November 14, 2007
WOUNDED
We have a lot of wounded from this war, which I've sometimes heard mentioned as a bad thing. But we have the wounded because we don't have as many who are dead.
Like SPC Channing Moss, who got impaled by a live RPG and lived.
Lived.
I don't think you'll hear him complain that we have too many wounded from this war. He's just happy not to be one of the other statistics.
Posted by: Sarah at
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Very touching story. Thank you for sharing.
Posted by: Kasey at November 14, 2007 07:37 AM (tttDj)
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Sarah - I actually saw this story on 60 minutes or one of those sunday night shows. It was very moving. They interviewed the doctors, flight crew, etc all who took this very personally and have been forever changed. They also showed the doctors, etc reuniting with Pfc Moss. It was very moving.
Posted by: Keri at November 14, 2007 01:52 PM (HXpRG)
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November 13, 2007
STALKERS, INDEED
I managed to take exactly zero photos at the Blog World Expo. Luckily AWTM comes prepared with a camera and 45 memory cards to every event.
Look at AWTM, so composed and cool. Look at me, cheesing like a maniac. I can't believe this man talked to me repeatedly over the weekend. I look like a freak.
Heh.
I'm such a stalker.
Posted by: Sarah at
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He's not only cool and intelligent, he's cute too! Glad you got to meet him!
Your Mama
Posted by: nancy at November 13, 2007 09:21 AM (m84zM)
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Ha, my mom's a bigger nerd than I am
Posted by: Sarah at November 13, 2007 09:23 AM (TWet1)
Posted by: awtm at November 13, 2007 09:29 AM (XEBSz)
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You do not look like a freak, he probably thought you were cute and he now only realizes you are a little on the unstable side because of your most recent blog post
Glad you all had such a hoot....I live vicariously through everyone else.....
~asw
Posted by: A Soldier's Wife at November 13, 2007 05:21 PM (RwuMn)
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LUCKY
My life is so awesome.
Last night I had a dream I was invited to a potluck dinner. I showed up and didn't have any plastic cups. I had to go find some, and ended up at a gas station where the man wanted to sell me cups at a dollar apiece plus a 33% tax rate. I was so mad. I woke up from the dream and was still grumpy as all get-out that I had gotten ripped off. And I went back to sleep and kept dreaming about those stupid cups, trying to find a better deal from someone else.
My real life is so devoid of stress that I spend my dreams arguing over $1.33. I am such a lucky person.
Posted by: Sarah at
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November 11, 2007
WHO DOES THIS, PART II?
Do I have some sort of sign on my forehead that says "Tell Me How Much You Hate Bush"? It happened to me again in the airport last night, where some man wanted to rant about "those maniacs in the White House." What makes strangers think I want to talk about this crap with them?
Posted by: Sarah at
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1
I had the same thing...
same, until I sat by a 19 year old Marine on the flight home...
Posted by: awtm at November 11, 2007 08:45 AM (MRpfq)
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This time did you tell him that your mother taught you it is not nice to try and discuss politics with someone you don't know?
And offer to email him a copy of a manners book?
You're really just too nice, you know.
Posted by: airforcewife at November 11, 2007 11:32 AM (mIbWn)
3
Yeah, you do kinda have that "I hate Bush too" look about you. ;-)
I guess I have just gotten so used to tune these people out.
Posted by: Butterfly Wife at November 11, 2007 03:07 PM (BO9rS)
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You probably look like the kind of asshole who voted for Bush. After all, you DID vote for Bush.
Let's face it, Bush is an idiot. Get used to hearing more and more about it.
Posted by: Lee Atwater at November 11, 2007 03:54 PM (+LSNx)
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And you tell ME that I meet a lot of weirdos!
But seriously, I do. I get the anti-war/Bush/America types a lot, and I just smile at them while simultaneously thinking, "You're an idiot. For the Love of All That is Holy keep me from reaching in my purse and poking one of my double pointed needles through this idiot's throat."
Posted by: Erin at November 11, 2007 06:16 PM (XRza7)
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You know if my thoughts & beliefs were disagreed with by 3/4 of my fellow american citizens, and 9/10 of THE REST OF THE WORLD, I might want to reexamine said thoughts & beliefs. I will never understand you that make up the 25% that still have faith in this criminal cabal of an administration.
