tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65044132952899048892024-03-03T19:25:22.674-05:00Mack's Journey Through LifeThoughts from a military brat trying to pave her own way through the world. Proud to be part of the military community and am a fan of all those who support it!MACK ATTACKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353166822243084321noreply@blogger.comBlogger103125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504413295289904889.post-55784721225764527442011-08-12T11:04:00.006-04:002011-08-12T11:15:12.483-04:00A Day in the Life of a Military FamilyI came across the following video today and just had to share it. People always ask me what it's like to be part of a military family and it's one of the things I never hesitate to speak about. I'm passionate about being a military brat and feel tremendously lucky to be part of the military community.
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<br /><a href="http://www.care.com/">Care.com</a> asked Navy spouses to explain what their every day life is like - what they'd want civilians to know about them and the challenges they face. While I hail from an Air Force family, the words of these inspiring women ring true regardless of branch of service.
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<br />Three cheers to Care.com for shinning a spotlight on military families and even bigger cheers to the amazing spouses of our military community.
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<br /><iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/YyFy3XhsL0g" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>MACK ATTACKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353166822243084321noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504413295289904889.post-2434379612345011992011-05-24T19:15:00.011-04:002011-05-24T20:12:47.164-04:00New York Times: Explaining War to Military ChildrenToday, the <span style="font-style:italic;">New York Times</span> featured a <a href="http://atwar.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/24/explaining-war-to-our-children/?smid=tw-nytimes">guest blog post</a> on their "At War: Notes From the Front Lines" section that discussed a military wife's experience in explaining war to her children. The post was written by Stephanie Himel-Nelson who works with <a href="http://www.bluestarfam.org/">Blue Star Families</a>, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting military families.<br /><br />I was pleased to see the post - anytime a military family member is able to share their thoughts with the civilian community it's a positive thing. Most importantly, the military community often has the same undercurrent of emotions as well as thoughts - and hearing someone else that's part of it discuss it out loud validates it and can bring comfort.<br /><br />I'm not a Mom and I don't have a military husband, but I am a military brat. My father still serves as does my brother. As such, reading Stephanie's words was interesting for me. I'm always an advocate for doing what you feel is best for your family. No one knows your kids better than you do. But as someone who grew up as a brat, I was really happy that my parents told me how it was. <br /><br />Stephanie is right about military children - we do know more than any other child would about the mechanics of war - but for me, it was comforting to understand all of that. For me, it was a piece of the puzzle. No one but other military kids understood what it was really like to have a parent deploy, or be separated from them for months and sometimes years. No one else knew what remote tours really meant, or why our parent kept a gear bag full of the essentials always at the ready. So for me, it was comforting to know what they have to work with, how they stay safe.<br /><br />I don't really remember the very instant my parents told me about war, but I always remember open dialogue. As all parents are, I'm sure they were cautious. I'm sure they told me on a need to know basis and more importantly I'm sure there were many times that they decided I simply did not need to know. But the one thing that stayed true is that they were comforting and honest. They would answer my questions. They would listen. And for me, because we talked it about it, it made it less scary. <br /><br />They always say that fear is of the unknown. I guess in this case I would agree, and because I knew so much it helped comfort me. War and conflict, time in far away places with way too much sand. . . it's just part of the package deal of being a military family. I wish we lived in a world where it wasn't but until then level setting is my advice on the way to go.<br /><br />NOTE: If you're a military family and you are looking for ways to explain war to the members of your family, The Sesame Workshop has made terrific headway in this area. Check out their <a href="http://www.sesameworkshop.org/initiatives/emotion/tlc">Talk, Listen, Connect</a> resources that you can share with your kids.MACK ATTACKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353166822243084321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504413295289904889.post-54298251170110307892011-04-14T08:30:00.001-04:002011-04-14T08:30:00.733-04:00Dept of Defense Photo Essay: Troops Reunite with Families<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2lg7j2Zsay8-GkoxuW-9awH7Np0lSSFJ7sqXZbTJklcOFnqcxBBpeL9PFYjuEtqT_z47jOzwL92jJWH3lqe4GE4nSdemmV4lMoayYMPhOlOuEq1PPPQO2-V611o8XP3GcF1fuTQtxX8lh/s1600/specialized-training-military-parents-800X800.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2lg7j2Zsay8-GkoxuW-9awH7Np0lSSFJ7sqXZbTJklcOFnqcxBBpeL9PFYjuEtqT_z47jOzwL92jJWH3lqe4GE4nSdemmV4lMoayYMPhOlOuEq1PPPQO2-V611o8XP3GcF1fuTQtxX8lh/s320/specialized-training-military-parents-800X800.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594527785727370162" /></a><br />The Department of Defense has created a <a href="http://www.defense.gov/home/features/2010/0410_militarychild/">special section</a> on their website in support of April as the Month of the Military Child.<br /><br />While the entire site is wonderful, I was particularly touched to see the photo essays of troops returning home to their families and of our nation's military children. <br /><br />As someone who has waited for their father to return from deployments throughout her life - to war zones and to not - I think they did a fantastic job of capturing the essence of the emotional reunion.<br /><br />It's a day that military families hope and dream about - long before the military member even leaves. The families' faces and the look on the faces of those children, are so powerful.<br /><br />Many thanks to the Department of Defense for shining a spotlight on military children and for showing beautiful moments.<br /><br />*family with heart image by Pix by Marti from Fotolia.com*MACK ATTACKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353166822243084321noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504413295289904889.post-52020059427616645842011-04-13T08:10:00.000-04:002011-04-13T08:10:00.556-04:002011 Military Child of the Year AwardOn April 7th, five well deserving children received the Military Child of the Year Award from First Lady Michelle Obama at the Ritz Carlton Pentagon City Hotel in Arlington, Virginia. <br /><br />The awards were given to outstanding military children from each branch of the military. Mrs. Obama discussed each of the award winners and their individual accomplishments. Click <a href="http://www.operationhomefront.net/mcoy/">here</a> to learn more about them.