If I may be so bold, "we" look DAMN good for being 232 years old! ;-)
Semper Fidelis to all!
On Nov. 10, the Marine Corps turns 232 years old. Ever since it was formed in a Philadelphia bar in 1775, the Corps has given Marines countless reasons to take pride in the heritage of their organization.
There is no shortage of instances in which Marine units and individuals have distinguished themselves in battle, but the bragging rights earned over the past 232 years weren't all born on the battlefield.
The Corps' culture sets it apart from other branches of the military in ways that those who have never earned the eagle, globe and anchor find difficult to fully understand. But what is obvious to even the most casual observer is that Marines distinguish themselves through their unique appearance, spirit and accomplishments.
To know the Corps is to love the Corps, which is why Marine Corps Times compiled the following list of 232 reasons to stand Proudly at this year's birthday ball.
1. Cpl. Jason Dunham. First Marine to receive the Medal of Honor since Vietnam. If jumping on a grenade to save a buddy isn't worth the top of the list, nothing is.
2. Civilians have to find time to go to the gym. Marines get paid to go.
3. The National Museum of the Marine Corps. It's like a Smithsonian of leatherneck.
4. There's no such thing as an "ex" Marine.
5. Re-enlistment rates are higher IN the war zone.
6. Stink-proof socks. Well, almost. Systems Command is working on them.
7. Jalapeño cheese.
8. "Every Marine Into the Fight."
9. Lump-sum re-enlistment bonuses up to $80,000. Many of you would consider doing it for free.
10. New uniforms #1. Pixel-pattern cammies? Yeah, the Corps came up with that.
11. "Doc."
12. Flexed arm hang is harder than it looks. We tried it.
13. Barracks parties on non-payday weekends.
14. Marine Gunners.
15. The Wounded Warrior Regiment.
16. MarAdmin 266/07: Letting 18-year-old Marines drink on base at this year's birthday ball.
17. No receipt necessary for travel claim expenses less than $75.
18. The lance corporal underground.
19. Fallujah II.
21. Archibald Henderson's couch, re-upholstered, is still in the commandant's living room.
22. "No better friend, no worse enemy."
23. Typhoons approaching Okinawa often spark islandwide beer runs.
24. Waivers.
25. Gen. James Jones, who followed his tour as commandant with appointment as "supreme intergalactic overlord" (OK, it was Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, but close).
26. 10 rounds from the 500-yard line.
27. Per diem.
28. To civilians, every Marine is recon.
29. Recruiting in Texas is like hunting at the zoo.
30. The "boat cloak." Because every super hero needs a cape.
31. You can re-enlist in the IRR.
32. The wallet in your sock.
33. Motivating television commercials.
34. The "horse shoe" haircut, gone but not forgotten.
35. The global address list. Find your buddies and send them links to Marine Corps Times.
36. Running cadences that mention napalm. And Eskimos.
37. Stories that begin with, "So there I was ..."
38. Modified parade rest.
39. The transformation. Who you are when you join is not nearly as important as who you become.
40. Lt. Gen. Jim Mattis getting a fourth star.
41. If you've been on liberty in Twentynine Palms, you've been on liberty in Yuma and Barstow, too.
42. Grooming standards. Not only can you not act like a thug, you cannot look like a thug.
43. It's not the Army.
44. Women in Manhattan have all seen the Fleet Week episode of "Sex and the City."
45. Combat shotguns.
46. Combat Action Ri bbons. IEDs count now, and should have counted all along. Duh.
47. The occasional free beer. Wear your blues into a bar and see what happens.
48. After decades of debate, there remains no resolution on whether sand fleas trump "The Reaper."
49. The Corps' doesn't call its officers, commissioned or not, "petty."
50. Cpl. Gareth Hawkins, lying on a stretcher after an IED shattered his leg, demanded re-enlistment before medical evacuation. And got it.
51. Whereas Army, Navy and Air Force jokes are funny, Marine jokes are potentially dangerous.
52. The occasional friendly debate. Refer to a Marine staff Noncommissioned officer simply as "sergeant," and see what happens.
53. That troublesome "10 percent," making good Marines look great since 1775.
54. Everyone at a high school reunion is obliged to justify his last 10 years, except the guy wearing alphas.
55. As if ranks that inclu de the words "master" and "gunnery" aren't intimidating enough on their own, the Corps uses them both. At once.
56. Soldiers have Hooah Bars. Marines have Ka-Bars. The second will generally get you the first.
57. The dress code. You can wear your cammies to meet the commandant or repair a tank.
58. From "Aliens" to "Doom," the future vision of warfare almost always includes Space Marines.
59. The Corps was formed in a bar.
60. Marines predicted the WWII campaigns in the Pacific years earlier and prepared for the inevitable. So when a Marine says, "Hey, I've been thinking." perhaps you should take notes.
61. Give a Marine some free time, and he'll rip down your dictator's statue.
62. If it ain't raining, we ain't training.
64. Duty station garden spots: Jacksonville, N.C.; Yuma, Ariz.; Bridgeport, Calif.; Twentynine Palms, Calif. (Yes, we're kidding.)
65. Making morning PT on time.
66. Recruiters who promise everything EXCEPT a rose garden.
67. Mustangs #1. It's easier to take crap from a CO who went to boot camp.
69. Gen. Peter Pace, the first Marine chairman of the Joint Chiefs. He left his four-star insignia with his fallen comrades at the Vietnam Wall when he retired. Nice move.
70. The people zapper. Using microwave energy to disperse a crowd sounds like fun. Semper fry, gunny.
71. Nothing says "Good morning" like a mouthful of Copenhagen and freeze-dried coffee.
72. Nothing says "I love you" like a welcome home sheet hanging on a chain-link fence.
73. Bill Barnes. In June, the former Marine beat the crap out of a 27-year-old pickpocket who tried to make off with his dough. Oh yeah, he's 72.
74. Leftwich Trophy. Heisman winners only think they know about leaving it all on the field.
75. EOD. If you don't know why this is on the list , defuse the next IED yourself.
76. Tax-free combat pay. Doing what you signed up for and not having to give Uncle Sam a dime back.
77. Montford Point Marines. The first African-American Marines know a little something about honor, courage and commitment.
78. Front toward enemy. It's not just a visual reference on a Claymore mine, it's a Marine Corps way of life.
79. Mustangs #2. You know at least three Marines who drive them. It's like a Ford dealership exploded on base.
80. Fred Smith, founder of FedEx. Only a former Marine could truly appreciate the value of getting your mail on time.
81. CMC: The tallest member of the Joints Chiefs. OK, so we haven't actually measured, but he looks the tallest anyway.
82. No more spit shining boots.
83. Chuck Norris was in the Air Force. Steve McQueen was a Marine.
84. The Crucible.
85. 1/9, 2/9 and 3/9. Welcome back, fellas.
86. The FROG uniform. You are now sweat-wickin' AND flame-lickin'.
88. The M4. More rifles in the fight is generally a win-win.
89. MRAPs. Trucks straight out of Mad Max. We still love a good Humvee, but we loved jeeps, too. Things change.
90. Arty guys who do civil affairs. They blow it up, then they fix it. Circle of life.
91. Service Charlies. They look so good, the Navy's copying 'em.
92. Fake Marines. No one eats 'em up faster than real Marines.
93. John Lovell. A 71-year-old former Marine is sitting in a Subway restaurant when two armed men try to rob the place. Lovell grabs his .45, kills one and wounds the other. No word on how Lovell's sandwich fared.
94. 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines. Six Navy Crosses so far. Six.
95. Staff Sgt. Lawrence Dean II, aka the "BadAss Marine." He recites a poem.
He gets uploaded to YouTube. Thousands get motivated.
96. Gen. James Conway takes over as the new commandant. Among his demands: a new PT uniform, new tattoo regs, a plan to add dress blues to the seabag, a change-up in medals and 22,000 more Marines. Someone's been thinking about taking over for a while, huh?
97. Body-fat standards. Everyone hates them, until they see a fat Marine.
98. "Jarhead." Only a former Marine could write a war story about not fighting anyone and make it last for 200 pages, then get Jamie Foxx to star in the movie.
99. The Stumps. The Rock. The Sandbox. Oh, the places you'll serve.
101. Tattoos #2. Getting a fallen friend's name tattooed on your other forearm, and knowing the same.
102. The new PT running suit. Sure, the Army had them first, but the Army gets most things first.
103. Marine expeditionary units: The cheapest cruise you'll ever take.
104. Camp Lejeune: The closest interstate and the nearest good shopping mall are both at least an hour away.
105. Camp Pendleton: There are roads and malls, but try affording a house near the main gate.
106. Tattoos #3. Meat tags. Getting your blood type and other info inked on your ribcage isn't necessarily a bad idea.
107. The Marine Corps is getting bigger. The Navy is getting smaller.
109. 30 days' paid vacation, plus federal holidays off, is obscene by civilian standards.
110. Maj. Gen. Marion E. Carl, the Corps' first fighter ace. First Marine to fly a helicopter. Two Navy Crosses, five Distinguished Flying Crosses, 14 air medals. In 1998, the 82-year-old was killed during a home break-in when he jumped in front of a shotgun blast aimed at his longtime wife, Edna.
111. Tattoos #4. Reaction to the new policy: Conway says sleeves are going away, Marines run for the chair. Tattoo parlors never saw so much business.
113. Guaranteed pay raises.
114. Marine Security Guard #1. Duty in the Bahamas.
115. Having a WWII Marine sa y he's proud of you
116. Drew Carey used to be in the Marine Corps Reserve. Now, he's the host of "The Price is Right."
117. Combatant diver pins. No more of that Navy crap.
118. A Red Stripe is a beer, mon. A Blood Stripe is a symbol of pride.
119. NMCI, if only they would remove the "MC."
120. You watched "300," and it reminded you of your unit.
121. The "Det One" .45 pistol. Designed by Marines, for Marines.
122. Combat marksmanship. You are creeping death. And you get graded on it.
123. Never lost six nukes on a plane.
124. CamelBaks. Water tastes like water again.
125. Give a Marine enough free time, and he'll marry your Bahraini princess.
126. Go to YouTube. Type in "bored Marines." Enjoy.
127. When the president gets on a helicopter, it's not called "Army One."
128. The opposite of the Peace Corps.
129. Camouflage. You can camouflage anything a nd make it cool.
130. No Fear #1. Marines aren't scared of anything. Except apricots. And Charms.
131. Combat optics on M16s. Leave the iron sights, just in case.
132. "Combat loss" amnesty for missing gear. It's like pleading the fifth.
133. Riding a chartered Continental Airlines flight home from the war zone with assault weapons stuffed in all the overhead compartments.
134. In combat, the division band becomes a heavy-machine-gun platoon.
135. What do headaches, broken bones, infectious diseases, missing limbs and hurt feelings all have in common? Motrin. Thanks, Doc.
137. Global instability equals job security.
138. When NMCI goes down, and it will, it's like having the day off.
139. The honor, privilege and responsibility of leading, mentoring and caring for junior Marines.
140. Gunnery sergeants. Don't know the answer? Ask the gunny. Need something? Ask the gunny. In trouble? Avo id the gunny.
141. Because gunny said so.
142. The line to get "tazed" at a military gear expo. Marines will do anything for a free T-shirt.
143. Deployment reunions. Like reliving your wedding night. Sweet!
144. Gig lines. Even in khakis and a polo shirt.
145. Eight-point covers. Even the uniform stands at attention.
146. Marine Security Guards #2. They're not cute and cuddly, but when they greet you at the door, it's like getting a great big hug from the United States of America, no matter where you are.
147. The Mameluke sword. Distinctive.
148. The NCO sword. Earned, never given.
149. The World Famous Mud Run. Thousands of people pay good money to run through 10 clicks of muck every year at Camp Pendleton.
150. John Philip Sousa. A Marine, the nation's March King and composer of "The Stars and Stripes Forever." Ooh-rah.
151. MRE crackers. Hard as Milk Bones but much tasti er. You can almost feel your teeth getting cleaner as you eat 'em.
152. Jane Wayne Day. She'll never ask about work again.
153. Shirt stays. Or garters. Whatever you call them, they're a triple whammy, keeping your shirt tucked, your socks up and removing all that unwanted leg hair.
154. The slogans: "The Few, The Proud, The Marines." "We're Looking For a Few Good Men," "Once a Marine, always a Marine," "Tell that to the Marines." If they could only purchase the rights to Hallmark's "When You Care Enough to Send the Very Best."
155. Speaking of slogans, "The Few, The Proud, The Marines" beat out such notables as Nike's "Just Do It" and Burger King's "Have It Your Way" for a
2007 spot on the advertising Walk of Fame. Better luck next year, losers.
157. Real duty station garden spots you can go an entire career without being assigned to: Southern California; Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii; Okinawa, Japan.
158. Rear-party Marines. God bless them. Whatever reason they stay behind - injury, impending retirement or being volun-told - they are indispensable.
They deserve medals for what they have to deal with while a unit is deployed.
159. While field-grade officers are at the company office, company-grade officers are in the field.
160. Colonels who can take a joke.
161. Free flu shots. And smallpox shots and anthrax shots .
162. Former Sgt. Chris Everhart. While camping with his three sons in June 2007, a bear snatched their cooler and made a play for his 6-year-old.
Everhart threw an 18-inch log at the bear's head, cracking its skull before it could attack and killing it instantly. Then, the park ranger gave him a ticket for leaving the cooler where the bear could get it.
163. Standards. The Corps doesn't lower the bar when recruiting gets tough.
164. Jim Nabors. "Gomer Pyle" beco mes an honorary Marine in 2001 and makes Lance Corporal. It takes him six years to pin on corporal. Talk about art imitating life.
165. Vincent D'Onofrio. The other "Private Pyle" is doing pretty well on "Law and Order: Criminal Intent." He's still weird, though.
166. If you ambush Capt. Brian Chontosh's boys, he's going to take off his Navy Cross and kill you. Then, he's going to pick up your rifle and kill your buddies. Then, he's going to pick up your buddy's rifle and kill your buddy's buddies. Then, he's going to pick up a rocket-propelled grenade launcher
167. Speaking of the Navy Cross, a combat award second only to the Medal of Honor, Marines have earned 15 so far in Iraq, plus one in Afghanistan. Of the six awarded to sailors for those combat zones, five went to SEALs, and one went to a corpsman who exposed himself repeatedly to enemy fire to evacuate and treat wounded Marines. Along with Chontosh, the other recipients include:
168. Gunnery Sgt. Justin D. Lehew.
169. Lance Cpl. Joseph B. Perez.
170. Sgt. Scott C. Montoya.
171. Cpl. Marco A. Martinez.
172. Sgt. Willie L. Copeland.
173. Capt. Brent Morel (posthumous).
174. Sgt. Anthony L. Viggiani.
175. 1st Sgt. Bradley A. Kasal.
176. Cpl. Robert J. Mitchell.
177. Cpl. Dominic Esquibel.
178. Sgt. Jarrett A. Kraft.
179. Cpl. Jeremiah W. Workman.
180. Cpl. Todd Corbin.
181. Sgt. Aubrey L. McDade Jr.
182. Pfc. Christopher Adlesperger (posthumous).
183. Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Louis E. Fonseca.
184. Iwo JIMA. Japan might have changed the name to Iwo To, but that doesn't mean you have to acknowledge it.
185. Col. John Ripley. Received the Navy Cross for the destruction of the Dong Ha bridge in Vietnam. The Corps takes care of its own. In 2002, with Ripley near death, doctors finally found a donated liver for his much-needed transplant. So the Marine Corps sent helicopters and Marines to Philadelphia to retrieve it, and they personally rushed it back to Washington in time to save his life.
186. Marine Corps Times isn't a version of Navy Times anymore. How many careers get their own newspaper?
188. Gatorade bottles wrapped in green, 100 mph tape so as not to offend the sailors in the room.
189. Camaraderie. Marines will hook you up with their sisters, then punch you in the mouth for doing what they knew would happen the whole time.
190. Ingenuity. MRE bombs, 101 uses for cleaning rods and iPods wired into field radio speakers.
191. Getting off the ship.
192. Getting back on the ship.
193. No beach? No problem. Marines inserted 400 miles into landlocked Afghanistan and created Camp Rhino using CH-53 Sea Stallions. Imagine what you can invade with the Osprey.
194. Cases and cases of bottled water mean never having to stand behind a water bull.
195. Race as a nonissue. It wasn't always the case, but three black sergeants major of the Marine Corps in a row show that the Corps has only one color: green.
196. Every day in the Corps is another reason to celebrate. That's why they call them working "parties."
197. Riddick Bowe had what it took to be boxing's undisputed heavyweight champ. He did not have what it took to be a Marine.
198. The U.S. Army Band is called "Pershing's Own." The U.S. Marine Corps Band is called "The President's Own."
199. "8th and I." Ten bucks says you have no idea where the Army chief of staff lives. Commandants don't hide.
200. MRE "rat boxes." How grunts trick-or-treat.
201. The poncho liner. It's a blanket, it's a tent, it's a keeper.
202. Combat fit-reps. People say they're equal to regular fit-reps. People lie.
203. The "E-tool lean." Sailors don't know how good they have it.
204. Navy Lt. Vincent Capodanno, Medal of Honor recipient. If Marines have a hot line to heaven, Father Capodanno - aka the Grunt Padre - would take the call. His body peppered by shrapnel, his right hand nearly severed, the Navy chaplain and priest crisscrossed a Vietnam battlefield Sept. 4, 1967, to render last rites to his fallen Marines and corpsmen with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, until 27 rounds from an enemy machine gun took his life. Last year, the Vatican declared him a "servant of God." Next step, sainthood?
206. Amphibious warfare means always being near the beach.
207. No Fear #2. Talk about the AV-8B Harrier's troubled past all you like, but brave jump jet pilots are flying missions in Iraq.
208. New Uniforms #2. Wash-and-wear combat uniforms mean no more starch, no more dry cleaning.
209. Marine air-ground task force. Nothing like controlling the air and the ground.
210. Slapping an eagle, globe and anchor on the back of your car and knowing it'll get you out of at least one speeding ticket.
