elderly were helped, whether it be helping them pack, cleaning out their room at an assisted living center, cooking them meals, or just spending time with them. And the elderly did four acts acts for others, taking refreshments out to their landscaper, shopping for a son's birthday card even though it was a struggle for her to walk, giving clothes to charity. Eight phone calls were made, some to friends that they hadn't talked to in years to reconnect, to calling grieving widows, or just calling people to check on them. Three meals were cooked for other than the elderly. Two lawns were mowed, including one for a neighbor whose house had burnt down. Five grocery carts were returned to stores, not their grocery carts but others. Three rides were given, including one so a dad could watch his daughter's play. Thank you notes were left. Three letters were written, one to a serviceman, two to doctors thanking them for their services. Strangers were complimented twice. Strangers on the street were given coupons for free Subway sandwiches, strangers in lines at the grocery store were given and made aware of coupons. Diabetic research was impacted when forms for an event where the money from the event was given to diabeetic research. Ham Radios were fixed. New residents were welcomed to the community. Thank you notes were left. Meals were cooked for others. Trips to Goodwill were made. Supportive messages were emailed and posted. Books were donated to a library. Time was donated to an animal shelter. A broke stranger with a disabled car was given a hot dog meal and twenty dollars for gas. Laundry was folded for a disabled person. In one of the most touching and selfless acts the only hankerchef that a lady had that was given to her by her mother, was given to her new daughter-in-law. Caregivers were taken to lunch. In one of the most inventive acts of kindness, in a retirement community the morning papers were taken from the sidewalk and put on people's porch so the elderly didn't have to fight the weather to get their paper. Two special gifts were sent to friends not expecting them. Seven young girls were taken camping. Donations were made to prostate cancer, to a local church, and to a no kill cat shelter. A thousand dollars was given to a family member in dire straits. A reunion was planned. A six year old was introduced to 45 rpms. And acts of kindness was done for me, I was taken out for lunch twice and dinner once and told that I had to learn how to accept kindness done my direction too. And the list goes one.

How did it impact the person doing the acts of kindness? One lady wrote me and said it made her more aware of how many times a day we have a chance to do some little thing to make someone else's life easier. For me it made me aware of how many kind things were done my direction on a daily basis. One person asked if we could make recording acts of kindness a weekly thing on the blog. I'm considering that on Update Day we also record one act of kindness we did the previous week. Another lady thought it would be a good idea to make it a birthday tradion.

Yesterday when I honored my dad I said there were two words that I should have said to him every day when he was alive. Now I am also going to say those two words to you. THANK YOU!!!

"Walking with a friend in the dark, is better than walking alone in the light." Helen Keller.

Today's Puzzle:

My father was one of the most famous people in show business and often is considered the first multi-media star having success on radio, on television, and in movies. I have three brothers, two half-brothers, and one half-sister. Mary, my half-sister, acted on one of the most popular television shows in history, with a noted scene in which she got wet. I was born in Los Angeles on June 27, 1933 and died of lung cancer in Burbank, California on August 24, 1995. I had my own entertainment success. Performing with my three brothers in a boy band before the phrase boy band became popular. I appeared in many television shows but the television show that I am the most well known for was a cop show, on TV from 1968-1975, in which I played a police officer. Six years after dad’s death I published a revealing autobiography in which I revealed the impact that alcoholism had on me. In my autobiography I also outed my father as a physical and emotional abuser. While one of my brothers, Phillip, disputed my accounts, my other two brothers, Lindsay and Dennis confirmed my account. Sadly both Lindsay and Dennis later committed suicide by shooting themselves. I was on TV and in movies and recorded songs. One of the movies that I was in made famous the number 714. When the owner of The Dahn Report was working for a CPA firm in the LA area I met him when he delivered my tax return to my house. Who Am I?

Memories Of Dad

I read the rules of Fathers’ Day and it didn’t say that your dad had to be alive for you to honor him so pull up a chair, have a couple of pieces of his favorite candy (orange slices) and let me tell you about the man that helped to make me who I am today and the lessons that he taught me. Then when I am done I want you to tell me about your dad and the lessons you learned from him.

