My side of the puddle

William Garner deserves the death penalty

2010-07-13T10:38:00.000-04:00

Originally posted 10/21/07.... bumped to the top today, 7/13/10 at 10:38 AM, the exact date and time of William Garner's death.

At 10:38 this morning, I breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that this chapter is finally closed. He will never again physically hurt another person, although the mental pain he has caused so many will linger for a VERY long time. He may have "escaped" through death, but I'm OK with that, because he's finally gone.
************************************************************************************

I have no problem with the death penalty. There are people who commit terrible crimes who do not deserve to live. William Garner is one of those people.

I've been a Red Cross volunteer since December, 1991. In January, 1992, I went to one of the worst fires I've ever been to. It was only my third fire run, but the second death. The first was a wheelchair-ridden grandmother who set herself on fire, committing suicide. The second, was arson, which resulted in the deaths of 5 children.

The kids were having a sleep-over- four siblings, a cousin and a friend from down the street. The oldest was 13. At some time during the night, after the kids were asleep, the mother, Addie Mack, went outside, slipped and fell on the icy sidewalk, injuring her ankle. She woke up her oldest son, Rod, and told him she was going to the emergency room to have her ankle checked out. While in the ER, her purse was stolen by William Garner.

Garner took a taxi to Mack's apartment, entered the apartment using her keys, and searched for items to steal. He entered each bedroom, observing the sleeping children, and then settled on some electronic equipment he found appealing. As he was loading the taxi with the items, one of the kids woke up. Memory told me it was the 13 year old, but the official court report says it was one of the young girls. He got her a drink of water, let her watch a little tv, and then sent her back to bed, telling her that he ran into her mom at the ER and she had asked him to go check on the kids. He reassured her mom was ok, and would return soon... but then he got scared.

He realized the child could ID him, so he set several fires in the apartment. One was at the base of the stairs, behind the tv which he had decided to leave in the apartment. He then had the taxi driver take him home where he unloaded the stolen goods.

Meanwhile, the fires raged. The smoke woke up the oldest, who tried in vain to get the other kids to leave through a bedroom window. He jumped first, sliding out onto a dormer over the front door and then down to the ground below. None of the kids followed.... they all died from smoke inhalation.

I inspected the house, fearing seeing burnt outlines of the tiny bodies who had perished- but luckily, found none. The families had left the scene and were at the Coroner's office, where I met them. The survivor, Rod, was sitting quietly in the corner, his face swollen and streaked with dried tears. The mothers- all single- crying and hysterically beating their chests, calling out with the familiar "WHYYYYYYYY..... WHYYYYYYYYYY" question that no one could answer.

Then something happened I never expected, and still can't forget. The grandfather approached Rod, grabbed his shoulders and shook him, yelling "HOW COME YOU WERE THE ONLY ONE TO GET OUT!!! WHY DIDN'T YOU PUSH THEM OUT THE WINDOW!! HOW COME YOU SURVIVED, BUT NONE OF THE OTHER KIDS DID!!!"
God. I will NEVER forget that. It was SO tragic... I know he was overcome by grief, and honestly wanted to know "why", but the way he accused Rod of being the lone survivor haunts me.

On the way home, I broke down. While you're with the families, you have a job to do. You're a professional, and you handle it. But when you leave, you're just a person again, and it hits you like a ton of bricks. You cry, and you hit things- the steering wheel, or the passenger seat, and you start asking the same WHYYYYYYY questions the family members ask. You get ANGRY, because you know this wasn't a mistake- it was done on purpose. As I was driving home, I had the radio on, and the story was all over the airwaves. I found out that the taxi driver turned the guy in to the police and he was already in custody.

It's been 15 years since that happened. Rod is now 29, married, and father to a 8 week old son. And William Garner just had his conviction overturned.

OVERTURNED.

Overturned because his new lawyer was able to prove to two of the three judges on the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals that William is "borderline mentally retarded" and didn't understand his Miranda Rights. The judges declared that Garner either be released, or retried for the crimes.

I am SICK about this.

This COWARD stole a purse, broke into a house, inspected the house and KNEW it was full of sleeping children, stole items from the house, waking one of the kids, gave her a drink of water, talked to her, sent her back to bed, AND THEN SET FIRES TO COVER UP HIS BURGLARY!!!!!!

He was smart enough to steal a purse.
He was smart enough to take a taxi to the Mack home, and have the driver wait for him while he cleared it out.
He was quick-witted enough to come up with a story about being "a friend of your Mom's- she sent me to check on you kids" when one child woke up.
He was forward-thinking enough to realize she could ID him, so he set fires, intentionally, to KILL the witness.
He was arrested, read his Miranda Rights, and even signed them, acknowledging on tape that he understood them, and then not only confessed, but provided intricate details about the crimes.

The only stupid thing he did was have the taxi driver take him to his own house to unload the stolen goods. As soon as the driver heard about the deadly fire that morning, he called the police and told them exactly where to find Garner.

This is NOT a "borderline mentally retarded" man. Borderline mentally retarded people aren't quick-witted enough to do the things he did that night. Borderline mentally retarded people don't set THREE FIRES to cover up their crime without realizing what they are doing. I remember feeling relief when his death sentence was announced, and when I read today's article about it being overturned.. I wanted to SCREAM.

This is my blog. This is my place to complain, cry, and sometimes, SCREAM... SO I AM SCREAMING! I AM SCREAMING FOR JUSTICE FOR THOSE CHILDREN- NOT ONLY THE DECEASED, BUT THE LONE SURVIVOR AS WELL. AND I WILL CONTINUE TO SCREAM ABOUT THIS AS LONG AS I AM ABLE.

I've emailed the county prosecutor's office, asking to assist. I don't know if they will contact me, but I hope they do. I want everyone to know how sadistic and purposeful Garner's actions were that night. I want everyone to hear about the emotional and grief-stricken response of the family.
I want William Garner's death sentence reinstated. NOW.

DIE DIE DIE

2010-07-13T10:00:00.000-04:00

I am not opposed to the death penalty. At all.

One of my first Red Cross runs involved arson, theft, and death. Five children were killed by a coward who stole a woman's purse in the emergency room of a local hospital and took a cab to her house to rob it. He loaded up the cab with household goods like radios, tv's, and other items. One of the six kids asleep upstairs heard him, and went downstairs to check it out. He said he was a friend of their Mom's, who had asked him to go check on the kids while she was in the ER. The child asked for a drink of water, and then went back upstairs. That's when he freaked out, realizing the child could identify him... so he set three fires to cover up his tracks. One child survived by jumping out the 2nd story window. They couldn't get downstairs- he had set fires all around the stairs, making them impassable.

I first went to the scene of the fire, to inspect the damage. I was so scared. I was afraid I would see little charred outlines where the kids had died. Or maybe those Hollywood chalk outlines of their tiny bodies. What if it smelled like burnt bodies? What did burnt bodies smell like anyway? Worse than hair melted by an over-heated hair dryer? How would I handle being around the families? So many questions. So many fears.

There were no charred remains; no chalk outlines; no dead body smell. The bodies had already been taken to the morgue, and the families were there, hoping to view them. The morgue is where I met the families. One was a single mother, whose only child was killed in the fire. The surviving child was there too, telling his story in a flat, even, disbelieving tone. I remember the grandfather, yelling at this poor boy, asking him why he was the only one to survive; why didn't he try harder to get the other kids out. I wonder if the child, Rod, now a man, remembers that moment with the same horror I do. The man who committed the crime, William Garner, was under arrest before I even got home.

It was a Sunday morning. I know this, because I remember stopping at a local church just before the second service started. I asked the greeter for a prayer card. I had held it together in front of the family- something I'm very proud of. But by the time I got to that church, I had been crying for some time. I smelled like smoke, and had tear-stained cheeks when I entered that church, so it was pretty obvious something bad had happened. The greeter, instead of giving me a card, asked me what happened. I told him, briefly, that I was asking for prayers for the families of the 5 children killed in an arson fire that morning. He was horrified, and struck with the same silence most would be after hearing such a tale. With a slightly less-heavy heart, I went home.

William Garner was eventually convicted, and sentenced to death. It was the first time in my life I actually pumped my fists and yelled "YESSSSSSSS" when I heard the news.

In October 2007, I got the news that his sentence had been overturned, because his new lawyer convinced an appeals court that he was too stupid to understand his Miranda Rights as they were read to him.

Fortunately, the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals OVERTURNED THAT DECISION today, and upheld his death penalty sentence.

William Garner, I hope you die soon and rot in HELL, you bastard!

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Originally published March 3, 2009... Updated, July 13, 2010, at 10AM, EST... at which time William Garner's execution will begin. Relief. Relief is what I feel right now; I cannot even imagine how the family of those five children feel.

Birth Day

2009-09-14T09:35:00.002-04:00

It's been a long time since I've posted anything here. A lot has happened... A LOT. I've never gone for 5 months without a post. It's been a rough patch, which has left me without words quite often- but it has not been without its bright spots!

I got married in June to a wonderful man. Keith loves me the way all people want to be loved, but few ever get the chance. I thank God for him every day.
While on our honeymoon, Thomas's baseball team won the league tournament.
Thomas also started Junior High. He's growing up. *sigh*
Kevin turned 9 in July, and Thomas turned 12 in August. I look at them now, with little sprouts of man hair, and the bathroom filled with Axe, and think... where did my babies go? And then Kevin will come over and sit in my lap, or Thomas will ask me to scratch his back, and they're my babies again.
Oh, and Obama has yet to completely destroy the America I love. He keeps trying, but the Loyal Opposition keeps fighting back, preventing us from becoming a socialist state.

At 42, I see the world as a troubled place to be most of the time. I see the rotting porch board out back as a symbol of that trouble: from a distance, it looks ok. Weathered, and in need of a good power wash and paint job... but when you step on it, it crunches underneath your feet, making you wonder how long you have until your weight finally makes you crash down through the rotten wood.

I just hope that by 43 I get the plank fixed and no longer feel like I'm about to crash.

WARNING: ZOMBIES AHEAD.... take 2

2009-04-11T21:42:00.002-04:00

Actor Woody Harrelson attacked a TMZ photographer at La Guardia airport Wednesday, saying that he mistook the man for a "zombie".

"I wrapped a movie called 'Zombieland,' in which I was constantly under assault by zombies, then flew to New York, still very much in character," Harrelson said in a statement issued Friday by his publicist.

"With my daughter at the airport I was startled by a paparazzo, who I quite understandably mistook for a zombie," he said.

"Quite understandably mistook (him) for a zombie".

UH YEAH. I just *HATE* it when I mistake people for zombies while in the airport. Perhaps La Guardia should invest in some of those traffic signs like they had in Texas.

Or maybe... just MAYBE.... Woody should lay off the hemp for a while.

Just call me "Chief" for short....

2009-04-03T11:21:00.001-04:00

Your result for Which Supreme Court Justice Are You Test...

You are Chief Justice John Roberts

You agreed with Roberts 73% of the time.

John Glover Roberts, Jr. (born January 27, 1955) is the seventeenth and current Chief Justice of the United States. He has served since 2005, having been nominated by President George W. Bush. He is generally considered to be of the judicial conservative wing of the Supreme Court. Before his appointment to the Supreme Court, he was a judge on the D.C. Circuit for two years. He previously spent fourteen years in private law practice and served in the Department of Justice and Office of the White House Counsel during the administrations of Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush.

Since joining the court, Justice Antonin Scalia has said that Roberts "pretty much run[s] the show the same way" as Rehnquist, albeit "let[ting] people go on a little longer at conference ... but [he'll] get over that."Although Roberts has often sided with Scalia and Thomas, Roberts provided a crucial vote against their position in Jones v. Flowers. In Jones, Roberts sided with the liberal bloc of the court in ruling that, before a home is seized and sold in a tax-forfeiture sale, due diligence must be demonstrated and proper notification needs to be sent to the owners. Dissenting were Anthony Kennedy along with Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas. Samuel Alito did not participate, while Roberts's ruling was joined by David Souter, Stephen Breyer, John Paul Stevens, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg.On the Supreme Court, Roberts has indicated he supports some abortion restrictions. In Gonzales v. Carhart (2007), the only significant abortion case the court has decided since Roberts joined, he voted with the majority to uphold the constitutionality of the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act.

Roberts opposes the use of race in assigning students to particular schools, including for purposes such as maintaining integrated schools. He sees such plans as discrimination in violation of the constitution's equal protection clause and Brown v. Board of Education. In Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District No. 1, Roberts, in writing for the majority Parents, concluded that the school districts had "failed to show that they considered methods other than explicit racial classifications to achieve their stated goals." In a section of the opinion joined by four other Justices, Roberts added that "[t]he way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race."

Take Which Supreme Court Justice Are You Test at HelloQuizzy

My Cousin, the Brewmaster

2009-03-26T21:21:00.002-04:00

Sweet.

My cousin, Hank Standridge, is the brewmaster at Columbus, Georgia's "The Cannon". Considering his strict Baptist upbringing, I can't tell you how much I admire his drive to follow his heart and his dream- and my Aunt and Grandmother's fully support of his career of choice.

He recently graduated from a very prestigeous brewmaster program, offered through the World Brewing Academy- the only international brewmaster program. I am so proud of my baby cousin!!

So, for all of you Fort Benning guys (and gals) out there, please stop by The Cannon and tell Hank that his Ohio cousin, Dbie, sent you!

Welcome Baby(s)!!

2009-03-14T20:13:00.003-04:00

Wow.
Keith's now Papa Cubed- thanks to Katie, who gave birth to baby Olyvia last week. She's beautiful, I am sure, just like her older sisters. Hopefully he posts pictures of the girls soon.

Not to be outdone, John and Beth joined the "Proud Grandparents Club" on the same day, with the birth of baby Miles.

Life moves so quickly. Enjoy those babies!

Dum-Dum-Dum Dum-Da-Dum Dum-Da-Dum....

2009-03-10T23:24:00.002-04:00

Sounds about right..

(h/t to Lex, who got it from a reader)

LOLCats

2009-03-09T20:57:00.004-04:00

.. and this one reminds me of my Claire, who LOVES to drink out of my wine glass.

Don't you just LOVE Cheezburger?

Suicide prevention in the US Army

2009-03-06T17:54:00.006-05:00

I sat in on another Blogger's Round Table discussion yesterday; one that was close to my heart. The topic was suicide prevention. The Army's suicide rate now exceeds the civilian suicide rate, and the Army isn't taking it lightly. The guests for yesterday's call were GEN Peter W. Chiarelli, Army Vice Chief of Staff; BG Colleen McGuire, Army Personnel Representative; COL Thomas Languirand, Army Suicide Prevention Task Force, and Dr. COL. Elspeth Ritchie, Army Psyhciatrist. You know it's a serious issue when the Vice Chief of Staff for the Army is your guest.

GEN Chiarelli set the tone of the conversation with his opening remarks:

As a leader and a human being, I'm deeply saddened each time a Soldier loses his or her life, but it is especially troubling when a Soldier commits suicide. The culture of the Army is that of a team, and any time one of our own feels so lost that he or she sees no other option than to take their own life, we've failed as an organization.

Word.

During the call we learned that the Army is working with the other branches to bring suicide rates down, something I was very happy to hear. As of March 2, 2009, the 2008 suicide number stood at 138, with five still pending confirmation. January 2009 saw 12 suicides, with another 12 still pending. February wasn't much better- two confirmed and 16 pending. As the General said, "this is not business as usual."

Why is this happening? What factors are contributing to the rising suicide rate?

One major factor is a breakdown of a personal relationship- boyfriend/girlfriend or spouse. 60% of Army suicides can be attributed in part to failed domestic relationships. 17% involved drug abuse problems. However, only 5.4% can be attributed to diagnosed PTSD, and the suicide rate actually falls for those who have been on multiple deployments. That tells me that the more seasoned warrior is better equipped to handle stress and difficult situations. Most involve more than just one triggering event- perhaps both a breakup and financial issues, or a divorce and legal issues. There's no correlation between deployed, never been deployed, and post-deployment suicide rates. There *is* a correlation between civilian-side unemployment amongst Reserve and National Guard Soldiers and their suicide rates. But no matter how you analyze it, the rate has been steadily increasing.

Here's my question:
I've been personally affected by military suicides twice in the past couple of years. One was successful; one wasn't. But what was common in both, was the stigma of needing mental health care by superiors and peers. The unsuccessful attempt resulted in the yanking of security clearances which nearly got him kicked out of the service. He appealed the initial discharge decision, but successfully made his case in front of the medical review board. In the other case, the Soldier did reach out to his NCOIC, who didn't know how to handle the situation. He was eventually recommended for medical discharge due to PTSD. He had a lot of problems, and when his battle buddy was killed, it only got worse. He checked himself into the VA, but in the end, none of the intervention helped and he successfully ended his life last year.

I want to know: how are you going to eliminate the stigma of needing mental health care within the Army?

GEN. Chiarelli addressed my question, saying that "We have to permeate the entire organization, down to the lowest level, in ensuring that ALL soldiers and civilians realize that some people will not self-refer themselves, will reach out for help. And we have to be able to identify those signs and take the appropriate action. And the appropriate action isn't to ask that individual to seek some kind of help; it is to take that individual, to ensure that they seek that help.

So I can tell you that this is one of the true centerpieces of what we're trying to do right now, both with our stand-down and our change, each, is to get down to the lowest level.... the absolute necessity (is) to, number one, get rid of the stigma and number two, know the warning signs so that you can help your buddy.

COL. Ritchie also spoke up about security clearances, stating that the Army has changed the questionnaire so that you don't have to report mental health counseling due to combat experience any more. She went on to say that "As you all may or may not be aware, the Army wanted to go further on that one. (but) The security clearance is a form that all of the different government agencies subscribe to." She firmly believes that people who seek help should not have their security clearances pulled as a general rule- each case should be reviewed based upon its own merits. Sometimes it's warranted; but not always. I was very happy to hear that.

The bottom line is that the Army has a lot of work to do, but they recognize it and they're doing something about it, instead of just a "ho hum, bummer" attitude toward preventing suicide and removing the stigma of mental health counselling within their ranks. It was quite apparent to everyone that the Army is taking this problem very seriously, and is addressing it very aggressively, at all levels.

I was especially encouraged to hear the dedication and passion in ALL of answers given. Equally as important was MAJ C's comment that if any NCOIC or Officer won't get up at 3am to take a Soldier under their command to the hospital for help... shouldn't have the job. Damn straight.

Please... if you are a Soldier in need of help, or the friend or relative of a Soldier in need... I am pleading with you to get help. Go to the hospital now and check in. Get the help you need so that you can continue to bless us with your presence in the world. There are too many people who care about you to give up.

~cross-posted at The Castle

Bittersweet Rescue

2009-03-05T09:48:00.003-05:00

Off-duty police officer and US Coast Guard Petty Officer Lava-las Luckey came across a horrific scene yesterday: A wreck involving entrapment and a burning car. While fellow police officer tried to free the driver of the burning car (the wreck involved a trash truck and two cars), Luckey rushed through the crowd, reached in the back of the car, and removed a badly injured, but alive, little girl.

The little girl was flown to a local hospital, but unfortunately, the mother was declared dead at the scene.

