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Saturday, July 26, 2014

HOW PUMPKIN PIES ARE REALLY MADE ! ! !

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Greetings and Salutations to All my Kith and Kin and All the Ships in Outer Space:

For a larger view, please click on the picture.

 

This was posted on the FACEBOOK social networking web site by my cousin, PENNI MALLERNEE, on Wednesday 18 November 2009.
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COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER 

Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.

Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. 

Non-profit, educational, or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
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Thank you.

1800 Beach Drive, Unit 311 

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AWED BY COUNTING BLESSINGS

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Greetings and Salutations to All my Kith and Kin and All the Ships in Outer Space:

As we approach Thanksgiving Day, have you counted your blessings lately?

One thing I've discovered is that, when kneeling in prayer, if I try to enumerate and/or specifically name each and every blessing in my life, and especially the blessings I take for granted (i.e., clean water, fresh air, et cetera), it is impossible to do.

Every single time I do that, at the conclusion of my unusually lengthy prayer of thanksgiving, I'll get to my feet, walk a few steps, and suddenly remember some gifts and blessings I'd forgotten to mention.

Try it.

You'll see for yourself what I'm talking about.

This is a subject that I've written about more than once on previous occasions, and I reckon I'll probably write about and/or speak about it in the future (assuming there is a mortal future for me) again and again and again, ad infinitum.

There are moments when I am suddenly overwhelmed by the realization of how blessed I am.

The past couple of days are instances where I felt like that.

It was little things like sitting comfortably on my sofa, using my computer to watch a DVD of an exciting movie on my wide screen, high definition television, snacking on popcorn and other assorted goodies, and drinking ice cold Pepsi-Cola from my Clan Henderson pewter tankard.

It's little things like the medicine prescribed to alleviate my constant pain, my monthly disability retirement pension, and the full sized bed, with lots of blankets and pillows, in my comfortably furnished private room.

It's little things like the realization that I'm alive, not incarcerated, and still have the use of both hands, both feet, my mind, my speech, and my senses of sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell.

I reckon I feel the effects of all these blessings so intently because so much of my life has been one of deprivation, degradation, and physical peril.

As a youth, I was in some terrible places with some terrible people, forced to endure some terrible experiences, and yet, today, I am alive and free, when circumstances so easily could have turned me into a serial murderering psychotic sociopath.

I marvel at how well off I am, and I wonder about it?

There was a time in my life when I thought I'd never be able to finish high school, or go to college, or serve in the military, or drive a car, or have a girlfriend, or be married, or travel, or even to just live a normal life, like other folks live.

But, I did have a few advantages.

One of them was constantly reading every book I could get my hands on.

Another was my habit of imitating the singers I heard on the radio, and therefore, spontaneously singing all the time, regardless of whether folks stared and thought me to be weird or insane.

Another advantage I had was my ignorance and naivete, and thus, completely oblivious to danger, I'd hitch-hike all over the United States of America.

Since I was frequently unemployed, penniless, alone, on foot, homeless, hungry, wet, and cold, the physical hardships and dangerous situations I would encounter were no real hindrance.

Two events have had the most positive effect on my life.

First, I became a convert in The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day Saints.

The real importance there was some of the other young men in the Church literally took me physically by the hand and taught me how to walk and talk like a normal person.

The other most positive influence was being accepted into the United States Army, during a war which was unpopular and controversial.

That opened up a LOT of doors!

Who, knowing me at the worst moments of my youth, would ever imagine I would ever travel all over the world, including a very special visit to the land of Israel, and that one day, I'd be composing both lyrics and melody for original songs that I'd perform myself?

Who could ever have possibly imagined ME (!), for a few years, having served as the officially appointed bard of a Scottish clan?

Ah, and LOOK at the times we're living through!

I've seen man walk on the Moon!

I've seen genuine, actual spacemen floating around in Outer Space!

Now, we have personal home computers, and we can chat with anyone, face to face, anyplace in the world!

And, oh, the many wonderful people I've become acquainted with!

Dreams do come true, although in my case, I'm still not quite sure why they did or do.

I was lucky.

I was blessed - - - EXCEEDINGLY blessed!

Even now, to this very day, to this very moment, it is beyond my understanding.

Try doing what I've done.

Get on your knees and try thanking our Heavenly Father for each and every blessing and gift that you can think of.

Then, when you stand up and start to walk away, you'll remember some gifts and/or blessings that you forgot to mention when you were trying to give thanks to Heavenly Father.

See what I mean?

