My Grandpa’s War Stories - CollegeGirl's Blog - Victoria Advocate http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/CollegeGirl Just a couple of weeks ago I was helping a friend decorate for her wedding that was to take place later that night. It was right before lunch when my 90 year old grandpa called and asked if I would pick him up a Whataburger. My friend had lots of help, so I told her I had to go run an errand. As I drove the 30 miles into town to the nearest Whataburger all I could think about was all the stories my grandpa had told me about the time he was in WWII. I would like to share some of these stories. My grandpa was in the Marines. While aboard a ship in the middle of the ocean, one of his friends had managed to bring a dog aboard without anyone knowing except for a few friends. One morning they all gathered for a formation and the dog came too. When one of the officers spotted the dog he said that by the time they reached land that dog best be off the ship. My grandpa said that a voice from the back said “if that dog is thrown from this ship that he would also be thrown overboard.” The officer did not say another word because back in those days he would have been thrown from that ship. My grandpa said that dog made it to land. He said the having that dog aboard gave joy to his friends. When my grandpa was in Ie Shima he had a dog named K-Ration (see picture.) He really loved that little dog along with his buddies. That little dog was smart he said. That dog could hear things before they could. He said one time that dog took off running for a hole and not to long after a kamikaze plane came flying overhead and crashing a ways away but he said that little dog saved their lives a many of times. When my grandpa got ready to get back on a ship he said he had to kill his little friend and bury him. He did not want them killing the dog and eating him. He said he cried when he had to kill K-Ration. Also said that was really hard to do. All the stories my grandpa told me as a child were somewhat happy and upbeat. As I have grown up the stories have changed just a little. I think I really know what happened and I am better off knowing the happier sides. Not to many years ago my mom told me that my grandpa told her that he was afraid he was not going to heaven because of what he did to survive WWII. Just a couple of weeks ago I was helping a friend decorate for her wedding that was to take place later that night. It was right before lunch when my 90 year old grandpa called and asked if I would pick him up a Whataburger. My friend had lots of help, so I told her I had to go run an errand. As I drove the 30 miles into town to the nearest Whataburger all I could think about was all the stories my grandpa had told me about the time he was in WWII. I would like to share some of these stories. My grandpa was in the Marines. While aboard a ship in the middle of the ocean, one of his friends had managed to bring a dog aboard without anyone knowing except for a few friends. One morning they all gathered for a formation and the dog came too. When one of the officers spotted the dog he said that by the time they reached land that dog best be off the ship. My grandpa said that a voice from the back said “if that dog is thrown from this ship that he would also be thrown overboard.” The officer did not say another word because back in those days he would have been thrown from that ship. My grandpa said that dog made it to land. He said the having that dog aboard gave joy to his friends. When my grandpa was in Ie Shima he had a dog named K-Ration (see picture.) He really loved that little dog along with his buddies. That little dog was smart he said. That dog could hear things before they could. He said one time that dog took off running for a hole and not to long after a kamikaze plane came flying overhead and crashing a ways away but he said that little dog saved their lives a many of times. When my grandpa got ready to get back on a ship he said he had to kill his little friend and bury him. He did not want them killing the dog and eating him. He said he cried when he had to kill K-Ration. Also said that was really hard to do. All the stories my grandpa told me as a child were somewhat happy and upbeat. As I have grown up the stories have changed just a little. I think I really know what happened and I am better off knowing the happier sides. Not to many years ago my mom told me that my grandpa told her that he was afraid he was not going to heaven because of what he did to survive WWII. en-us What a Scam!!! http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/CollegeGirl/7329 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/CollegeGirl/7329 <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes"><font face="Times New Roman">I just had a lady call and tell me that she was not able to get in touch with a couple, she rattled the name off but I could not understand the name even after asking her a few times to repeat the name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>She said that she had a great business opportunity that would make them a lot of money and just could not reach them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Then she appologized for bothering me, but stressed how big this opportunity was and that she really needed to get in touch with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>I told her that I did not know them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>So she then said that all I had to do was give her some personel information and she could offer me this great opportunity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>For curiosity, I asked her to tell me about this bussiness opportunity and she said she could not tell me because she was afraid I would venture off and do this myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>By now I knew she just wanted my personel information, so I just told her I do not do anything by phone and hung up.<o:p></o:p></font></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes"><font face="Times New Roman">Let this be a reminder that people are out there to scam you!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Don&rsquo;t let them take you for a ride.</font></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><o:p></o:p></span></p> My Monarch Butterflies!!! http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/CollegeGirl/7192 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/CollegeGirl/7192 <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">I am so excited that my Monarchs came out of their chrysalis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Sunday afternoon I went outside to water my flowerbed and I&nbsp;caught them&nbsp;drying their wings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>The pictures are of the Monarch&rsquo;s drying their wings in the sun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>If you look to the right of the butterfly you can see the chrysalis that the butterfly came out of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>I wished I could have seen them actually come out.</font></p>


