Daily Life of a Marine Mom

Life of a Marine Mom, entry 204

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:30:14 GMT

I got some information from Alien Hunter that totally blew my mind. Do you know that if a soldier is injured bad enough that he can't fight anymore they take his sign-up bonus from him?!?!? This fact is just so wrong on so many levels I can't begin to comprehend it. I will just post a link to the info that he added in a comment here:

Alien Hunter's comment:
One link to the bonus fiasco is http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2008/jan/21/military-signing-bonus-squabble/ . I also have 2 nephews serving - 1 active duty Army, 1 TX Army National Guard - both tell me the same about bonuses. It is a regulation that if a soldier is unable to complete his/her enlistment and has a bonus that the bonus for the unserved enlistment portion must be repaid. It doesn't matter if the reason is due to injury or death. Two other sources I use are http://militarynews.com/ and http://www.dav.org/ . I also use Army, Navy, Marine Corp, Air Force Times papers for source material.

Mr_Sandman has been fighting for years to get his disability. He has hired a lawyer to help him. Two tours in Iraq and a case of PTSD. http://mrsandman782000.spaces.live.com

I didn't mean to carry on so long - some things just get to me. I never thought that I would be so politically active in writing congresspeople either.

If you want to help check your state's website (for Indiana its http://www.in.gov) for a list of your congressmen/women and write them protesting this practice.

Eric/Patty/Nathaniel update:

One of the reasons I am so appalled by the information that I posted above is because I know for a fact how Eric and Patty are struggling from paycheck to paycheck to make ends meet. So I can see any military personnel that gets a bonus using it to pay the bills that add up insurmountably while a married couple is just trying to survive. To have to pay back your bonus under those circumstances would be almost unbelievably hard if not impossible for them. I know the kids are doing without sometimes and I also know that if they ask me for help I will certainly try to help although I struggle under the same circumstances to pay my own bills. It's part of the reason I am glad to have Eric, Patty and Nathaniel staying with me for a few months when they get out of the Marine Corps. I hope in that time to be able to buy the house I am now living in which will help a lot (my house payments will be considerably lower than rent - plus I will be building equity). We are all struggling in this economy but through hard work and perhaps - sharing your living expenses with other members of family - we can make it. Eric plans on using his education bonus when he gets here to attend college (night school for electronic engineering) while he is working so hopefully things will get better for them out in the real world and away from the hardships of trying to live on a military paycheck. Enough of that though.

Patty's friends on base held a baby shower for her recently. And she sent me pics of it and Eric was there! So here is the newest pic I have of both of them together.

That's for everyone that asked me where the pics of the new dad-to-be were! Looks like they had fun. Patty sent me a pic too of Eric drinking out of a baby bottle (one of the games) but I'll be nice and not post it here haha! If you look close you can see that Eric has a black eye. The night before the baby shower one of his Marine friends got very drunk and belligerent. Eric was worried that he [the drunk friend] might hurt the person he was arguing with so he stepped in between his friend and the rest of the people there to try to calm him down and got punched four times! Not one to be deterred he just held onto his friend until he calmed down. Tough guy - I can't tell you how many times I have heard or seen him break up fights. I guess being as big as he is makes him a good negotiator. I'm so glad his size didn't make him want to start fights like so many of his brother Marines like to do! Oh well - like the saying goes "We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm." That's a Marine for you, they work hard, fight hard - and party hard.

Semper Fidelis and God bless you all.

Life of a Marine Mom, entry 203

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 12:48:17 GMT

So ... this weekend marks a huge milestone in my life. I have actually joined the ranks of people that have spent more than a half century on this earth. Yes that's right, Marine Mom is officially the big 5 - 0. To tell the truth I don't feel like I have been dragging this poor old body around for that long. I feel better than I did in my twenties save for the inevitable half hour in the morning before that first cup of coffee hits my veins! All in all I am satisfied and happy with my life. Like us all - I have made mistakes and suffered the effects of misjudging people around me at times but after all, no one is perfect and I have found in my heart to forgive those that hurt me. Hopefully I have learned from those mistakes and won't make the same ones twice! My one true shortcoming is that I enjoy spending too much time alone. I resolve on this day to start trying to spend more time with friends and family. Too much solitude can be wearing on the soul. That's one reason I am glad that Eric and Patty and little Nate (when he is born) will be staying with me when they come back home at the end of Eric's stint in the Marine Corps. Only a few more months and my house will be full again. I am looking forward to it.

I do still have some work to do on my psyche but overall I truly am happy with my life. I have great kids who all have wonderful marriages and are making it in life well enough and who - if they work hard - will leave their mark on the world around them. What more can you ask out of life? My one goal left (at the moment) is to actually become a writer but I still have time for that. After all, you actually have to write to do that and lately my desire to do so has been sorely diminished for one reason or another. But my creativity has always gone through spells of inactivity. It will be back.

I got a very apt email from a friend today that I think sums up the things I have learned in fifty years of life quite eloquently. Here it is:

The Most Beautiful Rainbow
As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that
wasn't supposed to ever let you down probably will. You
will have your heart broken probably more than once and
it's harder every time. You'll break hearts too, so
remember how it felt when yours was broken. You'll fight
with your best friend. You'll blame a new love for things
an old one did. You'll cry because time is passing too fast,
and you'll eventually lose someone you love. So take too
many pictures, laugh too much, and love like you've never
been hurt because every sixty seconds you spend upset
is a minute of happiness you'll never get back. Don't be
afraid that your life will end, be afraid that it will never begin.

Live simply. Love generously.
Care deeply. Speak kindly.
Leave the rest to God.

On to news from the homefront: Patty sent me the last ultrasound (it was done May 7th so he is a lot bigger now) of Nathaniel Clayton finally! And a new picture of her sideways LOL. She is so beautiful. Pregnancy suits her well. The ultrasound photo I am showing here has little Nate showing them that he definitely is a boy haha! His legs are spread and he appears to either be pointing at his stuff or - maybe trying to grab it? HAHA - Patty says he is definitely his father's son.

Nathaniel and his mama in all their glory. We are so blessed.

Hope everyone has a great weekend. Got an ABATE function some friends and I are going to this weekend myself so hopefully it will go well!

Semper Fi and God bless you all.

Life of a Marine Mom, entry 202

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 12:13:00 GMT

Soldiers risk ruin while awaiting benefit checks - Military- msnbc.com

Its a sad sad day when we don't even take care of our own. This particular article represents that fact in shocking extreme. It starts with the story of Isaac Stevens, an Army private first-class, 3rd Infantry Division, 11 Bravo Company and what happened after an accident in the military left him permanently disabled. Here's an expert -

The injury alone didn't put him in a homeless shelter. Instead, it was military bureaucracy — specifically, the way injured soldiers are discharged on just a fraction of their salary and then forced to wait six to nine months, and sometimes even more than a year, before their full disability payments begin to flow...

Click the link above to read the whole article from MSNBC.com.

Semper Fi and God bless all of our military men and women - and you.