Posted by: Bubba Bo Bob Brain at November 12, 2007 03:31 AM (AKSWt)
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Sarah, do you roll your eyes a lot when you read your comments? Just wondering.
Posted by: airforcewife at November 12, 2007 06:50 AM (mIbWn)
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So Pres. Bush is such an “idiot” that he’s able to run a “criminal cabal” at the White House AND get away with it. I would say that would take the most brilliant mind the world as ever seen.
Also, interesting concept of “thoughts & beliefs” based upon a popularity contest. So ignore independent thought and beliefs and blindly join the majority, like sheep, because they can’t possibly be wrong or risk being in the minority which must be wrong, purely based on their lack of numbers? I’ll take the latter, thanks. Especially if the majority is ranting that a man is an idiot even though he graduated from Yale AND Harvard, was a military pilot, made millions in the oil industry, was the Governor of Texas, and TWICE elected the President of the U.S. That’s more of a reflection on the person spouting off such asinine drivel.
You donÂ’t approve of the man or his policies, fine. Calling the man names like a five year old who doesnÂ’t get his way, not exactly an example of intelligent debate and ironically hypocritical.
BTW, most AmericanÂ’s are overweight; would that make them experts on health & fitness?
Posted by: tim at November 12, 2007 11:19 AM (nno0f)
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Is there some sort of pleasurable benefit to being crass, ignorant, and impotent while posting anonymously to online fora? Responses, such as those of the twin tards above, can only be learned behaviors, perhaps a step or two above flatworms navigating a maze...but since the reward isn't a food pellet when you click "post", I can only assume the reinforcement is self-inflicted, and short lived, given the frequency.
Posted by: Deskmerc at November 12, 2007 11:45 AM (Ho1gG)
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I may not like the man, his policies or anything else about him.... but I don't talk politics with strangers. period.
LAW
Posted by: liberal army wife at November 12, 2007 01:18 PM (Ocu2J)
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Dear Timmy & Deskset,
Where in my post did I refer to Shrub as an idiot?? All I said if 75% of my fellow americans, and 90% of the world disagreed with me I would be forced to reexamine my thoughts because if that many folks disagree with me I am in all likely hood the one that is incorrect. But just like a typical disingenuous conservative, you did not bother addressing the main point, instead you setup a straw-man and had a good old time knocking him down.
I continue to be amazed at the utter blind faith
displayed by you twenty-five percenters.
Posted by: Bubba Bo Bob Brain at November 12, 2007 07:59 PM (AKSWt)
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Sarah,
While my dad always told me that arguing with babies and fools was pointless, I have always found myself unable to quietly listen to those types. I always speak up, softly, and probably with the look of disdain I am feeling. I have found it just shuts them up. They are expecting affirmation of their illogical views, based on emotion not reason, and it just stuns them that ANYONE would disagree. People who speak with facts and not name calling have an ability others do not. When I have done this I have never been argued with. They are just too stunned to answer except possibly with a stuttering reply beginning with "uh, ummm oh well," and drifting off in a "you know I didn't really...... " Try it, you'll like it.
Posted by: Ruth H at November 13, 2007 04:55 AM (Bgs6y)
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Bubba -- But by your logic, Copernicus should've changed his mind. Isn't it more important *what* you stand for instead of who stands beside you? The last thing we need in this world is more fickle people who change their minds when they hear someone else has. I disagree with you that that's a sign of intelligence; it may be a sign of not paying close attention to the issues if you can be easily swayed. Why do you have no confidence in elected officials who are privy to insider information but utter confidence in the general population, 25% of whom are retarded (as South Park likes to joke)? I mean, what do you make of stats like
this?
The national poll, conducted by Opinion Dynamics Corporation, shows that about a third of Americans believe in ghosts (34 percent) and an equal number in UFOs (34 percent), and about a quarter accept things like astrology (29 percent), reincarnation (25 percent) and witches (24 percent).
These groups will overlap with the groups of people who are against the war. Are you sure they're against the war for the right reasons? I'm not.
