Funny Tees: Facebook

Facebook:  Where everybody knows your name

 

Remembering: John M. Rodak and Emerita (Emy) De La Pena

For a few years now I’ve been meaning to participate in Project 2,996, an annual effort to memorialize all of the victims of 9/11 in the blogosphere.  It’s a simple deal– I volunteered and was randomly assigned two victims to remember.

Like most everybody in the United States, I remember where I was 8 years ago this morning.  I was on my way to work in Salt Lake City.  Unlike most mornings, I opted to listen to music in the car instead of news/talk radio.  I didn’t know what was going on until I got to my desk and did my morning Drudge check.

I tried online streams for CNN, Fox News– any news outlet.  Nothing but busy networks.  Everybody in the world was trying the same thing at the same time.  I stuck to refreshing Drudge.

First tower down.

Because the full scope of these events had yet to unfold, work went on as usual.  We started a meeting, which was somber.  One guy had a sister that worked in the Pentagon.  He hadn’t been able to reach her since he heard the news.

We talked client software user manuals and data sets.  I didn’t pay attention much, which noticeably irked my supervisor.

Second tower down.

The world was changing as we deliberated.  I didn’t know anybody directly affected by the attacks, but my gut and heart were deeply affected then.  Here are a few sentences about two people I didn’t know, but who both fell victim to terrorist attacks on our own soil that morning:

John M. Rodak

Mr. Rodak, 39, worked in 2 World Trade Center.  He was just getting his day started after a 2-hour commute from his home in Mantua, N.J.  He was survived by his wife and two young daughters.

Emerita (Emy) De la Pena

Mrs. De la Pena, 32, was the mother of a 1 year old daughter, Daniella.   She worked on the 90th floor of the same building as a secretary.  She was survived by her daughter.

Mr. Rodak and Mrs. De la Pena, we remember you today.  My God bless you and all those who loved you.

Mr. Rodak, 39,

 

Summer Tunes: Tristan Prettyman’s ‘Madly’

Yeah, it’s been a couple weeks, but I didn’t forget my Summer Tunes series. This week’s offering comes from San Diego-bred singer/songwriter Tristan Prettyman. Enjoy!

more about "Summer Tunes: Tristan Prettyman’s ‘Ma…", posted with vodpod

 

Friday Funnies: Jimmy Dean Sausage complaint call

Ok, this may just be the funniest thing I’ve ever heard.

It’s been floating around the Web for a while now, but I recently heard this and had to share.  The audio is a complaint call to the Jimmy Dean Sausage company’s customer service line that was leaked by an employee.  I’ve Googled it extensively and checked Snopes and the like, and I can’t find anything that suggests the call is a hoax.   It contains a bit of mild cussing, but it’s probably fine for work.  I think I now know where Mike Judge got his inspiration for Hank Hill.  I’d imagine this guy has changed his phone number by now.  Good stuff!.  Click the play button below…

 

Deseret Peak climb appeals to peak-baggers, amateur alpinists

Video taken from atop Deseret Peak. The little things flying by periodically
are butterflies- there were a ton of them up there.

This segment of the trail was well-shaded and picturesque, traversing several green meadows before climbing 2,200 feet via switchbacks to a saddle. The abrupt saddle approach is my least favorite part of any ascent. I’m usually grateful to switchbacks for sparing me a class-5 climb up a sheer slope. But on saddle approaches, they become maddening lanes of an endless alpine rat maze that only seem to widen the gap between me and the pass.

My psychological aversion to saddle approaches has the physical effects of Tylenol PM. As my energy levels plummeted, I began to wonder whether the aerial photos that Meadow suggested might have been a better idea. Periodically glancing up at groups far above us didn’t help. Neither did the thinning air.

The above is an excerpt of my article in this week’s Tooele Transcript Bulletin. Click over to the TTB to read the full story.

Check back Monday or so for a comprehensive guide to hiking Deseret Peak.

 

Little Hunter Passes On

For those of you following the life of Hunter Greyson Keel, which I touched on a few weeks ago, I’m sad to inform you that he passed away on January 11. I received a note from his mother several days ago. In it, she said that Hunter’s first Christmas was wonderful, and that Hunter passed comfortably as she held him in her arms.

You can read his obituary here.

Amber, you and Dennis are in my thoughts and prayers.

 

Helping Hunter

As I was finishing up my Weekly Run-Down post for this week, my wife alerted me to something that switched my train of thought completely and touched my heart. I’m not usually one to take up causes, but I feel strongly about this one. Please take a moment to read this and visit the websites I’ll link to.

Hunter Greyson Keel was born to Dennis and Amber Keel on April 14, 2007. He was born at 30 weeks gestation with semi-lobar holoprosencephaly (H.P.E.), a rare and almost always fatal condition characterized by the failure of the the forebrain to develop. Despite this condition and others- including a cleft lip and palate, only one functioning kidney, and dextrocardia- little Hunter’s spirit is whole and strong and he blesses the lives of his family every day he’s with them.

Because of his condition, Hunter stayed at Primary Children’s Hospital until November, when Dennis and Amber decided against putting him through yet another surgery for mitral valve stenosis. Amber recounts the day they took Hunter home on her blog:

They told me that with his blood gas being as bad as it was, he may only have a few hours to a few days…they told me they were worried he wouldn’t survive the ride home….This was 4 weeks ago. This roller coaster that Dennis and I have been on has been so stressful, we have gone through the “imminent” loss of our son so many times. I held him all the way home that night, I know I probably shouldn’t have, but i couldn’t bare having him pass in his car seat.

Since then, Hunter has continued to defy the odds against him. He’s becoming aware of his surroundings and has learned to grasp and grab things. He loves focusing on faces and has started to smile. “The next goal is Christmas,” Amber writes. “I cannot tell you how much i hope he chooses to spend it with us. We have the tree up, which he LOVES. We have his stocking, and will soon have his first ornament.”

I think of my own kids, our youngest being just a month younger than Hunter, and I can’t imagine what the Keels are going through. As we talked about Hunter and read Amber’s blog, we couldn’t help but be amazed at this family, their enduring spirit, and the love they have for their little boy. Amber writes about a particularly tough night last week:

I rocked him and patted his bottom and said “Hunter, I know that you have gone through so much, and have so many trials and discomforts…do you know how much you are loved baby boy?” I proceeded to tell him how much I loved him and daddy loved him, how much all of you love him and God and his angels love him. About halfway through the conversation he calmed down was just looking at me. Now, he may have just been wondering what his mother was chattering on and on about….but in my heart, I just know that he could understand what I was saying.

The toll of this experience has been emotional, but financial as well. As you can imagine, the hospital stay and the numerous procedures undertaken to help Hunter have resulted in overwhelming financial strain. This has prompted friends or family (perhaps both, I don’t know) to create a website, Help For Hunter, where donations can be made.

I don’t know the Keels, but I can’t imagine being on the emotional roller coaster they’re on. Financial donations cannot heal Hunter, but they can certainly ease some of the stress his parents are facing. With just under a week until Christmas, I can’t think of a better gift then a donation or kind words for this family and their special little one. 2000 years ago, wise men gave gifts to a babe in a manger. What a blessing it is to have the same opportunity now.

If you’re like me, sometimes the buzz and business of the season cloud the Christmas spirit. If you need a kick start this year, visit Amber Keel’s blog here.

Please also visit www.HelpForHunter.com to make a donation or drop the Keels a line. Please keep Hunter and his parents in your thoughts and prayers this Christmas.

Clint