Memorial Tribute

This particular Blog comes from a another blog but It touched me so I felt obliged to share it with you.

John Moore recorded an image of Mary McHugh at the grave of her fiance Sgt. James John Regan (who was killed by an IED explosion in Iraq in February 2007) at Arlington National Cemetery, May 27, 2007.Mary McHugh, the fiancé of a James Regan, moved a thousand mourners to tears with her touching tribute at his funeral. “Jimmy was a hero to many, but he was always very humble,” she said of her beloved. “He always sought team success and not personal glory.”Regan was to marry McHugh, a medical student at Emory University, when his Army service ended. He was killed in February 2007 by a roadside bomb in Iraq.“Jimmy and I were so excited to stand up in front of God, our family and friends and declare our love for each other,” McHugh said. ”Only God knows why we were deprived of that opportunity, but it doesn’t change the sentiments I have.”Regan, an All-American lacrosse player and All-State football scholar at Chaminade High School in Mineola, graduated from Duke University five years ago. He was deeply affected by the 9/11 terror attacks, which claimed many lives in Manhasset, and turned down a position at financial services firm UBS and deferred a scholarship to Southern Methodist University Law School to join the Army in 2004. He had earned a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star.After reading a love letter Regan wrote to her, McHugh said in a passionate whisper, “Jimmy, we never got to wake up next to each other every morning. Jimmy, I will wake up every morning and thank God for the opportunity to love and be loved by you.”McHugh remembered Regan as someone who always wore a smile and “simply wanted to be happy and make others around him happy.”Regan’s father, also named James, said his son did just that.“Last week in Iraq the bell tolled for Jimbo and he gave the ultimate sacrifice,” the grieving father said. “You have done your duty, son, as you saw it. You are a wonderful son.”- – - -The above photo has been the source of some controversy. There are some forces that would like to suppress its publication. Some feel that publicizing honest images, such as this one, conveying the gravity of our losses, serves to undermine the war efforts in Iraq. Forgive me, because I do not have an articulate stance on the war in Iraq. The conflicts there are beyond my reasoning and aptitudes to solve. I do believe in more aggressively pursuing non-violent solutions to violent problems. I believe censorship of honest information about the war will not help Americans make more informed decisions about the reality of the violence and the severity of our losses. This blog focuses on mature, complex and real issues deserving more candor, attention, discussion, and merit. My deepest and sincerest condolences to the family, friends, and fiancé of James Regan. The above photo can be found in many places on the internet by doing a simple Google image search for “Mary McHugh” or “James Regan.” It can also be obtained through the Getty service for use in media outlets.The above photo is an important human document. In a moment, it clearly communicates undeniable and compelling love. It will be important 100 years from now. If a similar Civil War photo existed of a woman at the grave of her fiancé, it would be immeasurably valuable to our cultural experience. If a similar WW II photo existed of a German widow at her deceased husband’s grave, the artwork would be a timeless and important image about the realities of war and universality of grief. The most memorable scene for me in viewing “Saving Private Ryan,” Steven Spielberg’s 1998 Academy Award winning film, was the quiet scene of Private Ryan’s mother falling to her knees on the porch, unable to stand, unable to function, in the moment she realized there would be losses for her that would never end in this lifetime. Should Spielberg have shown the depths of her grief? Yes, I believe his efforts were honorable and good. Was he being patriotic? Yes. Should he have shown the reality of the violence and inhumanity on both sides of the war? Yes. Should Spielberg’s Free Speech and artistic visual portrayals of the realities of war have been censored? No.

23 State Senators Must Be Drunk

I opened up my paper this morning and I was struck by a story that I thought I misread. So I read it again to make sure I wasn’t hallucinating. For many years comedians have made no secret that they favor certain politicians based on comedic value. Well there are 23 Ohio state senators that could be the subject of an entire monologue on Letterman or Leno. If you haven’t heard 23 out of 33 state senators voted to allow concealed carry in bars. I’ve got one thing to say; WHAT THE HELL?

I’ve never made it a secret that I’m not the biggest supporter of hand guns, but come on. I really believe that those 23 Senators must have stopped at the bar before they voted. I agree that gun supporters have some argument concerning their right to bear arms. I have always thought that the argument is extremely weak, because I don’t feel they are reading it correctly.