Life of a Marine Mom, entry 201

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:33:53 GMT

I want to say that I certainly hope all of you special fathers out there had a wonderful day yesterday. I am truly sorry that I didn't post this before now to let you know that I respect and appreciate every good father out there! This is the second Father's Day that we have spent without the loving presence of my own father whom we lost to cancer in December of 2006. Therefore I tend to let Father's Day slide away without mention because it still hurts when I stop and remember that he is no longer with us. What with my youngest son about to become a father for the first time I guess that I should no longer try to ignore that day when I can now honor my son's accomplishments in being a good dad. That said - I want to repost the poem that I wrote (and read) at my own father's funeral in 2006 in honor of him. The loss is still great, we love and miss him.

My father, my friend

If you are lucky in your life,
You will meet a simple man,
Who will stand with you at your lowest point
And lend you his helping hand.

A man who loves his family
And shows it in every way
He's there for all the little things
His devotion takes your fears away

A man who believes in honesty
And places it above most everything
He would not accept anything less
From those that mean the most to him.

A man who is there when you need him
Who stands willingly by your side
Or holds you in his arms of strength
When you must break down and cry.

Who comforts children when they're sad
Sings them a powerful little song
And the sound of his strong voice
Eases their tears before too long.

A man who loves so many things,
His family and all his friends,
Even the dog always by his side
Both are loyal to the end.

I was so blessed in my life
To have known just such a simple man
Who held me tight the day I was born
And said "Welcome home, my newest friend."

Now I know that he is standing,
With another giving, simple man.
Both waiting to one day hold me tight
And say, "Welcome home now, my dear friend."

written by Tami, in honor of my father, who went Home Dec. 3, 2006
Till we meet again, we all love you.

Life of Marine Mom, entry 200

Sat, 07 Jun 2008 13:37:31 GMT

Congrats to my niece, Nicole, on the birth of her little princess, Aaliyah! And congrats to my little sister for becoming a grandma before me hehe!

The baby is precious and healthy and everyone is doing fine. Thank you to everyone that added her to your prayers.

Life of a Marine Mom, entry 199

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 12:27:06 GMT

Becoming a grandmother for the first time is a blessing and a trial at the same time. Dealing with the inpending parents revelations is exhausting at times especially since they are so far away right now. It is reminiscent of my own conversion to motherhood at a young age.

As I consider my own faith, resolutions, accomplishments and failures - and where those things take me in my own life I want to pass on this little story that I received. Soon I may start talking about my own story in a way I have not done in the past year. This may figure in it hugely.

Pray for all our troops and keep Eric and Patty in your prayers if you do pray. Also add my niece Nicole to your prayers today. She is going into the hospital to have her own labor induced tonight and being a first-time mom, she needs our prayers! Her little precious baby girl will be a wonderful playmate for our own little guy due in September.

Semper Fi and God bless you. I know I am blessed with the people I have in my life, including all of you!

And now I share this special story with you, pass it on if you wish:

A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the preacher decided to visit him. It was a chilly evening. The preacher found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his preachers visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace and waited.

The preacher made himself at home but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, the preacher took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone then he sat back in his chair, still silent.

The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone ember's flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead.

Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. The preacher glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave. He slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow, once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.

As the preacher reached the door to leave, his host said with a tear running down his cheek, "Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I shall be back in church next Sunday."

We live in a world today, which tries to say too much with too little.

Consequently, few listen. Sometimes the best sermons are the ones left
unspoken. If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything. This is an eye opener; probably we never thought about it nor looked at this Psalm in this way, even though we say it over and over again.

The Lord is my Shepherd ... that's a Relationship.
I shall not want ... that's Supply.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures ... that's Rest.
He leadeth me beside the still waters ... that's Refreshment.
He restoreth my soul ... that's Healing.
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness ... that's Guidance.
For His name sake ... that's Purpose.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death ... that's
Testing.
I will fear no evil ... that's Protection.
For Thou art with me ... that's Faithfulness.
Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me ... that's Discipline.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies ... that's Hope.
Thou annointest my head with oil ... that's Consecration.
My cup runneth over ... that's Abundance.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life ... that's Blessing.
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord ... that's Security.
Forever ... that's Eternity.

I thought this was pretty special. What is most valuable is not what we have in our lives, but who we have in our lives. The task ahead of you, is never as great as the power behind you.

Life of a Marine Mom, entry 198

Tue, 13 May 2008 12:09:52 GMT

I hope all of the mothers that come here had a wonderful mother's day!

Here's a letter written by a Marine to all mothers out there.

Semper Fidelis and God Bless you all.

Sent: Thursday, May 8, 2008 8:09:18 AM
Subject: Mother's Day letter from a Marine in 2/24 to all the Mom's

Well,

Another Mother’s Day and I’m not home. It’s not for a couple days, but who knows when I’ll have another chance to write. Makes me feel rotten. The one day out of the year that I’m supposed to treat her like the queen she deserves to be and I am not there. Not that she won’t have a good day with Lisa, my sister, but come on, when your favorite child isn’t going to be there can you really get all that excited? But as I’m sure my Mother says, she’s better than nothing. Anyways, she recently had asked me what I wanted out here and I tried to take a minute to think of all the things she is doing for me right now while I’m away. It turned into thinking about all the things she’s done for me for years, and then all the things she has always done for me even before I realized it. There is a selfish stage I think in most everyone’s life when your Mother does so much for you and has you so protected from everything evil in the world that it is impossible to take it for granted. She is your whole world. And you still find the time to argue with her over things that have absolutely no consequence. You might even stay mad at her for it for a long time. And she doesn’t care. She doesn’t care because she loves you just as much in your stubbornness and your ignorance as she did when you were in the cradle. Then you grow up. And that’s her whole goal, to keep you safe, to make you happy, to have you grow up and become as good a person as she will always believe you can be. And the only tool she has to build you is love. As you grow up you begin to comprehend a little bit what it is she means to you. My Mother means if I get in trouble it’s better to let her know right away, because she is going to find out about it anyways. She means that even after the time I grew taller than her, that I would always feel safer in her shadow. She means that even when I let the weight of life bring me to my knees, her love is strong enough to carry me forward. She means that if I ever lose myself down the rocky, long road of time, she will be waiting for me to ask her the directions back, because it turns out she may of taken that same turn once upon a time. She means I’m going to get a great home cooked meal prepared with butter, bacon, and every other heart stopping food as soon as she sees me, and without any regard to any diet I might be on. She means carving pumpkins on Halloween, coloring eggs on Easter, and unwrapping gifts on Christmas. She means my holidays. She means what is behind my smile. She means the person who will wait for my call, and always answer with surprise and love no matter how much pain life brings her, or how tired she may be. She means the person who gave me my beginning and will be there every step of the way until my end. She means every accomplishment and milestone I have ever completed, because I have never been without her in my heart. She means that for the rest of my life I will strive to be a good enough person to earn the love and support she has unquestioningly given to me.

And in turn, I give her another gray hair for each day I put her through the things I do. From breaking bones as a little punk to roaming the streets in Iraq right now, I have single handedly kept the sale of Tareyton 100’s steady for thirty years. So today, with about 4 days left until Mother’s Day I have gathered up my squad and confirmed their plans to send home cards and chastised those who haven’t even thought about it yet. I asked “Who loves their Mother?,” and every hand was raied without hesitation. Then to the best of my ability I tried to make everyone feel guilty about their selfishness because of how much their Mother loves them (even though they don’t deserve it.) Like many things, it will take many years to be at my Mother’s level on the whole guilt trip thing, but I lay it on pretty thick.

