Monday afternoon, we returned to the ship, of course, for supper and an evening's entertainment and rest for the night. A glance here of the ship's deck and pool area. Too cool for anyone to be enjoying the pools this trip, but if you look closely, there ARE a few in the hot tubs. While we took our heavy winter coats, we managed pretty well with just light wind breakers for most of the stops.
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by John Burch on Friday, November 07, 2008
Quebec City - Monday - Day 5
These excavations show the original walls of the fort which was at the base of the large castle building on the top of the hill overlooking the river. From this point, you had a commanding view of the river and both the French and the English fought over this spot numerous times. The English finally won (but they speak French!! Figure that!) See our SmugMug for more details at: http://jtburch.smugmug.com/gallery/6168303_CSr8U/37/389001439_c9RWz#P-48-12
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by John Burch on Friday, November 07, 2008
Quebec City - Monday - Day 5
A close-up of the castle from the top of the hill.
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by John Burch on Friday, November 07, 2008
Quebec City - As it will look in a few months
This picture was OF a picture taken during a recent winter, showing the snow really filling the streets in Quebec.
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by John Burch on Friday, November 07, 2008
Quebec City - Monday - Day 5
This is the way the city streets looked when we were there. Lots of tourists (most from the ships in port) and quaint shops and restaurants all along the way. The flowers were beautiful.
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by John Burch on Friday, November 07, 2008
Quebec City - Monday - Day 5
You can see the inclined railway that took us up the mountain to the castle above. Note, too, the decorative bicycles on the front of the buildings along the street. Our ship alone had almost 3,000 passengers and we were not the only ship in port. It was quite a bustling city.
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by John Burch on Friday, November 07, 2008
Quebec City - Monday - Day 5
And what trapper would be without his dogs. These were really pretty and yet they were no doubt working dogs for the winter trails.
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by John Burch on Friday, November 07, 2008
Quebec City - Monday - Day 5
A "Canadian trapper" for the tourists, a bit like Daniel Boone on our side of the border.
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by John Burch on Friday, November 07, 2008
Quebec City - Monday - Day 5
This shows a better view of the castle at the top of the hill. The streets of the city looked very European with lots of color and flowers everywhere. It was hard to believe that the streets would soon have 6-7 feet of snow on them.
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by John Burch on Friday, November 07, 2008
Quebec City - Monday - Day 5
Monday morning, after an all day cruise on Sunday and Sunday night to stay ahead of the hurricane, we arrived in Quebec City, Nova Scotia... the oldest city in North America. During the night we had cruised up the Saint Lawrence Seaway, so we missed any scenery we might have seen in daylight. Arriving in Quebec City, we came out of a thick fog that further would have made it difficult to see much along that part of the trip, but it was all worth it to have the extra day to spend in Quebec City. The picture is of a castle fortress at the top of the hill and you can begin to see some color in the trees.
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by John Burch on Friday, November 07, 2008
Our Sunday Worship hour
Originally, we had written to Royal Coribbean International and requested a room and time to hold a public worship service on the ship as we had done before. RCI was very gracious about it and had answered our letter with the info on time of services (which would have been shortly after reboarding from the Prince Edward Island stop. Since the hurricane changed our schedule and we were now "at sea" Sunday, we had a call changing the service from late afternoon to 8:30 a.m. in the morning. Instead of the small room that would have held 50 (for which we were prepared), our service became "the International Worship Hour" and was rescheduled for a large ballroom that could have held several hundred. Realizing that we would not have nearly enough communion supplies for that large a group, I declined to do the service (an option which they gave me.) That was when we moved our worship service to our stateroom for just us. We missed the opportunity for the larger service, but it would not have worked well for the LARGER service.
Another interesting tidbit about "my status" onboard as available evangelist... I had a call from RCI that same morning saying that they had an RCI crewmember who had died (which we were not to say anything about, since that was negative info for the cruise). They asked if I would hold a memorial service for members of the crew. (She also said that if I was uncomfortable with doing that, they did have a Catholic chaplain on board.) I declined this opportunity also. I would have no difficulty if it was someone that I knew, but it would be very difficult for someone that I did not know.. An interesting day at sea.
