The Pledge--- # 27,162

Sunny - Hi 65 Lo 61 for Baghdad, Iraq
Snow and Wind (nice...) - Hi 22 Lo 15 for Northern KY, USA

Song of the week: If I Die Before You Wake, Dustin Evans - The link is to Dustin's Myspace sight. If you enjoy country music, go check out some of his other songs... nice selection.

Ramble:

So Friday, I left work and headed to CVG (The Greater Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport) to pick up my grandfather. My brother had a week long conference out in Las Vegas and my grandfather goes out to visit my Uncle and cousins and to enjoy the cultural aspect of Las Vegas... ok...ok... he goes for the craps tables and the food.

Anyway, I get to the airport early and wander around... as much as you can these days... I check the arrivals monitors... I see that his flight is a whole minute early... woo hoo!! I take note of the baggage claim number.... 3.... mental note.... go to claim # 3.... #3...#3.... got it... OK... I still have 30 minutes to kill....I wander down to check out a couple of the huge mosaic murals created during the Great Depression for the Union Terminal. The mosaics are I'm guessing about 25 feet x 25 feet in size... huge-- created by German immigrant, Winold Reiss-- an incredible artist. Back in the 70's there were plans to demolish the Union Terminal so there was an enormous drive to raise money to save the murals and get them moved to the airport. The murals are truly some of the finest works of Art Deco and the Union Terminal (which thankfully is still standing) probably the finest example of Art Deco architecture in the country. Truly, if you ever have a layover in Cincinnati, please go check out the mosaics-- Wonderful wonderful examples of Art Deco--- scenes of the American Worker were from places in the tri state area. If you have an appreciation of propaganda posters for the artistic value you will appreciate these murals. Fabulous.

OK... so, I wander back towards baggage claim... I debate whether or not I should go downstairs or just wait upstairs... I decide to check w/ Delta to make sure my grandfather will be provided with a wheelchair escort from the gate to baggage claim. That was quick... yes he is... I decide to stay upstairs. I watched some arrivals and it makes me all misty to see families and loved ones reunited... go to the airport if you ever need a "pick me up" and are convinced that life on this planet is just awful and you are feeling completely cynical... go to the airport... I'm standing at the top of the escalator and feel a smile crossing my face. Happy reunited faces. A police officer is standing to my right also watching the arrivals. A couple of minutes later a young 20 something handsome man in a ball cap and t-shirt walks up and joins us. He is excited... Talking... talking... smiling smiling. It turns out that this fine young man is with the National Guard. He had been in Iraq for 12 months and had been home for about a month. He was anxious to see his girl. She too was coming home from Iraq via Charlotte. They hadn't seen each other for 5 months. The police officer was asking questions about where they trained... what his thoughts were... it appeared that they knew some of the same folks... small town, ya know? Let me tell you... that young man had one thing on his mind. About that time, he pulled a little box out of his pocket and opened it for us to see. Inside was a beautiful diamond engagement ring... I looked at him... beaming.... grabbed his shoulder (hmmm... muscles) and squeaked, "Are you going to propose to her now??" With a twinkle in his eye and a smile from ear to ear... "Yes ma'am!" The officer shook his hand, a couple walking past stopped to say good luck... it was very cool. The whole time this was taking place I was watching for my grandfather... the soldier was looking for his girl. The police officer asked the soldier what she looked like, what would she be wearing, "She is beautiful. She has brand new white tennis shoes". Oh, well great, that helps, we will surely be able to help you spot your girl with that detail... A few minutes later, I see my grandfather being wheeled up. I point down. I said to the soldier, "That's my grandfather. He is a WWII vet. On behalf of my grandfather and myself thank you for your service and after you propose to your bride to be, thank her for us". I shook his hand and I left him and the officer. I wanted to go meet my grandfather at the elevator. I heard the soldier call me, "Ma'am!" I turned around and he came up to me and said, "Thank your grandfather for me, you know, for his service, ok?" I manage a smile and a nodd.

Instant tears!!! Do you hear me??

So, I meet my grandfather and he is just as happy as can be. He did well at the craps tables, ate at some of the finest restaurants had a couple of stories to tell.... His wheelchair escort is a man, I would guess in his 50's with brown skin- Indian descent, with an accent... I tell you this, because of the words he spoke to my grandfather. "I don't see too many folks like you anymore, you know World War Two era. You take care of yourself and it has been a privilege to serve you today. Thank you for your service to our great country." My grandfather smiled and shook the man's hand and said, "Thank you. Very kind."

Instant tears again!

It's really important that we are mindful of these men and women. They want to finish the job. Let them. Do your part to support them. And if you have not done so already, go and take an active role by signing the Pledge. On Tuesday, Hugh Hewitt wrote this:

Take the Pledge:

If the United States Senate passes a resolution, non-binding or otherwise, that criticizes the commitment of additional troops to Iraq that General Petraeus has asked for and that the president has pledged, and if the Senate does so after the testimony of General Petraeus on January 23 that such a resolution will be an encouragement to the enemy, I will not contribute to any Republican senator who voted for the resolution. Further, if any Republican senator who votes for such a resolution is a candidate for re-election in 2008, I will not contribute to the National Republican Senatorial Committee unless the Chairman of that Committee, Senator Ensign, commits in writing that none of the funds of the NRSC will go to support the re-election of any senator supporting the non-binding resolution.

Take the pledge, and tell the NRSC:

NRSC
Ronald Reagan Republican Center
425 2nd Street, NE
Washington, DC
20002
202.675.6000
webmaster@gopsenators.com

Then e-mail Senator McConnell and Senator Ensign, and tell them too. Senator McConnell's phone number is (202) 224-2541. Senator Ensign's phone number is (202) 224-6244.

GOP activists and donors built the GOP senate delegation, as well as the majority that was punted away. They can disassemble it as well, and GOP support for a neoappeasement resolution is exactly the way to start that process.

The Congressional GOP has to realize it cannot have it both ways --you can't be for victory after you were against it.

And GOP senators --alone or as a group-- definitely cannot
count on the support of the base if any of them vote for appeasement.

SIGN THE PLEDGE

Thanks go to Carol for bringing this to my attention.

Blogs and Links to Check Out This Week:

I visited Joe, That One Guy @ Drunken Wisdom, Joe said to go visit Og @ Neanderpundit, Og requested I read this. Now before you go read this undertand there is a lot of foul language. I just love the guy's enthusiam to share a story... The website is called: Ben Thompson - My Stupid Website Beb writes a weekly biography that he calls Bad A$$ of the Week. Truly, this guy is passionate and the foul language is........foul... but it suits this guys writing style. Read about Simo Haya

Housekeeping: UPDATE-- Michael and I finally received our 70's Music Explosion CD's! I'll let you know if the wait was worth it.



Have a great week everyone!