A Heck of a Soldier

Hi Everyone,

Well the Holidays are over and I am back in Carolina with my long list of things to do. One of them is to scan all my dads letters that he wrote during the war to his parents and sister. It is quite interesting to read how grateful he was for all the army did for him. I wonder if soldiers now a days appreciate things like they did during WWII. Anyway, I hope you enjoy his 1st letter home.

I did it my way!

As Frank sang " I did it my way"! My friend Libby would make these delicious Italian cookies every year for Christmas and Easter. Every time she made them I would ask her for the recipe and she would always put it off and I never did get the recipe before we moved and so I no longer got my own plate of these wonderful treats that she would make up for me. So I found a recipe that is just as good (sorry Libby). The other night while I was making them I was saying to myself, "that little shit never did give me her recipe", when the phone rang and to my amazement it was my friend Libby. I know she would not agree with me that they are the same because, according to Libby they had to be oval and they had to have colored sprinkles. But hey, what do you expect from an Irish women! Miss ya Libby and every time I eat one I will think of you!

Happy Birthday Nicole!

Happy Birthday my little Christmas baby! I thought the name Nicole (St. Nick) was appropriate for you since you were our special Christmas package. We spent many nights up together with just the lights of the Christmas tree glowing as I tried to rock you to sleep.

I thought my Daughter-in-Law was crazy!

In Whitney's blog, "20 things you might not know about me" this one I thought was the weirdest:

7. I hate fish when cooked, but if it's raw, I could eat a hunk of fish like an apple.

Last night I made myself a nice piece of Salmon and when eating it I realized she is right! Although it was very good it was nothing like the dinner we had at Sasabune (See Ryan's Blog) in Santa Monica last week. I had never eaten so much raw fish in my life and needless to say it was the best and now I will always be searching for a Sushi restaurant like that.

As you can see from the sticker above I Voted Today! This is the first time I have voted early and also the first time I ever had to fill in the ovals on the ballot. In all the states and precincts I have ever voted in, it was always done by machine behind a curtain for privacy. Here I was filling out my ballot with only a small partition between myself and the other voters next to me and voters walking behind me. I don't know if this is because it is essentially an absentee ballot. Anyway, I finished and went to turn in my ballot, which I then fed it into a machine when the lady behind me says "that was a good vote"! What! You weren't suppose to see! Then she offered to show me hers! Back in the day, you kept your political affiliations to yourself. With such a emotional election this year everyone is wearing there heart on there sleeve. Everyone but me!

You would think that there is a major thunderstorm in the area! There have been loud booms and the house has been rattling and shaking now for the last few days. The reason, we are within distance of Ft. Bragg, although not that close. They must be having maneuvers because for the last week you can literally feel the house rattle and the earth shake. The first time it happened after our move here, it scared the hell out of us. It was late and we actually thought someone was on the roof of the house and jumping on it!

Ft. Bragg is the Home of the Airborne and Special Operations Forces!

And today there is a benefit golf tournament for the families of soldiers and I was hoping to see the Golden Eagles drop in. They were suppose to parachute in and around on the course but it is drizzling and overcast so I don't know if they will still be doing it. Would be nice to seem them come down in the yard.

Babies, babies everywhere!

It was good to see all my niece's, nephew's and all their kids. Spent the week in Michigan visiting family while Jeff was in China. The first pic is Jan and her grandchildren the 2nd is Grandma H's great grandchildren (missing Jackie O). The 3rd is Alex and his new truck with a plow so he can make some money this winter plowing peoples driveways. It was good to see everyone!