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

The Gun Debate

And I don't meant the one that every one is talking about. This was a gun debate of another form.
A childhood friend of mine recently posted on FB that she is finally wanting a firearm and would like advice on what she should purchase.
Several women gave her  advice, including me. I told her to come over to my place and we could go to the range. I offered to let her fire some of mine, so she can first get a feel for them and learn some of the basics of gun safety.
I also told her that I personally carry a Glock 26 gen4  but that I also have a S&W bodyguard .380 ( and know other women who do as well).  What I decide to carry with me for that day depends on where I am going and what mood I am in. ...  If I truly wished to mess some ones day up, then I would carry my Taurus Judge.

Well, her oldest daughter who is a paramedic chimes in. She first reminded her mother that firearms need cleaning, but that a Glock is a "dry gun" and does not need cleaning,or maintaining. .

I read that comment a few times, scratched my head and before I responded, I sought out Senior for his knowledge...he confirmed what I was all ready thinking..  But I do like to make sure of my facts.
I commented that any fire arm needs to be cleaned and maintained regularly and I think that she meant you can "dry fire" a Glock, but its not a practice I recommend.

Then the conversation then went to : "What if you had to actually shoot someone". Miss EMT, said that if she shot some one then she would only do it in the legs, or arm, and then render first aid until police showed up. She has seen in her career too much blood and death and there is no way she couuld take a human life, because she is in the business of saving them.

I fully understand that sentiment. However, while she is rendering first aid, the bad guy could still hurt a person, and what I commented was that when it comes down to my family and I ,versus some home invader or rapists...then I would shoot to kill. Being Mrs. Nice Lady goes out the window.
 I also went on to say that I did not ask to be made into some ones victim, they chose to commit a crime. There is no reasoning with a criminal, there is no talking your way out of it, its either you or them...and I pefer the "Them"  And, in my State her actions could actually get her jail time.

This was Saturday when the conversation took place...Today is Wednesday...still no response.  

-JUGM

Socked In..and Something Good for a Change.

Literally, we have like two different "lows" circling around us.  The rain has been falling since late last night. The back yard is flooding, and I have two boxers that refuse to go out and do their business in it.
One that insists to argue  with me, because I am keeping her tethered in the kitchen, where, if she does have an accident, it won't be on the carpet. It's like arguing with a teenage daughter over clothes or something.

Life is slowly returning to normal, had two ball games this week. Poor little ND really needs to watch out in the field, he was drilled three times in the chest. We would all tell him to pay attention, and no sooner "SMACK" he got it again.. finally after the third time ..coach moved him to a safer spot in the out field.

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So, we got some much needed good news last night. My Niece's Boyfriend proposed to her. and She said "YES".  I am pleased as punch for the happy little couple. And very proud of my niece, that before a man and etc.. she went to college, began a career in the medical field, is now trying to get in to PA school. And does not need to live off anyone. She is 28 and still "pure as the driven snow" ..
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My brother finds it hard to believe that she is related to us. Because neither he or I could have lasted that long..but she has stuck to her morals and has saved herself.  My brother is quite comical and all ready asking what I think the wedding night will be like....

They went to high school together, then he went to live in near Craley Pennsylvania, and became a nurse up there, now on Saturday he graduates from Penn State.  My sister and my niece were invited up..he took her to some park with a big compass thing, and got down on one knee...  So, God willing and the creeks don't rise, in a year they will become Mr and Mrs.  Awwwwwwwww

I will be very happy to give wedding plan updates over the next year. I did offer my services to plan a bachelorette party weekend to Vegas to see Motley Crue in October, but it was met with a resounding "NO"   I can't imagine why !  "Bubble Girl" as I like to call her teasingly really does need to get out from behind the BBC shows once in a while...

-JUGM

The Memorial Tree

My Father in Laws Funeral went as expected..a sad affair. It started to rain while we were at the graveside. My great grandmother use to say that meant the angels were crying.
Senior wore his choker whites..very handsome. He held up well, until he was presented with the flag from his Fathers coffin. Then he did the unexpected, he kneeled down, and presented it to NW and ND. There was not a dry eye left.
Lots of good people showed up, met lots and lots of new cousins.A  Beautiful floral spread was sent by our good friends Stephen and His SW. Rebel and his lovely family sent the arrangement in the vase. And our life long friends L and P sent the peace lilly.  We will not forget your act of kindness and support during this time.Thank you for that token..it meant the world to us.

 

 

We got back safe on Sunday, tired..but safe. Moving forward has begun. Lot's of decisions to be made for the future. But all that can wait. It will still be there tomorrow.

 

My Brother asked what he could do. He did not wish to do flowers, so he thought of a lasting memorial. Something that could be planted, and grow. Something that we could sit under and think of my Father in Law who loved the outdoors, and loved all nature provided. My brother sent a memorial Dogwood Tree.  We chose to bring it home.

We chose to pot it temporarily. The pot we chose was a half wooden barrel on wheels. It belonged to my Father in law.



Where we place it permanently will depend on where Senior gets a job after his college graduation. We did not want to plant it here, and then have to leave it behind. I hope to one day have it out side of a kitchen window, where I can look upon it, where the boys can play under it, where Senior and I  can sit under it and enjoy its shade. My father in law loved birds, and one day I hope it will serve as a perch for all those that fly. He would like that......

-JUGM