<br /><br />I was impressed with each and everyone one of them, especially those who have focused their efforts on educating civilians about military issues and lifestyles, but not at all surprised at their efforts. They are military brats after all - - - they're made of amazing stuff.<br /><br />Three cheers for all of them and for all of the military children stationed throughout the world!!MACK ATTACKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353166822243084321noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504413295289904889.post-73495456574182838022011-04-12T15:00:00.001-04:002011-04-12T15:00:05.359-04:00White House Discusses Importance of the Military ChildI'm so very happy to see that the government and the nation are taking time to recognize military children in America. According to the Dept of Defense, there are 1.7 million American children and youth under 18 with a parent serving in the military and about 900,000 with one or both parents deployed multiple times.<br /><br />Here's a fantastic video from First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden on the importance of the military child.<br /><br /><object width="480" height="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/all/modules/swftools/shared/flash_media_player/player5x2.swf"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="bgcolor" value="282828"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><param name="flashvars" value="config=http://www.whitehouse.gov/xml/video/10693/config.xml&path_to_plugins=http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/modules/wh_multimedia/wh_jwplayer/plugins&path_to_player=http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/all/modules/swftools/shared/flash_media_player/player5x2.swf"></param><embed src="http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/all/modules/swftools/shared/flash_media_player/player5x2.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="300" flashvars="config=http://www.whitehouse.gov/xml/video/10693/config.xml&path_to_plugins=http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/modules/wh_multimedia/wh_jwplayer/plugins&path_to_player=http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/all/modules/swftools/shared/flash_media_player/player5x2.swf&share_url=http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/month-military-child"></embed></object>MACK ATTACKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353166822243084321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504413295289904889.post-40727972741524453062011-04-11T21:26:00.008-04:002011-04-11T22:34:44.679-04:00Month of the Military ChildI feel like I find a way to work in the fact that I'm a military brat into every post I write. It's in my Twitter bio and my LinkedIn profile. There's an entire section of my Facebook profile dedicated to it. And most importantly, it's in every breath I take.<br /><br />Being a military brat is a great deal of who I am and even though I'm no longer a child, it's one of the things I work into a conversation when I'm first meeting someone. It's been who I am for as long as I can remember and it sums up my childhood so phenomenally, that it's hard to not use it as my primary identifier.<br /><br />April is the month of the military child. I don't know when it started, but I'm ever so thankful that it has. When I was growing up, my friends and I used to joke with our parents about how we've "served" too. I remember my father laughing and saying, sure you do kid. But it's true . . . we do. We're shipped off with their boots every two to three years. We represent America every where we go, especially overseas, and our lives are also controlled by the government. We're there waiting for them to return home when they deploy. Yes, we do serve too.<br /><br />For the record, those were the best years of my life and they are the ones that defined who I am. I'd gladly do it again and then again. It was a great honor to be a military brat and even though I'm no longer a child, I know that deep inside I will always be a military child.<br /><br />If you know a military child, take time to honor them this month. Even a small thank you - just two simple words - can mean so very much. They sacrifice so much every day, alongside their military parents. Without them, the troops could not do what they do.<br /><br />To all the military brats out there past, present and future we will forever be united. While the nation honors you this month, we will honor you always.MACK ATTACKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353166822243084321noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504413295289904889.post-60566336521936116822011-02-27T01:28:00.006-05:002011-02-27T01:38:39.022-05:00Outback Steakhouse Supports Operation HomefrontRun, don't walk to your local <a href="http://www.outback.com/companyinfo/thanksforgiving_feb2011.aspx">Outback Steakhouse</a>! This call to action isn't just because their food is super tasty, but because the restaurant chain has announced its commitment to donate $1M to <a href="http://www.operationhomefront.net/about.aspx">Operation Homefront</a>. How can you help? Order off of their special created "Red, White and Bloomin Onion" menu!<br /><br /><object style="height: 390px; width: 640px"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/tn7mbuwUbGE?version=3"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/tn7mbuwUbGE?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="390"></object><br /><br />Special thanks to Outback for their generous donation and continued support of military families nationwide. Most importantly, our ending thanks to the Operation Homefront team. The military community recognizes what you do on a daily basis and how you're making an impact in our lives. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.MACK ATTACKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353166822243084321noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504413295289904889.post-5548827576765322342011-02-01T20:27:00.010-05:002011-02-01T20:51:20.865-05:002011 List of Military Friendly SchoolsAs I was surfing the <a href="http://www.stripes.com/military-life">Military Life </a>section of the <em>Stars and Stripes </em>website today, I came across a website link underneath the education section that I had to share. <br /><br />Are you a veteran, active duty member or a military spouse looking to attend a higher education establishment that is military friendly? Look no further than <a href="http://www.militaryfriendlyschools.com/Default.aspx">militaryfriendlyschools.com</a>! <br /><br />This website was created with you in mind and <a href="http://www.militaryfriendlyschools.com/list-2011.aspx">lists</a> approximately 1,000 colleges, universities and trade schools that accept the GI Bill and other support programs. Aside fom the listing, the website also has a <a href="http://www.militaryfriendlyschools.com/Default.aspx">college matchmaking tool </a>to help you make your decision.<br /><br />Happy hunting!MACK ATTACKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353166822243084321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504413295289904889.post-78033462095842229982011-01-18T21:26:00.007-05:002011-01-18T21:55:00.359-05:00Should General Petraeus Get a Fifth Star?Last week combat veterans <a href="http://www.stripes.com/blogs/stripes-central/stripes-central-1.8040/vets-group-wants-a-fifth-star-for-petraeus-1.131765">suggested</a> that General Petraeus should be awarded a fifth star - an extremely rare honor that hasn't happened in many decades.