"That Ragged Old Flag"

I walked through a county courthouse square
On a park bench, an old man was sittin there.
I said, "Your court house is kinda run down,
He said, "No, it will do for our little town".
I said "your old flag pole kinda leaned a little bit,
And that’s a ragged old flag you got hanging on it".
He said "have a seat", so I sat down,
He said, "is this your first time you been to our little town"
I said, "I think it is"
He said "I don’t like to brag, but we’re kinda proud of
"That Ragged Old Flag"

"You see, we got a little hole in that flag there,
When Washington took it across the Delaware.
It got powder burned the night Francis Scott Key sat watching it, writing
"Oh Say Can You See"
It got a bad rip in New Orleans, with Packingham & Jackson tugging at its seams.
It almost fell at the Alamo beside the Texas flag,
But she waved on tho.
It got cut with a sword in Chancellorsville,
Got cut again at Shiloh Hill.
There was Robert E. Lee and Beauregard and Bragg,
And the south wind blew hard on
"That Ragged Old Flag"

On Flanders Field in World War I,
She took a big hole from a Bertha Gun,
She turned blood red in World War II
She hung limp and low a time or two.
She was in Korea, Vietnam, She went where she was sent by her Uncle Sam.
She waved from our ships upon the briny foam, And now they've about quit waving her back here at home.
And here in her own good land,
She’s been abused, burned, dishonored, denied and refused,
And the very government for which she stands
Has been scandalized throughout out the land.

And she’s getting thread bare, and she’s wearing thin,
But she’s in pretty good shape, for the shape she’s in.
Cause she’s been through the fire before
and I know, she can take a whole lot more.
So we raise her up every morning
And we bring her down every night,
We don’t let her touch the ground,
And we fold her up right.
On second thoughtI do like to brag
Cause I’m mighty proud of
"That Ragged Old Flag"

Words to Ragged Old Flag By John R. Cash, © 1974 House of Cash, Inc.

History and Stories, Part II

Being me, and for those of you who now me, these statements should be self evident.

I believe that America as a whole has forgotten where they have come from and why they are here today(USA). I believe that Americans are not learning from the past. I believe that Americans are turning into a mob. I believe, if we the leaders of Americans do not teach and hold a higher standard to which we believe America is; then we will lose. That dream of America that we strive for will be lost and we will be America no more. We are beating ourselves and we are doing it to the youngest generation.

I do not want to lose. I want to Dream. I want the Dream of America to prevail.I want America to win. I am doing my part to ensure the future of that Dream.

Are you?

Wishing in One Hand........

If you link to my blog...

I will think about you regularly.

I will help in vitural solutions to your problems.

I will lend you my imaginary friend.

I will not call you names out loud or under my breathe.

I will take back all those means things I said about you.
(Unless you liked that.)

History and Stories

Reflecting on one's past.

Strategy

Immigrants of History

Analogy

Lacrosse

I believe this photo was taken in the summer of '97. I am fairly sure we were golfing the Scarlet course at Camp Lejeune. The goal keeper is Eric, a former Marine, who I have lost touch with.

Fuzzy Apples

I am coming to the fast approaching realization that everyone is more cuckoo than I. The only difference is some people are better at hiding it. I am not saying I am "crazy", in my mind I am the most sane individual there is. Everything in my head makes complete sense, it is the venture that worries me.

The Council of Trent

I really wanted to label a post "the Meaning of Life" or the "Answer to the Ultimate Question", but I knew everyone knew the answer was 42.

I am looking for answers to questions that I haven't asked. Without any sillyness(spelled right), I am looking for a direction. I have been having a reoccurring dream and it is not a good one. (So if it seems that the last few posts do not make sense, that's okay, they might not.)

Roles of People in a Community

(I am not saying I want to be a preacher, this just thoughts that need clarification.)

My understanding of "preacher" is to be a leader in the "community" and translator of "God's" work.