Posted by: Sarah at November 13, 2007 05:10 AM (TWet1)
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Oh yea, sorry Boob, didnÂ’t mean to lump you in with LeeÂ’s highly intelligent name calling, IÂ’m sure you meant no offense by accusing Pres. Bush of being a criminal.
“Typical disingenuous Republican”? I wonder if that’s a requirement for the vast right wing conspirators, ‘cause I missed the last meeting?
Nobody side stepped your main point Bubba No Brain, I answered it head on, reread it, especially the part about asinine drivel. BTW, youÂ’re big on the whole Global Test thing, eh? I wonder how what percentage of Americans would agree to set foreign policy by that standard.
Also, I wonder what percentage of Americans thought the surge would work. You know, we of the blind faith variety.
Posted by: tim at November 13, 2007 05:14 AM (nno0f)
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Bubba Bo Bob Brain declared:
I continue to be amazed at the utter blind faith
displayed by you twenty-five percenters.
followed by:
All I said if 75% of my fellow americans, and 90% of the world disagreed with me I would be forced to reexamine my thoughts because if that many folks disagree with me I am in all likely hood the one that is incorrect.
Ah yes. It's those icky people who don't slave their beliefs to polls who suffer from blind faith. Right, thanks for pointing that out.
I guess us icky "twenty-five percenters" will just have to live with not being with the "cool" crowd.
Posted by: Patrick Chester at November 13, 2007 03:01 PM (MKaa5)
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Dear Sarah, and Patty-Pat,
Indulge me for a bit, as I have mentioned this to Sarah before. Way waaaaayyyyy back in late '02 during the early run up to the Iraq debacle, I made the following forecast: "If we invade and he(ie Saddam) has those weapons, he will use them and the casualties are going to be enormous (like 25 k KIA & 50 k wounded were my numbers) OR he does not have them (which was my prevailing view) and we will end up looking like complete jackasses and lose whatever "moral authority" we ever thought we had world wide". While maybe not the exact words I used; they were my sentiments then, guess which forecast has come true?? All because people were afraid of being called "unpatriotic" well you can call me that all you wish, since as I type this my DD-214 sits at this desk with me. I submit, it is YOU the 25 per centers that are the true non-patriots as YOU are the ones that think "water boarding" does not constitute torture, and continue to support an administration that has committed verifiable impeachable offenses, and yet still bleat about Clinton's oval office "hummer". One final point maybe we on this side of this particular discussion would not be so condescending if you'd stop mentioning Clinton, since it is a verifiable FACT he has been out of office for nearly SEVEN years now.
Posted by: Bubba Bo Bob Brain at November 13, 2007 07:07 PM (AKSWt)
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But Bubba, you didn't address anything I said. And aren't you setting up your own strawman here, since no one anywhere used the word Clinton? I think you're doing exactly what you accuse us of doing...
Posted by: Sarah at November 14, 2007 03:17 AM (TWet1)
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Sarah,
I was using Clinton as an example of why so many one this side of the debate are of a rather condescending attitude. I try to avoid that, if I can, but sometimes I fall into that particular trap.
I always try to base any opinion I have upon objective facts, and from my reading too damn many people on BOTH sides of the Iraq discussion are doing exactly the opposite, they watch "Faux" news which includes every cable "news" channel anymore, not just Fox. Maybe if the populace would read a damned newspaper or three every day they might find themselves a bit more informed. I blame media consolidation for the ill-informed nation, but that is a different discussion for another day.
Posted by: Bubba Bo Bob Brain at November 14, 2007 06:20 AM (AKSWt)
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"Maybe if the populace would read a damned newspaper or three every day they might find themselves a bit more informed."
Oh you've got to be kidding, right?
BTW, "we" are uninformed because we don't agree with you. Perfect logic.
Also, anyone who says "verifiable impeachable offenses" and "I always try to base any opinion I have upon objective facts" can't be taken seriously.
Posted by: tim at November 14, 2007 10:23 AM (nno0f)
20
tim asked:
Oh you've got to be kidding, right?
No, he's pretty much like this all the time.
