What Is Memorial Day To You?

What is Memorial Day to you? When I think of this day, I think of heroes making the ultimate sacrifice. Its not just barbecues and coolers full of beer and soda.

Its about our young men and women in uniform risking their lives for our safety in a far off land. Some never to return home alive. Its about remembering that 18 year old that fought for his buddies in the A Shau Valley in 1968 that nobody ever knew about. Its about the boys in Easy Company freezing half to death in the Ardennes Forrest at the battle of the bulge in 1944. Its about the men & women that died at Pearl Harbor on December 7th 1941.

We need to remember these great heroes. So, before you fire up the grill, or dump the ice in the cooler, think about them. Look some up, and talk about them at the barbecue with family and friends. They deserve our remembrance. Take a moment to think of our men and women that are today half a world away, taking risks, and fighting for our continued safety and freedom. I salute you all for your service. Thank You!

If you don't already, you can follow me on Twitter @gen22y

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The Stink Eye

What is with the "Stink Eye" that I get from people over fifty? I'm forty and disabled with RSDS-CRPS going on ten years now. Because of my disability my knees and hips are about shot and I walk with a cane. Why is it when I park in a handicap parking spot, older people give me the dirty look I've dubbed "The Stink Eye"? Am I too young to park there, in their minds? I mean really, in this day and age we have so many disabled young veterans coming home from the wars! I'd hate to think of this happening to our heroes that have sacrificed so much for us all. I've had people approach me and give me grief over where I've parked! I have my placard and if you see me move around I'm obviously disabled. So what is that? I'd love to know. I'm at the point now, when someone gives me crap about it, I ask them which end of my cane they'd like rammed up their rear end. Talk about nerve. Do they really think I'm enjoying my long slow painful life? I'm just glad I have a great wife and all my fur babies to help me through it all. What are your thoughts on this subject? Don't be shy! I love feedback............................If you don't already, you can follow me on Twitter @gen22y

We've all either been asked, or asked ourselves what book we would choose to bring with us if stranded on a dessert island. That's a hard one for some to decide which to pick. The die hard writers out there would say an endless blank book would be their choice. Others would go with the Bible, or Torah. But, if you had to choose one book, or I'll do you one better, what one series of books would you choose to read over and over again till the end of time? If I were asking myself this question a few years back I would have chosen Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, including The Hobbit of course. Then it was the Harry potter series. I fell in love with that magical world. Everything about it was amazing to my over active imagination. Today, I would choose the Twilight series. I fell in love with it after my wonderful wife talked me into giving it a try. I found myself reading it between books over and over again. Before I knew it I had read the series eight times to date! It sounds crazy, but I know people do this with books all the time. There are so many great books out today! The Hunger Games is a favorite to myself and many. I just recently had the pleasure of reading the first two books in John Davis' amazing Gunship series. There are just so many to choose from. What's your go to book, or series of books? Don't be shy! I love feedback. ........................... If you don't already, you can follow me on Twitter @gen22y

Dogs & Cats are a life long commitment

The unconditional love we receive from our furry family is something I take very seriously. Too many people don't think it through when they decide to take on the responsibility of adding a dog or cat to the family! It's a life long commitment, not just something cute that you can just grow bored with, or frustrated with when there's a bathroom training accident indoors. I hear too many stories about people getting a puppy & giving up on it. I see the end result living in a rural area. People dump dogs & cats on my road all the time. Its very sad. I once found a five week old black lab pup hiding under my truck because the engine was warm. Think it through long & hard before making the "commitment" and be sure to spay or neuter your new family member! .....................If you don't already, you can follow me on Twitter @gen22y

Dogs aren't just for petting anymo

re! If you follow me already, its no secret that I have and love six dogs. I also mentioned last post that I have the neurological disease RSDS or for those using the newer name CRPS. I couldn't keep going without my dogs helping me to live with this painful disease. We're seeing more and more service dogs and therapy dogs today. They are real heroes that do what they do for the love of their human counterpart. Assistance dogs are becoming more prevalent now that we have so many war veteran's in need of their love and service. So lets give a shout out to these hard working canine Savior's, and lets remember to respect the no touch rule. Don't forget that a dog that is working should not be touched or distracted. :) ................. If you don't already, you can follow me on Twitter @gen22y

Is it weird that I talk to my furry family members as if they were human? I don't think so! They're as much a part of my life as my wonderful daughter is to me. In fact I always call them all sisters! I know I'm not alone here on this one, so lets not judge me yet. My dogs give me the strength to soldier on in a life filled with constant pain due to the debilitating disease RSDS. I have the strong support of a loving wife with the strength of ten thank goodness. She can't always be there, and I can't always expect to lean on her all the time. I can count on my dogs to help take my mind off a bad pain day, and to put a smile on my face when I would otherwise fall into a depressive mood. So, no. I wouldn't consider them lesser or not deserving of such treatment as a close family member. I love my girls. They love me, and help support me day in and day out. I consider myself lucky to have such a great family. Both human and dog. I'd love to hear about and see pictures of your furry family members too! ............ If you don't already, you can follow me on Twitter @gen22y