Army Medics

“The medic was awesome,” he said. “He is an Army specialist and he had to have been no more than 20 years old. Before he got there the idea had crossed my mind that I might not make it, but once he got there I knew I was going to be OK.”.

This is not the first time I have heard this. My son is a Combat Medic

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Pasta, Politics, Good Friends and Family

Last night we were sitting outside enjoying the wonderful weather when a good friend we haven’t seen in a few weeks, stopped by. We laughed, caught up on our lives and chatted about a lot of different topics.

Politics happened to come up and I thought, oh no, here we go. The fight is gonna start. I was very pleasantly surprised that after 2 hours of very stimulating conversation, none of us had even raised our voices. We talked about both parties, Bush and Obama. Our likes and dislikes. The stimulus package that was a joke and more.

Our friend had been driving a truck all day so I made him something quick to eat. He obviously loved it as he ate two large plates full. Pasta meals are pretty easy to cook. The pasta itself just needs to be placed in boiling water and can be cooked in 10 to 15 minutes, depending on the type of pasta of course. While the pasta is boiling you can  prepare your desired sauce. Tomato based, pesto or cream based, you can  finish usually at the same time. You can have a pasta meal in a flash.

To those experienced in the kitchen, this kind of meal is easy to make. Novices might still find pasta a little daunting or troublesome. Just watch out when cooking the noodles. You need to test every now and then to see if the noodles are done. It cooks pretty quickly and leaving it too long can result to soggy noodles.

You can help make the pasta firmer if you add salt into the boiling water. The good thing about pasta is having several choices for sauces. If you’re a pasta person then having a couple of sauces stored in your refrigerator would be the best way to go. I just fried up some hamburger and threw that in with a good jar sauce. I also added some spices. If you have pesto, you can use that for the sauce. Add additional garlic, some mushrooms or even Italian sausage and top with cheese.

Bottled or canned sun-dried tomatoes can go well with pasta. I always try to have some sun-dried tomatoes ready since you can just pour it over your pasta and voila!  Top with grated cheese and partnered with bread and you can have a fulfilling meal in no time.

If you want a cream-based sauce, just prepare some sliced olives, cream, oregano and grated cheese. Mix t together with your pasta and finish off with grated cheese. A simple cream-based pasta is quick and good. A pasta meal in a flash is really just that. In a span of 15 to 20 minutes you can prepare a good, hearty meal of pasta. Everyone seemed to enjoy my version and went home happy.

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Army Wives Free Full Episodes & Clips, & Show Info

Army Wives on TV.com – Free Full Episodes & Clips, & Show Info

I love this show and am glad they brought the General back. That daughter needs some discipline. Her mother is way to easy on her. She is being a brat. I am also happy to see the hump bar story line. I like Roxy and always enjoy her trials.

What is your favorite part of Army Wives?

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Enlisted Airman Protects Civilian Airliner

War On Terror News: Enlisted Airman Protects Civilian Airliner

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New Car Purchase-Chevy HHR

When it comes to purchasing a new car there are a few things that you are going to want to do before you take the car. If you are serious about purchasing a car, you should at least have an idea of what you are looking to purchase. You should go online and see how much the car is at the dealer. I did neither of these things but it’s certainly a good idea beforehand.

If you log on to a GM official site they will show the prices and if you purchase straight from the factory, you can expect to go to any of the local dealers and not pay more then that. Usually, when you purchase a car straight from the factory, it tends to be a little more expensive, because they basically allow you to make up your own car, however, if you have the extra money you should try to purchase that way so you get exactly what you want.

If you are going to purchase your new car from a local dealer, you should never pick a dealer more than 30 miles away or you will put a lot of miles on it.  First, find the car that you know you love. I went looking for a pick-up but the new ones were way more than I wanted to spend and a new Chevy HHR caught my eye.

I test drove it, got the price and started the process. It took about a day and a half, only because my hubby is overseas and the company I’m financing through doesn’t recognize a POA or power of attorney for all you non military folk.
Purchasing a new car is great. Yes the initial cost is more but you get a lot in return. A worry free  warranty with the dealer and the factory. I also got OnStar and XM satellite radio. I found a great dealer and a wonderful new car which makes my husband happy as he won’t have to worry about me while he is away.

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2009 WSOP Daughter Dealing Final Table for Event 32

Core Rhythm and Rumba Dancing to Lose Weight

Introduction to Rumba Dancing

If you’re anything like me, you wouldn’t consider exercising your favorite pastime. In fact, I downright hate exercising. However, exercising is a crucial part of a healthy lifestyle, and without it you definitely will not be able to lose weight. I don’t care what magic pill or potion they try to pass off on you. They do not work! Eating healthy and working it are the only ways to lose weight  safely.

First, try finding some exercises that you like to do. Of course, you should work out all of your body, but if you absolutely hate doing one kind of exercise, then look for another to take its place. You don’t have to do crunches to strengthen your core muscles. You don’t have to do lunges to work out your lower body. You don’t even have to run—you can replace it with cycling or swimming. Find the exercise you like to do and your workout will seem more enjoyable right away.

You can also find other activities you like to do and make them work for your body. For example, if you like working in your garden, try doing some exercising while raking or maybe even mow your yard by hand. If you enjoy the winter weather, you can try ice skating or sledding with friends. No matter what you like to do, you can find ways to get some exercise. Thanks to the introduction of the Wii and game like Dance Dance Revolution, you can even combine video games and exercise.

