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Attainable Goals and the Sky-Blue Hue of Celery
2012-01-06 19:15:00
It started as a simple experiment.  My four-year old neighbor was over and she had never done the 'celery experiment'.  Imagine that!  So I dug in my produce drawer and pulled out two stalks.  We put a piece in each cup and then added food dye to the water.  Red and blue.  We watched them through the day and we saw the change.  We noticed how the celery was drinking the water as the celery turned from green to a shade of the color of its water.  We talked about the importance of drinking and how, yes, even plants drink.  Her eyes were widened at this thought.  Then my mind started spinning as I looked at the celery and the very practical life application that was before me. What are you filling your life with?   The celery in red-dyed water looked lifeless, wilted, drab.  What it was taking in was directly reflected in the mix of green (celery) and red (food-dye).  It was turning a dull brown. Wha...
More About: Goals , Blue

This Tattoo is Freedom's Call 2012
2012-01-06 16:00:00
Got your 2012 calendar ready to ink up?  Flip to Friday, June 29, 2012.  The seventh annual Freedom's Call will recognize the contributions of our military veterans, their families and all American who support them with a spectacular presentation of flyovers, music, narration and fireworks.  This is a free show at Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio guaranteed to raise your spirit of Patriotism to new heights! Visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets and cameras.  However, leave the coolers, backpacks, glasses containers, knives and pepper spray at home!  No pets either... not the place for them.  For security reasons, items may be inspected.  Refreshments will be ready for purchase. The word "tattoo" as it is used here is derived from the mid-seventeenth century Dutch Taptoe which was a combination of 2 Dutch words: "tap" meaning facet, and "toe" which meant "shut". The Tattoo or 'drum beat' at the end of the day was eventually expa...

Just Wait, military spouse suicide
2012-01-05 18:37:00
Spouses looking out for other spouses, Her War, Her Voice! has teamed up with Not Alone to combat military spouse suicide rates and to ensure there is a safe haven for quality help. Melissa and Christina of 'Her War, Her Voice!' continue groundbreaking holistic military spouse retreats, as well as Just Wait, a place where military spouses can empower, encourage, and inspire each other through their art and their stories. Who do you turn to when you need help?  Make a plan because when you hit that pit - and I know that pit, I don't know many milspouses that don't - you need a plan already in place.  We are military-spouses and we are strong.  But we can't do this alone.  Get involved in your community, make new friends, join groups like MOPS, chapel programs, community organizations, and when life seems to be crashing down around you reach out. We can't live this life. alone.  When your spouse has been deployed for more t...
More About: Military , Suicide

Send a Message to your Deployed Soldier, Sailor, Marine, Airman or Coast Gu
2012-01-05 14:43:00
Once again Stars and Stripes is giving you the opportunity to include a Valentine's Message in their print edition or online. What a great opportunity for our military spouses and family members to share a little Valentine's love with their sweethearts overseas and far apart from our hearts: Cupid is now online!Stars and Stripes has launched its popular Valentine's Day Messages website. Send a message for free! We are thrilled to offer you the opportunity to publish a love note in the pages of Stars and Stripes to your sweetheart stationed overseas! Your messages will be published in the European, Pacific, or Mideast edition of Stars and Stripes on Valentine's Day, February 14, and will also appear online at the Valentine's Day Messages website. Best of all, it's free to participate. Wherever your sweetheart is stationed or deployed, don't miss the opportunity to share your love - Upload your FREE message today!Happy Valentine's Day! Note: Messages ...
More About: Sailor , Soldier , Marine

Behold the power...
2012-01-03 20:56:00
... of a clean wall. As I mentioned in my post about personal goals for 2012 one of those is to get this house organized!  (Personal Goals)  It actually leaves me giddy with excitement to open up the calendar each day to see what needs to be done as I travel along the journey of 365 days to decluttering and organizing.  Crazy, I know. But today I 'decluttered the top of my cabinets' (which my cabinets don't have a top - they meet at the kitchen ceiling so I cleaned the top of my frig instead.)  It was an easy two-minute job.  Hmmm... I got looking around for something else to help me feel accomplished and I saw the dirt, grease, grime, years of splatters and fingerprints on my walls.  Seriously, who has time to clean walls?  (I am oh so delinquent in my cleaning abilities you will quickly learn in this series of posts.)  Seeing as my 'job for the day' took less time then I expected I sprayed my cleaning ...
More About: Power , Organization , Behold