Posted by: Patrick Chester at November 14, 2007 02:25 PM (MKaa5)
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November 09, 2007
STALKING THE INSTAPUNDIT
So my deal for this week was to talk to Instapundit. I knew he'd be here, but I also knew he'd be a rock star and quite out of my league.
Thursday night at the Pajamas Media Party, when they gave away the weblog awards, all of a sudden there he was on stage. Too cool. AWTM and I started chasing him down for photos. He was really friendly and laughed at our antics.
This afternoon though, as I chased him around the expo hall, I think I began to get closer and closer to Crazy Town in his eyes. And then when I sat in on his podcasting seminar, and I've never done a podcast in my life, that was the height of silliness.
But I just think that man is so danged cool. I mean, he used the word "swell" and made a Calvin Coolidge joke. It doesn't get any better than that.
So I stalked the Instapundit. I'm such a nerd.
UPDATE:
Yay, photo evidence!
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Don't forget the Ted Baxter reference
Posted by: awtm at November 09, 2007 05:38 PM (TJpkc)
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Hey, I had my picture taken with him. Gotta send that to Jack Bauer. He will love it. Now, I just need to remember who took that picture.
Posted by: Butterfly Wife at November 10, 2007 11:05 AM (Boiao)
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This reminds me of my own antics at various local, regional and national librarian conferences...yes, I hear you laughing, librarians get together for professional development, too
Anyway, I have unashamed-ly stalked my fair share of the Cool Kid librarians so your behavior seems totally acceptable to me!
Posted by: Kate at November 11, 2007 12:53 PM (tB/4l)
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WHO DOES THIS?
On the monorail on the way home from the Pajamas Media party last night, I ran into a large family from England. The grandfather was left without a seat near the family, so he came and sat by me. We chatted and joked about Las Vegas and differences he had noted between the US and England and also Canada, where he lives now. And then he said something that he thought the US was a nice country, and then he did that speaking-out-of-the-side-of-his-mouth fake whisper thing and said something like, "We aren't really so fond of that president of yours, but other than that it's a good country." Then he went on to say how the rest of his family was happy to get rid of Blair since he was in bed with Bush.
I was immediately reminded of the boorish German that Tim met while waiting for me at the train station.
I mean, really, who does this? Who thinks it's appropriate to insult the leader of a country in the first five minutes of meeting someone from that nation? I would never dream of doing this if I met a foreigner, and especially not in his country! I hated every aspect of living in France, and still I would never start bashing the country to a Frenchman I just met. It took me three years to tell my French relatives that I had a horrible experience in their country. Telling someone you just me is just so rude it's beyond my understanding.
I didn't even bother saying anything back to this man. Overall he was nice and I didn't want to make the conversation any more uncomfortable than it already felt. Plus, if you hate Bush so much that you have to mention it during a discussion of how interesting it is that you get free drinks in American casinos, then you're beyond hope for anything I could say.
But honestly, all I could think about was, who does this?
Sadly, lots of people. I told my husband this story this morning and rhetorically asked who does this, and he said, "Well, Americans have taught this man that this is acceptable behavior." When Kirstin Dunst says she'd kill Bush and Michael Moore says our country is the worst, then foreigners think that all Americans talk like this. We have taught the world that it's OK to bash us.
What idiots we are.
Posted by: Sarah at
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You hit the nail on the head, which is why I hate Hollywood and the trash that comes out of it. Like Kirstin Dunst has anything intelligent to say -- shoot she can't even act! What's up with that?!
Posted by: Claire at November 09, 2007 03:44 PM (CHIGr)
Posted by: airforcewife at November 09, 2007 03:57 PM (mIbWn)
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Look at it this way: on January 20th, 2009 a lot of people are going to have to find something else to do with their lives.
Posted by: Patrick Chester at November 09, 2007 05:18 PM (MKaa5)
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your husband makes a very good point!
Posted by: annika at November 10, 2007 11:23 PM (sDQZR)
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Bush sucks ass. It's only natural that the Englishman, being intelligent, would want to inform you that he's aware that Bush is an idiot.
Posted by: Lee Atwater at November 11, 2007 03:55 PM (+LSNx)
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It's sad that we are our own worst enemies in many ways.