Understandably, PO Luckey has been quite shaken by the ordeal and hasn't spoken out about it, but his Commander, Steven Hendershot, did:
"Whether it was his training shining through or just his courage, we are very proud of Petty Officer Luckey and we hope that any of our coasties would have done the same thing."

I have to agree. Training, courage, and personal conviction made him put his own life in danger to help that little girl. What a hero.

I love bacon, but....

2009-03-04T21:01:00.002-05:00

the pork-laden federal spending bills are getting WAY out of hand!

As if the $790 billion dollar so-called stimulus bill wasn't enough, just days later, Congress passed another $410 BILLION DOLLAR omnibus spending bill. At first, the bill was cited as "necessary" to keep the government running through the end of the fiscal year. But now the details of the bill are coming out.. and it's nothing but Stimulus Junior.

~ $1.8 million to the University of Iowa to fund research aimed at reducing the stench of pig farms

~ $200,000 for gang-related tattoo removal in California

~ $22 million to the JFK Presidential Library, plus another $6.8 million for the JFK Center for the Performing Arts

~ $1 million to combat Mormon Crickets in Utah

~ $200,000 for wool research

~ $4.5 million for wood utilization research

Uh.
YEAH.

"emergency spending" to ensure the viability of our FEDERAL GOVERNMENT for the next eight months includes $13 BILLION DOLLARS in additional earmarks that, for whatever reason, didn't make it into the previous week's $790 billion dollar pork-laden stimulus bill.... and neither of those bills include the actual annual budget!!

I could just cry. Or hit something.

PEOPLE... LOOK AT WHAT IS GOING ON. YOUR MESSIAH PRESIDENT, WHO PROMISED A "LINE BY LINE" ELIMINATION OF WASTEFUL FEDERAL FUNDING IS ON A SPENDING SPREE!

I still can't believe he's our President, and everything I thought would go wrong HAS gone wrong. Obama and his money-happy Democrat-controlled House and Congress are running this country into the ground, and I'm powerless to stop it. Makes me sick.

Fun With Sitemeter

2009-02-27T22:08:00.004-05:00

I haven't looked at my Sitemeter account recently, so I decided to check it out tonight. I love looking at how people get to my site. Sometimes it's Google searches for things I wrote about, or maybe a referral from The Castle. Sometimes it makes my head spin.

WHY IN THE HELL WOULD ANYONE GET TO MY SITE BY GOOGLING "SQUIRTING PANTIES"????
(which also begs the question- why would anyone Google "squirting panties" in the first place. heh.)

I've had almost 1,500 hits through Google searches. My next highest referral site? The Castle, at 144. I've had twice as many hits from my ex-husband's website (some through his ex-employer's server, which is really weird) than my new fiance's.

At one point, my highest ranking word searches were about horrible local stories- Brenda Nesselroad-Slaby killing her baby by leaving her in a hot car all day, and Katie Haumesser, the mother of a little girl at my son's old school who was killed by a drunk driver. Now my highest ranking word search is "ebonics phrases", but right behind that are "sere training", "boy raped", and "raped boy". It makes me sad that so many people get to my site by looking for information on sad stories.

Some though, like "squirting panties", make me laugh. People have gotten to my site looking for information on "fuck fuck fuckity fuck", "boys have weiners", "ice in ass", "yeah toast", "free's ass", and "pfffft". LMAO...

I love Sitemeter.

Stupid Politician Tricks

2009-02-27T10:01:00.003-05:00

Los Alamitos, California Mayor Dean Grose is stepping down on Monday, only a few months after being elected as the mayor for this small California town.

Why?

BECAUSE HE'S A FREAKIN' RACIST IDIOT....

A couple of weeks ago the mayor thought it would be funny to pass along an email joke he received. It's a picture of the White House lawn, planted with watermelons, and the caption "No Easter egg hunt this year". He sent it to a "small group of friends"... one of which was a local BLACK businesswoman.

Needless to say, she was not amused. Grose said he was "unaware" of the racial stereotype that black people like watermelons.

I swear. Some people are just too stupid to vote... and then they manage to get themselves elected.

A Journal for Jordan

2009-02-22T19:22:00.005-05:00

Last week I had the pleasure of participating in an extremely emotional Blogger's Roundtable discussion with Dana Canedy. Dana's fiance, 1SG Charles King was killed in action in Iraq on October 14, 2006. At the timeof his death, Dana was busy raising their 6 month old son, Jordan, anxiously awaiting the end of his tour, and writing for the New York Times. The book, "A Journal for Jordan", is a combination of her memories of her childhood and her time with Charles plus excerpts from the journal that Charles wrote to their son. It is, in a word, mesmerizing.

I am just over half way through the book, and managed to get about a third of the way through it before I cried. I'm pretty proud of that record, by the way, considering that I was in tears within about 15 minutes of the Roundtable. Dana was incredibly open with us about topics ranging from parenthood to racism, and I will never forget our conversation.

Lindy Kyzer, moderator of the Roundtables, arranged a half-hour interview session with Dana during her February 18 visit to the Pentagon. Lindy always makes sure that every blogger on the call gets to ask at least one question. Sometimes I have a hard time coming up with an intelligent question. (For instance, when I asked an Army scientist which biological weapon poses the biggest threat to the US. Her answer made me want to shut up for a VERY long time... "Considering how many there are, I have no way of answering that question." Um. Yeah. That was sorta like asking why we haven't found bin Laden yet- "BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHERE HE IS, DIP$SHIT... DUH!" Ignorance is *not* bliss.) But fortunately, most of the time I ask half-way intelligent questions and I always learn a lot from the calls.

When it was my turn, Dana had already answered questions about how, and when, she would introduce the journal and the book to Jordan (she's already reading the journal to him but won't give the book to him until he's much older), racial discrimination (she will teach Jordan to recognize differences and attributes of every person, regardless of race), and whether or not she thought the advice given in the book is meant just for Jordan, or all young men (yes, absolutely). My question was this: Being a member of what we bloggers call the MSM, has she ever felt that her peers have unfairly judged our military and misrepresented the war in general. She said "No. I tell you, I truly haven't." She went on to tell us how incredibly supportive the New York Times was during her period of mourning, and how it was her peers who encouraged her to write the book. It wasn't her idea, but rather co-workers who felt that she could put a face to the war, and the Times gave her the space and time to write it. I was relieved and encouraged to hear her answer, knowing that the media may put on an anti-war, anti-military public face, but in private, they show support and respect. She also announced that a movie is in the works, with her as an advisor and Denzel Washington portraying her Charles. Interestingly, she never mentioned who would play her. My money's on the curvaceous, lovely and multi-talented Jennifer Hudson. Oh, she would be a perfect "Dana"... But I digress.

FbL asked my other question, one that is dear to my heart: Since you are unmarried, how do you feel the Army dealt with you with regards to Charles' death? Is there anything you feel should be done that isn't currently being done for couples in your situation? Her answer was surprising to me- she said "It's a tough position to be in because you're, sort of, the "unofficial widow," is how I would describe myself. And I think that it's a difficult position for the military too because what are you to do in a situation where it's not an official family?" She went on to say that a Pentagon official asked her the very same question today, and that ultimately, she needs to give it more thought before answering. Her answer was surprising to me, because knowing how "official widows" are often treated, I figured she would have a more immediate answer.

No matter what the question, Dana's answers were quick, thoughtful, and insightful. The one answer that brought me to tears though was when Beth from Homefront in Focus asked her what she's told Jordan about his Dad, and where he is. I knew I was in trouble when Dana asked us to "hold on while I get Jordan out of the room". *gulp* All throughout the call we could hear his almost 3-year-old babble in the background. After he left, she told us this:

"...about a week or two that he just was asking me all day long about his dad. So finally I said, "Well, where do you think Daddy is?" And he said, "Well, he lives with God and he got a boo-boo." And I said, "Well, Jordan, it's not like when you skin your knee or you hurt yourself. Daddy's body got really, really hurt, and the doctors tried to fix him and they couldn't." And he said, "Well, Mommy, but I can help. I can give God some band-aids."

And it just broke my heart. I was depressed for the rest of the day, literally. I didn't want to get out of bed. And he woke me up that night and he said, "Mommy, I think Daddy's feeling better." "

An audible gulping cry came pouring out of my body at that point. Band-aids for Daddy, in heaven. Precious. Sad... but precious. Several other questions were asked, and then our time with Dana was over. We all left the call knowing more about life, and death, than we did 30 short minutes ago. And we all left the call knowing that buying a copy of "A Journal for Jordan" was in our immediate future.

I'm about half-way through, and Jordan was just born. Throughout the book I'm finding a lot of similarities between Dana and myself, and Charles and Keith. Both Keith and Charles can be quoted saying "crazy woman" when affectionately referring to funny little things Dana and I both do. Charles put his soldiers first many times, at the risk of damaging- if not ending- his relationship with Dana. As a 1SG, he, like Keith, put his soldiers' first. As a fellow independent woman, Dana also found it hard to allow Charles to do things for her, knowing full well that she could do it herself. She said "In time I realized that accepting his overtures was not a threat to my independence but rather confirmation of how secure I was with it." It's a lesson I won't forget.

I won't continue to quote the book. If I do, you won't have a reason to read it yourself. But I will say this: This is a must-read for all potential families, military or not. Both Dana and Charles offer sage advice on relationships, parenting, military life, and.. ultimately... death. I will leave you with some of Charles' journal entries- one on being a good father, and one about being a virtuous man.

To be a good father I think you have to be a good provider. That's not all. You should be a good communicator who has open views, accepts changing times. Be around for significant events. Be there to encourage you in whatever endeavors you desire. A good father always makes himself available. (emphasis mine)

Listen to your first thought. You will figure this out on your own. Never second-guess yourself. When your heart is in the right place, always go with your first thought. Work hard at things and follow your instinct. Since you were born, you have always been alert. That means you will be very perceptive about things. Believe God and trust yourself. Keep the faith, Jordan. You will be fine.

Yes, Jordan, I believe you will be fine. After all, with parents like Charles and Dana, how can you go wrong?

One (little) person, making a difference

2009-02-22T10:29:00.002-05:00

Sometimes, one person really can make a difference.
You have to want it. You have to be dedicated and passionate. You must be able to motivate and energize others to rally around your cause. And from what I’ve seen, it helps if your first name is Taylor.

One of my many “internet buddies”, Cathy, is the mother to an amazing young lady. Over the past couple of years that I’ve known Cathy, she’s often written to us about Taylor’s commitment to our military, and how proud she is of her “little Gunny”. Taylor is also sick. She has a chromosome disorder that makes her life painful, but it doesn’t hold her back. She’s been to the National Naval Medical Center at Bethesda several times for special tests and treatments that are exhausting and painful, but it doesn’t stop her from visiting with the wounded while she’s there.

In addition to the everyday heroes she’s visited with, she’s also met, either in person or over the phone, some very well known men including bloggers Major Pain (click to read his post about meeting Taylor for the first time) and Taco Bell, Sgt. Maj. Brad Kasal (yes, *that* Brad Kasal), and LTC. Tim Maxwell, founder of the Wounded Warrior Barracks program. Taylor has organized fundraisers and card campaigns supporting our wounded, and she’s met dozens, if not hundreds, of those wounded warriors. About a year ago, Taylor was back at NNMC for more tests. In Cathy’s report to all of us, she related the story of Taylor’s visit with the wounded. In it, she wrote about how respectful and unafraid Taylor was to meet these men. They had horrific injuries that would make adults shy away, but not Taylor. She didn’t force herself on the men, but rather respectfully and artfully made her way from room to room, encouraging them in her own special way.
She went into a room of an amputee. I could feel the unease in the room. I don't think he wanted us in there and I can't say that I didn't blame him. He was polite to Taylor, but in a very distant way and in a way to make his displeasure known. He was pretty straight forward with her. I am not sure what made him do it, but all of the sudden, he threw back the covers and lifted what very little was left of his leg. I got upset, as this is the one thing Taylor told me she didn't want to see. The man stared at his leg, then stared at Taylor. I can't say what he was thinking, but his face was speaking clearly. He was angry. Taylor stood there for a few seconds looking at it, then looked up at him and just as defiant as he was being with her, she said to him, 'well you know what? It could have been a heck of a lot worse'. I was ready to throw up and thought to myself.........this is NOT good. He glared at Taylor and then, then.....he broke out into the most beautiful smile I have ever seen. It filled his whole face, heck, it filled the whole room! He said to her in a completely different tone he had been using, 'You know what little lady? You are right, it could have been a heck of a lot worse'. Again, there are just no words to ever describe the feeling. When we walked out of the room, I was told that was one of the few times that young man had smiled. As we walked by the door, she looked back and he was still smiling. She stopped and sent of a perfectly executed salute to him, and he did the same back. AMAZING!
I consider myself a military supporter, as do all of us who read this blog. But nothing I have done even comes close to what this little girl has accomplished in her short life. She never ceases to amaze me. A couple of days ago, I got another “Taylor Update” from Cathy. Walking through her high school, she paused to look at the trophy case. Every school has one, or two.. or three… depending on how many championship sports trophies they have to display. Taylor was discouraged to see that, amongst the awards, there was nothing to honor the true heroes of her school: those who graduated and served our country in the military.

In typical Taylor fashion, she went right to the school board and passionately made her case. How could they refuse? It’s been a year, but the memorial was finally unveiled last week.
One of Taylor’s wounded warrior buddies, Sgt. Dean Cugliotta, is a graduate of her school, so naturally, Taylor wanted him there for the unveiling. What Cugliotta didn’t know is that against all odds, Taylor arranged to have his cousin, Thomas, a fellow Marine stationed in California, present for the ceremony. The following is rough video Cathy shot of the event.

Taylor, I salute you. Thank you for your dedication to our country and the men and women who defend her. You’re an incredible young lady, and patriotism personified. If you, like me, want to continue following Taylor and her passionate support of our military, please check out her blog, Proud Young American.

*cross-posted at The Castle ARGGHHH!*

I am apparently influential and skilled

2009-02-14T21:09:00.002-05:00

You Are Influential and Skilled

You are balanced, orderly, and organized. You like your ducks in a row.

You are powerful and competent, especially in the workplace.

People can see you as stubborn and headstrong. You definitely have a dominant personality.

You are full of energy. You are spirited and boisterous.

You are bold and daring. You are willing to do some pretty outrageous things.

Your high energy sometimes gets you in trouble. You can have a pretty bad temper at times.

You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing.

You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long.

You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start.

You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone.

You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together.

At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together.

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

Interesting, considering that my name is made up and I agree with a lot of this. Interesting, indeed.

Too bad we can't get a do-over on the election...

2009-02-12T07:54:00.004-05:00

... because, as this editorial cartoon notes, the nation is FINALLY realizing that Obama was a big OOPS.

And don't even get me started on that monster "stimulus" bill, laden with so much crap pork belly futures are sure to go through the roof on the CME. Maybe I can stomach writing about it later this weekend.

Roger Barnett... I applaud you!

2009-02-09T21:43:00.003-05:00

Roger Barnett, rancher from Arizona, has been fighting illegal immigration for a decade by rounding up the illegals as they cross his land and turning them over to the Border Patrol.

Over the past 10 years, his house has been broken into, his cattle has been killed, and his property has been vandalized by illegal immigrants crossing over from Mexico. He's a one-man INS agency, turning over 12,000 illegals over to the Border Patrol due to his efforts to protect his property.

He's had cattle killed both by the illegals and because they ingested garbage left behind by the illegals, damaged his water tank, stole trucks, broke into his house, destroyed fences and gates, and left trails of garbage and human waste all over his property. Sure, he threatened them- he was armed with a gun and was often accompanied by his dogs... but he was protecting his property! And now, a group of 16 of these illegal asswipes are SUING HIM FOR $32 MILLION FOR VIOLATING THEIR CIVIL RIGHTS!

They don't HAVE civil rights- they're ILLEGAL. They're CRIMINAL. They were rounded up and handed over to the authorities who sent them back across the border. And now, four years later, they're crying in their cerveza about the guy who caught them! I say... GOOD FOR YOU, MR. BARNETT! Give 'em hell, my friend... because it would seem that you're doing more to protect our borders than our government is, and now they're turning their backs on you.

Not only are they turning their back on you, Mr. Barnett... but the governor of Arizona has been picked by President Obama to lead the Homeland Security Department. OH JOY! HAPPY DAY! The head of the department supposedly in charge of keeping us safe and securing our borders will not support a man who has single-handedly caught and turned over 12,000 illegal immigrants!??
Of course, why should I be surprised? This is the same president who is allowing a tax evader to run the IRS.

Doomed. DOOMED, I tell ya!

I blame Wendy

2009-02-06T21:36:00.004-05:00

She posted this meme.... so I had to try it, just to see what popped up for the first question.

Go to urbandictionary.com, type in the words below, and write down the first answer you get.

1. Your Name. "Dbie isn't defined yet"
Oh? Really? Well then why did it post a picture of a monkey, with the question, "Are you DUMB!??" when I hit "enter". *sigh*

2. Your Age. 41.
A good looking or HOT, female. Used as a code so others will not know what you are talking about.
uh.. Yeah! 41. It's the new "10"! *not*

3. A friend. Karen
Karen is the perfect woman. She has no flaw. She's funny, sweet, smart as hell, and above all, she is extremely gorgeous. She doesn't let anyone push her around and she has a great personality. She has some awesome goals set and always wins my heart. Has great taste in guys. Don't listen to what the other jack-off put. Everybody loves Karen.
NO FAIR. How are you supposed to measure up when your friend is the PERFECT WOMAN??? No wonder my self-esteem is so low. It's all her fault. ;-)

4. What should you be doing right now? Laundry
Laundry can and is often used as a code name for sex, for discussion around people in public, or for people who are uncomfortable with the term "having sex" or "intercourse."
HOT DAMN! I *knew* I should be doing "laundry" tonight.. !!

5. Favorite color: Red
Flavor of kool-aid to a black person.
I guess that means that over half of this country has a red mustache right now, after drinking all that Obama Red. *groan*

6. Birthplace: Wright Patterson Air Force Base
An alien is living at a hangar at Wright - Patterson Air Force Base
Nu uh. My brother moved out of there a LONG time ago....

7. Nickname: Kitty
Soft, cute, playful with fangs and claws.
I am an itteh, bitteh, kitteh....

8. Birth Month: September
a month with a nice temperature and everything but its when school starts :(
Lots of babies are born in September... it's nine months after Christmas. Santa apparently fills more than just stockings.

Our Comic Book Geek President

2009-01-28T19:08:00.004-05:00

Thanks to Valerie, commenter at Blackfive for leading me to this Onion story:
Obama Disappointed Cabinet Failed To Understand His Reference To 'Savage Sword Of Conan' #24

"If my inner circle of advisers can't even communicate about the most basic issues, how are we going to tackle the massive problems our nation faces?" Obama said during a press conference. "When I tell my cabinet that getting bipartisan support is exactly like the time Conan got Taurus to help him steal Yara's jewel, they need to understand what I mean."

After receiving no reaction from the assembled reporters, Obama added, "Because a giant spider is protecting this chamber full of precious jewels, just like Congress is protecting its…. God, how are you people not seeing this?"

Oh.
My.
GOD.....

