Let The Countdown Begin!

[Rani Zemirah]

Wow... harsh.  I'm sorry you're having such a rough day... 

[Laird Fraser of Lovatt]

Just another day in a continuing existence.  


If you should go skating
On the thin ice of modern life
Dragging behind you the silent reproach
Of a million tear-stained eyes
Don't be surprised when a crack in the ice
Appears under your feet.
You slip out of your depth and out of your mind
With your fear flowing out behind you
As you claw the thin ice.

[Rani Zemirah]

In a Pink Floyd mood, eh?  That IS dark... 


Well, maybe a little Loki planning can help a little...  

Actually... Apple Strudel sounds wonderful to me... but so does Boston Cream Pie.    Or Cinnamon Roll (brown sugar & cinnamon)... or maybe... Tiramisu...  (where's the drooling smiley when you need it?)

[Laird Fraser of Lovatt]

*side note*

I was hauling arse down US 290, just a few minutes ago, when i was passed by a crotch rocket doing about 90.  I had to shake my head because there was a passenger on back... young girl, 18-20... (at least her rear end looked about that age, hanging out of her shorts like it was.  ).  Very foolish rider to speed like that with someone wrapped around you.  I jump at my exit and manage to pull pass biker boy... i have my music up but i notice movement in my side mirrior.  I had just laid my hand on my .45 when i feel a tapping on my other arm.  I look up to see the biker next to me, raising his faceshield, so i turn down the Metallica i had blasting... He yelled at me, much to my surprise, "THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE! I'M A MARINE... THANK YOU!" pointing towards the stickers on my back window, and stuck out his hand.  I had to shake this man's hand and thank him back for what he was doing.  The light turned green and we both rolled on. 


It gives me hope for todays youth and maybe the future of this country.  If we can instill the same pride, honor and respect into the younger generations, America just might survive.  If we can't find what it means to be an American Citizen again and be proud of it, this nation will crumble and become a footnote in history.



*end of rant*

[Rani Zemirah]

Well, that's at least one positive note in a difficult day.  

That, and the fact that you seem to be off work now...  


First... the kid needs his @$$ kicked for letting some idiotic little girl ride on the back of his bike in SHORTS!!!  It's not like he doesn't KNOW what would happen to her if he laid that bike down, particularly on the freakin' HIGHWAY!!!  I bet HIS legs were covered... GRRRRR!!!


Next:
I agree that the younger generations need to be taught more about pride, honor and respect... and I think that needs to go even deeper than just the national level.  Pride in oneself and one's personal accomplishments, to instill a strong work ethic, is crucial from childhood... honor and integrity, with the understanding that a person's word, and how they keep it, is the basis for how they are perceived by those around them... and respect, not only for those who behave honorably toward them, but for themselves, as well, so that the choices they make are the ones that will help them to become strong and independent, and capable of keeping this country from sliding into the apathy and decadence that's begun rotting it from the inside.  Unfortunately, a great many of the people who are raising kids right now are people who have been raised without these lessons in their own lives, so they have no examples to draw on...

... except for maybe the occasional encounter with a decorated veteran who has sacrificed to help keep them safe in their homes...
... or a brief chat with a mom who works three different jobs to make sure her kids are fed, clothed and warm...
... or someone who makes them a promise, and does whatever it takes to keep it...

Just a very few of the things that kids can learn from... and the more positive examples the have, the better they learn the lessons.  I just hope the people who are shaping the leaders of tomorrow, today, remember to include the lessons their kids need in order to become the best leaders they are capable of being... because they WILL lead, eventually, whether they've been properly prepared or not...


I'm glad someone took the time to thank you for your service today, Fraser... and I wish it would happen far more often than it does, for all of our veterans.  And btw... thanks from me, as well.  

[haleyileaha]

That is really great that he thanked you like that and good that your no longer at work. Lol 

[Breandan]

I get weirded out when people thank me for my service, especially when they find out about my recent "vacation" to Iraq. The most recent combat zones I have been in have been as a contractor, not a soldier, and frankly we get paid VERY well to take bullets for our clients, whereas in the Army we all got paid crap regardless of what we were doing. Feels odd to get thanked for that.

