Happy Father;s Day

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

History of St. Patrick's Day — History.com Video

History of St. Patrick's Day — History.com Video:

Bing Crosby "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling"

Merry Christmas

source - http://www.alighthouse.com/cmeaningnojava.htm

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Luke 2:8-20 (New International Version)

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The Shepherds and the Angels

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. .And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

. .Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

. . . "Glory to God in the highest,

. . . . . and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

. .When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

. .So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

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source - http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%202:8-20;&version=31;

Concert Choir - Angels We Have Heard On High

Happy 4th of July 2008

(Source of picture - http://www.statueofliberty.org/Statue_of_Liberty_Picture_11.html)

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The New Colossus
by Emma Lazarus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

(Source for poem - http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/16111 )

(Source of picture - http://www.statueofliberty.org/Statue_of_Liberty_Picture_04.html )

Stars and Stripes Forever

Happy Father's Day

(Source for Happy Father's Day graphic -http://www.graphicsarcade.com/holidays/fathers_day/graphics/fathers_day_graphics_11.gif )
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Happy Father's Day
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Darth Vader's Father's Day

Remembering Mother's Day

Though she wasn't my Mother, my wife Pam was the Mother to our three children. And it is her Mother's Days that I remember more than those I may have celebrated with my own dear Mother.

The first Mother's Day gift Pam received was not from me. My father had sent Pam her first Mother's Day card. (Sean our oldest would only be my parent's second grandchild. And at the time we had no idea if Sean was to be born male or female.)




A month later, I received my first Father's Day gifts from Pam. A new toaster and a jar of marmalade. (I had mentioned that my favorite jam was orange marmalade. And I doubt we had a toaster at the time.)







And one Mother's Day Eve. Sean, Brianna, Ryan, and I sneaked out to Wal-mart to buy Pam a new coffee maker. Not the best of stories, but certainly the best of memories. And some memories never fade.

Happy Mother's Day

To all our Mothers.

Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!!!!!

Hark! the Herald Angels Sing - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fe0-J1ufm0&feature=related

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Oh Holy Night - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItlkRVFb4Ho&feature=related

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Matthew 1:18-21 (NIV)

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The Birth of Jesus Christ

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..This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

..She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

Source - http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%201:18-21;&version=31;

Gerald (Jerry), Sean, Brianna, & Ryan.

And Opal too. (woof)

Happy - 4th of July

John Adams wrote that the Fourth of July
"...ought to be celebrated by pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns,
bells, bonfires, and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other..."

The Declaration of Independence itself has become one of the most admired and copied political documents of all time. It was written by Thomas Jefferson and revised by John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Jefferson.

The Declaration of Independence is a justification of the American Revolution, citing grievances against King George III. It is also a landmark philosophical statement, drawing on the writings of philosophers John Locke and Jean Jacques Rousseau. It affirms that since all people are creatures of God, or nature, they have certain natural rights, or liberties, that cannot be violated.

The Declaration and the American Revolution have since inspired freedom-seekers the around the world.

(Source - Fact Monster - http://www.factmonster.com/spot/independenceday1.html )

Stars and Stripes Forever

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

(Source for Father's Day graphic - Marvel Creations - http://www.marvelcreations.com/images/fatherban.jpg )

Like many men, my Father wore many hats. And in the case of my Father, Dad wore many patches. Here is a small sampling of what Dad proudly wore as a soldier in the U.S. Army. Dad was a veteran of 21 years from 1942 to 1963.

(Source for 1st Filipino Regiment shoulder patch - California and Second World War California's Filipino Infantry - http://www.militarymuseum.org/Filipino.html )

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Sometime in 1942, Dad enlisted in the U.S. Army. Uncle Fermin (Dad's brother) and Dad both left their jobs as bellboys at the Valentine-on-Broadway Hotel in Kansas City (MO ? or KS ?). Dad said that he was sent to Ft. Ord in Northern California for Basic Training and then to Australia for Jungle and Combat Training. At one time, he told of walking through a rainbow during a training march in Australia. The only other mention of his wartime experiences is his crossing the Pacific Ocean in a convoy. Dad was out on the deck top at night. The convoy was being fired on and occasionally a shell would strike another troop ship. He was very fatalist about the ocean crossing. “When your time is due your time is due.”

