I will Survive

Don’t be shocked! I am writing on Friday evening after a busy day (yes, this Rambling will be short – or as Marcia would say; “quick and easy.”)

But yes, I plan to make coffee, but since wanting to head out well before 7:00 I’ll pour my ration in our coffee thermos – leaving the remainder for Marcia when she gets up.

The reason is that Dinah will be in the first heat of the morning she’ll ‘row’ at 8:16. East Fork Lake, the regatta’s venue is 47 miles away. Add parking and depending on where I can park it’s a walk or a bus-shuttle to the water’s edge.

I will survive!

Hunger – Well, not quite. But Marcia did make note that the refrigerator is substantially bare. Add to the fact that I’ll be at the regatta all day Saturday and then on Sunday morning my flight for Punta Gorda will be ‘wheels up’ at 7:00am exactly.

So, now being an expert Marcia, while I was out bustling about, placed a grocery order with Kroger. The ‘goodies’ will be delivered between 7:00 and 8:00 Saturday evening.

She will survive!

Verdin – Or, The History of Carillons, Bells, Clocks and How They Are Made
Two French immigrant brothers in 1842 started a Bell and Clock making business here in Cincinnati. Now the sixth generation still runs a thriving business providing outdoor clocks and bells, to City Squares, Churches, Universities, and businesses – around the world.

Thursday evening I was fortunate enough to participate in an EmpowerU class where a representative from Verdin spent an hour and a half discussing the wonderful history, growth, and community impact of this company.

Verdin has survived!

St. Francis de Sales catholic church – in 1896 started work to obtain a bell for the under-construction church steeple. Verdin provided the largest cast bell in the US – 7-feet high, 9-feet in diameter, weight 37,000 lbs., and a 640-lb clapper.

They ended up using a ship-propeller foundry out east. The finished bell was barged along the coast, up the Mississippi, and up the Ohio River. Here a team of 14 horses pulled it up the Gilbert Avenue hill and over to the church in Walnut Hills. The same sized horse team was used to hoist ‘Big Joe’ as the bell became known.

The first ringing caused damage to both the steeple and nearby homes. It was said that the bell could be heard 15 miles away. Currently (as can be seen on the photo I took) the steeple is undergoing major renovation. Let’s hope we’ll soon hear this magnificent beast, “Big Joe”.

(see the worker standing on the bell; where’s OSHA?)

It (steeple & bell) did survive!

Political hacks steering the ship – Rober F. Kennedy, JR. in his own post on ‘X’ wrote: “would almost be funny, except that the butt of the joke is the impartiality and integrity of our political institutions.”
This post was in response to the 5th denial by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to have independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy, JR be assigned a Secret Service detail as has been done for 32 candidates since the murder of his father.

Kennedy’s attorney responded by letter: “Your disregard for the safety of Mr. Kennedy and others in his environment is contemptible. Failure to provide him Secret Service protection forthwith lays naked your political motivations and lowers the esteem of our great nation.”

Pray he’ll survive!

Ok, it’s going to be 9:00pm so post I should, then sleep. May Peace prevail! Shalom.

Dirk

BONUS POINTS:

Which Prices are still Rising?

1) College Textbooks?
2) Auto Insurance?
3) Airline fares?
4) Food & Beverages?
5) Energy?
6) Hospital Services?
7) Used Autos & Trucks