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Sunday, August 15, 2004
Mattel Party Candidate!
There is yet another candidate running for President this year.
It's Barbie! Does this open the door to Ken running as a Republican? Will G.I. Joe steal the military vote from them both?
She has pledged a campaign that will concentrate on creating world peace, helping the homeless and poor, and taking care of animals.
It's Barbie! Does this open the door to Ken running as a Republican? Will G.I. Joe steal the military vote from them both?
Operation Truth
Operation Truth is a website launched by two Army Officers dedicated to telling the truth about the recent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Well worth a visit if you haven't been there before.
Link also added to the side bar for future reference.
Link also added to the side bar for future reference.
Welcome Home!
The 1775th Military Police Company of the Michigan Army National Guard has returned home after being extending twice in Iraq. Well wishes to the soldiers and their families. The Detroit Free Press has a good article about them and their well deserved homecoming.
Remembering Gunny and the Kid, a Hard-Hit Unit Goes Back on Patrol
A good in depth article from a reporter embedded with Marines in the Anbar Providence. Tissue alert advised.
This move, including moving 2 whole Army divisions from Germany, will effect the economies in those areas harshly but will mean less military families having to live overseas as well.
I'm hoping he starts with those currently held on Stop-Loss.
Saturday, August 14, 2004
Bush Plans to Cut Forces in Europe, Asia
President Bush has decided to bring home tens of thousands of U.S. troops from posts around the world — most of them in Europe and Asia — plus 100,000 of their family members and support personnel, U.S. officials said Saturday.
The changes will have no effect on forces in Iraq or Afghanistan.
This move, including moving 2 whole Army divisions from Germany, will effect the economies in those areas harshly but will mean less military families having to live overseas as well.
Democrat John Kerry has said he would try to begin withdrawing some troops from Iraq within his first six months in office.
I'm hoping he starts with those currently held on Stop-Loss.
Hurricane Charley
Hurricane Charley created quite a mess in Florida with 13 reported deaths thus far. His predicted path should take him up the east coast of the US so it's not over yet.
Buddy Jim in Orlando reports rain and high winds but no damage to his house. Disney World was closed but re-opened Saturday. Airport in Orlando damaged by the storm. Irish relatives near the Cape on the east coast of Florida report some rain and winds, no damage to their houses on Merritt Island except for a missing section of boat dock.
Be safe Coasters!
Buddy Jim in Orlando reports rain and high winds but no damage to his house. Disney World was closed but re-opened Saturday. Airport in Orlando damaged by the storm. Irish relatives near the Cape on the east coast of Florida report some rain and winds, no damage to their houses on Merritt Island except for a missing section of boat dock.
Be safe Coasters!
Danny's Soccer
Danny's team won their last game of Summer Soccer 9 to 1. The last half of the game the coach removed an extra player from our side to try to even out the score more. The league does not officially keep score so it didn't really matter anyway.
My sister-in-law signed Danny up for Fall Soccer in Michigan so he will be able to continue with his sport after our move. He will get to play on the same team as a first cousin and a second cousin so it should be even more fun for him. Even more interesting, she signed me up to coach so I'll have a soccer team of 9 and 10 year old boys and girls waiting for me in Michigan. She mailed the form that I need to fill out for the background check, thankfully they do check. The YMCA in Indiana that Danny has played soccer for also does background checks on the coaches. For Summer Soccer, one coach was removed before the first practice because of the check, so it does work and it is just safer for the kids. Soccer should keep us both busy till our Marine returns stateside.
My sister-in-law signed Danny up for Fall Soccer in Michigan so he will be able to continue with his sport after our move. He will get to play on the same team as a first cousin and a second cousin so it should be even more fun for him. Even more interesting, she signed me up to coach so I'll have a soccer team of 9 and 10 year old boys and girls waiting for me in Michigan. She mailed the form that I need to fill out for the background check, thankfully they do check. The YMCA in Indiana that Danny has played soccer for also does background checks on the coaches. For Summer Soccer, one coach was removed before the first practice because of the check, so it does work and it is just safer for the kids. Soccer should keep us both busy till our Marine returns stateside.
Signs of Hope
Spotted in Northern Indiana:
Car with Ohio Plates (Clark Country) with Kerry/Edwards bumperstickers (2), driven by woman in her late 60's maybe early 70's.
Pricey new subdivision in Indiana, 3 Kerry yard signs....no Bush signs.
Woman late 40's to early 50's asking librarian in Indiana library why they don't have ANY books by Micheal Moore.
Driving from Indiana to Michigan via I-69 and I-75, dozens of Kerry/Edwards stickers spotted...no Bush stickers.
Car with Ohio Plates (Clark Country) with Kerry/Edwards bumperstickers (2), driven by woman in her late 60's maybe early 70's.
Pricey new subdivision in Indiana, 3 Kerry yard signs....no Bush signs.
Woman late 40's to early 50's asking librarian in Indiana library why they don't have ANY books by Micheal Moore.
Driving from Indiana to Michigan via I-69 and I-75, dozens of Kerry/Edwards stickers spotted...no Bush stickers.
Thursday, August 12, 2004
More Wolf Talk
Tonight's ICQ session with my Marine in Iraq
Marine: Didn't I promise you, I would be back?
Me: Yes you did! *KISS* Missed you so much!
Marine: *KISS* Love you, babe! I was beyond missing you. You know I need you like I need air to breathe. I got depressed and snappy.
Me: What was going on that you were out of contact so long?
Marine: I'll get to that but first while I was away I had alot of time to think about what would make our reunion extra special.
Me: Oh? Reunion as in you are coming home?
Marine: No not yet. I WISH. I was thinking more about singing to you as I know how much you like that.
Me: I always love your voice and your songs. You sound so much like James Taylor and you know how much I love his music.
Marine: I'm still working on getting phone calls for us all so till then you are going to have to imagine. I'm pretty sure you know this one as I've sung it to you before and you have a great memory for lyrics.
Marine: Chime in anytime you wish.
Me: Ok
Marine: Tonight it's very clear, cause we're both lying here. There's so many things I wanna say. I will always love you, I will never leave you alone.
Marine: Sometimes I just forget, say things I might regret. It breaks my heart to see you crying, I don't want to lose you. I could never make it alone.
Marine: I am a man who would fight for your honor. I'll be the hero you're dreaming of...
Me: *SMILES* We'll live forever knowing together, that we did it all for the glory of love
Marine: You keep me standing tall.
Me: You help me through it all.
Marine: I'm always strong when you're beside me.
Me: I have always needed you.
Marine: I could never make it alone.
Marine: I am a man who would fight for your honor. I'll be the hero you've been dreaming of...
Me: We'll live forever knowing together, that we did it all for the glory of love
Marine: It's like a knight in shining armor, from a long time ago. Just in time I will save the day to
take you to my castle far away.
Marine: I am a man who would fight for your honor. I'll be the hero you've been dreaming of...
Me: We'll live forever knowing together, that we did it all for the glory of love
Marine: We'll live forever knowing together
Me: That we did it all for the glory of love. *KISS*
Me: That was perfect! Makes me cry. You are always the romantic one. I might have to start reading books on the side to keep up with you.
Marine: Good crying or bad crying?
Me: The good stuff. Thanks, sweetness. You always have a way of making everything special.