(Source for Third Infantry Division patch - http://www.stewart.army.mil/3DIDWeb/Homepage/3idhome.htm )
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After the Korea War began, Dad was a Military Police Officer in the Third Infantry Division.

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There were other units that Dad served in, but this is only a brief sampling.
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(Source for Sergeant First Class patch -http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Rank_page/History_of_Enlisted_Ranks.htm )

Dad's highest rank was that of a Sergeant First Class.

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This is a Happy Father's Day wish to all our Fathers.

Happy Mother's Day

"God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers." --
Jewish proverb

All our love to our Mother's and to you on this Mother's Day.

the RedlandsCostales'es -
Jerry, Pam, Sean, Brianna, Ryan,
& Opal (woof)

HAPPY EASTER

Angels and Mary Magdalene encounter Jesus at his tomb on Easter morning.

John 20:14 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)

"They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put him." At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

Happy Easter. I hope All of you are well.
Love Jerry*, Pam, Sean, Brianna, Ryan, & Opal (woof)

*PS from Gerald aka Jerry aka Mr. C

Not An April Fool's Post - Native Americans

The referral of Native people as Indians is not from the theory that Christopher Columbus thought he was in India. When Columbus set sail in 1492, the country that is known today as India was called Hindustan. He wrote that the people he had met in the "New World" were "una gente en dio"; meaning "a people in with God". The term "en dio" somehow got changed to Indian, thus the common belief held that Columbus called the Native people "Indians" because he thought he was in India.



(Source: www.lareina-persians.net/native.html - NOTE: This source has disappeared!!!)

Another explanation -

"Q: Why do you prefer the term American Indian over Native American?

A: The word “Indian” is an English bastardization of a Spanish bastardization. Columbus wrote “una gente en dio” – “a people in with God.” He went on to write that they are so peaceful and generous as it to be a fault. Therefore they’d make excellent slaves. The Spaniards started calling them “indio.” That stuck. This is 100 years before the English conquered the sub-continent they called India. We were the first with that name. Then the English bastardized the Spanish to “Indian.” "

(Source: http://www.russellmeansfreedom.com/2010/means-spirited-american-indian-actor-and-activist-honored-at-haskell-film-festival/ )

(Source for picture - "Le Costume Ancien Et Moderne" - Art.com - http://www.art.com/asp/sp-asp/_/pd--12059004/sp-- )

Your friendly neighborhood trivia buff. ;-) GC

PS - This explanation sounds good but just maybe apocryphal*.

(* Click on following link for definiton -http://www.thefreedictionary.com/apocryphal )

Happy Easter - 2007

Easter
Dave Wilton, (Original citation - Sunday, June 11, 2006)*

Easter, or Eastre as it is originally, was the name of a pagan goddess of the dawn whose festival was held on the vernal equinox. The Christians adopted her name and many of the celebratory practices (as they did with Saturnalia and Christmas) for their celebration of Christ’s resurrection. The pagan holiday roughly corresponded with the time of year of the crucifixion and resurrection (Passover).

From the translation of Bede’s Ecclesiastical History commonly attributed to King Alfred, c.890:

Ic thas tide Eastrena ecelice healdan wille.

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(Source: Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd Edition)

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(My source: Wordorigins.org - http://www.wordorigins.org/index.php/easter/ )*

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(Source for Easter Bunny image - Wikipedia - http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/Easter_bunny.jpg/300px-Easter_bunny.jpg )

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Wordorigins.org is a website first brought to my attention by my son Sean (so you know the website is excellent). One should first click and scan the "The Big List" for some more popular word origins.
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Hoppy Eastre. ;-) GC

I really don't get Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day card, circa 1910

This has been a not so typical week in a not so typical life. Certainly each person’s life is unique unto itself. But, what is typical for one is not necessarily typical for others.

