This was just submitted to me at work, it seems like it also went to the Daily News as well:

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“Hero Day” We have enough walls and memorials in just about every city of this great nation, you will see signs in an emergency dial 911. I offer that our elected public officials set in motion a bill that 9/11 (September 11th) henceforth be known as Hero Day. A day set aside to honor all the police, fire, emergency service technicians, and all those who put their lives on the line each day for the benefit of their fellow man. I further submit that a law be invoked, appropriately named the “Blue Law.” This law would require that all stores and businesses to remain closed. No Business, no sales, no holiday. A day set aside for family, friends, and communities to gather together. Due to greed we have lost the meaning of Memorial, Labor, and Veterans Days let this day remain 9/11 forever. We should never forget. Dedicated to The Twin Towers NYFD - NYPD God bless the victims and the families God Bless American forever Proud to be an American, [Name omitted by Moi for privacy] Retired NYPD

What do you guys think? I think it’s a hell of a great idea…

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Help is on the way - A large convoy of trucks is lining up right here in Stroudsburg with medical supplies, and a whole bunch of other goodies from states going as far back as Indiana… on it’s way to NYC. Just waiting for clearance from the George Washington Bridge.

Yeah, life is good.

Carole heads off to work at night, and I have “Puddy” show up right at the door, just minutes after she leaves… like clockwork. It’s a nice feeling to have someone snuggle with me at night again.

Carole knows, and has no problem with it. Truth be told, she’s actually encouraging it.

“Puddy” is apparently a housecat that somebody no longer wanted (or lost). I can tell, because she’s still kinda fat, and relatively clean, even though she has no collar or tags. She shows up every night looking for something to eat.

What did you *think* I was talking about?

Now that we no longer have dogs to eat our leftovers… Puddy and I have a great working relationship. She also boosts the kid’s spirits (If you recall, the kids were taken away, without even given a chance to say “goodbye” to them.), since we’re not legally allowed to have pets anymore.

Carole named her “Puddy Tat”. Original, no? This is the same person that named a black cat “Snowball” and an orange tabby “Dog” back in our N.Y.C. apartment when we first got married.

I’m trying really hard to be the tough guy here…. enforcing it in
everyone’s heads that we can’t keep Puddy as a pet.

The other night, the kids took her in because she was crying from the flashing lightning… I crashed after doing an all-nighter and going straight to work.

I was told Puddy spent the entire night sleeping on my chest.

So here’s the situation:

1) We can’t have pets…
2) I hate cats…
3) It’s EXTREMELY dangerous where we live. We spot bears crossing the road almost every day, looking for food for the upcoming winter (which is going to be a *BITCH*… you heard it here first!). We actually spotted a Bobcat on our property the other day, among other wild predators. Puddy won’t stand a chance out there alone. It’s just a matter of time before a wild animal either tears her to shreds, or gives her rabies.
4) You should see the kids’ eyes light up every time Puddy shows up. They go outside and play with her, try to sneak her in… then I have to be the bad guy and put her back out.
5) I’m probably more attached to this cat than I want to admit.

So what the hell do I do now?
Pictures of Puddy coming soon… (’cause I like to torture myself that
way.)

Dramatic footage captured by NBC’s “Chopper4″ Photo: Associated Press/NBC

Well, you can pretty much imagine what I did all day…

First was Attack on America, where I was given approximately 35 minutes to whip up a database script and pages to report ongoing events in New York City as it happened… and the newsroom wanted us going live by 10 AM.

Hey. You know me. Piece of cake.

Then, around 1PM, Our publisher announced on tv about our web coverage, and the paper is printing a special edition at 5PM.
entitled: “Terror in the U.S.

Talk about a mob scene. This paper is already a collector’s item.

Then they wanted a “web version”…

That’s okay. I didn’t mind throwing myself into my work today… even seeing pictures of places I hung out, worked, had lunch… now covered in 6 inches of debris. Or AP pictures that was deemed “sickening”, even by my standards.

As long as I don’t have to think about all of the friends and family I have, that work in the financial district.

That I may never hear from again…..

I throw myself into my work, and I don’t have to think about this very surrealistic day… which I know, things will never be the same no matter what.