In Awe

Today I took a trip with my parents and my brother to see the traveling Vietnam Memorial being hosted in Ogden. Awe inspiring. To stand in front of 56,000 names of those who served our Country bravely and without question. My Mom's brother is on that wall. I have seen the actual one in Washington D.C., and although this one is 1/10 the size, it is no less of a reminder.

It got me thinking. I have never been one to be wowed or in awe over someone famous. In my life (so far), I have met Bill Cosby, Stephen King, John Elway, Mrs. Debbie Fields, Jeff Foxworthy, Eric Clapton, Ketih Urban, Steve Young, Toby Keith, and Condoleeza Rice. I have been personal security for Green Day, Gov. Michael Leavitt, and President Thomas S. Monson (before he was the President, but still very important). I have worked with and met members of the Steve Miller band, U2, Rolling Stones ( Keith Richards offered me a bottle of wine...several times), The Offspring, Marie Osmond, Michelle Branch, The Who, Ty Murray, Tuff Hedeman and Carrie underwood ( I babysat her dog for her). I have also met and worked with Governor Herbert, and Miley Cyrus ( a diva..truly). I know the actual identities of both the Jazz Bear and Buzz, the mascot for the Bees. I have met and swapped jokes with many Jazz players, and had the opportunity to meet Shawn Bradley. I have a friend who lives in L.A. and he treated me to lunch on Rodeo Drive one time..on Rodeo Drive. Two tables away from us were Al Pacino and Dustin Hoffman. Neat, but not awe inspiring. I guess you could say I've been there and done that.

What truly inspires me and makes me smile are those who put their lives on the line daily for the benefit of others. The Policemen and Women, Firefighters, Soldiers, Teachers, and anyone else who makes a genuine difference in this World. I salute you all. I never served in the military, and to have seen the 56,000 names on that wall made me proud to live in the Country I do. I want to take the time and thank them all, for everything they do and have done. Without the sacrifices made daily by these fine folks, I dare not think where our coutry would be today.

Best wishes to you all, and have a safe and happy Memorial Day. As always, thank you for reading and for being who you are.

Brandon

School's Out !

We have fast approached the hallowed part of any childs life...the last day of school. For you parents it means entertaining them, for the kids it means freedom. Family vacations, trips to National wonders and amusement parks are I'm sure in order. But how can you keep them entertained in the meantime? Well, I love to read, and I'm frequently asked for ideas on books or authors. I went to the local library and stole a handfull of their free brochures, and this blog is for your kids. I thought I would leave you with some ideas on books they may (or may not) enjoy reading.

The most recent popular series of books have been hands down, the Twilight series. I read them, and they are not half bad. I know most of you have read them, salivate at the prospects of being one with Edward, and are dancing in one spot even now waiting the next movie release. Well, these books are along that same genre. These books contain vampires, werewolves, and other paranormal beings. They come highly recommended by the Salt Lake County Library ( I know, whoop-de-doo).

Thirsty by M.T. Anderson...A teen struggling to be normal finds himself turning into a vampire

Shattered Mirror by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes...A 17 year old girl, descending from a long line of vampire-hunting witches pursues an ancient bloodsucker.

Bloodline by Kate Cary...A 19 year old returning from WWI is haunted by dreams...and not those from the war.

Blue Bloods by Melissa De La Cruz... A 15 year old girl finds herself craving raw meat..a death at the school proves vampires may indeed exist.

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova... The story of a young woman who finds she may be a direct descendant of Vlad the Imapler.

Werewolf Rising by R.L. LaFever... A 13 year old boy learns he is a werewolf and is being hunted by fanatics bent on his demise.

Vampire High by Douglass Rees... Cody finds his new school is stranger than any he has known..including his new friend, a wolf that shows him around.

Those are just a few of the titles listed. There are in fact many more. I have a complete list, or you may pop into your local library for one. Next though I thought I would throw out some more books. The following list is all teen romance (yuck).

Summer Boys by Hailey Abbott... Three cousins look for romance and hot guys while vacationing in Maine.

