Things that catch me attention.

YIZIT

2010-04-21T21:36:00.002-04:00

As I wander through some of my RSS feeds and emails I find it amazing how some otherwise intelligent and rational people can believe some of the most amazing urban legends. I also notice a great deal of contradiction in the behaviors of come people and the comments they might make. That brings me to a list of YIZIT. A YIZIT is not an oxymoron, but an observation of how sometimes behaviors doesn't mesh with what people wonder. Meaning "Why Is It That", WIZITs poke fun at some of the 'remember when' emails with the possibility that the panderer contributes to what they are complaining about. Just read along.

YIZIT that people who forward sayings that 'Jesus is the Reason for the Season' are first in line fighting people for good deals at Wal Mart on the start of "Black Friday"?

YIZIT that people who say that we are too easy on people today and need to make people pay for their own actions want to lower the bar and let Pete Rose into the Hall of Fame?

YIZIT that people will believe that the new dollar doesn't have 'In God We Trust' on it, are the same ones that complain we don't use a gold standard for our money valuation?

YIZIT that people save their money to go out of state or out of the country for vacation complain that there's nothing to do around here.

YIZIT that people will buy American flags made in China?

YIZIT that people who complain they don't get customer service as they used to, are the first ones to jump to something cheaper to save a penny. That penny is saved by the company by cutting customer service or using phone prompts.

YIZIT that people will say we should punish France for not supporting the Iraq war, celebrate the 4^th of July?

YIZIT that people who blame unions for all the problems with American industry celebrate Labor Day?

YIZIT that people who benefited from government sponsored programs in the past, refuse to support them for the youth of today? (public school, parks, and student loans)

YIZIT that some people will read this list and be offended? It's just to provoke thoughts, not judge.

First Date

2009-10-14T20:51:00.001-04:00

I am not sure if this is a true story, but it is a good one !!!!!

If you didn't see this on the Tonight show, I hope you're sitting down when you read it. This is probably the funniest date story ever, first date or not!!! We have all had bad dates but this takes the cake.

Jay Leno went into the audience to find the most embarrassing first date that a woman ever had. The winner described her worst first date experience.

There was absolutely no question as to why her tale took the prize!

She said it was midwinter...Snowing and quite cold... And the guy had taken her skiing in the mountains outside Salt Lake City , Utah .

It was a day trip (no overnight). They were strangers, after all, and had never met before. The outing was fun but relatively uneventful until they were headed home late that afternoon.

They were driving back down the mountain, when she gradually began to realize that she should not have had that extra latte. They were about an hour away from anywhere with a rest room and in the middle of nowhere! Her companion suggested she try to hold it, which she did for awhile. Unfortunately, because of the heavy snow and slow going, there came a point where she told him that he had better stop and let her go beside the road, or it would be the front seat of his car.

They stopped and she quickly crawled out beside the car, yanked her pants down and started. In the deep snow she didn't have good footing, so she let her butt rest against the rear fender to steady herself. Her companion stood on the side of the car watching for traffic and indeed was a real gentleman and refrained from peeking. All she could think about was the relief she felt despite the rather embarrassing nature of the situation.

Upon finishing however, she soon became aware of another sensation. As she bent to pull up her pants, the young lady discovered her buttocks were firmly glued against the car's fender. Thoughts of tongues frozen to poles immediately came to mind as she attempted to disengage her flesh from the icy metal. It was quickly apparent that she had a brand new problem, due to the extreme cold.

Horrified by her plight and yet aware of the humor of the moment, she answered her date's concerns about' what is taking so long' with a reply that indeed, she was 'freezing her butt off' and in need of some assistance! He came around the car as she tried to cover herself with her sweater and then, as she looked imploringly into his eyes, he burst out laughing. She too, got the giggles and when they finally managed to compose themselves, they assessed her dilemma. Obviously, as hysterical as the situation was, they also were faced with a real problem.

Both agreed it would take something hot to free her chilly cheeks from the grip of the icy metal! Thinking about what had gotten her into the predicament in the first place, both quickly realized that there was only one way to get her free. So, as she looked the other way, her first time date proceeded to unzip his pants and pee her butt off the fender.

