The Beach in December.

Here are the promised pictures taken on Oak Island in October.
Guest Photographer, my sister.

Enough is Enough!

Quietly, during the month of October over sixty of the new full body scanners were placed in operation at airports all over the United States.
Surprised air travelers who were pulled out of the security lines at random were given a choice.

Submit to a scanning device that virtually strips you naked and subjects you to a dose of radiation, or allow a total stranger to grope you in areas that only your spouse or doctor is normally allowed.
Needless to say, the reaction coming from law abiding citizens that have been subjected to a procedure normally used only to admit convicted felons to a Federal penitentiary has been one of outrage.
I do have a great deal of cynicism over hearsay incidents related in the media, both broadcast, print and internet.
But there are far too many reports coming back from all over this previously free nation of ours to discount them all.
Women being groped. Young children, even stroller babies being touched in areas their parents have told them to never let anyone touch them.
People being ejected from airports for protesting this outrageous violation of our Constitutional Rights.
"Well, it's to protect you from terrorists!" we are told.
In other words, bleat like the good sheep that you are and do as you're told.
It started when some fool walked on a airplane with a fuse stuck out of his shoe.
Now all of us have been standing in our stocking feet in line like lemmings since then.
Women, children, babies, the elderly, Catholic Sisters who have taken a vow of modesty and chastity. No one is being spared this public humiliation.
Even the pilots and flight crew have to undergo this ridiculous process.
People who fly for a living, for whom the increased exposure to radiation is a very real threat.

I don't recall any of the airliners hijacked on 9/11 being flown by women. Or children.
Or senior citizens. Or Nuns.
But we can't single people out for questioning. That's profiling!
They complain, and the politicians cave in.
But when We The People say we've had enough, we're told, and I quote Janet Nepolitano here in summary, "Scan or Hand!" Or don't fly.

Fine. We won't fly, if we have any other choice.
The airlines are already operating on a thin profit margin since 9/11.
They cannot survive by relying solely on business travelers who have no choice but to fly.

And as for Big Brother's claim that is is an inescapable necessity to safeguard our flights?

Total, complete and utter HOGWASH!

If any Nation is at risk for airborne terrorism, it is Israel.
Do they have any of these intrusive methods for making certain their El Al flights are safe?
None of them.
And they are the safest airline in the world with which to travel.

Get your act together, Secretary Nepolitano and the Federal Government in general.
Maybe if you were forced to fly coach, as you should anyway and were singled out every single time for your "Enhanced Pat-down" grope-fest you would change your tune.

The rest of us are starting to say NO! en masse.

Enough is enough!

It's a healthy thing.

Yesterday, the Vox Populi was heard.
We didn't speak softly either, we roared!
And I want to caution the National Republican Party leadership.

This wasn't because of you, this was in spite of you!

Grass roots conservatives all across the fruited plain are frustrated, and yes angry at their increasingly out of touch, arrogant and power hungry Federal Government.
(A footnote here, most Americans are conservative when it comes to fiscal matters, National defense, and a reverence for the Constitution and our Heritage of freedom.)
They are mad at both parties, but since the Democrats have controlled Congress for four years, and held the White House for two they were held accountable yesterday.
Not only have they made little to no improvement in our National condition, things have gotten markedly worse since they took back the keys to the kingdom.
The Republicans shared a similar fate in both 2006 and 2008.

My earnest prayer is that our quick reaction to bad government at the polls is permanent.
If you don't listen to us, and enact legislation and National Policy that is in our best interests, we'll fire you all come election day!

I think the Republicans finally 'get it.'
The so-called Tea Party is simply grass roots voters holding the Republican party, and the Federal Government accountable.
There is no true 'party' in the political sense. No leadership at the national level, no layers upon layers of 'good ol' boy and girl' fat to wade through.

But, I think the RNC now understands that there could indeed have been a formal Tea Party.
Running their own candidates, and taking all of the true Reagan conservatives out of the G.O.P.
That would have given the Democrats another two years of control, and would have rendered the Republican party permanent third party status.
That's right, third in a three way race.