Be kind. Dad paid it forward long before the movie came out. I remember when I was in the eighth grade and some friends of my sister had just gotten married. Wayne and Sandy stopped by my parents house before going off to college. They were broke. While they were getting in the car dad pulled Wayne off to the side and gave him forty dollars. That would be maybe five hundred dollars easily in today’s world. Money he didn’t really have or could afford but Wayne and Sandy needed the money more than he or we did. I remember him telling Wayne “You will be a success, when that day happens find someone less fortunate than you and give them forty dollars.”

Be fun. It wasn’t unusual for my dad and my Uncle Frank to dress up as the Bobsie Twins and attend a Halloween Party. When dad and friends Ed and Ted dressed up as women and joined the minister’s wife to form the Mongrel Sisters quartet for a church event they were a hit. While they were performing they overheard a six year-old boy tell his mom “Those are three of the ugliest women that I have ever seen” they laughed so hard they couldn’t finish their song.

Be playful. It wasn’t above dad to get down on his hands and knees in a store when Mom was shopping for a dress and crawl over to Mom where he couldn’t be seen and tickle her legs. Mom would wonder what is that feeling on her legs. There was nobody around. What just was happening? After a few tickles he would jump up and say “Hi, Honey!”. Mom would look down and laugh and mumble “Only, John!”

Be affectionate. It is OK for men to hug.

Surprises can be good. We always had big holiday celebrations. My aunt and uncle and their three kids weren’t really cousins and aunts and uncles they were another mom and dad and another set of siblings. So we always had twenty or more at our celebrations. We never spent a lot on gifts but because there was so many of us there were always a lot of gifts under the tree. The Christmas when I was seven after dinner they started handing out gifts, all the gifts disappeared and I didn’t get one gift. I was wondering what horrible thing that I did to not deserve a Christmas gift. Just then the doorbell rang and dad said “Bill, that is for you” I answered the door , looked through the softly falling snow, and tied to a tree in our front yard was a beautiful Shetland Pony. Dolly became my best and most faithful friend for years.

On Mothers’ Day I told you of the tough time when my life was in danger, my sister was having problems, and mom was recovering from cancer that Mom taught me a Mother’s love. Through that same time Dad taught me a Father’s love. While mom stayed by my bedside dad stayed home and ran the family hardware store. Well that is what he did during the day. At 6 PM he closed the store and drove the eighty miles to the hospital to spend an hour with mom and I, then drive the eighty miles back home. The next morning he would open the store at 8 AM, close the store and drive the eighty miles back the hospital. Six days a week he would make that one hundred and sixty mile round trip. Saturday nights he stayed at the hospital and Sundays he would spend the day with us. He never failed to tell mom and I he loved us nor failed to tell me to hang in there because he knew I was the toughest one in the family. I would have never recovered without his support.

There were many other lessons dad taught me. Sometimes doing the right thing means you will stand alone. That it often harder to be kind than be mean but always be kind. Even when he was dying he taught me faithfulness. He told me the last week that he was alive that in over sixty years of being married to mom that not only had he never cheated on her, he never even thought about it. I even learned a lesson from him after he died. Quality is better than quantity. A few years after he died mom and I were cleaning out a trunk and I found a love letter from dad to mom. In it he quoted someone “ a good lover isn’t one that romances several women, a good lover is one that romances one woman for a lifetime.” Dad lived that quote.

Dad wherever you are I need to stay two words to you that I should have said to you every day that you were alive. Thank you.

Now tell me about your dad and the lessons that he taught you.

PS

Dennis Day was yesterday’s answer. The question of the day starts again Monday.

The kindness meter, 35 people, 89 acts of kindness. Only 11 to go by midnight tonight!

Life's Questions?

Yesterday’s Who Am I, was John Adams who opposed The Stamp Act of 1765. Today’s Who Am I is at the end of today’s blog entry.

First up are some questions that have been taking up a lot of my mind space lately and I thought maybe you might have some answers for me!!

How can a woman that used to send all her children to their room for talking with their mouth full at the dinner table now not make it through a meal without talking with her mouth full?

And just why can’t I send her to her room? I mean I am basically her parent now, so shouldn’t I be able to send her to her room?

