Home Improvement Question

I really want a fireplace. I almost bought a home with one but the rest was crap. I really need a TV/audio stand. So I am contemplating buying something like this:


Or something like this:

Both are about the same for price range and to match the rest of my furniture it would have to a be a lighter wood color like the ones pictured.
So here is the question, should I pick one of the above or go with a straight TV stand? If one of the above which one do you prefer?

I like both.

Rev Gals Friday Five: St Francis of Assisi

(Side note: I was clueless of this saint before today. My heathen side may reign.)

1. Saint Francis experienced a life changing call, has anything in your journey so far challenged you to alter your lifestyle?
My injury to my wrist has been the most life changing experience that I can ever recall of having. Unless, of course, you include my career choice, that might be the big one.

2. Francis experienced mocking and persecution, quite often in the comfortable west this is far from our experience. If you have experienced something like this how do you deal with it, if not how does it challenge you to pray for those whose experience is daily persecution?
I know I am right and that is all that matters. When I find myself nervous for what ever reason, I engage in conversation and it soothes me soul.

3 .St Francis had female counterpart in St Clare, she was influenced by St Francis sermon and went on to found the Poor Clare's, like the Franciscans they depended on alms this was unheard of for women in that time, but she persisted and gained permission to found the order. How important are role models like St Clare to you? Do you have a particular female role model whose courage and dedication inspires you? If so share their story....
I was asked a about my role models many times and really, I don't think I ever had one. I did, always like Ronald Reagan though.
“Some people wonder all their lives if they've made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem.” -Ronald Reagan

4. Francis loved nature and animals, how important is an expressed love of the created world to the Christian message today?

I don't have a good answer, I am a warrior and the simple things in life is what I love.

5. On a lighter note; have you ever led a service of blessing for animals, or a pet service, was it a success, did you enjoy it, and would you do it again?

Never. My sermons entail the espirit of Manhood and Womanhood and to never let anything stop you on your journey.

Cusp of Criticism

According to the research I have found I was born into the Cusp of Criticism. Which may be the "duh" factor here.
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Some of my research dictates that "we" are definitely something special. We combine personal charm and attractiveness with intelligence and talent. Although we shine effortlessly, they are natural loners who draw strength from privacy. We want to make our mark on the world and may even feel that we are destined to do so.
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A preference for excesses is the key to understanding the health habits of people like me. We may equate a surfeit of food and drink with happiness, which could lead to the yo-yo dieting effect. Since these traits could be deep-rooted, we may benefit from professional advice. With our optimism and enthusiastic flair for life, those of us, don't put up barriers to what we can accomplish. If we want something, we go after it with tenacity. Even though we do not judge our level of success by how much money we make, we want to be recognized for our talent and ability.
Individuals born on the cusp of Libra (the seventh Sign of the Zodiac) and Scorpio (the eighth Sign of the Zodiac) are ruled by both Venus and Pluto. Here, the fair judgment of Libra adds intuition to the cool, precise skill of Scorpio. The end result is something quite remarkable...if care is taken in development. Coupled with the inherent Libra craving for excitement is the bold and pleasure-seeking Scorpio mind, which is strong in self-control and determination, standing ready to carry into action whatever seems worthwhile. However, the ability to turn ideas into accomplishments often produces a marked egotism among these cuspians, which is all the more reason why they should seek higher goals in culture, education and social life. Whatever is achieved by these individuals, they will cling to with much tenacity and they can easily drift into narrow-mindedness and unscrupulous behavior if not careful. These are souls who are easily flattered, particularly by popular acclaim, and flare into anger toward those who oppose their schemes. Yet, when intuition and judgment are developed to their fullest extent, these are not only dynamic persons, but ones who are endowed with the rare presence of mind customarily found in the fields of medicine and the military.

