Dear Lester,

Welcome back!  Congratulations on your son's high school graduation!  I graduated from high school exactly 20 years ago tonight.  Scary!  Maybe, in a few years, you will have grandbabies to fill up your "empty nest."  No rush, though.

I've been meaning to remark on how absolutely superb the reporting from China has been.  I have especially appreciated the length of time devoted to coverage in each newscast.  It's a very tragic, but very compelling story.  The reporting from Mark Mullen, Ian Williams, and your British television partners has been outstanding.  And those photographs of the wedding party amongst the ruins were surreal.

Lots of love to my friends Lisa, Jackie, and Stephanie.  Hello, also, to Celine, Claudia, Anna, and Matt.  Have a great holiday.  XOXO

P.S. - Anna, I once had a crush on "Keith Partridge."  Shh.  Don't tell anybody!

First Lester, Congratulations to your graduate! I hope you got to have the big party, it really is one of life's best memories (at least for the parents).
Don't plan on the empty nest too soon, my experience was that the fledglings flew back to the nest a few times before leaving for good. My husband once suggested installing a revolving door, said it would cut down on energy use with all the boys moving in and out!

I want to comment on Laurels post from yesterday..
Small minds talk about people, average minds talk about things and great minds talk about ideas.

If you look over the last couple of dustups here you will discover that the regulars tend towards great minds. We tend to debate, and analyze the news. We never attack, nor is name-calling a part of our repertory.
Read just about any other blog, a certain excellent political blog on msnbc comes to mind, and both attacks and name calling among the posters is practically mandatory. Our sheer lack of negativity lends it's self to having what the young ones refer to as "haters" to assume that we are mere yes men. Little do the "drive-by posters" know. I will continue to challenge the worst of them, personal attacks on the anchor, or individual posters need not be tolerated, but I also take it with a grain of salt. So should we all.

Stephanie, Over jeg lag yet? Welcome home.

Lisa 10 days

Good Evening Mr.Holt, Congratulations on your youngest son graduating from high school! That is wonderful! Now on to the broadcast. The report by Mr.Mullen from China concerning the aftershocks was simply devastating. All those people living in tents around the city with so much destruction in the area. With rainy season coming I hope the dams hold out and don't cause any flooding. It was good that rescuers were able to rescue that man trapped for twelve days. It is incredible he was able to survive that long, but wonderful he was still alive when they found him. The numbers are so large as to the losses it just seems incomprehensible, but it is true. I do hope these people are able to rebuild their fallen cities. It will take a very long time. I will say that Mr.Mullen,Mr.Williams, and reporters with your British partner have done a wonderful job covering the terrible disaster. I agree with Laurel they have all done an outstanding job.
With regards to the report by Mr.Savidge from Atlanta concerning the water system, Mayor Shirley Franklin has really concentrated on this problem in our city. There are many water main breaks and she has spent much time,money and effort trying to fiox this problem. One thing our State does not need during the drought is wasting water. She has done a good job, but there is much more work to be accomplished.
Finally, the piece about the marine finding the final resting places of fallen soldiers during a battle in the South Pacific and helping to bring the remains back home was very moving and so appropriate for Memorial Day. These fallen soldiers should never be forgotten and he is doing fine work in locating where they are in the area. God Bless all our fallen soldiers and those now fighting for our country!
Thank you for the broadcast Mr.Holt! Again, Congratulations to your son on his high school graduation! Much success to him in the future! Peace to you and to all!

Lots of Love to Laurel,Jackie and Stephanie!
Welcome Home Stephanie! Great to have you back!!
Hi to all great ladies of this blog!
Celine-I am also scheduled to receive Richard's book this week too! Supposed to be this Thursday! I can't wait! I can't wait until June 5th too!
Be Well Always!  

Congratulations on your son's graduation!!!  You and your wife must be very proud of him, a joyous day for your family..  Our daughter is having her Tenth High
School Reunion in June, and I am so proud of what she has accomplished in those ten years.

I wish all of you a great Memorial day.

Phyllis Kunz

Hi Lester Congratulation to your son's graduation.

Now to the subject that seems to change and get bigger by the day. Hillary's reference to RFK campaigning in June. Yes Bobby was assassinated it's a fact. Plot to kill FDR and JFK was assassinated that's a fact. No one but the Media said Obama until today. Fox News reporter Liz Trotta made it clear with her comment about Osama and Obama. Now I did notice that information is all over the websites but not a word on the Media news. Senator Obama was threaten when he entered the race as he was the only candidate with Secret Service Security. Yes when Teflon John spent all his money he had to fly coach, carry his own bags and sleep at Motel 6, no security in sight. We have problems in this country and both Hillary and Obama are targets by nuts and reporters.

Lester the fake stories of why the oil is high is getting old. We know why the prices are high, it's greed. Nothing has changed from 2007 to 2008 with the numbers of drivers. But Law Makers, Cheney and big business are getting big quarterly profits and that is why. Russia/China made deals for oil while the White House was busy stealing, committing crimes in the US and causing chaos around the World to do the business of the people.

As President Bush and John McCain attack Obama and Hillary for their position on talking to the enemy the NBC News forgot to report the following. Isreal has been meeting with Syria, Hezbollah and Hamas. Looks like somebody again is lying or maybe Isreal just forgot to tell the White House.

