Monday, May 30, 2011

Stand up for America


Have Americans become lazy. Do they only stand when they are told to at sports games when they say all rise and remove your hats for the Star Spangled Banner. Well, today my mom and I, went to the Roxy to see "Hop". Kudos to the Roxy for playing a special segment of our servicemen raising the flag while our National Anthem played. After a moment my mom and I got up, she said to me, should we be standing, and I said, "of course, it is the National Anthem". But when I turned and look there were only, a half a dozen people (all older) standing with us. The rest (maybe 50 or more people), families mostly, sat on their butts eating popcorn. SHAME ON YOU PARENTS, here is a perfect opportunity to teach your children PATRIOTIC PRIDE!!!.

Today of all days to, when we take time to remember those who have died for our freedom.

United States Code, 36 U.S.C. Section 301, states that during a rendition of the national anthem, when the flag is displayed, all present except those in uniform should stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart; Members of the Armed Forces and veterans who are present and not in uniform may render the military salute; men not in uniform should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold the headdress at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart; and individuals in uniform should give the military salute at the first note of the anthem and maintain that position until the last note; and when the flag is not displayed, all present should face toward the music and act in the same manner they would if the flag were displayed. Military law requires all vehicles on the installation to stop when the song is played and all individuals outside to stand at attention and face the direction of the music and either salute, in uniform, or place the right hand over the heart, if out of uniform. Recently enacted law in 2008 allows military veterans to salute out of uniform, as well.

Me - I stand in my living room when the National Anthem is played during the Superbowl.

and that's another day in Catasauqua

Friday, May 27, 2011

Memorial Day



Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. There are many stories as to its actual beginnings, with over two dozen cities and towns laying claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day. There is also evidence that organized women's groups in the South were decorating graves before the end of the Civil War.



Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, and was first observed on May 30, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states. The South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I (when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war). It is now celebrated in almost every State on the last Monday in May (passed by Congress with the National Holiday Act of 1971).



Many Americans today have forgotten the meaning and traditions of Memorial Day. At many cemeteries, the graves of the fallen are increasingly ignored, neglected. Most people no longer remember the proper flag etiquette for the day.

This I did not know - but the proper flag etiquette for Memorial day is that the flag is raised briskly to the top of the staff and then solemnly lowered to the half-staff position, where it remains only until noon. It is then raised to full-staff for the remainder of the day. The half-staff position remembers the more than one million men and women who gave their lives in service of their country (and who still are). At noon their memory is raised by the living, who resolve not to let their sacrifice be in vain, but to rise up in their stead and continue the fight for liberty and justice for all.

While there are towns and cities that still hold Memorial Day parades,(I believe the American Legion in Catty still has a tradition that they still do) many have not held a parade in decades. Some people think the day is for honoring any and all dead, and not just those fallen in service to our country.

Something else I did not know - To help re-educate and remind Americans of the true meaning of Memorial Day, the "National Moment of Remembrance" resolution was passed in December of 2000 which asks that at 3 p.m. local time, for all Americans "To voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to Taps.

Since 1987, Hawaii's Senator Daniel Inouye a World War II veteran, has repeatedly introduced measures to return Memorial Day to its traditional date. Why, because Memorial Day is more that a 3 day picnic party weekend, it's not those special doorbuster specials at Kohl's, it is about those who lost their lives fighting for ours. So this Memorial Day, Monday May 30, let's try to remember to take that moment at 3:00 PM, I know I will.

and that's.....another day in Catasauqua

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Finales......


This has been the week of some finales for me. First Dancing with the Stars. I loved Hines Ward from the beginning and he won, but kudos to Kirstie Alley, who came in 2nd. She is 60 and did things I can only dream of and lost half of herself in the process. Mondays and Tuesdays will be quiet now for me. I always have a little DWTS withdrawal pains the following week.

Speaking of withdrawals, Lady O, Oprah's last show was today. I have saved the show to watch it again sometime because her message was so powerful. When it was over Parke told me, let out Bev, he knew I was on the verge of tears.

A lot of what she said hit home for me today. She said "Everybody has a calling, and your real job in life is to find it." I have been questioning my calling for sometime. Especially since I have been on a partial layoff. I wonder sometimes what I would do if I no longer had my job. What direction would I turn and what is my true calling, because it might not even be the job that I do anyway.

