tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23474937534413520362024-03-05T06:33:49.688-05:00Mark Koopmans: Only Happens To MeMark Koopmanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634424953074803816noreply@blogger.comBlogger500125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347493753441352036.post-24198146266615917272021-09-11T08:46:00.004-04:002021-09-11T08:46:00.228-04:009/11/2011 was my first post. 9/11/2021 is my last.<p> <em style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 24px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">(Closing this blog, I end with this annual "reprinting" of my inaugural post on Sept. 11, 2011. <b>We shall never forget.</b>)</em></p><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Aloha,</span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The thing I remember most about 9/11 is how selfish I felt - at the very beginning.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">September 11th was supposed to be the day I paid my debts and made some serious money. I clearly remember the last thing I said as my balding head hit the soft pillow on the 10th: "Tomorrow is going to be a great day, man, tomorrow is going to be a <em>great</em> day."</span><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; float: right; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; padding: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><div style="margin: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ7l7z35neJclOHvpmAbTk1Uh_sY5BVmckNkAFxS959k1TJWOfP70hUFrZOmNcIYdPEUs4v01BnUAzA4mYaagFiKY-emTprQhwb0AQnuhRr0WIYB-7LpsRTuPb6XAGF8XdQcyEz7Dx6QvZ/s1600/flickr-AnthonyGrimley-wtc-statueofliberty.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ7l7z35neJclOHvpmAbTk1Uh_sY5BVmckNkAFxS959k1TJWOfP70hUFrZOmNcIYdPEUs4v01BnUAzA4mYaagFiKY-emTprQhwb0AQnuhRr0WIYB-7LpsRTuPb6XAGF8XdQcyEz7Dx6QvZ/s320/flickr-AnthonyGrimley-wtc-statueofliberty.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; padding-top: 4px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Source: Anthony Grimley</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Five months prior to 9/11 and new to California, I had met several fellow Irishmen at a pub or six, which networked into an interview with a starched suit who looked me up and down to see if I could sell gold coins.</span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">"I can sell a Yankees hat in Boston, or a Cowboys jersey in New York, surely I can sell a little coin over the phone?" I said, full of the optimism of the uninformed American sports fan.</span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">My new boss didn't really care. I'd earn a bare stipend for a couple of months, and then work on one hundred percent commission, so no skin off his nose.</span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">They call the big investors "whales," and it took five months of living off credit cards to reel two in. One lived in New York; the other was in Jersey. I arranged great deals with both retired men; deals that culminated on Monday the 10th, and happy as a pig in a blanket, I later went for a few drinks with the boys, having promised my whales that they'd receive the official paperwork via fax before noon EST Tuesday.</span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">That's the only reason I was up at 5:50 a.m. PST, but as soon as I saw the plane hit the second tower just after 6 a.m. my time, I knew the deals were done - and so was I. (I had no clue how bad it would be - did anyone?)</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">I wallowed in pity for about thirty-five minutes until I heard another plane had crashed into the Pentagon. Driving to work in my new, unpaid-for Mustang, I jumped up as far as my seat belt would allow, and let out a scream of hurt and anger I hope my ears will never again endure.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">As an immigrant with naturalization papers in process, I had no doubt that the attack was on <em>my </em>country (I swore in July 3, 2003,) and <em>my </em>people.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">In October 2001, I tried joining the USAF, but the recruiter told me a 19-year-old's pay "ain't going to take care of the credit problems belonging to a 31-year-old."</span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQD9pCocr6MPaF1yxC0n413NHPQ3AD0MegR1yiOidUkqBPuI8thoYjDcZLnFtFoj2lVo9wTBwFSjwZJGV3pAr9OLPZWP6kFqsSH_Vcm0_ic0TTgPu0CxyvI8-nYkYmKjO5dKZKkhf4bB_A/s1600/September_14_2001_Ground_Zero_02.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1229" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQD9pCocr6MPaF1yxC0n413NHPQ3AD0MegR1yiOidUkqBPuI8thoYjDcZLnFtFoj2lVo9wTBwFSjwZJGV3pAr9OLPZWP6kFqsSH_Vcm0_ic0TTgPu0CxyvI8-nYkYmKjO5dKZKkhf4bB_A/s320/September_14_2001_Ground_Zero_02.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">On 9/11, as always, I'll wear my Liz Claiborne WTC shirt that I bought 'cos the Statue of Liberty looks cool in the forefront (it was 2002 before I "saw" the Twin Towers for the first time.)</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">I will also reflect on how I awoke thinking only about me, but ended the day thinking only about "U.S." and the thousands whose lives had been destroyed by hate and fear.</span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">May the good God bless the souls of all those lost on 9/11, and Lord, please continue to protect those who, with a servant's heart, always run into harms way while we scream to get the hell out of there.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><div style="margin: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibzsaqvvoKQQ2iMHqQJ1qax5j4rdpqFqYSKrgWCFJfiEEQOMFM76MRIn6pfsGa7qOyunGCqvRGHDjYeMNIPUVQrpH-RlhDKwZ1pWdEZRr5g5J3V0Dn-dpzWVvjYy6Zx6S4zQM4gGjvpjrM/s1600/Thomas+Foley+9.11.01.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibzsaqvvoKQQ2iMHqQJ1qax5j4rdpqFqYSKrgWCFJfiEEQOMFM76MRIn6pfsGa7qOyunGCqvRGHDjYeMNIPUVQrpH-RlhDKwZ1pWdEZRr5g5J3V0Dn-dpzWVvjYy6Zx6S4zQM4gGjvpjrM/s320/Thomas+Foley+9.11.01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; padding-top: 4px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><em>One of 343 firefighters who sacrificed everything, <a href="http://www.firefighterthomasjfoley.com/" target="_blank">Thomas J. Foley</a>, 32, Rescue 3, FDNY, died in the collapse of Tower 2, WTC, New York, 9.59 am, 9/11/01. </em>RIP</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table>Mark Koopmanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634424953074803816noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347493753441352036.post-12238274577264580962020-09-11T08:46:00.000-04:002020-09-11T08:46:00.134-04:009/11. 19 years on. Still Feels Like Yesterday. <em style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 24px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; orphans: 2;">(The annual "reprinting" of my inaugural post on Sept. 11, 2011. We shall never forget.)</em><br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Aloha,</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The thing I remember most about 9/11 is how selfish I felt - at the very beginning.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2;">
<span style="font-size: large;">September 11th was supposed to be the day I paid my debts and made some serious money. I clearly remember the last thing I said as my balding head hit the soft pillow on the 10th: "Tomorrow is going to be a great day, man, tomorrow is going to be a <em>great</em> day."</span><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ7l7z35neJclOHvpmAbTk1Uh_sY5BVmckNkAFxS959k1TJWOfP70hUFrZOmNcIYdPEUs4v01BnUAzA4mYaagFiKY-emTprQhwb0AQnuhRr0WIYB-7LpsRTuPb6XAGF8XdQcyEz7Dx6QvZ/s1600/flickr-AnthonyGrimley-wtc-statueofliberty.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ7l7z35neJclOHvpmAbTk1Uh_sY5BVmckNkAFxS959k1TJWOfP70hUFrZOmNcIYdPEUs4v01BnUAzA4mYaagFiKY-emTprQhwb0AQnuhRr0WIYB-7LpsRTuPb6XAGF8XdQcyEz7Dx6QvZ/s320/flickr-AnthonyGrimley-wtc-statueofliberty.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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Source: Anthony Grimley</div>
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<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Five months prior to 9/11 and new to California, I had met several fellow Irishmen at a pub or six, which networked into an interview with a starched suit who looked me up and down to see if I could sell gold coins.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"I can sell a Yankees hat in Boston, or a Cowboys jersey in New York, surely I can sell a little coin over the phone?" I said, full of the optimism of the uninformed American sports fan.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">My new boss didn't really care. I'd earn a bare stipend for a couple of months, and then work on one hundred percent commission, so no skin off his nose.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2;">
<span style="font-size: large;">They call the big investors "whales," and it took five months of living off credit cards to reel two in. One lived in New York; the other was in Jersey. I arranged great deals with both retired men; deals that culminated on Monday the 10th, and happy as a pig in a blanket, I later went for a few drinks with the boys, having promised my whales that they'd receive the official paperwork via fax before noon EST Tuesday.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2;">
<span style="font-size: large;">That's the only reason I was up at 5:50 a.m. PST, but as soon as I saw the plane hit the second tower just after 6 a.m. my time, I knew the deals were done - and so was I. (I had no clue how bad it would be - did anyone?)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I wallowed in pity for about thirty-five minutes until I heard another plane had crashed into the Pentagon. Driving to work in my new, unpaid-for Mustang, I jumped up as far as my seat belt would allow, and let out a scream of hurt and anger I hope my ears will never again endure.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">As an immigrant with naturalization papers in process, I had no doubt that the attack was on <em>my </em>country (I swore in July 3, 2003,) and <em>my </em>people.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">In October 2001, I tried joining the USAF, but the recruiter told me a 19-year-old's pay "ain't going to take care of the credit problems belonging to a 31-year-old."</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQD9pCocr6MPaF1yxC0n413NHPQ3AD0MegR1yiOidUkqBPuI8thoYjDcZLnFtFoj2lVo9wTBwFSjwZJGV3pAr9OLPZWP6kFqsSH_Vcm0_ic0TTgPu0CxyvI8-nYkYmKjO5dKZKkhf4bB_A/s1600/September_14_2001_Ground_Zero_02.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1229" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQD9pCocr6MPaF1yxC0n413NHPQ3AD0MegR1yiOidUkqBPuI8thoYjDcZLnFtFoj2lVo9wTBwFSjwZJGV3pAr9OLPZWP6kFqsSH_Vcm0_ic0TTgPu0CxyvI8-nYkYmKjO5dKZKkhf4bB_A/s320/September_14_2001_Ground_Zero_02.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2;">
<span style="font-size: large;">On 9/11, as always, I'll wear my Liz Claiborne WTC shirt that I bought 'cos the Statue of Liberty looks cool in the forefront (it was 2002 before I "saw" the Twin Towers for the first time.)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">I will also reflect on how I awoke thinking only about me, but ended the day thinking only about "U.S." and the thousands whose lives had been destroyed by hate and fear.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2;">
<span style="font-size: large;">May the good God bless the souls of all those lost on 9/11, and Lord, please continue to protect those who, with a servant's heart, always run into harms way while we scream to get the hell out of there.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibzsaqvvoKQQ2iMHqQJ1qax5j4rdpqFqYSKrgWCFJfiEEQOMFM76MRIn6pfsGa7qOyunGCqvRGHDjYeMNIPUVQrpH-RlhDKwZ1pWdEZRr5g5J3V0Dn-dpzWVvjYy6Zx6S4zQM4gGjvpjrM/s1600/Thomas+Foley+9.11.01.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibzsaqvvoKQQ2iMHqQJ1qax5j4rdpqFqYSKrgWCFJfiEEQOMFM76MRIn6pfsGa7qOyunGCqvRGHDjYeMNIPUVQrpH-RlhDKwZ1pWdEZRr5g5J3V0Dn-dpzWVvjYy6Zx6S4zQM4gGjvpjrM/s320/Thomas+Foley+9.11.01.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><em>One of 343 firefighters who sacrificed everything, <a href="http://www.firefighterthomasjfoley.com/" target="_blank">Thomas J. Foley</a>, 32, Rescue 3, FDNY, died in the collapse of Tower 2, WTC, New York, 9.59 am, 9/11/01. </em>RIP</span></div>
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Mark Koopmanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634424953074803816noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347493753441352036.post-54692856909674468112020-04-10T00:00:00.000-04:002020-04-10T00:00:08.960-04:00My CovBlog: Day 26Hola,<br />
<br />
Well, I will never win an award for math! I just <i>now</i> figured out today is Day 26, (not Day 25,) and this is blog post #498, (not #499!)<br />
<br />
On the upside, I get to write one more post Monday and celebrate Tuesday with one less day before the lockdown ends in [insert best guess here.]<br />
<br />
Though it's Easter in many parts of the world, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Week_in_Spain">Holy Week in Spain</a> is a wonderful and proud tradition, and I'm sure there are hundreds of thousands of people around the country missing the annual tradition of the penance processions.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">I'll leave you with these pictures taken either 78 or 80 days ago, depending on who you ask.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">On Jan. 17, I was walking to the pub, when I heard a commotion...</span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br /></span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwIHmVIEPDxhjI_e0Tc8OOI15p8w7fILOEh_e1WrImr9fiRyR6SWY_hftvW1NcQxqKGI2uC812Sd0tWCH7EuQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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From Wikipedia: "Seville a<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">rguably holds some of the most elaborate processions for Holy Week. The tradition dates back hundreds of years</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">. The </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">"<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Week_in_Seville" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0%; background-position-y: 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Holy Week in Seville">Semana Santa de Sevilla</a>"</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> is notable for featuring the procession of </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">"<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paso_(float)" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0%; background-position-y: 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Paso (float)">pasos</a>"</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">, lifelike painted wooden sculptures of individual scenes of the events that happened between Jesus' entry in Jerusalem a</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">nd his burial, or images of the Virgin Mary showing restrained grief after the torture and killing of her son."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaDwqRBeRlRJ6aDjYJhcBW-4DHFYJC8dyxohnGMMTKYPAV-7JL8k-w30I71f6wmQoX743VQwSdbcInHlapP2ZPNCXkoiqhcOk687axvhW0Ihm-EnYKDz1OKJkDsdhbfieaenNZRhmKgSRr/s1600/2020-01-17+22.11.22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaDwqRBeRlRJ6aDjYJhcBW-4DHFYJC8dyxohnGMMTKYPAV-7JL8k-w30I71f6wmQoX743VQwSdbcInHlapP2ZPNCXkoiqhcOk687axvhW0Ihm-EnYKDz1OKJkDsdhbfieaenNZRhmKgSRr/s320/2020-01-17+22.11.22.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">...Around the corners comes at least 21 lads under a bulky, heavy "practice float."</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">"Some of the images are artistic masterworks of great antiquity. One of the Most Popular and Beautiful Image of the Virgin Mary depicting her Sorrows is the Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza de Triana, "La Reina y Señora de Sevilla" (The Queen and Lady of Seville)."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3d2Td-JRZP5IPDhuQS7kbgigMg-2QiR-0rksBh1ED25zplJvjasFudl1ynzk0stAWoZNOb8ZfbKaw_xi9pM96ZeVveqSauPUpzeigA1etb09ukKkBNGhN7y23jxWy4CWm9NjBpqdr8M9/s1600/2020-01-17+22.11.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3d2Td-JRZP5IPDhuQS7kbgigMg-2QiR-0rksBh1ED25zplJvjasFudl1ynzk0stAWoZNOb8ZfbKaw_xi9pM96ZeVveqSauPUpzeigA1etb09ukKkBNGhN7y23jxWy4CWm9NjBpqdr8M9/s320/2020-01-17+22.11.24.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">As they can't see a thing, the lads trust and follow the voice of the guy out front...</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">"These pasos (which usually weigh MORE than a metric TON) are physically carried on the neck of </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">costaleros</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> (literally "sack men", for their distinctive -and functional- headdress)."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinC4oevOzT2TRXozdzvBXCLviXrnQHP_JxcYMNNIgni8oeX9vTeRPFYGIMthA0mYLOwuCyrbcUn_ZwDMqHI0LUyN76mnGeud9ceUls5Gsi27YM7RbTJyH1t8LnZehTGaMvXk-CDRtvsTVx/s1600/2020-01-17+22.11.32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinC4oevOzT2TRXozdzvBXCLviXrnQHP_JxcYMNNIgni8oeX9vTeRPFYGIMthA0mYLOwuCyrbcUn_ZwDMqHI0LUyN76mnGeud9ceUls5Gsi27YM7RbTJyH1t8LnZehTGaMvXk-CDRtvsTVx/s320/2020-01-17+22.11.32.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The procession continues up the hill... So sad their efforts were in vain this year</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="color: #004000;"><span style="background-color: white;">"Anywhere from 24 to 48<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; display: inline !important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> "costaleros" are hidden inside the platform of the "paso", so it seems to walk alone. Historically dock workers were hired to carry the pasos. From 1973 onward, that task has been universally taken over by the members of the confraternities who organize each procession."</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="color: #004000;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; display: inline !important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Ud3_LXy-Ngh-cMkMnu3zD7S0YJFEczfMMB2D-Vuj32RYHm4-PS8n9sk5J0nn9Fjwyrbq2nJJM40f30oAjydIOYkwRA0VFwiRydwrf5M-RA8RDmq4YpNc9crLF9eb-uP9pN8HhDsu_-XU/s1600/IMG_20170410_224740880.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Ud3_LXy-Ngh-cMkMnu3zD7S0YJFEczfMMB2D-Vuj32RYHm4-PS8n9sk5J0nn9Fjwyrbq2nJJM40f30oAjydIOYkwRA0VFwiRydwrf5M-RA8RDmq4YpNc9crLF9eb-uP9pN8HhDsu_-XU/s320/IMG_20170410_224740880.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">An example from the same town during a recent <i>Semana Santa</i></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji-ayBITL8R0E8gVGHS-ROlRLho0CU-yxwrf822AJvzaM3nfwmjIzA3-eMbCiOPDb4MM5IJXPT65Gjsgq3RHIcjNSv8XmbrWulNzvuT6G5rOgodV6wgE4kCXRHsvXtfWOKCOa172z81Gnt/s1600/IMG_20170410_224808128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji-ayBITL8R0E8gVGHS-ROlRLho0CU-yxwrf822AJvzaM3nfwmjIzA3-eMbCiOPDb4MM5IJXPT65Gjsgq3RHIcjNSv8XmbrWulNzvuT6G5rOgodV6wgE4kCXRHsvXtfWOKCOa172z81Gnt/s320/IMG_20170410_224808128.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijEIQWAXWdL6iEue1ibU7NgYoNxJAkAIGKu9ncIGEjDGTmuzq-DK_EQ7KQgGMaY4Ioq8uZ8OA01ASgaLL44R_5_9qc5xSunAM_rxm1qyJWoQ3rbwztaZiSrwgf8i4pT7eqVbAutn1dSgNd/s1600/IMG_20170410_224813384.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijEIQWAXWdL6iEue1ibU7NgYoNxJAkAIGKu9ncIGEjDGTmuzq-DK_EQ7KQgGMaY4Ioq8uZ8OA01ASgaLL44R_5_9qc5xSunAM_rxm1qyJWoQ3rbwztaZiSrwgf8i4pT7eqVbAutn1dSgNd/s320/IMG_20170410_224813384.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="color: #004000;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; display: inline !important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="color: #004000;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; display: inline !important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="color: #004000;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; display: inline !important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline; float: none; font-family: sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">And finally....</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipiwRWO0T5fKJ-7L_g9HNYBvIgrtNKbitgxH4URJ0YkIOVyUdOPf521FNZ8pm-1aq6cou88F3wN9e9pCwrZbY7snKBkFQy6s0Phox4c_BwJhQ6j9IUf4yiga3Mc0Wkx0IvFkaQ3LM4rrJX/s1600/2020-01-17+22.15.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1540" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipiwRWO0T5fKJ-7L_g9HNYBvIgrtNKbitgxH4URJ0YkIOVyUdOPf521FNZ8pm-1aq6cou88F3wN9e9pCwrZbY7snKBkFQy6s0Phox4c_BwJhQ6j9IUf4yiga3Mc0Wkx0IvFkaQ3LM4rrJX/s320/2020-01-17+22.15.20.jpg" width="308" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The countdown to <i>Semana Santa</i> at 10:15 p.m. this past January...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiud7D5G6oEmQnR1wOXOrGWvDimBSY_IcXiomk_h776earddQMkcDiBclyA6ZPKiGRj9T37If7M-4bCCMMBZxfk5VY9i5j8cs80RwZbWRn6mTi_DetfO88R0jJ0681VDXxIc68deAxutquj/s1600/2020-01-18+00.38.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiud7D5G6oEmQnR1wOXOrGWvDimBSY_IcXiomk_h776earddQMkcDiBclyA6ZPKiGRj9T37If7M-4bCCMMBZxfk5VY9i5j8cs80RwZbWRn6mTi_DetfO88R0jJ0681VDXxIc68deAxutquj/s320/2020-01-18+00.38.54.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