As Marines we adopt a somewhat dangerous role in our world. Our mottos reflect that we are the defenders of our nation’s freedom by air, or land, or sea. We say we are the warriors who walk into the night, without fear, to catch and destroy the enemy where they sleep. We walk through the sand and climb the mountains of foreign lands to keep the enemy off our own beloved shores. Along with these stoic recruiting poster descriptions we give ourselves, we all share another common bond. We are all the sons of women back home whose sleep will never be satisfying until we have returned safely home. Women who take pride in telling everyone that their son is a Marine who is serving their country and wears the Eagle Globe and Anchor t-shirts to the store. Yet on the inside are dealing with the dread and agonizing concern for the health of their little boy. You nervously caught us as we first learned to walk, kissed our scrapped knees on the playground, and skipped uncounted heart beats with every broken bone you rushed us to the emergency room with to be casted. And after all that when you were pretty sure things would slow down… we told you about boot camp. And now, Iraq . And as much as you want to hug and hold your son to keep them out of harm's way…you can not, for they are thousands of miles away sleeping next to their rifle or walking through the rubble covered streets of a town you may only ever know through clips on CNN. And it causes every maternal instinct to scream out in distress because everything you know is telling you to protect us. I imagine at some point many of you even thought about joining up, even if it was because you were jealous of our Drill Instructor’s ability to actually get us to clean up our rooms. But each and every day you do continue to care and nurture us. There is not a Marine who is not happy to receive a letter from his Mother during mail call. And there are few that haven’t called home for your help with bills, or phone cards, or requests of their favorite things for you to fill packages with. After they have talked to you, or read your letters and opened your packages, they are whole again, even if they do not realize why. Their minds are clear and their attitudes strong when they are reminded of who they are and what is most important to them. Few things are as effective at this task as a Mother’s love. And above all I am confident in the fact that our success and our safety is in no small way contributed to by all the unseen prayers that you have said for your sons and for everyone who fights beside them.

I wanted to write this to all of you Lady’s because it is your day as well. And I know each one of you as not only as the family of my fellow Marines but as loving and strong Mother’s whose smiles reach a little farther and whose eyes shine a little brighter when you talk about your sons. And I see the trials and challenges from time to time through their stories, be they surgeries, arguments, or loss of family members. I see the worry and the concern. I see the pride and hear the laughter. Now, there is a good chance I will never be a Mother. Like a really good chance. As far as the military knows anyways. And I don’t have any children, so I cannot speak intelligently on parenting. What I do know is that it is a job with more responsibilities than I can fathom and requires more love and patience than a monk. I also know that I do have a fantastic Mother who has two children who will always look up to her, no matter how tall we are. So I have near 29 years of experience on what wonderful Mother’s are like. And although you may never ask for much in return, if anything at all, I just wanted to wish a Happy Mother’s Day to the other wonderful Mother’s I have come to know, and to thank you for being able to do the hardest job of all each and every hour of every day. So please enjoy your Day. You all deserve it.

Semper Fidelis,

-Sgt. Mark E. Gannon

Life of a Marine Mom, entry 197

Thu, 08 May 2008 12:11:44 GMT

Well ... for the first time yesterday Eric got to see Nugget. So you may be wondering do we know now if Nugget is a boy or girl?

Scroll down for the answer to that burning question :)

And the verdict is ...

It's a ...

BOY!!!! hehe

Definitely a boy, no doubt about it. Eric is going typically Marine and strutting around like a rooster saying 'HA ... I make boys!' hahaha

Knowing that he is a he and hearing his heartbeat makes it a whole lot more real for my son. Both Eric and Patty are ecstatic. Although something Patty said had me cracking up yesterday. We were talking on messenger a little bit and she said 'Ewww ... I just realized I have a penis in my stomach!' roflmao ... Patty! I do love her hehe.

Congrats Eric and Patty! Now we just have about a three and a half month wait to meet the little guy! As soon as I get the new pics of him I will definitely post them.

Semper Fi and God bless you all as He is blessing us!

Life of a Marine Mom, entry 196

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 12:32:28 GMT

So much to say and so little time. Isn't that how life goes for most of us?

First of all ... please keep our deployed Marines in your prayers even harder this week as they advance in Afghanistan through Taliban territory. You can read more about that at this link: Marines launch massive assault in Afghanistan

Secondly ... our little 'nugget' is growing fast and reached the halfway point in his preparation for entering the world yesterday. Patty is scheduled to have another ultrasound on May 7th and believe me when I say there will be PICS! Hopefully they will find out the sex (although Eric and I are both convinced nugget is definitely 'Eric Junior' at the rate he is growing) since Patty is on pins and needles waiting to find out so she can buy color appropriate clothing for the little Marine. Now if 'nugget' just cooperates and doesn't hide those body parts during the ultrasound LOL! Here's couple pics of Patty, the first one is during her 18th week and the second is at just over 19 weeks. I don't really think 'nugget' is actually just a nugget anymore! But isn't Patty just the beautiful picture of a glowing new mom!

And lastly ... for those of you who are really interested in scientific discoveries as I am and heard about the capture of a 'Colossal Squid' last year ... the New Zealand museum that the large chunk of frozen calamari was donated to is about to unfreeze and examine it before preserving it for posterity and display at their facility. They have LIVE video cams showing it defrosting at the moment but sometime today they are going to unfold it and do the examinations. For those of you not in the know on this amazing discovery - it weighs in at 990 lbs and is the largest and ONLY adult colossal squid to ever be examined although they have had what they believe to be juvenile colossal squids to examine before. There are a lot of great stories about how it was found and stored available at the museum site as well as links to the live webcams. The Discovery Channel is going to be doing a whole show about the entire thing later this year. I am definitely hoping to catch the webcam just as they are unfolding this huge sea creature (it was folded and stuff into a container before being frozen so they could transport it). See the highlighted text below for the museum and cam links:

Museum of New Zealand

Live WebCam Link

Stay tuned for the news of nugget's sex and if Eric and I are right about nugget being a boy! We'll be happy either way but we are betting on boy!

Semper Fi and God bless you all. And keep all our troops in your prayers as I do please.

Life of a Marine Mom, entry 195

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 12:19:58 GMT

Take a ride on an F-16 with this pilot and check out this unbelievable video from military.com. Click on the hyperlinked title below.

F-16 vs Tree
When your aircraft is telling you you're too low to the ground, you might want to listen.

Hope everyone is well btw. Hope to do an actual blog here later this weekend.

Semper Fi and God Bless you all!

Life of a Marine Mom, entry 194

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 20:18:24 GMT

Subject: Top this for a speeding ticket

Two California Highway Patrol Officers were conducting speeding enforcement on I-15, just north of the Marine Corps Air Station at Miramar. One of the officers was using a hand held radar device to check speeding vehicles approaching the crest of a hill.

The officers were suddenly surprised when the radar gun began reading 300 miles per hour. The officer attempted to reset the radar gun, but it would not reset and then turned off. Just then a deafening roar over the treetops revealed that the radar had in fact locked on to a USMC F/A-18 Hornet which was engaged in a low flying exercise near the location.

Back at the CHPs Headquarters the Patrol Captain fired off a complaint to the USMC Base Commander.

