Always Remember

Today we will honor those innocent victims and heroes who lost their lives on September 11th. We will also pray hard for and remember the loved ones left behind. Please take a moment out of your day to be greatful for all you have and tell those close to you how much they mean to you.



I am posting a special memorial for Michael L. Hannan one of the victims of the September 11th attacks. I am doing this in coordination with Project 2,996 a wonderful site I just found out about. I hope next year all 2,996 victims will be assigned.

Michael was 34 years old and working as an Assistant Vice President at Marsh & McLennan Cos. Inc. in World Trade Center, Tower 1, 98th floor the morning of Sept. 11, 2001.

He was described by neighbor and friend Chuck Abar as "the tree trunk and his friends were the branches. His supervisor, Noreen Laplaski, recalled how he fostered camaraderie through his presence and his passionate involvement in a variety of corporate athletics.

His guestbook on legacy.com shows how years later he is still missed and remembered with smiles and tears.

Please remember Michael's family today. Wife, Andrea, and two young daughters, Rachel, 5 (in 2001), and Alexandra, 22 months (in 2001). "What drove Mike was how much he loved Andrea and the girls," Mr. Abar said.



Profile published in THE NEW YORK TIMES on April 14, 2002.

HANNAN-Michael L. Of Lynbrook, NY, age 34. Tragically at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Dedicated employee of Marsh & McLennan. Beloved husband of Andrea (nee LaMarche). Adored father of Rachel and Alexandra. A cherished son of Barbara and the late Lawrence Hannan. Special grandson of the late John and Grace Hannan and Francis and Irene Hertel. Dear son-in-law of Sabine LaMarche and David LaMarche. Loving brother of Jennifer and Steven Muller, Craig and Kathleen Hannan, and Peter Hannan. Dear brother-in-law of Derek and Melissa LaMarche, Katrina and Richard Sparano and KellyJo LaMarche. Terrific uncle to Danny and Jane Muller and Jack and Margaret LaMarche. Devoted nephew of Dorothy Hertel Ryan, Marion O'Connor, Kathleen Hannan, John and Evie Hannan, Richard and Roberta Hertel, Peter and Lynn Hertel and the late Sr. Anne Hertel, OP. A wonderful and loyal friend to all who knew him. Friends may visit at Donza Funeral Home, 333 Atlantic Avenue, East Rockaway, NY 11518 on Thursday, September 27 and Friday September 28, from 4PM to 9PM. A Memorial Mass celebrating Michael's life will be held on Saturday, September 29, 2001 at 11AM at Our Lady of Peace Church, Lynbrook, NY 11563. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to a fund being established for the benefit of Rachel and Alexandra Hannan, c/o Keith and Monica O'Reilly, 62 Adams Street, East Rockaway, NY 11518; to Our Lady of Peace School, 21 Fowler Avenue, Lynbrook, NY 11563 for a scholarship fund being established in Michael's name.

Paid notice published in THE NEW YORK TIMES on September 26, 2001.


I found this information on the following sites:
cnn.com
legacy.com



Mommy still remembers that day as if it were yesterday. She was at her desk when her boss came out and said "A plane just flew into the World Trade Center." Mommy pulled up cnn.com on her computer and radios came on. They all just thought it was a terrible accident. They then watched in disbelief as the second plane flew into the second tower. Everyone came out of their offices and just stood frozen.

At the time mommy smoked. She remembers at one point going out for a cigarette and a good cry session and looking up at the clear blue sky and being surprised it wasn't dark and bleak. It just felt like it should have been. She always remembers that moment when she thinks of Sept. 11, 2001.



Death leaves a heartache no one can heal,
Love leaves a memory no one can steal.
~Author Unknown

Moments of Silence (timeline from cnn.com archives):
8:45 a.m. (all times are EDT): A hijacked passenger jet, American Airlines Flight 11 out of Boston, Massachusetts, crashes into the north tower of the World Trade Center, tearing a gaping hole in the building and setting it afire.

9:03 a.m.: A second hijacked airliner, United Airlines Flight 175 from Boston, crashes into the south tower of the World Trade Center and explodes. Both buildings are burning.

9:43 a.m.: American Airlines Flight 77 crashes into the Pentagon, sending up a huge plume of smoke. Evacuation begins immediately.