Me: That was from Peter Cetera's Solo Album, you know? I have it on cassette.
Marine: I thought you did. It was in one of the Karate Kid movies too. The second one.
Me: Been snooping through my cassettes in the closet, have you?
Marine: Guilty as charged. I snoop for a good reason though, to learn everything about you. Can't know TOO MUCH about my girl.
Me: As if you don't already know enough?
Marine: I have always wondered what is the story on the long green dress in that same closet. Now that you know I've been in there...
Me: I wore that when I was a bridesmaid.
Marine: When was that?
Me: Long time ago, maybe around '89 or so.
Marine: You still have it?
Me: I'd hate to just throw it away. Some good memories in that dress.
Marine: Can you still wear it? I'd love to see you in it sometime. I've seen you in all your other ones. Maybe time to buy you something new again?
Me: Actually it might be a too big right now. I've lost alot of weight again but I can try to be back to that size by the time you come home.
Marine: Not Skeletal yet, I hope?
Me: Getting there. I'll get a break from treatment if I get down too far.
Marine: How's your hair doing?
Me: It's still holding in there but I've lost ALOT. Remember how you could barely get a thumb and forefinger around my ponytail? It's about as thin as one of my fingers now though I don't wear it in a tail now but instead wrap it around my head to make it look like I have more hair than I do.
Marine: It will come back like it was before treatment, right?
Me: It did before so I'm sure it will in time.
Marine: I was just curious is all.
Me: Are you going to tell me where you were all this time?
Marine: Yea, was off doing missions. We had bad timing as just about when we would have had the blackout lifted from us. We had a death or so in the units we were working with so would be blackedout then for that reason.
Marine: So it led to a whole long chain of blackouts. I did have a few times where I could read mail but not respond to it. I sent you the wolf during one of those.
Me: I love the wolf! I'm glad you could at least get your mail sometimes.
Marine: I think that is the only thing that kept me sane. I would print it all out then limit myself to reading only one per day to make it seem like we still had contact.
Marine: It kept me going. I think no contact with you is the absolute worse thing they can do to me. Cruel and Unusual Punishment. If we can at least talk once in awhile even like this it helps me alot...
Marine: Because when we talk, I'm no longer here. I'm with you, snuggled close and the war all goes away. It's just the two of us then. So after talking to you...I walk on air for awhile and nothing here can touch me. It's totally refreshing and makes being here a whole lot easier.
Me: I'm glad I can have that effect on you. Love you, my Snuggle Wolf. *KISS*
Me: Me, I have my family over 200 miles away but good neighbors and some very supportive friends on the net and on my blog. When it seems like too much to bear, I sleep in your old Cammies surrounded by all the wolves you have given me.
Marine: *grins* Sounds so attractive!
Me: Maybe to you but I'm sure not to anyone else. ;)
Marine: Danny starting school soon? Soccer?
Me: He goes back August 12th and he has one more game left to Summer Soccer then he wants to sign up for Fall Soccer. I'm holding him off on Fall Soccer which he doesn't know yet. We will be in Michigan by then.
Marine: You can get him on a team up there, can't you?
Me: Depends. If I can get an apartment in Midland like I had long ago, they have soccer there but if I bunk in at my parents house instead then no.
Marine: They don't have soccer there?
Me: I don't think so. They didn't when I was a kid. Just baseball, football and basketball mostly. I used to go to Saginaw to skate.
Me: I was actually hoping to talk to you before I moved to see which you thought would be best.
Marine: He's taking the house back then?
Me: Yes, husband is working again so can handle the payments again. I need not be here anymore.
Marine: GRRRRRR! Don't call HIM husband!
Me: Sorry, I didn't realize I did. Old habit I guess. EX-Husband.
Marine: Better. I'm sure you are going to love being back in Michigan.
Me: Should I just stay with my parents till you get back or get an apartment? Any idea how much longer you are going to be away?
Marine: I don't really know. I can ask and we can talk about that more in our phone call, ok? It will give me some time to think it over too.
Me: Fair enough. I had a strange happening here so yes, I'm ready to go back home.
Marine: What happened?
Me: I have pry marks on my front door where it looks like someone tried to get in.
Marine: While you were home or away?
Me: I'm actually not sure. One night I did hear some noise at the door but looked out the bedroom window and the security light wasn't on. So I thought maybe I had imagined it. I was on the computer waiting in case you showed up so went back to that.
Me: I heard noise again so grabbed my bow from the closet and one of my skiis. Then I tossed the ski on the couch next to the door and just peered out the window in the door while holding the bow. The light wasn't on so I couldn't see anything.
Me: I put the dead-bolt on then and went back to the computer. I kept the bow with me just in case but didn't hear anything else.
Marine: Ok, so when did you see the marks? The next day?
Me: No, it was days later when I was wiping Danny's handprints off the door. The metal strip outside by the knob was all bent up. Someone had unscrewed the bulbs on the security lights too. So something was going on.
Me: I had a couple of the neighbor guys look at it and they thought it looked like someone used one of those big screwdrivers to try to pry the door open. I know it wasn't like that when I changed the locks on the door, so it had to be done since then or I would have noticed it.
Marine: Your Ex? Not like he hasn't done something like that before?
Me: I don't think so. I'm thinking maybe it was his ex-girlfriend. She's done vandalism over here before and maybe she thinks he still lives here. They have some stuff going on in court again over his child support so it could just be her again.
Marine: That's possible but I want you to make sure you lock the door AND put the dead bolt on from now on.
Me: It was odd because alot of the time, I forget to even lock the door. I've never had problems here except for when I was married then husband and his girlfriend had court stuff going on.
Me: She had her husband do some stuff over here like trying to pry open the back door, scratched F You on the side of my car, and cut almost all the branches off my flowering almond bush.
Marine: Ah so there is a history of "prying" then?
Me: Yes, but I've heard they are divorced now so if she wanted to terrorize over here now, she'd have to do it herself. I bought some "jigglers" too to put on the door knobs at night so if the door or knob even moves a bit, I'll know. I've alerted the neighbors too so I should be fine till I move.
Marine: Well, sounds like you have it under control. I'd go with the ski though if you want to protect yourself. Don't know if you could get a shot off with the bow in time?
Me: The ski would have only been good for slapping someone silly. I had the bow notched and I've been shooting it since I was little. It's a good compound bow so I could do some damage with that if need be.
Marine: What kind of points did you have on it?
Me: Just target points, it is all I ever use. Dad tried to talk me into a gun or at least deer points for my arrows. I don't want to kill anyone, I just want to persuade whoever it is to go away.
Marine: Don't let him talk you into a gun if you don't want one. I would get the deer points for your bow though, just in case.
Me: Ok will do. They aren't that pricey and I'll feel safe till I'm back in Michigan.
Marine: I'll feel alot better when I'm home to take care of things.
Me: I can take care of myself.
Marine: I know you can but I'd rather do it for you. Do you still have that pepper spray I gave you before?
Me: Yes, it's in my purse.
Marine: Keep that handy just in case. It's good stuff.
Me: I had forgotten about it actually.
Marine: Ok, do you need any money for Danny's school clothes or moving expenses?
Me: No, Mom bought Danny a bunch of clothes and I'm otherwise set.
Marine: Just thought I would offer?
Me: Don't, I'm fine.
Marine: You have been getting enough "do at home work", then to keep your bills up till you go back to work?
