SICKNESS ....... OPPORTUNITY........ETERNITY

The burial of Senator Kennedy at Arlington National Cemetery on Saturday with the darkness of the night nearby and the eternal light flickering from his Brother John's Grave was a moment to remember.............especially in regard to Archbishop Theodore McCarrick reading the deceased's letter to the Pope which stated the following in part ; " I' ve always tried to be a faithful Catholic Your Holiness,and though I have fallen short through human failings, I have never failed to believe and respect the teaching of my faith........

The response of the Vatican was in part; "His Holiness prays that in the days ahead,you may be sustained in faith and hope,and granted the precious grace of joyful surrender to the will of God,our merciful Father".......Ted Kennedy received this answer approximately two weeks ago.

On this beautiful Washington D.C. evening the humble plea of a dying human being was heard and answered by the "Vicar of Jesus Christ " on earth.....The drama of the moment is not of this earth and Jesus is forgiving...........

It should be our wish in our dying that we have this moment in time to reconcile our deeds and thoughts with our Creator....... WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY.........FOR THE FUTURE IN ETERNITY..........

EVIL.....YOU NEVER KNOW WHERE IT CAN BE FOUND....

I try to find ways to forgive people knowing "full well" that I am not perfect as the rest of us on earth......however this latest story from California tests "forgiveness " especially with person's classified as sexual offenders.......They are all around us....and a review of the Lynn,Ma. Police website gives the places they live in our area.........I have wondered how can these people ever live their lives...and if their is a better way....Everyone should have a new chance if they have served the "debt" to society............

I do not have an answer...........This story of "Creepy Phil" abducting Jaycee Lee Dugard( ri

ght) from a sidewalk and hiding her for 18 years even though the story was shown on America's Most Wanted , and visits to " Phil's "house by probation officers over the years is disturbing.It is reported that he raped her and "fathered two children with her"......

This crime and her discovery was made after an investigation in which he became a suspect in the murder of prostitutes and that he may be a serial killer.........

God Bless this woman,family and her children........

My advice.....Do not live in fear, be vigilant, use common sense and teach your children the same......In the best of neighborhood's evil may " rear its ugly head"...

WHO IS THIS WOMAN ........?

This woman (right) made a name for herself by following one US President to his Texas vacation and now is following another US President to his vacation in Massachusetts.........

You remember her.......Cindy Sheehan who was the face of the anti-war movement during the tenure of George Bush.......but is unable to get any press eventhough the "wars" are still going on..........Strange........The media has put her "out to pasture"due to the lack of interest in the war story by the Party in power down in Washington D.C...............

Cindy has found out that their is no anti-war movement unless a Republican is in power.......She is frustrated..........She is just another tourist on Martha's Vineyard looking for 15 minutes of fame.

Cindy realizes that she was used................Oh.....Well.....call the President,Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid.............They are friends she always could count on .........among others

TED KENNEDY........RIP

TED KENNEDY ( 1932-2009 )......He was an advocate of his causes.........RIP..... GOD'S SPEED....

SURPRISE...........PATRICK WANTS POWER TO FILL SENATE SEAT.......

Deval Patrick has had a mixed Week.......

The Mass. Supreme Judicial Court ruled that the Dept. of Revenue cannot force the payment of the 6.25 % sales tax on the purchase of Tires in New Hampshire on the " presumption " that they will be used in Massachusetts if purchased by a Mass.Resident.......too bad.......New Hampshire wins.......as well as the consumer........nice try Gov............

On the other hand.................The story is that Senate President Theresa Murray has changed her mind and will" entertain" a "new" law concerning succession to the "Kennedy Seat"

( THOUGHTS 8/20 ).........If this happens the " Deval Deal " will be on.......Remember the US President needs every Senate vote he can muster for the Health Care Bill ( whatever that is )

EXTRA ! EXTRA ! EXTRA ! JUST IN.......PATRICK SUPPORTS NEW SUCCESSION LAW GIVING HIM THE POWER OF APPOINTMENT......WHAT A SURPRISE...................

265..............HAD ROAST BEEF.......LAST NIGHT

It was busy last night at My Brother's Table............and thanks to the volunteers, 265 persons were fed Roast Beef between 5:30-7:30 .......The age range of these workers was 14-78 , and everyone got along great..... and the unanimous vote was " lets do this again ".......hopefully it will happen in the next month......

