Categories
God History Life Music News

My Fantastic Journey: It’s In The Lyrics

On this 66TH anniversary of ‘D-Day’ we look back at the allied forces family that landed on the beaches of Normandy France to attack the enemy. Today we are a free nation because of them.

66 years later we still have enemies lurking in the darkness. They are always trying to attack. They are always looking for weaknesses and vulnerabilities. But there’s strength in numbers – on both sides.

That’s why we as church families meet under steeples, in schools, in theatres, at parks, on beaches, in restaurants, and in each other’s homes on Sundays. That’s why we hang out with each other during the week. That’s why we actively participate in small groups in each other’s homes. That’s why we disciple to the world around us about how great God is. That’s why we bring the church inside, outside, and everywhere we go. That’s why we must always stay strong together with our faith in our Lord Almighty. That’s why we must never stop learning about Him. That’s why we must never stop growing on this fantastic journey.

If you wanna live Life loud – throw your hands up
If you wanna scream and shout – let me hear you
Taking all the fakers out – if you’re with me
Everybody work it – just keep living

It’s in the lyrics:

Categories
Career History Life Music Travel

Saturday Night Retro

TODAY – the fifth of June of 2010 – is my 43RD birthday. You know you try to keep these events a secret from everyone, and yet word still manages to leak out about it. Go figure. LOL !

Perhaps the most memorable birthday of my entire lifetime was exactly 25 years ago on this date in 1985. It’s when I turned 18-years-old. Back then I knew what I was going to do on the following day. I was going to graduate from high school and receive my diploma. And so I did – on June 06TH 1985 at historic DAR Constitution Hall in Washington D.C.

On my 18TH birthday I also knew what I was going to do exactly a week later. I was going to leave home, make my way from suburban Northern Virginia to San Antonio Texas via planes, trains, shuttles, and automobiles, and enter a whole new world. And so I did – on June 12TH 1985 when I arrived at Lackland Air Force Base for Air Force Basic Military Training. It was the most hectic week of my lifetime – turning 18, graduating from high school, and joining the Air Force.

I never imagined 25 years ago that I’d be celebrating my 25TH anniversary with the Air Force this week in 2010, but here I am. I served 8 years on active duty (1985-1993), 2 years on active reserves (1993-1995), 4 years on inactive reserves (1995-1999), and 17 years as a Department Of Defense civilian working for the USAF (1993-now). It’s been a great and rewarding career, and retirement is about 15 years away. I can almost see it from here !

Back during that hectic second week of June of 1985 this memorable song from Tears For Fears was the # 1 pop and rock smash all across the free nation. It’s “Everybody Wants To Rule The World”, and I present it as my 25TH anniversary ‘Retro’ classic flashback:

Categories
Blogging Career History Holidays Life Music Travel

Saturday Night Retro

The long Memorial Day holiday weekend is here all across our 50 states, and it’s the unofficial start of the 101 days of Summer from now through the Labor Day holiday weekend at the start of September. It’s when schools let out, vacations begin, and schedules change for Americans everywhere. It’s where we go out and enjoy the world around us while the weather is warm and the days are long visiting new and different places nearby and far away.

I’ve enjoyed many memorable Summers over the past 43 years of my lifetime. Some were memorable for bad events (such as Hurricane Andrew in 1992), and some for good (such as Panama City Beach in 1990). Many I can’t remember at all, so they were clearly forgettable. Looking back I regret not making some type of a memorable impact during those past unremarkable Summers. Of course some of those Summers were forgettable because I’ve chosen to forget about them over time because they were too traumatic for me.

Two Summers in a row were quite memorable for me in a favourable way because I was living them in a foreign land. I was living on an American Air Force Base near Fairford Gloucestershire England in 1986 and 1987. It was an enjoyable, exciting, and ecstatic experience abroad with friends, co-workers, and natives of the land. I was very honoured to be able to live such a rewarding life back then as an 18, 19, and 20-year-old USAF Airman serving my country in another country. I was thankful to be able to return back home again with all of those awesome memories.

This Memorial Day Monday here on my blog I’ll be posting a very special entry to honour those who served before, alongside, and after me – but never made it back home again. They died fighting for freedom while serving their country. Just like this soldier that everyone knew as “Camoulflage”:

Categories
Blogging Career Holidays Music Weather

Thursday Night Mini Thoughts

– It’s that time of the week again.
– It’s tricky to rock a rhyme to rock a rhyme that’s right on time it’s tricky.
– That’s old school Run-D.M.C. from 1987.
– D.M.C. backwards is C.M.D. – my initials.
– I also deal with M.C.D. – maintenance cost data.
– I also deal with M.D.C. – maintenance data collection.
– I used to work for the D.C.M. – deputy commander for maintenance.
– Those initials work for me in so many ways.
– I am C.M.D., for I am in command.
– This is the 67TH edition of my ‘Thursday Night Mini Thoughts’.
– 67 is a cool number, for I was born in 1967.
– Next Saturday June 05TH is my 43RD birthday.
– Next Sunday June 06TH marks 25 years since my high school graduation.
– Today’s high school graduates were newborns of Hurricane Andrew.
– It’s hard to conceive that Andrew was a generation ago.
– Introducing Alex, Bonnie, and Colin – your first three storm names.
– 2010’s storm names were last used in 2004 with a few exceptions.
– Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne were retired after the 2004 season.
– All four of those notorious storms struck Florida that season.
– Let’s hope that this season’s storms stay out at sea.
– As I do every season I’ll be monitoring them closely.
– I’m looking forward to this long Memorial Day holiday weekend.
– I’m not traveling anywhere.
– I’m staying off of the streets as much as I can.
– It’ll be a peaceful, quiet, and productive weekend here in my home.
– Get ready for 4 new blog posts in as many days starting on Saturday.
– That includes a very special Memorial Day Monday blog post.
– In whatever you do during this upcoming holiday weekend play it safe.
– Take great care of one another out there.
– You won’t regret it pal.