A nice dinner with friends

It seems like forever since I've been to dinner with my friends from Kiwanis. The meal was fair, but the company was great. I really like some of the guys alot. Intelligent, interested, thoughtful and funny conversation. It's nice to be around some people I can relax with. It seems like things have just piled up and I haven't been able to go much this Summer. It's true of AA also. I think I've suffered because of that. Lately it seems like I just don't have much to look forward to. Mild depression, lack of sleep, not eating right, anger, loneliness a combination of everything. I'll have to work on that, but tonight was nice and I'm thankful for it. I felt really good leaving Marla's after dinner and the meeting. Kiwanis is a good thing ad I'm proud I'm a member. Too bad I don't know more people that would belong to a group like that.

Today

It's been a real nice week so far even though I've been on jury duty all week. I haven't had to go in to the courts, but I've had to call in each night to see if I needed to appear the next morning in court in downtown Riverside. My kids at school have been really cool. I think it'll be a good year if things don't change.

Conformity

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. ~Dr. Seuss

The first few weeks of school.

it's been pretty busy for me these first few weeks of the new school year. I'm teaching three classes of 8th grade Social Studies, one class of Math Support (math for kids that are WAY behind) and one Study Skills class. This week I've had Jury duty and I've had to call in each night to see if I am wanted at the court. That's so I can drive to Riverside, sit all day and then get dismissed for not being a fair and impartial juror. So everyday I have to make substitute plans and then call, only to be told that I have to wait another day. It's really nice of them to do that. It just burns me up. Like I can sit on a jury. I wouldn't believe a word being said by the defense. It would e California's first Death Penalty case for petty theft. But enough of the ranting about that. Izzy is doing well and talking up a storm. She repeats everything, I really have to watch my mouth. She's really been attached to her mom alot also. I've been pretty content with things although I really think I need a 'mentor" of sorts to help me make some work related decisions. I've thought about a really nice guy in the Optimist club that is on the school board here in town and he used to be a principal in the Adventist school system. A pretty sharp guy that would give me some good advice. I'll have to think about it though. I feel like I'm loosing direction lately at work, maybe it's just a lack of interest. Debbie and Britty are both fine and things seem to be going well with Britty's first first few days of her Senior year.

Robert M. Viale

Vacation with Izzy to Mom and Dad's House - 117
Originally uploaded by carignan.

*VIALE, ROBERT M.

Rank and Organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Company K, 148th Infantry, 37th Infantry Division. Place and Date Manila, Luzon, Philippine Islands, 5 February 1945. Entered Service at: Ukiah, Calif. Birth: Bayside, Calif. G.O. No.: 92, 25 October 1945.

Citation:
He displayed conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty. Forced by the enemy's detonation of prepared demolitions to shift the course of his advance through the city, he led the 1st platoon toward a small bridge, where heavy fire from 3 enemy pillboxes halted the unit. With 2 men he crossed the bridge behind screening grenade smoke to attack the pillboxes. The first he knocked out himself while covered by his men's protecting fire; the other 2 were silenced by 1 of his companions and a bazooka team which he had called up. He suffered a painful wound in the right arm during the action. After his entire platoon had joined him, he pushed ahead through mortar fire and encircling flames. Blocked from the only escape route by an enemy machinegun placed at a street corner, he entered a nearby building with his men to explore possible means of reducing the emplacement. In 1 room he found civilians huddled together, in another, a small window placed high in the wall and reached by a ladder. Because of the relative positions of the window, ladder, and enemy emplacement, he decided that he, being left-handed, could better hurl a grenade than 1 of his men who had made an unsuccessful attempt. Grasping an armed grenade, he started up the ladder. His wounded right arm weakened, and, as he tried to steady himself, the grenade fell to the floor. In the 5 seconds before the grenade would explode, he dropped down, recovered the grenade and looked for a place to dispose of it safely. Finding no way to get rid of the grenade without exposing his own men or the civilians to injury or death, he turned to the wall, held it close to his body and bent over it as it exploded. 2d Lt. Viale died in a few minutes, but his heroic act saved the lives of others.