Saturday, June 19, 2010

Window Installation Redo

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The Farr's ala Grant Wood
I knew tensions would rise once we got started with the removal
of the old window and the installation of the new and that we needed to
have a couple of laughs before we started so I took these first two shots.
It's been about four weeks since we ordered the second window. I don't 
know why it took so long, the first window was ready in two weeks.
The waiting time did allow us an opportunity to mentally prepare ourselves for the upcoming task.
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The window came out relatively easy. I was on the outside pushing in and
TOM was on the inside yelling 'push harder'. I'm not giving birth to a baby dude! Anyway, it
finally started to break loose and he's still yelling to push harder. I finally dropped the
'F' bomb and boy did it feel good. Did I mention it has been a couple of really rough
weeks at work? Story for another day. The window is out and it's time to install the
new window. We lift it up into the frame and we find we have some bricks that need to be
chipped away. Scary...new glass, hammer, and chisel. You figure it out. 
Finally, the new window is in place. A few screws, some caulking and expanding 
foam and phase one is complete. TOM gets started on the finishing work. Two hours later and
the job is fini. Not the hardest project we ever worked, but one of the longest.
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Sunday, June 13, 2010

Viet Nam Memorial - The Moving Wall

At the Fort Benning Infantry Museum
As I stood and looked at this wall, I was filled with an overwhelming feeling of sadness. I don't know any of the soldiers whose names are inscribed here, so the only explanation can be the realization that war affects all of us no matter how far we may be from it. My mother's brother went to Viet Nam in the 60's. He left a fun-loving and mischeivous 20-something. He came home an alcoholic and drug addict.

Maybe his name should be on this wall; the best parts of him never came home.
James D. Olson
1948-2005

Note: Having 'outed' my uncle and exposed his challenges, he was many years sober with a son and grandson for which he was extremely proud when he passed away.
The following information comes from the website for the moving wall.  
"The Moving Wall" is the half-size replica of the Washington, DC Vietnam Veterans Memorial and has been touring the country for more than twenty years. When John Devitt attended the 1982 dedication in Washington, he felt the positive power of "The Wall." He vowed to share that experience with those who did not have the opportunity to go to Washington.
John, Norris Shears, Gerry Haver, and other Vietnam veteran volunteers built The Moving Wall. It went on display for the first time in Tyler, Texas in October of 1984. Two structures of The Moving Wall now travel the USA from April through November, spending about a week at each site.

A "Sponsor" is any organization or group of individuals that wants The Moving Wall to visit their area and is willing to do the work to make the local arrangements as described in "Scheduling a Visit of The Moving Wall." Sponsors are frequently civic groups, schools, or veterans' organizations. Sponsoring normally requires months of planning by dozens of local volunteers.