Year: <span>2017</span>

Trans Siberian Orchestra
Trans Siberian Orchestra

I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas to end what has generally been an awful year. So I think a bit of uplifting music is in order for this magical day.

Just For Fun

This And That
This And That

After a long writing hiatus, I’m back in action. Time flies when you’re having fun, time flies when you’re not having fun, time flies when you’re busy, and time flies when you’re not looking. So why can’t we ever catch time and stash it away for a rainy day? 

This Christmas I decided it’s time to catch up my loyal readers with all the news fit to print (and more) on the Virginia edition of the Charest family.  This has been a good year, and a busy year, for both Winnie and me.

Family Stories

An Unfriendly Cop Abusing Public Trust
Unfriendly Cop

This past Sunday, a paying passenger was forcibly removed from a United Airlines (UA) flight in Chicago’s O’Hare Airport, in the process beaten and his face bloodied by airport security officers removing him. The paying passenger’s crime, the reason for this violent removal from an aircraft after being seated? UA needed the seat so some of their own employees could travel instead. 

The President of UA, and lots of otherwise normal people, are currently defending the actions of these security officers.

Opinions & Commentary

This And That
This And That

It’s cherry blossom festival in our nation’s capital this week. Trees that survived the erratic winter are preening their all for hordes of gawking tourists who come from near and far to admire the temporary pink flowers. Meanwhile, chaos continues apiece in the Charest household eclipsed only by the magnitude of chaos in our centers of government power.

Family Stories

Statue of Liberty
Statue of Liberty

All four of my grandparents were immigrants. One, my maternal grandfather, entered the US “illegally.” Both my first and present wives are immigrants. My first wife left the Philippines during the final years of the Marcos dictatorship, at a time when conditions in that country were rapidly deteriorating.  

The decree Pre*ident trump issued this past Friday, blocking all Muslims of seven nations from entering America, deeply and personally offends me.

Opinions & Commentary

Woman in Pink
Woman in Pink

Yesterday our national nightmare started, and today is the first day for American’s to stand up and let the world know that this is not who we are. I cannot get to the Women’s Watch on Washington event, so I’m going to have to do what I can to show my support. Consider this simple post on my bit of Cyberspace as my contribution to the cause.

Opinions & Commentary

President Barack Obama

Not only is today a national holiday celebrating the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., it also happens to be the last week of the presidency of Barack Obama. On this day of remembrance, I need to share my thoughts on our regretfully too-soon-to-be former President. 

Opinions & Commentary

Music Inside
Music Inside

Today I’m watching the first snowfall of this season, and coincidentally the first snow of 2017. At least here in Northern Virginia. As luck would have it, today is a Saturday, so I’ve avoided the Mad Max-like horrors of traveling out on our snowy highways. On the flip side, I’m stuck in the house all day and cabin fever strikes quickly.

We’re presently up to about one-half inch, and with any luck, we’ll have Washington, D.C.  shut down for a week.

Just For Fun

New Years!
New Years!

For the first post of the New Year, I just want to wish everyone a Happy New year 2017! Gratuitous New Year’s video on the flip in celebration of having survived this past year while retaining some semblance of sanity. 

Just For Fun