The ***OFFICIAL*** Weekend Singles' Thread -- New Year's Weekend (December 29th-31st)

December 29, 2006 | ilovew, darkangel82

[ilovew]

On Tuesday, former president Gerald R. Ford, Jr. died at the age of 93. He led a full life beginning on July 14, 1913 in Omaha, Nebraska.

The future president was a star athlete and the captain of the Grand Rapids South High School football team. He was offered contracts with the Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers but declined so that he could attend Yale Law School. Shortly after his graduation, an outside event changed his plans. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Gerald Ford enlisted in the Navy.



Shortly after returning from the war, Ford decided to run for a seat in the House of Representatives. His 24-year tenure included his rise to the House Minority Leader. After Vice President Spiro Agnew resigned, President Nixon chose Ford to beceome the new vice president. When Nixon himself later resigned, Gerald Ford became the first (and only) person to ever rise to the presidency without ever being elected as president or vice president.


His presidency was notable for not only his pardon of Nixon but, according to many, his restoration of trust in the presidency. President Ford worked hard to ensure that his tenure in the office was open and honest. Later in life, Gerald and Betty Ford moved to their Rancho Mirage home in California. It was there that President Bush visited the couple in April of this year.



On December 26, 2006, Gerald Ford died at his home in Rancho Mirage. Ford will have services in Washington, DC and will be buried at his Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

[snugs]

I like the mini indoor ones they can be fun but you do not see them much nowadays I suppose they have had to make them so ultra safe the fun has been taken out of them.

[snugs]

I also like watching big displays

[DollyCali]

Just got up..yawn. Will be checking out the Dose marathons you did.. I checked pings & can tell they are the "bookmark" and save MANY photo varieties.

Are you off this week?

Leaving within hour to get my fuzzy boy & girl..trip to chiropractor & stores..

[snugs]

Sorry to hear that

[DollyCali]

INSIDE fireworks? no kidding? I have not heard of them

I enjoy a nice firework display now & then. Forth July of course there seem to be some going on for a week prior/after for various events.

I prefer the pretties over the lound booms..

[DollyCali]

Lots of great things in future ahead for you folks defconw & cibco. Who is moving ? or are both of you going to find a new locale to call home?

When those of us who are, ahem, well...MATURE/OLDER .... are still hooking up & finding a Mr./Mrs. Right the others should KNOW there are wonderful soul mates waiting for them.. just timing. It is better to be alone than with the wrong person. no one EVER thinks they are hooking up with the wrong person, however, I have noted.

Mark and I are also testing the waters and if it were an easy piece of cake we could plan something for next week! But both of us has a morass of physical matters (health & possession's & pets) and logistical(location, property, ties) to go through... so we are muddling along and for now making the most of taking time available in the process

[defconw]

I am moving to Minnesota. I have never been west of Chicago, so a whole new adventure awaits me. I am very excited a little scared, but that just makes it more exciting.

Cibco truly is my soul mate and we both had given up on ever finding a soul mate, he for 15 years, I for 10. So HANG IN THERE FOLKS! Don't compromise. It is better to go it alone, then to go with the wrong person.

It's so amazing when you find each other and find from the gitgo that this is indeed the person you have been searching for all your life.

[snugs]

No one except a president can understand the burdens of that office

How true that statement is and that is why it upsets me when people criticize former Presidents of being close to each other because in their Presidential days they would have been polls apart.

They are part of an exclusive club that can never be more than 4 or 5 in number has the potential of decreasing quickly but only being added to every 4 or 8 years.

Only they know the pressures, only they know the restrictions it puts on their life as President and after they are President life can never be the same again.

Even if they do not share the views or values of each other there is still some bond that joins them together and it is fitting that in some way or another each participates in the funeral of each other whether the official one or one of the other services that take part.

Those who wish to denigrate and criticize their friendship, companionship or whatever you call it of each other in particular the GHWB and Clinton and recently Ford and Carter want to first try and think what it would be like to know that there are only 4 or 5 people on the planet that can really begin to understand what you have experienced in life and can appreciate a little of what your life is now. This I believe puts it in a better perspective and is not that person selling out as they get older.

[DollyCali]

I am sorry about the loss of your precious Rollie.. there are a lot of dog/cat lovers here & many of us have lost precious pets this past year or so..

I am still missing my Oliver.. It was the hardest death of my life (he was 4) .. far worse than dad or close friends...A day doesn't go by that he is still not prevalent in my mind & I truly felt that a big part of me died with him.

I wish I had easy answers for you. I don't believe there are any.. But the old saying of GOING THRU THE PAIN is impt for regaining sanity/stability and the ability to function again.

The other pet will grieve deeply also. Oliver's "doggie" Toby who had only been with us 4 months, went into deep grief. stopped eating & just plopped self on Oliver's grave.

That is why I got Josy for "HIM".. it did help & he rarely even goes by to sniff the grave. I have pix of Oliver...Toby/Josy & Cali on my profile page,

I love & enjoy my two dogs now (Oliver died Dec 12, 2005) but Oliver will always be that VERY special friend that still brings me to tears almost daily.

Feel free to share stories/pix(through tears, if needed) here..

[DollyCali]

How wonderful your tribute!!!

Thank you for the potent and loving memorial/honoring of your special buddies.. I DO understand your love, pain & loss.. We still treasure what is left, for sure.. but somehow the numbness makes it tough

[defconw]

I lost a kitty in May and I still miss him. Tigger my other kitty sensed this and has been way more loving towards me then she ever was before. I am her second family.

I am sorry for your loss. Allow yourself to grieve.

[snugs]

What beautiful creatures.

[rzeznikj at stout]

Well, not really.

Explosions, yes. When I was in high school, we made black powder and lit it in the lab...

[GretchenM]

[Old_Mil]

Thanks for the kind words Dolly. I think you're right in saying that the death of a dog can be one of the hardest to overcome. In many ways, it's sort of like a baby passing. Maggie's been laying under the computer chair licking her paws most of the afternoon. I'm taking her in for blood work and tests to rule out Cushings, heart trouble, etc tomorrow just to be safe.

The house just isn't the same without Rollie around. He was, in my opinion, the most intelligent and thoughtful dog I'd ever met.

One thanksgiving, when he was a puppy, he ran out the front door and jumped into the back seat of the car, leaving a perfect paw print in a pumpkin pie.

Not entirely sure how to post pictures (just know how to link to stuff), so I'll hold off on that for now.

[RandallFlagg]

Thank you both for the pings. I was late to this party as well. Spent the weekend with my Sister again.

She says she's, "Gonna find you (me) a Wife."

Should I be worried? I have no idea.

[Kitty Mittens]

Oh, Dolly, I just Happened on your Post, and my Heart Empathizes with you So Much, because I still Miss my Sweet Fang-Face, and Always will. The Terrible Scream/Moan he Made while he Passed Away in my Arms still Rings in my Ears, Even though it's been Several Years Ago. :( :(

I was Going to Post the Graphic you Made for me of the Kitty you Found on the 'Net that Looks a Lot Like my Fang-Face, but it's in my Computer at the Ranch. Thank you for your Kindness in Taking the Time and Care to Make that Graphic, Sweet FRiend.

I'm Sorry about your Loss, Old_Mil.

[DollyCali]

Old_mil..above post is for you also..

here is your baby Kitty Mittens...

[DollyCali]

sure, let sis do some "shopping" for you.. you have the final vote/veto (and so does Ms.Wonderful that sis finds)

I think fix ups are a great way to meet people..