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by John Burch on Saturday, October 18, 2008
Worship in our stateroom
Neal led singing for us and we enjoyed the worship together. We had plenty of room for the six of us. Nelson led us in prayer. Rather than a sermon, as such, I spent some time reviewing the last week and crucifixion of Jesus before we partook of the Lord's Supper.
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by John Burch on Friday, October 17, 2008
Day 4 - Sunday at sea
We had Sunday worship in our room that afternoon. We had packed a number of song sheets and Betty had brought the unleavened bread and grape juice.
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by John Burch on Friday, October 17, 2008
On the "road" again...leaving Sydney
Cruise day 3, leaving Sydney and aiming toward Prince Edward Island, but at dinner that night, the Captain announced to all that Hurricane Kyle was breathing up our back and would be in the vicinity of Prince Edward Island about the time we would be, so... we made a dash into the Saint Lawrence Seaway and with an extra day at sea, made for Quebec City. We had no stormy weather at all on this leg.
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by John Burch on Friday, October 17, 2008
First stop: Sydney, Nova Scotia
Our first stop was Sydney, Nova Scotia... a very quaint city by the sea that had a connection to fiddles in some way that we never learned. There was a giant fiddle at the port that expressed that connection. We'll have to research that sometime. The city was very European, as were all of the cities we visited in Canada. We had taken warm coats as "insurance", but we could have easily gotten by with only windbreakers and sweaters.
<<<"Click" the picture at the left for a typical shopping picture in Sydney.
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by John Burch on Friday, October 17, 2008
Ishcra Paredes from Lima, Peru
Early in the cruise we met a fascinating young lady from Lima, Peru. She worked in the Cafe Promenade which was always an evening stop for coffee or hot chocolate and another dessert for most of us following the evening theater program. She was on the ship for only one month at this point and very homesick. She sang songs of Peru every night for us and this became the highlight of most days.
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by John Burch on Friday, October 17, 2008
Neal & Barbara Smith
Shipmates Neal & Barbara Smith, our long-time dear friends since about 1973 in Washington, D.C., were pleasant companions for the cruise. They found many opportunities to look for antiques along the way, starting in NY and continuing in Canada.
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by John Burch on Friday, October 17, 2008
Nelson & Edna Adams
Our shipmates... good friends, Nelson & Edna Adams. Nelson had recovered only recently from a knee replacement and we were concerned about him being able to handle a lot of walking. He did fine and we DID walk a lot.
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by John Burch on Friday, October 17, 2008
It doesn't get any better than this!
Our first "at sea" night and formal. The start of a very enjoyable cruise with the Smith's and the Adam's.
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by John Burch on Friday, October 17, 2008
At last, after a full day exploring NYC, we are finally at sea... and dinner. This first night at sea was a bumpy one with waves from 7 to 10 feet and very strong wind on the deck. A great way to be rocked to sleep. For quite a few pictures of the ship that first evening, see the link below:
You can't go to NYC and not see this sight that has been shared by literally millions of immigrants as they have come to this country for the first time. We took a water-taxi trip around the harbor which gave us excellent views of the Statue of Liberty from all sides.
On our recent cruise out of Cape Liberty, NJ, we had a full day to explore NYC. One of the very important stops was at the site of "ground zero" where the World Trade Center buildings were destroyed by terrorists flying into the buildings with hijacked airliners. Though it has been seven years, you can still see a large hole in the ground. The debris has been removed and the buiding in the background has been completely repaired, but much has yet to be restored. I think it was a moving moment for all of us to be standing where 3,000 fellow Americans lost their lives.
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by John Burch on Friday, October 17, 2008
Grandaddy is as Cool as his Aviator Sunglasses!
4 Comments - Read Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by Travis Burch on Thursday, September 11, 2008
How Now Pink Cow
2 Comments - Read Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by Travis Burch on Thursday, September 11, 2008
Password access explored
How now, brown cow. Is this working or not? NOT! Well... maybe a little bit.
Travis found that we were not as secure as we thought, because he just "wandered in" and was able to post a comment without going through a password. We have tinkered with it a bit and I now believe that it is fixed. Give it a try.
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by John Burch on Sunday, September 07, 2008
You are all subscribed to this blog
What in the world does that mean? Well, I just added each of your email's to the blog directory for notification any time that any of us post an entry or comment. If anyone is not getting notified, let me know so I can correct your email address in the system. (I'm never sure of Travis's or Taylor's.)