10:05 a.m.: The south tower of the World Trade Center collapses, plummeting into the streets below. A massive cloud of dust and debris forms and slowly drifts away from the building.

10:10 a.m.: United Airlines Flight 93, also hijacked, crashes in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, southeast of Pittsburgh.

10:28 a.m.: The World Trade Center's north tower collapses from the top down as if it were being peeled apart, releasing a tremendous cloud of debris and smoke.

Thinking Thursday

OK, OK, OK, so many of you were upset about my considering selling Joel on Ebay (see Whine on Wednesday post below) that I'm rethinking my position. Perhaps we can keep him, if he'll learn to scritch the chin.



I still say I could have made lotsa green papers...

Whine on Wednesday

Um, you're giving the wrong person the wine.....

Anyhoo, we think we figured out what was causing Joel's major freaks. He has acid reflux, but what made it worse was the bottle n*pples. Typically newborns use a "slow flow" one, but since Joel eats at Mom's Diner (the bottles are "take out" and mom has very fast service) Joel struggled with the slow flow tops. He gulped lotsa air trying to eat as fast as he did on mom and got frustrated and even gassier.

So, the beans changed to the "medium" bottle n*pples and that seems to have done the trick. He still is on the protonic meds once a day and has rough spots, but he won't have to go to the GI specialist unless he regresses.

As to why we still haven't been able to be around a lot, mommy finally hit the wall. She is exhausted and "whiney" (snigger) and is getting a cold. Joel hadn't been able to be on any type of sleep schedule for 7 weeks so now the beans are trying hard to get him on one. He still wants to eat every 2 hours INCLUDING at night.

That is right kitties, that baby got to eat 12 times a day. He should be on 3 hours now and sleeping one 5 hour stretch overnight. Yeah right. Daddy took this week off work so mommy could get some sleep and not be "on call" so much.

Cross paws that by the end of the week he is sleeping better at night or I may have to sell the little booger on Ebay. He is ruining my 16-18 hour per day sleep schedule and I'm starting to look a little baggy eyed.



BTW, daddy's cousin has been nominated in the American Express Small Business Shine a Light Contest. Carl could win $100,000! He and Dana are very wonderful beans who work hard and love and dote on their furry "kids".

Please go to www.nbc.com/shinealight , type in "Chiaramonte Custom Furniture" then "View Nominee Profile" and "Endorse My Story Now" to vote for him. Voting ends on September 13th and he needs 50 to go onto the judges.

World Ham Tour

Hi all! I am very excited to be hosting my friends and the World Ham Tour here in Cincinnati, OH. go to sammy, miles & billy's for great pics.

According to Wikipedia

In 1802, Cincinnati was chartered as a village, and in 1819, it was incorporated as a city. The introduction of steam navigation on the Ohio River in 1811 and the completion of the Miami and Erie Canal helped the city grow to 115,000 citizens by 1850. The nickname Porkopolis was coined around 1835, when Cincinnati was the country's chief hog packing center, and herds of pigs traveled the streets."

In the 1800s, Cincinnati was the LARGEST pork producing city in the WORLD!

According to HGTVs Front Door:

"In 1833, more than 85,000 pigs were processed in Cincinnati, and by 1844, 26 different meat-processing plants were located here. Cincinnati was the biggest city in the West by 1850 and quickly earned the nickname "Porkopolis."

We still have a lot of great German restaurants and festivals featuring ham, pork and sausages. Lets not forget Goettafest either! We also have a "Flying Pig Marathon" where silly beans run and run to raise money for various charities.

We'll all tour and eat all day. I hope you enjoy my city.

PS cincinnati also has the dubious honor of hosting the "least metal moment" when Vince Neil lead The Chicken Dance at Oktoberfest

Mancat Monday

I'm enjoying a rare moment of piece while chillin on my favorite fort's patio. I like that there isn't much yard work involved.





Sorry we haven't been around much. Joel has been so fussy and gassy that he wanted to be held ALL the time the last couple of weeks. The fact I even felt bad for my beans tells you how bad it was!

We think we figured out the cause and the last coupla days have been much more pleasent for all of us. Cross paws we found the solution & #2 doesn't have to see the GI specialist.

We're in trouble now...

I knew it. Between the stuff in those diapers, the ear piercing screams, the constant noises he makes, the "I will NOT nap" attitude.

