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PCS: Charleston, SC Get Out Of the Gate!
I know of folks who live in gated communities. My immediate thought is a place set apart, a well cared for location, protected homes, secure families. Yes, I guess that is a military installation description! It is a wonderful way to live, however it can be confining. Life can get stagnant when it is all there at a short drive’s distance: work, school, commissary and Exchange. GET OUT! You can do it! Drive toward that gate and adventure into town! MWR has a gazillion ideas for you to use. Remember. People actually travel to your new PCS for vacations, shopping and adventure… and lucky you! You get to live there.…
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Roots That Matter
Roots. Not so great when the side walk pops up. Pain in the neck when they approach the garden and the rotor tiler jumps and jerks. Dare I say when the hair line goes multi colored… dark strips appearing and or white blazing. HOWEVER Roots. Fantastic when talking to children about heritage. Smile grabbers when Bases, Posts, Stations, Aux Fields are mentioned on FaceBook. Over the top when pictures crash in on emotions and you are reminded of loved ones who have gone on before us. And tangible root/heritage articles of art, clothing or holiday are just plain fun to have! Have any Scandinavian in you? Ja sure you betcha!…
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The Jolly Green Giant Arrives at the Air Force Museum
The Jolly Green Giant Arrives! This week has been hectic! We traveled to see family for a Christmas gathering and then headed south to Wright Patterson AFB for a special event on Wednesday recognizing the Airmen who flew the HH-3 Jolly Green Giant! This aircraft flew rescue missions for four decades! The Air Force dedicated an aircraft, tail number 709, at the National Museum of the US Air Force at Wright Patterson AFB but what I saw were the people that cared for the old bird! As I looked around the audience the men and women were absolutely enthralled with the aircraft and as they listened to the guest speakers,…
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Spouse’s Corner: Traditions – The Backbone of the Holidays
By now the decorations are up, the menu is being set, the cards and invites are purchased and stamps have been budgeted. Well, maybe in a perfect world. But the thought process has traveled down that project list. We hold traditions to keep the family on track as to what the family does: traditions help define family values and heritage. Some of these traditions can be left by the wayside without hesitation. I grew up in a Norwegian household. Lutefisk was always there on the table, but not anymore! Now I don’t even know if it is available in Michigan where I live. Oranges and walnuts were stuffed in our…
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What We Share with the Military Community
Last week during the fantastic Stand Up For Heroes program in New York we had the pleasure of attending with several military bloggers. We all came to see and report on how the Bob Woodruff Foundation was supporting our wounded Heroes and enjoy an evening in the Big Apple. We had a fun time, if not hilarious, listening to entertainers supporting the troops but then I realized I had fun for another reason! I was around military folks and those who cared about them! We were there on a mission to tell the world about this exceptional effort to support the troops and their families (funds raised that night and…
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Happy Mothers’ Day
Happy Mom’s Day to all of the moms out there in the blogging-world! I am the very lucky Mom of 3 boys plus one on the way in August. (Yes, 4 boys! plus hubs who can sometimes act like a boy … makes for 5. I am THE Queen of this castle 🙂 There is *J*, my 16 year old step-son; *E*, my 7 year old; and *C*, my 5 year old. *L* (Surprise!) will arrive around 8/9/2010. Our house is bustling as I trip over legos and balls – Baukegan and Transformers – plastic Army Men and Star Wars Figures – wherever I go! …But tomorrow isn’t all about…
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Seriously?! Don’t Tread on Me!
Once in awhile things get my goat. Is it that my grandfathers, my father and my husband all served to protect our freedoms as Americans? That I recognize what the American Flag stands for? That I hope my children recognize the freedoms others have fought so hard for … “California Students Sent Home for Wearing U.S. Flags on Cinco de Mayo“I’ll admit: I don’t think I have a trace of Mexican in me. I am a melting pot of ethnicity from generations gone back, but Mexican … I don’t think it is in there. HOWEVER, we still had our fun at dinner time last night and enjoyed Tacos, one of…
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Tasty Tuesday: Cinco de Mayo Looking Good
This first week of May has my Norwegian/German heritage brain receiving the following messages: “Arrrrrrrrrrriba (that’s me rolling an r), via con Dios, hasta luege, burrito, y si si! It’s in my roots to want that southern sun and warmth. In the taste buds too! Ahhhh but don’t forget the beauty of the food that is offered with this fantastic Latin lovers cuisine. Most of it is caressed by the gorgeous tomato. We even have it our vocabulary to have a superstar be a ‘hot tomato’. So, if you have it; flaunt it. I tried. We had a great gathering of friends over for an outdoor easy fare dinner. Everything…
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The National Museum of the United States Air Force
This weekend we had a great time visiting the USAF Museum at Wright Patterson AFB in Dayton OH! We traveled from sunny Michigan to Ohio and picked up three grandsons enroute for a stay in Dayton on Saturday night and a visit to the museum on Sunday morning! The kids had a great time asking questions, looking at airplanes and helicopters and sitting in the cockpits as well! I had a chance to share my enthusiasm about flying with them and they learned a bit about their heritage too as I was able them aircraft I had flown! The museum staff was friendly, helpful and it is open from 9…
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Looking Back at Veterans Day
I have to take this opportunity to thank all of the companies out there that did a fabulous job of honoring our veterans yesterday (and throughout this month in some cases). Last night was crazy busy for us. As soon as *E* got off of the bus we headed to the dentist for the boys 6 month-checkups, then it was off to dinner across town and finally to friend’s house for our weekly ‘get together’. I mention dinner because we could have *easily* done a slow-cooker meal and popped home between the dentist and small-group. BUT I knew a number of restaurants in our area that were honoring our Veterans…