<br /><br />Many feel that Petraeus should receive this promotion in honor of his outstanding leadership and service in the War Against Terrorism, as well as the troops he has led. <br /><br />The five star club is very elite - only nine other individuals have earned it including generals Dwight Eisenhower, John Pershing, George Marshall, Admiral Chester Nimitz and Douglas MacArthur. <br /><br />Petraeus took charge last year in Afghanistan and has won public praise for his efforts. A <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lets-Get-General-Petraeus-his-5th-Star/155779897805008">Facebook page</a> has been created in support of the five star nomination effort but as of now, the House Armed Services Committee has reported that there are no plans to make this a priority.<br /><br />What do you think - does Petraeus deserve a fifth star? While his accomplishments have been significant, should it be awarded after the War on Terror is won?MACK ATTACKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353166822243084321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504413295289904889.post-27918644040377687252011-01-09T00:05:00.005-05:002011-01-09T00:35:20.025-05:00Three Cheers for Tostitos and the Connect to Home Bowl!On the first day of the new year, America tuned into the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl and got to see how the brand, in conjunction with the USO, brought a piece of home to our troops overseas over the holidays.<br /><br />The brand shined a national spotlight on our military heroes during the game's broadcast by showing video clips from the Tostitos "Connect to Home Bowl" – a football experience that was created exclusively for U.S. service men and women stationed in Iraq. Visit the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/Tostitos">Tostitos Facebook page</a> to see all the action! <br /><br />Also, don't forget that you'll be able to catch more on Monday, Jan 10th on ESPN during the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game where families of the troops who played in the game in Iraq will be honored in a special way. Three cheers for Tostitos - the military community thanks you for your continued support!MACK ATTACKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353166822243084321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504413295289904889.post-17083162037647892342011-01-08T23:33:00.005-05:002011-01-09T00:02:18.275-05:00Hello 2011!True story - it's been almost an entire year since I've blogged. And even though so much has time has passed since, I never once thought of walking away entirely. I hope to be much more successful this year - and by successful I mean that I hope to put out a steadier stream of readership worthy posts. <br /><br />To the few readers I have left - thanks for sticking with me and interacting with me on Twitter, where I never seem to have a problem appearing! <br /><br />Now, a few personal updates and then onto the good stuff . . . the military stuff everyone in our community loves!<br /><br />The past twelve months have been so insane that there's no way I could put it into words. Besides if I did it would fill up a book and for now it's simply being filed in my head until I have time to focus. So here are a few sentences. 2010 was supposed to be epic and the truth is that it was. A wave of highs and lows so dramatic that if life had a voice it would stop and say, is this real? <br /><br />It was and somehow I did just fine. Despite suffering another major family loss during my engagement - this time it was my father in law and it came just four months before the big day - and a whole host of other things, I did become a Mrs! <br /><br />I also became an even stronger person, grew professionally and connected with my military friends on a whole new level. So here's to 2011, which I welcomed with open arms.MACK ATTACKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353166822243084321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504413295289904889.post-23796315149692715892010-01-23T21:51:00.004-05:002010-01-23T22:27:18.006-05:00U.S. Army Releases iPhone AppThis week, Mashable.com - commonly referred to as the social media bible - gave a sweet shout out to the U.S. Army's newly released iPhone app. <br /><br />Launched last month, the app puts the latest Army news headlines from across the CONUS and globe at the user's fingertips. Other cool features include the daily issue of "Stand-To," podcasts, an archive of Soldiers magazine and direct assess to the Army Live Blog, Facebook page, Twitter feed and video and photos from the Army's Flickr and YouTube accounts.<br /><br />While social media has played a role in Army communications for a while, I think it's safe to say that it is now front and center like any good soldier. I take my hat off to the Army for their adoption of new media. HOOAH!<br /><br />Visit <a href="http://www.army.mil/mobile/">here</a> for a full briefing on features and functionality or you can download the app from iTunes directly for free.MACK ATTACKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353166822243084321noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504413295289904889.post-50766741036738529042010-01-17T10:28:00.007-05:002010-01-17T10:50:28.089-05:00U.S. Military Lends a Helping Hand to HaitiIt's been amazing to watch the outpouring of support that Americans have showed the people of Haiti. I think it's been most interesting to see how the tragedy has helped put our own lives into perspective. There are many parts of our nation that are still suffering from the recession - and yet, what has happened in Haiti has made us seem grateful for what we all have, no matter how little it seems to be. <br /><br />Tweets swirling around the topic of Haiti, including the relief efforts, have exploded on to the scene. I was happy to see Admiral Mike Mullen (CJCS) push out a few tweets on the topic. The first tweet that caught my eye read "Thoughts and prayers w/ the people of Haiti. Committed to doing all we can to help." He's followed this up with links on where we can get updates on the military's efforts and has leveraged other social media channels to keep us all informed. <br /><br />While it comes as no surprise to Americans, and the world, that our military is coming to Haiti's rescue, I think that it's a wonderful way of reminding Americans of how phenomenal our troops really are. So much of the media's focus on our military is directly connected to the war - something that is judged so harshly. But watching our troops save earthquake victims warms everyone's hearts. <br /><br />For updates on how our outstanding military is helping Haiti see a brighter tomorrow, please visit <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/DODvClips">DOD's YouTube channel</a>. <br /><br />Three cheers to our troops! We're so very proud of you!MACK ATTACKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353166822243084321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504413295289904889.post-67182216570077097112010-01-17T10:17:00.002-05:002010-01-17T10:28:07.049-05:00Ready for a New DecadeHappy New Year to all my readers. Here's hoping you had a stellar holiday season. <br /><br />As mentioned in my last post, I haven't blogged in ages. Which should result in shame! Yes, I am shameful - my head's hanging low now you just can't see it. It hangs even lower specifically when I get an email that contains my site analysis results. It claims that people are still coming to my blog, despite the lack of posts. <br /><br />So, with that, I'm back in the saddle again. Promising to give you the military related posts that you like to see. With fingers crossed that I'll make it interesting enough for you to come back for more.