Memorial Day

So I was listening to a talk radio show Friday where the hosts were discussing their weekend pans. One of the hosts informed the listeners that he would be hitting up a big mattress sale, when the female host said "now see that's the problem with these commercial holidays, marketing whizzes keep creating them so they can force us to spend, spend, spend." The male host did not dispute her consumer driven comment and they moved forward with their radio show.

Is this really what American's believe? When did we become so apathetic? When did sales or money take precedence over our military personnel? What happened to the parades, the speeches, the patriotic music? What happened to spending time at a veteran's hospital or visiting veterans in a nursing home, listening to their stories, giving them a word of encouragement, even as so much as a hug or a kiss, thanking them for a job well done? Memorial Day is not about an extra long weekend, sales at the mall, barbecues, or drinking on the beach. It is about the hundreds of thousands of men and women who have given their lives to maintain the American way of life... It just makes me so soo sad to see this holiday just fall forgotten to commercialism and very few people nowadays take the time to honor our veterans. So many times, the veteran is left to be forgotten, given the shaft by an uncaring government, and it just breaks my heart.

To this date it is estimated that over 723,400 US service members have lost their lives in the Battles/Conflicts/Wars/Expeditions/Invasions fought to defend this great nation. I found it interesting to break down the "Conflicts" America has been involved in to really see the sacrifice that has been made.

American Revolutionary War (1775–1783) 8,000 deaths
Quasi-War (1798–1800) 20 deaths
Barbary Wars (1801–1815) 35 deaths
Northwest Indian War (1785–1795) 1,221+ deaths
War of 1812 (1812–1815) 2,260 deaths
First Seminole War (1817–1818) 3045 deaths
Black Hawk War (1832) 60+ deaths
Second Seminole War (1835–1842) 328 deaths
Mexican–American War (1846–1848) 1,733 deaths
Third Seminole War (1855–1858) 26 deaths
Civil War: total (1861–1865) 212,938 deaths
Indian Wars (1865–1898) 919 deaths
Korean expedition (1871) 3 deaths
Spanish–American War (1898) 385 deaths
Philippine–American War (1898–1913) 1,020 deaths
Boxer Rebellion (1900–1901) 37 deaths
Mexican Revolution (1914–1919) 35+ deaths
Occupation of Haiti (1915–1934) 146 deaths
World War I (1917–1918) 53,402 deaths
Northern Russian Expedition (1918–1920) 424 deaths
American Expeditionary Force Siberia (1918–1920) 189 deaths
World War II (1941–1945) 291,557 deaths
China Cold War (1945–1947) 43 deaths
Korean War (1950–1953) 92,134 deaths
Russia Cold War (1950–1955) 32 deaths
China Cold War (1956) 16 deaths
Bay of Pigs Invasion (1961) 4 deaths
Vietnam War (1957–1973) 47,424 deaths
Invasion of Dominican Republic (1965–1966) 13 deaths
El Salvador Civil War (1980–1992) 9 deaths
Beirut deployment (1982–1984) 256 deaths
Persian Gulf escorts (1987–1988) 39 deaths
Invasion of Grenada (1983) 18 deaths
Invasion of Panama (1989) 23 deaths
Gulf War (1990–1991) 147 deaths
Somalia (1992–1993) 29 deaths
Haiti (1994–1995) 4 deaths
Bosnia-Herzegovina (1995–2004) 12 deaths
Kosovo (1999) 20 deaths

But more so in the front of my mind are those brave men and women who have died for this nation in the fight for terrorism, just in the past 9 years! On the Afghani front, as part of Operation Enduring Freedom, 1,074 US service members have given their lives and in Iraq, as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, 4,387 US service members have given the ultimate sacrifice.

So on that note, let me wish you a very happy Memorial Day. Take the time to honor all who have given their lives, and their families who were left behind. Think of the sacrifices they've given up to ensure our freedom, and think what our nation would be like if it were not for their brave service. Think of how good we have it compared to other war-torn nations, and what it would be like if we were cowering for our very lives, not knowing whether anyone was going to help us in our time of need.

In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae
In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

The Cleavage Caddy

Totally genius? Or totally insane?

Mazantri Creations mission is to use ingenuity to provide clever creative ideas that meet the demands of our modern society while providing excellent customer service. We are committed to maintaining the integrity behind the products we provide. In providing the service we are presenting we stand behind our products if you are not completely satisfied please return and we will issue a refund.

We are excited to offer a variety of accessories that can be worn by all shapes and sizes. We offer the Cleavage Caddy for the woman who wants a little lace to accent their attire, and the Cleavage Caddy II for the woman who wants the convenience of the pockets for storage or traveling but doesn’t need the lace.

Marine wife

I love being a Marine wife. If anything, I can say it's very intertaining. So out here we drove to a local Army base to visit the commisary... Now out here the Army and Navy's bases are manned by some private security company (something I still think is totally bazar). Anyways, so as we drive up to the sentry, i'm shuffling around to find my ID (they require 100% ID card checks) and I read barking... Not dog barking, but like a person barking.