<span style="font-size: small;">12 mins & 17 seconds later... according to my timestamp.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;">Only in Spain :)</span></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Wishing everyone a Good Friday and best wishes for as happy of an Easter holiday as is possible.</span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Mark Koopmanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634424953074803816noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347493753441352036.post-51315287689210242402020-04-09T00:00:00.000-04:002020-04-09T00:00:00.779-04:00My CovBlog: Day 24Hola,<br />
<br />
Alright quick one for today, 'cos how many adventures can one man, stuck at home for 24 days, have and not mention porn?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj46d22BL27UO_UH09v4AmMDxbKPpy7iuMtkr-0gXyfmE-HSPdQkKnWwffRIEZ5NDpOtnMIdc4EXKLxCsnFt-jc8Ft01PBbR-JRVubFhXZrlYfPqUiyR3lo3ACjlJZEQtV-_N2uXjRF6HSF/s1600/l-46725-pornhub-promises-to-plant-a-tree-for-every-100-videos-watched.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="808" data-original-width="700" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj46d22BL27UO_UH09v4AmMDxbKPpy7iuMtkr-0gXyfmE-HSPdQkKnWwffRIEZ5NDpOtnMIdc4EXKLxCsnFt-jc8Ft01PBbR-JRVubFhXZrlYfPqUiyR3lo3ACjlJZEQtV-_N2uXjRF6HSF/s320/l-46725-pornhub-promises-to-plant-a-tree-for-every-100-videos-watched.jpg" width="277" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Well, I never run out of things to say. Ask anyone who knows me if they've ever seen me silent AND awake at the same time?<br />
<br />
Today? Long day, but got lots of stuff done, so that was good. However, wandering out to the balcony I was robbed! All day sunny until I crack a beer and the clouds roll in like they were waiting for me to relax. I was mad and securely transferred my feelings to the cloud.<br />
<br />
"You looking at me?"<br />
<br />
The cloud drifted by with nary an error message so me and my jammie, jumper and beanie sat and sipped happily in the shade.<br />
<br />
<i>Pfffft.</i><br />
<i></i><br />
(I would have enjoyed my beer if I'd been in an Anchorage snowstorm, but that's a different story.)<br />
<br />
<b>Ohhhh! Part 1...</b><br />
<b></b><br />
Several people, (yes, Ma....🙄)…. (<< What is he looking at? Making me nervous...) wondered what was in my care package that the other (better & sexier) half of M&M sent...<br />
<br />
Let's go back in time, shall we!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://markkoopmans.blogspot.com/2020/04/my-covbloy-day-22.html">I was running toward the sid--</a><br />
<br />
NO!! Just tell us, for the love of <a href="https://www.safc.com/">Sunderland AFC,</a> what was in the package??<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUaF-odssgRRO75JsGizJrxTNyd7gJflBocc7kDUlwI-Z8L8rnvHtpdvUgqlefu4a4sOJotD_DEKT4kRthxsI7WrIar50qB1PcnWQ28U2tpFMTYbKh-eOOMRFfUQVCyB7Jec2yYZ5V7tea/s1600/Photo+06-04-2020%252C+10+03+23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="994" data-original-width="1600" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUaF-odssgRRO75JsGizJrxTNyd7gJflBocc7kDUlwI-Z8L8rnvHtpdvUgqlefu4a4sOJotD_DEKT4kRthxsI7WrIar50qB1PcnWQ28U2tpFMTYbKh-eOOMRFfUQVCyB7Jec2yYZ5V7tea/s320/Photo+06-04-2020%252C+10+03+23.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Had fun opening my care package & after 14 handwashes, all was out!</span></td></tr>
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<b></b><br />
<b>Ohhhh! Part 2...</b><br />
<b></b><br />
Speaking of beer, I started Round 3 of the Cider House Brews a couple of days ago. While different in scope to the similar-sounding 1999 movie, I continue to experiment on how to make the best possible home-brewed cider. ('Tis a difficult job being Head Cideree, but one must suffer for one's science.)<br />
<br />
<i>Pfft 2.0</i><br />
<i></i><br />
Don't mind our wine-y Professor, Al Coholic. He's a nerdy cork who loves maths and stuff.<br />
<br />
Life is <i>so</i> much more fun brewing cider. Caring for one's "Fermenter" is like being a Fosters parent in Australia, and now, if <a href="https://markkoopmans.blogspot.com/2020/04/my-covblog-day-23.html">I'm locked down past my birthday</a>, I won't need a store run to drown my sorrows 😇. (Please share if you need a restock of really, really bad pub-related jokes :)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHnVx0P0Z5fP_NYOeRHQlnTOM1xFgxNG69Lg_a5LZIxK7l6-SPKtb0RggEjWu03vlcjjKPms7uLiwcLwwg0dwgnNx6iRrrxiBJ68-jJKpWJV23jH9Wx3wtJzY3XSXEKm5qxunxZG6p-asZ/s1600/Photo+05-04-2020%252C+15+37+40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHnVx0P0Z5fP_NYOeRHQlnTOM1xFgxNG69Lg_a5LZIxK7l6-SPKtb0RggEjWu03vlcjjKPms7uLiwcLwwg0dwgnNx6iRrrxiBJ68-jJKpWJV23jH9Wx3wtJzY3XSXEKm5qxunxZG6p-asZ/s320/Photo+05-04-2020%252C+15+37+40.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Delicious (solar-powered:) cider in the making</span></td></tr>
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<br />
The 23-liter (6 gal.) Fermenter (known in Dublin as a "Bucket") must sit there, examining the world like a nosy, old grandparent, (*via the grandfathered rule) excerpted from The Great, But Small And Yet Detailed Booklet Of Instructions.<br />
<br />
On Page 3 (of 4) TGBSAYDBOI ("the booklet") calls for the Fermenter to be in a room where the average temperature is 20 - 30c (68 - 86f).<br />
<br />
You must be <i>bloody </i>joking.<br />
<br />
While one enjoys sampling a home-brewski or 16, one is not switching on the bloody heat to help along the process, no matter what Prof. Coholic says!<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Patience is a virtue and anyway, solar power is good for the economy. Yeah! And stuff like that, too.</span><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
"Hello, children. This is your uncle Markito… don't be like me and buy cheap beer....sit in a cold room, wait a few extra days and <i><b>make</b></i> your own!"<br />
<br />
(Ed. Note: Apologies. While I'm currently Covid free, I have, since Christmas 1993, had a terrible case of "<i>Love Actually </i>Quotes" syndrome.)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHcdhXkYPWK5iFXyBKE6kcrXMw7Sv37qzXWsZ3PNm5hXFNkDW80Pkxccr8fPIJXbjNgEPqn4NUIWNBsC2e9nL0JcXwJ6KeVoDY_GemIJHt99PiK-kSd1zJ4BqCgCDCQPoOybFvXa67O52u/s1600/Photo+06-04-2020%252C+10+03+41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1461" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHcdhXkYPWK5iFXyBKE6kcrXMw7Sv37qzXWsZ3PNm5hXFNkDW80Pkxccr8fPIJXbjNgEPqn4NUIWNBsC2e9nL0JcXwJ6KeVoDY_GemIJHt99PiK-kSd1zJ4BqCgCDCQPoOybFvXa67O52u/s320/Photo+06-04-2020%252C+10+03+41.jpg" width="292" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Books sunbathing when a bottle of hot sauce died in the cause of Delivery...</span></td></tr>
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<br />
<b>Ohhhh! Part 3A... </b>Tomorrow will be my last post for this week.<br />
<br />
(Quiet down! No cheering allowed:)<br />
<br />
Not only is it Easter weekend (Are you heading home? :) but I'm planning to visit many awesome,❤ supportive blogger friends. Everyone's been so kind to comment -- and comment <i>again</i> so I absolutely need to crack a beverage and wander around going, "'Sup?"<br />
<br />
(I'm truly shit at leaving brief comments so it will happily take awhile.)<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Ohhhh! Part 3B... </span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<br />
I realized the other week my blog will hit a *Big Milestone* soon.<br />
<br />
I'd swerved out of the way of dealing with this months ago, especially on <a href="https://markkoopmans.blogspot.com/2020/01/hiatus.html">Hiatus</a>, but then along came this Covid adventure... and the game is up, guv'nor.<br />
<br />
<b>My 500th post</b> will drop Monday...<br />
<br />
... and that's just Completely. Mind. Boggling.<br />
<br />
I kinda have an idea what my favorite post (that I'll "reprint" one time only,) will be, but I'm not <i>sure...</i><br />
<br />
So... once I return from the blogosphere, me and a<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> full cooler of cheap beer are getting shit-faced on the balcony while I spend many (and more than a few emotional) hours rewinding through this little blog that <i>fucking</i> could.</span></span>Mark Koopmanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634424953074803816noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347493753441352036.post-28722466029967173172020-04-08T00:00:00.000-04:002020-04-08T00:00:02.064-04:00My CovBlog: Day 23<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Hola,<br />
<br /></div>
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<b>Day 23: Tuesday, 7 April - </b>With a face like mine, one must be prepared for life's many adventurous ups and downs.<br />
<br />
That's what I tell myself as I wash me teeth, look in the mirror and wonder if it's Friday yet?<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg197M9-oYAo07d1lHhXd_dIfJovSj2U6HY5xNTdtLNWDENO7_dQc5eAKpFtqTaUfbW_xbwIOWBDyihTj7foFKaRS4eHqc8L3hgEOJ08_sANPI20ev1DHdrZXQgCHj44KAzb2PeMydo51Ed/s1600/Photo+02-04-2020%252C+17+16+19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1203" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg197M9-oYAo07d1lHhXd_dIfJovSj2U6HY5xNTdtLNWDENO7_dQc5eAKpFtqTaUfbW_xbwIOWBDyihTj7foFKaRS4eHqc8L3hgEOJ08_sANPI20ev1DHdrZXQgCHj44KAzb2PeMydo51Ed/s320/Photo+02-04-2020%252C+17+16+19.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Until today, it's not been warm this week</span></td></tr>
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<br />
<span style="color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">I</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">n breaking news Sunday, (don't shake your head sir. It's a blog, not CNN :) the Spanish lockdown has (not unexpectedly) been extended to April 26.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">However, may I say then (with a light dollop of abundance of caution) that I hope Sunday the 26th, the 51st occasion of my birth, will bring the Spanish people (and me! and me!) a special gift.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD7cW-S_8v-tReY4DVcyzazJKbBep4SYlbxlnJ1VD61yfncFvMRxva-zcDXoGS2FoOv5HKYfNoOsCg498koIdMkrqRmh-SP07Wo3lHh_xVfjOUZHkric8dj5VhZB1JmQi133p4G_e49-sa/s1600/IMG_2166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD7cW-S_8v-tReY4DVcyzazJKbBep4SYlbxlnJ1VD61yfncFvMRxva-zcDXoGS2FoOv5HKYfNoOsCg498koIdMkrqRmh-SP07Wo3lHh_xVfjOUZHkric8dj5VhZB1JmQi133p4G_e49-sa/s320/IMG_2166.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Best part of working from home? Me @ 4:59 p.m.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="background-color: white;"></span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
Whoooo... While editing the post, I realized the last two pictures (not staged in that order!) look like I've nooo sense of fashion (true,) but that I've also lost 6 inches in height, put on 100 pounds and have a 64-inch waist (which I <i>will </i>have if the lockdown continues much longer...)<br />
<br />
<i>Where was I?</i><br />
<i></i><br />
In the meantime, maybe I can go to the store twice (the scandal of it all!) twice this week? I have an off-road shortcut into town, oh and then! I can see "my" puppy who's not had any treats for 24 days (but is healthy and safe.) I drove past his house Saturday, but didn't stop/block the way in case <i>that</i> was the moment the <i>Guardia Civil</i> came down the skinny lane.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeutqSDWUQsd3ZxxleFSm0QXnRa1y34do1MY-WsSes83BP_-UobSTowGUQHAKQdw8VNl_Dyxk6haF8T7mM7z7Z7Ol4zpXUjl9MHPnNWmFuJefC36PxFZq-r7DxqcNYJJFAeR6lM3rtvrzO/s1600/Photo+07-04-2020%252C+17+05+01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeutqSDWUQsd3ZxxleFSm0QXnRa1y34do1MY-WsSes83BP_-UobSTowGUQHAKQdw8VNl_Dyxk6haF8T7mM7z7Z7Ol4zpXUjl9MHPnNWmFuJefC36PxFZq-r7DxqcNYJJFAeR6lM3rtvrzO/s320/Photo+07-04-2020%252C+17+05+01.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Me at 5:01 p.m. (Leave the black socks alone, man! Better than white, like!)</span></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
(Oh, Senor Braveheart, where are you now? We want our Freeeeeeedddoooommmmmm (minus the head-chopping-off part, mind you.)</div>
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I'm expecting wayyyy too much, yes, I know that, but nothing ever really<i> happened</i> on my birthday, did it? (Ma might disagree, but I feel absolutely horrible and birthday-ly discriminated upon!)<br />
<br />
Why do St. Paddy's Day kids; Christmas babies and all those lucky people who celebrate the 12th of June (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJyo1nQU9oE">when Ray Houghton stuck the ball in the back of the English net)</a> get to have all the fun memories?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhhITcEmZzrp825F69xt2ko8oT9e-oaYLGaLZ-poeid96qgspclCsqKaUcwocv0XONuSBlBr9mqp8d1LUKW2rBW3S03IdUM4d45pLoBu1FSVF7wfuivi0VkqY9660qWOQ9VXr438zmtAqF/s1600/Ray+Houghton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1240" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhhITcEmZzrp825F69xt2ko8oT9e-oaYLGaLZ-poeid96qgspclCsqKaUcwocv0XONuSBlBr9mqp8d1LUKW2rBW3S03IdUM4d45pLoBu1FSVF7wfuivi0VkqY9660qWOQ9VXr438zmtAqF/s320/Ray+Houghton.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ray Houghton heads home the winning goal for IRL v ENG in Euro '88❣❣</span></td></tr>
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<br />
Me? The only major event on my birthday was the Chernobyl disaster, which happened April 26th 1986, and that's not particularly useful as a conversation starter in a room full of strangers, is it now?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPxNXxMmRubDKXgF_0YBeYpr4NEUxOrv4SnI-rOa4aqNHp6VKhiiMWVfbyKfYukQG_22nhLBmHD3gLlfwY34T9n6_Xqhz3qnW_l5sWnp19HjHnXTO0KjZDnEgbq9hCkrxsYivM8EseEeLs/s1600/Photo+07-04-2020%252C+17+49+17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPxNXxMmRubDKXgF_0YBeYpr4NEUxOrv4SnI-rOa4aqNHp6VKhiiMWVfbyKfYukQG_22nhLBmHD3gLlfwY34T9n6_Xqhz3qnW_l5sWnp19HjHnXTO0KjZDnEgbq9hCkrxsYivM8EseEeLs/s320/Photo+07-04-2020%252C+17+49+17.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">It did warm up today, so cheers, proost y salud!</span></td></tr>
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PS: Package?<br />
<br />
What package?</div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />Mark Koopmanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634424953074803816noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347493753441352036.post-16799283962460283112020-04-07T00:00:00.000-04:002020-04-07T17:37:48.648-04:00My CovBlog: Day 22Hola,<br />
<br />
People reading this in the future may laugh, but the highlight of my day was getting delivery of a "care package" sent by Lady Mirjam, the Sweetest. Considering she mailed it from Holland only 10 days ago, and they tried to deliver it Friday, we were both well impressed with the non-Amazon or DHL delivery company!<br />
<br />
The reason I didn't get it Friday - I mean, I was home! - was a simple error. I'd called Thursday to confirm my address, they'd asked for my phone number and one digit got lost in translation.<br />
<br />
Today, I was determined not to miss the driver. Not knowing what time he'd arrive, I stayed in my trendy, blue plaid jammies set off by a delightful, but casual off-the-shoulder top, but my master plan called for a pair of jeans on the couch and shoes next to a chair. I was in full on fireman-getting-dressed-in-an-emergency mode.<br />
<br />
When the buzzer sounded, I would grab the phone-thing and tell the driver I was on the way, but to, "Give me 3 minutes to change and I'll be there in the flashiest of flashes." (Totally borrowed that one from <i>Love Actually. </i>Sorry Richard Curtis and Rowan Atkinson!!)<br />
<br />
However, this is Spain, where nothing goes to plan, especially when I'm slowly morphing into the land of the locals.<br />
<br />
I kinda thought he'd call in the morning, so I was half-listening for the the buzzer (which I haven't ever heard before!!) so when the damn thing went off, I nearly crapped myself, shot out of the chair and let out a light, manly squeal.<br />
<br />
I jumped for the phone, but my plan was out the door before I was.<br />
<br />
"It'sMeI'mOnTheWayBeThereInAbout3Minutes."<br />
<br />
I had no idea what button to press to open the door, so I pressed all known, including the "*" and the trusty old pound sign "#."<br />
<br />
I scanned my emergency preparedness outfit and thought, ah shag it, it will take too long. I grabbed my keys, ran down the stairs (skipping the coronavirus-filled elevator... ewwww,) pushed the door and ran like Forrest Gump to the main entrance.<br />
<br />
I didn't know how long the driver would wait, but surely three minutes... When I got to the gate, I heaved and pulled, got it open and stood outside... staring at an empty street...<br />
<br />
Noooooooooooooooooooo [several deep breaths] ooooooooooooo--<br />
<br />
Oh shit! The side door! At the other side of the community!!<br />
<br />
Off I scattered again, waving at a guy leaning on his balcony. He'd seen me run past a minute ago and now I was legging it in the other direction again, like a blue-arsed fly. Of course he didn't wave back, but I like to think he went inside and told his wife that they <i>really</i> needed to move to a community with better-dressed residents.<br />
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I got to the side door and yes! He's there, but a bit taken aback as I kinda skidded into the gate while trying to get my key in the lock.<br />
<br />
"It's open."<br />
<br />
"Yes, I'll sign for it, just have to open the gate for you."<br />
<br />
"It's open..."<br />
<br />
"What is?"<br />
<br />
I pushed on the gate. Totally closed.... pfffftt.<br />
<br />
"You have to pull it. It's open."<br />
<br />
In my own defense, I have never used this side gate before,,, only discovered it on Saturday, when I walked to check my mailbox... Oh, look! A side gate, that's cool... but who would ever use it??<br />
<br />
I pulled on the gate, thinking it would be as heavy/spring-loaded as the main gate, but of course it wasn't and I nearly yanked my shoulder out and the gate clattered off the wall. Poor delivery guy must of thought he was about to be murdered by the (mightily out of breath) Blue-Plaid-Pajama Killer.<br />
<br />
He took a step back and then we had a little dance of the social distancing package tradeoff. I apologized, thanked him and asked if I needed to sign anything? He nodded vigorously in the negative and took off for his van.<br />
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<br />
I stood there, victorious at last, and then remembered coronavirus can live on cardboard boxes for up to a day...<br />
<br />
Run, Forrest, Run.<br />
<br />
And so, off I ran.Mark Koopmanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634424953074803816noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347493753441352036.post-67616397277429493082020-04-06T00:00:00.000-04:002020-04-06T00:00:11.657-04:00My CovBlog: Days 15 - 21Hola,<br />
<br />
<b>Day 15 - 21: Sunday, March 29 - Sunday, April 5 -</b> As I enter the turd week of dis here lockdown, I know I'm not alone anymore.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmxpIqTqAetnRWa4FkmwsRBPuB_OmPOaGyNGcBX-vctxgwERrfm7UVCl8deP-vTXNoitjatD3sbri4_GmtGc2uGaHIOR1uHbsvRZ-rT-81cm_Pz279XBguqHIMo59KN_oZko0KyziY6z8U/s1600/Photo+08-03-2020%252C+18+40+34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmxpIqTqAetnRWa4FkmwsRBPuB_OmPOaGyNGcBX-vctxgwERrfm7UVCl8deP-vTXNoitjatD3sbri4_GmtGc2uGaHIOR1uHbsvRZ-rT-81cm_Pz279XBguqHIMo59KN_oZko0KyziY6z8U/s320/Photo+08-03-2020%252C+18+40+34.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The sun came out for Palm Sunday. It was well missed...</span></td></tr>
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<br />
According to the BBC and other news outlets, more than 40 percent of the global (bloody hell) population is under some sort of lockdown or "stay-at-home" order.<br />
<br />
<i>But Mark, you've skipped ahead a whole week. How are we going to know what happened in this, your Lost Week?</i><br />
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<br />
Don't worry. I've had enough blackouts in my time. You'll get used to it. For now... Er, just read a few of my <a href="https://markkoopmans.blogspot.com/2020/04/my-covblog-days-13-14.html">last posts like this one...</a><br />
<br />
So, tomorrow, Tuesday to stop wrecking your heads (and allow me a chance to visit the blogs who've been kind enough to comment) I'll be live daily (well, with a 24-hour delay, but apart from that, like, totally live.)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sunday was a good day and I hope it was for you, too... so cheers.</span></td></tr>