Oprah talked about energy, gratitude, God and love. She said in the beginning, "It is no coincidence that I always wanted to be a teacher. I ended up with the greatest classroom in the world." Well today she was a teacher, but she also could of been a pretty good preacher.

She said "I've talked to nearly 30,000 people on this show, and all 30,000 had one thing in common -- they all wanted validation. ... They want to know, do you hear me? Do you see me? Does what I say mean anything to you?" That moved me. I think all my life I have been looking for some sort of validation. And when I had validation in a certain areas, they where fleeting. I guess in someways that's life, it changes, you are a daughter one day and a mother the next. So life becomes a series of validations. This blog is a validation for me, it's my voice, or thoughts being catapulted into cyberspace. I become validated when I check the stats to see how many people read it. I get excited when I see it is more than one, LOL!!!

I think today I will try to start being a better me. A beginning in all the endings. I want to start a gratitude journal, because sometimes, especially late at night, my mind remembers all the negatives, and forgets all the positive things that happened to me that day. I want to be a healthier me, of course I have wanted this for years, but I seem to think that it is not within my reach, and I need to try figure out why I think like that. I want to be a more peaceful me, I have been working on this, but I am a work in progress on that one. And I want to be happy and I want to spread happiness and joy where ever I am.

Oprah said, "There's a difference between thinking you deserve to be happy and knowing that you are worthy of being happy. Your being alive makes worthiness your birthright. You alone are enough." So everyone....be happy.

Well, even with all these endings life will still go on. There is still OWN, I am sure we will see Oprah there.

At the end she said, someone asked her if this was bittersweet for her and she said, " There is no bitter only sweet".....and that's Another day in Catasauqua.

Monday, May 23, 2011

Rainy Days and Mondays in Catasauqua


A friend of mine just sent me an email and she said she thinks there's been a planetary shift and we are now living in Seattle. I am starting to agree. I did manage to plant my tomato plants and cut the grass on Saturday while we had some sunshine.

Speaking of mail. I am a little disappointed in the school system in Catasauqua. When I asked my Sunday School students to address an envelope to themselves, which I would send to them during the summer, they did not know how. This exercise was a part of my lesson. The children I teach are 11-12 years old, one I know is on the honor roll. They told me that they didn't know how, that they were never taught this in school. It shocked me but when I talked to a teacher I understood why. The schools have to keep there test scores up and they concentrate on what the state wants. This causes other things to be shoved to the side. The teacher I was talking to showed me his cell phone, he says now we have these. Geeze, I remember having a pen pal when I was a kid.

One time I shocked one of my Sunday School students when I said that stores use to be closed on Sunday's. She said "Oh my God what did you do?" and she meant it. This generation does not know what it is like not to have everything available to them. Everything now is instant. We can send text, emails and even make phone calls when we are not home. I am not saying that this is worse or better. I use all these things to and love them. But I hope that today's generation also learn a few life skills along the way and learn to look up occasionally from their phones to see the world and smell the flowers. It bothers me sometimes when I see parents focused on their phones instead of their children.

I still like talking face to face and I have been know to send the occasional letter or card, I guess that makes me old fashioned.

But that's okay with me and that's another (albeit rainy) day in Catasauqua.

Friday, May 20, 2011

So, is this my Last Day in Catasauqua


I was just reading on the internet (and now it is on the 11:00 o'clock news) about Harold Camping and his mathematical prediction of tomorrow being the Rapture. Which made me think about the end of the world. First thing I did, was get a beer. Because we all know that in heaven there is no beer, that's why we drink it here.

But seriously, if and when the Rapture would occur I would hope to be included. After reading the "Left Behind" series a few years ago, I sincerely would not want to be left behind. But if I had a nickel for every time I heard the world was going to end, well, I would have a couple dollars by now.

My Grandmother told me the end of the world was near, pointing out apocalyptic signs at every turn. I think she started when I was 5 and I am now over 50. She's is gone, but the end of world keeps on coming. I remember in July of 1977. My born again friends had me so convinced that the Rapture would happen on 7-7-77. I remember trying to making sure my husband at the time believed in Jesus because I was going and I wanted to make sure he was coming with. (Now he is my ex-husband and now if he goes its optional).

Then there was Y2K - it wasn't the Rapture exactly, but it was suppose to be the end of the world as we knew it. All technology would fail and we would be in the dark. I stocked up on water and toilet paper, I don't why I did. The upside of that was that I had toilet paper for the next year.