The reply came back in true USMC style:

"Thank you for your letter. We can now complete the file on this incident. You may be interested to know that the tactical computer in the Hornet had detected the presence of, and subsequently locked on to, your hostile radar equipment and automatically sent a jamming signal back to it, which is why it shut down."

"Furthermore, an Air-to-Ground missile aboard the fully armed aircraft had also automatically locked on to your equipment location. Fortunately, the Marine Pilot flying the Hornet recognized the situation for what it was, quickly responded to the missile system alert status and was able to override the automated defense system before the missile was launched to destroy the hostile radar position.The pilot also suggests you cover your mouths when cussing at them, since the video systems on these jets are very high tech. Sergeant Johnson, the officer holding the radar gun, should get his dentist to check his left rear molar. It appears the filling is loose. Also, the snap is broken on his holster."

"Thank you for your concern."

Semper Fi.

Life of a Marine Mom, entry 193

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 13:45:46 GMT

[Update: As of this afternoon, almost 24 hours after this story broke, it is now appearing on MSN and several other main news sites.]

Planning a trip to Las Vegas in the near future? I actually was planning on going there in September when the Nugget is due. I may be rethinking that idea though after this info.

It's utterly and completely surprising to me that this particular bit of news has managed to stay off the main news services. You go to MSN front page and can you find it? Nope. Wonder how much the Vegas businesses are paying to keep it buried?

I am digging it out for you though.

Deadly toxin found at Las Vegas hotel

(CNN) -- Police in Las Vegas, Nevada, are investigating the discovery of the deadly poison ricin in a hotel room Thursday.

A small amount of ricin was found Thursday in a hotel room in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Authorities were called to an Extended Stay America hotel around 3 p.m. after a man brought a bag holding a small container to the manager's office. The man said he found it while retrieving items from a hotel room.

It's "100 percent ricin," said Capt. Joe Lombardo of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. "We don't know who (the ricin) belongs to or why it would be here at this time."

There is a link at the bottom of the page to the complete story which is interesting and disturbing reading if I may say.

Here's some info on ricin:

Ricin is a poison that can be made from the waste left over from processing castor beans.
It can be in the form of a powder, a mist, or a pellet, or it can be dissolved in water or weak acid.
It is a stable substance. For example, it is not affected much by extreme conditions such as very hot or very cold temperatures.
Ricin has some potential medical uses, such as bone marrow transplants and cancer treatment (to kill cancer cells).
It would take a deliberate act to make ricin and use it to poison people. Accidental exposure to ricin is highly unlikely.
People can breathe in ricin mist or powder and be poisoned.
Ricin can also get into water or food and then be swallowed.
Pellets of ricin, or ricin dissolved in a liquid, can be injected into people’s bodies.
Depending on the route of exposure (such as injection or inhalation), as little as 500 micrograms of ricin could be enough to kill an adult. A 500-microgram dose of ricin would be about the size of the head of a pin. A greater amount would likely be needed to kill people if the ricin were swallowed.
In 1978, Georgi Markov, a Bulgarian writer and journalist who was living in London, died after he was attacked by a man with an umbrella. The umbrella had been rigged to inject a poison ricin pellet under Markov’s skin.
Some reports have indic
ted that ricin may have been used in the Iran-Iraq war during the 1980s and that quantities of ricin were found in Al Qaeda caves in Afghanistan.
Ricin poisoning is not contagious. It cannot be spread from person to person through casual contact.

To read the whole story on CNN click here: Deadly toxin found at Las Vegas hotel

To read more about ricin at the CDC website click here: Facts About Ricin

Everyone stay safe.

Semper Fi and God Bless

Life of a Marine Mom, entry 192

Tue, 26 Feb 2008 16:34:54 GMT

So what does little 'chicken nugget' look like? Here he is! He's the little dark spot near the middle of the pic I think. Its hard to see but he has all the little arms and legs that are suppose to be there. Plus a big head lol. Hmm .. going to take after his dad I bet *grin*. Patty is doing well. Morning sickness has flown the coop but Eric and little mama Patty are both realizing that they have a HUGE important task in front of them. BTW - no actual proof that nugget is a boy yet but I am willing to place money on it that it is a boy!

I also wanted to send some folks over to a good friend's space. Many of you know Nae of Alaskan Frontiers who has been one of my biggest supporters over the years since I started this blog. Nae has a heart the size of Alaska too! She is currently trying to get donations for a very worthy cause, finding a cure for cancer in children. She is also getting her beautiful long hair literally BUZZED and donating it to 'Locks of Love'. Check out her blog on this worthy effort here and then help out by donating a little or a lot at the link in her blog. Click here to head over to it: http://alaskanfrontier.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!BC01CE9F824F19FB!2160.entry

Way to go Nae!

Semper Fi and God Bless.

Life of Marine Mom, entry 191

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 19:09:11 GMT

Hello my faithful readers,

I know its been a while since I updated you here but I was waiting for some really good news to share.

Eric and Patty wasted no time getting re-acquainted when he returned from Iraq just before Thanksgiving lol. They found out recently that they are expecting their first baby!! I wanted to share the news about this after Patty had an ultrasound and her first real appointment at the doctor (which she did yesterday). They heard the little 'chicken nugget's' (as the little one is being affectionately called) heartbeat yesterday for the first time and everything looks great!

So, this Marine mom is now about to become a grandmother for the first time. Somehow I just don't feel old enough to be one - but I will adjust I am certain! We are all thrilled about it and I just know they will make wonderful parents. Patty's dad called me right after they had shared the news with us and he is certain this is a miracle baby since Patty herself was not expected to live when she was born. Now she's healthy, happy and pregnant with her own!

Keep our little one and his parents in your prayers if you can. I hope to have ultrasound pictures to share soon!

For now, Eric is working on base and enjoying his life back in the states. They are both adjusting well to having him home and building their own life now they get to build a family.

Semper fi and God bless.

Life of a Marine Mom, entry 190

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 13:22:46 GMT

I know I have been so lax on updating here but I am truly going to try to rectify that soon. Seems like I have a lot of pics and a lot of news to impart to my favorite Spaces people so I promise to try to do that over the next few days!

For now please enjoy the following story. It may or may not be true but it had me rolling on the floor laughing because I can definitely see a Marine coming up with this!!! Word of warning: This story is rated PG-13 because of some slightly colorful language and references to bodily functions but I have to publish it the way it was sent to me in order to get the full Marine effect.

Till I can get some time to update you again (hopefully SOON). Semper Fi and God bless!

____________________________________

WARNING: Story contains some slight colorful language (no ' f ' words) and references to bodily functions that may offend some readers. If you are easily offended DO NOT READ!!!

MRE dinner date; From a Young Marine who well understood what to do when confronted with a difficult, singular, non-trained for situation~

IMPROVISE!!

The following is apparently a true story (and I could well believe it is true - knowing Marines :) .... told from the point of view of a young Marine.

*******************************

I had a date the other night at my place. On the phone the day before, the girl asked me to 'Cook her something she's never had before' for dinner. After many minutes of scratching my head over what to make, I finally settled on something she has DEFINITELY never eaten.

