07 December 2011

December 7, 1941



70 years ago Pearl Harbor was attacked. Even though it would be recorded tomorrow due to the International Date Line, the Philippines were attacked. My great-grandfather was in the Philippines (prepping for his retirement from Army service after 29 years) when the attack happened. He would later go into captivity for 4 long years as a POW of the Japanese.



Seventy years later, there are those of us that still remember, that still honor the sacrifices of those who would bare the brunt of a dastardly, cowardly attack. War is ugly, there is no pretty face to it no matter what the UN might want as "rules of war", but the least one nation can do is to say "we're going to war" with their enemy. We were not given that warning, but I dare say we rose to the attack, shook off our shock, honored our dead and then went on to defend the Western world.

In the words of President Franklin D. Roosevelt:

Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker, Members of the Senate, and of the House of Representatives:

Yesterday, December 7th, 1941 -- a date which will live in infamy -- the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.

Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in the American island of Oahu, the Japanese ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to our Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. And while this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or of armed attack.

It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time, the Japanese government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.

Yesterday, the Japanese government also launched an attack against Malaya.

Last night, Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong.

Last night, Japanese forces attacked Guam.

Last night, Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands.

Last night, the Japanese attacked Wake Island.

And this morning, the Japanese attacked Midway Island.

Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday and today speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.

As commander in chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense. But always will our whole nation remember the character of the onslaught against us.

No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.

I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost, but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us.

Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory, and our interests are in grave danger.

With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph -- so help us God.

I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7th, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese empire.



Fewer and fewer of those men and women who defended their nation, their ideals, their civilization, remain with us each passing day. Take today to remember them. Take today to thank a WWII vet, a Korea, Vietnam, Dessert Storm/Shield, War on Terror vet. Take a moment to give thanks to the divine (the cosmos, whatever you believe in) that those men & women were there & heeded the call to do what had to be done. Thank their families for what they endured, thank their fellow vets for what they do. Remember America, those who serve you quietly every day and ask little to nothing in return.


Family lore is that when the US Army folks came to tell my great-grandmother that her husband was captured, presumed dead her reply was that they were welcome to visit the house again, WHEN her husband returned as she KNEW he would. She would have to wait 4 very long, I'm sure terribly draining & tense, years but I doubt heaven itself would have bet against her. He DID return to his wife, his children, and then get to see several of his grandchildren born. This after having been lost behind enemy lines in WWI as a messenger, for a week! The Army really should have known he'd come back but my great-grandmother had faith in her husband! I have that kind of faith in my husband. I have that faith in the men & women who serve this great nation, 70 years on from a terrible day. Have faith, America! We shall always triumph as long as we believe in our values, our morals, our people.

20 July 2011

Its hot?

No shit Sherlock!

It seems the center of the US is in the grips of a heat wave & we should all feel terribly for them!

I don't. I've heard people from those states laugh it up at Texas' expense (& NM, AZ, CA, & even UT) because of the heat we have every summer.

In TX we don't drop like flies in 115-120 degree heat. We're smart enough to GO INSIDE in the heat of the day! Apparently this very basic understanding escapes a LOT of Americans - Heat = go where it's cool!!

I don't hope anyone dies, but I sure as hell hope it wakes some buttheads up to the fact they've been having some serious Schadenfreude at the "south west's" expense for decades. Time to pay the Piper folks. Just remember to do it from INSIDE the house with the windows open & fans on, if you don't have A/C.

23 June 2011

Wounded in our service? WE DON'T CARE - so says Knob Hill in GA

Imagine a country in which you serve your nation, you get wounded, you come home & you're denied the right to a home. That nation is AMERICA, that time is now, that location is Knob Hill in GA.

Sgt First Class Sean Gittens served his nation with honor. He was wounded, left paralyzed and unable to speak. Homes for Our Troops purchased land to build him an adaptive home, one that helps meet his needs for the rest of his life.

Along comes the Knob Hill Property Owner's Association. After Homes for Our Troops working closely with them for months, being given permission to build, and preparing the site they Property Owners threw a fit. It seems that a home for a wounded warrior is NOT IN KEEPING with the appearances of their suburb. They pressured the suburb directors, so they've rescinded the building permit!

Clearly the whiny bellyachers in Georgia disdain their military. You're okay to send to die, but don't you come back & expect to live near us! The entire community, their city, their region, their state & nation are all tarred with the filth that they are. A bunch of overpaid whiners who don't know the meaning of sacrifice in the name of others has decided that a wounded man does NOT need to live near them - I guess they think he's contagious (we can only HOPE some of their spawn would serve their nation).

If you've got a problem with it, email President of the Board of Directors, Rick Trump, at Rick.Trump@Comcast.net. (I don't even care if the spambots get hold of his address, I hope they do.)