Me: Yes, it will be a bit tight but I should be able to keep everything going just fine.
Marine: I could make it easier, if you let me?
Me: Really, I'm fine. Tell me about Iraq.
Marine: Ok, fine change the subject then.
Me: I will. I know it's been really hot over there but have you been getting the supplies you need?
Marine: It's insanely hot here right now. The kind of sit still and sweat heat. The LAV is like an Oven in this. Makes you feel like your brain is melting.
Me: Your camel-back is still holding up?
Marine: It's fine just the water get hot quickly which makes it even harder to drink enough. Drinking hot water just makes you feel hotter.
Me: You could make tea? You always were a "hottie".
Marine: Tea can make dehydration worse. Supplies of ammo haven't been too bad now but water is tight and we have had a few times we were short MREs again.
Me: I imagine your protein powder is all gone again?
Marine: It went fast because I needed to share it. Wish I had a source for more.
Me: I could send you some if you could get packages?
Marine: I know. Still a no go on that.
Me: You aren't going to be able to vote then either.
Marine: I know...believe me I know. You will have to vote for me.
Me: Could you have your absentee ballot sent to your Dad then he could vote for you, at least? I'm sure he knows how you want to vote.
Marine: He will vote the same way, I want to....against Bush. I'll look into that. Is my state in play at all? I haven't had any news except for what you have sent me via email.
Me: No, I don't think it is.
Marine: Might not matter then.
Me: Did you get your kidneys looked at?
Marine: Not really...not like they can run any tests on me here that would be useful for that. I'd have to be sent to Germany for that. It doesn't seem as bad today so maybe it's getting better?
Me: Might be kidney stones from that steady diet of MREs and not enough water?
Marine: It's possible although I hope not. My guys need me here, not in Germany.
Me: Just promise me that if it gets worse at all, that you will tell a Corpsman at least?
Marine: Will do.
Me: Sounds like things are heating up over there again, combat wise?
Marine: It is. I think more so then when we first got here last year. We have been very busy.
Me: Happenings in Najef now so I was afraid you would be sent there and I wouldn't hear from you.
Marine: No, we should be staying put for at least a few days before we move out again. Hopefully, it will be calmed down there by then. We've more than earned a short rest at least.
Me: You guys are ok? Any injuries or deaths while you were gone?
Marine: Some minor injuries and one kind of major one but no deaths.
Me: Kind of major?
Marine: We are still waiting to find out if he's going to make it back to us or just be sent home. I'm not betting either way.
Me: Anyone I know?
Marine: It was the new gunner that we got late last year.
Me: Considering you lost the other gunner, I'd say you have bad luck with them.
Marine: It is a dangerous job so that will happen. It's always hard regardless. At least if they send him stateside, I'll know he's safe.
Me: Will you get a new one then?
Marine: That's not clear yet. Till then I have double duty again.
Me: Oh great...not what I wanted to hear.
Marine: My corporal volunteered to switch on and off with me so we might do that. I'd just rather do it myself then endanger someone below me in the chain. He's got a good point though that the experience would be good for him.
Me: It would...if you baby him too much then he won't know what he needs to do should you need to be replaced yourself or if they suddenly decide to let you discharge. I can understand why you would want to protect them but you can't do that too much or you will weaken them in the long run.
Marine: You both are probably right.
Me: Of course we are because I know the corporal in question enough to know that he will be pissed off unless you let him take his share of the burden. YOU did at his rank.
Marine: Ok fine. Take his side.
Me: I will, this time at least.
Marine: Anymore command decisions you want to make for me?
Me: No, I'll quit while I'm ahead unless you want me to do your paperwork for you?
Marine: I have to do that all by myself but thanks for offering.
Me: Maybe I could do something else for you then? Do you have a tent? ;)
Marine: Now there is an offer I can't possibly refuse! Yeah, just might have something you could help with. ;)
Marine: Ack! Just got the wave, just as we were getting good. I'm going to have to get going here.
Are you going to be around tomorrow afternoon or evening your time?
Me: I can be either or both?
Marine: Ok, I'm going to try to swing morale calls tomorrow your time. If you don't get a call then count on talking to me around this time on-line then we will try the next day for calls, ok?
Me: Sounds good! I'll be thinking of you till then.
Marine: Same here!
Me: Will you be joining me in Dreamland soon?
Marine: After I get my paperwork done, I'll see about that. I'll be the one in green PT shorts waiting in the tent. ;)
Me: I'll join you there then. Till Soon! *KISS* Love you! *KISS*
Marine: Love you too, babe. *KISS* Till soon. You are going to give me good dreams with that tent idea, there. No nightmares for me.
Me: That's part of the idea. Get some rest and make sure you drink lots, ok?
Marine: Will do. Gotta go before I get the look. It will make it harder to get calls for tomorrow.
Me: Then Go!
Marine: I don't want to.
Me: Get going because I want that call!
Marine: Gone!
Marine: Didn't I promise you, I would be back?
Me: Yes you did! *KISS* Missed you so much!
Marine: *KISS* Love you, babe! I was beyond missing you. You know I need you like I need air to breathe. I got depressed and snappy.
Me: What was going on that you were out of contact so long?
Marine: I'll get to that but first while I was away I had alot of time to think about what would make our reunion extra special.
Me: Oh? Reunion as in you are coming home?
Marine: No not yet. I WISH. I was thinking more about singing to you as I know how much you like that.
Me: I always love your voice and your songs. You sound so much like James Taylor and you know how much I love his music.
Marine: I'm still working on getting phone calls for us all so till then you are going to have to imagine. I'm pretty sure you know this one as I've sung it to you before and you have a great memory for lyrics.
Marine: Chime in anytime you wish.
Me: Ok
Marine: Tonight it's very clear, cause we're both lying here. There's so many things I wanna say. I will always love you, I will never leave you alone.
Marine: Sometimes I just forget, say things I might regret. It breaks my heart to see you crying, I don't want to lose you. I could never make it alone.
Marine: I am a man who would fight for your honor. I'll be the hero you're dreaming of...
Me: *SMILES* We'll live forever knowing together, that we did it all for the glory of love
Marine: You keep me standing tall.
Me: You help me through it all.
Marine: I'm always strong when you're beside me.
Me: I have always needed you.
Marine: I could never make it alone.
Marine: I am a man who would fight for your honor. I'll be the hero you've been dreaming of...
Me: We'll live forever knowing together, that we did it all for the glory of love
Marine: It's like a knight in shining armor, from a long time ago. Just in time I will save the day to
take you to my castle far away.
Marine: I am a man who would fight for your honor. I'll be the hero you've been dreaming of...
Me: We'll live forever knowing together, that we did it all for the glory of love
Marine: We'll live forever knowing together
Me: That we did it all for the glory of love. *KISS*
Me: That was perfect! Makes me cry. You are always the romantic one. I might have to start reading books on the side to keep up with you.
Marine: Good crying or bad crying?
Me: The good stuff. Thanks, sweetness. You always have a way of making everything special.
Me: That was from Peter Cetera's Solo Album, you know? I have it on cassette.
Marine: I thought you did. It was in one of the Karate Kid movies too. The second one.
Me: Been snooping through my cassettes in the closet, have you?
Marine: Guilty as charged. I snoop for a good reason though, to learn everything about you. Can't know TOO MUCH about my girl.
