My Diploma

Yes my dears, it's a "diploma'. to signify that I have completed the 'basic computer course'. That means that I now know how to turn it on, shut it off and a few other things. (I'm loving the videos) Every day I learn something new just playing with it. So on a scale of 100% I am , at this point, knowledgeable of
...uh, um.. 7%. Only 93% to go! I am not complaining.
Peter. thanks for scanning it for me.

Certificate of Completion :-)

Restoring Honor Rally in Washington

It was hot and humid, just as you would expect from an August day in Washington, D.C. We came by the hundreds of thousands and we came from all over the country. Some even came across the oceans. Parents with their children or without, seniors, couples, singles...all converging on the mall between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. So many American flags and only three signs that I saw - "God Bless America", "God Bless the Troops" (both of which leaned against a tree along the reflecting pool) and one political sign about health care. One political sign that I could see in that immense crowd who were asked not to bring signs. We listened to that request. And we came and listened to a variety of speeches and music. We gathered for a variety of reasons.

Our position in the crowd made it very difficult, at times impossible, to see or hear what was happening. We got the gist though, and we were glad we went nonetheless.

If any news media at all characterize this rally as anything but peaceful, I can tell you firsthand, that that news outlet is lying to you. There was no racism. No violence. No anger. Just normal Americans standing up and being counted.

Sari

LHJ

Lauren got a call yesterday from Ladies Home Journal that she landed the internship for the Fall. Yay! Buckle up, it's going to be a busy season...get ready for the stories. You're all going to hear about it!

Congrats, Lauren. Mom

THERE USED TO BE A BALLPARK (a stream of consciousness)

There used to be a Ballpark.....There used to be a Ballpark with a seemingly never ending enormous blue sky above, and with luscious meadow-like green grass, and within, a certain tranquility that enabled a mom or dad to pass on Baseball's idiosyncrasies and beauty....Yeah, there used to be a Ballpark...When I looked for the sky of blue, all I could see were not one , but two huge high definition TV screens/scoreboards, and a massive Pepsi sign encased and surrounded by erector set style steel beams holding up a sign to ther heavens telling me that I was in Citi Field. By the way, the two monumental TV screens would tell me when to cheer, what to cheer, and how loud my cheer should be!....There used to be a Ballpark. And if I did wish to have a conversation with my family, I always seemed to be rudely interupted by some roaring music that forever accompannied the appearence of the next player to bat. There was no time for conversing, and it was no place for the interuption or intrusion of just plain silence.....There used to be a Ballpark. Two women who were friends sat in front of me. They both were texting each other even though they were sitting right next to each other.......There used to be a Ballpark. In between innings the TV Screen loudly told me to text the words on the screen " the quickest" and I could win a prize....There used to be a Ballpark. There used to be ball game too, or has that also become like Ranch Dressing "on the side". I mean there were some wonderful aromas of pulled pork, gyros, and hot dogs, and exotic delights of salsa and sushi - kinda' like a street fair - or maybe it was the food court at Roosevelt Field or the Monmouth Mall. So many people hangin' out at the mall, er oops, I meant the various shacks of vendors. The game, like the Ranch, "on the side".....There used to be a Ballpark where at the end of the game we'd go skipping ahead of our parents down those free flowing ramps and into the street. No more ramps! Can't skip down crowded stairs or claustrophobic elevators - Hey, maybe it really was Roosevelt Field Mall....There used to be a Ballpark.....Where did it go?..........Mitch

Happy Independence Day

"...Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness-That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its Foundation on such Principles, and organizing its Powers in such Form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness." The Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776

wise men these were..

Another Birthday!

Happy Birthday America!


God Bless America. And May the Promise of her beginnings live forever.

Ciao from Italia!

Okay, first of all- Happy Birthday to Sari!! Wanted to post a picture for you but that's not going to happen right now. Lucky I'm even on here (we're paying for internet access but have been hardly able to use it). Anyway, we're having a grand time here in this beautiful place. We've been extremely busy traveling to Positano yesterday and the island of Capri today. We've been on every possible mode of transportation you can think of. Sorrrento is awesome. Especially at night, everyone is out and about in the town which is like a maze of a million narrow streets filled with shops and restaurants. We're just about to go out to dinner and walk around now.