Maybe he'll call in Superman and Wonder Woman to defend the country when he disbands the military....

My eyes are tearing up I am laughing so hard.

SNOW DAY

2009-01-28T13:46:00.003-05:00

Today is a SNOW DAY.
It's illegal to drive in Hamilton County, which houses Cincinnati and most of the metro area. I live in Clermont County, but it's not much better here, so I am stayin in for the most part.

Luckily for me, I can remote in to work, and still have power!!

So, while trolling the internet, I came across this headline:
Poisonous Fish Testicles Send 7 Japanese Diners to Hospital

HO
LEE
SHIT

1) WHO KNEW FISH HAD TESTICLES??
2) WHY IN THE HELL WOULD ANYONE EAT THEM??
3) DO THEY TASTE LIKE CHICKEN??

WARNING: ZOMBIES AHEAD

2009-01-28T13:36:00.002-05:00

omg...
This is HILARIOUS.

Bad, illegal, and stupid... but HILARIOUS!!

I can't believe it's been a year....

2009-01-24T21:11:00.002-05:00

....and we still miss him. We always will.

Rest in peace, SSG Barker.

Oh Pu-LEASE.... We are NOT that STUPID

2009-01-22T21:41:00.002-05:00

Sweet Sasha and Marvelous Malia African-American baby dolls, that AREN'T modeled after the Obama girls!????

The company that brought the world Beanie Babies is now selling dolls named Sweet Sasha and Marvelous Malia, but a spokeswoman insists that the dolls have nothing to do with President Obama's young daughters.

Come ON.
We are NOT that STUPID...

A sign of the times

2009-01-22T09:05:00.002-05:00

As the song goes, this is a new day. We have a new administration at the helm.
Some people see it as bright and sunny... I do not. I am less than happy about our new president or the things he wants to do.

Considering Obama's track record of saying a lot but doing nothing, I was really hoping his presidency would be that way. There's very little on his agenda that matches anything I want to see happen.

That's not happening.
I suppose that could be seen as a good thing, because now I have something real and tangible to bitch about instead of just waiting around to see what he *might* do.

He's closing Gitmo. He's stopped the trials. And he has absolutely no idea what to do with the 250 inmates. Let me be clear: If you are still in Gitmo 7 years after the towers fell, you are there for a VERY good reason. Period. You should be there, or worse.

However... due to the failure of the Bush administration to actually charge, try, convict and sentence these men, Obama is going to let them go. Gitmo is the biggest failure of the Bush administration, and unfortunately, it's one of the most important things he should have accomplished.

I read recently that of the Gitmo detainees who have been released and followed, most have returned to a life of terrorism and crimes against America and our allies. And those were the ones we didn't have enough proof to hold! Beauty.

But it's ok!
Ex-Marine John Murtha has a solution!
Send 'em all to me in Pennsylvania- we'll take care of them! I have no problem harboring terrorists! They're no more dangerous than anyone else in my district!

What a dick. I have a feeling the people in his district have a HUGE case of voter's remorse right now... the first of many, I'm afraid.

Calling in COLD today

2009-01-16T09:38:00.002-05:00

Wouldn't that be nice? It's a wee bit nipply out there. Staying in bed all day sounds sooooo goooooood. But, I got up. And on my way to work, my Mom (who works for a local school district) was off today due to the cold. I can't believe it... they got a COLD DAY. beyotch.

Anyway.

Everyone who isn't under a rock probably knows about the incredible Hudson River landing that Capt. Sully pulled off yesterday. The worst injury was a lady with two broken legs. Everyone has been absolutely amazed by the pilot's skill and dedication to the safety of his crew and passengers. Once you read this article though, it all makes perfect sense: Capt. Sully was an Air Force F4 pilot, served on crash investigation teams, has been flying for US Airways for 29 years, and owns his own safety consulting business. He's made a career out of flying and surviving disasters, and it paid off for 155 very grateful people and their families. I love that.

If ever there was a man to be at the helm during a crisis... it was meant to be this man.

HOT DAMN! God was certainly on their side yesterday.

A Special Place in Hell

2009-01-10T16:29:00.005-05:00

A special place in hell is reserved for those who abuse and/or kill children- especially children they know.

For instance this piece of shit: Stanley Hall Jr.
He brutally beat his girlfriend's 2 year old daughter last summer, leaving her brain damaged. He got 7 years for child endangerment. Not enough, in my opinion. Although I have heard the prisoners have special treatment reserved for those who commit crimes against children, so that eases my mind.

I will never be able to ease my mind over this story though:

On Christmas Eve, 11 year old Heather Wessel was dancing around the house, excited about what surprises lay in store the next morning. Her family didn't have much money- the heat had been turned off, so they were relying upon propane heater to warm their house. She got too close to the heater, lighting her silken pajamas on fire. She suffered 2nd and 3rd degree burns on her legs, back, and buttocks. Afraid that the police would arrest them over her injuries, the parents DENIED HER MEDICAL CARE. Instead, they laid her on her stomach and treated her burns with a dirty, wet t-shirt and lotion. Fredrick and Sharon Wessel... I hope you burn on this earth before you burn in hell for the torture you inflicted on your child for your own stupid self-preservation.

FOR TWO WEEKS she suffered. Over that two week period, her piece of shit child molesting father called paramedics twice FOR HIMSELF, due to care needed for his recent tracheotomy. Not once did they ask them to look at the girl. Six other adult friends and family members came to visit, saw the girl's injuries, AND DID NOTHING. This past week, a neighbor heard the girl's screams of pain and called 911.

Her burns are so bad she may lose her legs due to the infections and length of time it took for her to get even basic medical care.

I have tried for three days to come up with the right words to describe these parents, and I just can't. There just isn't a string of words long enough, harsh enough, or emotional enough to describe these people, or the six other adults who knew about her injuries yet did nothing. NOTHING..... Even her 14 year old brother did nothing, but he gets a break since he's still a kid, and was probably afraid of what would happen if he told. To give him credit though, he's told everything he knows to the police.

It makes me sick to think about how much pain she was in for two weeks- especially as her mother tried to slather her with lotion, touching and rubbing those burns with nothing more potent than Tylenol in her system. It just turns my stomach.

I don't have the words, but I do have a solution: DIE MOTHERFUCKERS DIE

(yeah, I know... it's a military video, but I can't help but to think about this song when I think about this egg and sperm donors)

The Babe tagged me!

2009-01-06T08:50:00.004-05:00

Not that girly-man Baby Ruth, or whatever his name was... but The One And Only Tanker Babe!

(who got tagged by that gorgeous red-headed USO Girl, Caroline)

Da Rulz:
1. Link to the person that tagged you
2. Post the rules on your blog
3. Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself
4. Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs
5. Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website.
6. Let your tagger know when your entry is up.

And now for the non-important wacko tidbits about me:

1) I HATE NOISY EATERS. OMG... this is one of my biggest pet peeves EVER.

2) I am allergic to cats, yet I have 3- the youngest of which is only 3 months old.

3) I share the same birthmark as my brother and my youngest son. It's an odd birthmark. It looks like a white scab of sorts. We all have them in different places, and actually, mine is gone. It used to be behind my knee. Bill's was on his shoulder blade, and Kevin has 3 little ones, on different places on his chest and back.

4) My favorite zoo animal is, shockingly, not one of the big cats: it's the Red Panda. The big cats and gorillas are way at the top of my must-see list though- I always go to see them, at every zoo I've been to.

5) I hate drinking Diet Coke or Diet Pepsi. Hate Hate Hate. Instead I drink non-cola diet drinks like Mt. Dew, Fuze, A&W Rootbeer, Fresca (especially the hard-to-find Peach Fresca) and Diet Rite Raspberry.

6) When I was a youngster, I had a white bikini bathing suit with cherries on it. I LOVED that bathing suit- wore it all day, as often as possible, that summer. So much so that my walkie talkie callsign was Wild Cherry. HAHA... Wild Cherry. I crack myself up.

OK. So who am I tagging?

Why, BillT of course! (slacker Iraq blogger that he is... )

MSG Keith (cuz I'm gonna marry the man this summer and he's the worst blog-slacker I know)

ALa (hey- you said you wanted to spend more attention to your blog, right? EASY POST!)

The incredibly sexy and recently pregnant friend, Perverted Republican

Loopy Lib (omg... you've got to search her site for Little Monkey stories- they rival my Kevinism posts)

Doc, just 'cuz

A New Day

2009-01-01T13:01:00.003-05:00

The hamster has been buried, but not forgotten.
The gerbil has been introduced to his new home.
The boys have torn through their Christmas presents, and declared this "The Best Christmas EVER".
The leftover Christmas ham has been incorporated into a ginormous pot of bean soup.
The ball has dropped.
It's a new year, and a new day.

This year I pledge to:
1. Lose weight
2. Get more organized
3. Yell less
4. Play more with my kids
5. Marry my Sweetpea
6. Complete half of my QPFC
7. Make my craft room usable
8. Manage my budget better
9. Take more pictures
10. Dance

What will you do with your New Year?

Well, shit.

2008-12-23T06:53:00.002-05:00

Thomas's hamster died late last night.
He kept us up all freakin' night long Sunday, running on his wheel, and less than 24 hours later, he's in a box.

I opened her cage to give her a little slice of apple, and she wouldn't hardly move. I picked her up, and she was cold, and breathing very heavy. Her eyelids were unresponsive to light or touch. Her legs were drawn up, and if you pulled one out, she didn't protest or even curl it back up underneath her.

What the hell?

This little girl was the best hamster I've ever had, or Thomas- and that's a lot of hamsters. I know they don't live long, but we do not have very good luck with the little guys.

I put her under my shirt to try to warm her up, but it didn't work. She has this nasty habit of collecting food in her cheek pouches, and just letting it sit there. The vet told us that could lead to infection, so I clean them out about once a week. I noticed some food in her cheeks, so I cleaned it out one last time. This was the only time she responded to anything I had tried, so I was encouraged.

Then a paw shuddered, and she was gone. I even tried mouth-to-mouth on her, but it did no good. We wrapped her up in a little box, cried a little more, and then headed off to bed. I did not sleep well. Thoughts of helping Thomas through this loss, coupled with the "holy crap, I have a ton to do before Christmas!" thoughts and a little cold I'm developing kept waking me up.

How in the hell do you help a child deal with death at Christmas?

Last year, a week after Thanksgiving, Kevin's best friend's dad died. He suffered a diabetic incident in his sleep, and just never woke up. It didn't seem to bother Ethan or his sister, Addison, all that much. My boys were equally affected- a little distant, and sad, but over it very quickly. I don't think they even cried. I know Ethan and Addison did, but my boys did not. (Addison is about the same age as Thomas, and Ethan is Kevin's friend) The next few days are going to be a sad/happy mix; I can't even imagine what it would be like if it was a parent or grandparent who died.

I know- it's just a hamster, but it's going to put a damper on the next few days, a time that should be one of the happiest and most fun all year long. We've had this hamster longer than the rest (which isn't saying much- we got her almost exactly a year ago), and she'll be missed. She was a great hamster- never bit, very tolerant of the kids handling her, and cute as hell.

Christmas in Baghdad

2008-12-21T21:28:00.002-05:00

No, it's not what you think.
When I first clicked on this CNN story, I thought "man, our soldiers are celebrating early this year.."
But that's not what the story is about. It's about ordinary Iraqi's, of all religions, celebrating Christmas IN PUBLIC, in Baghdad.
WOW.

Jill Dougherty reports:

Even before I can ask Interior Ministry spokesman Major-General Abdul Karim Khalaf a question, he greets me with a big smile. "All Iraqis are Christian today!" he says.
Khalaf says sectarian and ethnic violence killed thousands of Iraqis. "Now that we have crossed that hurdle and destroyed the incubators of terrorism," he says, "and the security situation is good, we have to go back and strengthen community ties."

"All Iraqis are Christian today!"

WOW. Never thought I'd hear that statement coming from an Iraqi government official. I've got to tell you though, that is one smart man: to recognize that the government has crossed many hurdles but still has a lot of work to do to strengthen and unite the individual communities shows me that the Iraqi government has a lot of good heads and forward thinkers.

Here's the part of the article that really got to me though:

In the middle of the park there's an art exhibit, the creation of 11- and 12-year-olds: six displays, each about three feet wide, constructed of cardboard and Styrofoam, filled with tiny dolls dressed like ordinary people, along with model soldiers and police. They look like model movie sets depicting everyday life in Baghdad.

Afnan, 12 years old, shows me her model called "Arresting the Terrorists."

"These are the terrorists," she tells me. "They were trying to blow up the school." In the middle of the street a dead "terrorist" sprawls on the asphalt, his bloody arm torn from his body by an explosion. Afnan tells me she used red nail polish to paint the blood. A little plastic dog stands nearby. "What is he doing?" I ask. "He looks for terrorists and searches for weapons and explosives," Afnan says.

How sad is it to think that, at the age of 12, this young girl chose a bloody terrorist scene as "everyday life in Baghdad".
How nice it is though to hear her talk about arresting and killing terrorists instead of BEING one of the terrorists, or killing AMERICANS. She knows the difference between liberators and criminals, and it's that relationship that our military has fostered all throughout Iraq and Afghanistan.

This winter, I fully expect then-President Obama to declare victory in Iraq. He'll be behind the times, but right. What he won't be right about is declaring this OUR victory, or HIS victory; it is not.

This is George Bush's victory, and ultimately, Iraq's victory.
Without men like George Bush and Major-General Khalaf and children like Afnan, there would be no victory in Iraq. We may have been the liberators, but the continuation of their newly-won freedom is up to ordinary Iraqis. This is THEIR victory, which WE facilitated. It's a damn shame that Bush won't be the one to publicly declare that victory. I for one will not let history remember Obama as the President who won this war; this is GWB's win on behalf of people like Khalaf and Afnan.

My little Palin Republican

2008-11-29T00:00:00.003-05:00

I was standing in line, buying some jacks, at the Black Bear Jamboree's gift shop in Pigeon Forge, when the man behind me asked a question. He was talking to my son, Kevin. The man was older; probably in his 70's. The hat was a baseball cap that looked like a black bear's head. Kevin must have been staring at him, because the man asked Kevin "Do you like my hat?"

Without hesitation, Kevin replied, "Well, I've got a gun... and I'm not afraid to use it."

BUWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHA
I swear.. that child is a natural comedian.

Of course this is the same child who, upon realizing the meat on his dinner plate had bones in it, asked me if it was bear meat, since we were at the Black Bear Jamboree.

Maybe he's just a natural blonde.

heh.

Blogger Personality

2008-11-21T08:51:00.003-05:00

Lex posted this, so of course, I had to try it.
What kind of personality does your blog display?
ISTJ - The Duty Fulfillers
The responsible and hardworking type. They are especially attuned to the details of life and are careful about getting the facts right. Conservative by nature they are often reluctant to take any risks whatsoever.

The Duty Fulfillers are happy to be let alone and to be able to work in their own pace. They know what they have to do and how to do it.

A Duty Fulfiller.
Interesting.
I write a lot about my kids, personal responsibility, the protection of America and our military, conservative politics and bad people I think should die a long and horrible death. If that makes me a "Duty Fulfiller", then I'm happy to accept the title.

It closely aligns with my individual personality type: ISFJ
And I'm in good company: Princess Diana, Mother Teresa, Barbara and George H.W. Bush, Jimmy Stewart, and William Howard Taft are all fellow ISFJ's. I like that. It's good to be the sheepdog.

SFAC Blogger's Roundtable 11/12/08

2008-11-18T09:54:00.004-05:00

After a few months of trying, I was finally able to attend a Blogger's Roundtable last week!
Since November is Warrior Care Month, the Roundtables in November have focused on the medical research and care being given to our wounded warriors and their families. Last week's Roundtable featured MG John Macdonald of the US Army Installation Management and Family MWR Command, and Delores Johnson, of the Soldier Family Assistance Centers (SFAC).

SFAC's are a unique service that works with Soldiers in Warrior Transition Units. Warrior Transition Units are comprised of wounded Soldiers in transition between hospital care and their next step. Sometimes that next step is their old unit, or perhaps a new unit, or military discharge. No matter what their next step is, the SFAC is there to guide the Soldier and their family through the process. Should a Soldier decide to leave the military, similar services are provided by the VA, but at that point, the SFAC steps out of the process.

The commanders, first sergeants and platoon leaders in the WTU's are so familiar with the assistance offered by the SFAC's, they include introducing new WT's to the local SFAC representatives. They recognize the value offered by the SFAC and want to encourage their Soldiers to use the SFAC's. To me, this is the best endorsement SFAC's could possibly receive.

The SFAC's offer specialized family and soldier care during the transition and healing process. They help family members get ID's, housing, schools and medical care established, allowing the Soldier to really focus on their recovery instead of worrying about basic household issues. SFAC's also work close with the local VA, Red Cross, and other community providers of military assistance. The SFAC serves as a one-stop-shop for assistance, eliminating the runaround that used to exist.

In addition to the coordination of family care, SFAC's also have some cutting edge psychological recovery therapy services. One service shows disabled veterans how to participate in sports like golf, swimming, and even hunting, through modification. MG Macdonald said that they have a blind vet in Texas who has taken down big game such as bears through modified hunting techniques. How cool is that? Who would have thought that a blind man could fire a gun accurately enough to kill a BEAR?

The most intriguing project is Warrior Adventure Quest. Warrior Adventure Quest creates fun, high adrenaline situations through the use of activities like rock climbing, or sky diving, or whitewater rafting, and then they apply battlemind to bring them down off of the rush. MG Macdonald described it this way:
"When a youngster gets back up into that adrenaline rush that he or she was in before and then, with using battlemind and trained platoon leaders and platoon sergeants, they then talk them down- how they felt before, how they felt when that rush of adrenaline like they did downrange, because that's really what the problem is. They're still looking for that rush of adrenaline. And their brain and their body have not adjusted from being back downrange."

Considering the high number of Soldiers suffering from PTSD, I find this project particularly exciting. It's stress management on steroids, which is exactly what our Soldiers need to deal with the after effects of battle.

The Army is learning that healing and reducing stress by providing a personal guide through the system is more than just "nice"...it's necessary.

Gulf War Syndrome is Real

2008-11-17T14:56:00.002-05:00

NO SHIT SHERLOCK....

It's about damn time the US government officially recognizes Gulf War Syndrome.

An extensive federal report released Monday concludes that roughly one in four of the 697,000 U.S. veterans of the 1990-91 Gulf War suffer from Gulf War illness.

That illness is a condition now identified as the likely consequence of exposure to toxic chemicals, including pesticides and a drug administered to protect troops against nerve gas.

The 452-page report states that "scientific evidence leaves no question that Gulf War illness is a real condition with real causes and serious consequences for affected veterans."

Wow. 25% of our troops who served in the desert during the Gulf War are suffering from some from of Gulf War Syndrome. I know a few, and there's no way in HELL their illnesses could caused from anything other than some sort of chemical weapon. And did you know that 2/3rds of all children born to Gulf War vets since the war have been born with birth defects, ranging from minor to life-threatening? I knew there were many incidents, but because the government has been reluctant to recognize Gulf War Syndrome, no one really knows for sure how many children have been affected. That article is the first time I've seen a real number attached to problem.

