Life - simple but, always complicated!!

Herman Boone, Coach Portrayed in ‘Remember the Titans,’ Dies at 84 Mr. Boone led the T.C. Williams High School Titans to a state championship in 1971, his first season as head coach. By Sandra E. Garcia Dec. 19, 2019 Updated 2:12 p.m. ET Herman Boone, who led a racially integrated high school football team in Virginia to a state championship in his first season as head coach and was later portrayed by Denzel Washington in the Disney movie “Remember the Titans,” died on Wednesday at his home in Alexandria, Va. He was 84. The cause was lung cancer, according to Anthony Henderson, a son-in-law. In 1971, Alexandria’s three public high schools were merged into T.C. Williams High School. Mr. Boone was hired by the Alexandria school board as the head coach for the football team, the Titans. “He handled that coaching year with dignity,” said Wayne Sanders, 64, who was a running back on the school’s junior varsity team that year. “He was the right man for that year because of his coaching style...

I've only resided in one state my entire life, The Empire State aka New York State. The reason is basically out of happenstance & inertia. I was born on Long Island and I had a great childhood in Farmingdale. & Melville. The island had lots to offer, open space, fantastic beaches, close proximity to NYC and all its culture & entertainment venues, and  lots of family & friends. I was fortunate to grow up on a farm, and at that time agriculture still was prevalent on LI. Then went to college in Rochester NY, Western NY. The first time I was west of the Catskills was on my college visit. College was good. I got a good job in Rochester after college, met a beautiful girl, married, bought a house, had two beautiful daughters..etc.  But, now I'm not in a career job. My daughters are married and far away.  It's true cost of living and taxes are high, winters can be harsh. I think it's time to scout more suitable places to reside as I enter the last third of my ...

It's about honoring and respecting those who supported you & got you to reach your goals in life. What a wonderful gesture by George, I can't think of a better honor. That young man will go far in life, as he recognizes at an early age that you never do it without those who sacrificed everyday for you. God Bless !  https://youtu.be/0WOzIQYS2nw

A Walk down Memory Lane October 11, 2010                                                                                                                      Farmingdale, NY     Tony Schmitt (the younger one) It was a beautiful fall night this past Friday, a perfect night for a high school football game under the lights.  Earlier that day I had checked the paper, and saw that Farmingdale High School was playing Oceanside. My father’s house is about a mile away from Farmingdale HS, so I decided to get some exercise and take a walk to the game. I had not been to a Farmingdale football game in over 35 years. Actually, the last high school game I saw on Long Island was in 1977,...

Someone asked the richest man in the world, Bill Gates, “ Is there anyone richer than you in the world ?” Bill Gates replied, “ Yes, there is a person who is richer than me.” He then narrated a story. “It’s during the time when I wasn't rich or famous. I was at the New York Airport when I saw a newspaper vendor. I wanted to buy one newspaper but found that I don't have enough of change. So I left the idea of buying and returned it to the vendor. I told him of not having the change. The vendor said, “ I am giving you this for free.” On his insistence I took the newspaper. Coincidentally, after 2–3months, I landed at the same airport and again I was in short of change for a newspaper. The vendor offered me the newspaper again. I refused and said that I can't take it for I don't have a change today too. He said, “ You can take it, I am sharing this from my profit, I won't be at loss.” I took the newspaper. After 19 y...

Let us not leave our posts while the Church through our bishop is suffering the agony of Gethsamine. Each of you is a leader of your cohort of prayer warriors for the spiritual warfare in which we are engaged. We have a governor who passes laws protecting cats' paws and authorizing the dismembering of infants. We have a society which is registering about half of its births out of wed-lock and redefining marriage, but like the Pharisees of old   they rend their garments and recklessly attack the church. We have a society which worries about climate changes and uses the incitement of divisive politics to achieve power. So for us we  must pray in the churches, in our homes, where we work, alone or in a group to Our Lady as the Mother of the Church and Our Lord. We must not flinch! We must stand fast and stand with our bishop, and support the hundreds of priests who service us so generously. This is the beginning of the beginning of our prayer initiatives. Ron B.

