Medals @ MindSay 
canada
BEIJING (AFP) - Britain's greedy team of track cycling stars continued to sweep up Olympic medals here Monday, smashing their own world record on their way to ending a 100-year wait for Olympic team pursuit gold.
Shakes head. See I get really irritated when I watch or read about the Olympics that is why I try VERY hard to keep it off of my tv. I lost the battle when we went down to the parental unit's place the other night. And I got irritated with a big mouthed bitch who most likely didn't ever take a dive off of the high dive in her entire life and how she went after HOW the Canadians looked physically and other things.
Now even though the above article is suppose to be a feel good article about the Britain's cycling team, I am very irriate that the media calls them "greedy" but the media calls Phelps a "golden boy"
To me Phelps is the greedy needs knocked off his pedestal crap boy and the Britain Cycling team is heading to a 100 year goal of getting a gold medal!
I won't say we did excellent at our first TKD tourny but we did really well for being one of the bigger Regional Tournies in our area!
Hell there were ppl all the way from FL that showed up outside of Omaha to the Tourny! It doesn't suprise any of us that we had ppl down from MN, ND, SD, IA or even up from MO, KS, and AK. But it did shock a lot of folks that we had folks from FL, CA, OR, GA, and a couple from CO! Why the FL one shocked us over the West coasters and the GA folks, is because the person was a lil 7 year old 1st Degree Black Belt! I even talked to his mom (sittin next to each other during the Adult and Tiny Tot's BB competitions before opening ceromonines!). This lil boy's mom flys him all over the states for TKD tournies! This weekend they were of course in NE, last weekend AJ (my assistant instructor) saw him in St. Paul, MN and the weekend before they were in NE again at a smaller state Trouny! Must be nice to be 7 years old and being flown all over creation by parents with money!:P I don't begrudge them doing that but I'll be dayumed I fly anywhere for a tourny unless my kids eventually make it to one of the big ones out in Las Vegas. Even the World Championship ones we won't ever fly too! That is only down in Little Rock!
Anyway, AJ is waiting on BB point standings to be released Monday morning to see if he made it to the World Champinship (Only those in Leadership Status can collect points and go on to World Championship or get any State Championship or REgional Champsionship). Mr. G (his first tourny also) placed in the BB also with forms and got a Victory Medal (basically 4th place -they only place 1-3) on his weapons.
The kids and I weren't up till after opening ceromonies. Which by the way was kick ass KEWL! Master K not only owns the Bellevue NE school (outside of Omaha) but owns 3 other schools in NE also, so they of course always host regionals and he went out of his way this year because they got some High Ranking Masters to help judge this year. A 1979 Triple Crown NE State Championship and World Champioinship Woman (can't remember her name) who is also on the ATA Board of Directors was there, along with the Current 7th to 9th degree Master who is currently the Triple Crown Holder for World Champioinships and one of the retired World Championship Head dudes that helped our Founding TKD Org and TKD Style Master Lee with some of the forms was there. They were all there to help judge! Not to mention a few other high ranking TKD folks who were helping to judge. Then for opening ceromonies after all the chitter that irritates ppl, they had a Korean group come in and did a whole Korean Dragon show with 4 dragons. It was AWESOME!
I managed to watch all of DeLaney's section and she did EXCELLENT for her first tourny! A Victory Medal (again 4th place) for forms and a 1st placing in Weapons out of 5 girls. She was the only ranking in her group. All the rest were higher ranking and a total of 8 girls ages 8-10. Sparring will come as we do more torunies. I didn't get to watch Coltin's because my section was called up and gettin started at the same time Coltin's was. So i relied on DeLaney to take pictures for me. Coltin also did EXCELLENT! He got a Victory Medal for 4th place in forms and got 3rd in Weapons out of 4 or 5 boys. There were three other boys the same ranking as he was and a total of 15 boys ages 8-10 that he had to compete against. Alas though Coltin wasn't able to spar. The ignorance of a Mamma and not knowing that lil boys had to have a cup. First who would have thought at that age group they require a cup. They have really nothing there:D So the judge (4th degree Dan) helped calm him down by letting him be the offical score keeper (usually reserved for BBs) and told him not to get mad at me cause us Mamma's don't always think of those things and just to have Daddy take him cup shopping before our next tourny!
