Category Archives: U.S. First Ladies & Families

Final Blog Entry for 2011…

“The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will.” – Vince Lombardi Well, in 45 minutes the curtain will come down on 2011 and … Continue reading

Posted in Blogroll, Darin's Career, Eleanor Roosevelt, Every day life, Family Life, Family Pets, Friends, Inspiration, Music - Marching Band, Single Parent, The Haasienda | 3 Comments

…Good Morning, Vietnam: 24 years later…

Growing up in the late 1960’s, I was surrounded with many familiar words, or terms… DMZ (demilitarized zone) KIA MIA Viet Cong Cambodia POW Tet Offensive Ho Chi Minh Trail On the evening news there were television images of helicopters … Continue reading

Posted in Entertainment, Kennedy Family, Movies, Richard Nixon, The Haasienda, The History Channel, U.S. Presidents, Vietnam War, White House, World History | Leave a comment

Sam Waterston's Remarks at Monticello, July 4th, 2007

Sam Waterston�s Remarks at Monticello, July 4th, 2007 It’s wonderful to be here and a privilege, indeed, to congratulate you, the heroes of the moment in the great work of making and sustaining a government that derives its authority from … Continue reading

Posted in Abraham Lincoln, Barak Obama, Colonial America, Eleanor Roosevelt, First Ladies, Founding Fathers, Franklin Roosevelt, George Washington, Harry Truman, John Adams, Kennedy Family, Mary Todd Lincoln, Richard Nixon, Smithsonian Institute, Theodore Roosevelt, Thoma Jefferson, U.S. History, U.S. Presidents, Vacation & Travel, Washington, DC, White House | Leave a comment

What Makes A Good Citizen?

July 4th, 2007, Jose and I were present for the naturalization ceremony that took place on the expansive lawn of Monticello, the mountaintop plantation of President Thomas Jefferson.  It was a poignant moment for me since this was also the … Continue reading

Posted in Abraham Lincoln, Barak Obama, Colonial America, Every day life, Fairmont High School, Founding Fathers, Franklin Roosevelt, John Adams, The Haasienda, Theodore Roosevelt, Thoma Jefferson, U.S. History, U.S. Presidents, Washington, DC, White House | Leave a comment

A Muslim & Jewish White House?

In recent months, President Barak Obama has been needled by underground, or less-publicized media, and individual blogs for his support of Muslims celebrating their faith. I was just reading a passage in First Lady Hilary Clinton’s book, AN INVITATION TO … Continue reading

Posted in Barak Obama, Christianity, Inspiration, Politics, Religion, Spirituality, U.S. History, U.S. Presidents, Washington, DC, White House | Leave a comment

Just a Thursday…

This morning had me hopping – doctor appointments, pick up prescriptions, and rush back home to teach a 10:30am lesson! Began the day with tons of energy, and by Noon, I was alternating between reading and napping. The heat, even … Continue reading

Posted in Darin's Career, Every day life, Fairmont Marching Firebirds, Family Life, First Ladies, Harry Truman, Miami Valley of Ohio, Movies, Netflix, PBS, Private Students, Richard Nixon, Teaching, U.S. Presidents | Leave a comment

A relaxing holiday…

It is Monday, 1:00pm. The end of the restful, and enjoyable holiday weekend is creeping upon us.  Wednesday, Thursday and Friday were the most perfect days we’ve had in weeks. Saturday was a bit steamy, but not too hateful. Sunday, … Continue reading

Posted in Abraham Lincoln, Dayton, Documentaries, Entertainment, Every day life, Family Life, Family Pets, Founding Fathers, Friends, Harry Truman, History Channel, Miami Valley of Ohio, Movies, Music - Band, Netflix, PBS, Politics, Smithsonian Institute, Television, The Haasienda, The History Channel, U.S. History, U.S. Presidents, White House | Leave a comment

