Capping Off The End Of The Year

Typical scenario: palm trees with snow in the background. Rita took this photo.

I'm off for the rest of the year and am starting the new one running! In January, I have a huge editing project to work on. In general, projects of this size require 8 hours a day of writing and rewriting. It will require that I throw my wireless network into the ditch to get the work done in record time. But then it's not done. There's the pitching, which takes up time is also heartbreaking.

Other news: Marc Danziger of Winds of Change, and also Jihad Gene of Great Reader, and their families joined us at our home this weekend. It was a perfect Southern California day. The sun was shining, the foothills were golden, and in the horizon there was snow in the San Gabriels. We sat outside, ate, drank and had a very, very nice time. As the afternoon wore on, a bit of overcast rolled in. However, there were still people outside, taking in the good conversation.

The Danzigers drove in from their vacation in Yosemite, and Jihad Gene and his family made a five hour journey. They are splendid company! Their son is serving in Afghanistan right now. If you go to their blog, Winds of Change, they have a photograph of him.

We all enjoyed watching slides of the FST later on in the day. In addition, the Edmans --nanotechnology uber geniuses, drove in from San Diego, and Larry and his dog Shari came in from Stockton (thus setting the record for distance). Also, I want to mention that Jihad Gene and his family sent a beautiful bouquet of flowers when The Hubs came home.

Today it's off to Beverly Hills to visit my old haunts. The thought of moving out of Los Angeles is okay, however, this city and myself are inextricably woven. We'll always have a house in L.A. I love the writing, the people who are always working on a project. I love the weather. (One does not realize how nice the weather is here, until they have spent a summer in humidity). I have long come to terms with the fact that people come here to reinvent themselves. Sure, there are a lot of phonies, but I've found a lot of them other places too. The Botox and tucks have gotten to be a bit much, but I realize that every vial of Restylane carries with it a temporary potion to soothe insecurity. Their insecurity is always there, and so it's best to be kind to the ones who are nice, and ignore the ones who are not. After all, I figure they're one vial away from having their world fall apart.

Slipping into my fifties, taking yoga, writing, working, knowing what matters and what doesn't, and being comfortable with who I am. Life is grand. Life is good. And I really do mean that.

Best of the year to you! May enthusiasm and zest stay with you in 2010.

My Response To the Army Blog

As you will recall, two weeks ago, milblogs went silent to protest the treatment of military blogger C.J. Grisham. What followed was a note on the U.S. Army blog. Here's my response to "A Message To Milbloggers" written by Lindy Kyzer, Public Affairs Specialist, Online and Social Media Division of the U.S. Army.

Dear All,
I’ve been in the writing biz for over 25 years. I’ve read, edited, written the gamut of things ranging from the sublime to the utterly ridiculous. I’ve gone from typewriters and carbon paper to the internet. Let me tell you, it’s been one heck of ride. In this time I’ve watched the craft grow to include the instantaneous but also pleasurable and risky acts of social networking.

Blogs are an odd beast altogether. They share elements of personal diary, reporter, opinion, with faint whiff of P.T. Barnum. They can be read by a large audience, and blogs document what’s going on at the time in the mind of the writer. Social networking –whether it’s a 140 character tweet, a status change on Facebook, or a 300 word blog post, is intensely personal.

It’s for this reason that I find myself disagreeing with Ms. Kyzer on almost every single point. While I understand the well-intentioned suggestions were to help make self-preservation possible, each goes against the grain of the writer’s craft and also that one thing we hold sacrosanct: freedom of expression.

If one wants to cause dissent, start putting down all sorts of rules! Tell people to use a nom de plume, avoid politics, tell us that little bro is watching, not to dis the boss and people take it as a personal affront. As an aside, through history, great struggles have been brought to life in the form of novels, stories, operas, epic poems, movies, music and plays. They have inspired people in a myriad of ways –both positive and not. Well-written blogs that articulately convey the writer’s struggle can also serve to enlighten and move. That’s why I think it’s important to remember this before setting down a bunch of rules.