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Another version is found in the copies distributed to the states, and then ratified by them, which had this capitalization and punctuation:[6]

A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. ”

It has always been my belief that this amendment deals specifically with Militia’s not our right to stock pile weapons for our own personal use. I have never had a problem with hunting guns, but who needs a 9mm or an Ak47 for hunting? That is a subject for another day and another Blog.

I can’t even believe that this bill was ever introduced to begin with. In what world is this a good idea? There are communities all over the state of Ohio that won’t even allow the combination of nudity and alcohol. Yet someone saw the wisdom in introducing a bill that would combine guns and alcohol. Why don’t we just get rid of the drunk driving laws also? Better yet, let’s just give everyone government issued guns and a bottle of whiskey and tell them there on their own.

I haven’t even mentioned the fact that police officers will face an all new challenge. Can you image what it’s going be like to go and break up a bar fight now. Now they are going to have to worry whether someone is packing. Let me reiterate by saying this is pure insanity and let me restate my previous statement; WHAT THE HELL?

Be Thankful For What You Have

I am a lover of words, but sometimes words aren't enough. This is going to be a very short Blog. I want to share with you a video. Trust me when I tell you, you want to see this video.

Congressional Term Limits Will Fix America's Problems

Every morning one of the of the first things I do is check my email. I am sure I am no different from anyone else and I have to weed trough all the junk mail. I also get a lot of forwarded jokes that my friends thought I would like. I have friends that are conservative and liberal, and they both like to send me emails that argue their political views. I usually find my view right in the middle. While filtering my email this morning I found and email that says what I have been saying for many years. It lays out a basic plan for congressional term limits.

I have heard people on both sides talk about this for a long time and I wonder why it has never been made law. The President is bound by term limits; why aren't congressmen bound by these same limits. Below the plan is laid out and I want to hear what you think.

1. Term Limits: 12 years only, one of the possible options below.

A. Two Six year Senate terms
B. Six Two year House terms
C. One Six year Senate term and three Two Year House terms



2. No Tenure / No Pension:

A congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out office.



3. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security:

All funds in the Congressional retirement fund moves to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, Congress participates with the American people.



4. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan just as all Americans.



5. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.


6. Congress looses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.



7. Congress must equally abide in all laws they impose on the American people.


8. All contracts with past and present congressmen are void effective 1/1/11.

The American people did not make this contract with congressmen, congressmen made all these contracts for themselves.

I really want to hear what you think about this plan. Post your comments below.

Lorain Must Support It's New Baseball Team

Baseball----Chevrolet----Apple Pie; what could be more American? At least 2 of those are still American. One of those is Baseball; you figure out which one isn’t. The County of Lorain, and specifically the city of Lorain, will have the opportunity to cheer for a local team. If you haven’t heard the news, the Lorain County Ironmen are in town and they are going to be playing their games at the Pipe Yard Stadium, right here in Lorain.

Owners, Kevin Rhomberg and Bob Schenosky, are really trying to make a difference in the city of Lorain. I have personally witnessed how hard they are working to make their team a success. They are truly interested in helping to boost the economy in Lorain County. They are offering a very low-cost alternative to going to a very ‘Pricey’ Cleveland Indians game. They appear to understand, that times are hard, and most families can’t afford to go to Cleveland and see a Indians game. The Cost of admission is only $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, $3 for children and $99 for season tickets.

We need to remember that they chose us because they saw the potential here, and we need to support them every chance we can. How nice will it be to go to a local game and not go broke in the process. A family of 4 can attend for less than $20. You can’t even go to a movie for that price.

Please Lorain County; I beg you, let’s be positive about this team. Let’s show them that they made the right decision in coming here. The Home Opener is June 4th at 7:05pm.

“Take Me Out to the Ball Game,
Take Me Out to the Crowd,
Buy Me Some Peanuts and Cracker Jacks.”
PLAY BALL!!!!!!

