Time To Do Some Hunting...

I have been a purchaser of "SmithField" products for quite a while. Even yesterday prior to me learning this news, I had bought 2 pounds of bacon from the Commissary. Well, things they are a changin folks!. 

Senior and I heard about this acquisition on the 11 o'clock news and my mouth dropped. He looked at me and said "Its time to do some hunting"...   I think I will be doing a large order soon to the country butcher.
SmithField says they are not selling out. That this is a way to compete more globally.
If  you are not selling out, then what do you call it? 

Another American company that will be owned by the Chinese, imagine the impact and implications this could some day have.
I wonder if Paula Dean will continue to promote them or will she be apart of that acquisition and learn to speak Chinese.

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/05/30/4074792/chinese-company-to-acquire-smithfield.html

Memorial Day...

I ask this of my readers, on this Memorial Day To Whom Do You Honor?

Memorializing our nations hero's began during the Civil War when Southern ladies, put flowers and items of remembrance on both Confederate and Union Soldiers graves.
It was in 1868 that Commander in Chief, John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic issued General Order 11. He declared it to be for the purpose of decorating the graves of fallen soldiers who died defending their country during the Civil War.  That first Memorial Day Ceremony or "Decoration Day" as it was known then.Took place at Arlington National Ceremony with the placing of the wreath on the tomb of the unknown soldier. Graves throughout the cemetery were also decorated with small American Flags.
But some argue that the first memorial day actually took place with those good southern ladies a few years prior.

For many Americans the day involves parades and cookouts, It has also become known as the unofficial start of summer. The Indianapolis 500 has been traditionally ran on this weekend since 1911, and NASCAR jumped on board in 1961 with the running of the Coca-Cola 600 the same day.

But Again, I ask the question: "Whom do you honor on Memorial Day"?  For me its people like my Great Great Uncle who died in Germany during WW1. I also think of ancestors who perished during the Civil War, and all those who died in wars since. I think of Seal Team 6 on Memorial Day, who's helo went down and all on board perished. And I think of Hero's like "The Sullivan Brothers" who in WW11 were stationed together on board the USS JUNEAU..they died together when it was struck by a torpedo.  I think of all those Military members who perished in the attack on Pearl Harbor, and battles across the Pacific and Europe.
All these Americans were hero's. If not for them and thousands others...we wouldn't have the freedoms we do know. We owe them our lives. We owe them our respect and gratitude.
They Sacrificed so much so we could stay free... 

Schools Out

Last day of school for us. My morning was the last peaceful one for at least the next 10 weeks. As of 11am, Senior and I are now the parents of a 2nd and 3rd grader.  Not only is "where did time go"? "but what the heck happened to this year"?  it all seems like one big blurr now.
The report cards were better then expected with NW getting all A's.  and ND getting A's and B's.
We couldn't have been more prouder. And I rewarded them for the hard work they put in all year. They really did deserve a little something for it.

No Alarm clocks blaring at 530, the joys of staying up late and sleeping in are upon us all. Roasting marshmallows around the fire pit.  And of course the Beach..
Baseball has wound down, and things will become slow for us. They both hope to play in the fall, and have even asked about summer baseball camps at two of the local colleges.
We do plan frequent trips throughout the summer up to South Carolina. The boys love their grandfathers property, and look forward to some shooting, and catching lightning bugs.

Summer  also promises to be hot...our State is about to start the Zimmerman case, and with all the drama in Washington these next few months should prove interesting.

-JUGM

A "Stark" Reminder....

I remember this day well. I was 17 and a Junior in high school. The naval community in which I grew up in was rocked, the entire city was rocked, our Nation as a whole..was rocked.
 For days and days on our local news stations it was all they showed. The faces of those lost, the families, and the tears.. How could this have happened? Was the question every one asked. I remember then President Ronald Reagan coming to town, he spoke to the families, and offered his love and support. Then he spoke at the televised memorial.
I did a post on the Stark about a year and a half ago. Today on the anniversary, I felt it was time for another one. Its so easy to forget, and most school age kids now don't even know it occured.

