I wake up early and the house is quiet. I can hear the wind blowing through the trees and the rain still softly coming down outside.
I slowly drag myself out of bed and start the morning ritual of brewing coffee.
I get my favorite mug and set it on the table. Spoon, sugar, and half&half beside it, at the ready.
The coffee pot begins to make it’s final death rattle … gurrgle … guurrrggle … gurgle.
I pour some sugar into my mug and then add coffee until the mug is 3/4 full, swirling it as I go.
I stir the sugar in as I gaze thoughtfully out the large bay window in the dining-room. Watching the leaves blow here and there throughout the yard and the squirrels running all around.
I can smell the aroma of the strong, freshly brewed coffee.
Finally when everything in the mug is just right I add my half&half … and I get Insta-Cottage Cheese!!
Valour IT is having their annual fundraising drive. Anyone reading my site that wishes to donate to Team Army please flip over to Chuck Z’s site TCOverride and donate there.
I’d put a direct donation link up on my site but the free version of WordPress won’t support them.
Valour IT is the Soldiers’ Angels division that provides voice activated laptops to soldiers whose wounds severely limit their ability to otherwise use a computer. It’s a great program and I ask you to throw a few bucks their way.
~Paul
UPDATE: You can now donate by clicking below or in the sidebar.
Forty more letters out to potential sponsors. Well, they won’t be picked up until tomorrow, but they’re done and in the mailbox anyway.
It’s a tad disheartening when corporate officers from one of your major sponsors string you along (via mail and phone) for several months and then sends an apologetical email that basically states, ‘Ooops, sorry, we’re out of advertising money.’ They being in the top 20 of the Fortune 500 too. I guess that’s how the game is played.
With a little luck a certain smaller company will be able to pick up the slack.
If anyone has ideas on sponsors please feel free to send me an email or leave a comment.
169 years ago today, November 11, 1839, the first Cadets were posted to guard the old state arsenal that would serve as the first barracks for Virginia Military Institute.
A very good friend has a son in his second year in the Cadet Corps. Godspeed Jason, Godspeed! We’re all pulling for you.
Commenter and friend “Pjama” sent me this in the comments a few weeks ago and I’ve been holding it ever since. I think it’s an appropriate to post it today.
~Paul
Most humans truly are like sheep
Wanting nothing more than peace to keep
To graze, grow fat and raise their young,
Sweet taste of clover on the tongue.
Their lives serene upon Life’s farm,
They sense no threat nor fear no harm.
On verdant meadows, they forage free
With naught to fear, with naught to flee.
They pay their sheepdogs little heed
For there is no threat; there is no need.
To the flock, sheepdog’s are mysteries,
Roaming watchful round the peripheries.
These fang-toothed creatures bark, they roar
With the fetid reek of the carnivore,
Too like the wolf of legends told,
To be amongst our docile fold.
Who needs sheepdogs? What good are they?
They have no use, not in this day.
Lock them away, out of our sight
We have no need of their fierce might.
But sudden in their midst a beast
Has come to kill, has come to feast
The wolves attack; they give no warning
Upon that calm September morning
They slash and kill with frenzied glee
Their passive helpless enemy
Who had no clue the wolves were there
Far roaming from their Eastern lair.
Then from the carnage, from the rout,
Comes the cry, “Turn the sheepdogs out!”
Thus is our nature but too our plight
To keep our dogs on leashes tight
And live a life of illusive bliss
Hearing not the beast, his growl, his hiss.
Until he has us by the throat,
We pay no heed; we take no note.
Not until he strikes us at our core
Will we unleash the Dogs of War
Only having felt the wolf pack’s wrath
Do we loose the sheepdogs on its path.
And the wolves will learn what we’ve shown before;
We love our sheep, we Dogs of War.
UPDATE: The singer in this video lost her brother, who was a soldier in the Army. This is her tribute to him, as well as to all of our troops, past, present, and future.
If I can find out the details for sure, I’ll be at Arlington National Cemetery today. I’ll be linking up with friends and fellow Mil-Bloggers to visit the 173rd Airborne Brigade, as well as the rest of the Arlington National Cemetery.
I’m hoping to see the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Eternal Flame at the President J.F. Kennedy Memorial.
With luck Jimbo and Tankerbabe, and others, will be there
~Paul
UPDATE: Just received the details via email. Don’t know what time I’ll be back on.
UPDATE II: Nice little ceremony. About 15 former (and I hate to use the word former because they still hold the unit dear to their hearts) members of the 173rd showed up. Plus another 20 or so of family, and supporters. There were also three young men currently assigned to the 173rd in attendance. Tankerbabe picked them up at Walter Reed and brought them out.
The 82nd Airborne Division provided an honor guard detail, complete to the Colors and bugler. Very STRAC… do they still say that? Strac? It used to mean high speed-low drag when I was in. Anyway the 1st Sergeant leading the honor guard detail, and his men, did an outstanding job. Kudos to them.
Tankerbabe, and a few others, were taking pictures so I’m hoping she sends me a couple.
Today is the 233rd anniversary of the inception of the United States Marine Corps. I’d like to take a moment to wish my brothers and sisters of the USMC a happy birthday. If you see a Marine today I encourage you to do the same.
The Marine Corps was originally created, November 10, 1775, as a naval infantry force for defensive and offensive boarding actions back in the days of sailing ships. They have since evolved into one of the finest self contained fighting forces in the world.
“So,” as Lex says, “lift your cups to the Devil Dogs, and wish them all a happy birthday.”
The Russian nuclear attack submarine K-152 Nerpa (the Seal), possibly an Akula II attack sub, experienced a fire while undergoing sea-trials in the Sea of Japan. At least 20 men, both submariners and shipyard workers, died as a result. Reports indicate another 21 men were also injured. Friend or Foe, no man deserves to die in this manner.
Let’s remember that, ideology aside, these brave men died in the service of their country doing an honorable job.
Please join me in the Army Toast; To Absent Companions.
Lex has a much more in-depth post over at his site, Neptunus Lex.