24 girls in 7 days by Alex Bradley... Dozens (at least two anyway) respond to an ad for a prom date.

Angus, thongs and full-frontal snogging by Louise Rennison...a teenage version of the popular Bridget Jones.

A Countess Below Stairs by Eva Ibbotson...Anna flees England to escape the Russians, hiding her aristocratic background, she falls for her employer.

Once Upon a Marigold by Jean Ferris...a young man, raised by a troll, meets an unhappy princess and foils the Kings dastardly plot.

Boy Proof by Cecil Castalucci...Victoria hides behind the identities of movie characters until a new boy shows her there is more to life than movies.

Now finally, we come to some serious reading. These books are all historical in nature.

Tiger, Tiger by Lynn Reid Banks... Two tiger cubs are taken to Rome. One fights in the Coliseum while the other becomes a pet for the Emperor's daughter.

Blood Red Horse by K.M. Grant... Will and his horse answer the call of King Richard to go on a Crusade.

Mary, Bloody Mary by Carolyn Meyer... A look into the life of Mary Tudor's troubled childhood as daughter of King Henry VIII

Surprising Cecilia by Susan and Denise Gonzales...Set in the Great Depression, Cecilia finds high school in New Mexico much to her liking.

Code Talker by Joseph Bruchac... During World War II, Ned joins the army as a Navajo code talker..this book was made into a movie called Wind Talkers.

Well, that gives you some ideas anway. There are a few different genres, and some good reads listed. I have read some of these myself, and I wouldn't put them here if I didn't think them worthy. I hope your kids enjoy their well earned break, and I hope they don't drive you to the madhouse. Mark Twain once said "A man who does not read good books holds no advantage over the man who cannot read". I agree with that, and my wish is to see more young people picking up books and putting down the video controllers and the cell phones. Thank you again for reading, and try and keep your sanity...even if it means cleaning dog hair off a boat. Until next time....

Brandon

Mother

Mother's Day was created by Anna Jarvis and put into law becoming a National holiday by President Woodrow Wilson. It's not as old as you may think. Back in the 16th century however, Mothering Day was celebrated in the U.K., and even that can be traced back to very early pagan or Christian rituals. We know it today as a day to honor our Mothers. For their sacrifices, like the 56 hours of labor (if we are to believe them), or all they have done for us along the way. However you celebrate it, remember to honor your Mother the best way that you can.

This brings me to the heart of my blog today. My Mother. She is a kind, affecionate, caring, demanding, and often times a devious woman who knows more than she lets on. For example, one New Years Eve I went out with some friends. I was told to be home by 11:00 and being New Years Eve, I decided to stay out till after Midnight. The next morning I awoke to find my drivers license on the counter...cut up into 60 very neat little pieces. I learned then the value of keeping curfew.

I have learned much from my Mom. Including but not limited to how to cook, how to hang my clothes properly (if they weren't hung right, they were taken from the hanger and I got to try again), my beyond excellent penmanship ( if it couldn't be read, it was re-written), and the fine art of being domesticated. Yes, thanks to my Mother, I now know how to take out the trash and do dishes. My Mom has always been there, through tough times and good.

In her life she has experienced a lot. She has had a tree dropped on her head resulting in a concussion... she took an aspirin and went back to work. She has made very, and some would consider too close, friends with a jumping cactus. She has suffered through camping trips in trailers that would leak, an epileptic dog, more car accidents than she has fingers (she still has all ten), and three children who she claims gave her gray hair ( I blame my sister for all of it). She lost her Brother in Vietnam, and has had to live with the loss of a Grandchild. She has stood by two of her children through divorce and the heartache it has brought. She has been a cafeteria worker, a night shift supervisor, a day care director and she is currently a teacher with Granite School District. She works with mentally and physically disabled children.

One of my fondest memories of my Mother is making cookies when I was younger. Our favorite ( and mine still to this day) were Snickerdoodles. We would make enough to feed a small army, and spend a great deal of the day rolling little dough balls. She spent many hours making cookies for neighbors (ask me someday about the 12 days of Christmas cookies), and always has a good recipe to share. She likes to eat fresh peas from the garden, and she cheats at cards...how else can you explain never losing?