Now I have questions like, what happens to our pets if we woosh. I mean God made all the creatures, he wouldn't let them behind would they. Who would let Digger out for me? And who is correct, the Left Behind series said that our clothes are left behind (So if you want to give someone a heart attack tomorrow just leave a full set of clothes out somewhere, like on the sofa, or in the car) but Harold Camping says we go in what we are wearing, so should I get dressed up tomorrow? Because I do my cleaning tomorrow and I will be in my rattiest of clothes.

How is Harold Camping spending the day, he says, "I'll probably try to be very near a TV or a radio or something," he said. "I'll be interested in what's happening on the other side of the world as this begins." So does that mean that God does this at different times around the world, and not all at once? Sort of like New Years Eve, would we in Catasauqua know before California?

Well, for me, I don't think it is tomorrow, I believe it will come "like a thief in the night" and that we will never know the time or day. And I like to think that I am a true believer, I believe that Jesus is my Saviour, and that through Him we have eternal life.

Somehow I think I will be doing my cleaning tomorrow, then heading to St. Paul's for the Night of Music, and that I will be back home studying my Sunday School Lesson and watching Saturday Night Live as usual.

Then I will get up Sunday, and all will be the same and that... will be just Another Day in Catasauqua........or will it?

What's happening in Catty



Providing that the world does not end tomorrow, or just if you are not included in the Rapture, I figured I would list what's going on this weekend in Catty. On the other hand, if the Rapture does happen, hopefully this will be my last blog.






First - besides Yard Sales everywhere - there will be a Yard Sale at Holy Trinity, Fourth and Pine Streets, Catty from 8am to 2pm. (I saw some nice stuff going in the other night)



Book Sale and Flea Market - Today (Friday) from 10am to 4pm & on Saturday from 9am to 3pm and I think that I read in the Catty Press that the Garden Club will be selling plants also on Saturday.



The Lehigh Valley Christian School (the old Lincoln Middle School) was suppose to be having a Carnival today 2pm to 8pm, I don't know if they are still having it with this crazy weather.



St. Paul's on Howertown Road is presenting a Night of Music - Saturday - A Sing-a-long starts at 6:30pm, program to start at 7:00 PM, a lot of patriot songs will be sung.



Sunday - the American Legion is having their breakfast buffet from 8am to Noon.



On a sad note, please say prayers for Warren Houtling and Mariah Lopez of Catasauqua and their families. The teens left notes saying that they were going to jump from the Race Street Bridge last night and are still missing. Let's hope that they are found alive and safe.

Monday, May 16, 2011

A Little of This and a Little of That


Well, I just thought I would ramble a little bit, because I understand that I am good at that.

First, let me remind you to get out and Vote tomorrow. Now I vote at St. Paul's but I like what Salem UCC does and they have a bake sale that you visit before or after voting. Actually at Salem they have Ham & Cheese Sandwiches along with baked goods and this time, for the first time, they have added Chicken Orzo Soup to the menu. As luck would have it, I am off tomorrow so I plan on stopping down at Salem for lunch and because I was off I decided to make something for the bake sale.

I wanted to make something different for the bake sale so I decided to make potato candy, a favorite of mine, but this blogger has never attempted to make the sweet treat except for many years ago and I messed it up at the time. So tonight I tried and will find out later when I cut them to see if they turned out okay. My kitchen, of course, is now covered in powdered sugar, along with me. I also tried to make chocolate potato candy, it looks okay so far.

On another note, if you see me out in front of my house, bent over with a yellow glove on, I have sad news, my bush has worms, yes... it is true, my mugo pine has European pine sawfly larvae. I tried going the non-toxic way and I cut off the infested branches and also tried to hand pick off the worms, drowning the little suckers in soapy water, but there are too many, so I purchases insecticide, so die suckers and leave my bushes alone.

Well I gotta go watch Dancing with the Stars, love you all, and that's just another day in Catasauqua.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Oh Say Can You See, Part 2


Well, we did it! We Sing, North Catasauqua's Community Choir sang the Star Spangled Banner at the Iron Pig's game at Coca Cola Park on Friday, May 13. Pastor Bob told us today that he saw three of us, from Salem UCC, on the Jumbotron, Cathy Reiter, Karen Renn and me. It was a great moment in time for me and I am sure for my fellow chorus member as well. We came out from Section 105 and marched over to the 2nd base area to sing. I forgot that the baseball players are on the field at the same time. It was strange to see them up close.

