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Ah-ooh, Ah-ooh...we got 'em!!

Woo-hoo!! So, the bill was defeated. Um, ya think anybody who emailed or phoned was listened to? Or, am I just a cynic thinking these lousy Critters were pnadering to keep their seats?
 
Let's review, shall we? ( I love reviews, don't you? They make feel all warm and fuzzy inside. LOL)
 
Oil is down.
Gold is up.
The Euro fell against the dollar, as did the British pound.
Even T-bills had a three point jump.
 
Anybody scratching their heads...(Okay I know Phil and Brian aren't) But it seems to me  that when international investors get worried, they invest in us,er, um,  the  U dot S dot  and our ability to continue growth despite "market forces."
Pretty amazing, our free market, no? Just let it do the job it was meant to and we filter out the buddy fukkers, er, greed monkeys and get on with fixing all the screwed up stuff.  That 700 billion was nothing more than a drug for the psyche of the people scared by the MSM and the "leaders".  Keep Uncle Sugar out and we'll be golden....
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Capitalism rocks, cronyism sucks!! What a RatFuc*

Okay people. I’ve officially had it with all the sheisse. It's nothing but a Ratfuc*! Parentheses mine.

Let’s review a few things, shall we?

The US in by definition, NOT in a recession. A recession is defined as two consecutive quarters of negative growth. Um, to my knowledge, we are not there. Because last Q, there was 3.3% GROWTH and before that, 2.4%.

Growth is slow- if you consider unemployment is up from 5.7 to 6.1%. Consider that if new housing starts are down, that construction workers are down as well. And then trickle that with the mortgage  brokers. We could go on and on…

The US is the largest market when it comes to anything…housing, banking, industry.

So, are we going down like all these other countries and the leftist media would like you to believe? In my own BNC banter- No fukking way!! Those representing us may sell us down the river, but we are NOT going down. Other countries are suffering much more than we are if using real estate to define horrible economic situations globally.

Did you know that the commie countries who produce oil have maintained production while Norway and The UK have slowed? How do you think that effects prices? Why is this happening?

Carter started it, and Billy Jeff enhanced it, that pesky CRA. Looks like all the Wall Street companies/investors sure donated a lot to the Dem campaigns compared to the Republican side. Anyone care to expound on that? Wait, no… let me via this web.

http://www.heritage.org/Press/Commentary/ed092408a.cfm

At Bear Stearns, 157 investment bankers, managing directors, senior managing directors, and other financial sophisticates contributed over $264,000 to Democratic candidates. In contrast, 77 of their colleagues sent about half that amount — $122,000 — to the Republicans.

At JP Morgan Chase, the Democratic advantage, at 3 to 1, was even larger. Contributions to Sens. Obama, Clinton, Dodd, Biden, and Edwards totaled $275,000 from 238 elites in that firm. Republican presidential aspirants had to make do with $93,000 from 83 equally important-sounding people. (Maybe the reps are giving more to charity than the dems?)

The story was much the same at Lehman Brothers. There, the Democratic field swept up over 560,000 pre-bankruptcy dollars from 272 former Lehman employees. Republican candidates received less than half that — $256,000 — from 145.

This Democratic advantage in both total contributions and number of employees contributing also holds at the latest casualties on Wall Street, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley. Goldman employees cut checks to Democratic candidates totaling an astounding $789,000. At Morgan Stanley, the generosity was even greater: $818,000. Goldman Republicans contributed less than a third the amount of their Democratic colleagues; those at Morgan Stanley less than half

But someone must have spiked the water coolers at Merrill Lynch. Alone among Wall Street's storied firms, Merrill Lynch's workforce favored the Republicans ($490,000) over the Democrats ($399,000). I'll leave it to others to decipher why the ideological leanings of Merrill's employees stand apart from the rest of the Street.

Employees at now-defunct American International Group also voted overwhelmingly Democratic with their dollars. According to FEC records, 118 AIG executives contributed $104,000 to the Democrats, about three times the $33,000 sent to the Republicans. AIG's Democratic tilt, moreover, mirrors the Democratic presidential field's strong performance in the insurance industry as a whole, as a review of contributions from employees of Met Life, New York Life, Prudential, The Hartford, Liberty Mutual, Nationwide, Geico, Allstate, and State Farm reveals.

The donation disparity is even more pronounced at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, those hybrid creatures of power politics that touched off the whole messy shebang.

Overall, 152 Fannie executives airdropped $146,000 on Democrats this presidential cycle, more than 7 times what Republicans received ($19,700). The contrast between Sens. McCain and Obama was even greater. Sen. McCain received slightly over $7,500 from 9 Fannie employees while Sen. Obama raked in 13 times as much (about $96,000) from 97 employees. At Freddie, the Democratic advantage was less overwhelming, but still daunting. Democratic candidates enjoyed a 4 to 1 edge, receiving $64,400 (Obama has received about $23,500) and Republicans $16,300 (of which McCain gets roughly $9,0000).

Okay, our liberal friends may say, the barons of Wall Street and titans of insurance may be overwhelmingly Democratic, but surely the old stereotype still holds true in the oil industry, right? "If my colleagues want to do something interesting," Rep. Anthony Weiner (D., N.Y.) said last week on the House floor, "go to opensecrets.org. look at the donations of ExxonMobil, look at Texaco, and look at the R's next to all the people who got it."

Weiner has a point when it comes to third party PAC contributions from firms such as Exxon Mobil and Chevron, which tilt decidedly to Republicans in the House and Senate. But, at the presidential level, the same left-of-center political and ideological culture seems to hold sway among employees in the oil sector. The Democrats' long march through America's elites did not stop at Wall Street. It even extends to Big Oil.Here's the scorecard from the oil fields:

Chevron: Dems: over $69,000 from 90 employees. GOP $25,500 from 28 employees.

