hearing the talk about Queen Elizabeth being in Canada and then speaking at the United Nations made me remember the time I saw the Queen.  In May of 2007, Keren was spending a semester in Italy, so the whole family decided to take a trip over to see her.  While I was over there, I was fortunate enough for work to foot the bill for me to stay in London for a few days and meet everyone I work with on a daily basis.  While I was there, my friend Penny took me to see Equus, staring Daniel Radcliffe, of Harry Potter fame (yes, I saw him naked).  Anyway, on our walk home at night, past the London Eye, we hear all these sirens behind us, and then a cop (bobby?) on a motorcycle pulls up and blocks the intersection we were walking past.  I was a little scared, but we kept walking, and then saw some more bike cops roll on by, finally followed by an old style brown car, in which i could easily make out the Queen.  They just zipped right on by.  Penny was shocked.  I think she had never even seen the Queen.  I fumbled for my camera, but it was too late to snap even a blurry pic.  I’ll see if I can get Penny to back me up on this claim.

Harry Belafonte – Jump in the line

This song is stuck in head and I want it out.  RIGHT. NOW.  I have no idea when the last time I’ve ever heard this song, and I don’t even know all the lyrics, i just have the "SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE Señora " part repeating in my head.

What a weekend.  Spent friday night at becky’s family’s and ended up falling asleep there on accident.  wasn’t even a good sleep, but good enough not to leave until 10 am christmas day.  then did the christmas jig at my mom’s for the rest of christmas. 

Ended up going over my dad’s house for the first time in 7 years on sunday for christmas lunch and presents with his side.  had a good talk with my uncle about all the stuff going on too.  That house is in so much trouble, you can’t even begin to imagine.  the roof leaks, exposed floors, walls, exterior, ceilings, everything.  That house was built by family in 1885, and it has really gone down hill so terribly bad, you can’t even recognize it as a livable house.  and it still pains me so bad to think that it, and the property that we’ve had since the revolutionary war, may be in jeopardy.

so monday we met with my dad’s attorney (and i got a parking ticket during the meeting…grrr) and some good topics were covered.  there is so much that needs to be done, and that is just what i am able to see.  I have no involvement at all with finalizing his business being bought out.  J’aime says it’s a mess, and i believe it to be worse (by means of the legal things, talking to external people, getting money, making sure everyone else gets their money) than what needs to be done with the house.  But it’s hard to say really, all we have done with the house is take a few antiques out of it.

My dad left us with nothing but clean up duty from his life style.  over 60k in debt, a 55k mortgage on the house, and nothing for us to cover it with.  not only that, he took his inheritance from my grandmother already, so that’s gone too.  I have now idea how he functioned day to day, with the headstrong attitude that he did, knowing full well what trouble he was in.

so i will be spending a lot of time on this stuff, i am sure, and probably for quite a while too.  Thoughts and prayers are needed, and if you have a grand or 2, donations are welcome.  send them to the “Harry Hall had so much debt and now his kids have to clean up after him” fund.

so anyway, at work today and tomorrow, and hopefully friday off for a 4 day weekend.  and i’ll need it too.  my apartment is a wreck with all the crap i brought back from home too.  hopefully get that squared away tonight.  so much to do, so little time.

Harry R. Hall, 50, of Daisytown died Monday December 13, 2004 in Mercy Hospital, Pittsburgh following a brief illness. He was born on February 9, 1954 in North Charleroi, Pa. a son of Byron K. and Theressa Baker Hall. Harry was a 1972 graduate of California High School and a 1976 graduate of Penn State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering. He began his career as a consultant for Stehle Engineering Corp. and later became employed as a Civil Engineer by PENNDOT in Districts 11, 12, and the Central Office in Harrisburg and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission as the Engineering Project Director for the Mon-Fayette Expressway and Southern Beltway Projects before starting his business, Harry R. Hall, P.E. in Brownsville, Pa. Harry had been the owner of Deems’ Park in West Pike Run Twp. and was the founder of the Annual Make-A-Wish Caleb Jay Hall Memorial Rendezvous. He was also a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, American Society of Highway Engineers, Penn State Alumni, co-founder of the Bentleyville Wesleyan Christian School, the current appointed official of the West Pike Run Zoning Hearing Board, a musician, vocalist, golfer, and volunteered his time to many community projects. He is survived by his fiancee Robbie Matesic of Daisytown, four daughters, J’aime Rairigh of Washington, Pa., Serah Hall of Upper Marlboro, Md., Keren and Deirdre Hall both of Daisytown, one son, Josh Hall of Pittsburgh, his mother, Theressa Hall of California, Pa., one brother, Kenneth G. Hall of Oil City, Pa., and Robbie’s three daughters, Sarah Slavic of Moon Twp., and Meghan and Dana Slavic both of Daisytown. Deceased are his father, Byron K. Hall who died June 30, 1977, and his son, Caleb Jay Hall who died January 26, 1990.ll Friends will be received from 6-9pm on Wednesday and from 2-4 and 6-9pm on Thursday in the Greenlee Funeral Home, Rt. 40 Beallsville where funeral services will be held on Friday December 17, 2004 at 10:30am with Pastor John Thomas officiating. Interment will be in Beallsville Cemetery. The Family suggests memorial contributions may be made to: the Harry & Caleb Hall Scholarship Fund, 478 Sunset Dr., Daisytown, Pa. 15427.

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http://www.webfh.com/fh/obituaries/tributes.cfm?pg=1&o_id=45225&fh_id=10411

I went home for keren’s graduation and brought deirdre back up with me on thursday.  took her to ultimate frisbee with the cornerstone crew, then off to the midnight openning of harry potter with her.  she hung out my place all day friday while i was at work, and then we just hung out friday night and went home saturday.  hung out there, then out to eat with dan and jaime, saw the day after tomaro, then ended up staying over jaime and dans and going to kev and drew’s church in the morning with them.  so the past few days had been full of activities.  i really enjoyed that.  got me out of my apartment and my mind.

mellon interview tomorrow at 2.  wish me luck.  i really hope it works out.

just trying to keep my mind under control and feet on the ground for a while.  too much going on to mess up now.  and, to quote something from church today, “I am too busy NOT to pray today.”  I like that.  Consider that your quote of the moment, thought for today, and thing in closing.