This doesn’t mean that the writer throws caution to the wind. But, I happen to think the person who doesn’t blog anonymously holds themselves to a high standard of how they frame what they’re writing. What I write is done so with great deliberation, and I understand that I’m responsible for everything on it. So if I say something that irks someone, maybe for one second (or two or three or four), they ought to put stock into the fact that I’ve considered not publishing it. But the fact that I have means I’ve framed it, edited it. I’ve hit the “publish” button because I want those I’m criticizing to pay attention!

In regards to the rest of Ms. Kyzer's suggestions, go back to remembering that blogs are a direct reflection of what’s going on in the mindset of the person writing the blog. All sorts of emotions are going to come out. It’s inescapable.

In regards to the silence,* we were successful. How do we know? Because the US Army noticed.
Like I’ve said, this has been one heck of a long ride but I wouldn’t have missed a single bit of it …even the bumpy parts.
Best,
Kanani Fong

*we held on behalf of C.J. Grisham

Homefront: Life Goes On and The Dog Sleeps On Your Pillow Now

There's been a lot to catch up on.
And I'm not just talking about what went on over there. After all, that's been the topic of most of our emails for the past few months.
No, what I'm talking about is what went on here when The Hubs came home. He marveled at how well protected I kept news from him.

As in:
"The IRS decided to audit our records after we closed the practice. They've dinged me for more money, which I don't think is right."

"The bank called in a business loan seven months after we closed the practice. They wanted the full amount, but then offered some terms --equivalent to a car payment. I negotiated it down, but it's a lot more than what we were paying."

"I was spaced out after dropping you off for deployment. When I came home, I crashed the car. It was minor and it still runs."

"Aunt June passed away."
"I bought a new car because the one I crashed has 175k miles. I'm saving it for just around town. The new one is for trips."
"Daughter fried the microwave. Then, the stove and fridge died. Those are new too."
"The house looks different because I've painted three of the rooms."
"We have a dog walker now."
"Daughter now wears skinny jeans. Son's hair is so long, he looks like a Navajo."
"The dog sleeps with his head on your pillow. I'm sorry."

Undoubtably, he's walked into a weird zone. But life goes on. Boy, does life ever just zing by.

Christmas, and To Move Or Not To Move

"One nice thing about having him back is that the kids absolutely adore spending the time with him. He's happy to be here, but is already talking about going back. There are several opportunities for him at other posts, as well. So I feel mixed about moving, especially with his career that seems it could go so many directions."
Read the rest at:
Get Lost With Easy-Writer

Homecoming

The photo you were waiting for.
The event that couldn't happen fast enough.
Airborne!

Update: The Hubs Scheduled To Drop In, The Best Surgeon's Mug Ever

First off, today is the last day to buy the Surgeon's Mug and get it for Christmas. But frankly, we like it for any day. It's ceramic and holds all combination of booze, coffee, or tea.

So go over to our little store and buy this sucker.
The paltry profit we make off those privateers called Cafe Press, goes toward keeping up the flow of snacks to the FST.

Also, as you've read, whether it was following an order from God to General McChrystal, or if Santa just had space... The Hubs is due sometime this week. We have cleared the chimney and it is ready for a quick drop off.

Christmas Cat

I hate to say this, but the only gift anyone wants around here is another cat. Forget about electronics or cheap stuff made in China. They want something made here in the USA.
But, as I have learned....
One cat is a pet.
Two are a mob.
If I do this, the next fifteen years of my life are set. I will live my life around the needs of two cats. I will be one of those old ladies who looks for specials on cat food.
Oh, I'm that right now.

And Preceding Santa: The Hubs!

Well, you might as well know. I haven't said anything because I'm one who waits until all things looks set, and even then I wait. But finally...
The Hubs is stateside!
He and the team from the 759th took 7 different planes through as many time zones and arrived two days ago. Right now, he's finishing up turning things in at Ft. Benning, and then will go onto his permanent station at Ft. Stewart to check in at work, and see what's brewing at the hospital. When he returns there from leave in January, it's sure to be a moshpit. Traditionally, surgeons are super busy in January. Only after he checks things out, and also checks back in, will he be able to come back home to sweet California.