09 April 2011

Budget, we don't need no stinkin' budget!

It isn't like the US military in 3 war zones needs to be payed or their family has the need for roofs & food.


So the lazy bastards passed a stop gap until Thursday. Yay, let's all throw them a party & pretend they did something good. Let's pretend that they deserve to be rewarded for doing their jobs, as though they're some knight in shining armour set to protect us from the dragon - oh, don't look too close at that dragon or you're realize it's at their command in the 1st place. Let's all ignore the giant f*cking elephant in the room that is the complete & utter bankruptcy of their morals & our bank account.

We can NOT keep spending. WE don't have the funds! We're mortgaged to the hilt to the Red Chinese.

We can NOT pay for all the shit DC wants. However they're too essential in a shutdown to not get paid, while the US military amounts to nothing more than Park Rangers & Capitol tour guides.

There are no sacred cows left. Gut Medicare & Medicade. Slash funding for DOD new shiny toys - it isn't like the DOD really cares that they waste millions every day to develop $25 million dollar jets that can't even deploy to a war zone!. Time to fully burn Social Security. Cut out the cancer that is welfare & start demanding sweat equity of those who get governmental assistance - dig a ditch, clean a sewer, pick up garbage, harvest an orchard or a farm. Its high time the American people get something other than "its the other guy's fault" bickering for their dollars.

Now is the time to see if the US tax payer has enough intestinal fortitude to do what needs to be done, or if they're a bunch of squeamish sheep to the slaughter. I know where my money is - same place it was 15 years ago during the LAST shutdown & I can say the American people have no more sense or brains now than they did then. Its all "gimme, gimme, gimme" but don't expect anyone to shoulder the burden.

We can either see this as a turning point in the decline of our country & start back up the hard road to the top, or we can just keep our hands waved above the cart as we plummet to the bottom & crash.

05 April 2011

Loves the look when we order 5 sweet teas & quick, easy meals out. It seems to make servers happy to have an easy group. Remember to be nice to your server!

04 April 2011

Might as well be at the spa with the wind blown sand treatment today. Gloucester beach is an awesome, quiet spot to come on a warm sunny day.

03 April 2011

I question my children's DNA. We stopped at the Gloucester Walmart & I hear ... "Another walmart?"
Got a new van. 95 Previa. It can book! Now to drive it home and get it tagged & titled.
My kingdom for a bag of Dove chocolate eggs!

16 March 2011

DC trip

For any and all, sundry, whatever you wanna call it there are photos & stuff going up on the family blog, and my Facebook page. If you don't know those addresses there's a reason for that (probably NOT that I don't like you).

Home from Arlington

We're home from our trip to Arlington to honor Mr. Frank Buckles.

Time for bed, is well after 0000 hrs...

07 March 2011

Thank you Rep Poe!

Rep. Ted Poe, of Texas' 2nd District, is Urging that Mr. Frank W. Buckles be Lain In State in the Capitol Rotunda. Hallelujah! THANK YOU Rep Poe!

If you would like to take a moment to thank Rep Poe for listening, you can e-mail him.

Washington is beginning to hear the roar of the people. Don't let up on them, double & redouble the contacting, the emails, the phone calls, the faxes. Let us give our last Great War veteran the honor for his generation.

CALLING ALL AMERICANS

Light up DC's Switchboard! Call, fax, email, if you're local WALK IN, if you're not MAIL A LETTER! Frank W. Buckles has EARNED the honor of the Rotunda by being the last WWI Veteran we will ever have.

Frank W. Buckles passed away 27 Feb 2011 at the age of 110. He was America's LAST WWI Veteran. We have no others, we will never have another. We must do this right, and do it now, or we slip even more deeply into a lack of respect and honor for those in the service.

Mr. Buckles should Lie In State in the Capitol Rotunda in DC. This honor is not for him, it is for the 4.7 million Americans he represents. It is for the entire generation that fought the Great War. We have lain men who send boys off to die in the Rotunda, but according to Speaker of the House Boehner and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, the last man standing to have survived that war has earned no honors.

Frank Woodruff Buckles was born in 1901. He lied to enlist to serve his nation. He would go on to be a civilian Prisoner of War of the Japanese in the Philippines in WWII. He saw the horrors of the battlefields of France as an Ambulance driver. He spent several years after WWI helping to repatriate German POWs. He suffered years of starvation and deprivation at the hands of one of America's most brutal enemies. He asked NOTHING for himself in return for those services, that suffering. He has more than earned the honor of being remembered, as have all his brothers & sisters in arms.

