Adrianna’s Odyssey

Posted on November 11, 2008 by Courtney Mroch

Of all the required reading I was assigned in high school English, one classic in particular endures to this day among my all time favorite stories: Homer’s The Odyssey. I got to thinking about it when I was trying to come up with something to write in the Marriage Blog in honor of Veteran’s Day. Adrianna and Gordon It all started last week when Jade sent me the link to an article from the New York Times by Michael Winerip titled “Parenting/The Home Front: For Young Newlyweds, a Life Deferred by War.” It was about a girl named Adrianna (17) … Continue reading →

Pop Culture Potpourri–Ebay No-No and Star Tells Students to Just Say No

Posted on May 26, 2008 by Michele Cheplic

EBAY NO-NO They insist it was a joke, but police and millions of Internet users around the world aren’t laughing one bit. Sad but true; according to police near Berlin, Germany a young couple has been taken into custody for allegedly trying to sell their baby on eBay. The 7-month-old boy is now in custody and his parents are behind bars after they reportedly posted an ad on eBay offering to sell the child for one euro, which is the equivalent of $1.57. While the child remains in the care of youth services authorities are investigating the case and could … Continue reading →

The Boy With Green Hair (1948)

Posted on April 23, 2008 by Dale Harcombe

I admit to being a fan of Pat O’Brien and he was the reason we initially watched this film. In Australia the ABC channel often shows old black and white movies late at night. The film starts with a child, played by Dean Stockwell, who refuses to speak and will not even give his name when he is brought into the police station. After a time Dr Evans played by Robert Ryan, elicits the story of why the shaven headed child, has run away. From there it goes back to events leading up to his flight. Peter is an orphan … Continue reading →

A Prayer For Each Day

Posted on April 7, 2008 by Dale Harcombe

In the film ‘Friendly Persuasion’ Eliza Birdwell’s response to the challenge, thrown out by Major Harvey, for the Quakers to become involved in the war, was to pray ‘The will of God be revealed and we be given the strength and grace to follow Thy will.’ This is a prayer each of us could each use to start each day. For like it or not we are all involved in a war. Our war is not against a flesh and blood enemy. Our war is ‘against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the … Continue reading →

Prince Harry Fighting the Taliban

Posted on February 28, 2008 by Michele Cheplic

So much for keeping it a secret mission. Prince Harry has spent the last 10 weeks on the frontline in Afghanistan serving his country alongside his fellow soldiers. Only the world was not supposed to know about it. Of course, he is the son of Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana, so it should come as no surprise that someone let out that the 23-year-old second lieutenant in the Blues and Royals regiment of the Household Cavalry had finally gotten his wish to join his fellow British countrymen in the war-torn country. According to news reports, Harry arrived in … Continue reading →

The Kestrel – Lloyd Alexander

Posted on May 25, 2007 by Tristi Pinkston

“The Kestrel” is the sequel to Lloyd Alexander’s young adult fantasy novel, “Westmark.” Mickle, once a street urchin but revealed to be the long lost daughter of the king and queen, is now the ruler of Westmark. Her father passed away and the crown came to her, making her Queen Augusta. Still more comfortable in breeches than in a crown, she doesn’t want to merely sit on her throne; she wants to make a difference in the country. Cabbarus, exiled former cabinet minister of Westmark, has a plan for revenge. He has gone to the neighboring country of Regia and … Continue reading →

Prince Harry—No Iraq

Posted on May 16, 2007 by Michele Cheplic

Was it all much ado about nothing? Or was it a legitimate case of risky business? Whatever the real reason is (or if in fact the report is true) Britain’s Prince Harry will not be going with his unit to Iraq. According to Britain’s top general, sending Harry was simply too dangerous. Gen. Sir Richard Dannatt, the army chief of staff who recently traveled to Iraq to assess the situation prior to the prince’s deployment said today, “the changing situation on the ground exposed the prince to too much danger.” The general went on to say that specific threats to … Continue reading →

Soldier’s Heart – Gary Paulsen

Posted on April 16, 2007 by Tristi Pinkston

I’ve always been fascinated by the Civil War, and so was very excited to read “Soldier’s Heart” by Gary Paulsen. This is the true story of Charley Goddard who joined up with the First Minnesota Volunteers when he was just fifteen years old, after walking a distance from his hometown so no one would know him and then lying about his age. Charley was the oldest in his family. His father died some years before, leaving Charley, his mother, and his little brother to fend for themselves. There had been rumors of war for some time, but they didn’t think … Continue reading →

Prince Harry going to War?

Posted on February 17, 2007 by Libby Pelham

The Daily Mirror is reporting that Princess Diana’s youngest son, 22-year-old Prince Harry, is set to go to Iraq very soon. It is believed that the Defense Secretary Des Browne will make the announcement on February 26th. The royal family has not made a comment on the report and the Defense Ministry had said it was speculative earlier today, but CNN is reporting that a British Military source is saying he will indeed go to war. Prince Harry graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 2006. He is known by the 11 soldiers he commands as Troop Commander Wales. … Continue reading →