This cusp melds the airy (or mental) nature of Libra with the watery (or emotional) characteristics of Scorpio...not necessarily an easy task. Many times, the two aspects of this personality are at war with each other...the head guiding and the heart denying (or vice versa). Hence, these natives can find themselves in a deep dilemma when the intellectual and emotional clash. Periods of indecision associated with Libra may be broken by outbursts of aggression inherent in the Scorpio nature. Alternatively, the customary self-assured determination of Scorpio may be undermined by the Libra love of repose and tendency to procrastinate. Cultural awareness and a talkative nature will help these individuals to shine in any social situation and they are experts in communication and abstract reasoning. Yet, at times, the tensions and disappointments of life may prove to be overwhelming, so much so that those governed by this cusp may retreat into isolation. Therefore, Libra/Scorpio individuals benefit from physical exercise, fitness training, sound diets and all activities that promote healthy contact with the world at large, thereby lessening the unfortunate bent toward isolation. Mentally, these are perceptive and sharply insightful souls. However, they do possess a certain sense of personal infallibility coupled with a tendency to be overly critical. The disapproving or denigrating attitude of these cuspians can hurt those close to them, undermining the confidence of others in subtle ways.

Libra/Scorpio natives have a decidedly modern approach in many areas, but they also harbor an undeniable sense of tradition. This is particularly apparent in their devotion to parents and children, in whose lives they play a large role...sometimes a little too large. Still, that is not to say that these cuspians will readily accept the values of their parents. Indeed, it is usually quite the opposite. The attachment here is more emotional. After a normally stormy and rebellious adolescence, those born on this cusp often return to an extremely close relationship with their parents later in life. As responsible as the majority of those ruled by this cusp seem in most areas of everyday life, they possess a side which is undeniably wild and unpredictable. Dramatic and impulsive, they will fly in the face of society's moral codes without hesitation, asserting their personal values or expressing themselves both cogently and flamboyantly. Even the mildest of individuals ruled by the Libra/Scorpio cusp tend to be somewhat exhibitionistic...wanting and needing others to take notice of them. Here, the private life may well include a plethora of love affairs...a path strewn with the broken hears of those with whom they have had relationships. The particular brand of charisma, impulsiveness and mental powers associated with these natives makes them formidable individuals. When it comes to involvements, they may be even more than a little dangerous given their natural talent for being seductive, attractive, commanding and intense.

Highly motivated and usually loyal, those governed by this cusp are often misunderstood and may be perceived as dictatorial or sarcastic. If there is an ulterior motive, they can indeed be overbearing, but normally in a subtle, sly or manipulative manner. These are individuals who are both mystical and scientific...a combination that results in high awareness of what is truly happening around them. Since this cusp is associated with a passionate nature, care should be taken to avoid self-indulgence or compulsion. In addition, there is no doubt that this blend of Signs has a tendency toward a definite lazy streak. Still, this is generally barely perceptible given the enjoyment of difficult pursuits that challenge these persons to excel...and they refuse to be anything less than the best. There may also be an affinity here for activities that allow them to get out into nature. Capable of extraordinary originality, Libra/Scorpio natives are clever in business and quick to seize an opportunity.

The greatest strength of Libra/Scorpio cuspians is to be found in their drive for peace and harmony, coupled with a determination to see things through to the end. The natural skill for seeing all sides of a situation, coupled with enormous passion and great strength, makes this combination one of the most powerful characters of the Zodiac.

The most important lesson to be learned by Libra/Scorpio natives is to develop their natural ability to think and act promptly since there is a tendency here to delay things or mull them over for so long that it proves to be costly. As with all cusp individuals, these cuspians tend to be attracted to others born on the cusp...particularly those who fall within the Taurus/Gemini and Sagittarius/Capricorn combination.

-- Possess the theatrical traits inherent in Libra --
-- Possess the serious, deep-feeling and critical traits inherent in Scorpio --
-- Counted among the most critical individuals of the Zodiac --
-- Possess a facile mind and sharp tongue --
-- Sought out for honest opinions --
-- Tend to hold nothing back --
-- Once committed to a project, will refuse to stop until completion is attained --
-- Need to learn how to relax and have fun --
-- Need to concentrate on the future while still living for today --

Interesting to know this. Don't you all think? Then again it could all be hogwash.

Worst Case Scenario

With my on going medical visits and the soon to be had surgery, questions asked of me are about the worst case scenarios. If the surgery goes wrong or if recovery doesn't go as planned it is the "then what" questions. Basically, I would be looking at one of the four possibilities.

