Happy 21 you gorgeous gal!

Happy Happy Birthday! You are growing up to be such an amazing woman. I'm so blessed to have you as my niece! (being your favorite aunt is too bad either) I love you and I hope you have the most wonderful birthday ever!

Welcome Back!

Welcome home Casey and Woody! 6 months at sea! I want you to know that I am very proud to know what amazing men (and sailors) you both are! I am glad you're home safe and back with your families!

Gosh Darn Dogs

SO..Today I made a roasted chicken for dinner. Macen LOVES chicken, so I seasoned, I basted, I roasted the best chicken ever! It made the whole house smell so good...Our mouths were watering..(think Christmas Story: Ralphie's Dad and the turkey) It was PERFECT! I cooked it to the perfect temperature..I put it on the counter..I let it cool..I sliced it perfectly..I gave some to Macen, I gave some to myself. I dreamt of chicken sandwiches with fresh soft white bread..oh life was going to be perfect tomorrow....then..the DOGS!!!! Oh, how I curse the day Scout got big enough to see what was on the counter! He picked the plate of carved chicken off the counter and bolted outside....Bear quickly followed...by the time I got to them..the chicken was in dog bellies! The plate still glistened with the chicken juices..There will be no sandwiches tomorrow..no need to make fresh white bread...

A soldier in Iraq's view of Michael Jackson

note: my friend Michele sent me this..it was so good I had to blog it!

THIS WAS WRITTEN BY A SOLDIER IN IRAQ

I was just watching the news, and I caught part of a report on Michael Jackson. As we all know, Jackson died the other day. He was an entertainer who performed for decades. He made millions and millions, and he did a lot of things that made him a villain to many people. I understand that his death would affect a lot of people, and I respect those people who mourn his death, but that isn't the point of my rant.

Why is it that when ONE man dies, the whole of America loss their minds with grief. When a man dies who's only contribution to the country was to ENTERTAIN people, the American people find the need to flock to a memorial in Hollywood, and even Congress sees the need to hold a "moment of silence" for his passing?

Am I missing something here? ONE man dies, and all of a sudden he's a freaking martyr because he entertained us for a few decades? What about all those SOLDIERS who have died to give us freedom? All those Soldiers who, knowing that they would be asked to fight in a war, still raised their hands and swore to defend the Constitution and the United States of America.

Where is their moment of silence? Where are the people flocking to their graves or memorials and mourning over them because they made the ultimate sacrifice? Why is it when a Soldier dies, there are more people saying "good riddance," and "thank God for IED's?" When did this country become so callous, so uncaring about the sacrifice of GOOD MEN and WOMEN, that they can arbitrarily blow off their deaths, and instead, throw a huge mourning for a "Pop Icon?"

I think that if they are going to hold a moment of silence IN CONGRESS for Jackson, they need to hold a moment of silence for every service member killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

They need to PUBLICLY recognize every life that has been lost so that the American people can live their callous little lives in the luxury and freedom that WE, those that are living and those that have gone on, have provided for them.

But, wait, that would take too much time, because there have been so many willing to make that sacrifice. After all, we will never make millions of dollars. We will never star in movies, or write hit songs that the world will listen too. We only shed our blood, sweat and tears so that people can enjoy what they have.

Sorry if I have offended, but I needed to say it.

Remember these five words the next time you think of someone who is serving in the military:

"So that others may live..."