For Ticket Information and any question just click on their website or call 440-522-9549

A Very Personal Struggle

All my life I have always been a proud man. That pride never allowed me to confide my personal life with anyone; not even people that were close to me. No one around me ever knew when I was struggling financially, mentally or any other way. If someone asked me how I was doing I always responded that I was doing great. It was partly because most of the time no one really cares how you’re doing and also because I was too pride to reveal the truth. I always faced my struggles by myself refusing to let anyone in. It was only recently that I began sharing with everyone my life story. That only happened when I realized that the things I had been through could help someone else. Revealing my struggle with Bi-polar disorder and homelessness was the best decision I ever made. It not only helped others it helped me to heal. Eventually you will be able to hear about my whole life in a book that is being written about me. I have been truly blessed.

The reason I am sharing this with you is because the time has come for me to share another personal struggle with you. It is a struggle that many Americans deal with everyday. As you know I am a small business owner. I able to be in business thanks to the generosity of the city of Lorain. So many people are under the impression that if you own a business you must have a lot of money. Let me assure you that nothing could be farther from the truth. My income falls well below the national poverty line. Don’t get me wrong I am able to survive, because I have learned through life experiences how to do so.

The one thing I cannot afford is health insurance. During the health care debate I stood by silently while people said things like, “Obama’s health care plan is nothing more than welfare,” or “It’s only lazy people that will benefit from the health care reform.” I have worked hard all my life and most of the time I had insurance. Now that I am in business for myself I work harder than I have ever worked in my life and I can’t afford to buy health insurance, and I don’t meet any of the guidelines to receive Medicade.

What brought this to the surface was my trip to the Emergency room today. I am suffering with something that may or may not be life threatening. Actually I am suffering with two things. I have had high blood pressure for several years and have been able to control it with medication. I went to the ER with and unknown problem involving my prostate. For the past few days it has caused me debilitating pain. I finally couldn’t take it anymore so I went to the ER. I went to the ER because I couldn’t afford to go to my own Doctor. The experience was much different from the experience I had when I had insurance.

I was living in the state of Arizona when I was finally diagnosed with Bi-Polar disorder. I had a very good job that included health insurance. When I knew that I had a problem I just called my insurance company and they found me the best Specialist in the state to treat me. I went to the ER and they processed me right in and put me in touch with everyone I needed to help me; including an inpatient facility that was very well equipped to handle my problem. I spent nearly a month there getting my life back in order and learning to live again. My life was most certainly saved. The tragedy was that when I was in the hospital my job was eliminated. I only had insurance for another month and then I was without insurance. From that moment on I was denied access to all the services that saved my life. I was once again on my own.

Today when I checked into the ER I had no insurance and I was put in a room by myself. I was there for quite some time before I even saw a Doctor and I never saw a nurse until they checked me out. He told me he didn’t know what was wrong with me and referred me to a urologist. The doctor told me it was very important that I go see the urologist because it could be very serious. Which brings me back to my original problem; if I could afford a Doctor’s office visit I would have went there to begin with. It seems my only option is to wait until the new health care bill goes into effect.

I wonder how many people are just like me who have illnesses they can do nothing about because they simply can’t afford it. I am sure the number is astronomical. I wonder what all the people who are so opposed to this new health care plan would say to all those people. People like me.

A Reintroduction Of Myself

Back before we went live on the Morning Journal web page I wrote a blog introducing myself to the readers of the paper. There was a lot of time that passed between the time I wrote the Blog and the time we went live. I feel it necessary that you know who I am, so that you will understand the way I feel about the things I write about. So I am re-posting the blog. I would love to hear what you think.

