Something We Won't See On the Cover of a Magazine

A Soldier's Burden

$!@$*! Army

ARrrrrrggggghhhhh...

Very ticked off.

Irritated.

A few other things, too.


The monthly pay stubs came out today. I, of course, eagerly checked for a few reasons: a) to verify that the Army had correctly processed my rent & utility payments and b) to make sure nothing else was wrong.

"B" is something which any Soldier is smart to do each and every month.

Why?

Why should a Soldier who has a fixed rate of pay have to verify his paycheck? It's not like it varies because I worked a different number of hours each week.

Because a wise Soldier is always checking for errors. Since we only see our paystubs monthly, any problem can quickly multiply into a nightmare.

For example, my latest bit of good news from the pay department.

Due to my low paygrade and high number of mouths to feed, the Army has been giving me FSSA (Federal Supplemental Subsistance Allowance). It helps provide the $$$ to get by (y'all didn't think the so-called "Guardians of Freedom" were high-paid millionaires, did you?).

Anyway, it seems that back in February, the folks at Finance told our Battalion to tell all Soldiers receiving FSSA to re-certify and that the list would be verified.

Any guess who didn't get told?

So, for the next three months, I continued receiving the FSSA... just as I believed I was supposed to.

Until month four, June. It seems that this month, the Army has decided to tell me about the FSSA being cut off in February. So, not only am I not receiving this month's FSSA allowance, but the Army has also announced that they have determined that I've been mistakenly overpaid and they want the money back. So, they're coming after me for $1500!

Yup, usual nightmare... a mistake is made (often by the Army, or rather personnel in offices who are ambivilent and don't care about what effects their (in)action has on real people) and it grows over time before the Army realizes the mistake, and then... the Soldier is on the hook.

This is not the first time I've experienced this. In fact, it's about the fifth.

So, yippee... really soured my mood today. Pah.

World Cup

How absolutely cool is it to be watching the World Cup match that's happening just a short bit down the road from my house...

A New Home, A New Start

It's been a long quiet here on the blog. However, I can assure that it's not been a quiet time here.

So, what's happened? Well, the reason we dropped off the wired world in the first place was that we were cutting all of our utilities... we've moved. Where?

Well, we found a place off post. And it's quite a find! It's 160 square meters (think about 1900 square feet), two stories, with a walk-around attic, and EVEN a basement... and the basement is a stone basement, like an old dungeon. We have a huge yard for the kids, a garage big enough to fit two of my SUVs, and a nice courtyard for extra parking room. The kitchen is huge... we fit on of our dining room tables in there and there's STILL room to walk around it!

We finally have lots of room for the whole family to have a bit of elbow room. And it's a beautiful 100 year old house with all of the wonderful German features we've come to love... the tilting windows, scrolling shutters, very sturdy construction.

Of course, there's always a downside. The house is a bit far away from the post. It's about a 35-40 minute drive to the base. So, I end up waking up at 0430 every morning, and of course, once at post, I'm there all day. Change clothes in the gym, etc. But, it's all worth it to give the kids a decent place...

Thomas can toddle around the yard all he wants, M chasing a ball all over, chalk drawings on the paving stones... and the walls are nice and solid so it's much more peaceful. We're not crammed in on top of each other anymore.

Plus, we're out in Germany for real now. As far as we can tell, there aren't even any other Americans in town, so it's going to be quite an adventure.

The girls have even had some German kids come over and play. No one knows what anyone else is saying, but they have quite the ball.

Well, it's getting late for this post, and I arise in 6.5 hours for another fun-filled week. Stay tuned...

Storm Calms...

We're going to drop off the net for a few days, so please don't be alarmed if you don't hear from us. Feel free to continue sending e-mails... replies will be issued immediately upon our rejoining the wired world.

More later.

Till now,

SCEagle... out.

You May Already Have a Mental Disorder

AFN currently has a nice ad in their "hot" rotation. As many of you may have read in your "news"papers, apparently there is concern that many of our new vets are susceptible to mental disorders. (Note: Entirely possible, and a valid concern, and something we should look out for.)

Now, the solution for this is...

(a) Mental Health Screenings at all bases
OR
(b) Mental Health Screening via website

Yes, all of us can now go to You May Already Have a Mental Disorder and see what we qualify for.

