President Reagan dies at 93

President Ronald Reagan died today at age 93.  He was the 40th president of the United States and served two terms.  He lived from 1911 - 2004.  No matter how you felt about his politics, there was so much good you could say about him.  On the eve of his death, many are coming out and saying many things about him.  

"He won the Cold War without firing a shot," former Republican National Chairman Jim Gilmore said.

"He is the one who allowed the breakup of the Soviet Union," said Bogdan Chireac.  "May God rest his soul."

"Whether you agreed or disagreed with Ronald Reagan, you can't deny that he was honest, fought hard for what he believed in, and had the courage of his convictions," said U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D - N.Y.

Richardson, a democrat, said, "He restored the nation's pride when our collective spirits were low."

Reagan is known for many things.  He was the Great Communicator.  Everybody knows his "Tear down this wall speech.  Reagan did much to end communism.  He helped with the oil crisis.  He ended the hostage crisis.  He made the nation patriotic and proud again.  He helped us believe in ourselves again.  He energized the economy.  He led the way on social issues such as abortion.  He had old-fashioned conservative principles.  He was known to many as a man of principle because he stuck to his principles.  

This great man and great president will be greatly missed.     

Valerie

Yesterday I found out my sister Valerie is going to have brain surgery in July.  She has Arnold Chiari Malformation and Pseudotumor Cerebri.  She had brain surgery for Chiari about a year ago and it looks like she is going to have to have another one again.  She has to go through so much with her illnesses, yet is so brave.  She is such a beautiful person.  She brightens my day.  If you are the praying type, please pray for her.  Thanks.

Hanging Shoes

Memorial Day was pretty uneventful.  There were no picnics, no parades, no graves to visit.  Everything was rained out.  The rain pretty much came down all day.  John and I decided to have an indoor picnic.  We were going to cook some steaks but then decided why cook, and went downtown to a new pizza place to try out some pizza there. 

We had them make us a pizza to carry out.  It turned out to be fantastic.  On the way home I  noticed about twenty pairs of sneakers slung over the electrical wires.  Throwing your tennis shoes over the electrical wires is a rite of passage in this college town here.  The students do it after they graduate.  Now why would anyone want to hang your sneakers from electrical wires?  One, it seems like a perfectly good waste of money to me.  You have to go buy new shoes.  Two, it can't be good for the wires.  I bet if a police office or the electric company caught you you would be in trouble.  Perhaps I am turning into an old fuddy duddy.  When I was in school we used to go toilet papering and I thought that was okay (that is another story). 

Well, it is raining and thundering right now.  Mr. Michael The Maine Coon Cat is hiding behind the toilet.  Big brave 21 pound cat!  The forcast calls for rain 6 out of 7 days this week.  I guess we will have to plan a lot of indoor picnics to keep ourselves from getting bored this week.  And some other things.  I hope everyone has a nice week.