Sunday, April 26, 2009

2009 Airpower Over Hampton Roads

We spent Saturday out at Langley at the air show. I love air shows. I love everything about them. I love pilots and planes and the smell of jet fuel. I get teary eyed during the heritage flights and the Thunderbirds show. Anyway, this one was great. Paige was happy as a clam because we brought her friend Carter with us. Summer completely stole the show with her cuteness. We even got access to restricted areas because of it!















Summer, Paige, and Carter
Summer checks out the cockpit and refueling bay of a KC-135 while...
Paige and Carter hang out in the shade under the wing
Paige and Carter
THIS is how you rock a flight suit when it's' 90 degrees out.
NASA's giant inflatable bouncy slide
All access cuteness

Piranhas Win 2-0




Saturday, April 25, 2009

Dust in my ....

Wow. I had no idea it was Friday yesterday until I got to the Chow hall and saw Surf-n-Turf. This last week felt like one long Monday. Needless to say I have been a bit busy. At least at this pace, I might just turn around and actually be headed home. That would be nice. I hope all is well with each one of you and pray that the Swine Flu stays away from you all. The news is making it seem pretty bad. The dust storm we had yesterday was different. It was like a fog of fine silt in the air that made you choke when you breathed in.....not so pleasant.

Well enough about dust and swine flu......this next week go out and find a new piece of America that you have not seen before and visit. Whether it be a local restuarant somewhere or a park that you have never visited before. Then enjoy a nice cold AMERICAN beverage of your choice.







I love that in this picture these poor guys are walking either to or from the shower. Really, what's the point? (commentary by Sarah)

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Go Navy!


Den's Weekly Update
















Howdy to all! Only 19 more Surf n Turf's to go! This week has flown by. Thank goodness. Took the new boss to the Embassy this past week. They have the best chow in the whole country. I think they actually put flavor other than butter on their dishes. We also had another nasty dust storm this past week. There is so much dirt in the air that it actually makes your hair itch (what hair I do have that is). Really nasty fine sand/dirt. I found a good rug dealer here if anyone would like to throw some money away. Hand woven silk rugs 3x5 for about $900 depending on the detail. Evidently this is a real good deal, according to some, the same rug can cost $3k back in the states. May I kindly remind everyone that you walk on these. All in all the muddy water is settling out around here....for now.

Please continue living Red, White, and Blue and enjoy a nice cup of tea or coffee while not doing anything else except for looking at how great America is......no computers, newspapers, or TV....just America. Take care and Godspeed!

Friday, April 17, 2009

I'll Keep My Freedom, My Money, And My Guns. You Keep The Change.

Very interesting words, Governor Perry. I have to admit that secession seems a little extreme, but he's right about a few things. I will keep my specific political views to myself.

Governor Says Texans May Want to Secede From Union But Probably Won't
Texas Gov. Rick Perry fired up an anti-tax "tea party" with his stance against the federal government and for states' rights.
AP
Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Texas Gov. Rick Perry fired up an anti-tax "tea party" Wednesday with his stance against the federal government and for states' rights as some in his U.S. flag-waving audience shouted, "Secede!"
An animated Perry told the crowd at Austin City Hall -- one of three tea parties he was attending across the state -- that officials in Washington have abandoned the country's founding principles of limited government. He said the federal government is strangling Americans with taxation, spending and debt.
Perry repeated his running theme that Texas' economy is in relatively good shape compared with other states and with the "federal budget mess." Many in the crowd held signs deriding President Barack Obama and the $786 billion federal economic stimulus package.
Later, answering news reporters' questions, Perry suggested Texans might at some point get so fed up they would want to secede from the union, though he said he sees no reason why Texas should do that.
"There's a lot of different scenarios," Perry said. "We've got a great union. There's absolutely no reason to dissolve it. But if Washington continues to thumb their nose at the American people, you know, who knows what might come out of that. But Texas is a very unique place, and we're a pretty independent lot to boot."
Perry is running for re-election against U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, a fellow Republican. His anti-Washington remarks have become more strident the past few weeks as that 2010 race gets going and since Perry rejected $550 million in federal economic stimulus money slated to help Texas' unemployment trust fund.
Perry said the stimulus money would come with strings attached that would leave Texas paying the bill once the federal money ran out.
He said he believes he could be at the center of a national movement that is coordinated and focused in its opposition to the actions of the federal government.
"It's a very organic thing," he said. "It is a very powerful moment, I think, in American history."
South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, also Republicans, have been outspoken against the federal economic stimulus spending and were supportive of tea parties in their states.
The protests, organized throughout the country by conservative groups and talk show hosts, were held on the federal income tax deadline day to imitate the original Boston Tea Party of American revolutionary times.
FOX News' Glenn Beck broadcast live in San Antonio from outside the Alamo, a legendary symbol of Texas independence. Park police estimated 4,000 to 5,000 people packed into the small plaza, many waving signs or carrying little yellow flags that read, "Don't tread on me." A local barbecue chain gave away free cups of iced tea.
Rocker Ted Nugent performed a shredder guitar version of the national anthem, but unlike some rallies elsewhere, San Antonio organizers forbade politicians from speaking.
"They are welcome to come and listen to us, for a change," they said in their statement.
Mike Smart, a 51-year-old oil field worker from West Texas, held up a white handwritten sign that said, "I'll keep my freedom, my $ and my guns. You keep the change."
"I just want the government to stay out of my way. I won't get in their way if they don't get in mine," said Smart, who described himself as conservative but not a Republican.
Government spending, going back multiple administrations, has reached a boiling point with the latest rounds of stimulus spending, he said. While the Bush administration spent heavily before he left office, the Obama administration has fast-tracked big spending, he said.
"Ol' George was going to the same destination. He just didn't want to tell anyone," said Smart.
Another protester, 38-year-old Melva Fried, said the forced ouster of General Motors Corp. CEO Rick Wagoner was the last straw for her -- a symbol the federal government was moving toward socialism.
"When a president can fire the head of a company, that's too much," she said, holding a sign that read "Stop Rewarding Failure."
The sales associate, who considers herself a disaffected Republican, said she doesn't believe the government should bail anyone out, including banks and individual homeowners.
The crowd at the Austin tea party appeared decidedly anti-Democrat. Many of the speakers were Republicans and Libertarians.
One placard said, "Stop Obama's Socialism." Another read, "Some Pirates Are in America," and it showed photographs of Obama, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid wearing pirate hats.
Rebecca Knowlton, 45, of Smithville, said she took the day off of home-schooling her three children and brought them to the rally to teach them about civic duty. She felt camaraderie at the demonstration.
"The movement is growing stronger," she said. "You're not alone."

