Are They Serious?

I have a question to throw out there for the weekend. And it is WEIRD! I swear, two Viet Nam vets, one Army and one Navy, said that they wore told to pour Aqua Velva on their manly bits after any R&R leave if they had sampled any of the local pleasures. If it burned, they had to pursue the matter through medical means.

Is this bullshit or not? I can't imagine it NOT burning no matter what you've been doing.

Did You Know?

LL has a great post about the history of the Star Spangled Banner and all four verses.

Take the time to read it through; it is SO beautiful. But for the love of God, don't try to sing it in your head. I just lost a month's worth of brain cells.

No, Really

Conversation while compiling the guest list for the VF*n*W Military Ball this year:

Wilma: You don't have any of the Mens Auxiliary members yet.
RM: I know. I'm afraid to send an invitation to Dicky Rhoades.
Wilma: Why?
RM: I'm afraid he'll have a better gown than me.
Wilma: He might. His purses are better than mine.

Language Alert

While perusing OPFOR this morning, I found this link to an opinion piece by another military mom, Cathy Floyd. She states very nicely some of the concerns we have about future deployments:

Meanwhile, those who have sent them to war have turned on them. That includes our politicians and many of the American public who are more wrapped up in and knowledgeable about the Anna Nicole saga than they are about the history of this great nation and the threats we now face.
Two hundred and eighteen gutless fat cats in Congress have passed a bill telling the world that we are quitting in less than 18 months.

Now, let me get this straight: We're going to put our men and women in danger every minute for 17 months but we have no objective other than to leave?

Why not leave now if we are just throwing in the towel?

Why not indeed?

If, despite the fact you bastards gave Gen. Petraeus this big thumbs up, you are completely convinced there can be no victory in the Long War, why the hell are you waiting? Don't have the courage of your convictions?

These assholes in Congress remind of a character you see so often on TV- pants wetting pussies holding a pistol in their shaking hands, threatening to shoot, but never having the balls to do it.

"I s-s-s-swear, I-I-I'll pull the t-t-t-trigger!"

Great. Isn't enough that our kids are facing Islamifascists that DEFINITELY know how to pull the trigger without Congress yelling, "Look at me! Look at me!"? What's the message here?

"We don't want anymore soldiers killed in the name of Iraqi Freedom, but in the meantime while we posture and tell everyone how much we support the troops, we're going to let you hang in the wind for seventeen months, ill-supplied and ill-trained, while Al Qaeda and the rest of the nutjobs take potshots all they want?"

For the love of God, I think this country (at least half, anyway) has lost its collective mind.

Fuck you people. You keep on with your little game while some of us will sit home and wonder how to slip in bullets with the beef jerky in our next care package, or wonder how we can privately fund our public Army. Fucking bastards, you make me sick!

***I always try to link, but Blogger is being almost as big a whore as Nancy Pelosi this morning***

Care Package Time

The VF*n*W Auxiliary is getting ready to ship some boxes overseas in the next week or two, and we have a HUGE problem that I hope my dear readers (both of you) can help with.

We have a TON of stuff to ship out, but very few names. In fact, I have only two names right now from our area, and it seems a shame to have all these obscene amenities sitting around.

If you know of anyone who could use a care package, leave me a note in the comments. Please do NOT leave an address, I'll contact you for that.

Thanks!!

One At A Time

Last night on the way home, I stopped for a beer with the girlfriends. It was Taco Tuesday at the local VFW, and since I could rate yesterday in the Top 10 Sucky Days at work, I decided Old Sarge could suffer with tacos or go hungry, I wasn’t cooking. So I’m waiting for my take-out, chatting with the girls, not really noticing that a young man has walked in and is sitting a barstool away from me. His hat is pulled way down, so I can’t see his face. Bev the Bartender leans over to me and says that he said he is from my VFW post. I look over. I know this young man; he is a Navy OIF vet who is out of the service now.

RM: Brian, remember me?
Brian: I know you from Rochelle, don’t I? I’m sorry, I forgot your name.
RM: Raging Mom, I know your dad and stepmom. Hey, let me buy you a beer.
Brian: Thanks! This is my first time in here, thought I’d try it.
RM: Well, it’s not as fun as our Post, but a nice port in the storm. They have tacos tonight, you should try some.