She can gamble all weekend in Wendover (or anywhere else for that matter) on just $20. We can often find her sitting at the same machine we left her on Thursday when we are ready to leave on Sunday. Every Christmas is an orgy of gifts. She goes out of her way to make it the best for all involved. Wether it's wrapping 300 pounds of books for my Dad (all in one box mind you), or stopping to get a brick from a torn down building to give to someone who worked there, there is always a surprise or two. Most years she goes without. She is not an easy person to shop for. Whenever a Birthday or Chirstmas approaches we all scramble for ideas. Dropping hints to one another at what we think she might like. I think I can honestly say my siblings and I surprised her this year by sending her 200 flowers for Mother's Day. I learned my lesson a few years back though...my Brother and I got the idea of Christmas lists..you know, write down what you would like or need, and we dispersed them among the family. My Mother got hold of one of these and we recieved everything we had jotted down. Last year though, the lists didn't contain much, and she still managed to fill it all.

Now not every Mother is like Carol Brady (thank God for that one), and not every Mother is like Roseanne. They are all different in their own ways, and that is what makes them truly unique. Mine is always telling me "you're not funny". My Mother has seen me through some very difficult times and I know that she will always be there. She is the strength and the glue that keeps our family together. She has done so much in her life to be proud of, and I wouldn't be what I am today without her support and love and her guidance. I thank her for everything she has done, all she has taught me, and for never giving up. I love my Mother more than she knows, and will always look forward to our next Snickerdoodle adventure.

To all you Mommies and wives out there...Happiest of Happy Mother's Day. I appreciate you reading, and hope that you find yourself in bed trying to eat breakfast surrounded by your family jumping on the bed. It is what you deserve and what you are entitled to. My best to you all.

P.S. Mom, if you're reading this...that wasn't really me hiding in the back of Dave Kettles truck when we were supposed to be at school...I swear it wasn't.

Hats !!

At work today I happened to glance at myself in the mirror. Not something I do often, but enough to know I dont have stray hairs or perhaps things on my face that shouldn't otherwise be there. I saw the usual... the graying around the edges, the laugh lines around the haunted eyes, and the baseball hat. I wear a baseball hat to work daily. It not only keeps my very short and cropped hair out of my eyes, but it keeps the welders sparks from making me look like Michael Jackson after a gone-wrong Pepsi commercial. It made me think...hats...we all wear them. In one form or another. Not always baseball hats either.

In my lifetime I have worn baseball hats, cowboy hats, winter hats, and many many others. I have worn the hats of responsibility too. You know, the hats that say "manager" or "supervisor". I have worn other hats as well..Father,caregiver, friend, lover, partner (in crime or otherwise), handyman, advisor, amateur psychologist, artist, and of course...author.

I have worn many personal hats. As mentioned above, I at one time wore the hat labeled "father". I dont wear that hat anymore. I have worn hats labeled son, uncle and brother. The brother one came much later in my life. Not until my brother got married did we really, truly connect. At no fault of his.

In my personal or employed life I have worn hats labeled busboy (Po' Folks), dishwasher, stocker, cook, bartender, and many as flashy as "senior assistant manager" or perhaps "store manager" or my all time favorite "glorified babysitter". Recently I was wearing the hat labeled security...just another babysitter position..but one where you can beat the children when they get out of line. I have worn a lot of hats for sure.

Many of you wear hats daily. Some of you wear the hat labeled husband or wife. Some of you wear the hat labeled scholar (congrats Dr. Ramirez...job well done). Others perhaps wear the hat marked musician, or athlete. Some of you wear a hat that says "owner". And there are a few of us that even have a hat that says grandparent.

I will never be accused of wearing a hat that says politician or even religious fanatic...there are enough people in this world already wearing those hats. I dont know that I will ever wear the hat labeled husband either..that one scares the hell right out of me. But whatever hat I do choose to wear, I always try to wear it right. Even if at times it appears slightly crooked, it is still on my head for a reason.