John Coffey, who writes the Coffeypot blog, has agreed to pick him up, and help him get his car. John has been an incredible supporter of not only the 759th (sending shipments of stuff for the kids and the troops), but also of many other units as well. I can't tell you how much I appreciate this. Because we didn't know when he was coming home, it was difficult to buy tickets to get out there. So it was really nice that John is doing this.

To all our supporters, Thank You. Your words and your strength got me through this deployment. And
Merry Christmas!

A Day Of Protest: Milblogs Go Silent

The following was written by Troy Steward of Bouhammer.
Notes in italic are by me.

On Wednesday 16 December 2009, many milblogs are going silent for the day. Some are choosing to go silent for a longer period of time. I will not be on Facebook or Twitter on Wednesday nor Thursday.

The reason for this is two-fold. First, milblogs are facing an increasingly hostile environment from within the military. While senior leadership has embraced blogging and social media, many field grade officers and senior NCOs do not embrace the concept. From general apathy in not wanting to deal with the issue to outright hostility to it, many commands are not only failing to support such activities, but are aggressively acting against active duty milbloggers, milspouses, and others. The number of such incidents appears to be growing, with milbloggers receiving reprimands, verbal and written, not only for their activities but those of spouses and supporters.

The catalyst has been the treatment of milblogger C.J. Grisham of A Soldier’s Perspective (http://www.soldiersperspective.us/). C.J. has earned accolades and respect, from the White House on down for his honest, and sometimes blunt, discussion of issues — particularly PTSD. In the last few months, C.J. has seen an issue with a local school taken to his command who failed to back him, and has even seen his effort to deal with PTSD, and lead his men in same by example, used against him as a part of this. Ultimately, C.J. has had to sell his blog to help raise funds for his defense in this matter.

(Note: Last week, I reported on the Los Angeles Times Pressmen's blog about C.J.'s situation in an article called "Time To Slay The Behemoth.")
While there have been new developments, the core problem remains, and C.J. is having to raise funds to cover legal expenses to protect both his good name and his career.

One need only look at the number of blogs by active duty military in combat zones and compare it to just a few years ago to see the chilling effect that is taking place.

Milblogs have been a vital link in getting accurate news and information about the military, and military operations, to the public. They have provided vital context and analysis on issues critical to operations and to the informed electorate critical to the Republic.

On Wednesday 16 December, readers will have the chance to imagine a world without milblogs, and to do something about it. Those participating are urging their readers to contact their elected representatives in Congress, and to let their opinions be known to them and to other leaders in Washington.

Some milblogs will remain silent for several days; some just for the day. All have agreed to keep the post about the silence and C.J. at the top of their blogs until Friday 18 December.
The issues go beyond C.J., and deserve careful consideration and discussion. We hope that you will cover this event, and explore the issues that lie at the heart of the matter. Contact the milbloggers in your area or that you know, and hear the story that lies within.
Monies are being raised for C.J.'s legal defense fund.
Grisham Legal Fund
c/o Redstone Federal Credit Union
220 Wynn Drive
Huntsville, AL 35893
Please write “Grisham Legal Fund” in the memo line if you use this option. Milblogs have been a vital link in getting accurate news and information about the military, and military operations, to you. Today, many milblogs are gone and others are under attack from within and without. Today, you have the chance to imagine a world without milblogs, and to do something about it. Make your voice heard by writing your congressional representatives and others, and by making donations as you see fit.The battle for freedom of speech and the marketplace of ideas is fought on many fronts and in many ways. Without your help, the battle may well be lost.

A partial list of participating blogs may be found at Bouhammer.

