Many of you have read the point of view from my mother (Military Mom) about her thoughts of having a daughter in the military, I thought you all might want to know my thoughts. I joined the Army on a spur of the moment decision (I don’t even think my mom knew) in January 2000. I left for basic training 2 months later on my Dad’s birthday actually. I mainly joined because NH is a great state, but very small. The world had bigger things for me and I wanted to get out and explore! There’s not too many promising careers out there for a 19-year old with no college jugar poker omaha en linea,juego omaha poker gratis,omaha pokerjugar poker en linea,poker en linea,poker en linea gratisjugar omaha poker gratispai gow poker paginas webpai gow poker portal internetpoker softwarejuego al instante onlinepoker caribe portales internetfichas poquerjugar 7 card studcasino pokerplay poker texas,play poker online,play pokerjuegos para poker pcjuego omaha poker gratisjugar poquerjuego de poker online gratispacific poker comjuegos poker sharewaretop poker onlinejugar poquer lineapoker caribe portalespoker online sin dinerocaribbean poker lineajuego dados poker,juego poker casino,juego de pokerjuego de poquerjuego de poker on linejugadas texas holdemjuegos poker sharepoker descubiertopoker pc gamespoquer 7juegos poker texaspoker para pccartas de pokerplay omaha poker onlinepoker portal,poker portal web,poker portalesworld series of pokerjuegos polly pokermultiplayer poker gameomaha high pokerjuego poker omaha en lineaonline pokerdescargar pokerpoker game onlinesalas de pokerjugar poker texasjuegos poker gratisbaccara en lineajuego casino portal webapostar dinero internet and who barely graduated from high school, none that my parents would approve of anyway. I did have a decent job as an opthalmic assisstant in a hospital, but I was too young to be working 2 jobs and barely paying my bills while living on my own. I was too stubborn to move back home, so I sought other alternatives.

It was just as my mother explained it. She was in the hospital and my sister put the idea in my head. The next day I think I was in the recruiter’s office, and the next week I took a pre-paid busride to Boston and took the oath. I was always interested in the medical field and thought it would be cool to join as a medic, and knew I could easily use those skills in the “outside world”. However, the Army had different plans for me. I also volunteered for my first duty station to be in Korea. I thought, “Yep, that’s far enough away…that’ll do!” I know my mom is going to read this and be offended, but it wasn’t her, NH was just too small for me and I wanted to get far away for a little while. So, I left NH and went to “Fort Lost in the Woods. in the state of Misery”, or Ft. Leaonard Wood, Missouri. I can’t tell you what that place was like because I spent most of time in a cattle truck, in the field, or getting “smoked”. After 9 weeks of hell, I packed my things up and went to Ft Huachuca, AZ for 4 months to learn my job. That place wasn’t bad and I grew to love AZ. After I learned my job, I got to come home for about 1 month before being shipped off to Taegu, Korea. I’ll be honest, I had a lot of fun there! I was in a good unit, I had a lot of friends, and there was no drinking age!! I spent an all-expenses paid week in Okinawa, Japan to play softball for the base team that I was on. I again got to come home for 1 month to spend time with the family. I only spent a year there and was actually sad to go. But, my time was up and they sent me to Fort Hood, TX. Fort Hood was so hot!! I only spent 1.5 years there (minus the 3 months I spent on Guantanamo Bay, Cuba….a later story). Then I swindled a deal where I went to England….yes the country of. I spent 3 fabulous years there where I also vacationed in Germany, France, Italy, Scotland, and Wales. England was a great tour because I really learned a lot there, and it is where I met the love of my life (awwwwwww). I also deployed to Afghanistan the first time from England in Oct 2004 (another later story). Then it was time for me to move on again, and I ended up in Ft Bragg, NC, home of the 82d Airborne Division Paratrooper. Now, four months later, here I am, back in Afghanistan. This time I get to spend 12, maybe even 15 months in this (insert explative of choice) place! But I am making a lot of money here and I did recently get promoted to Sergeant First Class (SFC / E-7), so it’s not that bad. Plus, my heart is in Iraq right now, so I don’t mind so much.