Posted by: Nicole at November 12, 2007 08:12 AM (ehPS5)
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Yesterday I read "The dezinformatsiya war" at the Braden Files (http://braden.weblogger.com/), including the intriguing remark "I learned that international respect for America is directly proportional to America's own respect for its president."
Too often I have remained silent upon hearing remarks that make my blood boil. I don't like confrontation, and I don't want to be the lone voice of disagreement in a group. I am trying to learn the art of disagreement in a polite, friendly manner. It feels rude to contradict someone, especially a stranger. But it is the silence of people like us in the face of such remarks that enables that behaviour.
Your post resonated with me. Thank you.
Posted by: hiraethin at November 12, 2007 10:49 PM (0ovhL)
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Sarah,
Please forgive the old bastard. He mistook you for the average American who shares his frustration with our President.
But please don't mistake this criticism of Bush with bashing "us".
Bush is not us. He's our employee, though both you and he seem to have forgotten that.
Posted by: toadvynyn at November 13, 2007 06:15 PM (PpJk7)
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This 72 year old Vet (101st Airborne) & Agnostic Atheist Activest says: I see some of the Clueless Clods of the Loonly Left have posted here.
Their comments show the only thing which exceeds their immense ignorance of the facts is their astronomical arrogance in thinking they have a
clue.
There were more than sufficent facts proving the Iraq War is both fully justified and a necessary part of our war on terror before we liberated Iraq. Now, with the captured evidence and statments from former Iraqi officals, there is even more proof.
(Anyone who disagrees with that is either: A. Ignorant of the facts. or B. Too lazy to learn the facts. or C. Too stupid to be able to comprehend simple little things like facts.)
All these anti war troglodytes prove is
that if ignorance is bliss, they must be
in a constant state of ecstasy!
Neil C. Reinhardt
Posted by: Neil C. Reinhardt at November 14, 2007 03:51 PM (2tdCv)
10
Uh, get bent, Neil C. Being old is no excuse for being stupid.
Posted by: Lee Atwater at November 14, 2007 06:46 PM (+LSNx)
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November 08, 2007
INGENIUS
This is the most heartwarming chuckle I've gotten in a long time. Check out
JR's new prosthetic.
(Can you tell I'm the first milblogger on the scene? All the others partied like rock stars last night while the pregnant lady was sleeping. So now I have plenty of time to screw around on the internet while waiting for them.)
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VIVE LA FRANCE
I wanted to make sure to post this. I heard clips from
Sarkozy's speech yesterday during my travels, and I admit I got choked up. What an amazing turn of events.
And I liked What Broken Fences? a lot. (Via Insty, whom I hope to meet tomorrow...)
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VEGAS, BABY (THE MOST OVERUSED PHRASE ABOUT A CITY)
Heh, look who joined the 21st century...
I am sitting in the Blog World Expo keynote speech, liveblogging on a laptop.
More later...
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November 07, 2007
BRIGHT LIGHT CITY GONNA SET MY SOUL ON FIRE
I leave soon for the Blog World Expo in Las Vegas...
I will join Andi, Some Soldier's Mom, ArmyWifeToddlerMom and ButterflyWife on Friday's milblogging panel called "Meanwhile, Back on the Homefront." It should be a good time!
I am hoping that I will have good connectivity at something called the "blog world expo," so I might not be out of the loop.
And I haven't gained any pregnancy weight yet, so if I can handle it, my baby and I will be hitting the buffet!
Mmmm, Vegas.
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Heh, buffets. Definitely aren't enough of those in Vegas, huh?
Have a good time. I wish I was going too! Call me when you get back....
Posted by: Erin at November 07, 2007 07:48 AM (tO3T7)
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Have fun!!Enjoy the trip(and, of course, the food) and give Carla a hug, from me!!
Posted by: debey at November 07, 2007 08:06 AM (kocrl)
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*Sniff* I am going to miss being your roommate. Have fun, and I look forward to hearing about it!
Posted by: CaliValleyGirl at November 07, 2007 10:43 AM (B2kpS)
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See you in a few hours!