No Yoga Post Today, Just A Song by James Taylor

I've been sick all week. I do yoga in the mornings, and then get some painting done, followed by lengthy naps with the dog! It's actually --except for the cough, a really delightful schedule. Here's a wistful and melancholy Christmas song sung by James Taylor. This is for everyone separated this Christmas by circumstance or war.

In Kandhar: Two American Women Entrepreneurs

Jennie Green and Sarah Chayes are determined women. Instead of living a contented life in the glow of the Ivy Leagues or academia, they are entrepreneurs amid the chaos and violence of Kandahar. Since 2005, they have conducted business while braving death threats. Green and Chayes have gained a following among hawks, journalists, NGO's, expatriates and the military. They also appeal to garden-variety peaceniks, whose outlook is questioned as Chayes and Green lay out the complexities of the situation in Afghanistan.

Green, works with Chayes who founded the work co-op Arghand International. In November 2009, Green wrote an important 8-page "Note From The Field." Its straight forward manner is devoid of eye-glazing political-journalistic assumptions. Green conveys a shoes-on-the-ground point of view about the latest happenings in Kandahar. What Green noted in this field note last month was a precursor to war journalist Michael Yon's latest dispatch, which details a heavy battle for Kandahar.

Chayes is the former NPR reporter who grew disenchanted with the way the mainstream media wanted the war reported in 2002. She quit. Chayes wrote a book called The Punishment of Virtue, which chronicles her experiences in Kandahar where she learned the maze of power structures from the local war lords, to the military system. Chayes is now highly sought for her opinions from journalists such as Charlie Rose to high ranking military leaders. While still involved in Arghand, Chayes is at ISAF headquarters in Kabul.

Arghand International is a co-op that provides jobs for 15 local Afghans from the Kandahar area. Chayes and Green founded Arghand to provide an alternate revenue source for men and women with few options. They use locally grown plants to produce oils that go into making creams and hand-formed soaps for export. Their recent progress includes putting locals to work, installing the most powerful solar generator in Kandahar, and producing 1000 kilos of handmade soap for export to the U.S. That they do any of this is an example of fortitude and smarts for what's going on. Their headaches include the Canadians, who abruptly decided not to let Arghand use an APO address earlier this year to ship merchandise inexpensively and safely in and out of the U.S.

But Arghand's most recent dilemma was when co-op members wanted to quit and shutter the business. The reason? For an Afghan, being associated with the Americans had become too risky. Violence in Kandahar was on the rise, and retribution for working with the Green and Chayes gives the Taliban cause to murder or torture themselves or their families. In a Field Note written in March 2008, Chayes detailed the deteriorating conditions and risk.

"One of our cooperative members has left Arghandab. His family
made it through the Jihad, the Mujahideen period, and Taliban rule, ensconced in the protective enclave of their pomegranate thicket. He has had to move because two unknown men with guns were lying in wait on his path to work, early in the morning when only he is abroad."

Echoing this, Green tells readers that she and her sister have seen a jubilant atmosphere where the future seemed unlimited after liberation in 2001. However, these are "dark days of violence and paranoia."

She takes the U.S. government to task for not calling out the corruption of the Karzai government. By avoiding this, the U.S. could never hope to gain the trust of the Afghan people. Several military bloggers, such as Free Range International have said this as well.

"Kerry and Clinton squandered much of the leverage they gained after the ECC and IEC election results were announced in a herculean effort to force Karzai into a run-off election from which they expected him to emerge as a credible leader --without acknowledging that this would not improve his standing with the Afghan people."

Green writes that it's up to the Obama administration to not back down. While she wrote this before he decided to send in extra troops, she forcefully puts down some conditions for progress:

"We must stop worrying about our reputation as a country that doesn't do "the foreign occupying thing" for long enough to demand compliance. We can make American guns and money conditional on Karzai's prioritization of accountable governance, protection of civilians and removal of the worst abusers of political power. We can, as Sarah suggests, force Karzai to report to a commission of Afghan and international statesman. We can and should stand firm when he tries to whip up anti-American sentiment by claiming foreign interference, knowing the Afghan people have been expecting us to interfere on their behalf since 2001."

