Wednesday, September 11, 2013

We will always remember...


The Star Spangled Banner

Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?


On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!


And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!


Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

God Bless the USA !!

Monday, September 9, 2013

A special update...

Greetings!  The big highlight of the week past....obviously; welcoming Eliza Lou to the family.  Early morning arrival of this little angel brought a thankful end to this turbulent and exhausting pregnancy, but also celebrated the beginning of this new little family!!

Lucky #13 was born in the pre-dawn twilight (sounds so peaceful...) of September 5, after the grand finale and showdown of her intra-uterine experience gave way to extra-uterine life....and what a calming, chill, laissez-faire child she has been since...as it has been reported.  I have not actually seen this little lady yet, but on Thursday I'll be back in CT cuddling, spoiling and delighting in some serious uncle to niece bonding time!!  Pictures, movies and lots of IPhone facetime to satisfy in the meantime... :)  Mom and baby are both doing really well and adjusting to their new lives...




For as much as I have had to say about the violence and disruption of Baltimore City, there are special times in which the city is blanketed by a sense peaceful excitement.  I experienced this Thursday evening.  Keith Urban, a country artist sensation, recently performed a free, live concert on the Inner Harbor to honor the opening of football season, followed by the first Ravens game at nearby M & T Bank stadium.  You could feel the energy.  The Inner Harbor was packed with food trucks, people, street performers and the music could be heard for miles.  Literally.  The city took the time to indulge, and set to musical timing were light shows and fireworks.  In conjunction with gorgeous fall weather, a spectacular sunset and good friends this hands down has to be one my finest memories of Charm City!!  totally phenomenal.


A few days ago, on one of my many drives from Connecticut back to Maryland, I texted my Mom a picture of my scenic surroundings....stuck on the asphalt of 95 South, with the rest of America.  I have to say, there is nothing more annoying than sitting in traffic with brief and relieving moments of stop and go.  It is usually at these moments that I become very heated and irritated, which then prompts me to send a vented text message to release some serious aggression.... however, my mother, the kind soul that she is, simply texted me back with the picture below...reporting "our traffic situation in Vermont" !!! gotta luv your parents....grrrrrrrrrrrr


me...stewing in anger on 95 S

my parents...driving through Vermont....agggghhhh
Just a little inspiration for the week ahead...LET'S DO THIS!!



Until the next time....