Doesn't this make you feel really well off, richly blessed beyond all measure?

Since all of us are mere mortal human beings, universally plagued with temptations, vices, and sin, the knowledge of how richly blessed we are probably leaves us also feeling a bit humbled and perhaps, maybe even unworthy.

But, even though we might not comprehend what's going on, the fact is, our Heavenly Father loves His children, and just like any mortal father, He probably delights in showering His children with gifts, just to see our reaction.

Or, maybe there's more to it than that.

I don't know.

What do you think?

Thank you.

1800 Beach Drive, Unit 311 

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THANKSGIVING DAY AT THE ARMED FORCES RETIREMENT HOME

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Greetings and Salutations to All my Kith and Kin and All the Ships in Outer Space:

Here is how we're observing THANKSGIVING DAY at the ARMED FORCES RETIREMENT HOME in Gulfport, Mississippi on Thursday 28 November 2013.

ARMED FORCES RETIREMENT HOME  
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THANKSGIVING DAY
ACTIVITY SCHEDULE

0900 Hours: 
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 
telecast  in the theatre

0915 Hours:
Thanksgiving Day Catholic mass
in the chapel

1130-1300 Hours:

1400 Hours:
Matinee movie with popcorn,
"Cirque du Soleil: Varekai" (2013)

1830 Hours:
Movie, "MUD", (2013), Drama, Rated PG-13,
2 Hours and 10 Minutes long, Closed Captions __________________________________

TRADITIONAL
THANKSGIVING DAY DINNER

Kansas City Steak Soup
Butternut Squash Soup
Shrimp Cocktail
Cranberry Sauce
Roasted Tom Turkey
Dressing
Gravy
Potatoes
Ham with Rum Sauce
Praline Yams
Squash Casserole
Turnip Greens
Country Corn
Rolls and Cornbread
Assorted Traditional Holiday Desserts
with Sugar and/or without Sugar 
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Guests and/or visitors desiring to chow down in our mess hall must purchase meal tickets, costing seven dollars ($7.00) each, at the Security desk in the main lobby, and may not enter the mess hall until 1200 Hours plus 15 Minutes.

I've even got my 2004 Ford F-150 XLT four wheel drive pickup truck decorated!

For a larger view,
please click on the photograph.

Also, although it's not listed on the schedule, some local farmer is bringing his dog here for a visit.

How do I know?

Because there's a sign outside of our mess hall that says, "BINGO Tonight at 1900".

"There was a farmer
Had a dog,
And Bingo was his name, Oh!
B-I-N-G-O, B-I-N-G-O,
B-I-N-G-O,
And Bingo was his name, Oh!"

Also, if the Armed Forces Retirement Home's saloon, "FIDDLER'S GREEN", is open on Thanksgiving Day, it's quite possible that there'll be a bunch of guys relaxing as they enjoy watching scheduled football bowl games on the saloon's wall mounted, large screen television sets, while imbibing their favorite brews to slake their after dinner thirst.

It's sort of a typical "guy" thing.

My own most precious memory of Thanksgiving Day occurred in 1971, when I was a soldier in my beloved United States Army serving with the 501st Signal Battalion of the renowned 101st Airborne Division "Screaming Eagles" in the old Republic of Viet Nam.

Aboard a Pan American jet airliner enroute to my Rest and Recuperation leave in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, I commented on my anticipation of Thanksgiving Day dinner.

Another soldier pointed out that Thanksgiving Day was only an AMERICAN holiday, not observed in Australia.

But, the Latter-day Saint couple, whose home I stayed in, arranged for me to enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving Day dinner at the home of an American family living in Australia, along with two American full-time missionaries of The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day Saints.


The Browns, My Australian Latter-day Saint Hosts

My Thanksgiving Day Dinner

Because of that, I now solemnly regard our Thanksgiving Day as both a patriotic and religious observance, and it is an appropriate occasion for military veterans to wear their decorations.

May we all continue to be ever grateful for everything we have, including all those little unmentioned things we generally take for granted, and may we strive diligently to be more deserving of the manifest blessings so graciously bestowed upon all of us by our Heavenly Father.

And now, as a token of gratitude for all of our innumerable blessings on this very special Thanksgiving Day, I offer up this famous hymn.

For the best effect, please be sure and watch, in "FULL SCREEN" mode, my homemade amateur video recording of ME (!), performing "FINLANDIA", as I accompany myself by strumming simple chords on my Yamaha G-130A classical guitar, which I created and posted in my room at the Ol' Soldiers' Home in Washington, D.C. on Friday 08 January 2010.