So, these were my motives in joing the Army and what I have done since then. I will explain later the details I’m sure everyone wants to know about…..what are my thoughts on the war? Is it going ok? What did we do wrong…and things of that nature. That is defintely for another rainy (or windy and dusty) day. Until next time, do not worry about me as I am fine. I have a roof over my head, 3 hot meals a day, laundry, daily showers and the internet! There are cell phones here but I refuse to buy one base on principle (we are in a dang combat zone)! Trust me, life is not hard here, and there is no need to worry about my well-being.

Signed,
DNB

April 13th

It was the afternoon of Tuesday, April 3rd and Alyson & I were tired - very tired from the (very successful) expo we had just returned from. It was about 4:30 and I found myself just starting to think about coffee again…as we had so much to do still. The days here at LOL are getting (happily) longer and more jam-packed with ‘to-dos’ than I had ever imagined. I was thinking that I would be able to take a break between 8-9pm to watch Idol, as long as I got right back to work, I should be able to put a dent in my list…but I digress…

When the phone rang - actually, I should quickly explain that each time the LOL phone rings, Alyson hollers from her office (across the hall), a very cheery, upbeat “Oprah” or “Ellen”, but today her cry wasn’t so jovial…it was more of a whimper…an ‘I’m so beat that all I want is a good message’ kind of mumble. After looking at the caller id, my response to her was “it’s unknown, so it could be…”, and with that I answered the phone.

As the lovely, British voice on the other end started to explain, she had received a gift certificate from LOL - it was in her gift bag at the Academy Awards and she’d like to redeem it. At this point I was repeating her words out loud - I saw Alyson’s head perk up over her monitor - we both looked at each other across the hall as if to say, “what gift certificate?”, but then it dawned on us - the ONLY gift certificates we have ever printed were those placed in the celebrity gift bags for the Academy Awards show - the OSCARS! OMG - is someone really calling us to order a shirt from the OSCAR GIFT BAG?! Coffee? Was I really thinking of coffee a second ago? Because suddenly all I could do was tell myself to slow down and take a deep breath – calm yourself – breath, Kristine, breath. “sure” I said “I’d be happy to send you your complimentary tee. May I have your name?” Now at this point, I was wondering who’s assistant was it that I was speaking to? Who did this woman work for?? I couldn’t wait to hear, and then she answered “Yes, this is Helen Mirren.” SILENCE “I’m calling from London”. AGAIN, SILENCE. My first thought was – well, let’s just say there was a small amount of profanity swirling around in my head, mixed in with that tingly feeling in your body when you don’t know whether to – well, um…ok, I’ll just say it – I didn’t know whether to sh*t or go blind…So here I was, sitting at my desk in New Hampshire, scribbling frantically on a scrap piece of paper the words Helen Mirren calling from London. I immediately started waving my arm desperately for Alyson to come here. She looked at me from over her monitor and realized that I was serious – and that she needed to move, fast! By the time she got to my desk, I had to now excuse myself to Helen for (what seemed like a lifetime) the awkward silence on my part, by saying, “I’m sorry Ms. Mirren, I just had to catch my breath.” With that, she didn’t say a word, so on I went in my most professional manor and voice, taking her order.

As soon as Alyson realized who I was talking with, she immediately grabbed her phone and started running in circles – ready to dial, well, I’m not quite sure who – let’s just say that she was so excited she nearly called the fire department! Finally, she called her mother in New York. At which point, she explained to her mother who I was talking with and then held her phone to my phone – so her mother could listen to Helen Mirren as she described the 6 tees she wanted for her and her ‘Oscar winning Director’ husband, Taylor Hackford who, by the way, was nominated most recently for directing Ray. Helen continued to order - another for her, and a few more for him…the total came to 6 tees…she told me her address and then we hung up.

THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND JUST ORDERED SIX TEES!

THE QUEEN OF !#$#! ENGLAND JUST ORDERED SIX @#$@#$@ TEES!

Alyson & I honestly didn’t know what to do – we looked at each other and started laughing (ok, maybe there was a bit of screaming along with a very small jump…) Luckily, (just like in the movies) – we had a bottle of champagne in the fridge, just waiting for a reason to be uncorked – and man-o-man if this wasn’t THE moment, nothing was!

Needless to say, we popped the bottle, clanked our glasses together while thanking the heavens above (and Ms. Mirren) and drank until we emptied it!