Inner Strength Builds In the Battle
2012-01-02 18:41:00
We were always taught that sports were so good for teens and t'weens.  Agreed.  The rules of the game and engagement are life lessons.  Sports train us to go further than the body at rest wants to do.  Certain venues change, once boxing was at the top of best selling tickets.  News headlines captured America with upcoming bouts.  We loved it.  Teddy Roosevelt must have watched a few jaw breaking, sweat pumping matches before writing a commentary on life. Words from a plaque on the wall next to my father's desk, encourage and echo the rhythm of each athlete in the game of life.  My sister sent me the words in an email.  I love the second line and she and Dad especially like the last line. "It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doers of deeds could have done them better.   The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, wh...

Personal Goals
2012-01-02 02:40:00
New Years Resolutions.  A yearly tradition.  A list we come up with to make us feel good, look good but easy to forget all about come March or April. So instead of New Years Resolutions I have come with a list of Personal Goals .  I make them and keep them for my work-life at MilitaryAvenue.com.  It makes sense to do lay them out in my personal life; not just a way to make me feel better or look better but a means of lifting myself up. These are five of my personal goals for this year: 1.  Stay in better touch with my grandparents.  Send Pop an email every week. Send a letter to Grandpa and Grandma every month. 2.  Bake less out of a box.  Make brownies and cakes from scratch.  Enjoy the time in the kitchen with the kids and away from the ding of the computer. 3.  Continue learning about gardening and build an even better garden this year.  We love pulling tomatoes, corn and carrots from the freezer...
More About: Organization

Drink More ... Feel Better
2011-12-30 17:04:00
It was a rough start to our Christmas Break.  The night before the final day of school and my first-grader was thinking of a school field trip in the morning and a class-party in the afternoon.  What a fun day it was going to be.  He had a rough cough for the past week but I just knew it would go away.  Eventually.  As we were settling into our bedtime routine that Thursday night *C* lost it.  Vomit, vomit, vomit.  Gross, gross gross.  He spiked a fever and I knew he was down for the count. That cough stayed with him for another week.  Cough medicine didn't touch it and I was desperately trying to get him a doctor's appointment.  Our usually very accommodating doctors' office seemed to have started vacation early and I was told to visit urgent care or an ER if I felt it warranted immediate attention.  I just didn't think it was that bad.  (If for an instant I felt otherwise we would have gone!) Enter the pow...
More About: Drink

A Newborn Niece and Spring Mud Puddles
2011-12-30 03:00:00
Today a niece was born, not just any niece but my niece.  Sure she is a sister, daughter, granddaughter, cousin.  But to me she is a niece and I am her aunt.  She does however live far enough away that I can't just "pop over" to meet her.  Far enough away that it's a road-trip to hold her tiny little fingers, marvel at her tiny little toes and most importantly kiss her chubby little cheeks (and tell her all about the troubles her dad caused during my childhood). As a mother of all boys (and oh how I love them and I don't regret the hand I have been dealt for ONE SECOND!) my nieces are extra special.  They remind me of tea parties, pink lipstick, baby dolls and flowered bike baskets. Today in honor of you my newest niece I bought the most feminine pair of boots I ever did see! They represent the spring garden, muddy soccer games, puddles in the front yard that echo laughter and joy.  Dearest *L*, I hope that some day you can put on your favorite ...
More About: Spring

A Quick Review of 2011 on the Military-Family Blog from MilitaryAve...
2011-12-28 17:32:00
What happened to 2011? It is almost gone and the Military Avenue team discussed all the activity we had seen this year! So much to do and write about.  We saw the troops come from Iraq, discussions on the military drawdown for 2012 and beyond, military health issues at the forefront, homeless veteran initiatives, veteran employment resources, entertainers supporting the troops, we even grabbed the chance to attend the Military Blog gers Conference and so much more. MilAve's Leanne Kocsis, Inaugural Blogger of Month at USAA Many of our regular features such Tasty Tuesday Recipes, the DoD Blogger Roundtable features on issues impacting the military community, book reviews, veteran support and military children articles continued with new ideas. Completely new this year, were the interviews with entertainers that supported the military community including Josh Gracin, Three Doors Down and Mark Wills. A series of giveaways/contests brought some smiles to the faces of our f...
More About: Family , Review , Quick