The political newcomers and outsiders were able to work with the RNC, to some degree.
In some case, like the CT, CA and probably Washington Senate races they fell short.
But the Tea Party movement is the reason the G.O.P. now controls the Peoples House by the widest margin of gain since 1932.
Here in our district, Renee Elmers, a political novice and a nurse by trade has beaten long time Congressman Bob "Who are you?" Etheridge.
And she did it with little money, and virtually no support from the RNC.
Etheridge has yet to concede, he probably can't believe we actually voted his sorry behind out of office.

And the Senate is virtually deadlocked, which I regard as a blessing.
Now those idiots on both sides of the aisle will have to work with each other.
And they had better listen to us, or another bucket load of them will be out on the street in two years.

I am ecstatic to see We The People once again make their wishes known.

The Vox Populi rules!

Too much happening in October.

Starting with my Birthday (I'm not 'old' yet, but I can see it from here. Scary!)
and moving on to our time with Kendra and my sister, it's been a busy month.
I'll post some pix soon from Oak Island.
Two memories will stick forever, both involving the two crazy Wheeler sisters.
Tuesday night as I stood on the balcony observing my sister, and the two above mentioned nutty sisters allegedly enjoying the sunset over the ocean
(a footnote here, Oak Island is uniquely situated so that you can see the effects of the sunrise on the water, and also the sunset in the evening. Very unusual!)
I witnessed the Wheeler twins suddenly walk out into the surf.
Fully clothed.
And those of you who know them are correct, they kept right on going into the deep water.
I could hear their shrieking laughter even from a distance over the roar of the surf.
The next evening they went in wearing bathing suits.
Again I heard piercing screams and raucous laughter.
I found out the cause later.
The little tassles that hung from my beloved's bathing suit must have looked yummy to a rather large fish, apparently a Blue Fish.
It kept pulling and tugging on her suit.
When she noticed it she screamed, and then said fish swam right between Kendra's legs, invoking ear shattering screams from her as well.
A rapid discussion ensued "Should we get out of the water, or should we risk it and stay?"
Wheelers of course tread where Angels do not dare, and they stayed.
My sister calmly informed them "It was probably a bait fish. You know, the kind that attract Sharks and other predator fish. Dusk is their feeding time."
"Whaaaaaaaaaaa!" was their mutual reaction.

A great time was had by all.

Benning pix two

One interesting part of the museum is the "Company Street" A recent Commanding General of the base rescued several series 700 buildings which were about to be demolished. Anyone who served in the U.S. Military since WWII has seen these buildings, and probably stayed in one.
Originally meant to be temporary kit buildings, made to be put up in 48 hours many are still in use decades later.
This particular group included both Gen Patton's H.Q. and his private sleeping quarters from his time on post in command of Third Army, between 1940 and 1942, when he left for Africa.
The significance of the lay out was explanied to us.
When parents and family sit in the grandstands across the parade ground used for Infantry Basic training ceremonies, they see the Chapel, and then the Stars and Stripes.
"God and Country" and in that order.
The new soldiers march up a ramp and through smoke into the view of their loved ones, whom they haven't seen in 12 weeks.
They march on hallowed ground as well. Soil from many major battlefields has been brought home and scattered randomly about the parade ground, with some also buried in a time capsule.
The Army does a wonderful job of teaching our heritage and history.

Pictures from Ft Benning.

In sequence, the Infantry Museum at Fort Benning, a beautiful new facility just outside the main gate.

When you first enter the museum, you see the well known "Follow Me" statue.
You then walk up a ramp and quite literally, through American and World History.
Disney quality dioramas start with Breeds Hill during the Revolution, go on to Antietam in the Civil War, The Spanish American War, World Wars One and Two, Korea, 'Nam and finally the current War on Terror.
There are separate sections in the gallery with extensive artifacts, recordings and information from each era.
At the end of the Cold War section, there is an actual piece of the Berlin Wall, with President Ronald Reagan's famous "Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate, tear down this wall!" speech playing.
Goose bump time, to be sure.