The bottle of Moet & Chandon still stands empty on one of the tables in my office as a daily reminder that the Best Actress of 2007, Helen Mirren, who won an Oscar for playing the Queen of England, called Liv’n Out Loud to order some tee shirts!

And that is the story of the day that the Queen of England called.

(Previously mentioned) 29 year old mother of 3 in North Carolina. Amy is having major surgery on March 14th and needs very special prayers please. Amy and her Mom, Peggy, and her entire family are counting on the power of prayer to get Amy through a deeply challenging and trying period in her life. So if you could, please remember “Amy” in your prayers as March 14th approaches.

The Liv’n Out Loud! Sisterhood LIFTS YOU UP AMY…stay strong, find peace, dig deep. We’re on your side, and we are sending you positive, healing thoughts. You are not alone…Fight hard and kick back. You are a winner!

On behalf of all LOL Sisters worldwide,
Alyson

I haven’t heard anything from Danielle since the suicide bombing at Bagram. I haven’t heard from the Army about it nor have they called me. I’m really not that worried.

Funny thing is, she called on Sunday, the 24th. I asked her when did Spring come there since it was still very cold and they’re high up. She said “When the bombings increase”. Too true, too true.

Military Mom

My dear friend Sue has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer known as PEComa. She has been through surgery and 2 bouts of radiation. She is going to start chemo this coming week.She is terrified, as am I. She is also strong and commited to fighting this little known form of cancer! Susan is 42 years old and has a precious 4 year old daughter,Reane’. She knows that she HAS TO beat this thing not only for herself, but also her family. Sue has been in my life for as long as I can remember. She is not only my friend, but she’s also my cousin. I love her dearly,and pray daily that she will be “my hero!” Please send along thoughts and prayers for my “Shillalagh Girl” in Pennsylvania! Bless you all! Let’s WIN this thing….TOGETHER!!!!

I was born in 1945 just at the end of the war. My daddy was handsome, my mother pretty. We lived in a very plain, I guess downtrodden apartment with little furnishings. We had food on the table, we had a bath once a week in the bathtub under the kitchen counter. We had to heat the water for the bath on a coal burning stove. I guess that is where the name cold water flat came from. I wanted the water in the tub to be deeper, I wanted to swim, but it was too time consuming and probably impossible to FILL THAT HUGE TUB, but when you are young you don’t have any perception of reality, not jaded, you just know what you want and are disappointed when you cant have it.

The bathtub was huge. I found a similar bathtub at Victoria Falls in mid 1995. They really were that big.(It was not a childhood illusion.) We had gas fittings for light and there was a box at the bottom of the stairs that you slipped money into and wallah! You had gas lighting. You had to fit a little fabric mantel onto a fixture and then light the light. Sometimes we didn’t have money for the box and had to use candles instead. The landlord knocked at the door to collect his rent and frequently we hid quietly in the house because my mother didn’t have enough money to pay him. Our toilet was a pail that was emptied outside into a dry toilet. As a child I used to cut up magazines and newspapers into smaller pieces for toilet paper. There was a paper shortage at the end of the war.

My Dad left for Africa to set up house in 1950 and my mother was left in a bare flat, waiting for her husband to contact her that it was time to come. My Nanna was wonderful, I loved going over her house, she had a piano and red velvet curtains but little furniture. There had been times during the war that she couldn’t get coal and had used the furniture in the fireplace for heat. My grandfather had left her after she had four children and apparently went to America with a 14year old girl. We never knew him. She died many years later of uterine cancer but we were in Africa and unable financially or logistically visit. Both my mother and father had to work to support the family and there wasn’t the money or the resources to visit. My grandmother knows I loved her, I feel she is still with me now. Coal was delivered when you could afford it, to the coal cellar under the house. We had ration books for food as you were only allowed so much of everything. We always had chocolate coupons and as I child I always wanted chocolate, I realized later that food came first and chocolate wasn’t an option. I used to clip blank pieces of paper out of the newspaper and save them for drawing or writing. Maybe we couldn’t afford paper or there wasn’t paper. I don’t know. I remember going to the library and telling them I was 7 and seriptisouly getting a library card so I could take out books. The first book was about ducks, but I cant remember the story. I was going to be a writer. That changed shortly before I went to Africa as I watched girls at the church hall taking ballet lessons. Now I was going to be a ballerina.

