Posts from — December 2001
Christmas 2001 (TX) Photos Online
Pictures from Christmas at Merrin's mother's and father's are online. There are a couple of good ones. Go to http://kevindonahue.com/gallery/Christmas2001
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December 26, 2001 Comments Off
How we are different this Christmas
I received this email and wanted to share it with you.
25 Ways Are Different This Christmas
1. Last Christmas we were thinking about all the things we didn't have; this Christmas we are thinking about all the things we do have.
2. Last Christmas we were placing wreaths on the doors of our homes; this Christmas we are placing wreaths on the graves of our heroes.
3. Last Christmas we were letting our Sons play with toy guns; this Christmas we are teaching them that guns are not toys.
4. Last Christmas we were counting our money; this Christmas we are counting our blessings.
5. Last Christmas we paid lip service to the real meaning of the holidays; this Christmas we are paying homage to it.
6. Last Christmas we were lighting candles to decorate; this Christmas we are lighting candles to commemorate.
7. Last Christmas we were digging deep into our bank accounts to find money to fly home for the holidays; this Christmas we are digging deep into our souls to find courage to do so.
8. Last Christmas we were trying not to let annoying relatives get the best of us; this Christmas we are trying to give the best of ourselves to them.
9. Last Christmas we thought it was enough to celebrate the holidays; this Christmas we know we must also find ways to consecrate them.
10. Last Christmas we thought a man who could rush down a football field was a hero; this Christmas we know a man who rushes into a burning building is the real one.
11. Last Christmas we were thinking about the madness of the holidays; this Christmas we are thinking about the meaning of them.
12. Last Christmas we were getting on one another's nerves; this Christmas we are getting on our knees.
13. Last Christmas we were giving thanks for gifts from stores; this Christmas we are giving thanks for gifts from God.
14. Last Christmas we were wondering how to give our children all the things that money can buy - the hottest toys the latest fashions, the newest gadgets; this Christmas we are wondering how to give them all the things it can't - a sense of security, safety, peace.
15. Last Christmas we were thinking about all the pressure we are under at the office; this Christmas we are thinking about the people that no longer have an office to go to.
16. Last Christmas we were singing carols; this Christmas we are singing anthems.
17. Last Christmas we were thinking how good it would feel to be affluent; this Christmas we are thinking how good it feels to be alive.
18. Last Christmas we thought angels were in heaven; this Christmas we know some are right here on earth.
19. Last Christmas we were contemplating all the changes we wanted to make in the New Year; this Christmas we are contemplating all the changes we will have to make in this new reality.
20. Last Christmas we believed in the power of the pocketbook; this Christmas we believe in the power of prayer.
21. Last Christmas we were sharing/spreading/listening to gossip; this Christmas we are sharing/spreading/listening to the gospel.
22. Last Christmas we were complaining about how much of our earnings went to pay taxes; this Christmas we comprehend that freedom isn't free.
23. Last Christmas we valued things that were costly; this Christmas we value things that are holy.
24. Last Christmas the people we idolized wore football, basketball, and baseball uniforms; this Christmas the people we idolize wear police, firefighter, and military uniforms.
25. Last Christmas "peace on earth" is something we prayed for on Sunday mornings; now it is something we pray for every day.
~Author Unknown~
Have a safe and wonderful holiday. You are in our thoughts and prayers. We hope to be with you soon.
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December 23, 2001 Comments Off
Two Important Links
Here are two dandies for ya!
#1: Did you know Kevin Donahue has been published internationally? Oh yeah. And not some other Kevin Donahue. Me. This guy right here. The one who busted his lip playing little league and sustained a concussion playing freeze tag. Kevin's letter to the editor was published in the online edition of Egypt's Al-Ahram Weekly newspaper. My letter was in response to an Egyptian's letter as to why Americans are so arrogant, especially in "times of need." I guess they felt my view was worthy of printing. (Click Here)
#2: Have you emailed an American service man/woman? Take a minute and send a few words from home to our troops overseas. Can't think of anything to say, just stop by and read what others have written. Your message will be sent directly to a servicemember's email, courtesy of the US military. I posted the link before, so go to my original message. (Click Here)
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December 17, 2001 Comments Off
"'When it's gonna rain?' I say, 'When it's gonna stop?'"
Up until Tuesday, this had been far and away the best Christmas season ever. Maybe there were some better ones when I was little, but none come to mind. So, without question, the best Christmas ever.
Then, on Tuesday, my car dies. $1500 later, its picked up and returned in perfect condition. Joy to the World! When I go back to get Merrin's car (which I had left @ her Mother's who drove me to the dealership), Merrin's car won't start. So, I stand out in the rain and try to jump start it. Nothing. I call a tow truck –my second of the week– and they take it in. Turns out it just needed a battery. $50. Joy to the World! And I drive it home and on the way (no, wait it for it) the speedometer quits working. And (insert Jaws music here) it's starting to shift roughly. I'm thinking, "Four letters, sounds like chit."
So now, we're getting Merrin's car towed in to the transmission shop. Hopefully, it's just a sensor or minor glitch. I don't know how much more "festive holiday fun" I can take. Merrin & I were both sniping at each other all day because we're so worried about her car.
So, in the spirit of Christmas, I offer this yuletide carol to my wife:
Take back the holly and mistletoe
Silver bells on strings
If I wrote a letter to Santa Clause
I would ask for just one thing
I don’t need sleigh rides in the snow
Don’t want Christmas that is blue
Take back the tinsel, stockings, and bows
Cause all I want for Christmas is you
I don’t need expensive things
They don’t matter to me
All that I want
Can’t be found
Underneath the Christmas tree
You are the angel that tops my tree
You are my dream come true
Santa can’t bring me what I need
Cause all I want for Christmas is you
On the posative side, congrats to "the grad". (More info & video here)
And, on the plus side, I bet I remember this Christmas for years to come!