As the audience screamed in laughter, she took the Tonight Show prize hands down. Or perhaps that should be 'pants down. ' And you thought your first date was embarrassing. Jay Leno's comment...'This gives a whole new meaning to being 'Pissed off.'

Oh and how did the first date turn out? He became her husband and was sitting next to her on the Leno show.

This weeks funnies

2009-07-04T12:06:00.001-04:00

Now publishing comics on my website: http://www.sev.org/members/dave.davis/comics/0907036comics.html

Dave

Art Fair

2009-06-28T21:16:00.004-04:00

Went over to the Crosby Gardens Art Show today. Had a good time. Weather was fantastic, People seem to like to rag on Toledo as an ugly city, but this place is gorgeous. Pictures at left of the little pond – very peaceful, even with thousands of people wandering around.

I'm not 100% sure that everything I saw was art, but who am I to judge. The time these artists put into their craft is amazing. Our good friend Larry Golba didn't have a booth this year, or if he did, we didn't see it. He does lots of neat water color paintings. There seemed to be a large number of photographers this year. Also quite a few jewelry makers, since my entire jewelry collection includes 1 ring and a 10 year old watch where I can't change the minutes on – I don't think I am their target market.

I really like the wooden toys. I guess it's the Santa in me. The trains were really neat and some old roadsters would look very nice on the mantel.

Merry-Go-Round Museum

2009-06-27T19:05:00.001-04:00

Visited the Merry-Go-Round Museum in Sandusky, a pleasant way to spend a few hours.

Visit My Santa Face Book Page

2009-06-26T19:56:00.005-04:00

You probally are aware that I portray Santa during the Christmas season. You can either visit my website at www.christmas-lore.com.

I also have a Facebook page I am working upon.

Santa Dave Davis

Create Your Badge

Weathertainment

2009-06-19T23:21:00.001-04:00

We have thunderstorms; the local news is spending the first 10 minutes telling us it is raining. They even had a reporter standing in the rain saying she could feel the raindrops. And this is news????? The worst is when they show radar the splits the storm and tells us from how high the rain is falling.

News is no more, the weather has become entertainment, if there's video – it's a major story, if there is a 911 call – it's there. And then there is the investigative reporting, and massive sensationalizing of a story such as "Is Your Drinking Water Safe?" which the net-net is the opinion of somebody.

I am also noticing an increase in the "Breaking News Story" that does nothing more than spread 'unconfirmed rumors'. And when there is a real emergency, will anyone believe it. Perhaps our super intelligent marketers that say they report the news we demand, will read about the boy who cried wolf.

a 25 Things list

2009-02-15T21:30:00.002-05:00

25 Things List, I got a post from a friend that wondered what my 25 things about me list should say.

1) I am very proud of my family. Wife of 20+ years Barbara, daughters Maggie and Addie.
2) I enjoy being a volunteer – I like to help people.
3) I volunteer at Hospice of Northwestern Ohio, mainly for transportation.
4) I volunteer for Mobile Meals of Northwestern Ohio
5) I am an active member of my church: St. Stephen’s Lutheran in Sylvania, Ohio.
6) I am an email junkie, subscribing to many email newsletters, sale notifications, and other lists.
7) I have an extensive “cop of morning coffee” links on my Firefox page. This includes links to Green Bay Press Gazette, WOOT, Giveaway of the Day, and Twitter.
8) I am a member of Linked In with over 500 contacts. http://www.linkedin.com/in/dldavispmp
9) I am an avid user of Mindjet Mind mapping software and have been highlighted in their newsletters. http://www.mindjet.com/resources/reading/connections/article.aspx?NewsletterArticleID=417
10) I frequently present at Project Management Conferences.
11) I think I have a good sense of humor and try to interject wit and levity in all that I do. Life is too short to take too seriously.
12) I like telling stories and am a member of the Ohio Order for the Preservation of Storytelling http://www.oopstorytelling.org/directory.htm#D and the Frogtown Storytellers of Toledo, Ohio: http://frogtownstorytellers.googlepages.com/home
13) I have 2 brothers and 2 sisters, my younger sister Judy passed from breast cancer in 2005. http://thoughtsofapm.blogspot.com/2005/12/good-big-brother.html
14) I enjoy lots of different types of music, but my favorite (outside of Christmas) would be folk and easy listening. I like Harry Chapin, Gordon Lightfoot, The Kingston Trio, Canadian Brass, Buddy Wasisname and the Oter Fellers, Meatloaf, and the Blues Brothers.
15) I am an official Christmas expert, portraying Santa Claus (www.christmas-lore.com). I consider myself somewhat of an authority on the holiday, it’s customs, its music, and its stories.
16) I am full of useless information – I know a lot of trivial things about a lot of different things.
17) I desire a portfolio career in the near future. I plan on accepting 2-4 month contract assignments around the world. Live in that local for a short time to get to know it, return to home base, take a few weeks off (all of mid November – Mid January) and then take on a new contract.
18) I like history and model many of my original history against actual events.
19) I want to learn more about my heritage and gemology.
20) I often times spread myself too thin and try to do too many things at once.
21) I enjoy creating on the PC. This includes desktop publishing things, web sites, homemade videos/DVDs, and writing.
22) I wish I was more open in social situations. I am very comfortable as a public speaker, but very shy when it comes to one-on-one small talk.
23) I enjoy watching Canadian Television and went to tapings of the Red Green Show in Toronto.
24) I am an avid train fanatic. I enjoy toy trains and real trains and have ridden cross country in a sleep cabin and also short joints in the United States, Canada, and Europe.
25) I enjoy alone time – it helps me think, reminisce, plan, fantasize, theorize, and just do nothingize.