There was about 10 of us women age grouped from 17-39 because there was only 3 girl for the 17-20 age group and the rest of us were the 30-39 age group. So instead of putting those 3 women off by themselves they just lumped them with us. Only two women did weapons (me and a higher ranking woman) and of course there was only 1 other woman at my rank and the rest of the women were either two ranks ahead of us or clear up to the rank below black belt. I did pretty good if I must say so! I got a Victory Medal (4th place) for forms, and the other Blue Belt Rank lady that didn't do weapons and the other Camo Rank (my rank) also got the Victory Medal, so in other words we tied for 4th place and since they only count 1-3 we didn't have to do what is called a Form off:P:D The other blue rank and I were the only ones that did Weapons. She got first and I got second. I didn't get to watch her form beause I was running over to Coltin's matt but EVERYONE said I got jipped out of 1st because I may have had my chucks do something funky twice, she dropper her weapon twice. The other Camo belt ranking goes to the same Academy as the Blue ranking women who took first and said she is either sleeping with the instructor or doing some massive kiss ass because they both started at teh same time and the Camo belt lady is right were she needs to be at and the other lady is two rankings higher then her now. Plus the 2nd Dan judge (Dan is the degree of black belt) is one of their Academies sister school instructors and Camo woman and the other ladies think that is why the lady who got first in weapons got it. I didn't see her weapons form and I dont' care. I placed!:D Again I did good in sparring didn't place but it was our first tourny and the judge even said once I get some things down I am going to be a force to be reckoned with because I don't just do kicks or just punches I do a lot of combos!
They were doing closing ceromonies by the time Coltin and I were done and getting changed and we were getting complements left and right on how well we all three did! The Triple Crown Lady went up to DeLaney and told her she was really impressed with her form and gave her a few tips to clean it up before testing and our in school tourny. Coltin's judge and the Men's Triple Crown Current Champion both told him he did great and the guy took Coltin up to another tourny matt and showed him what he could do to improve both his form and his weapons! I had the head guy that was retired and on board of directors show me a couple of arm and hand positions to help my sparring and complement all three of us and said that he is hoping to see us at some more tournies and asked why we weren't leadership yet. That he was watching all 3 of us all day long because he sat near us, and was really impressed with not only how well we did but how the kids and I were NOT shy and talked to EVERYONE and even helped out others in our postion of being first tourny. And he asked Coltin's judge if she would please find out why we weren't leadership. Coltin's judge is testing at World Championship with our insturctor for their 5th Dan BB and when I explained that I had leadership i just haven't taken it yet cause my kids didn't make it to open try outs and now have a invit try out after our in school tourny, the Host Master popped in and told Coltin's Judge (guess she is going to be at our tourny helping) to tell our instructor to get us in Leadership ASAP so we can start earing points!
Over all we did REALLY good, and I am proud of my kids. They went in to have fun and that is what they did! Sure they placed in weapons but that wasn't the goal. The goal was to get some experenice in and I delibreatly choose a BIG tourny to do it so they would get over the nervousness and here they both placed! We all are on a Marital Arts high today! It was late by the time we got out of Bellevue into Omaha and I decieded NOT to stop anywhere for food and we picked up Micky D's in IA before crossing BACK into NE on our way home, so we are going to the Olive Garden today for a celebration lunch!
I'll post pictures later (sorry none of me cause I was the only parent there to manage my two!) and wish us luck on preparing for our next rank testing this coming Saturday!
By Elaine Wilson
Special to American Forces Press Service
Jan. 29, 2007 – With the star-studded grand opening just a day away, Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Richard A. Cody yesterday officiated over the first awards ceremony at the Center for the Intrepid here. The official dedication of the $50 million, state-of-the-art rehabilitation center for wounded warriors today is slated to draw a crowd of 3,000, along with a slew of celebrities and politicians, to include Senss Hillary Clinton and John McCain, and entertainers Denzel Washington, John Mellencamp and Rosie O'Donnell.
Yesterday, however, Cody's focus was not on the grand opening or the celebrity cast, but on Army Master Sgt. Daniel Robles, who was being honored with a Purple Heart and Bronze Star in the lobby of the new center.
"We have a warrior ethos in the Army that Sergeant. Robles has lived up to all of his career, and certainly on that day in April 2006 in Baghdad when he was serving as an NCO, leading soldiers when he was injured," the general said.
The mortar platoon sergeant was injured April 8, 2006, while on a patrol in southern Baghdad. Robles was riding in the lead vehicle of a convoy when it hit an improvised explosive device. Robles was riddled with shrapnel and lost both of his legs below the knee as a result of the explosion.