Some of the "HIPS" HARVEY'S "I" PERSONS who volunteered last night (right) included ;

LILY GARDNER

JENNA ROWE

LISA PANAKIO ROWE

MARIA ROWEN

SHANNON GARDNER

TERRELL PATTERSON

" SWEET " LOU PANAKIO( OBSERVED CUTTING THE MEAT FOR THOSE IN NEED )

KERRI ROWE (PHOTOGRAPHER )

How to go guys!!!!!!!! SEE YOU NEXT TIME..............

A REMINDER THE "HIP" LIST WILL APPEAR WEEKLY IN REGARD TO MY "THOUGHTS " AND FOR THE MOST PART WILL BE A RECORDING OF GOOD DEEDS....

....REMEMBER THOUGH.....THAT THE " I" IS IN THE BEHOLDER.........

TIME MACHINES........TELESCOPES

I do not know if the future will ever allow us to travel in time.......but the thought always fascinated me.

The world has been producing bigger and stronger telescopes that are allowing us to look farther back in time and see back millions and maybe billions of years of light years that show stars and galaxy's (right) AS THEY LOOKED AT THAT TIME.......and open secrets of a long deep past.....and the beginnings of our Universe......Look at a star tonight.....and realize you are looking at the past before you were born........

It makes our day to day problems and self centered "little universe " seem minuscule.........

Think big not small.......and dwell on the spiritual.........

1988.......A LONG TIME AGO.....LOCKERBIE

Today's release of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi,the only man convicted of the Lockerbie Bombing that brought down a plane that had 270 passengers is a sad day for the family and friends of those souls........

If my memory is correct a few were students returning from a semester in Europe and attended Syracuse University and one of them was from Swampscott,Ma.

We were not attuned to "terrorism " back in those days and it was an shock to the Nation.........

The Compassion of the Scottish Goverment opens the wounds of the people affected and todays' celebration in Tripoli, Lybia (right ) is unfortunate and certainly could have been avoided............

This does not help us in the "war on terrorism ".............Oh!! that's right we do not have that war anymore....We just have troops involved.....

KENNEDY.............DEAL..........OR NO DEAL ?

I do not feel comfortable criticizing Senator Kennedy knowing his health issues ,however, it appears that his " working from home"has included an attempt to pick his successor and more than likely make sure one of his family members gets his "Senate Seat ". It is a " good gig" and with the bad economy you might as well keep the job among friends........

In 2004 the" powers to be " changed the law of selection in the Senate since it was apparent that John Kerry was going to be President and Gov.Romney (R ) HAD THE POWER OF APPOINTMENT.The law was changed to prevent that....... and now it has to be changed back so Deval Patrick ( D) CAN MAKE THE CHOICE........

I am sure no deal has been made.......Deval's other choices have been great......How about the swimming pools this week ?

The present law states that an election shall be held within 5 months...I am sure that process could be moved forward.....

THE POINT IS........TELL THE TRUTH.....DO NOT SAY SOMETHING......AND INTEND TO SOMETHING DIFFERENT........

THE " DEVAL DEAL " MUST BE DONE..........".THEY " MUST SAVE US FROM OURSELVES.....AND OUR INDIVIDUAL VOTE......

CASPER........EXCUSE ME..........WHAT'S IN THE PANTS.......

The World Athletic Championship is being held in Berlin.........

and in the Women's 800 m Race Trials; teen sensation, Casper Semenza (yellow and green ) of

South Africa has been running amazing times and in fact

has been so strong and fast......That her/his gender is being

challenged. their has been no mention of steroids.

The group responsible for the challenge has requested Casper to

subject her/his "self " for the testing.......There is not a timetable established

as of yet...........

The quickest is the " pants test ", however in this world of" legal posturing" that

may not be conclusive in this day and age.I have a feeling this story may get " bigger "

May the best girl win.........oh ! .... may the " real" best girl win.......................

CONGRATS.........FIT WERKS......PEABODY

If you are looking to get into bike racing , needing a new bike or wish to get fitted properly " peddle" your way up to " FITWERKS " in Peabody Square and you will be taken care of by........Marty Miserandino(( right ), Dean Phillips, and Geoff Hull........