Separation with severance pay
This happens when separation with disability severance pay occurs if the member is found unfit, has less than 20 years of service, and has a disability rating of less than 30%.
This is highly unlikely so I haven't even considered it.

Permanent disability retirement
Permanent disability retirement occurs if the member is found unfit, the disability is determined permanent and stable and rated at a minimum of 30%.
This one is a possibility and retirees can receive retired pay based on the larger of two formulas: multiplying the retired pay base either by the percentage of the disability rating or by 2.5 percent of the number of years of service, up to a 75 percent ceiling.

Temporary disability retirement
Temporary disability retirement occurs if the member is found unfit and entitled to permanent disability retirement except that the disability is not stable for rating purposes. "Stable for rating purposes" refers to whether the condition will change within the next five years so as to warrant a different disability rating.
This is the other possibility that I must look at and the pay amount is the minimum payment is 50 percent of the last amount of basic pay before the member was taken off duty; the maximum is 75 percent.

Separation without benefits
Separation without benefits occurs if the unfitting disability existed prior to service, was not permanently aggravated by military service, and the member has less than 8 years of Active Service (active duty days); or the disability was incurred while the member was absent without leave or while engaging in an act of misconduct or willful negligence.
This is not the case so therefore doesn't apply.

I hope this answers everyone's questions. Oh, if you thinking how does one figure out the percentage then I suggest you can read for yourself. Go to this link: http://www.warms.vba.va.gov/bookc.html

If you can understand it, then you are the shinier apple.

Greenbacks

Since this is a topic of discussion where ever I go these days I thought I would write a bit about it. The value of my home in Yuma, for example, was purchased for 131000 dollars, today that same amount is worth 139,077.33 per the consumer price index. So really my money is worth about five percent more in just a few short years. That really isn't bad when you think about it. Of course, I am not taking into account of what the land value is but just the basic value of the money.

The big things on people's minds seem to be the strong versus the weak dollar. Well, do people really know what that means? I don't think so. So here is my interpretation and if you think I am way off you can look it up yourself.

Strong dollar
Means: American-made goods relatively expensive for foreigners. Consumers at home and abroad buy less costly goods from countries other than the U.S. Sales of U.S. companies erode, prompting them to lay off American workers and outsource jobs to countries with cheaper labor. Foreign imports are relatively inexpensive, interest rates remain low or moderate if inflation is controlled, and the standard of living is relatively high.

Weak dollar
Means: American-made goods and travel to the U.S. less expensive for foreigners, boosting the sales of U.S. manufacturers and prompting them to increase production and hire workers. The growth of U.S. exports helps trim the trade deficit. A weak dollar also attracts increased foreign investment in U.S. real estate and capital markets. A weak dollar makes foreign imports and overseas travel more expensive for Americans; the U.S. standard of living falls because the dollar buys less. If traders believe the dollar will continue to weaken, they may invest in stronger currencies of other countries.

So you can see there are pros and cons to either scenario. It seems that currently we are looking at a weak dollar. So financially I, myself, don't plan on buying anything from China or Germany for awhile if I can help it.

The dollar is currently used as the standard it was once the gold standard but now more than 90 percent of the world economy uses the dollar as the standard. This partly due to the open economy that we have in the United States. The big question rising now is if the dollar will be replaced by either the euro, and perhaps the Chinese yuan. I personally don't see this happening in my lifetime, but what could happen if Europe and China's economies continue to grow at their current rate a division may occur and trading will be separated into three parts.

What I have found, in my own research, is the downturn of the dollar started with the embargo of OPEC in the late seventies. That may be reason enough to start, and mean really start, using all of our resources and find alternative ways of replacing this resources. I am not saying go green necessarily but I do mean we should be using our greenbacks and not other countries.

Muse

As I wonder how I am going to cope with the next few weeks, I thought about laughter. And as I thought more about it, I really don't remember when was the last time I really laughed. A full out belly laugh. A time when laughter was the response to a time when fun was just the entertainment of the moment.

There were times while abroad where being silly was the norm. There were times when I looked forward to seeing friends when I knew the result was going to be a tearjerker of a roar. There was once a time when seeing someone would make me smile for no discernible reason.