"Marines are about the most peculiar breed of human beings I have ever witnessed. They treat their service as if it was some kind of cult, plastering their emblem on almost everything they own, making themselves up to look like insane fanatics with haircuts to ungentlemanly lengths, worshipping their Commandant almost as if he was a god, and making weird animal noises like a band of savages. They'll fight like rabid dogs at the drop of a hat just for the sake of a little action, and are the cockiest SOB's I have ever known. Most have the foulest mouths and drink well beyond man's normal limits, but their high spirits and sense of brotherhood set them apart and , generally speaking, of the United States Marines I've come in contact with, are the most professional soldiers and the finest men I have had the pleasure to meet." (An Anonymous Canadian Citizen)

Songs for Soldiers

CLICK HERE to read up on and donate to a very worthwhile cause!

"Songs for Soldiers is a great new way for Americans to offer a tangible expression of gratitude to our Troops serving in harm’s way. The goal of Songs for Soldiers is to give a new MP3 player to every single active duty service member in Iraq and Afghanistan. Each player will be pre-loaded with songs from a variety of artists who have donated their music to this effort."

My Followers

Holy cow, I have 51 followers...

When did this happen???

I had absolutely no clue that there were that many people who regularly read this blog...

Now I feel kinda bad about taking 2 and 3 month breaks without blogging.

50 things I miss about Southern California

So I've been thinking... Above all the places I've lived in... I think I defiantly miss California the most... Which isn't unusual seeing how I lived there the longest, 17 years. So I sat down and tried to compile a list the of ten things I miss most about California... But I just couldn't do it. Ten was too little... So I compiled a list of the 50 things I miss about Southern California. ::HaHa:: Enjoy.

50- Fume guards on gasoline nozzles
49- Rice Rockets
48- Being within driving distance of Mexico
47- The guys selling oranges in the middle of the road.
46- Wienershnitzel
45- KTLA 5
44- Vietnamese markets
43- Low riders
42- Knowing people who are in a band
41- Being able to check my mail without having to drive to the mailbox
30- Sugar Shack's Breakfast Burritos
29- The Museums
28- Bagelmania's "Raspberry Mocha Kiss"
27- "SoCal Punk Rock"
26- Toilet seat covers in public restrooms
25- BJ's pazooki's
24- The leaves NOT falling from the trees in September
23- Jack in the Box's Tacos
22- Being able to bike freely and worry about impending death
21- Six-lane interstates full of people who know how to drive faster than 70 miles per hour
20- Homosexuals
19- Ghetto beach housing
18- Cheap Coronas
17- The cute signs with Mexican's running across the street on the 5 in San Diego.
16- Trader Joe's
15- The Shopping (Glendale Galleria, Burbank Town Center, Fashion Valley, The Beverly Center, Universal Citywalk, South Bay Galleria, The Grove, Long Beach Towne Center, South Coast Plaza, Irvine Marketplace, Fashion Island)
14- In 'N Out
13- The Orange County Fair
12- Mother's Market Potato Tacos
11- Wearing flip flops in the winter and not having people look at me like I'm insaine.
10- Not needing central air, just open windows and ocean breezes
9- Carls Jr being called "Carls Jr"... "Hardees" is just plane wrong
8- Televised Police Chases
7- Rubio's fish taco's
6- Dim Sum
5- Del Taco
4- SoCal Slang... IE: Surf Slang (gnarly, rad, sick, epic, buzzkill) & Valspeak (where "like", "and", "so", "whatever", and "totally" are spoken far too often)
3- "Taco Tuesdays"
2- The Weather, mild winters, not too humid summers.
1- Amusement Parks
...Knotts, Sea World, Disneyland, San Diego Wild Animal Park, Birch Aquarium, Wild Rivers, Six Flags, Universal Studios, Aquarium of the Pacific, Raging Waters, LA Zoo, Santa Ana Zoo, etc.

Things I miss about Missouri

Going with the nostalgic-ness (is that a word?) of last night's post... Here is my list of the top 10 things I miss about Missouri. ::sigh::

Things I miss about Missouri...
10- Knowing EVERYONE in town of only 200.
9- Being able to leave the house at night without fear of being mugged, raped, or abducted.
8- Fireflies.
7- Being able to drive at age 11.
6- Fishing.
5- Tractor Pulls.
4- Heat Lightning.
3- Goin down the the "slab" and swimming in the creek.
2- Rain on the tin roofs.
1- The smell
...It's hard to describe, but out in the country in Missouri, the air just smells so much different. It''s so much cleaner and the air just smells thick and sweet with a hint of wild flowers.

Things I miss about AZ

I've been feeling a little nostalgic latley... Looking back on all the places I've lived... Now I know at the time I hated living on MCAS Yuma... But not looking back it really wasn't THAT bad and infact I kinda miss it.

Things I miss about AZ...
10- Dirt
9- Sand
8- Palm Trees
7- Cactuses
6- Indian Casino's
5- Road side taco stands
4- The Sunsets
3- Not having to change the clocks at day light savings time.
2- REAL Mexican food
1- The "dry heat"
...Yes it's true the 120 degree heat is the #1 thing I actually miss...
Especially the DRYNESS of the heat...
Oh how I hate the humidity of the South.