It's been a busy week. Our preacher, Jeff Henderson, was 'off" this week for Labor Day with family and asked me to teach his class on Romans. It just turned out to be one of the more difficult chapters Paul left for us (Romans 5) and I put together a PowerPoint on "Calvinism Refuted". Romans 5 has so much about predestination (God's predestination, which is far different from Calvin's idea of "original sin" and the predetermination of individual persons eternal destiny.) You can check out the PowerPoint outline at: http://www.perryhillchurch.org/class_material/2008-08-31_Calvinism_Refuted/Calvinism%20refuted.ppt
There is a regular Bible class now on Wednesday mornings at the church building. Subject: "Shields and Swords", which is directed at Bible answers for lying, gossip, bragging, etc. Today's lesson on bragging was hard for all grandparents who think pretty highly of children and grandchildren. We just said, "If it's true... it ain't bragging."
After the "Shields & Swords" class today, we were all invited to Jess & Pat Hart's for a great Polish sausage hot dog lunch together.
Now while I catch up on correspondence, Betty has gone to watch the volleyball game of one of our young members, Keelie Porter. I can remember when she was in diapers and loved her passifier.
We love all of you very much and truly believe that there are no better children & grandchildren in the world!
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by John Burch on Wednesday, September 03, 2008
And what are you doing??
Hi All,
I taught my life and health insurance prelicensing course today...3 more days to go this week. It rained all day (4 inches today, 4 inches last Saturday.. the drought is ended!)
Our Kiwanis club went to a dinner theater performance at Faulkner University last week of "Once Upon a Mattress" (a takeoff on the Princess and the Pea.") It was a good dinner and lots of fun during the play. We shook hands with all the players afterward. I think we may try for season tickets next time.
Sunday evening, I was in charge of a monthly Prayer & Songs Meeting at church. It was centered on "Preparing For Heaven" and outlined congregational and individual goals for this coming year for the three New Testament missions of the church in Evangelism, Edification and Benevolence. I think we sang 22 songs that fit those three missions. I enjoyed putting that together.
We miss everyone and look forward to seeing you.
Much love!!! Granddad
2 Comments - Read Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by John Burch on Monday, August 25, 2008
Marissa... Tell us about the heavy responsibility of wearing the title, "Favorite Grandkid".
1 Comment - Read Comment | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by John Burch on Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Taylor
Taylor... Give us a status report on you and Amanda.
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by John Burch on Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Lindsay defines
Lindsay, tell us about your dorm preparation and what it means to be "R.A."
(And I've shown that Lindsay answered below... Normally when we read added comments, they will be found by "read comment" at bottom left.)
Lindsay (8/24/08 11:56:42 PM) hmmmm...Well, the dorm prep is basically finished! I've got all the name tags up (except for the few changes in the housing roster that didn't show up until move-in day :) ). The floor decorations are up, with a rainforest theme, and my room is all set up too...which is a relief!
We had our first freshman meeting last night, where we all shared our most embarassing moments and scar stories to get to know each other. I told them that I was there to serve them and explained my role to care for the floor and love them and facilitate a safe place for them to come home to. We talked about some logistical stuff (don't have water fights, etc.) and talked about the body of Christ and our role as a part of the floor community. It went really well! Lots of pressure is off now that that first meeting is over. :)
I'll let you know how things go when the problems (inevitably) emerge. :)
love you!
1 Comment - Read Comment | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by John Burch on Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Travis repairs his mandolin
Travis, give us a few stories about your music and also about your "day job.'
It was really good to see you last week! I'm adding this word on Monday 8/25, which is your Dad's birthday! Don't forget him!
I' m scheduled to teach the 40-hour Life & Health pre-licensing course today (Monday) through Thursday. I set up the class to start at 9:00 a.m., but we awoke today with sirens and tornado warnings. I've delayed the class until noon, but it looks like most of the "bad stuff" has passed at 9:30 a.m. It looked like it was headed on toward Nashville, so hope you don't get any bad problems with it.
Let me know if you would ever like to get your life & health insurance license. The 40-hour course I teach is a prerequisite for taking the State exam.
