Maquette en plâtre à l’échelle 1/18 du vide situé sous la rampe de l’ENSAN, avec le cabanon du corbu à l’échelle  1,5  incrusté.

Le vide est l’espace nécessaire pour se déplacer, pour construire… pour faire le plein !!

“-Venez, venez, ça y est, Paul a ramené les échelles… On peut y aller!

- Attendez, attendez moi!

-Non, pas toi, tu peux pas!”

First off, a Thanksgiving news alert:  I don’t plan to post on Thursday, November 26 or Friday, November 27.  I’m headed off to visit my in-laws in Detroit, and they have these crazy ideas about people sitting in the same room and enjoying each others’ company.  :)

It’s been a quiet week as the US readies for the holiday.  

Well, not entirely quiet.  The second Twilight flick,  New Moon, premiered.  Names spotted among those turning out for the festivities included designer Rachel Roy brought her 10 year old daughter Ava.  Rachel and husband Damon Dash also have a toddler called Tallulah Ruth.  (via Celebrity Baby Blog)  It’s interesting to see parents who embraced Ava ten years ago, when she was still on the rise, using Tallulah more recently.  Anyone else think that the once-outlandish name that had everyone abuzz when the Moore-Willis clan used it will go mainstream?  And if a search for “baby names Twilight” brought you here, check out this post: Not Just for Vampires Anymore.

In other celeb news, Tiffani Thiessen tells Extra that she and her husband aren’t considering “any freaky names.”  She doesn’t mention whether going through life as Tiffani-Amber colored her view.  We’ll have to wait and see.

On to some real life name-spotting:

• I just returned from Target.  I was buying toddler tights while another mom was trying to persuade her daughter to try on a coat, but the daughter?  Was fleeing to the just-steps-away toy department.  The name the mother was calling?  ”Miracle!  Miracle, come back here!”  Insert your own joke about it-taking-an-act-of-God to distract a 3 y.o. from the toy department here;
• Bewildertrix has spotted Leonidas George.  My baby brother swears Leonidas will be the name of his firstborn son, should that happy event ever come to pass.  She also uncovered an Elisabetta Ivy.  And a Zuma.  (No Gwen Stefani isn’t in New Zealand – he’s Zuma Louis, a non-celeb baby brother for Ava and Remi.)
• For Real Baby Names spotted Dafne.  It may be a valid foreign variant, but to me it is like Jorja/Georgia - this one just looks better as the more familiar Daphne. 

Now for two Language Lessons from that sage font of wisdom, Nancy:

• Hard G vs. Soft G – Sometimes they’re interchangeable – as in Jorja/Georgia – but other times, swapping a J for a G leads to confusion;
• Doubling consonants – Ditto doubling a consonant.  It’s another popular way to make a name “unique,” but it can also cause confusion.

Truly unusual names are always found at Nameberry, and this week’s posts were no exception.  Check out the Lost Boys’ Names of 1880.  Why aren’t more boys named Zeb?  Or Hardy?  Others – including titles like Squire and Commodore – are best left to history.  (I work with a man in his 50s named General.  I don’t get the impression that he thinks much about his name one way or the other.)  For a change, the girls’ list is almost less interesting – maybe because I wouldn’t raise an eyebrow if I met a 2 y.o. called Mahala or Texas. 

Let’s end on a controversial note: the shortcomings of the Baby Name Wizard.  I recently noticed a post on Swistle (a big BNW adherent) that troubled me.  Just a few days earlier, Nancy recounted a similar story on her blog.  

An expectant mother, mom to Sophia, wrote to Swistle about the name Allegra.  She and her husband loved the name Allegra.  Loved the way nicknames Allie and Sophie sounded together.  But she worried about the allergy medication association.

Swistle wrote: “I love the name Allegra—and every time I want to suggest it, I back away because of the allergy medicine. I’m ANGRY at the company that stole it.”

Swistle’s poll was evenly split: 52% no to Allegra; 48% yes.  But here’s the thing: Swistle’s framing of the question – “Is the name Allegra too associated with allergy medication to be used for a baby?” made it pretty clear that she thought Allegra was beyond consideration.  (Swistle is usually so judgment-free that I was really surprised by that.)

The mom herself recently wrote in:

“We ended up naming our daughter Lucy. I love her name, but I regret not being gutsy enough to go with Allegra. Personally, I’d encourage anyone considering the name to go for it. No matter what name you choose some people will like it and others will hate it.”

Lucy is a fine name.  I like it lots.  But how sad that much naming advice often tends to push parents to the middle, rather than embracing the names that we really love. 

