'twoo Blave......wins!

The polls have closed and I see a growing tendency that my viewing habits are a little predictable. 52% thought that I would watch A Princess Bride over and over again, 35% thought it would be Lost Horizon, 17% thought the Lord of the Rings trilogy would keep me entranced, and I have a deep suspicion it was Navid's lone vote that I would be spell bound by King Kong (the original version). The vote for King Kong was the first vote cast!

Hummmm, could be a difference between those voters who know me now, and those who know the deeper inner me (indeed, a scarry place to dwell).

I think that, perhaps, I would watch Lost Horizon for ever by myself, and A Princess Bride with people. Lost Horizon kept me glued to the set when I was a kid, and the intro to the book says it was one of the first anti-war books and subsequent movie of last century. King Kong, the original, is one of my favorities and I watched it and Lost Horizon once a year, several times a weekend, when KCMO TV in Kansas City played it like Turner movies plays the same old movie back-to-back. My mother could plug me into a chair or with a blankie and pillow on the floor and there I would stay all weekend.

And, LoR is certainly a favorite when watching with a crowd.

So thanks for the interest and I will query you further on matters of extreme importance later.

:-)

Marathon Runner for AT

I had the pleasure of meeting Tim, Michelle, and Colton Borland at breakfast Saturday morning at the B&B in Findlay (daughter Kailey was still sleeping). Tim is running across the nation, doing a marathon a day! He is trying to help draw attention to the childhood disease Ataxia-telangiectasia.

He is currently on day 39 of his tour, and his is also being followed by a documentary crew filming his efforts. Look for his appearances on Good Morning America, CNN, and others as he makes his way to the New York Marathon in a few weeks.

B&B at its Best

Here are some views of the extremely restfull B&B I found in Findlay, Ohio...the Red Cottage B&B.

It is just west of downtown Findlay. It is a very old re-worked home but it is a very quiet place.
For someone my age, it is exactly what your grandmother's home felt like.

The side entrance to the B&B also presents a very restive view...and is reflective of the overall nature of the place.

The living room is divided into a reading room and a room where all the old dolls live...they know you are there because they are always staring at you.

Making My Way Back Home

Whew...it has been a busy week closing down my part in the Ohio disaster. What a quick week, and I am finished after coming here Aug. 25! I am in Findlay, Ohio at The Rose Gate Cottage B&B and I want to tell you that I have not slept this well since coming to Ohio. You have got to try it. I will post some pictures later today. It is a blast from the past!
Well....gotta get on down the road to Columbus and fly home tomorrow. I have some historical and hysterical stories to share...so stay tuned.

Climate Change & Universal Interdependence

The International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has provided the strongest non-aligned assessment of the impact of global warming on the planetary systems we depend upon for most of our existence. In additional to the sheer strain on daily physical life, there are certain spiritual ramifications to this potentially catastrophic situation.

My weekend whimsical trip to Kelleys Island, Ohio was certainly a stark reminder for me about the current dramatic conditions in the Great Lakes area. Some folks making the trek with me thru the heavily wooded nature trail part of the island stopped to look for treasures along the shore. A year ago they would have been looking for things six feet back toward the shore line.

On the southeastern shore, the images were also dramatic. Last year the water line was at the grass line.

Erie Underground

En route to my destination Sunday I happened on a little historic footnote that I think we'd all find interesting.:-) R suggested I take the picture along the wharehouse row along Lake Erie in Sandusky and I am happy it turned out so well.

Waldo on a Whim

There is more forthcoming on this story, but I whimmed to Kelleys Island, Ohio today.

It is another "one-size-fits-all" peddling adventure (see the Put-In Bay story below), but much a more ergonomicaly designed machine...and a much bigger piece of real estate.

Where is Waldo (ah, today?)

This has been a busy, busy deployment. On a "normal" day, I check on my media contacts in Mansfield, then drive the 15 miles north to Shelby (their newspaper doesn't have an effective web site that carries their articles, thereby hard to monitor from afar), thence 15 miles to Bucyrus (where I can check almost all of my areas newspapers at one gas station), thence 20 miles to Marion, thence 20 miles to Upper Sandusky, thence 5 miles to Carey, ten 15 miles to Tiffin, and all the way back.

This is not an every day routine, but most, depending on regular weekly radio interviews in Mansfield, Bucyrus, Marion, Upper Sandusky, and Tiffin.

