I got this from a PAO at DOD.

"Writers Needed for Washington Times coverage of Military: Base News

The Washington Times will soon launch a community journalism Web site devoted to reporting all the news about the military and their families, from the perspective of those who are most familiar with the issues. We need volunteers to write both for our weekly coverage that will appear in the print edition of TWT and for the daily coverage on our Web site, BaseNews.com. Writers need simply to follow the guidelines and accept to write without monetary compensation. Our mission is to transform the way the American media portrays the military community. We need to hear from as many different sources within the community, in bases all across America and around the world. If you want to be a community journalist, contact Grace Vuoto: 2026363165 or gvuoto@washingtontimes.com."

I like the idea of educating the public/media about what/who we REALLY are! and for those who are overseas it would be a good fit... unfortunately there doesn't seem to be any $$$$$$$$ involved, but then most of us write for nada anyway!

LAW

And the nutjobs keep on rollin'

Michelle Bachman - the one who wanted members of Congress investigated for unamerican activities, and when confronted with the evidence of her saying it twice claimed it was an "urban myth" has done it again.

bachmann-bill-would-prohibit-global-currency/

Now, the President said he would NOT sign on to a global currency... But hey, Michelle Bachmann - twinkie extraordinaire who hung on to GWBush at the State of the Union address like he was her long lost boytoy... knows better!

Then we have the poster child for whiny pain in the butt - garsh, golly gee, wink wink...

palins-prayer-remark-angers-former-staffers/ Supposedly, she couldn't find anyone who wanted to hold hands and pray. Well, dear Governor P, I think praying by yourself is perfectly satisfactory if you believe - however if you are trying to proclaim oooh ooooh look at me, I'm praying I guess that's not good enough, huh?

Hey - I have the best ticket I can hope for - Palin/Bachmann.... wheeee.

ugh. this cold is kicking my butt

3 days I've been home, and I feel worse every day. but I have to go to the office today, conference calls, meetings, etc. I'm not infectious anymore (I am not one of those people who go to work and spread whatever it is that they have) I'm going stir crazy in this apartment. I should have done all sorts of projects, but ended up either in bed or on the couch.

And tomorrow - I'm so happy I'm going to help a friend do a vegetable garden bed - raised even! The weather will be a bit damp, but that's better than too hot. Another friend has broken her ankle, falling over a dog toy - get better soon AHH6, and we are all hoping that SisB improves more every day.

I lost a friend this week. but I guess if you won't listen to an explanation and insist on thinking something was said that wasn't... was that really a friend?

dragging off to the office...

LAW

It's Spring! yeah!

I went to a wonderful nursery in Maryland on Sunday - and after I stopped drooling and wishing I had more than a postage stamp balcony - I was sensible (dammit) got a few herbs, some morning glory seeds, and then I saw it. An Earth Box - and I have a question. Have any of you used this system? Is it sturdy enough? Is it something USEFUL or just another gimmick.

Hopefully, a friend is going to be starting a vegetable raised bed on Saturday - I get to go and dig in the dirt with her. Nothing like doing that to make everything feel better.

I also have the usual spring cold - that's not a cold. It's not allergies, it's just this little "I-have-the-feeling-I'm-getting-sick" Had this last year. sucked.

time for soup. Later!

LAW

Pandering! I've been accused of Pandering!

Well... slap me silly, y'all, I'm a Panderer! I guess because I say what I think? or I talk about whatever the hell I want on my own blog?

wow . Does the phrase "pot - kettle" ring any bells? But hey, I'm just a milspouse, not an all knowing person, like the kettle.

*** I have to make something really really clear - the wonderful lady who blogs as Potandkettle - she's NOT the person I am talking about. No way. no how. ****

LAW

A New Place

Ok, y'all - there is a place for those of us, military spouses of the liberal persuasion... A bunch of us started a new Spouse Site - it's called Left Face . C'mon over and visit - tell us what you want to see - comment, talk to us!

It's exciting!

LAW

He Listened

I am so happy about this, I could just - just --- I don't know what! The President and the Administration realized that no matter if the budget would be improved, it just wasn't right, it wasn't fair. From CNN

As the mother and mother in law of a vet, as the wife of a future vet, and the daughter of a vet, I'm thankful that the common sense and fairness prevailed. Pressure from some vet's organizations didn't hurt either!!!

LAW

Talk about DUMB Ideas

I am still wondering who thought this one up. Some idiot bean counter in OMB or the VA thinks it would save money and just be so wonderful if we had Veterans get their healthcare paid for by their private insurance. Notwithstanding the following: that EVERY health insurance that I have ever seen has a very clear clause that says illness or injury resulting from military service is not covered; Or that it is just a slap in the face to every veteran; that this will add yet another level of bureaucracy, paperwork, adjuster/investigator to veterans and families already going through all sorts of hell. Who the hell has decided we need Blue Cross or Aetna or United Healthcare to add yet another layer of crap onto what the VA already shells out? I have a son and daughter in law who have been trying to get through to the VA and after sitting for hours on the phone... get nothing, no answers... So HIRE some more adjusters (I did see that they are hiring, but getting new hires through the disaster of a hiring system for the federal government will take months!) get some temps in - there are plenty of people looking for work. Get a few good paralegals in, some insurance adjusters, and get through the backlog. Think outside the box, but this plan to try to shift it onto the private insurers, who will simply throw it back after a few months.... Dumb Dumb Dumb.