I suspect the allergy medication reference is fleeting.  When the blogger at For Real Baby Names spotted a Dexy Adelaide, I mentioned the 80s pop hit “Come On, Eileen” – and sent ForReal running to Google.  Dexy, it appears, no longer means “one-hit wonder responsible for lodging the phrase too-rye-aye in my brain.”  And it hasn’t been that long.  It makes me think Allegra will be free of medication association by the time Allie hits the teenage years, if not sooner.

Thanks for reading!

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Bueno esta es una de las primeras locuras de este tipo frances el cual tiene tanta imaginación que necesita transportarla a la realidad espero que les agrade este video como los siguientes que estaré publicando por cierto no se pierdas la actualización del blog a 2.1 ya que estaba muy abandonado.

Remi/Rough aka Remdog
manie aussi bien l’art du spray (sous l’apparence de Remi/Rough)
que celui de la MPC (sous le pseudo de Remdog).

+ Remdog, Shadow In Your Rearview EP

[roughe.com / remdog space / myuzyk.net / 2600recordings.com]

Deux couplets du chant “Les Bleus sont là” qui ne sont pas dans l’hodari.

La France attends qui la délivre,
Et cherche à qui donner sa foi.
Nois n’avons qu’un espoir pour vivre,
C’est le retour de notre Roy.

Allons les gars, pour notre Terre,
Tels nos aïeux pour notre foi.
Reprenons le vieux cri de guerre :
Vive Dieu, la France et le Roy.

D’après “Guide des chants de l’homme de droite” de Rémi Tryomphe (ed Trident).

Particularmente eu acho extremamente foda os videos do mestre Remi, nesses últimos dias saiu mais um, agora atacando como homem morcego, ao som clássico de ghostbusters.

Remi – Bat

Ray Parker Jr – Ghostbusters

Rémi Gaillard – Informazioa

This weekend I attended the Melanoma Messengers Training through Melanoma Research Foundation (MRF).  My father, went with me at my request.  I just wasn’t ready to go to a strange city by myself (I’m a country gal) and didn’t want to stay alone in a hotel.

Before we left, Dad & I stopped at Brookview.  I said my words to John and asked him to help guide me and do what is right and to watch over Nathaniel.  I ask him that a lot.  I don’t know that I’ve gotten an answer yet, but I also trust that he left this Earth knowing that I’d always try to do the right things and do my best.

We arrived in Philly and found the hotel without any problems.  I didn’t realize that Philly was so close… it was only a little over an hour.  I always thought that Philly was 1 1/2 or 2 hrs away.

One of the ground rules for the meeting what I’ll call the “Vegas Principle”– What happens in the room stays in the room.  The reason being we’re dealing with sensitive issues and some people shared very personal stories that they wouldn’t want shared across the internet.  I’ll just summarize key points and feelings.

Let me just say, the training was AWESOME.  The people were great.  So many stories… so many different walks of life- we had people who were survivors as well as people who had lost family members or friends and several people who are looking for a great cause to support.

The enthusiasm in the room was PHENOMENAL!!!!   Everybody wants to do something to fight melanoma, raise awareness, educate, fund raise… to do their part to stop this terrible disease.  Fresh minds!  Great ideas!  Great collaboration.  And did I mention tremendous enthusiasm!   I left the training with the idea that this group of people could really make something happen.

I personally felt that I held everything together well.  A few times, I felt tears creeping into my eyes, but I kept them mostly at bay.  It was great to see long time survivors of more advanced stages, but my heart broke for those who had lost loved ones.

In the education portion we learned that in most cancers one out of ten cancer cells can produce a new tumor.  In melanoma every cell has the ability to produce a new tumor.  Wow!  No wonder John couldn’t beat it.  No wonder it has the researchers left researching.  No wonder the doctors can’t cure it.  No wonder the survival rate for stage IV is so low and so short.  It all made sense.  In my head (which my add isn’t always right) this also explains why mitotic rate is one of the new measurements for melanoma.  I don’t know if John’s was ever tested since it is just recently that they’ve added it.  But I can’t help but think it must have been pretty high for him to have progressed so quickly between stage III, IV, and beyond.

MRF is very dedicated to research.  Without research we won’t find more effective treatments and eventually a cure.  We need more research.  Melanoma is so aggressive and so often just just shouts a big FU at any and all treatments that are thrown at it.  We need to find that big gun that can shoot the FU at melanoma!  I’m sure it’s out there…. it’s too late for John… but maybe in Nathaniel’s lifetime it will be found.