We… Hold… These… Truths…

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Posted in Abraham Lincoln, Acting, Actors, Ball State University, Barak Obama, Broadway, Carillon Park, Christianity, Colonial America, Composing, Cox Arboretum, Darin's Career, Dayton, Deeds Point, Disney, Documentaries, Eleanor Roosevelt, Entertainment, Every day life, Family Life, Family Pets, First Ladies, Founding Fathers, Franklin Roosevelt, George Washington, Harry Truman, History Channel, Humor, Indiana, Inspiration, John Adams, Kennedy Family, Lincoln Presidential Museum & Library, Mary Todd Lincoln, Miami Valley of Ohio, Movies, Museum of the US Air Force, Music - Band, Music - Choral, Music - Show Choir, Musical Theatre, NACAC, Old River Park, Parenting, PBS, People: Rodgers & Hammerstein, Performing, Playwright, Playwrighting, Politics, Politics - 2008 Election, Religion, Richard Nixon, School, Single Parent, Smithsonian Institute, Spirituality, Teaching, Television, The Haasienda, The History Channel, The Secret, Theatre, Theatre: College, Theatre: Community, Theatre: High School, Theodore Roosevelt, Thoma Jefferson, Touchdown Jesus, U.S. History, U.S. Presidents, Vacation & Travel, Washington, DC, White House, Woodland Cemetery, World History | Leave a comment

The Wright Connection: A musical journey

Although I am a passionate historian, I must admit that I was rather lazy in my study of Dayton history. Normally, I am on top of my historical surroundings, and learn as much as possible. However, when I moved to … Continue reading

Posted in Broadway, Composing, Dayton, Eleanor Roosevelt, Entertainment, First Ladies, Franklin Roosevelt, Katharine Wright-Haskell, Kitty Hawk, Miami Valley of Ohio, Museum of the US Air Force, Musical Theatre, People: Rodgers & Hammerstein, Playwright, Playwrighting, The Haasienda, Theodore Roosevelt, U.S. History, U.S. Presidents, Vacation & Travel, Washington, DC, Woodland Cemetery, Wright Brothers | Leave a comment

Smithsonian is born…

Well, not exactly… This is the date in 1829 that James Smithson of England died (and not because Germany beat them in the World Cup in 2010). Here’s the story… How our country built The Smithsonian Institution

Posted in Great Britain, Smithsonian Institute, U.S. History, U.S. Presidents, Washington, DC, White House, World History | Leave a comment

A Good Day…

Today was the start of my summer teaching schedule. It had been delayed a week since a number of schools were not yet dismissed for the summer. The morning began with the Bane children – Ellie and Jacob – who … Continue reading

Posted in Documentaries, History Channel, Movies, PBS, Private Students, Teaching, The History Channel, U.S. History, U.S. Presidents, White House | Leave a comment

Sunday With The Lincolns…

4:00am found me wide awake this morning, but I managed to return to two more hours of sleep. After feeding Logan and Flyer, I settled down to write the morning’s entry on this blog site, and by 9:30am I was … Continue reading

Posted in Abraham Lincoln, Acting, Actors, Broadway, Family Life, Family Pets, First Ladies, Friends, Lincoln Presidential Museum & Library, Mary Todd Lincoln, Miami Valley of Ohio, Musical Theatre, Performing, Playwright, Private Students, Theatre, White House | Leave a comment

Reunion with Mrs. Lincoln…

In 1986, while a student at Ball State University, I began writing a choral project on President Lincoln. Having been a fan of the 16th president since first grade this was a project I thoroughly enjoyed. For some reason, I … Continue reading

Posted in Abraham Lincoln, Acting, Actors, Ball State University, Broadway, Dayton, Family Life, Friends, Lincoln Presidential Museum & Library, Mary Todd Lincoln, Miami Valley of Ohio, Musical Theatre, NACAC, Performing, Playwright, Teaching, Theatre, U.S. History, White House | Leave a comment

Robert Todd Lincoln presentation… need suggestions…

Robert Todd Lincoln – from youth to old age. Last photo shows RTL at the dedication of The Lincoln Memorial with former president, William Howard Taft (then serving as Chief Justice) and President Warren G. Harding. I was asked by … Continue reading