211. The Navy wants to put Marines back on warships. It seems that Tomahawk cruise missiles can't do everything.
212. Liberty in Thailand.
213. Liberty in Australia.
214. Liberty, well, anywhere.
215. The Navy's mascot is a goat. The Corps' mascot is a bulldog. You don't need Michael Vick to tell you who wins that fight.
216. If you need another occupying land force, you can use the Marine Corps.
If you need another rapidly deployable, sea-based, front-door-kicking, air-ground team, you can't use the Army.
217. 1775 Rum Punch. Four parts dark rum, two parts lime juice, one part pure maple syrup, grenadine to taste.
218. "It's fun to shoot some people," said Lt. Gen. Jim Mattis. He says what he thinks.
219. The Beirut Memorial Wall. If you ever forget what you're fighting for, pay a visit.
221. "Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lieutenant Weinburg?
I have a greater responsibility than you could possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago, and you curse the Marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know. That Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives. You don't want the truth because deep down, in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall. You need me on that wall. We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punch line. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the b lanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said thank you, and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you are entitled to." Jack Nicholson, "A Few Good Men."
222. Maj. Meghan McClung, Marine public affairs officer, killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq while escorting media. The PAO is more than just a spokesman.
223. Sgt. Rafael Peralta. Like Dunham, he hugged a grenade to save his buddies in Iraq. No Medal of Honor . yet.
224. Hearing an accidental discharge into the clearing barrel, then waiting for the lieutenant to walk inside.
225. Call signs like "Spider" and "Assassin," and these guys were generals.
227. Buttered noodles for breakfast.
228. "Every Marine should look like a Marine. But a Marine looks like a Marine when he's got a bayonet stuck in the enemy's chest." Gen. Robert Magnus, assistant commandant, discussing body-fat standards.
229. "Infantry" is the easiest job for recruiters to sell.
230. Being the youngest Marine at the ball.
231. Being the oldest Marine at the ball.
232. Marine Corps Times appreciates all you do. Happy birthday, Marines!
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
It's that time of year ..............................................
the junior sociopaths are out in force - went for a walk, found a little solid black, long-haired kitten {about 10 weeks old) with an unexploded M-80 duct taped to her tail - picked her up { she started purring immediately - brought her in, the spousal unit cut off the tape & M-80 - put her at the automatic dry food feeder - she climbed inside - I'm trying to type this, but she's wandering around, 'talking', demanding snuggling & 'mush' ............................. she may belong to neighbors - I'm waiting for an adult from the household to verify - if not, I'll take her to the shelter tomorrow ........................ please, please, PLEASE - if you have black cats you care about/for, take them inside until AFTER Halloween - she might have gotten away with losing a part of her tail, but there have been instances over the years where the psychos insert their munitions into the various available orifices - you can imagine the damage .................................
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Ohboyohboyohboy!!
I have a 10 gallon freshwater fish tank that I canNOT maintain clear water in .................... the Spousal Unit is taking a day off this weekend, so we're headed to "the fish store" so he can get the kind of filtration system that will be effective ......................... "the fish store" we're going to, I had gone in a couple of years ago ....................... they had some seahorses ........................... YEP, I'm gonna be looking into getting a 2 to 5 gallon tank, black sand, the necessary salination stuff, some miniature hermit crabs, some red shrimp, MAYBE some eelgrass, some brine shrimp eggs & some rotifers ................... then set it up, get everything "as it should be" {salinity/specific gravity/temp} .............................. THEN get a couple of breed-able pairs of these guys:
They're Dwarf Seahorses - the smallest known seahorses - but {figure THIS out?!?}, per the experts, they're the easiest to care for ............................
"Hippocampus zosterae is one of the smallest of the many different seahorse species, ranging in size between 2 to 2.5 cm. The maximum reported size was a male of 5.0 cm (Jordan and Gilbert, 1882). This species of seahorse can be distinguished from other western Atlantic seahorse species by the presence of 10 to 13 dorsal and pectoral fin rays (Daswon and Vari, 1982). Also, dwarf seahorses possess 9 to 10 trunk rings, a high knob-like coronet that lacks spines or projections, knob-like spines on the body, a short snout that is one-third the length of the head, and skin covered in tiny warts (Lourie et al., 2004). Hippocampus zosterae also has a dorsal fin with a submarginal band (Dawson and Vari, 1982). Dwarf seahorses are found in colors of beige, yellow, green, and black, and may have white speckles or dark spots (Lourie et al., 2004). ()"
Link
They're Dwarf Seahorses - the smallest known seahorses - but {figure THIS out?!?}, per the experts, they're the easiest to care for ............................
"Hippocampus zosterae is one of the smallest of the many different seahorse species, ranging in size between 2 to 2.5 cm. The maximum reported size was a male of 5.0 cm (Jordan and Gilbert, 1882). This species of seahorse can be distinguished from other western Atlantic seahorse species by the presence of 10 to 13 dorsal and pectoral fin rays (Daswon and Vari, 1982). Also, dwarf seahorses possess 9 to 10 trunk rings, a high knob-like coronet that lacks spines or projections, knob-like spines on the body, a short snout that is one-third the length of the head, and skin covered in tiny warts (Lourie et al., 2004). Hippocampus zosterae also has a dorsal fin with a submarginal band (Dawson and Vari, 1982). Dwarf seahorses are found in colors of beige, yellow, green, and black, and may have white speckles or dark spots (Lourie et al., 2004). ()"
Link
Friday, October 5, 2007
Early HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my progeny ...............................
th' Stinker was supposed to have been born yesterday {4 October}, feast of St. Francis of Assisi, which was GREAT, with our love for animals ......................... not MY daughter, nooooooooooooo - SHE has to be born on the feast of St. Bruno - patron saint of the possessed {as in, "The Exorcist"?} ........................ you think I didn't get her innocent little tuchis baptized posthaste? ;-)
Happy Birthday, my Angel ..............................
Happy Birthday, my Angel ..............................
Saturday, September 29, 2007
OK, so my allergies are kicking my butt ..............................
and I CANNOT figure out how to post a picture on the sidebar, soooooooooooooooooooooo .............................
Here's one of our progeny & me at the ASOMO {American Society of Monterrey} 4th of July "do", on 6 July 2001
And this one is at the ASOMO Christmas party, 8th December 2001; from left to right, our daughter, my Spousal Unit, me, and Poncho, D.'s boyfriend at the time
Here's one of our progeny & me at the ASOMO {American Society of Monterrey} 4th of July "do", on 6 July 2001
And this one is at the ASOMO Christmas party, 8th December 2001; from left to right, our daughter, my Spousal Unit, me, and Poncho, D.'s boyfriend at the time
Friday, September 28, 2007
Our friend, E., who I mentioned on 24 September .............................
was found dead on 26 September ............................. E., I can't say Kaddish for you, but
MOURNER'S KADDISH
An English Translation
Glorified and sanctified be God's great name throughout the world which He has created according to His will. May He establish His kingdom in your lifetime and during your days, and within the life of the entire House of Israel, speedily and soon; and say, Amen.
May His great name be blessed forever and to all eternity.
Blessed and praised, glorified and exalted, extolled and honored, adored and lauded be the name of the Holy One, blessed be He, beyond all the blessings and hymns, praises and consolations that are ever spoken in the world; and say, Amen.
May there be abundant peace from heaven, and life, for us
and for all Israel; and say, Amen.
He who creates peace in His celestial heights, may He create peace for us and for all Israel; and say, Amen.
ORIGIN: http://www.ou.org/yerushalayim/kadish.htm
MOURNER'S KADDISH
An English Translation
Glorified and sanctified be God's great name throughout the world which He has created according to His will. May He establish His kingdom in your lifetime and during your days, and within the life of the entire House of Israel, speedily and soon; and say, Amen.
May His great name be blessed forever and to all eternity.
Blessed and praised, glorified and exalted, extolled and honored, adored and lauded be the name of the Holy One, blessed be He, beyond all the blessings and hymns, praises and consolations that are ever spoken in the world; and say, Amen.
May there be abundant peace from heaven, and life, for us
and for all Israel; and say, Amen.
He who creates peace in His celestial heights, may He create peace for us and for all Israel; and say, Amen.
ORIGIN: http://www.ou.org/yerushalayim/kadish.htm
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
By now, I'm sure you've all heard the comments by
the psycho from Baghdad ............................
There's an interview with a gay Iranian couple here that gives a pretty good idea of what gays go through .........................
And THIS is rather graphic video of how Iran treats their gay teenagers :
But it's all just a matter of the Western world's non-acceptance of "cultural differences", right ?
There's an interview with a gay Iranian couple here that gives a pretty good idea of what gays go through .........................
And THIS is rather graphic video of how Iran treats their gay teenagers :
But it's all just a matter of the Western world's non-acceptance of "cultural differences", right ?
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Ok, y'all, ya ready for another stupid N'Awlins story?
{'Specially for AD & DragonWatch ;-) }
Yesterday, the husband of a co-worker of D.'s was 'visiting' with the manager of a local grocery - they observed a woman, sitting in her car, NOT in a parking space, with her eyes closed, and hands behind her head ...................... they leave her be for ~ an hour, then approach & ask if there's something wrong - "Yes, I've been shot in the head & I'm holding my brains in" ..................... they call paramedics, police, etc. - she doesn't want to move her hands so the paramedics can examine her - "I'm holding my brains in!" - finally get the hands away .................................. it's Pillsbury-type dough, that's packaged in a canister, that "pops" when it's opened .................................... this twitless wonder heard it "pop" due to the heat of the vehicle, assumed it was a gunshot, and .................................... just SAT there - no gestures, no verbalizing, just sitting there waiting to die ................................. while the {previously refrigerated} dough sets in her hair ....................... and is too stupid to realize that, HAD she been shot, it would have been warm ....................... :roll
Yesterday, the husband of a co-worker of D.'s was 'visiting' with the manager of a local grocery - they observed a woman, sitting in her car, NOT in a parking space, with her eyes closed, and hands behind her head ...................... they leave her be for ~ an hour, then approach & ask if there's something wrong - "Yes, I've been shot in the head & I'm holding my brains in" ..................... they call paramedics, police, etc. - she doesn't want to move her hands so the paramedics can examine her - "I'm holding my brains in!" - finally get the hands away .................................. it's Pillsbury-type dough, that's packaged in a canister, that "pops" when it's opened .................................... this twitless wonder heard it "pop" due to the heat of the vehicle, assumed it was a gunshot, and .................................... just SAT there - no gestures, no verbalizing, just sitting there waiting to die ................................. while the {previously refrigerated} dough sets in her hair ....................... and is too stupid to realize that, HAD she been shot, it would have been warm ....................... :roll
From my LtColonel ............................
HOW-IN-THE-HELL CAN THIS HAPPEN IN WARTIME?
Mirandizing the Enemy
By Chuck Muth
For today's lesson in "How to Lose a War," let's consider the case of Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto in World War II and compare it to the case of Nawab Buntangyar in what some consider to be World War III today.
But first, consider this all-too-common report in the New York Times this week out of Nad Ali, Afghanistan:
"A suicide bomber wrapped in explosives walked into a crowded government building.and blew himself up, killing at least seven people, four of them police officers. Six people were wounded."
OK, back to the lesson. Admiral Yamamoto commanded the Japanese Navy and led the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor. He was, as the lawyers put it today, an "enemy combatant." Then, on a spring afternoon in 1943, Admiral Yamamoto decided to take a leisurely inspection tour of the South Pacific in a transport plane. U.S. forces learned of Yamamoto's exact itinerary, intercepted his plane and blew him out of the sky.
Note that Yamamoto was merely on an inspection tour and not engaged in hostile activities directed at the American pilots who intercepted him. He posed no "imminent threat" to the American pilots. Therefore, according to some rather bizarre interpretations of today's rules of engagement, the American pilots should have tried to force Yamamoto's plane to land and capture him rather than shoot him down. And the pilot who was credited with nailing Yamamoto should have been tried for murder instead of being awarded the Navy Cross.
Asinine, right? Right. Absolutely absurd.
Which brings us to Nawab Buntangyar.
Mr. Buntangyar had been designated an "enemy combatant" in the Afghanistan war theater for organizing suicide and roadside bomb attacks like the one in Nad Ali described above. He was, for all intents and purposes, an officer in the enemy's corps, not a foot soldier. As such, Buntangyar was declared an "enemy combatant" and was "vetted as a target" by American commanders which, according to the New York Times, "meant he could be legally killed once he was positively identified."
Similarly to Yamamoto, U.S. forces learned of Buntangyar's itinerary last October and endeavored to take him out of the game - permanently. Buntangyar was lured out of his village hideout and into the open where a Special Forces team was waiting. He was positively identified by Afghan police on the scene. So Capt. Dave Staffel gave Master Sgt. Troy Anderson, reportedly 100 yards away from Buntangyar, the green light.
BLAM!! Right between the eyes. Bye-bye, Nawab. Hello, 72 virgins.
Think about this for minute, folks. Our man Sgt. Anderson, under the pressure of a wartime operation, nails the bad guy from the length of a football field right in the melon with one shot. No American casualties. No civilian causalities. Not even any property damage, other than maybe a dry-cleaning bill or two for the guys standing next to Nawab at the time. Compare this to the enemy's suicide bombings.
Naturally, Staffel, Anderson and the entire 7-man Green Beret team involved in the mission were warmly clasped on their backs and congratulated for a job well done, right? Wrong.
In June, Lt. Gen. Frank H. Kearney charged the pair of Green Berets with premeditated murder in the incident. What makes this persecution - er, prosecution even more outrageous is that Kearney brought the charges after not one, but two military investigations cleared the Green Berets in the incident, concluding the shooting was "justifiable homicide."
Is this any way to fight a war?
The shooting was cleared, twice, so why is Lt. Gen. "CYA" Kearney continuing to persecute - er, prosecute these military professionals who did the job they were trained to do and asked to do by their country? What kind of message does this persecution - er, prosecution send to our boots on the ground in Afghanistan and Iraq? I mean, if we're not going to let our soldiers kill the enemy, then why the hell are they there?
Who's running this "war" anyway? The commanders in the field or the lawyers back home? If it's the lawyers, and men like Capt. Staffel and Sgt. Anderson have to read Johnny Jihadi his Miranda rights instead of plinking him in the noggin with a bullet, then the war is over. We lost. Bring the boys home.
Mirandizing the Enemy
By Chuck Muth
For today's lesson in "How to Lose a War," let's consider the case of Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto in World War II and compare it to the case of Nawab Buntangyar in what some consider to be World War III today.
But first, consider this all-too-common report in the New York Times this week out of Nad Ali, Afghanistan:
"A suicide bomber wrapped in explosives walked into a crowded government building.and blew himself up, killing at least seven people, four of them police officers. Six people were wounded."
OK, back to the lesson. Admiral Yamamoto commanded the Japanese Navy and led the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor. He was, as the lawyers put it today, an "enemy combatant." Then, on a spring afternoon in 1943, Admiral Yamamoto decided to take a leisurely inspection tour of the South Pacific in a transport plane. U.S. forces learned of Yamamoto's exact itinerary, intercepted his plane and blew him out of the sky.
Note that Yamamoto was merely on an inspection tour and not engaged in hostile activities directed at the American pilots who intercepted him. He posed no "imminent threat" to the American pilots. Therefore, according to some rather bizarre interpretations of today's rules of engagement, the American pilots should have tried to force Yamamoto's plane to land and capture him rather than shoot him down. And the pilot who was credited with nailing Yamamoto should have been tried for murder instead of being awarded the Navy Cross.
Asinine, right? Right. Absolutely absurd.
Which brings us to Nawab Buntangyar.
Mr. Buntangyar had been designated an "enemy combatant" in the Afghanistan war theater for organizing suicide and roadside bomb attacks like the one in Nad Ali described above. He was, for all intents and purposes, an officer in the enemy's corps, not a foot soldier. As such, Buntangyar was declared an "enemy combatant" and was "vetted as a target" by American commanders which, according to the New York Times, "meant he could be legally killed once he was positively identified."
Similarly to Yamamoto, U.S. forces learned of Buntangyar's itinerary last October and endeavored to take him out of the game - permanently. Buntangyar was lured out of his village hideout and into the open where a Special Forces team was waiting. He was positively identified by Afghan police on the scene. So Capt. Dave Staffel gave Master Sgt. Troy Anderson, reportedly 100 yards away from Buntangyar, the green light.
BLAM!! Right between the eyes. Bye-bye, Nawab. Hello, 72 virgins.
Think about this for minute, folks. Our man Sgt. Anderson, under the pressure of a wartime operation, nails the bad guy from the length of a football field right in the melon with one shot. No American casualties. No civilian causalities. Not even any property damage, other than maybe a dry-cleaning bill or two for the guys standing next to Nawab at the time. Compare this to the enemy's suicide bombings.
Naturally, Staffel, Anderson and the entire 7-man Green Beret team involved in the mission were warmly clasped on their backs and congratulated for a job well done, right? Wrong.
In June, Lt. Gen. Frank H. Kearney charged the pair of Green Berets with premeditated murder in the incident. What makes this persecution - er, prosecution even more outrageous is that Kearney brought the charges after not one, but two military investigations cleared the Green Berets in the incident, concluding the shooting was "justifiable homicide."
Is this any way to fight a war?
The shooting was cleared, twice, so why is Lt. Gen. "CYA" Kearney continuing to persecute - er, prosecute these military professionals who did the job they were trained to do and asked to do by their country? What kind of message does this persecution - er, prosecution send to our boots on the ground in Afghanistan and Iraq? I mean, if we're not going to let our soldiers kill the enemy, then why the hell are they there?
Who's running this "war" anyway? The commanders in the field or the lawyers back home? If it's the lawyers, and men like Capt. Staffel and Sgt. Anderson have to read Johnny Jihadi his Miranda rights instead of plinking him in the noggin with a bullet, then the war is over. We lost. Bring the boys home.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Please keep a friend in your thoughts/prayers ..............................