T. Boone Pickens Is Dead; Oil Magnate and Corporate Raider Was 91 A very rich man monetarily, but I guess not so much in family life. 😳😳 Mr. Pickens’s five marriages — to Lynn O’Brien, Beatrice Carr Stuart, Madeleine Paulson, Nelda Cain and Toni Chapman Brinker — ended in divorce. The saying goes that money cannot buy you happiness. I will always wonder how does a billionaire strike out 5 times in the most important aspect of life. Did he not know love enough to succeed ? Or did he treat wives as the same , he did companies he tried to acquire via hostile takeovers ? Sad.

Not my words today. But, the world would be a better place. Amen 🙏 Reading 1  Col 3:12-17 Brothers and sisters: Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection. And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one Body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Gospel  Lk 6:27-38 Jesus said to his disciples: "To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do g...

September 11, 2001 was a terrible day for all Americans. It was a day of terror attacks by foreign enemies. An attack on,  and destruction of landmarks that we all knew. The Twin Towers in NYC and the Pentagon in our nation's Capitol. Close to 3,000 people died that day, most of them our fellow US citizens. More continue to die due to 9/11 related illnesses.  On a personal basis , I knew (or knew their family members) 4 individuals who perished due to the 9/11 terror attacks. Peter Ganci was second in command of the FDNY. Peter was from Farmingdale NY, and I went to St. Kilians elementary school with his brother & sister. He died in the collapse of the Towers attempting to save people trapped in the tower. CORRECTION : At the time of the attacks, he held the rank of  Chief of Department , the highest ranking uniformed fire officer in the department John Wallice was a businessman with an office in the Towers.  John was a fellow classma...

9-14-17 Today, I attended the celebration of Chris Crandall's life. It was made up of sadness, celebration, tears, smiles, but more than anything love. I think most of you who knew Chris would agree that when you hear her name, the words that come to mind are friendly and smile. Caitlin, her youngest daughter, used both words to describe her beloved mother. Caitlin delivered a loving eulogy honoring both her mother and her late father, Gary. It was heart wrenching to see such a great group of young adults lose both their parents to cancer at young ages. Another thing that pops into my mind as soon as I hear Chris's name is St. Paul's Church in Webster. That is where I met Chris & Gary way back in 1988, when my wife and I joined St. Paul's parish with our newborn daughter. Another daughter to be born the next year. Chris was so welcoming and kind, Gary was quiet. Their three daughters,  Sarah, Elizabeth, Caitlin, and son Matthew were a few years older than...

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Not many of my original words today, but in life it is surprising when people when tested ususally chose the love of money & thus evil. Don't fall to the temptation, & the hypocrisy that accompanies it. Contrary to the famous line that Gordon Gecko spouts in the movie Wall Street, " Greed is NOT good." It causes disharmony in human relationships, not good, but evil becomes life's compass.  I can attest I have witnessed the love of money corrupt people up close & personal. The love caused them to trade in Christian morals, for selfishness, ugliness, and animosity to those who questioned their acts and intentions. Mr. Gecko would be smiling that his philosophy of greed lives on. 😥  Timothy 6:10 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs .Corinthians 6:10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the...

Okay, I'm back at blogging. It's been a long time since I last wrote, almost 7 years. I have been encouraged by a few to go for it. So, my first blog and its about a very important subject. Much has happened in those years. I started a graduate program at Fordham University. I quit the Fordham graduate program after two semesters. Although, I found it interesting and enjoyable, I also discovered I underestimated the time commitment for the next 2 1/2 years. The knowledge I gained is valuable in everyday life. I moved back to the Rochester area after living for almost 5 years on Long Island. The last time previous  that I was a Long Island resident was December, 1980. I moved to Rochester to accept a job offer, then married, bought a house, and had two wonderful daughters, da..da. Rochester was my college town. I relocated back to Long Island in November, 2009 due to health problems, specifically depression (that's another blog). I moved in with my father for two years,...