While walking out to my car tonight after a very long shift (which started the day before), I was very tired. I was walking through a construction area and not many folks were out walking. A group of 4 or 5 guys were behind me being fairly rowdy, speaking english mixed with another language, but then shouted out "I've got a shotgun", or I thought that's what I heard. A shot ran through me (figuratively speaking) and I hastened my step and walked to the other side of some pillars, when I realized he was shouting out how he wanted to RIDE shotgun. Man did I feel stupid.
Now that I'm alone, in many ways, I catch myself with frequent feelings of being scared in various situations. I'm a strong person, but sometimes I get caught up in worry.
I'm working on it. It was still good to get to my car and lock the door.
sigh.....
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Monday, October 23, 2006
My Friends
My friends have overlooked my shortcomings,
and have seen me through some pretty dark days;
But they have really brightened up the rest of them.
I am so
............very glad,
............................honored,
...........................................and just damn lucky.
I love you all, you are my life blood, our closeness, caring and support of one another means so much, and is one of the things in life that makes life worth living.
Thanks
and have seen me through some pretty dark days;
But they have really brightened up the rest of them.
I am so
............very glad,
............................honored,
...........................................and just damn lucky.
I love you all, you are my life blood, our closeness, caring and support of one another means so much, and is one of the things in life that makes life worth living.
Thanks
Sunday, October 22, 2006
A Beautiful Wedding With Chocolate Mint Chip Martini's
My daughter and I went to a very good friend's wedding Friday night. What a fun time. Good friends together, celebrating a happy occasion. The bride was just beautiful, and the ceremony was very nice. The dancing for hours after was very fun, with good food, drinks and visiting.
Icing on the cake as they say were the chocolate mint chip martini's at the open bar ; )
Icing on the cake as they say were the chocolate mint chip martini's at the open bar ; )
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Remembering Michael Monsoor
Falling on a grenade, intentionally sacrificing your own life to save that of your men, is often cited as the noblest kind of heroism in combat.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor did exactly that to save his fellow SEALs.
Because I want to honor Michael Monsoor here on my site;
Here Is a portion Eloquently Told By Froggy:
In the Presence of Greatness;
I had the distinct honor and privilege of attending the memorial service for PO2 (SEAL) Michael Monsoor yesterday at the First Presbyterian Church in San Diego. Being in the presence of so many true warriors to celebrate the heroic death of one of our own was utterly humbling and poignant. Information about Mike's death in Ramadi on 29 Sep 06 has been sketchy in the media, but the story of this man's service and his death is one that deserves not only to be told, but to be celebrated and certainly never forgotten.
First of all, Mike grew up in Garden Grove, CA (Orange County) with his parents and two brothers and one sister. His father is a Vietnam veteran and one of his brothers served in the Marine Corps. Speaker after speaker at the service took special care to recognize Mike's family and to make the connection between his character and his family's quiet service and patriotism. One of Mike's teammates said, "These are the people that I'm fighting to protect." I spent a few moments with his mother afterwards and her grace and composure under such difficult circumstances clearly demonstrated the genesis of Mike's own calmness and resolve under fire and inspired me to continue to instill these traits in my own children.
SEAL Team THREE deployed to Iraq last Spring and within a month of arriving, Mike had already distinguished himself. As one of the platoon machine gunners, Mike made quite an impression on the battlefield. On May 9, 2006 a teammate was shot in the legs, immobile, and exposed. Suppressing enemy fire with his M60, Mike fought his way to his wounded comrade's position and dragged him out of the line of fire while maintaining constant pressure on enemy insurgents with his weapon. That action earned him a Silver Star... in the first month of his first deployment.
Fast forward to the final weeks of that deployment and Mike along with two fellow SEALs were occupying an overwatch position on a rooftop in the Mulab district of Ramadi which is basically the most dangerous neighborhood of the most dangerous city in Iraq. A hidden enemy managed to toss a grenade onto the rooftop near the three SEALs, and Mike without hesitation warned his comrades verbally before placing himself in a position to block the lethal blast of the grenade from killing his teammates. One of the SEALs he saved said that Mike's countenance was completely calm and he showed no fear only resolve. No short timer's disease infecting this man, he had only a couple of weeks remaining in the deployment and he did not flinch at the moment of truth.
On the rostrum, all three SEALs whose lives Mike personally saved hobbled up together to thank Michael and his family for their very existence and to show their family's gratitude for sparing them the grief that Michael's family is now experiencing. I have never witnessed something as special and inspiring in my entire life-I have never even heard of such a thing happening before.
Sympathy cards to Michael's family are being collected by the great people at Soldier's Angels.
Family of Michael A. Monsoor
C/O Patriot Support
716 Centre of New England Blvd. #173
Coventry, RI 02816
Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor did exactly that to save his fellow SEALs.