Follows pictures from the graduation, including Ariel standing with his good friend Trottier.
They first met at Fort Lewis, WA when they did their LDAC course two years ago.
Many of these young men will cross paths throughout their careers.
Lifelong friendships were formed.
The Colonel said "Save your maps, your paperwork. It will mean a lot to both yourselves and your families someday when you are older." Wise advice from someone who has been there.

Sprinkled among the pix are a few of his proud parents, including the ever loveliest Army Mom, Queen Felicia, and of course our own young Lt, of whom we are very proud!
All of our love and prayers to out to him.

"I am the Infantry, Follow Me!

We were privileged to travel to Fort Benning, GA to visit with our son, and to attend his graduation from IBOLC. (Infantry Officers Basic Leadership Course)
154 young men, eight of them from allied foreign armies, finished the sixteen week course.
Every newly commissioned 2LT, male and female attends a BOLC course that corresponds to their MOS. (Military Occupation Specialty)
The Infantry Officers Course is regarded as the toughest, both physically, mentally and spiritually. These young men truly earned the right to wear the coveted Blue Cord, signifying their ability to lead a platoon in combat.

They became experts in land navigation the old fashioned way, with a compass and charts, on both day and night courses. The Colonel told us it was the "Toughest Land/Nav course I have ever seen."
All U.S. small arms had to be mastered, and they all certified as marksmen, or better.
Our son qualified as expert, hitting 36 of 40 targets ranging from 10 to 300 meters.

Each day started with PT, including twice having to pass the far more strenuous Ranger PT test.
Virtually all of them qualified for the Army Physical Fitness Award, scoring 270 or higher out of 300. Push ups, pull ups, sit ups and running, both the two mile and the Ranger five mile in under forty minutes.

And as you can imagine, they marched, and marched, and marched!
In full combat gear, all of them carrying at least 70 pounds.
Since he was in the weapons squad, each man also had to take turns toting either the M240 machine gun (30#), an ammo can, tripod, or the SAW gun, which weighed over 15#.
No allowance was made for the soldiers size. Ariel's good friend Trottier, who cannot weigh more than 130# carried the same load as the rest of them.
They started with a 5 mile ruck march, and built up to the culmination of the course, the dreaded sixteen mile march. Their reward for finishing that was to immediately conduct a Company level exercise, a mock attack and settling of a Taliban village.
In between there was a lot of classroom time, learning communications, the Army paper trail, and legal issues.
Each soldier had to prepare two different platoon level OpOrders, complete with map overlays, and verbal presentations to the Officers Cadre.
They also took turns as Platoon Sargeant, and Platoon Commander.
His Company Commander gave him Superior ratings on everything, which made his old parents mighty proud!
During his graduation speech, the Colonel (The class C.O.) said "All of these young men are between the ages of 23 and 25 years old. There is no job in the world where someone so young has this much responsibility upon their shoulders."
And they all held their shoulders high, and their chests out!
They have earned our respect, and now go on to join their units as Platoon Commanders stationed all over the world.
Just as many young men have gone before them.
God Speed to them all!

I'll post pictures in the next blog.

Let 'em eat cake!

While the First Lady and her youngest daughter vacation in Spain, along with 40 of her 'closest' friends, economic figures for May and June were revised.
Oops! We are actually 91,000 jobs down from what we previously reported. Sorry!

Everyone in such a high stress job as the First Lady's needs a little girl time.
How can we begrudge a half million dollars (conservative estimate) of the tax payers money?
Since it is a partially 'official' trip, the King and Queen of Spain will allow a courtesy visit, our tax dollars are well spent. Right?
Air Force Two is being well utilized to fly two people and their posse to Spain for two days, where it will sit on the ramp in wait.
Add to that the other aircraft needed to fly armored limos, Secret Service and support staff, and the like, and you have a very tidy 300,000 or so in expenses.
And no doubt, there are a couple of F15 Strike Eagles around to fly escort across the big pond.