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<br />
As it <i>is</i> a new day where things remain uncertain (but <i>will</i> certainly get better,) I leave you with the immortal and cool-as-shit final words of Sgt. Phil Estherhaus from Hill Street Blues....<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jmg86CRBBtw">"Let's Be Careful Out There..."</a><br />
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<br />Mark Koopmanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634424953074803816noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347493753441352036.post-64672773080561781792020-04-05T00:00:00.000-04:002020-04-05T00:00:10.102-04:00My CovBlog: Days 13 & 14Hola,<br />
<br />
Having procrastinated for the last 45 minutes, my always-on-random-play Spotify playlist clicked over to "Going the Distance" by Bill Conti from the ROCKY soundtrack and I'm like, OK, OK. Jeez, I'll start writing already.<br />
<br />
(Stupid Spotify. I'm gonna change to iTunes.)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb29PHUgWCSAKaS-TU18WoaRVZOunnHifbfl93hO4Vp6E0Kqdah4iKtHTHQAy0TWFp-uJFAFsudjSzCvg1aHJ0JD4qpCUdGNnHN6UgQbKFMtW_u8lZoku5k2WnTQvFi0owdO3-JF8duPvU/s1600/1+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1599" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb29PHUgWCSAKaS-TU18WoaRVZOunnHifbfl93hO4Vp6E0Kqdah4iKtHTHQAy0TWFp-uJFAFsudjSzCvg1aHJ0JD4qpCUdGNnHN6UgQbKFMtW_u8lZoku5k2WnTQvFi0owdO3-JF8duPvU/s320/1+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">December 2019: How Alan, me, Emmet, Paul and Mark used to video call :)</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><br /></b>
<b>Day 13: Friday, March 27, 2020 -</b> You know things are so not normal when I wake up going, "Yes! It's Shopping Day today!"<br />
<br />
After the weirdness of last Friday, I feel more comfortable, but retrieve my passport and lease--just in cases, (as Aurelia from Love Actually would say.) I filled up the 3/4-full car first and then headed to the store. The parking lot was as quiet as before with only a few, random shoppers on aisle 5 or anywhere else.<br />
<br />
After an hour of mini-dawdling around, I had everything on the list. Great to see that all the fresh veggies were more or less stocked as normal (and the beer & wine aisles were <i>completely</i> restocked,) so, even though we have another couple of weeks to go... I know we're going the distance and will get through this.<br />
<br />
<b>Day 14: Saturday, March 28 -</b> Been looking forward to this since Thursday. Today's the evening the lads and I are going to at least try to reconnect (remember, we're a bunch of 50-somethings that can text, but don't necessarily call their mates via Facetime!)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxktLP7j4oxWKyV95c710HL6HOCxh-91zh1bF2MYZHQuFPD77z4y5FZ7Ak-ih9AQrrCZpO8alRsT1kWThDZSP91y3HSf2TpIu0qF8Ld6JTWL9OsYfQYoDtnrfWtLprWroNRikCLfsfKHJ2/s1600/2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxktLP7j4oxWKyV95c710HL6HOCxh-91zh1bF2MYZHQuFPD77z4y5FZ7Ak-ih9AQrrCZpO8alRsT1kWThDZSP91y3HSf2TpIu0qF8Ld6JTWL9OsYfQYoDtnrfWtLprWroNRikCLfsfKHJ2/s320/2.png" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clockwise: Liam, Steve, Alan & me.</td></tr>
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As we were yapping throughout the day, I told them we'd try video calling on WhatsApp first (max 4,) and if more wanted to join, we'd switch to the House Party app (max 8.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYAFac6NbJfvNH2EW_KmWkl4dgMkS1hXFoC9TnDzIdhfj0wwaYpoA0ZZoMEuw1g5A0wC5nF8y4Sn6VkiEDD0OjPN0gE1MS3JORx7166n0lTYVIwZS3jg7AIgMkONyZ6qLeOSDrYPFBUua3/s1600/3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYAFac6NbJfvNH2EW_KmWkl4dgMkS1hXFoC9TnDzIdhfj0wwaYpoA0ZZoMEuw1g5A0wC5nF8y4Sn6VkiEDD0OjPN0gE1MS3JORx7166n0lTYVIwZS3jg7AIgMkONyZ6qLeOSDrYPFBUua3/s320/3.png" width="180" /></a></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Suffice to say that after 2+ hours of bantering, slagging, teasing and grief-giving about various hair (or lack of) hairstyles, our virtual happy hour was a resounding success!!<span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></span>Highly recommended if you're still looking for a way to reconnect.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQQodw6reXGUKygUZIGThU3QHbluapEw6Z0zHYdKdSzdgq7p8-MPD4tMVVZ3Pht-ULAhfbpzx5K5STyUlrHFa7vybGEu-9kOROoFPZH3J9HemYkz1jz9PXctWlxV0WxYc4XybKOLPkDv3/s1600/4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQQodw6reXGUKygUZIGThU3QHbluapEw6Z0zHYdKdSzdgq7p8-MPD4tMVVZ3Pht-ULAhfbpzx5K5STyUlrHFa7vybGEu-9kOROoFPZH3J9HemYkz1jz9PXctWlxV0WxYc4XybKOLPkDv3/s320/4.png" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emmet making some sideways comments :)</td></tr>
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Many thanks to Alan, <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Emmet,</span> Liam, <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Mark (who later made it onto the call:)</span>, Paul and Steve for their lifelong friendships❣<br />
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I'll let the pictures to the rest of the talking ;)<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">We're old... nearly time to go to sleep, lads :)</span></div>
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<br />Mark Koopmanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634424953074803816noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347493753441352036.post-27257369038040910102020-04-04T02:00:00.000-04:002020-04-04T02:00:08.766-04:00My CovBlog: Days 9 - 12Hola,<br />
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<b>Day 9: Monday, March 23, 2020 -</b> Started the second full week of working from home today and the commute was murder. I barely made it to work on time.<br />
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Last week, I was getting up at 7:15 a.m., having a shave and showering with a spring in my step (but not too much mind you. I don't have a shower mat and didn't want to fall on my arse and break a leg for all the wrong reasons!) Surviving the shower, I proudly sat at my impromptu office by 7:55 a.m. ready for 08:00 and the workday to begin.<br />
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Today? <i>Pfffft.</i><br />
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I set my alarm for 7:58 a.m. and blearily switched on the computer right at 8 a.m. I get it that I'm one of the lucky ones to still have a bloody job, (and won't forget it,) but the news that the state of emergency will extend through Easter has, for now, beat the shit out of my optimism that this global Covidfuck will be solved sooner than later.<br />
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Even the weather, normally a consistent in Spain, has done a runner and I leave the dining room light on most of the afternoon as I, the ultimate (but secretive) drama queen, spend the day huffing and puffing as I am (Californian king duvet) covered, nay blanketed in gloom and doom.<br />
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<b>Day 10: Tuesday, March 24 -</b> Well now. Wasn't yesterday a jolly entry!<br />
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Last night, I knew well enough not to fall asleep (and wake again at 7:58 a.m.) feeling like crap, so when I saw a banner on Prime saying <i>Love Actually</i> was "going away" March 31, <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">I had to watch it for the 18th time.</span> (Why was it going away? Had it done something wrong? Was there an appeals process I could join or start?)<br />
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Such a great movie.<br />
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(We should all be so lucky to "Get the shit kicked out of us by love!" -- young Sam.)<br />
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So yeah, I woke up on the rocky side of tired, but a whole lot more motivated by Prime Minister Hugh Grant who reminded me again that, "If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around."<br />
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(Richard Curtis... you... you writing god, you.)<br />
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Happy sigh in the early morning then. I threw off the sheets, had a quick shower, changed into my big-boy day clothes and realized with a start... here were eight or nine hours that I didn't have to worry about <i>what</i> to do. Duh! While the weather was completely shit again, the gloom in my head drifted away (like me trying to enter the local pub... we're both barred from re-entry.)<br />
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Best part of the day was right around 8 p.m. As it was too cold to sit outside, I middle-aged marinated myself on the couch with only one book for a change, and <i>then</i> heard a minor commotion.<br />
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Being too lazy to move (it had been such a busy day, apparently) I wondered what was up? Something tickled the end of my weak brain stem.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg985aULqql_XUoiiLvxGDqijd29iclucXR1Z-PCjHBwwq-ZDggU1txtZdZcsDldLKytPnpf8hB8QCGdYC3eZT6eghP-k8dUE1B5-Vrc7DI9B3nxJjUeAudb-oRnocf94t4bHg9NuG1wVRA/s1600/1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1026" data-original-width="1200" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg985aULqql_XUoiiLvxGDqijd29iclucXR1Z-PCjHBwwq-ZDggU1txtZdZcsDldLKytPnpf8hB8QCGdYC3eZT6eghP-k8dUE1B5-Vrc7DI9B3nxJjUeAudb-oRnocf94t4bHg9NuG1wVRA/s320/1.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Barcelona neighbors were amongst the first to honor all our front line workers❤❤</span></td></tr>
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Clapping...<br />
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8 p.m...<br />
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Cheering...<br />
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Sounds of Suppo--<br />
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Oh shit! That's right!!<br />
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It's the 8 p.m. clapping for the front line workers!!!<br />
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Needless to say, by the time me and the expanding stomach pushed ourselves off the couch and outside to the balcony, everyone else had gone inside. I half-waved and clapped and fully nodded at no one, and then, <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">feeling a wee bit sheepish,</span> walked back inside.<br />
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Originally, I'd heard a movement started in Madrid or Barcelona where the locals would go out on their balconies at 10 p.m. to clap and salute those doctors, nurses, grocery staff and anyone not home with their families.<br />
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I'd poked my head out the other day at the announced time, but nothing happened. What I didn't know, but found out, after a quick shout to "OK Google" that the time had changed to 8 p.m. so kids could join in, which I thought was a great idea.<br />
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Note to self: Set alarm again for 7:58, but this time p.m..<br />
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<b>Day 11, Wednesday, March 25 -</b> Today, Spain announced they had a death toll greater than China and only second to Italy. What??<br />
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This jarring news led me to check in with as many loved ones as possible.<br />
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Mirjam is safe at home with family, my boys are happily ensconced in Virginia and my brother, Carl, is staying with Ma and Da for the duration of the pandemic. Ireland is in lockdown mode, and as my parental units are old farts, I am grateful to my absolutely, most <i>favorite </i>brother (OK, I only have one, but still 😇) who is there to do a bit of shopping as the oul' wans cocoon themselves from the outside world.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq3gXWuchMzQzx0Vw-wRhZyp2eKjBli28Ky9OFzq0IWMEQw6OaLR61zbtkzBxUMZuNek3yuolGmlMjv3oWXWSyImK1nlo8ha6zmS5vhTcG2zZ52jr2fMIQ3lJKyQF4fKTJ49bMoHreQPuy/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq3gXWuchMzQzx0Vw-wRhZyp2eKjBli28Ky9OFzq0IWMEQw6OaLR61zbtkzBxUMZuNek3yuolGmlMjv3oWXWSyImK1nlo8ha6zmS5vhTcG2zZ52jr2fMIQ3lJKyQF4fKTJ49bMoHreQPuy/s320/3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">While a Knight dresses in the background, Ma practices early Social Distancing techniques last December :)</span></td></tr>
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Happy to hear from some of those who willingly put up with me, I stood on my balcony and, as the time clicked over to 20:00, I began to clap. A little self-consciously, because our balconies aren't opposite each other, so I couldn't see anyone, but I got goosebumps as my clapping was joined by dozens of others, with a bit of hooting and hollering going on.<br />
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It was brilliant and although I couldn't see a single soul, it was the closest I'd felt to anyone who lives in the same country as me.<br />
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Side note: Once this is 100 percent behind us, I pity the first fool that accepts a hug from me, but I do promise I'll be there while their broken ribs heal.<br />
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<b>Day 12, Thursday, March 26 -</b> It's not breaking news, but I'm wrapping my head around the Spanish government's extension of the lockdown through Easter.<br />
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(And, will<i> that</i> even be enough?)<br />
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This is a hugely proud nation and the many gazillons of events surrounding Easter that make up <i>Semana Santa</i> are now all cancelled. It's mind-boggling and I (again) don't know what to say...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfqTL5SsKOTEjjLdSX3QjESinrYmn6mF6JrZsVHxHOZv1IaVp-5kh61jDVqKotDiNeGw1vV64QLSDLICnuEVftX9qrIJyy2ooNfMS27cKJYr9bBehEu6wkDbedFGJyQh-XovjBNxtGHWzt/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfqTL5SsKOTEjjLdSX3QjESinrYmn6mF6JrZsVHxHOZv1IaVp-5kh61jDVqKotDiNeGw1vV64QLSDLICnuEVftX9qrIJyy2ooNfMS27cKJYr9bBehEu6wkDbedFGJyQh-XovjBNxtGHWzt/s320/4.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">For years, our local takes great pride in simple things, like the count down to <i>Semana Santa...</i></span></td></tr>
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Then I read something online how millions of people are reconnecting via Facetime, Zoom, Messenger and other video-related apps on their mobile phones.<br />
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My mind starts to make a plan that simply <i>can't</i> fail this time (and people all over the world who know me go, "Nooooooooooooo…")<br />
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For the last several years, I've been a proud member of the nine-strong, "Rialto & Northside Lads" WhatsApp group. We're an absolute bunch of misfits, and I'm sure many can relate to those friends you grew up with, and for whatever reason, still hang out with. In our case, most of us know each other 45+ years, so it's even scary that we still get along.<br />
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Anyway, there was a video coffee hour at work, via Skype, and it was fun to <i>see</i> the five colleagues who joined the relaxed meeting. With lots of laughter, some serious moments and lots and lots of mutual encouragement, I sat back thinking...<br />
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Oh. Yeah. I'm setting something up like this with The Lads.<br />
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Later, after the 8 p.m. appreciation, I texted the group and the general feeling was a bit of confusion ("Why do we have to <i>look</i> at each other?") and ("What do ye want to <i>talk </i>about?")<br />
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Pffffft.<br />
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I've set up a "happy hour" for this Saturday evening, and though I will need to text 3,520 reminders, I have a feeling this weekend will be a lot more fun than the last couple...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Members celebrate a quorum of Bald Ones at the recent Annual Guys Meeting (AGM) of the Rialto Lads </span></td></tr>
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<br />Mark Koopmanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634424953074803816noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347493753441352036.post-45529526454783609602020-04-03T00:00:00.000-04:002020-04-03T17:33:45.474-04:00My CovBlog: Days 4 - 8<div>
Hola,</div>
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To get rid of one of those pesky 24 hours, I've started a daily blog and using my journal, I'm playing catch up for a couple of days. <a href="https://markkoopmans.blogspot.com/2020/04/covblog-days-1-3.html">The first post is here.</a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">My Christmas tree! From mid-Jan. - mid-Nov., it makes a great nightlight</span></td></tr>
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<b>Day 4: Wednesday, March 18, 2020</b> - Wow. No hangover after St. Paddy's Day last night, which is a very lovely and nice change. Ha. I'll try that again next year (the non-hangover part, not the self-isolation party!)</div>
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Making a big deal of something so normally mundane, I go through every shelf of the fridge, freezer and pantry like I'm doing a restaurant P&L weekly inventory. As I count, I write an actual list of things needed to make Operation Grocery Store a success.</div>
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In the old days (did I just write that!) I had (and will have again!!) a 40-minute walk home. With a handy grocery store at the beginning of the route, I'd become adept at filling my backpack to capacity. The middle-aged man in me was also happy to get in some upper body exercises without the need to reserve actual time to do so.</div>
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(Sadly, as I sip here with a second glass of wine and a heavy bowl of delicious stew, I can't figure out how my extending stomach can do a little more of its own withdrawing from society.) </div>
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<b>Day 5: Thursday, March 19 </b>- Gazing from my 3rd floor balcony, <a href="https://markkoopmans.blogspot.com/2020/04/covblog-days-1-3.html">the white delivery truck</a> hasn't moved yet and I thank my lucky stars (again) that I'm able to work from home.</div>
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This afternoon, from my "office," (aka the other half of the dining room table,) I hear a small bunch of kids (and I guess) a dad hollering and having a laugh with a soccer ball. The sound--that simple sound of fun happening--makes me smile. While I can't see the family from my balcony, it makes me miss my boys even more.</div>
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They're safe in Virginia, at home where they live with their Mama, and while things are a lot better in the U.S., things aren't yet getting better here. Surely the same will happen Stateside? My big trip this year is to see them for a month, starting June 12. I can't wait!!</div>
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When we Skype later that evening, I'm relieved to hear the boys understand the basics of what's going on, the importance of social distancing and washing their hands so many more times than normal. I'm relieved, but know they are in the best possible (and well-washed) hands.</div>
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<b>Day 6: Friday, March 20</b> - I shut down the computer, head out the door, my passport and original lease hidden in a folder deep under my shopping bags.</div>
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I don't <i>think</i> I'll need the docs, (but I am a Koopmans!) and have read rumors of police checkpoints and the Guardia Civil making sure no one is out there driving unnecessarily. </div>
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Get to the store (think Wal-Mart sized) and there's like seven cars in the parking lot. No wait, one is driving away. I look at my watch. It's 5:30 on a Friday afternoon and the place is <i>empty</i>. Really strange feeling walking the couple of hundred yards of the interior. All the small businesses, a flower store, beauty parlor, cell phone depot and even the lottery kiosk... all closed.</div>
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Management have locked down all non-essential aisles and the only parts open are the usual grocery sections. I wander the aisles, instinctively giving the skeleton crew of stockers as much space as possible. They're all wearing blue gloves and face masks and I'm sure some of them must be freaking out--I would be. I'm super grateful that they are open and refilling shelves, so make an effort to at least nod my thanks and say hola whenever possible.</div>
