Chief Stark Hero of 9/11 --- 2996 Lives Lost

What makes a person a hero? Wikipedia defines the word HERO as a "protector", "defender", or "guardian". A hero displays great courage in the face of danger or adversity, having the will for self-sacrifice - for the greater good.

You are looking at a picture of an actual hero...his name was Lawrence T. Stack, he was a Battalion Chief for Battalion 50, he was 58 years old on 9/11/01. He grew up in College Point, New York. He and his family lived in Lake Ronkonkoma, New York on 9/11/01.

Chief Stack was a devoted husband to his wife Terri, they had been married since 1967. He was the father of three children, Michael, Brian and Kathy. He loved his family and he cared deeply for the lives of the firemen that he worked with.
His job on that fateful day was to ensure the safety of firefighters.

According to statements, Chief Stack had been writing up a report on a really bad fire that took place in Queens, called the Father's Day Fire, three firefighters had lost their lives in that blaze. I can imagine him sitting there, he had to be heavyhearted over the loss...and hearing the call go out regarding the attack on the Towers had to be heart rending. He jumped into a department car and raced to the scene....

Even though he could of stayed back that could not of been his way...I can visualize him climbing those stairs - telling people that were coming down.."Hurry along now...it will be alright"....

Climbing ever higher....knowing what was waiting was akin to Dante's Infernal...a true measure of the word hero....

Reading through Chief Stark's different memorials, it was noted that his fondest wish was for his youngest son to join the force.....and that did happen. So many people had good memories of him, sometimes that is the measure of the man...please keep him, his family and the other 2995 people in your thoughts and prayers.

Remember 2996......9/11

Just saying that date sends shivers of painful emotion coursing through my soul. I am transported back in my mind's eye, remembering this horrific day.

Why remember? Two Thousand and Ninety-Six lives were lost, they became casualties in this war of terror...innocents lost to maniacal evil.

They need to be remembered, for someone to tell their stories, so that future generations will know the extent of their sacrifice.

Already with the passage of time, 9/11 is fading, human nature being what it is, letting our memories soften with regard to tragic events such as this.

This should not happen nor should we allow it to...if we do not honor history as the saying goes we are doomed to repeat it.

The immoral events that occurred that day should stand the test of time and remained burned into our conscious memories as though engraved there by the hand of God.

Negativy Sucks

Normally I try not to complain, I want to find good in people. I'm thankful that I am still alive after my ordeal last New Years. I sincerely want to avoid negative people for I believe they pull you down into their depths of self-pity like no one else can.

I want to greet each day with a smile on my face and joy in my heart.

That being said, I had the crappiest day ever! Why? Well, let me set the scenario for you....

Three days ago I said to my Mother, age 89, would she like me to cook a special meal for my Father's birthday? He turned 93 today. So, of course, she said yes. It was decided after speaking with Dad that I would make Chicken Cutlets, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Cauliflower & Broccoli with a cheese sauce, side salad, fresh Italian bread. Mom, who bakes very well, made a special dark chocolate cake with a berry filling and chocolate icing.

My sister and I shopped yesterday, and I cooked most of the day. Everything turned out really tasty...and we sat down to a nicely prepared table that Barb had set using her good china.

My hubby had come over earlier in the day and lent a hand with some of the fixings. My brother-in-law, Larry asked Joe if he could check out a broken door handle - luckily Joe was able to fix it.

The dinner went well, everyone enjoyed the meal and everyone complimented my sister and I on it.

Well, everyone was so full from the meal that we waited until after 8 PM to have the cake....Mom lit the cake, Barb asked Joe to take pictures as he had his camera with him.

As we are eating the cake, people were kidding around with each other. Barbara got targeted as a "bad" driver and was being ribbed by Larry, Joe and myself for some of her driving habits. Please understand we were not yelling nor being mean to Barbara....she does things like waiting for traffic to be clear for about three miles on each side before she will pull out of a shopping mall.

My father, for God knows what reason, slams his fork down...looks directly at Joe and says...."You have some nerve to talk about driving"..."You of ALL people" ...my poor husband looked blank...in 38 years of driving he has only had one ticket! He said "I don't know what you mean Charles?" So my father says "What about the station wagon I GAVE you?" Joe pissed by now says.."Oh, the one where the tranny fell out two weeks later??" Dad started to say more but by this time Joe was REALLY pissed so he grabbed his hat and headed for the door.

The upshot of this is that Joe said he will never step a foot back in this house...

At least that's how it stands right now. The main problem is that I am pissed
and I am very angry at my Father. He was rude, ill mannered and I don't care that he is 93 or 109...rude is rude. He took a really nice day, an enjoyable family and made everyone miserable.

So my question is this...why are old people so dam mean? Is it that they feel the approach of death and want to be as mean as they can so maybe the grim reaper will pass them by???

My sister Barb tends to calm me down....I'm glad she's here. But for right now I really regret planning anything for that old stinker.