Business Social Networking

2008-08-25T20:16:00.002-04:00

I confess, I like finding people with similar interest online. I get some good perspective, ideas, and hints.

2012 Beloit Mindset

2008-08-23T18:05:00.002-04:00

The latest rendition of the Beloit Mindset ( http://www.beloit.edu/mindset/2012.php )is out and I can't decide if I'm happy with it or disappointed with it. While it does have many good reference points that compare things different from when I was a freshman entering college, I think it misses several post 1970's changes. Some items I can think of include:
Most of them have never used a Dot Matrix printer
Most of them have had only high speed internet at home, but most assuredly have not dialed up using a 1200 baud modem.
Internet use groups and bulletin boards have only been minor, most information has been available through websites and html.
Celebrating Christmas has always started before Thanksgiving.
Most have flown commercially (personally I didn't take first plane ride until I was 25)
Pizza has always been a commodity, delivered in 30 minutes or less.
Chicken nuggets have always been on fast food menus.
The majority of television commercials have focused on an image instead of on a product.
They have never really experienced "the new cars" or the "new television season" .
Most have never experienced a daytime world series game.
Most have never seen a 'split carbon' for a charge card receipt.
Most have never had to wait at a cash register, while a cashier checked a paper book to see if the card was void, nor had to wait while the cashier "called in the card" to get approval, almost all credit card approvals have been from swiping the magnetic strip.
Most have never seen a cashier key in the price for every item, as most all stores use the UPC code for prices.
Woolco has never existed (the KMart version of F.W. Woolworth)
Most have never known the best tuna is "Chicken of the Sea", nor "Sorry Charlie"
TV networks have never provided gavel to gavel coverage of a national convention in their lifetime.

Other thoughts or ideas?

Dave

Ten Best Teachers in Movies

2007-05-27T10:40:00.001-04:00

This is a link to the 10 best teachers in the movies. While I don't have a problem with the list (usually these media top ten lists drive me nuts) I would not have the same order. Ray Walston as Mr. Hand was the best, followed by Too Sir with Love, then Ms. Shields.

clipped from www.filmcritic.com

The 10 Best Teachers in Movie History

A feature story by Don Willmott - Copyright © 2006 filmcritic.com
http://www.filmcritic.com/misc/emporium.nsf/0/9cca891783036a0408257233000837b7?OpenDocument

One of the great things about adulthood is that we don't have to go to school anymore, and yet we keep returning by way of the movies. Why do we keep going back? To imagine what it would have been like to have good teachers rather than the sadists who tormented us in Algebra I and European History? To remember the moments when we really connected with a teacher and felt a wave of knowledge washing over us? Whatever the reason, we know as the lights dim that the best big-screen teachers will help their cinematic students learn plenty of small lessons and maybe some big life lessons too. How many of these memorable educators have you met?

