Joann and Jack

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Friday, May 6, 2011

NARFE Piano Player

NARFE Piano Player:

Pierce Johnson

Naval Academy (Annapolis) Graduate

Retired Navy Admiral

Current Area IX Vice President of VA NARFE

and

The Gentleman Who Can Tickle The Piano Keys

To Entertain The NARFE Crowd Before Dinner

*******

By the way who can join NARFE, the only organization that protects the retirement benefits earned by federal workers? You can join NARFE if you are a current or retired federal civilian employee or military employee or if you are the spouse of a current or retired federal civilain employee or military employee. There are NARFE chapters in all 50 states so consider joining the organization if you qualify and are concerned about what Congress might do to our current retirement benefits.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

How Much Is A Million, A Billion and A Trillion?

The Honorable Congressman Rob Wittman of Virginia

Congressman Rob Wittman gave us a visual image of how much is a million, a billion and a trillion

***

A Million: If you stack 1 million dollars in height (straight up) in $1000 dollar bills, it would be just 4 inches tall.

***

A Billion: If you stack 1 billion dollars in height (straight up) in $1000 dollar bills, it would be 364 feet tall.

***

A Trillion: If you stack 1 trillion dollars in height (straight up) in $1000 dollar bills,

it would be 63 miles high.

63 MILES HIGH!!!!!!!!

Wow!

Does this help you visualize how deep or tall our national debt is?

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

NARFE State Convention April 25 - 28

NARFE State Convention

April 25 - 28

Richmond, Virginia

Holiday Inn Koger Conference Center

Jack and I participated in the NARFE Convention last week.

We had a great time and learned a lot.

NARFE Banner:

NARFE - Challenged As Never Before

Welcome To Chesterfield!

By Associate of Art Warren, Chairman,

Chesterfield County Bord of Supervisors

Second Welcome: VA Federal Congressman, Rob Wittman

"What's Happening In Congress With Our Budget Crisis"

Speaker: Sarah Holstine, Legislative Office, NARFE Headquarters

"What's Happening On The Hill And How It Affects YOU!"

Virginia's First Couple For NARFE

President: Bill Shackelford

Alzheimer's Committee Chair: Donna Shackelford

Co-Chairs NARFE Service Commettee:

John Bails and Connie Bails

Standing Up To Assume VFC Committee Offices

VFC Officers And Committee Chairs

Monday, May 2, 2011

Our Pink Kousa Dogwood In Bloom

Our Pink Kousa Dogwood Now In Bloom

Jenn and Terry gave us this pink kousa dogwood tree for our 30'th wedding anniversary in 2004.

Thank you Jenn and Terry!

I shot this photo down low looking up at the branches.

Here is a straight on photo of the tree with our daffodils that have already bloomed.

Now this is why I like kousa dogwoods.

They bloom after the leaves have emerged and grown

and the blossoms are on top of the leaves.

Here's a closeup photo.

Now isn't that pretty!

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Gosh, Was Just Last Sunday Easter Sunday?

Gosh, Was Just Last Sunday Easter Sunday?

Here's some photos of the Easter madness at the Shipleys.

Above: Jack Aidan spies his Easter basket/bucket!

This is a ball game I can play with Daddy.

Here's a book I can read and write in with Mommy.

The Easter Bunny knows my favorite candy: gummy bears and gummy worms!

Jeanine: I got book of essays about dogs written by lady dog owners.

Jennifer: I got a book of knitting patterns.

Grandpa, what did you get?

I got an Easter kiss from Grandma!

Happy May Day 2011!

Happy May Day 2011!

Time is surely flying by. I can't believe it is already May 1'st!

I Loved The British Royal Wedding

I Loved The British Royal Wedding

I set my alarm for 3:50 A.M. and got up to watch all the coverage on TV. Jack got up around 6:30 A.M. when the wedding show was really getting interesting. Together we watched Kate's arrival at Westminster Abbey and the actual wedding ceremony. We both got a kick out of brother Harry looking back at Kate coming down the aisle on her father's arm and then turning to his brother Wills to give him a quick description of Kate's gown. Maybe it is Harry's flaming red hair but I get such a kick out him. I think he is so down to earth that I can see him coming up to you in a British pub and setting down and chatting with you over a beer.

Everyone has discussed the best dressed and the worst dressed so I'm not going to rehash any of that wedding news. I will just end by saying that my favorite moment of the wedding was when the royal wedding couple drove themselves away from Buckingham Palace with JUST WED on the back license plate and L for learner's permit on the front license plate.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Friday's Agenda: Watch The Royal Wedding In London

Friday's Agenda: Watch The Royal Wedding In London

April 29, 2011

I'm going to bed after American Idol to get my zzzzzzzz so I can get up before 4:00 A.M. EST to watch the all the royal wedding coverage on TV.

Three Quotes For You

Three Quotes For You

Jazz is the sound of God laughing.

Collen Shaddox

I Believe In America, And I Believe in our people.

Gen. Colin Powell

I Believe That Freedom Is Contagious.

Harold Hongiu Koh

These three quotes were from our April book club selection, This I Believe, edited by Jay Allison and Dan Gediman in association with NPR. Go to my other blog PiedmontReaders over on the right to learn more about this book.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

What Is This?

What Is This?

The answer: Lots of uniform holes made by a hungry woodpecker or two in our pear trees.

We have three Bradford pear trees in our yard and all three have these holes marching around the trunk. I wonder how long it takes a woodpecker to make one hole to get a bug buried inside the trunk?