DUMB! Stupid! I know that General Shinseki has served honourably, even though his edict that everyone in the Army wear a beret was a singularly boneheaded move. But THIS, General Shinseki, really really sucks. Re-think this one, please!

LAW

Well well well. The House of Representatives has decided that 2009 should be the Year of the Military Family. The actual Resolution talks about the sacrifices, the hardships of being in a military family, the deployments, the PCSs, THIS part really surprised me - that someone has figured this part out, who isn't military (but there IS a milspouse in the House, Rep. Giffords - would be interesting to know if she had a part in writing this!)

Whereas thousands of military family members have taken on
volunteer responsibilities to assist units and members of
the Armed Forces who have been deployed by supporting
family readiness groups, helping military spouses meet
the demands of a single parent during a deployment, or
providing a shoulder to cry on or the comfort of understanding;

OK, great - now they have recognized us. Now lets get to work DOING something. What do you think? What do you want to see?

LAW

ER - sigh...

Dr. Ross... he's still the Dr. I want. yeah. It's been great seeing the old cast back...

LAW

Spring!

Not just the clock, either! (oh I forgot those... so it's late now) but the weather! in the 70's... It's marvelous. I ended up taking a walk yesterday.

And I miss Chief. I took the walk we take, and looked at the gardens at the townhomes. The crocuses are up, the daffodils are starting to bud, the tulips are beginning to force the tips of their leaves out, some trees are tentatively budding.. The townhouse with the fantastic rose garden is up for sale - about 12 of the units in that group are. We usually talk about which one we'd want, that we have to have a garage (one or two of those are for sale too!) that we want an end unit - one of those is available - they are military I think.

so I missed that, missed the chats, the "what if" and the gardening discussions, what we'd do with the little back area... I missed it.


LAW

Time is getting away from me

I haven't posted in a while, and it's really not because nothing is going on! just too much going on. except at work, there, I'm bored! But it give me more time for blogging, and other things. I was on a call that was very sobering yesterday, and I'm trying to write about it - but I'm not doing really well on it.

A member of our family was given a diagnosis yesterday, that's scary. really scary. But I'm not saying anything else, it's private, but I will ask those of you that do pray- pray. For those who don't - keep a good thought.

Chief is fine - working way too many hours, but he has a new way to call that so far is working out cheaper. After I get the next bill, and make SURE it's cheaper, I'll give y'all the low down.

Our mutual friend SisB is sick too - and needs all those thoughts and prayers too. Wow, y'all are going to be busy!

Time to get to work. Take care everyone!

LAW

one more time

If you say NO to the media being at Dover for the return of your loved one - there will be no media - that's what the SecDef said. Yes - he should have waited to announce his new policy (actually, its the OLD policy, which had been changed) until the how's wheres' why's had been sorted out. But hey, folks, remember, this is the military that "goes to war with the army they have". See - statements by SecDef Rumsfeld I'm sure there will be some sort of form - there always is. So if you have an idea of what you want this form to look like - send it in to the powers that be. If I were a betting person, I'd say this is a form that will end up having a box for the soldier to check off, saying yes or no. Yes, there are snafus with notifications and all the rest of it. And there are pictures out there taken by telephoto lenses at funeral - and the families didn't want them taken. BUT - if these photos were taken in a public place - there is NOTHING you or I can do about it! There haven't been any photographers in the bushes at Dover before, have there? and why the hell do you think they are just going to waltz on post now? if out of 20 families ONE says no - then according to the Secretary - THERE ARE NO media PHOTOGRAPHERS ALLOWED. As to the military photographers, there are probably already those out there... ever think of that?

Right now the media can only get on post - IF INVITED. I'm sure there are photographers attached to the military already there. Before we do all this screaming and wailing, can we please see what the actual terms of their involvement will be??

Those out there who hate the media - you aren't alone. I'm not keen on many of them either. And to think that just because I'm a liberal democrat, I'm keen to see photographs like that published - you obviously didn't read my previous posts. WE didn't make this political. The Secretary had looked at this issue last year, he never believed it was a good policy. He's not, last time I looked, a liberal democrat.

Enough already. BASTA! We will have to live with what the SecDef says. If you are against photographers at Dover, taking pictures of anonymous coffins being brought home - make sure your wishes are known to your family, make sure they are on whatever notification forms you have. Families - do the same. and talk to the inlaws/relatives whoever may be the NOK and make sure you are all on the same page. Family disfunction or not - this is a family decision, NOT a government one.

LAW