10. Terry Corrigan (Class of 1984) Roddy McDowall, in his second-greatest screen performance (Cornelius the ape is still tops), plays a teacher so completely undone by the wild violence of his out-of-control high school that he ends up teaching class while waving a loaded pistol at his students. Better answer correctly! No doubt he is the favorite on-screen teacher of teachers.

9. Mr. Chips (Goodbye, Mr. Chips) Robert Donat won an Oscar as the much beloved British headmaster who looks back over his long life of teaching with as much fondness for his students as they have for him. Though British boarding schools aren't known for being warm and fuzzy -- Prince Charles never quite recovered from his experience -- Mr. Chips makes them seem like paradise.

8. Miss Shields (A Christmas Story) She has to put up with the antics of Ralphie, Flick, Schwartz, and the rest, but she does so with great kindness, never being too harsh with her students as she confiscates their incredible collections of banned toys and assorted gags. And she's more than willing to rescue Flick when his tongue gets stuck to the frozen flag pole. Nice lady.

7. Dave Jennings (Animal House) Don't you wish all your English professors had been so hilariously zonked out? Donald Sutherland is a trip and a half. And take it from someone who knows: When he says that Milton is really really boring, he's right!

6. Glenn Holland (Mr. Holland's Opus) Richard Dreyfuss takes Mr. Holland through 30 years of band practice. Along the way, we get countless lessons in perseverance and self-esteem. There's a lot of treacle here, but he still makes you want to pick up a tuba and give it a toot.

5. Mr. Hand (Fast Times at Ridgemont High) At first the cranky old SOB seems like the Social Studies teacher from hell ("Why do you shamelessly waste my time like this?"), but when he goes the extra mile at the last minute to help hopeless stoner Spicoli pass his class, even showing up in Spicoli's bedroom for a house call, you realize that he's one righteous dude. Aloha!

4. Mark Thackeray (To Sir, With Love) They call him Mr. Tibbs! Oh, wait. Wrong movie. In this one, Sidney Poitier takes on a rowdy class of rough-and-tumble London Cockney kids and teaches them self-respect above all else. By the end, they love him so much they're even writing songs to him. Hit it, Lulu!

3. John Keating (Dead Poets Society) Even if Robin Williams normally makes you break out in a rash, you won't mind watching as he awakens the spirits of his uptight prep-school students. Art! Beauty! Shakespeare! O Captain, My Captain! The kids are thrilled (Ethan Hawke's cheeks go positively rosy), but it's all a bit much for the prune-faced administrators, so naturally he gets fired. He probably ended up at UC Santa Cruz.

2. Jaime Escalante (Stand and Deliver) Can you believe you're actually watching a movie about math? Edward James Olmos portrays the real-life L.A. teacher who takes dead-end gang bangers and turns them into calculus geniuses. Hard to believe, but it's true!

1. Georges Lopez (To Be and To Have) It's a small miracle, but this documentary about elementary education in rural France will leave you emotionally devastated. An achingly beautiful film, it tracks a year of learning in a one-room schoolhouse lovingly tended by the soft-spoken and almost saint-like Lopez, whose patience and gentleness with his gaggle of young farmers' kids is truly something to see. If you're not weeping copious tears at the end of this one, you haven't been paying attention. Go straight to detention!

Skill Port

2007-05-23T23:50:00.001-04:00

I like skill port for learning

clipped from att.skillport.com

A neat ditty

2006-10-29T23:07:00.000-05:00

HowManyOfMe.com

There are:
382
people with my name
in the U.S.A.

How many have your name?

A Judy Blanket

2006-07-03T11:47:00.000-04:00

I was thinking if there is any support / interest to help me get a sponsor for a "Judy Blanket"?

A Judy Blanket would be a fleece throw wrapped in a pink bow (for breast cancer) and would be for children of parents affected by breast cancer. I see the throw being soft and warm with a winter scene (not necessarily Christmas because the darkest winter nights are in January and February).