I got out my trusty case of MRE's. Meal, Ready-to-Eat. Field rations that when eaten in their entirety contain 3000+ calories. Here's what I made:

I took three of the Ham Slices out of their plastic packets, took out three of the Pork Chops, three packets of Chicken-a-la- King, and eight packets of dehydrated butter noodles and some dehydrated/rehydrated rice. I cooked the Ham Slices and Pork Chops in one pan, sautéed in shaved garlic and olive oil.

In another pot, I blended the Chicken a-la-king, noodles, and rice together to make a sort of mush that looked suspiciously like succotash. I added some spices, and blended everything together in a glass pan that I then cooked in the oven for about 35 minutes at 450 degrees.

When I took it out, it looked like, well, ham slices, pork chops, and a bed of yellow poop. I covered the tops of the meat in the MRE cheese (kinda like Velveeta) and added some green sprinkly things from one of my spice cans (hey, if it's got green sprinkly things on it, it looks fancy right?)

For dessert, I took four Pound Cakes, mashed 'em up, added five packets of cocoa powder, powdered coffee cream, and some water. I heated it up and stirred it until it looked like a sort of chunky gelatinous organism, and I sprinkled powdered sugar on top of it. Voila - Ranger Pudding.

For alcoholic drinks, I took the rest of my bottle of Military Special Vodka (yes, they DO make a type of liquor named 'Military Special' - it sells for $4.35 per fifth at the Class Six) and mixed in four packets of 'Electrolytes - 1 each - Cherry flavored' (I swear, the packet says that). It looked like an eerie kool-aid with sparkles in it (that was the electrolytes I guess... could've been leftover sand from Iraq).

I lit two candles, put a vase of wildflowers in the middle, and set the table with my best set of Ralph Lauren Academy-series China (that shit is EXPENSIVE... my set of 8 place settings cost me over $600 on sale at the Lejeune PX ), and put the alcoholic drink in a crystal wine decanter.

She came over, and I had some appetizers already made, of MRE spaghetti-with- meatballs, set in small cups. She saw the dinner, sa w the food, and said 'This looks INCREDIBLE!!!'

We dug in, and she was loving the food. Throughout the meal, she kept asking me how long it took me to make it, and kept remarking that I obviously knew a thing or two about cooking fine meals. She kind of balked at the makeshift 'wine' I had set out, but after she tried it I guess she liked it because she drank four glasses during dinner.

At the end of the main course, when I served the dessert, she squealed with delight at the 'Chocolate mousse' I had made. Huh? Chocolate what?

Okay... yeah... its Chocolate Moose. Took me HOURS to make... yup.

Later on, as we were watching a movie, she excused herself to use my rest room. While she was in there, I heard her say softly to herself 'uh oh' and a resounding but petite fart punctuated her utterance of dismay.

Let the games begin.

She sprayed about half a can of air freshener (Air Freshener, 1 each, Orange scent. Yup. The military even makes smell-good) and returned to the couch, this time with an obvious pained look.

After 10 more minutes she excused herself again, and retreated to the bathroom for the second time, I could hear her say 'What the hell is WRONG with me?' as she again send flatulent shockwaves into the porcelain bowl. This time, they sounded kinda wet, and I heard the toilet paper roll being employed, and again, LOTS more air freshener!

Back to the couch. She smiles meekly as she decides to sit on the chair instead of next to me. She sits on my chair, knees pulled up to her chest, kind of rocking back and forth slightly. Suddenly, without a word, she ROCKETED up and FLEW to the bathroom, slammed the door, and didn't come out for 30 minutes.

I turned the movie up because I didn't want her to hear me laughing so hard that tears were streaming down my cheeks.

She cam e out with a slightly gray pallor to her face, and said 'I am SOOOOOO sorry. I have NO idea what is wrong with me. I am so embarrassed; I can't believe I keep running to your bathroom!!' I gave her an Imodium AD, and she finally settled down and relaxed.

Later on, she asked me again what I had made for dinner, because she had enjoyed it so much. I calmly took her into the kitchen and showed her all the used MRE bags and packets in the trash can.

After explaining to her that she had eaten roughly 9,000 calories of 'Marine Corps Field Rations' she turned stark white, looked at me incredulously, and said 'I ate 9,000 calories of dehydrated food that was made 3 years ago?'

After I rogered, she grabbed her coat and keys, and took off without a word.

She called me yesterday. Seems she couldn't shit for 5 days, and when she finally did, the smell was so bad, her roommate could smell it from down the hall. She also told me she had been working out nonstop to combat the high caloric intake, and that she never wanted me to cook dinner for her again, unless she was PERSONALLY there to inspect the food beforehand.

It was a fun date! She laughed about it eventually and said that that was the first time she'd ever crapped in a guy's house on a date. She'd been so upset by it she was in tears in the bathroom while I had been in tears on the couch.

I know .. I'm an asshole, but it was still a funny night!

Life of a Marine Mom, entry 189

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 14:43:21 GMT

Just got a link to the newest USMC commercial. Its absolutely awesome and believe me, if you have a Marine in your family you better get the tissues out now before you watch it. Definitely a tear-jerker for the proud parents and families of US Marines!! Click the play button to watch this awesome commercial. If you want to read more about the making of it and more about our Marines go to http://our.marines.com

Life of a Marine Mom, entry 188

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 13:20:38 GMT

MERRY CHRISTMAS and may the holidays find you surrounded by your family and friends. Remember the REASON for the SEASON too!

Eric and Patty made it home last Sunday thanks to my daughter's 4-wheel drive Tahoe and have been reconnecting with family all week. I had to work the last week but after today I have until next Friday off (then 4 more days off for the New Year holiday) so I get to spend some more quality time with them!

Now check out this link and the one below it. The first link is Eric and Patty elfed. The second link is my boyfriend James and I elfed. Lots of fun!!

Eric and Patty's Christmas Greeting to you all.

Tami and James' Christmas Greeting to you all.

May God bless you all and keep you safe and warm!!

Life of a Marine Mom, entry 187

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 13:17:07 GMT

The holidays are upon us and everyone is doing okay in my little neck of the neighborhood. Eric and Patty are scheduled to fly home on Sunday for almost three weeks (YAY) so I will be able to give my Marine his long overdue hug then! I'll be sure to post some photos over the next few weeks.

Patty has gotten so much better since Eric is home that the change in her is nothing short of amazing. She has thanked me for being an ear to commiserate with while Eric was serving this last tour in Iraq but I had to thank her back for just being there for me too! Yes it was hard having my son over there, but having his precious wife to help while he was gone helped me deal with his deployment more than she could ever know.

Now I leave with a little poem that I think covers the confusion that surmounts our CHRISTMAS celebration these last few years. Don't forget the 'Reason for the Season'! Merry Christmas!!

God bless and keep you all safe!

______________________________________

THIS HAS BEEN AROUND BEFORE, BUT CERTAINLY WORTH REPEATING !! (Note that some of the mentioned retailers HAVE changed their policy in promoting the Season - to them I say thank you!)

"Merry Christmas !!!"

Twas the month before Christmas
When all through our land,
Not a Christian was praying Nor taking a stand.
Why the Politically Correct had taken away,
The reason for Christmas - no one could say.

The children were told by their schools not to sing,
About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.
It might hurt people's feelings, Teachers would say "December 25th is
just a " Holiday "".

Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit,
Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it! CDs from Madonna, an
X BOX, an I-pod Something was changing, something quite odd!
Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa In hopes to sell books by
Franken & Fonda.

