It wasn't the uniform, it was the action taken.

Honor. 
Courage. 
Commitment.  


I am a huge supporter of our American Military. It doesn't matter what branch because all serve these beautiful United States of America. Because of them, I live free.

The extraordinary Men and Women who serve our country are, by far, the greatest Heros of my time. I thank them for their service to our country.

This gentleman is one of them.
And I thank him for this small but very important act...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=co-zSJSfUmE#!



Former Marine Mark Dolfini took time from his own life to honor a young man who loved the Marines. Unfortunately Cody lost his battle with leukemia. My heart fills with sadness for this young mans family. At the same time my heart fills with pride for Mr. Dolfini.

Thank you for your selfless act.
Thank you for your service to this great land in which we live.
And mostly, Thank You, Sir, for reminding me that in the end... it's about the human soul.

At a time when there is so much negativity in our world, all it takes is one small act of kindness to make me realize that Angels do walk among us.

Up or down, how do you ride?

I had a 5am plane to meet this morning. Not much traffic driving into town, which was nice. I got to see the sunrise, and that's a switch, as I usually see it setting! The weather was beautiful, about 70 degrees. With work finished, heading home, this day's beauty in my face - both windows are down and the sunroof is wide open. I took my time driving home because I simply wasn't in a hurry. And that was nice too.
As I rode through the morning commuters, I was struck by the fact that very few drive with their windows down. Those who crack the window, say a couple inches, you don't count. I am talking about having all the windows all the way down. Once was the time when there were very few who rode with the windows up!! ("Oooo! (said in my envious voice) They must have air conditioning!!") There was more communication, more connection to others then. Not any more. So closed off from everyone else. In these vehicles that already have way too much going on for the average driver. I long for the good old days... when the dashboard was just a plain old dashboard. Not a media mecca. Not a docking station for portable devices. How fast I'm going and how much gas I have is all I really need to know!
I know most people nowadays would not consider giving up the comfort of their AC for any length of time. I prefer not to have or use AC. Yes, I do get hot without it. And sometimes even sticky. But I am used to it. As a society we have been...( haha for the lack of a better word...) conditioned!! Most folks feel as if they might die if they have to endure life without AC! And spoiled is all they have become.
I feel old realizing that things will never be like they used to be. I come from a time when you lived among people. You know, another human talking face to face.. or at least through an open window!
I like the fact that I can roll up to a stoplight and can hear that beautiful sound of a badass V8 rumbling in the next lane. Or hear the giggling of little kids as I roll past the schoolyard during recess. And the cheers coming from the stadium as the home team scores. So much life is missed all closed up in those vehicles.

When was the last time you rode with life blowing through your windows?

Who will kiss away this hurt?

It's Mother's Day. And it is a dreary rainy day here in Alabama. This weather certainly reflects my mood. My Mom is 500 miles away. On my mind she is, and without it being 'her special day' I am more worried about her than ever. She has emphysema. Full blown. She has been on oxygen for more than 10 years. During our last phone call she informed me that her air intake is at the maximum. This means, in regular people terms, that there are no portable tanks large enough to sustain her away from her home for more than an hour. Virtually homebound. This is very bad as my Mom, for her age (77) and physical health, is so independent! But her fate is inevitable.
I have seen her health declining the last couple times I've been to visit her. I've seen her struggle from point A to point B, literally losing her breath and having to stop and take a seat to catch her wind. I keep telling myself that she is okay, when in reality, she is not. As if this isn't bad enough news for the little girl in me, I am days away from the anniversary of my Father's death. It's been 28 years. Gone so long that I hardly remember what he looked like, or the sound of his voice.
I am longing for another time, so long ago. But it's gone, a distant memory. I want so desperately to go back. To an easier life, when things were so simple. I am feeling so low. On so many levels I have so much, yet I want for more. Nothing tangible comes to mind... only a longing. I miss my Dad and with my Moms health deteriorating it is coming at me full force. Feelings of loss are so thick I can hardly think.