British Petroleum: Dems: nearly$42,000 from 48 employees. GOP: barely $15,000 from 16 employees.

Royal Dutch Shell: Dems over $44,000 from 53 employees. GOP: $12,600 from 17 employees.

Even the liberals' favorite petroleum-based piñata, Exxon-Mobil, preferred the Democrats in their employee-giving. Ninety-one Exxon-Mobil employees sent $94,000 to the Democratic field; 62 sent checks totaling $60,700 to the GOP contenders.

As the blame game takes shape, it should be noted that the corporate denizens enmeshed in this mess were far from rabid free-marketers. Rather, the elite members of this corporate culture are overwhelmingly enamored of a distinctly left-of-center approach to markets, the role of government, and risk.

Do my readers and fellow taxpayers have some ideas other than Paulson’s crony bailing? Cause that ain’t working for me? Is it working for you? Initially, I agreed with the AIG bailout because they did have assets for liquidity to make good on the defaults…but now, we are just being fukked over one more time. And, he who inherits this mess…God help us!!

And lest anyone have questions...go here and see this.

 
Although McCain may be self-serving, I can’t necessarily blow off his show of concern for his senatorial duties. Obama really should have followed his lead. 
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September 11th, 2008

Who is remembering September 11th, 2001? Are the networks running any specials to “remember” something we should as Americans never forget? Sigh. In my humble abode are the faded and worn news printed American Flags taped to the wall. The fat quarter of American Flag material that I purchased within minutes of the attack sits on the dashboard of my car. The first words out of my mouth when I heard, “F-ing terrorists,“ I kid you not.

I woke up at 0darkthirty this am. I was thinking about the memorial service I am attending for my Dad. My Gramp,93 will not be going. His memory fades and that’s it. Why do I bring this up? When My gram, his Dolly passed away, I spoke at the service. When I was done, he hugged me and said that he missed “my Dolly.” Is this what the survivors 9/11 think of every day? I was lying in my bed and I started to cry. The Sugar Daddy was next to me and I thought of Springsteen’s song lyrics,

“ Morning is morning, the evening falls I have
Too much room in my bed, too many phone calls
How's everything, everything?
Everything, everything
You're missing, you're missing”

I poked him for good measure, just checking. And thinking how hard it must be for them, the survivors. God Bless them all and may we be safe for another seven years. I will not forget and I honor the sacrifices of our military daily. I won’t let my kids forget, either. At least, the school has asked the kids to wear RWB to show remembrance…ugh, did I say, “at least?”

After I was thinking those thoughts, I was running over THE day in my head. How shocked and pissed and sad we all felt. The tears we cried. The reports head on tv, radio. The Flags on the overpasses, the smoke still rising from Ground Zero on October 15th, 2001 as I drove toward CT and the pride I felt. Jesus, it’s still a gut punch.

Maybe you’ll all think I am crazy, but I have stupid things and facts stuck in my head. Would you like to play some 9/11 trivia to see what you remember? Or, should I say what you shouldn’t forget? I have answered them on a separate sheet of paper…Feel free to add some in the comments….

 

What were the flight numbers of the four planes that were involved in terrorist attacks? (I cannot remember the flight number of the Pentagon plane)

What time did the first, second and third planes hit the Twin Towers and the Pentagon? (Again, the Pentagon info is a haze.)

What cities did the planes come from?

What time did the first building collapse?

What was the name of the Fire Department Chaplain who died when he was hit by debris? (It was one of the most heart wrenching yet serene photos I have ever seen.)

What was the name of the MSNBC reporter who was so great a reporting the events of the day? (Not everyone will remember this name)

What was the name of the man who coined the “let’s Roll!” as he and fellow passengers tried to save the day?

Do you remember the numbers of deaths in the towers, the planes? (I’m sure we all remember the Trade center numbers)
 
I have placed 4 Flags outside my house to show that I remember. I will take those Flags on a walk today for seven miles. Seven years with no attacks. Shall I see who remembers, who gets it? I'll have an AAR.
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Can we Talk, Another Nee Rant

So, it’s been awhile since I’ve let it rip. Or should I say had a rant? No matter. It has really been a tough 6 weeks. Between packing, moving, unpacking, school physicals times 4 and several unexpected deaths, I put it aside.

But, after making my way to the airport in Hartford today, with hours to kill, and notes on my iphone…here we go. Brought to you from the communist northeast…a Nee Rant. We’ll start with the latest and move on.

Okay. Forgive me, but…another f-ing democrat has been bitten by the young chicks or as I like to say the “fukk an intern” bug, and been givena pass by the cronies, hey? (FAI from here on out). My readers surely all knew that Edwards was guilty on day one. Boo-friggin’ hoo. But what really pissses me off, is yet another woman plays martyr and forgives while the other woman is clearly in cahoots with him. She lives in a 3 million dollar home? C’mon people!! And, will not submit to a paternity test? Does anyone but me call a bullshitt flag? Let’s get real.