As Targets were hanging their trees upside down,
At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.
At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears or even Walmart (who fires
any employee using the X word!)
You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.

Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-is-ty
Are words that were used to intimidate me.
Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen On Boxer, on
Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton !

At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter
To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.
And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith.
Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace.

The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded,
The reason for the season, stopped before it started.
So as you celebrate "Winter Break" under your "Dream Tree"
Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.
Choose your words carefully,
Choose what you say
Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS, not Happy Holiday !

Life of a Marine Mom, entry 186

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 13:06:33 GMT

I know this is late (I'm in the process of moving) but HAPPY 232rd BIRTHDAY to the United States Marine Corps! And Happy Veteran's Day to all of our esteemed veterans in all branches of service! Thank you for what you do for us all and God bless you and your families.

Then following is long but well worth the read if you have a Marine in your life!

To know the Corps is to love the Corps, which is why Marine Corps Times
compiled the following list of 232 reasons to stand proudly at this
year’s birthday ball.

1. Cpl. Jason Dunham. First Marine to receive the Medal of Honor since
Vietnam. If jumping on a grenade to save a buddy isn’t worth the top of
the list, nothing is.

2. Civilians have to find time to go to the gym. Marines get paid to go.

3. The National Museum of the Marine Corps. It’s like a Smithsonian of
leatherneck.

4. There’s no such thing as an “ex” Marine.

5. Re-enlistment rates are higher IN the war zone.

6. Stink-proof socks. Well, almost. Systems Command is working on them.

7. Jalapeño cheese.

8. “Every Marine Into the Fight.”

9. Lump-sum re-enlistment bonuses up to $80,000. Many of you would
consider doing it for free.

10. New uniforms #1. Pixel-pattern cammies? Yeah, the Corps came up with
that.

11. “Doc.”

12. Flexed arm hang is harder than it looks. We tried it.

13. Barracks parties on non-payday weekends.

14. Marine Gunners.

15. The Wounded Warrior Regiment.

16. MarAdmin 266/07: Letting 18-year-old Marines drink on base at this
year’s birthday ball.

17. No receipt necessary for travel claim expenses less than $75.

18. The lance corporal underground.

19. Fallujah II.

21. Archibald Henderson’s couch, re-upholstered, is still in the
commandant’s living room.

22. “No better friend, no worse enemy.”

23. Typhoons approaching Okinawa often spark islandwide beer runs.

24. Waivers.

25. Gen. James Jones, who followed his tour as commandant with
appointment as “supreme intergalactic overlord” (OK, it was Supreme
Allied Commander, Europe, but close).

26. 10 rounds from the 500-yard line.

27. Per diem.

28. To civilians, every Marine is recon.

29. Recruiting in Texas is like hunting at the zoo.

30. The “boat cloak.” Because every super hero needs a cape.

31. You can re-enlist in the IRR.

32. The wallet in your sock.

33. Motivating television commercials.

! 34. The “horse shoe” haircut, gone but not forgotten.

35. The global address list. Find your buddies and send them links to
Marine Corps Times.

36. Running cadences that mention napalm. And Eskimos.

37. Stories that begin with, “So there I was ...”

38. Modified parade rest.

39. The transformation. Who you are when you join is not nearly as
important as who you become.

40. Lt. Gen. Jim Mattis getting a fourth star.

41. If you’ve been on liberty in Twentynine Palms, you’ve been on
liberty in Yuma and Barstow, too.

42. Grooming standards. Not only can you not act like a thug, you cannot
look like a thug.

43. It’s not the Army.

44. Women in Manhattan have all seen the Fleet Week episode of “! Sex and
the City.”

45. Combat shotguns.

46. Combat Action Ribbons. IEDs count now, and should have counted all
along. Duh.

47. The occasional free beer. Wear your blues into a bar and see what
happens.

48. After decades of debate, there remains no resolution on whether sand
fleas trump “The Reaper.”

49. The Corps’ doesn’t call its officers, commissioned or not, “petty.”

50. Cpl. Gareth Hawkins, lying on a stretcher after an IED shattered his
leg, demanded re-enlistment before medical evacuation. And got it.

51. Whereas Army, Navy and Air Force jokes are funny, Marine jokes are
potentially dangerous.

52. The occasional friendly debate. Refer to a Marine staff
noncommissioned officer simply as “sergeant,” and see what happens.

53. That troublesome “10 percent,” making good Marines look g! reat since
1775.

54. Everyone at a high school reunion is obliged to justify his last 10
years, except the guy wearing alphas.

55. As if ranks that include the words “master” and “gunnery” aren’t
intimidating enough on their own, the Corps uses them both. At once.

56. Soldiers have Hooah Bars. Marines have Ka-Bars. The second will
generally get you the first.

57. The dress code. You can wear your cammies to meet the commandant or
repair a tank.

58. From “Aliens” to “Doom,” the future vision of warfare almost always
includes Space Marines.

59. The Corps was formed in a bar.

60. Marines predicted the WWII campaigns in the Pacific years earlier
and prepared for the inevitable. So when a Marine says, “Hey, I’ve been
thinking …” perhaps you should take notes.

61. Give a Marine some free time, and he’ll rip down your dictator’s
statue.

62. If it ain’t raining, we ain’t training.

64. Duty station garden spots: Jacksonville, N.C.; Yuma, Ariz.;
Bridgeport, Calif.; Twentynine Palms, Calif. (Yes, we’re kidding.)

65. Making morning PT on time.

66. Recruiters who promise everything EXCEPT a rose garden.

67. Mustangs #1. It’s easier to take crap from a CO who went to boot
camp.

69. Gen. Peter Pace, the first Marine chairman of the Joint Chiefs. He
left his four-star insignia with his fallen! comrades at the Vietnam Wall
when he retired. Nice move.

70. The people zapper. Using microwave energy to disperse a crowd sounds
like fun. Semper fry, gunny.

71. Nothing says “Good morning” like a mouthful of Copenhagen and
freeze-dried coffee.

72. Nothing says “I love you” like a welcome home sheet hanging on a
chain-link fence.

73. Bill Barnes. In June, the former Marine beat the crap out of a
27-year-old pickpocket who tried to make off with his dough. Oh yeah,
he’s 72.

74. Leftwich Trophy. Heisman winners only think they know about leaving
it all on the field.

75. EOD. If you don’t know why this is on the list, defuse the next IED
yourself.

76. Tax-free combat pay. Doing what you signed up for and! not having to
give Uncle Sam a dime back.

77. Montford Point Marines. The first African-American Marines know a
little something about honor, courage and commitment.

78. Front toward enemy. It’s not just a visual reference on a Claymore
mine, it’s a Marine Corps way of life.

79. Mustangs #2. You know at least three Marines who drive them. It’s
like a Ford dealership exploded on base.

80. Fred Smith, founder of FedEx. Only a former Marine could truly
appreciate the value of getting your mail on time.

81. CMC: The tallest member of the Joints Chiefs. OK, so we haven’t
actually measured, but he looks the tallest anyway.

82. No more spit shining boots.

83. Chuck Norris was in the Air Force. Steve McQueen was a Marine.

84. The Crucible.

85. 1/9, 2/9 and 3/9. Welcome back, fellas.

