MEMORIAL DAY

REMEMBER THEM

If you are able, save for them a place inside of you and one backward glance when you are leaving, for the places they can no longer go.

Be not ashamed to say you loved them, though you may or may not always have. Take what they have left and what they have taught you with their dying and keep it with your own.

And in that time when men decide and feel safe to call the war insane, take one moment to embrace those gentle heroes you left behind.

Written January 1, 1970 by Major Michael Davis O'Donnell
Dak To, South Vietnam

Recited by Tom Selleck upon receiving the 2009 TV Land Hero's Award for Magnum, P.I. An OGR gentle hero in his own rite and an accomplished actor who once again pulled unexpected audience emotion, uncontrollable tears and unbounded patriotism.

Though he insisted he is not worthy of that same category as there are others more deserving, he was proud that the Smithsonian recognized Magnum, P.I. as the first series to portray the Vietnam Vet in a positive light. " Now in today's world our vets are treated with respect and we know it wasn't always that way."

His real life crusade is the "Wall that Heals", part of the Vietnam War Memorial, a 45-foot aluminum trailer that travels across the country to people who may not have the opportunity to visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington.

Actor Tom Selleck, left, attends an event unveiling a traveling exhibit called "The Wall That Heals", part of the traveling Vietnam Veterans Memorial and Museum, in Washington, Thursday, March 26, 2009. At right is U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Nick Adams, 21. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin).

This Memorial Day take a quiet time to reflect on our friends and family who served, returned or proudly remember as the "gentle heroes you left behind".

The ABC's of Grown Old

Dedicated to our Moms who first taught us the Alphabet and then these life-lesson ABC's.
How many of these TV Moms can you recognize??


Lucille Ball "I Love Lucy" 1951-57
Accept your body as is.
Bold is beautiful.
Cherish your health.

Jayne Wyatt "Father Knows Best" 1954-60
Don't worry about wrinkles; they're just antique smiles.
Enjoy the simple things in life.
Find an age you like and stick with it!


Donna Reed "The Donna Reed Show" 1958-66
Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.
How old you are is your own business!
Its easier to get older than it is to get wiser.


Barbara Billingsly "Leave It To Beaver" 1957-63
Just remember...what was I saying?
Keep the faith.
Lie about your age.


Yvonne DeCarlo "The Munsters" 1964-66
Mend fences.
No one said getting older is easy!
Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.


Florence Henderson "The Brady Bunch" 1969-74
Pick your friends wisely.
Quit whining.
Remember the good ol' days.


Carolyn Jones "The Addams Family" 1964-66
Surround yourself with what you love.
Tell the people you love that you love them at every opportunity.

Marian Ross "Happy Days" 1974-84
Until you make peace with who you are,
you'll never be content with what you have.
Volunteer...everyday.


Elizabeth Montgomery "Bewitched" 1964-72
When you say I'm sorry, look the person in the eye.
Xpect happiness in life.


Reba McEntire "Reba" 2001-07
Young at heart (slightly older in other places).
Zzzzzzz...take plenty of cat naps

Happy Birthday and Mother's Day, Mom!!!

TWINKIES!!!

No, no, not the slang term - ITS Twinkie, that sweet snack cake that turned 80 this year. Picture 80 candles a Twinkie - next to impossible.

One of my wonderful memories as a kid was running to the snack counter for this treat. Gems, those two small, golden sponge cake cream filled morsels. A special treat along with my chocolate Kayo drink or 8 oz. bottle of Coke on a Saturday night. Nutrition value, ha-ha, 300 empty, sugar laden Twinkie calories weren’t even on the radar back then.

Created by James Dewar a bakery manager for Hostess (Continental Bakers) and, yes, made in Chicago. Hostess still cranks out over 500 million each year. Got to wonder if you did a term of existence experiment, which would have a longer shelf life a Twinkie or a can of Spam. I’d wager, Spam cause just on appeal alone, Twinkies wins.

Did you know that in the ‘50’s Buffalo Bob hawked them on the Howdy Doody Show?

Archie Bunker (“All in the Family ’70’s sit-com) had one every day in his lunchbox. Hell for Edith to pay the one day she forgot to include Twinkies in Archie’s lunch.


The phrase “big Twinkie” is introduced in the ‘84 “Ghostbuster” movie.

Pinky and the girls in ‘78’s movie “Grease” talked about Twinkies and wine at their pajama party.

In ‘94, “The Simpsons” Apu proved “you cannot hurt the Twinkie it always regains it form.

In “Zombieland”, 2009, a quest for Twinkies goes head-to-head with the undead.


And if that isn't enough, theTexas State Fair introduced the fried Twinkie. It quickly spread to other state fairs across the U.S., as well as some establishments that specialize in fried foods.
Just freeze the cake, dip it in batter and drop it in the fryer.

What an American icon!! Yep its off to the fridge for a cold glass of milk and you guessed it!!

Chow and Ciao for now!!!

HAPPY EASTER!!