Before I leave I'll fill you in on what the first thing was that Michael did when we finally arrived at our hotel in Sorrento after a very long day of traveling... he vomited all over the curb. Elizabeth was completely nautious and you would have thought she was going to throw up but then Michael just went ahead and did it! The drivers here are all crazy and the fast windy, curvy cliffs of the Amalfi coast proved too much for them to handle. Now it's Bonine for all of us each and every day. Works like a miracle.

Caio everyone. Maybe I'll post again in a few days if I could :)

Re; Sari's Turn

RE:
Sari,
Today is your turn for a Happy Birthday wish from me... for a good day today and every day. The Kardas's are away so my Post may be the only one right now...but it IS an important one, no?
I remember that Tuesday Jul 2nd, 95% and no A/C in the hospital. Whew! But you were born to my great delight...and you still are.
With lots of Love, Mom

HB E

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY ELIZABETH!!!

May your 15th year be filled with all the hope and promise that your heart can imagine...xxoo sari

you see, when you don't get the original, the belated can be even better...

Gee, what's so funny about the first picture??

And notice the 'floating' hands on the second one.

TO THE GRAD!

Congratulations Michael! - we remember when you first started pre-k...now you've graduated high school! - after a challenging course of study the past few years, you came through with flying colors and we are all proud of you. Now it's on to bigger and better things...but before that, take some time to "smell the roses." Love, the Suvals

HB CK

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY CHERYL!!!!

Hope your birthday was fabulous in so many ways! Here's wishing you a wonderful year ahead filled with only great things! XXOO, Your favorite sister, Sari

Did that make up for it?

Happy Belated Birthday!

Okay, so I'm looking back at posts, and I noticed there was something missing. What was missing?? My mom, Cheryl's birthday passed, umm lets see, 37 days ago. And there was no birthday post wishing her a happy birthday! It is nobody's fault, no need to worry. But mom, always the first to make a birthday post is great enough to have one of her own! So, this is it. This is the post! Happy Belated Birthday Mom! :)

Bloggers Wanted

Bloggers,

My high school allows seniors to finish their year early by participating in a program called ASSESS (which stands for something) for 35 hours. For ASSESS, I am conducting a Psychology experiment and I need participants.

The experiment consists of two questionnaires that I'll send out by email, each containing approximately 15 short-answer questions. Please respond here if you would like to participate (members of the Kardas family may not).

It's Cowboy Mitch's birthday

Happy Birthday rough rider |:-)  God willing and the creek don't rise, maybe will be visitin sometime soon.

A new post by Betty...

A VERY busy family!

Busy-busy family! Four things!

1) Lauren is touring Paris. The Eiffel Tower for one.Q.)When was it built, and why? I hope she is taking lots of photos, of London, Paris and Rome. I LOVE looking at people's travel pictures.They remind me of when I was there OR show me things if I have NOT been there. Both are good.
I can't wait for her to come home and tell us her impressions...I'm curious also about what she ate in the different countries.
2) Last night was Nicole's 6th Grade concert. She played her flute with the band. Although she was seated in the back and we couldn't see (as
Cheryl put it) "even an inch of her", we knew she was there and I really think I heard HER flute. She was also in the chorus. I was great..favorite song was "Summertime"..and the livin' is easy. The fish are jumpin' and the cotton is high.."
3) Next, today is a very important day. It is Mitch's Birthday! Happy Birthday Mitch, we love you.
4) Last, months of work are over and the Shweky newsletter is out. We, Sally, Morris and myself put a lot into it so I would love it if you would all read it and give me your comments. I would like you to tell me which article ( or more) that you found interesting. Is there more you wanted to know? Did you like what we did about Grandma Rae's birthday?
Much Love,
Betty, Mom, Grandma

What a week!

Wow! What a week for the Betty's Family Newswire.
Michael's great news about getting into Brown University!
AND,
I just heard from Saul that BRIANA has left CNN and will be working for........ wait for it..... THE FOOD NETWORK
in the business office as an Account Executive. The job starts in 2 weeks, she's thrilled, loves the Food Network, (as many of us do) loves food, (as many of us do). It's in the City. so it's convenient etc.
Wait..... hold on a minute, my phone is ringing.

