Author: <span>Ron Charest</span>

Published April 11, 2007 by

My Letter to the Editor – Rebuttal to a Hateful Screed on Immigration

Opinions & Commentary

immigration Letters To The Editor LTR Politics Potomac News racism

Published April 8, 2007 by

Happy Easter To All!

Easter Bunny Smile
Easter Smile

I just wanted to wish all Christians a Happy Easter celebration. Although raised in a household with a Catholic Dad and Lutheran Mom, I’m not much of a practicing Christian of any flavor now-a-days (neither Protestant or Catholic). Winnie, as a Buddhist with essentially no exposure to Christianity before meeting me, doesn’t really understand the significance of today’s celebration.

For us, today has been a quiet day dedicated to unpacking boxes and arranging the house. But I do remember some of my Bible teachings, and want to reflect on them briefly.

Continue…Happy Easter To All!

Family Stories

Beatitudes Bible Christianity Easter Religion

Published April 8, 2007 by

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words

Our House With Dogwood In Flower
Our House With Dogwood Tree In Bloom

On this Easter Sunday, 2007, I’d like to share a few neighborhood pictures of what spring looks like in our new home.

But you’ll need to click the “More” link to see them… Consider this news post is several thousand words long!

Continue…A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words

Family Stories

Dale City Easter Sea Dreams snow Spring

Published March 28, 2007 by

Its Official – We’re Moved!

Family Stories

Dale City moving virginia

Published March 23, 2007 by

A Walmart Story

Typical Big Box Store
An Empty Big Box Store

All we wanted to do was return a vacuum cleaner.  We had purchased it 5 days earlier, broken it after 20 minutes total use, and decided to get a different model.  By the time we were successful we had involved most of the Wal-Mart’s night shift, provided entertainment for other shoppers, yelled at the store manager and received personal guidance on choosing a vacuum cleaner from the housewares department manager.

All of this only took about one hour.  What a night.

Continue…A Walmart Story

Family Stories

Dale City virginia walmart

Published March 20, 2007 by

Moving In – Past the Point of No Return

Home Sweet Home
Home Sweet Home

We’re still moving stuff into our new house, but now we’re actually living there.  Last Friday we had the cable guy hook up our television and Internet service.  We moved our venerable futon bed, set it up in the downstairs bedroom, and that was it.

Time to move in!

Continue…Moving In – Past the Point of No Return

Family Stories

Dale City moving virginia

Published March 11, 2007 by

My Letters To Andy Sullivan

Flying Mail
Flying Mail

In my continuing series of letters, I’ve had the opportunity to write to columnist Andrew Sullivan. “Andy” is a conservative columnist who writes for a number of publications, including “Time” magazine and “The Atlantic,” both their print and on-line publications. The occasion for my letters was being fed up with Andy expressing shock at the latest public outrage by shock-jock Ann Coulter.

Advisory: Don’t click over the fold if you get the vapors from adult subject matter.

Continue…My Letters To Andy Sullivan

Opinions & Commentary

Andrew Sullivan Ann Coulter Gay Letters To Writers Politics

Published March 11, 2007 by

Home Improvement – The Virginia Edition

Home Sweet Home
Home Sweet Home

Winnie and I have been spending the past week cleaning, fixing, and repainting our new house. You’d think that after a year’s worth of rebuilding our Mississippi house, a little painting would be simple.

But I must say, the painting and relatively minor repairs we’re doing feels like “Deja Vou all over again.”

Continue…Home Improvement – The Virginia Edition

Family Stories

Dale City home improvement moving new house virginia

Published March 2, 2007 by

We Have A House!

Home Sweet Home - image of a house
Home Sweet Home

We took a big step towards settling down in Virginia.  Wednesday morning, Feb 28, 2007, we closed on the purchase of a house here in Dale City.

For me, the closing was a typical event of crossed signals, missed connections and general confusion.  For our realtor and the other professionals it was an embarrassment of chaos.  So I’d have to guess they’re just not used to doing business the “Charest way.”

Continue…We Have A House!

Family Stories

Dale City moving new house virginia

Published March 1, 2007 by

New Oleans Rebukes the President

Satellite Photo - Hurricane Katrina
Satellite Photo – Hurricane Katrina

Hurricane Katrina may be ancient history for people away from the Gulf Coast.  But for the people still living there the after-affects are as on-going as a wound that doesn’t heal.  In New Orleans especially, the sores are wide open and festering.Today, President Bush is scheduled to visit New Orleans to give another speech and photo op.  A local blog, Humid City v2.3, is openly calling for a public rebuke of the President.

Continue…New Oleans Rebukes the President

Hurricane Katrina Diaries

Katrina New Orleans