E.'s been going through a rough swamp, about the size of the Atchafalaya or Okefinokee .................... he needed bilateral {both} hip replacement, attributable to his service in the USMC - he left the Dallas area {Dallas VA was doing nothing for him} and had one done in CT ................... came back here to the DFW area, and is currently scheduled to have the 2nd done @ Baylor in mid- to late November ..................... he's been staying with a friend he'd met while 'ham operating' - this friend has told him he must leave by Friday - so essentially, he'll be homeless on Friday, with his second surgery then put on indefinite hold ........................... the Spousal Unit & I aren't in a position to offer a whole lot of support, other than the moral kind .......................... so please, keep good thoughts for him, that everything turns out OK .........................
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Watching the "new" .......................................
The Ten Commandments, with Dougray Scott as Moses ...................... it's good, but having grown up on the Cecil B. DeMille version, overacting & all, it seems ........................ less epic ........................ what I don't get, is that neither the older nor newer versions acknowledge that Moses didn't speak Hebrew - that was a main reason he needed Aaron by his side, to translate for him ........................ also, I know the plagues and parting of the Red {or Reed} Sea have been 'scientifically' explained - and yet, and yet - having them happen at the precise moments they were needed, to me, is nothing short of miraculous ....................... and argues {again, to me} for the existence of a Supreme Being who cares for all of us .................... He may not answer our prayers/requests as WE think they should be answered, but He does answer ............................. God give me patience, RIGHT NOW!! ;-)
FINALLY got the Spousal Unit ....................................
to start with a doctor, as a primary care physician ......................... got another home BP cuff ...................... he's asking for homemade, tomato-based vegetable juice recipes, where the fiber will be maintained {V8 doesn't retain too much fiber, as it's made from concentrate} ......................... any recipes out there y'all would like to share? ;-)
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
I buy catnip in large {~ 4”X 3” X 3”} plastic “jars” ………………………..
{I also grow my own, but with all the cats WE have, supplementation is a good thing ;-) } ……………………………..They have a large screw-on lid that’s about 3.5” across ……………………. There’s an ‘empty’ laying around …………………. FizzleDizzle was banging it around, trying to get the top off …………………… I took the top off for him ………………………. He just spent 5 minutes, walking around with the “jar” on his head, jumping on chairs, etc., not trying to get it off - he seemed perfectly content to ‘wear’ it until chow time ……………………. The clear plastic was FOGGING UP – I removed it from his head, and he looked at me as if to say, “Duuuu-uu-de!! Wass happenin’?” Now Spooky’s trying to wear it – yeah, that’s great – Spooky thinks diazinon {a bug-killing component of Agent Orange – we were able to get & use a 25% solution while we lived in Mexico} is good to drink ………………………
(SIGH!)
My cats are ……………………… druggies …………………………..
(SIGH!)
My cats are ……………………… druggies …………………………..
Gay Cynic, this isn't my offering, but it's just too good
to not post ............................ from "my" LtColonel ........................ ;-)
Subject: NO FREE LUNCH!
What an interesting "parable" for our times. Just thought you'd enjoy reading it!
There was a Chemistry professor in a large college that had some Exchange students in the class. One day while the class was in the lab the Prof noticed one young man (exchange student) who kept rubbing his back and stretching as if his back hurt.
The professor asked the young man what was the matter.
The student told him he had a bullet lodged in his back. He had been shot while fighting communists in his native country who were trying to overthrow his country's government and install a new communist government.
In the midst of his story he looked at the professor and asked a strange question. He asked, ' Do you know how to catch wild pigs?'
The professor thought it was a joke and asked for the punch line. The young man said this was no joke.'You catch wild pigs by finding a suitable place in the woods and putting corn on the ground. The pigs find it and begin to come everyday to eat the free corn.
When they are used to coming every day, you put a fence down one side of the place where they are used to coming. When they get used to the fence, they begin to eat the corn again and you put up another side of the fence. They get used to that and start to eat again. You continue until you have all four sides of the fence up with a gate in The last side. The pigs, who are used to the free corn, start to come through the gate to eat, you slam the gate on them and catch the whole herd.
Suddenly the wild pigs have lost their freedom. They run around and around inside the fence, but they are caught. Soon they go back to eating the free corn. They are so used to it that they have forgotten how to forage in the woods for themselves, so they accept their captivity.
The young man then told the professor that is exactly what he sees happening to America. The government keeps pushing us toward Communism/Socialism and keeps spreading the free corn out in the form of programs such as supplemental income, tax credit for unearned income, tobacco subsidies, dairy subsidies, payments not to plant crops (CRP), welfare, medicine, drugs, etc., while we continually lose our freedoms- just a little at a time.
One should always remember 'There is no such thing as a free Lunch!' Also, 'You can never hire someone to provide a service for you cheaper than you can do it yourself.
Also, if you see that all of this wonderful government 'help' is a problem confronting the future of democracy in America, you might want to send this on to your friends. If you think the free ride is essential to your way of life then you will probably delete this email, but God help you when the gate slams shut.
Subject: NO FREE LUNCH!
What an interesting "parable" for our times. Just thought you'd enjoy reading it!
There was a Chemistry professor in a large college that had some Exchange students in the class. One day while the class was in the lab the Prof noticed one young man (exchange student) who kept rubbing his back and stretching as if his back hurt.
The professor asked the young man what was the matter.
The student told him he had a bullet lodged in his back. He had been shot while fighting communists in his native country who were trying to overthrow his country's government and install a new communist government.
In the midst of his story he looked at the professor and asked a strange question. He asked, ' Do you know how to catch wild pigs?'
The professor thought it was a joke and asked for the punch line. The young man said this was no joke.'You catch wild pigs by finding a suitable place in the woods and putting corn on the ground. The pigs find it and begin to come everyday to eat the free corn.
When they are used to coming every day, you put a fence down one side of the place where they are used to coming. When they get used to the fence, they begin to eat the corn again and you put up another side of the fence. They get used to that and start to eat again. You continue until you have all four sides of the fence up with a gate in The last side. The pigs, who are used to the free corn, start to come through the gate to eat, you slam the gate on them and catch the whole herd.
Suddenly the wild pigs have lost their freedom. They run around and around inside the fence, but they are caught. Soon they go back to eating the free corn. They are so used to it that they have forgotten how to forage in the woods for themselves, so they accept their captivity.
The young man then told the professor that is exactly what he sees happening to America. The government keeps pushing us toward Communism/Socialism and keeps spreading the free corn out in the form of programs such as supplemental income, tax credit for unearned income, tobacco subsidies, dairy subsidies, payments not to plant crops (CRP), welfare, medicine, drugs, etc., while we continually lose our freedoms- just a little at a time.
One should always remember 'There is no such thing as a free Lunch!' Also, 'You can never hire someone to provide a service for you cheaper than you can do it yourself.
Also, if you see that all of this wonderful government 'help' is a problem confronting the future of democracy in America, you might want to send this on to your friends. If you think the free ride is essential to your way of life then you will probably delete this email, but God help you when the gate slams shut.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Matt G & his Dad, Holly the Goddess' DB, have posts about
having to "put down" animals over the course of their lives ........................... Matt's denouement is here; HtG's DB's ishere ...................... I've been involved, to one degree or another, in humane work for the past 36 years - I have had the utter joy of 'midwifing' cats & dogs in labor; AND I have held cats, dogs, rats & mice while they were euthanized, or died of injuries or diseases {feline leukemia & feline herpes are the WORST} - it's never been easy, whether they were strays or my own beloved pets - but it HAS to be done, whether to alleviate suffering, or because there just aren't enough homes to go around - I've heard the old saw for years, that parents want their children to witness "the miracle of life" - that comes with a matching responsibility, and I believe that it's incumbent on the parents to ensure their children also witness the reality of death ..............................I'll have more on this subject tomorrow .............................
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Got the “first” pot of soup on, for this winter ……………………..
Mebbe I’m jumping the gun, but I just have a feeling that the cold-damplies will be hitting this area sooner rather than later ………………… but with beef, pork, chicken, redskin potatoes, lentils, navy beans, black beans, spinach, cabbage, bell pepper & leek {OF COURSE there’s fresh garlic, onion & basil in it!}, it should make a nice “remove from freezer, put in microwave, thaw/warm up and voila!”
Anybody with experience of food processors, can ya give a gal an assist? Last week, making my chicken salad {chicken breasts, red/orange/green bell peppers, pomegranate, celery – secret is to run fresh garlic & onion and celery seed through an electrical ‘chopper’ with the mayo or Miracle Whip – puts the flavor throughout} I tried ‘chopping’ the bell peppers with the disk of the food processor ………………. If I’d been making pico de gallo, it would’ve been great – but it just battered the poor peppers – wound up cutting them up by hand – tonight, with the cabbage & bell pepper, I tried the 2 blades on a spindle ………………. If I were making coleslaw or pepper cabbage {a PA Dutch treat}, once again, would’ve been great ……………………….
Anybody with experience of food processors, can ya give a gal an assist? Last week, making my chicken salad {chicken breasts, red/orange/green bell peppers, pomegranate, celery – secret is to run fresh garlic & onion and celery seed through an electrical ‘chopper’ with the mayo or Miracle Whip – puts the flavor throughout} I tried ‘chopping’ the bell peppers with the disk of the food processor ………………. If I’d been making pico de gallo, it would’ve been great – but it just battered the poor peppers – wound up cutting them up by hand – tonight, with the cabbage & bell pepper, I tried the 2 blades on a spindle ………………. If I were making coleslaw or pepper cabbage {a PA Dutch treat}, once again, would’ve been great ……………………….
Friday, September 14, 2007
Had an opportunity ………………………….
To observe one of Splendora’s finest in action tonight …………………… I had gone to a little restaurant here called “Sweets & Meats” – I was getting a takeout order on the porch, chitchatting with my neighbor, her granddaughter & granddaughter’s friend, who were also getting some goodies ……………………… now, you park directly in front, directly from one of the main drags here ……………………… there was a man, about my age, eating off the hood of his car …………………. OK, whatever – but he’s staggering around, and has the ‘jailhouse hunch’ over his meal …………………….. one of the rumors {remember, this is a VERY small town} is that his wife can’t stand to watch him eat ……………………. Personally, if I get to the point of being THAT critical of my spousal unit, it’s time for me to just leave …………………. Anyhoo, this fellow is eating/staggering/looking belligerently at all & sundry ……………………. Takes his divided foam clamshell & drink cup to the available trashcan ……………………… now, we’re rural, there are raccoons & possums running around, so the trashcan is lidded …………………….. the lid apparently was just beyond his abilities {too many moving parts?}, so he set his trash on the lid ………………. Walking back in front of the porch of the restaurant, he goes down face-first ………………….. gets in his car …………………… and a Splendora cop pulled in behind him, hit the ‘woo-woos’ & lights as the guy almost backs into the cruiser ……………………... now, Splendora cops AREN’T small – this one is over 6 feet, and built solidly ……………………. He walks up to the driver’s window & talks to the guy ………………….. talks the guy out of the car, takes him to the rear of the car, talks some more ………………………… and cuffs him & puts him in the cruiser ……………………… one of the kids working at the restaurant starts to walk up as the cop is cuffing the guy – cop tells her to get back – the kid visiting my neighbor got all bent out of shape – told her, the cop didn’t want her any closer until he was SURE he had the guy under control – turns out, {again, this is small-town rumor} the guy was in a motorcycle accident sometime ago – he takes some heavy-duty pain meds ……………………… but he ALSO adds alcohol to the mix, THEN gets behind the wheel of his vehicle ………………………. Dunno ‘bout the rest of y’all, but I really don’t want to be on the road with someone impaired to that degree ………………………..
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Katie's Dad 2.0 is taking on libertarians re: illegal immigration .....................................
he's on about Cranky Insomniac, who is waxing verbose about the Statue of Liberty's significance - Katie's Dad says "It proclaims America as an example, not a bug lamp." GOTTA love it!! ;-)
I've added Holly the Goddess' Dearly Beloved to
my links ............................. you're starting off GOOD, DB!!
BTW, Holly, at least I now know where I fit in the constellation of the Goddess - nowhere!! Thanks for the eMail to let me know you were gonna be in the Houston area ...................... oh, wait, you didn't send one ..................... hurt my feelings, you did - gonna go eat worms ...................... eeeuuuuwwwwww .......................... :(
BTW, Holly, at least I now know where I fit in the constellation of the Goddess - nowhere!! Thanks for the eMail to let me know you were gonna be in the Houston area ...................... oh, wait, you didn't send one ..................... hurt my feelings, you did - gonna go eat worms ...................... eeeuuuuwwwwww .......................... :(
Monday, September 10, 2007
Lainy & everyone else ........................................
HBO is running it online, at least until 2130 CT tonight - the link is here; per our progeny, it's in an 'on-demand' type format - Jake's segment opens with video of his wedding - Laura, his bride, met & fell in love with him while he was undergoing his initial recuperation @ Bethesda - she's a NAVY doctor .............................
Saturday, September 8, 2007
Tomorrow night ............................................
friends of our progeny will be on the HBO special Alive Day Memories: Home From Iraq at 2130 Central time - look for a young Marine named Jake Schick; also, his bride, Dr. Laura Young was interviewed for it .......................... in every phone call, D. has nothing but admiration for this young couple ......................
Thursday, September 6, 2007
I know, I know ...................................... my apologies .................................
Gay Cynic, I promise, I WILL get to the meme's .........................
Right now, though, I'm throwing down the gauntlet - where were you, what were you doing, what were your initial thoughts when you heard the news on 11 September 2001? This is open to any and all who read me - you're welcome to post it here, or on your own blogs ....................... taking a page from Holocaust survivors, we will never forget ........................
Remember, we were well-into our 2nd year in Monterrey ............................
I hadn't been able to sleep the night before; it was an undefinable anxiety keeping me awake 'til after 0200 ......................... M. had left for work, D. & I were still asleep, when Danny, an American acquaintance {and former Marine} started pounding on our door, ringing the bell ...................... D. answered the door, then came & woke me & told me that "they attacked the Twin Towers" - we all 3 stumbled down to our TV room, and were transfixed – M. came home, and he and Danny were as silent as the rest of us, watching & listening ........................ I truly believe we were all in shock, all that day, and for quite a while afterward ...................... it was so frustrating, not being able to contact anyone back here - and the border closing {since there was no indication when the border would open again} was scary ........................ we were able to come back up to McAllen that Friday, the first day the border was re-opened ...................
We lost a lot of our collective ........................ innocence? idealism? ....................... that day ........................
Right now, though, I'm throwing down the gauntlet - where were you, what were you doing, what were your initial thoughts when you heard the news on 11 September 2001? This is open to any and all who read me - you're welcome to post it here, or on your own blogs ....................... taking a page from Holocaust survivors, we will never forget ........................
Remember, we were well-into our 2nd year in Monterrey ............................
I hadn't been able to sleep the night before; it was an undefinable anxiety keeping me awake 'til after 0200 ......................... M. had left for work, D. & I were still asleep, when Danny, an American acquaintance {and former Marine} started pounding on our door, ringing the bell ...................... D. answered the door, then came & woke me & told me that "they attacked the Twin Towers" - we all 3 stumbled down to our TV room, and were transfixed – M. came home, and he and Danny were as silent as the rest of us, watching & listening ........................ I truly believe we were all in shock, all that day, and for quite a while afterward ...................... it was so frustrating, not being able to contact anyone back here - and the border closing {since there was no indication when the border would open again} was scary ........................ we were able to come back up to McAllen that Friday, the first day the border was re-opened ...................
We lost a lot of our collective ........................ innocence? idealism? ....................... that day ........................
Friday, August 3, 2007
Couple of letters posted on "my" Marine Message Board ........................
GOTTA LOVE the Aussies, and the lady from NJ Makes me so damn proud to be from the NE ................................ ;-)
From an Australian newspaper in 2006
You probably missed it in the rush of news last week, but there was actually a report that someone in Pakistan had published in a newspaper an offer of a reward to anyone who killed an American, any American.
So an Australian dentist wrote an editorial the following day to let everyone know what an American is. So they would know when they found one. (Good one, mate!!!!)
"An American is English, or French, or Italian, Irish, German, Spanish, Polish, Russian or Greek. An American may also be Canadian, Mexican, African, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Australian, Iranian, Asian, or Arab, or Pakistani or Afghan.
An American may also be a Comanche, Cherokee, Osage, Blackfoot, Navaho, Apache, Seminole or one of the many other tribes known as Native Americans.
An American is Christian, or he could be Jewish, or Buddhist, or Muslim. In fact, there are more Muslims in America than in Afghanistan. The only difference is that in America they are free to worship as each of them chooses.
An American is also free to believe in no religion. For that he will answer only to God, not to the government, or to armed thugs claiming to speak for the government and for God.
An American lives in the most prosperous land in the history of the world. The root of that prosperity can be found in the Declaration of Independence, which recognizes the God given right of each person to the pursuit of happiness.
An American is generous. Americans have helped out just about every other nation in the world in their time of need, never asking a thing in return.
When Afghanistan was over-run by the Soviet army 20 years ago, Americans came with arms and supplies to enable the people to win back their country! As of the morning of September 11, Americans had given more than any other nation to the poor in Afghanistan. Americans welcome the best of everything...the best products, the best books, the best music, the best food, the best services. But they also welcome the least.
The national symbol of America, The Statue of Liberty, welcomes your tired and your poor, the wretched refuse of your teeming shores, the homeless, tempest tossed.
These in fact are the people who built America. Some of them were working in the Twin Towers the morning of September 11, 2001 earning a better life for their families. It's been told that the World Trade Center victims were from at least 30 different countries, cultures, and first languages, including those that aided and abetted the terrorists.
So you can try to kill an American if you must. Hitler did. So did General Tojo, and Stalin, and Mao Tse-Tung, and other blood-thirsty tyrants in the world. But, in doing so you would just be killing yourself. Because Americans are not a particular people from a particular place. They are the embodiment of the human spirit of freedom. Everyone who holds to that spirit, everywhere, is an American.