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Fresh veggies are the only items in short supply, but I'm so not going to complain there are a few items on my trusty list left unscratched to oblivion. Deep sigh as I make it safely back to the apartment. That's it until next Friday. My passport stays in the shopping bags. Not needing it, apart from shopping, for a few more weeks yet.</div>
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Mirjam and I have a trip scheduled at the end of April to visit all the Normandy D-Day sites. It's a huge bucket list of mine to see Utah beach and that whole historical area... Thinking about it, I remove the passport and return it to where it normally lives.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Miss you.</span></td></tr>
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<b>Day 7: Saturday March 21</b> - About six weeks ago, I scheduled a Brunch for my teammates to celebrate St. Paddy's Day and a couple of birthdays (aka any excuse for a party.) I'd cancelled it well before the lockdown started last weekend, but today would have been the day.</div>
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Having spent the last few weeks squirrelling up on various cases of beer and wine, I scan the floor of the spare bedroom and shake my head. With all the uncertainty of these crazy times, I may one day starve from the lack of fresh veggies and store-made guac., but I'll never die of thirst, that's for bloody sure.</div>
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I've rescheduled the Brunch for April 18 when all this is behind us. The Spanish government said the emergency action/lockdown will end on the 29th of March, so tack on a couple of extra weeks. Surely, we'd all be back to some semblance of normality by then... Right? </div>
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<b>Day 8: Sunday, March 22 - </b>One week done. One week to go.<br />
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I sit outside and plough through several chapters of three books I'm reading. Normally, that drives me nuts as I start getting plot lines mixed up (who knew Jack Reacher was once a young, rainmaking lawyer in Mississippi?)</div>
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In-between all this, I spend way too much time reading updates from NPR, BBC, CNN (and RTE for news about Ireland.) The U.S. is acting way, way too slow, in my humble opinion and that is making me nervous. I start mentioning this to any of my buddies who text. I know I'm being annoying, but don't know what else to do...</div>
Mark Koopmanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634424953074803816noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347493753441352036.post-51961607336621354482020-04-02T00:00:00.000-04:002020-04-02T17:34:35.678-04:00My CovBlog: Days 1 - 3Hola,<br />
<br />
Nothing like a global pandemic to get one's arse behind the keyboard again.<br />
<br />
It's been a few months since I've posted and the title of my blog is a bit ironic now! Have to say I was half-enjoying not having a blogging schedule, but for the past 18 days, me and the other 46 million residents of Spain have been under a strict lockdown. (Nod if where you live has joined the "club" by now.)<br />
<br />
To help pass the time, I began a daily journal, thinking there might be, when this is all over, a book in there somewhere, but with my near-100 percent record of not finishing a book, I've decided to run a daily blog instead.<br />
<br />
For the first few posts, I'll play catch up with highlights of these past couple of weeks and go "live" daily for as long as this lasts...<br />
<br />
Settle in. I so want this to be a series of posts that ends soon, but we may be here for awhile...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">How does this bloody camera work?</span></td></tr>
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<b>March 15, 2020:</b> It's Sunday and after all the rumors and reports, resignation sets in as I wake to Day 1 of the lockdown.<br />
<br />
It's official and I stand on the balcony practicing this new social distancing thing. I don't live in the loudest of communities, but can't see or hear a soul moving.<br />
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A delivery van sits in my line of sight to the street and the world beyond. It's Sunday, so I'm used to seeing vans and small trucks parked out there, but this already feels different. Wonder how long it's going to be sat there. I'm not being a snob, but realise the longer the van doesn't earn for its owner, neither does the driver, my unknown neighbor, who's normally behind the wheel.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Essentials Part 1. Kitchen towels, baby! No hoarding of toilet roll here :)</span></td></tr>
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<b>Day 2: Monday, March 16</b> - Thinking about the driver of the white van -- it's still there this afternoon.<br />
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This was my first full week of working at home and I'm humbled and lucky to have the security of a job. Having worked almost 20 years in the restaurant business, I still have many good friends in the hospitality industry. How will they cope? What will they do? How long will this <i>last??</i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Essentials Part 2: Well, it was St. Patrick's Day (week:)</span></td></tr>
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<b>Day 3:</b> <b><span style="color: #274e13;">St. Patrick's Day</span></b> - Truly. The strangest and soberest Paddy's Day. Ever.<br />
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As we're all self-isolating, I spend an hour taking silly pictures of me in green and message them all over the world. I'm not a huge fan of social media, but it beats social distancing any day of the week, especially this day and I really enjoy a few hours going back and forth with family and friends, some of whom I haven't talked to in years.<br />
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Maybe its just the greenness of the day, but I get a real sense of people wanting and making the effort to at least answer the notification ding! a bit quicker than normal.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Giggling because I kept supping while forgetting to snap the damn picture!!</span></td></tr>
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<i>Coming Tomorrow</i>... As I prepare for my first trip to the store, I need to find my lease and passport in case the Guardia Civil stop me...Mark Koopmanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634424953074803816noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347493753441352036.post-7607125699186794532020-01-13T00:00:00.000-05:002020-01-13T00:00:02.183-05:00HiatusHey,<br />
<br />
It's a new dawn, a new day, still a new decade even and I need to reorganize my head and my way of thinking.<br />
<br />
On Saturday, I had a nice relaxing day off and promised myself I would write, like I said I would on New Year's Day, and every day after that, but instead of doing something I love, I spent 2 hours ironing, and of course, when that excuse was done, it was "too late" to write.<br />
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Like many people, my demons take me off course and push to do just about anything but the one thing that I love to do, which is find the zone and sit there typing until my arse goes numb.<br />
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So, to the several non-family members that read this blog on a regular basis, I apologize for shuttering my blog and all social media for the time being. The cause is, however, just and I need to do whatever I can to fight for my writes.<br />
<br />
(<span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">2 hours of ironing, for God's sake... </span>Why is it so damn hard for me to give in and allow myself to be happy?)<br />
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That's the answer I hope to find out, and when I do, I'll be back -- and the blog will be, too.<br />
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In the meantime, I look forward to popping over to <a href="https://myjustsostory.blogspot.com/">Elephant's Child </a>and <a href="https://myjustsostory.blogspot.com/2020/01/words-for-wednesday_8.html">Words for Wednesday</a> for the rest of January, and again in March to read where my prompts take people.<br />
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Best wishes, and see you on the other side of Write Mountain.<br />
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MarkMark Koopmanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634424953074803816noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347493753441352036.post-74537646866914856822020-01-09T00:00:00.000-05:002020-01-09T00:00:08.666-05:00Words For Wednesday -- on a Thursday (It's me, people...)Hola,<br />
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Seriously... What's in a word?<br />
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An old question to be sure and the answer, I think, depends on the reader and how they're feeling at any given time.<br />
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I mean, <a href="https://myjustsostory.blogspot.com/2020/01/words-for-wednesday_8.html">one woman's Zinfandel can be another man's Chardonnay</a>; and are either of them wrong?(Especially when both are quaffable on a lazy summer afternoon...)<br />
<br />
Many moons ago, I fell in literary lust with a blogger friend called<a href="https://myjustsostory.blogspot.com/2020/01/words-for-wednesday.html"> Elephant's Child</a> who continues to be a stalwart supporter of an idea floating around that then thereabouts blogosphere.<br />
<br />
Quoting from EC's page, she says this ongoing (and brilliant) meme was, "Started by Delores a long time ago. <a href="https://myjustsostory.blogspot.com/2020/01/words-for-wednesday.html">Words for Wednesday</a> is now provided by a number of people and has become a movable feast.<br />
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"Essentially, the aim is to encourage us [writers] to write. Each week, we are given a choice of prompts, which can be words, phrases, music or an image. What we do with those prompts is us to us. A short story; prose; a song; a poem or treating them with disdain. We can use some or all of the prompts.<br />
<br />
"Some of us put our creation in comments on the [originating] post, and others post on their own blog. I would really like it if as many people as possible joined this fun meme, which includes cheering on the other participants.<br />
<br />
"If you're posting on your own blog - let me know so that I, and other participants, can come along and applaud."<br />
<br />
A few months ago, EC asked for volunteers to come up with the prompts for this upcoming year, and having enjoyed and looked forward to participating on so many occasions, it was my turn to step up and offer the words for the five weeks in January.<br />
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I was going to post this post last week, but I'm tres glad I waited for the second Wednesday, as it's so much fun reading so many people go so many (even dark!!) ways -- with the same damn words :)<br />
<br />
When people go down the words path, the principle of the meme is simplicity itself: Take the offered <b>6 words</b> (or if you're a glutton for punishment) <b>12 words</b> and just run with some or all of them.<br />
<br />
Like many writers, I struggle with those stupid, frustrating major doubts (can I, or can't I? And if I can, why don't I? -- and why don't I have the balls to find out?) Therefore, I personally adore that some of my best on-the-fly writing in the last two years was born from the often weird and wonderful prompts on <a href="https://myjustsostory.blogspot.com/2020/01/words-for-wednesday.html">Words for Wednesday.</a><br />
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I'm now a season-ticket-holder-for-life-fan, so when EC asked for volunteers to supply new prompts for the new year. I saw 2020 and offered to help come up with the words.<br />
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However, as I'm slightly evil, I also wanted to push the boat out a bit further and had a ton of fun coming up with my 5 sets of 2 x 6 words. And, what an absolute blast it's been so far.<br />
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(Here's what you've been missing so far. <a href="https://myjustsostory.blogspot.com/2020/01/words-for-wednesday_8.html">Got some prose in you this week?</a> I dare you. Leave it below in the comments and make sure to share it with EC, but knowing her, she'll read it first anyway!! :)<br />
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PS. What's in a word? <i>Seriously.</i><br />
<i></i><br />
Whatever you want it to be, and I for one am relearning a passion for prose again, especially as I read how one person's soft Koozie (to keep their beverage cool) is another's birth name... and how annihilating a Zinfandel can be so much fun.<br />
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<br />Mark Koopmanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634424953074803816noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347493753441352036.post-35020162064083970952020-01-06T00:00:00.000-05:002020-01-06T16:43:03.075-05:00Dublin Today & my own Rare Oul' TimesHola,<br />
<br />
Had the chance to recently walk around Dublin for a day, and what a great city it really is -- especially around Christmastime.<br />
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And there's still some old parts off the beaten touristy tracks that bring some some wonderful, personal memories.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQI4eDMQEMDVFVGUQBYs6QD7Dvw4hAf4xNHB3XAPNB93hGe8h6MMat1CV_eLEIrnntRLuQb_EWo1JaexLDEm3hDw8PvXR3G_jC7ZnQxcdIPEXMWM8khyphenhyphenZtJrLllBmJv2QpjyMT_BleJErY/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQI4eDMQEMDVFVGUQBYs6QD7Dvw4hAf4xNHB3XAPNB93hGe8h6MMat1CV_eLEIrnntRLuQb_EWo1JaexLDEm3hDw8PvXR3G_jC7ZnQxcdIPEXMWM8khyphenhyphenZtJrLllBmJv2QpjyMT_BleJErY/s320/1.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't know why my eye was caught with the square inscription, but it was... Why is it so high up there, I wondered?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfl2rZOwXPlTiqW6joq9QBdraF8liVATrilbzdG4icx0QPIN4owAxobZzOYPsnayo_slzo7Yjo8jUosfedQKgLuvBCAsHYhyphenhyphenHgT1Pze_REta6r64UHvXCMdH4syv4af61txouvtFCnn9p/s1600/2019-12-20+13.59.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfl2rZOwXPlTiqW6joq9QBdraF8liVATrilbzdG4icx0QPIN4owAxobZzOYPsnayo_slzo7Yjo8jUosfedQKgLuvBCAsHYhyphenhyphenHgT1Pze_REta6r64UHvXCMdH4syv4af61txouvtFCnn9p/s320/2019-12-20+13.59.20.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Like something out of War of the Worlds, the new Children's Hospital is under construction</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtKDMeMKIF_FwEQYWDRUvjokmx6ItKKctzZDsnBcZgw3WBs0PViz5OtrXKnJYA8LKF9q5IcxS8VN-6D8g9V-gPqdPA9QXm9bjw-TuKtI-HauZLNW3199obBobV9cs5PkBY0hl_lUkPCgqC/s1600/2019-12-26+16.19.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtKDMeMKIF_FwEQYWDRUvjokmx6ItKKctzZDsnBcZgw3WBs0PViz5OtrXKnJYA8LKF9q5IcxS8VN-6D8g9V-gPqdPA9QXm9bjw-TuKtI-HauZLNW3199obBobV9cs5PkBY0hl_lUkPCgqC/s320/2019-12-26+16.19.11.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The other special relationship remains strong!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wgwlzCzyxMWPE8rAO3S0HgfAjjIsGNATcVfPtImudUUOIZGsqHl_y6GOmGmZmJihL0FJhiHEVnyOcT6nUbCct2jZwIu5d_473oF8m2ZocmvksnpyVdZ4zmPeGVNbk6MnAJGJaNUMtYFr/s1600/2019-12-26+16.36.22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wgwlzCzyxMWPE8rAO3S0HgfAjjIsGNATcVfPtImudUUOIZGsqHl_y6GOmGmZmJihL0FJhiHEVnyOcT6nUbCct2jZwIu5d_473oF8m2ZocmvksnpyVdZ4zmPeGVNbk6MnAJGJaNUMtYFr/s320/2019-12-26+16.36.22.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The General Post Office on O'Connell Street.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMb53Ilbk2WCZ2uT-ExZUwiIFrMKNhwoXpnoMQf3dPlwCET25Yx0052wtDWiSlhA3u49AECWZHL_TJJEVRwCeAwg17mpMxNaBFOZoXoTgVlXu2AhitAZ8igP0zPtOHQWYAsAt_py7Fi68g/s1600/2019-12-26+18.10.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMb53Ilbk2WCZ2uT-ExZUwiIFrMKNhwoXpnoMQf3dPlwCET25Yx0052wtDWiSlhA3u49AECWZHL_TJJEVRwCeAwg17mpMxNaBFOZoXoTgVlXu2AhitAZ8igP0zPtOHQWYAsAt_py7Fi68g/s320/2019-12-26+18.10.18.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Mansion House</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8bnGX83Po0ci-0QE0J4KUyzLpeTQK5xFlu8T3QlouMGd82fbVsaJdzwt8HOeGKLe4aTBYwn9syTkJN3Qp3qTzQx_BUcQcCfq3MYYHEYFJiXh-kGs21OJNztzC-o5o9e_GG0dmhjR55oof/s1600/2019-12-26+18.15.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8bnGX83Po0ci-0QE0J4KUyzLpeTQK5xFlu8T3QlouMGd82fbVsaJdzwt8HOeGKLe4aTBYwn9syTkJN3Qp3qTzQx_BUcQcCfq3MYYHEYFJiXh-kGs21OJNztzC-o5o9e_GG0dmhjR55oof/s320/2019-12-26+18.15.15.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christchurch Cathedral</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCI6HSfgw6fLUaVL5VP4bDrICATPhxBPxG1jn-4e7G9f86XYS9evWzIqdfNWeBrDiKhcNtwfad9sFe4wMvNsaOMC0QBqeJJGy_Zl7ZWi7rgS0AY_bSo-GY6pzJaU_MQPXFa-dvvjYPto0-/s1600/2019-12-27+13.42.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCI6HSfgw6fLUaVL5VP4bDrICATPhxBPxG1jn-4e7G9f86XYS9evWzIqdfNWeBrDiKhcNtwfad9sFe4wMvNsaOMC0QBqeJJGy_Zl7ZWi7rgS0AY_bSo-GY6pzJaU_MQPXFa-dvvjYPto0-/s320/2019-12-27+13.42.10.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Coombe Hospital where I was born, (ah, God love 'im)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr5OUxMO1QlCGJbhyphenhyphenxggyRgLwmI3C7FWF4HU5ySDs_mmAj9kbohK2GB79_7V6QuRJLbyNFRWE9zuCwH3Vu6UBuxapt-GN6aoCcgkRkvkyqJqMRWbFSNGUXxsIgkiPi2T2CAUbr-KWXQ0zP/s1600/2019-12-27+13.51.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr5OUxMO1QlCGJbhyphenhyphenxggyRgLwmI3C7FWF4HU5ySDs_mmAj9kbohK2GB79_7V6QuRJLbyNFRWE9zuCwH3Vu6UBuxapt-GN6aoCcgkRkvkyqJqMRWbFSNGUXxsIgkiPi2T2CAUbr-KWXQ0zP/s320/2019-12-27+13.51.12.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Used to buy and get me bikes repaired here </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhio4sNzM2Z7PHjD2geAw4eI1P685esp17Y4Q4r58m2mjgt6iJOumCjZLCWrX2PoMPiFPOQ6KSyZSjvSAyKPraeuQnkuO-owhXGgaUvqa5CWSsMvXtSGfY7AXXm2IkoEOIMHgI2zJ-JFjtl/s1600/2019-12-27+16.56.55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhio4sNzM2Z7PHjD2geAw4eI1P685esp17Y4Q4r58m2mjgt6iJOumCjZLCWrX2PoMPiFPOQ6KSyZSjvSAyKPraeuQnkuO-owhXGgaUvqa5CWSsMvXtSGfY7AXXm2IkoEOIMHgI2zJ-JFjtl/s320/2019-12-27+16.56.55.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The back of my old school, which is still open, apparently more so on this day!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik5jiHtGLjJBesVj3qUN4xFL3zMdAEJJ1fGHeXPLeI-E-TLKafyJM1EKD0wMUf0Z1j1QQ0QREL_GI9Go-4Jr-z5nQT_5l9RraGjNDYjAzT61l3xRVghtdc5yoXI2WectOcbbeNOZDy2ETc/s1600/2020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik5jiHtGLjJBesVj3qUN4xFL3zMdAEJJ1fGHeXPLeI-E-TLKafyJM1EKD0wMUf0Z1j1QQ0QREL_GI9Go-4Jr-z5nQT_5l9RraGjNDYjAzT61l3xRVghtdc5yoXI2WectOcbbeNOZDy2ETc/s320/2020.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ah yes, the square quote... now I have to find out where it comes from!!</td></tr>
