July is upon us

I cannot believe how June has slid by!
I suppose the old adage that time flies when you are having fun is true, or is it just as you get older that it seems to slip by!
I have found that my additions I have made to my home that have increased my quality of life have also made me love being at home more!
I have found that when I must go and do something I tend to wait until I have a number of things to do in town and do them all in a day so that I can stay home more.
I really seem to be becoming a recluse and I love it!

Donation to The Vet Home

My Pet Project as District Commander this past year was to have the Posts in the District donate funds for a well needed cart for the Vet Home in The Dalles. Five of my Posts donated and I was able to get the cart and presented it yesterday to them. Not only were our VFW Liaisons happy, the Recreation Director said it would enable them to bring items directly to residents in their rooms. I love the Vet Home and was introduced to Olivera's, one of our Liaisons, Uncle-Clarence Gray who was one of the USMC to raise the flag over Iwo Jima.

It Certainly Is Summertime!

I am SO very glad I had my ceiling fans put in already because we are experiencing a heat wave.
I am much more comfortable than I have been prior, now that I have a cool breeze!
I'll contemplate adding an area A/C portable unit if necessary later.

Weekend Movie Review

I had the opportunity to see 'Nanny McPhee,' 'Hoodwinked' & 'Sky High.'
All of which are in the children's category of films.
I enjoyed Nanny McPhee and Emma Thompson did a splendid job on the screen Play! I enjoy seeing works of Actors who have spread their wings into other departments of the film industry! Cute film.
Hoodwinked in an animated musical spin on little red riding hood. Anyone who enjoys animation shorts etc... Will enjoy this one.
See if you can catch all rhetoric that is said!
Sky High was a film that I thought well, why the heck not set it! It's about a Freshman boy who is going to go to the High School only for children of Super Heroes. He is embarrassed because Both his parents are super heroes and the most famous and he doesn't seem to have any super powers. Entertaining film for anyone who like action and a balanced story line.

I Am A Has Been!

Convention is over and thus begins the new VFW fiscal year with a new Post and District Commander in my stead.
This was the first time I went to Convention on Wednesday and I have to say that it made for a LONG convention. I have a well balanced life and this created TOO MUCH VFW stuff in a weeks time. I shall remember this for Eugene next year!
I worked hard this year, didn't have much Post support and have learned that even with Vets there may not been a team support system behind you.
I suppose most all organizations have their little idiosyncrasies.
On to recruiting for this year.

Time For The VFW Dept. Convention

I'm off the Lincoln City, Oregon for the VFW Dept. Convention!
I have never been to this coastal city with many casinos; I believe I'll keep my money in my pocket!
Though I DO have a buck to play for a Comrade!

A New Grand Commander

It's a new fiscal year and we have a new Grand Commander in the Cooties and boy is he different!
Not only has he begun his inspections of all the Pup Tents, before Supreme Convention and knowing the plans of the Supreme Commander, he gets on me for not having been at a planning meeting to start a new Pup Tent.
When I asked how it went he said nothing happened!
This is a volunteer organization! I don't get paid and thus don't have a boss!
I will do my best not to have this guy drag me down!

Vietnam Traveling Wall After Action Meeting

All the Volunteers that put the heart and hard work into the Vietnam Traveling Wall while it was here in Portland, Oregon attended the After Action meeting last night. More a reason for us all to get back together and share our photos and hug once again!
This entire brew of folks has become such a tight knit group that we are like family!
In two weeks we are getting back together to do scrapbooking on our photos and items from the experience with the Wall.
In mid July we are getting together for a big BBQ and on Veterans Day we will get together for the burial ceremony of the coffin that contains all the items left along the Traveling Wall while it was here.
Then we all agreed to have an Anniversary ceremony on next Memorial Day!
This wall has touched us all! We are so close that the Truck Driver who travels the nation bringing the Wall to various communities is now a friend of ours and last night we got him on speaker phone and applauded him and clapped and had a great time!
Our only concern is that the Wall is up in Wichita Falls, TX and they are having 75mph winds and we could hear it on the phone...they are expecting bad weather and all we can do a pray the Wall stays up!