E has already tried several of the screenings, and found she qualifies for all she's tried, including alcoholism. Amazing, I never knew she was such a lush since she doesn't drink.

Sigh.



Seriously, mental disorders are no joking matter, and I urge anyone who even suspects they may have symptoms to seek help.

Follow-up to Veterans Day Dismissal

Related to the Veterans Day debacle in Stamford, CT...

I wrote an e-mail to the school board and mayor expressing my feelings regarding their decision. While I have not heard back from the school board, Beverly A. Aveni, Executive Aide to the Mayor did send a response.

She forwarded the Mayor's response which will be presented at tonight's Board of Education meeting:

May 23, 2006

To: Dr. Joshua Starr, Superintendent of Schools
Board of Education Members

From: Mayor Dannel P. Malloy


In the past several days you and I have received communications from many individuals dismayed by your recent vote to eliminate Veteran’s Day as a school holiday. Although I realize that your decision was not made in haste, nor was it made in any way to discredit the contributions of our nation’s veterans, I urge you to reconsider.

I support our local veterans who believe that Veteran’s Day should be recognized as it has been for many years. We recognize many other days on the school calendar where we appropriately commemorate individuals and groups for the contributions they have made to our country.

If after careful consideration you still believe that an additional day of instruction is necessary for our students, I suggest that a series of meetings be held with local veterans so that we may honor them in a way they believe is appropriate.

So, we shall see what happens now that the good Mayor has stuck the proverbial finger into the wind...

Distinguished Flying Cross

In the 19 May 2006 issue of The Point, the cover story is about the awarding of the Distinguished Flying Cross to one of the aviators who flew our Apaches in Kandahar.

The article has an excellent review and summary, so I won't repeat...

I will say that it certainly brought back some memories. I remember that day. It was a long one as the birds flew what seemed like endless missions. I also remember the particular bird coming back all shot up. He really did stay out there and support those troops over and over... coming back to refuel and rearm as needed.

Excellent work, Chief...

Veterans Day **CANCELLED**

A school board in Connecticut has voted to cancel the school's observance of Veterans Day next year.

No kidding.

The reasoning given by the eight members who voted for the measure is thus: If the children have the day off, they'll play and fritter the day away... however, by keeping them in school, the schools can educate the young minds about the history and efforts of veterans.

(There was one dissenting vote, but only due to concern about how not having a day off would affect union contracts.)

Yep, that's the reasoning. However, one opposing veteran raised a good point - can you imagine the outcry if they announced that the schools would be in session for MLK day so the teachers could talk about MLK?

Want to help the veterans speak up? Drop by this website and lend your support.

PFC Joshua Sparling

You may not remember the name, but I bet you remember the card. PFC Sparling is the Soldier who received the devastating card while recovering at Walter Reed.

His father has posted a wonderful letter detailing his progress and latest events.

Please, take a look and read how this Soldier, who has given so much, is doing.

Anytime you see a sentence that reads, "The good news is... Joshua's bones... will be large enough to support a below the knee amputation," it is difficult to grasp all that he is going through.

Oh, and y'all know what list to add Spirit Airlines to...

Five Favorites?

Curious... what are y'all's five favorite posts? And why?

(There is a reason for this...)

Fun With Metric - AAFES Style

Ok, I know I often beat up on AAFES, and I'll be the first to say that there are times that they provide a valuable service...

... and then there are times they provide a good laugh.


Like today.

The AAFES PX was running a promotion this weekend. If you buy $50 (of qualifying merchandise), they will give you a coupon (good for this weekend only) good for 15 cents off of a gallon of gasoline (good up to 20 gallons).

Woo hoo! Not a bad deal, if you're already planning on buying $50 worth of goods, and it drops (er, I mean, raises) the price of gas to only ten cents per gallon higher from the previous month.

But, here's the fun part, and considering this was an AAFES Europe promotion, it is really fun.


Promotion details gas volume in... Gallons.

Gasoline Volume on Pump shown in... Liters.

Prices on roadside signs shown in.... Gallons.

Prices on pump shown in... Liters.

Gasoline Ration Coupon measured in.... Liters.

Prices Advertised in newspaper measured in... Gallons.