Title: Butterfly drying wings.jpg
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Credit: CollegeGirl


Title: Butterfly drying wings.jpg
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Credit: CollegeGirl


Title: Butterfly on texas star hibiscus.JPG
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Credit: CollegeGirl


Title: Butterfly on texas star hibiscus.JPG
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Credit: CollegeGirl

 Butterfly drying wings.jpg CollegeGirl Butterfly on texas star hibiscus.JPG CollegeGirl I have Monarch Butterfly Chrysalises… http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/CollegeGirl/7079 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/CollegeGirl/7079 <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11.5pt; COLOR: #333333; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;">How exciting!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>I found about 5 chrysalises in about 2 minutes in my back yard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>I know there are more but my allergies are not permitting me to stay outside very long to look for more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11.5pt; COLOR: #333333; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;">Check out the yellow swirls on the top of the chrysalis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Also if you look on the left site of the chrysalis you can see the Monarch&rsquo;s wings forming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>This picture really does not do it justice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>The thick yellow rim lined with black actually looks like gold outside.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11.5pt; COLOR: #333333; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;">Hope you enjoyed my little butterfly experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>If I am really lucky I will be able to catch one of these Monarchs drying their winds when they comes out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>I will be on the lookout.<o:p></o:p></span></p>


Title: chrysalis.jpg
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Credit: CollegeGirl


Title: chrysalis.jpg
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Credit: CollegeGirl

 chrysalis.jpg CollegeGirl Look at my Butterfly Caterpillars today… http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/CollegeGirl/7024 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/CollegeGirl/7024 <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;">Look at my Butterfly Caterpillars today&hellip;<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;">Wow, how they grow and fast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>They have eaten more than half my plant in one day!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>I hope I get a chance to take the caterpillars that are left with nothing to my mom&rsquo;s house to eat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>I counted over 20 on my little plant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>In the picture there are at least 10 of these little critters.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;">Also, I am still on the lookout for there <span style="COLOR: #333333">chrysalis</span> (cocoons.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>I will post a picture when I find one.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;">Here is my blog from yesterday about my caterpillars:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;"><a href="http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/CollegeGirl/7019"><font color="#800080">http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/CollegeGirl/7019</font></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>


Title: Caterpillars 04022008.jpg
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Title: Caterpillars 04022008.jpg
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Credit: CollegeGirl

 Caterpillars 04022008.jpg CollegeGirl Look at my Butterfly Caterpillars http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/CollegeGirl/7019 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/CollegeGirl/7019 <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;"><font size="3">This is another reason I love spring time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>My caterpillars are back and hungry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>In my flower bed in the back yard I have planted what I call butterfly weed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Right now I have 18 caterpillars on my one plant.<o:p></o:p></font></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;"><font size="3"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;</span>The butterflies flutter all around this plant and a couple of days later I have caterpillars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>These caterpillars will eat this entire plant down to sticks and there will even be caterpillars left with nothing to eat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>But not to worry, they will be transported to my mom&rsquo;s plants where there is always plenty to eat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Yes, I pick the ones left with nothing to eat, put them in a cup and take them to my mom&rsquo;s plant.<o:p></o:p></font></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;"><font size="3">The caterpillar in the front left corner should be looking to make its chrysalis (cocoon) very soon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>These little critters will travel all over my back yard, so I will be on the lookout for their chrysalis and will share a picture if I can find one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>The chrysalis for these caterpillars is green with gold trim.<o:p></o:p></font></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;"><font size="3">Do you have butterfly weed in your yard?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></font></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;"><font size="3">I also have a passion vine they eat but no caterpillars on that yet.<o:p></o:p></font></span></p>


Title: MY CATERS.jpg
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Credit: CollegeGirl


Title: MY CATERS.jpg
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Credit: CollegeGirl