I can remember looking over stone walls into a church yard where orphans stayed. My mother called them bad girls and that is where I was going to go if I were a bad girl. That is when you first began not telling the truth, because you couldn’t be a bad girl, you didn’t want to go over the wall.

I met a boy in the back lane, we played hospital. He would wrap me in an old coat and pretend to be taking me to the hospital. Of course he had to examine me, which involved a little touching. I arrived back in my grandmother’s kitchen flushed from the experience, I was whisked off the Dr. Brown’s office for examination as they tried to determine if I had been raped. I hadn’t. I didn’t think so anyway. I can remember having things poked inside of me to see what size I was. The event was never mentioned again.

I vaguely remember my brother being hit by a car in a street accident I don’t think he was injured but that was a major event. My mother used to let me walk to the fish and chip shop in the early evening to buy fish and chips. That was fun and I sampled the chips sprinkled in vinegar on the way home. My mother always complained that they didn’t give enough chips. I never let on that I had eaten half of them of the way home, but I think she knew.

I have a few very early experiences I remember. One before my brother and sister twins arrived. I had a pacifier or dummy as they called it. My mom dad and I all slept in one bed, the dummy apparently fell off the bed and they said they couldn’t find it. I was told it fell in a crack and it was gone. I spent years thinking that the floor wasn’t safe if there were spaces large enough for the dummy to fall into. I was hardly old enough to speak but I remember the thoughts. I remember my sister pulling the table cloth towards her so she could get the bread, and the bread knife. Her and Charles were in a play pen. I stood and watched, knowing the knife was dangerous and doing nothing. I may have been about 4 years old. Someone came in the room and rescued the knife and probably my brother also. I was chastised for not halting a potentially dangerous situation but it seems to have been the beginnings of my feeling it was up to me, I had to be responsible, I had to be the caretaker.

I remember a picture being taken of me at Banboro in England in my father’s arms and I was holding a large Lupine. I remember the smell of grass and cows, and walking into a room with a naked lady and lots of screaming, not knowing what I had discovered.

I remember when my Aunty Doreen got married. (Pregnant) There was lots of crying and I was very concerned. You can see my anxious face in the picture.

I remember jealousy of my twin brother and sister and they were given soda to drink and pictures taken in a local park. I wanted to be the center of the picture.

My earliest memory or picture in my head is looking out from a bassinet, I was to the left side of the fireplace and my mother was in a light blue shiny dressing gown and my father was playing the accordion and she was singing. I never saw my father play the accordion again growing up. He had to sell it to help pay for our passage to Africa.

I remember snowballs. Being left behind in the street by my Dad because I wasn’t on time. Eating discarded chocolate in ashtrays aboard ship. (A rich girl had a bar of chocolate. Rather than share, she deliberately chunked it into pieces placing them the ashtrays. I went behind, after then all left and ate the chocolate.) I also remember being told to eat oatmeal to stop sea sickness and then violently throwing up. The sea sickness was cured and not from oatmeal. They knew once I had thrown up I would feel better.
Nobody to help me though…. 7 years old and big girls can take care of themselves…..

…5 reasons that a Liv’n Out Loud t-shirt is better than an Oscar:

#5…you don’t have to thank your agent, mother-in-law, or your 3rd grade teacher when you get a t-shirt
#4…t-shirt comes in more than one color
#3…you won’t get in trouble sneaking a t-shirt through airport security
#2…it hurts when you drop an Oscar on your foot
#1…Oscars happen once a year, Liv’n Out Loud t-shirts available 24/7!

I hope tonight brings you the world!!!!!
Steve
xox

Kelly, of West Memphis, AR, is an inspiration to all of us. And we lift her up as a woman in need of prayers, good thoughts, and positive energy. Kelly has been battling breast cancer for 3 years – and she needs the kind love from us ‘friendly strangers’. If you could all remember Kelly in your thoughts and prayers, I know she would feel it, and appreciate it.

Kelly…keep fighting the good fight – and may you feel the global ‘hug’ that the Liv’n Out Loud Sisterhood is sending you.

Blessings on you,
Alyson