I have a confession to make ...
2011-12-27 21:42:00
I have a confession.  I love being organized.  You wouldn't really know it when you walk in to my house.  We have had the pleasure of living in the same house for 10 years. (Clearly, I'm a National Guard spouse and not Active Duty.)  In those ten years my eight-year old step son has turned 18.  I have given birth to three boys.  My husband has grown his own private-practice and works 15 hour days.  I'm quite sure the family plots daily against my need to be organized. My junk drawer has spawned and over-taken three drawers in my kitchen.  It is bad.  My basement some how became a great place to (quite literally) throw things when we didn't know where to put it.  The boys bedroom (ages 6 and 9) was impassable.  Like a winter blizzard of toys. And I settled into this serious funk.  Defeated.  Unable to handle the balance of work / mother / wife / Household 6.  Woe. is. me.&n...
More About: Organization , Confession , Make

On our way to 5,000 Fans
2011-12-27 16:40:00
MilitaryAvenue is on its way to 5,000 fans on Facebook! We are celebrating with a $20 gift card for Sears from our friends at Sitter City.  So if you aren't a fan yet come join us!  If you are a fan (Thank you!) tell your friends and family to join us.  Our 5,000th Fan will be our winner. Visit us at MilitaryAvenue.com
More About: Fans

Resolutions for the New Year
2011-12-27 15:44:00
It is snowing outside the window... 33 degrees wet heavy snow.  It is sticking and beautiful and white against the dark tree limbs.  I love the look.  I love the feel of it all.  New Year 's Eve is right at the door step.  2012 is almost tangible.  Time to think of improvements, self, household, work and community. Resolving to put energy, time and resources toward good.  I have a list!  Children in the neighborhood need smiles, someone to look them in the eye and listen to their excitement.  My avenue is Wednesday nights: Pioneer Club.  This new year the resolve will be to get them to bring more friends, get more helpers, be excited right back at 'em! I recognize that health is not a sit back and watch issue.  This Grandma-chick is going to get the feet moving not only staying up with the grands, and puppies, but walking the land.  My gardens will be more weed free, flowers will be smelled, cut and enjoyed.  Our...

Bullying and our Military Children
2011-12-23 15:29:00
I am a mom.  Mom of a senior in high school, a 3rd grader, a 1st grader, and a toddler. My 3rd grader is a bit on the small side.  He's never been on the 'charts' and we have even been to a specialist just to be sure all is well.  All is well, medically, and his stature has been chalked up to genetics and that is a-ok with me.  However, already at 9 years old I have witnessed a few instances of the 'bigger kids' picking on the smaller (same age but some twice his size).  One instance of apparent bullying was a fellow soccer player, church friend and school mate pushed my son down and then put his foot on my son's head as if it were a ball.  I yelled.  Dad of fellow-soccer player just watched.  I went into  mother-bear mode.  Aforementioned Dad went into "ha ha, isn't that kind of funny mode." What kind of parent are you? Equip your kids.  Talk about it.  Make teachable...
More About: Children , Military , Bullying

Stress and the Holidays
2011-12-22 14:46:00
Stress and the Holidays .  Somehow they go hand in hand.  Overspending, too much food, lots of travel, work- and family-life balance; it is all a recipe for disaster. My own family of six knows first hand about all of these stresses.  The 18 year old wants a laptop for Christmas (and other various $$$ gadgets), the 9 & 6 year old have had way too many cookies and are pinging off the wall, and the one-year old doesn't like the car seat for more then 4 hour stretches at a time (making for a not so quiet trip to Grandma and Grandpa's last weekend).  And Mom and Dad can hardly wait for school to start again ... When speaking of Holiday stresses I can say "I get it!"  The DoD Community recognizes this and wants to be sure our military-families are taken care of.  We at MilitaryAvenue want to equip you, empower you and let you enjoy the time with your family you so richly deserve.  We know you will enjoy this newsletter and will come away with so...
More About: Stress

Tracking Santa with NORAD on Christmas Eve: Don?t be surprised, Be Ready!
2011-12-21 22:16:00
How Fast is Santa ?s Sleigh? Official NORAD response:  Santa?s sleigh travels at Starlight Speed according to military trackers at NORAD's headquarters in Colorado Springs. Don't be surprised! Be ready; know when Santa is coming! This was so much fun! Let?s start from the beginning with a quick explanation from US Navy Lieutenant Commander (LCDR) Bill Lewis. Bill is part of the North American Air Defense Command (NORAD) responsible for Tracking Santa on Christmas Eve.  Bill said that 1,200 volunteers work the mission for 23 hours to ensure children worldwide know where Santa is going next. Some have done this as a family for 10-15 years and it is now part of their Christmas traditions like volunteering, opening presents or attending church.  Extended distances, limitations on leave, etc. give many military community members a reason to work the Santa Tracking as part of their new Christmas ?normal?. Tracking Santa Center at NORAD (See Credit Below) The...