Since this was also a night that I personally had tickets for with my 18 game package, the section that I have been sitting with was there. As soon as I got on the field I looked up and saw the ladies that sit behind us and I waved, and sure enough they knew it was me and stood up and waved, danced and cheered, ah God love them, I know I do.

Well, we sang, they cheered, I think we sounded okay, I know we were quick! And now I can chalk up another great memory. And with that.......it's another day in Catasauqua.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Oh Say Can You See!!!!



Maybe you live in North Catasauqua, and last night you thought you heard a song in the air. Well, you were right. The North Catasauqua WE SING Community Chorus was practicing the Star Spangled Banner, out on the lawn at the North Catasauqua Municipal building. Now, you might ask why? Well, let me tell you. WE SING IS SINGING FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE IRON PIGS GAME!!!! Yes, this Friday, May 13 at 7:05 PM our voices will fill the air. Am I so excited, OH YEAH!!! I have sat almost everywhere at Coca Cola Stadium and I have even thrown out a ceremonial first pitch but this is different, this is our National Anthem!!! I can't wait and this blogger will fill you in on the experience this weekend. Also I am going to try to take pictures along the way, should be fun.

Also while I am talking about We Sing. We Sing is sponsoring a Community Yard Sale/Flea Market on Saturday, June 11, 8am to 2pm. It will be held at the North Catasauqua Playground and we need vendors, so if you are interested in having a spot you can call the North Catty Borough Hall at 610-264-1504 or email: northcatawesing@aol.com for further information.

Also this weekend I saw a sign that the Masonic Temple is having a Spaghetti Dinner Saturday, this might finally be my opportunity to finally get in and sneak around, I will be the one with a big floppy hat and sunglasses and a camera, no one will suspect anything.

and that's another day in Catasauqua.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Why do we have a Golf Course?









You know when you live in Catasauqua there are some things you just take for granted like airplanes overhead and you think every town has a golf course. While I was googling around for something to write about I started with the Charotin Fire Company history. I then wanted to see if there is such a word as Charotin, so I googled, checked the online dictionary and then wikipedia. Wikipedia brought up North Catasauqua so I was reading that and then something caught my eye, and that was the history of the golf course, or better yet, why we have a golf course.



Wikipedia says:


The Willowbrook Golf Course has played an important role in the borough’s (North Catty) development. The golf course was originally a private five-hole course built by Colonel James Fuller on the Willowbrook Farm Estate to entertain personal friends and executives visiting the Fuller Company in Catasauqua. In 1932, the golf course opened as a private nine-hole course leased to Dr. Calvin Miller from Mrs. Dorothy Fuller, the Colonel’s widow. The golf course was open to the public in 1934 as a way to pay for expenses. The golf course has grown over the years and has become a popular course for local residents and area golfers. Today the golf course offers 18 holes, a driving range, clubhouse, and pro shop.

James Wheeler Fuller, III (1873 - April 4, 1929), known as Colonel Fuller, was an American industrialist known for manufacturing conveyor belts used for cement production.



Colonel Fuller became sole owner of the Lehigh Car, Wheel & Axle Works subsequent to the death of his father in 1910. In 1918, Lehigh Car, Wheel & Axle changed its name to Fuller-Lehigh. In 1927 it was sold to Babcock & Wilcox.


Colonel Fuller started the Fuller Company in 1926, which specialized in manufacturing conveyor belts used in the cement production process. The company also manufactured the Fuller-Kinyon pump, which are still in use today. They are heavy-duty pneumatic screw pumps that are able to convey dry, free-flowing, or pulverized materials.


Colonel Fuller became V.P. & General Manager of Allentown Portland Cement Company, as well as the President & Director of Emoire Steel and Iron Company, the successor to Lehigh Crane Iron Company.



On the Willow Brook Golf site is continutes with the following: The front nine offers both beauty and challenge. The beautiful Catasauqua Creek comes into play on five holes along with some exciting elevation changes. The back nine is slightly more open with sweeping doglegs (huh, what's a dogleg?), which call for a diversity of shot making (which I could understand if you have to shoot around some dogs legs). The course fairways are fully irrigated and the greens are bent grass (is this opposed to straight grass?).