I am noticing that he looks tired, and has probably had a few beers elsewhere. But his hat is tipped back a little now, and I got a smile out of him.

Brian: I’m living over here now, but working at XXX over at Rochelle. Just moved to ***apartments from ###apartments.
RM: The one that burned down last month??
Brian: Yep.
RM: Hey, did you lose anything? Do you have what you need right now?
Brian: Oh yeah, I’m good, thanks though. Wilma asked me the same thing. She’s something.

(Wilma is the bar manager at our Post, and quite possibly a force of nature. One of my best friends.)

RM: Okay, but you know who to ask if you do. Do you ever hang out at The Well?
Brian: Yeah, I do as a matter of fact.
RM: I just wondered if you’ve met my boy, Eldest Son. He used to bartend there and still hangs out quite a bit.
Brian: ES?? The Marine? You’re his mom?? Yeah, he was the first guy who talked to me when I went in there.
(This doesn’t surprise me, but it makes me smile)

A basket of tacos now appears in front of him. I grab the ticket, then pay for my own, too.

Brian: Hey, you didn’t have to do that.
RM: I know, just eat up. Here’s my address and phone number. We’re just up the street from you a few blocks. It’s getting about the time of year that we sit out back, have a fire and have a few beers at night. You should stop by!
Brian: I will, thanks. I’m glad I ran into you tonight.
RM: Me too, sweetie, but I’m at the end of my leash, so I gotta run. See ya!
Brian: Thanks, Mom!

He’s been drifting a little since he got out, I can tell. I have seen him in Rochelle occasionally, having a few too many, living in a not-so-nice apartment, working a factory job. Making the transition that so many of the young vets are doing.

The Bible tells us we should be fishers of men. That’s how I feel we can help these young kids who are looking for…something…a little breathing room, acceptance, a place to fit in, maybe sanctuary. Maybe they are just waiting for us to reel them in home.

Value

We’ve all been there, a post, a rant, simmering just beneath the surface waiting to get out. I can’t count the times I have sat at this keyboard, ready to rage on the latest indignity suffered by our military- the lack of support, the twisted view of the media, the insane antics of the anti-war crowd. And just continued to stare because my voice has no bearing, changes nothing, merely whispers, “I think this is right”. Too much of what I wish I could write hits so close to home, I can barely acknowledge it to myself, much less an audience.

I have gone back to listening to talk radio on the morning drive to work. Don and Roma are on WLS-AM out of Chicago early mornings. This morning they were talking about the investigation into Pat Tillman’s death. Now, Don and Roma have a son that is a Marine officer. They know what I know, that breathless, heart-griping fear that comes from having your child in a war zone. They know that feeling of panic that sits on the back burner, barely controlled; the times of the day when it everything just…stops…you stare out into nothing…and then pick up where you left off, grabbing pieces of your life as you go along.

Roma nearly broke my heart, though, this morning. She was explaining that her son had told her, should anything ever happen…and now, just as she did on the air, my throat tightens and eyes fill with tears…he would be doing what he loved most. (Let me clarify here that their son is fine) And that was what made the gremlins come out.

Deployment is going to happen again; it is almost a certainty with Young SGT’s PCS to Texas. We have already had to have the “conversation” once prior to his first deployment. Trust me, there are few things more horrifying than having to discuss the unthinkable with your child. It is not in the natural scheme of things to do so. But there is one conversation we have not had; I am too much a coward to ask.

It is all fine and good that I can look at the Big Picture and think that trying to bring a better life to the Afghans and Iraqis is an admirable goal. That democracy and freedom can change the dynamic in the Middle East for the better. It is all fine and good that Young SGT is okay with deployment for professional and financial reasons. But there lies the place I can’t go. If the unthinkable did happen…is it okay? Is it worth it?

I can’t look myself in the mirror and give an honest answer.

Thanks for reading.

Tony Snow

This is sad news. Tony Snow has a recurrence of cancer.

I like Tony Snow. He was great on FOX News and has been a really down-to-earth presence in the White House. He seems like a genuinely decent man.

My prayers go out to him and his family.

The Beauty Pageant

I am all about new experiences. Really. How else can you know if you honestly are repulsed by anything unless you try it.

Hence, the beauty pageant.




