Happy 234th Birthday, Marines!

To my Son-In-Law, currently serving in Afghanastan, "Thank You" for your service to Our Corps and Our Country.

Semper Fidelis (Always Faithful)

Brian Baird vs. a Marine Dad

Viva Liagra!

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

Bragging Rights

All 4 of our children possess some level of artistic talent (music, theater, comedy, etc) but I am shamelessly taking the opportunity in this post to brag on my daughter, Carol.

First, with pencil and paper, she captures (beyond question) one of America's icons.

But second (and more importantly) she chooses Patriots and Conservatives as her heroes (no "pin-heads" allowed).

Great job on the Duke!

Love, Dad

Part 3 of "...Last Train to Clarkston..."

Monday came all to soon and it was time to point the chrome & steel (and rust) back toward the West. Our host seemed to think home was "that-a-way".

So we cleaned the bugs off from the East-bound journey and set out to collect a few hundred more with the sun at our backs. Down along the Snake and then West into Pomeroy (our favorite pheasant hunting ground) and then down through Walla Walla and Pasco where we brushed elbows with the Might Columbia before rolling up into Richland for gas, water and "feeling" in our butt cheeks.

At Richland, we veered northwest onto Hwy 240 to Hwy 24 and skirted the West edge of the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. Out there, the sage brush rolls down the highway almost as fast as our suicide machines.

Those are the Rattlesnake Mtns. in the West behind K.T.

And the Hanford Reservation behind me in the East...After the photo-op, it was on to Yakima for more fuel (gas & groceries) and then back on Hwy 12 through Naches and up over White Pass.A very talkative truck-driver was kind enough to shoot this pic of K.T. & I with Mt Rainier in the background.

To make a long blog short, we had one more gas stop in Packwood before the last leg of our journey. Tired as we were, we still took the long way home and ran the "twisties" between Alder Lake and La Grande on Hwy 7. Yeah, Eatonville Cutoff would have been shorter but "who cares"? It's all about the ride.

And the ride was worth it all. Besides a great visit with an old friend, K.T. and I bonded on a new level. He's not just my son anymore, he's my "riding partner".

And, oh yes, his '81 CX500 made the whole round trip without incident. (Gotta' hand it to Honda- they just keep running)

See you on the road. Don't forget to "wave"...

Part 2 of "...Last Train to Clarkston..."

Learning to "cool my heals" and relax has been a lesson long overdue for me (just ask Mrs. WingMaster). For many years I attacked everything like it was a job with a deadline. And, Oh, the pleasures I missed along the way; like wading in a clear creek on a hot spring day in Hell's Canyon.

Dan-Da-Man and his best friend, Lori took K.T. and I on a cage trip down the Snake River and into the north end of Hell's Canyon. Since a majority of the expedition involved gravel roads, the iron horses had to stay at the barn (gravel & chrome don't mix well).

The scenery over there is gorgeous; I love deserts, canyons, rivers and mountains and Hell's Canyon delivers all these in wild abundance.

Our first stop on the River was to let Dan and Lori show us the Petroglyphs- 500 yr old rock etchings by the Nez Pierce Indians that document a Gathering that could be described as their version of Thanksgiving. (I thought a few of them might have been added by teenagers in the "Big Hair" days of the '80's.)

Then, we pushed onward, deep into the canyon to drink in the splendor that is God's Creation.

Although this was the most blog-worthy part of "Part 2", the rest of the weekend was just as precious to me. Often, Dan would ask, "Is there anything particular you guys want to do?". We would look at each other and then reply, "No, man. We're just happy to hang out with you and relax." And that's exactly what we did. We barbecued, played music, swapped stories and reminisced about our 36 years of history together (I've known Dan since 7th grade). He is probably one of the few people in my life that I can pick up a conversion with after 10 years of silence and not feel disconnected.

I am ashamed to admit that it took a motorcycle to teach me to "enjoy the ride" along the way but I am thoroughly absorbed in the lesson and looking forward to more "field trips" as extra credit assignments.

Thanks for taking this ride with me. There's more to come in Part 3...

"...Last Train to Clarkston..." (Part 1 of 3)

OK, it wasn't a train; it was a couple motor "sickles" (as Dirt would say), And it was Clarkston, WA (not Clarksville). And it was the best bike trip I've been on yet (except that Mrs. WingMaster wasn't on the back to massage my stiff neck).