How tough Obama is going to be is unknown. Sounding mechanical in his speech this month at West Point, Obama didn't show grits until his acceptance speech for the Nobel Peace Prize. Whether or not the Obama administration is willing to accept how unrelenting they will have to be, or whether it will be tossed aside for political expediency is anyone's bet.

As an American civilian entrepreneur working within the Afghan society, both Green and Chayes make a compelling argument to stay with the game despite the risks. It doesn't mean business as usual, but having an ear to the ground and the winds, changing the course when needed, and being smart and tough. For them and other expatriates in Afghanistan doing the same thing, running a business to provide cash for work projects isn't just a passing fancy. Giving people an opportunity to build their own country is something they deeply believe is essential. What Green, Chayes and others who share their shoes-and-boots-on-the-ground points of view are willing to do is lay out the conditions based on what they see, what they've experienced, and what has brought them success. Some military bloggers have expressed that both a change in tactics and an increase in troops smartly placed and activated can turn the war around. They know the stakes are high, and hope the American public, the President and his followers are reading.

To read the how Arghand International solved its dilemma, read the full text of her "Notes From The Field" available for download on the Arghand site. Click on "News" on the top. Then pull down "Notes From the Field." From there, click on "Nov. 8 (Jennie) under 2009" on the left sidebar. Arghand hand made, high quality, natural soaps may be purchased online from independent retailers throughout the U.S. Just search for "Arghand Soaps."

I wrote this article for BlogCritics Magazine.

A Little Boy Burned: Winter's Work at The FST

Winter has hit in the Hindu Kush. It's dark, wet and cold. The region so aptly described in the classic travel book "A Short Walk In The Hindu Kush" by Eric Newby has been marked by wars, this much is probably the same.

"where the mountains seemed like the bones of the world breaking through, I had the sensation of emerging from a country that would continue to exist more or less unchanged whatever disasters overtook the rest of mankind."

The Hubs has written a note, sent along a few photos. He's still there with his team, and while the snow has blocked the main passage for insurgents coming over from Pakistan, there are still flurries of patients that come in.

Though the days are short, work is always at hand.

A young boy is accompanied by a medical team and his father. The boy has suffered serious burns and will be initially treated here, then flown to a bigger air base with a hospital that has more facilities. The father will stay with him throughout --in this case probably all winter and into the Spring. The little boy and his father will not be released until he is ready.

God willing, he makes it. As you know, burns are horrendous. But all through the process, he will be taken care of with the same diligence as the children described in Chris Coppola's book, "A Pediatric Surgeon In Iraq." Like Dr. Coppola, the Forward Surgical Team has fallen in love with several of their pediatric patients. Sure, it crosses all sorts of professional lines, but this is war. War crosses all sorts of lines as well. And medical teams are only human.

The boy, stabilized, takes off with his father. God speed. Children in the Hindu Kush lead much different lives than children in the west. They herd goats from the age of four, and most have never been to school. Many don't have any shoes and personal belongings are nil. One thing that happens time and again: care packages arrive from all over the world, packed by total strangers (mainly bloggers), friends and family members.

To wit: The Hubs and the 759th Forward Surgical Team were adopted by his 86-year-old Aunt Barbara and her friends from a small town in Charlevoix, Michigan. Over the course of a month, the friends cleaned out entire shelves of thrift shops and stores. His aunt and her friends made sure that shoes were sent with socks, pants or skirts sent with underwear. These amazing women sent 25 boxes filled with shoes, socks, underwear, clothes, and good, heavy jackets. Finally, after running out of storage space and having to sleep amid boxes in his small room, The Hubs issued a plea: "We have enough!" All of the articles of clothing were carefully cataloged, then given out by the chaplain and other team members directly to families in need. Many times, the children were patients in the pediatric burn unit or at the clinic.