Me: As if you don't already know enough?
Marine: I have always wondered what is the story on the long green dress in that same closet. Now that you know I've been in there...
Me: I wore that when I was a bridesmaid.
Marine: When was that?
Me: Long time ago, maybe around '89 or so.
Marine: You still have it?
Me: I'd hate to just throw it away. Some good memories in that dress.
Marine: Can you still wear it? I'd love to see you in it sometime. I've seen you in all your other ones. Maybe time to buy you something new again?
Me: Actually it might be a too big right now. I've lost alot of weight again but I can try to be back to that size by the time you come home.
Marine: Not Skeletal yet, I hope?
Me: Getting there. I'll get a break from treatment if I get down too far.
Marine: How's your hair doing?
Me: It's still holding in there but I've lost ALOT. Remember how you could barely get a thumb and forefinger around my ponytail? It's about as thin as one of my fingers now though I don't wear it in a tail now but instead wrap it around my head to make it look like I have more hair than I do.
Marine: It will come back like it was before treatment, right?
Me: It did before so I'm sure it will in time.
Marine: I was just curious is all.
Me: Are you going to tell me where you were all this time?
Marine: Yea, was off doing missions. We had bad timing as just about when we would have had the blackout lifted from us. We had a death or so in the units we were working with so would be blackedout then for that reason.
Marine: So it led to a whole long chain of blackouts. I did have a few times where I could read mail but not respond to it. I sent you the wolf during one of those.
Me: I love the wolf! I'm glad you could at least get your mail sometimes.
Marine: I think that is the only thing that kept me sane. I would print it all out then limit myself to reading only one per day to make it seem like we still had contact.
Marine: It kept me going. I think no contact with you is the absolute worse thing they can do to me. Cruel and Unusual Punishment. If we can at least talk once in awhile even like this it helps me alot...
Marine: Because when we talk, I'm no longer here. I'm with you, snuggled close and the war all goes away. It's just the two of us then. So after talking to you...I walk on air for awhile and nothing here can touch me. It's totally refreshing and makes being here a whole lot easier.
Me: I'm glad I can have that effect on you. Love you, my Snuggle Wolf. *KISS*
Me: Me, I have my family over 200 miles away but good neighbors and some very supportive friends on the net and on my blog. When it seems like too much to bear, I sleep in your old Cammies surrounded by all the wolves you have given me.
Marine: *grins* Sounds so attractive!
Me: Maybe to you but I'm sure not to anyone else. ;)
Marine: Danny starting school soon? Soccer?
Me: He goes back August 12th and he has one more game left to Summer Soccer then he wants to sign up for Fall Soccer. I'm holding him off on Fall Soccer which he doesn't know yet. We will be in Michigan by then.
Marine: You can get him on a team up there, can't you?
Me: Depends. If I can get an apartment in Midland like I had long ago, they have soccer there but if I bunk in at my parents house instead then no.
Marine: They don't have soccer there?
Me: I don't think so. They didn't when I was a kid. Just baseball, football and basketball mostly. I used to go to Saginaw to skate.
Me: I was actually hoping to talk to you before I moved to see which you thought would be best.
Marine: He's taking the house back then?
Me: Yes, husband is working again so can handle the payments again. I need not be here anymore.
Marine: GRRRRRR! Don't call HIM husband!
Me: Sorry, I didn't realize I did. Old habit I guess. EX-Husband.
Marine: Better. I'm sure you are going to love being back in Michigan.
Me: Should I just stay with my parents till you get back or get an apartment? Any idea how much longer you are going to be away?
Marine: I don't really know. I can ask and we can talk about that more in our phone call, ok? It will give me some time to think it over too.
Me: Fair enough. I had a strange happening here so yes, I'm ready to go back home.
Marine: What happened?
Me: I have pry marks on my front door where it looks like someone tried to get in.
Marine: While you were home or away?
Me: I'm actually not sure. One night I did hear some noise at the door but looked out the bedroom window and the security light wasn't on. So I thought maybe I had imagined it. I was on the computer waiting in case you showed up so went back to that.
Me: I heard noise again so grabbed my bow from the closet and one of my skiis. Then I tossed the ski on the couch next to the door and just peered out the window in the door while holding the bow. The light wasn't on so I couldn't see anything.
Me: I put the dead-bolt on then and went back to the computer. I kept the bow with me just in case but didn't hear anything else.
Marine: Ok, so when did you see the marks? The next day?
Me: No, it was days later when I was wiping Danny's handprints off the door. The metal strip outside by the knob was all bent up. Someone had unscrewed the bulbs on the security lights too. So something was going on.
Me: I had a couple of the neighbor guys look at it and they thought it looked like someone used one of those big screwdrivers to try to pry the door open. I know it wasn't like that when I changed the locks on the door, so it had to be done since then or I would have noticed it.
Marine: Your Ex? Not like he hasn't done something like that before?
Me: I don't think so. I'm thinking maybe it was his ex-girlfriend. She's done vandalism over here before and maybe she thinks he still lives here. They have some stuff going on in court again over his child support so it could just be her again.
Marine: That's possible but I want you to make sure you lock the door AND put the dead bolt on from now on.
Me: It was odd because alot of the time, I forget to even lock the door. I've never had problems here except for when I was married then husband and his girlfriend had court stuff going on.
Me: She had her husband do some stuff over here like trying to pry open the back door, scratched F You on the side of my car, and cut almost all the branches off my flowering almond bush.
Marine: Ah so there is a history of "prying" then?
Me: Yes, but I've heard they are divorced now so if she wanted to terrorize over here now, she'd have to do it herself. I bought some "jigglers" too to put on the door knobs at night so if the door or knob even moves a bit, I'll know. I've alerted the neighbors too so I should be fine till I move.
Marine: Well, sounds like you have it under control. I'd go with the ski though if you want to protect yourself. Don't know if you could get a shot off with the bow in time?
Me: The ski would have only been good for slapping someone silly. I had the bow notched and I've been shooting it since I was little. It's a good compound bow so I could do some damage with that if need be.
Marine: What kind of points did you have on it?
Me: Just target points, it is all I ever use. Dad tried to talk me into a gun or at least deer points for my arrows. I don't want to kill anyone, I just want to persuade whoever it is to go away.
Marine: Don't let him talk you into a gun if you don't want one. I would get the deer points for your bow though, just in case.
Me: Ok will do. They aren't that pricey and I'll feel safe till I'm back in Michigan.
Marine: I'll feel alot better when I'm home to take care of things.
Me: I can take care of myself.
Marine: I know you can but I'd rather do it for you. Do you still have that pepper spray I gave you before?
Me: Yes, it's in my purse.
Marine: Keep that handy just in case. It's good stuff.
Me: I had forgotten about it actually.
Marine: Ok, do you need any money for Danny's school clothes or moving expenses?
Me: No, Mom bought Danny a bunch of clothes and I'm otherwise set.
Marine: Just thought I would offer?
Me: Don't, I'm fine.
Marine: You have been getting enough "do at home work", then to keep your bills up till you go back to work?
Me: Yes, it will be a bit tight but I should be able to keep everything going just fine.
Marine: I could make it easier, if you let me?
Me: Really, I'm fine. Tell me about Iraq.
Marine: Ok, fine change the subject then.