How can people that hold bachelor degrees, masters degrees, and phd’s turn into idiots the minute they get behind the wheel of a car?

Why don’t people know that when they are on the freeway that all cars have a blind spot and if they ride in your blind spot they are endangering their life and yours?

Why do people think the turn signal in their cars are for decoration purposes only?

Why do people speed up to get to a red light?

Just exactly when did a Hummer become a compact car?

Why do you have to wash dishes before you put them in a dishwasher?

How can I lose two inches around the waist and gain a pound?

Why do people constantly interrupt when you are talking?

Why do people lose their ability to count accurately when they are in the 15 items only line at the grocery store?

Why do people go to a movie if all the want to do is talk with each other? Go to Starbucks and let me watch the movie in peace please.

Why do unsweetened juices have twenty-eight grams of sugar in them?

Why do people say, wow you look good “for your age”? Can’t I look good for another age too?

Just exactly when did a red light start to mean three more cars can go through the light?

Why isn’t the justice system about justice?

Why is the women’s prison system referred to as being in the penal system?

Today’s Puzzle:

One of my brothers was married to Ann Blyth. I had the pleasure of meeting the owner of The Dahn Report when he delivered some documents to my house for my wife, Peggy. Because I lived on a blind curve in Brentwood, California when Bill backed out of my driveway I directed traffic for him. Peggy and I married in 1948 and we had ten lovely children. I am noted for my singing but am also a comedian and a mimic. My first job in the entertainment business was in radio as a frequent guest on a famous fiddler’s show. When the fiddler’s show moved to television I moved with him. A tenor, the first song that I sang on radio was “Goodnight My Beautiful.“ I’ve done marvelous imitations of Ronald Coleman, Jimmy Durante, and Jimmy Stewart. From 1944 to 1946 I was a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy. I had my own radio show from 1946 to 1951 and my own televison show from 1952 to 1954. I have also done the voices of several Disney Characters. I was born in New York on May 21, 1916 and died of Lou Gehrig’s Disease at the age of 72. My star still sits on The Hollywood Walk of Fame. Who Am I?

Today I would like to know what life questions are bothering you now or have in the past? Whether or not you have answers to my above life’s questions? And what famous person once directed traffic for me?

Update And The Mens' Health Fair.

Thomas Edison was the answer to yesterday’s puzzle. Today’s puzzle is at the end of today’s blog entry. The kindness meter is at 75 acts of kindness performed by 32 people.

Today is update day. Tell me about your life. Your siblings. Your friends. Your parents. Your Children. Your nieces and nephews. Your grandparents or grandchildren. Your step children. Strangers you encountered. Events attended or attending. Your concerns. Your joys. Vent if you need to. If you are new to the blog and the mood strikes you introduce yourself. Basically this is your day to post anything you damn well please.

The main event for me this was a Men’s Health Fair. Seven tests. The vascular & Cardiac Package plus Osteo. I get the results within three weeks. They did make me pay before I left so that concerns me a bit. Here are the seven tests:

Ankle Brachial Index that checks for blood circulation
Abdominal Aortic Anuerysm Ultrasound
Arterial Stiffness Index
Ultrasound test showing plaque build up in the carotid artery
Ultrasound video of the heart, showing valves, chambers, walls, and blood flow.
Ultrasound showing the electrical activity of the heart
Ultrasound for bone density.

The thing that I was surprised about was how many women were at a Men’s Health Fair. And most of the men looked like they didn’t want to be there. I kind of got the impression that the men were hogtied, kidnapped, browbeat, bribed and dragged screaming to the health fair. I honestly think I was the only man there willingly. What is there about us men that makes us avoid doctors? I sometimes avoid doctors because I've noticed that when someone dies the last person they have seen is a doctor or a priest. I am really curious if you have to (or had to if your spouse is no longer with us) browbeat your husband, boyfriend, brother or the men in your life to get them to go to the doctor?

