Thanks to my great friends at Delta Air Lines I was able to hop over to Atlanta for the day on Friday to spend a few hours with kev before he headed back to Iraq after R & R. Although it was a 21 hour day and I'm beginning to feel old I'd do it over again without a second thought.
Up at 0400 for an 0720 flight. When I got to the airport the flight scheduled to leave at 0600 was delayed until 0730. kev and I don't have a good track record for flights working out when I'm flying on these space available flights. But...GOOD NEWS! Seats available on the 0600 delayed flight and one had my name on it. Boo Yah
Made it to ATL about 4 hours before kev so I started Concourse Cruising. Something I've done for years since I'm through the ATL airport so frequently. Concourse Cruising? Walking up and down the concourses saying "thank you" to all of the men and women in uniform who are passing through for R&R. One of my favorite things to do aside from getting to say "thank you" is to offer my cell phone for them to make a call home. Whether they are just landing for R&R or on their way back to theater, most don't have a phone to make that "I'm here" or one last "I love you" call. So I hand over the phone and take a few steps away but always seem to hear the "Mom, I'm in Atlanta" followed by (in a much higher pitch) "you and dad coming to pick me up? OK. I'll see you soon!" And then there is the SMILE when they come to hand the phone back. Ahhhhhhhhhh I am so very fortunate.
kev's plane landed on time but I think he must have been in the very last row. Golly it was good to see him walk off of that plane. Those of you who know me well will be disappointed to read (as kev was just as surprised) that I did not give him my "normal" kev hug. Too many people around. I know, what's up with that? - me being shy? But I just couldn't. Sorry GN. He was, however, looking smokin' hot!
I know I'm probably boring the heck out of all of you by now but there's a reason for it. GN's waiting to see photos and I'm attempting to stall her from that (although she's probably scrolling down by now).
Since kev couldn't drink (Damn General Order #1) we hit our second best option - Starbucks
How's that shot GN? Oh yeah!
Then kev indulged me with this pose. Thanks kev.
Well anyway we just hung out all afternoon. We didn't do anything exciting but getting to spend time with my dear friend kev is enough any day. We considered filming a freefly to post on Blackfive but kev wasn't really "feeling it." Sorry JihadGene - we did talk about you though. Oh, and JG - there were no sheep present in Atlanta. SWEAR.
When they called boarding for his rank I just hated it. Then I realized about a billion people got in line to board and for a few minutes I held out hope that they wouldn't have enough seats. (Hey, a girl can dream - the line went forever).
And a limo can only hold so many people. Right?
It was inevitable. kev had to board. One. Ok, two. Well, maybe three last hugs and off he went.
But he'll be home soon and we'll have that car bomb or several because....it's tradition!
Love you kev. Be safe!
I took the train over to B Concourse and hopped a ride back to Memphis. Home around midnight. Yeah, long day but so worth it.
From the San Francisco Chronicle
Hero teacher didn't have time to think
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
In the moments after a young man detonated two pipe bombs at Hillsdale High School in San Mateo, English language development teacher Kennet Santana didn't have time to think about what he should do.
As students crouched for cover in their classrooms, Santana, 34, moved toward the explosions shortly after 8 a.m. Monday. In the hallway outside the library, he saw a boy wearing a tactical vest with what turned out to be eight other pipe bombs.
Santana thought at first the youth was a student trying to run from whatever was happening. But when he noticed a pipe bomb sticking out of one of the boy's pockets, he realized that the youth was a threat - and that he had to stop him.
Without hesitation, Santana tackled the boy in a bear hug, pinned his arms to his sides, flipped him to the ground and stayed on top of him while yelling at other teachers to call for help.
Struggling to control his emotions at a news conference Tuesday, Santana brushed off any suggestions that he had acted valiantly in stopping the suspect, a 17-year-old former Hillsdale student who police say was also armed with a chain saw in a violin case and a sword with a 2-foot blade.
"There's one hero in my family, and he's in Iraq right now," Santana said, referring to his brother, who is in the military.
Santana had just arrived at school and was heading for the office when the first explosion happened. The smoke from the pipe bomb set off the school's fire alarm.
He said he had been walking away from the havoc at first. The "problem," as he described the suspect, "came to me."
