Merry Christmas

Good morning and Merry Christmas. We opened our Christmas presents yesterday and had our traditional Christmas eve quiche for dinner. Today we woke up to snow so now we have a very white Christmas. We are going to start cooking the Turkey soon and just stay in and stay warm today. Hope all of you have a nice Christmas.

John & Mike are both here

Mike on left and John on right

Good morning everyone. Our sons John & Mike are both here for the holidays. John got in yesterday about noon after driving up from Florida. Mike got in the day before yesterday from Fort Leonard Wood, Mo after I picked him up. John & Mike haven't seen each other in 7 years but they have talked on the phone several times. Mike is in the Army and John in the Navy. John took a much needed nap yesterday afternoon and after a dinner of Lasagna they went out together and played pool until late. I was asleep when they got in last night but It's really nice to see them together. I'm really enjoying them.

Getting ready for Christmas

Our sons John and Mike are both coming home for Christmas this year. My wife Vicki decorated the house and has things all ready for them. Mike comes home this Friday from Fort Leonard Wood, Mo, and John will be driving up starting Friday morning from Mayport Naval Base in Florida and should be here Saturday. We're really looking forward to having them both for Christmas. This will be the first Christmas they have spent together in 7 years.

John got promoted

I want to congratulate my son John for getting promoted to E5, Second Class Petty Officer. Good job OS2 John.

Navy advancement exam results for E4 - E5 - E6

The Navy advancement exam results for E4 - E5 - E6 should be out before Monday. You can check this site for the complete list when it's updated. Thank you to my Navy daughter Cindy for pointing this site out to me.

http://www.npc.navy.mil/CareerInfo/EnlistedCareerProgression/ActiveDutyAdvancement/

Blogger seems to be having some problems so if the link does not work just copy and paste it into the address bar of you browser.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Congratulations Mike

I want to Congratulate my son Mike on his graduation from Basic Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. Mike is now in AIT ( Advanced Individual Training ) for MP ( Military Police ) School. Great job Mike. We are so proud of you.

Furnace Flame Sensor

The furnace stopped working today so I took the cover off and cleaned it out ( all the dust and dirt ) and tapped on the flame sensor ( I drew an arrow in the picture ) and it started working again. If it stops again today I will take out the flame sensor and clean it off. Oh what a fun Saturday. LOL :)

Upgraded to Ubuntu 9.10

Above after installing Opera 10 web browser

Above, The Ubuntu 9.10 Control Center

Screen Shot of my Ubuntu PC

I spent the afternoon upgrading my Linux PC to Ubuntu 9.10 and I have to say I really like it. You can read an in-depth review of Ubuntu 9.10 - Ars Technica here.

Happy Birthday John

Just want to wish my son John a Happy 22nd Birthday.

John is celebrating his birthday out to sea doing War Games with the U.S. Navy.

Veterans Day

I just want to thank all of those that are serving, or have served in the past in our armed forces on this Veterans Day . Thank you for all that you have done and are doing.

Veterans Day History:
U.S. President Woodrow Wilson first proclaimed an Armistice Day for November 11, 1919. The United States Congress passed a concurrent resolution seven years later on June 4, 1926, requesting the President issue another proclamation to observe November 11 with appropriate ceremonies. An Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a) approved May 13, 1938, made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday; “a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as ‘Armistice Day’.”

In 1953, an Emporia, Kansas shoe store owner named Al King had the idea to expand Armistice Day to celebrate all veterans, not just those who served in World War I. King had been actively involved with the American War Dads during World War II. He began a campaign to turn Armistice Day into “All” Veterans Day. The Emporia Chamber of Commerce took up the cause after determining that 90% of Emporia merchants as well as the Board of Education supported closing their doors on November 11, 1953, to honor veterans. With the help of then-U.S. Rep. Ed Rees, also from Emporia, a bill for the holiday was pushed through Congress. President Dwight Eisenhower signed it into law on May 26, 1954.

Congress amended this act on November 8, 1954, replacing “Armistice” with Veterans, and it has been known as Veterans Day since.

Although originally scheduled for celebration on November 11 of every year, starting in 1971 in accordance with the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, Veterans Day was moved to the fourth Monday of October. In 1978 it was moved back to its original celebration on November 11 (with the exceptions described above).

Free Meals for Veterans

Restaurant chains are offering free meals to U.S. military personnel in conjunction with Veterans Day.