Needless to say, The Heiress was gorgeous.



Definitely a ham.



Most Beautiful Eyes and Smile



She did not “win”, another little girl who had been in pageants before (as had her mother!) “won”. I found it very disturbing seeing these tiny little girls in gowns, make-up and grown up hair styles. The Heiress wore her Easter dress.

But seriously, there was a hell of a lot of Jon Benet going on there. One other thing I found strange, and I’ll just put it out there and see what anyone else thinks. Probably a third of the little kids were of mixed race and had young obese white moms. A third! Does that seem disproportionate? I just found it odd.

I’m hoping my former DIL doesn’t want to pursue this too much. But damn, The Heiress is adorable!

Productiveness Abounds

Yippee, I have gotten several monkeys off my back!

Our VF*n*W decided Monday evening that we ahould have an Easter egg hunt like we did last year. I was in Georgia at the time, and had no hand in the event whatsoever. Happily. Why that qualifies me to do it this year, I have no idea. Luckily, after checking with the local radio station for some free air time, I found out that they were also having an Easter egg hunt and were looking for help. (insert light bulb here) So, we have a partnership.

The 2nd Annual Military Ball is coming up in a little over a month. I have the invitations, RSVPs, mailing list, dinner menu, guest speaker and DJ lined up. Perhaps now some of the other committee members will get off their asses and participate.

AND.......(drum roll please)...my Voice of Democracy program is nearly complete!! All I have to do is confirm the deadlines with the National program, and that comes out the first week in April. I will make my April 9th turn-in date.

Jeez, doesn't it feel good to get shit done?

No Kidding!

I was having one of these “Where are they now?” moments today. Remember back in April of 2001 when a US EP-3 surveillance plane was hit by a Chinese fighter jet and had to make an emergency landing on Hainan Island? The pilot was LT Shane Osborn, and I remember the media putting a lot of attention on him as he was a good looking kid. (I mean that in a motherly way, of course!)



Well, he is all growed up and doing quite well for himself



as the Treasurer for the state of Nebraska.

And I still snicker at Wang Wei.

Yeah...

Still sick.

Hint hint, though. It's Old Sarge's birthday today, 51 years young.

It's Finally Friday!

God Lord, I have waited for this one all week. Five days of sitting in Bedrock while feeling sub-par has definitely sucked. BUT tonight the kids are coming over and we are having dinner and a movie. Normally I would cook one of my finer meals, but it just doesn't seem right with the movie fare offered. First up:




Because The Heiress demands it!

Next, we will view this:



Because Eldest Son hasn't seen it yet and I don't mind watching it again. Nothing tickles me more than getting a good belly laugh out of Eldest, I think he's gonna like it.

On to the cuisine:



Jalapeno poppers



Pizza rolls- for the kids



Mozzarella sticks



And, of course, fish sticks for me and Old Sarge.

Nine more hours and I am SO out of here.

Oh Dear

I am horrible at checking the answering machine. After I got home from a family birthday party last night, I went straight to bed and did not get the message that a dear friend of mine had died.

Pat was one of my best mentors when I was coming up in the VFW Ladies Auxiliary. I think the best word to describe her is "fierce". She gave Old Sarge one of the worst dressing-downs of his entire life when, at a county fair, the National Anthem was playing in the grandstands. Old Sarge and another VFW member were standing by the midway doing recruiting; Pat was in the concession stand. She came out of that kitchen so fast and knocked Old Sarge's hat off his head. "You stand at attention when you hear that!" she said, with a look that could have melted steel. OS tried to explain that since he wasn't in the grandstands-"I do NOT give a shit where you are, you can hear it, can't you?? You WILL salute!"- and promptly saluted.

But she was fierce in her love, too. She had her "grandkids"; I never knew if they were all actually hers by birth or strays she picked up along the way, since it was a very mixed litter. Pat didn't care, and those kids loved "Grandma". She was fierce with me, too. Our phone conversations never lasted less than an hour and a half, talking about everything under the sun. I would always have to wipe down the phone and dry my sweaty face afterwards- talking to Pat was a marathon.

The last time I saw her, we snuck out of an Auxiliary meeting and hid in the bathroom smoking because we were bored. Ladies would come and go, giving us reproachful looks, but we just laughed as we sat on the counter, and lit another.