Santana credited others with helping to subdue the boy, including Principal Jeff Gilbert and counselor Ed Canda. The men held the teenager down until police arrived.
Gilbert called Santana, who has taught at Hillsdale since 2007, a "genuinely humble individual" and a "remarkable educator, a person who any number of our students look up to and connect with."
For his part, Canda, a former Hillsdale student, said, "I can't say I was completely brave throughout the process, but I've never been more relieved to see the police arrive."
Authorities credited the faculty members with helping avert what could have been a disaster. They said the boy, whose name has not been released because of his age, nursed a grudge against some teachers and students from his time at Hillsdale, and had planned to detonate the 10 pipe bombs before attacking survivors with the chain saw and sword.
The 1,270-student school was closed Tuesday while officials cleaned up the campus. Classes are scheduled to resume today.
E-mail the writers at hlee@sfchronicle.com and jkoopman@sfchronicle.com.
I can remember vividly as early as five years of age watching Bob Hope's USO shows from Vietnam and other places around the globe. Even then I knew there was something special about Mr Hope and his band of merry makers. This morning I received an email with the folloiwng link. It's a ten minute video with clips of Mr. Hope and his cast performing as well as interviews with Soldiers featured in some of his shows. Grab some kleenex and spend ten minutes.
As I was watching the video I remembered reading a few USO related stories recently. Like this one about a Soldier who asked Toby Keith to mail a birthday present to the Soldier's mom when Toby returned to the states from a recent USO tour. The story doesn't say that Toby was in Afghanistan on that tour but the timing would confirm that. No surprise that a Soldier in Afghanistan would ask to have a package mailed on their behalf. There are still many places in Afghanistan where Soldiers have mailed dropped via helicopter to them. They are fortunate to be able to send a letter OUT and often are not able to send any packages OUT. Anyway...read the story about how Toby handled the situation. Aside from the fact that he's toured often and extensively with the USO, he's a stand up guy when it comes to the troops. Bob Hope would be proud.
Then I remembered reading this article about the 2009 USO Volunteers of the Year. Four incredible individuals were selected. THREE OF THEM ARE ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY PERSONNEL. WOW!
I could never write a post about the USO without mentioning my friends at the DFW airport USO. Such an amazing group of people who are there every single day VOLUNTEERING their time; thousands of volunteer hours.
As I began thinking about writing this post I thought of so many great Americans who support our troops. It would be impossible to mention all of the ones I know and there are tens of thousands of others doing the same thing. People of weath, famous people, people who have little monetary means but either write letters or volunteer their time.
I remembered one day when I was sitting on the patio at one of the Fisher Houses at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC with a couple of Wounded Warriors. There were other Wounded Warriors and family members sitting around and coming and going, too. It was a beautiful day in February; not too cold to be outside. Just sitting there chatting when a group of men walked up. Most were fire fighters from NYC who had come to cook hamburgers for the Wounded and their families then to sponsor a Super Bowl Party at the Mologne House later that night. The firemen all came over to say hello, shake hands, slap the backs of the Wounded and offer words of support and encouragement.
As we were talking with the fire fighters and they were offering soft drinks, etc. I noticed a man slip through them. He sat down at our table and began to ask the guys how they were; did they need anything; what's going on? I marveled at how this man was with the Wounded. The compassion in his voice and eyes made me a bit teary eyed. The conversation was easy between them. I knew that one of the Wounded Soldiers had no idea who this man was so I leaned across the table to shake hands and said, "Hello Mr. Voight. My name is Leta. Thank you for all you do for our troops. This is"...and I introduced the Soldier to my right. He chatted for about an hour before having to leave to go to the Mologne House. He left just as quietly as he came. No fanfare. No entourage. He does what he does FOR the troops. When he left the Soldier I had introduced him to turned to those of us who knew who he was and said, "That was Jon Voight?" We confirmed. He was amazed at how a "famous" person had been so down to earth and had spent so much time talking with them about their lives.
I don't know Jon Voight but I do know about all he quietly does for our troops just like so many other people of note do. Bob Hope never got paid for his time on the USO tours. Neither does Toby Keith. Nor does Jon Voight get paid for his time. And to think about the active duty personnel who volunteer their time to help man USOs around the world warms my heart.