Joel has an evil alter ego too. His name is..."Tole" for the toll his is taking on all of us. The doctors can say it is "acid reflux" and give him medicine, but I know his plan. It is to make us so tired will bend to his every whem. By the time he starts actually moving and can cause real damage, we'll be so wiped out he'll have the run of the house.

Mommy and daddy have not recognized the evil alter ego of this 10lb 7oz creature, but I have. Here is a rare glimpse of Tole peering out from that adorable Joel face. Normally he hides behind the eyes. Don't look directly into his eyes man, you'll be lost.



Bendrix is looking forward to them teaming up. Bendrix has already been on the piano, table, counter and put his claws into the sofa right next to where mommy was sitting.


Derby pointed out another freaky thing in my comments from my freaky Friday post. The Bengals beat the Patriots! Then we realized that the Reds beat San Francisco. The Bengals AND the Reds both one on the same night. Chuck Norris hasn't found me (yet). So, my mommy bought a lottery ticket. I'm crossing my paws.

Freaky Friday

Go to www.google.com

Type in "find Chuck Norris"

Then click the first link that comes up. Be sure to read the "Suggestions" on the page. Freaky....

Midnight Monday - Football Edition

Well, we came prepared for a good game. Unfortunately the Bengals didn't bring their A game...or their B game...



I mean, Bendrix is all for fouling and penalties, but the point is to not get caught! Since Daddy went to Purdue when Drew Brees was there and is a big fan, that helped take some of the disappointment away.

Just so you don't think Joel doesn't have a bed time, this picture was taken at 6pm, way before the game, because his typical routine is bed by 7:00pm (then cry & eat at 9pm, "tank up" at 10pm, cry & eat at 1am, 3:30am...), but Friday night he made sure he stayed up until 10:30pm with all that gassy crying and fussing! He was not impressed with the Bengals' performance either.





Personally, I think my sleek House Panther bandanna look is much better than his outfit. What do you think?

Auntie Deb's Gotta Screw Loose!!

How many cats does it take to screw in a lightbulb?

None. That is what we have human servants for!

How many jugglers does it take to change a lightbulb ?

Only one, but it takes at least three lightbulbs.

ha ha ha snort

I wonder if the NFL knew it was National Screw Loose Day when they scheduled the Bengals preseason game for tonight. We're ready to root them to a win! um, yeah.

Even Joel has an outfit to wear...but it isn't as cool as my bandana...

Midnight Monday with Bendrix

It isn't the rise of Cobra beans have to worry about, it is the rise of Bendrix. Much like a sleek panther lies in wait for the perfect moment to pounce on prey, the House Panther's evil alter ego lies in wait for the perfect moment to escape...



After 4 weeks of new baby smells, new routines, tons of visitors in and out, 2 weeks of screaming gassy baby noise (he is now taking gripe water and another OTC medicine to help) 24/7, tired cranky mommy and daddy...Bendrix had had enough. Both of us did. We got sicky and started barfing Thursday.



So, daddy took us to the VET yesterday morning. When mommy asked how we did, daddy said "Well, he took out 4 weeks of frustration on the almost the entire VET staff." You read right. It took 2 towels, daddy, the VET, and 3 VET techs to get me and Bendrix one shot.



Bendrix would NOT allow us to get our temperature taken. No way. I've taken it up the proverbial po*per for 4 weeks we weren't going to take it yesterday. Then they wanted to give us 2 shots for my tummy, but Bendrix only "allowed" one.

There was hissing, growling, snarling, clawing, biting. There was blood drawn (not on daddy which is good). Daddy and mommy are always torn between being embarrassed, and being proud of our toughness.

We do have to take some tiny pills that are so small they can go in our stinky foods. Cross your paws that things settle down for both my tummy and Joel's!!

Now for the fun stuff! As soon as we get a new firewire cord I'll upload the video, but until then, here are some pictures of me and my fling-ama-string toy.



All you mommies expecting blurpy things NEED to get one. Mommy calls it a life saver cause she can flip it on while otherwise occupied (read: paying attention to #2 instead of me) and I get to play like crazy.





Go to Baby Patches' store and order one NOW!!



PS mommy and daddy really want to see the GI Joe movie! they are going to leave #2 with a grandma and grandpa as soon as he feels better and go get "campy!" has anyone seen it yet?