Where did those times go? Has it been my own demise? Have I lost the touch of the humanity that drove into the next week?

Why is it that I ask such questions? I ask because, I think, I lost my muse.

Pupil (Final Draft)

Being broken, hurt and sad
Possibilities are endless
Having hope while mad
Sparkling bubbles into the mess

Heartless and Joy
Consciences and Bliss
Girls and a Boy
Bullets waver the miss

Indulgent while coy,
Innocence of the smoking gun
Piercing a little toy
Drinking in Tun.

Shadows in the light
Smiles after the axe,
The sun into the Night
Envy: Wrath was the tax

Savoring my flavor
Waking into Yesterday
The raven of Flight; Soar!
Bosoms what may

Dust. Ash. Clay. And Mud.
Stripping, Clawing, and Fault
A spring with bud
Secrets, Lust ... in the vault.

It Wasn't Me, It Was the One Armed Man

If anyone has some good ideas of things to do with one arm; I would be happy to take suggestions. I am basically looking at having my left arm cast up with pins sticking out of it. I am currently planning on lots of movie watching and some Internet perusing but that pretty much sums it up. Knitting is definitely out of the question. Even typing will wind up being a problem so that isn't looking like viable option. Suggestions welcome.

Fun with Navy Medicine, Part XIX

In about three weeks I will be having the surgery I mentioned in my previous post. Then I will be at home for eight weeks. The doctor went into more detail with me about the procedure and either way you look at it, it will be painful.

So preparing for the extended visit in my home, I have bought the remaining seasons of Stargate: SG-1 and Atlantis that I was missing. (About 200 hours worth.) Plus, I have Netflix.

Politics for a Monday

I have figured it out. Why, when I talk about what I need and what most of my readers think I need think that I need Andrew Jackson's "strong willed animal". Why not the animal that never forgets?

People are looking for the short term.

I don't need short term. I need a viable future. Every person sees the politics and how it fits them or how it helps them succeed in life. I look to the future. I have been doing that since my first reenlistment when I realized that I wasn't prepared for what lie ahead. I needed to start preparing instead of living in the moment.

(Basically, I am in thought process of doing my duty for twenty and my duty will take care me for the next twenty.)

I know that while looking out for all of you, most of you will not look out for me. Therefore, I am looking out for me while I am looking out for you as well.

I know who I plan to vote for, I do. No, I will not tell you. That is my right.

Sunday Edition, Part II

For some damn reason, it seems that I cannot get a thousand bucks of rent a month for my home in Arizona unless it has a carport. Even that doesn't cover the mortgage. The home is 2200 square foot home on an acre and a half. It sits about 14 miles from the city which is all interstate driving and has a mountain view on three sides. Inside it has three bedrooms, two full baths, closet space of approximately 800 square feet, energy efficient, skylighted kitchen, dinning room, breakfast nook, living room, sun room, and mud room. I also included every major appliance not to miss the jetted tubs in each bathroom. Where in Sam's Hell can you find anything like that for under a grand a month? Plus, since there is a built in pet door, it seems that every renter has pets. My Berber carpeting is ruined.

My home in North Carolina, is a complete contrast in comparison. It was built 50 years earlier and is centered in the city, plus there is grass. Since this is my primary residence, it would be nice to to have a carport or at least a cover park area to the home, it rains here. I have been trying to do an upgrade a paycheck. This last one I added a fan to the front room and one in the kitchen. (I'll do a video when I get the mess cleaned up.)

I have been trying lately to get some assistance in my remodel/repair of my homes. It seems unless I am missing something here, but since I am active duty I am screwed. There is lots of money available for veterans, whether it be a loan, grant or a combo. I have looked into the 203K and 502K programs, both are for remodeling or repair of a residence and are backed by the government. One I make about three thousand too much a year to qualify and the other it seems that since I am not a residence of where my homes are, automatically disqualifies me. There is no program or help for active duty members of service. Not a one. (I know what you thinking, what about the Navy Relief Society? They will only help me in a catastrophe.)

The good thing about doing any type of remodel or adding a carport is I will save a bunch of money once I have my surgery. No driving, alcohol, or partying for two months. So after that, I should be able to afford a carport for at least in Arizona.