However, the reason for my mention of them today is to let you know of their good deeds this summer ;

They were commended by Melissa Rauseo of the Peabody Institute Library for their participation in the "EARN A BIKE" PROGRAM that took kids that did not own a bike,taught them how to fix used bikes and then gave them ownership of that bike.......

HOW TO GO GUYS !!!!!!!

JUST ONE QUESTION TODAY.........

It seems that animal cruelty is the the issue of the day.......We have the proponents for and against

Michael Vicks' reinstatement to the NFL.......and whether he is truly sorry for the treatment he bestowed on pit bulls.......

and then we have PETA WHICH IS PROMOTING "UNHAPPY MEALS" and the slaughtering of chickens and beef by Mc Donalds Corporation (right) and how it is a terrible ..........

Some people will say that it is not the same thing, however, what about the slaughter of a fetus....

I do not see much outrage about that.......forget the issue of abortion......how about the pain and suffering....,like the chickens and cattle........

Question of the day...........

WHERE DO THE PEOPLE OF "PETA" STAND ON THE ISSUE OF FETUS CRUELTY ?

SUNDAY ......ROCKSTAR FITNESS....SEE IF YOU GOT WHAT IT TAKES...

This morning I WAS UP AND OUT EARLY ( AS USUAL) ,however it was not my normal workout due to factors that would take too long to explain .......I met Jenna Rowe in Marblehead and we ran approximately 5 miles or so......and then her Husband ,Mark followed me to the beach in Swampscott next to the Beach Club where we participated in the ROCKSTAR FITNESS BOOT CAMP for an hour which included aerobic exercises such as running in deep sand ,jumping jacks ,rope jumps ,squats......all to the music of a boom box .....we used rocks and some weights and ropes to define muscles.........and then on to stretches and "core " exercises.................

If you are serious about getting to shape....Go to the " Rockstar " blog that is linked to " Thoughts"and get to meet and greet THE FITNESS GURU, Melissa Sherwood(right with niece Maren) who started this camp and thinks up the exercises described in part above.......She doesn't look intimidating ........ok.. she

does look a little different on the sand....but she always is nice and has good stories.....

You will be able to see her in a video in the near future......SHOWING her moves for a National

Health Product.....

I admit we are related by blood, but that doesn't change the fact that she is a "SUPER STAR" IN THE FITNESS INDUSTRY........

Try it out.......Go for it........You will be proud of your self...........

18 YEARS....6 MONTHS....11 DAYS

Think of all those years and the things that have happened in your life.........How about being a Wife, Child or a dear Friend and not knowing if your Husband,Father or Friend was a casuality of war,missing or captured during that entire time...... with rumors of his whereabouts being bantered about.....such as his initials being found in various locations where prisioners had been

"detained"......

Dead,,,,,Alive.....Healthy.......Sick..........Mistreated.........This has been the life of the family and friends of Navy Pilot Scott Speicher who was shot out of the air in the first Gulf War and initially listed as the first casualty of the war in 1991.The wreckage and his remains could not be located and the years started to pass.......with rumors abounding that he was being held prisioner and his initials were found on walls at certain locations

In October, 2002 his status was changed to missing/captured at a news conference by VP Cheney without explanation..........In the meantime his Friend,

Buddy Harris , a fellow Navy Airman , had married his widow, Joanne . They brought up the children of Scott & Joanne along with having two other children........

SUDDENLY, ......WITHOUT NOTICE WORD CAME APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS AGO THAT SCOTT'S REMAINS AND WRECKAGE WERE DISCOVERED..........The Friend and Step Father to Scott's Children.......went to the Dover , Delaware Air Base and brought Scott Speicher to his final resting place in Jacksonville ,Fl. The services were held today Aug 14 ,2009..............

Thank God......for all the good in your life.....and pray that this family now finds some rest and comfort that this brave soul is home.......and that they will find closure to this nightmare......and discover the true meaning in their unlikely story...........

BROTHER'S TABLE FUNDRAISER.......SUCCESS.......

The Garden Party at the Nahant Counrty Club was a wonderful time with a large crowd which contributed generously to Brother's Table............I had the opportunity to see many old acquaintances , friends (that includes you , Kathy Donaghue of Arlington,Va.) , and family..........It was one of those "memorable nights" that you wish could happen with more frequency......