So, as I end another blog, I tip my hat (the author one) to you all. Thank you so much for reading, and for all your wonderful comments. I am currently wearing the hat of romantic...it is after all almost Mother's Day. It doesnt hurt that she is the light in my dark world. I wish you all well, and remind you to take your hats off once in awhile...its good for you!

Who Did Start The Fire??

Ok, so today I was listenin to my IpoD at work like I do everyday, and one of my favorite songs came on. It is "We Didn't Start The Fire", by Billy Joel. I'm sure most if not all of you know the song. It is a list of events in his life. Starting with the year he was born and working to the year the song was released. There are so many events listed...Disneyland, the Kennedy Assassination, Space Flight, and The Cola Wars among others. Important and interesting. It is his legacy. His claim to History and what it has left us. So here I was singing and dancing and it hit me...why not write down the events of my life? My, or I should say OUR legacy. So for all of you born around the same year I was, this is for us. For those of you reading who are perhaps older (Hi Pops), your legacy stretches further, and entails so much more. So without any more blabber and even less ado, let us begin our walk through History.

1971
I was born August 19th of that year. China joined the UN that year as well. On November 14th, the NASA Mariner 9 became the first spacecraft to orbit another planet. The Soviets followed a month later with Mars 2 and Mars 3. Cigarettes were no longer advertised on TV that year..they had been banned. And Greenpeace was formed.

1972
HBO was luanched. Nike running shoes are introduced. Governor George Wallace was shot. The EPA banned DDT that year. In June of that year, the Watergate burglary was committed. A 15 year old boy named Bobby Fischer beats Russia to win the world chess championship. In December of that year, Eugene Cernan was the last man to walk on the moon.

1973
UPC Barcodes are first used. The Opera House in Sydney, Australlia opens. Nixon releases the Watergate tapes and the Bahamas gain their Independence from Brittain. Tower number 2 of the World Trade Center opens. The Vietnam war ends and all troops are pulled out by President Nixon. On November 13, the third and final SkyLab was launched. It landed later the next year.

1974
On August 8th, President Richard M. Nixon resigns the Presidency. Patty Hearst was abducted. The Heimlich maneuver was developed. Beverly Johnson becomes the first black model for Vogue magazine. Gerald Ford pardons tricky Dick and grants amnesty to all draft dodgers. Babe Ruth's long standing home run record falls to Hank Aaron. Evil Kneivel attempts to jump the Snake River in Idaho only to fall 600 feet. It is the first of four attempts. India tests its first nuclear bomb.

1975
Lyme disease was first discovered. Saigon falls to Communism. Disposable razors are introduced. Jimmy Hoffa vansihes. New York City is bailed out by the Federal Government. Microsoft is founded. The Alaska pipeline begins. After a 19 month search, Patty Hearst is arrested. The first joint US-USSR space mission, the Apollo-Soyuz is launched.

1976
Apple Computers is launched. Betamax and VHS VCR's are released. Ebola outbreak in Africa (it exists still today). The Viking probe lands on Mars, and West Point admits women. Oh yeah, and it's America's 200th Birthday.

1977
The first MRI is used. Red Dye no.2 is banned. The Son of Sam is arrested in New York. On May 3rd, the Alskan pipeline is completed. On August 16th, Elvis Presley is pronounced dead at Memphis Hospital. The treaty to return the Panama Canal is signed by President Carter, it was returned to the country on December 31, 1999. The first black Miss Universe is crowned. President Carter pardons all Vietnam draft dodgers.

1978
Garfield the cat is syndicated. The first ultrasound was used. Hustler publisher Larry Flynt was shot and paralyzed. 900 people drink a fruit-flavored cyanide drink in the Jonestown Massacre. The first test-tube baby is created, and Atlantic City allows gambling.

1979
Iranian students storm the Us Embassy holding 52 hostages for 444 days. This will be Jimmy Carter's undoing. The first Susan B. Anthony dollar coin is released. Sony Walkmans are marketed. The final SkyLab falls into the Indian Ocean. On February 11th, the Ayatollah Khomeini takes power in Iran. The federal Gov't grants $100 million to the Sioux nation in land reparations. Mother Theresa wins the Nobel Peace Prize. The Soviets invade Afghanistan. On September 7th, ESPN makes its debut.