Monday, April 13, 2009

Are You There God?

This picture was taken by the Chandra X-Ray Observatory. Apparently it is a young pulsar. What do you see?

Easter Blessings

Another Easter has come and gone without Den. It seems to be his holiday to miss. Not that I am complaining, though. Better Easter than Christmas. The bunny filled the girls' baskets with lots of goodies. We decided to switch this year to reusable plastic Easter eggs. Since they are reusable, we are able to cut down on waste. Yay! The girls both had solos in the Children's Choir Easter program and did very well. I have a great video, but unfortunately it is too big to post here. The girls had a blast at the church Easter egg hunt and loved flowering the cross. We topped off the day with a tradional southern Easter dinner and my great great aunt's 70 something year old, from scratch, lemon meringue pie recipe. Mmmm.



From the bunny.






Pretty girls in pretty dresses

A new pic of my momma!

Flowering the cross.























Sunday, April 12, 2009

Easter Wishes From The Lands Where It Happened.

Hello to all and I hope this finds you well on this Easter morning! I am sitting down at the office right now drinking a nice warm cup of TEXAS PECAN coffee and eating 4 pastel colored almond M&M's. Great breakfast I know mom.....sorry.

I went to the Sunrise Service this morning. It was an outdoor service on the East side of Al Faw Palace. The sky was cloudy with some distant storms but you could still see the sun peering through. The backdrop for the stage was several small palm trees that are prevalent around here, which are probably the same type of palms that were used for Jesus Christ.

It is really tough not being able to see my girls in their Easter dresses and helping the Easter bunny with the eggs. This seems to be the holiday that I always miss. However, having Easter service this close to where Jesus actually walked and breathed softened that blow. Especially since we had the service at one of Saddams old hangouts.

I hope you all enjoy your Easter and be thankful for that lady in the front row of Church with the big hat, and be thankful for all that we have. Do me a favor and have a good feast today with some good southern potato salad, and please tell all that I can't be with today that I love them..

Friday, April 10, 2009

The Poetic Stylings of Haggis

Well that was another one down! I decided to go with Lobster tails (not really sure if that is what it was) and salad to support my new boss who is Catholic. He is doing a great job but he is about 180 out from my last boss. Very unpredictable, but he really wants to do whatever he can for the guys on the ground providing the Freedom for Iraq. I just need to be ready for that last minute, "hey Haggis lets go here stuff".

I was thinking the other day about how to best explain what it is I am doing over here that is so much different than what I did last time. I came up with this little "poem" that might help you better understand what it is I actually am doing:

A General is like a Swan.....
Gliding through the water ever so gracefully
Looking Regal, demanding respect, and turning heads as he glides by.....

The Exec is like the Swans feet......
Thrashing excitedly to get the swan where it needs to go
Gives the swan support when he needs it
And occasionally gets crapped on.

That about sums it up. I hope you all have an wonderful Easter weekend and please do me a favor and go visit a park or something with grass, and go run around in it.....

Have fun and Godspeed!