Minot AFB Flood Victims - Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah and Happy New Year
2011-12-20 19:25:00
Airmen giving "thank yous" to Home Depot reps World events can flood our minds with so much information and unless it impacts us directly it is quickly forgotten! How many remember the floods in June this year in North Dakota? Did you know that more than 1,000 airmen and their families from Minot Air Force Base were displaced and had their homes wrecked by the flooding? I had to think about how that would impact their Christmas /Holidays this year. Well, they have not been forgotten. It is an early Christmas for some of those families who struggled to recover with 135 new appliances (refrigerators, washers and dryers and stoves) delivered to 45 families this week! Operation Homefront, The Home Depot Foundation, Minot?s Operation Warmheart and General Electric contributed resources, donations, discounts and delivery of approximately $65,000 worth of appliances to these deserving families. Amy Palmer, COO, Operation Homefront, Milton Arneson, The Home Depot, Department Head...
More About: New Year , Happy , Happy New Year , Veterans

The Gift of Good Contest Winners! The Dilleys and Ortegas and More!
2011-12-15 15:56:00
The Home Depot folks have announced the winners of the Gift of Good contest! The Dilley family of Salt Lake City were the grand prize winners with a $20,000 home makeover! Here is the video of the Dilley's as they were surprised at their local Home Depot! But wait we have more to announce!   While speaking with the Home Depot public relations folks who worked the contest, they said they were "so touched by all the military family stories".  As a result, they have decided to give all the contestants a gift of $5,000 for home improvements on top of the $500 gift card they received when nominated. So Adam Ortega's family of Ft Drum, whom MilitaryAvenue nominated (see "This Army Family deserves the "Give the Gift of Good") will receive a huge home improvement to make life easier for Adam who has a traumatic brain injury and PTSD.  The Ortegas of Ft Drum A field service team will be contacting Adam and Monica this week to determine where they can best be ...
More About: Contest , Veterans , Winners

#79 of 101 Ways to Thank a Veteran: Send a Christmas Card
2011-12-14 14:08:00
Have you read 101 Ways to Thank a Veteran ? They were written with Veterans Day in mind but many for all year round. 79. Remember Veterans during other holidays, especially those without family. Send a Thanksgiving card, Christmas card or Valentines card, to either a Vet that you know or through a VA Hospital or VFW. - http://www.militaryavenue.com/ways_to_tha nk_veteran Last night after dinner, we cleared the dishes, did our usual cleanup routine and then I pulled out the craft supplies.  Glitter, paint, glue, markers, stock-paper and oh so much more Time to make Christmas Card s for a special Veteran in my life, my Grandfather (and Grandmother).   They are far from family, not able to travel as easily, but loved oh so much! You can also lift up the spirits of our Veterans this holiday season.  I know they could use it!   But an amazing thing happens while working on a gift for them.  Our spirits were lifted too.  Full of laughter, smiles...

Happy Birthday, Kiddo
2011-12-13 16:25:00
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11 Dad and Josh:  Makes me smile 18 years ago a boy was born. He would forever change my life, influencing the mother that I am today, yesterday and tomorrow. He's a brother! (and he will be again and again) Joshua, Josh, Kiddo.  What an amazing young-man he has come to be.  A stellar student, a strong athlete, a friend to many, a rock in a sea of turmoil.  To say I am a proud mom would be an understatement. I met Josh for the first time when he was three.  I remember coming in late from Chicago (Hubs and I long-distance dated for awhile) and peaking in Josh's room to see him fast asleep.  Angelic.  Josh was there through Hubs and my dating years. Through the first years of our marriage.  Through the birth of one, two and then three brothers.  Now a ...
More About: Happy , Birthday