I wish to Thank all for coming........I was at a "party" table that included the following characters ;

Dr. Larry Essember & his Wife ,Carol ,Jim & Sandi Duffy of Beverly ,Melissa Sherwood (Fitness Guru) ,Rochelle Porper(World Traveler) , Mark & Heather Hazel ( Jacqueline Cookies ) , Richard & Brenda Lewin(Richard flew in from Miami to make it on time) , Mark & Jenna Rowe ( new "Headers") , Lisa Panakio Rowe & Maria Rowen ( "my girls") , John & Joanne Nestor (Nanepashemet CEO)........Hope I didn't leave anyone out.....Oh ! I did leave out the the last but certainly not the least......Lou Panakio.....The Conductor of the " Party Train "

A special thanks to Acting Executive Director Mary Magner , Her Staff, Volunteers , and Restaurant Owners who all made it possible..........and to Mayor " Chip " Clancy ( right with his wife Beth with Lisa Rowe & Maria Rowen) whose presence and support is greatly appreciated....

WOODSTOCK.....GENERATION MILESTONE....OR PARTY CENTRAL

I have been aggrevated by all this publicity concerning Woodstock and what a great moment

it was along with changing a generation forever.......

You must consider the source,mainly,me......I was an Officer in the Navy and thereafter a Special

Agent for Naval Investigative Service........I had a job, didn't think Jimmy Hendrix was a big deal,and gave lectures on the evils of drugs...........(That part didn't work out ..no one listened).To the Woodstock group I did not fit into their "free love "society........

My observation today of the no work, "forever students "who claim to have all the answers,but in reality only know the next "twenty minutes" is the same as the " Woodstock " party group which was for love,instant gratification,joints,music and "how do you get to the next party.".....

They are not heroes or generation changers but rather just young people trying to forestall the inevitable.........growing up.........I cannot blame them........but don't try to change history...........

YOUK............WHY YOU SO MUCH......MIKE LOWELL...

I know Kevin Youkilis crowds the plate,however, why is he hit by pitches with such

frequency........two nights in a row ......and how about Chamberlain from the Yankees.

He seems to throw at him at will......The reason is unknown according to "Youk"

We do not need a serious injury to stop this nonsense......MLB act now......

Further I realize how difficult it is for "Tito"Francona to juggle his new lineup ,but it is

frustrating to see David Ortiz batting like Julio Lugo while at the same time Mike Lowell(2 HR tonight) has been sitting on the bench......It is about time he becomes the DH.Papi as we know has been the "Man".........but at present he is not hitting at the Major League level.

MAYBE ORTIZ WILL MAKE ME EAT THIS "THOUGHT".............

HAPPY BIRTHDAY........SON.......AND A FRIEND....

What a coincidence........Aug. 11..........

Happy Birthday to Mark, My Son and one of the BEST and BRIGHTEST,LOVE YOU......

and to Brenda Lewin my tri training buddy who continues to amaze me with her

running,swimming and biking......

also to Mark's Wife, Jenna who has now taken to the running road in the early mornings with the tri group.Jenna is doing great and fitting right in with our small but spirited crew.....

Her Birthday Day is Aug. 15.......

TOO ALL ..........MANY MORE IN GREAT HEALTH.....................

TRANSPARENCY......TRUTH....BEST POLICY

We are all human and their is not one person alive on this earth who has been perfect.DECISIONS ARE MADE......Results are mixed...............and on reflection we would

change many things that we have done...........

Our character is determined by the way we handle the decisions both good and bad.Good business

decisions can cause individual "pride" that makes you feel your above the pedestrian

crowd and the bad decision can leave you lonely and despondent in grief.........

The reality is that we are of the same "spirit " and we are all subject to the good and bad.

My experience has shown that we are happy on this earth if we accept that no one is separate

and alone,but rather we are all in this together.........Thus the reason not to judge.....

and being transparent and honest with all of our feelings to the people we are surrounded with is the way to live our life........

Ryan Nestor,His Parents and Brother Michael and Sister Katelyn are living this transparency in their "troubled waters " and because of this they will survive and live for a brighter day......John

Nestor demonstrates this on his blog,Nanpashemet....