<br /><br />Here's to a new decade of adventure, possibilities, and blogging!MACK ATTACKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353166822243084321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504413295289904889.post-84911941065280746772009-10-09T20:39:00.002-04:002009-10-09T20:45:58.319-04:00Off the RadarIt's been a few months since I've blogged - yep, I've completely fallen off the radar. I always said that I'd never be that blogger. But much has happened since the start of the summer and its scary how good and how bad the months have been.<br /><br />I got engaged. I got a new job. My grandmother died. My parents unexpectedly PCSed to South Korea.<br /><br />Yeah, all that in just a few months. I do believe in karma which explains the great things. That everything happens for a reason which explains the sad things. But it seems so odd that I can have such great things happen in one breath and such horrible things happen in another. I've tried to find the silver lining. I just wish it didn't all happen in such a rush with no time to enjoy the good before the bad arrived.<br /><br />I'll be pushing multiple posts through this weekend for those who'd like to catch up on the happenings. And after this, I promise to be back.<br /><br />Happy weekend all.MACK ATTACKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353166822243084321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504413295289904889.post-63949645534712710712009-07-26T16:22:00.023-04:002009-07-26T17:23:42.489-04:002009 Yokota High School All Years Reunion RecapWow. The trip that I waited more than a year for has now come and gone. We came from across the nation, spent less than 36 hours in the state of TX and had a phenomenal time. Some of the best 36 hours of my life and hands down one of the best "weekend" trips I've ever taken. <br /><br />Some top line highlights . . . for photos visit our <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=60249550324&ref=ts">group page</a> on Facebook . . . <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1MhfT5nrz_FcLyAntVoLuTr0lfcBKhfTcC3-1OIUwnttDsBTiraKo6-Yx4X6rcEwC1qLR4CE0EUalqWr9lL60z6_4xm3kFvOnr4kNQPw2Q71g2yFED2AnPtRaA-aVmvhr-vYbegXRwK-T/s1600-h/IMG_0220.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1MhfT5nrz_FcLyAntVoLuTr0lfcBKhfTcC3-1OIUwnttDsBTiraKo6-Yx4X6rcEwC1qLR4CE0EUalqWr9lL60z6_4xm3kFvOnr4kNQPw2Q71g2yFED2AnPtRaA-aVmvhr-vYbegXRwK-T/s320/IMG_0220.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362881074891613042" /></a><br /><br />- The gang hit the Riverwalk up on the first nite for the official welcome mixer. Heather, Ruth Ann and I rolled up around 12:30pm and took the party to Pat O'Briens. We continued the party back at our hotel pool where we talked about old times and met some military fly boys - one of which rolled with the Thunderbirds for the past four years. Not surprising, San Antonio is crawling with boys in blue. But we were happy to meet these two and swap our military stories.<br /><br />- Despite the fact that we had about three hours of sleep, the ladies and I somehow made it out of bed on Sat morning and cruised to the Riverwalk for a Mexican lunch and some sunshine. Full of queso goodness, we took to the streets and headed to the Alamo! The last time I visited the Alamo I was about seven or eight. Um, it's much smaller than I remember.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvm5uG2kTAZLSSjDAy2owWbJcOjzo6GTVwK7eaOP4I7XqgodNVBY2BLDKHVDlVp4Y_gv8XWdw-x78uhf0IWyq8XFEwVUkcq8Jvlnjf1om-SRLEGEH6CsDgzFMhqGimpGSl0K2Zqzr8x68j/s1600-h/IMG_5455.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvm5uG2kTAZLSSjDAy2owWbJcOjzo6GTVwK7eaOP4I7XqgodNVBY2BLDKHVDlVp4Y_gv8XWdw-x78uhf0IWyq8XFEwVUkcq8Jvlnjf1om-SRLEGEH6CsDgzFMhqGimpGSl0K2Zqzr8x68j/s320/IMG_5455.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362881311800646066" /></a><br /><br />- Later that evening, the gang headed to the official reunion dinner where we met Panthers that had come before us. When we entered the room, one of the coordinators called the room to attention and all eyes fell on us. "The babies have arrived everyone. Let's show them how we party," he echoed throughout the hall. Mind you, we graduated in 1999 and 2000 - we are by no means babies but the term of endearment continued throughout the weekend and we grew to appreciate it!<br /><br />- The evening was wonderful and the official DVD that they presented, which showed the past, present and future of Yokota HS, was very moving. It was fascinating to come together, swap stories and share yearbooks. The attendees hailed from the classes of the 70s and 80s. Some from the very first few classes to ever graduate from the school. (Did you know it wasn't established until the 70s?) We all had so many questions for each other. What did you do in Japan back then? What was the school like? What trouble did military kids get into then? Where did you have prom? What do you miss the most? <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVUQ4wsaKXJ6kUTro3WX3a7Bi_-CnMw-V91Wa1UpSwCjfLjsHNRiNexlG0FEhcwEH09xsWdPZS9yGRWiFuVvNe2kCgPkPakowskN3GgsY9jk1RSSksOQSXr5Kd_TcT7LDu7aZH5fvxCzdM/s1600-h/IMG_5513.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVUQ4wsaKXJ6kUTro3WX3a7Bi_-CnMw-V91Wa1UpSwCjfLjsHNRiNexlG0FEhcwEH09xsWdPZS9yGRWiFuVvNe2kCgPkPakowskN3GgsY9jk1RSSksOQSXr5Kd_TcT7LDu7aZH5fvxCzdM/s320/IMG_5513.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362881884921662098" /></a><br /><br />- While the years span between us, the stories are almost the same. Okay, so replace our grunge wear for bell bottoms. But, I always believed and do especially after this reunion, that once a Panther always a Panther. The same can be said for any military high school. It really showed me that we are truly one in the same and each hold a very special place and time in our hearts that is connected to Japan. I felt so lucky and privileged to be included in the event and to have met these fantastic and fascinating military brats.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwyiuhPtjInM8ZCawBR0M_ewWAPlMx-yhMMTvYdJC6DsKvXNuRcie7GY3eSk-zOVl1hyphenhyphenTf2IULqfOSVAdc5sNsvL22TrgZ6q0JE3wK6bjORQEcM4_PoULVk4kgMuaU6Evfq7gNOR9_ljIx/s1600-h/IMG_5529.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwyiuhPtjInM8ZCawBR0M_ewWAPlMx-yhMMTvYdJC6DsKvXNuRcie7GY3eSk-zOVl1hyphenhyphenTf2IULqfOSVAdc5sNsvL22TrgZ6q0JE3wK6bjORQEcM4_PoULVk4kgMuaU6Evfq7gNOR9_ljIx/s320/IMG_5529.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362881590689073298" /></a><br /><br />- After the official dinner, the girls and I headed back to the Riverwalk and made sure we had a chance to dance to music from our era! Mad Dogs was the official choice and it didn't let us down. Complete with rock bottom priced drink specials and a Micheal Jackson dance off, it proved to be an outstanding location to shake our money makers. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP7XBN0i200E58spQtSUxvekgH7RdQXM5R50gcIVJPSnS6s8ZCrlHW8mmSopd5UO0f802lOsvpn9HYWDE7kpDpFPcYRbvER_4Nw1spoYp_AKTKFGPwhqNz0WEJxy7fmYs2sl4_QXrRDgiN/s1600-h/IMG_5535.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP7XBN0i200E58spQtSUxvekgH7RdQXM5R50gcIVJPSnS6s8ZCrlHW8mmSopd5UO0f802lOsvpn9HYWDE7kpDpFPcYRbvER_4Nw1spoYp_AKTKFGPwhqNz0WEJxy7fmYs2sl4_QXrRDgiN/s320/IMG_5535.