A Thank You to Our Soldiers

Hello dear Fellow Patriots. I just want to post that I am very grateful to all the Brave United States Soldiers that are serving our Country in all the ungrateful cesspools of the world. They put themselves in harms way daily for our freedoms, and I don't think people appreciate them enough. Well, I do. I pray for them daily and am proud they are protecting us.

Every day I am very sad when I read about more of our boys deaths. Today there were four more fatalities. May God Rest their souls and bring some comfort to their families left behind, who must grieve now and make sense out of their sacrifice.

BAGHDAD — Iraq officially took control of its fate Tuesday as the U.S. pulled its combat troops out of Baghdad and other cities and towns, handing over security responsibilities to Iraqi forces.
The withdrawal completed the Status of Forces agreement signed last November, and touched off celebrations in Baghdad and other cities. It is a day when Iraqis celebrate as they continue to move towards exercising their full sovereignty," U.S. Commanding General Ray Odierno told FOX News. "The Iraqi people should be very proud of the dedication, progress, and sacrifice of the Iraqi security forces and the government of Iraq."

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki declared Tuesday to be "National Sovereignty Day," complete with a military parade to display to Iraqis — and a still stubborn insurgency — its ability to maintain order in a nation ravaged by six years of war. But the dangers facing Iraq were brought into stark focus after a car bomb exploded on Tuesday, killing at least 24 people in the city of Kirkuk. Today, U.S. military officials reported that four American soldiers were killed in combat on the eve of the withdrawal. Officials said the four soldiers killed on Monday served with the Multi-National Division-Baghdad, but did not provide further details pending notification of their families. The soldiers died as a "result of combat related injuries."

If the Iraqis can hold down violence in the coming months, it will show the country is finally on the road to stability. If they fail, it will pose a challenge to Barry's pledge to end a war that has claimed the lives of more than 4,300 U.S. troops and thousands of Iraqis.

Despite Tuesday's formal pullback, some U.S. troops will remain in the cities to train and advise Iraqi forces. U.S. troops will return to the cities only if asked. The U.S. military will continue combat operations in rural areas and near the border, but only with the Iraqi government's permission. Gen. Odierno told FOX News, "Our combat forces partnering with the Iraqi security forces will secure the belts and borders in an attempt to eliminate safe havens and sanctuaries, and to limit freedom of movement of insurgents and prevent the facilitation of foreign fighters through the borders." The U.S. has not said how many troops will be in the cities in advisory roles, but the vast majority of the more than 130,000 U.S. forces remaining in the country will be in large bases scattered outside cities. There have been some worries that the 650,000-member Iraqi military is not ready to maintain stability and deal with a stubborn insurgency.
Privately, many U.S. officers worry the Iraqis will be overwhelmed if violence surges, having relied for years on the Americans for nearly everything. Fox News, The Associated Press, Reuters and Time contributed to this report.

Your Amusing Bunni finds I am even more interested in what is happening over in Iraq and Afghanistan these days because last week I Adopted a U.S. Soldier. I will write another post soon about my experiences with The AAUSS site, as it is still in the new stages. Below I will put some links for you. You can keep up on the news over in the middle east as well.

I'd also like to give props and thank the GREAT Website War On Terror News, who has a super informative site with daily e-mail updates you can sign up for. They are also on Twitter, under the Name WOTN and I follow them.

I have links in my Blog Roll for these sites also. On the Right Side of My Page --->

Another site I found keeps me informed on Iraq casualties lists for Soldiers who have passed away. I know it is morbid to have to look at that, but I am a worrier and I don't hear from the Soldier I adopted for long stretches. I want to make sure nothing bad happened to him. The casualties are also listed by month.

With Independence Day fast approaching, I just wanted to honor and our Soldiers who Fight for Freedom everywhere. It is even more important these days, with the daily downward spiral our liberties and freedoms here in America have been going, thanks to the fascist-in chief.

I doubt we can realize the pressures our Boys are under out in the theatre of War. The Hurt Locker a great new film by K Bigelow, will really take you out there. The link I put is from Salon, with trailers, reviews and interviews. It's about a bomb squad that faces instant death upwards of 12 times a day. I can't wait to see it.

I have commented to my special friends and readers many times lately that this year will be a SAD Holiday for me, thinking on how our Constitution has been shredded and given less respect than used toilet paper. I know our Founding Fathers are spinning in their Graves, and I Pray that America survives the next 3 1/2 years intact.