Hey did you know that it’s 0300 and Russia is pounding Georgia and the red phone is ringing, HELL FReakin' HELLO!!? Where oh where is Barry O? Not answering the freaking red phone…noooo. He’s in Hawaii, home of record, on vacation. Doesn’t say a word til he can mimic McCain’s on the sitch. LOSER, as in double-l squared. Why is the media not touting the wisdom of the COW? You know, formerly the Messiah, now known as The Citizen of the World? Because if it were Bush, you know that the left and LSM would be tearing him a new one. (But what should we as a nation do? Diplomacy? Warships into the Black Sea? Or maybe a show of force for these allies of ours with the third largest committment of troops in Iraq? You tell me...)
Did you know that we are not technically in a recession as the Paul Krugmans and Kimbats and such would love for you to believe? Why, no, we aren’t! As a matter of fact, the economy actually grew 1.9%. Imagine that no media outlet reported this in a positive light. Imagine also that since the President said the word “drill” here there has been a revolt of sorts from the Reps in congress and the price of gas has actually dropped? I paid 4.15 on my way through IN to IL and then I paid a mere 3.89 last week and today in commie country, I paid just 3.75. Drilling. It can be done and it should be done. Screw tapping reserves, we should just put the drills in the ground. After all, the Bakken shelf has netted several folks who drilled their own property millionaire status for bringing out the black gold. Believable and doable.

I hailed from CT as a HS Grad. And then wherever the wind blew me. I have always known how liberal and communistic the new England states have been. I knew that the local gov’t wanted to give free passes to the I-2’s (illegal immigrants) with id’s and benefits. But, now!! Now, they want to make it so that no I-2s are called to the carpet for being here illegally. My blood boiled as the radio news spewed forth. Nobody is allowed to inquire about the status of a potential I-2 if they go to seek “city services” and cannot be asked their status unless they have been involved in something criminal? Oh, you KNOW I was screaming!! WTF is up with these people? Let them have it all without the cash outlay and taking mine and your tax dollars. Nope, not me. Not in this life if I can help it. No to Maverick and definitely no to Ovomit.

Oh the things that make you go, “hmm”! I officially live in IL, now.  I was out shopping and found a party store that looked like it might be fun to browse in. It is a clever store filled with all kinds of goodies. Even political party stuff. Some towels caught my eye. Each party had a hand towel embellished with an elephant or a donkey and the definition of said party. All I could think of when I read it was that some bleeding heart must have written it with RCG’s on. For crying out loud, already. Definition for the Elephant party was as follows:

Someone who supports or favors the GOP. (that’s it, that’s all.)

The Jackass party’s was like this: Believes in political and societal equality for all!!

Why it was grounds for suing and being treated un-PC I tell you!! How dare they leave out a real definition of a conservative and call me a blind sheep!! I’ve called my lawyer.

Jonn Lilyea over at “This ain’t hell, but you can see it from here” blog has written up a nice summary of the contributions and such to each presidential candidate. You might find this quite interesting….go here: http://thisainthell.us/blog/?p=2243

So, that’s all I’ve got. Stay tuned for an update or two on my friend Dave, and the “we had joy, we had fun” blogs.

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We had joy, we had fun....

I know this piece is lengthy. But it was a necessity. I am not sad. This is they way life is and we have to roll with it. Thanks for reading.

On Saturday, my father passed away. He battled all kinds of addictions in his life and maybe now he has some peace. I was not raised by my father. In truth, he was a better uncle than a father. We had him for 8 years, however and it was long enough to know that he was a smart, artistic and funny man. He could never channel any of those God-given talents into being a productive member of society and that is what is sad. I long ago made my amends with who my father was and also with who he would never be. It’s okay.

I have tried my best to give what I could to my father, but it should be obvious that I don’t owe the man much. More than anything, I kept contact with my father because of my Gram. I loved and respected her and she did her best to make up for what her son was not.

As her grandchild, I think I became the substitute for “Davey”. It wasn’t a problem for me. I am who I am, and thankfully, I inherited the good stuff!!

The death of my father appeared to be an imminent thing of late and I was angry at my Aunt for not letting me know that he was not able to fight like before. I would have liked seeing him and telling him that it was all okay, one more time. But my Aunt took that away from me. It was as if she wanted to punish me for not being the prodigal daughter. Like I said, I gave what I could.

The last time I saw him was the weekend of my Mom’s 60th. And when I phoned my Aunt, I asked about what happened and expressed sympathy. I asked about the service. She said it was going to be private, Dave had been cremated. Then she said there were certain people she didn’t want there and that she didn’t expect me to come! I told her I was insulted and then she dropped a bomb.

In so many words, my brother was not welcome. In so many words, because since Dad had the stroke eight years ago, his son hadn’t seen him, why should he now that he’s dead? I understood she lost her brother, I understood the grieving. What I didn’t get was who the hell gave her God’s job? Who the hell was she to judge who “deserved” to be at the memorial service? I could have screamed nastiness at her. Instead, I broke down and told her that it wasn’t her place to judge and that Gram would be rolling in her grave over this thought process. Her brother, my father, knew he was not what he should have been to his children. How is it that his own sister now sat making tallies about who did what and when? He left us, never supported us, and lived a life of zero responsibility. And we were in the wrong?!!!

My mother raised us on a measly 10k per year!!! We could have been bitter and nasty and it would not have mattered. But our mother raised us right. That was our father! We, like any other family want the closure to his sad life and what we were without. Nobody need to carry “Davy’s” baggage anymore. So, who is this woman who would have the balls make my brother a bad guy? My brother did nothing wrong except call our father out for being the lazy, no-good bum he actually was. And, I say that for descriptive terms, not to be vindictive and mean.

In the end, I hung up on her, when she started with the lists. I called my mother. She called my brother. I.LOVE.MY.BROTHER. He went to Aunt and asked her why this had turned to mudslinging when we didn’t deserve it. He was cool and level-headed. He called and told me it would be okay. He even asked me to call Aunt back and say sorry. Take the high road, he said, let’s all just move forward and be done. He’s right and I would have done it, anyway. And I will. But let me just tell you about our dad…

Someone once told me that I should remember only the good about people. To a fault, I do tend to err on the side of “only seeing the good.” The past is past and cannot be changed. Dad, I got the goods…As a child, I remember the long walks through the woods of Naugatuck and Southbury to dig for the treasures left behind by the “pioneers‘. Yep, that’s what you told us. We found cool stuff like an old Maxwell house coffee can and a tin ZigZag cigarette paper holder and lots of door knobs and colored glass bottles for your collections. Is that where I got the collecting bug?