1980
Post-it notes are marketed by 3-M. Dallas debuts on TV and is an instant hit. Mark David Chapman shoots and kills John Lennon. Mt St. Helens erupts, killing 60 people and coating five states in ash. CNN is launched as the first news network. Small Pox is considered eradicated. The Us boycotts the summer Olympics in Moscow, but the US goes on to beat Russia in Hockey for the Winter Olympic games. Insulin is gentetically engineered.

1981
The Columbia becomes the first launched space shuttle. Luke and Laura get married on General Hospital..it becomes the most watched wedding until Charles and Diana. The first DeLorean rolls off assembly lines. On August 1st, MTv launches...music will never be the same. The American hostages are released in Iran after 14 months. Pac-Man is introduced. On March 30th, Mark Hinkley attempts to assasinate Ronald Reagan.

1982
Michael Jackson's "Thriller" sells 30 million copies. The Tylenol scare. Ozzy bites the head off a live bat. Princess Grace of Monaco dies in a car accident. Liposuction is introduced. On March 5th, John Belushi dies of a heroin overdose. The Vietnam Memorial is erected in Washington D.C.. The first heart transplant takes place, the patient lives 112 days. Italy wins the World Cup in Spain.

1983
Camcorders are marketed. Cabbage patch kids are the craze. On February 4th, Karen Carpenter dies of anorexia. The final episode of M.A.S.H. airs and the advertising costs more than the Super Bowl. Compact Disc's are released. The US Embassy is bombed in Beirut. Australia wins the America's Cup after 132 years. HIV is discovered.

1984
The Cosby Show airs. Stonewashed jeans are introduced. The Soviets boycott the Olympics in Los Angeles. Indira Gandhi is assasinated. AIDS Virus discovered. Thanks to the FCC, the first "infomercials" hit the airwaves. Apple releases the first Macintosh personal computer. Geraldine Ferraro becomes first woman to run for a Presidential office (she ran for VP). Vanessa Williams becomes first African American Miss America...she is later de-throned when nude pictures surface.

1985
Mikhail Gorbachev becomes last President of Russia. Nintendo is introduced. Rock and Roll hall of fame opens. Rock Hudson dies on October 2nd..he is the first major public figure to succumb to the AIDS Virus. Crack cocaine appears. Leaded gass officially banned.

1986
January 28, the space shuttle Challenger explodes after liftoff. Chernobyl suffers the worst nuclear disaster in history. Haley's comet makes a return. The Statue of Liberty celebrates a 100th birthday. Martin Luther King day is celebrated for the first time. The Iran Contra scandal is reported in a Lebonese magazine in November. The Fox network airs. Boston sends all three of their sports teams to the "big games" (Red Sox, Celtics, and the Patriots.), with the Celtics being the only winners.

1987
On October 14th, baby Jessica falls down a well, she is rescued two days later. Margaret Thatcher is re-elected for her third term as Prime Minister. Condom commercials begin to appear on TV. Les Miserables debuts on broadway and wins 8 Tony Awards. On November 21, Demi Moore marries Bruce Willis. The World population reaches 5 billion people. Gary Hart and Jimmy Bakker are both rocked by scandal. The California Condor makes the Endangered Species List, with only 27 remaining.

1988
Prozac is introduced. Flight 103 is blown out of the sky over Scotland, terroism starts. Sony Bono becomes Mayor of Palm Springs. The Soviets finally leave Afghanistan. Human Genome project begins. Yellowstone National Park suffers a horrible fire, 35% of the park is burned. McDonalds opens in the USSR.

1989
On November 9th, the Berlin wall comes down. The Exxon Valdez crashes in Alaska spilling its contents into the water. On April 26th, Lucille Ball dies. June 3rd brought about the protests in Tienanmen Square...3000-7000 are killed. The fourteenth Dalai Lama wins the Nobel Peace Prize. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles become an overnight sensation. Milli Vanilli returns their Grammy's after a lip synching scandal. On August 24th, Pete Rose is banned from baseball. Burma changes its name to Myanmar. Pan-Am files chapter 11. Geraldo Rivera gets his nose broken by a Nazi on his talk show.

