We already voted, so leave us alone!

I am still being besieged by political calls, on every phone line we have.
All of them of course want donations.

Well, word to them! I am through with this political season, we have already voted and I have already sent in my check!
And the Queen has volunteered and worked the phone banks three times over the last week at the Johnston County Republican Headquarters.

So quit calling us already, we gave at the office!

Since Ariel was home for fall break last weekend, and will not be able to make it home on Election Day due to his class schedule, we all decided to take advantage of early voting.

It was his first Presidential Vote, missing in '04 by only 18 days.

It was an honor to be able to vote as a family.
My first vote was in 1972, and I remember how proud and grateful I was to be able to do so.

It was extremely easy, we all walked in the Govt Building in Smithfield, our County Seat and signed in and went right to a machine.

Never forget who secures our right to vote and hold open elections.

It is and always has been our men and women in uniform.
Many of them are overseas now, and will rely on absentee ballots and the like to cast their own votes.

He will join their ranks full time next year sometime, after graduation and commissioning.

Just yesterday, he found out what his branch assignment is to be.
This is a career shaping decision for Senior Cadets, and will have a maj0r impact on their future in the full time Army.

He had asked for Branch Transition, three years or so in Combat Arms, and then moving into Intelligence as soon as he is promoted to Captain.

He had chosen Armor as his first pick, followed by Artillery and then Infantry.

Infantry, or 11Bravo as it is known in the Army is the most sought after branch.

Well, imagine his surprise when he found out he indeed had his desire to move into M.I. fulfilled, but his Combat branch is to be 11Bravo!

It meant in short that the Army recognizes great potential in him, and chose him over many Cadets who had Infantry as their first choice.

In addition, the Colonel told him "You will be going to Ranger school, just get ready for it!"

For those who don't know, Rangers are the toughest and most capable soldiers in the Army, short of Green Beret and Delta Force. And all of them come from the Ranger ranks.

Having that tan Ranger tab on his uniform will also be a tremendous career enhancer.

There is no certainty that just because you are sent to that school you will make it through, many don't.

But I know the kind of grit our boy has. He will get it done!
As the Finnish relatives say, "He has Sissou!"

Way to go son, and congrats from your proud parents!

Hoohah!