Because I want to honor Michael Monsoor here on my site;
Here Is a portion Eloquently Told By Froggy:
In the Presence of Greatness;
I had the distinct honor and privilege of attending the memorial service for PO2 (SEAL) Michael Monsoor yesterday at the First Presbyterian Church in San Diego. Being in the presence of so many true warriors to celebrate the heroic death of one of our own was utterly humbling and poignant. Information about Mike's death in Ramadi on 29 Sep 06 has been sketchy in the media, but the story of this man's service and his death is one that deserves not only to be told, but to be celebrated and certainly never forgotten.
First of all, Mike grew up in Garden Grove, CA (Orange County) with his parents and two brothers and one sister. His father is a Vietnam veteran and one of his brothers served in the Marine Corps. Speaker after speaker at the service took special care to recognize Mike's family and to make the connection between his character and his family's quiet service and patriotism. One of Mike's teammates said, "These are the people that I'm fighting to protect." I spent a few moments with his mother afterwards and her grace and composure under such difficult circumstances clearly demonstrated the genesis of Mike's own calmness and resolve under fire and inspired me to continue to instill these traits in my own children.
SEAL Team THREE deployed to Iraq last Spring and within a month of arriving, Mike had already distinguished himself. As one of the platoon machine gunners, Mike made quite an impression on the battlefield. On May 9, 2006 a teammate was shot in the legs, immobile, and exposed. Suppressing enemy fire with his M60, Mike fought his way to his wounded comrade's position and dragged him out of the line of fire while maintaining constant pressure on enemy insurgents with his weapon. That action earned him a Silver Star... in the first month of his first deployment.
Fast forward to the final weeks of that deployment and Mike along with two fellow SEALs were occupying an overwatch position on a rooftop in the Mulab district of Ramadi which is basically the most dangerous neighborhood of the most dangerous city in Iraq. A hidden enemy managed to toss a grenade onto the rooftop near the three SEALs, and Mike without hesitation warned his comrades verbally before placing himself in a position to block the lethal blast of the grenade from killing his teammates. One of the SEALs he saved said that Mike's countenance was completely calm and he showed no fear only resolve. No short timer's disease infecting this man, he had only a couple of weeks remaining in the deployment and he did not flinch at the moment of truth.
On the rostrum, all three SEALs whose lives Mike personally saved hobbled up together to thank Michael and his family for their very existence and to show their family's gratitude for sparing them the grief that Michael's family is now experiencing. I have never witnessed something as special and inspiring in my entire life-I have never even heard of such a thing happening before.
Sympathy cards to Michael's family are being collected by the great people at Soldier's Angels.
Family of Michael A. Monsoor
C/O Patriot Support
716 Centre of New England Blvd. #173
Coventry, RI 02816
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Eyes Wide Open
This was a very powerful exhibition in our Civic Center Park here in Denver."Eyes Wide Open".
http://afsc.org/eyes/
No matter what side of the debate you're on, for or against the war, this was numbing. Reading the cards and letters attached, and looking at the photo's.
As meaningful as seeing all of these boots were, we still need to keep focused on what's important. Not allowing these lives to be for naught.
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
George Harrison Spot On
Give me loveGive me love
Give me peace on earth
Give me light Give me life
Keep me free from birth
Give me hope Help me cope,
with this heavy load
Trying to, touch and reach you with,
heart and soulOM M M M M My Lord . . .
PLEASE take hold of my hand,
that I might understand you
Won't you please
Oh won't you Give me love Give me love
Give me peace on earth Give me light
Give me life Keep me free from birth
Give me hope Help me cope,
with this heavy load
Trying to,
touch and reach you with,
heart and soulOM M M M My Lord . . .
Won't you please
Oh won't you Give me love Give me love
Give me peace on earth Give me light
Give me life Keep me free from birth
Give me hope Help me cope,
with this heavy load
Trying to, touch and reach you with,
heart and soul
Give me love Give me love
Give me peace on earth
Give me light Give me life
Keep me free from birth
Give me hope Help me cope,
with this heavy load
Trying to, touch and reach you with,
heart and soulOM M M M M My Lord . . .
link
Monday, October 02, 2006
Emily, Rest In Peace
For the tragic senseless killing that occured last week at Platte Canyon High School. The sexual molestation or rape that happened too makes it just all the more ugly.
For this to happen at any of our schools is horrible, but to happen in this small community; it will never have the same feel as it used to have.
In past tragic stories related to school murders, it's always been students gone crazy, to know that this was a strange man that just walked into the school with guns, that he was allowed to walk through the hallways freely.
The community has been pulling together and supporting and talking with each other more, and hopefully the many counselors will be able to help the kids and families deal with this senseless killing. The last bonfire that took place at the Farmers Union Park, really had a healing feel to it. The sounds from the river and the bonfire crackling and just being together seemed to grow strength. This past week with our Aspen trees being in full color, it was as though nature had given Emily a beautiful bouquet.
Signs have been popping up everywhere on our roads as well. Emily Rest in Peace, You're in a Better Place, RIP, and the one posted above made by my very lovely friends.
Our local Pinecam:
http://www.pinecam.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=35957
News article about Emily:
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/9988734/detail.html?rss=den&psp=news
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