I would like to combine a charitable visit from Santa (see my pic ) and distribute these blankets. A child would then have something warm and something to cuddle with on those cold lonely nights. Judy was able to give warmth and hugs to keep her children warm and also she was a little bit of a blanket hugger herself as a child (although instead of a blanket it was a piece of faux fur she called precious).

Anybody have any ideas how I can get started on this?

Dave "Christmas Hobbyist" Davis

Things that catch me attention.

2006-01-14T15:38:00.000-05:00

Things that catch me attention.

Judy Picture

2006-01-14T11:18:00.000-05:00

Judy Anne McCall May 21, 1962 - December 27, 2005

Picture taken December 27, 2005.

A Good Big Brother?

2005-12-29T11:31:00.000-05:00

This is the text of the eulogy I gave a Judy's memorial service. I'm sure Pastor Mohr was getting uncomfortable with the length, but he endured me. He then gave an excelent service with a great message.

A Good Big Brother

In May of 1962, my life was changed forever. For on the 21st of that month, I went from being the baby in the family to being a big brother. I did not ask for the job, didn’t have any training, and really didn’t even know what it meant. But I was now a big brother. I had a baby sister and my parents named her Judy Anne. My guess is she didn’t get any training as being a little sister either.

Actually one of the earliest memories I have is of being at my Grandmother’s house and seeing a little baby crying – I guess it was Judy. I do know that she and I were both “Opps” babies – Mom and Dad were planning on only 3 kids, but we slipped in. As the younger children in a gaggle of 5, we maybe didn’t have all the privileges granted to the older children (there are fewer pictures of us, we didn’t get to circus, etc. ) not that I’m complaining – its just the way it was. With this, I guess that meant Judy and I had more time together. I lately have wondered if I was a good big brother or not for my baby sister.

I do know Judy quickly learned the role of little sister. Oh she knew how to push my buttons and she could be a pest. It seems she was always being drug along. I remember she would be in the back of the station wagon when I got picked up from little league practice, she rode the same school bus, she was always crammed in the back seat with my other siblings on family road trips (I had to sit between my parents, but that’s a whole other story.) She had a stubborn streak – I guess she got that from both parents and grandparents, I never understood that, I guess my DNA avoided that stubbornness gene as I am the most flexible, open minded, easy going guy there is. (I pause here for some uproarious laughter). She also avoided confrontation – she wanted peace and harmony.

Also, she was Daddy’s girl. My mother frequently complained that Judy and Dad were “2 peas in a pod”. Judy coined the term “perfect father” and used that for all it was worth. I remember even as a very young child, that they had a special bond. There was a goodnight kissing routine that Judy and Dad had, Judy was Dads girl. I remember that I could be sitting around having not seen Judy for hours and she would complain to Dad that I was picking on her – and I got in trouble.

Some memories growing up that Judy and I shared – good and bad:
1. When we went to Cedar Point, we had to wait for Judy to ride some kiddie land rides for a while before we could go to adult rides.
2. Once we had a sibling fight on something in the winter – I was banished to the outdoors. She stood at the kitchen window sneering at me, I made a snowball and threw it at the window, the window shattered, I was in even more trouble.
3. Judy was not an athlete – I was, Judy was coerced into going out for volleyball where she didn’t make the team, she became equipment manger and hated it, but she stayed through it.
4. Judy was in my shadow in high school. We kept our distance, but always were there for each other as needed.
5. Judy was really into band – she played baritone sax and was quite good at it. She was also the band task girl. She organized music, organized uniforms, helped on fund raisers, matched in all the parades (even when there were only a dozen members at summer outings – she was there.
6. Judy and I chopped a lot of wood and unloaded tons of coal to hear the house during the energy crisis of the 70’s. I never appreciated the work she did then until much later.
7. Judy spent a lot of time in her room reading and exercising her imagination. I know she had an obsession with Shawn Cassidy as she must have had 20 posters of him in her room. Even over the bed, When Rudy was dating Linda and he got her room for the night, he would talk about waking up at night and seeing a picture of Shawn Cassidy staring at him – nightmares.
8. Judy went off to college – Bluffton. She made lifelong friends there and eventually met her husband. I gotta confess that she struggled to find an identity. She bleached her hair to become blonde – it didn’t work, it was more orange than blonde.
9. Judy had some strange friends in high school. She seemed to attract the strays. She violently defended her friend Brent as Pa-body, not Peabody. Although he was a Peabody, and I teased her by calling her Sherman, Oh I wish I could set the wayback machine.
10. She was not very good at sneaking around. It seemed whenever she drove to Fulton county when she shouldn’t the car would break down. While I remember distinctly my brother Tom getting in trouble for such acts, Perfect Father would be understanding to Judy.
11. Judy got a job as a waitress at Johnny’s Steak house during her college breaks. I had to pick her up or drop her off if her hours ever ended between midnight and 5 AM (which happened a lot) she always got me an omelet or something when I picked her up.
12. She pierced her ears, and they got infected, she had a terrible reaction to a tenuous shot and her arm swelled, she got bit by Wiley and her hand swelled up – for the whole she was healthy. Until that damned cancer.
13. Judy did have the ability to embellish a story. She sometimes would be known to add a little bit of a spin to tales, I guess the youngest sometimes do that to get attention. I’m still not sure that all kids had to do the Bluffton Beaver song.
14. Judy came, with kids in tow to my father in laws funeral. Because that’s what sisters do. I remember the kids getting shaken up at the 21 gun salute, but Judy was there to comfort them.