Let us know when you record some more of your good music. You are very talented (which we have known since "Friends" days) and we hope you do well. You are in an industry, though, where many, many very talented people never "make it" into fame and fortune. As we were in Nashville for the friend's wedding, we drove right through the "night life" part of Nashville and every corner had one or more guitar players working for change thrown into their hat as they played and sang their heart out to the passing crowd of nightlife folks. In warfare, every commander plans his attack to win, but always has a "fall back" plan for emergencies. You need to do that too! You can be very successful in whatever direction you choose to go. In music too...It's just that music can be a very fickle path that often leads aspiring artists in paths they would rather not travel. We love you, Travis! We are always very proud of you!
3 Comments - Read Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by John Burch on Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Sara leaves for Wheaton today!
Sara Thomsen... Tell us about your trip to Wheaton and your "moving in" experiences.
2 Comments - Read Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by John Burch on Wednesday, August 20, 2008
John & Taylor Gulf Shores Trip
John & Taylor flew down to Gulf Shores for a few days of golf and fly fishing. They should be home today. How about a report on your fun there?
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by John Burch on Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Back from KY and McLellan Wedding in Nashville
Hi All,
We had a very nice but short visit to Bowling Green to see John & Marla and family. There was a wedding to go to in Nashville (Al McLellan's youngest daughter) and we couldn't get that close without a visit. We had planned to go early on Thursday, but the retiree newsletter was taking longer than usual and it was almost 1:00 p.m. before we could come home, throw things in the car and get on the road. It was almost 9:00 p.m. when we arrived.
Travis was home (to go to another wedding Saturday afternoon where he was a groomsman) so we got to see him too. He was happy to have just gotten his mandolin out of the shop and played a few runs for us. Taylor was there and we got to see him a good bit. Marissa still suffers from her headaches and stomach problems, but visited with us a lot and even cooked cookies while we were there. We liked the fact that she felt like doing that.
John was home Thursday night when we arrived, but spent all day Friday "on call" and got no rest at all. When he arrived home Saturday morning, he still had a patient he was working and had to go back to do surgery. He and Taylor were packing for a flight down to Gulf Shores Saturday afternoon late for several days of golf and fly fishing. Taylor had just finished a course on that subject and was going to teach his dad about the finer points. The rest away will do them both good.
Dr. John's big news this week was that he had to buy a new car. His old one didn't get very good mileage, so you will see his new toy in the picture link above.
From either of the links above, you can "stir around" to other links by going back to "jtburch" galleries.
We love all of you and hope for some participation in the family blog.
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by John Burch on Monday, August 18, 2008
The B-58
A beautiful sight!
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by John Burch on Friday, August 15, 2008
My Mach 2 Days
Hi All, Just sitting here thinking of the days when I regularly flew twice the speed of sound (1,350 miles per hour, 20 miles per minute, 2,000 feet per second.). Those were really fun days. Almost daily I still hear from B-58 crewmembers across the country who continue to celebrate our fantastic luck at being able to be a part of such an exciting enterprise. Very few of us thought about the risks we took when we strapped on 180,000 pounds of airplane and pointed it down the runway. It was high adventure. I think all of us were addicted to the rush we felt when the pilot brought the four J-79 engines to full military power, then pushed the four throttles further through three increments of afterburner. Even inside the cockpit, the noise level was high on takeoff and you could feel the power of the 60,000 pounds of thrust pushing you back in your seat. A minute later you were off the ground and pointed to the sky. If the pilot left the throttles in afterburner after takeoff, the aircraft would be supersonic quickly unless he climbed steeply. A B58 without the large center pod (combination of bomb and fuel) could climb almost vertically like a fighter aircraft on full afterburner. A takeoff at dusk was exciting to watch because of the 60 foot exhaust flames extending behind each engine. You could see the sonic waves in the exhaust and the noise level was deafening. You could actually feel the raw power accellerating the plane down the runway. If it was a multiple aircraft takeoff formation, you just multiplied all of that by the 3, 4, or 5 aircraft. Awesome! Every B-58 crewmember I know looks back on those heady days as the pinnacle of their days in a blue suit!
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by John Burch on Friday, August 15, 2008
The Ice Cream Social Was GREAT!
