What would Sartre say?

It is officially the beginning of a new era. France's Prime Minister has just announced that public smoking will be banned in all public places, including restaurants, cafes, nightclubs, stations, museums, shops and government buildings. Everyone is given until next month to adapt, otherwise fines all around. Who would have thought? The French...without ciggerettes? Mon Dieu!!

Merry Christmas to all!

A snipet to smile by

Find Your Passion

Happy Veteran's Day

Happy Birthday Marine Corps!

Happy 22nd Birthday Paris!!

My first car!!

Can't you just hear AC/DC's "Highway to Hell" playing?

Give me the boot

Last week the doctor told me I have a stress fracture on my right ankle. I'm not supposed to move around and have to wear a ridiculously fashionable boot on my foot for about two weeks. I can start running after six weeks...so all I can say is... give me the boot.

I have been so busy...

I forgot Bastille Day! I can't believe it! Even though I am not as much of a francophile as I used to be, I still love the holiday. After all, it was five years ago I was celebrating the French independence in Paris, dancing atop of a fountain along with friends and Parisiens alike. I guess I will have to make a trip over to Maximillion in Pike Place one of these days to celebrate.

I am extraordinary...or so my best friend told Mandy Moore

New digs in Seattle...

I just moved back to Seattle. I'll be here until the end of August.

Happy 4th of July!

Team America...

Just to embarrass my dad...

I've seen that face before!

Move over Andrews Sisters

Cry Baby

It's amazing what you can find in an old box...

A couple of weeks ago, I was so sad to discover that my very special time capsule box had been destroyed in storage. A water leak ruined everything...old photos, family pictures and things I had been saving since I was a little girl. Trying to savage any sort of my childhood history proved impossible and I was completely distraught. Well, this week I was fortunate enough to find some old photos and some other treasures...they don't make up for what I lost but definately make me feel better. Here are some of the pictures I came across:

Me beating up Madison. I love this picture!!

Kyoko, the first child

My mom as a baby with Aura







Grandpa and Aura

Mid Battleground

My dad sent this picture to me today. It's a photo of my grandfather, John James Wade, from the book "Tarawa: A Legend is Born." He is standing closest to the middle of the photo, pointing out stuff to Shoup who would eventually become Commandant of the Marine Corps. A caption was added by one of my grandfather's buddies. "Captain John J Wade briefs unidentified Marine officer."

A little nosh in the Pearl

Paris' last day

Tomorrow Paris returns to the UP. It will probably be a long time before I see her again so we decided to take some pictures. Tu vas me manquer si beaucoup!

 

Just hanging out...with a Pirate

I do this all the time...just chilling with a Pirate at a local hotspot in town. Arrrrrgggg!!

Happy Memorial Day!

"Some people wonder all their lives if they've made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem."

-Ronald Reagan

I love Paris in the spring time...

In a last minute change of plans, Paris flew home last night. Mom and I picked her up at the airport and stayed the night in Madison's new loft. Paris will be home for about two weeks and then she will head back to the UP.

A great bumper sticker...

We all know it's true...

Visions of Valor Gala

Last Friday night I was invited to attend a black and white gala in Seattle. I had a great time and even got to meet Lieutenant Dan.

Dark Angel Returns...

Cute dog...cute shoes.

Brett's Buzz Words

Brett wrote another wonderful letter to the editor in this week's Chinook Observer. It's a hit in our small community...even the local owner of the mini-mart cut it out and posted it in his store window. Way to go Brett!!



Wednesday, April 11, 2007

With the passage of the Iraq Supplemental Spending Bill in both the House and Senate, I believe the voters of this county (and the entire U.S.) would be well served to reconsider their support of any Democrat candidates in 2008.

This shameful bill is nothing less than an admission of surrender to al Qaeda, even providing our enemy with a schedule of our troops retreat. After the thousands of Americans that have been killed in the war against Islamic terrorists, after thousands more innocents across the globe have been slaughtered, it is hard to comprehend why the American military should retreat from the one place on Earth where most of the terrorists actually are. Withdrawing from Iraq does not make the war in Afghanistan, or anywhere else, any easier.

We will still be fighting al Qaeda all over the world, we will still be working to protect our homeland from attack. The only thing that will have changed is that we will have given our enemy a huge victory, surrendering to them a sanctuary with great oil wealth with which to fund their future attacks. It is a fool's delusion that wars can be won by declining to fight back, and doubly foolish to think we are so safe and secure that we can "opt out" of the fighting at no cost.

To assume that Iraq is lost and cannot withstand the terrorists with the assistance of 150,000 American troops but suddenly can do so after we leave is just silly wishful thinking. As Iran has made perfectly clear with the abduction of the 15 British sailors, Islamic extremists will continue to commit acts of war against the U.S. and Europe with impunity, until the West (and Democrats in Congress) are forced to recognize we are in a war for our very existence.

President Bush was correct when he stated that the War on Terror was a different type of war, one that would not end with a signed surrender on the deck of an aircraft carrier. The Democrats want to sign the U.S.'s surrender in the halls of Congress, it is time to elect new representatives committed to America's victory, not defeat.

Brett Malin
Seaview

Who would win in a fight, yoga or kung-fu?

Both are awesome but which one is more awesome?

Movie Review: 300

Rating*: Three amazingly chiseled six-pack abs
I'm usually not a fan of these kinds of movies but I have to say that I loved this movie. Sparta rocks. Hoo rah.

Best line: "No, this is Sparta!"


*note: Rating is out of four

I've always wondered...what would I look like as an oil painting?

Mad found a true gem in the Pearl District

Madison took a dive into Portland on his break from tour and truly found the best gem in the Pearl District...a beautiful loft complete with red silk curtains and stainless steel appliances. Congrats big bro!

Last of my pictures from Thailand