Ah, that was Briana, returning my call.
It's exciting, who knows, maybe she'll meet some of the stars of the cookling shows.

H.B. TO B.

Happy Birthday to Mom, Grandma, Betty...wishing you many more blogs and books ahead...love, sari

And the writer of last weeks poll was...

...betty! (the one about who picked 'cat' in last weeks question)

So, who did pick 'cat' you wonder? The answer is... Pete!

Urgent Cupcake Revelation

Nicole was playing with the "cupcake" application on her new iPod Touch, and Grandma commented, "This is very nice for people on a diet".

At first we weren't sure if she was serious, but now, we think it's brilliant.

Who is this cutie??

This is Elizabeth dancing as a 'nerd' in South Side's Red and Blue competition a few days ago. Was an AWESOME few nights but unfortunately Red lost :((

And the writer of last weeks poll was...

...Betty! (the one about what kind of pet do you like besides dogs)

In answer to previous post-- here's what I think:

These are two trees side by side. They both fell on the same house (click on images to enlarge).

Today

I LIKE the howling wind and the bare trees bending and the grey sky
today. Is it because I know that tomorrow or the day after the sky will be blue again and the trees will start to bud?
What do YOU think? and YOU. and YOU and 6 more YOU's. Total of 9,

Special Occasion

                               

Look at this picture. So cute, isn't it?? Cooper 

 seems to be enjoying something special, which he is. But why? Take a moment to guess. And whatever you do, don't look at the  sentence in smaller font on the bottom. I know, tempting but don't. Prove your skills to do that, it is actually hard to do. Once you have formed your guess, THEN you could look at the bottom. [:                                                                          

    It's Cooper's 8th birthday! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!                                                                                   

And the writer of last weeks poll was...

...betty! (the one about who your favorite president is)

IT'S PURIM!

Happy Purim!
Do you all remember the Purim play you put on in Aunt Sally's house and also here in my Clubhouse?
Wow, the script written by Sari, from The Megillah,( true story) was so good, the costumes were fabulous (Aunt Sally did them,) and the acting was great.
Lauren, Elizabeth and Nicole,took turns as Queen Vashti and Queen Esther, the Queen who saved her people Evan, sat on his throne as the Persian King Ahasuerus. ( He did it barefooted.) Daniel, Justin and Benjamin took turns as Mordecai and the evil Haman. Michael was the Official Photographer. Good job all of you!
Well, Purim is traditonally a celebration and a time to give gifts, MONEY to the children. So, Grandma Rae has a generous gift to each of you. I have one too but not nearly as generous.
Hopefully, we can get together. Love,
Grandma

Have fun Elizabeth

...at the NYLSC (National Young Leaders State Conference) in snowy Westchester this weekend!! Can't think of a better place to spend the next 4 days (i love hotels :)) I'm sure you'll come back an even stronger leader than you are now. xoxoxo

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GEORGE!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GEORGE!
You are gone but not forgotten.
Isn't that right folks?

And the writer of last weeks poll was...

...cheryl! (the one about your favorite winter Olympic sport)

And the writer of last weeks poll was...

...nicole! (the one about which crazy stunt you would do)

SNOW

With the exception of the last two lines..."God's in his Heaven...." the words are mine.

The world is white today and clean
Silence covers everything
Thick flakes that drift as in a dream
Slow motion, they floated free
In hushed abandon..tumbled, swirled

Then I say aloud in my empty room
The words that keep us safe and warm
"God's in His heaven
All's right with the world."

And the writer of last weeks poll was...

...evan! (the one about which region of the world you'd like your heritage to be from)

Congrats

...to the Michael who is now an officially licensed driver!!!

And the writer of last weeks poll was...

...lauren! (the one about which European city you'd like to visit)

And the writer of last weeks poll was...

...michael! (the one about which fish are you?)

And the writer of last weeks poll was...

...betty! (the one about what you would like to do for a movie--)

Saul on TV

I hope you all saw Saul on "48 hours" last night. Wasn't he great?

And the writer of last weeks poll was...

...nicole! (the one about your New Years resolution)