Me: I will. I know it's been really hot over there but have you been getting the supplies you need?
Marine: It's insanely hot here right now. The kind of sit still and sweat heat. The LAV is like an Oven in this. Makes you feel like your brain is melting.
Me: Your camel-back is still holding up?
Marine: It's fine just the water get hot quickly which makes it even harder to drink enough. Drinking hot water just makes you feel hotter.
Me: You could make tea? You always were a "hottie".
Marine: Tea can make dehydration worse. Supplies of ammo haven't been too bad now but water is tight and we have had a few times we were short MREs again.
Me: I imagine your protein powder is all gone again?
Marine: It went fast because I needed to share it. Wish I had a source for more.
Me: I could send you some if you could get packages?
Marine: I know. Still a no go on that.
Me: You aren't going to be able to vote then either.
Marine: I know...believe me I know. You will have to vote for me.
Me: Could you have your absentee ballot sent to your Dad then he could vote for you, at least? I'm sure he knows how you want to vote.
Marine: He will vote the same way, I want to....against Bush. I'll look into that. Is my state in play at all? I haven't had any news except for what you have sent me via email.
Me: No, I don't think it is.
Marine: Might not matter then.
Me: Did you get your kidneys looked at?
Marine: Not really...not like they can run any tests on me here that would be useful for that. I'd have to be sent to Germany for that. It doesn't seem as bad today so maybe it's getting better?
Me: Might be kidney stones from that steady diet of MREs and not enough water?
Marine: It's possible although I hope not. My guys need me here, not in Germany.
Me: Just promise me that if it gets worse at all, that you will tell a Corpsman at least?
Marine: Will do.
Me: Sounds like things are heating up over there again, combat wise?
Marine: It is. I think more so then when we first got here last year. We have been very busy.
Me: Happenings in Najef now so I was afraid you would be sent there and I wouldn't hear from you.
Marine: No, we should be staying put for at least a few days before we move out again. Hopefully, it will be calmed down there by then. We've more than earned a short rest at least.
Me: You guys are ok? Any injuries or deaths while you were gone?
Marine: Some minor injuries and one kind of major one but no deaths.
Me: Kind of major?
Marine: We are still waiting to find out if he's going to make it back to us or just be sent home. I'm not betting either way.
Me: Anyone I know?
Marine: It was the new gunner that we got late last year.
Me: Considering you lost the other gunner, I'd say you have bad luck with them.
Marine: It is a dangerous job so that will happen. It's always hard regardless. At least if they send him stateside, I'll know he's safe.
Me: Will you get a new one then?
Marine: That's not clear yet. Till then I have double duty again.
Me: Oh great...not what I wanted to hear.
Marine: My corporal volunteered to switch on and off with me so we might do that. I'd just rather do it myself then endanger someone below me in the chain. He's got a good point though that the experience would be good for him.
Me: It would...if you baby him too much then he won't know what he needs to do should you need to be replaced yourself or if they suddenly decide to let you discharge. I can understand why you would want to protect them but you can't do that too much or you will weaken them in the long run.
Marine: You both are probably right.
Me: Of course we are because I know the corporal in question enough to know that he will be pissed off unless you let him take his share of the burden. YOU did at his rank.
Marine: Ok fine. Take his side.
Me: I will, this time at least.
Marine: Anymore command decisions you want to make for me?
Me: No, I'll quit while I'm ahead unless you want me to do your paperwork for you?
Marine: I have to do that all by myself but thanks for offering.
Me: Maybe I could do something else for you then? Do you have a tent? ;)
Marine: Now there is an offer I can't possibly refuse! Yeah, just might have something you could help with. ;)
Marine: Ack! Just got the wave, just as we were getting good. I'm going to have to get going here.
Are you going to be around tomorrow afternoon or evening your time?
Me: I can be either or both?
Marine: Ok, I'm going to try to swing morale calls tomorrow your time. If you don't get a call then count on talking to me around this time on-line then we will try the next day for calls, ok?
Me: Sounds good! I'll be thinking of you till then.
Marine: Same here!
Me: Will you be joining me in Dreamland soon?
Marine: After I get my paperwork done, I'll see about that. I'll be the one in green PT shorts waiting in the tent. ;)
Me: I'll join you there then. Till Soon! *KISS* Love you! *KISS*
Marine: Love you too, babe. *KISS* Till soon. You are going to give me good dreams with that tent idea, there. No nightmares for me.
Me: That's part of the idea. Get some rest and make sure you drink lots, ok?
Marine: Will do. Gotta go before I get the look. It will make it harder to get calls for tomorrow.
Me: Then Go!
Marine: I don't want to.
Me: Get going because I want that call!
Marine: Gone!
Wednesday, August 11, 2004
Our Marine is back in Contact!
Marine: Babe, you there?
Me: Yes! Yes! Glad I caught you, I was just going to give up for the night and go to bed.
Marine: Love you! But listen, we are back in camp now for I hope will be for a few days. We came back and have been treated for dehydration so are still out of sorts.
Marine: I don't have much time now but hope to catch up with you very soon and spend some time together talking.
Me: Love you! I've been so worried about you! I'm glad you are safe. We are fine here.
Marine: Did you get the things I sent you?
Me: Yes, flowers arrived this morning and I got the stuffed wolf awhile ago. Thank you so much for thinking of me when I know things are so hard for you now.
Me: What is this about dehydration?
Marine: Glad you got your treats! I've been thinking of you and Danny constantly. We are ok just some water shortage problems put us in a bad place. Not a big deal because as hot as it has been you can't drink enough anyway.
Me: You are going to be ok then?
Marine: I'm fine really. I'm feeling better now except for some pain in the kidney area that I want to get checked out while we are here. It would be bad to wait until it gets worse when we are somewhere without medical support so close by.
Me: Sounds like a smart move. How bad is it?
Marine: Just a nagging pain right now. Might be just related to the lack of fluids. I don't think it's anything serious. Might get better on it's own.
Me: Be sure to get it looked at, ok? I agree too that it's better to have it looked at now then to wait and have it get worse when you are in the middle of something.
Marine: I'm going to have to go now as I need to check on my guys and see about some other issues. Promise I'll get back to you soon.
Me: Take care, sweets. Danny and I are fine so no worries about us. Be sure to get some rest and of course drink alot. I'll keep until after you have taken care of yourself.
Marine: Ok, you head off to Dreamland and I'll try to join you in a bit myself. I could use a short power nap at least. I'll be back with you as soon as I can. Will probably be sometime later tomorrow evening, your time. I'm still not feeling up to par yet so will be resting. Don't worry. *KISS*
Me: *KISS* Till soon!
Marine: Perks me up just to have this little bit of time with you. Till soon!
Me: Yes! Yes! Glad I caught you, I was just going to give up for the night and go to bed.
Marine: Love you! But listen, we are back in camp now for I hope will be for a few days. We came back and have been treated for dehydration so are still out of sorts.
Marine: I don't have much time now but hope to catch up with you very soon and spend some time together talking.
Me: Love you! I've been so worried about you! I'm glad you are safe. We are fine here.
Marine: Did you get the things I sent you?
Me: Yes, flowers arrived this morning and I got the stuffed wolf awhile ago. Thank you so much for thinking of me when I know things are so hard for you now.
Me: What is this about dehydration?