They are showing the true grit and truthfulness of their collective spirit and character,and

we all can learn from it......Days like this afflict all of us......Why I am not entirely sure.....but it

does make us pay attention........

Talking about paying attention...I want to leave this script on a favorable note....by showing a picture of Katelyn on one of those bright days that surely do show up.......usually unannounced..

KENNEDY LEGACY ??.........TRUE OR FALSE...........

The Kennedy Legacy and what it stands for can become "hot and heavy" when discussing President Jack, Ted, Bob, Patrick and "Slick Oil"Joe.........A mention of their names brings out the "best and worst" of very good friends and can go on into the night without any agreement.......

It becomes the very focus of our Blue State versus Red State mentality....liberal ..conservative,rich...poor, tax...no tax....,choice.....no choice, peace....war....................... and so on....

However.......It is my opinion that the Kennedy Legacy will be remembered and be fostered in the area of intellectual disabilities not by the above personalities but by Eunice Shriver Kennedy who by news accounts is living her final days on earth.......It appears that Heaven will open its arms to her for the untiring works and vision to care and change forever the lives of people by her founding of the " Special Olympics "........

The Special Olympics was founded by her in 1968 which was inspired by her disabled Sister Rosemary.The group is now the largest amateur sports association in the world serving 2.5 million people ( and all the connected families ) in 180 countries.........

That is what I CALL A LEGACY !!!!!!!!!! Lets forget politics for awhile and give this wonderful woman her due.......Maybe her Daughter Maria ( right ) will take the group to an even higher level

SWAMPSCOTT ?............WHAT'S THE DEAL.........

I am well aware of the sacrifices made by this little Town along the shore.Capt. Harris and Jared

Raymond lost their lives and left their families and an entire region heartbroken over their loss.(see my Memorial Day,2009 entry)

The question I have for the Town of Swampscott is why did you reject the" Soldier Statute"

The pictures I have seen of it did not impress me and further I could understand that it would not fit into the OLMSTEAD DISTRICT (Monument Area),which is one of the great places on the entire North Shore.If that is the reason I understand and agree with the decision................

However........If the decision was a giving into pressure from an individual or group that is against the Iraq or Afghan Wars...........Sad

In any event let's say a prayer for our brave youth..........

MARCO ISLAND,FLA......FISHING......WHATS THE BIG DEAL.....

A 66 year old woman took her boat for a ride to have some lunch.

On her way home a DOLPHIN jumped into her boat........This happened

on Marco Island........and that seems an easier way to land one of those creatures than some of the "fish tales " we listen to this time of the year........from our " fisherman".........I hear the type of bait you use is very important in this sport.

Just wondering what she ate......

You can read this entire tale in the Naples News www.naplesnews.com

SO YOU LIKE POLITICS...............ITS A TOUGH GAME...

Remember during the campaign the President among many " promises " stated Gitmo was bad and had to be closed......and later was going to release information concerning the Bush Administration and how the terrorists were treated....and later what he was going to do with the prisioners in Gitmo.......All of these issues have not really worked in his favor........now what......

Do you think "POTUS" admits he was partially wrong and now it is time to rethink the decision

to keep the prisoners in Gitmo and not have them in the USA...........

How about looking for a "scapegoat ".................Lets see...........How about the White House Legal

Counsel.......................


COME ON DOWN................GREG CRAIG,ESQ.

BROTHER'S TABLE.........GARDEN PARTY..........

I have mentioned it before and I feel compelled to remind you again that the largest fund raiser of the year for My Brother's Table is a week from Thursday,August 13 at the Nahant Country Club at 7:00 pm........

If you are coming thanks and I will see you there......If you did not know about it or are undecided please reconsider................

Remember the "Table" serves approximately 275 persons each day 365 days a year without any tax,grants,or United Fund money..............It all comes from the heart and souls of people like yourself that realize the poor and unfortunates among us need us.....

WEEKEND OBSERVATION........

A new scene for me on the well to do North Shore.......On Highland Ave ,Salem
in the Shaw 's Parking lot I noticed approximately 15-20 able bodied men most of whom had bikes
waiting down from the entrance from Home Depot on a nice Saturday................

What were they doing ?.........Hoping that a contractor or person fixing a house would
hire them to do work..............

Thank our lucky stars.......but for the grace of God goes us...........