I'm Outty!

This has been an unpleasant  insane day at work.  And it's only Thursday!  Normally that would mean there is one more day to the work week, but in my case that is not the truth this week.  You see, the U.S. Army has this program called the Yellow Ribbon Campaign.  When a soldier returns from Iraq or Afghanistan he or she is supposed to attend a class on suicide prevention.  I never did, and I got out.  But, I went back into the Reserves before my original contract was up.  So my name was still in the system.  So, now I am required to attend this class.  But the campaign is really more than just a suicide prevention class.  The also have people who can give information about all sorts of Veterans Affairs benefits.  Some examples are financing to assist with school, medical information, mental wellness information, and more.  Therefore, I will be getting on a plane at 7 a.m. local time tomorrow morning to fly to beautiful, sunny Orlando, Florida!  It is supposed to be 75 degrees there tomorrow!  That's so much better than the mid-forties we have here today!  Of course, I'll just be gone for the weekend, but that's okay.  The whole trip is paid for, as well.  With that, I must say a large thank you to our American tax payers.  It is not wasted monies, as I know I will get useful information and assistance from this trip.  I also thank you all for supporting the troops.  American, British, Italian, French, Japanese, it matters not.  You may not agree with the idea behind the war or how it is being handled.  But I must say that whatever the reason, I served and am serving as a proud American who loves the FREEDOM the so many before me died for.  Thanks and God bless.  See you all next week!!

Veterans and Ida

What a week this has turned out to be.  Work has been insane and had me quite upset yesterday.  I have been spending more time on the truck than I really care for.  I applied for this position to get away from that, but I cannot seem to shake it.  I guess I just added more work.  But I still have a good job, and that I am grateful for.  I had so intended to at the least do a post yesterday for Veterans Day, but I had so much going on that I just was unable to.  But I don't see why we should reserve just one day a year to thank our veterans.  They are serving our country 365 days a year.  Can they not be thanked 365 days a year?  If you have the freedom to blog about whatever hits your heartstrings, thank a veteran today!

As for Ida, a tropical storm that hit the gulf coast earlier this week, and did nothing....thank you Becca, over at Becca's Dirt for this mess you sent us.  She lives nearly 1300 miles away, and I am being affected by the same storm she did.  However, Ida is doing more damage here on the east coast that she did down on the gulf.  We had rain for over 36 hours straight.  And I do mean down pours.  And the wind has been just screaming through the trees.  I spoke with my mom this morning, and she had trouble getting out of her home because the road she lives on was flooded.  One of our stores in Cheseapeake, VA is closed today because of the flooding.  It's nothing like the storms that hit the Phillipines by any measure, but it has been quite unpleasant weather, nasty to say the least.  My poor chickens.  I checked on them this morning, and they were dreanched.  Mike put extra tarps around the coops yesterday to help some, but the horizontal rain did whatever it felt.  I know I promised pictures this week.  I have not forgotten.  It has been one of those weeks.  But the week is not over.  I'll get them.  Again, thank you to all our heros.  May the hand of God be with those currently deployed, bring them safety, comfort, and a speedy return home!!