Mid Week Movie Review

I saw two movies that I would call SLEEPERS; movies that just didn't quite make it big in the theatre and yet are great little movies!
They are 'Shop Girl' &
'The Greatest Game Ever Played.'
Shop Girl comes from a Novella by Steve Martin.
It's an interesting film, mainly cute, but has a few rich deep tones that make it human.
The Greatest Game Ever Played deals with the 1913 US Open. Golf was getting very popular as 'The Gentleman's Game' & the Brits had every intention on bring the cup back over the ocean. One snag, it's the US Open meaning amateurs are allowed! Good true story about one of the greatest games in the world!
Interesting that both these films are Disney films, Touchstone being one of Disney's studies that produced 'Shop Girl.'

I Cannot Believe How Mean Some People Can Be!

I was a Board Member for a Disciplinary Action regarding 2 persons in my organization.
After two days of hearing witness' statements and questions from both sides, we on the board unanimously voted guilty on all charges and removed him for our organization.
Yesterday began the hearing for the 2nd person. Just before we began, the prosecuting lawyer for our organization, received a phone call he had to take.
Come to find out that the first person we removed from our organization after having found him guilty of all charges against him, filed a complaint against the lawyer to the Bar!
Because of this the lawyer could not participate and he was the one that had formulated all the information and data, so that disabled us from continuing that day.
The State Leader of the organization requested we dismiss the charges and after a little deliberation we did.
So those charges were dropped, but a know there are others that can be brought up of this 2nd person. It's far from being over!
How mean some people can be!

Good Bye Friend

I just got a call from a good friend who called to let me know a mutual friend had passed away!
At only 45 & 2 months younger than me I know he still had things to achieve in this world!
He will be greatly missed & I only hope he is where we wants to be now.

I have Passed The Gavel

After two years as VFW Post Commander I have passed on the gavel to another Comrade.
He has been Post Commander before, he is also taking over as District Commander and I passed That gavel to him earlier last month.
I learned a lot and worked hard to increase our membership and bring new ideas to the Post, as well as the District; I only hope some ideas stick in the minds of the Comrades.
They are slow to change and because of that they can stagnate which isn't good for anyone.
I was honored when the incoming Commander pinned my Past Post Commander pin on me and later, just before we closed the meeting, they all stood and saluted me! I am proud of a job well done!

Ceiling Fans

Well I have more of my Ceiling fans shipment, but am still awaiting blades for the living room fan.
I do not recommend The Fan Shack.com as that I have ordered just under $2,000 worth of fans and when I ordered them no one said some of the items were on back order or that it would take a long time for me to receive the order. I feel I had the right to be told so I could either choose other items in stock or decide for myself to wait it out!
I'm a bit miffed and the only thing that will make me feel better is to see all three fans installed and operating.
Update: I just called The Fan Shack.com asking when I should receive the fan blades for one of the fans and to verify that that is ALL I am awaiting. Come to find out the blades were NEVER ordered! UGH!
They have to be special ordered from the factory and will take 2-3 weeks!
I'm telling you this company is messed up!

These Days I Get So Exhausted

I cannot believe how tired I am lately!
I know I have been extremely busy, but isn't everybody?
I began watching King Kong last night and finally gave up and went to bed early!
I am going to being treading on my treadmill as soon as I get the last of the busy work done here at home.
Maybe that exercise will increase my stamina!

Disciplinary Action Board Day Two

Of the two individuals brought up on charges one has now been given the Board's determination.
It was a unanimous decision on ALL six Charges that he be dishonorably Discharged from our organization. Though we were all certain of our verdict, I told the Board members, I served with during this Disciplinary Action, that we should now concern ourselves with the next individual in that he should have a fair and just hearing and a clean slate to begin his hearing later this month.
I don't want to go in having anyone think he will get the same verdict without hearing the case fully.
Justice, Justice shall we pursue!

Disciplinary Action Board

Oh Boy!
What a day!
I cannot believe how irritating some people can get and still not understand that they are being a pain in the...!
This Disciplinary Action Board is much like a Courts-Martial and I am learning a lot, but also annoyed at how the Defense cannot see the case he has possibly buried himself in.
Tomorrow is the hopeful time when we can come to a conclusion. I hope that it is indeed just and prudent.