(circa 1907)

What I learned from the Easter Bunny!


Don't put all your eggs in one basket.

Everyone needs a friend who is all ears.

There's no such thing as too much candy.

All work and no play can make you a basket case.

A cute tail attracts a lot of attention.

(circa 1910)

Everyone is entitled to a bad hare day.

Let happy thoughts multiply like rabbits.

Some body parts should be floppy.

Keep your paws off of other people's jelly beans.

Good things come in small, sugar coated packages.

The grass is always greener in someone elses basket.

To show your true colors, you have to come out of the shell.

The best things in life are still sweet and gooey.

May the joy of the season fill your heart.


(circa 1915)

AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU!
Happy Easter!

Jimmy Brazelle, Baritone Saxophone, The Sensational Epics

Perhaps one of man’s greatest legacies is leaving the world a better place than he found it .

Jimmy’s deep faith in God , a compassion for fellow man and his love of music are proof of one man who did just that.

We extend prayers and condolences to his family. Friends, fans and The Sensational Epics were blessed to have known Jimmy, a special "shagger".

May a little bit of Jimmy live on in each of us.

"Philosophy for Old Age" by George Carlin

Special thanks to DJGlee. I just had to share it with you.




To George's memory and we
OGR-ers fortunate to have shared times with this man; a genius of words, thoughts and humor. Whether we tuned in The Ed Sullivan Show, Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, Jack Parr and later Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show or Tony Orlando & Dawn, George made us laugh in the moment then stopped us dead in our tracks hours later when the real meaning of his comedic words hit home.

So combine the 10 Commandments and George’s “ Philosophy for Old Age” you can “be the best that you can be”.

1. Throw out nonsense numbers.
This includes age, weight and height.
Let the doctor worry about them.
That’s why we pay them.

2. Keep only cheerful friends.
The grouches pull you down.





3. Keep Learning.
Learn more about the computer,
Crafts, gardening, whatever….
Never let the brain idle.
An idle mind is the devil’s workshop.
And the devil’s name is ALZHEMERS.

4. Enjoy simple things.

5. Laugh often, long and loud.
Laugh until you gasp for breath.

6. The tears happen.
Endure, grieve and move on.
The only person who is with us
Our entire life is ourselves.
Be alive while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with whatever you love.
Whether its family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants
Hobbies, whatever.
Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health.
If it is good, preserve it.
If it is unstable, improve it.
If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don’t take guilt trips.
Take a trip to the mall, even
the next county, to a foreign country,
But not where guilt is.

10 Tell the people that you love them at every opportunity.









And Winnie’s thought for the day:
LIVE every moment to its fullest
Let God LAUGH at your plan and listen to His for you.
LOVE. Keep friends close, enemies closer and your guardian Angel, closest.

Valentine Trivia

1. Does the Date of Valentines Every change?
No
Yes
Maybe






2. Which Patron Saint is Valentines named after?
Saint Nick
Saint Valentine
Saint Aphrodite





3. What does the word Valentine mean?
Heart
Sweetheart
Love







4. How did sailors send messages to their loved ones while at sea in the old days?
Bottle
Sea Post
Carrier Pigeon







5. What fruit is also known as the "love apple"?
Tomato
Grape
Apple


6. Sailors often scratched or carved designs on bone, tusk or wood to give as a love token, this hobby was called?
Tatting
Whittling
Scrimshaw

7. What is the winged child shooting arrows at unsuspecting Valentines called?
Cupid
Cherub
Claude



8. What part of the body must Cupid's arrows hit to be effective?
Head
Heart
Rearend




9. What is the Greek word for Cupid, God of Love?
Eros
Venus
Zeus


10. Who are Shakesphere's "Star-crossed Lovers"?
King Tut and Cleopatra
Romeo and Juliet
Fred and Wilma


11. What type of bird symbolizes Valentine's Day?
Robin
Dove
Swan

12. What happens to someone struck by Cupid's arrow?
Lovesick
Headache
Measles



13. Do doves mate for life?
Yes
No
Maybe




14. According to English tradition - what happens "to the first man a woman sees on Valentine's Day?
Dies
Marry Him
Kiss Him







15. What flower is most commonly symbolic of Valentine's Day?
Lilly
Red Rose
Poinsettia

16. What color is the symbol of warmth and feeling?
Red
Orange
Yellow



17. What color is the symbol of purity and faith?
Blue
White
Pink




18. What date was the first recorded Valentine sent?
1838
1415
1972


19. Where do you "wear your heart" if you are quick to show your feelings?
Chest
Hand
Sleeve

20. What do you need to kiss to turn it into a Prince?
Gerbil
Frog
Snake




1. No
2. Saint Valentine
3. Sweetheart
4. Bottle
5. Tomato
6. Scrimshaw
7. Cupid
8. Heart
9. Eros
10. Romeo and Juliet
11. Dove
12. Lovesick
13. Yes
14. Marry Him
15. Red Rose
16. Red
17. White
18. 1415
19. Sleeve
20. Frog