It's That Time Again 9/11 9th Anniv.

[IassaFTots]

can someone pls tell me how to change my avatar? 

Up at the top, click on profile, and to the left click on Forum Profile Info.  There you will see it.  I use "I will update from my own pics" 

[BlueStateSaint]

I worked in the lab that is under the Corning Tower in Albany NY at the time.  I was looking at the batch of samples I had run the night before, with my supervisor, and in came one of our senior chemists, who said, "Two planes hit the World Trade Center."  All of a sudden, the lab--the whole ****ing lab, all floors--got frenzied.  Howard Stern was on the radio across the hall, and he was speechless.  Never heard that happen, before or since.  When the words "al-Qaida" were mentioned, one of the techs mentioned that at Ramzi Bin al-Sheb's (sp?) trial a few years previous, the Corning Tower in Albany was listed as an alternate target.  We then heard about the Pentagon, and a field in PA.  I called my wife (we had been married three months) and told ehr about the significance of the Corning Tower, and she said, "Get out of there."  So, I left, went to the parking lot, and went back into Albany to get my wife and MIL, who worked in the next office.  No one was on the streets of Albany.  I started to freak out, and I was going 85 mph up Broadway in Albany (a 30 mph zone).  We got to the proper parking lot, dropped off my MIL and a co-worker of hers, and then went home--and I saw the towers going down for the first time.  My wife was crying, and she couldn't understand why I wasn't.  I wanted blood.  Lots of it.  Still do.

Never forget, nor forgive!

[Ptarmigan]

I worked in the lab that is under the Corning Tower in Albany NY at the time.  I was looking at the batch of samples I had run the night before, with my supervisor, and in came one of our senior chemists, who said, "Two planes hit the World Trade Center."  All of a sudden, the lab--the whole ****ing lab, all floors--got frenzied.  Howard Stern was on the radio across the hall, and he was speechless.  Never heard that happen, before or since.  When the words "al-Qaida" were mentioned, one of the techs mentioned that at Ramzi Bin al-Sheb's (sp?) trial a few years previous, the Corning Tower in Albany was listed as an alternate target.  We then heard about the Pentagon, and a field in PA.  I called my wife (we had been married three months) and told ehr about the significance of the Corning Tower, and she said, "Get out of there."  So, I left, went to the parking lot, and went back into Albany to get my wife and MIL, who worked in the next office.  No one was on the streets of Albany.  I started to freak out, and I was going 85 mph up Broadway in Albany (a 30 mph zone).  We got to the proper parking lot, dropped off my MIL and a co-worker of hers, and then went home--and I saw the towers going down for the first time.  My wife was crying, and she couldn't understand why I wasn't.  I wanted blood.  Lots of it.  Still do.

Never forget, nor forgive!

I wonder if anyone in Albany noticed American Airlines Flight 11 deviating that morning and what they made of it.

[BlueStateSaint]

I wonder if anyone in Albany noticed American Airlines Flight 11 deviating that morning and what they made of it.

It was probably too high for the naked eye, but I'm sure that there were one or two ATCs in the tower at AIA who were wondering.

[JohnnyReb]

I was at a country store. Bunch of us rednecks in there looking at TV and fix'n to go to work when the first plane hit. I thought to myself, "What a terrible accident" but a redneck beside me was a little more in tune. He flat footed stated, "Boys, I don't know who but we are at war with somebody."....a few minutes later, I had to agree with him.

Rednecks are really smarter than most people give them credit for being.

[The Hollywood NeoCon]

Nine years ago, I was unemployed, alone, and living in a shitty apartment my mom owned in Inglewood. I spent the majority of my days feeling sorry for myself, and alternating between thoughts of entering the priesthood and fantasies of wining an Oscar for having directed a film that the entire world would adore.

In other words, I was drinking. A lot. By myself. My biggest fear the night of 9/09/01 was being found dead on the couch in my boxer shorts with 37 empty bottles of beer around me and a urine-filled windshield washer bottle at my feet.

The night before 9/11, I had managed to shower and meet a friend from college at the Forum in Westwood, CA to see Tool. It was a show that changed my life not only because of what they did that night, but what would happen to me less than 12 hours after they finally ended their show.

Just before 6:45 am pacific time on September 11, I awoke, let the dog out, went to pee, then turned the TV on.

At 7:03, the second plane hit the WTC.

From that moment until my birthday on January 18, 2002, I basically gave up on my life. Good, innocent people were either murdered, killed trying to save each other, or worst of all, made the decision to end their own lives knowing the entire world was watching them do so, while there I sat, drinking myself to death because it wasn't ME having to make that call.

That's what I've taken away from 9/11 -- the notion that I should've been there, not those good people who never asked to pick a side in this fight. At that point in time, they were doing what they needed to do for their families, while I was doing whatever I needed to do in order to function.

