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Hiking in the Cold North
I set a personal record for a winter hike yesterday! It was a cold day but not bitter like it had been for a while (seemed like months actually). It was a long ways from those hikes in Panama, Nevada, Florida, Virginia, Texas and other warm places that the Air Force sent us. Much closer to Iceland, Illinois and Washington state in many circumstances like the wind chill (about zero during the hike), the snow covered surface and cloud cover. Maybe I should explain why I hike outside in the wintertime? I think they forgot to plow us today!First, I like a challenge! Yep, it is a challenge to get…
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Express Scripts and Tricare on Twitter and other social media
Yikes, a week of a much needed medication on hand and the refill is disapproved by Express Scripts/Tricare! What next? We have been a beneficiary of the military medical system for almost 43 years and have found it to be caring, responsive and helpful in most cases but last week we ran into an illogical response to a refill request for a non-formulary medication. I did find a new way to reach out when we needed help quicker than “you can appeal, provide documentation and fill out the paperwork”, etc, etc when you have a week’s worth of medication left. Our family doctor had tried to explain but received…
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Our Flag and Memories of 9/11
It was a simple act this morning: lowering the flag to half staff to remember 9/11/2001. It was a cool and wet morning and at first, I hesitated. Why should I head out within a week of chemotherapy, etc. I could find all kinds of reasons to sit in my comfortable chair and sip coffee… I was still on active duty; in fact, my crew had landed from an overseas mission in the middle of the night and headed home for some well deserved rest that was not to be. Half asleep and time zoned from a trip half way around the world, I was surprised to see and hear…
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An Introduction: “Do You Have a Frog in your Pocket?”
Last week we published a blog in our Marketing to Military resource and the business owner was so military friendly we thought that we should share it today in our Military Family blog as well. It is a smooth read but what she says about the military community says a lot about her business. We like what she said about us too! So, read and enjoy! PS: If you know a military family owned, veteran owned or military friendly business share the blog with them too! “Do You Have a Frog in your Pocket?” Something caught my eye, increased the focus, sped up the senses a bit, made me look…
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Stomping Out Sarcoma 5K Fun Run/Walk > Wordless Wednesday
#FASTSOS #CureSarcoma #SarcomaAwarenessMonth Join Us Dale Kissinger, ie. “Col K” is a co-founder of MilitaryAvenue.com and retired Air Force pilot who served with the best of the military community from the Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard and Air Force. He flew combat rescue and special operations helicopters, fixed wing trainers, special operations airlift and retired while flying the C-17 as the Vice Wing Commander of the 62nd Airlift Wing at McChord AFB. He served his country during conflicts in Bosnia, Iraq, Kosovo and Afghanistan.byColonel KonWednesday, July 16, 2014Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to FacebookShare to PinterestMilitary Life:5K Fun Run Walk,Cancer,Col K,Sarcoma Awareness Month,Sarcoma Cancer
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Stomping Out Sarcoma > A Warrior’s Way
“The hills are getting tougher at times…” A Fun Run/Walk, A Bike Ride Fundraiser, A Physical Fitness Plan, A Facebook Support Group, An “Awareness Month”: What do they have in common? For this warrior, they mean fighting Sarcoma Cancer through new awareness and research, survivor support and fitness for the many battles ahead. So “what is sarcoma?” is often the first question this warrior often hears. “You look healthy?” is often the second one (at least until my hair fell out during chemo). Sarcoma in this pilot’s parlance or from the perspective of someone with boots on the ground, is a soft tissue (think muscle, fat, nerves) or bone cancer.…
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Happy to be Home! DoDLive Blogger Roundtable
Photo Credit: Real Warrior Campaign“Happy to be Home”Normally you start a blog with the beginning and work your way to the end; today, I started with the closing comments of Master Sergeant Aaron Tippett, US Army. The Blogger Roundtable had the opportunity to interview and listen to the comments of an American hero and how he dealt with the challenges of PTSD. Listen up military spouses! He responded to his spouse after she saw the cumulative effects of multiple deployments. Stay in touch with your spouse! His advise for spouses was, “be there, listen, be supportive,” but don’t push it, each soldier is different. After his wife encouraged him to…
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Birds and Military Kids – the Split S Acrobatics and “Winged Adventures”
“… the tiny bird executed a perfect “Split S” acrobatic maneuver and dove between the railing posts.” Our military kids are located all over this great nation thanks to their parents service in the National Guard, Reserves or Recruiting Services. Some have parents that are retired with 20+ years of service or are disabled medical retirees that settled down in a new area for employment or returned to their roots. Others have a parent or parents that are deployed and they headed out to be near grandparents, etc. They come in all sizes and shapes; backgrounds and dispositions but all know when they are loved. Military kids are so vulnerable…
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“… Upholding the Traditions We Have in America”
“The appreciation and kind thoughts will last much longer than the vegetables and my health will continue to be refreshed by all three!” Row Markers Americans are famous worldwide for helping our neighbors out. Find a tsunami, earthquake or a camp for the victims of war and you will usually find American personnel, supplies or donated equipment; sometimes all three. We give through our churches, the Red Cross and many other non profits and our military forces are usually at the forefront of overseas efforts. At home, neighbors and families can be seen doing the weekend projects that often end in refreshments or even a barbecue at this time of…
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Military Spouse Employment – Critical to Quality of Life for Many
…by making it easier to PCS your JOB in addition to your family and household goods! As many of you may know, the month of May is Military Appreciation Month! This year DoD began an effort to make it “31 Days of Military Spouse Appreciation” as well; to highlight their efforts to help with spouse employment. It is not a surprise to the military community that the economy, the health insurance issues for corporations and small businesses and career transportability issues have made it harder for spouses to find jobs in new areas of the country after a PCS. MilitaryAvenue Pinterest Spouse Employment ResourcesWhen the DoD Blogger Roundtable met with…