~~~~~
Written by a housewife from New Jersey
'Are we fighting a war on terror or aren't we? Was it or was it not started by Islamic people who brought it to our shores on September 11, 2001?
Were people from all over the world, mostly Americans, not brutally murdered that day, in downtown Manhattan , across the Potomac from our nation's capitol and in a field in Pennsylvania ?
Did nearly three thousand men, women and children die a horrible, burning or crushing death that day, or didn't they?
And I'm supposed to care that a copy of the Koran was 'desecrated' when an overworked American soldier kicked it or got it wet?...Well, I don't. I don't care at all.
I'll start caring when Osama bin Laden turns himself in and repents for incinerating all those innocent people on 9/11.
I'll care about the Koran when the fanatics in the Middle East start caring about the Holy Bible, the mere possession of which is a crime in Saudi Arabia .
I'll care when these thugs tell the world they are sorry for hacking off Nick Berg's head while Berg screamed through his gurgling slashed throat.
I'll care when the cowardly so-called 'insurgents' in Iraq come out and fight like men instead of disrespecting their own religion by hiding in mosques.
I'll care when the mindless zealots who blow themselves up in search of nirvana care about the innocent children within range of their suicide bombs.
I'll care when the American media stops pretending that their First Amendment liberties are somehow derived from international law instead of the United States Constitution's Bill of Rights.
In the meantime, when I hear a story about a brave Marine roughing up an Iraqi terrorist to obtain information, know this: I don't care.
When I see a fuzzy photo of a pile of naked Iraqi prisoners who have been humiliated in what amounts to a college- hazing incident, rest assured: I don't care.When I see a wounded terrorist get shot in the head when he is told not to move because he might be booby-trapped, you can take it to the bank: I don't care.
When I hear that a prisoner, who was issued a Koran and a prayer mat, and fed 'special' food that is paid for by my tax dollars, is complaining that his holy book is being 'mishandled,' you can absolutely believe in your heart of hearts: I don't care.
And oh, by the way, I've noticed that sometimes it's spelled 'Koran' and other times 'Quran.' Well, Jimmy Crack Corn and-you guessed it-I don't care !!
If you agree with this viewpoint, pass this on to all your E-mail friends. Sooner or later, it'll get to the people responsible for this ridiculous behavior!
From an Australian newspaper in 2006
You probably missed it in the rush of news last week, but there was actually a report that someone in Pakistan had published in a newspaper an offer of a reward to anyone who killed an American, any American.
So an Australian dentist wrote an editorial the following day to let everyone know what an American is. So they would know when they found one. (Good one, mate!!!!)
"An American is English, or French, or Italian, Irish, German, Spanish, Polish, Russian or Greek. An American may also be Canadian, Mexican, African, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Australian, Iranian, Asian, or Arab, or Pakistani or Afghan.
An American may also be a Comanche, Cherokee, Osage, Blackfoot, Navaho, Apache, Seminole or one of the many other tribes known as Native Americans.
An American is Christian, or he could be Jewish, or Buddhist, or Muslim. In fact, there are more Muslims in America than in Afghanistan. The only difference is that in America they are free to worship as each of them chooses.
An American is also free to believe in no religion. For that he will answer only to God, not to the government, or to armed thugs claiming to speak for the government and for God.
An American lives in the most prosperous land in the history of the world. The root of that prosperity can be found in the Declaration of Independence, which recognizes the God given right of each person to the pursuit of happiness.
An American is generous. Americans have helped out just about every other nation in the world in their time of need, never asking a thing in return.
When Afghanistan was over-run by the Soviet army 20 years ago, Americans came with arms and supplies to enable the people to win back their country! As of the morning of September 11, Americans had given more than any other nation to the poor in Afghanistan. Americans welcome the best of everything...the best products, the best books, the best music, the best food, the best services. But they also welcome the least.
The national symbol of America, The Statue of Liberty, welcomes your tired and your poor, the wretched refuse of your teeming shores, the homeless, tempest tossed.
These in fact are the people who built America. Some of them were working in the Twin Towers the morning of September 11, 2001 earning a better life for their families. It's been told that the World Trade Center victims were from at least 30 different countries, cultures, and first languages, including those that aided and abetted the terrorists.
So you can try to kill an American if you must. Hitler did. So did General Tojo, and Stalin, and Mao Tse-Tung, and other blood-thirsty tyrants in the world. But, in doing so you would just be killing yourself. Because Americans are not a particular people from a particular place. They are the embodiment of the human spirit of freedom. Everyone who holds to that spirit, everywhere, is an American.
~~~~~
Written by a housewife from New Jersey
'Are we fighting a war on terror or aren't we? Was it or was it not started by Islamic people who brought it to our shores on September 11, 2001?
Were people from all over the world, mostly Americans, not brutally murdered that day, in downtown Manhattan , across the Potomac from our nation's capitol and in a field in Pennsylvania ?
Did nearly three thousand men, women and children die a horrible, burning or crushing death that day, or didn't they?
And I'm supposed to care that a copy of the Koran was 'desecrated' when an overworked American soldier kicked it or got it wet?...Well, I don't. I don't care at all.
I'll start caring when Osama bin Laden turns himself in and repents for incinerating all those innocent people on 9/11.
I'll care about the Koran when the fanatics in the Middle East start caring about the Holy Bible, the mere possession of which is a crime in Saudi Arabia .
I'll care when these thugs tell the world they are sorry for hacking off Nick Berg's head while Berg screamed through his gurgling slashed throat.
I'll care when the cowardly so-called 'insurgents' in Iraq come out and fight like men instead of disrespecting their own religion by hiding in mosques.
I'll care when the mindless zealots who blow themselves up in search of nirvana care about the innocent children within range of their suicide bombs.
I'll care when the American media stops pretending that their First Amendment liberties are somehow derived from international law instead of the United States Constitution's Bill of Rights.
In the meantime, when I hear a story about a brave Marine roughing up an Iraqi terrorist to obtain information, know this: I don't care.
When I see a fuzzy photo of a pile of naked Iraqi prisoners who have been humiliated in what amounts to a college- hazing incident, rest assured: I don't care.When I see a wounded terrorist get shot in the head when he is told not to move because he might be booby-trapped, you can take it to the bank: I don't care.
When I hear that a prisoner, who was issued a Koran and a prayer mat, and fed 'special' food that is paid for by my tax dollars, is complaining that his holy book is being 'mishandled,' you can absolutely believe in your heart of hearts: I don't care.
And oh, by the way, I've noticed that sometimes it's spelled 'Koran' and other times 'Quran.' Well, Jimmy Crack Corn and-you guessed it-I don't care !!
If you agree with this viewpoint, pass this on to all your E-mail friends. Sooner or later, it'll get to the people responsible for this ridiculous behavior!
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Gay Cynie, I'm thinking about your challenge ...........................
but I kinda got knocked for a loop tonight .................. will post it when I can be more coherent ........................
Please keep some friends in your thoughts/prayers ………………………
C. was a young man who had a pretty rough upbringing ……………………….. he started using drugs at age 11 ………………………. but, over the past couple of years, he was turning his life around – he had a girlfriend of 6 years’ duration – they were expecting a baby – J. had gone with some friends to visit the friends’ relatives out of state – C. probably decided this was his “last hurrah”, that when J. returned, he would have to buckle down and ‘be responsible’, ie., no drugs, drinking, run-ins with the law, etc.
His body was found Monday – OD’d on some injectable – he was in his early 20s – what those of us older & with a medical bent believe happened was, that he’d been clean for so long, and whatever he put in the syringe was the strength he’d used way back when – and that his body just wouldn’t tolerate that particular insult again ……………………….
He leaves behind J., their unborn baby, his sister, brother-in-law, multiple nephews, and his father – and those of us who only knew him as “C.” ………………………….. rest in peace, C. – your Mom’s waiting for you ………………………………
Please keep some friends in your thoughts/prayers ………………………
C. was a young man who had a pretty rough upbringing ……………………….. he started using drugs at age 11 ………………………. but, over the past couple of years, he was turning his life around – he had a girlfriend of 6 years’ duration – they were expecting a baby – J. had gone with some friends to visit the friends’ relatives out of state – C. probably decided this was his “last hurrah”, that when J. returned, he would have to buckle down and ‘be responsible’, ie., no drugs, drinking, run-ins with the law, etc.
His body was found Monday – OD’d on some injectable – he was in his early 20s – what those of us older & with a medical bent believe happened was, that he’d been clean for so long, and whatever he put in the syringe was the strength he’d used way back when – and that his body just wouldn’t tolerate that particular insult again ……………………….
He leaves behind J., their unborn baby, his sister, brother-in-law, multiple nephews, and his father – and those of us who only knew him as “C.” ………………………….. rest in peace, C. – your Mom’s waiting for you ………………………………
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Ya know, I REALLY wish we lived closer to
LawDog and/or Matt G ........................... the "neighbor" I mentioned, who went off about Big Red on his girlfriend's car - the following evening, he came over here, claiming to want to apologize ........................ yeah, right ...................... when I said, "If you had hurt him .............. " he went OFF again - another neighbor {woman} was here, and just LOOKED at me and said what an ass he is ...................... but this creep just doesn't have the BALLS to go off like that in front of MY husband, or either of 2 other neighbors' husbands ............................ and Big Red, God bless'im, pretty much stays on my porch, or under our vehicles - the creep just has a wild hair against Red or me - he's the same idjit who asked me to intercede when another neighbor {man} got pi$$ed at him - and I told him I didn't have a dog in that fight - but if he lays a hand on Red, that's IT - I generally take the attitude that folks who smoke dope, 'long as they don't bother ME, it's not my concern - but this character will get high {he smokes the stuff of another neighbor, who uses it for clinical/health reasons} and then get behind the wheel of his big ol' Chevy truck, or his girlfriend's car ........................... now, back in the day, when I DID indulge {whether smoke or alcohol}, I would stay put wherever I was - since I don't indulge in either {pot not at all; alcohol MAYBE twice a year} too often, I'm generally the designated driver - which is OK ............................ per the lady he went off in front of the other night, his girlfriend has him pretty well whipped ......................... izzit just me, am I spoiled, in that I don't have respect for {presumptive} men who are bullies? He'd best not try to talk to me again - I'll TELL him he has no balls ......................... and if, as I believe, he thinks he can get away with harming Red or me, well ............................ I already am known to the Chief of Police here {in a POSITIVE light - I sent an "atta-boy" letter on one of his officers! ;-) }, and I'll just have a sit-down with the Chief ............................
Thursday, July 26, 2007
LawDog is one of my heroes ......................... ;-)
his willingness to help, in the face of {apparently} abject ingratitude warms the cockles of my heart ....................... I know there are people who "like" cats, and those who abhor them - but they are still living, breathing, "feeling", sentient creatures - and as such, not deserving of the treatment such as LawDog is rescuing them from ........................ I used to say, in all seriousness, that I wished there would be an outbreak of bubonic plague in Mexico, to force the people there to see that cats were NOT a 'nuisance' - they're 'adopted' as kittens, then tossed outside when they're no longer "cute" & expected to fend for themselves - yes, the same is done here, but to a much lesser extent - I was a "gringa loca" for stopping grown men from throwing rocks at a mother & her kittens .......................
Have a neighbor threatening to kill a stray Tom I've been feeding, 'cause "Big Red" is getting on his girlfriend's car at night ...................... we'll see, as this guy isn't exactly known for his willingness to 'go confrontational' with other men ........................ my spousal unit will stand up for "Red", if it comes to that ........................... ;-)
Have a neighbor threatening to kill a stray Tom I've been feeding, 'cause "Big Red" is getting on his girlfriend's car at night ...................... we'll see, as this guy isn't exactly known for his willingness to 'go confrontational' with other men ........................ my spousal unit will stand up for "Red", if it comes to that ........................... ;-)
Monday, July 23, 2007
Time for a rant ....................................
Gay Cynic is having his issues with the medical profession ................ mine is with a much more superficial aspect, but I believe valid, nonetheless ..................
Twenty-plus years ago, I talked with cosmetic surgeons in a teaching hospital where I worked, asking why they couldn't remove fat from thighs/buttocks/wherever and re-locate it to the breast area for augmentation/reconstruction - was told it 'wasn't practical'. I also asked why hair from one's scalp couldn't be transplanted as eyelashes - I was basically laughed at by the docs.
NOW come reports from California & Europe - the latest fad in CA? Transplanting hair from the scalp to the eyelashes - developed for burn victims. Only problem is, one must trim them, as they continue to grow. And from Europe? Women are going on their lunch breaks, having liposuction done on the requisite areas, and the fat is then put in their breast areas .......................... Wonder if I can get any GYNs or urologists to listen to me NOW about my thoughts on reversible tubal ligations & vasectomies?
Twenty-plus years ago, I talked with cosmetic surgeons in a teaching hospital where I worked, asking why they couldn't remove fat from thighs/buttocks/wherever and re-locate it to the breast area for augmentation/reconstruction - was told it 'wasn't practical'. I also asked why hair from one's scalp couldn't be transplanted as eyelashes - I was basically laughed at by the docs.
NOW come reports from California & Europe - the latest fad in CA? Transplanting hair from the scalp to the eyelashes - developed for burn victims. Only problem is, one must trim them, as they continue to grow. And from Europe? Women are going on their lunch breaks, having liposuction done on the requisite areas, and the fat is then put in their breast areas .......................... Wonder if I can get any GYNs or urologists to listen to me NOW about my thoughts on reversible tubal ligations & vasectomies?
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Happy Birthday, Mary Catherine Weber Chapura Mellon Vickery!!
I'm hoping the ponies are running well for you, and that there's plenty of polka competitions and Ortlieb's in heaven ........................ I miss you, Grandma ......................... ;-)
Monday, July 16, 2007
Hate to say "I tolja so", but ..................................
If y'all recall, my 29 June post, I noted that Teddy the Drunk {forgot to add Harry the Spineless @ the time} would do this very thing:
From FAIR {Federation for American Immigration Reform} today .....................
Piecemeal Immigration Measures Poised to Resurface in Congress
Although the Iraq War has taken center stage since Congress returned from the July 4th recess, special interests continue to work behind the scenes to advance their agenda in the realm of immigration. Sources tell FAIR that there is discussion in both the House and Senate on reviving parts of the Bush-Kennedy amnesty bill (S.1639), such as the DREAM Act, the SKIL bill, and AgJOBS. With Congressional leaders in both parties signaling that a comprehensive bill is unlikely to move before the 2008 elections, supporters hope that these particular provisions will be popular enough to pass without being attached to border security or worksite enforcement legislation.
All three immigration measures seek to appease various minority and business special interest groups. The DREAM Act would give amnesty to illegal aliens who arrived in the U.S. as children and have established a certain level of education. It would also allow illegal aliens to receive in-state tuition at colleges and universities by reversing portions of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRAIRA), passed in 1996. The SKIL bill, as it is commonly called, would dramatically increase the annual cap of high-tech H-1B visas and, among other things, would create a special path to citizenship for foreign students who study math, science and engineering.
Finally, AgJOBS would grant amnesty to 1.5 million illegal alien agricultural workers and relax certain portions of the existing agricultural guest worker program (H-2A).
Some Senate sources even suggest that there may even be movement in the Senate this week during the debate on the Defense Authorization Bill. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced Friday he intends to offer the DREAM Act as an amendment to the defense bill; Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) has filed an amendment that would increase H-1B visas; and some have suggested that Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) may attempt to offer an amendment that would expand the H-2B program.
Meanwhile, true immigration reformers are also looking for opportunities to advance provisions critical to enforcing our immigration laws. For example, Congressman Jack Kingston (R-GA), a member of the powerful Appropriations Committee, has successfully offered an amendment to three different appropriations bills that would require government contractors to use the Basic Pilot Program to verify that their employees are lawfully present in the United States. The amendment has been adopted on the Transportation/HUD appropriations bill; the Labor, Health and Human Services appropriations bill; and the Commerce, Justice, and Science appropriations bill. These funding measures will soon move to the House floor where supporters of the Basic Pilot requirement will be working hard to ensure that the language is not stripped.
~~~~~
BTW, I lied - I LOVE saying "I tolja so" ........................ ;-)
~~~~~
Anybody else not getting comments noted ON their blog? I receive the eMails about'em, but they don't show on the blog itself .........................
From FAIR {Federation for American Immigration Reform} today .....................
Piecemeal Immigration Measures Poised to Resurface in Congress
Although the Iraq War has taken center stage since Congress returned from the July 4th recess, special interests continue to work behind the scenes to advance their agenda in the realm of immigration. Sources tell FAIR that there is discussion in both the House and Senate on reviving parts of the Bush-Kennedy amnesty bill (S.1639), such as the DREAM Act, the SKIL bill, and AgJOBS. With Congressional leaders in both parties signaling that a comprehensive bill is unlikely to move before the 2008 elections, supporters hope that these particular provisions will be popular enough to pass without being attached to border security or worksite enforcement legislation.
All three immigration measures seek to appease various minority and business special interest groups. The DREAM Act would give amnesty to illegal aliens who arrived in the U.S. as children and have established a certain level of education. It would also allow illegal aliens to receive in-state tuition at colleges and universities by reversing portions of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRAIRA), passed in 1996. The SKIL bill, as it is commonly called, would dramatically increase the annual cap of high-tech H-1B visas and, among other things, would create a special path to citizenship for foreign students who study math, science and engineering.
Finally, AgJOBS would grant amnesty to 1.5 million illegal alien agricultural workers and relax certain portions of the existing agricultural guest worker program (H-2A).
Some Senate sources even suggest that there may even be movement in the Senate this week during the debate on the Defense Authorization Bill. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced Friday he intends to offer the DREAM Act as an amendment to the defense bill; Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) has filed an amendment that would increase H-1B visas; and some have suggested that Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) may attempt to offer an amendment that would expand the H-2B program.