A little about myself

I feel since this is my first Blog, I need to tell you a little about myself. I was born in Summersville, West Virginia. I grew up in Lorain County, specifically, Elyria. I’ve done a little bit of everything in my life. I started out my career in restaurants, I worked at a newspaper, a sandstone quarry, a pipe wrench factory, I got in trouble with the law; I ran away and was homeless, I worked as a Lumper for a truck driver, I joined a carnival, and hitchhiked across the country to find my mother in Texas. I worked on a farm in Texas driving a grain truck; I got married and divorced in Texas for the first time. I worked as a DJ in Guymon Oklahoma, and I got in trouble in both Texas and Oklahoma, and spent time at the gray bars hotel. I left Texas, and hitchhiked back to West Virginia, and then I hitchhiked to North Carolina; I met a woman 16 years my senior and I married her the following week. I got a job as a DJ, car salesman, volunteer EMT, worked in a hospital as a CNA, store manager, pest control sales person; moved to Ohio, got a job as a hotel manager and got divorced. I then married my boss who had 4 small children, and I helped her raise her kids, and worked as a restaurant manager, car salesman, factory worker, and store manager. I moved to Arizona to help take care of her mother, and I took a job in a factory, she told me she wanted a divorce I flipped out and was committed to an INTITUTION, found out I had Bi-Polar disorder(who didn’t see that coming). After being crazy I moved back to Ohio got a job in a factory, flipped out again, took a bus to Charlotte; I was homeless again, I decided I didn’t like that, so I moved back to Ohio and met someone on line and moved to Parma; I worked for the world’s largest retailer. I decided to go in to business with my now Fiancé and we have a store in Lorain, where we donate 25% of or proceeds to the homeless. I also do a weekly radio talk show on 91.5 WOBC out of Oberlin College…….. I’m doing much better now.

Now that you know about me; let me tell you what this Blog is going to be about. Back before the ‘Light up Lorain’ event in Lorain we were ask by Joe Skodny to come and sell our Christmas supplies to the public, for the event. We moved in to the old Reith Insurance building at 737 Broadway. Before the first Light up Lorain event, a story was published about me in the Morning Journal. The word had gotten out that we were donating 25% of our proceeds to the Haven Center for the homeless in Lorain County. That story began the snowball effect. Channel 5 in Cleveland read the story and decided they wanted to hear more, and they gave me the opportunity to tell my story. I was then featured in several other publications and radio. We became an instant success in downtown Lorain.

This experience has caused me to fall in love with downtown Lorain. I have the advantage of looking at the area with new eyes. The potential in downtown Lorain is unlimited. Back in January I wrote a letter to the Editor that pretty much summed up my feelings. Here it is again:


“To the Editor: I have a business in downtown Lorain and there are things that need to be said. I came to Lorain to be a part of something that I felt in my heart was going to be a great thing. When I started learning the history of Lorain and how great it once was, I knew I wanted to be a part of a Lorain that will be great again. I see a major problem in this great town — negativity. Being negative will never fix anything. I know for a fact that Mayor Krasienko has nothing but the city's best interests at heart. He and his administration are doing a great job attracting new businesses to come to Lorain, I am one of them.
The mayor has a great man in Rey Carrion who works tirelessly trying to better the situation in Lorain. Another person deserving recognition is Joe Skodny of the Downtown Lorain Christmas Decorating Council. He is a true blue Lorainite, who wants nothing more than to see Lorain great again. His vision of Lorain as a Disneyland-type tourist destination is exactly the kind of thinking we all need.”


After that appeared in the paper on the website I reluctantly read the comments posted. Unfortunately, it was mostly negative, which I expected. In these economic times, I do understand where that comes from. However, one thing is certain, complaining and moaning will never fix anything. So this Blog is going to be about the positive things that are happening and are going to happen in downtown Lorain.

I truly believe when people work together as one, there is nothing that can’t be accomplished. I’m amazed everyday as I look out my big window on Broadway just how many pass by. So many people live in this city that only drive through downtown Lorain to get to another destination. They don’t realize that they are driving by the answer to fixing the economy in Lorain. When you patronize our businesses the money goes into the city of Lorain with the taxes we pay. We are then able to hire employees and put people back to work. Those people will then buy products and we will put more money in the economy. When you spend money with us the city is then able to afford to put public servants back on the job. If you want more police and fire fighters the answer is right in front of you.

I am what some people would call a contradiction. I am a very socially liberal in my politics but I still believe in a Mayberry type town. (By the way, The Andy Griffith Show is the greatest show ever made) We have the opportunity to turn our downtown into a retail destination. It is going to take all of us to make that happen.

I am going to share my Ideas on this Blog, as well as, sharing with you all the good stuff going on down here. You will hear about businesses that you didn’t know were here or maybe you didn’t know they were still here. I also want you to share with me your ideas. This is about mobilizing the citizens of Lorain. We need to make businesses want to come to downtown Lorain. Come on Lorain, let’s build this city together.