I have visions of what I would like my role in the fight against melanoma to be.  I hope I don’t have my sights set too high and I hope that I can find some people to help me with my goals.  John fought melanoma with everything he had, I fought for him with everything that I had.  Without a cause, I feel somewhat empty.  I have a need to continue to fight– both in John’s memory and for myself.

• I would love to organize a memorial bike ride in John’s honor.  I think it would be a fitting tribute and a fun fund raising opportunity.

• I also hope to raise awareness in firefighters of their cancer risks and how they can prevent them.  We need firefighters- we also need them to live long and healthy lives and to be there for their friends and families.

• I would also be interested in tackling the legislative areas as well.  Some can be done locally in communities to raise awareness and promote protection.  Those sort of activities can fall under the banner of community resolutions.  Wheels in my head are turning… wondering if Annapolis or Rising Sun governments might be interested.  Rising Sun also lost beloved music teacher, Mr. Dudley, to melanoma a few years ago.  John played in Jazz Band and Mr. Dudley was his favorite teacher.

• Also… thinking about some cinnamon ornaments… thinking of black ribbons… I have the cookie cutter in my possession… found it online and bought it about a month ago… have the ingredients…  I’ve almost started them already and then it brings back too much emotion… that was my thing at Christmas… the only crafty thing that I can do… and John liked them too.  I’d even try to make unique ones for him with fire themes.  One year I even took a scale drawing of the Rescue that he was on the committee for (his #2 “fire baby”) and made him an ornament.  So, it’s hard to bring myself to make them with him gone.

The training was very motivational and inspiring and left me with a feeling of what can I do?  And a feeling that I can do something!

On Saturday, when we found our rooms.  I looked outside.  I wanted to see what ‘big city’ view I had.  I was disappointed as it looked across to a plain building and over a street.  Then at the corner of my eye, I noticed a mural with firefighters.  Then I looked at the building sitting diagonally and realized it was a fire station.  How cool was that?

View from hotel window.

A walk, later, revealed Engine 8, Ladder 2.

Philly Fire Station

I even had the pleasure of watching the Ladder head out on a call.  I thought of John and smiled.  The rooms were spread out all over the hotel, I appreciated the irony of being diagonal from the firehouse.

A call home revealed that Nathaniel and the horses were well behaved, but it had rained heavily… even thunder-stormed… and the power had went out.  I thanked John for the generator.  I wouldn’t want to picture my mother with Nathaniel and no power.

After we were done, I asked my father if we could go get a REAL Philly cheese steak .  I’d never had an “authentic” one.  Some friends had suggested Jim’s.  So, off we set by foot to the ‘hippest street’ in Philly– South Street.

As I crossed the street I thought… why are all of those people standing there?  Are they waiting for a bus or something?  Then I realized… that was the line for Jim’s!!!!   It went out of the building and around the corner and partway down the building.  We’d walked blocks to get there, so we decided to wait.  The line actually moved fairly quickly.  As I looked at the people on the street… I realized how “un-hip” I was.  lol  I don’t think hip is ever a word that will be applied to me except maybe for that lovely comment of “a moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips.”  lol  I wonder what John would have thought of the unique dress, hair, and piercings we observed.  I do know… he would  have liked the cheese steak (provolone for the cheese- he would think cheese whiz was insane- I kind of had that feeling to, but I guess you can’t knock it till you’ve tried it… I stuck with provolone.).  I will say, the cheese steak was DE-licious!!!  ” Mmmmm!” in the words of Nathaniel.

I wanted to experience some Philly history– because I’m a dork like that.  Walking the historic streets reminded me of the trip that John & I took to DC to see our friends, Shannon and David.  I had so much fun on that trip.  It was just a little day trip… pre kiddo… we took the train and just had such a fun experience.  We were carefree, in love, and just being spontaneous for a day.  In all our years together we rarely were just spontaneous…  I so loved those times or when we’d just drive on random back roads (being a firefighter John knew so many routes) and talk and enjoy each others companies.  Just a happy couple.  Pre-cancer.

Mary & John in DC, Spring 2006

John & Mary in DC, Spring 2006

John & Mary in DC, Spring 2006

But on this trip to Philly, John wasn’t there in body, but he definitely was in my thoughts and memories.  A widow site refers to widowhood as “Chapter 2.”

The name Chapter Two is representative of the new life one begins after the loss of a spouse. It implies moving forward, rewriting your life one day at a time. It starts the moment you learn your spouse has died, and continues into a happier time in your life. It gets you from point A to point B.