Origins: In recent years, some national restaurant chains have begun the practice of demonstrating appreciation for U.S. military personnel (both veterans and those on active duty) by offering them free meals in observance of Veterans Day (November 11). Here are a few of the chains that will be participating in such programs in 2009:

Applebee's is offering a free entree on Wednesday [November 11 to veterans and all active-duty military from 11 a.m. to midnight at all 1,900 locations. Although Applebee's requests some kind of military ID, "We're not going to argue with folks who might forget to bring it," says Sam Rothschild, senior vice president of operations. http://www.applebees.com/vetsday/

For the 11th year in a row, 87 McCormick & Schmick's locations in 25 states are offering free entrees to veterans on Sunday November 8. The chain also requests military ID and highly recommends reservations. The promotion is on Sunday instead of Veterans Day, "because it allows vets to bring their families who might not be available during the week," CEO Bill Freeman says.
http://www.mccormickandschmicks.com/featured-promotion/Veterans-Appreciation-Day.aspx

The 485-unit Golden Corral chain is offering free buffet meals including beverage and dessert to current military and vets on Monday, November 16, from 5 to 9 p.m. No military ID is required for its ninth annual Military Appreciation Monday, says Dolly Mercer, national events manager. The event is held on this date, she says, "so we don't interfere with Veterans Day activities." http://www.goldencorral.com/military/

The Outback Steakhouse restaurant chain will also be offering a free Bloomin' Onion appetizer and beverage to all veterans and active duty military on Veterans Day, and outlets of the Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corporation will be giving away free doughnuts to all veterans and active military personnel that day as well.

Arby's invites active duty & veterans to receive a FREE reg roast beef sandwich this Veterans Day. As a Thank-You to all our veterans and active servicemen and women, Arby's invites you to a Free Regular Roast Beef Sandwich during regular business hours this Wed, Nov. 11, 2009 on your day, Veterans Day. Proof of US Military service is required. Limit one per ID.

My daughter Cindy also tells me that "Dad, Also Famous Daves BBQ is offering free meals to military on 11Nov and they also offer a 10% military discount daily".

See more Veterans Day Discounts here

and below

35 Veteran's Day Freebies

Good morning and Update

Good morning everyone, It's Saturday the 7th of November and I have not written to a month and a half. I have been using facebook and kinda got away from the blog for a while. I plan to start back with the blog now. First off I will talk about my kids.

My youngest son Mike is still at Fort Leonard Wood, MO going through MP training, he should be in Blue Phase now ( they went through Red and White already ). He is loving the Army, he says that his Drill Sergent's are great. Mike said "I never thought I would say this but basic training is fun". I'm glad he is doing well. :)

( Mike at Army Basic Training )

My oldest child FC3 Cindy is doing well in the Navy and is still in Washington State. The IA assignment didn't work out for her so she will be staying with her ship, the USS Abraham Lincoln. They are currently in the yard so Cindys work is kinda mundane right now with the exception of testing the CIWS on occasion and scaring the crap out of yard workers. Have fun with that Cindy. :)

( Cindy on her Ship )

My son OS3 John is in Mayport Florida and has the most news. John got back from a 6 month deployment with his ship ( the USS Doyle ) in October. He went to visit my parents in Daytona and bought his first car. John bought a 2009 Kia Rio and loves it. John also sent me a picture of a letter of commendation that he got a few days ago. John is doing well and has a birthday coming up next week, Nov 15th. John will be 22 years old. :)

( John new Navy Working Uniform )

( Johns letter of Commendation )

( Johns new Kia Rio )



Free Meals for Veterans

Restaurant chains are offering free meals to U.S. military personnel in conjunction with Veterans Day.

Origins: In recent years, some national restaurant chains have begun the practice of demonstrating appreciation for U.S. military personnel (both veterans and those on active duty) by offering them free meals in observance of Veterans Day (November 11). Here are a few of the chains that will be participating in such programs in 2009:

Applebee's is offering a free entree on Wednesday [November 11 to veterans and all active-duty military from 11 a.m. to midnight at all 1,900 locations. Although Applebee's requests some kind of military ID, "We're not going to argue with folks who might forget to bring it," says Sam Rothschild, senior vice president of operations. http://www.applebees.com/vetsday/

For the 11th year in a row, 87 McCormick & Schmick's locations in 25 states are offering free entrees to veterans on Sunday November 8. The chain also requests military ID and highly recommends reservations. The promotion is on Sunday instead of Veterans Day, "because it allows vets to bring their families who might not be available during the week," CEO Bill Freeman says.
http://www.mccormickandschmicks.com/featured-promotion/Veterans-Appreciation-Day.aspx

The 485-unit Golden Corral chain is offering free buffet meals including beverage and dessert to current military and vets on Monday, November 16, from 5 to 9 p.m. No military ID is required for its ninth annual Military Appreciation Monday, says Dolly Mercer, national events manager. The event is held on this date, she says, "so we don't interfere with Veterans Day activities." http://www.goldencorral.com/military/

The Outback Steakhouse restaurant chain will also be offering a free Bloomin' Onion appetizer and beverage to all veterans and active duty military on Veterans Day, and outlets of the Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corporation will be giving away free doughnuts to all veterans and active military personnel that day as well.

Arby's invites active duty & veterans to receive a FREE reg roast beef sandwich this Veterans Day. As a Thank-You to all our veterans and active servicemen and women, Arby's invites you to a Free Regular Roast Beef Sandwich during regular business hours this Wed, Nov. 11, 2009 on your day, Veterans Day. Proof of US Military service is required. Limit one per ID.

My daughter Cindy also tells me that "Dad, Also Famous Daves BBQ is offering free meals to military on 11Nov and they also offer a 10% military discount daily".