I remember fishing, not liking it so much, but all the same, you taught me. I hated putting the worm on the hook, and I liked seeing the fish guts, but not flowering and eating the fish! EW!

I learned how to build a lean-to and what I could eat or not in the woods. Your love of music rubbed off on me and I still remember thinking how you sounded just like Neil Young.

Remember when you told me not to talk or wish bad of other people cause it would come back to bite me? You were right. I talked bad about Nixon and a week later, I was sick in the hospital. I know there were many life lessons on our short path, but all the same, I loved you for who you were We are who we are. You were smart, witty, kind. How about the time you went down to the river to feed the birds and the squirrels with the corn pilfered from the farm near Gram’s? I thought I had seen a German Volkmarcher when you came sauntering up the road!! Nope, just Dad being Dad. Long shorts, white socks, bandana, walking sick and a handful of corn.

Life was the adventure that took you to Woodstock, Bakersfield, Florida…Didn’t a Zolo write a book with some of those adventures? Ha. And Leonard took those awesome photos of David and I…the ones with the butterflies in the woods.

You were an artist, too. I don’t think there is one thing that stands out more than the telephone cable drum into which you had carved a replica of the center from the silk Chinese rug in the house and then put you put logs on it to make it a table. There was the shoeshine kit box, the stained glass creations, the leather peace sign necklace…and years later, Hannah would show me the grapevine wreath that you made for her house. There is no doubt of the artistic talent you possessed.
As a melancholy kid, I loved sad tunes. Whenever I heard Terry Jacks song " Seasons in the Sun", I used to wonder where you were. "We had joy , we had fun, we had seasons in the sun...."

I know that the people who knew, loved and admired you will miss you Gramma Sal still talks about how you “saved” Uncle Joey from the hotrod he wanted to buy. I know that Aunt Beck will miss you. And, trust me when I say that “Unck” (or Uncky) will live on in infamy. I always thought that was THE best nickname for an uncle I ever heard. Everyone has burdens and crosses to bear. Yours are down and it’s okay. Rest in peace.

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Free Signs!!!

Free Signs from Build a Sign!! 


 
This company has a great promo going on that supports the Troops...pass it on wherever you can!!
Via Chuck Z's blog:
From My Position...On the Way
 
Andre Nadre of Build a Sign to TC Override
I am employed at Buildasign.com and we are running a promotion that gives military families a free customizable banner to help welcome home their loved ones returning from overseas. I was wondering if you could offer me any tips or suggestions on who to get in contact with to get the message in the hands of those people that can take advantage of this promotion. If you know anyone who could take advantage of this service then please send them over to www.buildasign.com/Troops .

We are giving away 10,000 banners and also donating 15% of proceeds to the DAV.

Thank you very much for your service
 
Incidently, folks, we just purchased a bunch of signs from these guys to sell our house. Please spread the word. Give the Military Families a leg up in welcoming home their soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines. Not to mention supporting  those who support the troops.
Hooah!!
 
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Where My heart Is...

Some of you may have gathered I am preparing for a move to Chicago…Yes, I know, God (d*mn) Chicago!! Hahaha. I will be in the land of Obama, gulp. Already having spent several weekends there looking at exorbitant housing prices and needing to live near a metra station, this is going to tax me, literally!! I will probably be paying 200k more for the size house and location to fit our needs. Mind, I was willing to sacrifice and go smaller, but the Master was not. (I say Master in jest).

I grew up in a place where privacy was at a premium and it was just how things were. Yep, our kiddies are spoiled, but, I guess I am, too. I have always teased Master about him building me a little shack in the backyard that’s all for me, me, me because no matter where I am, I have zero, zip, nada privacy. I have to hide things like scissors, clippers, make-up, jewelry. Even my shoes and clothes are not safe. Nor is a little squirreled away treat. Somehow, all five family members seem to encroach! Such is the life in a family of six.

Today as I sit here holding an open house, waiting for a nosy neighbor or two to pop in…and I mean nosy in a good way, I feel overwhelmed. The neighbors who want to move up in the land of house, will come in and I play realtor. I am selling it myself, so I just introduce myself, “Nee, ProMarketing Investments, Welcome.”

And, then I have to try hard not to tell them all the things I will miss about my home. The awesome country kitchen, with a wood burning fireplace in the kitchen that smells like the oak we burned when spring rolls around…my screened in patio that becomes a ceramic- heated space with Christmas tree during the holidays for a nighttime glass of wine…my birds tweeting around the filled squirrel zapping feeder. Whenever one gets zapped off, I laugh and hope the neighbors aren’t into PETA!) Or the US flag flapping outside the kitchen window as I fill my coffee cup and makes me swell with pride inside…that certain peace that I feel every morning in this, MY kitchen, when everyone has left to start the day. How it felt when the kitchen was finally redone and I left to go run some errands, got a mile down the road and turned around just to go back and sit in it with another cup of joe and enjoy the sunlight streaming in.

Ouch.

