Well my one and only daughter, of whom I am very proud, has started her own blog and seems to be doing quite well with it. It is not anything like Lex’s place or any other Mil Blog as it is focused on modern married life for those much younger than I. But it makes me proud to read it even if I have exactly nothing to contribute and would just get in the way if I did. I think it as sort a “Martha Stewart” type thing without the empire and focused on Gen Y (at least I think I’ve got the right designator).

Well she got nominated in one of those online things under the category “Best Eye Candy”. Now I must admit when I first read that my mind was worried if somehow there wasn’t some huge mistake and it was somehow listed in a porn category but, fears resolved, I learned it was for having the best visuals and such.

In any event, I doubt the readership here would find the topics at the top of your interest list but if you are the wee bit curious you can check out at Modern Eve and should you be so inclined vote for it via the link on the home page.

What started as a hobby has become her obsession (I’m sure Lex can relate) and seems to be gaining some real traction with even a few “new media” types poking around.

In any event I’m incapable of being objective as far as anything my one and only does so forgive this intrusion into the land of kinetic delivery vehicles and such. Sometimes a new recipe for Blueberry Cobbler makes the world seem less foreign from the one I grew up in…..

Yeah, because without a day off millions of Americans wouldn’t go to their favorite watering hole to celebrate the occassion.

Still, in principle I’m in favor of taking a day off in early spring and spending it with a Guinness.  Or a few.  Nothing wrong with that.

How much would you pay for what appears to be the civillian version of a Barney Clark?

 I dunno …. looks a little pricey to me.
Too bad, so close and yet so far away…

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Along with Unkawill’s post, it is time for us to pause and think of those more than a few time zones away. Now, say a prayer, why dont you.

Who is “Rick M”?  Tim, he’s a former AW1 of the Left Coast VP variety, who apparently got to go to knife and fork school and become an Intel Officer.

[break]

Hi Master Chief: 

I am thinking about you on this warm and wonderful day and so I am sending you a Happy Thanksgiving message. I had a great Thanksgiving meal today prepared here at the Dining Facility (DFAC) in the International Zone (IZ) in Baghdad.  I enjoyed the feast with new friends and colleagues.  We had turkey, lobster(!), mashed potatoes with gravy, dressing, green beans and pumpkin pie with vanilla ice cream.  Of course, there were many other tasty items to eat, but I just couldn’t eat anything more…    Soon after the levity of dinner had concluded, however, the reality of war became all too apparent.  The IZ was bombarded by mortar fire and flaming, smoking mayhem ensued.  I observed the entire attack from the front row — the roof of the Embassy Building… 

 I just happened to be up there with one of my team members.  That was quite the experience to say the least.  We are all okay, but some are a tad jittery…

Despite the immediate troubles of the war, all is well with me.  The overall situation here seems to be improving with each day, and acts of violence have been significantly reduced.  But this continues to be a dangerous place, and a lot of work still lies ahead.  The Coalition Forces are doing a magnificent job in neutralizing or removing the insurgents, nefarious activities and those hell-bent on wreaking havoc, destruction and intimidation to a largely peace-loving people.  Providing a safe and secure environment is the main objective of our Multi-National Force right now, so the citizens and government officials can make progress in restoring the infrastructure and basic services and give Iraq back to its very deserving people. 

This has been quite an experience for me thus far, both personally and professionally.  I am doing work that I never would have imagined only a few short months ago, and while challenging and intense, it is making a difference.  Handling intelligence work in a forward position comes with a great deal of responsibility and high expectations.  The team here delivers on that every day.  I have learned a lot and given a lot already.  A State Department project for which I am the co-chairman, for instance, is actually reaching the highest levels of government here and has nation-wide implications!  And there is more to come… As for statistics, right now, I have served 88 days, “boots on ground,” with 276 days to go, but who’s counting?  That means that I am nearly 1/4- the way through this journey… 

I am missing all of the tradition surrounding this year’s Thanksgiving celebration, but I am honored, proud and humbled to have been able to celebrate with some of the best and most deserving young soldiers and sailors.  At the same time, I am thinking about you on this wonderful day, and will keep you in my daily thoughts and prayers. Take care and please keep in touch — and please write back when you can! With warmest regards and best wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving,

 –Rick.M– 

And seeing as posting on TFD has been a bit sparse lately …. well, enjoy, if you have a mind to it.  It looks to me like a nice lunch could be made out of it. And they only forgot but one thing but I am sure anyone who is interested can easily fix that. Just have yourself one or perhaps even a few on the side.

Who knows? I may just get adverturesome some Saturday afternoon and try it out on the brood.

**Scroll down to p. 43 of the link, but be forewarned that if you’re a fan of it, you might want to make sure you’ve satisfied any lingering cravings first.

Just a note to let y’all know I’m doing OK. I have been in Indoc/training since the 7th. It is somewhat on the warm side over here, with daytime temp’s @ 125-130. I have been drinking copious amounts of water and gatoraid. The chow is excellent! All you can eat, and much better than when I was in the service.