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362882070265268050" /></a><br /><br />- Sunday morning I woke up and realized that our trip was ending. And yes, hadn't it just started? Bridget headed out early and the rest of the girls headed to el Mercado for lunch and shopping. We met up with another pal from back in the day and had another round of reminiscing. One by one the girls departed and at the end of the afternoon Mikki and I found ourselves in a cab headed to the airport. We were the last to leave the great state of Texas and I certainly was sad about it. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaB4D4hF4gl8buR-Gt44rvOk27p51X1Mfylm_JG62WgIlAE6r2Cv9ai3wn56kTbeEH_J7vNQZ05BJ6DsDYRaTO4dumtyVahyga6b5Ps3UcvBhFBLdUkwVy5buinlSiWUuqbyybo2MIgasM/s1600-h/IMG_0242.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaB4D4hF4gl8buR-Gt44rvOk27p51X1Mfylm_JG62WgIlAE6r2Cv9ai3wn56kTbeEH_J7vNQZ05BJ6DsDYRaTO4dumtyVahyga6b5Ps3UcvBhFBLdUkwVy5buinlSiWUuqbyybo2MIgasM/s320/IMG_0242.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362882190161967458" /></a><br /><br />The great thing about this weekend was, that despite the fact that some of us had been apart for more than 11 years, it seemingly didn't matter. It was like we didn't skip a beat. Sure we hadn't spoken in years. Sure we had all gone to college separately. And sure we had all grown up. But in less than 5 minutes we all fell back into a rhythm. And even as we met the brats that came before us, we all felt like old friends. That's the true beauty of being a military brat. No matter how far apart we are, no matter how many years that pass, we will always have a connection to a place in time and a place so very far away. For me and the brats I was with that weekend, that place will always be Tokyo, Japan. It will always be Yokota AFB and Yokota HS. And we will always bleed blue and gold as Panthers. <br /><br />As my plane took off over San Antonio, I paused and looked out the window. Remember the Alamo? Oh I'll remember much more than that. And even though part of me was sad, so much of me was happy. This marks a new beginning. A future that holds many reunions in other random states. A future that will include these wonderful people. A future of continued friendships and a love of the land of the rising sun.MACK ATTACKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353166822243084321noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504413295289904889.post-67912910587713928792009-07-10T13:15:00.003-04:002009-07-10T13:19:21.012-04:00San Antonio Bound : YHS All Years Reunion WeekendThe day has finally come! The 2009 Yokota High School All Years Reunion is upon us.<br /><br />I'm thrilled to be heading down to the great state of Texas to see some of my favorite military brats. Some I haven't seen in ten years. Some I saw just the other day.<br /><br />We've got a great itinerary planned. The Alamo. National Parks. Mixers on the Riverwalk. And of course, a big party on Saturday night complete with a traditional Japanese dinner and a DJ. <br /><br />I'll be back next week to post pictures of our adventures and fill you in on all the details. But for now, it's blue and gold time. Panther time. And time to remember the land of the rising sun.MACK ATTACKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353166822243084321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504413295289904889.post-75510469741430332992009-07-03T12:15:00.005-04:002009-07-10T13:14:57.238-04:00Well Wishes for My Army BrotherI've mentioned before that my brother is contracted by the Army. He attends the the University of Oklahoma on an Army scholarship and will become an officer upon graduation next May.<br /><br />He's one of my favorite people. And despite the fact that he has spent almost more years apart from me than with me, we're so close. <br /><br />Last week he departed for military training camp - two months, no contact. Yeish. Three days earlier he had just celebrated his 21st birthday. He made the rounds of phone calls reminding me that it wouldn't be that bad for me - we'd only miss our weekly calls. So that's like, 8. I couldn't help but smile when he said this.<br /><br />I didn't think his departure would shake me. After all, we're both military brats and it's not like he's going far. He is stateside. It's just a camp. I mean, it will suck for him but it's not like it will suck for me.<br /><br />But it made me sad, for a little bit. He's growing up. And even though he's been filling the role of an Army solider for the past three years, this suddenly makes it very real. Makes me realize that he's going to be graduating soon. And then going everywhere. <br /><br />So, with a proud heart, I said good luck and bon voyage. Here's to you bud. We'll be thinking of you and we know you're going to rock at camp. Your scores are going to be stellar and when you get home, we'll totally celebrate your major achievements.MACK ATTACKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353166822243084321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504413295289904889.post-64087968323009591812009-06-28T08:56:00.014-04:002009-06-28T09:18:36.464-04:00Over the Celebrity Hype: Real Heroes Die Every DayThis week marked the passing of three high profile celebrities: Ed Mc Mahon, Farrah Fawcett and Micheal Jackson. While I am certainly aware of each of them, the attention they received in the social media universe and the traditional media space was crazy. Particularly the King of Pop.<br /><br />Word of his condition spread on Twitter like wildfire before traditional media could even get a foot in the door. Everyone I followed seemed to want to jump on the bandwagon and almost all had something to say. <br /><br />I follow @PattyGale on Twitter. I often agree with a lot of comments she makes and this week she tweeted something that resonated so strongly with me. "Sorry, can't get into the last 2 days of news. Sad for the families yes. However, real heroes die every day & don't get headlines."<br /><br />I loved this statement - I had been thinking it since I began to see the Twitter flurry that had erupted over MJ's death. She literally took the words out of my mouth. <br /><br />I had no desire to tweet about their deaths. I had no desire to state my unending (and mind you non-existent) love for the musician. I think it's crazy that fans rushed to his home and hospital. That people were overcome with emotion - bursting into tears. <br /><br />It's not that I don't think that passings aren't important - they are. But they are private. And most importantly, I do feel that we channel an inappropriate amount of energy into how much we care about people that appear on the silver screen or fill our heads with tunes. <br /><br />I think its fine to pause, reflect on a life, and wish nothing but peace to the ones they left behind. I just don't think I need to participate in what I call a celebrity Twitterpaloza.<br /><br />Patty's right. Real heroes die every day and few stop to pay attention. And if you're a regular reader of my blog you know that I'm referring to the military members of our fine nation. <br /><br />I do think it is fascinating that some people can touch our lives in profound ways, even if we never meet them. For those people to change our line of thought, to help us look at the world in a different way or broaden our horizons. But for me, those people are rarely celebrities. They are often the men and women of our nation's great forces. Because they are my heroes.MACK ATTACKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353166822243084321noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504413295289904889.post-10179347337180519892009-06-21T00:14:00.008-04:002009-06-21T00:44:27.445-04:00My Father, My Hero<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXN87sNa0vrRFsGWArF6C2S4MZPpxIeu3t6M8UBGQlZZNE2EoItXUjFscanbpw71CjsEstDcT8fhckd3MvRbzQCDuki3a8LVToetHzNBibMP8VzpR4bPSw82A8MR_6zHcXoaz60rkDsDNz/s1600-h/dad+and+i.