Rather I have to say, unattached…“The features of this house include a first floor master, hearts of pine flooring, a huge laundry room, walk-in pantry, 4 bedrooms upstairs, 2 full baths, plus an office, a bonus room, 3 (count ‘em 3) skylights and walk-in attic space. There is potential for a second floor master with a separate bath and a large closet, too. The architectural shingled roof, hardi-plank siding and gutters were brand new in 2004, as was the kitchen and the appliances. The whole interior has been repainted and there are 3 zones of heating/cooling. The HVAC units were upgraded and replaced in ‘00, ‘02. Don’t forget to take a peak at the huge linen closet, too. If you have any questions, feel free. Oh, and the carpeting upstairs is brand spanking new. (wah!!)

When I retreat so they can do their wandering, I am thinking, “Please let this be the person who will want to buy my house and love it as much as we do.” Until the Master calls and says, “I think I found us a rental until the house sells.” Half of me is excited that one stress just might be done with. The other half of me that stayed objective, up beat and very practical, starts to blubber uncontrollably when I say, “Well, I’m not so sure when the movers can make it happen. I have two estimates tomorrow.” As I sit here and type, I am pretty sad…for myself and the kids about actually leaving. I thought I might be done with wussing and having to “suck it up” as the phrase goes. Instead, I look around and in the annals of my mind, I remember standing right over “there” when the baby strung together this question in his husky little voice, “Da-ddy? Mommy coming?( as in, too?) Or how with swollen feet (from the birth of the baby), in this big kitchen on Millenium Eve, I called my Gram for Aunt Emma’s Ginger cookie recipe, determined to bake something. The master and the ‘others” were out gathering supplies for the evening of festivities…Ouch. The memories will always be in my heart, I know. And, after all, Home is where the heart is.

Would you like to see my “heart”?
prom055-1.jpg picture by defendusa            prom043.jpg back yard from natural area picture by defendusa
 
 
prom077.jpg View of Kitchen friom bfast  table picture by defendusa          prom083.jpg View from corner picture by defendusa
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Memorial Day 2008

I remember. I won't forget. I do solemnly swear.
 
 
Photobucket
 
 
For as far as I could see, they were all around me. I was surrounded. A clear blue sky, a breeze whisping across my face and a soft sound of crisp snapping. The vastness of the white marble in perfect rows is humbling. The goose bumps on my skin makes the hair on my arms stand at attention.

I am standing at attention, fingers curled and presiding over a field covered in sacrifice. I am alone in my thoughts, though surrounded by many. I looked at each name, hoping that one would be etched to memory. My uncle didn’t get to be buried there. He was lost at sea on the USS Dorchester in 1943. But it isn’t just those names I wanted to commit. It was the magnitude of the gift many of the fallen willingly gave to us.

I was encompassed by many whose lives had been cut short for the Land of the free, home of the brave. Duty, Honor, Country. Nothing is more sacred than the lives laid down in the name of freedom. Where would we be without those sacrifices and the ones to surely come? How is something so obvious constantly overlooked? America would not be what it is without any of them.

Why are there folks who want to put a price on what we have? Why do they take it for granted that someone else understands the privilege of serving this Country to preserve those freedoms?

This place should make everyone grateful for all that we hold dear. It should move a person to tears to know that some loved this Country so much they were willing to die without a second thought. It should make you shiver with gratitude.

I felt those things and I shed tears for people I would never know. I understand the words, ”Their Valor is our heritage.” For my Uncle David, and my other Greats, I must carry on and spread the word. Freedom isn’t free and no cost can be attached.

I stop and pause near the civil war grounds. I say a prayer and offer my whispered thanks and appreciation…as if on cue, the wind kicks up and I hear that faint snapping of those little “Old Glory’s” perched at every headstone.
 
I remember...Miles,Zembiec,Patraquin, Olmsted, Smith, Schram, Callaghan, Maupin, Speicher, Murphy, Axelson, Dietz,Piestewa,Blaney, Jones, Sheehan, Lee, Spann....
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Where in the world is Grandpa A.?

Where in the World is Grandpa A???

Oh to be a Travel Enthusiast….

Many folks like traveling and seeing the world. There are those that will never leave their home states, those who will never leave the US and those who will go just about anywhere.

I have one of each in my family. My husband and I love to travel and our children are lucky enough to be descendants Grandpa A. and have traveled some of the world at the tender ages of 12! It is Grandpa A's magic age for travels that he wishes to take each of his 7 grandchildren on. Something they will remember him by long after his life on earth, no doubt. 4 down and three to go...
The Big M as he is known around the relatives( my Husband is the Little M) has always had a passion for travel. As youngsters, little M ( aka Rotten 1) and the siblings, Rotten’s 2 and 3 and Thing’s 1and 2 traveled the US extensively. Yep, a couple of weeks in summer, Dad and his maps, 5 kids in the car, and Mom. The Triple A handbook was a necessity from which to find the cheapest 3-star hotel to stay in for the night. Oh, the stories I have heard over 22 years!

At any rate, “Dad” as I call him, seems to gravitate toward the third world countries as meccas for history and lack of western influence. Mom, on the other hand, doesn’t mind the hotels that don’t utilize mosquito nets to sleep.

Dad and my husband went to Vietnam in 1993, wherein the little side trip to Cambodia, Phnom Phen were nixed by the State Dept for the political unrest.

He has taken our oldest to India and pulled out all the amenity stops. However, they were not allowed to travel to the Kashmir because of unrest and a few bombings in 2003. He was not able to see the Bengal Tigers, either.
Dad has taken grandchild number 2 on the Trans Siberian Railroad with grandchild number 3. It was a good trip said my son. 
 
Dad is going to be 71 in June. Last year, he traveled alone to Uganda to see silver-backed Gorillas and was the oldest participant in a class 6 whitewater rafting adventure. He biked and swam to get in shape because of the terrain they had to cover. We have the video!

