I hate family parties. Especially ones that I'm in charge of. Especially with the silly cousins and brothers that I have that cannot seem to let go of old feuds long enough to get together and celebrate a joyous occasion without snarling.

Like I said earlier to all you thick heads: Can I just say to all the people who I used to like and respect and now am having trouble liking and respecting to get over themselves already?

"All living relationships are in process of change, of expansion, and must perpetually be building themselves new forms."

~Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Something I admire: People who aren't afraid to take chances. I wish I was more like this. And I admire deeply those who continually take chances.

And, this is a general observation. I'm really not talking about anyone in particular.

Posting vague posts so no one gets hurt seems to not be working very well for me on my blog. Because the world revolves completely around a lot of people, many thought my posts were about them.

So, off to the races.

To Laura and Amy: Yes, my feelings are hurt. Yes, I'll get over it. I always do. If you'll notice the time line of my posts yesterday, when I finally started reading blogs and trying to find out where you guys had all disappeared to (you guys meaning Amy, Laura, Aimee, Verna, and others) I found Aimee's touching farewell. At that time, darn near FIVE HOURS after the bite me post, I still did not know about the other boards that you have set up. So, obviously (to me, anyway) the bite me post was not directed at you because of the other board set up.

As to whether or not I'd be offended at the content of your boards, who the hell made you my content police? You guys have always been wonderful in letting me know if you think I might fall off my chair going to one of your links, but you've always left the choice to me whether to go there or not. And, while I don't type the "f" word much and say it even less, it doesn't make my hair stand on end. I thought you knew that about me. But that would be assuming, and from the correspondence I've had this morning there has been way too much assumption going on.

So anyway, the people who can bite me because I'm loosing respect and like for them are mostly a group of people who I'm related to.

Now, on to my pity party post. Colleen, my very dear friend, has made some changes at Moms Life. They are hard changes to adapt to. Gotta tell you that I loathe the new software. I MISS the WebX software, page views and all. I've even been trying to find more boards at Moms Online that I can like so I can use that software. And at the same time, I have been Colleen's assistant for a very long time. Long enough that when she asks me to help her and support her thru all these changes I told her I would. And I have done my damnendest to help. While at the same time bitching about the changes. It helped a lot when Colleen and I talked on the phone and talked about both of our many frustrations with the changes. It is nice to feel that someone else has the same frustrations. Made me feel validated. And helped me to get rid of the heaviness of the frustrations. I'm still not a happy camper. But I'm beginning to understand the new software. And the emails requesting help have slowed down to a trickle.

The pity party was the lack of support that I was feeling from others who I thought would still be in Colleen's cheering section. And because I noticed these people missing.

That's what started my blog reading. Which lead to my post about Aimee and her farewell. And her farewell frosted me. Why? Well, if a friend is moving on and is truly a friend I would expect at least a personal goodbye, if not a forwarding address. Not just a vacancy notice posted where she used to be.

And that is the meaning behind my posts from yesterday. I promise never again to post vague posts. I promise to always call everyone by name here in my blog.

I was wondering where all my online friends had gone to, so I went reading blogs. Aimee posted a touching farewell on Friday, but left no clues as to where she went to. Oh well. Don't let the door hit you in the butt.

I'm having a pity party. I'll get over it one of these days. But currently, I'm feeling very sorry for myself. And for another. I think I'll have ice cream for lunch.

Can I just say to all the people who I used to like and respect and now am having trouble liking and respecting to get over themselves already?

If you see yourself in this and get your panties in a wad, bite me.

Subject FWA Marine Tells It Like It Is!

As a Marine Fighter Pilot and as an Astronaut, John Glenn has earned our undying respect. As a U.S. Senator, he appeared to lose integrity or common sense at times, especially during the "Chinagate" hearings. Nevertheless, this dissertation is right on the money and needs to be read by everyone. Kind of like Kipling's "Tommy."

This is a letter written to all Americans from a Marine Corps pilot. It is in response to that Canadian newspaper article that is flying around everyone's e-mail praising the U.S. This is his opinion but many in the military community can't help but agree with it. Read and pass on to anyone that you think didn't believe in the military before 11 September. Remember John Glenn's famous quote when he was asked what it felt like sitting atop the rocket, ready to launch? "I felt about as good as anybody would, sitting in a capsule on top of a rocket that were both built by the lowest bidder." (Senator John Glenn, Major USMC, Retired)

Dear Americans

When I opened my e-mail this morning, I had about 20 forwards of the article written by Gordon Sinclair, the Canadian who so eloquently praised the United States. What most of you do not realize is that this commentary was written many years ago. Those of us in the military service have known about it for a long time. Now Americans are flooding the net with it as if it were new. It is not. When it was written, most Americans didn't read it because most Americans did not care.

