Patricia Ann Spegal Cox

Thank you to all who attended the benefit for Pat. Please keep her friends & family in your thoughts and prayers

Patricia Ann Spegal Cox, Veritude Employee - KYPost.com

Patricia Ann Spegal Cox, Veritude Employee

Web Produced: Kerry Duke Email: Kerry.Duke@kypost.com Last Update: 12/24 12:12 pm

Patricia Ann Spegal Cox Patricia Ann Spegal Cox, 58, of Independence died Tuesday, Dec. 22 at Hospice of the Bluegrass Care Center in Fort Thomas. She was a policy processor for Veritude, a 28-year employee with Value City Department Store in Latonia and a member of Hickory Grove Baptist Church. Survivors include her daughters, Dana Locklear of Florence, Devin Watkins of Burlington and Diana Bay of Ludlow; father, Leonard Spegal of Independence; sister, Sue Fisk of Walton; and four grandchildren. Services will be at noon Monday, Dec. 28 at Chambers and Grubbs Funeral Home in Independence. Visitation will begin there at 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 28. Burial will be in Floral Hills Memorial Gardens in Taylor Mill. Memorials are suggested to Hospice of the Bluegrass-Northern Kentucky, 7388 Turfway Road, Florence, KY 41042 and Kenton County Animal Shelter, 1020 Mary Laidley Drive, Fort Mitchell, KY 41017. Online condolences may be expressed at www.chambersandgrubbs.com.

UPDATED INFO ON UNEMPLOYMENT AS OF 12-24-09!!!

NEW INFO FROM THE UNEMPLOYMENT WEBSITE!!!!
Thursday, December 24, 2009

On Saturday, December 19, 2009, President Obama signed legislation that lengthened the time period for which individuals may receive the following unemployment benefit programs:

The Federal Additional Compensation (FAC) program, which allows states to pay an additional $25 for each week that an individual receives unemployment benefits, has been extended from December 2009 to February 2010. Individuals who establish regular UC claims prior to February 28, 2010, may receive the additional $25 payment through the week of August 28, 2010.

For further information, please see UC Changes Due to Stimulus Package.

The federally funded Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) program has been extended from December 2009 to February 2010. Individuals with a remaining balance of EUC benefits after February may continue to collect benefits until July 2010.

For further information, please see UC Federal Extended Benefits FAQs.

The 100 percent federally funding for State Extended Benefits (known as “Ohio EB” or “Ohio Extended Benefits”) has also been extended from December 2009 to February 2010.

For further information, please see UC State Extended Benefits FAQs.

A Rescue Dog's Christmas Poem

Thanks to Milda for our pet story!

Based on the epithet that: "A dog is not just for Christmas".

'Tis the night before Christmas and all through the town,
every shelter is full - we are lost but not found,
Our numbers are hung on our kennels so bare,
we hope every minute that someone will care,
They'll come to adopt us and give us the call,
"Come here, Max and Sparkie - come fetch your new ball!!"

But now we sit here and think of the days...
we were treated so fondly - we had cute, baby ways,
Once we were little, then we grew and we grew -
now we're no longer young and we're no longer new.
So out the back door we were thrown like the trash,
they reacted so quickly - why were they so rash?

We "jump on the children", "don't come when they call",
we "bark when they leave us", "climb over the wall".
We should have been neutered, we should have been spayed,
now we suffer the consequence of the errors they made.
If only they'd trained us, if only we knew...
we'd have done what they asked us and worshiped them, too.

We were left in the backyard, or worse - let to roam -
now we're tired and lonely and out of a home.
They dropped us off here and they kissed us good-bye...
"Maybe someone else will give you a try."
So now here we are, all confused and alone...
in a shelter with others who long for a home.

The kind workers come through with a meal and a pat,
with so many to care for, they can't stay to chat,
They move to the next kennel, giving each of us cheer...
we know that they wonder how long we'll be here.
We lay down to sleep and sweet dreams fill our heads...
of a home filled with love and our own cosy beds.

Then we wake to see sad eyes, brimming with tears -
our friends filled with emptiness, worry, and fear.
If you can't adopt us and there's no room at the Inn -
could you help with the bills and fill our food bin?
We count on your kindness each day of the year -
can you give more than hope to everyone here?

Please make a donation to pay for the heat...
and help get us something special to eat.
The shelter that cares for us wants us to live,
and more of us will, if more people will give.

Author unknown

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You Just Can't Make This Stuff Up - #2

NOW DON'T YOU FEEL LIKE A BLOOMIN' GENIUS??