1990
Smoking on Domestic flights is banned. Margaret Thatcher resigns. NC-17 bcomes a new movie rating. The Hubble telescope is launched into space. Clean Air Act is passed. The Americans with Dissabilities Act is signed (ADA). Nelson Mandela is released from prison after 27 years. On May 10th, Jim Henson dies. The United States enters The Gulf War.

1991
"Magic" Johnson tests positive for the AIDS Virus. President Taylor is exhumed to determine wether he died of arsenic poisoning or not. Jeffrey Dahmer is arrested. Rodney King is beaten in Los Angeles. The World Wide Web is created on August 16th. Prince Charles and Princess Di split and dissolve their marriage.

1992
The "Teflon Don" John Gotti is convicted and sentenced. Johnny Carson retires from the Tonight Show. Hurricane Andrew hits Florida and leaves 250,000 homeless and 14 dead. The "Long Island Lolita" Amy Fisher pleads guilty to attempted murder and is sentenced to prison. Windsor Castle suffers a fire.

1993
Waco tragedy. February 26th, the World Trade Center is bombed. Michael Jordan retires. Lorena Bobbit is arrested for "chopping and lobbing". The Final epsiode of Cheers airs. Prince changes his name to a symbol. Wrestler and actor Andre the Giant dies. August ushers in the era of the Power Rangers.

1994
The Hubble telescope produces proof of Black Holes. Major League Baseball strikes. National Hockey League players locked out over salary disputes. Nancy Kerrigan is clubbed by rival Tonya Harding. The underwater "chunnel" between Brittain and France opens on May 3rd. On June 13th, OJ Simpson runs from the police after being suspected in a double homicide. Susan Smith drowns her two sons and lies on national Tv about the deaths. Kurt Cobain dies from a single gunshot wound to the head..it is ruled a suicide. Tiger Woods becomes the first minority and the youngest person to win the Masters. Richard Nixon dies at 81. Michael Jackson marries Lisa Marie Presley and Friends hits the air..lasting 1o years.

1995
April 19th brings us the bombing of the F Murrah Federal building in Oklahoma. October 4th OJ Simpson is found innocent. Jerry Garcia dies. Selena is murdered by her fan club President. Netscape debuts. Windows 95 is released. President Bill Clinton confirms Area 51 exists.

1996
The unabomber Ted Kaczynski is arrested. Ebonics is declared an official language. Tupac Shakur is shot and killed. The Olympics in Altanta are bombed. Lance Armstrong is diagnosed with cancer. Dolly, the cloned sheep exisits. Jon Bennet Ramsey is found murdered..a tragedy never solved. Madeline Albright becomes first female Secretary of State.

1997
"Heaven's Gate" mass suicide in California. Timothy McVeigh is found guilty of the Oklahoma bombing and sentenced to death. China assumes control of Hong Kong after 156 years under Brittish rule. Princess Diana is killed in a car accident. Gianni Versace is murdered in Florida. Titanic opens in the theaters and Harry Potter is published. Mother Theresa dies. Pokemon are introduced and Camel cigarettes removes Joe Camel as their spokesperson after he is more recognized by american youth than Mickey Mouse.

1998
The Price is Right airs its 5000th epsiode. Newt Gingrich resigns. John Glenn returns to space at age 77. Seinfeld ends. The International Space Station is launched. After 2o years Dale Earnhardt wins the Daytona 500. Disney opens the Wild Animal Kingdom in Florida. El Nino becomes a household name.

1999
April 20th, Columbine High School is attacked by two gunmen. It becomes the worst school tragedy in history, but not the last. Bill Clinton is acquitted. The Womens Soccer Team wins the World's Cup...Brandi Chastain is forever burned into the minds of all men worldwide. Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee divorce. The Elian Gonzalez battle begins...it dampens America's relationship with Cuba. George Harrison dies at 58. John F. Kennedy and his wife die in a tragic small plane crash. The "Great One" Wayne Gretzky retires. The attack of the boy bands begins and the Dream Team gear up for the Olympics. Y2K has everyone stocking up and in a panic...it proves bogus.

