Corbin has had a bad summer.

A couple of months back we saw a mouse scurry across the floor in the kitchen. So I went out and bought some traps, glue paper and rat poison chewy blocks. I set all this up and the next day I find a glue paper trap thingy laying in corbin's bed without the poison block on it. So a blood test, stomach pump and lots of Vitamin K later he is back to normal. Rat poison supresses vitamin K and clotting factors so if you get a bleed it wont clot. It can cause internal bleeding without really needing a wound to start it. So thats where the danger lies.

Fast forward to today and I find myself out in the front yard talking on the phone to Austin and as I hang up Corbin comes trotting/limping around the corner of the house. I had let him out in the back yard 10 min before so I'm not sure how he got out at this point. I notice his limping and I trot over to help remove what I think is just a sticker from his paw. About 5 feet from him I notice a large number of bees swarming around Corbin. Thankfully we have a section of hose attached to the house right there so I turned it on and sprayed him down to get the bees off. He had about a dozen bees actually on him and making life horrible.

After some soothing words and a rub down and a little nap he was happy and comfy again. I don't see any swelling and his gums look ok as well.

Needless to say Corbin has had a few adventures he would rather have passed up. This is actually a natural progression for him I think. He is becoming more comfortable around other people and animals. He is slowly learning how to play with other dogs and he is no longer scared of cats. Yesterday he had one pinned under the wheel barrel and was delighted that he could bark at something. He seemed quite proud of himself. He usually doesnt bark at all. So As Corbin grows into his surroundings we have to be more aware of what he is up to and set boundaries as we go. On a brighter note....he has a new peanut flavored tooth paste that he loves. It makes it much easier to brush his teeth.

Last week Andy made a comment about the music we used to hear around the house. Now I'm not sure if Aaron and Austin will remember this stuff but this is pretty dang close. Neil Diamond and Babs.

Then and Now

Its over; the waiting, worrying, and wondering. It's interesting to think about the actual number of family and friends caught up in Aaron's deployment. I can think of dozens (plural) of people with varying degrees of interest and concern. The last 15 months have been difficult at times. Yet we know that Aaron had it easier than so many others. I think we have come out of this experience better people. Although we have never taken our family relationships for granted, they are stronger still. Now that we are together again it is time to reach out. We know how precious family is and how unique our situation is living so close. This won't last forever. When everyone else has turned their back or left you behind, the only people still behind you are your family. We get so wrapped up in our lives here we sometimes forget about our Michigan relatives.






I don't know how families coped back in the days of snail mail and Vietnam. I think reading the different blogs has helped to make it bearable. I know Andy checked them many times a day to quench his thirst for details to help stay connected. I couldn't get enough myself. The more details the better I always thought. It's the fuzzy generalities that worried me. Either way, Aaron the the guys did a great job of keeping us up on how things were going. Natalie was also a great help in filling in the holes that were left open and keeping the refrigerator stocked with SODA!

Like I mentioned before, the long awaited day has arrived and he is back safe and sound. I know that a heavy burden has been lifted off of many shoulders. We are thankful for the lighter load and genuine smiles yet we also remember those still over yonder working to come home.

New Mr. Bean.

I don't think I'm going to see the movie...but this is kinda funny.

This is from Mattdustin.wordpress.com Check out his blog. Its interesting.

Global Politics in 2025

Monday, March 19th, 2007

This article from the current issue of Foreign Affairs is particularly interesting in regards to how Global Politics in the coming decades will be drastically different from how we now know it.

Throughout the twentieth century, the list of the world’s great powers was predictably short: the United States, the Soviet Union, Japan, and northwestern Europe. The twenty-first century will be different. China and India are emerging as economic and political heavyweights: China holds over a trillion dollars in hard currency reserves, India’s high-tech sector is growing by leaps and bounds, and both countries, already recognized nuclear powers, are developing blue-water navies. The National Intelligence Council, a U.S. government think tank, projects that by 2025, China and India will have the world’s second- and fourth-largest economies, respectively. Such growth is opening the way for a multipolar era in world politics.

Reading this article brought me to a few conclusions about the world today, however accurate or not, one of which I’d like to try and convey. It’s no secret that much of the world today views the U.S. as disenchanted, greedy, hypocritical and even evil; and with the empowering growth and influence of China and India, this changes the dynamics of the “King of the Hill” game that the United States and the European Union have danced around for decades. Furthermore, and predictably, the countries that drastically need aid and protection from said super-powers will go unnoticed, ignored, and avoided as the seats of power are re-numbered.

What then of our not-so-fortunate brothers and sisters in Southeast Asia? What then of Africa, Russia, South and Central America? What then of those stuck in the pit of poverty; in the pit of poor health and malnutrition; in the pit of war and culture clash; the pressure of prostitution that drives young girls to loose their innocence, abuse, addiction, retribution, HIV, AIDS. Where are the Good Samaratins on the global scale? See Luke 10:25-37.

25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.

33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,

34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?

37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

Does philanthropy, or being the “Good Samaritan”, enter the minds of those whose responsibility it is to write and administer foreign policy? Does it enter the mind of the lay citizen? Does it enter the mind of the man?

This is for any "A"

A1
A2
A3
A4

Only.

The prevailing feeling has been anxiety around here. The first reason is that Aaron is so close to coming home and we've made it this far. We just have to make it a couple more weeks and we wont have to worry. I have noticed that I am balancing on the top of the emotional ball so to speak. It doesn't take much to get the ol' lump in the throat thinking about it.

Reason number two is OCS. Its getting close to the start of zero phase. That is when I drill for 3 months at Camp Williams. Its just one weekend per month until January and thats ok, but this is where they lovingly teach you how to exercise. So the anticipation is growing. Last week I got my flight physical and everything was perfect except for the vision. That was to be expected. The next step is to find a good Lasic clinic and get it done. During the EKG I was borderline. So I took off my watch and belt and passed with flying colors. No sense in being borderline dead!

It has also been a nervous week waiting to get my next letter from Springville city concerning the dispatch job I applied for. I sent in the resume and cover letter, then went in with 17 other people for testing, then for an interview a week later, and now I wait for the second interview with the chief. Hope it works.

Thats the news from Lake Wobegon...not my home town. Where all the women are weird, the men are idiots, and the children are hopped up on Ritalin. Being in Utah though....we repent for it. YAY!!