musing minds

Veterans Day 2026

Armistice Day, Veterans’ Day, Remembrance Day

The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month…

In Flanders Fields

poppy

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe;
To you, from failing hands, we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Written by Lt-Colonel John McRae (1915)

Jimothy at DragonCon!

Jimothy has made his appearance here at DragonCon! There was a person in cosplay that I’ve only seen in other people’s photos, but this morning at Starbucks in the Marriott a woman had this beautiful little marionette.

DRAGONCON

We have arrived. More later.

Bloggiversary

Twenty-two years ago, I started this blog. I haven’t been writing in it daily, but I have kept it up for 22 years.

I really should start writing daily again. Journaling at the very least. I’m paying for the hosting, so…

Happy Blogiversary to me…

Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day

Fourteen years ago today, there was a “buycott” called Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day. We were living in far northern Illinois, and the closest Chick-Fil-A at the time was in Racine, Wisconsin. So, I took my son to Racine to the mall where the Chick-Fil-A was and to the Racine Zoo for the day.

screenshot from Swarm of long line at Chick-Fil-A on Wednesday, August 1, 2012 at Regency Mall, Racine Wisconsin.

We had a lot of fun at the Racine Zoo that day too. We got to feed a giraffe!

D-Day

It was 82 years ago today.

SS Jeremiah O'Brien
SS Jeremiah O’Brien

This is the SS Jeremiah O’Brien. She was present at D-Day, making many Channel Crossings to support the effort.

She was almost scrapped, but was lovingly restored, and she even made the trip from San Francisco back to Normandy for the 50th anniversary.

She’s moored at Pier 45 in San Francisco and can be toured.

20 Years Smoke-Free

Today marks 20 years since I stopped smoking! Yay me!

All that money saved!

The prices as they are now, I’d only be able to buy about three packs for what I was paying for a carton then. Cartons are ten packs, so it’s more than three times what I was paying then.

And I’m so much healthier!

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