2000
Larry Linville (M.A.S.H.) and Tom Landry (Dallas Cowboys) die. Alan Greenspan is nominated for a fourth term. America Online purchases Time-Warner for $162 billion. The final Peanuts cartoon strip is released after the death of Charles Schultz (they are still printed, just not originals). Vicente Fox is elected President of Mexico. Hillary Clinton becomes the first woman in the Senate. Montgomery Ward closes its doors after 127 years in business.

2001
Microsoft releases Windows XP. Tropical Storm Allsion hits Houston briging 36 inches of rain and killing 22. The first self-contained artifical heart is transplanted. Barry Bonds breaks the single season home run record. Anthrax attacks are reported throughout the US. The World Trade Center Towers were brought down by airplanes. Almost 3,000 die in the worst terrosit attack on American soil in history. Enron files chapter 11. Three years after winning the Daytona 500 for the first time, Dale Earnhardt is killed while doing what he loved. Perry Como and Joey Ramone both die.

2002
Daniel Pearl is murdered in Pakistan. Princess Margaret dies after suffering a stroke. Operation Anaconda, the United States invasion of Afghanistan begins March 1st. Andrea Yeates drowns her five children in Houston and is found guilty. The Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth dies at 101 years of age. Serena Williams wins her first of several French Opens. United Airlines files for bankruptcy.

2003
The World Health Organization issues the SARS warning. The United States invades Iraq. The "Old Man of the Mountain", a rock formation in New Hampshire crumbles after heavy rain. Pen Hadow becomes the first peron to walk alone from Canada to the North Pole. Dewey, the first cloned deer, is born. Arnold becomes the "Governator" in California. The Concorde makes its last commercial flight. A massive earthquake devastates southern Iran, killing over 40,000. The space shuttle Columbia breaks up uopn re-entry killing all aboard. Bob Hope, Barry White, Buddy Epsen and Katharine Hepburn all leave us.

2004
Facebook is founded in Cambridge, Mass. Athens, Greece sees its first snow storm in over 300 years. The Lord of the Rings ties the record with 11 wins at the Academy Awards. The US lifts a 23 year travel ban against Libya. Vladimir Putin wins his second term in office. Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse is shown on 60 minutes. The World War II memorial is dedicated in Washington D.C.. Hurricane Charley kills 27 in Florida, 4 in Cuba and is the worst hurricane since Andrew. Mount St. Helens becomes active again. Martha Stewart begins her 5 month stay at club fed. Michael Scumacher wins his 7th (5th consecutive) Formula One title..making him the winningnest driver in Formula One history. The Entertainment world loses Janet Leigh, Rodney Dangerfield, Christopher Reeve, and Tony Randall.

2005
Saudi Arabia holds its first ever municipal elections. The National Hockey League cancels the season over labor disputes. The BTK killer, Dennis Rader is apprehended in Wichita , Kansas 31 years after his first murder. Steve Fossett goes around the world non-stop and non-refueled setting a record. Pope John Paul II dies. The first airbus 380 makes its virgin flight. Kuwaiti women are granted the right to vote. The first Disneyland is opened in Hong Kong. Hunter S. Thompson and Sandra Dee (look at me) leave us.

2006
Marks the 250th birthday of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Saddam Hussein is sentenced to death by hanging ( he was executed December 30th). The Playstation 3 and the Wii are both released in the US. Not much else happened.


And as I have researched, not much of note has happened since. I apologise for this being the longest, most drawn out blog to date. I guess I got carried away. I find that so much has happened and so many events have changed the way we remember the past. No one will ever forget 9/11, or Columbine. And we will all remember where we were and what we were doing. It is our legacy, stories to be passed down to our kids and their kids. I hope this little look back was fun for you. There is so much i didn't post, and so much more that happened. I could have gone on forever. I thank you as always for being patient and for reading. I haven't posted in some time, so I had so much in my system to get out.

I promise the next post wont be so long....be good!!

Brandon