It all gets crazy when the Columbus or Cleveland TV stations come into the area...like the morning this Columbus crew showed up and I had to roll back to the county courthouse in Bucyrus for the interview.

BTW, Bucyrus got its unusual name this way: the founding guy wanted to name the town like no where else, so he combined the word "beautiful" with Cyrus The Great, thus Bucyrus. Now ya know.

Have a nice day.

Whim en Roam

When finally given the chance to have a day off from the grind of working with the media in the Ohio disaster for more than a month, I did my logical rest routine: Starbucks and Barnes & Noble. But, both are small and it was clear I had to find a way to fill last weekend with more activities.

So on a whim, looking at the map, one couldn't miss the obvious presence of Lake Erie and its

islands about an hour away...so thusly, I set out on a quest for Put-In Bay.

I decided not to take my car to the Island (via ferry) but I would rent a bike on the Island. It was a 12-mile Ferry ride and it was very pleasant. The Island itself is a well-used weekend and summer retreat.

It is also the site of Commodore Perry's defeat of the English Navy to end the War of 1812.
The 30-story tall monument "downtown" is the only International Peace Monument in the US (the peace between the US and Canada.

The public can ride an elevator to the top, but you first have to navigate a very tight circular corridor up about 30 steps inside. I tried but could not do it. I became clostrophobic in the corridor and had to retreat...sorry Commodore (in my best Jack Sparrow voice)!

I had a great time on the Island. The weather was just right. I asked a group of students han ging out on the waters edge to take my picture. I must have been pretty relaxed.

I had plenty of time, so I thought I would just peddle my one-size-fits-all bike around the Island. One size does NOT fit all, but it was a good workout for me and I was sure I had plenty of time to circumnavigate the place.

The harbor was very pretty and very neatly kept. All along the harbor are restuarants and tourist stops. This has been a tourist, and summer home, since the 1800's.

What I did not realize by just looking at the map was that this Island isn't like just any Island in the South.

Just past the harbor, at a point of no return (I had fully committed to rounding the Island) there was a roadside historic marker.

The marker detailed how the Island resembled the Island of Gibraltor in contour.

Well, surprise, surprise, surprise it wasn't just the image of Gibraltor from above in resemblance, it also had a good rise too (especially for someone peddling a "crank and go bike") which meant I would be huffing and puffing a lot on the north end of the Island to get to the Ferry to come back!

The West end of the Island was the most scenic with a lot of coves and some cliffs and park areas.
By this time I was pretty tuckered out. Thankful for the exercise, but fully committed to getting a 10-speed when I do the Islands again!

I had first thought that I would stay out on the Island until the last Ferry went to the mainland at 7pm....but on review of my energy expenditure, I decided that 5pm was good enough. :-)

It was a good decision as the clouds rolled in and the sun was going to set early.

It was a very pleasant ride back and a lot of large motor boats and sail boats came back early, too. It was, by my account, a near perfect day. A good adventure...except you all weren't with me!.

Harvest Time

Harvest Time and Fall color are rapidly coming together in Northern Ohio. The sharp morning sun hit this field just right to bring out all the rich color.

Back On The Road Again

I'm baaaaaack.....back in Ohio having recovered, somewhat, from the Dawn of a new member of the big family (see below :-).

There is just a lot of quiet scenery to take in, like this Victorian Mansion in Carey, Ohio....

And this placid Corn Row near Marion, Ohio...

Meanwhile, its seasonal change in Ohio as the crops get ready for harvest. Enjoy the scenery.

Our Little Dawnbreaker

Our little Dawn(breaker), Taleh, and her momma and dada came home today just before noon. The little 6lb 10 oz bundle of joy looks like a big burrito all wrapped up. She is just a sweet little thing, just like her mother.

I am sure all the pictures of little Taleh will proliferate the web as the days do by....

Jameh sweetly and serenely welcomed his new little sister, and the new picture-perfect fair family of four fananapazirs foster fervent prayers for their future.

:-)

Here She Is!

Introducing, Taleh Maria Fananapazir!

Momma and dada are doing well. Katrina had a natural childbirth. Taleh is Arabic and means, "O, Rising One" (from a Baha'i prayer), and it also means "Dawn". Maria is Rosana's middle name and is a prominent name from her side of the families. The name convention continues a "tradition" by Nafeh and Katrina in naming their children for both families (Jameh's full name is Jameh Tyson Fananapazir ... Jameh means "O, Unifying One" or "One Who Unifies").