I’m establishing a”new normal”- I wish I could have back the “old normal.”  But, it’s gone.  I do my best to move forward with what I have to do with life and to try to be positive and strong.  I allow myself time to grieve.  I still cry every night (usually multiple times a day).  I still miss John tremendously and I think I’ll always miss him and love him.  But, life goes on.  And he wouldn’t want me to be ’stuck’ or sad.  Heck, he probably wouldn’t even want me to be lonely.  He wants me to be happy.  I don’t want to be sad or miserable.  Through Nathaniel, the critters, family, and friends– I usually do a pretty good job of being positive and moving forward and finding time to smile and appreciate the simple pleasures of life.

We had hoped to go to Independence Hall, but the free tickets were “sold out” for the day.

Independence Hall

We did make it to see the Liberty Bell.

Liberty Bell

We passed the horse drawn carriages all lined up.  It made me miss my guys.  I longed for the touch… the smell.  I asked one of the drivers if I could pet an old flea bitten grey gelding.  He agreed.  The grey was grumpy, I think he was worried that we’d make him work again.  Poor guy.  All of the carriage horses stood quietly if not a bit dejectedly.  Only one pricked it’s ears occasionally.  My guys don’t know how good they have it.  That is one of the reasons that selling them scares me so badly.  Once they’re gone you have no control over their homes.  My crew is all so happy and I’d hate to ever see them in  a position where they hate their work or weren’t cared for well, or were just tossed out like yesterday’s garbage when they became old, lame, or “didn’t work out.”

We headed for home.  I stopped at Brookview and said my few words to John.  I think he’d be proud of me.  When he was facing stage IV cancer, he still developed Team Smitty to support LiveStrong.  He could have chosen to just focus on him and his health, but he thought of the greater good.  I remember how happy he was as he checked out the stats of Team Smitty and watched it grow into something bigger than he had anticipated.

When I got home, Remi was very glad to see me.  I rubbed his forehead and practically snuggled with me.  Silly horse.  It was nice to have him being affectionate.  I told him he was lucky to not have to pull a carriage around Philly.  He’s such a chicken… he wouldn’t have lasted long… lol…

Nathaniel was ecstatic to see me.  He’s such a good cute kid (most of the time).  It was great to see his smile and give him a big hug!

It was nice to get away… nice to spend time with my dad… nice to have a wonderful training session and leave feeling like I can make a difference… but it’s also nice to come home!!!  I’m just a homebody by heart.  And as John said, of our new house- something to the effect of-   “When you have this, why would you want to go anywhere else?”

Ya todos lo conocemos, ya todos sabemos lo que puede hacer, este es su video nuevo.

———-

We all know him, we know what he’s capable of doing, this is his new video.

Been busy, sorry for lack of posting. But today I bring you an Oh Heavenly Dog exclusive! My main man Stanley Steel aka Remi has made a top notch edit of 90´s club love songe “Touch Me” by Cathy Dennis. The best parts of the original are kept, then tossed in with some boogie funk action.

MP3 Cathy Dennis – Touch Me (Steel´s LOVE Edit)

Yesterday,  I was looking at the flickr album to see if it would work to upload the video.  I thought it was “my flickr.”  It used the yahoo login that we shared.  I never really got into the hang of flickr, but would use it to occasionally comment on friend’s albums.

I was very surprised to see that John had used the account for his pics… and one mysterious pic of newborn Amber.  I don’t know if I put that one up… can’t see John doing it, but who knows… stranger things have happened.  He took a photo of baby Remi to work to show to his co-workers… of course then he tried to sell him… lol…

Some I’d seen before… others I hadn’t

John at Annapolis

John loved working for Annapolis. Among many other things, he also loved the history and heritage.

Annapolis Fire Department

In the driver's seat- Annapolis Fire Department

John at a wreck

Final Delivery, Potomac Fire Equipment, June 2003 "His baby"

Final Delivery, Potomac Fire Equipment, June 2003

MSFA Convention June 2003,

Nazareth, PA Big Show, final inspection & pickup, May 3, 2003

Pre-purchase photos from Pierce, February 21, 2003

CAD drawing861 2003 Pierce Dash 105' HD Aerial Ladder: June 19, 2003

Truck Committee: Nazareth, PA Big Show, final inspection & pickup, May 3, 2003

John in a baseball cap????  Now that’s a rarity!!  You’ll notice that it’s not just any cap… it’s a PIERCE cap   I believe it’s sitting in our hall closet.

I remember how much John enjoyed being on the committee to purchase 861.  It was a small committee made up of people that John really respected as people and firefighters.  He liked that it was a small committee because it didn’t get bogged down in politics.  John went to so many places to see the truck.  He’d always call me every evening.  He was like a kid in a candy store… going over the truck and noting every last detail.  Making sure that it was perfect before delivery.