25% of our troops have GWS... and 67% of our Gulf War veteran's children have birth defects. Staggering numbers.

I wonder how many of our Gulf War vets and their families will now be able to claim war-related injures and finally get the compensation and care they deserve. It's bittersweet for sure, but I still say it's about damn time.

Valour-IT

2008-11-14T11:18:00.003-05:00

If you're here, it's no secret I support our troops. It's also no secret that I'm a blogger. Therefore, it should also be no secret that I fully support Project Valour-IT.

The project is out of money, which means that our wounded warriors no longer have access to the voice-activated software and laptops that V-IT supplies. This is not an acceptable situation, people.

I may be "AFSister", but I'm also engaged to a wonderful Soldier, so I'm on the Army team this year. But you know what? It doesn't matter what branch team you join or donate to- ALL wounded warriors benefit from this project. This is a team effort to see which branch can raise the most money for the entire team- Valour-IT's team.

GO FOR IT PEOPLE!!

Many thanks to my fellow Army team members:

Welcome to the Socialist States of America

2008-11-05T06:44:00.003-05:00

I can't believe our country is headed away from the Democracy we've promoted and protected for over 200 years, and straight into Socialism, if not Marxism... and we did it voluntarily. When I was a freshman in college, I had a poli sci professor who told us that "some day, the United States will move away from the democracy we have now, and towards communism, in the form of socialism." We booed him. We couldn't believe that what he was saying was true... but it was. We lost our identity as a true democracy last night when we elected a man who supports socialism.

There was no military coup.

There was no kidnapping.

There were no riots (yet).

There was a vote, and the Socialist States of America were created as a result of that vote. We used our votes to bring about the demise of our rights as a democratic, capitalist society, where people are free to work for their own profit and benefit. I did my part, and I voted against their candidate, but to no avail. I've never been afraid of an political election outcome before, but I am now.

Some will say it's paybacks for the Bush administration, but it's not. Electing Barack Obama as our president is a huge step away from democracy and toward socialism, and that's something that scares the living hell out of me. I just can't believe that a majority of Americans want to destroy this country and all our ancestors have worked for. Makes me wonder which country they'd rather be a citizen of... because I just can't call them Americans in the true sense of the word.

Don't believe me? Don't believe Obama is a Socialist? Read this: World Socialists Movement.

In socialism, everybody would have free access to the goods and services designed to directly meet their needs and there need be no system of payment for the work that each individual contributes to producing them. All work would be on a voluntary basis. Producing for needs means that people would engage in work that has a direct usefulness. The satisfaction that this would provide, along with the increased opportunity to shape working patterns and conditions, would bring about new attitudes to work.

Can you say "welfare state"???

Take that a step further, and look at Marxism:

Marxism is an economic and social system based upon the political and economic theories of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. While it would take veritably volumes to explain the full implications and ramifications of the Marxist social and economic ideology, Marxism is summed up in the Encarta Reference Library as “a theory in which class struggle is a central element in the analysis of social change in Western societies.” Marxism is the antithesis of capitalism which is defined by Encarta as “an economic system based on the private ownership of the means of production and distribution of goods, characterized by a free competitive market and motivation by profit.” Marxism is the system of socialism of which the dominant feature is public ownership of the means of production, distribution, and exchange.

Let's see.
The government has taken over several large financial institutions over the past month and passed the Wall Street bailout bill. Obama wants to 'redistribute wealth' and establish 'government health care for all people'.

I am stunned beyond belief that so many Americans voted to move toward the Socialist, Marxist societies that we have fought tooth and nail for DECADES. We're turning into a communist country, and for some reason, the majority of Americans are behind this idea.

Sick.
Physically sick and afraid of our future. What in the HELL did they just do to MY America? To MY future? To my CHILDREN'S future?
I am just sick.

Morgan, not Stanley

2008-10-24T18:17:00.002-04:00

I arrived at the Montgomery, AL airport about an hour before Keith could get here, so I settled in at Subway with a drink and prepared to browse the 'net when a little girl sat down at the table next to me.

The tv was on FoxNews. A commercial was on; I paid no attention.
Until she giggled.

I looked over and she giggled again.
"hehe... I'm on tv. My name is MORGAN. Not Morgan STANLEY.. Morgan Charles."
I said, "Hi, Morgan"... and that's all the invitation she needed to break into a conversation.

My hair used be longer- down to *here* (points to shoulders)
I'm still getting used to it being short (it's chin-level)
My mom's a flight attendant.
I'm 9, almost 10. My sister, Victoria, is 14.
I'm flying with my sister to go see my Aunt in Texas.
She's takes care of my rabbit.
But, she's a doctor, so she doesn't have much time to take care of it, so I have to clean out the cage first thing.

*pause*

Hey- do you know where silk comes from?

I said, "YES... WORMS!!!!"

She said, "I KNOW! Can you believe it? Most people don't believe me when I say that."

I said, "Well, it's weird to think about all those brides wearing something made by a WORM."

Her reply? "Yes, but it's better than dog poop."

LMFAO
Better than dog poop.
Oh My GOD. Considering the Kevinisms I've posted about, I'm thinking that Kevin and Morgan together would be an absolute RIOT. By now Victoria has finished her sandwich and stands up to leave for their gate, but not before looking at the tv and saying "Gosh, he's so OLD."

I look up- it's McCain, at the rally in Denver.

I said "Yeah! He could be like the grandpa to the whole country if he gets elected!" And then asked them who they would vote for.

MCCAIN.
MCCAIN.

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS... *high fives all around*

Then Morgan explains, "I could NEVER vote for OBAMA. He has NO respect for our flag- he won't even salute it or cross his heart!"
Followed by Victoria's "He says he's a christian, but we all know he wasn't ALWAYS a christian, and if he WAS a christian, why won't he honor our flag? Christians honor the flag. He is NOT a christian."

HOOAH.
There's hope for us yet, folks.

Farting squirrels, "better than dog poop" wedding dresses, and a new generation who is being taught what it means to be an American, a christian, and how to honor our flag. I LOVE THIS COUNTRY!

PFFFFFT

2008-10-16T23:01:00.002-04:00

Tonight, as I was putting Kevin in bed, we started talking about forest fires. He was appalled that our local fire department doesn't have fire jumpers, nor do they fight forest fires on a regular basis. What a bunch of slackers, eh?

So while we were on the subject of forest fires, I asked him if he had heard about the fires currently burning in California. He said that he had.

I told him that I knew how one of the fires started. He said, "You do? How?"

I said "A squirrel started it."

He said "What? Did he fart or something??"

Oh.
My.
GOD......

(A squirrel really did start one of the fires- he fried himself on electrical wires and then fell onto the ground, lighting the dry grass on fire around his charred little body.)

Fiddly Bits

2008-10-07T22:30:00.002-04:00

Busy busy busy...
When I get online these days, it's to check email, read The Castle and Blonde Sagacity (who is in LABOR right now, about to give birth to her 3rd child!!!!), and check FoxNews and CNN. There were a few stories that caught my eye today that I just cannot ignore.

1. Ayers and Obama crossed paths more than just casually, contrary to Obama's claims. I about fainted when I came across this article on CNN of all places. SERIOUSLY. CNN is reporting that their relationship is much deeper than previously, and recently, reported. Way to go authors Drew Griffin and Kathleen Johnston!!

2. FoxNews reporter John R. Lott Jr. points out what every good Republican Conservative should already know: BIDEN LIED!!! And the media has reported lies by Palin that AREN'T LIES!!! I'd faint, but this is a FOX story, not a CNN story. It's about damn time someone points out how little Biden knows, and how badly he lied during the debate last week. How much you want to bet his excuse is "Well, you can't remember EVERYTHING correctly during off-the-cuff remarks". *groan*

3. I leave you with two stories from Mother Nature. One FREAKY and one FUNNY. The other night I had a dream about finding and cuddling with a big bear out in the woods (I am now convinced it was brought on by my cat, Claire, climbing on my chest during the night, and I must have starting petting her in my sleep, prompting the dream). After reading the "freaky" story, I shudder to think what I'll dream about tonight. Maybe I'll get lucky, and I'll have a "funny" dream instead, complete with flashbacks of the first time I heard the infamous 911 call by the guy who "needs a bambulance, cuz I gots a deeah in my car!'. BUWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA... oh... that's funny

I'm being blackmailed

2008-09-30T22:26:00.005-04:00

Or at least it feels that way. My son's football coach has threatened to remove Kevin from the roster because of my disagreements with him over his coaching techniques and attitude. My son's coach (we'll call him Coach M) is also the president of our youth football organization, so going to the board with this will do no good.

This is instructional football, to give the boys a leg up when it comes time to try out for a team in junior and senior high. I signed Kevin up, believing that he would be taught to play and understand the game, and that he would be given equal opportunity to play during games. I never expected him to play the whole game, and I do understand that coaches have a "WIN!!" attitude that influences their roster more so that giving all of the kids the chance to play and make a difference during games. Unfortunately, youth sports have gotten so competitive that teaching has taken a backseat; only winning matters. Keep in mind my son is only EIGHT years old. He's a CHILD, a fact that is apparently overlooked by youth football.

Here's the deal:
Last year was Kevin's first year on the team. It was a learning year, to be sure. He was one of the youngest on the team, had no experience other than watching the Bungles on tv or playing pass in the backyard, and kept getting flipped all over the field, between offense and defense. He was so confused about what his job was (blocking vs. tackling), he just never "got it". The team was also made up of 7 and 8 year olds.

This year, things were supposed to be different. They separated the team- one 7 and one 8 team, which should have resulted in more playing time in and of itself. Coach M said he could have a dedicated defense and offense this year, and that the coaches were all excited about the year and the changes they were going to put in place. I was very excited as well, because it seemed like things were really taking a positive turn. I'm no longer excited, if you can't tell.

Kevin hasn't been playing much. He was put on starting offense, but was taken out of the game after just a play or two for the first two games. He wasn't doing anything wrong (more so than any of the other boys), but he was being taken out. I asked Coach M about the dedicated offense and defense, and he said "No, I just said we would have a dedicated STARTING offense and defense." Apparently "starting offense" means that you START the game, but don't FINISH the game. Since this was an email conversation, I rolled my virtual eyes, and let it go. Next game, Kevin only played a few plays the entire game. This trend has continued now for three weeks.

There are probably 6 kids (out of 20) that sit out the majority of the games, about 6 kids that never come OUT of the game, and the rest funnel in and out throughout the whole game. It's heartbreaking to see him so syked up about PLAYING football, only to NOT play football, so I asked Coach M why Kevin hasn't been playing much, and what he needs to do to change that. I pointed out that I paid a lot of money for him to PLAY football; not WATCH football, and that this is instructional ball for eight year old kids. When we're down 20-nothing in the 4th, there's no reason the benchwarmers can't play- they're certainly not going to cause us to lose the game. I also told him that we have kids that are playing the whole game who are faking injuries just to be able to sit out. I was blunt, but not rude.

The reply ranged from "He does not understand or want to follow instructions" to "Yes, I do care about winning. I am not going to teach boys to accept losing", both of which have some truth to them. Kevin is a true blonde. If you've read any of my "Kevinisms" posts, you'll know that I recognize his "duh" factor. But that does not mean he is not listening, and is openly defiant about not following instructions. He just takes a lot of reinforcement of the same set of instructions which he hasn't been getting. Each coach has a different idea of what he should be doing and they each tell them what they want him to do, then the next coach comes along and changes it again. How confusing, eh?? It's no wonder he "doesn't understand" if each coach has a different set of instructions!

Coach M also said "I have told all the boys esp after the last game that I will play anyone that is ready to play and wants to be in there." That is simply not true, because if it was true, Kevin wouldn't be sitting out the majority of the games.

We also have one assistant coach, whose wife is a Board member, who is completely disrespectful to the boys. Last week he wasn't happy with their aggressiveness at the end of Thursday's practice. He yelled out to his Board member wife, 'HEY BONNIE! Do you have any skirts in the truck? I need some skirts for these GIRLS out here!'. Nice. This is only the most recent example of his negative, degrading, insulting, and humiliating behaviors. But Coach M hasn't done anything about it, so he apparently supports negative reinforcement. What a great message. Has anyone ever really been motivated to do better after receiving nothing but NEGATIVE reinforcement? uh. no.

Here's the part that REALLY got my hackles up though:
We have a number of boys that practice very hard and understand winning.... It is also not fair to the boys that work hard to have the game lost by other boys that do not understand or play with same aggressions.

Nice.
So what you're saying is that not all the boys practice hard and understand winning. I'm throwing the bullshit card on that one, Coach. EVERY kid on our team works their ass off at practice, and they all understand winning. How can you say they don't all work hard, when you drive them into the ground for two hours, three nights a week? Hell, how can they NOT understand winning when they get their asses chewed out for LOSING? And considering that we've lost the last three games, with the same core group of kids on the field, are you in turn saying that those boys didn't work hard enough, or understand winning? I don't think so. How insulting.

After reading his reply, I was FURIOUS. I replied, and he said that he didn't want to continue the conversation 'electronically' and to let him know when I was ready to talk about it in person. That means he doesn't want it in writing, and wants to talk to me about it after practice. I don't stick around after practice for ANYTHING on a school night. Practice doesn't end until 8 or 8:15, and then I have to get dinner, homework, and baths done before the kids can go to bed. It's LATE- sticking around after practice only makes it later, so why not use email as a communication tool? I'd show up early, except that I have a hard time making it to practice by 6:30 as it is. Besides, email lets me put my thoughts on paper, in logical order, as opposed to a heated verbal conversation like this one was gearing up to be.

Then the organization sent out a parent satisfaction survey today, so I replied honestly, and printed off our email conversation. I knew no one on the board, or the parents on the team, would believe what I said Coach M told me. I have talked to, and emailed, other parents, who have all agreed that things are messed up and need to be fixed. Those same parents asked to read our email exchange (I brought a copy to attach to my parent survey to back up some of the things I said in the survey). I obliged, and they were as outraged as I was.

But after practice I got a call from Coach M who told me that if I continue to be "disruptive", Kevin will be taken off the roster. He said that several parents told him that I was showing the email around. I told him I was, at their request, and that I only discussed it with parents who asked to read it.

Which brings me back to the title of the post.
I'm being blackmailed. Keep your mouth shut, or your son will suffer the consequences.
How fucked up is that?

So, because my son wants to play, I will keep my mouth shut, and I'll keep my opinions to myself, because I want to protect my son's right to play. I have no voice, but I do have a blog, and I will write when I have to get things out. I just can't talk about it. What a fucked up situation.

The first debate

2008-09-27T08:54:00.002-04:00

*snore*
*yawn*

OK, it didn't put me to sleep, but it sure as hell didn't hold my undivided attention for two hours. You can find the entire transcript here.
My favorite part though?

When McCain called Obama out on his lack of involvement in Afghanistan, even though he's the chairman of the Congressional committee that oversees our NATO involvement in Afghanistan. Obama's reply was laughable:

Look, I'm very proud of my vice presidential selection, Joe Biden, who is the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

In other words, I'm handing over foreign relations to my running mate, because I'm an idiot and can't handle it.
BUWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH....

I seriously can't believe that people are really struggling between who to vote for!

Milblog Conference 2008 AAR

2008-09-21T11:45:00.003-04:00

Friday night:
HOLY SHIT.... I cannot even begin to count the number of blackmail moments from the Penthouse Club party! *thud* I had NO idea how much Penthouse does for our troops, completely outside of the public eye. They were absolutely incredibly gracious hosts. There were no dancers (unless you count Chuck, Matt, Jimbo, Greyhawk, CJ, and Marcus pole dancing, which was an absolute RIOT) in our room. The only nudity was a beautifully done naked female torso photo of billboard size in the room. Centerfolds showed up to autograph headshot photos. Penthouse provided us with transportation to the party, open bar for 2 hours (more than enough time for us all to get SLOSHED), thumb drives, a free year's subscription (if you wanted it), and a free copy of this month's magazine, which features a GREAT article written by Blackfive about wounded warriors. SO... I can honestly say that I picked up a Penthouse for the articles!! hahaha

Saturday:
Four fantastic panels, but no President or Sec Def address this time! The SecDef was scheduled to provide opening remarks, but his schedule got too tight so LTG. Caldwell stepped in for him. He emphasises the importance of blogging by Soldiers in the field. After all- they're the Army's best promotional material. LTG Caldwell, the commander of the US Army Combined Arms Center. Graduation from the school REQUIRES blogging- that's how strongly LTG Caldwell believes in the power of blogs.

My favorite was the Blogger's Roundtable discussion, featuring the Secretary of the Army, Pete Geren, and the new Army Chief of Public Affairs, Major General Kevin Bergner. They re-emphasised Caldwell's dedication to allowing ALL Soldiers to blog, and even encouraging them.

More to come later- must get on a plane now. WHOOO HOO! WHAT A WEEKEND!

OK, I've found time to BREATH again.
One of the things Chuck Z brought up with Secy. Geren was training soldiers how to blog, rather than relying upon their instincts to know what to write about, and what not to write about. He said something along the lines of "We don't send soldiers into the field with a weapon they've never used before. I've heard it said that the soldier in the field is the Army's best weapon against media propaganda, which is one of the reasons blogging is encouraged. However, we don't train our soldiers HOW to blog. If we trained them, we could eliminate many of the Opsec issues that shut down blogs."

HOOAH

I loved that point. Secy. Geren said he would consider it. I'm VERY interested in finding out if Geren really does act upon that suggestion. During his talk with us, he mentioned something that came out of a previous Roundtable. He said a parent (Carla, Some Soldier's Mom), said that the military is so focused on the spouses, they forget about communicating with the PARENTS. He took that to heart, and as soon as the original Roundtable was over, went to his staff and asked for action on this item. And he has put this item on top of his meeting agenda with his staff. It showed all of us that the Roundtable participants really do value what we have to say, and they act on it. I was thoroughly impressed.

I got to meet a lot of "new" friends this year too! JP and his gorgeous and sweet wife (milblogging.com), CJ and Marcus (A Soldier's Perspective and You Served), Bouhammer, David Marron (Thunder Run), Travis (How to kill people), Toby Nunn (did you know he wrote a book between his first and second deployments?? It's on my "buy" list.), Mr. and Mrs. Greyhawk, Laughing Wolf, Wolf, Froggy and Grim (who all write at Blackfive now) Sarah (Learning to Grok) and many others I know I'm forgetting to mention.

Plus, it gave me a chance to reconnect with "old" friends, like my roomie, Boston Maggie, LL, SK, Jack, John and Beth Donovan, Chuck and Carren Z, Matt (who, thanks to CJ, we brought to his knees during a "rock star" prank. OMG.. that was hilarious), Andi, AWTM, HF6, Sean and Heather (It was SO SO SO good to see them together again! Warmed my heart), BCR, Barb (that's "Bob" to you, Maggie), AS (but not the Mrs this year), Concrete Bob, Carla, and again, many others I've forgotten to mention.

Some were greatly missed this year- Keith, Lex, Taco and his parents, Pain, Hook, Joan, Lynn, Leta and Kev. All had either deployments, homecomings, or family or cash commitments that kept them away this year.