We left Friday at 0900 with full hearts and full tanks and headed for White Pass... ( Yes, that's K.T. and his "vintage" '81 Honda CX500 Custom- the "custom" part is the rust and bent hard-parts) Will it survive 750 mile round-trip?

1st fuel stop was Packwood and then on through Yakima (following Hwy 12 E) to the next fuel depot- Grainger

Then on through Richland until we got off the beaten path and headed for the Umatilla Wilderness. (I wish I had stopped and taken more pics on the way there, but the ride and scenery were so awesome that I got lost in the joy of it all.

And finally (8 hours later) we arrive at our destination, Clarkston, WA, to spend some time with one of my oldest & dearest friends, Dan-the Man (confirmed Cager, guitar-player, singer-songwriter and all-around great guy). I know- I should have taken more pics! So, K.T.'s Death-Cheater made the first half of the ride; will it survive the scourching heat and miles of sagebrush, asphalt and oil-mat on the ride back? Stay tuned for Part 2 of the "Last Train to Clarkston" (A lot more pics in the next two parts).

Comments

I don't know know what happened to the "comments" link on my last post. It's not that important; I was just noticing that it dissappeared. Hope y'all enjoyed the "bears".

Grin and "Bear" it....

And then there's the Right-Wing-Wacko bears....

And finally, the Happy-Go-Lucky Pole-Dancing Bears...

Which bear are YOU today?

"What Would Peter Do? (WWPD)

My sincere thanks to all of you who have commented on my last post. I was beginning to feel "alone" out here. Obviously, I am frustrated, sad, and angry at the direction our country is heading.

The next question is (as Christians) what do we do now? Pray, of course, but what else? Anything? Nothing?

Being "me", my first reaction is "fight, not flight". (Kind of a "What would Peter do-WWPD" reaction)

The real question to be explored is "What would JESUS have ME do?" And the answer may be different for each Christian in America.

Please ponder that question and share your insights.

God Bless you and God Bless the United States of America.

The Manchurian Candidate

I apologize to those who may find this cartoon disrespectful to the office of the President of the United States. I have the utmost respect for the Office. I wish I could say the same for the President.

Barring an efficacious grass-roots revolt on the White House Lawn, the Omnibus Spending Bill will be signed into law today.

"Candidate Obama" promised an administration "free of ear-marks" and a "line-by-line" scrutiny of any bill that comes before him for signature.

So much for "Change You Can Believe In"; enter the era of the Manchurian Candidate.

From day one (and before), Obama has implemented the agenda of the Left Wing of the Democratic Party. His Cabinet appointees have been Washington Insiders primarily cultivated during the Clinton Administration. His Economic Recovery think-tank that was formed to brain-storm solutions to the failing economy is a "Who's-Who" of Campaign Contributors and Insiders from failed and/or bailed out corporations.

HR 1 (AKA the "Swindle-Us" Bill) granted the Left nearly every socialist program that the Democrats could ever hope for. Why should the President bother to read the bill? The DNC got him elected and he owes them this one. And, what the 780 BILLION dollar bill didn't do, he is granting to his Handlers in the form of Executive Orders.

Socialized Health Care, Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Federally-funded abortion in foreign countries, expanded welfare entitlement programs and tax-hikes are just a few of the gifts that the Manchurian Candidate has granted his Masters (Nancy Pelosi & Harry Reid).

While your retirement investments have been slashed in half, Rahm Emmanual (who said you should never let a good crisis go to waste) has been wringing his hands in anticipation of all the power that can be wrestled from the hands of the American People in the name of "Recovery". They are in no hurry to resolve a crisis that has granted them so much license to spend your tax dollars however they want... and FAST!

So, is there any good news in all this? Yes. For decades (and maybe centuries), We the People have been growing increasingly complacent as the Federal Gov't. has nibbled away at our freedoms. The heat has been slowly turned up on the "frog in the dish" so that it won't notice that it is being cooked to death. But now, the burner is cranked up to HIGH and frogs (like me) are starting to jump out of the dish.

I intend to speak out. I intend to be heard. I intend to expose the truth and I intend to get involved.

I have long believed that conservative, principled people are the majority in America. But because they are (by nature) busy, productive and independent, they are invisible in the long shadow of a minority of liberals who's hobby, profession and religion is political activism.

Our freedoms are under siege. Our principles are being violated. And our faith is being attacked.

Jump out of the dish before it's too late.

Traitor or Patriot?

You make the call...

I am seeing and hearing this same attitude almost daily.

"Tax Cut for 95% of Working Americans" NOT

Is anyone paying attention, or have you all been "drinking the Kool-aid"?