Meanwhile, true immigration reformers are also looking for opportunities to advance provisions critical to enforcing our immigration laws. For example, Congressman Jack Kingston (R-GA), a member of the powerful Appropriations Committee, has successfully offered an amendment to three different appropriations bills that would require government contractors to use the Basic Pilot Program to verify that their employees are lawfully present in the United States. The amendment has been adopted on the Transportation/HUD appropriations bill; the Labor, Health and Human Services appropriations bill; and the Commerce, Justice, and Science appropriations bill. These funding measures will soon move to the House floor where supporters of the Basic Pilot requirement will be working hard to ensure that the language is not stripped.
~~~~~
BTW, I lied - I LOVE saying "I tolja so" ........................ ;-)
~~~~~
Anybody else not getting comments noted ON their blog? I receive the eMails about'em, but they don't show on the blog itself .........................
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
I've added a link to
Desert Exile ...................... the proprietors are TacoBell {here in Alta Mexico} & XRoadCop {former CHP, currently as a neighbor of John McCain ;-) } .......................... they're pretty much spot-on re: the immigration wars ........................ check'em out! ;-)
Friday, July 6, 2007
Yesterday, while over on t'other side of town .............................
{spousal unit's putting in some O/T - so on paydays, he can't get away to deposit his check, so I went over, met him @ the gate & headed on to credit union} - after I'd taken care of my business on that side of town, I was heading back out here - now, the road our financial institution is at right angles to the highway that starts me on my journey home - you turn left onto the highway - THERE I am, minding my own business, in the left-turn lane - when off to my right I see a most BEAUTIFUL German Shepherd with the owner, who has a crate with a not-easily-seen sign on it - thinking there are !PUPPIES! there {yes, I'm a sucker for puppies - BIG surprise, I know!}, I swoop to the right turn lane, turn the block around {that's a PA Dutch term ;-) } and park next to the pickup with the Shepherd - turns out he's an intact male, 4 years old and his owners just don't have the time to devote to him that he deserves - they're GIVING him away - they just want him to go to a loving home. Tucker {the dog} is a most pleasant dog - VERY friendly, gentle and affectionate {you can tell he's been LOVED} - Joe {his owner} got him as a puppy - he has papers, etc., etc. Unfortunately, 'we' aren't in a position to have a dog right now - but I got Joe's number, and told him I'd see if I couldn't help find a good home for Tucker. Joe's a minister, and he & his wife travel a lot in their work.
We-ell, today I went to get my Jeep inspected {only 4 months overdue ;-) } and got to talking with a gentleman who's vehicle was the next to be checked out - mentioned in passing about Tucker - wouldn't you know it, turns out that Richard is looking for a full grown male Shepherd - got home, called Joe {I don't give folks' numbers out to all & sundry - I'll be the go-between 'til someone tells me different - it's a matter of respect for the folks who entrust their info to me} & left a message on his voicemail - Richard calls, and emphasizes that HE WANTS THIS DOG - Joe calls - I tell HIM about Richard, he gives me the go-ahead to give Richard his number - I call Richard, give him the number - 'bout an hour later, Richard calls - he'd been on the phone with Joe that entire time - they're meeting tomorrow, and Richard will be bringing Tucker into his home - the PLUS for me? Richard's home is really, REALLY close to us here, so I can go see Tucker pretty much whenever I want to ............................ oh, and it turns out that Richard is a minister, too! ;-)
Just call me a Yenta for our four legged friends! ;-)
We-ell, today I went to get my Jeep inspected {only 4 months overdue ;-) } and got to talking with a gentleman who's vehicle was the next to be checked out - mentioned in passing about Tucker - wouldn't you know it, turns out that Richard is looking for a full grown male Shepherd - got home, called Joe {I don't give folks' numbers out to all & sundry - I'll be the go-between 'til someone tells me different - it's a matter of respect for the folks who entrust their info to me} & left a message on his voicemail - Richard calls, and emphasizes that HE WANTS THIS DOG - Joe calls - I tell HIM about Richard, he gives me the go-ahead to give Richard his number - I call Richard, give him the number - 'bout an hour later, Richard calls - he'd been on the phone with Joe that entire time - they're meeting tomorrow, and Richard will be bringing Tucker into his home - the PLUS for me? Richard's home is really, REALLY close to us here, so I can go see Tucker pretty much whenever I want to ............................ oh, and it turns out that Richard is a minister, too! ;-)
Just call me a Yenta for our four legged friends! ;-)
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Crusader Rabbit has a GREAT post ..........................................
but for those with prim family members who might see it, a language alert is in order ..................... ;-) Thank you, the Guys of Crusader Rabbit!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA!!
May we collectively appreciate what we have here ..........................
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
ATTENTION!! ATTENTION ON DECK!!
Tomorrow night, @ 2000 ET, 2100 CT, etc - Turner Classic Movie channel - 1776 will be on - if you've never seen it, or haven't seen it for a few years - from a teacher of history - it is amazingly correct in it's depiction of the founding of our nation - for those who are anti-musicals - GET OVER IT!! ;-)
Friday, June 29, 2007
LawDog, as always, hit several nails on the head ....................................
with his commentary on the un-lamented demise of S1369 ..................... ;-)
My $0.02 worth? WATCH OUT!! Teddy the Drunkard is so vindictive, I wouldn't be surprised to find out he's 'sneaking in' amendments to various other bills, and that by mid-November, S1369 is in effect, having been partitioned among various other legislation ........................ of course, with Teddy & Harry doing the parsing, none of the 'strengthening of the border', or illegals having to pay fines, or any of the other punitive provisions will be enacted ....................... don't say I didn't warn you ....................... ;-)
My $0.02 worth? WATCH OUT!! Teddy the Drunkard is so vindictive, I wouldn't be surprised to find out he's 'sneaking in' amendments to various other bills, and that by mid-November, S1369 is in effect, having been partitioned among various other legislation ........................ of course, with Teddy & Harry doing the parsing, none of the 'strengthening of the border', or illegals having to pay fines, or any of the other punitive provisions will be enacted ....................... don't say I didn't warn you ....................... ;-)
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
The always erudite Martin Kelly has a commentary ..........................
that with a few alterations could be a perfect description of our own Senate - check out the title A Couple Of New Descriptions here - hell's belles, we could call the U.S. the New Aztlan ...........................
Friday, June 22, 2007
Coupla thoughts on the Shamnesty deal …………………..
There’s all this talk about a “virtual fence” – does that mean it will only preclude “virtual illegals”?
Also, all these demands by illegals, and the claims of “Reconquista” – I can’t help but envision the U.S. turning into a BAD version of Mexico – kinda like South Africa & Zimbabwe, when whites were forced out – I realize this isn’t politically correct, but – one only needs to look at SA & Zimbabwe’s current fiscal/productivity dilemmas vs. SA during and immediately after apartheid, and Zimbabwe since Madman Mugabe told the white farmers to leave …………………….. I’m NOT saying native South Africans & Zimbabweans are all corrupt and incompetent – but unfortunately, the individuals in power are, as a rule, corrupt & incapable of governing properly and fairly – they choose to govern tribally, which lends itself to all sorts of problems.
We lived in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, for 2.5 years – we saw the barrios on the outskirts of town, thrown together with cinderblocks, roofed with corrugated metal, stealing electricity from municipal light stanchions. We lived in a neighborhood that was NOT an ‘expat enclave’ {didn’t find THAT ‘til we’d been there about 9 months} – our neighbors were teachers, lawyers, business proprietors. I had ‘poor’ women with children in tow ring my door buzzer, demanding I give them ‘ropa usado’ {used clothing}, then having their kids defecate on the sidewalk. Whenever we would travel up to the border, on our return, the spousal unit’s truck {a LARGE Dodge} would be subjected to kids panhandling – even going so far as the kids jumping up on the hood {a good 4.5-5 feet off the ground}. There are also the ‘rent-a-kids’ – you’d see a woman with 5 or 6 kids begging on a corner – that afternoon or the next day, you’d see the same kids with a different “mother” on another corner. We went to doctors there – I was in a hospital for 4 days – granted, we had insurance {though we had to prepay my hospital stay} – but the ‘poor’ of Mexico have FREE medical care available – EVERY Mexican graduate of a Mexican medical school MUST give 2 years’ medical care to the poor, whether in a hospital setting, or in a rural clinic. Many physicians who are established in their practices there still donate time to the free hospitals, instructing medical students & caring for patients. One note of caution – God forbid, but should any of my readers be visiting Mexico & have an accident, if they send a green ambulance for you, tell’em you want ANOTHER one – at least in the Monterrey area, a green ambulance is one step {make that a half step} removed from a morgue wagon ………………………..
Also, all these demands by illegals, and the claims of “Reconquista” – I can’t help but envision the U.S. turning into a BAD version of Mexico – kinda like South Africa & Zimbabwe, when whites were forced out – I realize this isn’t politically correct, but – one only needs to look at SA & Zimbabwe’s current fiscal/productivity dilemmas vs. SA during and immediately after apartheid, and Zimbabwe since Madman Mugabe told the white farmers to leave …………………….. I’m NOT saying native South Africans & Zimbabweans are all corrupt and incompetent – but unfortunately, the individuals in power are, as a rule, corrupt & incapable of governing properly and fairly – they choose to govern tribally, which lends itself to all sorts of problems.
We lived in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, for 2.5 years – we saw the barrios on the outskirts of town, thrown together with cinderblocks, roofed with corrugated metal, stealing electricity from municipal light stanchions. We lived in a neighborhood that was NOT an ‘expat enclave’ {didn’t find THAT ‘til we’d been there about 9 months} – our neighbors were teachers, lawyers, business proprietors. I had ‘poor’ women with children in tow ring my door buzzer, demanding I give them ‘ropa usado’ {used clothing}, then having their kids defecate on the sidewalk. Whenever we would travel up to the border, on our return, the spousal unit’s truck {a LARGE Dodge} would be subjected to kids panhandling – even going so far as the kids jumping up on the hood {a good 4.5-5 feet off the ground}. There are also the ‘rent-a-kids’ – you’d see a woman with 5 or 6 kids begging on a corner – that afternoon or the next day, you’d see the same kids with a different “mother” on another corner. We went to doctors there – I was in a hospital for 4 days – granted, we had insurance {though we had to prepay my hospital stay} – but the ‘poor’ of Mexico have FREE medical care available – EVERY Mexican graduate of a Mexican medical school MUST give 2 years’ medical care to the poor, whether in a hospital setting, or in a rural clinic. Many physicians who are established in their practices there still donate time to the free hospitals, instructing medical students & caring for patients. One note of caution – God forbid, but should any of my readers be visiting Mexico & have an accident, if they send a green ambulance for you, tell’em you want ANOTHER one – at least in the Monterrey area, a green ambulance is one step {make that a half step} removed from a morgue wagon ………………………..
Friday, June 15, 2007
You may notice ..................................
I've put a new banner on the site - also, the originating site is here.
I've liked Fred Thompson since high school, when I'd get home to watch the Watergate hearings ........................ his wisdom as Counsel to the committee was always on point, and the fact that he can deliver his views with some folksy humor doesn't hurt .......................... ;-)
I've liked Fred Thompson since high school, when I'd get home to watch the Watergate hearings ........................ his wisdom as Counsel to the committee was always on point, and the fact that he can deliver his views with some folksy humor doesn't hurt .......................... ;-)
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Many thanks to
Martin Kelly for his gracious recommendation of my blog .............................. ;-)
For those of you who don't read Michelle Malkin on a
regular basis, she provides a phone number to get through to your Senators {toll-free} about the immigration shamnesty - it's 1-800-417-7666 {I know, I'm not crazy about the triple 6 deal, either ;-)} - background to the origins of the number here.
Watched a couple of interesting movies recently - one is Bent, about the treatment of homosexuals in Nazi Germany - extremely depressing, yes, but an eye-opener as to the cruelty of the Nazis - it was a matter of anyone they disagreed with/determined was "less than human" being fair game for torture. Clive Owens & Lothaire Bluteau {a VERY good actor} are the stars.
'Nother movie that I would recommend - Instinct - if you've any affinity for animals, and our collective 'stewardship' of the earth, it'll getcha - it also throws the spotlight on the sad state of a lot of psychiatric institutions in our country; it does leave one with hope, though.
One I would NOT recommend - Rent - the music is great, but I just don't care for 'lingering death' movies.
Watched a couple of interesting movies recently - one is Bent, about the treatment of homosexuals in Nazi Germany - extremely depressing, yes, but an eye-opener as to the cruelty of the Nazis - it was a matter of anyone they disagreed with/determined was "less than human" being fair game for torture. Clive Owens & Lothaire Bluteau {a VERY good actor} are the stars.
'Nother movie that I would recommend - Instinct - if you've any affinity for animals, and our collective 'stewardship' of the earth, it'll getcha - it also throws the spotlight on the sad state of a lot of psychiatric institutions in our country; it does leave one with hope, though.
One I would NOT recommend - Rent - the music is great, but I just don't care for 'lingering death' movies.
Saturday, June 9, 2007
Can someone PLEASE explain to me ……………………….
exactly why a spoiled brat "heiress’" misbehaviors and jailhouse antics {she’s in, she’s out, she’s in} rates such nonstop “news” coverage, while a man who has devoted his LIFE to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic” is fired and the ONLY mentions of this fact are incorporated in denigrating the man’s service.
Maybe I’m too critical, but it seems as though the “media’s” laziness is becoming more & more apparent. They try to stuff us full of pablum, via ‘reports’ that would better fill the pages of The National Enquirer, rather than seek out what is arguably “news” {ie, information we didn’t have before}.
If they were lucky, NBC devoted maybe 3 minutes to General Pace’s departure – however, they gave at least 5 minutes to the ‘Paris Hilton story’. Of course, NBC doesn’t bother even sending American reporters to Iraq anymore – their “reports” are provided by British or Australian reporters. Why don’t the ‘talking heads’ just phone in their reports?
I don’t happen to believe that the American people are so shallow – our ‘media’ however, to quote a man I used to date, is “shallow as pi$$ in a plate”.
Maybe I’m too critical, but it seems as though the “media’s” laziness is becoming more & more apparent. They try to stuff us full of pablum, via ‘reports’ that would better fill the pages of The National Enquirer, rather than seek out what is arguably “news” {ie, information we didn’t have before}.
If they were lucky, NBC devoted maybe 3 minutes to General Pace’s departure – however, they gave at least 5 minutes to the ‘Paris Hilton story’. Of course, NBC doesn’t bother even sending American reporters to Iraq anymore – their “reports” are provided by British or Australian reporters. Why don’t the ‘talking heads’ just phone in their reports?
I don’t happen to believe that the American people are so shallow – our ‘media’ however, to quote a man I used to date, is “shallow as pi$$ in a plate”.
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
My heart's hurting ......................................
and I'm feeling guilty {hey, I'm Catholic, I can feel guilty about anything!!} - stopped for gas this afternoon, and there at the convenience store was a young pit bull mix with a collar - I spoke softly to him - and he responded - BUT - he was wearing a collar, and was COVERED with mange .......................... if I'd been driving the spousal unit's truck - I'dve picked him up, tied him in the bed & taken him to the shelter - BUT - when the cats are transported, the vast majority of the time, they're transported in my Jeep - I can't risk not killing all the mange mites ........................ St. Francis, please keep him safe, and let him find a loving home ........................ :-(
Saturday, June 2, 2007
WOOHOO - Martin Kelly's back!!!
An absolutely brilliant lawyer, he's again blogging from Scotland ..................... he's on the links, but in case you're impatient ........................... ;-) Martin Kelly
Admittedly, I'm not a big fan of "hunting" ................................
and stories like THIS "Feral" Pig was pet cause me greater heartburn ............................
Now, I understand the absolute need to control wildlife populations ......................... but most of my experience has been with people from cities {Washington, DC; Philadelphia; New York; etc} in rural Pennsylvania, who don't even know how to field dress their kills ......................... in the case of 'Fred' - he WAS A PET - he TRUSTED humans - he associated humans with being FED - and yet, 'hunting' & killing him is considered SPORT? Sorry, but that is in NO WAY a "sport", in my estimation ...........................
Now, I understand the absolute need to control wildlife populations ......................... but most of my experience has been with people from cities {Washington, DC; Philadelphia; New York; etc} in rural Pennsylvania, who don't even know how to field dress their kills ......................... in the case of 'Fred' - he WAS A PET - he TRUSTED humans - he associated humans with being FED - and yet, 'hunting' & killing him is considered SPORT? Sorry, but that is in NO WAY a "sport", in my estimation ...........................
Friday, June 1, 2007
Just up-dated/-graded the blogroll ............................................
didn't ask permission, just did it ............................. also, the blogworld has lost a very erudite member today - Allan Kelly, one of the founders of Barking Moonbats Early Warning System was found dead in his home ........................ Rest in Peace, Skipper ........................
From my LtColonel ............................ ;-)
SCHOOL ANSWERING MACHINE
This is hilarious - no wonder some people were offended!
This is the message that the Pacific Palisades High School ( California ) staff voted unanimously to record on their school telephone answering machine.
This is the actual answering machine message for the school. This came about because they implemented a policy requiring students and parents to be responsible for their children's absences and missing homework. The school and teachers are being sued by parents who want their children's failing grades changed to passing grades - even though those children were absent 15-30 times during the semester and did not complete enough schoolwork to pass their classes.
The outgoing message:
"Hello! You have reached the automated answering service of your school.
* To lie about why your child is absent - Press 1
* To make excuses for why your child did not do his work- Press 2
* To complain about what we do - Press 3
* To swear at staff members - Press 4
* To ask why you didn't get information that was already enclosed in your newsletter and several flyers mailed to you - Press 5
* If you want us to raise your child - Press 6
* If you want to reach out and touch, slap or hit someone -Press 7
* To request another teacher, for the third time this year -Press 8
* To complain about bus transportation - Press 9
* To complain about school lunches - Press 0
* If you realize this is the real world and your child must be
accountable and responsible for his/her own behavior, class work, homework and that it's not the teachers' fault for your child's lack of effort: Hang up and have a nice day!
* If you want this in Spanish, you must be in the wrong country.
This is hilarious - no wonder some people were offended!