Judy’s greatest pride and joy was her family. She was a wonderful mother, a good wife, and an excellent teacher. Through the tough family times of the 90’s she really showed her character. Our mother died of that damned cancer too. I remember Judy was there for Mom, I will always remember an afternoon where Judy was feeding Mom a banana shortly before Mom died – I thought to myself how the daughter had become the caregiver. Once Mom was gone, Judy was there for Dad. I think she came up at least once every 2 weeks. Kids in tow. She then had her last child, John David, and he was in tow with the others.

She always had kids in tow. She did all she could with the kids. She took them to foreign language classes at Glann School. She attended swim meets, she had them in youth group activities. She took care of Dad from afar as well as being a mother. When Dad had his firs heart attack, she was there. When we were on a vacation with Dad, she came up with her kids to help clean the house. That’s when Alexander did his toasted marshmallow imitation.

She was there for Alex while he recovered from his burns. She spent hours at the hospital, sleeping there on couches, she went to therapy with him, she sacrificed a lot as that was Judy. I know Alex was there for her during the last few years, so that bonding lasted throughout her life and in her battle with that damned cancer.

In November of 1999, I found my father dead in his recliner. It was difficult for me, but devastating to Judy. She insisted on helping prepare the casket for the funeral, she never got over the death of her perfect father. For some reason Dad named me executor of the estate. On a side note, sometime in the late 70s my parents morphed into auction and garage sale pack rats. They bought other peoples junk – I know Judy had to unload a lot of it and find a place to stuff it. Well, most of that stuff was still around as we cleaned up the estate. She and I worked on putting together a family memory album and photo montage – that is therapeutic for me. Thus the montages today, one thing I have learned through those tasks is that our family has had some very bad photographers over time – its not your eyes folks, they blurry pictures.

Judy was there to help on the estate (and she frequently drug along the kids.) Linda and Rudy were there too and we worked hard at closing the estate. I think that was when I really started to respect her. Although I always had cared for Judy – this time she was not only there for me and with me, but I was really proud to be her brother.

Then that damned cancer came into play. I know I was in denial in the beginning. When she had the initial surgery, I thought it was routine. I didn’t understand the tenacity of that damned cancer. Judy was in a fight against an enemy that she could not win. But what an inspiration. I have lost friends and acquaintance to that damned cancer, and they all are inspirations, but its different when its your baby sister and you’re the big brother. What was I to do, how could I help?

Well, Judy wouldn’t’ let it slow her down. She did the chemo and treatments, I know she was often exhausted and would sleep for long periods, but she was home with her kids. She had quite an emotional roller coasted, with success, remission, regression, now treatments, husband working on the road, 4 teenagers, etc. When she found the Zion institute, her hope was renews, actually in October, I thought she had it licked. But that damned cancer was too much. I know she found time at the end to write each of her children a special letter – she loved her family. I was honored to go to Zion and bring her home via her first ever train ride. She was so happy to be going home, I think she knew this was her last Christmas and that the damned cancer was taking its toll. But she was there, for Christmas, for her family, and then she was called home to be with the Lord. Finally, peace.

