Who Is Safe? Just One Person....

Like all Americans I was happy to find out the soldier being held by the Taliban was going to be released.  I knew he had wondered off on his own and there was a lot of controversy and lives lost over him. There has been plenty of chatter about him over the last couple of years, especially when Osama was killed.  I was just relieved to know that our manpower would no longer be used to track what was going on with him and could be focused more on our troops who were doing their jobs with honor and distinction and with all the other support groups over there and the individuals who don't even have names because their jobs are so classified. However, when finding out what was traded for him I literally was sick to my stomach…..i recognized every name on the list of those being released. Those animals are not even human. Actually animal is even too nice a word to use for them. They are killing machines and I can’t even fathom for the life of me why they would be let loose after all the work that was put into capturing them…all the lives lost to put them into captivity……These terrorists have killed and tortured countless human beings, not just Americans, but others in other countries and they will again, they are probably already planning their next victims as I type this. They are evil to the core and those kind of monsters do not stop until they die. I can't even imagine how the people in Afghanistan, Iraq are feeling....those that may still be alive that had assisted in having them captured or any of the enemy that worked with these monsters killed or captured....they have to be terrified knowing that they are coming for them and their family and there is nobody to protect them. Lately i just feel like i am watching a horrible movie.....a really REALLY bad movie that is so obvious in who the bad guys are but none of the actors on the set can see it and me, sitting in the audience is going crazy and just wants to walk out on this atrociously written movie! But unfortunately it's NOT a movie and i can't walk out, but it seems like most of America has walked out and has no idea what is going on....I don't believe their only targets will be only US service members. I really think anyone is at risk now and terror cells operate globally....nobody is safe now. There are thousands of families stationed in the Middle East who shop, dine, and vacation all throughout the Middle East.  DODEA teachers in Europe vacation all over the Middle East all summer long. Military families vacation all over Europe all summer long, not to mention just regular American families on vacation. I worry for the average American family who has no idea about situational awareness who now goes on vacation outside of the United States. There has always been a slight risk, but after this weekend slight just went to high if someone is in a planned area of abduction.  The only person now safe from something like this happening is the one who set them free…… 

Vicki Is Catching A Train

Vicki had fun with the Adolpho's up in Virginia and DC and now it's time to head back to NC. She's catching a train home. She called and said there are some crazy people there and she is doing some serious people watching!!!

Is Anyone Else Freaking Out?

Did anyone else freak out just a bit when Bowe Bergdahl's dad started talking in the language of the Taliban?!!!!  I think we have all heard those lines enough to know that he was basically um I’m not sure exactly if he was claiming the White House in the name of Allah or sanctifying it or exactly what but I am actually horrified that the President of our country let ANYONE use the language of the TALIBAN on the White House grounds!!! I can’t believe our Secret Service didn’t tackle him when he began uttering those phrases!!! Was anyone listening or has his entire detail switched allegiances?!!! I thought anything being spoken thru the White House had to be cleared ahead of time?!!! I will officially lose it if this President thinks he is coming home with this traitor after the D-Day Remembrances as some sort of Victory lap and think the American people are going to throw a parade of celebration or something! I don’t think I can stomach him mixing those two together…..what terrifies me even more is a huge sector of our population doesn't even know that anything horrific has just happened in our country!!! 

I'm At Work

This was the picture The Dude On A Horse got from me this morning....it is Friday...i wear the same thing on Friday...maybe i will get a different color LHS shirt...i do wear different jeans, on occassion....i'm just not a clothes shopping person...or a fashion person...i like capris a tshirt and flip flops....actually i like a swim suit, butt wrap, and flip flops....but the world really does not need to see that!!! But this was my side kicks morning pictures. Lucky for the few people that read my blogger i don't post every picture the poor guy gets from my phone! My phone is seriously abused on the camera end!!!  

Beach Day With Oki Peeps!

You know how there are some people that you just mesh with...you meet and everyone just gets along and it is just fun and no trying to impress or anything. Just being yourself and having a good time? That was the Adolpho's who lived across from us when we lived on the island of Okinawa. They are in most of our pictures and almost all of our memories. My kids grew up with Adolpho kids for 5 years. They saw them daily except for when one of us were off the island, and somehow we even managed to run into each other when we were off the island and have spend time together on two other islands while hopping back to our home island of Okinawa! we were on Hawaii and Guam together and the kids have flown in a C-5 together! How many neighborhood kids have those kind of memories together?!!!  It was literally like we had never been apart!

Abby their deaf dog learned how to swim today....it was so cute to watch her as she figured out what to do! In the end she figured it out and i think she even liked it! Not enough to go charging into the ocean but enough that i think she thought it was a fun thing to check off her on her dogie bucket list!

Vicki thought she was just going to sit and get some sun....nope, Ajaye picked her up and threw her in the water! No special treatment for being a girl, she has always been like a sister/cousin to him so it was full fledged pick up and throw in! Later he threw plenty of wet sand on her. Definitely just like old times!

Yep, these kids haven't missed a beat! They had a blast playing in the waves, burying Byron in the sand, throwing each other in the water.....it was like they had been playing with each other on the beaches their whole lives and hadn't taken a 6 year hiatus due to the military sending their Dads to different duty stations!