Marine: Glad you got your treats! I've been thinking of you and Danny constantly. We are ok just some water shortage problems put us in a bad place. Not a big deal because as hot as it has been you can't drink enough anyway.
Me: You are going to be ok then?
Marine: I'm fine really. I'm feeling better now except for some pain in the kidney area that I want to get checked out while we are here. It would be bad to wait until it gets worse when we are somewhere without medical support so close by.
Me: Sounds like a smart move. How bad is it?
Marine: Just a nagging pain right now. Might be just related to the lack of fluids. I don't think it's anything serious. Might get better on it's own.
Me: Be sure to get it looked at, ok? I agree too that it's better to have it looked at now then to wait and have it get worse when you are in the middle of something.
Marine: I'm going to have to go now as I need to check on my guys and see about some other issues. Promise I'll get back to you soon.
Me: Take care, sweets. Danny and I are fine so no worries about us. Be sure to get some rest and of course drink alot. I'll keep until after you have taken care of yourself.
Marine: Ok, you head off to Dreamland and I'll try to join you in a bit myself. I could use a short power nap at least. I'll be back with you as soon as I can. Will probably be sometime later tomorrow evening, your time. I'm still not feeling up to par yet so will be resting. Don't worry. *KISS*
Me: *KISS* Till soon!
Marine: Perks me up just to have this little bit of time with you. Till soon!
Sunday, August 08, 2004
Feline Soldier Returns with His Unit
Thank you to Love In War for this story.
Cat Gets Military Rank After Iraq Tour
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Fort Carson Staff Sgt. Rick Bousfield of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team had a mission: Saving Pvt. Hammer.
Pfc. Hammer is an Iraqi tabby cat the unit adopted after he was born last fall at a base in Balad, 50 miles north of Baghdad.
When Bousfield found out his unit was leaving Iraq in March, he decided he couldn't leave a member of his team behind.
"He has been through mortar attacks," said Bousfield, a 19-year Army veteran. "He'd jump and get scared liked the rest of us. He is kind of like one of our own."
Pfc. Hammer got his name from the unit that adopted him, Team Hammer. Soldiers would tuck Hammer in their body armor during artillery attacks, and in return, Hammer chased mice in the mess hall.
"He was a stress therapist," Bousfield said. "The guys would come back in tired and stressed. Hammer would come back and bug the heck out of you. He wiped away some worries."
The kitten earned his rank after nabbing five mice.
When Bousfield learned his unit was going, he sent an e-mail to Alley Cat Allies, a national clearinghouse of information on stray cats, asking for help bringing Hammer along.
Alley Cat Allies raised $2,500 for Hammer's shots, sterilization, paperwork and a plane ride to the United States.
Hammer left Iraq with his unit in March, then flew from Kuwait to San Francisco in cargo-class. He traveled first class with an Alley Cat Allies volunteer to Denver.
Bousfield met the kitten at the airport."
A Soldier's MOTHER Speaks Out
I have a daughter who is an American soldier and who recently returned from a year of service in Baghdad. I am married to a 23-year Army veteran. It is likely that he will serve in Iraq soon.
I am so fed up with propaganda coming from some Iraq war supporters that I wrote this open letter. I care very much about what affects the American soldier.
I'm not impressed when you spew propaganda that unnecessarily places our troops in harm's way. Why do you believe that only you are patriotic? Why do you exaggerate the positive things that happen in Iraq while ignoring the lies that our weary children and the American public have been told by this administration? Then you tell us (and our children who are fighting) that we don't support our troops.
I'm not impressed when you ignore the large number of American soldiers killed and wounded in Iraq, dismissing these brave patriots by using the condescending phrase "soldiers die in wars". Does that mean that we should not keep as many of them safe as we can? Using medically unfit soldiers to cover this administration's miscalculations concerning troop strength, and going into this conflict without most of our allies, is causing our soldiers to pay a much higher price. And you tell us that WE don't support our troops?
I'm not impressed, when you spout constant criticism of what we do to attempt to end this war and bring our soldiers safely home. You have a rabid need to discredit us, when all we want to do is to save our soldiers and innocent Iraqi civilians from unnecessary harm. And you say that we don't support our troops.
I'm not impressed when you tell our soldiers that they will be going home soon, then keep them for more than a year. There is a limit to human endurance. And you say WE don't support our troops.
I'm not impressed when you spout propaganda that attempts to undermine our credibility in the eyes of the media. YOU KEEP TELLING THEM WE DON'T SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!!!!
The hearts and minds of the Iraqi population cannot be won unless we demonstrate to them that we believe that an Iraqi life is every bit as valuable as an American life. We cannot destroy entire civilian neighborhoods, killing innocent people, for the slight possibility of neutralizing a few terrorists ---not if we support our troops.
You are fostering contention toward patriotic Americans who happen to believe differently than you do. Why do you refuse to believe that we support our troops just as you do? Why won't you talk to us without condemning or demeaning us? Why do you believe that those of US who have children who serve are less moral than those of YOU who have children who serve? I am finding that in order for soldiers and their families to be respected by the conservatives, we have to AGREE with the conservatives. We are moral, we are American, and we support our troops.
I tried to help my daughter get the medical discharge that she should have gotten 2 ½ years ago, and it became a partisan issue. Why is that? Medically unfit soldiers should be removed from the military when they become unfit. I was ignored or insulted by all pro-Iraq war people that I came into contact with. My experience has definitely helped me to move farther to the left, but I STILL support our troops.
Yes, I will do everything I can to get W. Bush out of office. He is the most divisive president in my memory. This war could have been postponed until we secured international support, or it could have been avoided altogether. We could have removed Hussein from power with a small force of persecuted Iraqi dissidents who begged Bush for the funds to let them do it. That strategy would not have given Bush access to Iraqi oil or control over the new government.
This is my right to freedom of speech. You have a right to your freedoms, including a right to try and keep W. Bush in office. That is the American way.
By Denise Thomas, Member of Military Families Speak Out
I am so fed up with propaganda coming from some Iraq war supporters that I wrote this open letter. I care very much about what affects the American soldier.
I'm not impressed when you spew propaganda that unnecessarily places our troops in harm's way. Why do you believe that only you are patriotic? Why do you exaggerate the positive things that happen in Iraq while ignoring the lies that our weary children and the American public have been told by this administration? Then you tell us (and our children who are fighting) that we don't support our troops.
I'm not impressed when you ignore the large number of American soldiers killed and wounded in Iraq, dismissing these brave patriots by using the condescending phrase "soldiers die in wars". Does that mean that we should not keep as many of them safe as we can? Using medically unfit soldiers to cover this administration's miscalculations concerning troop strength, and going into this conflict without most of our allies, is causing our soldiers to pay a much higher price. And you tell us that WE don't support our troops?
I'm not impressed, when you spout constant criticism of what we do to attempt to end this war and bring our soldiers safely home. You have a rabid need to discredit us, when all we want to do is to save our soldiers and innocent Iraqi civilians from unnecessary harm. And you say that we don't support our troops.
I'm not impressed when you tell our soldiers that they will be going home soon, then keep them for more than a year. There is a limit to human endurance. And you say WE don't support our troops.
I'm not impressed when you spout propaganda that attempts to undermine our credibility in the eyes of the media. YOU KEEP TELLING THEM WE DON'T SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!!!!