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Mark Koopmanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634424953074803816noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347493753441352036.post-2445132664595535812020-01-01T09:18:00.000-05:002020-01-01T11:41:08.287-05:00The 80's turned 40 yesterday<span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #111111; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "open sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4em; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Hola,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #111111; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "open sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4em; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #111111; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "open sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4em; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Before I get going, if you love, love, LOVE word games, please visit one of my dear blogger buddies, <a href="https://myjustsostory.blogspot.com/2020/01/words-for-wednesday.html">Elephant's Child </a>as she hosts a weekly <a href="https://myjustsostory.blogspot.com/2020/01/words-for-wednesday.html">Wednesday for Words event</a> that is so much fun!!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #111111; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "open sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4em; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #111111; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "open sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4em; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">I'm helping out with the choice of words for the next few weeks</span><span style="display: inline; float: none; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4em; list-style: none; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #111111; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "open sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4em; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="https://myjustsostory.blogspot.com/2020/01/words-for-wednesday.html">and the game is ON!</a></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #111111; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "open sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4em; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #111111; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "open sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4em; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Now, I would have so posted this yesterday, but many of us who were teens in the 80's were probably having a nap.</span><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #111111; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "open sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4em; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYBYk6350qpBUqe-xIEVj6uuoKf4745xx_Q-c6-ff2_kbsaCQRZNso09l9fkhCwt0LE0sZbh7XVEKbf7jEvFJZmt8VLh_X6qIwQf-0Mfy_2WNePmJeO4aId7hoxkftJiARpPF94PjBW0st/s1600/1a%252B.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="186" data-original-width="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYBYk6350qpBUqe-xIEVj6uuoKf4745xx_Q-c6-ff2_kbsaCQRZNso09l9fkhCwt0LE0sZbh7XVEKbf7jEvFJZmt8VLh_X6qIwQf-0Mfy_2WNePmJeO4aId7hoxkftJiARpPF94PjBW0st/s1600/1a%252B.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Depeche Mode - and I still <i>Just Can't Get Enough</i> - 40 years on!!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #111111; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "open sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4em; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #111111; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "open sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4em; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">The 80's (apostrophe, or not, be damned) were so awesome. God, I loved growing up with the 10 lads that I've known - and still know - since I was five years old. We hit the 80's running</span><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #111111; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "open sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4em; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> and the single, GREATEST thing about the decade that started 40 years ago today is that ALLLLLLL the idiotic adventures we did together remains in the murky past, and are only ever mentioned as beer-spitting-out-of-mouth laughter-memories when we meet up for our annual night out :)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #111111; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "open sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4em; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR1k0kzWRvlzCrGnwS9LkIone5k7um6DutiR0X6rmMJmg5QcXXCZe6DpCpZm2bv3RVgT8PiNI-jj5z9YMi52OSdawGPhiL5gm-YIa5MCpCfdC5CAzbZOj65YWYJtXa6k236r1WSKfaPgxn/s1600/1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR1k0kzWRvlzCrGnwS9LkIone5k7um6DutiR0X6rmMJmg5QcXXCZe6DpCpZm2bv3RVgT8PiNI-jj5z9YMi52OSdawGPhiL5gm-YIa5MCpCfdC5CAzbZOj65YWYJtXa6k236r1WSKfaPgxn/s1600/1.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The Breakfast Club</i>... was there ever a greater meeting of minds :)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #111111; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "open sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4em; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #111111; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "open sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4em; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Thank you, whomever you are, for not widely rolling out the Internet until the 90's came along and we didn't care by then because we were, for the most part, trying out grownup stuff like marriage and mortgages. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_0Ov4O3U2m5AFSsUJCmCff_x_R5cIkQeNSvEbf_G3C6I6aOS9h23eKp00TLFbAi2tBczoG5HDvHHS0k2NOQMHeRw0p7AENexxESSr1gTRETDn6oeXM2NaW09OUSLzZvsdWA5W2PDFidK/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="203" data-original-width="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_0Ov4O3U2m5AFSsUJCmCff_x_R5cIkQeNSvEbf_G3C6I6aOS9h23eKp00TLFbAi2tBczoG5HDvHHS0k2NOQMHeRw0p7AENexxESSr1gTRETDn6oeXM2NaW09OUSLzZvsdWA5W2PDFidK/s1600/6.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">When tracksuits were essential clothing choices...</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #111111; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "open sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4em; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #111111; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "open sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4em; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">I can't imagine what the teens of today will write about in 40 years as they look back on the Roaring 20's 2.0, and I may not even be around, so who cares, but I can guarantee that they won't have the simple, honest fun as we Children of the Eighties had.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #111111; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "open sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4em; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCRdAL9bWf_B2Y8ZeElhDx_98Ge_c7VoHtZAJS5TMnqAsRK1UntZ__QZPjy9N6d1UgYNcVfFCl9kHbw_rK5fRzZ558QwUriTOEdEV0vm07JhfEEtG8HCUmIbphRqeiuU1Vz6murlZGfeNi/s1600/48927a8d-eb20-4b88-8b61-3db9b6a50cce.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="479" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCRdAL9bWf_B2Y8ZeElhDx_98Ge_c7VoHtZAJS5TMnqAsRK1UntZ__QZPjy9N6d1UgYNcVfFCl9kHbw_rK5fRzZ558QwUriTOEdEV0vm07JhfEEtG8HCUmIbphRqeiuU1Vz6murlZGfeNi/s320/48927a8d-eb20-4b88-8b61-3db9b6a50cce.JPG" width="319" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #111111; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "open sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4em; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #111111; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "open sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4em; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">We were a Hot Mess, and we loved it! The only likes I needed (or wanted) were from the lads standing shoulder-to-shoulder next to me... or sitting around a table/floor/abandoned house/underground water pipes under construction/asbestos-filled roof of an old factory 30-40 feet high.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #111111; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "open sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4em; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikI740NS0hv0REBiCXuoqmaXbwwm8dskuTLXSVHEMb3VhZRJj5gF-KW3hW-lZmerDJT84hnclySW6i8KED97V7D0kPfPSugyFAjS2ILtyJw0PwpWecY5hl_W10ObfXRIlqP06sNSZsA6lR/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikI740NS0hv0REBiCXuoqmaXbwwm8dskuTLXSVHEMb3VhZRJj5gF-KW3hW-lZmerDJT84hnclySW6i8KED97V7D0kPfPSugyFAjS2ILtyJw0PwpWecY5hl_W10ObfXRIlqP06sNSZsA6lR/s1600/9.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Christmas music will never be the same...</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #111111; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "open sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4em; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #111111; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "open sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4em; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">One day on that roof, as we invincibles kicked our feet back and forth on the edge, we watched a fella on a red Honda 50 drive up and down the canal road, just up and down, for about 10 minutes. He stopped in front of us, about 50 yards away and seemed to have trouble with his belt. When he finally sped off, we went over and stood in a quiet circle, wondering what the white stuff on the ground was!</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmerU0i0Udt-w0CQJPJCkCfu5-ISovmA0AGSPekfPL-nNG_V2h-8ufaONrUSd3xGcgcLictSFjR08gyJkwsr55c6aSrzPyqWJIZ32LLVjXDBZaPwFZQwDHsp5h-aFF5-pCkl9tVTL92WX/s1600/5ddd56d8-5d32-4fdb-bb80-77c68bd727d9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="165" data-original-width="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmerU0i0Udt-w0CQJPJCkCfu5-ISovmA0AGSPekfPL-nNG_V2h-8ufaONrUSd3xGcgcLictSFjR08gyJkwsr55c6aSrzPyqWJIZ32LLVjXDBZaPwFZQwDHsp5h-aFF5-pCkl9tVTL92WX/s1600/5ddd56d8-5d32-4fdb-bb80-77c68bd727d9.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A fiver went a long, long way back in the 80's</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "open sans" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #111111; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4em; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #111111; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4em; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">I went and left school during this decade; gathered up the secret, delivery lane behind the smelly pub and read the articles inside a well dog-eared edition of <i>Playboy</i>; got hired and fired and fell in love with Samantha Fox and Kathy Lloyd as they graced Page 3; kissed a girl (but didn't make her cry) for the first time after waiting 3 hours for her under Dublin's famous Cleary's Clock; saw friends get married - and harried; went on holiday to places not called "Holland" or "Wexford<span style="background-color: #f9f9f9;">;</span>" survived camping weekends with a future-convicted pedophile; drank my first 2-gallon flagon of cider (it wouldn't be the last!); started the decade skating around the roller rinks of Crumlin and happily finished the 80's skating around the red light district of Amsterdam - and can honestly say I looked, but never partook. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "open sans" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #111111; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4em; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzliL19KTVYNRWvWIaSvcJj0ziWphG3NTmDSHcbCSoKfjj0wYEjsqnUztaSfFu899qPV8hv3S_U59rCRHm8y4uTZ_tvI_IUKXqtWqZOLTuE7UklXoIj0uiKLKv-48GJHiJ9X94vF3R9Kju/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzliL19KTVYNRWvWIaSvcJj0ziWphG3NTmDSHcbCSoKfjj0wYEjsqnUztaSfFu899qPV8hv3S_U59rCRHm8y4uTZ_tvI_IUKXqtWqZOLTuE7UklXoIj0uiKLKv-48GJHiJ9X94vF3R9Kju/s1600/8.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nancy and Mr. T share a moment!!!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #111111; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "open sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4em; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #111111; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "open sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4em; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">And with much of "our" music still going strong -- special thanks to Depeche Mode for making it this far -- I think we grownups who are in, or heading toward, our sixth decade (how did we get so old, so quickly??) can look back with Axel-Rose tinted glasses and say that while it wasn't perfect (what is?) we were, as the Pet Shop Boys best put it, certainly never <i>Being Boring.</i></span><br />
<i></i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ8tLFfs6Sczjml6_QVWzpRSSTtyG6cyLyEPvylSSmjR2J34s43PYLndwY2R6qV6b5Mo1118Ey_YNqKuVRpmJQDm3ll3n2Ce8w5s6cOKtB8WtTbAHfPfpZRyKUruNbXKKCa_Gc4lnAAc5M/s1600/f651de1e-623f-4e4d-99ec-4ff4ae3028d4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="550" data-original-width="477" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ8tLFfs6Sczjml6_QVWzpRSSTtyG6cyLyEPvylSSmjR2J34s43PYLndwY2R6qV6b5Mo1118Ey_YNqKuVRpmJQDm3ll3n2Ce8w5s6cOKtB8WtTbAHfPfpZRyKUruNbXKKCa_Gc4lnAAc5M/s320/f651de1e-623f-4e4d-99ec-4ff4ae3028d4.JPG" width="277" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Big screen TV's where we watched...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPqWhhm5heU9Sf7ov8vmHrArVYrrd2wvwtqCnnuCtbc5WNiqCuwiqFSn4Tt1lnSVeHKD-aqzd-gdgx5HflivgDDIM98IZLZ-df5TCnFgdWLUajBnqO1rdd8oYdlIa3msXqB7cPVfMpoALL/s1600/cb205b75-dd43-4419-85d8-1ea6b0c276aa.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="358" data-original-width="480" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPqWhhm5heU9Sf7ov8vmHrArVYrrd2wvwtqCnnuCtbc5WNiqCuwiqFSn4Tt1lnSVeHKD-aqzd-gdgx5HflivgDDIM98IZLZ-df5TCnFgdWLUajBnqO1rdd8oYdlIa3msXqB7cPVfMpoALL/s320/cb205b75-dd43-4419-85d8-1ea6b0c276aa.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">...An old Dr. Who turn into Wurzel Gummidge...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTTF3DQIoSIOuKJwACVWDobVwJz6f3XIr_bYfdoLvXpb2T0iv2SQ0_-m924od-xADpS9g6K4gSHVUL_Y-gtVHXcFbXxbQA6d4_rMtqvsBPmoa-TsW-yyP1KSDQTLS9dQxuPYdPNApyXo6-/s1600/1ce77796-2e8c-4bfe-a317-94f266a4f46c.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="475" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTTF3DQIoSIOuKJwACVWDobVwJz6f3XIr_bYfdoLvXpb2T0iv2SQ0_-m924od-xADpS9g6K4gSHVUL_Y-gtVHXcFbXxbQA6d4_rMtqvsBPmoa-TsW-yyP1KSDQTLS9dQxuPYdPNApyXo6-/s320/1ce77796-2e8c-4bfe-a317-94f266a4f46c.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">When traffic on the 405 actully moved!!</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4aG4SvU5ekAoYa1zE9Ho_Z_XkytaoxqWszhE2UWkmVPh_R4LNot3CTTUl06JZ3aFQxIYSwMOD447eOmRuLWPdgu7EBfq7KH7NJr_LTJp6WK9bEgHlQi_TAo4v-AtEplHklboAYZJDgzN/s1600/3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="197" data-original-width="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4aG4SvU5ekAoYa1zE9Ho_Z_XkytaoxqWszhE2UWkmVPh_R4LNot3CTTUl06JZ3aFQxIYSwMOD447eOmRuLWPdgu7EBfq7KH7NJr_LTJp6WK9bEgHlQi_TAo4v-AtEplHklboAYZJDgzN/s1600/3.png" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmvl-pBJANUTsjC8pTCZIrC5veO7lZTvwMLnTUmyUCgGbx4wc198J4cfUGbU8BHNklHHGV7sfRnK6mP5gIKkH5i2-SOQnu6gDhisFss5czAajw1dkrii-uTtGtuvxD8XdYuAjtDG_yI3_b/s1600/4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="159" data-original-width="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmvl-pBJANUTsjC8pTCZIrC5veO7lZTvwMLnTUmyUCgGbx4wc198J4cfUGbU8BHNklHHGV7sfRnK6mP5gIKkH5i2-SOQnu6gDhisFss5czAajw1dkrii-uTtGtuvxD8XdYuAjtDG_yI3_b/s1600/4.png" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">How we used to get info from the Telly :)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #111111; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "open sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4em; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #111111; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "open sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4em; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span>Mark Koopmanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634424953074803816noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347493753441352036.post-37985878991653535752019-12-09T00:00:00.000-05:002019-12-09T00:00:04.087-05:00Working Man...Hola,<br />
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Time flies when you're having fun and this past Friday, I completed my 4-month probation at work, and that was a wonderful feeling. There's still, of course, so much I have to learn, and I love that no one day is ever the same, but driving right past probation shows I'm on the right road.<br />
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But wait, there's more! With some maintenance happening at the office, my first officially-a-full-timer day is a work-from-home day and with it being a bank holiday over here, I'll even earn a wee bit extra!<br />
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The perfect way to start off the work week, especially when I remember where I was work-wise only 6 months ago, i.e. no income at all. I'm very, very grateful to have earned this full-time contract and to officially kick things off in my Christmas pyjamas is a hoot.<br />
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Tomorrow, it's back to the office and the rest of the regular work week, but for today, I'll enjoy the short commute and hog all the fresh coffee for myself.Mark Koopmanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634424953074803816noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347493753441352036.post-25674316914017967502019-12-07T00:00:00.000-05:002019-12-07T02:48:44.075-05:00Pearl Harbor Day: That Lives in Infamy<i>78 years ago, the military base at Pearl Harbor, HI, was attacked, </i>as it was by one of its own sailors 3 days ago.<br />
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<i>In response, I'm "reposting" this 2013 Memorial Day visit to the USS Arizona while I lived in Hawaii. Pearl Harbor is truly a must see historical location, and I'm grateful I could bring the boys there so often.</i><br />
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Aloha,<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">With this being my second Memorial Day on Blogger<em>,</em> I again dedicate this post to the fallen men and women of the United States Armed Forces.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Their sacrifices will <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">never</i> be forgotten.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">For many people, standing at the <a href="http://www.pacifichistoricparks.org/phh_park_info.php"><span style="color: blue;">USS ARIZONA Memorial</span></a> is a bucket list item and the Memorial remains the #1 visitor destination in Hawaii.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">With it being Memorial Day Weekend, it made perfect sense to revisit this iconic memorial, so we went as a family Sunday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSUxs6GtxIvUqbmq7QZKZ5DQwv0CFI7wfQhQ0LzLfPQ5iZdHIa594mvpatc6jAXz3ly1G6FrqIdjw8CLHkc-JWaHfaMOSiYuQDBvfKgH3nuMQLDJiCojCxyezOKa4OkDCAU2YJMKPiX5vX/s1600/05.26+USS+ARIZONA+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSUxs6GtxIvUqbmq7QZKZ5DQwv0CFI7wfQhQ0LzLfPQ5iZdHIa594mvpatc6jAXz3ly1G6FrqIdjw8CLHkc-JWaHfaMOSiYuQDBvfKgH3nuMQLDJiCojCxyezOKa4OkDCAU2YJMKPiX5vX/s320/05.26+USS+ARIZONA+013.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Driving to the main entrance of the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, I was glad of the little extra time we built in. (Parking was tough to find and no backpacks are allowed inside, so the diaper bag was stripped and emergency supplies distributed in my multi-pocketed shorts.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">However, I soon lost sight of these mundane things when one of the first things I saw were two Cold War-era weapons, including an old POLARIS nuclear missile.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyA0DDiIyiY7_KuEOk0bCXi5Kxt2qXajWjii8HitO-BGdVFGzpU3_PkR_0ObLns5zZUP1nfqxN8KPhExyf853nc7_ijzGF8al9It_wMR0xRnI8c6-EiSmk9Z8tgzuWP-n8GTU4ZbAHKlIH/s1600/05.26+USS+ARIZONA+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyA0DDiIyiY7_KuEOk0bCXi5Kxt2qXajWjii8HitO-BGdVFGzpU3_PkR_0ObLns5zZUP1nfqxN8KPhExyf853nc7_ijzGF8al9It_wMR0xRnI8c6-EiSmk9Z8tgzuWP-n8GTU4ZbAHKlIH/s320/05.26+USS+ARIZONA+012.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">It’s free to enter the grounds and museums of the Visitor Center, and once through the turnstile, you enter an open- air atrium with a map of the Pacific at your feet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">There’s also no charge to visit the actual Memorial, but you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">have</i> to reserve the tickets for the boat ride, so make that your first stop. This may seem simple, (you can reserve tickets online <a href="http://www.recreation.gov/"><span style="color: blue;">here</span></a> but there are a lot of things pulling at you. (The gift/book store, a snack bar and the restrooms – if you bring the kids.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Ignore all that if you can (unless you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“really have to go, Papa”)</i> and head to the ticket counter directly ahead of you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV4wRf_xscwg01j2zCYgxnpHq9NlmvemxJ9ymQZxq6ZnpSR0ttBMIIh3Z_J42-ajmtjWS-nH-5gvu4gDGujVL41FSg5KEcBLF9viJEZ46XnDPyLEgiEaghcpzVyWutnpRtL6o95aT3HJge/s1600/05.26+USS+ARIZONA+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV4wRf_xscwg01j2zCYgxnpHq9NlmvemxJ9ymQZxq6ZnpSR0ttBMIIh3Z_J42-ajmtjWS-nH-5gvu4gDGujVL41FSg5KEcBLF9viJEZ46XnDPyLEgiEaghcpzVyWutnpRtL6o95aT3HJge/s320/05.26+USS+ARIZONA+014.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Main Entrance</span></td></tr>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">TIP:</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Send someone to the Visitors Center<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> before</i> 9 a.m. – and you can <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">generally</i> have your pick of times. One adult can reserve up to six tickets. Currently, sailings to the Memorial start at 8 a.m. and run until 1 p.m., weather – and federal agency permitting. (The National Park Service operates the Visitors’ Center, but the U.S. Navy runs you out to the Memorial – and won’t sail if the winds are too high.