On someone's blog ( unfortunately, I do not keep track of every blog I visit) I listed some traits of a pastor that I believe he or she should have. That post or link would have been good here. Hindsight is 20/40, right?

Part I - Please tell me what your thoughts are on the role a preacher should have on her/his
congregation or community.

I posted some time ago about some of my thought at that time about God. HERE.

Part II- What is your thought on God, in other words, what purpose or role does God have?

The Many Facets

Death is always bad when speaking generally about youth.
Life is always bad when speaking generally about those who terrorists in nature. (I do not like to use that word in the previous sentence, but people only seem to connect lately with that one.)
The Armed Forces of any nation rely heavily on youth to deal out death with the political view of that nation.

What brings me to say these things?

For some reason, many people including Americans are forgetting that it is the youth of the world that is trained how to inflict pain and or death. You can disguise it any way you want but that is the simple fact.

The Great American Football

It is not like the Great Pumpkin or even Charlie Brown's Christmas tree, but is is as special. The lengths in which some of us will go to watch our preferred or any football game for that matter.

Last night I spent about six hours rerouting some coax under and over and through some pretty disgusting and hard to reach places. My signal still isn't good and it looks like I won't be able to see the Packers play again this week.

That is it, the Green Bay game, it lasts for 3 to 4 hours a week, with a bye week in late October, for seventeen weeks. Potentially another month when they reach the play-offs.

My guess is, the majority of you do not understand the mind of cheesehead. Do not fret, many have tried and many have failed to realize We are a different breed. The type that will tailgate in a blizzard six hours before the gates open in a stadium. The type that will pass season tickets in their will. The type that never leaves even when the team looks grim and may have been losing. The type that remains true no matter where they may be in the world.

Searching For Myself

I have to blame More Cows for inviting me to search for myself. That is okay, using Google I find me and Hitler and some World War Two pictures. Here is the explanation:

I have a relative(I don't know my family tree well enough to explain how) that was a General in Hitler army. If fact this guy, is the guy who surrendered in Berlin after Hitler's death. Well, that should explain the WWII pictures and Hitler.

The pictures of me are quite simple I own a website that I use as a scrapbook of sorts. There is just a little bit of everything in my website.(Been on the web since 1997.)

Now, when searching for my "nickname" I find More Cows and other RevGals. I also find some video that I posted on MySpace from Japan. Of course, there is also a picture from my website.

Six Year Old Rant

I am a bit ticked off at ELCA? I am not really sure if I am focusing my anger in the right direction.

For about six years now I have been trying to recieve an annulment from my second failed marriage. From the pastors that I have talked to personnally, say I have a good case, but that is where it tends to drop.

Nothing really is gained as far as monies or rights, by the act. This marriage was the only one done in thoery in a church sanctioned by the church.

I am not expecting any comments on this post, I just felt I needed to get this off my chest.

I thinking of deleting this post. I may end up moving it to a different "time."

Rain

It has been raining today and tonight so far. I believe the last time it (sky) has rained was Aprilish.

The rain here does something strange to dry moon dust around here. The ground becomes one of two things, either it will became pasty or slushy. I suppose it hinges on the amount of rain, but since this is a first for quite awhile it is becoming pasty.

Also, instead of smelling dust, we smell wet dust! Yea! I would have to say the smell of rain normally is a good thing, but not here. It is reminder of another obstacle of fun!

Fortunate Son

Okay, I think it is obvious by now that I am an American. I would call this the "duh" factor. I am a proud American and would like other Americans to be proud. I think that is simple enough. So this post will be simple in that I will link a few places that may help in remembering and acting like an American.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,244988,00.html
- This story is about buying a bunch of European airplanes instead of Made in the USA airplanes.

http://www.howtobuyamerican.com/
- Supporting American-Made Products and Services from American-Owned Companies

http://www.madeinusa.org/
- American Made: Products and Services - Made in USA

http://www.usstuff.com/
- A listing of products made in America

http://anymarine.com/
- One of many outlets to support groups of Marines

There is many more great sites, in which you could find yourself. This is just a little reminder. I will close with the Pledge of Allegiance.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Friday Five: Thankfulness list

The RevGals and there questions or lists on Friday seem to be a learning of one self. Side Note: I am going to try keep doing these.