86. The FROG uniform. You are now sweat-wickin’ AND flame-lickin’.

88. The M4. More rifles in the fight is generally a win-win.

89. MRAPs. Trucks straight out of Mad Max. We still love a good Humvee,
but we loved jeeps, too. Things change.

90. Arty guys who do civil affairs. They blow it up, then they fix it.
Circle of life.

91. Service Charlies. They look so good, the Navy’s copying ’em.

92. Fake Marines. No one eats ’em up faster than real Marines.

93. John Lovell. A 71-year-old former Marine is sitting in a Subway
restaurant when two armed men try to rob the place. Lovell grabs his
.45, kills one and w! ounds the other. No word on how Lovell’s sandwich
fared.

94. 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines. Six Navy Crosses so far. Six.

95. Staff Sgt. Lawrence Dean II, aka the “BadAss Marine.” He recites a
poem. He gets uploaded to YouTube. Thousands get motivated.

96. Gen. James Conway takes over as the new commandant. Among his
demands: a new PT uniform, new tattoo regs, a plan to add dress blues to
the seabag, a change-up in medals and 22,000 more Marines. Someone’s
been thinking about taking over for a while, huh?

97. Body-fat standards. Everyone hates them, until they see a fat
Marine.

98. “Jarhead.” Only a former Marine could write a war story about not
fighting anyone and make it last for 200 pages, then get Jamie Foxx to
star in the movie.

99. The Stumps. The Rock. The Sandbox. Oh, the places you’ll serve.

101. Tattoos #2. Getting a fallen friend’s name tattooed on your other
forearm, and knowing the same.

102. The new PT running suit. Sure, the Army had them first, but the
Army gets most things first.

103. Marine expeditionary units: The cheapest cruise you’ll ever take.

104. Camp Lejeune: The closest interstate and the nearest good shopping
mall are both at least an hour away.

105. Camp Pendleton: There are roads and malls, but try affording a
house near the main gate.

106. Tattoos #3. Meat tags. Getting your blood type and other info inked
on your ribcage isn’t necessarily a bad idea.

107. The Ma! rine Corps is getting bigger. The Navy is getting smaller.

109. 30 days’ paid vacation, plus federal holidays off, is obscene by
civilian standards.

110. Maj. Gen. Marion E. Carl, the Corps’ first fighter ace. First
Marine to fly a helicopter. Two Navy Crosses, five Distinguished Flying
Crosses, 14 air medals. In 1998, the 82-year-old was killed during a
home break-in when he jumped in front of a shotgun blast aimed at his
longtime wife, Edna.

111. Tattoos #4. Reaction to the new policy: Conway says sleeves are
going away, Marines run for the chair. Tattoo parlors never saw so much
business.

113. Guaranteed pay raises.

114. Marine Security Guard #1. Duty in the Bahamas.

115. Having a WWII Marine say he’s proud of you

116. Drew Carey used to be in the Marine Corps Reserve. Now, he’s the
host of “The Price is Right.”

117. Combatant diver pins. No more of that Navy crap.

118. A Red Stripe is a beer, mon. A Blood Stripe is a symbol of pride.

119. NMCI, if only they would remove the “MC.”

120. You watched “300,” and it reminded you of your unit.

121. The “Det One” .45 pistol. Designed by Marines, for Marines.

122. Combat marksmanship. You are creeping death. And you get graded on
it.

123. Never lost six nukes on a plane.

124. CamelBaks. Water tastes like water again.

125. Give a Marine enough free time, and he’ll marry your Bahraini
princess.

126. Go to YouTube. Type in “bored Marines.” Enjoy.

127. When the president gets on a helicopter, it’s not called “Army
One.”

128. The opposite of the Peace Corps.

129. Camouflage. You can camouflage anything and make it cool.

130. No Fear #1. Marines aren’t scared of anything. Except apricots. And
Charms.

131. Combat optics on M16s. Leave the iron sights, just in case.

132. “Combat loss” amnesty for missing gear. It’s like pleading the
fifth.

133. Riding a chartered Continental Airlines flight home from the war
zone with assault weapons stuffed in all the overhead compartments.

134. In combat, the division band becomes a heavy-machine-gun platoon.

135. What do headaches, broken bones, infectious diseases, missing limbs
and hurt feelings all have in common? Motrin. Thanks, Doc.

137. Global instability equals job security.

138. When NMCI goes down, and it will, it’s like having the day off.

139. The honor, privilege and responsibility of leading, mentoring and
caring for junior Marines.

140. Gunnery sergeants. Don’t know the answer? Ask the gunny. Need
something? Ask the gunny. In trouble? Avoid the gunny.

141. Because gunny said so.

142. The line to get “tazed” at a military gear expo. Marines will do
anything for a free T-shirt.

143. Deployment reunions. Like reliving your wedding night. Sweet!

144. Gig lines. Even in khakis and a polo shirt.

145. Eight-point covers. Even the uniform stands at attention.

146. Marine Security Guards #2. They’re not cute and cuddly, but when
they greet you at the door, it’s like getting a great big hug from the
United States of America, no matter where you are.

147. The Mameluke sword. Distinctive.

148. The NCO sword. Earned, never given.

149. The World Famous Mud Run. Thousands of people pay good money to run
through 10 clicks of muck every year at Camp Pendleton.

150. John Philip Sousa. A Marine, the nation’s March King and composer
of “The Stars and Stripes Forever.” Ooh-rah.

151. MRE crackers. Hard as Milk Bones but much tastier. You can almost
feel your teeth getting cleaner as you eat ’em.

152. Jane Wayne Day. She’ll never ask about work again.

153. Shirt stays. Or garters. Whatever you call them, they’re a triple
whammy, keeping your shirt tucked, your socks up and removing all that
unwanted leg hair.

154. The slogans: “The Few, The Proud, The Marines.” “We’re Looking For
a Few Good Men,” “Once a Marine, always a Marine,” “Tell that to the
Marines.” If they could only purchase the rights to Hallmark’s “When You
Care Enough to Send the Very Best.”

155. Speaking of slogans, “The Few, The Proud, The Marines” beat out
such notables as Nike’s “Just Do It” and Burger King’s “Have It Your
Way” for a 2007 spot on the advertising Walk of Fame. Better luck next
year, losers.

157. Real duty station garden spots you can go an entire career without
being assigned to: Southern California; Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii; Okinawa,
Japan.

158. Rear-party Marines! . God bless them. Whatever reason they stay
behind — injury, impending retirement or being volun-told — they are
indispensable. They deserve medals for what they have to deal with while
a unit is deployed.

159. While field-grade officers are at the company office, company-grade
officers are in the field.

160. Colonels who can take a joke.

161. Free flu shots. And smallpox shots and anthrax shots …

162. Former Sgt. Chris Everhart. While camping with his three sons in
June 2007, a bear snatched their cooler and made a play for his
6-year-old. Everhart threw an 18-inch log at the bear’s head, cracking
its skull before it could attack and killing it instantly. Then, the
park ranger gave him a ticket for leaving the cooler where the bear
could get it.

163. Standards. The Corps doesn’t lower the bar when recruiting gets
tough.

164. Jim Nabors. “Gomer Pyle” becomes an honorary Marine in 2001 and
makes lance corporal. It takes him six years to pin on corporal. Talk
about art imitating life.