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 243px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXN87sNa0vrRFsGWArF6C2S4MZPpxIeu3t6M8UBGQlZZNE2EoItXUjFscanbpw71CjsEstDcT8fhckd3MvRbzQCDuki3a8LVToetHzNBibMP8VzpR4bPSw82A8MR_6zHcXoaz60rkDsDNz/s320/dad+and+i.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349636504429504994" /></a><br />In honor of Father's Day, I wanted to pause for a moment and write a brief post about my wonderful father. While he's not one for gushiness, I try to always make a point of telling him that he's the best father in the world on this very special day.<br /><br />The Dad who wears BDUs and serves his country selflessly every day. The Dad that not only takes care of me but of ALL of his troops - even when that number is over 300. The Dad who sends me laughter via email when he's in Iraq. The Dad who never forgets to thank his family for their support of his service.<br /><br />My Dad really is the best Dad - but not just because he's in the military. While it cannot be denied that his occupation was my one way ticket to travel the world, the opportunity to speak different languages and see other cultures, or live out such extraordinary adventures, he's amazing without the military hooah. After all, he is the man that held my hand throughout that journey and the man that made it such an incredible adventure. <br /><br />Truth is, my father is someone I will always aspire to be like. An amazing leader. An amazing role model. Brave. Intelligent. Generous heart. Brilliant sense of humor. <br /><br />I would not be the strong, independent, fearless woman I am today if it were not for him. He made me believe in myself from day one and because of that I always believe that I can do anything. That I am someone special. And without him, I would have never learned to push myself beyond the limits I think I have. <br /><br />After all, it was my father who helped me climb to the top of Mt. Fuji when I thought I could not climb another foot. It was my father who told me it would be okay when I moved my senior year of high school and was faced with rebuilding my life yet again. It was my father who taught me the true meaning of suck it up and press on. <br /><br />And it was my father who offered profound wisdom to me when he told me that when it comes to life that it is "not the result it is the journey." Something I have taken to heart and tried to live by every day.<br /><br />Many thanks to my phenomenal father for all that he has done and all that he will do. I love you Dad. You are my hero.MACK ATTACKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353166822243084321noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504413295289904889.post-34022647693724356982009-06-12T10:47:00.008-04:002009-06-12T11:30:18.383-04:00Stephen Colbert: MR. USO<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF22y_0EBSvbk7pm9DFHU3go7tTferrzuAjHVh2CIKog7-qsi1cnc0AzIZdrOxHuU0rbw9Wp5iOWcBN5oLne1mYH3S24LCgGjSWgf1MUGHl6X6o-43JQc0JVebEYZKOw284RX80yA26Di-/s1600-h/MrUso_hat.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:left;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 106px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF22y_0EBSvbk7pm9DFHU3go7tTferrzuAjHVh2CIKog7-qsi1cnc0AzIZdrOxHuU0rbw9Wp5iOWcBN5oLne1mYH3S24LCgGjSWgf1MUGHl6X6o-43JQc0JVebEYZKOw284RX80yA26Di-/s320/MrUso_hat.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346463382838026866" /></a><br /><br />Stephen Colbert did an AMAZING job in Iraq this week. His four shows were witty, tasteful and most of all tremendously supportive of our brave men and women stationed in the land of sand.<br /><br />Some of my favorite things about this week . . . I really enjoyed when . . . <br /><br />- Colbert flew with the AF Thunderbirds. I liked watching Colbert's reaction, mid song, during takeoff. In regards to the pilots, as a Air Force brat, I've always loved a man in a flight suit and this was no exception. The Thunderbirds are all SUPER hot and they are unbelievably talented.<br /><br />- Colbert complimented the troops for doing their job in "140 degree heat in full battle rattle." When my Dad was in Iraq he'd tell us how the insane the heat was. It's something we can never understand here.<br /><br />- Colbert compared Iraq to a bag of trail mix and said the the M&Ms were the US Troops.<br /><br />- Watching Deputy Prime Minister Baham Saleh discuss Iraq and his gratitude to the US Forces.<br /><br />- Seeing and hearing the entire palace sing the Army Song - proud and strong after Colbert attempted to get them to do the hokey pokey.<br /><br />- Tom Hanks and Colbert packed care packages for the troops. It was my favorite part when Colbert tried to send puppies and ice cream to Iraq<br /><br /><table style='font:11px arial; color:#333; background-color:#f5f5f5' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='360' height='353'><tbody><tr style='background-color:#e5e5e5' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;'><a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.colbertnation.com/'>The Colbert Report</a></td><td style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; text-align:right; font-weight:bold;'>Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c</td></tr><tr style='height:14px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;' colspan='2'><a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/229955/june-10-2009/tom-hanks-care-package'>Tom Hanks Care Package</a></td></tr><tr style='height:14px; background-color:#353535' valign='middle'><td colspan='2' style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; width:360px; overflow:hidden; text-align:right'><a target='_blank' style='color:#96deff; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.colbertnation.com/'>www.colbertnation.com</a></td></tr><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><embed style='display:block' src='http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:229955' width='360' height='301' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='window' allowFullscreen='true' flashvars='autoPlay=false' allowscriptaccess='always' allownetworking='all' bgcolor='#000000'></embed></td></tr><tr style='height:18px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><table style='margin:0px; text-align:center' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='100%' height='100%'><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.comedycentral.com/colbertreport/full-episodes'>Colbert Report Full Episodes</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.indecisionforever.com'>Political Humor</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.colbertnation.com/video/tag/Operation+Iraqi+Stephen%3A+Going+Commando'>Stephen Colbert in Iraq</a></td></tr></table></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />A big THANKS to Colbert, his entire team and of course the USO. If you missed any of the shows this week visit the microsite for his tour <a href="http://www.mruso.com/">Mr. USO</a>. <br /><br />You can watch full episodes there or download them via iTunes. Proceeds from your iTunes purchase will benefit the USO. If you have a few dollars please also visit the <a href="https://www.uso.org/donate/custom.aspx?id=1311&">USO's website</a> and donate money. Our troops, and their families, rely on the USO. When you help support the USO, you help them. <br /><br />If you're tight on cash but want to help, try doing something for a family of a local military family. Bake them cookies. Help find a babysitter. Stop by to just say thank you. The families left at home are at war too - just in a very different way.