I have tried something different over the weekend. I have been applying for about two dozen home improvement shows. Most are exclusively for California. One that looks promising is for north eastern United States, I am hoping North Carolina is north enough. The one thing that is needed for all of them is ownership, I have that. It seems to me that most are biased and are looking for a couple atmosphere, that may disqualify me.

Rev Gals Friday Five: First Point of Libra.

As this vivid season begins, tell us five favorite things about fall:

1) A fragrance
It seems to me, that baking becomes the new holiday when this season comes. The fresh bread, the vanilla, and of course the cupcakes.

2) A color
Being of one who came from a state with seasons, the change of leaves the bright reds, oranges and yellows.

3) An item of clothing
You could call me lazy, but when the fall begins I don't have to roll my sleeves for my working uniforms anymore. I have been cheating for years and use motivated NCOs to roll my sleeves during the summer.

4) An activity
Does sex count for this one? If not, then it must be football.

5) A special day
I personally don't have any special days no matter what time of the year, but I am a Libra.

Let me tell you about TPS Reports, Part IV

I apparently jinxed myself with the last post. I had to do another revision again today. This time the format was in question. I didn't write the original format. In fact, I had received this format from my administration section. I also had to include some people that were not listed originally. This part I think is odd since these people don't sign anything and I had already included them on the routing sheet for information anyway.

This is an example why people get out of the military. It is not the big things, it is the little ones.

Doctrines

The recent influx of attention about what the "Bush Doctrine" is, has me wondering how many people really know what it is?

Wikipedia has every President's doctrine. Here are some of the doctrines that I found interesting.

Bush Doctrine:

The Bush Doctrine is a phrase used to describe various related foreign policy principles of United States president George W. Bush, created in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks. The phrase initially described the policy that the United States had the right to treat countries that harbor or give aid to terrorist groups as terrorists themselves, which was used to justify the invasion of Afghanistan.^[1] Later it came to include additional elements, including the controversial policy of preventive war, which held that the United States should depose foreign regimes that represented a threat to the security of the United States, even if that threat was not immediate (used to justify the invasion of Iraq); a policy of supporting democracy around the world, especially in the Middle East, as a strategy for combating the spread of terrorism; and a willingness to pursue U.S. military interests in a unilateral way.^[2][3][4] Some of these policies were codified in a National Security Council text entitled the National Security Strategy of the United States published on September 20, 2002.^[5]

Central to the development of the Bush Doctrine is its strong influence by neoconservative ideology,^[6][7] and it is considered to be a step from the political realism of the Reagan Doctrine.^[6][8] The Reagan Doctrine was considered key to American foreign policy until the end of the Cold War, just before Bill Clinton became president of the United States. The Reagan Doctrine was considered anti-Communist and in opposition to Soviet Union global influence, but later spoke of a peace dividend towards the end of the Cold War with economic benefits of a decrease in defense spending. The Reagan Doctrine was strongly criticized^[9][10][8] by the neoconservatives, who also became disgruntled with the outcome of the Gulf War^[7][6] and United States foreign policy under Bill Clinton,^[7][11] sparking them to call for change towards global stability^[7][12] through their support for active intervention and the democratic peace theory.^[11] Several central persons in the counsel to the George W. Bush administration consider themselves to be neoconservatives or sign on to their foreign policy ideas.^{[7][13][14][15][16][17]}

Clinton Doctrine:

The Clinton Doctrine is not a clear statement in the way that many other United States Presidential doctrines were. However, in a February 26, 1999 speech, President Bill Clinton said the following, which was generally considered to summarize the Clinton Doctrine^[1]:

It's easy ... to say that we really have no interests in who lives in this or that valley in Bosnia, or who owns a strip of brushland in the Horn of Africa, or some piece of parched earth by the Jordan River. But the true measure of our interests lies not in how small or distant these places are, or in whether we have trouble pronouncing their names. The question we must ask is, what are the consequences to our security of letting conflicts fester and spread. We cannot, indeed, we should not, do everything or be everywhere. But where our values and our interests are at stake, and where we can make a difference, we must be prepared to do so.