Through the rain tonight, I will drive myself to work.
With those thoughts of days gone by...

My kid had bruised knuckles...ONCE

A friend posted a blog (http://xanaxorrunningshoes.com/2012/04/30/the-problem-with-your-children/) about her daughter being bullied on her school bus on the same day I read an article about a 5year old being arrested in Florida on felony charges. What the hell is happening to our world?? What happened to having personal responsibilities? Have we just lost our minds?
It seems you can't do anything anymore without some vindictive idiot calling 'foul'. That old school raising I had has proved to be timeless. I lived in a house that taught respect for people and rules. I lived in a house that taught personal responsibility. I lived in a house that used corporal punishment. You break the rules - you suffer the consequences. There was no grey area. My siblings and I are none the worse for wear because of it. In fact, we each raised our children with the same set of rules.
The school we attended also used corporal punishment, which at that time did not require my parents permission to be administered. Again... you break the rules - you suffered. And if you did happen to get a paddling at school, it wasn't over... you had to go home and face the paddling you would get from the parental unit because you had the nerve to misbehave at school!!
Not anymore. I don't know how it happened but we have become a society afraid. Why? Because someone decided that respect was too much work? The parents of little ones today have a world of hurt waiting around the corner for them...
Case in point, the 5 year old in Florida who threw a temper tantrum, attacked and punched the asst. principle. (http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-500202_162-690601.html) The little girl was handcuffed and put in a police cruiser. Now the lawyer for the mother plans on suing. I watched the video. It is disturbing. But a good spanking would have changed the whole story! I agree that the police should NOT have handcuffed her. In fact, they should have done NOTHING until the parent was present. But it doesn't take away the fact that the little girl is a damn BRAT!
Another case in point, the 10 year old who attacked her teacher after she had her halloween candy taken away. (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/14/ten-year-old-girl-attacks_n_1093201.html) Kick that kids ass!! Good grief!! So the little shit threatened the teacher saying she was going to kill her... she did NOT learn this at school!! If she thinks it's okay to make idle threats, well guess where she learned it!!

The parent with bad parenting skills (the child learns this behavior from somewhere......) will try to get a cash settlement because she is raising a future bully?? And this is going to change things? I think not. We have coddled the stupid long enough!! And just what are they trying to reform?? You send your child to school to learn. To read, to write, to use the environment for social skills that will be needed as they become adults. No wonder we have so many stupid people who think the world owes them!! This has also put our schools at a disadvantage because of the fear of the personal retaliation from the parents. Start kicking their ass at home!! Kick their asses at school!! Teach them the difference between right and wrong. Lift each up to be an example of what happens when you misbehave!! I think what we lack most is teaching each child personal responsibility.
Oh but wait... I think that child has a problem.. we must remove said child from the regular classroom and put them in a special needs class. BULLSHIT!!  All that does is solidifies in that childs mind that their behavior grants them special privileges! Oh but their behavior leads me to believe they might need some sort of medication. Oh. My. God. We are already an over-medicated society... that's right teach them in elementary school that your best bet to get out of something is to be ON something!!! What a wicked circle.

My friend's child is being bullied on her bus. My friend told her child to rear back and give the bully a good solid punch in the nose. Yay!! Good for her!! Now most people would be against this type of advice but I am not. I taught both my kids to stand up for themselves and if it got them in trouble with school officials that it would be okay. Because I would be there to back them up and I would help them through whatever punishment deemed necessary for their crime. But I would be the biggest voice those officials would hear. Yes, I actually had to go the the school because my son took matters into his own hands. And yes, he was punished. In fact, the other parent took us to court to pay for the hospital bill because Kyle broke his nose. Which I gladly paid. But in the end my son learned a valuable lesson, stick up for yourself at all costs. And he told me years later that NO ONE EVER BOTHERED HIM AGAIN. So for my friends child, and all those whose children find themselves being tormented by a bully... one good poke in the nose is worth a million reprimands.