Lastly, try taking some classes like Rumba or Core Rhythm Dancing. Classes are a great way to meet new people, learn new exercises, stay motivated, and above all, have fun. Most gyms offer low-cost or free exercise classes with membership or you can check out options at your local community center. Don’t forget the videos on Ehow or Youtube.

Staying motivated if you hate exercising can be hard, but set goals and don’t quit. You need to exercise as well as diet if you really want to lose weight. Make exercise fun and it won’t seem like such a chore.

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Happiness is a Choice

If you are not a happy person that is a choice you are making.  You have full control over your life and the decisions that you make.  There are many factors which people measure happiness by.  Some people think money is happiness but if you are miserable in your job, making money isn’t going to make you happy. Things may be wealth, possessions, status, or even the position you hold at work.  These things don’t create happiness.  Happiness is a choice you make.

Happiness is Subjective

There are things in life that can make you happy that are subjective. You might find joy and happiness seeking thrills through rides like roller coasters or bungee jumping.  This thrill may be more than torture for someone with a fear of heights who would never step foot on a roller coaster or ever be brave enough to jump from a bridge suspended by a bungee cord. Everyone seeks happiness in their own way.

Naturally Happy

It is true some people are naturally happy.  This is proven through a genetic disposition.  This doesn’t mean that you were born to be miserable if you are not a naturally happy person.  Your happiness is influenced by your genetics but it is not fixed as a determining factor.

If you are not a naturally happy person you can change the way you think and feel so you are.  The key is to change the way your brain thinks and the things you do.  You can learn to do things on a daily basis to bring up your happiness level which will help you learn to smile more and be a happier person.

Sleep, Exercise and Meditation

Sleep is a big factor and lack of sleep can cause problems with your health also.  Ensuring total well being requires a good night sleep. Exercise is very good for the body and it helps the brain put out endorphins which are responsible for making you happy.  Exercise is important for total health. Meditation is one of the most effective ways to change your subjective well being.  Doctors have proven meditation to generate brain activity on the left side, which produces a positive emotion in the body.

For me happiness has always come easily. My mom said I was born smiling. I guess it helps to be half Irish. It also helps when my family is well and near by. Right now they are spread all over the world but one son is coming home in a day or two after being wounded so today is a pamper day for me. Mani, Pedi and massage. Yup the whole nine yards.

How do you find happiness? Are you a happy person by nature?

Navy Lets 16 Bloggers on the USS Nimitz

No Strings Attached: Navy Hosts 16 Bloggers on USS Nimitz This Past May – VatorNews Has a Great Recap

via  Milblogging.com : The World’s Largest Index of Military Blogs (Milblogs)

This is good news but I also worry about security with all this openness now.  What are your views on this?

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Son Injured

Yesterday I got the call we all never want. My son was injured after only being in the sandbox for one week. It is not too serious but enough to get him shipped out of there for good. He will go back to his unit then we are hoping he gets some leave to come home.

Maybe after his time in the Army he can be a Traveling Nurse. Not sure he’d want to but it looks like it has some good perks.

On some levels working as a professional travel nurse looks like the ideal job. It provides nurses with an opportunity to live and work in different parts of the country. They can interact with new people. Travel nurses pull in an excellent salary. They make friends all over the country. They can move south in the winter, and north in the summer. If they feel like taking a few months off, they don’t have to worry about explaining things to their bosses, they just give themselves a few months to improve their mental health before they accept a new assignment. Travel nurses claim that their jobs gives them an opportunity to re-establish their patient focused medicine. Nurses have excellent medical and dental benefits. Who wouldn’t want to be a travel nurse?

When you are considering a life as a travel nurse you have to ask yourself if you really like to travel. Not a problem in his case. He has already been farther than most people will ever go. The life of a travel nurse is serious and hard core. Travel nurses are constantly on the move, going from one state to another, taking assignment after assignment. All the moving around eventually takes a toll on the body and soul.

Bear in mind that travel nurses are working, this is not an extended family vacation, they aren’t back packing across Europe. While they are on an assignment, travel nurses are on a schedule. They are expected to report to work, on time, at the beginning of each one of their shifts. While they are working they are dealing with sick and injured people. They are expected to give one hundred and ten percent of themselves.

Do you have an easy time making new friends. Travel nurses are constantly going to cities and towns where they are strangers. They don’t know anyone in these places. In order for their experience to be positive they have to have a talent for turning complete strangers into close friends.

Nurses that have a significant other may have a hard time adjusting to life as a travel nurse. Unless the significant other is able to travel from one location to another it is difficult to stay together as a couple. One circumstance when travel nursing does work when a couple decides to work in tandem and are able to find nursing assignments in the same hospitals and medical facility’s.

Before you sign with a nursing agency decide if you can tolerate moving away from your family, friends, and pets. Working as a travel nurse is going to require you to spend several months away from your home town.

Carefully consider all the requirement and responsibilities expected from a travel nurse before you sign with a nursing agency. Qualities that a good travel nurse should embrace are a zest for adventure, a strong work ethic, confidence in their medical knowledge, and a gregarious personality. If you are a nurse with at least one year of experience working in a hospital and feel that you would make and excellent travel nurse start placing your application at agencies. Yeah I think my son qualifies.