Black Hawks Deployed: Love and War

I wrestled with thoughts that twisted in my mind. But my friend, MAJ D. ANDERSON spoke to my confusion with crystal clarity. Prior to his deployment this morning, he said, "I don't believe in war, but I believe in the men and women fighting in it."

War doesn't see politics. MAJ D. ANDERSON spoke this thought at a goodbye ceremony a few weeks ago. He challenged his soldiers to follow him into the war theater. As a MEDI-VAC pilot group, they see the heartbeat of the battle field.

They land in the Hot Zones taking on all sorts of fire from the enemy. Their goal is to air-vac out the wounded. He showed me and many of my friends the pictures of his 2005 tour where small arms fire consumed the belly of his Black Hawk. He will endure it again.

Today he invited me to be a part of the deployment. The men and women lined into formation. Families gathered around. He turned it over to me to pray for their safety and speedy return.

At that moment there was reverence. I did not see any hesitancy. There were no court injunctions to stop the prayer. There were no dissenting voices. Just a group of brave soldiers thankful for family and friends. Regardless of belief, the gesture of prayer was appreciated as many approached to simply say, "thank you for coming out." I felt humbled. I thanked them for what they do. "Thank you for being the pilots that evac out our wounded.



Prior to their flyover, my heart jumped with mixed emotion. I already miss Dan. But I also know we are one day closer to he and his team returning.

There is a fine line that skews my love for a country and the wars it fights.

As MAJ. D led, this the first portion of deployment, the Black Hawks flew over. I snatched this clip.



Thankful.

Thinking.

JAS

Beyond Nostalgic

I am moved tonight and I am not even there. Right now as we speak, Identic community is meeting in the Performing Arts Center at Capital. This tribe of twenty somethings strives for inclusion.

Identic is the first stop for a second chance.

It was 1992. I was a Senior at Cal State, Sacramento. My best friend had just been shot more than ten times and I was swirling in thoughts that were beyond revengeful. My thoughts indicted me. Had I spoken them, I would have been declared a socio-path. The reality, I was just hurting. I was looking, wanting, and needing a place to find shelter from the swirling storm. I need a place for me to find me.

Identic did not exist. Nothing did. Now fifteen years and six days to be exact, I celebrate the community that now exist.


My friend lived. He resides in Las Vegas. He is lucky in more ways than one.

Click through here: Identic Community

Cant Take the Heat...Get Out of the Kitchen

I love my life. It's fun. Most would not believe the absolute insanity and controlled chaos that consumes most minutes of my day.

For the last two days, I have had a pocket camera with me. Thus the dead rattlesnake story.Well tonight is no different. A bit ago, I was setting out the Island in my kitchen jabbing away at the keyboard. The kids were off doing their thing. Lynette was sitting near, as was Michelle. All of us were working on our laptops.

In a moment of pandemonium, Michelle starts chirping...grunting and screaming and pointing. Across the kitchen on the counter, an imitation plant was engulfed. It seems only an hour after we had finished my son's Fire Safety Report where we had to test our fire alarm, the fake plants melting under the heat of multiple 12 inch flames.

In total, the fire ball danced under our cabinets.


Panicked, I jumped up and through the burning ball into the sink and doused it. Not knowing if I should laugh or laugh, I laughed. Of course Michelle grabbed the camera. Purcell the Paparazzi.

Go figure.

Fire.
Plastic.
Heat.
Toxic.
Yea...my life.

JHarp

Killing Rattlers. Call Me Snake Sniper

Last Friday, my friend Rob and I saw a rattlesnake under my house resting on the inside mud seal vent. It must have gotten stuck during recent construction. So Rob and I tried to catch it. It escaped. Today, I got home and it was back on the ledge. I called "Pops" in Montana. He said, "Blast it with your 12 Guage."



[We lost the shotgun blast. Probably best for the weak stomachs.]

With Scott and Brett looking on and with Michelle rolling footage, I blasted the Rattler. From 15 feet, I sniped him with a choked down condenser wad to prevent buck shot scatter. The Rattler became brain matter.

For all the PETA Enthusiast, this video is not for you. I saved my family $499.95. The Rattle Snake removal wanted $500. I handled the business with a 5 cent shell.

Hitch Dance Lessons

"Start the fire. Make the pizza. The Q Tip. Q Tip. Throw it away. Then hit her with this."


Don't ever do that again."