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A Gift of Your Time
This weekend’s 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks brought a lot of reminiscing for America and individuals. “We Will Never Forget … “ Where we were, why did this happen and how we responded as a nation. The images just flowed through my head of the towers burning in New York, the Threat Condition Delta on our military installations, locked and loaded automatic weapons at the installation entry points, a command post full of very determined airmen and the President reading to a young group of children. So many to remember … As we were enjoying our coffee and breakfast this morning, I pulled out our calendar with special…
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The Ultimate Adventure Cruise! DoD Roundtable
Some TV programs and cruise line ads describe their programs and trips as the “ultimate” something or other. Today I talked with two senior officers who I think can claim the ultimate cruise: They visited 22 countries, 5 continents, saved lives, fought pirates, delivered relief supplies, rescued folks at sea, supported combat ops in Afghanistan and … I think you are getting the picture of what Captain Dale Fuller and Colonel Roy Osborn’s adventure looked like but they told us a lot more about their 7 months at sea commanding the Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) respectively. Of course, they are always looking for…
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Aggressive Drivers really get my goat …
I just got home from a great weekend at my brother’s house. He, his bride and his one-year old daughter live about 4 ½ hours away. It is a long drive but very doable; and in all actuality very close compared to how close we lived to family when I was growing up. But as I was making our home, hubs reading a book in the passenger seat, boys all keeping themselves entertained in the back I got flashed for the THIRD time (and I’m talking the headlight variety of flashing, just to be clear). NOW you might think, “Leanne, you shouldn’t be hanging out in the left hand lane.”…
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Preparing for your Summer Vacation – Military-family style
Summer is approaching and thoughts of family vacations quickly follow! My family of five is taking full advantage of our military-discounts this summer as we travel down to Disney World. But not all vacations are BIG (this is our first big one in 5 years), sometimes a simple camping trip, or visit across country to see family is what you need. Whatever your plans are with some research & creativity you can find the perfect summer-plans for your family! Here are some great tips from Military OneSource’s Blog, http://www.blog-brigade.org/: Itching to cruise? Andrea Rotondo, editor of LuxuryCruiseBible.com, tells me that a ton of cruise lines offer military discounts. These include…
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Cruise Preparations Stretch Vacation Excitement
We will be cruising… setting sail… on the briny… soaking sun this spring. Last July we were on board with siblings, and saw the Baltic. Walked the streets of Russia, shopped our way through Estonia. Drank enough coffee in Sweden to sink a ship. Ate fresh bread in Finland and purchased Christmas decorations in Germany and Denmark. It was wonderful… it was cold. Not so come March. Dale and I are heading south to the Caribbean. So, why wait until March… not us, at least not our minds. We have begun the excursion with Caribbean meals, drinks, and our first ever trips to a tanning booth! This cruise is expensive…
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People in the News… Military Brat Work… And the Homefront View
Daniel, the oldest son of the Kissinger family, packed his belongings; made friends; and learned the ins and outs of world travel. Dan recognizes the need for communication and the flow of information that is readily available via internet. With his sister Leanne, another class act brat, created an avenue of information that is a super highway and an integral part of thousands of military family PCS’s (moves). I think that number is too small… Now Daniel has established his own family in Grand Rapids, MI. He travels to meet and speak with military personnel. With friends stationed all over the world topics of conversation often boggle the mind of…
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How to get the most miles to the gallon of gold (gas)!
We are all looking at the gas pumps today and thinking about the impact on the monthly budget and that vacation or trip home for the family reunion this summer. How about that PCS move this summer? I started thinking of ways I have used to improve the mileage in my vehicles and a couple of things quickly come to mind. Its not an extensive list but just some common things you may have forgotten or just needed the reminder to help yourself a bit. First, check those tires for proper inflation. After a long winter pull out that tire pressure gauge and see where they are at and put…
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What a great idea!
We recently received a great homemade gift from our son Dan and his wife Becky to commemorate all of those PCS and other associated moves while on active duty! It was a sign post to place in the yard or on the street with all of our previous home locations spelled out with the distance in air miles to each from our current home! What fun it is to see the sign and realize all that it means. Each little sign indicates an American military family gathering its belongings, cleaning up a house, selling one on occasion or passing a base housing inspection on another! It also means saying goodbye…