 MY CATERS.jpg CollegeGirl Does your boss ask for the impossible? http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/CollegeGirl/6970 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/CollegeGirl/6970 <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">This is a true event; I can not make this stuff up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span></font></font></p> <p class="NoSpacing" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">I am currently working on a project that must be finished today and another issue comes up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Now I am the only person that can fix this issue because right now I am the only person with the rights, but my boss calls and ask if I could do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>This issue could wait till tomorrow but anytime someone calls my boss he feels he should get it done right away (this is what kills me.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>I tell him that I am working on this project that must be finished today and that the issue would have to wait till tomorrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>And he says &ldquo;Now this is where I want you to use your innovative skills we have talked about.&rdquo;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>In other words he wants me to figure out a way to get them both done, meaning be in two places at once.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>This would mean that I would have to stop work on the project and train one of my co-workers how to fix this issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Which would take quite a bit of time to train someone; when it would just be faster for me to take care of the issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>This is what just burns me up inside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>So guess what I did&hellip;</font></p> <p class="NoSpacing" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">&nbsp;</font></o:p></p> <p class="NoSpacing" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">I am going to ignore the request and do it first thing in the morning and I have already talked to the person and they said that it could wait.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>And that they did not even really need it till Friday morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>My boss likes for me to get it done right away so he can say look we got it done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>ARRRRGGGG!!!</font></p> Welcome Back Spring… http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/CollegeGirl/6921 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/CollegeGirl/6921 <p class="NoSpacing" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt"><font face="Times New Roman"><o:p></o:p></font></span></p> <p class="NoSpacing" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></o:p></span></p> <p class="NoSpacing" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt"><font face="Times New Roman">It is spring!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>I just absolutely love spring because all my plants come alive and start turning green, the weather is absolutely gorgeous and my allergies get better.<o:p></o:p></font></span></p> <p class="NoSpacing" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></o:p></span></p> <p class="NoSpacing" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt"><font face="Times New Roman">What a beautiful weekend (except for the crazy wind on Sunday) we had here in Victoria.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Saturday morning I worked in all my flower beds, which are just coming alive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>All my plants that died off during the winter are coming back; especially my favorite plant the Texas Star Hibiscus (pictured.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>It is only over a foot right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></font></span></p> <p class="NoSpacing" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt"><font face="Times New Roman">I will post as it gets bigger and puts off flowers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>The special part of my Texas Star is that it must have dropped seeds last year and now they are popping up all over my flower beds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>How exciting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>If you have never seen the flower you must Google it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>My particular variation is a Red Texas Star.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></font></span></p> <p class="NoSpacing" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt"><font face="Times New Roman">Well back to the beautiful day Saturday, my husband and I went for a bike ride (over 20 miles) all over town and through the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">City</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Park</st1:placetype></st1:place> and everything is blooming and turning green.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>It is just so exciting to see spring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Everyone is working in their flower beds and grooming their yards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>I wish it was spring all year long!<o:p></o:p></font></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><font face="Times New Roman">Well back to my yard I shall go when it stops raining!<o:p></o:p></font></span></p>


Title: Texas Star 03-16-2008.jpg
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Credit: CollegeGirl


Title: Texas Star 03-16-2008.jpg
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Credit: CollegeGirl

