God Bless America!

Arlington National Cemetery

My friends and family love to tease about many things because I am such an easy target. But there’s one thing they tease me about especially, and that is my love of all things US Military.

They believe the source of this love is a girlish love of a “Man in Uniform.” And I admit fully that they are partially right. I love a man in a uniform. But this begs the question of WHY? It’s more of an admiration, really. It’s not like I think the uniforms are sexy or that they in and of themselves make the wearer any more appealing than, say, a man in a suit.

But a military uniform is an outward sign of the inward ideals I admire: passion, chivalry, heroism, loyalty, and usually a good work ethic and a decent amount of intelligence. Call me a hopeless romantic if you will; the military uniform is the modern version of a suit of armor, and the wearer the knight who goes forth bravely to slay dragons and protect his people and his family.

We will never forget!

Wars are not glamorous things; they are ugly affairs, they are painful and bloody, filled with horrific sights and sounds that fill the minds and create memories that can last for a lifetime, sometimes debilitatingly. Men and women go to war together knowing that they may not all come out alive. They watch their friends and comrades die for the causes for which they fight. Throughout the history of the United States, hundreds of thousands of men and women have given their lives to protect our freedom. My freedom. Your freedom. Many whose lives were not lost have come home missing limbs and other body parts, missing friends, and struggling with the lifelong effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

So knowing all this, who would want to join the military?

Well that’s what makes those who do so special. It takes someone who can see past the gore and sadness; someone who sees the “bigger picture” of what the military does and is. They see the good they can do not only for their own country but for the world. They know that being deployed to a war zone such as Iraq or Afghanistan can be miserable, hot, dangerous, and even fatal. But war is not all that they do. When disaster strikes anywhere in the world, our military is en route with assistance within hours. They routinely provide humanitarian assistance to countries all over the world. A few years in the military can provide training and experience that can be life-changing and can build good habits and foundations for post-military life. It can be influential in molding young adults into outstanding men and women.

The Joint Forces’ efforts after the earthquake in Haiti in 2010.

A soldier delivering boxes of food.

Well this one’s pretty self-explanatory. And pretty awesome.

It is because of these men and women that we have the world’s most powerful military force. They are the embodiment of the mottos which we have all heard: “America’s Navy: A Global Force for Good;” “Semper Fidelis;” “Army Strong;” “Fly-Fight-Win;” “Semper Paratus.” We hear words that are inspiring; the respective service members hear the words by which they have learned to live.

They are, and always will be, our Heroes.

An iconic image.

So while you are celebrating this Memorial Day with your families and friends, remember to take a moment to offer a prayer of thanks for our Fallen Warriors. Don’t let the sunshine, pool parties, and barbeques let you forget why we celebrate this day. Now don’t take this to mean that you should shroud yourself in black and spend the day at the cemetery mourning and fasting. No, go have fun. But don’t forget in whose honor you celebrate.

Remember the Fallen. Remember our American Heroes.

And as always, God Bless America!

Thank You. <3

http://f.cl.ly/items/1L373g3O1N341p220Q15/National%20Anthem.mp3

“Oh, say, can you see by the dawn’s early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there!
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?”

Some Patriotic Videos I Want to Share

This video was released shortly after 9-11 and went viral for a while via email forwards and such. It’s always been my absolute favorite military video.

 

The best military tribute video I’ve ever seen. Makes me cry every single time.

 

This is a great little video which might be more appropriate for Veteran’s Day, but I liked it and thought I’d post it here.

 

I’m a Navy brat, and I know full well that I’m a nerd. I actually enjoy watching military recruitment ads, and I found this one particularly good.

 

And this one is for a laugh.

 

 

What’s your ride?

You know, you can tell an awful lot about a man by what kind of car he drives.

SUV/Subaru: He’s probably down-to-earth — literally. Outdoorsy and athletic, this man probably spends most of his time hiking, camping, canoeing, fishing, etc. He probably owns at least four or five sets of camouflage hunting gear, keeps his orange vest in the back seat, carries a concealed weapon license, and he owns an entire arsenal of guns and rifles (and can tell you every detail about each and every one). His favorite place in the world is his tree stand, and his prized possession is the head of the first buck he killed, which is proudly on display over the living room fireplace. But he was also most likely raised with a good, manly father who taught him manners and respect. He calls women “Ma’am” and tips his ball cap at them. And he is likely to open doors for women. Over all, he’s an old-fashioned, rugged outback dude who knows how to treat a girl (I like him, btw).

Hummer: This man is bad-ass. And the bigger the hummer, the badder the ass. He also doesn’t give a damn about fossil fuels and the environment, he’s probably a die-hard republican, and he was probably in the Marines. I don’t know enough people with hummers to give an adequate description. Sorry.