So as I sat down to write this post I thought of the legions who do nothing. That angers me to no end. It's not about large amounts of money. It's about doing SOMETHING - ANYTHING. Get off the couch people. Give up a round of golf; an hour of TV or video games; a manicure. We owe it to the men and women of our Armed Forces to support them. PERIOD!
If you need help getting started email me. tankerbabelc@gmail.com
I tip my hat to the MaryAnns, SKs, Bobs, Lynns, Cheryls, Karens, Hopes, Jons Tobys, the Freepers who have stood guard at the entrance to WRAMC every Friday for over three years to show support of the Wounded in the face of those who don't and to all of those who just "get it" and GET IT DONE.
Disabled Veteran Needs Your Support to Participate in “Ride2Recovery” in Memory and Honor of Fallen and Wounded Paratroopers.
Michael Simmons served in the Army for 9 ½ years. The majority of his time in service was as an Airborne Infantryman until a mishap in a training jump October 31st 1998 in Tunisia (North Africa). Michael’s chute malfunctioned in a “cigarette roll” which occurs when a parachute deploys fully from the bag but fails to open. The parachute then appears as a vertical column of cloth (in the general shape of a cigarette), providing the jumper with very little drag. Michael miraculously survived the landing but sustained severe injuries to his legs, knees and ankles.
He was officially discharged from the Army in May 2003. Michael considers himself fortunate. He received excellent health care and rehabilitation. As a part of his rehabilitation Michael developed a passion for bike riding. He rides 100-150 miles a week and participates annually in rides to raise money to support families of Police Officers who have given their lives in service to their communities.
Michael’s younger brother, Stephan, recently completed a 15 month deployment with the 173re ABCT, 2-503 BN in northeastern Afghanistan (OEF VIII). Many of Stephan’s fellow Soldiers were wounded in action and continue to recover at various military hospitals and Warrior Transition Units around the nation. Michael met many of his brother’s fellow Wounded Warriors and decided he wanted to do something to honor them and in memory of those who gave their lives.
In an email to me Michael wrote, “I now have the opportunity to ride for Wounded Warriors and want to ride and dedicate my time to the men (brothers of the 173rd Airborne that served with Stephen) who gave the ultimate sacrifice to their country whether it was their physical freedom or their life. I want them to know their efforts aren't forgotten.”
You can learn more about Ride2Recovery at this link. Ride2Recovery is a 501c3 organization produced by the Fitness Challenge Foundation in cooperation with the military and VA Volunteer Service Office to benefit mental and physical rehabilitation programs that feature cycling as the core activity.
Please join me in supporting Michael for this ride. He must raise a minimum of $3000.00 in order to participate in the ride.
To make a secure on-line donation go to Ride2Recovery's Home Page
On the Home Page scroll down and click on “Sponsor a Rider”
Rider’s First Name = Michael
Rider’s Last Name = Simmons
Click on “Click Here To Continue” button and either select a preset amount for your donation or enter the amount you wish to donate. Then click on “Donate” and continue through the screens. If you prefer to pay by check the information appears on the screen just after you click on “Click Here to Continue”. Remember to write Michael Simmons on the memo line of the check so that he gets credit for your donation.
Bloggers please repost this to help get the word out.
Michael can be reached via email at bike4me@hotmail.com.
Regards,
Congratulations Mike and Christina
Mike and Christina are on their honeymoon and we're at the after party. More pics and story next week.
Shakey D and Oscar saying "And now the Bride and Groom"
Denton in classic Denton form.
We wish you much love and happiness.
Dear Boston Maggie,
I need your help. Uncle Jimbo was recently a house guest. It's really wasn't as bad as I'd thought it might have been.
He completed two minor "repairs" on the house. A HUGE help.
He did his own laundry
He cooked several delicious dinners. That was a huge plus on days when I got home from work late.
He was respectful of my Calphalon cook wear. I'd have hurt him tremendously if he'd damaged that!
He provided necessary amounts of entertainment.
He unloaded and loaded the dishwasher many times
He ran several helpful errands such as getting the oil changed in a vehicle, grocery shopping, etc.