May God in His tender mercy continue to bless these United States of America, and may we, the people, ever humbly do all within our power to deserve those bounteous blessings bestowed upon us from Heaven above.

Thank you.

1800 Beach Drive, Unit 311 

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SATURDAY 06 DECEMBER 1941

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Greetings and Salutations to All my Kith and Kin and All the Ships in Outer Space:

Please click on this automated computer Internet link to read all about the events which transpired on the evening of, "SATURDAY 06 DECEMBER 1941".

To see a larger version, please click on
the historic photograph of Jack Miller, Frank Kosa, and Clifford Olds.
USS WEST VIRGINIA BB-48
I saw this posted by "SPORKMASTER" at the web site of "THIS AIN'T HELL, BUT YOU CAN SEE IT FROM HERE".

Thank you.

1800 Beach Drive, Unit 311 

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MY ANNIVERSARY

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Greetings and Salutations to All my Kith and Kin and All the Ships in Outer Space:

Seventy-two (72) years ago, at 0800 Hours on Sunday 07 December 1941, without warning, naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan launched a sneak attack on military installations of the United States of America at Pearl Harbor, on the island of Oahu in the Hawaiian Islands. 

Twenty-six (26) years later, at 1630 Hours on Thursday 07 December 1967, at the Armed Forces Entrance and Examination Station in downtown Portland, Oregon, I was formally inducted into the United States Army.

After eating our supper at the YMCA next door, our group of recruits and draftees boarded a chartered bus to Fort Lewis, Washington, where I began my Basic Combat Training in Company D, 3d Battalion, 1st Basic Combat Training Brigade. 

For the best effect, please be sure to enjoy watching, in "FULL SCREEN" mode, my slide show of some of my photographs from my years as a soldier in the United States Army, following in the footsteps of my father, Master Sergeant William Vincent Mallernee, United States Army (27 January 1920 - 04 November 2001).



Nifty, huh?

Thank you.

1800 Beach Drive, Unit 311 

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FORTY-FOUR YEARS AGO

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Greetings and Salutations to All my Kith and Kin and All the Ships in Outer Space:

Today is Thursday 12 December 2013.

Forty-four (44) years ago, on Friday 12 December 1969, as a Private First Class in the United States Army, I landed at Cam Ranh Bay, Republic of Viet Nam.

I was a volunteer, proud to be a part of American history, but, BOY, was I scared ! ! !

I was twenty-three (23) years old, one (01) year younger than my father was, when, as a soldier in the United States Army, he landed on the beach at Normandy, France, shortly after D-Day 1944. 

On D-Day 1944, the woman destined to become my stepmother was stationed in Florida, watching for enemy aircraft, as one of the very FIRST (number 104) women to enlist in the newly formed Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC), which later became the Women’s Army Corps (WAC).

Unknown to me at the time I went to the Republic of Viet Nam, my biological younger brother (we were both adopted by different families) was a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army, stationed in Germany, my previous duty station. 

Only very recently, did we learn that both of us were in Germany at the same moment, simultaneously watching the live televised broadcast of Neil Armstrong take that historic first step on the Moon, with myself at Spangdahlem Air Force Base, and my brother at Grafenwhoehr.

Thank you.

1800 Beach Drive, Unit 311 

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OUR BILL OF RIGHTS

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Greetings and Salutations to All my Kith and Kin and All the Ships in Outer Space:

Today is Sunday 15 December 2013, and two hundred and twenty-two (222) years ago, the first ten (10) amendments to our divinely inspired "CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA", which we refer to as our "BILL OF RIGHTS", was ratified on 15 December 1791.

For the maximum effect, please be sure to watch (and share with loved ones!), in "FULL SCREEN" mode, this slide show that I created, "CHARTERS OF FREEDOM".



It is especially important that we remember and openly discuss the terminology employed throughout the "BILL OF RIGHTS", a sacred document which exists solely to limit the powers of government, as the specific phrase, "Congress shall make no law", is repeated over and over.


Let us continue utilizing every effort to compel our government to acknowledge that, as responsible human beings, we individual citizens were endowed at birth with unalienable rights, which can NOT be enumerated or limited.

As specifically authorized by,

"ARMY REGULATION 670-1: 30 - 6.0
WEAR OF MEDALS ON CIVILIAN CLOTHES",

today is an appropriate occasion for all military veterans to wear with proper dignity their decorations and/or medals on their civilian clothing.

Thank you.

1800 Beach Drive, Unit 311 

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