To add insult to injury, the DOD has REFUSED to provide an Honor Guard to Mr. Buckles' body if anything happens outside of Arlington. He only got the 'right' to rest in Arlington because President Bush ordered it so in 2006. This is NO way to treat a veteran, let alone the last of his brothers in arms. A 2 star general has claimed it is not cost effective to send an Honor Guard across the Potomac river to guard the body of the last Doughboy. Even now the DOD is fighting to prevent Mr. Buckles' use of the amphitheater in Arlington which is within earshot & sight of the Tomb of the Unknowns which houses the remains of a solider who also fought WWI.

This is not about politics, this is not about party affiliation. This is not about which branch is better. This is about honoring a generation through their last known survivor. Even now WWI has NO federal memorial, just a dilapidated run down hulk in DC that's purely a city memorial. We CAN and SHOULD do better. Mr. Buckles never asked for anything for himself, but he spent his last years fighting to get the veterans of WWI recognized and remembered. Let's not fail him in death as we so pitifully did in life.

We have laid the likes of Rosa Parks in the Capitol Rotunda. The Unknown Soldier of WWI laid in the Rotunda. Teddy Kennedy, a lying whoremonger alcoholic Laid In State. Congress even exhumed Pierre L'Enfant, architect of Washington DC over 100 years AFTER his death, and laid him in the Rotunda but according to two stubborn old men who have not served one day in the uniform of their country Mr. Buckles (and every veteran he represents) is not "entitled" (yes, that is the word they chose to use) to such remembrance. Neither Reid nor Boehner has served their nation, but they've sent you all off to fight wars in their names while they stayed comfy at home in DC. They've never seen combat, they've never had to leave their families for months or years on end to be shot at, to live in sand and dense jungle, to sweat and bleed for those back home. These are the likes of the 2 men blocking the honoring of the last WWI Veteran.

Britain is the sole country to have survivors of the Great War, and they only have 2 - 1 in the UK (a 109 year old woman) and 1 in Australia (a 110 year old man). France has none, Russia has none, Poland has none, every other country party to War to End All Wars has none and now, we have but the shell of the last. France honored their last with their own version of a Lying In State, as did Russia, and every other combatant nation to have fought WWI. Surely Mr. Buckles' body deserves to be draped in the flag he fought for, the flag of the nation he suffered for, the flag of the nation he honored to his last breath. Surely we as a nation can send representatives of our military services to stand guard over that flag draped coffin, and beyond a shadow of a doubt that coffin deserves to lie in the polished marble halls of the capital of the nation.

As Texans we pride ourselves on honor, duty, respect to our elders, respect to our military, and doing things the old fashioned way - with love and care. We have the most military members (either born or settled) of any state in the nation who call us home. Its time to act like we remember where our backbone is and demand that the nation gets the chance to honor their own.

It is time that the so-called servants of the people, answer to the will of the people. I'm not asking for your money, I'm asking for your voice. I am asking for your time, just a few precious minutes, to do the right thing for our elder.

Please, if you support it or don't, call / email / fax. MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!

04 March 2011

Lying In Honor for Mr. Buckles ~ We need your help!

Speaker of the House Boehner (Bonehead is more like) is REFUSING to give Mr. Frank W. Buckles a Lying In Honor, or a Lying In State in the Capitol Rotunda. He's also REFUSING to say WHY!


I want to know WHY Frank W. Buckles, the LAST US veteran of WWI is being denied the honor of a Lying In Honor or a Lying In State. Its okay that the shriveled up old draft dodger cry babies hold office & send men off to die, but its NOT okay to honor those who came back from the killing fields they were sent to?

Rosa Parks got the honor of a Lying In Honor in the Capitol Rotunda, but the LAST veteran of the Great War to wear a US military uniform who went on to be a civilian POW of the Japanese in the Philippines isn't "entitled" to the honor according to the Speaker.

Worse yet, if you contact his office his staff has said that he only represents the 8th District of Ohio, NOT the American People. Yet he is the Speaker of the House so he answers to ALL Americans. Right now, he's refusing to answer to anyone.

Instead he's taking thousands of dollars a head to whine at fundraisers about his affair & blubbering on national television. That damn well doesn't sit okay with me!

Even the BBC & the French are having a go at the US for refusing to honor our last doughboy! Is the US so bereft of respect for their military that they'll allow an elected wind bag, who cries at the drop of a hat, ceremonially shit on the last US WWI veteran?

If you don't approve of this treatment of the last of an era, CONTACT YOUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES!

Speaker of the House

House of Representatives

112th Senate

The White House

Your Governor

Ask that Mr. Frank W. Buckles be given a Lying In Honor (if not the higher honor of a Lying In State) with an Honor Guard, in the Capitol Rotunda.

Ask what rules are being used to deny him this honor.

Ask why an elected official has refused to answer or explain his decision.

Ask why an elected official would refuse such an honor.

Let's get Mr. Buckles, and all his fellow doughboys, the honor they have long been denied!