List at least five things (people, places, graces, miracles...) for which you are thankful.

A) Mom - without her I would probably be up in shit creek and/or stuck there.

B) Scruples - not the game, but the few brain cells rumbling in my head that seems to be working

C) Friends - I know it seems generic, but the ones in question know who they are. Without my friends I would have lost all my scruples in shit creek by now.

D) Not Here - the place when you go when get away from here. Again it seems generic but it really isn't.

E) Dreams - the collective of the love my Mom has given me while not being here with some friends doing something with my scruples. It is an awesome feeling.

Orange Skies

I work at night. So in turn, I am able to see most of the sunrises here. Today is an exception to the rule.

I am hoping the worst will be over before I leave work and go to my living space. I have forgotten my scarf. I do have my goggles though, so I will be able to see. I also ride a bike so I will probably look pretty goofy. I wish I had my scarf.The good news is I am not wet so I won't look like a sugar cookie when I do get off of work and venture outside.

Yes, you have guessed it, it is a sandstorm.

General Y's for a Friday

Why is it when you turn music up REAL loud, when listening to a favorite song it sounds better?

Why don't I get the questions asked of me, that I know the answer?

Why does it seem that I am always over loaded with work and there are subordinates that seem to have nothing to do?

Why can't I say the things that are really on my mind to anyone?

Why do people think I want to be here?

Why don't people know where their capital of their state is located?

Why don't people know who is on the one dollar bill?

Why don't people vote?

Why is everything someone else's fault?

Why does the Teddy Bear on my desk comfort me so? (Christmas '06 present from Trinity Lutheran which I have never stepped foot in.)

Why do people like me?

Why do people hate me?

Why am I really here?

Why are there different classes of United States of America people, shouldn't we just be Americans?

Why do people care if you are white, black, brown, or purple?

Why are strawberries not on tap?

Why can't you read my thoughts?

Why do "women" think I can read their thoughts?

Why is "ADIDAS" on my mind more as an adult than when I was a teenager?

Why am I not "allowed" to play in the toy section of Walmart(name any large chain store) when other adults are present?

Why am destined to be my father?

Why am I afraid of that?

Why are Twizzlers so good?

Why do I question my past so much?

Why doesn't the media cover anything good?(vice evil)

Why do I play the devil's advocate role so well?

Why did I really drop out of School of Architecture? (Pre-Marine Corps)

Why can't I find that one and only?

Why on Sundays do I like to recieve a small cherry dipped cone from DQ?

Why are there not beef jerky trees next to the money trees?

Sweet Jane

I have been a fan of Lou Reed for quite some time, but the Cowboy Junkies did a cover of Sweet Jane and I think I like that one better.

A very good song for ________________.

You fill in the blank.

Reminiscence

I had this crazy memory about some fun times at the karaoke bar down from sobriety hill at Fuetemna. What prompted this, I heard someone listening to Mony Mony, the Billy Idol version. Sad to say but the reason I could drink so often in Japan, was because I sang karaoke.

For those you do not know, when you sang your tune, however close you were to the version on the machine you scored points. The bar usually had a certain score if you made it above you got a "free" drink. In some of them, if you made the score exactly, you received 2 "free" drinks. I quote the free because it cost an average 200 yen to sing and coupon the bar gave you was usually for 400 yen which only covered draft beer. So it doesn't compare to church in that aspect, where you can sing for nothing.

My "normal" selections were: Summer Nights (duet), Jack and Diane, Piano Man, Mony Mony, and Minority. The last two were the end of the night, voice was lost, type songs.

Fun Times.

When There's Nothing You Can Do

My Mind seems to be peaking today and I need a break. I need to get away from these people. Just a little while away.

I really can't continue this post, I am too ticked off. Sorry.