Books and Backhoes

Yes'm, I went to my first drill weekend. Although the experience as a whole was undesirable, it wasn't as bad as I expected. Not a very complicated group, these guys. Quite...cheery. Although, it DOES trouble me that the Sgt. over all the HE operators doesn't even know where the parking brake is on a backhoe. Hmmm. As far as school is concerned, that went outstanding, and I've been beating myself in the head trying to find the reason why I didn't go there in the first place. I have two classes with friends (after a bit of tinkering, naturally, although this DID cause me to lose my Tues. and Thurs. off days), and I look forward to seeing how it's going to pan out. Never thought I'd hear myself say that, though......

Phil

All right, already! Let's get this blogspot active!

'K, peeps, it has been waaaay too long since anyone has posted ANYTHING in the Shepherd's Fold. Makes me wonder if the Fold has folded! Now, we aren't going to let that happen, so let's hear from everyone soon. We want to know how the first weekend of duty went for Phil, and how WSCC is going. We need to hear from Jenny as to her class, etc., this year. Cari, how was your trip back, and how were the four-leggeds faring? We always love pics of sweet Baby Ella when Erin has time to post, and Shep, wassup with you? Leese, wouldn't hurt you to post a line or two either. Jonathan, when you get back from the wilds, I know you will have a lot to tell us. Just in case we don't get back together before, have a smashing good Labor Day weekend, and Go, Vols!
Big huggin's to all of you from Sis/Aunt/Mama Soss.

Happy late birthday, Cari!

I know we all wished you happy birthday on the real day, but here we have this great blog, made for all of us by you, and we didn't even mention your special day. Soooo, have a wonderful Thursday-after-your-birthday! It has been so nice getting to see you this week, even though I am sorry that it was all at the hospital. Know that we are very proud of you and love you big time!

Bathroom to Battlefield

Please, let it be known that male Marines know how to implement the use of tampons only on the battlefield! I don't think my new unit would appreciate a shipment of those. I myself have not received tampon combat training, but, personally, I wouldn't pass on a chance to become a well-trained Maxi-medic.

Phil

Marines and a Tampon (it's ok to read! don't worry!)

Someone sent me this in e-mail today, and I wanted to share it with all of you. Hope that is OK to do on a blog; if I am breaking rules, please let me know!

Subject: MARINES AND TAMPONS (A GREAT STORY)

Tampons to the rescue in Iraq!! Don't worry, it's a good
story, and worth reading. It's even humorous in parts. It's from the
mother of a Marine in Iraq.

My son told me how wonderful the care packages we had
sent them were and wanted me to tell everyone thank you. He said that
one guy we'll call Marine X, got a girl care package and everyone was
giving him a hard time. My son said, "Marine X got some really nice
smelling lotion and everyone really likes it, so every time he goes to
sleep they steal it from him." I told my son I was really sorry about
the mistake, and if he wanted I would send Marine X another package.
He told me not to worry about Marine X because every time I send
something to him, Marine X thinks it's for him too.

He said when my husband and I sent the last care package,
Marine X came over to his cot picked up the box, started fishing
through it, and said, "What'd we get this time?"

My son said they had the most fun with Marine X's
package. He said he wasn't sure who we were sending the pack to, but
the panties were size 20, and he said one of the guys got on top of
the Humvee and jumped off with the panties over his head and yelled,
"Look at me, I'm an Airborne Ranger!!!!" One of the guys attached the
panties to an antenna and it blew in the wind like a windsock. He said
it entertained them for quite awhile. Then of course.......they had those
tampons.

When he brought this up, my imagination just went running,
but he continued. My son said they had to go on a mission and Marine X
wanted the Chap-Stick and lotion for the trip. He grabbed a bunch of
the items from his care package and got in the Humvee. As luck would
have it he grabbed the tampons too, and my son said everyone was
teasing him about "not forgetting his feminine hygiene products."

He said things went well for a while, then the convoy was
ambushed and a Marine was shot. He said the wound was pretty clean,
but it was deep. He said they were administering first aid but
couldn't get the bleeding to slow down, and someone said, "Hey! Use
Marine X's tampons!" My son said they put the tampon in the wound. At
this point my son profoundly told Me, "Mom, did you know that tampons
expand?" ("Well....yeah!")

They successfully slowed the bleeding until the guy got
better medical attention. When they went to check on him later The
surgeon told them, "You guys saved his life. If you hadn't stopped
that bleeding he would have bled to death." My Son said, "Mom, the
tampons sent by the Marine Moms by mistake saved a Marine's life."

At this point I asked him, "Well, what did you do with the
rest of the tampons?"

He said, "Oh, we divided them up and we all have them in
our flak jackets, and I kept two for our first aid kit."

I am absolutely amazed by the ingenuity of our Marines. I
can't believe that something that started out as a mistake then turned
into a joke, ended up saving someone's life. My sister said she
doesn't believe in mistakes. She believes God had a plan all along.
She believes that "female care package" was sent to Marine X to save our
Marine.

OK ONE MORE PIC

Ok now I do know how to do this. I will try harder and send updated pics of baby girl. Gosh who does she look like???? Not me.

Happy 20th Phil

First: Happy Birthday Big Phil.......... Notice the shirt.....and to Jonathan a little late... Better go ahead and wish you a good one as well B!

Second: Hope Emily is feeling better soon. Not sure what nerve block she had, but I have had 2 in my back a week apart. Not fun.

Third: Sorry we missed the pool party. Did not get email from Soss til today. Work has put a block on the computers, so I cannot check the Shep blog from work anymore. My computer is not moving very fast at home. This is taking me forever to type right now.