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">First Sighting...</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Tickets in hand, feel free to come back closer to your allotted time or wander the ground where you’ll see various exhibits and interactive museums on the grounds – including the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.bowfin.org/"><span style="color: blue;">USS Bowfin</span></a> (SS-287)</i>, a retired diesel submarine, which is worthy of its own day trip.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOK1-C5SHZ4DqATcFJ2O4W20uvGl9kUWHsenoSygYxv0nTKcCNNuN65h9eKp66HjwEdkSv4jrawr7_Dtyz-aqUuqJAACRF2M8FH1-clgdDYVtE9cn8FI7FRFKSvj-8pRKXw0GzrrNu0rmc/s1600/05.26+USS+ARIZONA+017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOK1-C5SHZ4DqATcFJ2O4W20uvGl9kUWHsenoSygYxv0nTKcCNNuN65h9eKp66HjwEdkSv4jrawr7_Dtyz-aqUuqJAACRF2M8FH1-clgdDYVtE9cn8FI7FRFKSvj-8pRKXw0GzrrNu0rmc/s320/05.26+USS+ARIZONA+017.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Once your time approaches, make your way to the small theatre where a Park Ranger offers some basic info and directs you inside. After an excellent 23-minute documentary that answers, in part, the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">why</i> behind the events of Dec. 7, 1941, exit the theatre and you’ll be on the pier and next to one of the white transport boats.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Taken from Museum Video Clips (Above & Below)</span> </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The ride to the Memorial takes about five to ten minutes, so enjoy the unique view of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Island"><span style="color: blue;">Ford Island</span></a> and parts of <a href="http://www.cnic.navy.mil/regions/cnrh/installations/jb_pearl_harbor_hickam.html"><span style="color: blue;">Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam</span></a> on the way – as well as the majestic sight of the <a href="http://www.ussmissouri.com/"><span style="color: blue;">USS MISSOURI (BB-63),</span></a> which sits, like a guard, over the wreck of its sister battleship, the <a href="http://www.ussarizona.org/"><span style="color: blue;">USS ARIZONA (BB-39)</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">USS MISSOURI (BB-63)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">1,177 Sailors lost their lives on the ARIZONA alone and the remains of more than 950 are entombed in the hull, so conversations are muted (or nonexistent) as the coxswain maneuvers the boat into place, and you walk up a stairwell/ ramp into the Memorial proper.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Location of the Memorial in Context of the Ship.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">You walk through a small interior “room” and then the long open section of the Memorial. Walk over to the right, about three quarters of the way and see the rusted, circular stack that is the remains of one of the gun turrets.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The White Buoy (background) Marks the Stern</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Contrast of Ship and Sea</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Depending on the wind, and where you stand, the smell of oil that seeps from the ship - 72 years after the attack -</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> sneaks up on you like a surprise. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leaking Oil from the USS ARIZONA<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Black Tears" of the USS ARIZONA</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The Park Ranger I spoke with said each day the ships bleeds several quarts of the oil, known as “the black tears of the ARIZONA.” According to some estimates, the ship will “cry” for its lost souls another 350 years. He also mentioned the legend that the ship will stop crying once the last survivor dies and returns to his former shipmates.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Since 1982, dozens of survivors who died have been interred at the site – the latest ceremony was held Dec. 7, 2012. (As of this post, about a dozen known survivors from the ARIZONA are alive.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Since 1982, Dozens of Survivors have been Interred with their Shipmates</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpcLUfhm3_bc8ES0VD9YI9VxeFCfFPG2X-7qxU_Sak2ZkAdAEHOMtWBTgJNFFcTy0Fffn1032kVRJ5u20U5wT4YqENwxt39gW4cZBE9IQKNNwmCJIfrjuwH_oWRcgKUDssxQQcwZgcUGsh/s1600/05.26+USS+ARIZONA+084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpcLUfhm3_bc8ES0VD9YI9VxeFCfFPG2X-7qxU_Sak2ZkAdAEHOMtWBTgJNFFcTy0Fffn1032kVRJ5u20U5wT4YqENwxt39gW4cZBE9IQKNNwmCJIfrjuwH_oWRcgKUDssxQQcwZgcUGsh/s320/05.26+USS+ARIZONA+084.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Latest Crewmember to Return to the USS ARIZONA</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Walk further, you’ll come to the main interior room, where each fallen Sailor's name and rank is inscribed.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5dT_XiJTBJDtMa94C0IrxL6r-DRSQot4n231Tkfo89IbWvhgfzI3ifiIfQkOxrwFHi5LjjJnc6J-_WuN6DNj3qgOO9ZYQQbyMVwyGkbHoPiqm4Swf5JUa36LA0yuw16e_zie5zvB5z6cm/s1600/05.26+USS+ARIZONA+091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5dT_XiJTBJDtMa94C0IrxL6r-DRSQot4n231Tkfo89IbWvhgfzI3ifiIfQkOxrwFHi5LjjJnc6J-_WuN6DNj3qgOO9ZYQQbyMVwyGkbHoPiqm4Swf5JUa36LA0yuw16e_zie5zvB5z6cm/s320/05.26+USS+ARIZONA+091.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">(I never realized the significance of Valkenburgh Street, a nearby road I use daily -</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> until I discovered the Commanding Officer of the ARIZONA was a CAPT. F. Van Valkenburgh...)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">A trip to the USS ARIZONA Memorial is something you will never forget – just like we should never forget the men who were lost on that terrible date that will live on in infamy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgieFg18N-mQwkKp0hmfvN9v1KuT79QL50O214dfXH3XGa-CGFk7EU89naGFKzT20rBnkaATGa28LEz1JlJGTO9TLF2SxI3c0-3A7YvQg5LM6O4xPj13YikNHExUpzcyBDFhApfP1SHZqfL/s1600/05.26+USS+ARIZONA+158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgieFg18N-mQwkKp0hmfvN9v1KuT79QL50O214dfXH3XGa-CGFk7EU89naGFKzT20rBnkaATGa28LEz1JlJGTO9TLF2SxI3c0-3A7YvQg5LM6O4xPj13YikNHExUpzcyBDFhApfP1SHZqfL/s320/05.26+USS+ARIZONA+158.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">As we waited in line for the return trip, the most poignant words of the day came from our five-year-old. He told his Mama he “had a question about all those people on the wall.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX9kWwpGgqvPHdYPPDqRKMelREMyyHXDLFJLmUWpB6oxWbAtR18colfby634C_NI-HcdrAobZZ8CR24SZWBjWUBi09ft45BpHDLFcjlZF-1kqaduhUNJ6wMuI3DZmA-24BHxfwP7A464hQ/s1600/05.26+USS+ARIZONA+087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX9kWwpGgqvPHdYPPDqRKMelREMyyHXDLFJLmUWpB6oxWbAtR18colfby634C_NI-HcdrAobZZ8CR24SZWBjWUBi09ft45BpHDLFcjlZF-1kqaduhUNJ6wMuI3DZmA-24BHxfwP7A464hQ/s1600/05.26+USS+ARIZONA+087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX9kWwpGgqvPHdYPPDqRKMelREMyyHXDLFJLmUWpB6oxWbAtR18colfby634C_NI-HcdrAobZZ8CR24SZWBjWUBi09ft45BpHDLFcjlZF-1kqaduhUNJ6wMuI3DZmA-24BHxfwP7A464hQ/s320/05.26+USS+ARIZONA+087.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“But, when will they go home?”<o:p></o:p></span></o:p></span></div>
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<em><strong>Lest We Forget...</strong></em><br />
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<strong><em><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">A Memorial Day Tribute to the Fallen:</span></em></strong></div>
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Mark Koopmanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634424953074803816noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347493753441352036.post-78395030684965285792019-12-02T00:00:00.000-05:002019-12-02T00:00:07.192-05:00Sun Down & Tail UpHola,<br />
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I haven't shared any weekly pictures for awhile, so here's a small compilation of what's been going on.<br />
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Hope you enjoy and have a great week:)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFfnoFtwQdPE1KeSGdtrQqFspVTzji3iTkk7dQtUyX3XWB5CamjYxEoAa3uRUV_S4UON12zxm13jtd3JP5vRlIURwcL_t4jnqH08qSyICgOGauPGkOPhcqArftjE9_44moWSfOO7ihphTJ/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1208" data-original-width="1600" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFfnoFtwQdPE1KeSGdtrQqFspVTzji3iTkk7dQtUyX3XWB5CamjYxEoAa3uRUV_S4UON12zxm13jtd3JP5vRlIURwcL_t4jnqH08qSyICgOGauPGkOPhcqArftjE9_44moWSfOO7ihphTJ/s320/1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The sun goes down so early, but people still need to get home,,,</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">...Horse power be damned!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">And at a certain point of the day, the sun shines straight through...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQplFGOYSg9Ih2acq7WS3QL8ACkiq-inWRDpUABxUBILQm3g7LDhSjVPTLHeqVnq7dfJAgTn3VPAAGepzsrFHctdVXlQ9Dl-OXQ5JOj6XmkRDXZNyD6t5cY-mGduuUWogdp0I3WnTTmp2y/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQplFGOYSg9Ih2acq7WS3QL8ACkiq-inWRDpUABxUBILQm3g7LDhSjVPTLHeqVnq7dfJAgTn3VPAAGepzsrFHctdVXlQ9Dl-OXQ5JOj6XmkRDXZNyD6t5cY-mGduuUWogdp0I3WnTTmp2y/s320/5.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">...Bringing back a little color to autumn trees...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKmUyhmX44rHyi3L3iNXh70MoSvCDqoTVNTgssXq_ZLKnB1BV6ybxsi3GyvPQniGn4R69AHvCzTojxKl-qKLj4N60EsLArZiABtJLwvJo9NJUdwVmc5t5epGvicSBkVih0nIaetjGT0TWH/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKmUyhmX44rHyi3L3iNXh70MoSvCDqoTVNTgssXq_ZLKnB1BV6ybxsi3GyvPQniGn4R69AHvCzTojxKl-qKLj4N60EsLArZiABtJLwvJo9NJUdwVmc5t5epGvicSBkVih0nIaetjGT0TWH/s320/6.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">...And local homes.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg8KAyrjifxUsQa6ms9oweGXcDd8LH2_fZ1AUXnHcTnLN0-MR_kUh4memIMnOcoB-USaKNetepK3URQlU6oOXxhRb6Hkw1nBrl38WUkGy9kfcnGzQviqqCaz1ItEBAaeiKENSlYpWR1hGB/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg8KAyrjifxUsQa6ms9oweGXcDd8LH2_fZ1AUXnHcTnLN0-MR_kUh4memIMnOcoB-USaKNetepK3URQlU6oOXxhRb6Hkw1nBrl38WUkGy9kfcnGzQviqqCaz1ItEBAaeiKENSlYpWR1hGB/s320/10.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Meanwhile, the Sierra Nevada looks beautiful. Cold, but beautiful!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdXIrwzZAKHlvIJ9RtR5oFY0xWmvAvrQLWYmVE-A-EzZjubgkb3HV6V5EwxaHpUNTMunqhK2yMYW47GoyoMHCy6AzwVE7QDBHikv0vWq8tFSR8Mchtk2LtwuTlqxorxd19euvRApQWD4XN/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1409" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdXIrwzZAKHlvIJ9RtR5oFY0xWmvAvrQLWYmVE-A-EzZjubgkb3HV6V5EwxaHpUNTMunqhK2yMYW47GoyoMHCy6AzwVE7QDBHikv0vWq8tFSR8Mchtk2LtwuTlqxorxd19euvRApQWD4XN/s320/11.jpg" width="281" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The local Wal-Mart-type store runs 3-for-2 specials... recently, it included cheap beer (and NO, that's not my cart!!)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh30q0YnKbeSU4muGWAoacc6LyjxRRIo3LD0iBt5D-jgMXuyiijG1O5wt-JYY-TjfnJK-2w6t3rxrYob_BQd20ZeHP_zI0u9ZOdOHmkk99nORd-TAy-n9B5Hv8SJGJbJtC_qT2vLY6htuh0/s1600/12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh30q0YnKbeSU4muGWAoacc6LyjxRRIo3LD0iBt5D-jgMXuyiijG1O5wt-JYY-TjfnJK-2w6t3rxrYob_BQd20ZeHP_zI0u9ZOdOHmkk99nORd-TAy-n9B5Hv8SJGJbJtC_qT2vLY6htuh0/s320/12.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">On my walk to and from work, I've become friends with this goofy dog...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-nsAfnEzFJvU-IWugpLin9abTrd44oj2itIs_2V2DdQH1PrUcBV17oMDibpuEtciVVlu4vMUGUA_zK_k3QlwCENoB3ndNRAkPjlrhCUK2fVqh1J-L9032T0ti9xtjqezRQqLb0MernlA/s1600/13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-nsAfnEzFJvU-IWugpLin9abTrd44oj2itIs_2V2DdQH1PrUcBV17oMDibpuEtciVVlu4vMUGUA_zK_k3QlwCENoB3ndNRAkPjlrhCUK2fVqh1J-L9032T0ti9xtjqezRQqLb0MernlA/s320/13.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">He used to bark at me while I walked past the length of his yard/home...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk-VIrpUpGagaPzFamDWG8l-8Y_i0TW7fYgkHo2D4pSVwWjynCH1EOCMPH-DFX0ng16-cPq98KxHVwX7QGIrSwWmzP4UrCXVgQQOA0a6ZpQstxEnL7qzjiDcP4zpQntLgTuU_BfGLNyxEn/s1600/14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk-VIrpUpGagaPzFamDWG8l-8Y_i0TW7fYgkHo2D4pSVwWjynCH1EOCMPH-DFX0ng16-cPq98KxHVwX7QGIrSwWmzP4UrCXVgQQOA0a6ZpQstxEnL7qzjiDcP4zpQntLgTuU_BfGLNyxEn/s320/14.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">So, one day I gave him a piece of fresh baguette...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm0xJUkDm9fK6bAZlozrHzk0tG6kc4IwsE9nbyMZFOnU3jJgiZ9aHOYGVJShTIBObDU8B5_zhjJTxvlNfGTS94BRo9WObTOSoiRJL1M_24yg8U9rhX0AAajgGSbGa4gsymNmlypAMl77Wq/s1600/14a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm0xJUkDm9fK6bAZlozrHzk0tG6kc4IwsE9nbyMZFOnU3jJgiZ9aHOYGVJShTIBObDU8B5_zhjJTxvlNfGTS94BRo9WObTOSoiRJL1M_24yg8U9rhX0AAajgGSbGa4gsymNmlypAMl77Wq/s320/14a.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Which has grown into me buying doggie treats...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR7KZVktHp7Z2fJx-09Bo2SsAMgJgrPJa5SbkKbo8VyQhM7I3mqxahG1TQGVMrxKeGTu3krFsnj8aRYxvSbNSjTk-xqgO30LinhB3skvJbAE6ADSxjLWXFlhRh0khWJh9xZn88I0SDthPB/s1600/15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR7KZVktHp7Z2fJx-09Bo2SsAMgJgrPJa5SbkKbo8VyQhM7I3mqxahG1TQGVMrxKeGTu3krFsnj8aRYxvSbNSjTk-xqgO30LinhB3skvJbAE6ADSxjLWXFlhRh0khWJh9xZn88I0SDthPB/s320/15.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">And now he's quite happy to play peek-a-boo!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLD098-EoS1pw1UtPvBdQW7fErJvkG_dYSviL0eWPA3gTSdc8vSadrsKhnXhfc9CkVaNsAYXzA-wVlAhBFHUqEzcgWkdO6rnCZn_5NCCcKmIQKvk8CQpNDW3q039BG_sHpo2meXeuapL5v/s1600/16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLD098-EoS1pw1UtPvBdQW7fErJvkG_dYSviL0eWPA3gTSdc8vSadrsKhnXhfc9CkVaNsAYXzA-wVlAhBFHUqEzcgWkdO6rnCZn_5NCCcKmIQKvk8CQpNDW3q039BG_sHpo2meXeuapL5v/s320/16.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">...And see what's on the snack menu!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZVy4C7OFtGgyS6ljL81tJKYAw8GEA3j6Ox8cuPX5yUWotZsF7IbRcszm7OBPLREhaXJ3mtORUPkBs0Ddw0VYOm4ZL5IeoOqQFdI1n5xsxpzg-hgr9RraaImIkYTlyQz4o2ZBZ2eN5pfpK/s1600/17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1237" data-original-width="771" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZVy4C7OFtGgyS6ljL81tJKYAw8GEA3j6Ox8cuPX5yUWotZsF7IbRcszm7OBPLREhaXJ3mtORUPkBs0Ddw0VYOm4ZL5IeoOqQFdI1n5xsxpzg-hgr9RraaImIkYTlyQz4o2ZBZ2eN5pfpK/s320/17.jpg" width="199" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">And finally... Can't take credit for this one, but it was floating around last week and I think it's brilliant!</span></td></tr>
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<br />Mark Koopmanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634424953074803816noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347493753441352036.post-85503821022692987362019-11-25T00:00:00.000-05:002019-11-25T00:00:05.622-05:00I'm getting old...<ul>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Hola,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">A few things, beyond the obvious, made me feel old lately, so the other day I licked my pencil, grabbed a trusty 3x5 card and wrote down some notes in cursive to prove my point.</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I listened to an NPR story on the radio (it was an <span style="background-color: yellow;">Internet</span> radio, so do I get 10 bonus young points?) about a family inviting Amazon's Alexa each evening to the dinner table as a way to "improve conversation amongst their kids."</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br /></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">(Some of my life-long friends will get a kick out of this one.) The youngsters I trained with at the new job and I went for a drink on a recent Friday. It was nice to hang with them for a few hours, shoot the breeze and get to know them all a bit more. At about 7 p.m., we all prepared to go our separate ways when the conversation turned to what time they'd all meet up later that same evening... I just laughed and hurried to catch the tram home.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br /></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Rumors from the long-timers at work swirled this week when the Christmas party was announced. Apparently, it's to be held at the same place as last year, at a big hall that's very cold, I've been told...and my first thought is not to forget to bring an extra sweater -- and maybe a beanie?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br /></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">My neighboring colleague turned 50 last month. I told her we're now the same age, only I've got a half-year on her. She nodded, I nodded back and it's never been mentioned since.</span></li>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">And most sadly.....</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-CaEvdLjWZoIva2d1vWH3zpQSYIL_A2dA62J_s5zcQf8GbAFtAM6Jg91LhSihZpRNuyhHsEW9_4F9zIVHkg4ZmTTu9W9Hvi4VIeKfRkSXQQmlP4ZQWcR_fgaeywncpFi8l-PrnspoxB7P/s1600/2019-11-22+21.09.43.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1128" data-original-width="1217" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-CaEvdLjWZoIva2d1vWH3zpQSYIL_A2dA62J_s5zcQf8GbAFtAM6Jg91LhSihZpRNuyhHsEW9_4F9zIVHkg4ZmTTu9W9Hvi4VIeKfRkSXQQmlP4ZQWcR_fgaeywncpFi8l-PrnspoxB7P/s320/2019-11-22+21.09.43.png" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br /></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">This guy's response to Peter Shilton's tweet is hilarious, and I was about to forward it to lads at work to show them I'm cool and do Twitter and stuff...</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">...<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">and then I realized <i>none</i> of them were even <i>born</i> in 1986 when Shilton was the England goalkeeper during the 1986 World Cup<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ccNkksrfls"> when Maradona scored with the infamous "Hand of God."</a></span></span></span></div>
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Mark Koopmanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634424953074803816noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347493753441352036.post-41432068445068345612019-11-18T18:36:00.000-05:002019-11-18T18:36:34.353-05:00Ireland v Denmark - the Game<br />
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<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">Hola, I'm reporting live! (for me) tonight in the final part of my recent IRL v DEN series.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMu9ASgZP0Q9Rfgcx_NbDyiccnhyphenhyphenYOhK4VZSgo3UZGPPsv3sgm3TCR57_XNf17Zq5vhdl7zwmBkJ56voWpRN2LWoeO2FV6XiPWN17wPk2h1kROX0rZf0R0tk4QhxtGlR2kCkhJT1ncTaTW/s1600/IMG_0995.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMu9ASgZP0Q9Rfgcx_NbDyiccnhyphenhyphenYOhK4VZSgo3UZGPPsv3sgm3TCR57_XNf17Zq5vhdl7zwmBkJ56voWpRN2LWoeO2FV6XiPWN17wPk2h1kROX0rZf0R0tk4QhxtGlR2kCkhJT1ncTaTW/s400/IMG_0995.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">·<span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Tonight, is the<a href="https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2019/1118/1092567-handball-ref-hansson-i-wouldnt-speak-to-henry/">10th anniversaryof the “Hand of Henry,”</a> but don’t get me started!</span></div>
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</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Real “Cup Final” atmosphere as DEN needs
only a draw, but we need a win.</span></div>
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</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Even the Irish President was nearly late to
the game with the heavy traffic.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I’m listening to RTE radio 2, so we’re
going old school here tonight…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4qFK52vSMH9irrvfJgJ4sEA2Hawru9C9DfdyVLZ2FYOJPqn6BdsNecv8grWWa7fG8ojEMnN1pSVlId7Sdx7ww710xjB13oVHzPebuQDir_b2CqUBvIk5AIv_2IlrmxV9n-6Nmz-vKF7Fl/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="449" data-original-width="800" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4qFK52vSMH9irrvfJgJ4sEA2Hawru9C9DfdyVLZ2FYOJPqn6BdsNecv8grWWa7fG8ojEMnN1pSVlId7Sdx7ww710xjB13oVHzPebuQDir_b2CqUBvIk5AIv_2IlrmxV9n-6Nmz-vKF7Fl/s400/2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Photo Credits: <a href="https://www.gettyimages.es/">Getty Images</a> and <a href="https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2019/1118/1092726-gutted-enda-stevens-says-ireland-gave-it-their-all/">RTE SPORT</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">And, it’s GAME ON!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Great, feisty start by Ireland, nearly a
penalty in the first minute</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Thomas Delaney (he plays for Denmark!!)