I walk to the golf course and back a lot and I like taking a moment to pause there and watch the golfers, but I never thought much about who built it, now I know and with that....it's another day in Catasauqua.

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Brown & White...Brown & White



I just got done reading the headline article of today's Morning Call entitled "Bleed--don't read--Orange and Black." Poor Northampton, it has to change all their streets signs by 2018 to a more acceptable color combination required by PennDot. One of the combinations that they can choose from is brown and white, but somehow I don't think that's gonna happen

I feel for Northampton, truly I do, there are alot of streets signs and I am sure it will be quite an expense. Personally I like the orange and black, I think you can read them easily. Plus when I am on a walk, I know I have gone to far and it's time to turn back.

This will be the 89th year for the Catasauqua/Northampton rivalry, a long running Thanksgiving Football Tradition. To this day, I cannot wear orange and black. If I attempt to I feel like some sort of traitor. I guess we do bleed brown and white and Northampton bleeds orange and black.

Being a Rough Rider does stick with you. I did a house settlement for Whitehalls own, Matt Millen many years ago, while he was still playing pro-football. He asked me where I went to school and I said, Catasauqua. He then ruffled my hair and said, "hey a Rough Rider." So I guess, once a Rough Rider, always a Rough Rider, and that's another day in Catasauqua.






Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Catasauqua Trivia

Last night we had our Annual Red Hat Tea Party at Friendship Circle at Salem. We are not real Red Hatters, it is just the way our group, Friendship Circle kind of started. We do a different theme every month and I am the Martha Stewart of the bunch. I do a little decorating and plan a game sometimes. Anyway, last night we played Catasauqua Trivia, which I am full of (oy, I am full of a lot of stuff sometimes). I always say I am a plethera of useless information, but it comes in handy at game time.



A shout out to my friends Nancy and Cathy for reading my blogs and knowing some of the answers!



The first thing I found interesting and that I didn't know was "Why is Catasauqua referred to as the Million Dollar Town." I thought it was because Catasauqua had so many millionaires back in the day and it did. By 1900, Catasauqua boasted 5,000 residents, and had the highest percentage of self-made millionaires of any town in the United States. But it was because in 1917, while many of the young men of the town served in World War I, Catasauqua became the first community in the United States to raise $1 million in war bonds, earning it the nickname "The Million Dollar Town." Wow, isn't that amazing!!!!!



Another thing I found really interesting was notable people from Catasauqua. They were listed as follows:


Buck Freeman, professional baseball player, 1891-1907. Played with Washington Senators. Born in Catasauqua.


Pat Kelly, professional baseball player, New York Yankees, 1991-97. Catasauqua High School graduate.


Bert Kuczynski, pitcher for the Philadelphia Athletics, 1943, and tight end in the NFL for the Detroit Lions, 1943, and Philadelphia Eagles, 1946. Taught and coached at Catasauqua High School.


Bob Sherlin, Software engineer, developed the first desktop computer and gps satellite also helped develop the floppy and optical disk drives


Larry Miller, Class of 1964, Basketball Star for University of North Carolina during the 1960s and played professionally in the ABA from 1968-1975 as a member of the Los Angeles Stars, Carolina Cougars, San Diego Conquistadors, Virginia Squires, and Utah Stars.



I had heard of some of these men, but I was amazed at Bert Kuczynski, I had him is school as a Teacher, I knew he coached, but I was really amazed about his career. Further googling found this:



Bert Kuczynski - Professional Baseball and Football Player. He was a standout varsity football and baseball player at the University of Pennsylvania from 1941-1943. After graduating in 1943 he signed with the Philadelphia Athletics and pitched in the major leagues just weeks after graduating from college. He then signed an NFL contract with the Detroit Lions and played tight end for the Lions during the 1943 season, thus becoming one of the few players to ever play their rookie season in Major League Baseball and their rookie season in the National Football League in the same year. His professional career was interrupted by a tour of duty in the United States Navy during World War II from 1944-1946, but after being discharged from the Navy, he returned to play professional football for the Philadelphia Eagles during the 1946 season. After retiring from football he returned to the University of Pennsylvania where he obtained his Master's Degree in 1949. He spent the next 27 years teaching high school history and also became a very successful football and baseball coach at the high school level.



I am in awe! You know I really do love Catasauqua and become more amazed each time I find out a little more and with that .....it's another day in Catasauqua.