This is the message that the Pacific Palisades High School ( California ) staff voted unanimously to record on their school telephone answering machine.
This is the actual answering machine message for the school. This came about because they implemented a policy requiring students and parents to be responsible for their children's absences and missing homework. The school and teachers are being sued by parents who want their children's failing grades changed to passing grades - even though those children were absent 15-30 times during the semester and did not complete enough schoolwork to pass their classes.
The outgoing message:
"Hello! You have reached the automated answering service of your school.
* To lie about why your child is absent - Press 1
* To make excuses for why your child did not do his work- Press 2
* To complain about what we do - Press 3
* To swear at staff members - Press 4
* To ask why you didn't get information that was already enclosed in your newsletter and several flyers mailed to you - Press 5
* If you want us to raise your child - Press 6
* If you want to reach out and touch, slap or hit someone -Press 7
* To request another teacher, for the third time this year -Press 8
* To complain about bus transportation - Press 9
* To complain about school lunches - Press 0
* If you realize this is the real world and your child must be
accountable and responsible for his/her own behavior, class work, homework and that it's not the teachers' fault for your child's lack of effort: Hang up and have a nice day!
* If you want this in Spanish, you must be in the wrong country.
THIS is just selfish, irresponsible .................................
words fail ................................Shock over gay AIDS rape gang
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
And, my apologies ...................................
we were having "issues" with our 'Net provider - something about "corrupted information packets" between the local server & our abode ...................... I tried eMailing Gay Cynic, but it didn't even get out of the gate - so please, all, take a gander at his {requested by me} column, Requested Post ........................ I asked him to address a lack of respect I've observed between couples ........................ and trust me, it doesn't matter if the "couple" involved is straight, gay or lesbian - there HAS to be respect, first, last & always ................................ ;-)
OK, so the Goddess is ordering all minions she's linked ..................................
to list songs from our individual/collective "yoot" ......................... here's the thing - my birthday is in early December; also, earlier that year, I had the WONDERFUL opportunity to work at a radio station {in a clerical capacity} where the format {the kinds of songs they play} was middle of the road - the DJ's first song could be the Allman Brothers, and the next Frank Sinatra or Paul Anka ............................. ;-) {Billy Joel wasn't the force he later became} ........................... so there are a LOT more than 5 or 10 songs for me to choose from ......................... but the 3 below pretty much capture what I was 1) going through or 2) what I hoped for ...................... ;-)
Now, for the rest of the "meme" -
1. Go to the Billboard #1 Hits listings ;
2. Pick the year you turned 18;
3. Get nostalgic over the songs of the year;
4. Pick 5 songs and write something about how these songs affected you;
5. Pass it on to 5 more friends.
"AT SEVENTEEN"
By Janis Ian
I learned the truth at seventeen
That love was meant for beauty queens
And high school girls with clear skinned smiles
Who married young and then retired
The valentines I never knew
The Friday night charades of youth
Were spent on one more beautiful
At seventeen I learned the truth...
And those of us with ravaged faces
Lacking in the social graces
Desperately remained at home
Inventing lovers on the phone
Who called to say "come dance with me"
And murmured vague obscenities
It isn't all it seems at seventeen...
A brown eyed girl in hand me downs
Whose name I never could pronounce
Said: "Pity please the ones who serve
They only get what they deserve"
The rich relationed hometown queen
Marries into what she needs
With a guarantee of company
And haven for the elderly...
So remember those who win the game
Lose the love they sought to gain
In debitures of quality and dubious integrity
Their small-town eyes will gape at you
In dull surprise when payment due
Exceeds accounts received at seventeen...
To those of us who knew the pain
Of valentines that never came
And those whose names were never called
When choosing sides for basketball
It was long ago and far away
the world was younger than today
when dreams were all they gave for free
to ugly duckling girls like me...
We all play the game, and when we dare
We cheat ourselves at solitaire
Inventing lovers on the phone
Repenting other lives unknown
That call and say: "Come on, dance with me"
And murmur vague obscenities
At ugly girls like me, at seventeen...
FREE MAN IN PARIS
Joni Mitchell
"The way I see it," he said
"You just can't win it...
Everybody's in it for their own gain
You can't please 'em all
There's always somebody calling you down
I do my best
And I do good business
There's a lot of people asking for my time
They're trying to get ahead
They're trying to be a good friend of mine
I was a free man in Paris
I felt unfettered and alive
There was nobody calling me up for favors
And no one's future to decide
You know I'd go back there tomorrow
But for the work I've taken on
Stoking the star maker machinery
Behind the popular song
I deal in dreamers
And telephone screamers
Lately I wonder what I do it for
If l had my way
I'd just walk out those doors
And wander
Down the Champs Elysees
Going cafe to cabaret
Thinking how I'll feel when I find
That very good friend of mine
I was a free man in Paris
I felt unfettered and alive
Nobody was calling me up for favors
No one's future to decide
You know I'd go back there tomorrow
But for the work I've taken on
Stoking the star maker machinery
Behind the popular song.
Second Avenue
T. Moore
Since we can no longer make it, girl,
I found a new place to live my life.
It's really no place at all,
Just a hole in the wall, you see.
It's cold and dusty but I let it be,
Livin' here without you,
On Second Avenue.
And since our stars took different paths,
I guess I won't be shavin' in your looking glass.
Guess my old friendly grin,
Must have started to dim, somehow,
And I certainly don't need it now,
Still, I keep smiling through,
On Second Avenue.
I can still see you standing
There on the third-floor landing.
The day you visited we hardly said a word.
Outside it was rainin',
You said you couldn't be stayin,
And you went back to your flowers and your birds.
Since we can no longer see the light
The way we did when we kissed that night,
Then all the things that we felt,
Must eventually melt and fade,
Like the frost on my window pane
Where I wrote, "I Am You,"
On Second Avenue.
AND, anyone who wishes may take part in this exercise ......................... ;-)
Now, for the rest of the "meme" -
1. Go to the Billboard #1 Hits listings ;
2. Pick the year you turned 18;
3. Get nostalgic over the songs of the year;
4. Pick 5 songs and write something about how these songs affected you;
5. Pass it on to 5 more friends.
"AT SEVENTEEN"
By Janis Ian
I learned the truth at seventeen
That love was meant for beauty queens
And high school girls with clear skinned smiles
Who married young and then retired
The valentines I never knew
The Friday night charades of youth
Were spent on one more beautiful
At seventeen I learned the truth...
And those of us with ravaged faces
Lacking in the social graces
Desperately remained at home
Inventing lovers on the phone
Who called to say "come dance with me"
And murmured vague obscenities
It isn't all it seems at seventeen...
A brown eyed girl in hand me downs
Whose name I never could pronounce
Said: "Pity please the ones who serve
They only get what they deserve"
The rich relationed hometown queen
Marries into what she needs
With a guarantee of company
And haven for the elderly...
So remember those who win the game
Lose the love they sought to gain
In debitures of quality and dubious integrity
Their small-town eyes will gape at you
In dull surprise when payment due
Exceeds accounts received at seventeen...
To those of us who knew the pain
Of valentines that never came
And those whose names were never called
When choosing sides for basketball
It was long ago and far away
the world was younger than today
when dreams were all they gave for free
to ugly duckling girls like me...
We all play the game, and when we dare
We cheat ourselves at solitaire
Inventing lovers on the phone
Repenting other lives unknown
That call and say: "Come on, dance with me"
And murmur vague obscenities
At ugly girls like me, at seventeen...
FREE MAN IN PARIS
Joni Mitchell
"The way I see it," he said
"You just can't win it...
Everybody's in it for their own gain
You can't please 'em all
There's always somebody calling you down
I do my best
And I do good business
There's a lot of people asking for my time
They're trying to get ahead
They're trying to be a good friend of mine
I was a free man in Paris
I felt unfettered and alive
There was nobody calling me up for favors
And no one's future to decide
You know I'd go back there tomorrow
But for the work I've taken on
Stoking the star maker machinery
Behind the popular song
I deal in dreamers
And telephone screamers
Lately I wonder what I do it for
If l had my way
I'd just walk out those doors
And wander
Down the Champs Elysees
Going cafe to cabaret
Thinking how I'll feel when I find
That very good friend of mine
I was a free man in Paris
I felt unfettered and alive
Nobody was calling me up for favors
No one's future to decide
You know I'd go back there tomorrow
But for the work I've taken on
Stoking the star maker machinery
Behind the popular song.
Second Avenue
T. Moore
Since we can no longer make it, girl,
I found a new place to live my life.
It's really no place at all,
Just a hole in the wall, you see.
It's cold and dusty but I let it be,
Livin' here without you,
On Second Avenue.
And since our stars took different paths,
I guess I won't be shavin' in your looking glass.
Guess my old friendly grin,
Must have started to dim, somehow,
And I certainly don't need it now,
Still, I keep smiling through,
On Second Avenue.
I can still see you standing
There on the third-floor landing.
The day you visited we hardly said a word.
Outside it was rainin',
You said you couldn't be stayin,
And you went back to your flowers and your birds.
Since we can no longer see the light
The way we did when we kissed that night,
Then all the things that we felt,
Must eventually melt and fade,
Like the frost on my window pane
Where I wrote, "I Am You,"
On Second Avenue.
AND, anyone who wishes may take part in this exercise ......................... ;-)
Sunday, May 27, 2007
From my LtColonel ............................ remember what Memorial Day is all about .................................
The Left Handed Salute
The color guard passed in review, the banners flying high...
And the crowd stood silent in respect... Old Glory passing by.
There were no protests at the scene... Just Americans proud and true...
to honor the colors of our nation, the red, the white, the blue.
Many were the veterans... Wearing medals of wars long past...
And the young were wearing uniforms... As the colors moved slowly past.
There was in the crowd an old man standing... His legs were bent with years...
But the sight of our proud flag... To his faded eyes brought tears.
His old form worn and trembling... His clothes tattered and not regal...
But on his breast there shined an emblem...the Anchor, Globe and Eagle.
And as the colors passed on by... He stood there stern and mute...
With tears streaming from his faded eyes... He raised his hand to salute.
Now his stance was not of what they teach ... In the military way...
His feet misplaced and back was stooped... But he never once did sway.
Then a young lad wearing the uniform of a United States Marine...
Came to the old man standing there... And said Sir you're causing a scene...
You see I must tell you now... And my words you may refute...
But you must never to our flag... Give a left-handed salute.
I see you have the Globe, Anchor and Eagle there upon your chest...
And I question if you ever served... With what is America's best.
We've fought in every American war since 1775...
And Marines have always gave their all...and thousands fell and died.
The old man looked with shameful eyes at the young lad by his side...
And said Marine I realize... You must think I have no pride.
But you see young Marine an old man here... One armed and barely alive...
My other arm I left in the sand.... On Iwo Jima in '45.
Many were my buddies that fell on that hot black sand,
and I made a vow I would never forget... The price they paid for our great land.
Yes, I too was a Marine young lad... Perhaps not as good as you...
But we fought and died the same way then... For the Corps, and the red, white and blue.
So don't judge harshly I beg of you... This old man in his final day...
but as a Marine of yesterday... Please let me my homage pay.
Yes, let me pay my respect to my buddies... Who fell so long ago...
And as the colors pass us by...please try and understand ...
The only way that I can salute is with my old left hand.
The young Marine stood silent... Then with tears clouding his bright eyes...
He came to attention proud and tall as the colors passed on by.
He stood there at attention beside the old man bent and stooped...
but he whispered a soft "Semper Fi" as he slowly raised his left hand in salute.
Semper Fi to all Marines, Past Present and Future from the pen of cd sliger, USMC 1957-1960
The color guard passed in review, the banners flying high...
And the crowd stood silent in respect... Old Glory passing by.
There were no protests at the scene... Just Americans proud and true...
to honor the colors of our nation, the red, the white, the blue.
Many were the veterans... Wearing medals of wars long past...
And the young were wearing uniforms... As the colors moved slowly past.
There was in the crowd an old man standing... His legs were bent with years...
But the sight of our proud flag... To his faded eyes brought tears.
His old form worn and trembling... His clothes tattered and not regal...
But on his breast there shined an emblem...the Anchor, Globe and Eagle.
And as the colors passed on by... He stood there stern and mute...
With tears streaming from his faded eyes... He raised his hand to salute.
Now his stance was not of what they teach ... In the military way...
His feet misplaced and back was stooped... But he never once did sway.
Then a young lad wearing the uniform of a United States Marine...
Came to the old man standing there... And said Sir you're causing a scene...
You see I must tell you now... And my words you may refute...
But you must never to our flag... Give a left-handed salute.
I see you have the Globe, Anchor and Eagle there upon your chest...
And I question if you ever served... With what is America's best.
We've fought in every American war since 1775...
And Marines have always gave their all...and thousands fell and died.
The old man looked with shameful eyes at the young lad by his side...
And said Marine I realize... You must think I have no pride.
But you see young Marine an old man here... One armed and barely alive...
My other arm I left in the sand.... On Iwo Jima in '45.
Many were my buddies that fell on that hot black sand,
and I made a vow I would never forget... The price they paid for our great land.
Yes, I too was a Marine young lad... Perhaps not as good as you...
But we fought and died the same way then... For the Corps, and the red, white and blue.
So don't judge harshly I beg of you... This old man in his final day...
but as a Marine of yesterday... Please let me my homage pay.
Yes, let me pay my respect to my buddies... Who fell so long ago...
And as the colors pass us by...please try and understand ...
The only way that I can salute is with my old left hand.
The young Marine stood silent... Then with tears clouding his bright eyes...
He came to attention proud and tall as the colors passed on by.
He stood there at attention beside the old man bent and stooped...
but he whispered a soft "Semper Fi" as he slowly raised his left hand in salute.
Semper Fi to all Marines, Past Present and Future from the pen of cd sliger, USMC 1957-1960
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Hmmmmmm, so DragonWatch tagged me ………………….. ;-)
for a restaurant meme ……………………….
The rules: add your name to the list,
Pick five people and notify them,
List your five favorite eating spots at your location. {I explain my choices below}
The List:
Nicole (Sydney, Australia)
velverse (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
LB (San Giovanni in Marignano, Italy)
Selba (Jakarta, Indonesia)
Olivia (London, England)
ML (Utah, United States)
Lotus (Toronto, Canada)
tanabata (Saitama, Japan)
Andi (Dallas [ish], Texas, United States)
Lulu (Chicago, Illinois, United States)
Chris (Boyne City, Michigan, United States)
AB (Cave Creek, Arizona, United States)
Johnny Yen (Chicago, Illinois, United States)
Bubs (Mt Prospect, Illinois, United States)
Mob (Midland, Texas United States)
Yas (Ahwatukee, Arizona USA)
RSP (Scottsdale, AZ USA)
Ralphd00d (Phoenix, AZ USA)
DW (South East US)
Diamond Mair (near Houston, TX)
See, the PROBLEM is, I’ve yet to find any restaurants that really impress me here in the Houston area …………………………… so if you’ll indulge me …………………………. ;-)
#1 – All-time favorite – Penzione Stara Roudna, Plzen, Czech Republic. It’s a family enterprise, and the “cook” {what a denigrating term for what he does} is their son – for the single ladies out there, he’s also awesome eye candy – who trained at the Cordon Bleu, Paris – his “steak” would provide dinner for a family of four – almost a full kilo {2.2 pounds} of beef …………………….. he also makes a to-die-for mixed grill {you’ll want to give them 24 hours’ notice, and have a party of at least 4} ……………………. If she’s still alive, Angie may wander over to your table – she was an ancient old dog when I saw her last, but she’s the official “welcomer” – just please don’t take photos of her with a flash, as it scares her.
#2 – Amory’s Wharf, Portsmouth, VA – my very first introduction to Oysters Rockefeller ………………………. SIGH!! None since have measured up ……………………….. GREAT seafood, beautiful view …………………………………
#3 – Spring Valley Inn, just outside Bethlehem, PA – there’s a trout pond where you can choose your dinner – great rainbow trout – had a great evening there, overindulging in Windex {kamikazes with Blue Curacao} – they also used to have a musician playing a harp there on occasional evenings ………………………….
#4 – El Paraiso, San Agustin, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon – a very comfortably formal dining experience – the food , no matter what you order, is excellent – a good place for either a business dinner or a gathering of friends.
#5 – Los Vientos de Garcia, Grutas de Garcia, Nuevo Leon – owned by friends of ours, it is a pensione-style hotel/restaurant ……………………… a place to get away from the at-times overwhelming hustle of Monterrey – if you give Abe & Martha a ‘heads-up’, they’ll prepare a melt-in-your-mouth beef brisket, cooked in an old adobe oven on the patio ………………………….. and there’s “American” TV available in the rooms ……………………………………
~~~~~
OK, I'm tagging Ambulance Driver, Crusader Rabbit, Holly the Goddess, Flying Flo and LawDog ............................ ;-)
The rules: add your name to the list,
Pick five people and notify them,
List your five favorite eating spots at your location. {I explain my choices below}
The List:
Nicole (Sydney, Australia)
velverse (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
LB (San Giovanni in Marignano, Italy)
Selba (Jakarta, Indonesia)
Olivia (London, England)
ML (Utah, United States)
Lotus (Toronto, Canada)
tanabata (Saitama, Japan)
Andi (Dallas [ish], Texas, United States)
Lulu (Chicago, Illinois, United States)
Chris (Boyne City, Michigan, United States)
AB (Cave Creek, Arizona, United States)
Johnny Yen (Chicago, Illinois, United States)
Bubs (Mt Prospect, Illinois, United States)
Mob (Midland, Texas United States)
Yas (Ahwatukee, Arizona USA)
RSP (Scottsdale, AZ USA)
Ralphd00d (Phoenix, AZ USA)
DW (South East US)
Diamond Mair (near Houston, TX)
See, the PROBLEM is, I’ve yet to find any restaurants that really impress me here in the Houston area …………………………… so if you’ll indulge me …………………………. ;-)
#1 – All-time favorite – Penzione Stara Roudna, Plzen, Czech Republic. It’s a family enterprise, and the “cook” {what a denigrating term for what he does} is their son – for the single ladies out there, he’s also awesome eye candy – who trained at the Cordon Bleu, Paris – his “steak” would provide dinner for a family of four – almost a full kilo {2.2 pounds} of beef …………………….. he also makes a to-die-for mixed grill {you’ll want to give them 24 hours’ notice, and have a party of at least 4} ……………………. If she’s still alive, Angie may wander over to your table – she was an ancient old dog when I saw her last, but she’s the official “welcomer” – just please don’t take photos of her with a flash, as it scares her.