We went to Curt & Pam Williamson's home Saturday afternoon. Everyone at church was invited and at least a third of them made it to their house out in the country northeast of Montgomery (actually a Wetumpka address). Lori (the GPS unit) had the address and faithfully took us to the "vicinity" but failed with close-in navigation. Lori was asking for a left turn where only a green pasture actually was. The reason became clear when we backtracked to a road sign that Betty saw. It was a dirt & gravel road which went to a dirt & gravel trail which led to their house. They had a beautiful house and pool on several acres of land. When we arrived, there were at least 8-10 ice cream freezers running at maximum speed and a semi-circle of lawn chairs full of guests anxiously awaiting completion of the ice cream process. A few yards away, Curt had a barbeque grill full of hot dogs and it was clear that THIS was going to be a good time together.
The hot dogs tasted wonderful (nothing like hot dogs cooked on the grill outside) and the ice cream was outstanding. There was (1) pecan praline (Betty's entry), (2) peppermint, (3) peach, (4) fig, (5) key lime, (6) strawberry, (7) orange, and of course (8) vanilla. It was the first time we had homemade ice cream this year and the first time in years that I "licked a freezer paddle." Ummm Good! Wish you all could have joined us. The next time we are together, we'll have to organize an ice cream social of our own.
1 Comment - Read Comment | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by John Burch on Sunday, August 10, 2008
Staying cool in Alabama
Hi all,
Yesterday was Friday and we enjoyed our "Friday Noon Daily Bible Reading discussion class. If anyone would like to browse through what we studied and discussed, check the link below:
Friday afternoon, I put a wet towel over my head and cut the grass, which needed it desperately. I was ready to cut it Thursday late, but we fortunately had a small shower and the grass was too wet.
Today, Saturday, we are invited to an "ice-cream social" at one of the church member's house. Betty has been mixing up a "Pecan Praline Ice Cream" batch and I'm just getting ready to churn it here so it will be ready to taste there. We expect to see some exotic mixes... peanut butter, fig, etc. Should be fun. Wish you could all join us.
As I write this, Larry & Sharon, Lindsay & Sara are in Wheaton to get Lindsay moved in. Sara will move in a couple of weeks later. Hope you are having fun girls! Let us know how it goes.
Thanks, Tom, for improving the White House picture below!
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by John Burch on Saturday, August 09, 2008
Where are you, Tom?
I just talked with Tom, who indicated he had posted a comment, but I'm still looking for it. Everyone post a greeting when you look at anything written. In theory, we can all keep up with each other a bit more with this.
[TWO WAYS TO DO THIS: EITHER "ADD BLOG POST" AT THE TOP OR "ADD COMMENT" AT THE END. PLEASE GIVE IT A TRY.]
Sharon's family is getting Lindsay ready to go to Wheaton College this weekend and I know she will have much to tell us about that process.
Jim said that he didn't think he had much to talk about, but I know that is not true. Give it a try, Jim.
John & Marla, you have a steady flow of college students you could talk about, or John's flying.
Marissa, what's happening to you? I understand that you have ALREADY begun to go to school.
Travis, your music is WONDERFUL. I finally found your MySpace. Please send the URL to family@jtburch.com so that all of us can listen to some really great music. (Or you can post it here... maybe that would be better.) How can we get some CD's with more ? (I noticed that we cannot download it yet.)
Taylor, what's the latest with you and Amanda? Keep us up to date.
Lindsay, we want to get a LARGE input from you on the fun of starting a school year as a Residence Assistant.
Sara, you said on Facebook that you were "running out of time" and I know that is true. You only have a few more days (2 weeks?) before you also go to Wheaton.
Betty and I are doing well. We have had Sewell Hall here this week for a very unique Gospel Meeting... It is "Worshipping in Song" and was totally focused on the words of each song we sang (about 20 per night). Not only was the singing wonderful, but we all came away from it with better appreciation for what each song said to us.
Thursday is my "early getup day"... I meet for Kiwanis Club each Thursday morning at 7:00 a.m. Betty and I attended the State Kiwanis convention in Gadsden this last Saturday and it was very informational. I begin my year as local Good Morning Montgomery Kiwanis Club President on Oct. 1, so I've got a lot to do before that date (appointing committee chairmen, laying out my challenges to the club for the coming year, etc.)