Now the puzzle of the day. The owner of The Dahn Report is descendent of mine. For eight years good old George was my boss, then I followed in George’s footsteps and become the head honcho for four years. A few years later my son did me proud by following in my footsteps. My family came to America in the 1630s. At age 20 I graduated from Harvard and began a career as a teacher after which I went to law school and became admitted to the bar at age twenty-seven. At age 29 I married the daughter of a minister. We had five children and a sixth child was still born. My second cousin Sam was considered by many to be more popular than I was. My first fame came from opposing an act in 1765 that Britain tried to impose on the colonies. I anonymously contributed four articles in opposition to the act to The Boston Gazette which were later published in The London Times. My opposition to the Act of 1765 was that the act deprived The American Colonists two rights guaranteed to all Englishmen which all free men deserved. The right to be tried by a jury of his peers. The right to only be taxed by consent. Receiving a retainer which has been said to be one guinea to eighteen guinea, depending on the source, I defended seven British soldiers accused of killing five American civilians. Five of the soldiers were acquitted and two that fired into a crowd were tried for murder but convicted of manslaughter. Many think people should read one of my writings as the articulation of the classical Republican theory of mixed government. I attended the first Continental Congress, seconded “The Resolution of Independence” and was later one of the signers of The Declaration of Independence. In my first official political office I set a record by casting twenty-nine tie breaking votes. As my only term as head honcho was expiring I appointed a series of judges, now known as the “midnight judges.” Tell me not only who I am but also name the act of 1765 that I described in this paragraph. If you are unable to email your answers just give me the initials of the act of 1765. Give me that you will know who I am!

Hope this will be a great day for all of you and that many acts of kindness will be done your direction!

The blog is now yours!!!!!

Who Am I?, Kindness Meter, and Blog Schedule

Today's puzzle is a Who Am I?:

I was born in Milan, Ohio to Sam and Nancy. I grew up in Port Huron, Michigan. After three months of official schooling I was described as being “addled” and sent home. I was then home schooled by my mother. One of my first jobs was on the train from Port Huron, Michigan to Detroit, Michigan selling candy, veggies, and newspapers. I once saved a three year old boy from a runaway train which led to job that would open doors and bring light in to mine and others lives. Late in my life was able to engineer electric trains from Hoboken to Gladstone, Montclair, and Dover, New Jersey. I founded fourteen companies, including one of the largest companies still in existence. At age 24 I met and married the 16 year-old Mary. We had three children, Marion, Thomas, and William. My lovely wife died at age 29 of a brain tumor. At age 39 I fell in love again, with the 20 year-old Mina. Mina and I also had three children, Madeline, Charles, and Theodore. I died in 1931 from complications from diabetes. The lovely Mina lived until 1947. Few people know that as a wedding gift I bought a home for Mina in New Jersey. I also later built a winter resort in Ft. Myers, Florida. The writer of The Dahn Report recently found something in his garage that reminded him of me, he also often refers to me along with his dad and RFK as one of his three idols. 1093 is an important number to me. Who am I?

The kindness meter is ticking and going wild. Thirty people have performed sixty-eght acts of kindness for my birthday. We are easily going to make my goal of 100 by midnight Sunday. Thank you everyone!!!!

The Blog Schedule:

Tomorrow is Update Day so please think about all the fun and exciting or even the difficult and troubling things that are going on in your life that you would like to share with us.

Saturday is life's questions day. Lately some things have been bothering me. I would love for all of you to think of little things that go on in your life that have you asking yourself, how could that be? or what? or how? Would love to know some of those questions!

Sunday is the lessons your dad taught you. Think of your dad, think of what was the most important thing that you learned from him. Let's spend Sunday honoring our fathers.

Monday is the kindness summary. I am going to tell you how it changed me.

The Drawing Was Held & The Winner Is

At precisely 10:15 AM Pacific Daylight Time at the home of Mom in Oregon, supervised by the accounting firm of William J. Dahn, CPA, PC seven letters were chosen, to verify that all seven letters where in the box, by Mom in the following order:

Connie

DR

Mary

Kaye

Dona

Mary Z

Pat

Connie Gets her first choice of prizes. DR gets the second choice of prizes. If any prizes are refused the next person on the list gets the choice.

This was such great fun I am sure we will have another contest at some point in the future. In the meantime following Pat's suggestion we will have a question of the day. They will be trivia questions, I.Q. type questions, three in common questions, name this person questions and so on.