May 2008 Marine Graduation

In May we made the trip to San Diego, specifically to the MRSD. To see our oldest son graduate from Marine Recruit Training otherwise known as boot camp. It was a great trip, nice flight out on Southwest, smooth and uneventful. We stayed on base at billeting not the most luxurious accommodations but adequate and comfortable. And you can’t beat the price. What’s nice about staying on base is your there at 7am when the events start.

United States Marine Graduation is a two day event:

Thursday is "Family Day" and Graduation is on Friday.

"Family Day" includes the "Motivational Run", the final run for the company of recruits. I believe it’s a five mile run, and I didn’t see any Marine breathing hard at the end. Then while the Marines go back to their barracks and change into their uniforms, we got to meet the Drill Instructors, After an hour or so we went out to the Deck (aka the grinder) where the platoons formed up and the Marines are allowed "Liberty" from about 1:00 PM on until 6:00 p.m. to visit with family and friends, so we had lunch and walked around the non-restricted areas of the Depot. This consists of a Museum, restaurants, convenience store and an assortment of gift, electronic and clothing stores. The recruits hadn’t been on this side of the base before today. Take into account they had been cut off from the world for the last three months, they enjoyed the change of pace.
Graduation takes place on Friday and is the culmination of Recruit Training (though they became Marines about a week before when they completed the Crucible). So it’s up early, watch the raising of the colors, which is inspiring. Stop at, of all places Starbucks, yes there is one right on base and the easiest place to grab a cup that early. Head over to the bleachers on the other side of the deck (you walk around the deck it’s sacred ground for the Corp.). The Marine Band plays a few tunes and then five Platoons march out and around the deck and form up in front of the stands, a speech and then there are dismissed. The Marines get a 10 day leave and then have to report to Camp Pendleton for further training.

We got through the 10 day leave in record time, it did seem to fly. Sven was home (Wisconsin) with us for a few days and then went down to Chicago (previous home) for a few days to hang out with friends and see his Recruiter. Before he left I told him to stay out of trouble. He replied "Dad, I'm a Marine I'm held to a higher standard." with that I knew I didn't have worry, so I said keep your brother out of trouble.

You see he took his brother Connor,

who is finishing High school this year,

To Chicago (actually western suburbs),

To meet his Recruiter,

The Recruiter asked him what he wanted to be,

Connor said "I want to be a Marine",

The Recruiter said "Sign here",

Now Connor leaves January 2009.

And all is safe and secure in this Marine home.

Connor has wanted to join for years; it’s a path he decided on early in life. So, they got back from their trip a few days before Sven had to go to Camp Pendleton, and they did some yard work and we just relaxed.I have started to drive my wife crazy, you see Sven bought this Cadence CD, that of course I made a copy for the truck. And I have a habit of playing it a lot, like all the time and loud real loud. And I often sing along, it makes me feel good. Can't wait to get the top off the jeep and crank it up. I do like to share.

From 100 inches of Snow
to Flooding
what's next Locust!

The seasons are getting wild and crazy up here. Last winter we had record snow fall at 100 inches. Then this spring we first had flooding from the ice/snow melt, then just when you catch your breath, here comes the flood waters from the rain.

This is ain street, the river is about a half a block to the left(west) in this picture. The water is a foot to 2 feet deep. You can't tell but there was a fast current. This street was like this for several weeks, and part of it is still closed.

In this picture of the river you get an idea of how fast the current in the river was, the table also is a good reference for the depth. If you look at the lower right section of the picture you'll notice the specks in the water. Those specks are the top fins of some verylarge fish (mostly Carp). The fish were swimming in to the shallower water in an attempt to escape the river cuurent.

You would never know that there is a park under all the water. This is Traxler park that is next to the river, the park is 27 acres and I'd estimate it was covered with two to three feet of water.

Last but by far not the least, here is the footage of the house on Lake Delton that floated away when the lake emptied. Lake Delton is the home of Tommy Bartletts Water Show and many other Wisconsin Dells attractions. Currently it's a mud hole.

So you what to be President

I can only see one sure fire way to get elected President of the United States in the 2008 election. If you run on this platform and even if you donʼt, you had better come through on this issue because the future of this Nation depends on it.

Lower prices of energy: gas, diesel, jet fuel, electricity, the price of energy has gotten out of control and there is no excuse for it. Not in this country that has the resources, knowledge and ability that we have. Iʼm not talking about cutting the federal gas tax for the summer, letʼs get prices down and I mean down, to where the economy can start growing again.

The plan is simple itʼs been talked about and debated over and over again. (Congress might take some notes since their approval rating is so low you have to pump air down to it.)
Tap our oil reserves, yes, that means off shore drilling (which can be done 50 miles out, and the horizon is at 35 miles, it wonʼt ruin your million dollar view). Letʼs drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), and the Dakotaʼs thereʼs suppose to be a lot of oil and we have the technology to do it safely. Iʼm sure if we take the proper precautions we can do it with out destroying the environment. As I recall when the built the Alaska pipeline there were predictions that Alaska would become an environmental disaster, last time I looked, it has not happened.
Build refineries, our technology is better and we can make it safe.

The excuse that we won't see any benefits for 7 years tells me one fact, we should have started 10 years ago.

Nuclear energy, technology has advanced and where else are going to get the electricity to power all the electric cars.
Push for alternate energy sources, Bio-fuels have worked for Brazil, why not here.

Time to stop talking about it, because we can make it happen.

What's your Favorite WHINE?

Have we become a nation of whiners, as Ex-senator Phil Gramm stated recently? In case you missed it, “‘We have sort of become a nation of whiners. You just hear this constant whining, complaining about a loss of competitiveness, America in decline' despite a major export boom that is the primary reason that growth continues in the economy,". A lot of people got upset over this and whined about it (big surprise).
I personally believe there is some truth in his words. Not the whole nation mind you, but there are groups that just love to whine, about how bad this is or how horrible that is. And the ultimate, how horrible this nation is.
I've gotten really sick of it; look at the incredible accomplishments, the contributions that have benefited not only this nation, but the world. So you got the idea of the great things we've done in the past, and sure there have been some mistakes, learn from them.
We did great things yesterday, we can build the future.