Pick-Up Truck: He is either a) young and trying too hard to look B-A, or b) he is a chill guy who is old-fashioned; there’s a fine line between the pick up truck and the SUV, but a man with a pickup truck is usually more home-oriented. He may have most of the same passions and hobbies though, and his arsenal is probably equivalent. He loves home repairs and his favorite hobby is building something entirely from scratch out in his workshop. He probably also prides himself on his shooting abilities and practices regularly so that, should a ne’er-do-well come between him and his family he can be the ultimate protector and hero. No questioning this guy’s manliness (which means he probably also never, ever wears pink or argyle). He will love you like a princess and he will treat you with respect. Unless he has one of those horrid pairs of male genitalia hanging from the rear trailer hitch. Then he’s a tool and he will love himself like a prince.

Basic sedan (Honda, Toyota, Nissan, etc): He probably has a respectable, well-paying desk job and probably wears suits more often than jeans. But he’s also a cool guy; he’s financially stable and responsible, and is probably a fun guy who spends his weekends working around the house, hanging with friends, developing his hobbies, or walking his dogs. He’s probably neat and tidy, well-groomed, and clean cut. Basically this guy’s a catch. (Not that the others aren’t, but mothers love this guy)

Eco-friendly sedan: His job is probably something either super high end and well-paying or completely unstable (like a starving artist), but whatever his job is, the environment is his top priority. He wears only 100% organic cotton, buys only organic food, and is probably a vegan. He wears vegan Birkenstocks and carries his macbook (in an organic messenger bag slung casually across his body) and his acoustic guitar with him at all times just in case he meets a friend for a  random “jam session.” If you’re cool with him being very vocal about your environmentally unfriendly habits and if you’re okay with learning to eat only fruits, veggies, and tofu, then go for it. This is the guy for you. Personally I love my steak too much….. However, the prius-driver could also fit into the basic sedan category and is driving the eco-friendly vehicle for the gas money he saves each month, and which can increase his savings by cutting down on other expenses. Again, mothers love this guy.

Remodeled clunker: His passion is cars. He bought this for $500 from a neighbor and has been working on it for years, slowly collecting the parts at junk yards and spare parts stores. His weekend is spent working on his “baby,” and his time is equally spent between the woman in his life and his car. This guy is more the punk-rock band type and carries his electric guitar and a pair of drumsticks with him everywhere. He blasts Led Zepplin and Metallica from the garage stereo while working. He’s probably a professional auto mechanic or a construction worker by day and a crazy, wild, fun partyer by night.

Sports car: This guy is a tool. I’m sorry if you are a man with a sports car, but if you’re a nice one I need to meet you. I have yet to meet a man who drives an itsy-bitsy teeny-weeny turbo-powered little sports car that I liked. In my experience, this guy loves himself and will give you the time of day only if it suits his fancy or if necessity dictates it. He probably only dates women who rate above at least an 8 on his “hotness scale,” and any of you women who are not a size 2 and blonde can just keep on lookin’. Not a model body? Not in this car.

And of course, the van: This guy is married with kids. End of story.

There Are No Words….

Definitely met my most immature online dater tonight. Actually that’s a lie. This was the young man I wrote about a few posts ago who emailed me every time I refused to chat with him. But he emailed me again today after about 2 previous unanswered emails and told me to give him one good reason why I didn’t want to talk to him.

So I did. Actually I gave him a couple (and these are reworded from what I said to him, of course; but this was what I was thinking):

1) From looking at your profile I just don’t think we’re compatible, and refusing to talk to someone you’re not interested in wasn’t a crime last time I checked.

2) Most of the time having multiple ignored chat invites or unanswered emails is an indication that you should probably move on.

3) I did tell you that I wasn’t interested.

4) You’ve crossed the line into creepy stalker. You can’t DEMAND a reason why I’m not talking to you. I don’t OWE you an explanation!  Bugger off!

Well he got mad at me and told me that I was being unChristian and that we’re all supposed to be adults here and that I didn’t have to get mad at him and that he had reported me to the site administrators. He also mentioned that I was being immature for writing him off because of his Asperger’s, which I wasn’t, just so you know.

Oh boy, I’m scared.

Suffice it to say I blocked him.

Thank you!

Hey  y’all!

You should know that you have helped me win a contest between me and my brother to see who could get the most views. Our goal was 1,000.

As of today, I have 1,001 views. And for a blog that’s only been in existence for 3 months, I’d say that’s not too shabby!

So thank you, dear readers. It means a lot.

And you should definitely check out his blog too; I call him The 15-year old Professor. The boy’s a genius! (Except don’t read his latest post if you haven’t seen Batman Begins and don’t want the ending spoiled…)

http://quicumquevult.wordpress.com/

 

Mike and me last summer. Crazy kid.

Single Blues

I’m going to be uncharacteristically pessimistic right now, and since this is my blog there is nothing you can do to stop me.

Most of the time I can tell people “I don’t mind being single!” And most of the time I mean it. Really and truly, most of the time I’m cool.

But then there are days like tonight, when I think of my friends who are married or engaged or dating, and even my younger siblings who are dating, and all I can think is that I must be the world’s biggest loser. 25, and still single.

What is wrong with me?

Time to break out the wine, chocolate, and Pride and Prejudice. I’ll see you when I’ve cheered up a bit.

Dating Safety Tips Video