off injured by the 12<sup>th</sup> minute</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3d4vcoXXWO50NqZikBviJ8_thb6CKPYk0trrua2yGYBmhurNV0sLbo92WN7tYRP2FhSwi3UkA6scJP904ISWkD4rRGrCCpRfxzdPze6c2Hlcqr-DCVggRhRoW9PDPmJc-_JqWvQL316f/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="760" data-original-width="1024" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3d4vcoXXWO50NqZikBviJ8_thb6CKPYk0trrua2yGYBmhurNV0sLbo92WN7tYRP2FhSwi3UkA6scJP904ISWkD4rRGrCCpRfxzdPze6c2Hlcqr-DCVggRhRoW9PDPmJc-_JqWvQL316f/s400/5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thomas Delaney (not the Lad in Green)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">16<sup>th</sup> minute… Denmark have a free
kick, but make a mess of it.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Crowd starting to get a bit anxious, as am
I.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Couple of corners for DEN in a row it
seems like, but no real danger.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">2<sup>nd</sup> DEN player is subbed… bunch
of wusses, if I may say so.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">33<sup>rd</sup> minute and a first chance
for IRL, but kicked right at the keeper</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">IRL pushes a little more, but no real chances.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgEJHXvwAYkc1GTeBm22rq7RGmPKfyFWviT4C0M74rw0F7F9ylZqlF18GJr2zBO84GDWPivD8aQKBHFUspo75J23Da6zDd6TqfxJvgrhXxKn0seE5VgGIqlKa6YMDw638F0Yny8I-Fd2Vp/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="707" data-original-width="1024" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgEJHXvwAYkc1GTeBm22rq7RGmPKfyFWviT4C0M74rw0F7F9ylZqlF18GJr2zBO84GDWPivD8aQKBHFUspo75J23Da6zDd6TqfxJvgrhXxKn0seE5VgGIqlKa6YMDw638F0Yny8I-Fd2Vp/s400/4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">DEN have a dangerous free kick, but it
comes to nothing.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">3 mins added to the end of the first half,
and IRL gets the first corner</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Shuite. Nothing happening there either.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Ref blows the whistle. That’s it. An OK first
half, but IRL could have done better.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I’m off for a beer! Back in 15-ish mins</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-bMw7hImJrJFmAC4CwffTuHb2c3wuk90J2qpCKRc1blLZtc3sOxiOVudkoJq6DIK5Dkv27wst2ItNFiSz8fuB9aT_ZI2u7wxQDeHth304sw5jjYY7RZKdousbTPcBX9Dxv7CyWtYUfRXs/s1600/IMG_1007.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-bMw7hImJrJFmAC4CwffTuHb2c3wuk90J2qpCKRc1blLZtc3sOxiOVudkoJq6DIK5Dkv27wst2ItNFiSz8fuB9aT_ZI2u7wxQDeHth304sw5jjYY7RZKdousbTPcBX9Dxv7CyWtYUfRXs/s320/IMG_1007.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Second Half</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I don’t know how sports reporters do this
on the blogs and things. It’s hard to eat dinner and have a pint while writing
notes at the same time.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">And, the 2<sup>nd</sup> half is off (burp.
Excuse me.) One change for IRL, otherwise, it’s still the same lads on the
field.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Thoughts on the first half… not too bad,
but now IRL must still win to automatically go through. If we don’t, IRL faces
a 2-leg playoff in March and me nails—and liver—can’t handle that.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">IRL get a quick free kick, and a good one,
but it’s cleared. Only 559,001 minutes to go… the stress!</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Corner for IRL, and a good header ends
with a second corner for IRL.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Good to see them using that old “Buy one,
get one free” move… and Jaysus, we nearly scored!!</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Throw for IRL this time and it’s cleared
by the damned Danes, and off we go up the field.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Good work by IRL, though, and may I shout
with abandon, “Come On You Boys In Green!!!”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Crowd are back in it, and it’s super great
to hear the songs from the stadium.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggkV27Bzgth0nsQ4nQq7G7cWB506fQ-6-UzBEginiWZGvR1TIaxYgQlFtcDc70QQwPQ9Hl8TRsdH4I2JATYYMvG34kfCNqDX0z6CMfZ1vQx2M34kiByHfjpYfiSv5Rd9lUsWjjR9b1lX-6/s1600/1+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="412" data-original-width="736" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggkV27Bzgth0nsQ4nQq7G7cWB506fQ-6-UzBEginiWZGvR1TIaxYgQlFtcDc70QQwPQ9Hl8TRsdH4I2JATYYMvG34kfCNqDX0z6CMfZ1vQx2M34kiByHfjpYfiSv5Rd9lUsWjjR9b1lX-6/s320/1+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Aviva.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">IRL has more of the ball in this early start
of the 2<sup>nd</sup> half, but the Damnation Danes remain a threat.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">First yellow card against IRL, and the
crowd immediately start calling out his name, loving that it was a strong,
legal tackle. Didn't get</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> his name, as I ran to the jax as I really needed to pee. (I didn’t think anything would happen and feel very guilty, but understand the game must go on, my weak bladder be Daned!!)</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">And, it's a</span></span></span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> must stronger performance from IRL this half as I try make up for my faux pee.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHmV1v2IbMzSrXtI-CIC5xhYqWYOuc8iHthBIxDkOOvIpG6777mXYOZ70jhKzlsSA2qpoAo0NQQ1P11tfIeaPTB0bsfDoRmbds9eT58ap19cB3P8M7zi6yg4GGKMmB_DAua6js70ecPWAY/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"></span><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1200" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHmV1v2IbMzSrXtI-CIC5xhYqWYOuc8iHthBIxDkOOvIpG6777mXYOZ70jhKzlsSA2qpoAo0NQQ1P11tfIeaPTB0bsfDoRmbds9eT58ap19cB3P8M7zi6yg4GGKMmB_DAua6js70ecPWAY/s400/3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">·<span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Unfortunately, no streakers of either gender
have made it on the pitch to further liven up the crowd.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">58 minutes gone. 0-0 to Ireland and the
dangerous Danes remain happy with the result.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Corner! To IRL, and the crowd are loving
it, as is your rugged reporter, reporting.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Sadly, it’s a bad corner, the ball sails over
the bar, but it’s a point for IRL!!!</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Oh wait. Wrong sport.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Ole, Ole, Ole” rings out amongst the 40,000+
crowd</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">If IRL can win this game and qualify, they
get to play 2 games in DUBLIN and the other one in Balboa…</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Within the last 30 minutes… lots of IRL
subs warming up, but no changes yet…</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">25 mins to go… cross by IRL and another
corner to the Lads.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bit
messy in the box, ends in an IRL throw and the energy is changed as the Dastardly
Danes mess it up and then the great, manly, brave Irishmen are on the attack
again.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">CHANCE! Ball goes over the bar, but we’re
putting them under pressure!</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">2<sup>nd</sup> sub for IRL. One fellow in a
green shirt coming in for another one in the same-colored shirt. The crowd go
wild. Exciting stuff as my buttocks go numb on the edge of my seat.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Less than 20 mins to go…</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Free kick to the Dire Danes, but IRL gently
defends the box and all is well.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">IRL push forward again.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The Dramatic Danes completely mess up the
first chance of their game and the score is still 0-0, this time for Ireland.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">And bloody hell… 73<sup>rd</sup> minute…
the Damn Danes have scored.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Sigh. [Quick visit to the fridge to grab a
well-needed beverage.]</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">IRL has 16 minutes, but we need 2 goals
now. Yikes.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The playoffs in March loom large now.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Ireland pile on the pressure, the Lads
know what’s on the line.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Goals are needed and the Diminished Danes
are looking as shell-shocked as a Spaniard getting the bill after eating out in
a Dublin restaurant.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Five minutes to go… and IRELAND SCORE!!!</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6IVVujJbqJQr3A-WmTVg0HTd9se-bBxag3KNHCpV9-hTJm5callb4Aj-YU5tBbGVOiMLqr-VdAYl34j893GzhYSr_oXENg-opjl-kcPMB44D_x7k4ew5QVb0QlrGJ572CcJYlxIgP0qKW/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="800" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6IVVujJbqJQr3A-WmTVg0HTd9se-bBxag3KNHCpV9-hTJm5callb4Aj-YU5tBbGVOiMLqr-VdAYl34j893GzhYSr_oXENg-opjl-kcPMB44D_x7k4ew5QVb0QlrGJ572CcJYlxIgP0qKW/s640/6.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Matt Doherty (#2) scores the equalizer!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Masses of churches around Ireland will be twice as busy
this weekend as thousands have to pay back their “Lord, if only we can score at
least one goal…. Please Lord…”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">GAME ON….</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">But, remember, the non-Dashing Danes’
drawing still mean they go through (boo!)</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The crowd are going nuts!!</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">All the play is now 103 percent in the
Danish half (not really, but I wish!!)</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">CHANCE! IRL goes close and the Darnish
defenders clear.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">3 minutes to go… and maybe a couple added on…</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">IRL force their way forward…</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">IRISH corner!</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Messing around the 6-yard box, but no
clear shot.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">1-minute to go.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">4 MINUTES OF INJURY TIME….</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I need a new beer.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">IRL pushing forward… get a throw…</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">3 minutes left…. Another throw for IRL</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Goes out of play… lost chance…</span></div>
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</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">2 minutes left…</span></div>
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</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Crowd acting like the 12<sup>th</sup> man…
egging on the Lads</span></div>
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</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Throw for IRL… One minute left…</span></div>
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</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Ball booted down the field… and…</span></div>
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</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">That’s it... game over.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ32eAt2tfFY-DwD4vRHbR4-ng3CxFerIZ4UOun3s5x92F1fbriiizl4Ns5hve5NHOfdhagLJr-Ltsc7vJrZmj6jPfSuF6p4FYftcCWsCjqFH22-VymxVcQBdN08a-tZ75fUTlAhm_pII_/s1600/7+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="800" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ32eAt2tfFY-DwD4vRHbR4-ng3CxFerIZ4UOun3s5x92F1fbriiizl4Ns5hve5NHOfdhagLJr-Ltsc7vJrZmj6jPfSuF6p4FYftcCWsCjqFH22-VymxVcQBdN08a-tZ75fUTlAhm_pII_/s400/7+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Brilliant effort by the Boys In Green - and we're not of it yet!!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Spirited effort from the Irish, who didn’t
lose, but couldn’t get the needed second goal and will now go to the playoffs
in March—again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Thanks for reading along. This is your
intrepid and thirsty reporter signing off.</span></div>
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</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">See you in March and the next seance :)</span><br />
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Mark Koopmanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634424953074803816noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347493753441352036.post-80545186789294741692019-11-15T00:00:00.000-05:002019-11-15T23:53:47.462-05:00IRELAND v DENMARK (Part 2) "The Musical"Hola,<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjumiVhmfjvOv5-qIiKmj-Jr0SKvyQ6UL5Zga2qxBjSJqfSP9gw6HzKyVr-rqAjeCwY3uq8nKYw-MPV6MRjWO7wArrRyICI_jtJkE9lRd7tvJ7XdxhxkcOe78orYJ7XskqKE_o5KSAKVAje/s1600/duffy11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjumiVhmfjvOv5-qIiKmj-Jr0SKvyQ6UL5Zga2qxBjSJqfSP9gw6HzKyVr-rqAjeCwY3uq8nKYw-MPV6MRjWO7wArrRyICI_jtJkE9lRd7tvJ7XdxhxkcOe78orYJ7XskqKE_o5KSAKVAje/s1600/duffy11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; clear: left; color: #0066cc; float: left; font-family: Times New Roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjumiVhmfjvOv5-qIiKmj-Jr0SKvyQ6UL5Zga2qxBjSJqfSP9gw6HzKyVr-rqAjeCwY3uq8nKYw-MPV6MRjWO7wArrRyICI_jtJkE9lRd7tvJ7XdxhxkcOe78orYJ7XskqKE_o5KSAKVAje/s1600/duffy11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1051" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjumiVhmfjvOv5-qIiKmj-Jr0SKvyQ6UL5Zga2qxBjSJqfSP9gw6HzKyVr-rqAjeCwY3uq8nKYw-MPV6MRjWO7wArrRyICI_jtJkE9lRd7tvJ7XdxhxkcOe78orYJ7XskqKE_o5KSAKVAje/s320/duffy11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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As Ireland gets ready for its <b><i><u>MUST WIN</u></i></b> EURO 2020 qualifier against regular foes, Denmark (BOO!), this coming Monday, the Boys In Green played a friendly against New Zealand last night.<br />
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And, the result was a 3-1 win to us.</div>
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Jaysus... We <i>won.</i></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixYHhVdofhKLNaGhz5ZZx5nwZ_Z_XqFYQZcXzrk0FBxBEoKfefRRzeGYaZX0GekD0rh4Yv7Y9Cj0G-JRahyphenhyphenV-xCoz2MBIS_0B4VfEnC-yV87eVufHm-bDce_wKWYn3PkXOax0CJyTzDD9T/s1600/1841495.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="620" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixYHhVdofhKLNaGhz5ZZx5nwZ_Z_XqFYQZcXzrk0FBxBEoKfefRRzeGYaZX0GekD0rh4Yv7Y9Cj0G-JRahyphenhyphenV-xCoz2MBIS_0B4VfEnC-yV87eVufHm-bDce_wKWYn3PkXOax0CJyTzDD9T/s320/1841495.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sean Maguire: Man of the Match after scoring his first senior goal for Ireland</span></td></tr>
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[Takes a deep breath and a second to <i>enjoy</i> the moment... they don't come around <i>that</i> often!]</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUgVwU1c9QBeeY3rkheJDR6wCytlS3q8cfHTgB81hDmWrH0S88v9FsS7x-UEBwox331QnVumD_lBskU8khrg_qw9QF72zN-XCFmieQ8vPKDLbJxYq4QaU9k9s_kwBUmOkyuATOmuCaYMUV/s1600/Sportsfile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="1600" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUgVwU1c9QBeeY3rkheJDR6wCytlS3q8cfHTgB81hDmWrH0S88v9FsS7x-UEBwox331QnVumD_lBskU8khrg_qw9QF72zN-XCFmieQ8vPKDLbJxYq4QaU9k9s_kwBUmOkyuATOmuCaYMUV/s320/Sportsfile.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Robbie Brady back after injury woes...and wearing the Captain's armband</span></td></tr>
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In honor of this silly, friendly victory, I give you <i>"Ireland v Denmark (Part 2 -- The Musical)" </i>ahead of the main event Monday.<br />
<u><span style="color: #000120;"><br /></span></u>
<u><span style="color: #000120;"><a href="https://markkoopmans.blogspot.com/2019/10/one-more-chance-irelands-senior-men-my.html">If you missed Part One, where I discuss how feckin' Ireland has been my ex-girlfriend for the last 30+ years, click here.</a></span></u><br />
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<u></u><span style="color: #000120;"></span>For now, feel free to wander around the musical offerings of Irish players, musicians, but mostly Irish fans "at work" over the last 30+ years, (I sense a "team.")<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz5TkcnBPu5IHO-W8uyw9UOVgeC6VKyamWbCVf2Qug-bgxr7mo2Xc5KxK0B6SOTW_RHlkoCvbIh58wSKKpkX1-3_t3lGsLN4AwOZV-DiPZ0K0BEF9oJuZ0cCBYQTVWdsglvXKBjUzNlhvc/s1600/FB_IMG_1571180193508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz5TkcnBPu5IHO-W8uyw9UOVgeC6VKyamWbCVf2Qug-bgxr7mo2Xc5KxK0B6SOTW_RHlkoCvbIh58wSKKpkX1-3_t3lGsLN4AwOZV-DiPZ0K0BEF9oJuZ0cCBYQTVWdsglvXKBjUzNlhvc/s1600/FB_IMG_1571180193508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="479" data-original-width="720" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz5TkcnBPu5IHO-W8uyw9UOVgeC6VKyamWbCVf2Qug-bgxr7mo2Xc5KxK0B6SOTW_RHlkoCvbIh58wSKKpkX1-3_t3lGsLN4AwOZV-DiPZ0K0BEF9oJuZ0cCBYQTVWdsglvXKBjUzNlhvc/s320/FB_IMG_1571180193508.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">The BOYS IN GREEN shorts, (but they do have green jerseys, too!)</span></span></td></tr>
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If you're rolling the eyes and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaZF5obwwNM"><b>only want the 8-minute highlights, *please* watch this video</b></a> to see how the fans (did you know they're Irish) even had a sing-song cleaning their own garbage after the long day of festivities.<br />