"1001 Things To Love About Military Life"
2011-12-12 16:11:00
"1001 Things To Love About Military Life " and the authors have found them! What fun! A book to read that chronicles the military lifestyle in a positive manner and resources, moments of laughter, re-living the life or learning the life are all there! Inputs from four authors and social media friends provide a great coffee table reader for your guests! Your military friends will pick it up and find a section to comment on or your civilian friends will pick it up and ask questions like, ?was it really like this? Or, did you really like military life? A great way to begin a conversation and tell others why we loved the military lifestyle and how it impacted our lives! Starlett Henderson, Army veteran and spouse The book answers many of the ?who, what, whys and wheres? of military life from a military family perspective. The authors are into detail and the organization of the book lays out a balanced view of all the services? traditions and perspectives. This is a great r...
More About: Avenue

Army to Drawdown by 50,000 - The head ?Scout? of the Army?s Enlisted Force
2011-12-08 15:29:00
SMA Chandler with 170th IBCT (see below for photo credit) Sergeant Major of the Army (SMA), Raymond F. Chandler took some of his critical time to speak with the Bloggers Roundtable on Wednesday. He said felt like the lead Scout of the Army?s enlisted force and wanted to give us a feel of what the enlisted soldiers where concerned about and how the Army was dealing with their issues. The SMA was lively, interested in our questions and provided some great responses as he described an ?amazing Army?. He told us we were at a crossroads in the Army with reduced budgets and a drawdown of forces that will impact everyone. After he made opening remarks, I asked if he felt that the Army was taking care of the troops that were separating or retiring with employment information and assistance. He said this was a ?huge concern? and that they were ?doing the best we can?. Recent efforts within the Department of Labor, VA and White House have resulted in a coordinated program to meet the c...
More About: Force , Veterans , Head

VOW to Hire Veterans Act and ?WOW? Come Together for Veterans Seeking Emplo
2011-12-07 17:34:00
A VOW from Congress and a big WOW for Sears ! Citing Labor Department statistics with 900,000 unemployed veterans in October this year and with more returning from Iraq as the war ends there, David Works, Senior Vice President Talent & Human Capital Services for Sears, excitedly explained to MilitaryAvenue how they were increasing vet hires at Sears Holdings. A Navy veteran of fast attack submarines, David highlighted the efforts of Sears to increase veteran hires by 10% in 2012 with veterans filling positions from hourly associates to store managers, global logistics, corporate level and more with military experience a plus for new hires! Challenging other corporations to support our veterans, he noted that Sears had hired 1,637 veterans as of December 1st this year!  A 200% jump from 2010!  WOW! Hiring veterans is ?not an act of goodwill? but simply ?good business? according to David who said they plan to hire from all the services, both enlisted and officer ranks...
More About: Hire , Veterans

Counter Top Cooking: Beef Stew
2011-12-07 16:14:00
Winter comfort food fueled Jacob and Esther's cooking skills with savory aroma and fantastic chunky beef stew. They pounded a thick round steak then I cut off the excess fat. They mixed the dredging flour and bread crumbs while I heated a heavy saute pan with butter. I cut the meat into small chunks and they rolled it in the flour mixture. They mounded the chunks on a platter so I could brown the beef. They washed the baby carrots, drained the canned mushrooms,decided how much of the chopped onion should go in, and  took pinches of dried herbs then added them to the cooker.  The joy of sticking a fork into a large jar of canned tomatoes and flopping each red ball into the mixture brought raucous laughter.  (I always wondered why there were so many  tomatoes in a good stew... it's just a fun thing to do!) Each felt the need to put in a beef bouillon cube, a touch of salt and a good shake of celery salt to boot.  In went the liquid from the tomato jar, and a...
More About: Cooking , Beef

This Christmas Tree is not a Holiday Tree
2011-12-05 13:43:00
This is a Christmas Tree , it is an evergreen, has family ornaments and a few strings of lights that are painstakingly placed.  This weekend the governor of at least one state (Rhode Island) announced that the tree in their capitol rotunda was a "Holiday Tree" in the name of political correctness, plain and simple.  I do not know many other religions that celebrate the holiday season with this type of tree. Yes, I realize it really may not be a symbol of Christianity (just like Santa Claus is not) except for the star on top and many of the ornaments that are placed with Christian symbols.  However, Mr Governor, the major religious groups that are not specifically Christian, celebrate with other symbols, not the big tree in your Rotunda.  So you can rename it, if you want, but to me it is a Christmas Tree and I believe I can say that without offending most if not all of our citizens!  Please let us know how you feel and if a citizen of Rhode Island or an...