At the end of the conference, Mrs. Greyhawk reminded us all of some we will not see again until we're reunited in heaven, including one of my favorite milbloggers, Brian Delaplane of Firepower Forward. Delaplane's death earlier this year was like a punch in the gut. I cried for a couple of days following his death, and cried for him again Saturday afternoon. JP and Mrs. Greyhawk read from last posts from a couple of bloggers, making us all tear up. All day long you could hear rustling, bottles opening, whispers, giggles, and people going in and out of the room. Not during Mrs. G's talk. You couldn't hear anything but her voice, and sniffles throughout the room. Stoic John Donovan broke up too, when he reminded everyone that at The Castle, when we lose a patriot, We Dance... to "Taps". Damn. Not a dry eye in the place.

This year's conference was a BLAST, but I thought it lost its focus, being in Vegas. Vegas is a party town, and trust me- we partied like rock stars, but that's not really what milbloggers are all about. At dinner Saturday night, Andi said that she wanted to move the conference back to DC next year. We all agreed that would be a good move. We're milbloggers, and being in DC gives us a chance to honor our country, not just get sloppy drunk, before and after the sessions. I really missed what had become an annual visit to the war memorials and Arlington, and I'm looking forward to returning to DC next year, with the man I hope will by my husband by then, MSG Keith.

YES.. WE'RE OFFICIALLY ENGAGED! STAY TUNED FOR DETAILS!!!!

Oh, Ye of Little Faith

2008-09-14T08:23:00.003-04:00

Now, I know that the weather service isn't always 100% accurate, but how can you ignore the fact that a major hurricane is heading your way? Hell, I'm scrambling to change Cub Scout meeting plans for Monday night because we *might* get thunderstorms from Ike, which *could* disrupt my plans for an outdoor meeting. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that a hurricane that has been steadily tracking toward Texas and Louisianna for well over a WEEK, and a mighty strong storm at that, MEANS YOU NEED TO GET THE HELL OUT OF THE WAY OF THIS STORM???

How many times will people who live in the DIRECT FUCKING PATH of a major hurricane ignore the evacuation warnings, and then whaa-whaa over the response of emergency crews who CAN'T GET TO THEM because they stayed in an EVACUATION AREA, against the recommendation of those they are now counting on to rescue their sorry asses!!!!!

Authorities hoped to spare thousands of Texans — 140,000 by some estimates who ignored orders to flee ahead of Hurricane Ike — from another night among the destruction.

Dumbasses....

How many rescuers will be put in harm's way to spare you from your own ignorance?
How much taxpayer money will be spent on your rescue from imminent stupidity?

I have no problem with rescues that take place in areas that were thought to be safe, but ANYONE who stayed on Galveston Island deserves all that Mother Nature throws at them. Seriously people.. you stayed on a below sea level island during a hurricane????? Spare me the pity parties about to begin for these people.

I also, as you should all know, have no problem supporting (financially and otherwise) the clean up and recovery efforts for those affected by any disaster. But I have a HUGE problem with people who a) do not heed evac warnings, and b) develop a sense of entitlement about their rescue and recovery.

I say: if you don't evacuate, you get the rescue bill. I have the same feelings toward fuckhead explorers who climb mountains or go hiking without proper gear or tracking equipment and, then, when lost, require rescuers to go looking for them. I think Washington (state) has such a law now- get lost and require extraction because of your own stupidity, and you get the bill.

(btw, thank you FoxNews for pointing out that the masses that now need rescuing had ample warning to get the fuck outta Dodge, and are now crying out for help)

Couppla

2008-09-12T22:49:00.002-04:00

1. I did not forget 9/11. I simply didn't write about it here, but I did at The Castle and Blonde Sagacity.

2. I am going to be traveling A LOT for the rest of the year.

3. Travel began this week, but the trip I'm looking forward to is to the Milblog Conference in Vegas next weekend!! OMG. I cannot WAIT until the Blackfive party Friday night!

4. Kevin's guinea pig ATE MY HAIR tonight. I shit you not. I was holding him while Kevin was cleaning out the cage. He gets nervous outside of his cage and often grinds his teeth. He was doing this while I was holding him, or so I thought. I was WRONG. He was CHEWING ON MY HAIR! Holy shit. He bit off several very small chunks from what I can tell.

5. And last but not least, don't forget to vote for LL, Chromed Curses, as the winner for this year's Military Supporter Milbloggie award!!

Dear Mr. Obama

2008-09-05T21:11:00.002-04:00

Word.

Thanks, Joe. You're a great American, and from what I hear, so is your Vietnam Vet Dad.

Double Standard

2008-09-04T09:15:00.002-04:00

One of the things that has really bugged the crap out of me over the Loony Lefty complaints about Sarah Palin is about her being a working mother. I've heard so many people say things about her being a "bad mother" because her daughter is pregnant, and she went back to work as governor when her baby was just a few days old. People attacking the Palin's sense of family values point toward the pregancy as a failure, but completely ignore the fact that Bristol is KEEPING the baby and that she has the full support of her family. To me, that exemplifies "family values". Instead of killing her child, she's CREATING a family- how can that be anything other than having a strong sense of responsibility and family??

Anyway, it's the double standard of comparing Palin's motherhood to Obama's fatherhood that ticks me off.

No one has complained about what a bad father Obama must be, considering how much time he's spent away from his girls over the past several years. No one has complained about what a bad mother Michelle is, considering how much time she has also spent on the campaign trail and away from the kids. However, in a world bent on finding fault in our Republican VP nominee, her motherhood has been put up for debate.

Today I found a Fox editorial that addresses this very topic much better than I could.

When a father climbs a dangerous mountain and dies, we mourn. When a mother does, we question her judgment. How could she?

I have no doubt that Barack Obama can count on his fingers the number of times he has been home in the last 19 months to put his two beautiful daughters to bed. In interviews, he says as much, expressing his gratitude to his mother-in-law, who has taken over many parenting responsibilities during the campaign, given that his wife has been away a great deal of the time as well, making appearances and raising money. Does this make him a “bad father"? Should it undercut his claim to the presidency? Of course not.

Why should Sarah Palin be different?

Damn straight.
Why should Sarah Palin be different? No reason at all... except that her opponents have nothing to fight against her with other than her sex and parental status. What a farce.

OK, I'm impressed

2008-09-01T18:20:00.002-04:00

Obama says Palin's family off-limits

For as many objections as I have to Obama's political views... this was a classy, respectful move.

"Let me be as clear as possible," Obama said. "I think people's families are off-limits, and people's children are especially off-limits. This shouldn't be part of our politics. It has no relevance to Gov. Palin's performance as governor or her potential performance as a vice president."

Obama said reporters should "back off these kinds of stories" and noted that he was born to an 18-year-old mother.

"How a family deals with issues and teenage children, that shouldn't be the topic of our politics, and I hope that anybody who is supporting me understands that's off-limits."

The thing I'm not buying is that there was an internet rumor floating around that Palin's 4-month-old baby is actually her daughter's baby, so the McCain/Palin campaign decided to "come clean" about the story. I haven't heard this rumor. She's 5 months pregnant- there's no way they could hide the preganacy during the entire campaign. That's why I think they made the announcement- they simply couldn't hide it much longer.

I also respect the Palin's response to Bristol's pregnancy. They're supporting her, but aren't sugar-coating the situation, saying "Bristol and the young man she will marry are going to realize very quickly the difficulties of raising a child, which is why they will have the love and support of our entire family."

As a fellow child of a teenage mother... I wish Bristol and her boyfriend good luck. If they truly have the support of their family like my parents did, they'll be ok.

hsss hsss hsss hsss hss

2008-08-29T07:47:00.002-04:00

You are The Cheshire Cat

A huge grin constantly plastered upon your face, you never cease to amuse. You are completely confusing and contradictory to most everyone.

See Bill? Toldya. I'm the Cheshire Cat.
*swishes tail and disappears with a shit-eating grin and a giggle*

MY BOY

2008-08-27T20:06:00.002-04:00

My Boy, Vin, is back on the big screen starting tomorrow.
I CANNOT WAIT.

*swoon*

THUD

Babylon A.D.

I can't help it. The man makes me wet.

Snake Charmer

2008-08-26T09:55:00.002-04:00

Michelle Obama has, in my mind, become quite a snake charmer over the past couple of weeks.
Has America forgotten her "For the first time in my adult life, I am proud of my country" speech?
Or her dive into racism with "as a black man, you know, Barack can get shot going to the gas station, you know."??

Apparently, we have forgotten, if you pay attention to the coverage given to her speech at the Democratic Convention last night, where she proudly proclaims "I love this country".

Yeah. Charming...

EAGLES FOOTBALL

2008-08-23T16:18:00.006-04:00

This is how the first game of the season started today:

And this..

...is how the game ended.
Not how we had hoped. At all. *sigh*

That's one of our players, Jacob, being loaded onto Air Care, after a tackle around his neck. His head snapped back, helmet into his neck, leaving a lump over his vertebrae. We think he'll be ok- the coaches said he was talking and wiggling his feet and hands, but DAMN....

We're all praying for you and your family, Jacob.

****UPDATE****
I just got a call confirming Jacob's injuries: He has a concussion and a hairline fracture of a vertebrae. He is not being held at the hospital though, so he must be doing ok. This is good news, all things considered!

I fought a rock...

2008-08-15T10:54:00.005-04:00

and the rock won! (ok, ok.. I know.. it's I fought the LAW and the LAW won, but read on)

I couldn't help but to think about that song last night when my son told me that the implement of destruction that caused the following injury was... a rock.

*Warning... not for the squeamish at heart.... *

*puke*
Well, you can't say I didn't warn you.

Thomas (yes, the same son who just blew away his SAT test) was playing in a creek bed last night and, as he put it, "rolled" a ginormous rock onto his fingers. He pulled his fingers out from underneath the rock, and ripped his fingernail right out of the nail bed. You can see the bump where the nail should be under his skin- it's about half of the nail. The nail is still attached to one side, but most of the nail is hideously on display on top of his skin.

It's about the grossest thing I've ever seen in person. When he first showed me, the nail was pulled up off of his skin by about a quarter inch. I could see all the way back underneath it. The entire nail- and I'm talking about the part that is supposed to be under your skin, waiting to grow out, was almost completely pulled out of its socket. My almost eleven-year-old son has now experienced ancient chinese torture techniques that you read about, and make you queasy just thinking about it.

We spent over four hours at the hospital last night trying to get his finger numb enough to tuck the nail back under the skin and stitch them together, but it just wasn't working. They gave him the maximum dosage of Lidacaine, but it apparently doesn't work very well with his body chemistry. They finally gave up, wrapped it, and sent us home with antibiotics and pain killers. It just wasn't worth the torture to continue to try to save what they could of the nail. They're not sure if it will every grow back, but they are sure the nail that is left hanging on by a thread will eventually fall off.

I know, I know... he's a boy, and things happen to boys.. but DAMN.

Proud Mama

2008-08-13T19:45:00.003-04:00

My son, Thomas, struggles in school. He's got a brilliant mind, clouded by the difficulties ADHD brings. I know people claim ADHD doesn't exist, but I'm telling you- ADHD is no more a myth than the Holocaust. He has problems organizing thoughts, setting priorities, staying focused, interpreting written words, reading in general, and spelling. He got an F on his 4th quarter report card in Spelling- a first. He's never gotten an F on his report card. He didn't get in trouble- I know how hard he worked, and how hard spelling is for him. I didn't even mention it to him. At the beginning of the last school year, he told us that his goal for the year was to make the Honor Roll. In my heart, I knew that probably wouldn't happen, if nothing else, because of his spelling grades. I have never been so disappointed to be right. Spelling tests, and, well, tests in general, are not his friend.

But.. he totally KICKED ASS on his spring state proficiency exams!

HOLY SHIT.

There are four tests: Reading, Math, Social Studies and Science.
Each test is gauged against the state, district, and school averages, plus categories such as "limited knowledge" through "advanced". He scored "proficient" in Reading and Math, "accelerated" in Social Studies, and "advanced" in Science, plus he beat the state, district, and school averages in almost every category! The only average he didn't beat was the district's math average. HOLY SHIT.

He totally KICKED ASS. I am so proud of my son!

But I'm not quite dead yet!

2008-08-02T19:51:00.003-04:00

Yes you are!
*BONK*

Ahhhhh. I love Monty Python movies! 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail' is by far my favorite, with lines like the above, and "It's only a flesh wound! Come back and fight like a MAN, you NINNY!", "I fart in your general direction", and "We are the knights who say NI!", which quickly changes to "We are now the Knights who say...”Ekki-Ekki-Ekki-Ekki-PTANG. Zoom-Boing. Z'nourrwringmm" and so on, and so on, and so on.

Is it no wonder then, when I read about this story this morning, the Holy Grail came to mind?

"Man presumed dead in Big Thompson flood is alive"

(Darrell) Johnson confirmed that he, his wife, Kathy, and their two young daughters took a vacation to Estes Park in July 1976 and booked a cabin at the Sleepy Hollow resort, which sat about five miles west of Drake next to the river.

He chose the resort based on advertising brochures and its affordable price, Johnson said. But the cabin they were given was too rustic and in need of repair for the family to enjoy.

The family decided to leave early and go to Denver to visit an amusement park and the popular Casa Bonita restaurant. They left the morning of July 31.

When the terrible storm and deadly flood struck that night, Johnson and his family were far from the canyon. The next day they drove home to Woodward, Okla.

The family heard about the flood but didn't make the connection between the devastation and how close they had come to being caught in it, Johnson said.

And so... as the saying goes... I'M NOT QUITE DEAD YET!

Pay up!

2008-07-29T21:59:00.002-04:00

My son Kevin turned eight on July 6. He got about $60 in birthday money, which he's been spending in bits and pieces. About a week ago, he asked me if he could buy some Chaotic cards. I don't get the whole cards thing- YuGiOh, Pokemon, Chaotic- any of it- but both of my boys love them. I told him he could buy the cards and pay me back with some of his birthday money when we got home.

He was SO excited. He bought the cards, took them home, and started organizing them in order of "power". I then reminded him he needed to pay me for the cards.

He balked.
He whined.
He huffed.

I could NOT understand his reaction! I mean... he knew he had to pay me back for them! Finally, he sighed and gave me a "FINE!", then handed over four of the the cards.

I looked at them, and at him, and said "What is this for?"

He said, "You said I owed you four cards, so THERE. I gave you four cards!"

Trying not to smile or giggle, I said, "Um. Honey. I said that you had to pay me for THE cards.. not FOUR cards. You owe me $15.00."

Relieved to have his FOUR cards back, he gladly paid me $15.00 FOR cards.

heh.

Stupid Human Tricks

2008-07-28T20:31:00.002-04:00

Dillweed IRS worker sneaks peeks at celebrity tax returns. Dillweed is now facing up to a year in jail and $250,000 in fines. Gee. Wonder if it was worth it... NOT.

Here's another Cincinnati resident to be proud of: Former morgue attendant charged for having sex with a corpse. There are just SO many wrong things about this story. First of all, HE SEXUALLY ABUSED A CORPSE! Second, the corpse was that of a woman who was brutally beaten and had her neck slashed. And finally, the man who was eventually convicted of her murder was also charged with raping her- a charge he vehemently denied. Turns out- he was telling the truth: the semen found on her body belonged to the morgue worker. Can you say "EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW"??????

Just before the school year ended, a teen boy was killed when a dump truck crossed the center line and hit the bus he was riding. This past week, a grand jury decided NOT TO CHARGE THE DRIVER WITH HIS DEATH. No negligent homicide, no vehicular homicide, no crossing the double line. NOTHING. OMG. I cannot believe this. I'm not saying I think the dump truck driver hit the bus on purpose, but JESUS H. CHRIST- he crossed the center line, hit a bus, and killed a boy! How can that NOT be ILLEGAL????

Why I Blog

2008-07-11T09:08:00.003-04:00

There are times when I've thought about deleting my blog. I hardly write on it anymore, and when I do, no one really notices. Why would you? I post so infrequently that checking in just isn't on the top of your "to do" list. But then sometimes something happens that makes me remember why I started blogging, and why I will never delete this blog. One of those "somethings" happened today.

SSG H wrote a comment on my "That's my boy" post from just over a year ago. He wrote:
SFC Bishop was my squad leader in Aco 1-33, he is a great man, a great leader, and a true warrior. he will never be forgotten.

SFC Bishop has been dead now for a year and a half. He died a hero's death on January 1, 2006. His baby is now 2 years old. Matthew never got to know the warmth and comfort of being held in your father's arms. But men like SSG H knew the comfort of having a "great man, a great leader, and a true warrior" protect and lead them in battle. Men like SSG H are why Matthew will know his father's story, even though he never actually knew his father.

Something similar happened a few months ago. Emma Haumesser wrote a comment on my September 12, 2006 post entitled "Healing the Haumesser and Wolford families". Emma had an asthma attack one night, and on the way back home from the hospital, their car was struck by a drunk, underage driver. Emma's mom, Katie, was killed in the crash, and Emma was seriously wounded. The drunk driver, Jacob Wolford, was barely injured. Katie was a teacher at my son's school at the time of the crash.

I wrote a series of posts about the accident and received some vey heart-felt emails from Katie's sister and Jacob's father, but nothing has affected me as much as when Emma herself wrote a comment on the post over 2 years after I originally published it. She wrote:
Hi guys and i whant to expecially thank Phil Smith?? Because he is so right!!! My mom is not coming back to me in 7 years and Kylie because she is my best friend and she has helped me so much, And you people that dont think I am me well, here is some stuff that only i would know my middle name is Kathryn and Amy had twins the daughter is Ellie and my mom loved to go out with her friends to Ryno's!!! its true but she was always the DESIGNATED DRIVER!! Jacob! well bye bye- Emma H

And this is what Phil had written, two years earlier:
Say what you want. Feel as much sympathy for Jacob as you want that "boo hoo" he is going to spend 7 years in jail. Big deal. That was MILD. I am, and have been completely disappointed with this whole case.
Katie is gone now. She doesn't come home to Emma in 7 years. I have my own thoughts on due justice but hey, of course that's not my job.

Emma, I remember when your mom brought you in to our English class. Mrs. Rudd's. You were tiny and adorable..just days old. She was one of the most selfless and caring people I have ever met. A true angel. She will never be forgotten sweetie.

Emma's outpouring of appreciation for Phil's comment, and the mere fact that she found my post and commented, brought me to tears. During the sentencing of Jacob Wolford, Emma stood up in front of the judge and said that she "forgives him, but she does not forgive what he did for killing her mother." Emma is a remarkable little girl, and no honey, your Mommy will not be forgotten.

I could go on and on, remembering stories and comments that have meant so much to me, and how exciting it is to realize that people have read my posts. For some bloggers, it's about the attention and the fame of being recognized as a "famous blogger", but that's not the case for the many thousands out there who never become famous. The reality is... I blog not for myself, but for others. I blog to remember, and create memories, not only for myself, but for all who stumble across what I've written.

Men like SSG H and little girls like Emma deserve to have their loved ones remembered. I am proud to have provided them a place to remember, and write, about a friend, a mother, a father, a teacher, and a leader.