Posted by: Butterfly Wife at November 07, 2007 12:01 PM (/LiOe)
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Man ... who schedules a convention in the middle of the week? Ai. Have fun!
Posted by: Anwyn at November 07, 2007 04:19 PM (dzxw9)
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Enjoy the convention. I followed here from AWTM and commented there about how I would love to apologize to all the SpouseBUZZ people for flaking like I have never flaked before in my life.
Also, I'm trying to give my MilSpouse blog a makeover into something useful to the community rather than abandoning it to the spammers. So, I gave it a spiffy new template and I'm hosting carnivals, but I don't know if they will take off, yet.
I would love if you would participate and spread the word, please.
The first one is up and the second one will go up on Monday.
I figure I'll give it until the end of the month to see if it can be revived or not.
Please come on by if you have a chance!
Posted by: Molly Pitcher at November 08, 2007 06:08 AM (SxCBr)
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November 06, 2007
GREETING THE PRESIDENT
Last night I had a dream that Mrs.
Chuck Z and I were on a car trip to go meet the president. I woke up before I ever saw him, which was disappointing because I wonder what my subconscious would've cooked up to say to him.
So this morning, I was thinking about what I'd say if I had a few seconds to meet the president.
I think what I would like to say is to assure him that we're not a military family in distress. He gets all his info from the media too, so I'm sure he's heard that families are falling apart and that everyone blames him. But my husband and I feel very supported, very appreciated, and very in control of our destiny. We're not blaming anyone for where we are in life.
When we left the hospital the other day, my husband commented on how many resources there were for expecting families: classes, exercise groups, brochures, tours of the birthing unit, and all of it is free. The Army does so much for us and has so much to provide. We consider ourselves lucky to have such a support system behind us in everything we do.
So if I had a few seconds to greet the president, I would want him to know that we're happy, that we love this life, and that he doesn't need to attribute any of his grey hairs to us!
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congrats to sarah russ and charlie! we are so happy for you.
all that stuff at the hospital though, isnt free. you guys work very hard for those things. those are benefits of the jobs that you do.
the army does have a lot of support above and beyond what most employers do. being in the army is not an easy job by far, but can be very rewarding.
best wishes for you with your family. its a wild ride from here on out.
patty
Posted by: patty at November 06, 2007 07:29 AM (4eMuD)
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I agree. That is one reason why we are heading back to Active Duty after 11 years. We love it and it loves us.
Posted by: Reasa at November 06, 2007 11:06 AM (vdL8w)
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what's the point of believing in the 2nd amendment if you support bush?
Posted by: Will at November 06, 2007 11:46 PM (JzKuA)
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Honestly, Will, I don't understand how your brain works. Explain to me why they're mutally exclusive.
Posted by: Sarah at November 07, 2007 04:46 AM (TWet1)
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November 05, 2007
BLOG SEARCHES
For the very first time since I started blogging, I looked up what people were googling to get to me. I was surprised at how inspirational some of the searches were:
"not because it is easy, but because it is hard" quote
preservation of liberty and justice 300 george bush
Queen Gorgo's speech
Inspirational sayings for a husband who is deployed
donate stairs OR decks for servicemen coming home with an injured leg
"Every generation has its heroes. This one is no different"
always trying to explain to someone who doesn't think it is logical
And my favorite search:
A man who has nothing which he cares about more than he does about his personal safety is a miserable creature who has no chance of being free, unless made and kept so by the existing of better men than himself
Of course, I also loved this one:
"is he a terminator from the future"
Posted by: Sarah at
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Told Ya!!! You're good!
Ruth
Posted by: Ruth H at November 05, 2007 08:48 AM (Bgs6y)
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My husband's most popular search string is "the importance of being on time". It cracks him up how many hits he gets for that one.
Heh, maybe you'll get those hits now, too, since I mentioned it.
Posted by: deltasierra at November 05, 2007 02:02 PM (woXks)
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How in the heck do you do this? The internet is magic I tells ye!
Posted by: maryindiana at November 05, 2007 08:02 PM (68Vv2)
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November 04, 2007
VINDICATION
My Swedish friend just called; she saw
what I wrote about her a few weeks ago.
I really hurt her feelings.