<br /><br />A special shout out to all our men and women serving abroad. It was great to see you this week - tan and smiling! Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication. You're all of our heroes!<br /><br />***Special note: photo courtesy of the MR. USO website ***MACK ATTACKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353166822243084321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504413295289904889.post-87525903479288864752009-06-09T10:36:00.004-04:002009-06-09T11:03:17.207-04:00Colbert Report's First Show From Iraq<span style="font-style:italic;">Stephen Colbert is now officially my favorite comedian. I checked out his first show from Iraq and it was HILARIOUS!<span style="font-weight:bold;"></span></span><br /><br />He kicked off the show with some stellar comments. Here are a few highlights:<br /><br />- His staff took standard BDUs and made them into a suit. He looked surprisingly cool!<br /><br />- During his monologue he referred to Iraq as "the country so nice we invaded it twice"<br /><br />- He let troops know that he wanted to come to Iraq because he "always wanted to cook a microwave burrito in my pants"<br /><br />Colbert also showed a few clips from his 10 hour-long "basic training." He dubbed it "Stephen Strong: Army of Me." I especially loved the Louis V luggage and the iPhone portion.<br /><br />Later in the show he took time to interview General Ray Odierno, the head hancho in the land of sand. Odierno let Colbert know that his training experience was not at all realistic and that he needed to get a regulation hair cut to even be considered a trainee.<br /><br />Colbert refused and then President Obama appeared on the screen. He first gave a shout out to our troops and then calmly gave an official order to Odierno to buzz Colbert's head!<br /><br />For the record, I know that Colbert will miss blow drying his locks every morning but he looked pretty good with his buzz. He may even grow to like this new look!<br /><br />The show was awesome and I can't wait to see what they have in store for us for the rest of the week. <br /><br />Here's a little snipit of the show - and a shout out from John McCain.<br /><br /><table style='font:11px arial; color:#333; background-color:#f5f5f5' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='360' height='353'><tbody><tr style='background-color:#e5e5e5' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;'><a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.colbertnation.com/'>The Colbert Report</a></td><td style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; text-align:right; font-weight:bold;'>Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c</td></tr><tr style='height:14px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;' colspan='2'><a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/229765/june-08-2009/operation-iraqi-stephen--going-commando---john-mccain'>Operation Iraqi Stephen: Going Commando - John McCain</a></td></tr><tr style='height:14px; background-color:#353535' valign='middle'><td colspan='2' style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; width:360px; overflow:hidden; text-align:right'><a target='_blank' style='color:#96deff; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.colbertnation.com/'>colbertnation.com</a></td></tr><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><embed style='display:block' src='http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:229765' width='360' height='301' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='window' allowFullscreen='true' flashvars='autoPlay=false' allowscriptaccess='always' allownetworking='all' bgcolor='#000000'></embed></td></tr><tr style='height:18px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><table style='margin:0px; text-align:center' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='100%' height='100%'><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.comedycentral.com/colbertreport/full-episodes'>Colbert Report Full Episodes</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.indecisionforever.com'>Political Humor</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/228567/may-26-2009/play-him-off--keyboard-cat'>Keyboard Cat</a></td></tr></table></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />Click <a href=" http://www.comedycentral.com/colbertreport/full-episodes/index.jhtml?episodeId=229761">here</a> to see the full episode OR visit iTunes and download it. Proceeds go to the USO!MACK ATTACKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353166822243084321noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504413295289904889.post-46628202550496029802009-06-08T15:36:00.017-04:002009-06-08T16:27:26.451-04:00Tweet To Remind - Help Raise $1.65 Million for Troops by July 4thToday, as I was giving well deserved shoutouts to my military twitter peeps in honor of the Military Monday Twitter movement, I came across a tweet that made me smile. I'm a follower of <a href="http://twitter.com/BobWoodruff">Bob Woodruff</a> and today he simply tweeted the following: "Support our troops is no longer a slogan. It's an action. #tweettoremind http://bit.ly/remind #militarymon."<br /><br />Tweet to Remind - have you heard of it? It's all a buzz in today's #MilitaryMon chatter. I checked out the site and it seems that Woodruff's latest effort is a partnership between his foundation and the PR powerhouse <a href="http://www.porternovelli.com/">Porter Novelli</a>. Through the partnership, a unique idea has been born - a goal to raise $1.65 million by July 4th; proceeds will be given to America's soldiers as they return home.<br /><br />The <a href=" http://tweettoremind.org/">website</a>, which also links to <a href="http://remind.org/">ReMIND.org</a>, is a movement of Woodruff's foundation that "educates the public about the needs of injured service members, veterans and their families as they reintegrate into their communities and empowers people everywhere to take action."<br /><br />If you remember, Woodruff suffered near fatal injuries in 2006 from a roadside bomb. He was on assignment in Iraq for ABC’s “World News Tonight." His wife and family have channeled their experience into creating the Bob Woodruff foundation in hopes of helping military families across the nation. Special thanks to them for their generous time and efforts.<br /><br />Please take time to visit the Tweet to Remind website, donate and spread the word throughout your blogging community. Most importantly, don't forget to TWEET! Follow the movement <a href="http://twitter.com/remind_org">@remind_org</a> or <a href="http://twitter.com/tweettoremind">@tweettoremind</a>. Our nation's forces and their families give everything they have, every day of the year, to protect our freedom. They are our heroes. Please take time to thank them in a small way.MACK ATTACKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353166822243084321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504413295289904889.post-33161359248028515422009-06-05T11:09:00.006-04:002009-06-05T11:32:18.431-04:00Stephen Colbert to Broadcast From Iraq!I've talked about my likeness for Colbert <a href="http://macksjourney.blogspot.com/2009_04_01_archive.html">before</a>. He helps military brats and genuinely likes our military community. <br /><br />And for some time now, he's discussed an upcoming trip to the Persian Gulf and this week it was announced that he really is going! <br /><br />The Colbert Report has deployed to Iraq on a USO tour entitled "Operation Iraqi Stephen: Going Commando." He's landed safely and Colbert will broadcast four shows from Baghdad next week, where he’ll be entertaining an audience of about 450 troops. Catch the shows when they air Monday through Thursday.