Ray of Sunshine: Anniversary

September 1, 1989 Ray Faries married Joanne Crowther in Arlington, Texas. The Justice of the Peace ceremony was very low key but pleasant and meaningful. The bride's father, George Crowther, treated everyone to a wedding lunch at J.Gilligan's in Arlington. He commented on the inexpensive tab. That night, the couple honeymooned at the Sheraton in Arlington overlooking the ballpark. Saturday evening, they hosted a blowout party at their home complete with margaritas. Best wedding weekend ever. Ray picked the September 1st date - it's the opening day of dove season. (Put that in a romance novel)

What a grand thing to be loved! What a grander thing still, to love! Victor Hugo

Twenty two years and we're still having fun and smiling. Unlike many novels' versions of marriages with daily trauma, heartbreak, infidelity, murder, betrayal, and abuse, our book is fortunately quite boring. Big questions - what's for breakfast? What's in the lunch bag? Who's cooking dinner? (I vote for Ray - much better cook.)

Love doesn't make the world go 'round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile - Franklin P.Jones

We're headed to the Texas Rangers game tonight to celebrate our anniversary. Again, a reader would yawn and fall asleep at this chapter. However, we keep turning our pages and delighting in our marriage adventure. It's our story.

That Love is all there is,

Is all we know of love

Emily Dickinson

Oh My Deer (Dear)

Twenty years ago, September 1st 1989 Ray and I said "I Do" and we've certainly written a lot of chapters in the book of love and tolerance. Whether freezing at the top of Jackson Hole, Wyoming (who'd think to pack a parka in July?) or lazing on a beach on Oahu (or Florida, etc...we're beach people at heart) or living through the teen years (and staying sane), we've packed a few laughs and tears into the memoir.

My favorite love stories are Gone With the Wind and The Thorn Birds. For Ray, has Stephen King written any romances? Ray loves fast cars, sports, and roughing it in the outdoors. I like fast cars, reading, movies, and my idea of camping is the Holiday Inn.

This is way too wild for me. Set me down in the middle of Times Square, please. Hook me up with an agent in Manhattan, pretty please.

On paper, Ray and I are total opposites. In reality, it works. It's worked for twenty years, certainly have reason to believe it'll go twenty more. His half of the story is a thriller. My half is humor. So we laugh a lot as we keep turning the pages.

Joanne

A Giant Leap for Mankind

It was 40 years ago today that Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon with his now legendary words "One small step for man, a giant leap for mankind." It's one of those moments you never forget.

Another Anniversary - Ben's Chili Bowl turns 50

Throughout the decades, Ben's has become a historical icon on U Street in Washington, DC, and 50 years later, remains more than a destination for chili half smokes and cheese fries.

Ben's opened on Aug. 22, 1958 at the height of "Black Broadway" on U Street. The restaurant remains in the same building today.

Nizam Ali, in window, and his brother Kamal are committed to keeping Ben's true to its roots.

D.C. residents clamored to celebrate Ben's 45th anniversary, and it was standing room only for those who wanted to order food at the grill.

Comedian Bill Cosby, left, joins Ben Ali, right, and Ali's wife, Virginia, during Ben's 45th anniversary. Cosby has been a long-time supporter of the restaurant.

Film crews make a set outside of Ben's to film for "State of Play," a movie staring Russell Crowe, which hasn't been released.

Crowe, left, and consultant R.B. Brenner, a Washington Post editor, on the movie set at Ben's.

Photos and text from The Washington Post.

Happy 20th Anniversary to DCup and her MathMan

This classic segment from The Cosby Show seem most appropriate for your special day. Fast forward a few years and imagine The Dancer, The Actor and Cupcake -- with their children -- singing this to the two of you!

Have a wonderful anniversary ... and many, many more!

Two years today

It's been two years now since the launch of Yikes! The first post was actually a little difficult, because I couldn't settle on what to write. So I decided that less was more:

Aug 22, 2005 -- Time

Politics has been a passion of mine since the Kennedy-Nixon presidential race. Somehow my Republican parents managed to raise a little Democrat. And even though my mother volunteered for the local Republican party, she was very supportive of my interest in politics. So much so that she made a special trip to the local Democratic party headquarters just to get me a "Kennedy for President" campaign button.

Fast forward to 1968, and the night Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was killed. I was at home in Indiana, and I remember watching the speech delivered by Robert Kennedy that night in Indianapolis on the news. He was in the city for a campaign appearance, but when news of the tragedy broke -- against the wishes of his campaign staff -- he went into the predominately Black neighborhood where he was scheduled to speak. He didn't deliver his prepared remarks, choosing instead to speak from the heart -- and it was incredible:

April 25, 2006 -- Is it too late to get the passion back in politics?

It was so frustrating watching Kenneth Lay walk around a free man, while thousands of people were in despair over the loss of their financial security. I had to say something, and this post proved to be my most popular! The Houston Chronicle linked to it, and at a time when I would normally get 10 to 15 hits per day I got almost 400 hits in one day! All I could say was YIKES!:

Mar 22, 2006 -- Why isn't Kenneth Lay in jail?

Writing the next three posts broke my heart. Violence and poverty, when will it end?

June 11, 2006 -- Senate 'hate-speech' gives license for violence

Feb 3, 2007 -- A tragic ending for two Rachel's

Mar 2, 2007 -- 12 year old boy died of a toothache

Regular visitors to Yikes! know that I try to post a Sunday Funnies each week. This was one of my favorites:

April 1, 2007 -- Sunday Funnies

I am in awe of Tengrain at Mock, Paper, Scissors and Dr. Zaius at Zaius Nation for the wonderful snark they post. I only wish I had a fraction of their talent. So I'd like to close with one of my favorite posts, which also happens to be my attempt to emulate them -- here it is:

July 1, 2007 -- Dogs United for Seamus

It's getting close ...

My how time flies when you're having fun! On Wednesday, August 22, Yikes! celebrates its second anniversary. It's been a fun two years!


I'd like to thank my five loyal readers. You are the best! And you must have stopped by a lot, because I just realized Yikes! is getting close to 15,000 visitors.


This has been a wonderful learning experience for me, and I've made some great new friends.

Thanks for stopping by!