A year after the incident I met one of the wives, she was the most visible through out it all, and for quite a number of years afterwards. Her name is Barabara Kiser, her husband was EMCS Stephen Kiser.
She had been fortunate to follow the ship through the mideast, she and their five year old son were awaiting its arrival in Bahrain.
She was one of the first family members allowed on board to tour the damage. She found the Chiefs berthing area, and her husbands rack. While sifting through the ashes, she found a small bible she had given him in 1980.
The heat and intensity from the two missiles plus 600 pounds of fuel, the fire reached a temperature of 12 million BTUs.  To date, that is the hottest fire ever recorded on board a US Naval Ship. Everything in that section was instantly incinerated...
But amazingly, EMCS Kisers, small bible survived. His bible has traveled throughout the Mideast on Mrs. Kisers mission trips, she has retold its story many times...  it serves as a reminder of her husband, and of the 36 other sailors lost that day, 26 years ago.

The day I met her, I was on church visitation and we happend upon her home. She instantly brought the bible out..and I feel fortuante that I was one of those people to get to see it. The story of her husbands bible is one that I have never forgot..and most likely never will.

In 2011, after the fall of Saddam Hussien the Goverments of Iraq and the United States, reached an agreement to compensate families of the first gulf war and of the USS STARK. a 400 million dollar fund was set up. However, OUR goverment is still 2 years later after the compensation still trying to set up a mechanism in which applicants should get paid.

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Birthday Wishes..

Goes out to my man  SENIOR.   Whether he thinks so or not, today is his special day... 
He has gone through a lot in the past two months...and he deserves a wonderful and fabulous Birthday.  Yes, we do have to lay sod for a pregnant neighbor who's husband is deployed for six months, but that is another example of his character, and how we like to help others... even on our Birthdays...

He is a retired Navy Senior Chief,  a soon to be college graduate--which is not easy at his old age.
He coaches  his oldest sons little league team, runs a small business..and has me to live with! 
I am so proud of all his accomplishments in life. He is a wonderful and loving husband,  Was a loving son to both his parents, and an excellent Father to his children.

So please help me in wishing him a Very Happy and Wonderful Birthday!   

You Never Know..

This  has reached out to me and grabbed my heart. When I think of this love story, I get tears in my eyes. A local sailor was married prior to deploying to Bahrain for a year..
This past weekend he was struck by a car and killed. He has left behind his family, and a new bride. They were only married two months.
http://www.actionnewsjax.com/content/topstories/story/Wife-shares-story-of-local-sailor-killed-in/zqzQqbnyMEabr7zV0mvlzQ.cspx

It reminds me just how short life is, and how little we really are in the scope of things.
Tell your family every day how much you love them and appreciate them, do the little things for them that matter. Tell them how important they are to you in your life.  Hug your children and kiss their little cheeks...Show  your family you care, because you never know when it could be for the last time.

This young bride received just such a gift the day  he passed away. Flowers were delivered along with a note from her husband....  One thing he sent to try to make her day brighter, And One last reminder to her, of just how much he loved her......

-JUGM

Marketing Schemes

All the stores do it. Walmart ( aka ChinaMart) is the worse though. They will put the high dollar items at eye level, and the cheaper items on the very bottom shelf.
For instance they carry a brand of canned vegetables called "Stone Mountain" excellant taste to them- Our kids love the green beans. They taste better then the walmart brand, and they are cheaper. So Walmart has those on the bottom shelf, unless you have previous knowledge of them or look down while shopping you will never know they exists.

The newest tactic is of the picture below. Walmart has changed the packaging on their mac n cheese boxes to match those of Kraft. If you are in a hurry and not paying attention, they figure you will pick Kraft brand instead.And look at the price difference..$.56.
 I almost made the mistake myself yesterday, I like to make a quick meal of "hamburger mac" where I add ground meat to macaroni and cheese..the kids love it and its fast to cook.Really great for those nights when there is a baseball practice or game. I looked at the box and was like "oh wow! " put the kraft  back and grabbed the GV brand.



 

 

I have also noticed it with cans of spaghetti sauce, and chips-- increasingly over the past few years the can or bag sizes have become smaller and the price gone up. All in attempt to get more money out of us the consumer.

Another good item is kids drinks. They like to put the Capri Suns up high, which are actually higher in sugar, then what I buy..the "Hugs Fruit Barrels"  only 2.98 for a case of 20. And they have 75% less sugar then kool aid or Capri Suns- Walmart is good about keeping these as well on the very bottom.

So next time you are shopping, in a hurry, or the kids are bugging you for a bag of candy or some new toy..please pay attention to what you are grabbing off the shelf, because at the register it will cost you.  Definitely its "buyer be ware".....

-JUGM