So, when you have a coupon for 15 cents off per gallon, and you're pumping in liters, and your price is in liters, how do you know how much you've saved? How do you know if you've reached the 20 gallon limit? You could always multiply the displayed liters by 3.78, but I'm guessing many people don't know that off the top of their head.

Certainly the AAFES clerks were having a ball. Every one of them had a handy-dandy calculator and were oh so excited to see people walk up with the coupons. Oh! What fun...



But, wait.... AAFES is expanding our metric knowledge. It is important that we all know and love metric, as most of the world uses it.

And AAFES is helping us. While pumping gas, I had to stop and laugh (again). The ad on the gasoline pump was: "Buy two hot dogs and 50 cl of Coke for $1.99"

50 cl. Anyone? For those long removed from such metric conversions, it's 50 centiliters. Now, common usage for metric liquid volume are milliliters and liters. AAFES sells 0.5 liter bottles of coke in its freezers. Fast food places sell cups of 0.4 liters. But, here, in this ad, we're dealing with 50 cl. Hahaha...

50 cl = 0.5 liters. Why didn't they just say that? We've become familiar (at least minimally) with the half-liter bottle of soda. They could have just as easily said it was 5 dl (deciliters) of coke. Or, perhaps 500 milliliters?

Fun with metric... AAFES style.

Great Start to the Day

Today was an early start to the day. Yesterday, my Platoon Sergeant called and asked if we could swing coming to a formation. It'd be at 0715. Now, that's too early for the girls' schools, but at least, I'd be able to drop Thomas off early to CDC.

So, why not... it'd be good to let the command see what we've been working so hard to achieve... and why I've been gone all this time... a walking/talking Ellicia ($19.95 at your local Wally-world!).

So, we awake super early, or in my case, I awake again... as Thomas woke me about four times during the night, the latest being all of 35 minutes before the alarm was scheduled to go off (naturally).

Feed, clothe, do CDC prep, etc... get in the uniform, and we toddle off to the hangar.

Why are we doing this? Well, seems it's time for the monthly award ceremony, and I'm receiving my Army Good Conduct Medal. Now, it's not the highest level award you can get, by a long shot. It's the one you get by showing up and not getting in to trouble. As I explained to E, it's one that's more noticed if you don't have it, than if you do.

My alleged Army Commendation Medal (a little higher on the medal food chain) is supposedly in a shipping container somewhere between here and 'Stan.

Anyways, it was actually a nice deal, because the kids got to see me play "Soldier" - marching and all. Plus, since they WERE there, after all, the command brought them up to pin the thingy on me. Top even displayed his wonderful sense of humor by telling E, "Don't be shy... give him a kiss... we won't give him too hard of a time."

What I really wanted, though, came later. After the formations and all the Soldier stuff, I found the CO. He'll soon be on his way, but I needed to talk to him. Our unit is rather laid back... we don't always do the salutes that we should... usually the first one lingers. However, I made a point of approaching him, coming to attention, and saluting. After the return, I went to At-Ease, and told him that I'd like him to meet my wife. Someone whom he'd had a direct part in ensuring was here today.

I told him how much he meant to our family. After all, first he'd allowed me to stay behind to witness the birth of our son. And then, allowing me the unheard of, and unexpected, lattitude to tend to my family these past six months. I squared up, and told him, "Sir, you have meant more to my family than you can know, and I'd follow you anywhere." And then saluted.

The CO didn't have to make the decisions he did... should I ever be able to lead others again (not since my civvie life), I hope that I'll be able to follow in his footsteps.

It was a great start to the day.

Our News -- Major Announcement

Well, we had an interesting visit to the doctor this week.

We've been recovering from the surgery, which is still bothering her... she cannot lift *ANYTHING*.

Anyway, we went to our appointment. It started off unusually as our usual punctual doctor was fifty-seven minutes late. I saw/heard her records go by several time, and was intrigued, but... we waited.

When we were finally called in, he was there with the Chief of the department, who then left.

We were on track to find out the scheduling for the next phase of her treatment - Radiation - and for removal of stitches.

But, first, our good doctor wanted to chat with us.

He informed us that he'd been consulting on the case with... a professor in Frankfurt, the Chief Oncologist in Heidelberg, and even had raised it at a recent medical conference, in addition to the local Chief of the clinic.

Why?