As Eugene and I were doing errands on Wednesday afternoon. He talked about her last minutes and that she went quickly and peacefully. Her last words were: “I Love You Eugene” With those words, she said a lot. She transferred her hopes, trust, and dreams to her husband that the kids would be taken care of and that she loved them. She lives on in us, its going to be difficult for the kids and Gene to keep Judy’s spirit alive. She won’t be physically there to provide guidance, direction, reminders, corny jokes, or her smile. But she is there with the holy spirit. I’m sure there was more I could have done, but I can’t go back in time. I hate that damned cancer more than ever. But I now have a responsibility to carry on Judy. She is in all of us who are here today and we need to keep her spirit alive.

I know I’m a better person for having had Judy as a sister and 5 wonderful nieces and nephews. But I still don’t know if I was a good big brother, one thing I do know is that Judy was, and is, a wonderful baby sister. I can’t believe she’s gone, but I have to remember she’s gone only in body, in spirit she will live inside of us forever.

Judy

2005-12-28T11:02:00.000-05:00

It is with great sadness that I post a message regarding my sister Judy Anne McCall. Judy succumbed to complications of breast cancer this past December 27, 2005. She was 43 years old and left a family of five children and one husband.

She was a great kid sister and really wanted to make it through Christmas. She did that. Fortunately she was lucid the entire time and her spirit was great. She wrote a letter to each of her kids while in the hospital the last month. They will always cherish that.

I spoke at her funeral service which is posted in another message. We also made photo montages and memorials. I posted this picture taken of her the morning she died. Not because its her best picture, but because it shows her spirit.

Dave

PS Judy's obit as in the Lima News:
JUDY ANNE McCALL, 43, died at 8 p.m. Dec. 27, 2005, at her residence.
She was born May 21, 1962, in Toledo to Howard Wayne and Doris Mae Robertson Davis, who preceded her in death. On Aug. 8, 1984, she married Eugene McCall Jr., who survives.
Mrs. McCall was a special education teacher for Lima schools. She was active in English Lutheran Church, Bluffton. She received two bachelor's degrees from Bluffton College and her master's degree from Ashland College.
Survivors also include three sons, Eugene McCall III, Alexander Wayne McCall and John David McCall, all of Lima; two daughters, Elizabeth Anne McCall and Elaine Beatrice McCall, both of Lima; three brothers, John (Trese) Davis of Arlington, Tom (Amy) Davis of Liberty Center and Dave (Barbara) Davis of Sylvania; a sister, Linda (Rudy) Copeland of Sidney; a grandson, Eugene McCall IV; and six nieces and a nephew.
Memorial services will begin at 1 p.m. Friday at the English Lutheran Church, Bluffton. Pastor Kevin Mohr will officiate.
Friends may call immediately following services at a dinner at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Condolences may be expressed at www.chiles-lamanfh.com.

Santa

2005-12-15T11:42:00.000-05:00

Santa

Yes, I grew a beard and have started moonlighting as a Santa. I expect more Santa things in 2006 and will start a Santa Blog. Meanwhiole, you can email Santa at santa@bex.net!

Things that catch me attention.

2005-06-04T19:07:00.001-04:00

Things that catch me attention.

2005-06-04T19:07:00.000-04:00

Maggie in her prom dress and looking good. She is a pretty girl with a little bit of her mother's class.

Emmie the Bird on the PC

2005-04-02T17:07:00.000-05:00

Emmie on PC. We had a bit of a situation at home over the holiday. It started out on Maundy Thursday when Addie let her bird (Sky Blue star of stage and singing) fly around for a little bit. Next thing we knew, Addie found Sky laying in Sammie the dog's cage. She was upset and crying. Later we found feathers at the sun room door, we think sky flew into the open door, got dazed, hit the ground and chomp. So on the Monday after Easter, we took Addie to the Andersons and let her get a new bird. She choose a green bungie that was the calmest bird in the cage. I wanted to call the bird weed, she wanted to call it Emerald. So Emmie it is. Emmie appears to have selected my laptop as her favorite place to hang out. See the pic? So far the jealous dog (who we now call Jell-o) has left us alone. Emmie does do to Microsoft applications what I only dream of doing!!!