And, all the signs are good! Katrina had a natural childbirth and just did soooo well.

And, the parentals are all very happy, too.

We will know her weight and length soon. We are all soooo happy!

We Have Liftoff!

Katrina and Nafeh ushered a new addition to the Fam at 1p.m. today...we still don't know the name of the little sweetie...more news as it develops.:-)

Katrina - Off To The Races

In our family, we ARE a village, and thus we are all involved when it comes to expanding our ever-growing circle. Katrina indicated to all that she was going into the early stages of labor yesterday just before noon, and all avaiable members of the 'fam' began the migration to Nashville.

I arrived from Ohio, and Rosana and Brian drove up from Huntsville, and Alicia and Brian drove up from Auburn, and Karen and Lameh headed Tennessee way from Cumberland.

One issue...was Katrina REALLY ready! So to help move that process along, those here went for a walk to a nearby park on a steep walkway for about a mile.

After a nice brisk walk in the dark, we headed back. Jameh wasn't sure what all the fuss was about.

This morning Katrina really hit her stride and about 6:15 headed out for Vanderbilt Hospital. And thusly shall we all shortly.

Stay tuned for news!!!!

The Highway 30 Express

It has been a long, long two weeks. So instead of the wonders of Day Two...it is now the end of Week Two in Ohio. Thank goodness the State of Ohio four-laned Highway 30 which has become the Tyson Expressway (always at 65mph, and the highway patrol is ALWAYS on hand to make sure I observe the local customs).

I have been the FEMA spokesman for the media in four counties in the eight county Ohio flood and tornado disaster (Aug. 20-28). It has been fairly tiresome...12-hour days for two weeks. But also somewhat enjoyable in that the media folks are good to deal with, professional, and focused on helping their readers and listeners.

This is a pictue taken by a FEMA photog at WXML Radio in Upper Sandusky where I do a weekly radio update.

I drive, almost daily, between the cities of Mansfield, Ohio - to Tiffin, Ohio - and to near Marion, Ohio (for those keeping track on Google Maps)...and points in between like Bucyrus, Carey, Galion, and such. This is Corn Country for Ohio with a lot of wide-open spaces and scenic farm settings.

I have also been over to the other side of the disaster to help out when the events were too numerous for one person to handle. In this FEMA photo I am chatting with the police chief in Blufton, Ohio along with a Community Relations guy and a local reporter. We were sharing stories about the relief effort.


I usually talk to editors/reporters at seven daily newspapers, three weekly newspapers, six radio stations, and a TV station...so I am on the phone a lot, and driving a lot!

This means visiting the disaster recovery centers in the four counties each day, too. I see a lot of people. I think that the victims here are getting the help they need...but a lot of the recovery is just due to how well organized the emergency management folks are here, and how self-reliant the people are. Their attitude reminds me a lot of the attitude on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and in Kansas.

They want just enough help, and then to be left alone to deal with their own issues.

So, it has been intense...unfortunately, none of the hotels have kitchens in the rooms...but other than the creature comforts, it has been OK. More later.:-)

Hello Life, Goodbye Columbus ...

Is this Day Two? Seems like Week Two! It has been very interesting visiting Columbus this time of year. What little sunshine, clean air, sweet smelling freeshly mowed grass, old hardwood trees and Blue Spruce I have experienced have been very nice.

The Ohio Emergency Management Operations Center is where we have been staging the recovery operations and it is a state of the art facility with large screens and looks a lot like Mission Control in Houston.

I move north tomorrow to be my area of media work, and the rest of the FEMA group moves further NW to set up the Joint Field Office.

So I will get a good look at rural Ohio beginning tomorrow and for the next few weeks as I make my media rounds.

The towns along the north side of Columbus were established in the early, early 1800's and the houses along the roadways are really old and stately...sourrounded by old forests...very neat.

What is also, well, enchanting from an Old American way is the town of Worthington. The main street is a north-south street called High Street. It was named High Street because, well, the east-west streets slope down hill from High Street.

So, in the meantime, I will finish my third episode of Law & Order in a row and then catch some shut eye. So...let's see, where is my blue blankie for nite-nite. Jameh, where did you put it? :-)

OHHHHHHHH....WHY......OH!