You Just Can't Make This Stuff Up - #1

Christmas Trees Around The World!

Thanks to Trudi!!

" Holiday Trees"

What's really interesting at the end is the real meaning of the 12 days of Christmas - I didn't know that... " : Christmas Trees From Around The World Seasons greetings to all! Make sure you go all the way to the bottom of the e-mail, the picture and information about Arlington Cemetery in the winter, before Christmas is beautiful!

The Capitol Christmas tree in Washington , D.C. , is decorated with 3,000 ornaments that are the handiwork of U.S. schoolchildren. Encircling evergreens in the 'Pathway of Peace' represent the 50 U.S. states.

The world's largest Christmas tree display rises up the slopes of Monte Ingino outside of Gubbio, in Italy 's Umbria region. Composed of about 500 lights connected by 40,000 feet of wire, the 'tree' is a modern marvel for an ancient city.

A Christmas tree befitting Tokyo 's nighttime neon display is projected onto the exterior of the Grand Prince Hotel Akasaka.

Illuminating the Gothic facades of Prague 's Old Town Square , and casting its glow over the manger display of the famous Christmas market, is a grand tree cut in the Sumava mountains in the southern Czech Republic .

Venice 's Murano Island renowned throughout the world for its quality glasswork is home to the tallest glass tree in the world. Sculpted by master glass blower Simone Cenedese, the artistic Christmas tree is a modern reflection of the holiday season.

Moscow celebrates Christmas according to the Russian Orthodox calendar on Jan. 7. For weeks beforehand, the city is alive with festivities in anticipation of Father Frost's arrival on his magical troika with the Snow Maiden. He and his helper deliver gifts under the New Year tree, or yolka, which is traditionally a fir.

The largest Christmas tree in Europe (more than 230 feet tall) can be found in the Praça do Comércio in Lisbon , Portugal . Thousands of lights adorn the tree, adding to the special

enchantment of the city during the holiday season.

'Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree': Even in its humblest attire, aglow beside a tiny chapel in Germany 's Karwendel mountains, a Christmas tree is a wondrous sight.

Ooh la la Galeries Lafayette! In Paris , even the Christmas trees are chic. With its monumental, baroque dome, plus 10 stories of lights and high fashion, it's no surprise this show-stopping department store draws more visitors than the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower.

In addition to the Vatican 's heavenly evergreen, St. Peter's Square in Rome hosts a larger-than-life nativity scene in front of the obelisk.

The Christmas tree that greets revelers at the Puerta del Sol is dressed for a party. Madrid 's two-week celebration makes millionaires along with merrymakers. On Dec. 22, a lucky citizen will win El Gordo (the fat one), the world's biggest lottery.

A token of gratitude for Britain 's aid during World War II, the Christmas tree in London 's Trafalgar Square has been the annual gift of the people of Norway since 1947.

Drink a glass of gluhwein from the holiday market at the Romer

Frankfurt's city hall since 1405 and enjoy a taste of Christmas past.

Against a backdrop of tall, shadowy firs, a rainbow trio of

There is one Christmas Carol that has always baffled me.

What in the world do leaping lords, French hens,

swimming swans, and especially the partridge who won't come out

of the pear tree have to do with Christmas?

This week, I found out.

From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics.

It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.

-The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.

-Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.

-Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.

-The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.

-The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.

-The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.

-Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit--Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.

-The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.

-Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit--Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness,

Gentleness, and Self Control.

-The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.

-The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.

-The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.

So there is your history for today. This knowledge was shared with me and I found it interesting and enlightening and now I know how that strange song became a Christmas Carol...so pass it on if you wish.'

Merry (Twelve Days of) Christmas Everyone

CHRISTMAS AT ARLINGTON CEMETERY

I wonder why the press hasn't enlightened the public about it??

Arlington National Cemetery

Rest easy, sleep well my brothers.

Know the line has held, your job is done.

Rest easy, sleep well.

Others have taken up where you fell, the line has held.

Peace, peace, and farewell...

Readers may be interested to know that these wreaths -- some 5,000 -- are donated by the Worcester Wreath Co. of Harrington, Maine . The owner, Merrill Worcester, not only provides the wreaths, but covers the trucking expense as well. He's done this since 1992. A wonderful guy. Also, most years, groups of Maine school kids combine an educational trip to DC with this event to help out. Making this even more remarkable is the fact that Harrington is in one the poorest parts of the state.

Please share this with everyone on your address list. You hear too much about the bad things people do. Everyone should hear about this.

Clydesdale snow fight

Thanks Trudi for this cute video!

Polar Bears!!