Later statements "genocide is in and of itself a national interest where we should act" and "we can say to the people of the world, whether you live in Africa, or Central Europe, or any other place, if somebody comes after innocent civilians and tries to kill them en masse because of their race, their ethnic background or their religion, and it's within our power to stop it, we will stop it" augmented the doctrine of interventionism.

The Clinton Doctrine was used to justify the American involvement in the war in Yugoslavia. However, President Clinton did not intervene to stop the genocide in Rwanda in 1994.

Truman Doctrine:

The Truman Doctrine was a proclamation by U.S. President Harry S. Truman on March 12, 1947. It stated that the U.S. would support Greece and Turkey economically and militarily to prevent their falling under Soviet control. Truman called upon the U.S. to "support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures,"^[1] which generalized his hopes for Greece and Turkey into a doctrine applicable throughout the world. The Soviet Union was clearly at the heart of Truman's thoughts, but the nation was never directly mentioned in his speech. As Edler states, Truman was attempting to solve Eastern Europe's instability while making sure the spread of communism would not affect nations like Greece and Turkey.

The Truman Doctrine represented the hard-side of containment, while the Marshall Plan was the less harsh approach. The declaration of the Truman Doctrine was followed by the end of tripartism (coalition governments that included communists).

Monroe Doctrine:

The Monroe Doctrine is a U.S. doctrine which, on December 2, 1823, stated that European powers were no longer to colonize or interfere with the affairs of the newly independent nations of the Americas. The United States planned to stay neutral in wars between European powers and their colonies. However, if later on these types of wars were to occur in the Americas, the United States would view such action as hostile. President James Monroe first stated the doctrine during his seventh annual State of the Union Address to Congress, a defining moment in the foreign policy of the United States. Most recently, during the Cold War, the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine (added during the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt) was invoked as a reason to intervene militarily in Latin America to stop the spread of Communism.

Let me tell you about TPS Reports, Part III

I admit it, I lost a piece of government property. I knew it almost as soon as I lost it. I informed my chain of command immediately. The response at that time was to hold off until returning to the States and then file the proper paperwork. Fine. No problem.

Today, is the fourth revision of that paperwork. The item missing is a throat protector assembly, government cost is exactly twenty dollars and six cents. It is very possible that I could find another at a surplus store or online, but why? Especially, if I have to pay more. That is the reason we have these nifty forms in the first place. I have probably wasted in manpower, paper and ink the cost of this item by now, not to forget the individuals that need to review said paperwork.

Originally, my statement was simple and to the point. "It was lost sometime between Kuwait and Iraq on the journey into theater." According to my chain of command that wasn't good enough and required me to inform each person on the way through where the item was lost. So I rewrote it on the second revision.

On the third revision, I apparently had used a few words that required people to use dictionaries and was asked to use more common words.

On the fourth revision, I was asked to take full responsibility for the item and state explicitly that I will pay for the item. In the form, it states the word "wish" which to me is exactly that, a wish. Either way it really does not matter to me, so I agreed and redid the circling of the appropriate word to to inform my superiors that "I do wish to reimburse".

The following is my fourth and hopefully my final version:

"I, XXXX, state that during the Operation Iraqi Freedom 06-08 the throat protector assembly was missing from my gear inventory. Prior to deployment a complete inventory of my gear was done. After arriving in Kuwait, our stick stayed there for several days. Once departure was imminent to leave for Iraq an inventory of the gear required to don was done and the throat protector assembly was missing. After arriving in Iraq at Al Asad, another complete inventory was done to ensure the throat protector assembly was missing or potentially pilfered. Upon conclusion of inventory, the throat protector assembly was still missing. At this point in time I contacted the S-3 shop and informed them of my missing gear. Once returning to Marine Corps Air Station New River after the deployment I conducted another inventory of my gear. At the conclusion of this inventory my throat protector assembly was the only item missing from my inventory. "

Sunday Edition

I know I lost many of my readers when I stopped reading their sites and/or commenting, so this may fall on deaf eyes so to speak.

I am an American in the pursuit of the American Dream. I gross currently about forty-five thousand dollars a year. I am the owner of multiple properties, partly because I had the means and the portfolio to accommodate these purchases. I gained my portfolio by learning how the world works and how to make my dollar work for me. I have made some mistakes. Some cost me almost everything, some gave me gains far above my expectations, and some just seem to have become stagnate. It is all a gamble, such as life.