A few weeks ago, he came back from Egypt with Mom and grandchild number 4. I hear it was a great trip.

Alas, Dad is relentless in his travel pursuits. Sometimes, I swear he has a secret death wish. So, bearing in mind that Dad loves the risk, the history and the backwardness of it all, guess where he is??? Well, I’m not gonna tell!!

Dad is a great journaler of his travels and sends emails of his advnetures when he can. He has sent several to Mom, the Rottens and Things. A little excerpt:

“The people are well dressed and well fed. There are more than enough cars, which in general are fairly new.. The cars are mostly compact and sub-compact. They have been made by France, Japan and Korea.

The food here is very good. The spicing is subtle and not much different to what I am used to.

This morning I climbed the four to five hundred foot mountain to reach the ruins of a fire temple built in the 2nd century AD. It was a rock and gravel hill with no vegetation. “

As a joke, my M sent an email to Mom…it probably made her freak a tad, but then, I am sure she belly laughed knowing her husband as she does.

One’s ability to deduce the location should be fairly easy after reading this. I LMAO and told M that this was one of the reasons I fell in love with him and it’s the truth.

Mom,

Let me know when Dad sends the email that sounds like this.......

We got a new guide today (yet another change that the Tour company failed to mention). His name is Achmed. Rough looking fellow but he and I seemed to hit it off. He commented on my travel vest and then showed me his and smiled. I thought his vest looked kind of bulky and cumbersome but it's probably some cultural thing so I just smiled back and told him it was very nice. He joined us up with another group of Westerners. Apparently we are taking a "side tour" later on this afternoon to some ancient caves up in the hills outside of town. He said they were filming a movie and we were to be participating in a "special scene". Kind of exiting! I inquired as to the group of "rough" looking men with beards, swords and head scarves gathering near our bus a few minutes ago. Achmed said that they were with the cast and that they are all very well know actors in the Middle East, kind of like our Bruce Willis, Clint Eastwood, and Robert Redfords. I will try to get some autographs during the bus ride. Well, I have to go now.

Love,

Big M
 
Where in the world is Grandpa A.?
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PETA? Cause I might!!!

They said what???

 

Uh-oh, people!! Hold on to your Kentucky Derby hats. The kooks from PETA are out in force and they want you to know that Gabriel Sanchez whipped that poor horse Eight Belles unmercifully, and caused it’s death. Why don’t they protest like this for human life at abortion clinics, Huh? I aks you? And, that is not a typo-aks. Why are they not giving the same attention to baby killers? Oh, what? You mean members of PETA think that’s okay? Of COURSE they do, of course. As long as they set the standards that they don’t have to live up to, it’s all O-kay. Silly me, I thought that human life was what we all valued more!! How could I be so shallow as to not protest when Eight Belle’s fell that it was the mean old trainer and rider who caused this? I am sad about what happened to the horse, no doubt. It was unbelievable. But for PETA to demand an investigation and the return of the prize money because SOMEBODY had to be at fault it just freaking insane. Sigh. The things that make you go, “hmmmm!”

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D90F41J00&show_article=1

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Military Waivers

In light of my recent rant, I have a follow up in regard to the military waivers. My thought process was such that I believed it wasn't a bad thing.  I had seen several people who were offered jail or the military come out on the other side. Brian pointed out that the service is not meant to be a substitute for rehabbing the dregs of society. Mind, those were not his exact words, just the gist of it. He also stated that some of the people who were allowed to enter the service with a record, and then seperated from the service have begun to wreak havoc on local law enforcement, which has lead to several deaths.  My initial response was that I had not considered that such inidividuals would raise thier levels of criminality. It definitely got me thinking. 
I realize that the reports out there as spun by the media make it reflect poorly on the military. The thing is that no system is any better than the next. But what the media fails to inform people of the facts or how the process works.  Naturally the word "felon" automatically puts anyone reading on the defensive and perceptions just go down from there. Let's take it up a notch.
 
Felonies are crimes committed when a person is 18 or older. As elementary as this sounds, examples of this would be burglary, grand theft, or possession of a controlled substance. (Cocaine is illegal, but also falls here)murder, rape. Misdemeanors are those crimes that are committed when one is under 18 and can include traffic violations, petit theft or battery. (I believe that age is used here for a guideline to the state  in regards to the charges and sentencing. This is how I understood it, when reading the article).

The military is quite thorough in it's investigative process when a potential recruit has admitted to being charged with something.  Many of the so-called "felons" have multiple traffic violations, a shoplifting charge or they got caught doing stupid pranks. The other side is, yes, some offenses are more serious and warrant the disqualifying from enlistment. After all, the Army is the biggest recruiter of troops military wide...and they don't want the slouch material.  Having said that, I can tell you several things. 

1. The top 60% of recruits are high school graduates. 
2. Use of the ASVAB (assessment test for the militarys job) is not a "dumbed down" test and filters out those who are not achievers in the short-run.
3. Use of character references and jobs held in the interim of the "act" is part of the screening process and is evaluated by a general officer for waivers.

