The History Channel and VTC
Yes, only a story from me can connect The History Channel with a VTC. For those who may be wondering what exactly a VTC is, it's short for Video Teleconferencing.
We didn't get to experience this during the last deployment, so I was quite surprised when I received the email offering us the opportunity this time around.
Of course, whenever the Army is involved there are last minute changes and this was no different. When the word was first sent out, they said we'd all be in a room where the commander could give us some updates, then we'd all get five minutes to talk to our loved ones privately. Next, the word came down that they were mistaken. There would be too many people for everyone to get private time, so we'd all be in a room where the commander would give us all updates and we could see our soldier in the group - ask questions about how they are etc. Finally, the day before, word came that only a few people were planning on attending so we all would get approximately five minutes each with our soldier afterall.
I had planned on attending regardless. The babies on the other hand - well, I worried about how they would handle seeing Daddy. I told them it was up to them on whether they went or not. That Daddy and I just wanted them to do whatever they felt was best for them. If they thought seeing Daddy while they talked to him would be too upsetting, they could go to school. If they wanted to go, they could and I'd take them to school once we finished. Son decided he'd rather go and see Daddy. Daughter cried (and she's not one to cry often) and said she wanted to go, but seeing him and not being able to hug him would be so hard. I completely understood because I felt the same way.
The day of the VTC came and after dropping daughter off at school, son and I headed to post. We arrived about the same time as commander's wife and her little ones and we all went into the building together.
After going in to the VTC as a group, we all were given five or so minutes with our soldier. It was pretty interesting and like talking on the phone to him, there was a delay. The picture was wonderful if you were still, but when you move, it blurs pretty bad (assuming it was the same on husband's side). It was worth every second and the only complaint I had was that I wished we'd had more time ;). Honestly though, if we'd all gotten an hour it still wouldn't have seemed like long enough, so in reality, I had no complaints ;). I was just thankful we were able to experience the VTC this time around.
So, how does The History Channel work its way into this story? Well, while we were waiting for our turn to go in for our five minutes, a soldier my husband used to work with came in with her baby. I believe she's now out of the Army and her husband is currently deployed. Behind her was a young man in his mid-twenties I'd guess, with an expensive looking camera on his shoulder videoing her every move.
While he was videoing someone else (I'm not much for having my picture taken, much less being filmed), I quietly asked her what was up with the camera. She explained that The History Channel was doing a program about the job she and other female soldiers did when they were deployed to Ramadi (and they did a damn hard job and did it well). A follow-up of sorts to see how their lives may have changed since they returned home. I told her I had an article still bookmarked on my laptop that was written about them while they were deployed last time. She asked if I could email it to her and I said sure. Before I could find a receipt in my purse to write on and get her email address written down, camera man had made his way over to us. And he was just a'filmin while I dug through my purse and wrote down her email addy.
So, there's the connection and I am hoping that portion will be so insignificant it will be tossed on the editing room floor and forgotten about lol. I'll be horrified if my messy purse and horrible handwriting winds up broadcast to the world LMBO. What a great five seconds of fame
that would be ha!
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Stirs the Soul...
I recently found
Erica's Blog. Today, I read her post
THE BEST HANUKKAH POST EVER (be sure to follow the link she provides and read the story behind this photo and the Menorah).
As I scrolled down and came upon the photo, it immediately stirred so many emotions.
This photo is testament to the fact that a photo can truly be worth a thousand words. I'd never seen this photo before seeing it today, which truly baffles me. It's such a special photo.
I'm not Jewish, so I can only try to imagine the volumes this photo says to those who are and the places it touches deep within their hearts and souls.
As a Christian, this photo stirs my soul and seeing it immediately invoked feelings that I imagine many Americans may have felt during WWII. Fear of the evil that loomed large, but having faith that Good would overcome that evil if we refused to run and hide from it.
The story behind this particular Menorah just adds to its beauty. And I use the word beauty even though the sight of a Swastika makes me feel sick. It's the message of the Menorah in the foreground - small, delicate, beautiful - standing firm against the large, ugly and vile hatred depicted in the background.
Standing proudly, in the light of day refusing to hide or apologize for who you are, for what you believe - well, it parallels to what we face today in some ways in my humble opinion. We have people out there that want us dead just because we believe differently, because we may live differently. I just hope we continue to refuse to hide or apologize. History tells us what will happen if we fail to confront evil.