45 Life Lessons of Wisdom

Since there has been so much
idiocy and foolishness in the news lately,
we need to focus on what's important.

I thought I would post these Gems of Wisdom a friend sent to me. I hope you enjoy these words of wisdom.
  I have put my favorites in Bold!

Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio "To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written."My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You've no idea what their journey is about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to You and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of what you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone elses,we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."
Remember that I will always share my spoon with you!

Friends are the family that we choose for ourselves.

Well, those were nice, weren't they! And, I am happy to be part of our on-line family of great bloggers on here! I appreciate your caring and comments! Take Care and Smile!

If you have any words of wisdom you'd like to share, please post a comment!

The Hangover, Movie and Otherwise

Since the weather here lately has been so cold, rainy, crappy, windy, take your pick, I went and saw some more movies in the last week. I saw The Hangover, Drag Me to Hell, and Night at the Museum.

Just like everyone and all the reviews are saying, and I agree this time, "The Hangover" is full out hilarious. You will really enjoy it, and laugh your ass off! I sure did, along with everyone else around me in the whole place.

Drag me to Hell was over-rated, but it was OK. Sam Raime is a good director and knows how to deliver in the horror genre, but this was kind of predictible and too gross for the sake of being gross. It did have great special effects, though.

Night at the Museum was fun for kids, and had it's good spots, but nothing overly exciting.
Hank A, who played the King Tut like guy, was very funny.

The Hangover was the Best movie I've seen so far this summer, not including T-4, which is really a different genre. When you see it, you have to stay through the very, very end, some of the last shots will make you fall off your chair!

I know we can all sympathize with our hero's. Who hasn't had a bad hangover sometime in their lives? I've had my share, to be sure. Some of mine were real doozies, I wouldn't even get out of bed...how the guys managed to roam around Vegas on their adventure in the midst of theirs, well they must have a better constitution than I do! When I went to Vegas several years ago, I had a bad one too, but I didn't get into the situations they did. I just stayed in my room during the day and slept, and my pal got me some food, and she went out that night, and I stayed in and watched movies. The next day I was fine and won LOTS of money at the blackjack tables.

In case YOU get a super horrible hangover, I will post some cures below. I found this edited list on the great site About.com in the Cocktails section.

1) Sleep. Rest is your best friend at this point to give your body time to recover. It is best to stay in bed, in the dark. So call in to work if you have to, tell them you have the stomach flu. You will sound so horrible on the phone they will believe you (unless they saw you at the bar, not a good idea then). If you get a hard time from your slave-driving boss, Just go into work and puke on someone, they will let you go home then!

2) Replenish your body with fruit juice and water. I personally like 7-Up.

3) Avoid caffeine. A weak cup of coffee may be okay, but a lot of caffeine will continue to dehydrate you, the opposite of what you want right now. It will also upset your tummy big time.

4) Drink a sports drink like Gatorade or Powerade.

5) Take a long shower, switching between cold and hot water.

6) Try Alka Seltzer Morning Relief. One reader says that it's all that he and his wife have found that really works for them. He stumbled across this "cure" while his wife was still suffering after two days, within 15 minutes after taking the Alka Seltzer she was fine.
Bunni will have to try this next time....when I get bad hangovers once or twice a year, they usually last 2 or 3 days!

7) Get some exercise. Another reader suggests doing some sort of physical activity. He writes, "In the rare case of having hangover I usually drink about 1-2 liters of water and go outside to do some exercise like mountain climbing, swimming, cycling or just about anything that keeps me sweating." It takes willpower to move like that when standing seems like a challenge, but it is a good theory. I like to walk around and putter a bit in my garden, if I can get out of bed.

8) CAUTION: The side effects of aspirin, Tylenol and ibuprofen can be magnified when alcohol is in your system, so it is best (even though it may be the first thing you reach for) to avoid them to kill the hangover pain. Asprin is a blood thinner, just like alcohol, and can intensify its effects and Tylenol (or acetaminophen) can cause more damage to your liver. Ibuprofen can also cause stomach bleeding. So be cautious when going for the quick relief. I have found this to be true.
My stomach won't allow me to take any medication, for at least one day.

So take it easy out there, people and try to avoid Hangovers...but not the fun movie!

Here is the Official Trailer Try not to break a rib laughing! What is the worst hangover you've ever had? And, then did you say "I'll never drink again"? How long after that did you drink again....lol Take Care, Bunni