Achmed the Terrifying Dead Terrorist

2008-06-23T00:12:00.001-04:00

YOU WILL LAUGH.... OR I WILL KEEELL YOU!

buwahahahahahhahahahahaha.... oh, this is FUNNY

ACHOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-06-20T22:44:00.001-04:00

See more funny videos at CollegeHumor

Seriously now... does it get much cuter than THAT!????

Heartbroken

2008-06-11T23:27:00.003-04:00

The weather has done more than it's share of damage this month. My inbox has been filled with requests for disaster aid workers for storms in Indiana, Iowa and elsewhere.... but the tornado in Iowa tonight takes the cake. 4 BOY SCOUTS have been killed at the Little Souix Ranch, and at least 20 have been injured. The ranch is located about an hour north of Omaha, Nebraska- where, by the way, I was last Tuesday and Wendesday. They got hit by a tornado on Saturday also. Unreal. Just completely, and totally, unreal.

Oh my God.... those poor parents. Those poor BOYS. My heart is breaking. Prayers people... lots of prayers.

Another Lost Cincinnati Son

2008-05-20T19:26:00.004-04:00

Army Pvt. Branden Haunert is the 4,080th U.S. service member to be killed in the Iraq war,and the first from the Cincinnati area in almost a year.... but he's so much more than a number.

He is a son and brother- one of six boys in the Haunert family.

He is a Sycamore High School graduate, and former 3rd basemen for the Sycamore baseball team. The team, which includes his brother, Andrew, dedicated Monday's game to Branden's memory. A game, I might add, that they won. A game played against cross-town rival, Anderson, a school which has also lost a former student to the Global War on Terror.

He is a University of Cincinnati graduate.

He joined the Army to find his way, and to gain the discipline and direction the military offers so many young adults. His Dad believes Branden could have made the Army a career, and noted that he'd been recommended for Ranger School. And he because of this, he knows his son died doing something that he believed in, and wanted to do.

He had only been in Iraq for 5 weeks, with the 101st Airborne, when he was killed by a roadside bomb.

And above all, Branden is an American Soldier. Death can never take that away.

Rest in peace.. We're all so proud of you, and we'll be there to provide the support your family needs.

We Few.... We Proud.....

2008-04-19T09:08:00.003-04:00

We Band Of Sisters!

Most of you know that my cousin, Tori, has been in Iraq for over a year now. She still has another 3-4 months left in her 18 month deployment. She's a Blackhawk pilot who has spent the past 15 months running medevac missions, including one that resulted in Bronze Stars with Valor for three of her crew members. That story was picked up all over, including Blackfive. As the pilot on the ground who called in the Apache's, Tori was not one of those who received the Bronze Star, but in my mind, her actions directly resulted in the ability of the medics to escape with their patients.

Anyway.... she's back in the news again.

The Savannah Morning News wrote an excellent article about women in combat positions in the current war, with Tori starting off the story. The first part cracked me up:

"I was talking to my grandparents, trying to tell my grandmother what I was going to be doing," said the chief warrant officer with the 3rd Infantry Division's 3rd Aviation Brigade. "And my grandfather said, 'Don't worry, they won't put her out in combat. She'll be fine.'

"All I could think is: I'm a medevac pilot. If someone is hurt, I go to the place where they are hurt."

That's my Aunt Marilyn and Uncle Harrol she's talking about- Paw-Paw to her. He's a BIG guy. Quiet. Rough. All Southern Man.... so it made me laugh to realize that he truly believed that Tori wouldn't be in any danger in Iraq simply because she's a gurl. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

Our female soldiers are in harms way day in and day out. True, we have had less women than men killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. There are more men in the military in general, and women do not hold positions in the infantry or other traditional front-line battle positions, but they are out there. We have women MP's and women on patrol, to handle the Iraqi and Afghan women. We have women in civil and public affairs, going out into the towns meeting the locals and covering events. We have women performing many jobs that put them outside the wire, every day.

And they're performing admirably.

I wonder how long it will be before men like Uncle Harrol/Paw-Paw realize that.

Rumble in the Jungle

2008-04-18T09:18:00.002-04:00

Sweeeeeeet.....
An earthquake hit about 200 miles from here about 5:30 this morning. Some people around Cincinnati, including where I live, reported feeling and hearing the shaking. They described it as a rumble of thunder without the thunderstorm.

Personally, I slept right through it and so did the kids. Although.. it may have contributed to the weird-ass dream I was having when the alarm went off at 6am. In the dream, I was watching a parade with the kids. Perhaps the earthquake rumble was translated into the pounding of marching band drums and feet??? Who knows; but I am happy to report that so far, no injuries or major damages have been reported as a result of my dream- or the earthquake.

Lightbulb Moment

2008-04-16T10:07:00.002-04:00

That's what I call it when something that previously made NO sense at all, suddenly, and quite unexpectedly, becomes crystal clear.
That happened today at The Castle.

How a perfectly good Iraqi Air Force pilot can make a fatal mistake:

"In American helicopters, the little airplane stays still and the artificial horizon moves up and down and sideways. It is opposite with Russian artificial horizon -- the horizon stays still and the little airplane moves up and down and sideways.

"The Mi-17 has *Russian* artificial horizon."

They're being trained on American helicopters. No wonder this happened. What a tragedy...

Iraqi Army "Brilliant"

2008-04-14T22:07:00.002-04:00

Richard Butler, the CBS journalist rescued by Iraqi soldiers in the southern Iraqi city of Basra on Monday, described a quick escape and "brilliant" military work that ended his two long months of captivity.

"The Iraqi army stormed the house and overcame the guards and burst through the door and I had my hood on, which I had to have on the whole time. And they shouted something at me and I pulled my hood off," Butler told TV cameras. "And they ran me down the road."

First of all, let me be clear: I am THRILLED to hear about Richard Butler's safe return. Those of us who have been watching Matt Maupin's story know all too well what can happen when people disappear in Iraq.

Secondly... I have to tell you. Hearing him say that the Iraqi Army was "brilliant" in finding him- during a routine raid unconnected to any tips that the kidnapped journalist may be present- warms my heart. Our government gets bashed day in and day out about how little the Iraqi's are doing to stand on their own two feet. No one seems to pay attention to how far they have come. Today's rescue is one such example.

HOOAH, IqA!

We wait

2008-04-09T21:08:00.003-04:00

"We wait not until our loved ones walk back through our door; now we wait until we walk through heaven's door, to be reunited."

I can't say I got it right word for word, but the Chaplain at the Matt Maupin Scholarship Dinner prayed with all of the Gold Star families, which now includes Matt's parents, and said something like that. It's so true. So true I had to write it down.

We cry.
We mourn.
We praise.
We ache.
We honor.
We remember.

We wait.

Tears and Laughter

2008-04-07T09:37:00.003-04:00

Batavia and the Maupin family lost Matt to the GWOT four years ago. He's been found, and will be brought home and laid to rest soon. As you probably know, I've met the Maupin's on a few occassions since Matt's disappearance. They won't remember me- they've probably met hundreds of thousands of people since Matt disappeared, but the impression they left on me will never leave. They never gave up. Never. Never stopped sending packages with Matt's picture in them; never stopped contacting the Army and the President for updates on the search; never stopped praying. Simply put... they never stopped. Perhaps after Matt is laid to rest, they can at least pause and reflect on the tremendous impact they and their son have had on the lives of so many- myself included.

Colerain Township lost two firefighters over the weekend. Captain Robin Broxterman and Firefighter Brian Schira entered a burning house on Friday, starting the assault on the fire. One other firefighter accompanied them. Although they entered from the first floor, the two were later found in the basement, covered in rubble; their unmanned firehose on the first floor above them. Broxterman leaves behind two young children, and a fiance, who, ironically, is a firefighter who also responded to the scene of the fire which took Robin's life. Schira, 29, was unmarried, without children, but with a family full of pride and grief. Ironically, the son of the last Colerain Township firefighter killed in the line of duty was also at Friday's fire. Since 1990, 2,248 firefighters have been killed in the line of duty, including 64 females.

The sadness and grief in Cincinnati continues. Please keep the Maupin, Broxterman, and Schira families, as well as their respective service units, in your thoughts and prayers. I plan on attending Maupin's public service, and Broxterman and Schira's too- I owe them so much more than my thanks and admiration after death, but that is all I have to offer. Events like this remind me that we do not offer our thanks to our public servants often enough, nor are they paid enough to give up their lives in such violent ways.

In this world of death, and loss... I thought we could all use something light-hearted and fun.
I present to you... the Dancing Wild Bears

He's been found

2008-03-30T22:17:00.005-04:00

Matt's remains have been found.
"Matt is coming home; he has completed his mission," said Keith Maupin in a news release Sunday. "After years of prayer and hope, we learned today that Matt died while in captivity. While this is not what we had hoped for, at least we know."

"It hurts," Carolyn Maupin said at a news conference earlier Sunday. "After you go through almost four years of hope, and this is what happens, it's like a let down, so I'm trying to get through that right now."

It hurts me too, Ms. Maupin. I feel like going outside and howling at the dark; crying just isn't enough. It's not what I hoped for either, Mr. Maupin. But at least we know. We know he's not being held and tortured. We know his remains will be back home soon. We know the lights have shown him the way home. And now we all know that everyone has done their damnest to bring him home... and succeeded.

I never knew Matt, but I've met your parents, brother, nephew, and cousins. Melissa was able to get tickets to last year's scholarship dinner, an event I will never forget. I know enough about him to mourn his loss and cry with your friends and family. It's been almost exactly four years since he disappeared. Some day very soon, we'll be able to say "Welcome home, Matt. Well done, Soldier. Well done.... now rest easy."

The Survivor Succombs

2008-03-30T16:17:00.002-04:00

Dith Pran has died.

Don't know the name, do you... but I bet you know his story.
Dith Pran is the subject of the movie "The Killing Fields", about his survival and escape from Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge. If you've never watched "The Killing Fields", you should- just know that it is extremely hard to watch, yet you find yourself unable to pull away from the screen until the whole story is told.

When Pol Pot died back in 1998, Dith compared his death to that of Hilter's: "The Jewish people's search for justice did not end with the death of Hitler and the Cambodian people's search for justice doesn't end with Pol Pot." Well put, don't you think? It would be like Saddam dying of natural causes after decades of torture and mass murder, never to be held accountable for his actions. Thank GOD that did not happen, and the Iraqi's have seen justice for Saddam and many of his top leaders.

Rest in peace, Dith. There is no pain, no cancer, and no Pol Pot's in heaven.

Small Headline; Big Impact

2008-03-29T09:24:00.003-04:00

TV, Flag Stolen From Military Recruiting Station

That's the headline. The article isn't much longer:
UNION TOWNSHIP, Ohio -- Police said someone broke into a Union Township military recruiting station last week.

The burglar broke into the Armed Forces recruiters’ office March 23, caused extensive damage and stole several items.

Investigators said the intruder stole a 37-inch LCD television with the serial number VDRN7B210287 and an American flag that had been on display after covering the casket of a soldier killed in Iraq.

No arrests have been made, and the break-in remains under investigation.

Things like this are happening all over the country. The most visible was the attempt to blow up the recruiting station on Times Square in NYC. All over the country, people claiming to be "peaceful" are breaking into our recruiting stations and stealing government property, destroying government property, and preventing access to government facilities. But here's the thing that stands out the most in this latest incident, which occurred here in Cincinnati:

the intruder stole ... an American flag that had been on display after covering the casket of a soldier killed in Iraq

These assholes didn't just break in and steal a TV and an American flag; they stole a legacy. They stole a memory. They stole a sacred object. And in the process, they have dishonored and showed the ultimate disrespect for the soldiers they claim to be protecting.

So many anti-military, anti-war protesters believe that by bringing our troops home now, we will prevent the deaths of other American soldiers, which is true. But they also believe that bringing the troops home now is the best way to honor those who have already given their lives in war. Their warped minds believe that these men and women would rather us give up and lose this war than continue the job they left undone and see it through.

If these people really want to honor our deceased soldiers, they wouldn't steal their flags or destroy military property. They wouldn't try to erase the memory and good deeds of our fallen heroes. Instead, they would take the time to visit the grave sites of our dead, and see to it that these sites are considered sacred. They would volunteer at the VA Hospital or Fisher House, to see the faces of the men who nearly died, and know soldiers who did- possibly in the same incident that left them injured. They would read books like "Lone Survivor" so that they can hear how dedicated these men and women are to finishing this job in the right way- the way that shows the families of the fallen that they did not sacrifice their loved one in vain. They would read "House to House" and Medal of Honor decrees to learn about the incredible bravery under fire shown by our men, and learn about these special men who would give their lives for their brothers.

It makes me sick to think about the family of this fallen soldier to know that his (or her) flag is now in the hands of an anti-war, anti-military asshat who doesn't seem to realize that the privileges we enjoy as Americans were paid for with blood, sweat, and countless tears.

I hope they get the people who did this, and I hope they prosecute them under federal statutes. Make them an example to others who chose to dishonor our military and show protesters that this sort of behavior will NOT be tolerated in this country.

BELLAVIA FOR OFFICE!

2008-03-26T18:10:00.003-04:00

It's been unformally announced that David Bellavia will run for Congress against a IVAW member, and if impromptu speeches like these are any indication... I'm sayin McCain just found his running mate. DAMN. What a motivator!!

If you haven't read "House to House"... you need to. Otherwise you'll miss out on reading the story of a man who is very likely to be the next living recipient of the Medal of Honor. And while you're at it, make sure you pick up a copy of "Lone Survivor", Marcus Luttrell's story of death, and survival, in the mountains of Afghanistan- and the story of a recent Medal of Honor recipient, Lt. Michael Murphy.

The Daily Show takes on Berkeley

2008-03-26T17:34:00.003-04:00

Honestly, when I saw the link on Chuck's site, I thought.. "Oh GREAT... another classic anti-military Daily Show skit". But, I watched, and LAUGHED MY ASS OFF.

Yeah.
I really is too bad we don't have an organization in this country dedicated to protecting our right to freedom of speech, eh? Oh, and violence in the streets would, like, TOTALLY stop if we didn't have any weapons on the streets. Uh huh. Thank GOD there aren't any crazies out there who can get illegal weapons or use legal items, like cars and alcohol, to kill people with.

*MORONS*

Politicians..... BLECH!

2008-03-25T21:19:00.003-04:00

I swear.
I am so fed up with the elected and appointed officials in this country.

The new NY governor, David Paterson, takes office under the shadows of scandal- Eliot Spitzer stepped down as governor after admitting to regularly using high-dollar prostitutes.... only to admit to having an affair of his own just days after being sworn in. Now, a week after being sworn in, Paterson's admitting to early adulthood usage of pot and cocaine. New York needs to throw this baby out with the bathwater.

Hillary Clinton, who has never really been known for her memory, has an all-new memory of her trip to Bosnia in 1996. A week ago (and a couple of other times, too), Hillary and Chelsea came off of their military transport, "ducking" to avoid sniper fire. Today, however, she has a new memory- jogged by video of their Bosnian arrival. "I was told we had to land a certain way, we had to have our bulletproof stuff on because of the threat of sniper fire...Now that's my memory of it". Yeaaaahhhh... THAT'S the ticket! Wonder if Morgan Fairchild was there too. Jeesh.

And then there's B. Hussein Obama, who is desperately trying to distance himself from his hate-whitey church and pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright. You cannot tell me that after 20 years of friendship, mentoring, advising, and sermons, Obama simply "didn't know" about Wright's dedication to his black agenda? Oh, please....

I swear. Politicians lie more than a dog on a hot day.

SON OF A MOTHERLESS GOAT....

2008-03-24T20:35:00.001-04:00

I CRACKED MY FUCKING CROWN..... FOR THE UP-TEENTH TIME.

I HATE THE FUCKING DENTIST

AND I'M OUT OF TOWN UNTIL THURSDAY MORNING.

*sigh*
I cannot win.

Our Eeeeeeevil Air Force At Work

2008-03-23T19:05:00.002-04:00

Al-Amreeki has known nothing but war, fear, death, and destruction since his birth three years ago. Sounds bad, eh?
In January, it got worse.

Al-A was severly burned in a stove fire at his Salah ah Din home. He is suffering from second and third degree burns over approximately 40% of his body, plus inhalation burns.

But he's one of the lucky ones: His uncle found his way to the American military hospital in Balad, Iraq . The uncle was told by the Air Force doctors he would likely die, but it's been 2 months, and Al-A has proven himself to be a fighter. Our military also fought- first for Al-A's life, and then to find his family. After the uncle heard he would probably die, he left Al-A at the hospital, never to return. The military took over the search for any relative of the small boy, eventually finding his mother. Al-A's father was killed by insurgents a year ago, and AL-a was her only child. She feared the soldiers would tell her that her tiny son was dead, but instead, they brought news of his survival and their plan to get him help in the United States.

The Air Force medical staff arranged for Al-A and his mother to be transported via US military and civilian aircraft all the way from Iraq to Cincinnati. They arrived this weekend for what will probably be at least 6-8 weeks of surgery and care. An Air Force combat nurse accompanied them the whole way, mostly on US Air Force transport.

He's not the first Iraqi child to receive extensive, free, medical care from US military and civilian forces, nor will be the last. Just one more shining example of our "evil, oppressor, invading, baby-killing, torturing" military improving, and saving, the lives of people around the world.

Way to go, USAF!!!
I am so proud you!

HE IS RISEN!

2008-03-23T17:29:00.003-04:00

HE IS RISEN INDEED!!

Easter is a great day for Christians around the world, for it is on this day that Jesus returned from the dead following his death upon the cross.
It is this day that we celebrate the birth of spring (even though this is the earliest Easter we've had in nearly 100 years!).
It is this day that children partake in egg hunts and explore baskets filled with goodies, inexplicably left by a small, furry, four-footed, long-eared creature we call the Easter Bunny.

And it was just this morning that my son, Kevin, discovered that the Easter Bunny has a sense of humor, leaving a whoopie cushion in his basket.
Upon discovering the toy, Kevin exclaimed "SWEEEEET!!!! A back-up!!"

"A back-up"???

"Yeah!!", he says, smacking his rear end and shaking it, "For when I can't get this thing to work on demand!!"

Good Grief....

More than a number

2008-03-21T10:22:00.002-04:00

4,000

It's only a number, right? But to the family and friends associated with that number, it's so much more. It represents the number of American lives lost in Iraq over the past five years. They are, indeed, more than just a number.

But since so many anti-military types are focused on that number, let's take a scientific look at that number. USA Today broke it down nicely today:
Worst month: Nov. 2004, 137 dead
98% of the dead are male
25% of the dead are non-Caucasian
Median age at death: 21
91% are NCO's and enlisted
Ft. Hood has lost more than any other military installation
New York City has lost more than any other hometown
52% were killed by bombs
20% were killed by non-hostile acts (including 15 electrocutions which are now under heavy scrutiny- and should be.)
Worst single day: Jan. 26, 2005, 37 dead, 31 of which died when their helicopter crashed in a sandstorm
Least deadly month: Feb. 2004, 21 dead
No one died on 460 days out of the past 1,825 days (that's just over 25%)
In addition to the nearly 4,000 killed in Iraq, nearly 500 have been killed in Afghanistan and other locations related to the GWOT.
Some of those 4,500 are people I "know" either in real life or through blogging, but most are strangers to me. Regardless, they are all people I wish I knew before their death, so that I could have thanked them for their sacrifice and service.