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American Girl
If you have a daughter or other young lady age six to twelve in your life, you've most likely heard of the American Girl dolls. Personally, I'd not heard of these obnoxiously expensive dolls until this year, when daughter made a new friend at school. Apparently, new friend has two or three of these things. She brought a catalog to school for daughter to bring home and look at. Of course, by the time daughter got home, she was in love.
As it turns out, the books daughter had been reading at school for her reading program were connected to these dad-burned dolls too. I'm telling you, the person who thought this racket up is a genius - and now a billionaire lol.
All these dolls she'd show me in the catalog, she'd also read their books and could tell me all about their families, their lives and their friends. She was so excited to find that all these girls she'd come to know and love while reading about them also had a real doll you could see, touch and dress!
I was excited for her - until I noticed the price tag ha! Whew... Well, husband wanted to know what to get daughter for Christmas and I told him about the dolls. And, of course, he bought her one. When this conversation took place, daughter loved the idea of their "look like me" doll. You can choose the hair color, skin and eye color and get a doll that - well, looks like you lol. Currently she's in a box in the dining room. I need to get it out and wrap it in the next few days. Just something else I've been putting off.
To go along with the books and the dolls, they now also have
American Girl Movies. Like I said, a genius thought this up folks lol.
Molly, American Girl on the Home Front debuted a few weeks ago and replayed again tonight. I have to say, even though it was a tear-jerker for me personally, I really enjoyed the movie. It's set in 1944 during WWII and it's a wonderful story. However, if you are a military family (especially if your loved one is deployed), don't be surprised if you find yourself wiping tears throughout. I know I did, even during the second time around tonight.
Saturday I believe it was, The Family Channel played the other two movies, Felicity and Samantha. Daughter couldn't wait to see these too. I thought they were really good also, but I guess the Molly movie hit close to home in a way, so I'm partial to that one.
I'm definitely not trying to "sell" anyone on these dolls. I think they are criminally overpriced, but the books and movies are worth the time. They offer a positive message for young girls and are also entertaining. If you're looking for a few good books for a seven to nine year old (depending on their reading level) girl, these would be something I would suggest. Unfortunately for daughter, they've moved up her reading level, so she's no longer able to read the books for her reading program at school. The movies I think would be good for any age over probably seven. Even at my age, I enjoyed them. Son wasn't so crazy about watching them ha!, but he's a boy and prefers movies that aren't so
girly according to him ;).
Have you seen any of the movies or have a girl that enjoys the books? If so, I'd be interesting in hearing your opinion of them too!
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My Police Dog
Back in January, I wrote about
Our New Baby, Dakota. In May, I finally
put some photos up of him.
Last week, I was taking some photos of the babies to email husband. Dakota wasn't sure what the evil camera was up to, but apparently he was sure it must be up to no good. He was determined to make it clear that it was to stay away from him and his little people heh heh. He stood off to the side while I took a pic of the babies and unleashed his police dog bark. We couldn't help but laugh at his reaction to the camera. What a goof :).
Husband wanted a picture of Dakota too, so he could see how much our puppy has grown since he left. As you can imagine, turning the camera on him went over about as well as I'd imagine a ham sam'ich would go over at CAIR meeting.
He listens well and would sit when I told him to, he just wouldn't stop protesting long enough for me to get a decent picture of his pretty face. If you've ever seen
the movie K-9 with Jim Belushi and how Jerry Lee, the German Shepherd, would grumble and groan, then you have an idea of what my pup was doing. He also does this when he's being scolded for something. Honestly, he talks back more than my children
ever have - and he always tries to get the last word in.
Anywho, once I'd stopped taking pics of the babies, he put his police dog bark away. When I turned the camera on him, he started his grumbling that includes a type of bark/howl that is hard to describe in words and do it any justice. Here is a picture of him in mid growl/howl though ROTFL, protesting to high heaven about having his picture taken. He's so abused and mistreated lol...
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Sorry for the Absence
It's that time of year again. The time of year when one of the babies brings home a cough/cold and it tries to stick around the entire winter. Son is on an antibiotic, and his cough is sounding better.
Yesterday, daughter came home not feeling so well. This afternoon, she looked like she felt really bad when I picked her up from school, and she said she felt awful. I checked her temperature and it was 101.3. *sigh* Guess she's now going to come down with whatever it is that little guy has been sick with. Poor babies.
So, that's about all we've been doing - fighting colds, coughs and fevers :(. I'll start posting more regularly though.
I want to send a thank you out to Larry at the
The Faren Report for thinking of us. He sent an email to see if we were doing ok. I sure do appreciate you taking the time to check in on us...it really means a lot to me. Thank you.
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