"Since then he's been going back and living that ethos of 'mission first,' never accepting defeat, never quitting and never leaving a fallen comrade," Cody said.
That same mission applies to the Center for the Intrepid, Cody said. The center was made possible through private donations and the commitment of Arnold and Ken Fisher, a father-son team who head up the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund and the Fisher House Foundation.
Both the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund and the Fisher House Foundation are members of the Defense Department's America Supports You program, which works to highlight ways in which Americans support U.S. troops, veterans and their families.
"Mission first is getting soldiers like Sergeant Robles back on their feet; never quitting is his job; never accepting defeat is our job to help him; and never leaving a fallen comrade is what the Fisher House Foundation and the CFI Foundation (have done), and all of those great Americans who have donated their dollars and their hearts to let our soldiers know that if you are wounded on the battlefield, we will stay with you," Cody said.
Despite his injuries, Robles stood to receive his Bronze Star and Purple Heart, which Cody called a "badge of honor."
"I hate giving out Purple Hearts, but I'm also proud to give out Purple Hearts because I know the pain and suffering that not only the soldier goes through, but also his family in helping him in coming back, never quitting and giving him back his life."
Regardless of their injuries, Cody said, many of the soldiers he meets profess their love of this country and the Army. "Most of them say, 'General, can we stay in? I have so much to offer,'" he said.
The general said Robles asked him the same question. Cody gave his answer at the awards ceremony. "You have my commitment as vice chief of staff of the Army," he said, "we'll keep you in the Army as long as you want to stay."
Robles, who has 17 years already under his belt, said he's excited he will be able to complete a 20-year career. "It's pretty amazing," he said. "(Cody) even gave me his card.
"I couldn't ask to be in a better place coming to Fort Sam Houston and Brooke Army Medical Center," Robles said. "I can only imagine what will be accomplished once this place is fully open. Tomorrow is a big day for Fort Sam and all of the services."
Along with the Center for the Intrepid, two new Fisher Houses will open today at Fort Sam Houston. The 21-room houses, which resemble an upscale hotel, provide a home away from home for families of wounded warriors.
"People ask me why we do what we do," said Ken Fisher, chairman and CEO of the Fisher House Foundation. "Look to my left," he said referring to Robles. "Can you imagine this sergeant going through his rehab and not having his family with him? This is exactly why we do what we do."
(Elaine Wilson is assigned to the Fort Sam Houston Public Information Office.)
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If you all didn't know........Veterans Day is today. Not Monday! Today is the day to pay honor and respect to all those who have fought for our Country. Even if you may not agree with why they have fought or why our Solidors are fighting..........HONOR them! They are doing the jobs that we are either unable to do or do NOT want to do! They deserve our respect!
My husband is a Desert Storm Vet and even though he cooked us breakfast today........he doesn't have to do shit today for us but enjoy his last day off before he goes back to work tonight! My father and most of my uncles and great uncles are all Veterans ranging from WWII to Vietnam. My brother is currently serving in the Marines over in Iraq but he to is a veteran of Desert Storm via the Navy!
Most US Citizens have family members that are War Veterans and we often forget this. Unlike Memorial Day where we remember those who have fought and died, Veterans Day gives us the chance to tell those still living and serving, Thank You and to remember that they served and many are still serving!
Aussieland has a day where their Veterans wear their medals one full day that they received while serving. It has been suggested by a politician that the US Veterans do the same! My hubby's ex wife stole most of his medals from him so a very proud wife that I am, I am going to replace every single one of his medals and ribbons. He has 3 rows of them so it will get expenseive! But I will do it because I am proud of my husband! And it will be somethign to pass on to our children and grandchildren!
A poem that I found online. Dedicated to all Veterans of all Countries not just the US!
Veterans
Remember not the glory but the cause,
The way it would be, not the way it was
Before we were, before the oath and all
The stuff nostalgia brings to love, recall
Those buddies, pals and comrades we became
In that brief time, and worry not the name,
But keep the deep unaging promise sworn
Against the certainty of aging worn,
And stand in grand determination, give
The day gone tribute, now the joy and live
As quiet heroes, heroes just as sure
As those who died, the living too endure
The challenge peace, the peace we sought and won,
Remember us, when all is said and done.
William Brendan McPhillips
November 11, 1999
and breaking.
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