So...today I will stop by the Post and pick up a casket flag and Bible. I will press my uniform for the ritual we Ladies do for our sisters, and try to say goodbye.

Near Death Blogging

A word to the wise....

Nyquil? Great to help you sleep, but gives you one hell of a horrid anti-histamine hangover. Apparently not to be used for shot games, either.

Mucinex? Hasn't helped at all that I can see. Unless it reroutes your internal slime from your lungs directly to your ass. And THAT is not helpful.

Alka Seltzer Plus Cold & Cough? I'm getting visits from The Fae. Better than absinthe. Except it's pink, not green.

I swear, I would be doing better if I could just stay at home with some Motrin and a bottle of blackberry brandy. Fucking fairies are freaking me out.

Ford Question

Yes, yes, I could take it to the dealer and find out, but it's not nearly as interesting.

I'm pretty happy with the new(er) Explorer, but for one little problem. The compass is not working correctly. The owners manual, for some reason, tells how to reset it if it was located above the rearview mirror, like on an F150 or my last Explorer. This one is located on the lower right-hand corner of the dashboard, with the odometer and temperature. There isn't an obvious reset button so that you can drive in circles and dial it in.

Any thoughts?

It Must Be Christmas!

One of my first morning news reads is Michelle Malkin. While she is away for a few days, she has some pretty impressive help filling in for her.

Wow! Four of my favorites!

If you're in a noticing kind of mood, I've slowly but surely been updating my blogroll. No mean feat when you are probably over-medicated and drowning in your own lungs, but hey, anything for the readers.

Required Reading

I found this blog courtesy of Chuck Z yesterday. Don't expect feeling a warm fuzzy when you read what he has to say, but it's important.

This whole Walter Reed mess makes me sick and frustrated. I'm mad at how it was reported, it infuriates me that the situation even exists, and if I hear one more fucking politician pontificate about how bad things are when, excuse ME but who funds WRAMC if not the Congress, well, my head is going to explode. It is ALL of our responsibility to make sure our military guys and gals are being given the best care possible.

Old Sarge just downloaded the entire service officer's manual to help vets navigate the VA system. We are reading it, all 190 pages, so that as these kids leave the DoD system for the VA, we will be able to help. We're also waiting for a response from the VAVS at Madison, WI to find out what we can do to help there. I would really like to hear that the esteemed Senators from Illinois are shutting their yaps for just a minute and doing the same.

For Young SGT

Could It Be????

I was over at Big Dick's and found this video.

Oh please please please say you will run, Sen. Thompson!!!

And Dick, I wasn't able to comment, but I did add you to my sidebar. I once said that reading Acidman was like masturbating- everyone does it, but no one talks about it in polite company. I hope you accept the same as a compliment!

In Other News

I have written exactly TWO paragraphs for the Voice of Democracy/Patrioitic Art program. This is huge, people. Think of it in terms of a crack in the dam. Creativity should be pouring forth at any minute.

Speaking of creativity, I have a neice and nephew who both made the local news. The local DAR Captain Joseph Ogle Chapter sponsored essay contests. Jacob won for the 5th grade, and Rachel won for the high school age essay. I am very proud of them. I think this advances them to the state competition, (Bou?) so keep your fingers crossed.

Eldest Son informed me yesterday that his ex has entered The Heiress in a beauty pageant. I am not sure how to feel about this. She is a most beautiful child, but...two years old? We'll have to see how this goes. We are going at any rate.

*cough*sniff*cough** I'm here

Marginally here, anyway. Coughing so hard that you worry about incontinence is not only TMI, but socially embarrassing.
We had a busy weekend. We finally found a solution to flooring for the Tinkerbell room in berber squares, so we MAY just actually finish a project this week! We also got a new flat screen monitor for the home computer, which I think Old Sarge is really going to like. I have to plug the Best Buy in DeKalb, they are always very helpful. I took the time to add to the DVD collection while we were there. I bought Lonesome Dove, one of my all time favorites to add to the library, Spongebob Squarepants Sea Stories because I can quote every line from Karate Island, AND...Larry the Cable Guy's Health Inspector.

Oh dear God, I laughed so hard I nearly choked! Yeah, I am a sucker for redneck humor and I'm proud of it. I think we'll have to have a family movie night soon.

