It's off to Reno for three days for an anniversary trip (our 2nd wedding anniversary is August 5).  It's our first "real" vacation since our honeymoon! 

Wish us luck -- we'd love to clean out a casino!

                         ~~  later, y'all ~~ DL and Big Jim

Lack of VA care for vets

Apparently the Veterans Administration (VA) doesn't believe that the post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) claims by our troops returning from Iran and Afghanistan are worth much merit.  http://www.vetvoice.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=1342   The VA is absolutely letting our troops down, in a major way.  Just ask anyone who has served over there and you'll find out how screwed up our system is for taking care of our men and women.  One of our friends, Kenny, who I have blogged about here before (yes, 'Von, you know him), has had serious mental and emotional problems since he got back from Iraq.  He got nothing but a runaround from the VA for treatment and meds.  Two weeks ago, he finally tried to kill himself by overdosing on his (ineffective) meds.  Now, FINALLY, the local VA hospital admitted him for in-house treatment.  Nice job -- they almost waited too late.  These guys and gals need help, but they aren't getting it from our VA system.  It sucks, big time.   I would ask anyone who cares to contact our VA administration and let them know exactly what we think about their idea of "treatment".

Working Dogs

I met a wonderful angel today.  One of our friends from the Post, Judy, has epileptic seizures.  Their long-time dog passed away not long ago, and Judy was devastated.  She and her husband Lonnie looked into trained seizure dogs but there was a 3-year waiting list and they cost about $1,700.  Their friends had some black Lab puppies they offered Judy and Lonnie, but Judy wanted none of it.  Well, they were visiting their friends one day, and they had let the puppies out to run around.  Judy started feeling bad and no one saw it.  One of the puppies jumped into her lap and started licking her face and whimpering and barking.  Judy was having a seizure.  They realized what was happening and got her the medicine to stop it.  This puppy is now Samson and belongs to Judy and Lonnie and has a "working seizure dog" harness on him.  He is with her everywhere and sleeps at her feet to take care of her.  He didn't need any training -- he was blessed with the natural ability to sense seizures and absolutely loves and adores Judy, right from the start.  He is truly a four-footed angel.  God has created animals with such incredible abilities -- we just need to take the time to reach out to them and let them fulfill their capabilities in their lives.  It is so wonderful.

Memorial Day

Initially, our VFW Post had a great Memorial Day weekend.  We performed several memorial rituals for the community (which I was able to participate in, which were awesome).  We had a chicken barbecue, one of the three we have each year, and these are our only fundraisers to support not only our local Post, but to support our troops currently serving (mostly in Iraq and associated campaigns) but also to support our former veterans, and all the families and children of the same.  Our service reaches out to hospitals, families, troops (with phone cards so they can call home), medical needs for veterans and our families -- you get the picture.  We had a great weekend and worked really hard to barbecue the chicken, make all the salads by hand and sell them.  We sold out and had a great turnout.

Until this morning.

Someone(s) broke into our Post last night and tore our front door off, cut our phone and security system lines, ripped our safe out of the floor and dragged it out the door, broke open and destroyed our ATM machine, and went through every drawer, filing cupboard and office we had looking for money, looking for our barbecue money.

We've had the police department and every media station in the area to help us in our recovery of our funds.  We appreciate their support.

But it's not just the money they took.  That can (eventually) be replaced.  What they took from us is far more important -- our trust and safety.  That will take a long time to bring back.  And the hurt that they caused us, because we think it may be an inside job, because of what they took and the fact that they went right to where they knew they needed to go.  It's like being raped by a family member.  It hurts to a point that there's no words to express it.

Happy Memorial Day, right?  If we ever catch who did it, before the police, there may not be enough left to file a report on.  And if that sounds redneck, tough shit.  Sorry.

    ~~ pissed off and packing ~ Dragon Lady

Memorial Day

Lest we forget . . .