 Texas Star 03-16-2008.jpg CollegeGirl Check your credit/debit card… http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/CollegeGirl/6878 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/CollegeGirl/6878 <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;"><font size="3">Just last week a friend of mine dined at a local restaurant here in Victoria with her husband.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>They paid for their meal with a credit card and then left the restaurant and went to a few retail stores.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>They bought items with what they thought was their credit card and had actually used it at a few places.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>It was not until they used it at a certain retail store and were asked for their pin number, that they realized it was not their credit card.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>The transaction would not go through because it was not their credit card.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>They went back to the restaurant to report what had happened and whoever got their credit card also had to return to swap cards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>It is really a mess now because they charged items to these other people&rsquo;s credit card and now they have to pay them back and they have to trust that my friends only spent a certain amount onto their card and vice versa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>My friends immediately went online to make sure these people did not charge anything to their card.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>What a mess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Both parties were credited their money back at the restaurant and also given gift cards to the restaurant for this mistake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></font></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;"><font size="3">I understand that accidents like this can happen at any restaurant but, we as customers should make it a habit/our responsibility to make sure we receive our credit cards back properly.<o:p></o:p></font></span></p> Let's stop the basket rash on our cars… http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/CollegeGirl/6816 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/CollegeGirl/6816 <p class="NoSpacing" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;"><font size="3">Yesterday I ran to the grocery store to pick up just a few items.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>The wind gusts must have been 30 mph or more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>I knew I would only be in the store for probably 15-20 minutes but still parked further out just so I could park next to the basket return, thinking that people would have the common courtesy to put their baskets in the returns since it was extremely windy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Nope I was completely wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>As I walked out a lady was putting her basket at the front of my car (keep in mind I was parked next to the basket return) and proceeded to get in her car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>I asked her to please put her basket in the return so that the surrounding cars would not suffer from basket rash and she had the nerve to give me a dirty look and said she did not have time for that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>So I just smiled and put her basket up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Luckily I only had a few items and could move her basket so that it did not hit mine or someone else&rsquo;s car after I left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></font></span></p> <p class="NoSpacing" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;"><font size="3">So I ask that the next time you go to the store, windy or not please put your basket in a return.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>If your car has every suffered from basket rash you know that it never goes away, it is there to stay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></font></span></p> <p class="NoSpacing" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;"><o:p><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></o:p></span></p> <p class="NoSpacing" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;"><font size="3">Thanks to all of you who put your baskets up!!!<o:p></o:p></font></span></p> Victoria needs bicycle trails… http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/CollegeGirl/6754 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/CollegeGirl/6754 <p class="NoSpacing" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;"><font size="3">Last weekend when the weather was absolutely beautiful (in February no less) my husband and I went on an 18 mile bike ride around town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>We rode through downtown, the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">City</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Park</st1:placetype></st1:place>, and different neighborhoods around town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Downtown <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Victoria</st1:place></st1:state> really has some great old homes to look at and the park has the scenery with the river, golf course, and big oak trees (for shade).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>These are great places to ride but the only problem is you constantly have to watch for cars and stop at stop signs so you can&rsquo;t keep a good steady speed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Not to mention the rude people that throw things at you just for meanness (whole other story).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>I wish <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Victoria</st1:place></st1:state> had some bike trails in town where you could keep a steady pace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>When we visit <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Houston</st1:place></st1:city> they have bike trails all over the city and even in the big neighborhoods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>It would be so nice to have them here in <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Victoria</st1:place></st1:state>.<o:p></o:p></font></span></p> Another one of my Grandpa’s War Stories (WWII)…. http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/CollegeGirl/6658 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/CollegeGirl/6658 <p class="NoSpacing" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;"><font size="3">As I got into high school my Grandpa, who I call Papa, told me stories that were not as upbeat, but still not the real truth about his days in WWII.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>I posted an earlier blog with some stories he had told me when I was a bit younger, probably while I was in junior high.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></font></span></p> <p class="NoSpacing" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;"><o:p><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></o:p></span></p> <p class="NoSpacing" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;"><font size="3">I remember one day, Papa and I were sitting on his front porch playing with his dog and he told me that the only reason we were there at that moment was because the ship he was on broke down while on its way to Wake Island.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>At the time I did not know what was so significant about Wake Island.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Since I can remember I have always been interested in WWII stories and any information that was taught in History classes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>But I had never heard stories of Wake Island.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Well Papa told me that their orders where to leave Hawaii and head to Wake Island to relieve the men that were already there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>He said they were a day and half out and their ship started having major problems and so they were ordered back to Hawaii.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>If you don&rsquo;t know of the massacre that happened on Wake Island to our men I invite you to Google or Wikipedia &ldquo;Wake Island +WWII.&rdquo;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Many men were killed on that island by the Japanese.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Anyways had his ship made it to the island as planned he said he would not be here today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>It just breaks my heart that at such a young age he had to deal with these types of events.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>I just pray for all our men and women who are in Iraq right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>I don&rsquo;t know anyone over there but have friends that do.<o:p></o:p></font></span></p> <p class="NoSpacing" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;"><o:p><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></o:p></span></p> <p class="NoSpacing" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;"><font size="3">The picture is a picture my Grandpa took of Diamond Head in <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Hawaii</st1:place></st1:state> while he was in there.<o:p></o:p></font></span></p> <p class="NoSpacing" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;"><o:p><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></o:p></span></p> <p class="NoSpacing" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;"><font size="3">Until next time&hellip;<o:p></o:p></font></span></p>


