Food for Thought: Dear Soldier

Hello All,

Do you ever think about when you were a kid? I do, especially when I think about today's "me" generation. Anyone out there born prior to the mid-80s can surely relate. In our day, we had less, but appreciated it. Today's kids have so much more than they could ever need, but are they ever satisfied? I'm not saying all of today's youth are suffering from "me-ism" because that's a rather sweeping generalization, but I sure am glad I grew up when I did.

Anyway, amidst all the stories of excess and want, there is always good to be found and that's what I share with you all today -- the good deed of an 8 year old boy.

Last month, Myles Eckhart entered a Cracker Barrel restaurant at the Ohio Air National Guard base near Toledo, Ohio and presented Lt. Col. Frank Dailey with a gift from the heart. You see, Myles came across a $20 bill in the parking lot. At first, he considered buying a video game with the money, but he changed his mind when he spotted a man in uniform inside the restaurant. Myles was reminded of his father -- Army Sgt. Andy Eckert -- who was killed in Iraq before Myles could even get to know him. Myles was only 5 weeks old at the time, but he imagines a father who was kind & fun.

So, instead of keeping the money, Miles wrote a note, folded up the $20 inside of it and gave it to Lt. Col. Dailey. The note read as follows:

Dear soldier,

My Dad was a soldier. He's in heaven now. I found this $20 in the parking lot when we got here. We like to pay it forward in my family. It's your lucky day! Thank you for your service.

Myles Eckhart, a gold star kid

a picture of the note Myles gave to Lt. Col. Dailey

Gold star kids, for those of you who don't know, are children who have lost a parent in combat.

Now that young boy is being raised right for sure. Lt. Col. Frank Dailey, deeply touched & honoured by the note, gave away the $20 to someone else, paying it forward just as Myles did.

How do you pay it forward? Share by leaving a comment below.


Until next time,

Eddy

Nearly Naked Man on Campus

Hello Everyone,

No doubt you've all heard of 'big man on campus' but 'nearly naked man' --- um, WTF?

Yeah, that was pretty much my reaction this morning when I saw a news report of a nearly naked man on the Wellesley College grounds in Boston, MA. Turns out it wasn't a real man in his underwear, but a statue called "Sleepwalker" by artist Tony Matelli. The life-like sculpture was positioned beside a road on the all-female college campus --- SHEESH!!! --- to draw attention to a new exhibit by Matelli at the campus museum. I guess putting up some posters wasn't enough?

Anyway, there are pictures all over the web of this sculpture. As you can see from the images I have posted here, the figure looks quite real, but more like a Zombie than a man sleepwalking -- at least to me. What do you guys think?

Furthermore, if I was a female student at that college and came across what looked like a very much alive and almost naked male stranger -- especially during the evening -- I'd be totally creeped out!!

Yep, this is one really bizarre publicity stunt, but I guess it worked if it's being reported all over the internet. And, despite a petition to have a the statue removed, it's not going away any time soon because the Matelli exhibit is on until July 20th. I think having the sculpture around that long will spark some crazy student related stunts in the upcoming months, don't you? A whole lot of Mr. Dress Up, if you ask me. :)

Until next time,

Eddy

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Image credits: thewashingtonpost.com & elle.com

Get A Room!

The other day, I was over at Rob's blog reading his post about a couple caught having sex in a dumpster, and it reminded me of a similar story involving my mother. Get your heads out of the gutter, people. My mother is not a dumpster diver (at least as far as I know), but... Well, let me start at the beginning.

One night at the restaurant (FYI - if you're new here, my family used to be in the restaurant biz), this couple came in and we knew right away that they were the touchy-feely kind. This meant that they would be there all night because they'd be far too busy pawing at each to concentrate on anything else. How they managed to get through dinner without sitting on each others laps is still beyond me. Seriously, they were two bj's short of a porno & we thought they would never leave. Anyway... after four hours of petting, stroking, tonguing, and God knows what else (it's not like we could see under the table with the tablecloth draped over it), they finally asked for the bill & paid. Other than my mother who was going to do some prep work before calling it a night, the rest of us were ready to go home, so we headed out thinking that the lovers would soon follow suit. Well, the next day my sister and I arrived at work to find out that we were mistaken.

Mother: I have something to tell you.

My sister and I looked at each other with our 'Uh oh, we're in sh*t for something' faces and prepared for the worst.

Mother: You know the lovers that were here last night?

Me: Yeah.

Mother: Well, those lovers were really in love after you guys went home.

Me: (looking at my sister wide-eyed, then back at my mother) O... K...

Mother: I go to the door with them when they leave. I say thank you, good night, see you soon, and then I lock up.

Sister: OK.

Mother: Then, I go back in the kitchen to do my prep work.

Me: Yeah...

Mother: Before I finish, I think I need to go take out the garbage because you guys forgot.

Me: OK, and then what?

Mother: Oh, the lovers, they in love very much. Too much for me to handle.

Sister: Ma, you're killing me. Come on.

Mother: So, I go outside with the garbage, pulling the can because it's too heavy for me to carry. I making a lot of noise too. You think someone would hear me.

Me: And???

Mother: I see beside the garbage (she means the dumpster) that someone left their car. Maybe they take a taxi home, you know.

Sister: AND???!!!!!!!

Mother: I see white.

Me: White what??

Mother: I see a naked culo (that's slang for 'ass' for all of you who don't know Italian).

Sister: WHAT?

Mother: And then I see another one.

Me: WHAT??

Mother: They having sex beside the garbage.

Sister: WHAT???!!!!!!!!

Me: On the ground????

Mother: Yes, and I ask them what's a matter with them and why they do this outside.

Me: OMG!

Mother: And I ask them why they don't go in the car if they don't go home. They say they very sorry and that they going to leave. I tell them they better go because I call the police.

Sister: Holy sh*t , ma!

Mother: I no understand these people. What happened to the bed... the old fashioned way?

Me: (taking the opportunity to tease her) Oh, ma, you're so old school. Did you and Daddy make me in the bed?

Mother: (totally serious) That's not your business!

Me: So, did you see it (don't make me spell out what it is, people)?

Sister: (grinning) Yeah, ma, did you?

Me: (watching my mother blush & turn away from us towards the stove) You did! OMG, you did!!!

Mother: OK, enough, go back to work.

Sister: (laughing & teasing) No, not until you tell us if you saw it or not.

Mother: No, that's enough, I say. Get to work.

All day long we teased her. LOL The poor woman. Seriously, though, what the h*ll is wrong with some people? Sex in a dumpster... beside a dumpster? For the love of God, folks, get a room!!!! If you can't get one, beg, steal or borrow one, please!!!

JB