Thursday, May 5, 2011

Bangor getting a new arena

My Thought on..Bangor getting a new arena is that will be a positive move for the city that will become clearer as time passes.  It was a controversial issue here because we are in a recession and the new facility costs an estimated $65 million.  Another factor that turned a lot of people off from it being built is that a huge source of funding is from profits earned by Hollywood Slots Hotel and Raceway.

I am basing this paragraph on comments I heard from a customer where I work.  He was a religious fanatic from what I could tell.  I say this because he told me Hollywood Slots was built by the devil and is run by his demons.  He also said the storage trailers out back of the building house the dead bodies from random murders that must occur there on a nightly basis.  I countered simply by telling him I thought they hold the chairs and tables for events that take place there, but thanked him for letting me know I was wrong.

The summer waterfront concert series has been a moneymaker so far.  Why not let that continue year round in a state of the art arena?  You think this city rocks hard when ZZ Top and Charlie Daniels come to town?  Wait to see what happens when a good band from now shows up!!!!!

Seriously though, the opposition gathered over 2200 signatures to get their cause to a referendum vote.  When it came time to vote though they could muster only under 2000 votes.  Crushing win by the devil in Bangor!

I guess people went to the circus this past weekend and looked at the building like I did wondering if I was going to come out alive.

New arena coming soon!  Better concerts, sporting events and political icons will be coming here.  Enjoy Bangor!

Monday, May 2, 2011

May 1st, 2011

My Thought On May 1st, 2011 is that this has been one of the best days of my life.  It started with our annual March For Babies (the annual March of Dimes fundraising event for premature babies).  We had over 25 walkers with us this morning and raised over $2500!  The sense of pride and happiness I had from this fact is overwhelming and is hard to put into words.  Looking around the gymnasium beforehand; I had a rush of emotions taking me back to the day ANP was born in 2007 (the scariest and happiest day of my life all in one).

I spent the day with my family.  We went to get ice cream.  Seems simple, but it made me so happy on this kind of day to be so close to my family.

And now tonight...

I read a report that Osama Bin Laden was dead and in US custody.  As I watched CNN's coverage, I found I could not change the channel.  I had to keep updating my Facebook status and check other friends' statuses.  I also had another rush of emotions and reflection over the last almost 10 years.

Every one's life changed on 9/11/01.  This nation changed.  I remember the sadness that lingered for weeks in me after the events transpired.  I also remember the hatred building inside of me for Osama Bin Laden.  So many innocent people were killed on his order by Al Qaeda.  He was enemy #1.  He also always found a way to be a step ahead of our intelligence and military efforts.  Today he was not so fortunate.

I am proud of my president for acting on the intel that he first learned months ago.  There have been times where we would bomb a cave, or a house in some remote village rumored to house Bin Laden, but kept coming up short of our goal.  For President Obama to commit US troops to conduct this mission inside a compound inside of Pakistan took GUTS.  His head is on the line if this mission fails.  We can rejoice that justice has been served by the sharp edge of our US Navy Seals tonight.  The main person responsible for 9/11 is dead.  It took almost 10 years, but we did not give up.

A lot has changed in my life in that time.  I moved from Ohio to Maine.  I got married to the girl I loved.  I switched employers.  We bought our first house together.  We had a baby, ANP, born prematurely in 2007, and another one, BAP, born prematurely in 2010.

I am happy now knowing that my sons will be able to read about the events of 9/11 in history someday, and know that the person mostly responsible for the death and sadness was brought to justice on May 1, 2011.  This is such a historical day.  One could argue that President Obama's speech tonight was the most important one by a president since Reagan ordered the Berlin Wall taken down. 

For what it's worth, that is My Thought On May 1st, 2011.