This post is about our resulting conversation. It is written to vindicate her. I am writing for the sole purpose of showing what a bonehead I am, because I want you readers to know that I screwed up, that I learned from it, and that the original post was never meant to be rude towards her.
She's a far better person than I am.
She was really hurt that I would use the word "superficial" in describing our friendship. She thought our friendship was fine, that it was deep, and that we've always managed to get along swimmingly. Sure, I like guns and she doesn't always get me, but she likes sports and doesn't feel like we have less of a friendship because I don't care about sports.
She then laughed and said that probably sports isn't the same thing as the Constitution.
It was really hard for me to explain why I wrote that post in the first place. I blog to work through things in my mind. To grok, literally. I needed to get this feeling off my chest and see what advice commenters would give to me. It wasn't a major problem; I didn't think it was something I needed to sit down and discuss with her. It was just a feeling I wanted to throw out there and see what you readers would say. And you came through for me with flying colors, giving me good advice and helping me realize that I was focusing on one small aspect of what it means to be a friend.
But my friend didn't have two weeks to work through things in her head; it was fresh to her and I needed to give her answers fast. I tried to explain why I wrote about it in the first place. If we had had a disagreement over health care or even Iraq, I am not sure that would've prompted me to write. But the right to bear arms is so fundamental, so important, so illustrative of someone's entire mindset. It's the 2nd Amendment that backs up the 1st. It's that important. That's why a discussion of firearms was a reminder to me of fundamental differences my Swedish friend and I have in our worldviews. It's not just that we don't see eye to eye on violence.
I am not even sure that I did a good job of explaining it to her again. I don't think I will ever be able to explain just how fundamental this right is in my opinion.
But she tried to grok. And that's what I had left out of the original post.
My Swedish friend may be European to the core. We may never really truly understand each other's values. But she always tries. She always listens and she always tries to see things from my point of view. She never judges me based on her own value system but tries to put herself in my shoes and offer whatever advice she can.
Like I said, she's a better person than I am.
What I conveniently forgot a few weeks ago when I got wound up over how deep (or not deep) our friendship is is that it's easy for CaliValleyGirl or Erin or AWTM to see eye to eye with me because they're almost always coming at the problem from the same worldview as I am. Shoot, it's easy for us to be friends. It's a far more impressive thing for my Swedish friend to have stayed friends with me for nine years, despite our differences, despite the fact that I couldn't care less about sports and she thinks knitting a gun for a baby is atrocious.
And what I realized through the course of our conversation is that our discussions are not superficial at all. I talk to her about other issues in my life, things I don't ever blog about. She made me realize that different friends fill different needs. If I want to talk to someone about linguistics, I would probably call Amritas over Erin, for the obvious reasons. If I want to talk to someone about the Army, Erin would make a better choice than Amritas. They're both my friends, but they have different expertise to fill different roles.
My Swedish friend definitely has a role to fill. And while she may not be the first person I'd call to say my husband wants to volunteer to go to Afghanistan, I would never feel like I had to hide that part of my life or values from her, and she would never make me feel weird about it either.
But she already knew this. She acted like it was the most obvious thing in the world, that it was bizarre that I'd even need to work through this sort of thing. All I could do is apologize and say that no one's ever accused me of being a genius. I hadn't fully thought it through when I blogged about it; that's why I blogged it. I wanted other people to point out the pieces of the puzzle that I had missed.
And I'm glad my Swedish friend gave me even more insight into what I was feeling. I'm just sorry that I had to hurt her feelings in the process. It was never my intention.
So the answer to my original post is that, yes, we can be friends despite our differences. Good friends. Or, at least we can if she still wants to be friends with me. I really screwed up.
All I can do is say I'm sorry for hurting her. Again and again.
Posted by: Sarah at
11:46 AM
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I was once told that the sign of a true lady was one who apologized sincerely when the hurt someone else's feelings and/or was wrong.
I'm impressed with both of you!
Posted by: Lemon Stand at November 04, 2007 02:47 PM (dMiaH)
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I think maybe two people can differ widely on many things, and yet at core have a lot in common. There's a passage in "We the Living" (a much better piece of literature than Rand's later novels, IMNSHO) in which the anti-communist Kira is talking with her devoutly communist friend, Andrei:
"...you see, if we had souls, which we haven't, and if our souls met - yours and mine - they'd fight to death. But after they had torn each other to pieces, to the very bottom, they'd see that they had the same root."
