A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day...06-27-03..."Oh, The State I'm In!" ~ Pippin's Maryland

Mama_Bear and Pippin

[Mama_Bear]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

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We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Mama_Bear, dansangel, dutchess, Aquamarine ~

Fasten your seatbelts and hang on, folks. Pippin is taking us on a whirlwind tour of Maryland.

As we take in the sights and sounds, and the flora and fauna, let's listen to Pippin's own words as she proudly tells us about her 'Finest' state.....

"Maryland is one of the original 13 colonies, having been founded in 1634 by Cecil Calvert, 2nd Lord Baltimore. It was the 7th colony to ratify the constitution, thus becoming our 7th state in 1789."

The Maryland state flag contains the family crests of the Calvert and the Crossland families. The black and gold representing the family of the 2nd Lord Baltimore.

"Maryland is richly steeped in history and is a great place to visit, whether it’s to find the perfect vacation spot or if you are interested in discovering America's roots. As I have said before, Maryland is a diverse state ~ an 'America in miniature'.

We have the beautiful Catoctin Mountains southwest of Baltimore, site of the Camp David Presidential retreat, and we have many lakes and rivers where fishing is the main sport activity. If you like boating, there’s the Chesapeake Bay and it’s tributaries. Every February, in Annapolis, the state capitol, they have a boat show at the Annapolis harbor where the latest in recreational boats are shown."

Annapolis Harbor

Annapolis is also home of the U.S. Naval Academy.
GO NAVY!!

"Like seafood? Maryland is famous for it’s seafood. In Baltimore we have the world’s famous Lexington Market, the oldest continuing marketplace in the country! Lexington Market started out as an open-air market for fishermen and other merchants to display and sell their goods in Baltimore City in 1789."


Lexington Market - of days gone by.

"We have Phillips seafood restaurant, with it’s really out of this world baseball crab cakes located at Lexington Market. Speaking of crab cakes, what about our famous steamed crabs and cold beer!"

"If you are into sports we have Baseball, Football, Soccer, Lacrosse, and even Jousting (I kid you not). Every year, September thru October, we have the Renaissance Festival in southern Anne Arundel County, where there is Jousting and feasting and fun 'Elizabethan style'!"

"We have our baseball team, the "Orioles" and Camden Yards, our new ballpark, built in the early 1990’s on the grounds of the old Camden train station. The main building still stands. This is must see (as well as seeing an Orioles game.) For football lovers, we have Ravens stadium just a mile from Camden Yards. The Ravens were named for Edgar Allen Poe’s poem, “The Raven”."



"Want to spend some time at the ocean? Take a trip across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge to Ocean City. There are condos to rent for the summer and shops to look through as well as the famous boardwalk and fantastic beaches.


Boardwalk Cam - Downtown Ocean City

I hope I’ve managed to whet your appetite and have made you curious enough to come to my state and find out why I’m so proud to be a Marylander. There is so much more to Maryland than meets the eye."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And, finally........

Now, as we thank our tour guide, Pippin, for introducing us to her beautiful state, why don't we all sing a rousting chorus of......
"Maryland, My Maryland".

Thou wilt not cower in the dust,
Maryland! my Maryland!
Thy gleaming sword shall never rust,
Maryland! my Maryland!
Remember Carroll's sacred trust,
Remember Howard's war-like thrust,
And all thy slumb'rers with the just,
Maryland! my Maryland!


Thank you all for coming. Hope to see you again when we tour another Finest state in this great land of ours. ~Mama_Bear

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 06-23-03...Military Monday 06-24-03...Happy Anniversary to the Finest 06-25-03...Hall of Fame in Review #4 (& Billie's Birthday) 06-26-03...John's Two Cents "Don't leave the smoking gun behind!"

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me an FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

[Diver Dave]

I'm goin' over to Colleen's for a cold one, wanna join us? : )

Count me in... as soon as my designated driver gets here. : )

[Pippin]

OH! NO!

I'll bring the wolfie treats too!

[Pippin]

Thanks, Jen!

[Dubya]

A teacher was having trouble teaching arithmetic to one
little boy in her class, so she decided to use an
illustration.

"If you reached in your right pocket and found a nickel, and
you reached in your left pocket and found another one, what
would you have?"

"Somebody else's pants."

---

Spiritually speaking, whose clothes are you wearing?

Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed
with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace
to the humble.

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God,
that he may exalt you in due time: casting all your care
upon him; for he careth for you. -1 Peter 5:5

[Dubya]

FYI
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, June 27, 2003 - A soldier was killed near an
Najaf June 26 and coalition forces are searching for two
soldiers missing since June 25, U.S. Central Command
officials said today.

The soldier who was killed was attached to the 1st Marine
Expeditionary Force, and was the victim of an ambush,
officials said. A news release said the soldier was
investigating a car theft. The incident is under
investigation.

Coalition forces have launched air and ground searches to
locate two American soldiers missing since June 25. The
soldiers were part of a force providing perimeter security
for the Balad rocket demolition site near Taji. The
facility is about 40 kilometers north of Baghdad, firmly in
the midst of the "Sunni Triangle" of Tikrit, Baghdad and Ar
Ramadi that is a hotbed of support for the former regime.

Officials would confirm only that the soldiers are members
of Combined Joint Task Force 7 and that the site is in the
4th Infantry Division area of operations. The names are
being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

DoD officials are not saying the soldiers were abducted.
"We don't know what happened to them," a DoD spokeswoman
said. No one has claimed responsibility for the incident.