We Have Lost a Friend and a Military Dog Brat
2008-06-09 22:44:00
We named her after the President of Iceland in the early 90s and had to spell it wherever we went! Vigdis joined the family in Annandale, VA after our return from Iceland in 1992 when I was assigned to the Pentagon . She never left our side for 16 years. She played with us, our neighbors' dogs, our friends and eventually our grandsons too! Always friendly but also a defender in time of need. Her picture doesn't reflect the German Shepherd in her but her heart did! An intruder found out the hard way one evening! She hated air travel but loved the freedom of a large yard at McChord AFB and one evening at Charleston AFB she decided to go on her "own" walk on the trail around the base! Friend s saw her on the trail and called us and we think she did the loop like we did as a family! She came home tail wagging and seemingly telling us she didn't need us all the time! Described in her older age as "Gentle Vigdis" she could take a treat from a one year old without touching their...
More About: Lost , Military , Pets

Some Days Just Were Not Meant to Be
2008-06-09 15:26:00
Yesterday started kind of normal; I went to church and came home to a snack (more of a snack than dinner since I was fixing and eating it while my bride was out of town). Then I decided to mow the grass which has grown a bit with all the rain we are getting. I started mowing and the tractor made some loud noises and I looked back and realized I was plowing versus mowing! Once side of the mower deck was digging this neat trench in the grass. Pulled the tractor into the garage and realized I needed a new spindle on the left side of the mower (just changed the right side two weeks ago so I had a bit of experience with this). Two hours later I was done sweating and pinching my fingers; I had the deck off the tractor and the worn out spindle removed! Yeah! Off to the garden to pull some weeds that enjoyed the rain too for an hour of stretches!Dinner time! Ate healthy again with my veggies and all! Felt good about the day despite the tractor/mower problem so I decided to go into ...
More About: Michigan , Days

News You Can Use: MilitaryAvenue's News Reader
2008-06-05 16:16:00
Do you have a blog or a website that other military families enjoy? Here is a great tool for your use:Everyday we scour the ".mil world" for relevant articles and news that we think you will find of interest. You can share this news with your fellow military families and keep them informed. If you would like to have a MilitaryAvenue.com News Reader on your site simply copy and paste the following html code on to your site:<div style="border:2px solid #243E89; width:240px; height:290px;"><embedsrc="http://ww w.militaryavenue.com/upload/rssreader.swf "height="290"width="240"allowscriptaccess ="always"allowfullscreen="true"/></ div>If you decide to post it on your site let me know! I will gladly post a link back to that page on MilitaryAvenue.com so that others can see your work in action. - Leanne from MilitaryAvenue.com Visit us at MilitaryAvenue.com
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To Our Military Families: America Supports You
2008-06-04 21:11:00
The Team at Military Avenue.com is very excited this afternoon as we have been selected as a corporate supporter of America Supports You! We believe in you, our American military families and recognize the stress that current operations place on you! We have team members who include an Army National Guard active spouse, Military Brats, Air Force spouse, and retired Air Force. We have lived the lifestyle and enjoyed the rewards and shared the challenges too!America Supports You says this about themselves: "America Supports You is a Department of Defense program that provides opportunities for citizens to show their support for the US Armed Forces. The program was launched in 2004 in an effort to highlight citizen support for our military men and women and communicate that support to the members of our Armed Forces at home and abroad."We want to support you and provide the best data available for your next relocation, lifestyle choice or travel needs! We now have over 6,100 Partner lis...
More About: Families

The Weather in Baghdad and Kabul
2008-06-03 22:50:00
I can be a Weather Channel junkie! We just had a wonderful rain shower and it made our spring flowers perk up big time as we had been dry for a bit! I was cheering for it so I wouldn't have to drag garden hoses around tomorrow to get the vegetable garden some refreshment. While enjoying the cool breeze and listening to the rain fall I had a quick thought! What is the temperature in Baghdad right now? Hmm, according to a weather website it is 88 degrees and it is 11 PM and tomorrow's forecast is for a high of 106! Think of our comforts and ability to adjust the dial of our air conditioning, ceiling fan, opening the window to let in the cool breeze and other methods of cooling ourselves. Then I transition to our men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan and think how hot the body armor is, the lack of a place to cool off and the overheated bodies and uniforms in need of a shower and cleaning. Then I jump to a Humvee filled with hot and stressed bodies and then to an airc...