Oh, I know I'll calm down eventually but please, please shoot me if I get like that......

New Years Eve Surprise

You know the old saying "You never know what's around the corner"? Well, I had no idea what was in store for me as I boarded a JetBlue plane, joyfully looking forward to a long awaited visit with my three grown children and grandchildren.

Someone on board that flight must of been flying feeling desperately ill, spreading the germs throughout the pressurized cabin....I didn't feel invaded but boy was I.

Within two days I was totally sick and fool that I was thought it was just a bad cold. By New Year's Eve I was so sick that I skipped my daughter's party and went to bed early. Thank God for my youngest son, he came to check on me sometime after midnight to wish me a "Happy New Years"......poor kid, he found me not breathing, soaking wet and very blue.

Joey yelled for his sister Alisa and she and her husband came running...my son-in-law took one look and called for an ambulance. They responded so fast Alisa said it was amazing, they got me pinked up in the ambulance and rushed me to the nearest hospital. I think that was a ride my daughter will never forget....looking back, after the fact, even though my family was so totally traumatized by what occurred - it was the best place for this to have happened to me.

I often think of that night's/day's events and if one thing, only one thing had not fallen into place...I would be gone - upwards (hopefully) knocking on Heaven's Gate. I am so very thankful for my daughter, son and son-in-law John for their very quick actions and for my life.

I truly believe that it is only when you are immersed in the throes of a life or death situation the people that sincerely love you come through. I also firmly believe in the power of prayer, I am a living example of the power of God.

When I was taken into the ER I coded five times. After the fourth time, the doctor came out to my daughter and told her that I was passing - she pleaded with him try one more time...on the fifth try....something brought me back to this earthly plane. The doctors were amazed that I stabilized, of course, I had a breathing tube and more IV's than anyone would want to count. I was unconscious for almost a full week.

At that time I had no way of knowing what was happening around me. My husband Joe, with the help of my sister Barbara and niece Laura, found a quick flight out of Tampa to Long Island, Alisa's friend Coleen drove out to meet him and bring him to the hospital in Queens. Poor guy, he was so upset that when he closed his suitcase he put his jacket in it and left his neatly folded clothes right on the bed! So he arrived in -05 degree New York style weather with nothing but his jeans, boots, shirt and light jacket....and of course his black cowboy hat!

At the same time on the other coast, in Portland, Oregon my other sister Charlene and her husband Bob were boarding a direct flight to Kennedy Airport. Charlene is an RN and knew how dangerous my situation was.

My mother and father are in their late 80's and early 90's yet they did what they could, my Mom called her church and started a prayer circle for me. I know it worked.

Alisa also let my on line friends on Ebay (The Jewelry Neighborhood) know what had happened and I know that a lot of them sent prayers and cards...a really very caring group.

I know that Alisa, Joey, John and my Joe kept a vigil at my bedside and then they were joined by Charlene, Bob and my other son Kenji. Alisa's two best friends from grade school, Mary and Colleen stayed with her to give her some moral comfort and support...two little girls that used to play dolls in my house grown into such loving women.

The doctors warned everyone that I might not be "myself" when I woke up, they were not sure how long I had been deprived of oxygen and were concerned that my carbon dioxide levels which had been up to 90% had to come down lower too.

This is part one of my story.....my hand has a bit of nerve damage so typing is a little difficult and slow....will write more

Still Stuck With Ebay Madness

Well, season is here but I am not a happy camper. After playing nice, paying my extra large fees all year long to Epig...they reward me by not allowing me to list any thing new or relist any of my items that roll off. Oh, and what listings are left they have decided not to "show" them to anyone on the internet. And I am paying for the honor of all of this...I just got a bill for $165.00 - which Ebay will grab out of my bank.

Last year at this time I has trying like mad to keep up with my mailings I had so many going out. Not this year. Yet Ebay gets paid. Wish someone would start a class action suit...I would surely sign up.

There was a tremendous outpouring of good will and love shown to me through a neighborhood group that I belong to, the Jewelry Neighborhood. Quite a few of the people there felt that what was happening to me was very unfair. So en mass they jumped in and bought stuff from me....and immediately gave me good feedback, along with only 5's FIVES on the dumb DSR star scores. So I am back to listing again, now I have to run and play catch up and try to make up for the last two weeks of non-posting hell that I've been put through.

Ebay has done this to thousands of people this past month, I am trying to establish myself on another venue.... http://www.TheBonz.com/Bejeweled120

So if any of you need good quality jewelry or plants....come make me an offer...just mention that you are a blogger and I will take 30% off...

Anyway, Bonanzle is growing like a weed...we just have to water it a little more, tell your friends about the new site...they have a very nice way about them, very friendly...it doesn't cost anything to list...only when you sell and then it's still cheap compared to Epig......