I was told when we got here that I would be transferred to another base, that decision is still up in the air.

Due to my status as a “rehire” with expereince in country, I have been assisting the instructor with the hands on portion of our training. He seems to like my methods and style of instruction, so I might have a spot with the Cadre. I’ll just have to wait and see. We have 28 in my group, and expect alot more in the coming months, so there is a need for my services and knowledge, other than just driving.

Thats all for now, I have to get up at 0500 which is about 5 hours from now.

Unka out.

UPDATE:

I have “Graduated” and should find out tomorrow, what the” Fariy God Mother Department” has in store for me!

On the other hand, I have been awarded a “Call Sign” by my Instructors and “Peers”.

Said handle is “Bookworm” for what it’s worth.

My personal favorites:

“The vanilla pudding is so good that I ripped it open. Licked the inside and rolled around on top of it like a dog”

“… you must always have a spread for the crackers if not anger is the result.”

Following the Chicken and Dumplings: “…it sounded like a flatulence symphony in my tent all night.”

“Oh my god what were you thinking…”

“fiesta breakfast was about as much of a fiesta as a full body dry heave.”

I think you get the point.  I’ve had MREs in the past, and while the food was certainly edible, I found some of the gastro-intestinal side-effects to be somewhat off-putting.  But then again, you go to war with the MREs you have, not the MREs you want. 

I made this for the MSG when he was deployed the first time, with just one batch of popcorn.  The silly man ate the whole thing at one sitting, and promptly got such a sugar buzz he was dizzy and off-kilter all day.  To say nothing of how hard it is to get off your teeth….warning, you’ll spend all day “sucking” if you try this! 

Jello Popcorn (for balls, or loose popcorn for shipping)

1 3oz. box Jello gelatin, you choose the flavor

1 cup corn syrup

1 cup white sugar

Mix these ingredients in a large saucepan and bring to a rolling boil.  Stir regularly at first, constantly when it gets hot (scorched sugar is not nice.)  While stirring, make one batch of popcorn for the really sticky, candy balls, or, as I prefer, 3-4 batches.  Heap popcorn together on an easy-to-clean surface which will not be hurt by extremely hot syrup.  A large roaster works nice if you’re making balls, but if you’re tossing it (like I do to ship) a kitchen table (formica?) works well.  DO NOT line with waxed paper (syrup sticks and can’t be peeled off) or tinfoil or other substances. 

Pour a thin stream of the hot syrup onto the popcorn, while an assistant takes two large spatulas (pancake turners, for those who call rubber scrapers, spatulas!) and stirs the popcorn around so the syrup is caught and rolled into the popcorn, rather than pooling underneath, on your surface.  Keep mixing until thoroughly blended.  You CAN butter your hands and shape into balls, but I always get burnt.  Someone who is used to making homemade popcorn balls would be good at this…not me! 

This weekend, I made double batches of popcorn, heaped them on said kitchen table, and poured first red Jello (strawberry or raspberry) then, when that had colored about 1/2 the popcorn, did a batch of blue syrup, and came up with a nicely red-white-and blue treat.  And there was probably less syrup on the popcorn than I usually have, but at least the poor boys (and girls) won’t have sugar highs, and be sucking it out of their teeth all day!  Hopefully it was good, the MSG hasn’t tried his. 

Cleanup isn’t as bad as it sounds, IF you have lots of hot water and a little patience.  Let the hot water sit for a few (although dried syrup peels right off formica!)  and if it’s still tacky, a little longer.  Also, a little water in the saucepan, heated nicely, will help clean that.  Unless you are messy, like me, it shouldn’t be bad–although I always have to sweep up half a batch of popcorn off the floor if tossing with a teen-aged helper!  (The teen gets to pour the syrup, and clumsy me, I toss!) 

Enjoy! 

doorkeeper

If your interested, the recipe follows:

4 meaty beef neck bones
3 stalks of celery
2 potatoes
4 small turnips
corn from 3 ears
1 large onion
2 regular cans of diced tomatoes
1 large can of whole tomatoes
1 can beef broth
1 can chicken broth
1-2 tbs. of liquid grease
1-2 cups of preferred pasta (macaroni, spaghetti cut into bite-sized lengths)
water to fill the pot
salt and pepper to taste
whatever else sounds good in the way of fresh vegetables

Brown neck bones in a 4-5 qt dutch oven. I use cast iron…just can’t beat the flavor that cast iron imparts to food. After browning neck bones, add diced tomatoes, whole tomatoes, beef and chicken broth and water to pot and simmer slowly until meat is done (2-3 hours) and easy to remove from bones. Remove bones from pot and strip all meat from the bones. Return meat to pot. Chop all vegetables into bite size pieces and add to the pot. Check and adjust for seasoning. Cook slowly until vegetables are done. Serve with cornbread.

This is a great recipe for a cold snowy day. Also, soothes the savage beast when you’re sick and tired of hearing about and reading about politics.