#2 – Amory’s Wharf, Portsmouth, VA – my very first introduction to Oysters Rockefeller ………………………. SIGH!! None since have measured up ……………………….. GREAT seafood, beautiful view …………………………………
#3 – Spring Valley Inn, just outside Bethlehem, PA – there’s a trout pond where you can choose your dinner – great rainbow trout – had a great evening there, overindulging in Windex {kamikazes with Blue Curacao} – they also used to have a musician playing a harp there on occasional evenings ………………………….
#4 – El Paraiso, San Agustin, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon – a very comfortably formal dining experience – the food , no matter what you order, is excellent – a good place for either a business dinner or a gathering of friends.
#5 – Los Vientos de Garcia, Grutas de Garcia, Nuevo Leon – owned by friends of ours, it is a pensione-style hotel/restaurant ……………………… a place to get away from the at-times overwhelming hustle of Monterrey – if you give Abe & Martha a ‘heads-up’, they’ll prepare a melt-in-your-mouth beef brisket, cooked in an old adobe oven on the patio ………………………….. and there’s “American” TV available in the rooms ……………………………………
~~~~~
OK, I'm tagging Ambulance Driver, Crusader Rabbit, Holly the Goddess, Flying Flo and LawDog ............................ ;-)
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
If I may recommend ..........................
this links to the first 3 of a 4 part article in the San Antonio Express-NewsBreaching America: War refugees or threats? - the reporter's bona fides are To document the hidden world of special-interest aliens, San Antonio Express-News reporter Todd Bensman and photographer Jerry Lara traveled to Damascus, Syria; Amman, Jordan; throughout Guatemala; the southern border state of Chiapas, Mexico; Brownsville and elsewhere along the Texas border; and Michigan. Bensman documented routes used by smugglers to move immigrants from Islamic countries, including a popular one from Syria to Texas traveled by Iraqi refugee Aamr Bahnan Boles.
The Express-News hired Arabic language interpreters in Syria, Jordan and Texas, where Boles was first interviewed extensively. Bensman obtained materials from overseas smuggling investigations and hundreds of daily intelligence summaries reflecting Texas border crossings. He interviewed U.S. and Mexican law enforcement officials in both countries, and examined U.S. court records from a dozen federal smuggling prosecutions. Some dialogue and scenes described in this series were reconstructed based on interviews with Boles and, when possible, others who were present.
If you weren't angry/anxious before, you WILL be after reading it ......................
The Express-News hired Arabic language interpreters in Syria, Jordan and Texas, where Boles was first interviewed extensively. Bensman obtained materials from overseas smuggling investigations and hundreds of daily intelligence summaries reflecting Texas border crossings. He interviewed U.S. and Mexican law enforcement officials in both countries, and examined U.S. court records from a dozen federal smuggling prosecutions. Some dialogue and scenes described in this series were reconstructed based on interviews with Boles and, when possible, others who were present.
If you weren't angry/anxious before, you WILL be after reading it ......................
Saturday, May 19, 2007
OK, anyone ELSE ready to stroke out over this??
Bush removes provision requiring back taxes from illegal immigrants
Not only are we by-God going to have amnesty crammed down our collective citizens' throats, but WE get to cover the freakin' illegals' tax bill ..................... somebody needs to use a clue-by-four on Chertoff - if they can't get'em for taxes, how in the HELL will they ensure that terrorists aren't dumped on us yet AGAIN???
Not only are we by-God going to have amnesty crammed down our collective citizens' throats, but WE get to cover the freakin' illegals' tax bill ..................... somebody needs to use a clue-by-four on Chertoff - if they can't get'em for taxes, how in the HELL will they ensure that terrorists aren't dumped on us yet AGAIN???
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Crusader Rabbit is spun up .........................................
about a piece o'garbage who has an American connexion, who decided that a video game based on the Virginia Tech massacre is necessary, complete with a {"joke"} ransom demand ..................... the mother of this p o'g is here in the States, supporting him {which has GOT to be a pain in the dupa, getting the monies from here to there} - he's 21, and apparently "feels" that HE had a rough childhood here in the U.S. ............................ ye-eah, not a lot of sympathy here .........................\
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Got a {some?} questions ..................................
is it possible that a lot of the problems 'we' as a society are experiencing are the result of the determination that "self-esteem" is the Holy Grail of emotional development, causing the loss of "self-respect" as a determinant?
Every time I turn around, I'm hearing how peoples' 'self-esteem suffers' - but it seems to me that if they were proponents of 'self-respect' their self-esteem would be OK - self-respect would allow one to make mistakes, but to LEARN from them - if self-esteem is the only measure, everything devolves to subjective "feelings" ............................ maybe I'm too parsing of semantics - I don't say people are 'creative', I call them artistic - "creative" implies that they make something from NOTHING - far as I know, there is only one truly Creative Force .............................. and none of US are IT ........................... ;-)
Every time I turn around, I'm hearing how peoples' 'self-esteem suffers' - but it seems to me that if they were proponents of 'self-respect' their self-esteem would be OK - self-respect would allow one to make mistakes, but to LEARN from them - if self-esteem is the only measure, everything devolves to subjective "feelings" ............................ maybe I'm too parsing of semantics - I don't say people are 'creative', I call them artistic - "creative" implies that they make something from NOTHING - far as I know, there is only one truly Creative Force .............................. and none of US are IT ........................... ;-)
Reverend Jerry Falwell has died ..........................
While I make no apologies for my ideological differences with the man, I had to respect him because as far as I know, he truly lived his convictions ........................ he came across as too strident and judgemental, IMO, but I never heard the slightest whisper that he didn't hold himself to the same standards he demanded of others ........................... {unlike Jimmy Swaggart, Jim Bakker, and all the Catholic priests who we've come to know are pedophiles} - may he rest in peace ..............................
Sunday, May 13, 2007
I make no pretense of understanding economic indices ....................................
but this link was provided with the comment that, since 1973, men's wages {adjusted for inflation} have pretty much flat-lined chart on page 18 ............................ women's wages, in 1973 considerably less than men's, evidence an even greater disparity today ........................... but our economy is doing well, right?
Bleah .......................... I say we 'un-elect' ALL politicians in 2008 and start with a clean slate ...............................
Bleah .......................... I say we 'un-elect' ALL politicians in 2008 and start with a clean slate ...............................
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Sent this as eMail to "my" Guys ........................
Hmmmmmmm, think maybe I have a 'hook' to run for office on? Come to think of it, I'd make a lousy politician ....................... ;-) Similarly to AD, my "filter" would just get stuck in the 'Off' position ;-)
I've been involved in animal welfare issues for the better part of 35 years {NOT the
PETA-type - I've stood for animals which were abused/neglected}
.......................................... back in '72 or '73, at age 16, I testified before Congress, regarding the laws concerning animals in transport. At that time, I tried to make the case that what was needed was NOT "new laws"; rather, that enforcement of existing laws would suffice.
The more I hear of how more & yet MORE laws are crucially necessary to "fix" the immigration mess, the more I want to stand up and scream "STOP! The only law that needs to be changed is the 'anchor baby' interpretation of the 14th Amendment - it needs to be delineated as having served it's purpose, and is NO LONGER NECESSARY" ................
God knows, we have MORE than enough laws on the books - they need to be enforced - we DON'T need 'new laws' that either won't be enforced, or will be selectively
enforced .....................................
I've been involved in animal welfare issues for the better part of 35 years {NOT the
PETA-type - I've stood for animals which were abused/neglected}
.......................................... back in '72 or '73, at age 16, I testified before Congress, regarding the laws concerning animals in transport. At that time, I tried to make the case that what was needed was NOT "new laws"; rather, that enforcement of existing laws would suffice.
The more I hear of how more & yet MORE laws are crucially necessary to "fix" the immigration mess, the more I want to stand up and scream "STOP! The only law that needs to be changed is the 'anchor baby' interpretation of the 14th Amendment - it needs to be delineated as having served it's purpose, and is NO LONGER NECESSARY" ................
God knows, we have MORE than enough laws on the books - they need to be enforced - we DON'T need 'new laws' that either won't be enforced, or will be selectively
enforced .....................................
Friday, May 11, 2007
From my LtColonel ............................ ;-)
MOTHER
This is a truly BEAUTIFUL piece. Please read this at a slow pace, digesting every word and in leisure...do not hurry....this is a treasure...
For those lucky to still be blessed with your Mom, this is beautiful. For those of us who aren't, this is even more beautiful. For those who are moms, you'll love this.
The young mother set her foot on the path of life. "Is this the long way?" she asked.
And the guide said: "Yes, and the way is hard. And you will be old before you reach the end of it.. But the end will be better than the beginning."
But the young mother was happy, and she would not believe that anything could be better than these years. So she played with her children, and gathered flowers for them along the way, and bathed them in the clear streams; and the sun shone on them, and the young Mother cried, "Nothing will ever be lovelier than this."
Then the night came, and the storm, and the path was dark, and the children shook with fear and cold, and th e mother drew them close and covered them with her mantle, and the children said,"Mother, we are not afraid, for you are near, and no harm can come."
And the morning came, and there was a hill ahead, and the children climbed and grew weary, and the mother was weary. But at all times she said to the children," A little patience and we are there." So the children climbed, and when they reached the top they said, "Mother, we would not have done it without you."
And the mother, when she lay down at night looked upat the stars and said, "This is a better day than the last, for my children have learned fortitude in the face of hardness. Yesterday I gave them courage. Today, I've given them strength."
And the next day came strange clouds which darkened th e earth, clouds of war and hate and evil, and the children groped and stumbled, and the mother said: "Look up. Lift your eyes to the light. " And the children looked and saw above the clouds an everlasting glory, and it guided them beyond the darkness." And that night the Mother said, "This is the best day of all, for I have shown my children God."
And the days went on, and the weeks and the months and the years, and the mother grew old and she was little and bent. But her children were tall and strong, and walked with courage. And when the way was rough, they lifted her, for she was as light as a feather; and at last they came to a hill, and beyond they could see a shining road and golden gates flung wide. And mother said, "I have reached the end of my journey. And now I know the end is better than the beginning, for my children can walk alone, and their children after them."
And the children said, "You will always walk with us, Mother, even when you have gone through the gates." And they stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates closed after her. And they said: "We cannot see her but she is with us still. A Mother like ours is more than a memory. She is a living presence......."
Your Mother is always with you.... She's the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street; she's the smell of bleach in your freshly laundered socks; she's the cool hand on your brow when you're not well.
Your Mother lives inside your laughter. And she's crystallized in every tear drop.
She's the place you came from, your first home; and she's the map you follow with every step you take. She's your first love and your first heartbreak, and nothing on earth can separate you.
Not time, not space... not even death!
MAY WE NEVER TAKE OUR MOTHERS FOR GRANTED..
This is a truly BEAUTIFUL piece. Please read this at a slow pace, digesting every word and in leisure...do not hurry....this is a treasure...
For those lucky to still be blessed with your Mom, this is beautiful. For those of us who aren't, this is even more beautiful. For those who are moms, you'll love this.
The young mother set her foot on the path of life. "Is this the long way?" she asked.
And the guide said: "Yes, and the way is hard. And you will be old before you reach the end of it.. But the end will be better than the beginning."
But the young mother was happy, and she would not believe that anything could be better than these years. So she played with her children, and gathered flowers for them along the way, and bathed them in the clear streams; and the sun shone on them, and the young Mother cried, "Nothing will ever be lovelier than this."
Then the night came, and the storm, and the path was dark, and the children shook with fear and cold, and th e mother drew them close and covered them with her mantle, and the children said,"Mother, we are not afraid, for you are near, and no harm can come."
And the morning came, and there was a hill ahead, and the children climbed and grew weary, and the mother was weary. But at all times she said to the children," A little patience and we are there." So the children climbed, and when they reached the top they said, "Mother, we would not have done it without you."
And the mother, when she lay down at night looked upat the stars and said, "This is a better day than the last, for my children have learned fortitude in the face of hardness. Yesterday I gave them courage. Today, I've given them strength."
And the next day came strange clouds which darkened th e earth, clouds of war and hate and evil, and the children groped and stumbled, and the mother said: "Look up. Lift your eyes to the light. " And the children looked and saw above the clouds an everlasting glory, and it guided them beyond the darkness." And that night the Mother said, "This is the best day of all, for I have shown my children God."
And the days went on, and the weeks and the months and the years, and the mother grew old and she was little and bent. But her children were tall and strong, and walked with courage. And when the way was rough, they lifted her, for she was as light as a feather; and at last they came to a hill, and beyond they could see a shining road and golden gates flung wide. And mother said, "I have reached the end of my journey. And now I know the end is better than the beginning, for my children can walk alone, and their children after them."
And the children said, "You will always walk with us, Mother, even when you have gone through the gates." And they stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates closed after her. And they said: "We cannot see her but she is with us still. A Mother like ours is more than a memory. She is a living presence......."
Your Mother is always with you.... She's the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street; she's the smell of bleach in your freshly laundered socks; she's the cool hand on your brow when you're not well.
Your Mother lives inside your laughter. And she's crystallized in every tear drop.
She's the place you came from, your first home; and she's the map you follow with every step you take. She's your first love and your first heartbreak, and nothing on earth can separate you.
Not time, not space... not even death!
MAY WE NEVER TAKE OUR MOTHERS FOR GRANTED..
Thursday, May 10, 2007
May I be permitted a 'happy dance'?
My blog has gone international, with a link at Crusader Rabbit .......................... what a GREAT way to start the day!!
Man, the bragging rights are gonna be awesome today ...................... ;-)
Man, the bragging rights are gonna be awesome today ...................... ;-)
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
My aching ...............................
sense of outrage - NBC is calling the loons who want to attack Fort Dix "homegrown" ........................ EXCUSE ME?!?!?! Not ONE of them was born in the U.S. - they got their incentive from InterNet jihad sites, all in languages other than English .........................
I dunno .......................... maybe I'm being too demanding on what constitutes "homegrown" - blame it on my being born at the Naval Hospital, Quantico ...................... Timothy McVeigh was 'homegrown' ...................... what's next, the 9/11 Nineteen's "disaffection" was a result of the old Noxema "Take it off - take it ALL off" commercials?
Is the MSM THAT stupid, or worse, do they think we're that stupid?
I dunno .......................... maybe I'm being too demanding on what constitutes "homegrown" - blame it on my being born at the Naval Hospital, Quantico ...................... Timothy McVeigh was 'homegrown' ...................... what's next, the 9/11 Nineteen's "disaffection" was a result of the old Noxema "Take it off - take it ALL off" commercials?
Is the MSM THAT stupid, or worse, do they think we're that stupid?
Gotta wonder about the voters of Maryland .................................
electing the likes of Steny Hoyer - he wants the U.S. to pay reparations to the people of Guam ........................ for what awful act, you ask? For the actions of the Imperial Japanese military in World War II ............................. WTF, over? OUR Soldiers, Sailors, and especially, Marines, shed blood and DIED to liberate Guam - and this gasbag has somehow convinced himself that WE owe the Chamorro?
Here's the link that will take you to the bill .............................. head shaking in bemusement .........................
Here's the link that will take you to the bill .............................. head shaking in bemusement .........................
Monday, May 7, 2007
A friend posts this on "my" Marine message board .................................
Carolyn McCarthy grabs for guns again .......................... as another friend {and, no doubt, Holly! ;-) } say, MOLON LABE ........................ as far as replying to the post, we've had issues with trolls, so you have to create & register a profile before you can post there, but it isn't for Marines only - we've a retired Army 1stSgt who stops by occasionally .......................
Friday, May 4, 2007
From Little Green Footballs .............................
Holy Warriors Booby Trap Girls' School
The mujahideen keep giving us new definitions for the word “evil:” Military: New Iraqi school had bombs built in.
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) — American soldiers discovered a girls school being built north of Baghdad had become an explosives-rigged “death trap,” the U.S. military said Thursday.
The plot at the Huda Girls’ school in Tarmiya was a “sophisticated and premeditated attempt to inflict massive casualties on our most innocent victims,” military spokesman Maj. Gen. William Caldwell said.
The military suspects the plot was the work of al Qaeda, because of its nature and sophistication, Caldwell said in an interview with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer.
The plot was uncovered Saturday, when troopers in the Salaheddin province found detonating wire across the street from the school. They picked up the wire and followed its trail, which led to the school. Once inside, they found an explosive-filled propane tank buried beneath the floor. There were artillery shells built into the ceiling and floor, and another propane tank was found, the military said.
The wire was concealed with mortar and concrete, and the propane tanks had been covered with brick and hidden underneath the floor, according to a military statement. Soldiers were able to clear the building.
“It was truly just an incredibly ugly, dirty kind of vicious killing that would have gone on here,” Caldwell said.
But the U.S. is the 'great Satan', right?
THIS is what an extreme example of what I mean when I refer to 'differences' in cultures ........................... granted, we have our 'lone psychos' committing abominable acts - occasionally, we have the 'folie à deux' {the sharing of delusional ideas by two people who are closely associated}, where 2 psychos find each other {Columbine} - please understand right now, I realize that most 'psychos' are, in fact, sociopaths/asocial personalities - creatures without a conscience, without the capacity for empathy - and we seem to have developed more than our fair share of the 'loner' variant - but you cannot convince me that the people who perpetrate such monstrosities as noted above are not sociopaths, one and all ..................... there is no more compassion than most exhibit for pesky insects - there is NO recognition of their victims as human, with the right to life.