Posted by: david foster at November 04, 2007 03:46 PM (OXcVW)
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More often then not, I find that it is the flaws, and disagreements that keep my closest friends the closest. The ones that we almost always agree with are the ones that I very seldom seek out. I still think that you learn more from failing, and discussion with anyone that will not agree with you, then from the ones we agree with. And with that very well written apology I think that you have shown just why you are friends.
Hope it all works out.
Brad.
Posted by: dagamore at November 04, 2007 11:56 PM (vdcdn)
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Wow. I don't know your Swedish friend very well, but she doesn't seem to be the type to hold a grudge. Things will be alright.
But I take serious offense to the fact that you wouldn't call me to discuss linguistics! lmao.
Posted by: Erin at November 05, 2007 02:54 AM (XRza7)
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Yeah, about me calling you this morning. I forgot my phone at home. I'll call you when I get off work.
Posted by: Erin at November 05, 2007 04:06 AM (tO3T7)
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CAMPUS LIFE
You know, I don't think you could pay me to go back to a college campus these days. I found some events on campus baffling enough back then, and I never paid attention to international news or current events. I just simply don't think I could stomach it these days.
Josie is at college, afraid of how she'll be treated when people learn about her husband and his OIF injuries. What a great post.
I feel for you, Josie, I really do. I wouldn't want to be in your shoes.
Posted by: Sarah at
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I suggest they go to Columbia University in NYC. While Columbia is famous as a liberal school, it also owns a thriving and sizeable veterans campus community.
See U.S. Military Veterans of Columbia University:
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/usmilvetscu/
... and, Columbia (GS) Dean's Welcome letter to veterans:
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/gs/military/
Posted by: Eric Chen at November 06, 2007 05:41 PM (cyHVS)
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November 03, 2007
KNITTY FLOWERS FOR A FRIEND
We're all posting
flowers for Butterfly Wife. Everyone has found lovely flowers. No one has found knitted flowers.
Enjoy your short break, BFW. Can't wait to see you in Vegas this week!
Posted by: Sarah at
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Lady, you are very talented! Me, I'm yarn challenged. I have tried so many times but I'm a miserable failure at it. Perhaps we could work a swap?
Posted by: Lemon Stand at November 03, 2007 03:14 PM (rSvmM)
Posted by: Kasey at November 03, 2007 05:39 PM (tttDj)
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I love it! Thank you very much.
Posted by: Butterfly Wife at November 04, 2007 01:08 PM (U2fet)
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This post makes me miss knitting. When we were at Walter Reed all I did was knit... now I'm home and I'm busy. It sucks. But I will say, it is a beautiful flower
Posted by: Josie at November 05, 2007 06:21 PM (0S0eT)
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November 02, 2007
GETTING SOMETHING DONE
I've been meaning to write my post on Valour-IT for a few days now. I've also been meaning to wash my hair and eat something other than breakfast cereal. Alas, I have failed at a lot of things lately.
Read here about the Valour-IT fundraiser.
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November 01, 2007
ON THE HORIZON
I am really looking forward to feeling better because I miss knitting. I just generally feel too crappy to lift my arms. But I really really really want to
knit this gun for my baby.
Posted by: Sarah at
08:49 AM
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Are you a contrarion or a rabble rouser?
Pregnancy has enhanced your sense of humor! You must be feeling better. It's a really clever little gun, especially those little heart bullets.
Posted by: Ruth H at November 01, 2007 01:57 PM (b/Q5J)
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I WANT ONE.........................I want one, really bad....................just exactly like that!!
Posted by: debey at November 01, 2007 06:25 PM (7kywJ)
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I have no idea why this made me spit when I read it, but I did...I think it was the simplistic
"I really really want to knit this gun for my baby"
I can hear you say it, I can...
and it is hilarious.
#1 gun knitter on google search
Posted by: awtm at November 02, 2007 05:21 PM (BwtOk)
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