Well, as we all know (hahaha), my wife is a special case. You see, her cancer had been undiagnosed for so long, that when she was diagnosed... it was already at a Stage III+ (out of Four stages). Her paperwork had her listed as... "Terminal". It'd spread to the lungs. From what our doc later told us, at that point, if untreated, she had maybe two months to live (of course, we weren't told that at the time, for which we're happy.)

Our doctor planned a blockbuster attack plan of treatment. He included strong doses of the most powerful chemotherapy drugs out there. As we know, chemo = poison. And it was very difficult for Ellicia. We've since learned from the doctor that the best he'd truly hoped for was that the chemotherapy would act as... extending Ellicia's time. Not really a cure, but... a prolonging.

(Summary: Terminal cancer, best hope was prolonging her time.)

The largest the tumor in her breast was measured was 13 cm. Get a ruler... see for yourself. It's huge.

When they did the surgery, the mass removed was 1 cm. ONE CM!

And they've done multiple tests... MRI, CAT scan, PET, biopsy, etc. Many, many tests.

The result is that they can find no trace or evidence of the cancer. Anywhere. The spread in the lung?? If it's there, it's below the resolution of all scanning devices.

Breast tumor? Aside from what was scooped out, they see no other cells.

The doctor announced that he was cancelling the radiation treatment as it would do more harm than good. It would be as if he was treating a healthy patient. (See that word? Healthy.)




Is she cured? Well, you are never cured of cancer. It's always there. We'll do tests every three months to see if it shows up again. And it can come anywhere... breast (again), lung (again), kidneys, liver, bone, even brain (though the doctor said if it's not there right now, it'll not be there later.)

However, this is definitely a superb example of remission. And unexpected. The doctors are stunned. He said she is an extremely rare case, as there is little to no documented evidence of a recovery as pronounced as hers.

Much of this, he attributes to the new drug Herceptin.

So, here we are. She's still recovering from the surgery, and we're still doing Herceptin every three weeks, and planning for intense testing every three months, but... she lives!

To our good doctor, who saved my wife's life, Thank you! And to all who supported and enhanced his efforts through your prayers and good thoughts, thank you, also.

Information Needed

I've been trying to view the website for the Marine Barracks in DC. It doesn't load.

Can anyone (a) get the website to load or (b) alternatively find the information I seek? That info is:

All info related to viewing the Friday Night Parades at the Barracks.

Thanks in advance.

(Edit: I have the info, now... however, there's a nice discussion going on in the Comments section...)

Things Americans Could Learn From Germans

While we've been enjoying our time in Germany, there have been recurring thoughts about what it is that we seem to like so much about Germany.

I've started a list.

So, here we go... things Americans could learn from Germans:

• Yield Signs instead of Stop Signs at intersections. In America, it seems that all intersections have stop signs. Here, we see more Yield signs in place. And it makes sense! After all, if traffic is coming, yield to it... if not, keep going. Why stop?
  
• Sub-topic... Knowing How to Yield. Maybe that's why America doesn't use so many Yield signs... a tragic lack of knowledge about what "Yield" means.
  
• Traffic circles. Yes, I know. They're in use in America. And they're universally hated. Why? Because Americans seem to have trouble using a traffic circle properly. No? Watch a new American arriving here encounter traffic circles. White knuckles... panic stops... near collisions. Yet, they help traffic flow quite smoothly. One reason is the faithful use of...
  
• Turn signals. I've always said that there are cars sitting in junkyards in America, with hundreds of thousands of miles on the odometers, with pristine light bulbs in the turn signals. Americans do not use them. Americans rarely communicate their intentions with other drivers (short of horns, middle finger salutes, etc.). It is SO refreshing to have drivers communicate what they're doing. And the Germans are communicating to the point of ridiculousness sometimes, but you always know what they're doing next.
  
• Windows that open two different ways. How cool are these? Turn the handle one direction, and the window swings open fully... turn it differently, and it hinges open partly for ventilation. Certainly better than American windows... which more often than not, you have to get a screwdriver to slide down the sides just to open it because it's been painted shut.
  
• Higher speed limits... or none at all. What's interesting, here, is one of the neat ways the Germans have of enforcing them... insurance companies won't pay if the accident occurs above certain speeds. So, drive fast if you want, but it's your responsibility. And the penalties are quite high. Not to mention that there's not much hope of surviving a "Smart" car accident.
  
