The Violence Worker!

Things Your Wife Does Not Want For Christmas

I decided to post this handy-dandy list of Christmas no-nos for you men.  We all know that none of us shop for Christmas until 4 PM on Christmas Eve!  It's part of being in the man club.

1. Vacuum Cleaners
2. Laundry soap
3. Deoderant
4. Underwear
5. A case of Bud Lite (if you must buy beer, at least get something you can Dri9nk!)
6. Iron and or ironing board
7. Odor Eaters
8. Scrub pads
9. Mops and Brooms
10. Products made by Massengill
11. Breath Mints
12. Garbage bags
13. Blender
14. Anything with "Diet" in the title.
15. Whoopee Cushion

There are others and I'm sure you can think of more.

Merry Christmas!

VW

Support For The Arkansas Soldier's Families

I received this in my email the other day from Deb at Yankee Mom and because I'm such an absent minded type, I almost forgot to pass this on:

I'm working with my recruiters here to get cards of support to the families of PVT Long and PVT Ezeagwula.

I'm going to be collecting them and then sending them onto the contact that my recruiters get me.

If you wish to participate, please go to her blog let her know.

No one supports the troops like Deb!  Help her out.

VW

New Blog - TWO DIGIT IQ

Someone I know (One of my sons-in-law actually) started a new blog.  It's called Two Digit IQ.  No, it's not about him, it's about some of the weird and downright idiotic things he sees committed by people who should know better.  He uses the "nomme de blog" of Dakong Utok which means "Highly Intelligent Super Brain" (or something to that effect) in some Philipino language spoken by only about 16 people in the world outside of the Philippines and the native speakers.  He being one of 16.

He also speaks pretty good French, but he isn't French either.  There used to be lots of people outside of France that spoke French, but they are quickly getting down to that sweet 16 number as well.  C'est le vie!

In any case, take a peak at his peripatetic postings and have a smile on me.

VW

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Pimpin' Their Ride

The USO here at McChord AFB has an RV originally sponsored by another prominent aerospace company. They use it to serve the troops refreshments during exercises and events.  The USO wanted to set up the van with some wide screen TVs and Satellite reception.  Naturally, they turned to OUR prominent aerospace company for a little help.

Here it sits outside our shop.  We are doing a temporary set up for the July 4th weekend.  After that, we'll set it up with a permanent system of two wide screens that will be placed outside for larger groups..  One will be available for TV/Movie watching and the other will be available for video games as well as TV and movies.

As we move forward, I'll provide updates and photos.

VW

Support The Troops, Support the USO

UPDATE:

The American Infidel writes:

Wow! Thanks so much for this post! I told the women last night that along with my hours that I'm putting in one of my goals was going to be to work on getting sponsors. For example it costs them $400.00 a week to get their laundry done. Their laundry consists of towels from Soldiers taking a shower, and the sheets and blankets from the bunk beds. I'm really into this now... it's so great to be able to do something.

Thanks in advance for your donation. I'm leaving my email below in case anyone wants to contact me.  I'll be waiting people!

Kelly
kjwjaw@yahoo.com

Liberal, conservative, it doesn't matter.  If you really support the troops, then give to the USO!

From the American Infidel:

Last night I had my first shift working at the USO. I loved it except for one thing.

They need money. Money and supplies. Give them your free samples. Your time, your money.

And:

As a volunteer one of the jobs I had was to make ham and cheese and tuna sandwiches. The sandwiches were make with cheap wheat bread, with one piece of sliced ham. One. They were not thick slices. The Soldiers were thrilled to get them. Every Soldier that walked through the door last night while I was there from 8-midnight got a sandwich, some took two. Many of them asked me how much they cost and were very appreciative when I told them they were free.

OK Folks, time to pony up!

Here is the link:  Puget Sound USO

I don’t know her, I’ve never met her, but I’ve been the beneficiary of the USO’s services a few times over my 20 year career in the USAF.

Let me tell you a story.

I was stationed at Osan Air Base in South Korea.  I got word through the Red Cross that my mother was to have emergency surgery to clear her carotid artery.  She’d had a stroke earlier. Her chances of surviving the surgery was 50%, nil if she didn’t.  The family thought it best if I made it home.  I quickly got the paperwork completed, bags packed and I boarded a contract 747 at Osan whose ultimate destination was St. Louis Lambert Field.  From there, I had a commercial ticket to Detroit.  The problem is that it was essentially the last flight to Detroit from St. Louis that night and the military charter had to be on time for me to make it.  It wasn’t and I missed the flight.  I got in about 30 minutes too late to make it.

I called my family and they said that Mom made it through OK and was asleep, but she wasn’t out of the woods.  (It was emergency surgery and couldn’t wait for me to get there.  Korea is a long way from Detroit)  I explained my situation and that I would catch the first flight out in the AM (About 6:30 Central, 7:30 AM, Eastern).  I got there in time to make the arrangements for the flight but now I was stuck there at Lambert. 

In the Airport, was a USO lounge.  I went there hoping I could stay there in a chair for the night.  When I got there, they had a room with some donated lazy-boy type chairs that were available on a first come, first served basis and they had several available that I could sleep on for the night.  They also gave me a slim looking ham sandwich and can of soda.  To me, it was gourmet cuisine.  I was tired, hungry and also on crutches, having seriously broken an ankle a couple weeks prior.  Serious enough that I was in a non-walking cast.

I dozed fitfully on that chair until about 5 AM.  They had some cold cereal packages and I had one with some milk.  I called home to find out Mom had a major stroke.  Some of the stuff in the artery must have broken off and made it to the brain stem.  She was in a coma.  Long story short, I got to Detroit and then on to Pontiac General Hospital.  She died early the next morning, having never regained consciousness.

My point is not to seek sympathy.  My point is this, if you truly support the troops and want to do something positive, give to the USO!  I will forever be gratefull to the USO for that chair, sandwich and bowl of corn flakes! 

The USO is apolitical.  Their concern is not the war or the politics swirling around it.  Their concern is serving those who serve.  The GI’s that appear at their counter are often going home to or coming back from a tragedy.  Sometimes they are on their way to a far away place or coming back.  They are usually changing planes and need a safe place to set down their baggage and grab a sandwich.

I will be making a donation this Thursday to the USO.  The Link will be off to the left, but for now, it will be in this message until I can make the necessary changes in the blog.  Forget politics on this one and give some money or time to truly support the troops.  Put your money and or time where you mouth is! 

In case you missed it above - Give here:

If you are blogger, please consider placing a link on your blog and bringing the USO to the attention of your readers.

Thanks to Wizbang And Blue Star Chronicles for Open Trackbacks!

VW

Help Needed

Ken over at Oblogatory Anecdotes is looking for work.  If you know of anything in the Wasatch Front Area of Utah, he would appreciate the heads up. 

If you don't know of any jobs, at least stop by and wish him some luck.

Ken has been a good friend to The Violence Worker Blog.  I've been unemployed and I know how much it means to get a little encouragement now and then.

VW