The hearts and minds of the Iraqi population cannot be won unless we demonstrate to them that we believe that an Iraqi life is every bit as valuable as an American life. We cannot destroy entire civilian neighborhoods, killing innocent people, for the slight possibility of neutralizing a few terrorists ---not if we support our troops.
You are fostering contention toward patriotic Americans who happen to believe differently than you do. Why do you refuse to believe that we support our troops just as you do? Why won't you talk to us without condemning or demeaning us? Why do you believe that those of US who have children who serve are less moral than those of YOU who have children who serve? I am finding that in order for soldiers and their families to be respected by the conservatives, we have to AGREE with the conservatives. We are moral, we are American, and we support our troops.
I tried to help my daughter get the medical discharge that she should have gotten 2 ½ years ago, and it became a partisan issue. Why is that? Medically unfit soldiers should be removed from the military when they become unfit. I was ignored or insulted by all pro-Iraq war people that I came into contact with. My experience has definitely helped me to move farther to the left, but I STILL support our troops.
Yes, I will do everything I can to get W. Bush out of office. He is the most divisive president in my memory. This war could have been postponed until we secured international support, or it could have been avoided altogether. We could have removed Hussein from power with a small force of persecuted Iraqi dissidents who begged Bush for the funds to let them do it. That strategy would not have given Bush access to Iraqi oil or control over the new government.
This is my right to freedom of speech. You have a right to your freedoms, including a right to try and keep W. Bush in office. That is the American way.
By Denise Thomas, Member of Military Families Speak Out
Iraq Veterans Against The War
A shout out to the new website of Iraq Veterans Against the War.
They are seeking help for something special and worthwhile.
From a recent article in World Net Daily a bit about them.
They are seeking help for something special and worthwhile.
IRAQ VETERANS AGAINST THE WAR NEEDS YOUR HELP
As many of you already know the Republican National Convention is almost upon us and IVAW plans on making our presence felt. We hope to have speakers spread out to the numerous marches and rallies showing opposition to this horrible war. To do this however we need funds. Our members are scattered across the United States and since they have just left military service can not afford to travel to NYC on their own. Please help us bring the troops home and end this brutal war.
IVAW is a non-profit organization and all contributions are tax deductible.
From a recent article in World Net Daily a bit about them.
If John Kerry is elected president and doesn't immediately pull U.S. troops out of Iraq, he could be faced with an unusual situation – anti-war protests by a group modeled after the one he led during the Vietnam War.
A new organization, Iraq Veterans Against the War, is just that – an organization inspired by Kerry's own Vietnam Veterans Against the War legacy.
The group was actually conceived last week during Kerry's nominating convention in New York.
And the horror stories these vets are remarkably similar – though not as harrowing – as those told by Kerry in 1971 when he testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
"I didn't feel like I was a liberator," said Kelly Dougherty. "I felt like I was an oppressor. We burned a flatbed filled with produce in front of Iraqi people who were starving."
Ron Reagan Jr in Esquire
For those that might have missed it, Ronald Reagan Jr. has a recent article in Esquire magazine that's quite a good read. You can find the on-line version here.
A bit of a snip to give you a clue as to the topic:
A bit of a snip to give you a clue as to the topic:
More serious by an order of magnitude was the administration's dishonesty concerning pre-9/11 terror warnings. As questions first arose about the country's lack of preparedness in the face of terrorist assault, Condoleezza Rice was dispatched to the pundit arenas to assure the nation that "no one could have imagined terrorists using aircraft as weapons." In fact, terrorism experts had warned repeatedly of just such a calamity. In June 2001, CIA director George Tenet sent Rice an intelligence report warning that "it is highly likely that a significant Al Qaeda attack is in the near future, within several weeks." Two intelligence briefings given to Bush in the summer of 2001 specifically connected Al Qaeda to the imminent danger of hijacked planes being used as weapons. According to The New York Times, after the second of these briefings, titled "Bin Laden Determined to Attack Inside United States," was delivered to the president at his ranch in Crawford, Texas, in August, Bush "broke off from work early and spent most of the day fishing." This was the briefing Dr. Rice dismissed as "historical" in her testimony before the 9/11 Commission.
Friday, August 06, 2004
Bremer's Legacy
Paul Bremer left behind him 100 orders, said to be illegal, to be used to further control Iraq. This is the first I've heard of this situation although I'm surprised by little now that the Bush Administration does in our name.
The whole mess is covered well in an article from the LA Times, including examples of these orders.
I wish him much success in his civilian life in October and hope his honesty will translate into a yet better future job.
These little noticed orders enacted by Bremer, the now-departed head of the now-defunct Coalition Provisional Authority, go to the heart of Bush administration plans in Iraq. They lock in sweeping advantages to American firms, ensuring long-term U.S. economic advantage while guaranteeing few, if any, benefits to the Iraqi people.
The whole mess is covered well in an article from the LA Times, including examples of these orders.
Marine to Resign After Military Gag Order
A U.S. Marine featured in a documentary about Arab TV network Al Jazeera said on Thursday that a military order barring him from discussing his film role clinched his decision to leave the military, but he denied being drummed out of the corps.
Marine Capt. Josh Rushing, a press officer, said he had been considering a career outside the armed forces before the controversy sparked by his appearance in "Control Room," a fly-on-the-wall portrait of Jazeera's coverage of the Iraq war.
But he said the conflict stemming from his subsequent remarks in the media about the war and Jazeera, which Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has called "Osama bin Laden's mouthpiece," was essentially the straw that broke the camel's back.
I wish him much success in his civilian life in October and hope his honesty will translate into a yet better future job.
Vote For Change Tour
I'm very pleased James Taylor will be part of the upcoming "Vote For Change Tour". Both my Marine and I have been long-time fans of his. When petitions were circulating to draft Bruce Springsteen to this cause, I commented on one blog that I knew James would be one to support this cause and I was right.
James is no newbie to benefit concerts as a veteran of No Nukes (by Musicians United for Safe Energy, which was a founded by JT, Carly Simon, John Hall and Bonnie Raitt)
, Rock in Rio, and A Concert for New York. Also recording for pediatric AIDS research, Sesame Street (Children's Television Workshop), Rainforest Foundation (with Bruce Springsteen) and other causes.
Thank you, James for always being one to lend your voice to a good cause!
James is no newbie to benefit concerts as a veteran of No Nukes (by Musicians United for Safe Energy, which was a founded by JT, Carly Simon, John Hall and Bonnie Raitt)
, Rock in Rio, and A Concert for New York. Also recording for pediatric AIDS research, Sesame Street (Children's Television Workshop), Rainforest Foundation (with Bruce Springsteen) and other causes.
Thank you, James for always being one to lend your voice to a good cause!
Iraq Churches Bombed
Apparently, Christian Churches in Iraq are now being bombed. Why?
Yep, that "crusades" reference is coming back to haunt Georgie Boy. This is but another reason why we do need a smart, articulate man back in the White House to restore our credibility with the rest of the world. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that mentioning the crusades in conjuction with the war in Iraq is going to get some reaction from Muslims. Duh! All that pseudo-cowboy crap doesn't impress me and I'm one of those Midwest types not all that well-known for our worldliness.