Happy Armed Forces Day

President Harry S. Truman led the effort to establish a single holiday for citizens to come together and thank our military members for their patriotic service in support of our country.

For those who didn't know, today is Armed Forces Day. On August 31, 1949, Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced the creation of an Armed Forces Day to replace separate Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force Days. The single-day celebration stemmed from the unification of the Armed Forces under one department -- the Department of Defense.

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA A PROCLAMATION

America’s Armed Forces represent the very best of our national character. They have answered the call to defend our Nation, and their service and sacrifice humble us all. OnArmed Forces Day, we pay tribute to these patriots who risk their lives, sometimes giving their last full measure of devotion, to preserve the vision of our forebears and the freedoms we enjoy.

Our service members carry on the proud traditions of duty and valor that have sustained us from our earliest days of independence. Today, we have the greatest military force in the history of the world because we have the finest personnel in the world. Wherever they are needed, from Iraq and Afghanistan to right here at home, they are serving and protecting our Nation.

We owe our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen more than our gratitude; we owe them our support. That is why my Administration is committed to ensuring they have the strategy, clear mission, and equipment they need to get the job done, and the resources they deserve when they come home. We are also increasing support for military spouses and families who must deal with the stress and separation of war.

Today, let us raise our flags high to honor the service members who keep us safe, as we reaffirm our commitment to fulfill our duty to them.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the United States, continuing the precedent of my predecessors in office, do hereby proclaim the third Saturday of each May asArmed Forces Day.

I direct the Secretary of Defense on behalf of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and the Secretary of Homeland Security on behalf of the Coast Guard, to plan for appropriate observances each year, with the Secretary of Defense responsible for soliciting the participation and cooperation of civil authorities and private citizens.

I invite the Governors of the States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and other areas subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, to provide for the observance ofArmed Forces Day within their jurisdiction each year in an appropriate manner designed to increase public understanding and appreciation of theArmed Forces of the United States.

I also invite veterans, civic, and other organizations to join in the observance of Armed Forces Day each year.

Finally, I call upon all Americans to display the flag of the United States at their homes on Armed Forces Day, and I urge citizens to learn more about military service by attending and participating in the local observances of the day. I also encourage Americans to volunteer at organizations that provide support to our troops.

Proclamation 8380 of May 14, 2009, is hereby superseded.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the Independence of theUnited States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.

BARACK OBAMA

Get cozy with Cozi!

Could your family use a little organization and an easy way to keep in touch and up to date with each other? Well I stumbled across this website called Cozi... It’s a great free site that helps your family get organized by providing a family calendar, customizable lists, reminders + messages, mobile phone access, a family journal, photo collage screen saver, and even sync with Outlook. That’s a lot of things they have to offer. They have a great short video that really explains everything you can do and how simple it is, worth a quick view definitely.

It takes less than 30 seconds to actually sign up for Cozi, very quick and simple and not too many questions. Once you sign up and log in you are brought to the Get Started page to help you get going. There really isn’t a lot of setup at all, just start adding things to your calendar or lists, upload pictures if you like, or send short messages. I’m really impressed with how quick and simple Cozi is. I know we have all seen a lot of services that say they are easy to use, but honestly this one really seems to be easy!

I like that they have a large digital clock on what seems like every page. At the upper left corner is always a Home link to take you back to the beginning. Along the bottom of the screen there is a navigation bar also with Home plus all the other sections. Very simple and straight forward. It doesn’t look like there are any options for changing the color scheme, but I would guess that is something they may add in the future. The current color scheme isn’t unpleasant though, yellows/oranges/golds/whites.

The ability to use Cozi on computers, phones, PDAs, and just about any other gadget with internet access makes it really appealing. Cozi Mobile is available with no additional downloads also. You can easily send messages to cell phones which is a great feature. Although I haven’t tried the Outlook sync yet, this is another great option I think. My family does use the Outlook calendar already so this is a welcome option for us.

Sookie Love.

So the latest installment in the Sookie Stackhouse series was released this morning, "Dead in the Family" is the tenth book from Charlaine Harris about the Louisiana barmaid and her vampire filled life. For those who don't know, this is the series that HBO's TrueBlood is loosley based on. Well, I bought it around 10am and managed to finish it by 10pm. Is this the best book in the series? Not by far. In fact, it may be my least favorite book to date, but that being said, I still enjoyed the story.

I love Sookie. I love the world Harris has created and shared with us. I love the complex characters who are so multidimensional and flawed and interesting. So, even when a book seems to fall short or not strike a major note with me, I still enjoy the time I get to spend in Sookie's world.

This isn't a stand alone story. You have to start with the first book and read them all. Too many plot lines, too many characters, too many big story arc developments happen along the way to not begin and the beginning.

I will reread "Dead in the Family," maybe before the weekend is out. I tend to zip through these books so quickly that I often don't read slowly enough to enjoy every scene. I may have more comments after a second read.