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December 16, 2001 Comments Off
Some things you never knew, some you did.
Here are some things you might not have known about me:
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I don't want to procrastinate, it just happens. |
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Sometimes I wish I was not cynical, but that won't change. |
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The only time I read books is on vacation (and there is no TV). |
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I cannot have anything nice. It's a conspiracy. |
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I make people laugh, usually with me. |
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I hate grocery stores but I'm there 3-4 times a week. |
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I don't mind the sight of blood unless it's mine, then I get "sleepy". |
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I'm not bored all the time, but it will come on rather quickly. |
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I'm incredibly stubborn, but I will deny it to my death. |
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I judge people, but I use a softer scale for myself. |
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I don't mind being the most outgoing person. |
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Given the choice, I'll choose to be the leader. Otherwise, I will overthrow! |
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I cry probably 25-30 times year, all of them at/near Christmas. |
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I would do anything for my family. |
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I am the most competetive person I know. |
There are hundreds of others I could add to this list, but that's enough for now. Besides, don't be nosey.
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December 10, 2001 Comments Off
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December 9, 2001 Comments Off
RSS Stream Thingy
I spent Sunday morning recoding some pages and implemented an RSS stream for the website. Technically, we could rebroadcast any portion of the website to any other website or cellphone in the world. (If they asked us to.)
In our particular implementation, this should keep a couple of piping fresh posts always visible on the front page within a half-hour of when we wrote them. Why? Who the hell knows why? I just did it, OK. Jeez….
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December 9, 2001 Comments Off
Happy Anniversary, Sweetheart!
Just a quick message to say Happy 1st date anniversary to my wife. It was 7 years ago today that we had our first date. It seems like yesterday. You make me so happy.
I love you, Merrin!
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December 9, 2001 Comments Off
I don't know what to say
I am greatly saddened by the past two days in Israel. Once again, terrorism has ripped people's normal lives apart. (I don't pretend to suggest that life in Israel is normal - it can't be with the constant threats - I guess I mean "routine"). People there have become accustomed to being targeted and have shown exceptional courage and restraint despite all that they have endured. They have been loyal allies, tempering their responses over the years to help meet our common goals. I don't believe we would have responded in turn if they said to us, "Don't go after bin Laden this time. Let it go," as we have asked of them during previous attacks.
There is a story today in the Washington Post that sickens me and –remarkably– gives me great hope. It tells the personal story of the two Palestinian men who conducted deadly suicide bombings in Jerusalem.
This statement by one of the terrorist's father made me sick: "I feel both pride and sorrow," said his father." What kind of place do you live in when you can say you are proud that your son murded dozens and wounded hundreds more?
I feel hope from a statement made by a friend of one of the terrorists: "he started working in Israel and seeing the luxurious life they live there, and probably he started asking questions: Why are they leading a better life than us? Why are they treating us so badly? Every one of us asks these questions every day."
The Palestinian people should feel angry that they do not have the life that the Israeli people have. But it's not the fault of the Israelis, it's the Palestinians who are to blame.
If you support leaders who rub salt in your wounds, then things will never get any better. You are being used and you are being oppressed. Not by the Israelis, they don't care a darn about you. They care about their people. You are being oppressed by your own leaders. And the same holds true in Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabi, Yemen, and countless other middle eastern nations. Your leaders tell you, "Things are bad here because (insert name here) is an evil government aligned against us." No, things are bad there because you have no freedom. And rather than rise up and claim you God given rights, you submit to generation after generation of oppression.
If one Palestinian ever reads this, I hope you ask yourself: How is my life better because of the terrorists who taped nails, bolts, nuts, and screws to a bomb and blew up an Israeli neighborhood? Guess what? It's not. And it never will be. Not because you are wrong to fight, but because you are fighting the wrong war. You must stand up and throw off the shackels. If you do, you will have freedom. If you do not, God help us all.
You people in this world….Sometimes you just give me the biggest headache. I gotta close this. I need a Tylenol.
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December 5, 2001 Comments Off
Segway "Ginger"
You have undoubtedly seen details about the new Segway "scooters" that have been the darlings of internet myth for 2 years. If you haven't seen the commercial for them, though: click here (highspeed) or here (modem).
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December 5, 2001 Comments Off
What a Week!
Really, this was a great week. Yes, I know that we had two days of terribly cold weather, sleet and ice. But –seriously– this was a great week.
Lots of big accomplishments at work. I got a couple of contracts that are going to be really important for the hotel. I have a couple of others that should close this week, which makes Monday a torrible neccesary evil.
Saturday was great. SO MUCH FOOTBALL!! YAHOO!! Not to mention the golf. Technically, I'm not supposed to mention golf on these pages because my sore loser brother-in-law gets mad. He should just play better - there's an idea! Finished some website work for some Donahue Online clients. Watched some more football and spent time with my wife and dogs. Pretty close to perfection!
A big congratulations to my wife: Happy 5 year anniversary with Barnes & Noble. I'm very proud of you, sweatheart. I know you've worked very hard to get where you are. I'm proud to be your husband.
And, finally, for all of those who are expecting a Christmas gift from the Donahue's this year: Please get your Christmas list in to Santa Merrin ASAP. We are about 50% done with shopping, so if you don't hurry you might end up getting socks or biscotti.
Watch out Monday — I'm coming for ya!
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December 2, 2001 Comments Off