Small Rant Just have to Vent

Ebay. One word, right now it's driving me crazy. the powers that be over there in Bay-land have decided that sellers haven't any rights, don't deserve any rights and sure as heck will not get any fairness from them either. In other words, just pay your dam exorbitant Ebay fees, fees to post, fees when you collect..their final valuation fees..then you run the gamet dealing with Paypal.

That's another world entirely. Now realize that a buyer can do anything they want...bid on an item, win it and not pay you. Bid on an item, have you send it out and then claim that it is "not as represented" in the auction you did. Huh? Paypal holds your money up until the case is resolved, better yet they go into your bank account and will remove the amount in question if you don't have enough in your Paypal account..Cute huh?

Then even after you cave in, wait for the item to be returned, issue a refund...it should be all over right? Oh, no...it's just begun. Now the buyer has you by the probable short hairs...it's called Feedback. They can say anything they want, give you red strikes, call you everything under the sun and Ebay will smile at them...patting their heads, saying "What a good little buyer you are".

I seem to be a magnet for evil buyers, people who have nothing better to do with their lives than to try to ruin someones reputation over a $5.00 item. Imagine these people driving? Is there a word for Internet Road Rage? Let's start a new word...NETRAGE...the art of going totally ballistic over a suspected slight, ie: postman late with the mail, seller did not email you the last time she took a crap, post office raised their rates, mad that seller offers free shipping and will not pay for her to ship her ring back. All sorts of scenarios are possible...especially since every single thing I have sold or do sell is guaranteed to be genuine and in good shape or I immediately issue a refund upon return receipt of item. That is not good enough.

Ebay sucks, I just went from 100% feedback down to 99.2% and my DSR ratings are horrible. I have over a thousand happy customers and it only takes a few jerks to ruin it, right before Christmas too.

Anyway, I am over my rant it felt good to get it out...if anyone is interest go to http://stores.ebay/AllAboutYouCollectibles.com

I wanted to tell everyone about a terrific selling site that I found and joined. I really believe that they will become another Ebay in years to come. Only difference is..they are nice, human - easy to deal with and funny too. I tend to trust people with a sense of humor, one does have to laugh at one's self sometimes. The name of the place is http://www.bonanzle.com/

They only started in August and have quite a following already. My booth over there is Bejeweled120, which goes along with the jewelry better than my other name. There are so many talented, creative people who have joined over there..runaways from Ebay trying to find another home, it reminds me of J-land....AOL and Ebay have a lot in common they both treat people like crap.

Anyway, I'm making it my mission to advertise http://www.bonanzle.com/ to anybody I come in contact with, if you like the site please spread the word about it. Oh, if you sell on Bonanzle they do not charge you anything until you actually sell it and then their fees are quite low....check it out...

An Amazing Day

I received the following little email, of course I know that it is mass produced and he had to send it to hundreds of thousands of people who participated, but still it felt good to receive it....


Sandra -- I'm about to head to Grant Park to talk to everyone gathered there, but I wanted to write to you first. We just made history. And I don't want you to forget how we did it. You made history every single day during this campaign -- every day you knocked on doors, made a donation, or talked to your family, friends, and neighbors about why you believe it's time for change. I want to thank all of you who gave your time, talent, and passion to this campaign. We have a lot of work to do to get our country back on track, and I'll be in touch soon about what comes next. But I want to be very clear about one thing... All of this happened because of you. Thank you, Barack

At my age I couldn't go knocking on a lot of doors, but I could blog and I did, I could make phone calls and I did. I could donate a little and I did. I think the grass roots all across America came together to let our voices be heard firm and clear...it is time for a change. Time for this country to be made well again, it is a time for all Americans to come together, put our differences aside for the better good of the country.

Yesterday brought tears to my eyes, no I am not a person of color, but I am someone who grew up seeing just how unjust a society could be to it's fellow citizens and even as a young child I questioned why? I am so very happy for this course of events.

Last night viewing the hundreds of thousands awaiting Barack's arrival at Grant Park...my mind went back to the Autumn of 1968, I lived in Chicago's outskirts...the city of Niles. It was a time of anger, distrust of the man, a time of total violence and very frightening. The riots went on for days, some people were killed and thousands wounded. People were pushed into plate glass windows in downtown Chicago, ashtrays, glass objects were thrown at the crowds below from the high rise buildings...hurting so many. The overflow was too much for the downtown hospitals to handle...our local hospital starting filling up in the ER too. As luck would have it, my two year old hurt himself catching his finger in his sister's playpen - so off we go to the hospital with our hearts in our throats not knowing what we would find out on our streets and in the ER. It was not pretty, walking wounded, sights that will stay with me forever. I was thankful that the staff in the ER took pity on my little one and he was treated quickly...I didn't want him exposed to all of that either...

So you can imagine how I felt last night seeing how magnificently well behaved, respectful and joyous that crowd was. We've come a long way baby.....

PS...Obama will be a good president for ALL of us....Sandi