Posted in Abraham Lincoln, Carillon Park, Dayton, Lincoln Presidential Museum & Library, Mary Todd Lincoln, Miami Valley of Ohio, U.S. Presidents, White House | Leave a comment

Burns, Allen, Holmes, DeMille, Kellogg, Hilton & O'Neill @ The Haasienda

There is some tennis event on NBC. The skies above the Miami Valley have resembled a tennis match all morning… for a few minutes the sun shines, and shortly, the dark clouds hover… back and forth. The storms for the … Continue reading

Posted in Broadway, Entertainment, Kennedy Family, Miami Valley of Ohio, Movies, Netflix, Playwright, Private Students, Theatre, U.S. Presidents, Wright Brothers | Leave a comment

John Adams… the miniseries

JOHN ADAMS, the HBO miniseries. Continue reading

Posted in First Ladies, John Adams, U.S. Presidents | Leave a comment

John Adams

The day seemed to drag… I felt drained, and exhausted for no apparent reason. I accomplished little until it was time to teach – and that perked me up, greatly. Jackson Lockhart came to pick up Sophie from her lesson, … Continue reading

Posted in Family Life, First Ladies, John Adams, Movies, Musical Theatre, Private Students, Teaching, Theatre: College, U.S. Presidents | Leave a comment

From The First Lady…

A Mother’s Day message from First Lady Michelle Obama… (from WhiteHouse.Gov) Dear Friend, There’s no way I could ever measure all that my own mother has done for me. She is my rock. She pushes me to be the best … Continue reading

Posted in Barak Obama, Blogroll, Eleanor Roosevelt, First Ladies, U.S. History, U.S. Presidents, White House | Leave a comment

"Happy Birthday, President Truman!"

As a child, my grandmother frequently reminded me that she shared a birthday with President Truman, and that her 21st birthday was dually celebrated with VE Day! So here is a birthday tribute to one of my favorite presidents (don’t … Continue reading

Posted in Blogroll, First Ladies, Harry Truman, Inspiration, U.S. History, U.S. Presidents | Leave a comment

New photo of Mrs. Lincoln….

I discovered this photo of Mary Todd Lincoln. I had never seen this photograph, supposedly taken in Springfield, 1860.

Posted in Abraham Lincoln, Blogroll, First Ladies, U.S. History, U.S. Presidents, White House | Leave a comment

…The Rage Is Not About Healthcare…

Posted in Abraham Lincoln, Barak Obama, Politics, Politics - 2008 Election, U.S. History, U.S. Presidents, White House | Leave a comment

…An Absence of Class…

#mce_temp_url#

Posted in Abraham Lincoln, Christianity, Politics, Politics - 2008 Election, Religion, U.S. History, White House | Leave a comment

…Vote For The WRIGHT BROTHERS…

Vote for the Wright Brothers to represent the State of Ohio at the United States Capitol! From March 20 through June 12, 2010, Ohioans can cast their vote on who should be honored in Statuary Hall in the Capitol building … Continue reading

Posted in Abraham Lincoln, First Ladies, Harry Truman, Indiana, Politics, Theodore Roosevelt, U.S. Presidents, White House, Wright Brothers | Leave a comment

Lazy Sunday

I had every full intention of being more productive today but it clearly was not meant to be. Last night, Jose and I attended a “Poor White Trash Birthday Party” for our friend, Christi Salchak. It was a riot. The … Continue reading

Posted in Barak Obama, Family Life, Family Pets, Indiana, Kennedy Family, Parenting, The Haasienda | Leave a comment

"When Irish Eyes Are Smiling"

Last night, I sat propped up in bed like I was the King of England, typing away at my laptop resting on the hospital table (a great purchase so that I can work from bed in the mornings and late … Continue reading

Posted in Barak Obama, First Ladies, Inspiration, Kennedy Family, Politics, U.S. History, U.S. Presidents, White House | Leave a comment