My ultimate goal is to completely retire by my fiftieth birthday. By my calculations, I need approximately 3.1 million dollars in assets by that age. And of that at least 40 percent need to be in liquid assets. (I wanted to add, that my figures do not include Social Security, I figure it will not be available by that time. No matter how much I have put in it.) This also puts in, the theory, that I will live until I am 75. That is twenty-five years of good retirement. The ability to do as I please, whether it be travel or working part time as a Wal-mart greeter and shooting pool on my afternoons.

It does not matter who is our next president, but my dream, my goal, hinges partly on it. I am not telling you how to vote. That is your right. I just can not find myself voting for someone who is proposing a "steal from the rich to feed the poor" type tax, I just can't. (I have many other reasons on why I won't vote for him, but doesn't follow my thesis statement for this text.)

I am all about the pursuit of happiness, but please don't hinder that dream. (I am talking to the individual that wants to stop this pursuit.)

Rev Gals Friday Five: Back to School

1. Is anyone going back to school, as a student or teacher, at your house? How's it going so far?
Other than a few MCIs (Marine Corps Institute) (long distance learning) No.

2. Were you glad or sad when back-to-school time came as a kid?
Mostly I enjoyed interaction with other kids during that time, during high school I was happy about playing football again.

3. Did your family of origin have any rituals to mark this time of year? How about now?
No

4. Favorite memories of back-to-school outfits, lunchboxes, etc?
I really can't think of any special clothes or anything special for that time. I always skirted the rules of clothes though, so you could say that was a favorite.

5. What was your best year of school?
Junior year, I went to state for Forensics (Public Speaking), Band (Trumpet Solo and Jazz Band), VICA(Vocational Industrial Clubs of America), Football, Student Council (WASC- Wisconsin Association of Student Councils), 4-H, and it was the first year I was published as a writer.

Fuel

Just as another link to help you compare gas prices in your neck of the woods.

http://www.gasbuddy.com/

Here it is about $3.60, but I still pay on base for $3.66. I figure the 48 cents extra or so that I pay is not worth it enough to travel to another lower priced one. Those of you around bigger cities this might be more helpful.

Psychos R Us, Part IV

His Needs, Her Needs. Is actually a book I have received this week by Willard F. Harley Jr. And we, the head doctor and I, discussed it for part of my session today. I have read the intro, preface, chapter one and part of chapter two, as well as the appendixes. It reminds me greatly of a book by Dr. John Gray I had read years ago called Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus.

(One thing I have definitely learned, just because you sell a lot of books doesn't mean you know what you are talking about.)

The basic premise of the book is simple enough, men are different than women. Duh. Everything in both books is geared towards the married couple, and I am not married. But the principles in each are solid enough that if you practice what is preached by both parties there is a strong possibility a marriage or a relationship with someone can endure for many years.

The phrase it takes two to tango comes to mind a lot. Either way, this is part of my "homework" for the week. How to start or sustain a healthy relationship. Healthy in this sense, is the monogamous nature of both parties being happy in said relationship.

Liking my Job

I really like my job. I have the opportunity to camp, visit new and strange places, shoot, grapple, swim, eat foreign cuisine, experience new cultures, understand what is really boring, learning about new technologies, gather with large groups of people, sing to new and old cadences, march, dress up, and many, many more tasks, skills, and experience that is unique to my role in life.

Many people come up to me and ask if I want to get out of _____(insert war/conflict here)?

The simple truth is no.

Yes, there are struggles and hardships, but I knew that when I raised my hand almost fourteen years ago. I want victory. I want United States of America victory. Where ever, whenever that may be, victory is a must.

Do I get treated unfairly in the public eye? (2nd most popular question.)

Never in my face, has anyone treated me unfairly. That does not mean it does not happen.

I believe in a days pay for a days work. I work very hard to be the best at what I do, so the J. Q. Public does not have to. The last time I reenlisted, there was no bonuses offered and I didn't bat an eye.

I like my job.

I am an United States Marine.