HOWEVER
He couldn't/wouldn't shut a cupboard door or close a kitchen drawer for shit. I cannot tell you how many times I'd go into the kitchen to find one drawer and two cupboard doors open or three cupboard doors or two drawers. When I'd ask him to PLEASE shut/close them he'd just laugh.
He left one full bag and one partial bag of charcoal outside and the rains we had caused the bags to weaken. I didn't think about the rains. So when I picked the bags up to put them away the charcoal went tumbling out the bottom - to the sound of much profanity. Damn him!
When he pulled the string on the light in my outside storage shed the string broke off. He left without bothering to fix it or tell me it was broken. So out I trudged one night with arms laden with food for the freezer; reached for the cord; reached for the cord; reached - splat....pans of lasagna all over the floor. DAMN him. I had to get a flashlight to discover there was no string and then clean the mess up.
But the straw that broke the camel's back and instigated this letter to you occurred today. Long after he left. I reached for the plastic wrap and darn if he didn't screw it up to where it's all stuck to itself and is easier to throw away and buy a new one than try to restart the one I have. How can an adult be so insensitive?
So, Boston Maggie, my questions to you are:
1) Should I find a way to "let this go" or should I make him suffer for his indiscretions?
2) Should I ever allow him to be a house guest again?
Thank you for your advice.
Mad in Memphis
Dear Boston Maggie,
I need your help. Uncle Jimbo was recently a houseguest. It's really wasn't as bad as I'd thought it might have been.
He completed two minor "repairs" on the house. A HUGE help.
He did his own laundry
He cooked several delicous dinners. That was a huge plus on days when I got home from work late.
He was respectful of my Calphalon cookwear. I'd have hurt him tremendously if he'd damaged that!
He provided necessary amounts of entertainment.
He unloaded and loaded the dishwasher many times
He ran several helpful errands such as getting the oil changed in a vehicle, grocery shopping, etc.
HOWEVER
He couldn't/wouldn't shut a cupboard door or close a kitchen drawer for shit. I cannot tell you how many times I'd go into the kitchen to find one drawer and two cupboard doors open or three cupboard doors or two drawers. When I'd ask him to PLEASE shut/close them he'd just laugh.
He left one full bag and one partial bag of charcoal outside and the rains we had caused the bags to weaken. I didn't think about the rains. So when I picked the bags up to put them away the charcoal went tumbling out the bottom - to the sound of much profanity. Damn him!
When he pulled the string on the light in my outside storage shed the string broke off. He left without bothering to fix it or tell me. So out I trudged one night with arms laden with food for the freezer; reached for the cord; reached for the cord; reached - splat....pans of lasagna all over the floor. DAMN him. I had to get a flashlight to discover there was no string.
But the straw that broke the camel's back and instigated this letter to you occurred today. Long after he left. I reached for the plastic wrap and damn if he didn't screw it up to where it's all stuck to itself and is easier to throw away and buy a new one than try to restart the one I have. You know what I mean.
No matter how long it has been there are days when the emotions take over. Today has been one of those days.
Two years ago today I received the following email from SFC Matthew Blaskowski.
Leta,
Sorry I have not been able to send you a thank you. I came to a base with internet for a few days and then back out to the firebase I will go. Thank you so much for all of the packages. The soldiers and I appreciate everything greatly. Everything you send is perfect nothing goes to waist. I will try and write once a month and give you an update on our conditions here. We recently got a generator out there so we have power for a few hours everyday. We get mail about twice a month by air. It's like christmas every time and most of the packages by far are from you. The name of my platoon's base is called Firebase Vegas. We are slowly but surely making it better. I have alot of pictures of the soldier's and "Vegas" that I will try and send to you next time I get to the internet. Thank you again for all of your packages. Also the people that are in contact with you who also send us things. The soldier's and I appreciate everything you do for us and we try to write a letter at least everytime we get mail, but we only get to send out mail when someone carries all the letters out to mail them and that does not happen very often. thanks again for all of your support.
Matt Blaskowski
It would be the last email I ever got from Matt. On 24 Sept 2007 I awoke to this email in my inbox:
Leta,
It is with a heavy heart that I must inform you that our friend, Matt Blaskowski was killed yesterday during an attack on Firebase Vegas. I truly wish I could have called you with this news, but as you know, communication here is difficult at best.