Here's how a tax cut for working Americans making less that $250K per year works via "Obamanomics";

Effective April 1, 2009, you'll see up to $400 more per year in your "take-home" paycheck.

How? Employers will be receiving new charts to calculate Federal Withholding from your checks using the new "Obamanomics" guidelines. Great news, right? WRONG

The tables used to calculate the amount of tax OWED AT THE END OF THE YEAR WILL NOT CHANGE.

Adjust your exemptions now or owe more to the Fed. on April 15, 2010.
Of course, if you like to leave your money in the hands of Pelosi & Reid (interest free) year after year, you'll be fine. Enjoy your new-found wealth.

They'll get it back from you later.

So, you may be saying, Bush did the same thing last year, right? Yes. But he didn't call it a "Tax Cut". A tax cut means you get to keep more of YOUR MONEY. This shell game that our President is playing is designed to make it look like he kept his campaign promise.

The only promises he is planning on keeping are the ones he made to his base, The Left.

"Porkzilla" The Stimulus Bill

This picture doesn't even come close to representing the amount of "pork" in the House Democrats' Stimulus Bill. The Senate is working on it today. I urge all of you to call your Senators and tell them what you think about "Frisbee Golf Parks", and the other similar ear-mark-type projects that make this bill stink to high heaven. In Washington State, your Pork-wranglers are Maria Cant(vote)well and Patty Murray. To contact Senator Maria Cantwell call 202-224-3441. To reach Senator Patty Murray call 202-224-2621.

Call them today and tell them to kill this pig!

A "More perfect Union"?

Week-1: Abortions can be funded with American Tax-payer dollars (our dollars) in foreign countries and enemy combatants (spies/terrorists) will soon be brought to our soil and afforded the same rights that they are trying to destroy. Under the terms of the Geneva Convention, POW rights are only granted to enemy soldiers serving in uniform; those who disguise themselves as private citizens can be SHOT upon capture.
Make no mistake- this man is NOT the great unifier he claimed to be (unless you look forward to wearing drab khaki's and hoeing rows on a collective farm).
He was the second most liberal member of the U.S. Senate and he will be the most socialist President this nation's ever seen.
It's going to be a long 4 years.

I'm not sure I can stand it!

"Tissue Alert"

On December 16, 2008, Lt. Kenneth H. Rose, USMC Navigator in World War II went to guard Heaven's gates after a lengthy illness. Kenny, as he was known to all of us in our church, was a large man both in life and spirit. He served in both the U.S. Army and the Marines and was a POW both in Germany and Japan. He was most proud of being a Marine. When our son joined the Corps six years ago, Kenny always referred to him as "my Marine".

Every time our son has been home he has made time to visit with Kenny even when we were not sure Kenny would know him. On those occasions he put on his Dress Blues knowing that Kenny would recognize the uniform if not the Marine.

At his Memorial Service this past Saturday, our son was given the distinct honor of presenting the American flag to Kenny's widow, Patti. There was so much Marine tradition in the Memorial that I cannot tell it all here. There is a local Ex- POW club here and they also had a small ceremony for Patti. Rolling Thunder was also present for their presentation.

The family held up well throughout the service but when Taps was played and Rob presented the flag, they began to shed their tears. The other two presentations were done when Kenny's urn was placed in his niche in the Columbarium after the service and that is when the tears really flowed.

Our son flew home from Norfolk, VA, just for the Memorial service at the request of Kenny's widow because, as she said, "Rob was always Kenny's Marine. You just had the privilege of raising him." Actually, my husband is a no longer active Marine Sgt. himself. I thank God every day for all of the Marines and other servicemen and women serving our Country, past, present and future. Thank you, one and all, for your service to our Country.

Mom and Wife of Marines

Sharon

Walking In The Spirit

Have you ever tried to "walk in the Spirit" for a whole day? Have you attempted to "bring every thought captive" and abide in the Presence of Christ for 24 hours? If you have tried and were successful, please tell me more about it.

I tried to "pray without ceasing" yesterday and I don't think I even survived the Monday morning commute.

I read a great article over the weekend entitled, "Fallen From Grace" Thomas Gilson, were he first describes my spiritual condition; flat, aimless, loveless, dead.

Then he points out that the Galatians were in the same the boat. They were following the rules all right but they had "fallen from grace".

And the cure? Walk in the Spirit! Abide in Christ.

And now you know my focus for 2009; to learn live in the "Grace, By Which I Stand"