<br /><br />Comedy Central reports that the operation "is taking place at an undisclosed military base. The week will feature many segments including Colbert putting together USO care packages for the troops and 'shout outs' from notable figures in society."<br /><br />Check out the announcement <a href="http://ccinsider.comedycentral.com/2009/06/05/breaking-stephen-colbert-is-in-iraq/">here</a> for further info, including a list of his notable guests. Stellar. On a special note, they have also reported that proceeds from sales of "The Colbert Report" on iTunes during the week of June 8 will benefit the USO.<br /><br />Here's a clip from his show, where he asks his viewers to do what anyone would do with this type of secret . . . leak it! Tweet about it, blog about it, etc.<br /><br /><table style='font:11px arial; color:#333; background-color:#f5f5f5' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='360' height='353'><tbody><tr style='background-color:#e5e5e5' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;'><a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.colbertnation.com/'>The Colbert Report</a></td><td style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; text-align:right; font-weight:bold;'>Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c</td></tr><tr style='height:14px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;' colspan='2'><a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/229739/june-05-2009/exclusive---where-and-when-is-stephen-going-to-the-persian-gulf---iraq-announcement'>Exclusive - Where and When Is Stephen Going to the Persian Gulf - Iraq Announcement</a></td></tr><tr style='height:14px; background-color:#353535' valign='middle'><td colspan='2' style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; width:360px; overflow:hidden; text-align:right'><a target='_blank' style='color:#96deff; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.colbertnation.com/'>colbertnation.com</a></td></tr><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><embed style='display:block' src='http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:229739' width='360' height='301' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='window' allowFullscreen='true' flashvars='autoPlay=false' allowscriptaccess='always' allownetworking='all' bgcolor='#000000'></embed></td></tr><tr style='height:18px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><table style='margin:0px; text-align:center' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='100%' height='100%'><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.comedycentral.com/colbertreport/full-episodes'>Colbert Report Full Episodes</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.indecisionforever.com'>Political Humor</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/228567/may-26-2009/play-him-off--keyboard-cat'>Keyboard Cat</a></td></tr></table></td></tr></tbody></table><br />So in the words of Colbert himself . . . Go Forth and LEAK! :) Spread the news and tune in!MACK ATTACKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353166822243084321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504413295289904889.post-37860517704628789862009-06-02T15:25:00.005-04:002009-06-02T15:37:04.762-04:00NBC's Today Shines Spotlight on USO and Troops!NBC's Today show took time this morning to shine a spotlight on military families across the nation. With a segment appropriately named "Call to Action," Meredith, Ann and Al talked about why our military troops and their families are so important to our great nation. Check out the videos below.<br /><br />A heartfelt look into military families' lives when our loved ones are deployed . . . <br /><br /><div><iframe height="339" width="425" src="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/31061923#31061923" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe><p style="font-size:11px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #999; margin-top: 5px; background: transparent; text-align: center; width: 425px;">Visit msnbc.com for <a style="text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;" href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com">Breaking News</a>, <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032507" style="text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;">World News</a>, and <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032072" style="text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;">News about the Economy</a></p></div><br /><br />Ann's Interview with Jill Biden - remember that her son is also deployed.<br /><br /><div><iframe height="339" width="425" src="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/31062290#31062290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe><p style="font-size:11px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #999; margin-top: 5px; background: transparent; text-align: center; width: 425px;">Visit msnbc.com for <a style="text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;" href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com">Breaking News</a>, <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032507" style="text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;">World News</a>, and <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032072" style="text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;">News about the Economy</a></p></div><br /><br />Here's Al's interview with the USO. Check out this care package assembly line! Brilliant!<br /><br /><div><iframe height="339" width="425" src="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/31062122#31062122" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe><p style="font-size:11px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #999; margin-top: 5px; background: transparent; text-align: center; width: 425px;">Visit msnbc.com for <a style="text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;" href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com">Breaking News</a>, <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032507" style="text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;">World News</a>, and <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032072" style="text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;">News about the Economy</a></p></div><br /><br />I was THRILLED to see the USO and our military community receive so much air time on our nation's best morning show. The USO is an amazing organization and they've been fantastic in supporting our community in the past and present.<br /><br />Big thanks to Today for showing America's bravest and reminding our citizens to thank them for their service. Warm hugs to all military families around the world and safe thoughts and prayers to their deployed loved ones.MACK ATTACKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353166822243084321noreply@blogger.com0