60 rooms in one of the most expensive resorts in Europe, complete with five star restaurants.
Oh, but the Obama's are paying for all of that out of their own pockets.
Right!

And this is but one of eight 'vacations' the First Lady will enjoy this summer.
This trip is going to be so stressful, she will need another 10 days later this month with Potus.
Shopping and eating gourmet is so stressful!

Do y'all hear someone playing a fiddle somewhere?
I smell smoke!

Oh, Happy Day!

Congress is in recess, which means those idiots can't spend any more of our money for a few weeks.
Maybe if they stayed out for most of the year like it was in olden times, we'd all be better off.

Note to the Democrats, Charlie Rangel is not going away while you are out.
You will still have to deal with him when you return.
I can't wait!

Sunday after church

Things are growing like crazy here.
Since Queen Felicia wore her new knock-out dress, (she is the knock out, not the dress!) I thought I'd take some pictures of her and her gardens.

As follows, not necessarily in order.

The Queen and the Crepe Myrtle
Felicia doing her Vanna White pose and showing off her Maters' (bad pun intended)
In my butterfly garden.
Hooray for the Red White and Blue!
The Queen in her objet D' Art space, where someday another pond will appear.
Phyllis and the Giant Sunflowers

Celebrate, but remember.

Remember what we as Americans have, and why we have it.
"We pledge our lives, our wealth, our sacred honor."
Many have given much, all too many have given their all.
Shake the hand of a Soldier, Marine, Air Force, Navy or Coast Guard member serving now.
And honor the veterans in all of our communities.

Go to the baseball game and fireworks, as we did last night.
Grill, picnic, and enjoy your life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.

But never forget where it came from, and what it costs to keep it.

Or you will surely lose it.

The Spies who came back into the cold.

Just last week, the leader of the free world left the confines of the Oval Office and headed to his favorite burger joint in Alexandria.
His lunch companion was the 'President' of The Russian Republic.
In the last two years, the U.S. has agreed to cancel plans to put defensive anti-missle systems in Poland, our staunchest ally amongst the old Soviet Iron Curtain satellites.
And talks have revived plans of yet another strategic missle reduction treaty.
As I see it we give away much and receive nothing for our concessions.

And now today word leaks that the FBI and Justice department have busted a major deep cover Russian Spy ring in the Northeast.
Their intentions as yet are unknown, but cannot be noble in any way.

Remember how the press had a field day making fun of former President Bush for his friendship with Vladimir "Pootie Poot" Putin?
Especially when Russia invaded the Republic of Georgia?

So far I've heard no mirth coming from the mainstream press regarding this matter.
"So you want ketchup, chile and onions on the burger, Dymetri? And top secret U.S. intel?"

Just because they are no longer overtly communist, Russia is not our friend and true ally.
They do nothing in the free world's favor unless they get the ranch in return.
And then they sneak behind the scenes and play us like suckers.
Despite massive sanctions against Saddam's Iraq, we found Russian military equipment in great abundance when we toppled his regime.
And Putin revived patrols of his ballistic missle submarines off of our coastlines.
There is absolutely no threat to them from us any longer.
Why do they do that?

I suspect much of Iran's arsenal, especially in Missle and IED technology has the stamp of Mother Russia on it as well.

Those of you too young to remember the Cold War have no point of reference on how much danger we were truly in. Plots to counterfeit our currency were barely foiled, and many embarrassing failures in security led to untold damage and loss of lives with Soviet bloc spies within our own intelligence agencies.
Remember the infamous Walker family as one example.

Russia is a giant with a chip on it's shoulder.
They want to prove they are still a world player, and the paranoid attitude that seems to be ingrained in their national psyche is deep and strong.

The Cold War never really ended, it just sat on the shelf for a spell.

Where is Felix Leiter and James Bond when we need them?

pictures

Mom, and her son. Ditto dad.
Dad chills and 'supervises'
Got to get that 52" TV into the BM'r!
His home for the past year.
"I'm going to get all of that in my BMW?
Before truck and after.
Cartman rides shotgun with Dad.
Adieu', Boone!