It isn't too surprising, therefore, that those from OUR culture who would demand that the rest of us just roll over and surrender to the cant that "all cultures are equal" are many of the same people who insist that abortion-as-birth-control is a 'human right' {not much in the way of rights for the fetus, though} - the sooner that Western culture is eradicated, so goes much of the thinking, the better ...........................
Michelle Malkin has had the phrase "I will not submit" translated into some Arabic characters - that's going to be my next tattoo - when I get my EGA & rose re-done, it will be nearby ................................
Folks, the line has been drawn in the sand - hell, if you didn't notice, it was dug as a TRENCH on 9/11 - WE need to make decisions, as to what we will do, as individuals and communities ....................... this includes many more aspects than just the GWOT - illegal immigrants demanding 'rights' in this country is right up there in priority - I don't get in someone's face re: abortion {my spousal unit is pro-choice}, but if asked, I will give my opinion {it needs to be available for rape/incest; but I've met women who have decided it was a method of birth control, ie, repeated abortions; it should NOT be taxpayer financed} ............................ just my thoughts on the 'culture wars' ............................
If I may ask your collective indulgence, please keep my spousal unit in your thoughts tomorrow - it's the one year anniversary that his 'Miss Sylvie' died - she'd been with him 18 years - her ashes are on his bookcase in his home office ......................... she was a sweet old girl, who would play like a kitten almost to the very end ......................... St. Francis, please give her some Pounce, catnip and some lizards to chase ....................... we miss you, Miss Sylvie ...........................
The mujahideen keep giving us new definitions for the word “evil:” Military: New Iraqi school had bombs built in.
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) — American soldiers discovered a girls school being built north of Baghdad had become an explosives-rigged “death trap,” the U.S. military said Thursday.
The plot at the Huda Girls’ school in Tarmiya was a “sophisticated and premeditated attempt to inflict massive casualties on our most innocent victims,” military spokesman Maj. Gen. William Caldwell said.
The military suspects the plot was the work of al Qaeda, because of its nature and sophistication, Caldwell said in an interview with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer.
The plot was uncovered Saturday, when troopers in the Salaheddin province found detonating wire across the street from the school. They picked up the wire and followed its trail, which led to the school. Once inside, they found an explosive-filled propane tank buried beneath the floor. There were artillery shells built into the ceiling and floor, and another propane tank was found, the military said.
The wire was concealed with mortar and concrete, and the propane tanks had been covered with brick and hidden underneath the floor, according to a military statement. Soldiers were able to clear the building.
“It was truly just an incredibly ugly, dirty kind of vicious killing that would have gone on here,” Caldwell said.
But the U.S. is the 'great Satan', right?
THIS is what an extreme example of what I mean when I refer to 'differences' in cultures ........................... granted, we have our 'lone psychos' committing abominable acts - occasionally, we have the 'folie à deux' {the sharing of delusional ideas by two people who are closely associated}, where 2 psychos find each other {Columbine} - please understand right now, I realize that most 'psychos' are, in fact, sociopaths/asocial personalities - creatures without a conscience, without the capacity for empathy - and we seem to have developed more than our fair share of the 'loner' variant - but you cannot convince me that the people who perpetrate such monstrosities as noted above are not sociopaths, one and all ..................... there is no more compassion than most exhibit for pesky insects - there is NO recognition of their victims as human, with the right to life.
It isn't too surprising, therefore, that those from OUR culture who would demand that the rest of us just roll over and surrender to the cant that "all cultures are equal" are many of the same people who insist that abortion-as-birth-control is a 'human right' {not much in the way of rights for the fetus, though} - the sooner that Western culture is eradicated, so goes much of the thinking, the better ...........................
Michelle Malkin has had the phrase "I will not submit" translated into some Arabic characters - that's going to be my next tattoo - when I get my EGA & rose re-done, it will be nearby ................................
Folks, the line has been drawn in the sand - hell, if you didn't notice, it was dug as a TRENCH on 9/11 - WE need to make decisions, as to what we will do, as individuals and communities ....................... this includes many more aspects than just the GWOT - illegal immigrants demanding 'rights' in this country is right up there in priority - I don't get in someone's face re: abortion {my spousal unit is pro-choice}, but if asked, I will give my opinion {it needs to be available for rape/incest; but I've met women who have decided it was a method of birth control, ie, repeated abortions; it should NOT be taxpayer financed} ............................ just my thoughts on the 'culture wars' ............................
If I may ask your collective indulgence, please keep my spousal unit in your thoughts tomorrow - it's the one year anniversary that his 'Miss Sylvie' died - she'd been with him 18 years - her ashes are on his bookcase in his home office ......................... she was a sweet old girl, who would play like a kitten almost to the very end ......................... St. Francis, please give her some Pounce, catnip and some lizards to chase ....................... we miss you, Miss Sylvie ...........................
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
From my retired LtCol ................................. IMPORTANT FOR WOMEN!!
Female Heart Attacks
I was aware that female heart attacks are different, but this is the best description I've ever read.
Women and heart attacks (Myocardial infarction - MI)
Did you know that women rarely have the same dramatic symptoms that men have when experiencing heart attack... you know, the sudden stabbing pain in the chest, the cold sweat, grabbing the chest and dropping to the floor that we see in the movies. Here is the story of one woman's experience with a heart attack.
"I had a completely unexpected heart attack at about 10:30 pm with NO prior exertion, NO prior emotional trauma that one would suspect might've brought it on. I was sitting all snugly & warm on a cold evening, with my purring cat in my lap, reading an interesting story my friend had sent me, and actually thinking, "A-A-h, this is the life, all cozy and warm in my soft, cushy Lazy Boy with my feet propped up."
A moment later, I felt that awful sensation of indigestion, when you've been in a hurry and grabbed a bite of sandwich and washed it down with a dash of water, and that hurried bite seems to feel like you've swallowed a golf ball going down the esophagus in slow motion and it is most uncomfortable. You realize you shouldn't have gulped it down so fast and needed to chew it more thoroughly and this time drink a glass of water to hasten its progress down to the stomach.
This was my initial sensation---the only trouble was that I hadn't taken a bite of anything since about 5:00 p.m. (this was now 10:30pm)
"After that had seemed to subside, the next sensation was like little squeezing motions that seemed to be racing up my SPINE (hind-sight, it was probably my aorta spasming), gaining speed as they continued racing up and under my sternum (breast bone, where one presses rhythmically when adminstering CPR). This fascinating process continued on into my throat and branched out into both jaws.
"AHA!! NOW I stopped puzzling about what was happening--we all have read and/or heard about pain in the jaws being one of the signals of an MI happening, haven't we?
I said aloud to myself and the cat, "Dear God, I think I'm having a heart attack !" I lowered the foot rest, dumping the cat from my lap, started to take a step and fell on the floor instead. I thought to myself "If this is a heart attack, I shouldn't be walking into the next room where the phone is or anywhere else.......but, on the other hand, if I don't, nobody will know that I need help, and if I wait any longer I may not be able to get up in moment."
"I pulled myself up with the arms of the chair, walked slowly into the next room and dialed the Paramedics... I told her I thought I was having a heart attack due to the pressure building under the sternum and radiating into my jaws. I didn't feel hysterical or afraid, just stating the facts.
She said she was sending the Paramedics over immediately, asked if the front door was near to me, and if so, to unbolt the door and then lie down on the floor where they could see me when they came in.
"I then laid down on the floor as instructed and lost consciousness, as I don't remember the medics coming in, their examination, lifting me onto a gurney or getting me into their ambulance, or hearing the call they made to St. Jude ER on the way, but I did briefly awaken when we arrived and saw that the Cardiologist was already there in his surgical blues and cap, helping the medics pull my stretcher out of the ambulance.
He was bending over me asking questions (probably something like "Have you taken any medications?") but I couldn't make my mind interpret what he was saying, or form an answer, and nodded off again, not waking up until the Cardiologist and partner had already threaded the teeny angiogram balloon up my femoral artery into the aorta and into my heart where they installed two side by side stents to hold open my right coronary artery.
"I know it sounds like all my thinking and actions at home must have taken at least 20-30 minutes before calling the Paramedics, but actually it took perhaps 4-5 minutes before the call, and both the fire station and St. Jude are only minutes away from my home, and my Cardiologist was already to go to the OR in his scrubs and get going on restarting my heart (which had stopped somewhere between my arrival and the procedure) and installing the stents.
"Why have I written all of this to you with so much detail? Because I want all of you who are so important in my life to know what I learned first hand."
1. Be aware that something very different is happening in your body not the usual men's symptoms, but inexplicable things happening (until my sternum and jaws got into the act ). It is said that many more women than men die of their first (and last) MI because they didn't know they were having one, and commonly mistake it as indigestion, take some Maalox or other anti-heartburn preparation, and go to bed, hoping they'll feel better in the morning when they wake up....which doesn't happen.
My female friends, your symptoms might not be exactly like mine, so I advise you to call the Paramedics if ANYTHING is unpleasantly happening that you've not felt before. It is better to have a "false alarm" visitation than to risk your life guessing what it might be!
2. Note that I said "Call the Paramedics". Ladies, TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE! Do NOT try to drive yourself to the ER-- you're a hazard to others on the road, and so is your panicked husband who will be speeding and looking anxiously at what's happening with you instead of the road.
Do NOT call your doctor--he doesn't know where you live and if it's at night you won't reach him anyway, and if it's daytime, his assistants (or answering service) will tell you to call the Paramedics. He doesn't carry the equipment in his car that you need to be saved, the Paramedics do, principally OXYGEN that you need ASAP. Your Dr. will be notified later.
3. Don't assume it couldn't be a heart attack because you have a normal cholesterol count. Research has discovered that a cholesterol elevated reading is rarely the cause of an MI (unless it's unbelievably high, and/or accompanied by high blood pressure.) MI's are usually caused by long-term stress and inflammation in the body, which dumps all sorts of deadly hormones into your system to sludge things up in there.
Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware.
The more we know, the better chance we could survive...
A cardiologist says if everyone who gets this mail sends it to 10 people,
you can be sure that we'll save at least one life.
* * Please be a true friend and send this article to all your friends you care about * *
I was aware that female heart attacks are different, but this is the best description I've ever read.
Women and heart attacks (Myocardial infarction - MI)
Did you know that women rarely have the same dramatic symptoms that men have when experiencing heart attack... you know, the sudden stabbing pain in the chest, the cold sweat, grabbing the chest and dropping to the floor that we see in the movies. Here is the story of one woman's experience with a heart attack.
"I had a completely unexpected heart attack at about 10:30 pm with NO prior exertion, NO prior emotional trauma that one would suspect might've brought it on. I was sitting all snugly & warm on a cold evening, with my purring cat in my lap, reading an interesting story my friend had sent me, and actually thinking, "A-A-h, this is the life, all cozy and warm in my soft, cushy Lazy Boy with my feet propped up."
A moment later, I felt that awful sensation of indigestion, when you've been in a hurry and grabbed a bite of sandwich and washed it down with a dash of water, and that hurried bite seems to feel like you've swallowed a golf ball going down the esophagus in slow motion and it is most uncomfortable. You realize you shouldn't have gulped it down so fast and needed to chew it more thoroughly and this time drink a glass of water to hasten its progress down to the stomach.
This was my initial sensation---the only trouble was that I hadn't taken a bite of anything since about 5:00 p.m. (this was now 10:30pm)
"After that had seemed to subside, the next sensation was like little squeezing motions that seemed to be racing up my SPINE (hind-sight, it was probably my aorta spasming), gaining speed as they continued racing up and under my sternum (breast bone, where one presses rhythmically when adminstering CPR). This fascinating process continued on into my throat and branched out into both jaws.
"AHA!! NOW I stopped puzzling about what was happening--we all have read and/or heard about pain in the jaws being one of the signals of an MI happening, haven't we?
I said aloud to myself and the cat, "Dear God, I think I'm having a heart attack !" I lowered the foot rest, dumping the cat from my lap, started to take a step and fell on the floor instead. I thought to myself "If this is a heart attack, I shouldn't be walking into the next room where the phone is or anywhere else.......but, on the other hand, if I don't, nobody will know that I need help, and if I wait any longer I may not be able to get up in moment."
"I pulled myself up with the arms of the chair, walked slowly into the next room and dialed the Paramedics... I told her I thought I was having a heart attack due to the pressure building under the sternum and radiating into my jaws. I didn't feel hysterical or afraid, just stating the facts.
She said she was sending the Paramedics over immediately, asked if the front door was near to me, and if so, to unbolt the door and then lie down on the floor where they could see me when they came in.
"I then laid down on the floor as instructed and lost consciousness, as I don't remember the medics coming in, their examination, lifting me onto a gurney or getting me into their ambulance, or hearing the call they made to St. Jude ER on the way, but I did briefly awaken when we arrived and saw that the Cardiologist was already there in his surgical blues and cap, helping the medics pull my stretcher out of the ambulance.
He was bending over me asking questions (probably something like "Have you taken any medications?") but I couldn't make my mind interpret what he was saying, or form an answer, and nodded off again, not waking up until the Cardiologist and partner had already threaded the teeny angiogram balloon up my femoral artery into the aorta and into my heart where they installed two side by side stents to hold open my right coronary artery.
"I know it sounds like all my thinking and actions at home must have taken at least 20-30 minutes before calling the Paramedics, but actually it took perhaps 4-5 minutes before the call, and both the fire station and St. Jude are only minutes away from my home, and my Cardiologist was already to go to the OR in his scrubs and get going on restarting my heart (which had stopped somewhere between my arrival and the procedure) and installing the stents.
"Why have I written all of this to you with so much detail? Because I want all of you who are so important in my life to know what I learned first hand."
1. Be aware that something very different is happening in your body not the usual men's symptoms, but inexplicable things happening (until my sternum and jaws got into the act ). It is said that many more women than men die of their first (and last) MI because they didn't know they were having one, and commonly mistake it as indigestion, take some Maalox or other anti-heartburn preparation, and go to bed, hoping they'll feel better in the morning when they wake up....which doesn't happen.
My female friends, your symptoms might not be exactly like mine, so I advise you to call the Paramedics if ANYTHING is unpleasantly happening that you've not felt before. It is better to have a "false alarm" visitation than to risk your life guessing what it might be!
2. Note that I said "Call the Paramedics". Ladies, TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE! Do NOT try to drive yourself to the ER-- you're a hazard to others on the road, and so is your panicked husband who will be speeding and looking anxiously at what's happening with you instead of the road.
Do NOT call your doctor--he doesn't know where you live and if it's at night you won't reach him anyway, and if it's daytime, his assistants (or answering service) will tell you to call the Paramedics. He doesn't carry the equipment in his car that you need to be saved, the Paramedics do, principally OXYGEN that you need ASAP. Your Dr. will be notified later.
3. Don't assume it couldn't be a heart attack because you have a normal cholesterol count. Research has discovered that a cholesterol elevated reading is rarely the cause of an MI (unless it's unbelievably high, and/or accompanied by high blood pressure.) MI's are usually caused by long-term stress and inflammation in the body, which dumps all sorts of deadly hormones into your system to sludge things up in there.
Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware.
The more we know, the better chance we could survive...
A cardiologist says if everyone who gets this mail sends it to 10 people,
you can be sure that we'll save at least one life.
* * Please be a true friend and send this article to all your friends you care about * *
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Phlegm Fatale & Lainy, my apologies ..............................
for not welcoming y'all sooner - I'm not normally so ill-mannered - but with an attention span that was never that good, getting worse, I'm hoping y'all will understand .......................... plus, today, I've been fighting a "hegg-ache" {as the progeny used to call them} all day - not a migraine, it's concentrated on the left, around my eye & ear - Flo, AD, DW - I'm PERRL {although the left seems a little slower than the right - that may be normal for me} - I'm not including the "A", as I never thought to ask for a definition of accommodation - so I'm not worrying about stroke - it just HURTS so da## much - and the reason I know it's not an aberrant migraine is, soaking my feet in hot water didn't help - no, I'm not crazy - if you suffer from migraines, next one, try this before any meds - run water as hot as you can accept in the tub {or sink, if yours is easily accessible} - soak your feet for about 10-15 minutes - then lay down {if you can} for another 15 minutes ......................... I don't know HOW it works, but it does - I have Raynaud's {icicle hands & feet}, and when my feet are warmed .................... the hegg-ache goes away .........................
GOTTA tell y'all - Saturday, I went to a small, local community's first-ever Founders Day {New Caney, Holly} - I met some friends there, saw one friend's new baby {she's beautiful} - the lady I've the longest friendship with has a 3 year old - the Army had a recruiting tent, AND a rock-climbing wall - C., the 3 year old, decided she wanted to climb it - fine, her mother encourages her to try new stuff - the harness was put on {over C.'s sundress} and a young soldier hauled away so that C. went swooping up {about 6 feet} - he slowly lowered her, and she is MAD - yelling at her Mom to take her shoes off and let her go again, she wants to CLIMB ..................... of course, I kibbitzed the soldiers, told them she was gonna go Marines ........................... ;-) Her Mom, afterward, told me she loves that C. is so adventurous, but would like her to become a bit more .................... discerning about her challenges - Mom used the word "fear" & that's NOT what Mom wants - just some degree of judgement ................... ;-)
GOTTA tell y'all - Saturday, I went to a small, local community's first-ever Founders Day {New Caney, Holly} - I met some friends there, saw one friend's new baby {she's beautiful} - the lady I've the longest friendship with has a 3 year old - the Army had a recruiting tent, AND a rock-climbing wall - C., the 3 year old, decided she wanted to climb it - fine, her mother encourages her to try new stuff - the harness was put on {over C.'s sundress} and a young soldier hauled away so that C. went swooping up {about 6 feet} - he slowly lowered her, and she is MAD - yelling at her Mom to take her shoes off and let her go again, she wants to CLIMB ..................... of course, I kibbitzed the soldiers, told them she was gonna go Marines ........................... ;-) Her Mom, afterward, told me she loves that C. is so adventurous, but would like her to become a bit more .................... discerning about her challenges - Mom used the word "fear" & that's NOT what Mom wants - just some degree of judgement ................... ;-)
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