Now, let's put the 4,500 in perspective:
It's less than 2/3rds of the US fatalities during the 1 month battle of Iwo Jima
It's less than US losses on each of the first three days of the Battle of the Bulge
It's less than 1/4 of the US losses in Vietnam in 1968 alone
And finally, this war was started as a response to the 9/11 attacks, a day which saw over 3,000 Americans lose their lives on our soil. One day, on OUR soil...

I don't know how many have been seriously injured, and I don't know how many foreigners (including citizens and insurgents) have been seriously injured or killed, but I do know that since 9/11, not one American life has been lost on OUR soil. I also know that the men and women in Iraq now are reporting a dramatically different Iraq than two years ago. I know that Afghanistan continues to be a hard battle with little press coverage or appreciation for the fight there.
And I also know that I have more friends and family in Iraq right now than I ever have before: Tori, Bill, MP, Doc, Hook, JP, Ryan, and the soon-to-be-deployed Taco Bell and Free.

And I've never been more proud of them than I am right now. Tori and Ryan are on their first deployments, but all of the others are on their 2nd, 3rd, 4th deployments. They know that this war is worth the fight, or else they wouldn't keep going back- many times voluntarily.
I just wish the rest of America knew what I know, and what they know.

I am the One

2008-03-19T09:49:00.002-04:00

Kat has really outdone herself today, the 5th anniversary of the current war.
You must read, from beginning to end, with Kleenex in hand.

Here's a tiny bit of what you will read, and if you're like me, will find yourself realizing that you too are "the one" in many cases.

I am the one.

I am the one that sent you to war.

I am the one who did not see, even during this time of relative peace, that the shadow of war was coming.

I am the one that believed, and still do, that we could not leave Iraq to fester in its terror and murder, to become like Afghanistan, forgotten and abandoned to those same forces that had already wrought such death and destruction.

I am the one that debated while you sacrificed, fought and sometimes bled in a theater of war whose value I questioned.

I am the one that did not pay attention to our veterans' care or the care that your wounded brothers and sisters were receiving. I am the one that did not ask what our government was doing for these deserving citizens of our nation. I am the one that thought that our nation would take care of them and did not worry or wonder after their care.

I am the one that has watched bad movies, read many books, stayed on the internet too late at night, ordered pizza to be delivered, driven to the store for a late night snack and, generally, done all of the things that I have always done here at home; the things that you cannot do, without giving you a thought.

I am the one that sent you those Christmas cookies that probably arrived there hard as a rock and as tasteless as cardboard.

I am the one that sat next to your wife in the restaurant, talking too loudly about the war, as if I knew anything really about it.

I am the one that had to turn away for a moment as his young wife cried and his family hugged each other. Not because I was embarrassed, but because I was ashamed that I had ever thought my own struggles and strife were so great or tragic. She will not remember me. I am the one that will remember her.

I AM THE ONE

The Brown, Brown Grass of Home

2008-03-11T23:21:00.003-04:00

The video isn't very good but make sure you listen closely to the lyrics...
Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you... President George W. Bush!

*saunters into the sunset singing ... and then I look at Haircut Scooter... finally free of the prosecutor.. it's good to touch the brown, brown grass of home.... *

Yep. I'm gonna miss that man.

Another man I'm gonna miss for a very different reason, the Right Reverend Jim. My friend, who always TYPED IN ALL CAPS, NO MATTER WHAT HE HAD TO SAY; who could always make me laugh with his ass and Elvis stories- and make me cringe at some of his more creative recipies; who loved his wife and family above all, with our country and soldiers taking a very close second place.... has passed away. Take the time to read what Taco has to say about Jim, and the comments.

Jim has been quiet for a few months now, apparently due to failing health. I had no idea. None. Jim is a former Marine and ardent supporter of our troops, with a particular affection for our female troops. He saw them as overlooked and of need of special attention that Jim and his wife, Susan, were more than happy to provide. My cousin Tori benefited greatly from his attention. He loved, and I do mean LOVED, his troops, and they loved him right back.

Yes.. we're all gonna miss you, Jim. Somehow I think he'd like this warped tribute which started out with a funny song from our President.

TO JIM!!!
*clinks glass, and goes back to humming 'the green, green grass of home' *

Through the eyes of a child

2008-03-06T21:42:00.003-05:00

Kevin and I were driving in the car last night, silently listening to the radio.

From the backseat I hear "Mommy! I see a crocodile in the clouds! See it? Its mouth is open, and there's a llama and an axe on it's head. See it, Mommy?? It's in the clouds over there!"

Sadly, I confessed that no, I could not see it. I saw the croc, but not the llama and axe. Kevin tried again to point out the picture in the clouds, but my adult imagination just couldn't quite see it the way a 7-year-old did.

It made me think about creativity as a child, and how we lose that ability as we grow up. Kevin can spend hours playing "Harry Potter" or "Knights" or "Dragons" or "Bionicle" all by himself- and I don't mean with little characters or Lego sets. The child can act out entire scenes, with dialog and action, for multiple characters.

I LOVE listening to him play for this very reason- he's able to escape into his own world and make it come to life. He play-acts with vigor and unparalleled excitement. He creates scripts in his head or remembers movie scenes, word for word, and recites them- complete with accents. He can set up a castle scene in his head and make it come alive. I envy that.

Some day I hope to recapture my youthful imagination and again be able to see crocodiles with llamas and axes on their heads when my gaze turns toward the sky.

Ohio Primary Surprises

2008-03-05T22:07:00.002-05:00

I live in southern Ohio, so yesterday was our day in the presidential primary spotlight.
Some things were predictable (McCain won; Huckabee dropped out).
Some things, however, were extremely unpredictable (Hill took Ohio- and got twice as many votes than McCain; huge Democratic turnout).

It's the unpredictable stuff I'm interested in tonight.
Last week Rush Limbaugh called upon Republicans to throw their primary vote to Hillary in a very "Survivor"-like tactic- get rid of the one you fear the most in favor of the one you think you can beat. Rush's explanation is that it will keep the Democrats in a state of flux for a while longer, allowing the Republicans to unify behind McCain. Considering how similar Hill and Obama are, I really don't see that as much of a benefit. Choosing your opponent, however... yeah- that's a huge benefit.

So there I was yesterday morning, at the polling center. I was asked if I wanted the Republican or Democratic ballot. I was SO tempted to say "Democrat" just so that I could influence McCain's opponent selection. In the end, I decided that voting FOR something/someone was more important than voting AGAINST someone, so I went Republican. (GO JEAN SCHMIDT!!! You can beat the pants off of that human medical experiment approving, anti-war beyotch Victoria Wulsin!!)

Southern Ohio was settled by German immigrants, and later, southern immigrants, giving us a conservative slant historically speaking. Northern Ohio was settled by more liberal New Englanders who pushed westward, only to stop in what later became Ohio. As such, southern Ohio has a LOT more registered Republicans than Democrats. So imagine my surprise as everyone who came in to vote while I was there asked for a DEMOCRATIC ballot! It was pretty surprising. I don't ever remember being so outnumbered in previous years.

My county's Board of Elections ordered twice as many Democratic ballots than they needed according to the number of registered Democrats, but THEY RAN OUT. Yep. RAN OUT of ballots! There were plenty of Republican ballots, but there was a sizeable shortage of Democratic ballots in Clermont County and other counties around the state. The cited reason was cross-over votes (registered Republicans asking for a Democratic ballot).

We may never know for sure if those cross-over voters were purposely voting for Hill or Obama, or if they were strategizing and picking McCain's opposition in the final race, but my gues is the opposition vote. I don't know any Republicans who are throwing their support to Hill or Obama, but I do know of some who are voting against McCain. Perhaps there is a cell out there trying to actually help the Dem's chose their final candidate. Interesting theory, eh?

Sky Soldiers

2008-03-01T23:27:00.006-05:00

Nearly 200 men of the 173rd Airborne, the Sky Soldiers, have been lost during their current tour in Afghanistan. They are stationed in the Korengal Valley near the Pakistani border, living in harsh, primative conditions. We are 5 years into this war, and these men are still taking baby wipe showers, living in barely heated tents, and only get to a decent base about once a month. Carhartt recently sent them 5,000 pairs of wool socks and 750 sets of thermal underwear due to the undying support of one Ms. Leta Carruth. Leta has put her heart, soul, and pocketbook on the line looking for support for these men. Read her blog, and you'll see what I mean. I'm proud to call her my friend.

My friend recently sent me a link to a New York Times article about the 173rd; an article that made them all out to be psychotic, depressed, and angry men. She knows their mental and physical states due to her contact with the Sky Soldiers and their families. She knows what kind of challenges they face, and it frustrates her beyond words, but this most recent article has her outraged and ready to launch a "Surge" of her own.

Her "surge" involves one of the most powerful weapons in the world: WORDS.

She's looking for letters and emails of support for "her boys", as I have nicknamed them. It doesn't have to be a long letter or a support package- just a note to tell these men that we appreciate them, love them, support them AND their mission, and telling them that they're making a difference. They need to know that not all Americans drink the Kool-Aid and wear tinfoil hats, guarding themselves against those "harmful and dishonest" POSITIVE stories about their successes in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Please. Take a few minutes and write two things:
1. An support email to skysoldiers173rd@gmail.com
2. A written note for the Sky Soldiers, sent to Leta Carruth, P O Box 100
Cordova, TN 38088

Sky Soldiers thank you.
Leta thanks you.
Matt thanks you.
Domestic Diva thanks you.
And I thank you....

And I can say that in advance because I know my readers (all 3 of you) will not let me down and you'll let these men know you think they ROCK.
**********************
UPDATE
OK, first of all... The point of this post is to generate email and letter lovin' for the 173rd.
Secondly... I mistakenly wrote that over 200 Sky Soldiers have been lost. As two of you have pointed out in comments, there have been 30 killed. One said "I don't know where you get your information"... I got it from the website you linked, www.173rdairborne.com. I clicked on OEF Casualties, thinking that it would report 173rd casualties, and made a rough estimate because there were so many listed. Looking at that site now, it appears you have listed all casualties (which, as I obviously forgot, means injuries and deaths), not just 173rd casualties. There are many.

I'm not really sure why I've upset either of you by this error. No offense was intended. This is a little blog, with very low readership. I almost didn't post on this at all because anyone who reads my site has already seen this on Blackfive, but the two driving this campaign are good friends of mine and asked me to post it. As I said before, the point of this post is to generate letters and emails of support. In doing so, I pointed out the harsh conditions they've endured- including the deaths and injuries. This is pro-military, pro-victory site. No offense was meant by my mistake- please do not take it as such.

Say it in Spanish; Say it with Pride!

2008-02-26T11:00:00.002-05:00

That's Venezuela's new edict to their citizens following a "disturbing" trend of *gasp* *horror* ENGLISH words showing up in phone books, dictionaries and even speeches given by President Hugo Chavez.

Apparently though, Chavez has had a change of heart and now wants to fight American "Imperialism" by removing all english words from their language and printed materials.

According to this article published by Fox, The Communications and Information Ministry said in a statement that Venezuelans must recover Spanish words that are "threatened by sectors that have started a battle for the cultural domination of our nations."

WHY IN THE HELL CAN'T WE DO THAT HERE IN THE UNITED STATES!!!!!!!!

In Mexico, anyone caught crossing their borders illegally are immediately deported- no questions asked. And now they're going to use biochips to identify anyone entering their southern borders as a curb to illegal immigration.

AGAIN, I ASK YOU... WHY IN THE HELL CAN'T WE DO THAT HERE IN THE UNITED STATES!!!!!!

WHY???
Because we're the United States of America! Can't be seen as the bully on the block, requiring LEGAL entry into our country, or the establishment (and enforcement) of an OFFICIAL language now, can we? Oh no.. Can't do that.
*shakes head*

If Venezuela can ban the common usage of english words, and Mexico can ban illegal immigration INTO their country and track ALL immigrants with biochips... it would make sense that we could do that too. In a perfect world, of course. And this is NOT a perfect world.

NYC Killing Spree Leaves Five Dead

2008-02-17T09:27:00.004-05:00

A 45-year-old NYC park worker went on a killing rampage this weekend. He recklessly drove his city-issued golf cart in a park, purposely running down FIVE innocent birds! The perpetrator and the names of the deceased have not yet been released by the police, pending notification of next of kin.

What did these pigeons and seagulls do to you, Mister!??? Do you have any idea what you've done?
Those birds had FAMILY... they had a FUTURE! Now, there will be no dive-bombing at the piers; no free meals at city hall or Central Park; no squacks of target-practice joy heard overhead... NOTHING. There will be 5 empty spots on the branch at Suzie's Fledgling Flight celebration. Five innocent lives... LOST. (well, ok. Charles wasn't so innocent- he was known for stealing birdseed, and Kelly did lay eggs before James joined her in marital bliss). Have you NO CONSCIENCE? No sense of right or wrong? Why, oh why, did your parents pay for those driving lessons which you later turned into a Skill to Kill!???? Someone should hold them responsible!

And these families have NO MONEY to sue your ass, or the NYC Park District! I'm hoping and praying that PETA steps up to the plate and provides the best bird-kill lawyers in the country to sue the city of New York for hiring someone with obvious mental issues and providing him with a weapon of mass destruction- FOR FREE.

ohhhhhhh THE HORROR OF IT ALL.....
I hope you ROT IN JAIL, MISTER!

If you'd like to help out these crushed families, please send your donations to:
Victims Of Rampaging Park Workers
PO Box 666
NY, NY 20069

*The story above has been brought to you by AFSis's evil twin, who read this front-page story on FoxNews last night. SNERK*

#1 Reasons for McCain

2008-02-15T10:44:00.004-05:00

#1 reason I'd vote for McCain: His stance on the war, and his honest opinion of how long we could be there. He recognizes that the war on terror is a life-long committment which just happens to be centered in the Middle East, necessitating our presense there for a very long time.

"It's not a matter of how long we're in Iraq, it's if we succeed or not," McCain said to CNN's Larry King.

"And both Sen. Obama and Clinton want to set a date for withdrawal -- that means chaos, that means genocide, that means undoing all the success we've achieved and al Qaeda tells the world they defeated the United States of America.

"I won't let that happen."

He goes on to explain that we could be there for a hundred years- much like we're still in Germany and other foreign countries. Doesn't mean we're FIGHTING in those countries- we're just "there". And I completely agree with him on that first point: It's not a matter of how LONG we're there, it's winning that matters.

And, on the flip side... the #1 reason I wouldn't vote for McCain: His stance on illegal immigration, and how he's handling criticism of his failed McCain-Kennedy immigration bill.

In a Jan. 5 debate, Mr. McCain declared that anyone who says he supported amnesty is "a liar, is lying." Several days before he won the New Hampshire primary, Mr. McCain was asked by a voter about criticism of his record. The senator replied: "I do not support, nor would I ever support, any services provided to someone who came to this country illegally, nor would I ever and [I] never have supported Social Security benefits for people who are in this country illegally." Any assertion to the contrary, he added "is absolutely false."

I swear. The man must be in COMPLETE denial of his authorship of "The Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act". The bill had some strong points (combating human smuggling, securing the borders against illegal immigration, coordinating our efforts with Mexico, federal funding for states apprehending and incarcerating illegals, and a few others). But the major failing point of the bill was granting temporary worker status to illegals already in the United States with payment of a $1,500.00 fine. That, in effect, IS amnesty- you just have to pay a little to get it. The new visa, the H5A, would entitle these recently bailed-out criminals (yes, criminals- illegal immigration is a crime. That's why it has the word "illegal" in it.) to every right and service available to similarly employed US citizens and legal aliens. Therefore, formerly illegal aliens now in posession of an H5A visa would be entitled to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and every other service provided by our government- something he now denies he supported.

Look at his voting record, and you'll see EXACTLY where he's stood on these issues in the past. He voted to support mass amnesty in 2003. He co-sponsored a bill which would allow in-state tuition for illegal immigrants, and allow illegal immigrant college students who entered the US before the age of 16 to automatically get green cards for their parents. He voted against barring convicted foreign terrorists, gang members, and sexual offenders from ever entering the United States. And in 2006, he worked with Ted Kennedy to kill a bill which would have erased Social Security credits earned by illegals working under false Social Security numbers, in effect giving them credit for working here illegally and increasing their Social Security benefit.

Knowing all of this is public record, how can he stand in front of the American public and claim that he's NEVER supported amnesty, and he's NEVER supported providing government benefits (including Social Security, Medicare, Medicade, and other welfare programs) to illegals???

McCain now says that the stunning defeat of this bill back in 2005 was a wake up call, and that he now "gets it", which is good. But looking at his voting record and recent comments about his former stance on illegal immigration makes me believe he is either waffling or has an incredibly short memory- especially for someone who wants to run the United States of America.

Toy? or Lighter?

2008-02-12T09:09:00.000-05:00

This is something near and dear to my heart.
When Thomas was about 6 months old, I started teaching fire safety classes for Red Cross. I'd been a Red Cross volunteer for about 7 years at that point (I've been a volunteer for 17 years now) and had been to countless house fires, local and national floods, and two hurricanes. I've seen what nature can do to a house and to a body... and what fire can do also, and I wanted to teach kids how to survive- and avoid- fires.

One of most horrifying fires I've ever been to was started by a child playing with a lighter underneath his brother's bed. The boys, who were 8 and 2, I believe, were playing under the bed. It was dark, so the older boy lit a lighter so they could see better. The bed caught on fire, and the older boy backed up from underneath the bed and ran. He was scared- he'd started a fire! He knew he'd get in trouble... so he didn't tell. When his brother's screams got their 8-month-pregnant mother's attention, the bed was fully engulfed in flames. Without regard to her own safety, the mother rushed into the room, dove under the bed, and pulled his burning body out of the fire. She herself was on fire too. I met this family in the burn unit at two different hospitals. The 2 year old was at Children's Hospital, and the mother at neighboring University Hospital. The 2 year old somehow survived; the mother, and the unborn baby, eventually died.

Fires like that are why I started teaching fire safety classes for Red Cross. It was a tragic experience, but not unique. It happens every day, all over the country.

The program I taught was geared toward 3-7 year old children. It covered all of the basics- stop, drop, and roll; what smoke detectors sound like; what firefighters in turnout gear look- and sound- like; and how to get out of a burning building. What it didn't really cover was playing with lighters or matches, so I wrote a special script and created a game just for that purpose.

The game was actually my Mom's idea, and it remains to this day one of the best ideas she's ever come up with. She had the idea of showing kids multiple kinds of lighters and asking them if they knew what they were. I turned that idea into a game of "What's this?". I had a small bag which I filled with about a dozen little toys and lighters. As I pulled each one out, I asked the kids a simple question: What's this? Easy, right?

Not really. The kids got the matches and normal-looking bic lighters right off the bat. Then I'd pull out a few toys, and then go back to the lighters. I'd pull out one of those long-reach lighters, the kids would start throwing out guesses like "A CURLING IRON!", "A LITTLE BLENDER!", and "A TOY GUN!"... but they rarely said "a lighter". I'd show another toy, and then, I'd pull out a little dolphin. It was shiny and cute, about 3 inches long, and... it was a lighter. Not one child- OR adult- ever guessed it was a lighter. I warned the adults not to buy such novelty lighters, and told the kids not to touch anything until they knew exactly what it was, because it just might be a lighter that looks like a toy.