History in the making. Nixon and Clinton couldn't use Executive Privilege as President in criminal cases. But there's a new Bush Law gives Karl Rove Executive Privilege as an aide.  Now if this goes to the Supreme Court it will be interesting to see how 7 Justices get out of this one for the GOP. If the Congress has a spine Karl Rove will be arrested.  Looks like President Bush will have again step in and perform his Dictatorship to let the Branches of Government and the American People we have no Constitution and we now have a Dictatorship in the United States now.

All please take the time to honor our troops not just give lip service. Put a flag on a soldiers grave, take a minute to say a prayer and if possible that a soldier for his/her service to our country.  I would ask that Americans ask they Law Makers to stand up and bring our troops home but I know Americans have other things to do. I will be visiting a Vets Hospital as I do often and then later in the day go to a near by grave site to put flags on our fallen soldiers grave. I already sent care gifts to Iraq and Afghanistan to soldiers by daughter served with.  Thank you.

Best as always to Lisa, Laural, Stephanie, Claudia, Anne and Matt.

Hi Lester:

Good to see you tonight!  Wow!   I would have never, ever guess you had a son graduating.    You are looking younger each and every day.  Mrs. H must be talking good care of you!    Congratulations on the "empty nester newbie" status!

@ All:

With regards to Richard's appearances, don't ask me how I find all of this stuff just know I am one talented and savvy internet woman!   (Chuckles)

Really I am going through a bored period in my life.  Nothing good on TV in the evenings, the news seems too sad with the war, China, Burma and most of TV is election coverage.  So why not see if I can find Richard somewhere on a Southwest Airline route!  Things are so bad on TV (beside Nightly of course)  I think I am going back to re-read all of Jane Austen this summer.  

I will give you the "skinny" on the following information and no I am not Richard's publicist but if he feels things are not shall we say going his way with his current publicist, he can drop me an email and I will see what I can do for him.  (Chuckles)  

I am still waiting for a response from Brian for a private book signing at NBC studios for all of the blog regulars including Normand and Matt.  

Here's what I have..................

May 30 -- LA
 
http://www.bookexpoamerica.com/en-us/specialevents.cfm

June 5  -- Atlanta

http://www.jimmycarterlibrary.org/events/

June 7  --- Chicago

http://www.chicagotribune.com/about/custom/events/printersrow/chi-printersrowauthors-htmlstory,0,2085018.htmlstory

June 10 -- LA

http://www.townhall-la.org/programs/register/1212

June 11 -- SanFranciso, CA (found by Claudia)

http://www.marineclub.com

That wraps it up for me!  I haven't found one signing in NYC which suprises me.   Then again it is a summer book distribution.

Usually the independent book stores and B&N love these events. I think Borders may be out since B&N may be purchasing them.

Celine, don't give up, check www.interbridge.com closer to the book release.    I'm still feeling a Larry King show and a Colbert show.    This is just a feeling and is not fact so please don't quote me.  

@ All of our military and veterans:

THANK YOU!  We have not forgotten you and your families!  

@ John Rutherford, NBC:

Thanks for not letting us forget.  You are a real gem!   I do read all of your posts. NBC is lucky to have you too!

Sunday night bests to all!  

Lester, My husband and I are in Tianjin, China for 3 months of medical treatment for him.  The population, issues, earthquake, etc. are all hard to wrap your mind around.  We miss your weekend news, the Today Show, and Brian at night, but appreciate your online info. We get the BBC and it's NOT NBC! This is a very interesting culture.

@ All:

FYI, you can read about 60 pages of Richard's book on-line at www.barnesandnoble.com.  You must be a registered user.  

If you don't want to spoil the read, just read the first few pages about him being sick in Baghdad and his fixer giving him sheep's brain broth to eat and drink.   Yuck!  The drink supposedly had some added benefits and positive side effects.  

I'll keep that in mind for any of the men in my life complaining about the cost of the little blue pill.   For some reason I'm just wondering, is little blue packed with sheep's brains?    :)

Sorry...hit the button too fast.

If you missed the Memorial Day concert last night on PBS.   It will be re-broadcast this afternoon.  Check your local listings.   Of course, no Keith Lockhart this year!   Bummer!  

Allow me to offer my congrats to the youngest Holt to graduate high school.  What a grand night I'm sure it was for the entire family!  My graduation is now 15 years in my past, and I wonder where the years have gone and have I done them justice.  I wish the young man "fair wings and following sails" as he embarks on the adult portion of his life.

Claudia: my cold is finally retreating, so my jet lag is finally over.  Unfortunately, I've given my germs to my Maine nieces.  Auntie feels so guilty - specially with one of them having her first birthday this coming weekend!

Lisa, & Laurel, thanks for the welcome home wishes.  It's great to be home again!

Laurel, very well said in your post.  I can get name calling on other blogs and I choose not to respond.  This one actually has sane minds that can actually agree and disagree without coming to blows or name calling.  

Jackie, if I had been feeling 100%, I would have gone to the cemetery where my dad is buried to leave flags for the veterans who are buried nearby.  I know that you've provided valuable recognition to the vets who are still living - after all, isn't it best to give accolades to a person while he or she is still living?  

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