Well, here were are again, back on the street...MR DISASTER. I have currently taken up residence in the Residence Inn in north Columbus, Ohio. But, not for long. As soon as the president signs the disaster declaration, it is off to the races for media assistance...and MR DISASTER moves to the great metropolis of, stand by, yes, it's Bucyrus, Ohio.

So to assist those who are not inclined to look for a pronunciation guide, the town is bew-CY-russ. Or it is either staying in Bucyrus, or Lower Sandusky...or perhaps Mansfield....but not Sulphur Springs (something about an odor).

So, in short day one was committed to letting US Air taking its sweet time trying to make sure I didn't get here until about midnight...and then having to arrive here at the state command center for an 8am meeting...and...and...and...and...

So...let's see what other little known fact about my region I can discover. Humm, well, it floods in Ohio a lot.

Got Those Wednesday Random Thoughts, Do Dah, Do Dah (now try and forget the melody!)

Well, we have all recovered from Brian coming home...it seems. Brian had little jet lag coming back from Haifa, or so it seems. He has settled into school after one day of classes and work immediately. This morning he will work in the game room, study hard and read Harry Potter! Yep, business as usual.

Cheryl has joined the local fam. She is into school at UAH and as usual is way beyond her years. Immediately she seems more mature than kids years older. She is a case! She wants to go into journalism. Yep, she picked the right crowd allright!

Maria and the boys (sounds like a rock group from the 70's) have kinda settled in at the Forenghi's. She and Diana and Danesh are looking for a good place to call home (residence) and the battle of wits between Diana and Rosana y Brian has begun (ala Princess Bride) over which school Jeremy should attend: Mtn Gap (booooooooo) or Challenger (yeah!).

Speaking of Maria, she is getting plenty of experience in learning the city by taking Cheryl to school. I make sure I have my cell phone with me at all times so I can give her directions and landmarks so that she can find her way home! hahahahaha Poor little lamb, keeps losing her way.:-(

Brian has surely told you all about his room. We painted it according to previously accepted (multiple) colors and arrangement (lots of trim). Brian has some questions. So, there may be modifications. I'll post a pix of the room shortly.

We finished painting and glorifying the woodwork in the hallway. The woodwork really shines and looks great. Only problem is that with the painting and the intense heat, the doors swelled and now the bathroom door and our bedroom door won't shut all the way...hummm.

I finished the living room front room bookcase arrangement deal. It, I must say, looks fabulous. I am pretty happy how it turned out. It, too, is gleamingly white! It is neat to have built something like a punch-out and bookcase so solid that you (me) can actually climb on it to paint it!

OK....so there is a lot going on indeed. Oh, and Olga (some may not remember her) declared last weekend. She, living in Huntsville, had been attending the Book 1 study circle that Navid was tutoring in Madison. While fulfilling one of the projects from Book 1 to go to a home and have a devotion at the Heiberts, she declared her belief in Baha'u'llah. She becomes the first declaration from the Institute Process in our Cluster. Yahooo. Indeed, it takes a village.:-)

OK...more later.

Calling Nurse Katrina, Calling Nurse Katrina!

Katrina and about 100 of her newest friends gathered Sunday to gratulate her on becoming a Nurse Practioner (and, well, actually, the rest of the 100 also were so awarded...but they have to get their own blog recognition). That's Katrina on the last row, the last seat, on the far side of the group of graduates (click on the picture to find Waldo, er, I mean Katrina's smiling face).

Katrina received her "Pin" from the Dean which signified that she was one of "them." She has to take a big test later that qualifies her to practice (why do they always say "practice" medicine on patients ... hummmmmm).

She strolled across the stage with a certain determination, style and grace that only a woman so near to giving birth again could do...with a bounce and springy step, lighter than air, except for any slight awkwardness caused by the basketball she was hiding under the dress...

And after she crossed the stage, in characteristic form, she stopped to applaud the next person to cross the (nearly) finish line.

There were a bunch of relatives and friends on hand for the event...and truly a wonderful time was had by all!:-)

One more big announcement, Nafeh has received his MS and is on easy street toward getting his MD and perhaps his PhD...and soon there won't be anough alphabet left!

We all had a great Sunday, getting to spend the day with the Fananapazir's and more photos of those events will follow.