The soldiers failed to respond to a routine radio check at
8:30 a.m. on June 25. They normally would have been in
visual range of other American soldiers, but a sandstorm
cut down visibility, officials said. A spokesman in Baghdad
said a search patrol arrived at the site "almost
immediately" after the soldiers did not respond. Missing
were the soldiers, their Humvee and all their gear and
weapons.

Officials said as a result of the incident, commanders are
re-examining their force-protection procedures.

[Trace21230]

Baltimore/Maryland PING!

[Diver Dave]

Christian One Liners

Some people are kind, polite, and sweet spirited until you try to sit in their pews.

Many folks want to serve God, but only as advisers.

It is easier to preach ten sermons than it is to live one.

The good Lord didn't create anything without a purpose, but mosquitoes come close.

When you get to your wit's end, you'll find God lives there.

People are funny, they want the front of the bus, the middle of the road, and the back of the church.

Opportunity may knock once, but temptation bangs on your front door forever.

Quit griping about your church; if it was perfect, you couldn't belong.

The phrase that is guaranteed to wake up an audience: "And in conclusion."

If the church wants a better preacher, it only needs to pray for the one it has.

God Himself does not propose to judge a man until he is dead. So why should you?

To make a long story short, don't tell it.

If your left hand doesn't know what your right hand is doing, you should consider running for a job in Washington, DC.

Some minds are like concrete, thoroughly mixed up and permanently set.

Peace starts with a smile.

I don't know why some people change churches; what difference does it make which one you stay home from?

A lot of church members who are singing "Standing on the Promises" are just sitting on the premises.

We were called to be witnesses, not lawyers or judges.

Outside of traffic, there is nothing that holds this country back as much as committees.

Be ye fishers of men. You catch them - He'll clean them.

Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous.

Don't put a question mark where God put a period.

Don't wait for 6 strong men to take you to church.

Forbidden fruits create many jams.

God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.

God grades on the cross, not the curve.

God loves everyone, but probably prefers "fruits of the spirit" over "religious nuts!"

God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.

He who angers you, controls you!

If God is your Copilot - swap seats!

Prayer: Don't give God instructions just report for duty!

The task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us.

The Will of God will never take you to where the Grace of God will not protect you.

We don't change the message, the message changes us.

You can tell how big a person is by what it takes to discourage him.

The best mathematical equation I have ever seen: 1 cross + 3 nails = 4 given.

"Father, bless the person reading this in whatever it is that You know he or she may be needing this day!"

[ST.LOUIE1]

Have you ever been to Maryland?

Drove through once. Stopped for lunch but can't remember where. It was during the Fall and the tree colors were absolutely gorgeous!

[ST.LOUIE1]

How can you tell?

Cuz I ain't blind. LOL

[Mama_Bear]

Hi Johnny Mac. Lovely butterflies and compliments you've brought.

I'm so clueless...all this time, never knew that the Ravens were named for THAT raven.

LOL. Me too!! I had no idea - I just assumed they were named after the big black birds, I thought because Ravens are known to be pretty tough birds in nature. Hmmmmm.....learn something new everyday!

Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

[ST.LOUIE1]

I'm goin' over to Colleen's for a cold one, wanna join us? : )

Count me in... as soon as my designated driver gets here. : )

Er.....how many you planning on having? : )

[Dubya]

Good one liners. I'm passing them on.

[Dubya]

Shirley and Abe, a retired couple from New York City, living in Miami Beach,
are getting ready to go out to dinner.

Shirley says, "Abe, darling, do you want me to wear this Chanel suit or the
Gucci?"

Abe says, "Do I care?"

A few minutes later Shirley says, "Abe, should I wear my Cartier watch or my
Rolex?"

Abe says, "Who cares?"

A few more minutes pass and Shirley says, "Abe, love, shall I wear my
five-carat pear diamond ring or my six-carat round diamond ring with the
baguettes?"

Abe says, "Shirley, I really don't care what you wear, but if you don't get
moving, we're going to miss the Early Bird Special."

[ST.LOUIE1]

OH! NO!
I'll bring the wolfie treats too!

Chel will bless you. LOL

[Pippin]

A little bit of trivia for you:

Edgar Allen Poe is buried not far (about 4 blocks) from where I work.

He's burried in the old Westminister churchyard on reene street in Baltimore.

Just thought you'd like to know. :O)

[Dubya]

A member of a church choir arrived every Sunday morning with
her seven children in tow, all a bit rumpled but
nevertheless on time.

Scarcely able to get her one child ready, Liz asked her how
she managed her brood so efficiently,

"Easy," she replied with a smile. "I dress them the night
before!"

---

Are you prepared for Christ?

For as in the days that were before the flood they were
eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until
the day that Noe entered into the ark, and knew not until the
flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming
of the Son of man be.

Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and
the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the
one shall be taken, and the other left.

Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth
come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had
known in what watch the thief would come, he would have
watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken
up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye
think not the Son of man cometh. -Matthew 24:38

[Mama_Bear]

It's a pleasure to meet some other proud Marylanders.

Pippin makes a good cheerleader for your fine state, doesn't she? I'm ready to come back for a visit. Last time I was there was,....... let's see.........1965? (No, that CAN'T be right, I'm not THAT old. LOL!)

[deadhead]

BEER HERE :-)

Nothing like a cold one on a hot humid day, enjoy :-)

[Pippin]

LOL! :O)

[Mama_Bear]

Great graphics and write-up!

Hi Colleen. Thanks so much, for that nice compliment and for the Maryland graphic.....and for just being sweet 'you'. :-)

You have given me an idea for dinner tonight, think I will have crab cakes with a nice cold beer :-)

I'm with Louie, I think I will skip the crab cakes also. But I won't turn down an ice cold beer. ;-)