Hot in the South

I am ready to leave this Hot Humid Southern weather. I only wonder how I lived in this weather as a soldier. In the hot uniforms, working out in the motor pool in the heat all day long. I only want to have nice weather. Hawaii would be nice. Savannah too. If any of the job gurus are listening, King's Bay is waiting. Thank you and have a nice day.

Then There Were Six

It often happens that I go out caching. This day though in particular, was, well, a super cache day. It wasn't as huge as the Heilbronn day with Stefmaus and Altgofur although it had potential.

I didn't even have to drive. I was picked up by Thomas and Maus99. After a small rearrangement of the car to let Little Red have a riding place, We then drove off to pick up an_Chripa.

I went this time with Throle (Thomas), an_Chripa (Christina and Patrick), and Maus99. Once we got there, we met up with DrOetgar.

Then there were six. We started this day off with a FTF on the way. We were driving and as usually happens, I got a message on my Blackberry that a new cache was published. We were already driving in that direction anyway so we took the opportunity to grab it. Yes, indeed we were the FTF, a group of 5 at the time as FTF. Don't know if that really ever happened before. I know of 2 and/or 3 people groups, but not 5.

We then headed off to our first stop now being our second. This is where DrOetgar showed up. A very nice guy. We headed off to our marathon traditional super-cache day.

Our first cache was there at the park platz and the third of the day, second of the tour was a T:5. Yup, up a tree we went. Well, only one of us went up the tree. Albeit the strength and drive was there to go up the tree but the time was not. In favor of all of us taking our turn, we sent only one person to do the dirty work. This was much better as we all signed the log and were in some way conspirators to the capture of this cache.

We continued our venture. A long, long venture. I not realizing that the trail was so long and the weather getting hotter, left my water and snack in the car. Little Red had the option to drink from the creek. Big Red was left to dehydrate. Bad news. I was holding up the group. Somehow I don't think I realized we weren't coming back to the car and that I was now forever without. I got really slow and the others became concerned. I did not intend for this to happen. I was surely all about capturing a new record of 34. Never happened, at least not today.

Tour now complete, we ended with 25 on the day and a nice now luke wark jug of water but still hydrating to the body and still had to share with Little Red. Won't make that mistake again. So as you see by my counter on the home page, I am at 148.

All for now.

TTFN

New Deal

No I am not going political. I just feel that this is a new deal. There have been some changes in the Big Red life.

1st is that I have a new job now located in Mississippi. It is with the Air Force working with Outdoor Recreation again. I am looking forward to it. I have anticipated moving for some time and now the time is near.

I am to report to my new duty station on 7 June, yes it is a Sunday but that is when my pay period starts. I will be at work on that Monday. I will be leaving Germany again. This time I don't know about the return possibilities. Of course there is a lot of Air Force here in Germany and many other places so there even might be a different country in our future.

All this time now I have been making friends. Geocaching is one of the biggest helpers in making friends that there is. Not only do you get to meet people, you get to cache and travel with them too. I have a small posse that I can choose from. Rainer and Beate, or Kevin and Steffi. Problem is now, I won't be able to keep caching with them much more. I have to get the move in order and other things. I will have to go with Rainer one more time before I go for sure. Not probably as big a day as I had on Saturday, 33 caches. This was a great time. I will feel sad when I have to leave my German friends but I will still stay in touch.

I will post a couple pictures separately of my German friends so that I can remember them easily.

TTFN

A Dog's Purpose

A Story I found:

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolf hound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.

As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.

The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, 'I know why.'

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation.

He said, 'People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?' The Six-year-old continued, 'Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long.'

Live simply.

Love generously.

Care deeply.

Speak kindly.

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy..

Take naps.

Stretch before rising.

Run, romp, and play daily.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.

On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Be loyal.

Never pretend to be something you're not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.

ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!

*Twas the month before Christmas*

*Twas the month before Christmas*

*When all through our land,*
*Not a Christian was praying*
*Nor taking a stand.*

*See the PC Police had taken away,*

*The reason for Christmas - no one could say.*

*The children were told by their schools not to sing,*

*About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.*

*It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say*

* December 25th is just another ' Holiday '.*

*Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit*

*Pushing folks down to the floor in hopes they would get it!*

*CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod*

*Something was changing, something quite odd! *

*Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa*

*In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.*

*As Target stores were hanging their trees upside down*

* At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.*

*At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears*

*You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.*

*Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty*

*Are words that were used to intimidate me.*

*Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen*

*On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton !*

*At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter*

*To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.*

*And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith *

* Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace*

*The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded*

*The reason for the season, stopped before it started.*

*So as you celebrate 'Winter Break' under your 'Dream Tree'*

*Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.*

*Choose your words carefully, choose what you say*

*Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS ,

not Happy Holiday !*

Holiday Eating Tips

HOLIDAY EATING TIPS

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday
Buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see
carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving sausage
balls.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It's rare. You
cannot find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who
Cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're Going
to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it.
Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's the Holidays!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point
Of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out Of
your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano.
Repeat.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim
milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a
Sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to
Control your eating. The whole point of going to a Holiday party is to EAT
OTHER PEOPLE's FOOD FOR FREE. Lots of it. Hello?

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New
Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to
do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the
buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like
frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself
near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the
center of attention.
They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're
never going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple, Pumpkin, Mincemeat. Have a slice of
each. Or if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin.
Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert?
Labor Day, Columbus Day?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the
mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, Have some
standards.

10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the
Party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention!!!
Re-read tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner.


Remember this motto to live by:

"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention
of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but
rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, body thoroughlyused up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"

This was one of the cute little kids that I shot while Santa was visiting on Dec 4 at one of our MWR facilities.