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The Irish would go on to earn the "best fans" award from the French government following the end of EURO 2016. (As they do.)<br />
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On the other hand, if you have the time, knock yerself out with some of these video clips. I know me and my adult beverage spent a good few hours "researching" as we sung along!!<br />
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Click on any song name or video to begin smiling exercises.<br />
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<a href="https://youtu.be/nzr6RTU6Q_0"><b>"Joxer Goes to Stuttgart"</b></a> (In honor of the EURO 1988 by Christy Moore)<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcaB55SdW_4" style="color: #0066cc; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><b>"Put 'em Under Pressure"</b></a> (Italia 1990 theme song!)<br />
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<b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsD9k82uAjo">"To Win JUST Once" by The Saw Doctors</a> </b>(Any time Ireland goes to qualify!!)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhipX6uku94DWfJDf3s6f2LtNb3ajjt1J2iLtDJeD0t-uMIS9wSGwpu1Wasm71DOfcuuRki13gS8id1pRlqPd4WdBmxZ0wO3Ja2-OrCa2Gtl4Bwypcav8cLOhIWY7_ie_e2KUVh6v2ChTRB/s1600/3659.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="605" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhipX6uku94DWfJDf3s6f2LtNb3ajjt1J2iLtDJeD0t-uMIS9wSGwpu1Wasm71DOfcuuRki13gS8id1pRlqPd4WdBmxZ0wO3Ja2-OrCa2Gtl4Bwypcav8cLOhIWY7_ie_e2KUVh6v2ChTRB/s320/3659.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Former International and Manager-for-the-2nd-time-in-20-years, Mick McCarthy, also loves a sing-song</span></td></tr>
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<b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-tkaIHavvM">Irish Fans Sing "Stand Up For The Boys In Green"</a> </b>(EURO 2012)<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-YYMN5P_iU&t=29s"><b>Fans Sing "The Fields of Athenry"</b></a> (EURO 2012 - when we were LOSING 0 - 4 to Spain)<br />
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<b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtrxkHDjOhw">The Lads Seranade the French Girl</a> </b>(EURO 2016)<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_Bp7vWvN1c"><b>...And they Serenade the Baby, too!</b></a> (EURO 2016)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh68lvKgKuSsHuxIxQZXu5BmuEpMZDO_Uk9HVvcdLeyxRi3RvVCXcl2Ewu5SNwEB7ZToey0A4p_xrd6DkcAPqMLuAKa-MsW9M5n1v5NB-9gOLpEyksJH1cLIRZ_vollKyofPPkGdhuHrYeL/s1600/received_395484604444522.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="896" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh68lvKgKuSsHuxIxQZXu5BmuEpMZDO_Uk9HVvcdLeyxRi3RvVCXcl2Ewu5SNwEB7ZToey0A4p_xrd6DkcAPqMLuAKa-MsW9M5n1v5NB-9gOLpEyksJH1cLIRZ_vollKyofPPkGdhuHrYeL/s320/received_395484604444522.jpeg" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
<span style="font-size: small;">Me and a friend in Holland, circa Italia '90</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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Photo Credits (except the last dodgy shot) <a href="https://www.ppai.ie/photographer/357/Seb-Daly"><b>via Seb Daly and Sportsfile.</b></a>Mark Koopmanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634424953074803816noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347493753441352036.post-60250286948250470562019-11-12T00:00:00.000-05:002019-11-12T00:00:02.297-05:00Lovely Writers & 30th Anniversary of the Berlin WallHola,<br />
<br />
I love how the response of<a href="https://markkoopmans.blogspot.com/2019/11/iwsg.html"> my recent non-post</a> spilled onto <a href="https://markkoopmans.blogspot.com/2019/11/the-4-letter-word.html">my last post</a>, so may I start by saying <b>I dearly and deeply appreciate</b> <u>everyone</u> who comments here - there isn't many, and you bloody all know each other - and that's probably what I should have said re. the non-post, so there you go now!<br />
<br />
In a "Only Happens To Me" memory, I woke up this past Saturday, 9 November 2019 to the news it was the 30th anniversary of the Berlin Wall falling. Oh no, not again. I groaned and did my own falling back on the pillow.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_bRveCaDykZ6ReL4xVa0XRWkq0piGQEJWUweBB5wZThioCLSfdrFnQcf_yl1vNZHvMhBpMpw7nIYVs_oJM7EgXC_jwghoMWMmQEvrLWbhHRFyk0twNAT-lS-M_3BOYpb2dHZ2nRKqLdK5/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="431" data-original-width="620" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_bRveCaDykZ6ReL4xVa0XRWkq0piGQEJWUweBB5wZThioCLSfdrFnQcf_yl1vNZHvMhBpMpw7nIYVs_oJM7EgXC_jwghoMWMmQEvrLWbhHRFyk0twNAT-lS-M_3BOYpb2dHZ2nRKqLdK5/s320/4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
9 November, 1989... I'm the one in the.... no, wait, I'm not :(</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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It's like this, you see. Coming in currently as #17 of the Top Twenty Regrets in my life is missing out being there when the Berlin Wall came down Thursday, 9 November 1989.<br />
<br />
I was working at a fancypants restaurant in Amsterdam, and with no cellphones or Internet in those (simpler!) days, there was always a large, grey plastic TV mounted to the corner(s) of the bar.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_3t2zukomLoIjE1x7QkjwFGYuYoj_KGJ6SXCnFhbjeSfBWFRcJk0EcLl6A7zIqhCC_rpJRKc8UCrGngvT7ZHpYrG-QuvfsEtlty0183mWkKb9s2vTyHQr0iG4m0wgxm33ftwX5Kv0w3b5/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="431" data-original-width="620" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_3t2zukomLoIjE1x7QkjwFGYuYoj_KGJ6SXCnFhbjeSfBWFRcJk0EcLl6A7zIqhCC_rpJRKc8UCrGngvT7ZHpYrG-QuvfsEtlty0183mWkKb9s2vTyHQr0iG4m0wgxm33ftwX5Kv0w3b5/s320/5.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">These days...</span></td></tr>
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<br />
As the evening progressed, there was a huge swell of positive emotion between staff and guests. Guests grabbed seats, servers helped the bartender and soon it was standing room only as we all watched history being made -- sort of in front of our eyes.<br />
<br />
That's when one of me mates said they were going to Berlin directly after work -- and there was a spare seat if I wanted to see history being made -- truly with my own eyes.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6tIrolGaN1QyMEF6bXXdJwoqbnWzKXIHbVPbHQasZa11N3LENAM9MAvSgpsBnZPreReThsLOwcYjIBb4rViuVgDijSQas20pEFqQ-uAso6JFoQnQZlGEd1p2fXkYhjGtnK78UsE2bCKQ5/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="620" data-original-width="620" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6tIrolGaN1QyMEF6bXXdJwoqbnWzKXIHbVPbHQasZa11N3LENAM9MAvSgpsBnZPreReThsLOwcYjIBb4rViuVgDijSQas20pEFqQ-uAso6JFoQnQZlGEd1p2fXkYhjGtnK78UsE2bCKQ5/s320/6.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Love these "before & afters"</span></td></tr>
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<br />
<b>And, I like a thick Irishman, said no.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9kICsXzQASWRB1kkPnOAggUR6x7qTiW9qhpBU81ioCEiSWNclO6TqjnCSVRfNb8KwXde1Z0MRpn3ESJhnSNSZboqBpeJonszEhoph4LMH2no_-3HONVLFK8LeKiqyysW21w309k7Ie_37/s1600/7+25-years-Berlin-wall-falls-300x242+%25287%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="703" data-original-width="550" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9kICsXzQASWRB1kkPnOAggUR6x7qTiW9qhpBU81ioCEiSWNclO6TqjnCSVRfNb8KwXde1Z0MRpn3ESJhnSNSZboqBpeJonszEhoph4LMH2no_-3HONVLFK8LeKiqyysW21w309k7Ie_37/s320/7+25-years-Berlin-wall-falls-300x242+%25287%2529.jpg" width="250" /></a></div>
<br />
It was a 12-hour roundtrip and I had a shift Friday night, so I wussed out on one of the most wonderful and peaceful uprisings ever.<br />
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<br />
<i>Typical</i> Koopmans.<br />
<br />
Forgets to write posts and skips wall coming-downs. Only happens to me.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLlYDjiqEFfuphkSv1Zh_-fMfmC3W7OZDfQNJELP2yBdfkVUTiByPlDLkiDSPfs0QYA1mcPv6fS4cxJmFFNDDsTzBnpEuRyDUo1-cFvu5QtTlil9qpiepra4wT_hXTCzjaJICpOADaBR5a/s1600/Berlin-Wall-Germany-1989-GettyImages-113976141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLlYDjiqEFfuphkSv1Zh_-fMfmC3W7OZDfQNJELP2yBdfkVUTiByPlDLkiDSPfs0QYA1mcPv6fS4cxJmFFNDDsTzBnpEuRyDUo1-cFvu5QtTlil9qpiepra4wT_hXTCzjaJICpOADaBR5a/s320/Berlin-Wall-Germany-1989-GettyImages-113976141.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Love. Actually. Can. </span></td></tr>
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<br />Mark Koopmanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634424953074803816noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347493753441352036.post-50013422238066783472019-11-07T00:00:00.000-05:002019-11-07T00:00:11.682-05:00The 4-letter wordHola,<br />
<br />
Bloody hell. The older I get, the more shit I forget to do - like bring a jacket with me on a rainy day (on the plain,) in Spain!<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEXkYJyYb-9R02n8uw2soQPjGMKGUVyP2o-vh5rSzExxST1vH9Lr8sQsxX3tcXD1JKM8qJd2g0wUh959SPMlSbvn_9FD8ueJeRg333LwP7ei-NQPpvgANvqLt-waK-qXGrrZEyRD5A9N_B/s1600/IMG-20191022-WA0005.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEXkYJyYb-9R02n8uw2soQPjGMKGUVyP2o-vh5rSzExxST1vH9Lr8sQsxX3tcXD1JKM8qJd2g0wUh959SPMlSbvn_9FD8ueJeRg333LwP7ei-NQPpvgANvqLt-waK-qXGrrZEyRD5A9N_B/s320/IMG-20191022-WA0005.jpeg" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
Or, when I brainfart myself past a written-ishly alarm, as I did yesterday when I "posted" my <a href="https://markkoopmans.blogspot.com/2019/11/iwsg.html">IWSG</a> post early.<br />
<br />
I'd scheduled the post to go live about three weeks ago, even though I'd not written a damn word. See, this lack of wordage would -- in theory -- normally scare the shit outta me and force, if needed, a fine, intelligent-lite briefing of my latest month in the world of writing.<br />
<br />
Only I haven't had an Editor chomping down my throat for the copy-of-a-needed-article-before-the-deadline-hits for many a year. And, so I forgot.<br />
<br />
As you do.<br />
<br />
I only remembered this lack of delivery and loss of flowery language, (common name: "Ooopsadaisy,") while elbow-deep in the innards of my little postbox that could.<br />
<br />
A ping from my phone with a side order of smirk announced brightly (for seven wonderous seconds) in Times New Roman 12 (double-spaced) that my latest post had posted.<br />
<br />
(OK, I was at work, but I <i>could</i> have been at the mailbox.)<br />
<br />
That's when I realized I was as thick as two planks and had posted a headline, but nothing underneath. I mean like not something small and frail and absolutely lacking in substance... Nope. I had a big fat nothing.<br />
<br />
(Some readers probably thought I'd posted a regular blog, and after this, I have the established chops to interview for and become a great reporter for <i>The Sun</i>; <i>New York Post</i> or <i>The Daily Mail</i> :)<br />
<br />
What truly warms the cockles of my cynical, writing heart is that I've had (so far) four comments from some writerly friends!!<br />
<br />
Therefore, I'm taking a moment to appreciate the following folks for giving me a writerly boost when I hadn't a clue.<br />
<br />
To these fellow lovers of words, I bow at the waist, and if y'all were standing beside me, I'd punch you in the good shoulder and go all Robert de Niro-y on you by saying, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=218iXiKhKlg">"You... you... you got a gift my friend..."</a><br />
<u><span style="color: #000120;"></span></u><br />
<b>Sue</b> at <a href="https://myjustsostory.blogspot.com/">Elephant's Child</a> A fantastic example on how to run a truly fun and interesting blog, and one of my favorite writing mentors (even though she didn't know it until now:)<br />
<br />
<b>Alex</b> at <a href="https://www.alexjcavanaugh.com/">Alex J. Cavanaugh</a> The myth and the man behind IWSG. What more can I say!<br />
<br />
<b>Lee</b> at <a href="http://www.cleemckenziebooks.com/blog/">C. Lee McKenzie</a> A way-back-when writer buddy who stopped by perhaps looking for a few minutes of readability and was left with a moment of clarity on why she hadn't visited for so long :)<br />
<br />
<b>Liz</b> at <a href="http://eseckman.blogspot.com/">Elizabeth Seckman</a> My lost Twinny. 'Nuff said.<br />
<br />
<br />
Finally, as it's obviously Christmas in 47 days... here's my post:<br />
<br />
Dear Santa,<br />
<br />
I promise to do better for the December IWSG, and if I don't, it won't be for the lack of forward-thinking and backward planning that fills my writing days :)<br />
<br />
Yours sincerely,<br />
<br />
Markie<br />
<br />
PS: Santa baby, any chance the Angels can get at least two starting pitchers for the 2020 season? Thanks. (Cookies and Irish whiskey will be available from 23:00 - 06:00.)<br />
<u><span style="color: #000120;"></span></u><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Mark Koopmanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634424953074803816noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347493753441352036.post-52336296033256800062019-11-06T00:00:00.000-05:002019-11-06T00:00:10.048-05:00IWSGMark Koopmanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634424953074803816noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347493753441352036.post-12673334464687586372019-10-29T00:00:00.000-04:002019-10-29T00:00:10.556-04:00Clocks Back; Sun Rises & SetsHola,<br />
<br />
As the clocks fell forward this past weekend, walking to work Monday was a huge, but pleasant surprise.<br />
<br />
Normally, I walk in the dark with my trusty torch to light the (partial) country road if a car comes along, but I was instead treated to a wonderful sunrise - and then a nice sunset on the way home.<br />
<br />
Can't wait to see what tomorrow's "show" will be like - if I'm lucky :)<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV9HFWyg5pNWkteu3OExolMujSXZM7HaZ7hzHWMi5YNDZeKMTducXOaE045xYfZTH6idD7wBx9SFoeshiYKKk-u53dKclIyPH10_M03jkATey9hKXQ0qtGXb_9paiT4bIVZs1u8ZxFSxzs/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV9HFWyg5pNWkteu3OExolMujSXZM7HaZ7hzHWMi5YNDZeKMTducXOaE045xYfZTH6idD7wBx9SFoeshiYKKk-u53dKclIyPH10_M03jkATey9hKXQ0qtGXb_9paiT4bIVZs1u8ZxFSxzs/s320/1.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Walking past the cemetery and I look up...</span></td></tr>
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<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ePfOCkD_Iu3P1CL1dcMMhcwUNzqgJrGxYIf_L0WFyDZAq45IKSyawb-ZVSozmVcNYKTCkJCE1oRiiNtQ6Iz_9UJERwDS_n5ecHwqniGKpWY-6Q8pys0Z11FBA4UOa8KExtjqXFTOY8xk/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ePfOCkD_Iu3P1CL1dcMMhcwUNzqgJrGxYIf_L0WFyDZAq45IKSyawb-ZVSozmVcNYKTCkJCE1oRiiNtQ6Iz_9UJERwDS_n5ecHwqniGKpWY-6Q8pys0Z11FBA4UOa8KExtjqXFTOY8xk/s320/2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Searching for a more open spot, I didn't want the glow to go</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHKlmLK1v2Aud-M-BiyZUQGuCqWAFwJPE2C_luRfURc-wnwvFLyy-0M0_zN5qRKi2yyBRqF-Ytd48yHgazYLzfoVLGKu0roSFPm8Uvr9VtifqDau5TkLir0imGOcV4hf8tJ_S8KyeB720V/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHKlmLK1v2Aud-M-BiyZUQGuCqWAFwJPE2C_luRfURc-wnwvFLyy-0M0_zN5qRKi2yyBRqF-Ytd48yHgazYLzfoVLGKu0roSFPm8Uvr9VtifqDau5TkLir0imGOcV4hf8tJ_S8KyeB720V/s320/3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A solitary trucker on the way to work? Way home?</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAHazN7C3xm-_x-XdhCwuAzZRa8KD8BwrMm7vuMsgr37cuIp9t6SneXX_l97y1ugXnY2yekg0jPYzHfUnIPVXT9eiIQO2QTv5QjD06GH1oYCfQ3VTzbLe0KVSTQV8YqedCB_VGMufErer4/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAHazN7C3xm-_x-XdhCwuAzZRa8KD8BwrMm7vuMsgr37cuIp9t6SneXX_l97y1ugXnY2yekg0jPYzHfUnIPVXT9eiIQO2QTv5QjD06GH1oYCfQ3VTzbLe0KVSTQV8YqedCB_VGMufErer4/s320/4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Found my open spot at 07:24...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ0UHhncPN36ZW9AeBmE6KrckkQVdn4NvFDfgfH6UT-i5FPrZQLzSo4ppJR_4VPwKde30yLkaa539VLsflfxhY60dtAVWMFMnLLro6_TqmzUHwWod4rYDKxukPaUKuS3ht4xAFP7sO_ze2/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ0UHhncPN36ZW9AeBmE6KrckkQVdn4NvFDfgfH6UT-i5FPrZQLzSo4ppJR_4VPwKde30yLkaa539VLsflfxhY60dtAVWMFMnLLro6_TqmzUHwWod4rYDKxukPaUKuS3ht4xAFP7sO_ze2/s320/5.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Walking home at 18:04...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTxgqShbPa-Y-BhKYo1rxhUq-MCdteBTchDhZdxwOBU4ILI8c4ot3RFEeC5N5ycUHHxOZtYzut6bQVgyPHRg4e8jfadDpugjToJmor3nE8fQR1z6YKc_egyunBQGuKCwpdtOt9A6WcVoCY/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTxgqShbPa-Y-BhKYo1rxhUq-MCdteBTchDhZdxwOBU4ILI8c4ot3RFEeC5N5ycUHHxOZtYzut6bQVgyPHRg4e8jfadDpugjToJmor3nE8fQR1z6YKc_egyunBQGuKCwpdtOt9A6WcVoCY/s320/6.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">"LEFT! I Told you we had to turn left..."</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLe1KhtMt93n3iUSmxufjjE-tXJvESDqgQk_INjXRScD36MqvYb5X3CrXxuaWhi68PEcRaZqTfYLjn0OgvQaPswh2BkkGoCCVDrp0vXuy8jlW_PDN6kx7keXFQPvoAVOFT1mLAHY2TPSEu/s1600/7+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLe1KhtMt93n3iUSmxufjjE-tXJvESDqgQk_INjXRScD36MqvYb5X3CrXxuaWhi68PEcRaZqTfYLjn0OgvQaPswh2BkkGoCCVDrp0vXuy8jlW_PDN6kx7keXFQPvoAVOFT1mLAHY2TPSEu/s320/7+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I love this canal/viaduct-y thing so much that I should know what's it's called. If you do, share in the comments, please!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMhyphenhyphencZwnIyLjWy5IGOzlgFHnIgu0A_fJExspONgzgVDK-2QyU9eKpcoo4QqnPpqoJLn4xZUz8yca-tqlGoAofoPVs_WxM31JXu2pfUcS4cG8Ua7YcltoyH5eKu-jfs6Wv-cXmv7TieuKMd/s1600/7+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMhyphenhyphencZwnIyLjWy5IGOzlgFHnIgu0A_fJExspONgzgVDK-2QyU9eKpcoo4QqnPpqoJLn4xZUz8yca-tqlGoAofoPVs_WxM31JXu2pfUcS4cG8Ua7YcltoyH5eKu-jfs6Wv-cXmv7TieuKMd/s320/7+%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Goodnight, John boy!"</span></td></tr>
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<br />Mark Koopmanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634424953074803816noreply@blogger.com9