28 February 2011

Goodbye to Pershing's Last Patriot


It is with deep sadness I read of Frank Woodruff Buckles' passing today.

Today is a sad day. We have seen the last of our WWI veterans pass. May his family know some small peace that those around the world mourn their loss. May Mr. Buckles be greeted at Heaven's gate by General John. J. Pershing himself.

I will update the page with any & all national memorials for Mr. Buckles. I pray the DOD gives him a lying in state. He has earned it, time & again for his services to his nation.

I would like to dedicate "A Soldier's Prayer" to the memory of Mr. Buckles & and his fellow brothers and sisters in arms who have put their lives in harm's way to make the world a better, safer place.

A Soldier's Prayer

The soldier stood and faced his God Which must always come to pass...
He hoped his shoes were shining Just as brightly as his brass.
"Step forward now, you soldier, How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek? To My Church have you been true?"
The soldier squared his shoulders and Said,"No, Lord, I guess I ain't...
Because those of us who carry guns Can't always be a saint.
I've had to work most Sundays And at times my talk was rough,
And sometimes I've been violent, Because the streets are awfully tough.
But, I never took a penny That wasn't mine to keep...
Though I worked a lot of overtime When the bills got just too steep,
And I never passed a cry for help, Though at times I shook with fear,
And sometimes, God forgive me, I've wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve a place Among the people here...
They never wanted me around Except to calm their fears.
If you've a place for me here, Lord, It needn't be so grand,
I never expected or had too much, But if you don't, I'll understand."
There was a silence all around the throne Where the saints had often trod...
As the soldier waited quietly, For the judgment of his God,
"Step forward now you soldier,
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell."

22 February 2011

Christchurch Quake

Just got back from a family trip so I'm only now getting the news sorted out.

My thoughts & prayers to those in NZ, those on the way to help, & those who have family/friends there.

I don't usually like our Google Overlords, but if you know someone in NZ that you're worried about, or you have information about someone in NZ following the quake, please use the people finder tool released by Google to help find loved ones.

Let's pray the death toll stays at the current 65 & that Search and Rescue is able to help those who are still trapped.

01 February 2011

Happy Birthday

To Mr. Frank Woodruff Buckles of Charlestown, WV. He is our ONLY surviving WW1 veteran & he turns 110 today, Feb 1 2011.


The things he's seen come & go. The beauty & the horrors & just the every day bits of life are astounding.

He survived the battlefields of France as an ambulanceman.

He was a civilian POW of the Japanese in WWII, having served in the Merchant Marines.

As a special gift to him & and his 5 million comrades in arms in the US alone, please contact your local, state & federal officials to push for a
National WWI Memorial.

Sadly we do NOT have a National monument to those who served in the Great War. It is long, long over due. While Mr. Buckles would most likely not survive to see its completion (unless we all worked together to get it done), we owe him the honor of seeing the ground breaking. Please, write a letter to your Congressman, your Senators, your Governor, your State representatives & push them to finally do what is so long long past being needed & honorable.

Mr. Buckles is 110, today! We've been blessed to have him for this long but tomorrow is never a guarantee for any of us, so anything America can do for him is nothing short of what's owed him as the last remaining member of our WW1 fighting corps. He is a representative of all those who have gone before him, the absolute least the nation can do is to honor their sacrifices & give a proper memorial to those who fought, bled & died in our name.

Happy Birthday Mr. Buckles. May it find you healthy, happy, and surrounded by those who love & care about you.

13 January 2011

So did your sign change?

According to the Minnesota Planetarium Society (don't they just sound like farmers watching stars instead of cows), the zodiac is NOT correct. Honestly it isn't & hasn't been for a long time. The sun signs as given are based on 2000 year old astrology. Not 2000 years worth of astrology, literally astrology that was done 2000 years ago.

So are you now one of the new, 13th sign? Ophiuchus is actually now the 12th sign, so you late blooming Sagittarius may get to stay where you are. However I'm a Leo - through & through. My sign is still Leo, thought I'm now in the "cusp" week at the beginning of the sign.

Not that I live my life by my astrology. Its just an amusement. Any Ophichus readers out there? Did your sign change? Do you think you fit well in your 'new' one?

09 January 2011

New Recipe

For a bento dish, but still. Namasu, a type of radish & carrot salad/pickle.

03 January 2011

BENTO!!!

This is what happens when I have friends around the world who like when I get all geeky in the kitchen! :D

Apple flowers


Boiled egg shapes (those were HOT!!), cookie cuttered meat, & mandarin orange slices. The apples went with the oranges.


Ham, Turkey, Bologna & boiled egg shapes.


Black & green olives, celery & carrots (cut into hearts & flowers), & sweet rice shapes.


Brown Sugar & Cinnamon rice shapes.
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