• Stay out of the left lane. It's against the law to cruise in the left lane. It keeps it clear for passing... the results are obvious... traffic flows much more smoothly. Want to cruise at 100 kph? Fine... those going 260 kph can easily pass you.
  
• No BILLBOARDS It has been so pleasant to enjoy the countryside without seeing all of the various advertisements for stuff I don't want to buy and don't need to know about. It's much more pleasant without them.
  
• Frequent rest areas... Every few kilometer, there are places to pull off the road. Very thoughtful, and keeps the sides of the road clear. Also, makes it safer since you have plenty of opportunities to rest when tired.
  
• Distance marker. No, not the mileage markers on interstates, but every road in Deutschland has markers every 50 meters. These are GREAT. You can measure your distance, always know the side of the road (at night in the middle of nowhere, it's wonderful), and they come in handy when visibility is next to nil, as well. There are many times when you're driving from post to post.
  
• Roadways Destinations. We know how often directions of highways in the States get confusing... It may show I-95 North, but you're actually heading West, or even South! Germany dispenses with North/East/South/West. Directions are given usually as two cities, one close by, one farther away. So, you get on the highway in the direction you want to go. Simple, and never fails.
  
• No horns! Oh, the peace... you rarely, rarely hear a car horn. They're illegal to use unless there's (gasp!) an emergency need.

Partial list... more I'm sure to come. If you have some of your own, please feel free to add...

Who's Watching the Borders?

Look at this article from the Daily Bulletin.

Apparently, the United States Border Patrol is in the habit of notifying the Government of Mexico as to the locations of Minutemen patrols.

You've gotta be kidding me. The Border Patrol is doing what it can to aid and assist those whom it's supposed to be keeping out, to enter our country illegally?

Sickening. Let your representatives know, folks... we have to protect our country!

It's Not an Indignity

Apparently, the 2007 Defense Budget includes a provision for all deceased to be transported by military aircraft, instead of civilian transport, to their final resting place (or, I presume, the closest airport.)

This is going to be a waste of resources. Military transport is used to bring fallen servicemembers to Dover AFB. There, the remains are processed, and then civilian transport is used, with a uniformed escort, to bring the servicemember the rest of the way.

Why? Because it makes sense. The airlines have the infrastructure and capability to fulfill this particular mission. This is also how all other remains are transported.

It is certainly much better allocation of resources to purchase space for the coffin and the escort on an established route, instead of pulling a military transport (likely a C-17 or C-130) and its crew from missions to bring war materiel to the theater to make a flight elsewhere. It's prohibitively expensive.

This is the same reason that the military usually transports personnel on civilian transports. It's more efficient and a wiser allocation of critically needed transport assets.

This is merely a feel-good measure by some who feel that being carried in the cargo hold of an airliner is an indignity to the fallen servicemember and the family. I believe this to be the farthest from the truth. The servicemember always has an escort, and care and respect are always given to the fallen.

Let's ensure that our resources are used to maximum effect as we fight this war; we'll need every single asset.

Losing A Hospital

It's reported in the 05 May European edition of "Stars and Stripes" that the Army is implementing steps to reduce the regional Army hospital at Wurzburg to...

A clinic.

The emergency room, and all of the specialty clinics, will close.

The reason for this is that with the drawdown in the American forces, the remaining forces and civilians in the area will no longer need American medical care.

By the end of June, emergency, operating rooms, ENT clinics, gynecology, obstetrics, podiatry, orthopedics... all will be closed.

In an hilarious quote piece of the article:

The hospital commander says that the patients coming to the hospital after the close is effective 30 June should not feel abandoned. Maps to German facilities will be available at the door. "There will be people showing up at night, and the lights are out, and boom, there's this box with an info sheet and a map."

In lieu of medical care, please accept this map with our compliments.

The article lists several German facilities (which, it should be noted, tend to be of high medical quality) in the nearby area. I've been to several, notably with the care for Thomas at the beginning of his life. They were not easy to find in time of calm. I can only imagine being panicked trying to find a facility.

This is not to be critical... drawdown is a factor, and for those out in the boondocks, it'll mean adjustments. Naturally.

And we will adapt...