I have been substitute teaching off and on for the last several years. More ON than OFF. (But, that’s a different story.) But, I was struck by Heather’s comments about her Valentine’s Day and was forced to reflect on my recent Valentine’s Day experience this year. As a substitute teacher, I have been required to organize an Elementary school Christmas Party (the teacher was sick or whatever on the pre-Christmas Party Day and back on the Party Day. So, I had the duty to plan the Party but not get to Party myself.)

One must assume for the difficulties of schooling the Elementary school child is rewarded with Seasonal Parties. (Fall - Thanksgiving, Winter - Christmas, Pre-Spring - Valentine’s Day, and Spring - Easter.) But, this year the teacher planned the Seasonal Party (Valentine’s Day) and I had the privilege of being the host to this Elementary School soiree.

I don’t recall being a Substitute Teacher on Valentine’s Day while at an Elementary school. And the swarm of Valentine Card giving and receiving, candies, and bakery goods was eye opening. The teacher’s desk was festooned with cards, candies, bakery goods, and a pink flowered potted plant. And I was rewarded with the tasks of dispensing the teacher’s cards to her students, bags of candies, and store baked cookies (three containers of pink frosted with red and white sprinkled jimmies* cookies.)


It was the last 20 minutes of class time. And, I didn’t resent being the surrogate host to the students or even the extra cleaning of Valentine’s Day debris. But, being with younger children is not only eye opening. It is rewarding and special.

But, back to Heather’s comment - I don't really get Valentine's Day. But, what is there to get? In a busy, hectic, and chaotic World, I think the Elementary school teachers have it right. It's not really the Holiday trappings and such. Sometimes you just have to stop to smell the pink flower potted plant and have a treat (candy, cookie, or cupcake).

Love Uncle Jerry.

* jim·mies pl.n. Small particles of chocolate or flavored candy sprinkled on ice cream as a topping. (and bakery goods.) ;-) GC

Happy New Year.

We are ending 2006 for the most part with all of us in fairly good health. Pam still has her thyroid problems to deal with but her General Practice doctor is now trying to get the paperwork through “STAT” or as quickly as possible. I just wrote that this year has had its share of UPS and DOWNS. And 2006 had more DOWNS than UPS.

But, the REDLANDSCOSTALES’ are ending 2006 on the rise and rebounding UP. And some of us may be familiar with that old expression –

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All’s Well That Ends Well.

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Now, I just did a Google search and just found out that “All’s Well That Ends Well” is a play by William Shakespeare. (link -http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All ) So, it just shows you that you that you can learn something new everyday if you make the effort and are willing to learn.

I hope all is well with you and yours. ;-) GC

PS This is the closest thing to a brag letter that you’ll see from me.

PPS New Year resolutions –

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1. To post more in the family blog – RedlandsCostales.
2. To get to the 10 gallon milestone in blood donations.
3. To be a better person. (Vague but concise.)

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Each year one vicious habit rooted out,

In time might make the worst man good throughout.

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Poor Richard's Almanac

Happy Memorial Day

(Source of graphic - National Society Daughters of the American Revolution - FORT BOWYER CHAPTER - http://www.gulftel.com/dar/history.htm )


(Revised May 2007)

The Whole World would be Different

Of late, I’ve thought that of what I've accomplished, that it hasn't been enough. I know that both Pam and I have done out best most of the time. There is a train of thought I repeatedly have had lately and it begins with . . .

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. . . “The Whole World would be different if . . .”

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I know most of the choices and decisions we make have no impact on the World. But, what if the family had remained in Yucaipa? What if we didn’t move to Redlands? (This blog would be probably be YucaipaCostales.) I am convinced that the Whole World would be different.

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The friends that out children made in Redlands and mostly the educational opportunities that Redlands offered would be quite different than those if we had made the choice not to change and had some how remained in Yucaipa. So looking back, I am convinced that the Whole World would be different. Would Sean have gone to Berkeley? Would Brianna have played softball and made her current friends? And in those difficult times with Ryan, would we have had as supportive and understanding Principals as Mr. O’Neill or Mr. Cover?