The National Association of State Fire Marshals has also taken notice of these toy-like lighters and is trying to get them banned in the US. The president, John Dean, showed one that looks like a little frog, and accurately described these novelty lighters as "something you would get in a McDonald's Happy Meal". Why do we even need novelty lighters? Do the people that buy them have some unresolved "I never had enough toys as a child" issues? Or do they just see them as cute little lighters and never think about it from a child's point of view.

He is SO right. Several states are sitting up and taking notice, including Oregon where a woman was burned when her child accidently set her bed on fire while playing with a lighter that looked like Santa on top of a Christmas tree. Two children were killed in Arkansas last year while playing with a motorcycle-shaped lighter.

People who market and sell these lighters consider the fire marshal's concerns ridiculous, saying "they're safety lighters- kids can't use them!" But anyone who has a child has observed them figure out a new toy or puzzle with determination and glee. They pick up a new item, explore it, and if it looks interesting enough, they will figure it out.

Every legally sold lighter in the United States meets or exceeds child safety regulations, yet children figure them out and use them all the time. Some times the fire is accidental; some times it's on purpose, but regardless... why make lighters look like toys a child would want to play with? I truly hope that these types of lighters are banned in the United States.

Next time you go to a convenient store, take the time to notice what is being sold at child's-eye level at the register, and you'll find candy... and novelty lighters. I guarantee it.

And yes... every picture featured on this post is a lighter.

Cat's Back

2008-02-05T11:30:00.000-05:00

The Questing Cat is back on US soil!!!!!
MANY thanks to his AF SIL, $19.95, for the update and her incredibly emotional post.

And after spending some time checking out their video... read their story. $19.95 linked that story in her post, with a "it's long, but worth it" disclaimer. She's right. It's long, but worth it. Here's a little taste:
Over 15 months, the war would kill 13 men from Charlie 1-26, more than any other Army company sent to Iraq, according to their battalion commander.

The group of 190 would earn at least 95 combat awards. They were part of Task Force 1-26, some 820 troops, who would find 47 weapons caches, capture more than 300 insurgents, including high-value targets, and find hundreds of explosive devices. But 122 men would receive Purple Hearts and 31 would die, more than in any Army battalion since Vietnam.

Damn. Just... Damn.

SUPER!

2008-02-03T21:46:00.000-05:00

I'm sure Tom Petty would like to know that Kevin thinks:
1. That the half-time show was an "American Idol" commercial
2. That he looks like Count Doku from Star Wars (I didn't even know he could sing, Mommy!)

May I also add a huge, hearty CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEW YORK GIANTS!!!!!
HOOAH!

Oh, my favorite commercial???? The Amp energy drink "jumper cable nipple guy".
(if my link doesn't work, go to myspace.com, click on Super Bowl ads, 4th quarter)

Things I don't understand

2008-01-31T22:07:00.000-05:00

1. WHY DO OUR CRITTERS KEEP DYING??????!!!!!! When I was a kid, I had hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, goldfish and even hermit crabs. They NEVER DIED within a month of getting them! NEVER. But for some reason, as a 40 year old adult, I can't seem to keep the little critters alive for more than 4 weeks at a time. My oldest had a hamster that died within two weeks back in December. Got a new one, who as of 30 minutes ago, is still alive. I also bought a guinea pig for my youngest a week after getting the new hamster. Here we are, about 3 weeks later, and the piggie is dead. I am SO upset. I really liked the little guy! He was SO damn cute, and fun to play with. I was just telling Keith that he was "laughing" the other day. No lie- I was scratching his ribcage and he let out this little "hehehe" and his back leg raised up like a dog's leg does when you tickle their ribs. Absolutely adorable. He had food, water, grass, bedding, toys, a bed, and he was very much alive when I left for work this morning- I pet him right before I left so I know he was alive. Tonight, he's very much dead. I don't get it. I just don't.... WHY is this happening? Ideas?? Seriously. I do NOT want to kill off another pet anytime soon.

2. What would drive a 40-year-old man to rape AND impregnate his girlfriend's 10 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER!?!?!??!!!??????? Holy shit. Thomas is 10. I can't imagine any of the girls in his class giving birth. First of all, it never crossed my mind that a 10 year old could be fertile, or have a mature enough body to carry a baby full-term much less go through childbirth. What is it with grown men (and women) who insist on raping young children?
That's something I don't understand, will never understand, and God willing... will never have to deal with on a personal level. I don't know what I'd do to anyone who molested or otherwise abused my boys.

3. Why would Berkeley, California find it lawful and reasonable to not only allow protests in front of the Marine recruiting offices, but ENCOURAGE IT? They even gave the protestors a protected parking spot in front of the recruiter's office and went so far as to call our Marines "uninvited and unwelcome intruders in the city."

Uninvited, and unwelcome intruders. OUR OWN MILITARY????? Please. Berkeley. Do us all a favor and declare yourself a sovereign nation. See you you like it being on your own, with out any "uninvited and unwelcome intruders" when you need help.

Miss America's Choice

2008-01-27T09:21:00.000-05:00

Well, combat veteran Army medic Jill Stevens didn't win the Miss America title last night, but Miss Utah did please the masses- she was named "America's Choice" and even dropped and gave 'em 10 when she didn't make the final 10 list.

HOOAH, Stevens!!!

By the way.... Miss America is Miss Michigan, a student at University of Cincinnati. How'd you like to go to school with that? haha.

SSG Eric C Barker

2008-01-24T23:00:00.000-05:00

I don't know where to begin, so you'll get this story in bits. I want, no.. I NEED, to get this on paper before my memories start to fade and my emotions wane. It's going to be long, so grab something to drink and maybe a few tissues too.

I met Barker nearly two years ago. He's in Keith's Army Reserve unit, the 300th MPAD. Barker was calm, with intermittent periods of silliness and fun. He adored his wife and kids. He had an unforgettable smile. He died last week, along with another Dekalb County officer, Ricky Bryant, responding to a suspicious person call while moonlighting as security guards. When not serving his country in the Army, he served his community as a Dekalb County police officer. Bryant served four years in the Marines, including an Iraqi Freedom tour, prior to joining the police department. Barker has been in the Army Reserve for 12 years, including a tour to Bosnia and another one to Afghanistan.

It's been over a week since I heard the words "Barker was killed last night". I attended the joint memorial service on Wednesday. I saw the coffins, heard the tributes, saw the grieving families, hugged the necks of guys in the unit... yet I still find it unbelievable that he's gone. I cry when I think about how Yolanda must have felt when she found out her husband was dead. I cry even harder knowing that Barker has children who are so young they'll only have fleeting memories of their Dad. I tear up when I describe the sights and sounds of the service, especially hearing final roll call on all of the police radios, and the two helicopters that peeled off of the group, in a pseudo-missing man formation.

I wonder what will be said about me when I'm gone. Barker and Bryant's families had wonderful things to say about them. Things like "dad wasn't around, so Eric became father to me and my other brothers"; "Eric taught us to ALWAYS do the right thing"; "I went with him when he signed up for the police academy, and I asked him if he really wanted to do this. He said, 'I'm a Soldier. Yes, I want to do this.' "; "Eric loved the law. He made two or three felony drug arrests every week. He always had your back on suspicious person calls." Bryant's wife stood in front of that church- a 10,000 seat church- and meekly told everyone that Ricky taught her to be independent and used to ask " 'What are you gonna do when I'm gone, LaToya?'; I just never thought he'd be gone this soon. TOO soon." His cousin, also named LaToya, told Barker's family that she was glad Barker was there with Ricky that night, because Eric was dependable, just like Ricky.

A few things were said during the eulogy that hit home with me, and have provided me with some comfort. First, the Bishop said that he was SO sad when he initially found out that both men had four young children, the oldest of which was 11. Then, he was glad.. because he realized that God didn't let these fine men leave the Earth without "planting their seeds" in the form of their eight children. As tragic as their loss is, it is comforting to know that these honorable, dependable, ethical, dedicated, patriotic men have left behind not one, not two, not three.. but FOUR children. EACH. Eight children, instilled with their father's integrity, morals and ethics- that's quite a legacy. I needed someone to help me see it this way.

The Bishop also reminded us that God took his own son back to Heaven at the age of 33, because he was "done on this earth". Eric and Ricky must have been "done" too, or else he never would have called them home. And then he asked us if we felt that Mary was ready to admit that her son's job on Earth was "done". The answer, of course, is a firm NO! Because we are never ready to lose someone, no matter what God has in mind. We are never truly ready. He went on to say, "Yolanda; LaToya... I know your names. But today, I call you both MARY. You weren't any more ready to give up your husbands than Mary was ready to give up her son... yet you did. I call you MARY." I cried. I cried a lot in those few hours.

There were two solo's during the service. A woman sang "Amazing Grace", and a man sang a song I've never heard before, but I wish I could hear it again. The theme of the song was "I couldn't have done it without you, Lord". The verses contained phrases about bad things happening in our lives, and how the Lord was there to carry me through. I think about that song a lot. It's like the "Footprints" poem, when it says "How come when things were really bad, there was only one set of footprints- you left me alone. And the Lord replied, "No. I didn't leave you- I was carrying you." I forget that a lot. I think we all do. Most of the messes I get myself into I've created myself, so I feel alone... but I need to remember that no matter what, the Lord is there and will carry me through.

When we left the church, the 1,000-plus police officers and military members were standing at attention, watching as the caskets were loaded into the vehicles while a lone bagpiper played "Amazing Grace". And then... the call went out on the radios. "Officer Eric C. Barker... Officer Ricky Bryant...this is your final watch. Over and out." There was more to it- they called out their badge numbers, which I don't know, but the message was clear: they were "done". A low drone filled the air, and seconds later, a group of sheriff's department helicopters flew overheard. As soon as they were over the funeral procession, two helicopters left formation and flew off into the distance, together, yet alone. Again, I cried.

The service was aimed toward their police service, which made us feel their military service was discounted. There was a private service the day before, which I missed, in which Captain Baucom presented Yolanda with the flag from Barker's coffin in true military fashion. In the end, I guess it doesn't really matter whether or not the public service focused on their police service or their military service- the memorial service honored the MEN, the HUSBANDS, the FATHERS, the PUBLIC SERVANTS, and the FRIENDS we lost last week. The 300th knows his military record, and we will grieve, and we will honor, that record. So will his wife and family.

Today I read an eulogy delivered by Lt. Col. Rod Coffey on January 22, honoring the lives of 6 of his men, plus their Iraqi interpreter, who were killed in Iraq on January 9. Fitting, I think, considering that this eulogy was delivered half way around the world on the same day of Barker's private military memorial service. LTC Coffey had a lot of things to say about the loss of these 7 men, much of which could be easily applied to Barker. They were lured into an ambush, much like Barker and Bryant, where they were killed.

Coffey said, "I do not know where such men come from, except to say they are the kind of men who have made America great and will continue to preserve it. The act of going in first, the act of willingly doing your duty in a dangerous environment, is by its very nature an act of heroic self-sacrifice for the sake of others. These men we honor today had that spirit of self-sacrifice and devotion to duty to an awe-inspiring degree." (emphasis mine) The same could be said of Barker and Bryant.

He went on to say, "If the enemy comes out to fight he will be met with a disciplined lethal ferocity he has never before endured. If he plays the sly game of intimidating, beheading and torturing the innocent people of Iraq when he thinks we’re not looking he will be met with a cunning, a sophistication and a relentlessness that will lead to his utter defeat.

This is my promise to you as your commander and from all of us to our honored dead."

This is also our promise to Barker- you were not killed while deployed as these men were, but you were killed needlessly, ruthlessly, and heartlessly by men who have no regard for the laws of our nation. They were killed by men who are not men; they were cowards, afraid of being caught and arrested. We will see justice. We will see to it that your families are cared for. We will see to it that the men who took you before WE thought you were "done" are punished to the fullest extent of the law. I know this, because I saw the passion in the Chief's face, and I heard the conviction in his voice.

No worries, Barker. Your watch is over. Your tour is over. You are "done". We, however, are not "done", and we'll finish up the fight, and jobs, you've left for us.

Sorrow

2008-01-16T12:05:00.000-05:00

SSG, and Officer, Eric Barker.... you will be deeply missed and mourned.

Barker is a member of the 300th MPAD, Keith's unit. In "real life", he's a member of the Dekalb County Police Department, a husband, and a father... and now, a new member of the Fiddler's Green Club. Barker was killed in what the Chief described as an "ambush" by "cold-blooded killers" while responding to a suspicious person call at an Atlanta apartment complex. In a press conference today, Chief Bolton all but promised to have the killers behind bars before the day is over. I hope he's right.

I don't have words right now. Just tears and prayers. Please pray for Barker's wife and young children as they deal with his violent death. I know he's a police officer, but being a Soldier, you expect them to get injured or killed while deployed- not at home. I am just so sad.

See you later, Eric. I promise. We'll take care of things down here on the ground.

I ain't no steekin' bar slut.....

2008-01-15T14:16:00.000-05:00

What type of partier are you? Your Result: The Lurker You like to go out and party, go to bars, concerts, etc - but stay more on the sidelines. You and part of the action, but people have to approach you more than you jumping into the middle of the action. You typically don't get 'hammered', just buzzed enough to come out of your shell and talk to a few people, usually other 'lurkers'. Large groups of people talking at once intimidate you and you tend to drift away from the pack often.
Hardcore drunk
Bar Social Butterfly
The Socialite
Bar Slut
The designated driver
The rock-star party animal
What type of partier are you? Make Your Own Quiz

.... but I am a Lurker.
Lex ended up as a Socialite. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.... Must have something to do with his mad Tom Cruise "Naval Aviator" skilz.
"oooohhh you're a PILOT......"
"No Ma'am. I'm a Naval Aviator"

Parents Killing Children

2008-01-12T20:18:00.000-05:00

Everywhere I go tonight, from the east coast to the west coast, news stations are reporting about the death of a woman and her 4 children just north of Cincinnati. The woman was apparently stabbed to death, and then her husband allegedly set the house on fire- with their 4 children still inside. He eventually jumped from the second floor and is hospitalized; his wife and children... all dead.

In Winter Haven, Florida, a man systematically beat his infant daughter to death over a period of 4 months, simply because he wanted a son- not a daughter. She died at the age of 4 months (yes, 4 months- he started beating her just after birth), of multiple injuries including dozens of rib fractures, a bruised liver, ruptured spleen, and broken blood vessels in one eye. The mother was aware of the beatings, but when she threatened to call the police, he said he would run away with their older son. (I'm sorry, but you don't "threaten" to turn someone in for KNOWN child abuse- you just fucking DO IT)

An Alabama father fights with his wife, and gets her back by throwing all four of their children off of a bridge into the Gulf of Mexico.

The Hindu cast system may be outlawed in India, but the tradition is alive and well with some. An Chicago area Hindu man killed his pregnant daughter, her husband, and their 3-year-old son... because the husband is of a lower cast.

All of these cases have occurred since Christmas. There are move that I've read, but I couldn't locate the stories today. I just don't understand... how could a parent do anything like that? I will never understand.

PETA has lost.their.mind...

2008-01-11T20:31:00.001-05:00

I'm sure you've all heard the story of that sick fuck Christopher McCuin who killed, fileted, cooked, and possibly ate his girlfriend in Tyler, TX last week. There's an update on the story today which, for the first (and probably last) time since this story broke, made me laugh about the situation.

PETA has petitioned the Smith County Sheriff to put McCuin on a "strict vegetarian diet" to prevent him from being "involved in any senseless killing" while he's incarcerated. PETA Vice President Bruce Friedrich was later quoted in an interview as saying "Only in a culture where people routinely kill and eat living, feeling beings — corpses — would anybody think to kill and either eat or pretend to eat a human corpse."

The Sheriff's reaction matches mine: "I thought it was a joke. I've been sheriff here for almost 30 years. I've seen a lot of things. This pretty much takes the cake."

BUWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAAA... wackos upset over another wacko. Cracks my ass up.

Best reason EVER to NOT vote for Osama Obama

2008-01-10T10:32:00.000-05:00

Headline: Kerry to Endorse Obama

Funny.
Kerry almost became President during the last go-round with Edwards as his running mate... but yet he chose Obama over Edwards this time. heh.

I swear.
There just isn't a decent Democratic presidential nominee. I've never had a 100% match-up to ANYONE running for office, no matter what party they're aligned with. But DAMN. Hillary the Cow vs. Osama Obama vs. The Slick Pony.
What a choice.
I guess the good thing is that no matter who wins the Dem ticket... the Republican winner has a damn good shot at beating them in the final showdown.

Looks like I've got competition.....

2008-01-09T11:52:00.000-05:00

Meanest Mom EVER sells her son's car after finding booze under the front seat.

YAY MOM!!!
YOU FREAKIN' ROCK!!!!

The newspaper ad is loaded with statements which obviously came from conversations with her son:
OLDS 1999 Intrigue. Totally uncool parents who obviously don't love teenage son, selling his car. Only driven for three weeks before snoopy mom who needs to get a life found booze under front seat. $3,700/offer. Call meanest mom on the planet.

I would be so proud to call this woman my friend!

Another One Bites The Dust

2008-01-07T11:28:00.000-05:00

For Thomas's 9th birthday, I got him a pair of Chinese Dwarf hamsters, who subsequently died within 6 months. The first one was cannibalized, and then buried in a Godiva chocolate box. (It's actually a pretty funny story- if you haven't read it, click the link and laugh before rejoining the rest of us.) The second got sick and died following the power outage during last year's ice storm. My son was devastated, and vowed to NEVER AGAIN own a lil' critter.

Until this Christmas.
He asked for another hamster for Christmas- one that would live, by itself so that it couldn't eat the other one. I agreed, and we picked out the nicest, cutest lil' thing ever about a week before Christmas. His name? "Fuzzy Buttons" He was, indeed, fuzzy.

Was.

Key word there... "Was"

HE FREAKIN' DIED LAST WEEK.
I could NOT believe it! I discovered this around 8pm Thursday; the boys were scheduled to be back at my house on Saturday afternoon. Maybe I could replace it with a new one, and he'd never notice!!

WRONG.
He noticed right away. There is just no fooling a child sometimes.
And he didn't like the replacement hamster. Honestly, I didn't either- it was fine when I bought him but then he started biting EVERYTHING- even a Matchbox airplane! So we took him back and Thomas picked out another hamster.

It's SOOO CUTE. White, with a little grey around his face and a stripe down his back. I swear, he looks like a 3 inch long Bugs Bunny. On the way home, I asked Thomas what he was going to name the new lil' guy. My son, my oldest son, the son who lamely tries to tell jokes, the son who takes everything so seriously he actually held a baseball to his eye when told to "keep your eye on the ball'.... made a joke.

Without hesitation, he broke out into song:
HA
HA
HA
HA
STAYIN' ALIVE!
STAYIN' ALIVE!
HA
HA
HA
HA
STAYIN' ALIVE.. ALIVE... ALIVE...
"I think I'll call him STAYIN' ALIVE, just so he gets the hint."

*SNORT*