Oftentimes, the first contact a young child has is from the caring hands of a health care professional from the West. Here's one little girl whom the team has taken care of since July. They've built a relationship with her.

"These tough little boys and girls suffer overwhelming physical hardships without a thought of pity or complaint. Even a small gift such as crayons and paper or a piece of candy brings a big smile of joyful surprise. They are attentive, intelligent, and polite. And sometimes very cute."

That a little girl could be happy with new shoes, a bunch of plastic beads, crayons, and a coloring books makes one shudder when thinking about the excess of Black Friday. It's unfortunate that war's heaviest toll is on children. But the medical teams do their best to show them that the hands of a westerner can be both gentle and healing. One can only hope that these experiences stay with the kids as they grow older and begin the fragile process of building a new world. And we can only hope to learn and be inspired by them.

This article was originally published in Blogcritics magazine.

Fighting A Slothful Behemoth: A Soldier Needs Your Help

C.J. Grisham, center with Hugh Hewitt and Major Chuck Ziegenfuss at the Blog World Expo in October.
For the past year, I've been following a milblog called A Soldier's Perspective. Written in the first person by SGT C.J. Grisham, it chronicled his experience and opinions as a soldier in the U.S. Army. C.J. was always articulate, straightforward and honest. His writing style is one of the best, and so he was always interesting to follow. This autumn, I had the pleasure of finally meeting him at Blog World Expo.

Recently, in a matter unrelated to his service, C.J. was the victim of harassment by the Huntsville Alabama School District and the P.T.A. The issue that sparked what would turn into a witch hunt was a meeting where supposedly, school uniforms were going to be discussed. The school was proposing they require them. Like many parents, C.J. and his wife Emily were concerned that the costs were going to be prohibitive for many families, and also that these costs were going to produce a dubious gain.

And so he read lots of dry academic studies on uniform vs. non-uniform and found that there was virtually no gain to be had. The real difference in performance depended greatly on familial or a caring adult presence. He went to the meeting to discuss his findings and was soundly rebuked by the PTA president and the principal, who chose not to follow Robert's Rules of Parliamentary Procedure and skip the public debate. They pushed a costly measure through without any public discussion. After all, they already had the vendors at the ready with coupons!

Obviously, this enraged many. But C.J. was the most upset since he had the evidence that would not be shared. A verbal argument ensued. C.J. caught the whole thing on video. The next day, he posted it on the internet.

What followed was nothing less than a witch hunt. Someone either at the school, the PTA or both, decided to call his employer. They went onto his blog and Facebook, found out he had PTSD, and pinned an ugly stereotype on C.J. likening him to an unstable mad man. Needless to say, the Army launched an investigation, and put several whammy marks on C.J.'s otherwise pristine record. Though they didn't say it directly, he also saw fit to shut down his blog.

Had C.J. worked for any other entity: a law, accounting or engineering firm, they probably wouldn't have bothered the CEO of the company. Had he worked for a small business, they wouldn't even have blinked. But someone in that mass of hysteria knew they could mess with his career by calling the U.S. Army. They called not once, but several times. And the Army, rather than separating personal life from professional life, didn't tell the noisome individual to naff off (as they deserved). The harassment didn't end there: the Grisham children were roundly harassed by the teachers and staff. The upshot is that the Grishams were so unsettled by the events, they moved their kids to Emily's parents in Montana until C.J. could get transferred out of there. This temporary move to secure their kids has cost the family dearly.

What this means is that every parent who finds themselves in disagreement with the powers that be risks having their careers ended by "officials" making false allegations to their boss. Their overstepping of boundaries was malicious. It's unfortunate that neither the school district superintendent nor the Alabama State PTA didn't have the cajones to address the misbehavior of those who perpetrated the acts of harassment themselves.

There are times when the actions of a behemoth are so unjust it deserves a lawsuit. This is one of them. C.J. and his wife Emily are hiring a lawyer to ensure that this never happens to another family again. They need to raise $7,000 by December 15 for a legal retainer fee. I hope you will give --$5, $10, $20 or more to help send a message that this kind of officially sanctioned harassment is unacceptable.

