Big Leather Couch

Happy Monday all...

Growing up, our next door neighbors were Al & Helen Blank. A real great couple who always had smiles on their faces. There kids, Larry and Anita were both older. Anita was about 2 years older then me and Larry was 5-6 years older (if I have those numbers wrong, please let me know Anita and/or Larry - I am 52 now).
Anyway, my dad received an email from Anita and forwarded it to me. As I have been so busy with the tournament at Little League, I have not had time to read it until today.
Wish I had this when I did my July 4th posting... some interesting tidbits about those 56 men who banded together to ensure their thoughts on liberty were recorded:

Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed
the Declaration of Independence?

Five signers were captured by the British as traitors and tortured before they died.

Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned.

Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army, another had two sons captured.

Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War.

They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.

What kind of men were they?

Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large
plantation owners; men of means, well educated. But they signed the Declaration of
Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.

Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the
seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died
in rags.

Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family
almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in
hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward.

Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett,
Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.

At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis
had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George
Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.

Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and
she died within a few months.

John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled
for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year, he
lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished.
A few weeks later, he died from exhaustion and a broken heart.

Norris and Livingston suffered similar fates.

Such were the stories and sacrifices of the American Revolution. These were not wild-eyed,
rabble-rousing ruffians. They were soft-spoken men of means and education. They had
security, but they valued liberty more.

Standing talk straight, and unwavering, they pledged: "For the support of this declaration,
with firm reliance on the protection of the divine providence, we mutually pledge to each
other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor."

They gave you and me a free and independent America. The history books never told you
a lot about what happened in the Revolutionary War. We didn't fight just the British. We
were British subjects at that time and we fought our own government!

Some of us take these liberties so much for granted, but we shouldn't.

So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July Holiday and silently thank these
patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they paid. Remember: Freedom is never free!

I hope you will show your support by please sending this to as many people as you can.
It's time we get the word out that patriotism is NOT a sin, and the Fourth of July has more
to it than beer, picnics, and baseball games.

Liked that a lot and had to share..Thanks Anita.

Well, we are through the first 4 days of the District Tournament. Concession has been hopping.
First lesson of the day kids...ADVERTISING WORKS!
For years we have sold cheesesteak hoagies. We use Rib-eye (told you that already...didn't I!?!)... The last three years, sales have gone down actually and - if not for the fact that I love them - they might have been gone from the menu next season!
In 2003, we sold 97 during regular season and 68 post-season (total 165).
In 2004 - this struck me.. 71 in regular season, 71 in post season (total 142).
Last year we sold 58 regular season, 21 post-season for a dismal 79 total.
This regular season we only sold 35 of them! That is less then 1 box.
So, just before this tournament began, I redid the signs we have near the order window. I decided to be more specific about the cheesesteak sandwiches. So, I made them "RIB-EYE CHEESE STEAKS" ... "Made with thinly sliced rib-eye steaks and covered with melted cheese sauce, Philly-Style" ... It also says, "We Do Not Use Steak-Umms" NOTE: Steak-umms are a beef product that looks like thin sandwich steak, and probably has to contain some beef...but....
so, since then...we have sold...in 4 days...108 Cheese Steak Sandwiches.
For the full post season (12 days) we've sold 127. First 8 days were 8-year old softball...and they are not big buyers in general.
Bottom Line- ADVERTISING WORKS!
Making some good money for the league also...
Thursday (2 games) earned over $1,200;
Friday (2 games) was $1,300+;
Saturday (2 games) included a run to Sam's for more french fries and other items...ran out of food already! Total was a tad shy of $1,400;
Sunday: the killer day...4 games - 12 hours on site, 99% of them at the grill... $1,900+ ... still not our record though. That was on July 11, 2004 and the register was $2,523.00. That was the Sunday of this same tournament. The difference yesterday was two-fold. We had two games that were lop-sided prior to their starting, so many times the opposing team's fans will not come out in force for a game like that Secondly, three of the games yesterday were decided early by the 10-run rule. So, we probably lost 2 hours of selling.

I KNOW I AM RAMBLING>>>>but that is why I set this place up ... no?

Bwahahahahahahaha - see what little sleep and cooking so many cheesesteaks will do to you!

Remember .. Nets For Malaria - UNFoundation.org/malaria - find the big SI's Nothing But Net logo ... Or call 202.887.9040. Every cent goes to buying nets to place over the beds of children in Africa to stomp out Malaria. PLEASE HELP.

Keep that spark of insanity kids...It helps keep you an individual.