One of my fondest CFCRS memories was going to see the new equipment when it arrived.  And just waiting in eager anticipation to see it and to see my honey!  I know I had to have the hugest smile on my face when he climbed out of the door!

I also loved when we’d go to the firehouse and he’d show me the equipment and explain things to me and we’d sit on the front of one of the trucks and talk.  Good times.  Good memories.  We didn’t do it very often, by the time I’d met John his days of hanging out at the firehouse were waning.    He’d go for calls, but he’d drive from home… in his sexy red 1996 Grand Am.

I had the pleasure of seeing John in action at calls just twice.  Once was a fire at the mushroom house and the other was a wreck at Route 1 & Stevens Road.  I had went with his mother, Ann, with the Ladies Auxilary.  We took them food and drinks.  I remember the smile on John’s face when he saw us.  I remember how awesome it was to get a rare glimpse of John doing his job… his thing… it was like a little window into a world I rarely got to see.  He was making things happen, confident, in his zone, and it was a sight to see.  I also got to watch a training  house burn which was very neat, as well.  I took pictures… no idea where they are now…

And other treasures…

I found a notepad with his writing on it.  It’s just a list of things that he needed to do, but I just want to hold onto it… to keep it forever… it’s HIS handwriting…   I know it’s silly.

I’m still trying to figure out how to upload the last memorial slide show.  It’s a disk.  When I load it it plays on Real Player- most of the stuff runs off of Window’s Media Player.  There was a song listed on the player.  With a title and artist that I didn’t recognize.  I was curious, so I hit play.

It was “the LiveStrong song.”  John referred to the LiveStrong song before and I had no idea what song he was talking about.  I don’t believe I’d ever heard it.  John had mixes that he created for his IPod when he was riding.  He told me how much he wanted to quit and how tired he was during the Philly LiveStrong Challenge in 2008.  When he was just about to give up, “the Live Strong song” came on.  It gave him the inspiration, the strength, and the courage to continue.  And he finished the 100 miles!

So… without further adieu… “the LiveStrong Song”  aka Maybe Tonight, Maybe Tomorrow by Wide Awake

What a beautiful song.

I know that the treasures that I’ve found aren’t things that John left for me to find.  Some random luck and just searching for other things was involved in finding them.  I’ve enjoyed every moment of them.  I hope I find many more treasures left behind…

Aquesta colla d’amics es cola en supermercats i llocs per el estil i comença a juugar a pacman però en la vida real. Remi ets el meu idol !!

Como sabran los lectores del viejo blog,tenia en mente un reto personal el cual consistia en echarme la serie completa de Remi, una de las series de anime mas azotada que se conocen -habra quien difiera de ello-.

Comence con buenos brios y auguraba ser una serie soportable por lo que restaba de los capitulos, incluso, encontre en youtube un remi fanz que subio los 51 capitulos en español de doblaje mexicano, lo cual sigificaria un peso menos -el de leer subtitulos, claro- ademas de tener que bajarlos etc. Ma adelante comence por ver la serie.

Mis primeras impresiones fueorn obvias, dolor de corazon con un estilo he de decir… peculiar, que desde el primer capitulo de algun modo me hizo “sentir” el sufrimiento de X o Y escena; como sea todo seguia bien hasta ahi. Pero poco a poco las ocupaciones diarias y demas cosas hicieron que la viera cada vez menos, realmente no vi muchos capitulos, pero los pocos que vi me hicieron ver masomenos como iba cargada la historia.

Basicamente llegue al cap 8 me parece, despues lo inevitable…………. ¡¡ME ABURRIÓ!! Si, uno pensaria que renunciar a esta serie seria mas por algo como “no soporto tanto sufrimiento”ó Dios, es que es una historia muy triste” …. En realidad fue culpa de su lentitud y de la monotonia de la historia lo que me hizo postergarla y bueno, me canse de ver lo poco que llevaba.

Asi es, oficialmente doy por concluida mi cruzada -que desde luego fallé- y renuncio a ver remi….. es HYPER aburridisisisisisisisisma. No la recomiendo a menos que sean chicas sensibles u hombres…. mas sensibles todavia. Tiene contenido en exeso dulce pero amargo digno de las novelas mas jodidas y azotadas que hay.

Solo queria aclarar mi punto, habiendolo hecho, me retiro. The big bang theory ha sido genial aunque chutarse 11 caps en 1 dia… bueno, tampooco lo hagan en casa por muy divertida que este la serie.

quest’uomo si è preso un sacco di denunce per fare il minchione!!!

…e questo è solo un assaggio della sua genialità…godetevelo su www.nimportequi.com

ringrazio kiAAArg  per la segnalazione!