On his blog, there is a Paypal link that can used to send money instantly through a debit or credit card. All money sent through that link will go into this fund. You can also mail checks or money orders to:

Grisham Legal Fund
c/o Redstone Federal Credit Union
220 Wynn Drive
Huntsville, AL 35893

Please write “Grisham Legal Fund” in the memo line if you use this option.

The Littlest Patients: An Afghan Girl

From The Hubs:

"Afghan kids are amazing. These tough little boys and girls suffer overwhelming physical hardships without a thought of pity or complaint. Even a small gift such as crayons and paper or a piece of candy bring a big smile of joyful surprise. They are attentive, intelligent and polite. And sometimes very cute.
We sometimes say that we run a pediatric clinic as over 80 % of our patients are under 12, and that includes our major trauma cases."

I get angry when I'm asked what we hope to accomplish over in Afghanistan. Although it's a valid question, too often it comes with a veneer of anger and cynicism. All of the medical teams in Afghanistan and elsewhere have made great strides taking care of children. From war wounds, to illnesses and household cooking accidents that result in burns, oftentimes the first contact an Afghan child has is with the caring eye and hands of a Western health professional.

So many of you who have read this blog have sent boxes of gifts for the children. Those beads, the shoes, crayons and coloring book are evidence of many good-hearted people. I'm so grateful for all that you do. Keep it coming.

The Yoga Post: Why What Others Say Has Nothing To Do With You

This week I got an email from a friend. Apparently, a mutual acquaintance came into her store to bitch about me. I guess she went on a rampage! I've not given a lot of time to this acquaintance ever since she made a surprise attack to slather me with her views on Afghanistan while I was taking my trashcans to the curb.

Admittedly, I didn't handle it as well as I would have liked. I came away from the experience wary and wounded. I guess she does not like being ignored. But even when she doesn't get the attention she wants, she still finds time to slander --not only me, but others. In other words, she's addicted to her own negative thoughts.

Why it doesn't involve me: No matter what she says about or thinks about me, it's she who has to live with it. Not me, or the others I've personally heard her slander prior to her disenchantment with me. Her negative words will always get the best of her, and indeed, after a twenty year hitch of saying bad things about people in the neighborhood, there are enough around here who look at her with a skeptical eye. Her words have made her persona non grata, which is very sad. Negativity is toxic, and people just don't want to get caught up in it.

So that's the yoga post for today. Be vigilant with our word, for they're a reflection of our spirit. If we find ourselves critical of others, it speaks more about our own lack of courage and self doubt than anything else. So use negative thoughts as a way of gauging where you are emotionally.

Antlered Surgery Team In Afghanistan

Panda modeling the antlers. I sent 15 pairs! Also, the leopard printed Snuggie is in the TV area.

"We got the antlers and they were a huge hit. They wear them with their uniforms at the most inappropriate times. But it doesn't matter because we have a temporary replacement anesthetist for MAJ C for the month while he is on leave. She is a full COL and she is a hoot. She outranks everyone within 50 miles and she keeps people from bothering us. Our chaplain was threatening to wear them to her promotion board.
I just now got the cheese and sausages. They went somewhere else first by accident. But I can guarantee they will be gone within a day or two."

In regards to the donation from The Gaiam Yoga Club:
"They still haven't arrived yet, so I will re-contact FedEx. Today I bought a nice big dark red rug for the yoga room. We have had our little flurries of activity so we have not really used it much yet. "

He'll try to get a photo of the team with antlers. Apparently, they are excited for Xmas. Already, two trees have been sent!

During War, Winding Down A Business

One of the reasons I stayed behind in Southern California was to wrap up our surgery clinic. We stopped billing in June, made all the quarterly tax payments on time, and also organized both the electronic and paper records which we must keep for eleven years. Running the practice was fun. Toward the end, we had the best crew of employees ever, our ranking was unsurpassed in the region among professionals and most importantly, patients. I didn't like the run-ins with administrators from either hospitals or insurance companies, and I learned there was a time to approach them with a verbal whammy stick. We always paid our taxes on time, we never missed a payroll tax either. We did all this in the face of a great economic downturn, when many practices were folding.