On 9/11/01, I was a pathetic drunk. On 9/11/10, I am a functioning, happy, loving man. It is for the honor of those who died for me on 9/11 that I live my life as an honest and good man.

I can only hope that that is enough.

[Revolution]

Will do. I can't seem to find my hometown's Sept. 12th issue. The Search feature doesn't work for some reason. Though, I think I found a photo from the linkl you provided that will suffice.

[formerlurker]

Nine years ago, I was unemployed, alone, and living in a shitty apartment my mom owned in Inglewood. I spent the majority of my days feeling sorry for myself, and alternating between thoughts of entering the priesthood and fantasies of wining an Oscar for having directed a film that the entire world would adore.

In other words, I was drinking. A lot. By myself. My biggest fear the night of 9/09/01 was being found dead on the couch in my boxer shorts with 37 empty bottles of beer around me and a urine-filled windshield washer bottle at my feet.

The night before 9/11, I had managed to shower and meet a friend from college at the Forum in Westwood, CA to see Tool. It was a show that changed my life not only because of what they did that night, but what would happen to me less than 12 hours after they finally ended their show.

Just before 6:45 am pacific time on September 11, I awoke, let the dog out, went to pee, then turned the TV on.

At 7:03, the second plane hit the WTC.

From that moment until my birthday on January 18, 2002, I basically gave up on my life. Good, innocent people were either murdered, killed trying to save each other, or worst of all, made the decision to end their own lives knowing the entire world was watching them do so, while there I sat, drinking myself to death because it wasn't ME having to make that call.

That's what I've taken away from 9/11 -- the notion that I should've been there, not those good people who never asked to pick a side in this fight. At that point in time, they were doing what they needed to do for their families, while I was doing whatever I needed to do in order to function.

On 9/11/01, I was a pathetic drunk. On 9/11/10, I am a functioning, happy, loving man. It is for the honor of those who died for me on 9/11 that I live my life as an honest and good man.

I can only hope that that is enough.

This is a great story!

[Revolution]

Excellent story HollywoodNeoCon. Amen!

[BlueStateSaint]

Nine years ago, I was unemployed, alone, and living in a shitty apartment my mom owned in Inglewood. I spent the majority of my days feeling sorry for myself, and alternating between thoughts of entering the priesthood and fantasies of wining an Oscar for having directed a film that the entire world would adore.

In other words, I was drinking. A lot. By myself. My biggest fear the night of 9/09/01 was being found dead on the couch in my boxer shorts with 37 empty bottles of beer around me and a urine-filled windshield washer bottle at my feet.

The night before 9/11, I had managed to shower and meet a friend from college at the Forum in Westwood, CA to see Tool. It was a show that changed my life not only because of what they did that night, but what would happen to me less than 12 hours after they finally ended their show.

Just before 6:45 am pacific time on September 11, I awoke, let the dog out, went to pee, then turned the TV on.

At 7:03, the second plane hit the WTC.

From that moment until my birthday on January 18, 2002, I basically gave up on my life. Good, innocent people were either murdered, killed trying to save each other, or worst of all, made the decision to end their own lives knowing the entire world was watching them do so, while there I sat, drinking myself to death because it wasn't ME having to make that call.

That's what I've taken away from 9/11 -- the notion that I should've been there, not those good people who never asked to pick a side in this fight. At that point in time, they were doing what they needed to do for their families, while I was doing whatever I needed to do in order to function.

On 9/11/01, I was a pathetic drunk. On 9/11/10, I am a functioning, happy, loving man. It is for the honor of those who died for me on 9/11 that I live my life as an honest and good man.

I can only hope that that is enough.

So, then--you've been in the rooms, so to speak?

[Ptarmigan]

Nine years ago, I was unemployed, alone, and living in a shitty apartment my mom owned in Inglewood. I spent the majority of my days feeling sorry for myself, and alternating between thoughts of entering the priesthood and fantasies of wining an Oscar for having directed a film that the entire world would adore.

In other words, I was drinking. A lot. By myself. My biggest fear the night of 9/09/01 was being found dead on the couch in my boxer shorts with 37 empty bottles of beer around me and a urine-filled windshield washer bottle at my feet.

The night before 9/11, I had managed to shower and meet a friend from college at the Forum in Westwood, CA to see Tool. It was a show that changed my life not only because of what they did that night, but what would happen to me less than 12 hours after they finally ended their show.

Just before 6:45 am pacific time on September 11, I awoke, let the dog out, went to pee, then turned the TV on.

At 7:03, the second plane hit the WTC.

From that moment until my birthday on January 18, 2002, I basically gave up on my life. Good, innocent people were either murdered, killed trying to save each other, or worst of all, made the decision to end their own lives knowing the entire world was watching them do so, while there I sat, drinking myself to death because it wasn't ME having to make that call.