Fourth: Hmmmmm what comes next? Just a very busy mom, who is trying to do it all. Not succeeding at it.....

Fifth: Cari here is Jonathan's address in Maine 48 Hemlock St. apt. 2 Bangor, ME 04401

OK last thing for now. If you guys plan anything again please email me: erinroth@gmail.com

I can check that at work.

Oh wait one more thing. I am going to try and post a pic. I DID IT! Please if anyone is ever in K-town please come on by.

Love to all,

Erin

Emily's procedure went well

Emily is back home from her "nerve block" (yes, it has a big old name that I can't remember) that she underwent this afternoon, and all went well with the actual procedure. Now everybody please pray that this will effectively do a number on those nerves so she can be rid of that nasty pain. It truly has been a monumental PITA!!!

Go Phil! A teenager no more!

Can it really be 20 years since that itsy bitsy boy arrived somewhat unexpectedly on that hot August day? Hope your birthday has been a good one so far, and that it only gets better for the rest of the week. Then you can pass the baton to Cari, and she can reign for her birthday week.
Loved spending time with you and those of the family who got to attend Saturday night. We just simply need to do this visitin' thing more often!
Big birthday hugs, and Molly sends cyber-slobbers.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PHILIP!

Thanks for coming!

Just wanted to say thank you guys for spending some time with us the sat. night! Loved seeing you and laughing like crazy people! Please come back very soon and KNOW THAT YOU HAVE AN OPEN INVITE!!! I love you! Phil...do I have to call every morning?!? haha!

Hugs,
Leese

Ready to eat/swim/visit?

Hi, y'all. Sharon has been covered over this week plus dealing with migraines and wedding plans, so she hasn't had a chance to post the details of our shin-dig tomorrow evening. We were waiting to see how the heat was going to be before we set the time for sure, so let's try for 6:30. There will still be plenty of time for anyone who wants to swim, but it won't be quite as hot as earlier (crossing my fingers). Looks like the menu is grilled chicken, dawgs, and burgers with the fixin's, ranch beans, cornbread salad, cake and cookies, scoops and salsa. Hopefully there will be something everybody will like. Bring your swimsuit if you like; I doubt that the neighbors would appreciate skinny-dipping! Erin, we know you have plans for Saturday, but if you get a chance, come on up for as long as you can. I would love to see that sweet Ella spashing in the pool! Looking forward to seeing everyone in less than 24 hours!

OK, here is my name for the Volvo

I am entering Ingrid as my name for your Swedish beauty. Now of course none of you is old enough to remember Ingrid Bergman in her heyday, but she was quite the gal. Be forewarned: you will have to keep Ingrid away from hot Italian cars like Ferraris, Fiats, Maseratis, etc. The original Ingrid left her nice Swedish hubby Dr. Peter Lindstrom and gave birth to twins by Italian director Roberto Rosellini ( not sure of the spelling). Gotta watch those cool and serene Swedish types!

Happy Birthday to Jonathan

Even though I am posting this after midnight so it is not officially still your birthday! I could not find your address and I am not sure of your e-mail addy anymore. Hope your day was a good one and we wish you all the best in the coming year. Seems so long since we have seen you!

Ja...Das es gut....ser gut!!

Yes, I know that's mostly German, but my Swedish is a little rusty. Thanks to those of you who have participated so far...or at least brought your special brand of humor to the blog. Does anyone have Jonathan's mailing address in Maine?

Love,
B

P.S. I leave you with some precious words oft-spoken to me by my dear Swedish great grandmother, Lovisa....De vem inte delta vilja för alltid bli känt som kålen huvuden!

I think she was either calling me "dear one"...or "she who has the head of a cabbage". I was never quite sure.

Station Vagon! Heil!

Eet seems to me zat ze novelty of ze blog has vorn off, ja? I know eet ees not because you all haf nossing to say! You vill vrite on ze blog! VRITE!! Do eet NOW!

Ze vagon, call her..."Ovlov"...

..."Ovlov Swedespeed".

Sveet, ja? Ja.

Name the Volvo Contest

Hey folks....
Hope everyone is doing well. It appears the novelty has worn off the old fold...but I know that the start of school is a busy time for most everyone (we are gearing up on my end). If there was such an award as "Most Prolific Poster", I would award that to you, Sossie. Thank you very much! As for the title of this post...our neighbors have graciously bestowed upon us a lovely Volvo station wagon. In order to welcome her to our menagerie of vehicles, we have decided to hold a Name Our New Volvo contest. Lest you think we are strange, we have not historically named our vehicles. This started with Jason's last acquisition-a 25-year-old, $700 pick-up truck that we named Buford.
Here are a few details and tips-
We are pretty sure the car is a "she". The Volvo has a few years on her-but she is a classic and has aged quite gracefully. She currently has a tan exterior with a rich chocolate interior. Like all Volvos, her heritage is Swedish. (Extra points given for a name with Swedish/Scandinavian origins.) Since we are such a varied bunch, the prize will be tailored to the winner. Please use the blog to post your entries or questions. The last day for entries will be Aug. 15-that is so I may bring the prize home to Morristown when I come to visit Aug 17-24.

Good luck and thanks for humoring me!
B

Do all of you have this link?

Tonight as I was clicking on my Animal Rescue icon in my toolbar, it occurred to me that everyone may not know that just by clicking daily you can help to feed animals that have been rescued. I do it daily under two different screen names; it only takes a second. I stuck it up at the top in the toolbar so I am reminded each time. Anyway, I know we all are lovin' our four-leggeds, and this is just one way we can love a few more! Click here: Fund Food for Animals @ The Animal Rescue Site