165. Vincent D’Onofrio. The other “Private Pyle” is doing pretty well on
“Law and Order: Criminal Intent.” He’s still weird, though.

166. If you ambush Capt. Brian Chontosh’s boys, he’s going to take off
his Navy Cross and kill you. Then, he’s going to pick up your rifle and
kill your buddies. Then, he’s going to pick up your buddy’s rifle and
kill your buddy’s buddies. Then, he’s going to pick up a
rocket-propelled grenade launcher …

167. Speaking of the Navy Cross, a combat award second only to the Medal
of Honor, Marines have earned 1! 5 so far in Iraq, plus one in
Afghanistan. Of the six awarded to sailors for those combat zones, five
went to SEALs, and one went to a corpsman who exposed himself repeatedly
to enemy fire to evacuate and treat wounded Marines. Along with
Chontosh, the other recipients include:

168. Gunnery Sgt. Justin D. Lehew.

169. Lance Cpl. Joseph B. Perez.

170. Sgt. Scott C. Montoya.

171. Cpl. Marco A. Martinez.

172. Sgt. Willie L. Copeland.

173. Capt. Brent Morel (posthumous).

174. Sgt. Anthony L. Viggiani.

175. 1st Sgt. Bradley A. Kasal.

176. Cpl. Robert J. Mitchell.

177. Cpl. Dominic Esquibel.

178. Sgt. Jarrett A. Kraft.

179. Cpl. Jeremiah W. Workman.

180. Cpl. Todd Corbin.

181. Sgt. Aubrey L. McDade Jr.

182. Pfc. Christopher Adlesperger (posthumous).

! 183. Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Louis E. Fonseca.

184. Iwo JIMA. Japan might have changed the name to Iwo To, but that
doesn’t mean you have to acknowledge it.

185. Col. John Ripley. Received the Navy Cross for the destruction of
the Dong Ha bridge in Vietnam. The Corps takes care of its own. In 2002,
with Ripley near death, doctors finally found a donated liver for his
much-needed transplant. So the Marine Corps sent helicopters and Marines
to Philadelphia to retrieve it, and they personally rushed it back to
Washington in! time to save his life.

186. Marine Corps Times isn’t a version of Navy Times anymore. How many
careers get their own newspaper?

188. Gatorade bottles wrapped in green, 100 mph tape so as not to offend
the sailors in the room.

189. Camaraderie. Marines will hook you up with their sisters, then
punch you in the mouth for doing what they knew would happen the whole
time.

190. Ingenuity. MRE bombs, 101 uses for cleaning rods and iPods wired
into field radio speakers.

191. Getting off the ship.

192. Getting back on the ship.

193. No beach? No problem. Marines inserted 400 miles into landlocked
Afghanistan and created Camp Rhino using CH-53 Sea Stallions. Imagine
what you can invade with the Osprey.

194. Cases and cases of bottled water mean never having to stand behind
a water bull.

195. Race as a nonissue. It wasn’t always the case, but three black
sergeants major of the Marine Corps in a row show that the Corps has
only one color: green.

196. Every day in the Corps is another reason to celebrate. That’s why
they call them working “parties.”

197. Riddick Bowe had what it took to be boxing’s undisputed heavyweight
champ. He did not have what it took to be a Marine.

198. The U.S. Army Band is called “Pershing’s Own.” The U.S. Marine
Corps Band is called “The President’s Own.”

199. “8th and I.” Ten bucks says you have no idea where the Army chief
of staff lives. Commandants don’t hide.

200. MR! E “rat boxes.” How grunts trick-or-treat.

201. The poncho liner. It’s a blanket, it’s a tent, it’s a keeper.

202. Combat fit-reps. People say they’re equal to regular fit-reps.
People lie.

203. The “E-tool lean.” Sailors don’t know how good they have it.

204. Navy Lt. Vincent Capodanno, Medal of Honor recipient. If Marines
have a hot line to heaven, Father Capodanno — aka the Grunt Padre —
would take the call. His body peppered by shrapnel, his right hand
nearly severed, the Navy chaplain and priest crisscrossed a Vietnam
battlefield Sept. 4, 1967, to render last rites to his fallen Marines
and corpsmen with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, until 27 rounds from an
enemy machine gun took his life. Last year, the Vatican de! clared him a
“servant of God.” Next step, sainthood?

206. Amphibious warfare means always being near the beach.

207. No Fear #2. Talk about the AV-8B Harrier’s troubled past all you
like, but brave jump jet pilots are flying missions in Iraq.

208. New Uniforms #2. Wash-and-wear combat uniforms mean no more starch,
no more dry cleaning.

209. Marine air-ground task force. Nothing like controlling the air and
the ground.

210. Slapping an eagle, globe and anchor on the back of your car and
knowing it’ll get you out of at least one speeding ticket.

211. The Navy wants to put Marines back on warships. It seems that
Tomahawk cruise missiles can’t do everything.

212. Liberty in Thailand.

213. Liberty in Australia.

214. Liberty, well, anywhere.

215. The Navy’s mascot is a goat. The Corps’ mascot is a bulldog. You
don’t need Michael Vick to tell you who wins that fight.

216. If you need another occupying land force, you can use the Marine
Corps. If you need another rapidly deployable, sea-based,
front-door-kicking, air-ground team, you can’t use the Army.

217. 1775 Rum Punch. Four parts dark rum, two parts lime juice, one part
pure maple syrup, grenadine to taste.

218. “It’s fun to shoot some people,” said Lt. Gen. Jim Mattis. He says
what he thinks.

219. The Beirut Memorial Wall. If you ever forget what you’re fighting
for, pay a visit.

221. “Son, we live in a world that has ! walls, and those walls have to be
guarded by men with guns. Who’s gonna do it? You? You, Lieutenant
Weinburg? I have a greater responsibility than you could possibly
fathom. You weep for Santiago, and you curse the Marines. You have that
luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know. That Santiago’s
death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while
grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives. You don’t want the
truth because deep down, in places you don’t talk about at parties, you
want me on that wall. You need me on that wall. We use words like honor,
code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent
defending something. You use them as a punch line. I have neither the
time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps
under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions
the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said thank
you, and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon and
stand a post. Either way, I don’t give a damn what you think you are
entitled to.” Jack Nicholson, “A Few Good Men.”

222. Maj. Meghan McClung, Marine public affairs officer, killed by a
roadside bomb in Iraq while escorting media. The PAO is more than just a
spokesman.

223. Sgt. Rafael Peralta. Like Dunham, he hugged a grenade to save his
buddies in Iraq. No Medal of Honor … yet.

224. Hearing an accidental discharge into the clearing barrel, then
waiting for the lieutenant to walk inside.

225. Call signs like “Spider” and “Assassin,” and these guys were
generals.

227. Buttered noodles for breakfast.

228. “Every Marine should look like a Marine. But a Marine looks like a
Marine when he’s got a bayonet stuck in the enemy’s chest.” Gen. Robert
Magnus, assistant commandant, discussing body-fat standards.

229. “Infantry” is the easiest job for recruiters to sell.

230. Being the youngest Marine at the ball.

231. Being the oldest Marine at the ball.

232. Marine Corps Times appreciates all you do. Happy birthday, Marines!