Archive → December, 2009
Veterans in the United States of America
As many of you know I am classified as a Disabled Veteran (40%) based off of injuries I incurred while serving on Active Duty in the USAF. For those of you who did not know, now you do.
Anyway, I’m required to attend the VA on a regular basis to deal with a few of my medical problems. I see many Vets on my visits from several wars and many of them share the same common bond, mental illness. I can assume this was likely caused by the horrors of combat and being exposed to such chemical weapons as Agent Orange.
A lot of these Vets are homeless and I know this because I’ve heard it when they’re speaking to others. Nobody speaks to me, they probably figure I’m here bringing my Grandpa to the clinic for his appointments and there is no point in speaking to me because I cannot relate. I can relate, but luckily I am of the era where the Government believes in taking care of its “Soldiers.”
I feel that our nation has found it convenient to forget about these Veterans because their day has come and gone and the government is looking out for OIF/OEF Veterans because they’re in the limelight right now. The Govt. knows that if they do not take care of all these Men and Women coming home, they will answer for it. They have at the same time, basically forgotten about our older Veterans. You know, our Dad’s, Grandpa’s, and Great Grandpa’s? The ones who stormed the beaches at Normandy, and treaded through the swamps in Saigon?
There are an estimated 200k homeless Veterans in the USA, most who suffer from PTSD and other illnesses caused by combat. There are only a little over 7k of Government funded beds for these Heroes to stay in. Yes, probably some of them have dug their grave and gotten themselves mixed up with drugs and the wrong people and that is not our problem, but there are several of tem affected by their combat illnesses who are helpless, alone, and forgotten about.
What is my point of this blog? Aside from raising awareness to the few people who read this that do not know about it is to express my anger. These are Men and Women (mostly Men, from what I have seen) who were willing to give the ultimate sacrifice for their country and the Govt. has found it really easy to shit on them and forget them. This is not the way it should be done, the Government is responsible for these Men and Women because it’s their fault that they went to war and were hurt. Yeah, they volunteered and some could argue the fact that they knew the risks. Anyone who would argue this has never had the pleasure of serving our Nation and is a total jackass and should keep his or her mouth shut.
These Soldiers are owed a debt by the United States and it’s time someone answered the call and took care of them. You should not come back from war to be pissed on and shit on by the Pentagon. It’s bullshit, it’s not right, and it needs to be fixed. Barack Obama Jr. the ball is in YOUR court. You need to make this right!
The Baron of Boardwalk and Park Place
Recently I have had the urge to take a few laps around the game board with good ole Rich Uncle Pennybags aka Mr. Monopoly. Last night I picked up a brand spankin’ new Monopoly game at Target.
Danielle, Abby, Patrick, and I sat down to play last night and the game started out quickly with everyone buying up as much property as they could. I had my eye on two prizes, these were the properties that would win the game for me, and those properties were the coveted Boardwalk and Park Place.
I bought a couple cheap properties on my way around the board, but on my 2nd pass I managed to land on Boardwalk and as I purchased that I saw my plan start to fall into place. Unfortunately on the next pass Herr Patrick landed on my next planned purchase, Park Place. Luckily I had some money set aside and even though Danielle did her best to stop him, I convinced him to sell me it for $550.
This is where my plan fell into place. At this point Patrick had failed to realize he made a deal with the devil and ultimately sealed the fate of the rest of the game players. As each player passed Go and collected their $200, they collected properties. I hoarded my money and collected a few bucks here and there from my TWO properties. As each turn came and went, I bought more houses.
I managed to put a hotel on each of my properties and the first person to land on my newly commercialized Boardwalk was Danielle. Sadly Danielle was unable to pay the $2000 rent and went bankrupt, leaving me her properties and $1000 in cash. The next was Abby, who during the entire game had been talking smack about me $17, and $22 dollars worth of rent she was getting from me. She was the next to fall victim to my plans when she landed on Boardwalk and ended up going bankrupt and leaving me all of her properties and her last $400 in cash.
Shortly thereafter Patrick fell victim to my empire and I seized the remaining properties. We started the game at 6:45 and at 9:20 I was finished and the reigning Baron of a huge Monopoly Empire. I know this was long winded, but it was fun to share because the entire game everyone was ragging on me for my 2 properties and laughing it up as I had to pay them rent every turn. However, I had the last laugh; my friends.
I am the Baron of Boardwalk and Park Place!
RE: I’m done with Secret Santa
I realize how shallow it sounded to say I am done with Secret Santa. Christmas is not about receiving, but about giving and I realize that. The fact that I put so much effort into gifts and people send me junk kind of pisses me off. I do realize how “Grinchy” that sounds, but it’s how I feel.
I’ll play Secret Santa again, just not at the cigar boards.
Back to Mt. Crumpit…..
I’m done with Secret Santa
Every year for the past 3 yrs I have participated on a certain Cigar forum in the Secret Santa program. Basically you post a wish list and the person who is assigned as your Santa sends you a gift. It’s just like every other Secret Santa everywhere else, just on a forum.
Each year I’ve taken time to send nice gift packages usually with some nice cigars, candy, booze, and a card. I always end up getting the shit end of the stick in Secret Santa. Last year I sent a couple packages and they were lost and I still sent a 3rd which was finally received. This year I included 10 premium cigars, a card, and a t-shirt.
The first year I got 2 cigars, costing around $10 combined. The next year I got 5 cigars that I hate, and this year I got 5 cigars again which I did not want and not even a note saying Merry Christmas. It’s one thing to not be able to fulfill someones wish, but at least put some fucking effort into it.
What a load of shit and I refuse to participate in a program where I put so much effort towards making a nice gift package for someone and I always get shit on.
Fuck Secret Santa. Bah Humbug!
I’m still in the realm of the living…
“Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, Kiss my ass, Kiss his ass, Happy Chanukah.” ~Clark W. Griswold, National Lampoons Christmas Vacation
Greetings my friends, it’s been sometime since I’ve written but I figure that I had better sit down and let some of you know that I still exist in the realm of the living [knocks on wood]. School is out for summer, school is out forev…..wait. That is a song and not my life. School is on break until 2 Feb. Up until 12/18 I spent a good amount of time working and schooling and not much else, including blogging.
I finished this semester and passed all my classes. Even Human Sexuality, which was a bit of a question at one point. Full credits and I am now sitting at 57 credits, 60 are required for an AS, and too bad none that I have mean shit except the 9 from this semester. Next semesters line up includes Math, History, and another English course.
Aside from school and work, Lodge takes a bit of time especially since I am coaching a new Entered Apprentice Mason. Although due to some stuff I did not really care for going on in Lodge, I took a short break in Dec and skipped the stated meeting and Christmas party. I’m over it at this point and will be back in action in Jan 2010. Also, I was recently accepted to become a Noble of the Mystic Shrine within Freemasonry, also known as the Shriners. In April 2010, I will receive the 4th through 32nd degrees from the Scottish Rite Freemasonry.
I am eagerly awaiting my opportunity to see the new Sherlock Holmes movie and review it for all of you. I’ve heard mixed reviews, but that is the case with all movies. I will be sure to post a review once I see it and even if the story sucks Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law seldom disappoint in the acting department.
I am also in the market for a tuxedo. Nothing super fancy, but something I can wear to lodge events. I’ve always admired the tuxedos of Fred Astaire and others of film noir. I am specifically looking for a black one with tails. If you know a good link, I would greatly appreciate it. I’m not looking for it right this second, but in due time I wish to own one.
Well that is really all I have to say right now. I will try to get back into the grove of blogging now that I’m on break from school until Feb.
Recent Comments