He Loves His Dean

The Dude On A Horse loves his horse.....he and Dean have a very special bond....you can see it when they are together and everytime Ed comes near Dean perks up. He knows when Ed is near. ed uses the same whistle he uses for Jasper and Dean comes to him just like Jasper. Dean couldn't have come at a better time. I have no idea what kind of talks they have when The Dude On A Horse takes him out riding.....but they take off and they both have a great time on those trails in the deserts of Barstow, especially when they run!

DC National Memorial Day Parade 2014

The DC National Memorial Day Parade went really well! The horses did great! It was crazy but fun crazy!!!

The day started with getting the horses out into the pen and warming them up. The guys put them thru their paces and got all their wiggles out.

Next it was grooming time....I think the horses like this....

Ryan loves horses! He was always found close to the horses. As they were loaded up into the trailer he climbed up and Pete's them and chit chatted with them until we left. The horses love him.

Than it was time to follow them to the staging area for the parade.

Next stage of grooming...getting their hoofs all shiny black, brushing out their tails....good thing The Dude On A Horse had practice doing Vicki's hair!!! Than saddling up and having a little chit chat.

Once the guys were changed into their blues and the horses were all saddled people just appeared out of nowhere! Everyone wanted to take pictures with them and with the horses and ask a ton of questions. Ty and Ryan held the flags while the guys were getting everything ready.

I followed the Gunny to go park my car and the trailer. I ran a TON of red lights but I wasn't loosing him for anything!!!

And than I was in the back of a golf cart bouncing along by the White House and State Capitol, and the National Monument heading to our spot on the parade route.

Before the parade started I looked over and saw this going on...The Dude On A Horse said it is called Honor To Colors. In the midst of the chaos the Marines stopped to do this before starting. So much respect for our countries flag....made my eyes water to see this happening in the middle of the hustle and bustle and see that nobody even knew it was happening. The Marines called out the commands quietly and were quick and efficient as they followed flag protocol.

I got a couple quick pictures before the parade started....

Our waiting spot for the parade was at this museum and so we were able to go and look around in here and use the restrooms! There were some beautiful paintings and art work!

This was also on the parade route. The White House was too but with all the people it was hard to get a good picture with that behind the horses.

It was a beautiful parade route!!! It was HOT too!!!

But it was a gorgeous day for a parade and a perfect place for a Memorial Day parade!

The Biggest Army Horse Home

This isn't the Army's biggest horse. Their biggest horse is enjoying his week out to pasture this week running around being a horse but this was their biggest horse at the stable. He was as gentle as could be.  Every time we came in he always put his head out and wanted to socialize. Ed loved him.

Sending A Hello

The random picture sent to The Dude in Cammies to say hello.....he's at a rodeo right now and was in a parade this morning....he's busy so I text him hello's....he says it makes him happy....i send him lots of hellos and I'm thinking of you and I'm trying to make you laugh....

One of The Nights

One of the nights at the rodeo....The Dude In Blues also now known as The Dude On A Horse sent me this from tonight at the rodeo.....

Sending Forever Endless Goodnight Photos

Just another goodnight photo to The Dude On A Horse....at a rodeo....

Love Me My Java Chip Smoothie!

I got me my favorite drink on my way home from work today! YUM!!!! Selfies with a shakie.....the lame life I live with my best friend on the opposite side of the country....

Taco Rice

Taco Rice for dinner! A favorite of mine and Vicki's! We discovered in while living on Okinawa at The Gobe and Anchor, affectionaltly called The Hook and Jab by The Dude In Cammies. That was the first time i officially had Taco Rice. Taco bell even had Taco Rice on Okinawa!!! I wish they sold it here at Taco Bell! It is one of my favorite meals!!!

Cinco De Mayo

It is Cinco De Mayo and i made our traditional mexican food feast.....there is nothing else to say here....except that Ty doesn't like Mexican food so he had sanwiches and a bowl of cereal!

Blowing Kisses From A Dock

The Dude in Cammies and i have a favorite dock that we like to go to and walk or just sit. I sneak off there a LOT usually to just sit and read my book. I blew him a kiss from here today. Sometimes i send him a fishy face or drink a milk shake or eat a Kit Kat that i pretend to share with him....it's our place so i like to send him pictures from there....today i sent him a kiss....

 

Date Night Pandas & Football

I had a Date Night with the boys! They wanted Panda Express which worked well since it is on base and the movie was on base! After Panda Express we headed to the base theater and saw Draft Day. The movie was GREAT but was just so disapointed that there had to be so much language in it. It could have been just as good with a filter.....but i had a fun evening with my boys! I'm going to miss these times when they grow up and leave....they are my buddies....

Ty REALLY did NOT want me taking his picture!

He HATES me taking his picture!!!

Ryan was thinking about his rice..... 

We laughed about our fortunes. Ryan's was the top one and he said he wished Byron Adolpho would be that person who re-enters our life. He thought that would be sooo fun to see his long lost buddy from Okinawa! I told him that would be sooo fun to see the Adolpho's but they are Air Force and heading to Italy so probably not anytime in the near future.....

Say Cheese!

Isn't she just the cutest thing EVER?!?!?!!!! I just LOVE Bella!!! She was sooo cute this morning on my pillow!

Bull Dog Uniform

The Dude In Cammies wears many uniforms these days.....he is busy! Today he wore a Marine Corps baseball uniform. His team won and he had a LOT of fun! Baseball is one of his favorite things to play.