Meanwhile, with my "other hat" as Director of Retiree Activities at Maxwell AFB, I am waiting for the "OK" to print our latest retiree newsletter. It is now being coordinated through the Maxwell Wing staff, then it goes to the printer and a couple of days later we assemble 5-10 retiree volunteers to label and process the newsletter for mailing to about 10,000 Air Force retirees in the Alabama area. Much fun, with lots of "war stories" among the volunteer workers.
We love all of you very much! Let us hear from ALL of you.
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by John Burch on Thursday, August 07, 2008
President Bush with Little Sioux Boy Scouts
PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH WITH LITTLE SIOUX BOY SCOUTS - THURSDAY, JULY 31, 2008, AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by John Burch on Friday, August 01, 2008
Thomsen's visit with President Bush
It was exciting to hear from Sharon as she arrived in Washington Thursday by plane. Boy Scouts of America sponsored the trip for about 90 Boy Scout campers, plus staff of the Little Sioux, Iowa camp that was destroyed, killing four Scouts, one of whom was our Sam Thomsen. The parents of the four Scouts who died also accompanied them on the trip. The event was specifically to meet and talk with President Bush as they honored the boys who were slain and the surviving Boy Scouts for their heroism.
When they arrived at the airport in Washington, they were met with busses for the short drive into DC and accompanied by a motorcycle escort, lights flashing and sirens wailing. All traffic was stopped for their "convoy" of busses and they drove very quickly to the White House.
Sharon said that the busses (school busses) were cramped and not air conditioned, but it was well worth it for the event that was to come. They were taken into the White House and checked by the routine security equipment. Gifts which some had brought to give to the President were temporarily collected, checked for security and returned to the gift givers. (Sharon gave the President a laminated copy of Sam's sermon and had him sign his signature on a copy for the family.)
While the Scouts were assembled in one of the large rooms in the White House, Sharon, Larry and the parents of the other three Scouts who were killed, were escorted into the hall waiting room immediately outside of the Oval Office... a room where many heads of state and ambassadors had sat waiting for their own turn to see the President.
Their guide, a young man who constantly received and sent text messages involved with the day's White House activities on his Blackberry, said, "It's time" and ushered them into the Oval Office where they were greeted by President George Bush. Sharon said that he was a "really down-to-earth" kind of man who spoke his condolences for the reason for their visit, but told them that faith and prayers would carry them through it. He hugged each of them and kissed Sharon on the top of her head. At that point, Sharon passed on the words she had been asked to forward that, "the people of Omaha were proud of him and his work and were praying constantly for him.
He told them much about the office he worked in, then escorted them through the White House, commenting on items of interest as they went. He visited and talked with the Boy Scouts in the large room and said, "You know, I may be talking to a future President of the United States here... do you think that's possible?" One of the boys spoke up and agreed with him.
The President walked them through the Rose Garden, through the Cabinet Room, and many of the rooms that are famous about the White House. He then told the boys that he had to go to West Virginia for a meeting and asked them if they would like to see him off in his helicopter. The boys were excited about that and they all walked out to the side of the White House where the helicoptor was waiting. They watched him board the helicopter, wave and fly away.
What a day, but I've only described (second hand) what I can remember. Sharon can correct what I've said and add much more about the rest of the day and events going and coming. As Sharon, said, Sam would have been excited about this day.
4 Comments - Read Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by John Burch on Friday, August 01, 2008
All roads lead to Rome
There are a number of ways to get to this blog. 1. You can go to it directly at: http://jtburch.ceoexpress.com or... 2. You can find a link to it on the family home page at: http://www.jtburch.com (Note that this also can give you a link to: http://jtburch.smugmug.com which is a LARGE repository of family pictures from which you can print (I think) copies.
In my latest configuration, there is no password on the smugmug pictures, but I've put a password on the blog (which you should receive by email.)
1 Comment - Read Comment | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by John Burch on Monday, July 28, 2008
Welcome Family
Welcome Burch's. All of you "Facebook" and "Myspace" folks take notice. This is solely a family affair and an opportunity to exchange info and pictures back and forth without sharing it with the world (or a host of "friends"). I don't know if this will appeal to anyone or not, but let's give it a try.
We will have our own password to keep the site from becoming public. If we ever have to change it, I'll send you an email first.
Betty and I are very blessed to have each of you as a part of our family! We love you all very much!
1 Comment - Read Comment | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by John Burch on Friday, July 25, 2008
CEOExpress