The tragedy that befell all of us on September 11th shocked America. America no longer feels safe. Many of you have said, "The government should have known! Thirty billion dollars is spent on intelligence! What about the military?!?"

Just a reminder America: you voted our government into office. For years, you allowed some dishonest politicians and twisted television media personalities to shape your ideas about the defense of our nation. Why? Because most Americans were too lazy to look beyond the three-minute Sound bites on the evening news. Here's a news flash not being broadcast much "On September 11th, America had the exact level of protection, both militarily and intelligence, that it was willing to pay for." Only yesterday, the Congress and the Senate approved 40 BILLION dollars as a "down payment" to fight this war. A short time ago, our politicians said a 100 million dollar increase for the Navy budget was substantial. In that same bill, they ordered the Navy to conduct an 85 million dollar study on ... missile defense? (No) desperately needed parts for our fighter aircraft? (wrong again) training for Navy SEALs? (Nah)

They wanted breast cancer research. Yes, America, your elected officials decided that the U.S. Navy needed more mammograms and less missiles. Was this an under-the-table sneaky move? No, it was right out in the open. The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of the Navy both opposed it. A New York Senatorial candidate (yes, she's the one) was enraged that the military would be so sexist and irresponsible to the needs of civilians and wanted the Navy to give the money back immediately! But the media paid it little mind. So America paid little attention.

Did anyone ever watch CSPAN? Particularly when the heads of our armed services essentially begged OUR representatives to give the military more money to fight terrorism and maintain a strong defense? Did you see the debates by the heads of the intelligence services that terrorism was the new threat? They told the committees of Congress that the CIA, the FBI, and the military did not have the money to build the necessary intelligence networks in the areas where terrorists were being harbored. They warned again and again that there was clear and present danger within America's borders.

America must have been watching one of the other 114 satellite channels.

The military said"We need more money to maintain military readiness and combat training." America answered"What the military needs is sensitivity training! You're all sexist homophobes! I saw it on 60 Minutes!"
The military said"We need money to build ships, planes, and tanks and to improve our technology. America still has credible threats throughout the world. Terrorism will come to America's doorstep." America answered "You're all part of a vast right-wing conspiracy. There is no more Soviet threat! My Senator told me so! He/she says we do not need such a big military! You're dinosaurs trying to hold onto the Cold War! We need social programs!"

The military said"We need to recruit more Americans into the military. We need to increase our force." America answered"You're not taking my kids! We're going to shut down the ROTC programs at our high schools and universities because you discriminate against alternative lifestyles! ROTC teaches children (under 21) how to shoot guns! You just want another Columbine! Rosie and Oprah say so!"

The military said"We can't keep interfering in the civil wars of small, insignificant countries. It wastes our time, expends our resources, decreases training, and demoralizes our troops. The men and women of the United States are warriors trying to defend OUR nation; we are not the Third World's police force." America answered"You heartless bastards! Can't you see the tear in the eye of that starving child?! There are flies on her face, for Christ's sake! Get moving! Jesse Jackson on CNN said that is what we pay you for!"

The military asked"Why isn't America enraged over the terrorist attack on the USS Cole that killed 17 AMERICAN sailors? How about the Air Force barracks bombed in Saudi Arabia? the embassy staffs in Africa? the soldiers mutilated and dragged through the streets in Somalia?" America answered "We don't have time right now! We're busy defending animal rights! Our schools are handing out automatic weapons! The federal government is discriminating against cross-dressing Bolivian hermaphrodites! The police are all members of the Ku Klux Klan! The lack of ozone is ruining my tan! If they cut deeper into food stamps, those poor women will have to move down to Size 18/20 Chanel dresses! AND THE WORST! Corporations are raising the prices of their products sooo high that I might not be able to afford the multi-disc DVD player for my 36" digital-ready TV! Besides, YOU GUYS ARE PAID TO DIE!"

So - while you sit on your couch or around your office coffee pots and ask, "Why did those terrorists kill innocent civilians? Why didn't they go after the military?" - remember this, America: They already had gone after the military - but America didn't care. These terrorists realized that theyneeded to kill American civilians - and lots of them - before they could have their desired reaction from the people of this country. Well, now they have it.

Semper Fidelis

(written by a U.S. Marine Corps pilot.

Tonight the girls and I are going up a canyon and building a fire. Then we shall roast hot dogs and eat until we burst. We'll probably talk about boys and things, too. When we get home, we will exude the aroma of campfire. Life is good!