Title: Diamond Head in Hawaii.jpg
Caption:
Credit: CollegeGirl


Title: Diamond Head in Hawaii.jpg
Caption:
Credit: CollegeGirl

 Diamond Head in Hawaii.jpg CollegeGirl The best strawberry cake for your Valentine…… http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/CollegeGirl/6589 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/CollegeGirl/6589 <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font size="3"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;">This weekend I made a strawberry cake for my Valentine and it is sooooo good that I thought I would share the recipe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>To make this cake just a little better for you, use apple sauce instead of vegetable oil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>You can do this for any recipe that calls for oil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Just use the same measurement that the recipe calls for of oil for the apple sauce.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Example if the recipe calls for 2/3 c of oil then use 2/3 cup of apple sauce.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>I have done this for a long time and you will not taste the apple sauce </span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; mso-hansi-font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings">J</span></span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;"><font size="3">Oh this is an easy recipe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>I am in no way a good cook but this cake sure is goooood.<o:p></o:p></font></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;"><o:p><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 40pt; COLOR: #ff99cc; FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;">Strawberry Cake<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;"><font size="3">&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></font></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt; FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;">1 box white cake mix<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt; FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;">1 small box of strawberry jell-o<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt; FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;">4 eggs<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt; FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;">2/3 cups vegetable oil<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt; FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;">2/3 cups milk<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt; FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;">1/2 box (pint size)&nbsp;frozen strawberries (I thaw them and then puree them in the blender first so it's not big chunks of strawberry, you don't have to though)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt; FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;">&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt; FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;">Mix together all ingredients and bake per cake mix instructions.</span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;"><o:p><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 28pt; COLOR: #ff99cc; FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;">Strawberry Icing<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;"><font size="3">&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></font></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;"><font size="3">1 box powdered sugar<o:p></o:p></font></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;"><font size="3">2 Tbsp butter<o:p></o:p></font></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;"><font size="3">1/2 box frozen strawberries (add small amounts at a time until you get a stiff consistency,&nbsp;I usually don't end up using the&nbsp;whole box because it would be too runny)<o:p></o:p></font></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;"><font size="3">&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></font></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;"><font size="3">Blend until smooth and then spread on cooled cake.<o:p></o:p></font></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;"><o:p><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><u><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;"><font size="3">ENJOY!!!<o:p></o:p></font></span></u></strong></p> Everyone can do something green… http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/CollegeGirl/6542 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/CollegeGirl/6542 <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;"><font size="2">Let me just first say that I am in no way a major tree hugger or some fanatic about going green.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>But I think that everyone can do a little something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>I do what I can but still drive a sports car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>I am just going to list the things I do to help our great planet and invite you to share some of the ways you help or maybe you will add mine to your daily life.<o:p></o:p></font></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;"><o:p><font size="2">&nbsp;</font></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .75in"><font size="2"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'"><span style="mso-list: Ignore">1.<span style="FONT: 7pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><u><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;">I carpool to work</span></u></strong><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;">---Carpooling not only helps the earth but it is great therapy if you carpool with someone you can talk to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>I vent all my stresses from work in the car ride home sometimes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Not to mention the <strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">$75</strong> a month I save carpooling.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .75in"><font size="2"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'"><span style="mso-list: Ignore">2.<span style="FONT: 7pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></strong><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><u><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;">I recycle:</span></u></strong><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;"><o:p></o:p></span></strong></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .75in"><font size="2"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><span style="mso-list: Ignore">&middot;<span style="FONT: 7pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><u><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;">newspapers</span></u><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;">, <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .75in"><font size="2"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><span style="mso-list: Ignore">&middot;<span style="FONT: 7pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><u><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;">cardboard</span></u><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;"> (think of everything that comes packaged in cardboard: cereal boxes, cake mixes, toothpaste boxes, and those frozen dinners that are so convenient) </span><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;">&amp;</span></strong><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;"> (now everyone that drives by my house will not know that I just bought a new TV cause I recycled the cardboard box), <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .75in"><font size="2"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><span style="mso-list: Ignore">&middot;<span style="FONT: 7pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><u><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;">magazines</span></u><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;">, <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .75in"><font size="2"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><span style="mso-list: Ignore">&middot;<span style="FONT: 7pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><u><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;">plastic</span></u><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;">, and <o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .75in"><font size="2"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><span style="mso-list: Ignore">&middot;<span style="FONT: 7pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><u><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;">white paper</span></u><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;"> (all that junk mail gets recycled-but don&rsquo;t forget to tear your name off, don&rsquo;t want any identity theft).