XXXXXXXXXX
There are so many significant days when I miss Matt more than ever and can't seem to make the tears diminish; his birthday, the anniversaries of the day he was shot, the day he came home, the day he was buried, his birthday. Today has been one of those tear filled days. I am so fortunate to have had Matt Blaskowski in my life - albeit for such a short time. I am equally as fortunate that his mom, dad and brother have all welcomed me into their family. I miss you like hell Matt. I miss you like hell.
I received this in an email today. I've seen it before but wanted to share it here for the few who stop by to read. (And I thank you for doing so). I'm not posting this because of how I feel about the current wars we are in. That's a discussion for another time. I'm posting this because I am more than weary of today's American citizens who don't seem to have the courage or time or desire to stand up for those who have (and who are) served our nation. It's just pitiful. Plain pitiful.
At a time when our president and other politicians tend to apologize for our country`s prior actions, here`s a refresher on how some of our former patriots handled negative comments about our country.
JFK'S Secretary of State, Dean Rusk, was in France in the early 60's when DeGaule decided to pull out of NATO. DeGaule said he wanted all US military out of France as soon as possible.
Rusk responded "does that include those who are buried here?
DeGuale did not respond.
You could have heard a pin drop
When in England , at a fairly large conference, Colin Powell was asked by the Archbishop of Canterbury if our plans for Iraq were just an example of empire building by George Bush.
He answered by saying, 'Over the years, the United States has sent many of its fine young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom beyond our borders. The only amount of land we have ever asked for in return is enough to bury those that did not return.'
You could have heard a pin drop.
There was a conference in France where a number of international engineers were taking part, including French and American. During a break, one of the French engineers came back into the room saying 'Have you heard the latest dumb stunt Bush has done? He has sent an aircraft carrier to Indonesia to help the tsunami victims. What does he intended to do, bomb them?'
A Boeing engineer stood up and replied quietly: 'Our carriers have three hospitals on board that can treat several hundred people; they are nuclear powered and can supply emergency electrical power to shore facilities; they have three cafeterias with the capacity to feed 3,000 people three meals a day, they can produce several thousand gallons of fresh water from sea water each day, and they carry half a dozen helicopters for use in transporting victims and injured to and from their flight deck. We have eleven such ships; how many does France have?'
You could have heard a pin drop.
A U.S. Navy Admiral was attending a naval conference that included Admirals from the U.S. , English, Canadian, Australian and French Navies. At a cocktail reception, he found himself standing with a large group of Officers that included personnel from most of those countries. Everyone was chatting away in English as they sipped their drinks but a French admiral suddenly complained that, whereas Europeans learn many languages, Americans learn only English. He then asked, 'Why is it that we always have to speak English in these conferences rather than speaking French?'
Without hesitating, the American Admiral replied, 'Maybe it's because the Brit's, Canadians, Aussie's and Americans arranged it so you wouldn't have to speak German.'
You could have heard a pin drop.
Robert Whiting, an elderly gentleman of 83, arrived in Paris by plane. At French Customs, he took a few minutes to locate his passport in his carry on.
"You have been to France before, monsieur?" the customs officer asked sarcastically.
Mr. Whiting admitted that he had been to France previously.
"Then you should know enough to have your passport ready."
The American said, 'The last time I was here, I didn't have to show it."
"Impossible. Americans always have to show your passports on arrival in France !"
The American senior gave the Frenchman a long hard look. Then he quietly explained, ''Well, when I came ashore at Omaha Beach on D-Day in 1944 to help liberate this country, I couldn't find a single Frenchmen to show a passport to."
You could have heard a pin drop
When I turned on the computer this morning everywhere I read on blogs, news feeds and Facebook I saw where the remains of Navy Capt. Michael Speicher had been found and positively identified. A bittersweet day for his family and friends. I am so grateful that our military personnel always do what it takes to bring home those Missing in Action.
Navy Capt. Michael "Scott" Speicher was shot down over western Iraq on 17 January 1991 during the first Gulf War.
Rest in Peace Capt Speicher. I am grateful for your service and sacrifice on behalf of this nation. May your family find comfort in knowing that you are finally home.