Addie

2005-03-02T16:34:00.000-05:00

I'm also very proud of Addie. She's growing up fast.

Maggie

2005-03-02T16:27:00.000-05:00

Maggie in the kitchen, I am a proud Dad.

Sometimes Warnings Don't Work

2005-02-19T13:08:00.000-05:00

Found this on the web. Been there haven't we??? Caption=Collect/Kent News & Pictures Ltd/(01622) 755133A BMW car driver has an unfortunate accident in the Kent village of Sarre over the bank holiday weekend.

MP3

2005-02-18T21:55:00.000-05:00

I have been using an MP3 player for several years. I started with a Creative Nomad, which I earned as recognition for my work at AT&T. When Maggie dropped her portable CD player last year, I decided to get myself a new MP3 player and give her my Nomad instead of buying her a new CD player. I got the Nomad 30 (or whatever) the one with the 30 meg hard drive. It can hold more songs then I can possibly listen to. Its gone cross country with me and always used on airplanes. I was able to listen to a very wide variety of Christmas music past December.

Reality Check

2005-02-17T06:28:00.000-05:00

Some days are tougher than others :)

Today I need to update my InVision issues, work on my project governance model, write a template, write a Maresk plan, and re-bucketize our eCo projects. Then I can do some real work.

Also Yoav Intrator is presenting at the eBusienss SIG webinar.

Burning the Candle at Both Ends

2005-02-10T22:20:00.000-05:00

Some days are hectic, it seems that I do burn the candle at both ends, but never with the whimsy of Harpo.

Mouse Pad

2005-02-07T08:22:00.000-05:00

I do like to do things on a PC Been doing it for over 20 years now I remember wondering why I would ever use a mouse, now I use it all teh time. Actually UNIX was teh first operating system I really dug deep into and all command line, but now....

Things that catch me attention.

2005-02-06T08:15:00.000-05:00

Things that catch My attention.

2005-02-06T08:14:00.000-05:00

I'm late again. I get myself into trouble quite frequently due to over commiting and then finding out that 'fires' happen during the day.

My Wife Barbara

2005-02-05T11:21:00.000-05:00

Here's a picture of my wife Barb at home reading a book. She is an inteligent beautiful woman and a great mother, a fantastic wife, and an overall great friend.

My parents

2005-02-05T10:53:00.000-05:00

Here's a picture of my parents Howard and Doris Davis back when they were younger. I'm guessing this pic was taken in 1950.

The Death Star - my employer

2005-02-05T08:46:00.000-05:00

I work for AT&T. They been very very good to me, but now they are being bought out by SBC. My biggest gripe is I will loose my work email address (dave at att.com) I didn't put in the @ because spamming spiders can read it.

Me waving hello

2005-02-01T20:57:00.000-05:00

Hi there. I was in Ft. Collins Colorado and working from the hotel. Addie had asked me to take the digiatal camera to get a picture of the mountains. I did that, even though it was raining, and then decided to send home a 'hello'.

2005-02-01T20:55:00.000-05:00

A little philosophy

2005-01-28T16:27:00.000-05:00

My niece Karyn

2005-01-22T14:29:00.000-05:00

Maggie getting affection from Sammie while taking a break from shoveling snow.

2005-01-21T23:25:00.000-05:00

Butterfly in Edmonton

2005-01-21T23:22:00.000-05:00

TGIF

Iverson Team Meeting

2005-01-18T23:04:00.000-05:00

Iverson Team Meeting

2005-01-18T19:52:00.000-05:00

A Sammie Modified

eBusiness SIG

2005-01-18T16:26:00.000-05:00

I am the chairman of the PMI eBusiness Special Interest Group

2005-01-18T16:23:00.000-05:00

Dave with Lucy at PMI Conference

2005-01-18T13:53:00.000-05:00

My daughter Addie

2005-01-18T13:34:00.000-05:00

This is Maggie, my daughter

My Family

2004-05-10T20:23:00.000-04:00

Family Picture taken for church directory.

Hi

2004-05-10T20:14:00.000-04:00

This is the first trail run.