Having looked at the actual report, the majority of the offenses are burglaries...to include grand theft or petit theft. The inuendo byt the media of murderers or rapists abounding in the services is BS. Just google it. It makes me sick to read how they spin the recruiting data. Don't misunderstand me.  I am not an advocate of letting killers reign free, but I do not like the idea that it reflects the whole military process.
Yes, several people with convictions of murder or rape have been allowed to enter into the service. The media has made that plainly clear without bothering to clarify what was behind it. It still begs the question, "Is the person a murderer in the sense it is portrayed?" is what I am asking. Or could it have been an auto accident where a kid drove drunk? This would be an error in judgement to be sure, and  ended tragically. Was there  a conviction but no served time? That does happen!  We don't know that answer. But the media doesn't bother to ask the questions that I am.
Nobody in their right mind would think that admitting a murderer or rapist to the military is a good thing. On the flip side, there are circumstances that the average American reading such reports are blind to.  It doesn't excuse behaviors, but rather pushes one to evaluate further.
In the grand scheme of things, here is the breakdown- The numbers are small percntage wise and probably have no effect on mission completion as you can see.
In 2006, the military met it's recruiting goals of 100%. The service exception was the Army who only met 92% of it's goal. Of those 180,450 recruits, 609 were waivered for misdemeanors or felonies.  That equates to about 0.33 % of the population being recruited were "felons."
In 2007, The military branches met or exceeded their goals, and though not represented in my stats, so did the reserve components.  Of the 181,171 recruits, 1007 were waivered for misdemeanors or felonies. This equates to 0.55% of the population in the military having participated in something criminal. How many never admit to drug use, or never got caught shoplifting or were never prosecuted for that date rape? Just playing Devil's advocate... 

If prison has a rehabiltation program, how well does it work? In my up close and personal experience, it doesn't.    Rehabs in prison typically end before a person's time is served. Then what? Have they learned a job or a trade? Have they learned to be part of a team? Has anyone really given two shitts about their progress? Probably not. In my opinion, it is about survival.
 
Then we have the military which is not rehab, per se. . What some of these purported "felons" have never had is someone to care and so they adapt accordingly. Call me a bleeding heart on this, but maybe those crimes were about survival.  I know plenty of people who had opportunities to be educated and successful but wasted it...How are the people who never got caught shoplifting, dealing drugs,  raping soemeone or doing drugs any different than those with a record? Who tracks that? As a society, we walk the streets not knowing any of this...It is also a thought of mine that maturity does wonders for those youthful offenders. (I randomly choose 17-22 as the time that things really begin to click in terms of judgement and actions/consequences). This is merely a way that many people have found their way on life. They learn to be a part of a team and to follow the rules because someone else is putting faith in their ability to achieve. Who does that in prison? They learn that their failures become someone else's and if person wins, usually everybody does.  I truly believe this makes the difference in the desire for success and becoming somebody.  The taxpayer dollars are at work whether it's prison or the military. I still say I choose the military overall if need be.  In my opinion, the bad eggs won't make it past the first year. Those who want to change will be amongst their comrades and you'll never know them from the thug on the street. It works both ways doesn't it?  The choice given to offenders was nothing more than a chance to prove one's self, if you chose jail, it probably meant more failure. If the choice was to soldier, perhaps the light was already at  the end of the tunnel.
As an aside, my brother and husband have always said that if a person can make it out of their twenties, the rest would be cake. However, if it wasn't already in you to want to succeed, it wasn't going to happen, no mattter how many chances were handed out. I guess this is how I see the military and succeeding against the errors of youth.
 
Update: Brian noted below that the rate of a convicted felon commiting more crimes is fairly high. Perhaps my own words are biting me in my ever growing asss...but I didn't like the word rehab or mean to imply that the miltiary should do that. It is a place for some to start again and succeed, and maybe get something they never had-direction, self esteem, pride in serving a bigger purpose...(no throwing up Brian)!!
 
http://www.palmcenter.org/files/active/0/Copy%20of%20Copy%20of%20Felony%20Conviction%20Waiver%20Data%20Final%20Apr08%20%283%29.xls 
(This particular spread sheet seems to be consistent with the defense link. The stats for the enlsitment numbers are available everywhere.)
 
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Coffee Talk....

Coffee Talk (aka Nee RANTS!!)

I don’ t want to drive everybody crazy…but this stuff has to get out of my head. These are things I have heard or read and I gotta give my two cents here.

Soooo, it’s time for a rant…I saw a report about the number of felons being able to enlist is on the rise for the Army and the Marines.

No, I don’t believe cold-blooded murderer should be allowed to enter into service. But, that old policy that was in place when I served- the one that let offenders choose jail or the military isn’t such a bad thing. It does turn a lot of people around. I am a firm believer that if a person doesn’t have it in them to goal set or make smart choices then the military is a good place to gain those skills. Does it turn everyone around? No. But I do believe in second chances. And if someone wants to wine about drug offenses? Rest-assured that those troops will be pisss tested more than your average employee anywhere. In four years I was tested 12 times and I was a model citizen upon enlisting. Go to the link here:

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D906BM5G1&show_article=1

Next…groan. “Oh my goodness!”,in my best Judy Garland voice from the Wizard. So the Marine Marketing moguls have made some ads to attract women recruits. What is wrong with that? Drudge had it in his headlines and frankly, I think the Military branches should all make the same effort as the Marines are doing. Why? Because women can serve in many capacities and many want to, that’s why! Even the Daughters of Iraq and the Sisters of Fallujah when given something to believe in and stand up for are doing their part. It’s all good as long as you know it’s worth defending!

Women in the Marines link:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/21/business/media/21adcol.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&ref=business&pagewanted=print&oref=slogin

Iraqi Women doing their part:

http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=61546&archive=true

Okay, I am sick to death of the campaign bs and people who continue to close their eyes or bury their heads in the sand about Obama. This guy is as left as you can get without calling him Marx. Every day I hear the same radio ad by Obama and how we need unity so we can have Universal Health care and naïve (sorry, perhaps I should just call them dumb, uneducated sheeplike ) college students who say in the ad, “Obama is going to help those of us with big college loans…” And, every single time, I end up talking back to the ad…It took me ten years to apy back my loan at freaking 8%!!! It’s called working and sacrificing for what you want in life. This is not the “Vote for Obama so you think you’ll get a free ride 101” here people! It means more intrusion or your life, blood sweat and tears. WTF is wrong with people who believe this guy has a plan for change????