The Hubs went off to Afghanistan, and much of the business was in the final stage of being tucked away. To us, that is...not the IRS. Well, it would seem that because of the national deficit, the one bureau that has plenty of money to find more money is the IRS. They have lots of auditors who do nothing but go through tax files from many years ago, to find where they can pull in another dime.

So this time when the State Of California decided they wanted another $617.86, I just shook my head. I told our accountant to take care of it, that we'd paid our fair share of taxes in 2007. And while it is not a tit for tat world, I'd like to point out that the both the State of California and the US Gov ran a deficit with us when they systematically either delayed or denied paying us for services we rendered for patients who had Medicaid or Medicare.

I've written a little article over here on How The Government Shrinks Payments.

Thank you, Rep. McCotter

An Obama World

So by the time the elections of 2012 roll around:

1. Everyone will have health care. The doctors, hospitals, and patients will all be happy.
2. Afghanistan will be but a memory. The troops will have been back home for a year.
3. General Motors will surpass Toyota and Honda in small car sales.
4. Wall Street will have rebounded, and the highly compensated executives will have found a soul.

Next.

How To Write A Rejection Letter

Magnetometized Congressman Ed Royce with Gate Crasher: Holy Mother of Jesus, Ed! Do you have to pose with everyone?

For reality-TV "Housewife" hopefuls, getting into a White House dinner was a necessity for Michaele and Tareq Salahi. Hobnobbing with such stellar stars as my own Congressman Ed, could provide fodder for yet another mind numbing Housewife show.
Michaele: "And here we are with our best friend Ed at the state dinner for some Indian guy, whose name I forget.
Tareq: "Ed's a great guy! He's an export on Norway!"
Commentator: "Um, don't you mean an expert on Africa?"
Michaele: "Norway, Africa, same thing."

So she did what any other "Housewife" might do. She scared up an ethnic look, bought a sari and sent out a flurry of emails in order to get an invite to The White House. Her target? Retired Army reserve CSM Michele S. Jones, a top Obama political appointee at the Pentagon. Jones was contacted not once, but several times by the Salahis about getting an invitation to the state dinner.

The Salahis showed up and sashayed into the White House dinner for Indian Prime Minister Monmohan Singh. Maybe it was her "woman in red" sari that made someone on the staff look the other way. Perhaps it was their cool patter --the same one they're showing the media after being outed, and claiming their lives are ruined. Now, they say they had an invitation. The source? Michele S. Jones.

But Jones released this statement on Monday:

"I did not state at any time, or imply that I had tickets for ANY portion of the evening's events," according to the statement from Jones, whose title is special assistant to the Secretary of Defense and White House liaison. "I specifically stated that they did not have tickets and in fact that I did not have the authority to authorize attendance, admittance or access to any part of the evening's activities. Even though I informed them of this, they still decided to come."

"Authority to authorize?" "Attendance, admittance or access?"
Oh puhleeeze! My eyes glazeth over.
Social climbers like the Salahis deserved a far more frank tone. The accepted military writing style tone had to be dropped. Jones should have sent the following missive:

Dear Skinny Bitch and Gate Crashing Husband,
Put your damn sari and tuxedo away and save them for the C- list parties you deserve. Since you wanna be a reality TV show star, the nation is going to assume you have a bad credit rating and are one step away from losing your house. You should be going to this party instead.

If you show up at the White House I will drop kick your butts so you fall just a few feet short of clearing the fence. Instead, both of you will be impaled on the spikes. I, along with my friends, will watch as the vultures comes for what little meat is left on your asses.

Got it? You're not invited. We're just not into you.

Sincerely,
Michele "Slayer"Jones
Official Social Ass Kicker
The Pentagon