[haleyileaha]

Breandon your signature is hilarious.

[Rani Zemirah]

Breandan, most likely you're not being "thanked" for the contract work, you know...  You're being thanked for putting your life on the line, and accepting the crappy pay and conditions, because you believed enough in an ideal, and had enough courage, to get the job done even though you were receiving next to nothing of a material nature that could possibly make that kind of sacrifice worth it. 

You're being thanked for being the shield that stood between someone's freedom... and chaos... and even when people don't have the words to convey that concept, they feel it, in the deepest parts of themselves... and THAT is what they are compelled to thank you for.   All of you who have stood as that shield, throughout time... 

I wish more people felt compelled to express that gratitude, without having to be reminded by the advent of a national holiday set aside for the purpose...

[Breandan]

Breandon your signature is hilarious.

hehehe, it's true, though, he's the last holdout amongst us to get married. He's a gamer, rennie, general sci-fi geek, has held down a steady job for 20 years (he started working when he was 16), and whatnot, but doesn't think there's a woman out there who would put up with his hobbies and NOT be... well, let's just say he's dated some crazies...

so, I WILL marry him off! Even if it takes a man-dowry

[Breandan]

Breandan, most likely you're not being "thanked" for the contract work, you know...  You're being thanked for putting your life on the line

That's the thing, though- my unit got assigned to Kosovo, I've been in fifty times more firefights as an operator in the private sector than I EVER did as a soldier. Hell, I got shot at more in Houston than I did in the Army Still, I love my work. I'm a tactical medic, either for Rapid Response or PSD teams, so while my first duty is as an operator, my second is as a medic. So, I patch up more holes than I make, which balances things out at the end of the day I guess *shrugs*

[Scotty Hunter]

He's a gamer, rennie, general sci-fi geek

Hmmm... is he cute?

[haleyileaha]

Breandon your signature is hilarious.

hehehe, it's true, though, he's the last holdout amongst us to get married. He's a gamer, rennie, general sci-fi geek, has held down a steady job for 20 years (he started working when he was 16), and whatnot, but doesn't think there's a woman out there who would put up with his hobbies and NOT be... well, let's just say he's dated some crazies...

so, I WILL marry him off! Even if it takes a man-dowry

Haha a man-dowry that's funny. Well there are definitely non-crazy women in existence who find those qualities positive rather than negative.

[Rani Zemirah]

Breandan, most likely you're not being "thanked" for the contract work, you know...  You're being thanked for putting your life on the line

That's the thing, though- my unit got assigned to Kosovo, I've been in fifty times more firefights as an operator in the private sector than I EVER did as a soldier. Hell, I got shot at more in Houston than I did in the Army Still, I love my work. I'm a tactical medic, either for Rapid Response or PSD teams, so while my first duty is as an operator, my second is as a medic. So, I patch up more holes than I make, which balances things out at the end of the day I guess *shrugs*

Does it really matter, though, since a soldier doesn't get to choose where he goes, and it's not like you knew you wouldn't be in an active war zone when you signed the line...  You stood up, and that's what counts...  So just accept the thanks, already, and get over it!     


And give that poor brother of yours a rest!  At least until you put him back on parade during AHE, anyway...    LOL 

[crashbot]

I feel wierd about it too. Had an older woman in the gorcery store comment on my hat. "so young to be a veteran, thank you for all you did."  I usually do not know what to say. I am 37, not that young really. Was only in the Army for 12 years.

Anyway, this was an interesting weekend. I am off on Friday and was in the kitchen abut 7:30am making coffee. I hear this "BOOM BOOM BOOM" of someone pounding on my front door with a purpose. So, I stick my XD in the back of my waist and answer the door.

Apparently the father of some 8-9th grade age kid, who I had asked to stop cutting through my yard in between the houses, because it is killing my grass, felt he wanted to give me the whatfor for having the audacity to tell daddies little darling to stay off my property.  I answered the door in a jungle boots, a kilt, an old 82nd ABN shirt, many a tattoo glowing in the sun and a nice ivory tusk in my nose. Needless to say his attitude changed quicker than his heart skipped.

Also, Frightmare Weekend was neat. I got see Malcolm McDowell.