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;"><o:p><font size="2">&nbsp;</font></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;"><font size="2">In my garage I have a nice setup of containers to easily recycle the things I listed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Then about once a week I just easily have my husband load them up and I take these containers to the recycle center near the mall and they unload everything for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>What a nice feeling it is to help our planet and our future.<o:p></o:p></font></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .75in"><font size="2"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'"><span style="mso-list: Ignore">3.<span style="FONT: 7pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><u><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;">I buy the seventh generation household cleaners</span></u></strong><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;">---They have a line of <u>non-toxic</u> household cleaners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>They do not have that horrible fragrance that all those other cleaners have.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;"><font size="2">Just think of the amount of waste you create and how you can bring the numbers down by recycling.<o:p></o:p></font></span></p> Why you should carry a cell phone with you… http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/CollegeGirl/6473 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/CollegeGirl/6473 <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;">Well I learned today why I should carry my cell phone with me or should I say on my person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;">Today at work I was doing some work in a closet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>This closet is housed with many cabinets and telecommunication equipment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>It is not a small closet, but does have a fire proof cement wall around it and a fire proof door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>On the outside of this closet is a large room full of servers that make a lot of noise and then this room has secure doors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Well with my full bladder I went in to do a small job and when I went to leave the room the door handle would not open the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>This door does not lock so I knew something had to have broken in the handle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>I sat there for about 20 minutes knowing nobody would probably enter this room for another 2 hours or more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>This is where I wished I had a cell phone.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;">The conclusion to this story:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;">I started yelling out to someone but I knew nobody would hear me over all the secure walls and doors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>I started going through the cabinets and found a laptop that was being held for legal reasons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>I tried to power it up but the battery was completely dead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Well I did manage to find another laptop with a power cable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Then I went to the telecommunications equipment and found a port on the switch that somebody was using and unplugged them and plugged this laptop into the switch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>I then sent an email to some of my co-workers that I was locked in the secure closet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>It did not take but about 30 seconds and I could hear one of the guys trying to get the door open.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>There was a small glass window on the door so I could talk to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Next thing I know there are about 7 people standing out there trying to figure out how to open the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Meanwhile some are taking my picture </span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; mso-hansi-font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings">J</span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>About an hour later the door was successfully taken off its hinges and I got to empty my bladder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;">I am going today to buy me a clip for my cell phone so I can wear it on my person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>What if I had been at work after hours???<o:p></o:p></span></p> My Grandpa’s War Stories http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/CollegeGirl/6365 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/CollegeGirl/6365 <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;">Just a couple of weeks ago I was helping a friend decorate for her wedding that was to take place later that night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>It was right before lunch when my 90 year old grandpa called and asked if I would pick him up a Whataburger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>My friend had lots of help, so I told her I had to go run an errand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>As I drove the 30 miles into town to the nearest Whataburger all I could think about was all the stories my grandpa had told me about the time he was in WWII.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>I would like to share some of these stories.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;">My grandpa was in the Marines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>While aboard a ship in the middle of the ocean, one of his friends had managed to bring a dog aboard without anyone knowing except for a few friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>One morning they all gathered for a formation and the dog came too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>When one of the officers spotted the dog he said that by the time they reached land that dog best be off the ship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>My grandpa said that a voice from the back said &ldquo;if that dog is thrown from this ship that he would also be thrown overboard.&rdquo; <span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;</span>The officer did not say another word because back in those days he would have been thrown from that ship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>My grandpa said that dog made it to land.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>He said the having that dog aboard gave joy to his friends.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;">When my grandpa was in Ie Shima he had a dog named K-Ration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>He really loved that little dog along with his buddies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>That little dog was smart he said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>That dog could hear things before they could.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>He said one time that dog took off running for a hole and not to long after a kamikaze plane came flying overhead and crashing a ways away but he said that little dog saved their lives a many of times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>When my grandpa got ready to get back on a ship he said he had to kill his little friend and bury him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>He did not want them killing the dog and eating him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>He said he cried when he had to kill K-Ration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Also said that was really hard to do.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;">All the stories my grandpa told me as a child were somewhat happy and upbeat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>As I have grown up the stories have changed just a little.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>I think I really know what happened and I am better off knowing the happier sides.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;">Not to many years ago my mom told me that my grandpa told her that he was afraid he was not going to heaven because of what he did to survive WWII.<o:p></o:p></span></p>


Title: K-Ration.jpg
Caption: K-Ration
Credit: CollegeGirl


Title: K-Ration.jpg
Caption: K-Ration
Credit: CollegeGirl

 K-Ration.jpg K-Ration CollegeGirl