As I posted last week, all commissions earned from Brochin.net, until 24 February will be donated to The Brothers in Arms Foundation. So if you are looking for anything IT or Telecommunications related, what better feeling than to know when you purchase that the sales commission goes to some very deserving people.

Kim is going back to school. I am so proud of her. She is really stressing about the math work, but I told her not to worry, if she has to take some prep classes, then no big deal. Early Childhood Development, Elementary education or Child Psychology is what she is looking at. Right now though, I told her just to worry about the general education requirements that they all have in common.

Gannon had finals this week, has been shooting them down. He has A’s and B’s on all his finals and in all his classes. Very proud of the kid. The Kubasaki Winter Formal was Friday night and he had a good time. Of course he was embarrassed because his mom had to take pictures of him and his date and then bring her to the car to meet me and little brother.

Gavin, our little daredevil, decided that sticking a yellow bead up his nose was a brilliant thing to do while in preschool Friday afternoon. Kim of course had to take him to the ER for it to be removed. That said, he is getting into that stage of seeing how many buttons he can push of mom and dads. He will tell us “no”, touch things he is not supposed to touch and wait for a reaction, etc.. Hope this stage ends soon because mommy is about to lose her mind I think.

As for me, there is not much to say except Facebook is awesome. Facebook has allowed me to get in touch with friends and relatives I lost track of long ago. Work is getting better as we have hired a couple of new civilians and will be hiring more, thus the workload has decreased. I have been able to get a lot more time to focus on the training and personnel issues within the section. It has also allowed me a lot more time to read and educate my self professionally.

Starting now, for the next month, 100% of all comissions earned through Brochin.net will be donated to the Brothers in Arms Foundation . After this first month we will be donating 50% of all profits to this foundation and others for at least the next year.

Please help me help these wounded warriors. I have personally served with one of them in the past. These warrior’s families need our help as well. Lets stop paying this lip service. Please read the following article and see if you have a reality check.

Visit Brochin.net  today to start helping or please go directly to the Brothers in Arms Foundation website and donate.

Last night we had Captain D’s and rented the movie Hurt Locker. First, I love the deluxe meal from Capt D’s. Second, the Hurt Locker is a stupid movie and a waste of time. The first 20 minutes was ok, but after that it spiraled so quickly and rapidly into Hollywood la-la land that it was unbearable. Don’t waste your time with this movie.

Been studying for the CompTIA A+ and currently studying about motherboards. I am really enjoying studying this because I had forgotten a great deal of things I had learned before and I am learning some new jewels as well. Gannon will more than likely get his A+ before I do though.

Gavin is a birthday party maniac. He has been to a couple in the last week and Kim is getting ready for his at the little bowling alley on Kadena AFB.

Enough for now, I am currently fighting with both boys to clean up their rooms, Sadly I don’t know which one looks worse right now. The 14 year old’s or the 4 year old’s room. Yes I do, the 4 year old’s looks worse, but smells better.

When a Veteran leaves the ‘job’ and retires to a another life, many are
jealous, some are pleased, and others, who may have already retired,
wonder if he knows what he is leaving behind, because we already know.

1. We know, for example, that after a lifetime of camaraderie that few
experience, it will remain as a longing for those past times.

2. We know in the Military life there is a fellowship which lasts long
after the uniforms are hung up in the back of the closet.

3. We know even if he throws them away, they will be on him with every
step and breath that remains in his life. We also know how the very
bearing of the man speaks of what he was and in his heart still is.

These are the burdens of the job. You will still look at people
suspiciously, still see what others do not see or choose to ignore and
always will look at the rest of the Military world with a respect for
what they do; only grown in a lifetime of knowing.

Never think for one moment you are escaping from that life. You are only
escaping the ‘job’ and merely being allowed to leave ‘active’ duty.

So what I wish for you is that whenever you ease into retirement, in
your heart you never forget for one moment that you are still a member
of the greatest fraternity the world has ever known.

NOW! Civilian Friends vs. Veteran Friends Comparisons

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Get upset if you’re too busy to talk to them for a
week.
VETERAN FRIENDS: Are glad to see you after years, and will happily carry
on the same conversation you were having the last time you met..

—

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Have never seen you cry.
VETERAN FRIENDS: Have cried with you.

—

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Keep your stuff so long they forget it’s yours.
VETERAN FRIENDS: Borrow your stuff for a few days then give it back.

—

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Know a few things about you.
VETERAN FRIENDS: Could write a book with direct quotes from you.

—

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Will leave you behind if that’s what the crowd is
doing.
VETERAN FRIENDS: Will kick the crowd’s ass that left you behind.

—

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Are for a while.
VETERAN FRIENDS: Are for life.

—

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Have shared a few experiences…
VETERAN FRIENDS: Have shared a lifetime of experiences no citizen could
ever dream of..

—

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Will take your drink away when they think you’ve had
enough.
VETERAN FRIENDS: Will look at you stumbling all over the place and say,
‘You better drink the rest of that before you spill it!’ Then carry you
home safely and put you to bed…

—

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Will talk crap to the person who talks crap about you.
VETERAN FRIENDS: Will knock the hell out OF THEM…for using your name
in vain.

—

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Will ignore this.
VETERAN FRIENDS: Will forward this.

—

A veteran – whether active duty, retired, or reserve- is someone who,
at one point in their life, wrote a blank check made payable to ‘The
Government of the United States of America’ for an amount of ‘up to and
including my life’. . .

Before you get all impressed with the fact that we have nothing better to do with our time than to watch an entire season in a week, if you look at past posts, you will see Gannon and I watched Season 7 in a weekend. Season 8 starts next week, and we are looking forward to it and hoping to knock out Season 2 before then.

Started studying for the CompTIA A+ exam yesterday. Not really impressive I know, but I figure I might as well since I already have Net+ and Sec+. Having A+ should round everything out and then maybe I can work on my Server+ or start working vendor specific certifications.

Gannon started playing the guitar again. He has an electric acoustic one. He is already playing some chords, like the beginning to Metallica’s “One” and “Enter Sandman”. I introduced him to ZZ Top last week and he thinks they are cool. WOW! My son thinks something from my generation is cool, besides Metallica.

As far as Gavin, well lets just say an incident this weekend is an example of his relationship with his older brother. Little brother, is swatting at big brother with his shirt, big brother takes little brothers shirt away, tells the dog to take it. The dog takes the shirt, dragging little brother with it through the house.