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Sean thinks that he could have probably been the Valedictorian at Yucaipa High School. And I believe this is no hollow boast on Sean’s part. In Yucaipa, Sean would have been a Big Fish in a Small Pond. Instead in Redlands, Sean became a Smaller Fish in a Bigger Pond at REV (Redlands East Valley the high school Sean graduated from).

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It is hard to accept change. And we are sometimes thrown into situations that we have no control. But, there is some hidden purpose. And hopefully some Divine hand gently shepherding us through the thickets, thorns, and turmoil. Though we don’t live a great area or in a great apartment, we have remained safe and secure. Pam has been the glue that has kept us all together.

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I am so thankful that Pam has been there for all us. Pam has been more than mother, wife, or friend. She is a great listener, organizer, and her instincts and insights are sometimes uncanny. I know I’m not one for celebrating little things or buying surprising little gifts. But, I think, read, and write a great deal. And it’s about time to write to and about my beloved wife Pam.

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We don’t always say it or show it. But, the kids, myself, and Opal (woof) love and adore you. Without you we would be lost. Thank you for finding me and sharing our mostly happy live. The Whole World may have been different if . . . I’d never have met you. Your silly and compulsive husband Jerry. ;-)

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Happy Valentine’s Day

(revised 2007)

Merry Christmas

With Christmas near the end of the year, it is only natural to recall the events of the past year as well as events of past years. Also, this time of the year has us have thoughts and expectations for the coming New Year. We are all in good health. The bank and wallet are empty but there is food in the cupboards and fridge.
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Sean has been at Cal a year and a half with two and a half to go. Brianna’s Freshman year has been successful. And Ryan is hanging in there during his second year of Middle School. Pam has had some minor health concerns but is well. I am lighter though not doing anything in particular. Pam thinks the change in diet with less meat has helped me drop my weight. Also, I’m drinking less soda. (None of that low carb stuff for us with less meat on the table, we’re eating more pasta, cheese, and soy products.)
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Sean has struggled a little this year but seems to have regained his footing and gearing up for the second semester. Sean is a Resident Assistant (RA) in his Dorm. Ryan is on new meds that make him more focused and able to concentrate better. The Concerta also seems to allow Ryan to understand printed material better as well. Ryan can read for longer periods of time. This added ability has kept Ryan busy reading Harry Potter. (If you’re a Simpson fan, we call his new med FOCUSIN, the medicine Bart took awhile back to help Bart with his ADHD.)
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Next January, Ryan will be in a new program that will train him to handle stress better and relax. Something both Pam and I will also be able to do with him. We’ll keep you updated. One of Ryan’s new therapists ,a Canadian intern, Lori did some testing on Ryan. Lori, will be the person training Ryan with this new relaxation technique. Lori trained and learned the technique last year in Canada.
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Brianna made it to her high school’s Come Homing Dance going with several people. And Opal steadily has gotten more white around her muzzle and her coat is steadily graying. (Opal hasn’t been all black since being a puppy though.) Opal had a mole removed from her chest two Summers ago and despite some fleas occasionally is in good health. Our killer watchdog remembered Sean when he returned Wednesday night.
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Recently Opal has taken to seating in Pam’s lap, probably to keep herself warmer, I’ve also seen Opal seating in Brianna’s lap. As of yet Opal doesn’t seem to seat in Ryan’s lap and Opal has never sat in my lap. The lap thing is new, maybe an old dog can learn new tricks. (If only we could get Opal to endorse some Dog product. )
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Grandma Costales celebrated her 90th Birthday in Anaheim with Grace, Manny, Holly, Jesse, Pam, Brianna, Ryan, myself, and Opal (woof). More later. Love and Peace.

The Tale of the Tree. X-mas 2005

There is nothing worst than waking up to find your Christmas tree has fallen in the middle of the night. About three a.m. this last Monday, Pam got up to adjust the thermostat and she told me that the tree had fallen.

Pam helped me reposition the tree in the tree stand. We were lucky only a few ornaments broke. The lights and ornaments were hung again. If we had a digital picture we'd sent a picture, but you'll have to settle for the laughing tree Ryan downloaded. Love ;-) GC.