The joy of moving.

We recently drove to Boone to help our young officer and gentleman move his things home for storage whilst he is at Ft Benning in training.
Five years worth of stuff, four as a student and one as a ROTC recruiter is a lot.
Somehow I got all of it into our garage, and was actually able to get both cars in as well.
My finest moment as a packer and organizer!
Leaving Boone was bittersweet for us all.
From his freshman dorm, with as much room as the average airplane lavatory, to three years at Highlands with three roomies, to the bachelor apartment in the clouds on top of the knob he shared with Ben and his dog Cujo it was quite a journey.
Cujo missed Ariel so much, she climbed up on the kitchen counter and ate the key he left for Ben to turn in. A woman scorned indeed!
We had one more lunch together at MacAdoo's, his Monday night out place with his roomies.
And Mom and I had breakfast at our favorite place on King Street at Melanie's, a fabulous morning on the outdoor patio.

All of the App football games at "The Rock" were part of the mosaic.
Being in Ann Arbor for "The Upset Of The Ages" watching App beat Michigan.
Three national championships, (two of which he attended in Chattanooga)
Watching Armante Edwards work his magic at quarterback for four years (he's now with the Carolina Panthers, and should have a great career as a pro. He not only graduated, he finished a semester early)
The buffet at the Broyhill, with that great view of the mountains.
The second floor dining area at the Wendy's, finally finding a great Chinese and TexMex place,
Backyard Burgers.
He'll never forget the O'Dark Hundred PT's.
Running the steps at "The Rock", running up Howards Knob in the dark, which is basically straight up. Endless sit ups and push ups, pumping iron at the SRC.
Monthly trips to Marion for his Reserve service.
Airborne School, LDAC at Fort Lewis.
The fantastic Cadre that trained him, and the overall comradeship with his fellow cadets.

The pride we felt when we pinned his Crossed Musket Infantry badge on him at Dining Out.
Family coming in for his commissioning, watching him take the oath, and pinning his 2LT bars on his dress uniform. The celebratory dinner at the wonderful place in Blowing Rock.
Proud moments for us all!

Thanks to Jonathan, his roomie since his freshman year, and Ted and Jai.
They will be friends for the rest of their lives, which is the best of what college should be.
Dr Browning, his favorite history prof, who made the effort to come to his commissioning.
The guy at Meineke car care, who on his last day there refused to take any money for fixing his brakes.
"Be safe, and have a great training. Thanks for serving for us all."

One chapter finished, the next opens at Ft Benning.

Easter, new gardens, and red doors.

Our son the LT was able to come home for Easter weekend.
It was great to see him, and maybe the last Easter he will be able to come home for some years.
He continues to work out diligently, and carefully watches his diet.
Not the same kid who lived on pizza, microwaved junk, and soda and Gatorade!
He's basically able to bench press the house now.

The Queen and I looked like the Bobsy Twins, both of us dressed in the same shade of green.
She always looks infinitely better than myself.

You can tell we've been married a long time when she asks for dirt and mulch for her garden for Mother's Day and her birthday this year.
Not inexpensive by any means, but a gift that will produce much edible delight, and not this year only.

American Gothic revisited, with her hoeing, digging, and raking out our hard soil.
It's starting to shape up!
Hopefully I will too, when it comes time for my part in loading and hauling barrows full of stuff to the garden sites.

I recently had to replace the side door on the garage.
It had started to rot, and I found those devilish little termites under the sill.
Thankfully, they were confined to that area, the foundation of our house up to two feet is brick.
Even more thankfully, I was able to replace the door, frame and sill.
We decided to paint it Red, daring in our old age!
Then of course, I had to repaint the front door and shutters red to match.
Some of our neigbors in the HOA behind us might freak, but they'll get over it!

Now if there are any of you with a real tall ladder, and no fear of heights, I have these shutters on the second floor.......