Nyquil O.D.

Dear Gentle Readers,

Please forgive Raging Mom's absence from her blog.

The dog ate her.

Thank you,
Management

Somebody Gets It

Last month, I had a post up asking why in the world our service organizations weren't able to give assistance to wounded soldiers at Army or Navy hospitals like they can at VA hospitals.

Maybe someone was listening?

"The nation’s largest veterans organization today signed an agreement with Walter Reed Army Medical Center that will significantly alleviate the long backlogs in out-processing wounded soldiers.
In a Memorandum of Understanding signed today during The American Legion’s 47th annual Washington Conference, The American Legion will establish an office with paid staff at the facility to assist in the transition of wounded service members from the Dept. of Defense to the Dept. of Veterans Affairs."

Thank you, Andi, for providing that bit of information.

I am not terribly familiar with the American Legion; Old Sarge was a member at one time, but dropped out over some dispute on the state level concerning our VA Representative. Regardless, I think this is a great first step to helping out our service members. Like I said, there are service officers trained to do this already in BOTH organizations.

And the VF*n*W is ......(crickets chirping)......still calling for a Congressional investigation. Commander Kurpius, you really need to ask yourself who is doing more to help our veterans.

If You Have A Moment...

...Stop by and wish AWTM a happy second Blogaversary.

AWTM is one of my favorite daily reads. This post had me in tears this morning. Simple, yet so touching.

Hang in there, darlin'! We love you!

The Dump

I had to look back in the January archives to see when Old Sarge had torn down the paneling in the living room. It was January 7th.

Any bets on how far THAT has progressed?

Does anyone have any pointers on lathe & plaster demolition or hanging drywall? Power tools, anyone?

The Cricket Chorus

Let's see...

Campbell's soup labels ready to send to the VFW National Home For Children- check.

Boxtops For Education trimmed and ready for my next trip to the grocery store for drop off- check.

Voice Of Democracy program started-

* * * * *

* * * * *

That huge sucking sound you just heard is what was left of my brain exiting the building.

I Just Looked

...inside my brain, and nothing is going on. Damn.

I have in front of me a letter from the future Department President thanking me for accepting an appointment for the upcoming year. I have known about this for several months; quite honestly, this chairmanship is not a good match for me. Voice of Democracy/Patriotic Art. It is aimed at high scool age kids. I am chairman for this on the district level, and I can't say I've enjoyed it all that much. My own kids are in their mid-20's now and I have a hard time relating to younger adults. Prior to our VOD banquet in January, I let all the Posts know that this event required business attire and that there were three things I didn't want to see: boobs, bellies or butts. That certainly raised some penciled-on eyebrows.

Note to all teenage girls who wear the low rider jeans:
They make your ass look big. I don't care how thin you are, you look wider than you should.

So...I have a month to get my program ready for the 2007-2008 year. And I got nothing.

Bored? Try This!

For the past few days, I have heard cows mooing, dogs barking and birds chirping- all coming out of my partner's computer in the adjoining office. I finally wondered over to see what in the hell was going on, and he is playing DeKalb Corn Toss.

Those of you familiar with potato guns will have no problem with this. And the landmarks are eerily familiar, aren't they Tammi?

Another proud pastime courtesy of the Midwest!

I Hate Driving

Unless I can accessorize the Explorer with a rear mounted grenade launcher, I think I may give up driving.

Right now we are going from rain to sleet to snow back to rain, etc. There were times driving to work this morning when I hydroplaned, slid on black ice, or couldn't see because of either heavy rain or heavy snow. And I think it goes without saying that I am cautious driver in extremis lately. So when some assclown decides he needs to get so close that I can't see his headlights, BUT won't pass because, hey, the roads are shitty, I am raging. Sweet thoughts of stopping my car in the middle of road, dragging the other driver out of his car and beating him severely with a baseball bat dance through my head.

Deaf (as a ) Post

My favorite lover of grape jelly, RSM, has linked to a site, Free Mosquito Ringtones, that has sound clips in varying kilohertz. The idea is that the older you are, the less of them you will hear.

I heard TWO. And it was for the 60 year old group.

Let me know if you take this and how you did. I think it's a conspiracy.