That's what I've taken away from 9/11 -- the notion that I should've been there, not those good people who never asked to pick a side in this fight. At that point in time, they were doing what they needed to do for their families, while I was doing whatever I needed to do in order to function.

On 9/11/01, I was a pathetic drunk. On 9/11/10, I am a functioning, happy, loving man. It is for the honor of those who died for me on 9/11 that I live my life as an honest and good man.

I can only hope that that is enough.

Great story!

[The Hollywood NeoCon]

So, then--you've been in the rooms, so to speak?

Oh, yes. I'm a real good friend of Bill W.

And thanks everyone, for giving me a place to share that.

[cavegal]

I have a storage trunk full of newspapers and magazine articles of that day and the ones that followed. I cannot get myself to look at it yet.I have a vcr tape of Usama Bin Laden laughing at how most of the hijacks didn't even know they were all going to die.  I still remember watching that couple on TV, they where in one of the towers they climbed out holding hands and jumped to their death. I remember being in a store and a lady said out loud "why do they hate us?" she didn't have enough money to pay for her food and everyone in the line pitched in and gave her money. I thought to myself had this been a few days earlier they would have not helped her much.

 I have always been upset they stopped playing that footage over and over again of people jumping to their deaths and the towers falling. Each and everyday I remember 9/11. They way the small minority have taken over this country is obscene. Michelle is supposed to be at one of the Memorials. That too is obscene, since she and her husband hate America.

[Revolution]

Agreed. IMO, the only ones in the Obummer family allowed to attend any kind of Memorial to remember that day is the two girls. They're still young.. But mostly, they're innocent kids. They know not what their parents do. Allow them to attend something, but keep Barry, and Michelle at least 200 feet away from any kind of remembrence ceremony.

[Ptarmigan]

The 9th anniversary of 9/11 is looming. Such a sad day and really makes me feel sad. I cannot imagine a tragic day like this.   

[debk]

The 9th anniversary of 9/11 is looming. Such a sad day and really makes me feel sad. I cannot imagine a tragic day like this.   

Every year, as the time gets close....I wonder if this is the year, the terrorists will try again to destroy us...

[TheSarge]

Every year, as the time gets close....I wonder if this is the year, the terrorists will try again to destroy us...

They might try...but I very seriously doubt they will succeed.

It's going to be very weird for me to be over here notonly in AFghanistan...but in the very area where the Taliban was born for this years rememberence.

[IassaFTots]

They might try...but I very seriously doubt they will succeed.

It's going to be very weird for me to be over here notonly in AFghanistan...but in the very area where the Taliban was born for this years rememberence.

Be safe over there.

[debk]

They might try...but I very seriously doubt they will succeed.

It's going to be very weird for me to be over here notonly in AFghanistan...but in the very area where the Taliban was born for this years rememberence.

Don't suppose you could spend the day in a bunker?

Continued prayers for you and your family. 

[TheSarge]

Don't suppose you could spend the day in a bunker?

It's not my preferred place to be. 

Continued prayers for you and your family. 

Your kindness in that avenue is beyond words.  Thank you.

BTW...just in case anyone was wondering...seems that Ramadan ENDS on 9/11 this year.

[debk]

It's not my preferred place to be.     I'm so claustrophobic, I'd be having to take my chances outside....

Your kindness in that avenue is beyond words.  Thank you.  Always!! Every day, don't ever doubt, ok? 

BTW...just in case anyone was wondering...seems that Ramadan ENDS on 9/11 this year. Well SHIT!! 

[Revolution]

^ Well, I didn't know Ramadan ends on Saturday, but from what you said earlier, that may be just another cause to worry about whether or not we could possibly get hit again Saturday. I doubt it will happen, but is is certainly a bit worrisome.

[dutch508]

^ Well, I didn't know Ramadan ends on Saturday, but from what you said earlier, that may be just another cause to worry about whether or not we could possibly get hit again Saturday. I doubt it will happen, but is is certainly a bit worrisome.

We got hit every damn day I was over there. Quit being a ***** and ruck up, bitch.

[The Hollywood NeoCon]

We got hit every damn day I was over there. Quit being a ***** and ruck up, bitch.

                   

ps - modified to include the heightened level of awesomeness

[Revolution]

We got hit every damn day I was over there. Quit being a ***** and ruck up, bitch.

That's a bit stronger response than I was ready for...

It's a bit more common place to see exposions, and people getting killed when over in the Mid East. I'm not used to it. I'm just a normal citizen over here. That's why I'm fairly vigilant when watching the news, and such. It can happen any time. Especially now that it has, and there have been extremists that vow it will happen again. Pardon me if I'm a bit shocked, and worried that more terror may come our way.