BUZZZZZZZ! Wrong answer! The correct answer is to sit quitely at a publicized photo-op in a Florida classroom, endangering the lives of innocent 2nd graders while stalling for more time not to give a shoot down order that might have saved the lives of some New Yorkers. Now that's the brave leadership the Republicans want us all to have! Right?
A group in Iraq have claimed responsibility for the series of church bombs at the weekend in a statement posted on a Web site, saying they were a response to the U.S. "crusader war" and evangelization, reports the Reuters news agency.
The language of "crusade" was used by George Bush in the run up to the war in Iraq. Bush originally caused an uproar by telling reporters: "This crusade, this war on terrorism, is going to take awhile." But the word was also revived by the Bush-Cheney election campaign as recently as April this year.
"You wanted a crusader war, so these are the results. ... We warned you," the statement by a little-known Islamist group calling itself the Planning and Follow-Up Organization in Iraq said on a site where a number of claims have been posted in recent weeks.
"We were able Sunday to direct several painful strikes at the dens of evil, corruption, immorality and evangelization."
Yep, that "crusades" reference is coming back to haunt Georgie Boy. This is but another reason why we do need a smart, articulate man back in the White House to restore our credibility with the rest of the world. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that mentioning the crusades in conjuction with the war in Iraq is going to get some reaction from Muslims. Duh! All that pseudo-cowboy crap doesn't impress me and I'm one of those Midwest types not all that well-known for our worldliness.
What would Kerry Do?
Addressing minority journalists in the nation's capital, Kerry was asked what he would have done as president the moment he received word of the attacks on the World Trade Center. Bush spent seven minutes listening to "The Pet Goat" being read at a Florida elementary school after his chief of staff, Andrew Card, whispered, "America is under attack," as televisions cameras recorded the anxious scene.
"I would have told those kids very politely and nicely that the president of the United States had something that he needed to attend to," Kerry said before flying to Missouri to resume his cross-country campaign trip. "And I would have attended to it."
BUZZZZZZZ! Wrong answer! The correct answer is to sit quitely at a publicized photo-op in a Florida classroom, endangering the lives of innocent 2nd graders while stalling for more time not to give a shoot down order that might have saved the lives of some New Yorkers. Now that's the brave leadership the Republicans want us all to have! Right?
The Boy Who Cried Wolf
Jimmy Breslin has a re-telling of the classic fable along with a modern day version of "The President Who Cried Terrorist."
Also on the Presidental Front:
George W. might have slipped his leash temporarily when he spoke the truth quite suddenly, I'm sure giving his handlers quite a start.
No worries as I'm sure he was promptly hit with a tranquilizer dart and was carted off to be re-trained yet again.
Now there is a braver woman than I! Now I love rye bread more than any other kind and mustard should be brown not sunny yellow. I didn't ever taste white bread or yellow mustard till I was served such things in school. No way I could eat Limburger cheese! That stuff smells so horrible that I can't think of anything worse. There was a German restaurant in Saginaw that my father just loved. He would order the Limburger sandwich there too. To me the whole place reeked of that cheese...which ruined my appetite. My mother had to ban Limburger cheese from the house as he would buy it and it would about knock you over when you opened the fridge. The absolute worst part of Limburger cheese was that the next day, it would give Dad gas so you got to smell it yet again. From that I can testify that the cheese doesn't even lose it's odor the next day when it re-appears as "an attack of the winds".
My ex-husband wouldn't touch rye bread so I'd have to bake all white bread for him. After the divorce, I would bake rye for me and white for Danny till I noticed my rye was disappearing over night. Danny confessed that he was getting up at night to eat the rye bread and that he didn't really like white bread if he had a choice. So now I bake only rye and keep a loaf of white in the freezer in case of company. I prefer to bake my own bread as store bought doesn't seem to compare to the traditional round loaves of rye that my Grandma taught me to bake.
I'm probably ruining the boy for any future wife as he will turn down an Oreo for one of his Mom's homebaked oatmeal raisin or molasses cookies and she will of course have to make her own bread. I'll have only myself to blame when he's still living with me till he's 40.
Why was it not a priority 4 years ago but suddenly is now when they need to whip up the fear of the Republican base? Meanwhile, streets are being blocked off and policemen are working overtime. Where will the money come for that?
Yea right, if I have learned anything from the last four years it is that this administration can't be trusted not to politicize anything.
That's just it, if the warnings aren't used only when necessary, it will lead to no one paying any attention when we really need to.
Also on the Presidental Front:
George W. might have slipped his leash temporarily when he spoke the truth quite suddenly, I'm sure giving his handlers quite a start.
Bush misspoke as he delivered a speech at the signing ceremony for a $417 billion defense spending bill.
"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we," Bush said. "They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."
No worries as I'm sure he was promptly hit with a tranquilizer dart and was carted off to be re-trained yet again.
Wednesday, August 04, 2004
A Braver Woman than I
In Monroe, Wis., John Kerry and his wife stopped at Baumgartner's tavern, where Teresa Heinz Kerry ordered a Limburger cheese sandwich with raw onions and mustard on rye bread.
Now there is a braver woman than I! Now I love rye bread more than any other kind and mustard should be brown not sunny yellow. I didn't ever taste white bread or yellow mustard till I was served such things in school. No way I could eat Limburger cheese! That stuff smells so horrible that I can't think of anything worse. There was a German restaurant in Saginaw that my father just loved. He would order the Limburger sandwich there too. To me the whole place reeked of that cheese...which ruined my appetite. My mother had to ban Limburger cheese from the house as he would buy it and it would about knock you over when you opened the fridge. The absolute worst part of Limburger cheese was that the next day, it would give Dad gas so you got to smell it yet again. From that I can testify that the cheese doesn't even lose it's odor the next day when it re-appears as "an attack of the winds".
My ex-husband wouldn't touch rye bread so I'd have to bake all white bread for him. After the divorce, I would bake rye for me and white for Danny till I noticed my rye was disappearing over night. Danny confessed that he was getting up at night to eat the rye bread and that he didn't really like white bread if he had a choice. So now I bake only rye and keep a loaf of white in the freezer in case of company. I prefer to bake my own bread as store bought doesn't seem to compare to the traditional round loaves of rye that my Grandma taught me to bake.
I'm probably ruining the boy for any future wife as he will turn down an Oreo for one of his Mom's homebaked oatmeal raisin or molasses cookies and she will of course have to make her own bread. I'll have only myself to blame when he's still living with me till he's 40.
Operation Fear Continues
Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge on Tuesday defended the decision to tighten security in New York and Washington even though the intelligence behind the latest terror warnings was as much as four years old.
Why was it not a priority 4 years ago but suddenly is now when they need to whip up the fear of the Republican base? Meanwhile, streets are being blocked off and policemen are working overtime. Where will the money come for that?
Administration officials denied any suggestion that raising the terror alert right after the Democratic National Convention was politically motivated. "We don't do politics in the Department of Homeland Security," Ridge said.
Yea right, if I have learned anything from the last four years it is that this administration can't be trusted not to politicize anything.
But Larry Johnson, a former State Department deputy chief of counterterrorism, said the information about possible attacks is too vague to be useful and could lead to "warning fatigue."
"This is like the fifth time we've been warned that the end is imminent," he said. "Then it passes and nothing happens and what I fear is that people are going to become increasingly jaded about it."
That's just it, if the warnings aren't used only when necessary, it will lead to no one paying any attention when we really need to.