I can’t seem to find the ad…hang on…

Sigh…and in looking for the Obama ad, I found this sorry post on the Mother Jones blog…and I wanted (o)Vomit! This person is obviously a supporter of Obama and he called the debates “mis-moderated”? WTF does that really mean? Well, I would say that the candidates didn’t know the answers to the questions or they sidestepped. The next gem was this baby…William Ayers was never arrested for his bombing activities and since nobody died this makes Obamas associations with the “distinguished professor and education expert” okay as well!! Um, so what else can we let go by in terms of relativity and not TRUTH, you f-ing numbskulls at Mother Jones!!! Oh, yes, I remember now…if it’s okay to be associated with Ayers because he’s changed, and has openly asserted he wishes he could have bombed more, then it’s all good. Kinda like the Rev. Wright doesn’t really hate white people and Obama really put wax in his big dumbo floppies for 20 years!!! If you don’t want to raise your BP, avoid the link….you’ve been warned.

http://www.motherjones.com/mojoblog/archives/2008/04/8015_a_tale_of_clint.html

You’d think I’d be finished, huh? Not. Jimmuh Carter has really gotten more brash with his old senile self. Mr. ‘I thought I’d save the world’ but who still refuses to admit the part he played in our current situation. Of course, anybody with a thinking brain (translate Conservative with principles) is naturally offended by Carter’s visit for hugs and kisses with Hamas. Well, something I really liked is that Charlotte NC Rep. Sue Myrick is pushing for revoking Carter’s passport. Take away a person’s greatest privilege- To travel to a foreign land and be able to come back to the best Nation on the planet. Especially since he was apparently warned about going on this little jaunt by the State Dept. Here’s the link:

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=26093&keywords=Carter%5C%27s+passport+should+be+

 

Have you seen this story anywhere in the MSM??? I didn’t think so….6.5 tons is a lotta cache…no pun intended. Remember boys and girls, nothing good is happening in Iraq!! Nothing! Praise the 2/24!!

http://fearless1stmarines.vox.com/library/post/fox-224-unearths-massive-weapons-caches.html

 

ps spell checker not working...surprise!
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GO Marines! (The Pinkos get Stinko'd!!)

Okay…this was absolutely a classic!! Thanks to American Thinker columnist Thomas Lifson for being there…Where, you ask? Ha! Double Ha!!

Well, it seems the Marines of Berkeley had a little demonstration of their own to “battle” the code pinky stinkies. Nope, I didn’t capitalize that, but you see the word Marine is capitalized. The pinkies were apparently busy saving the earth and celebrating green. Does anyone need a barf bag, or bucket?

They left behind some posters. (In my best of whiny), “Sorry we missed you boys, we are out saving the planet, War is not green”

I ask you, would anyone with a mind show up at the park where they were to be green? Let’s see the pinkos believe in saving the planet, global warming and that donating money to terrorists is a good thing. Is anyone “feeling” good about the pinkos saving the planet? Mmm, nope, not me. Is anyone but a leftist celebrating money given to terrorists? Why, oh why didn’t they feed some of the homeless children whose parents must surely be out on the street after buying houses they couldn’t afford? Oh, sorry, I guess THAT happened after they gave the money to the dark side. Okay, then why didn’t they invest that money somewhere to make more to insure all those poor people who have no health care? Oh, woe is me!! I cannot believe that such things are happening. Our own “pink patriots” denying their own citizens healthcare, food and shelter! What in God’s name (did I say His name out loud?)is happening to this Country? (swooning).

I’ll tell you what’s happening. The Marines don’t have to take it! Thanks to (gasp!) Freedom of speech which they hold near and dear not to just themselves, but for the rest of our Country. Contrary to the popular leftist belief that terrorism was a prop for the Bush administration, we and our Military understand that it is a threat and they are in the fight of our lives and theirs. But I digress.

The important thing here, is that some Marines decided to stand tall together….Semper Fi, to all.

Here’s the link to the American Thinker

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2008/04/marines_demonstrate_against_co.html

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Bleeping Editor/ Blog Roll

I jsut deleted every last blog link I had. I was adding along fine and I hit ONE name and needed to change it, so I hit delete and it deleted the whole F-ing list!!!!
I was adding people like Brian(who was on the Pat Def blog and not on Nee, Sgt.Relic, Kilroy, Gtwin, Doc and Pphil, who was also on PatDEf and got overlooked with getting back on TBNC...ARGH!!!!Damnit, damnit, damnit!!
However, if you want to learn how to add, here is what ya do:
Click on the little plus sign at the top of your blog roll.
Scroll down your list and you'll see [click to edit] Click it
You should see a box pop up with "title"  and one with "URL"
Add your info and click SAVE.
 
HOWEVER (lesson learned) do not hit delete if you screw up...back it out or hit cancel...
You should see the blogs you add right there on your list...
Now, if you'lll excuse me, I have to get my blog roll back, wah!!!
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The Rally on the Hill

Today was the day. General Petraeus testified. And as promised and thanks to Vets For Freedom, they really rallied. There were alot of vets out there supporting the "Let them Win" strategy in Iraq. It seems our Commanding General would also like that. Me, too. Here is a great blog where you can see a bit of rallying. The second link is to a video that is just killer and very appropo(sp?). Get your tissues out.


http://thisainthell.us/blog/
http://www.militarytimes.com/multimedia/video/031208_marine_music
 
I want Victory, do you?
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