In 2001, paratroopers from around the world were gathering on a website to communicate and share with each other through chat rooms, threads and strings. When the events of 9/11 unfolded and in the days, weeks and months to follow, they continued to post. Veterans posted their frustrations at not being able to serve. Active service men and women posted their rage and their resolve to protect America and seek revenge. Paratroopers from all around the world including Russia and Canada began posting words of support. They gathered, unified by one word and as one family: Airborne! This book is a historical reflection of the emotions that came from that fateful day. They were emotions, thoughts, feelings that not only impacted the military, but all of us. The words will sadden you, horrify you, enrage you and ultimately... change you. Included is a first-hand account of what it was like inside of the Pentagon following the attacks and a letter from President George W. Bush. The paperback features an index that is not available in eBook form. * * * * * Launched in 1998, in an era before Facebook, Snapchat or Instagram, Paratrooper.net served as a gathering place online for paratroopers and members of the Airborne Family to communicate and share.

Shadows have a way of following you. Shadows hide things. Not everyone chooses to live in shadows. Trick Mallory does. Nate McCoy just wants to escape his. In 1872, the blackness of the Civil War stretches far into the West, where soldiers run to escape the nightmares of battles won and lost and families go, heartbroken and grief stricken, to start a new. Nate McCoy's effort to escape his shadows only serves to steer his sister Isabel and Trick into a path of destruction. What they all learn is that the only real way to escape a shadow, is to draw it into the light.

Some of the passion has faded but Earth Day survives Concern for the environment and social values got impetus from the vision of a senator from Wisconsin. By ShaRae Sears Register Staff Writer Yes, Earth Day still exists, although the bright, tie-dyed colors may have faded a bit. It will be celebrated Tuesday. “We’re afraid of this becoming too fashionable, of it’s being dismissed as a fad,” announced Denis Hayes of Environmental Action, Inc. in 1970. “We feel Earth Day has failed if it stops at pollution, if it doesn’t serve as a catalyst in the values of society.” Born of turbulent times, the first official Earth Day was April 22, 1970. Its mission: “demonstration, action and change.” Millions picketed, marched and acted on questions put to the nation by then Sen. Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin. “Are we prepared to say to manufacturers, ‘You must take that thing off the market or prove that the waste it generated doesn’t pollute the atmosphere?’” the senator asked. “Are we prepared to develop a land-use policy to say ‘You must destroy anymore?’”

Date-In-A-Box Your pre-packaged guide Singin' for Simon at the dedication When you have a great setting that's about to be named after one of Iowa's greatest singers, it's only right that you line up some superb entertainment for the dedication ceremony. That's what happens Friday night when the new amphitheater on the river becomes the Simon Estes Amphitheater. Dedication. Friday night at 6:20, if you're not by the water, you may be all wet. The dedication ceremony for the Simon Estes Amphitheater begins with steel drums from Edmunds Academy of Fine Arts....

Tapestry of sights, sounds The annual blues festival attracts big talent and all sorts of people. By ShaRae Sears Register Staff Writer Eureka Springs, Ark. - Question: What do a finely woven tapestry, a uniquely American form of music and a small northwestern Arkansas town have in common? Answer: The 1997 Eureka Blues Festival Like a tapestry, blues music has different textures, tones and colors that, when combined, create a genre of American music that is irresistible to most who experience it. Like the blues, Eureka Springs, Ark., with its variety of culture, provides the perfect backdrop for this one-of-a-kind festival. The indoor festival - May 29 through June 1 this year - is designed for participants to experience noted artists in intimate settings.

I was a special needs mom. I say “was” because my son passed away after 10 and a half years of living every moment, touching every life and teaching every soul he could. I place “Special Needs Mom” on my resume because it was the most challenging, most rewarding and greatest job I ever had.

Our goal was to provide a little background and education on what goes on "behind the scenes" at our vineyard. We wanted to use tasteful humor to create interest on what could have been a boring topic... placing nets on the vines. It was created using still photos, graphics and live video on several different video editing apps including Quikn, Power Director and Google Photos Movie Assistant. This is a link to what we came up with. It was a hit for us and has since led to other videos with similar characters and themes. I hope you enjoy it. Tell us what you think!

Just an observation…. if you do not keep working a muscle, it simply gets out of shape. And then you have to work it so much harder to get it BACK in shape. The same goes for creativity. Just the other day, I came across some artwork I had done in elementary, junior high and high school. I am what my husband calls a “keeper” – referring to the habit of keeping everything because it might some day serve a purpose…. My old artwork did. It reminded me that there was a time when I was creative all of the time. My teachers called me a day dreamer, that I did not apply myself enough… but what they did not realize is that I WAS applying myself… just not to what they had in mind for me. What I did back then to keep that creative muscle in shape, was simply to dream. I imagined complete movie scripts and long, complex novels of stories. I made up characters in my mind and then not only wrote about them, I also attempted to get their images onto paper by drawing their faces. I worked out architectural drawings of the mansions they lived in. extreme? No, I don’t think so. We all do this to some extent… or have done it in our past. We may not take it so far as to write a novel or paint or draw the faces we see in our minds. But for those that do, the possibilities are endless. I was once told by an old Native American friend of mine that we are all born wise… we just get dumber as we grow old. And I believe that. We develop fear and lose that courage to simple be different and to dream. We have responsibilities and societal rules that do not allow for an “old” person to be different. If they do, they are considered that crazy old lady or eccentric old man. To stay young… to continue to grow in mind and spirit… we have to get back the courage to dream, to imagine, to write our novels and paint our masterpieces in our minds. Otherwise, that creative muscle will simply go dormant. I found a wonderful article that gives artists suggestions on how to do just that, but it can also be a good activity to try, even if you do not consider yourself an artist per se. Courage. If you think you cannot draw, do it anyway… you might be amazed! http://artbistro.monster.com/benefits/articles/11950-5-unique-ways-to-get-creative-juices-flowing?page=1

I finally, FINALLY self-published my novel, Dancing Shadows of Blue & Grey! I say finally because this has been a long process and much, much work! (And it still is not over!) Here is my process. Every author has their own technique and ways of doing these things that are mentioned. This is a generalized way that I go about it for writing fiction: 1. Write the book. Now, this may seem pretty logical, however there are a lot of steps involved. There is the idea, which must be outlined. In t

Many artists “copy” the masters… or attempt to.  They literally attempt to paint a famous painting.  This serves several purposes:  1)  One can learn a great deal about technique by simply trying to copy someone else’s technique.  2)  You can only truly challenge yourself by attempting something that stretches your abilities.  3)  You can learn a great deal about color, color matching, mixing, etc. by trying your hand at matching what someone else has done. Now, I was not that ambitious.  Inste