fightin6thmarines’ Neighborhood

What's your a favorite holiday memory?

Getting a puppy. And my sister being so psyched out about attacking her stocking that she stepped right over the dog without even noticing her.

www.nataliedee.com

• 15:20 I hate how any time anything at all is wrong with me I immediately go into "OMG I HAVE A FATAL DISEASE AND AM GOING TO DIE!" mode. So crazy. #
• 17:42 @RG_Studios: Do you have to have an Xbox to do testing or can PS3 users participate? #
• 17:46 @RG_Studios: Bummer! I submitted a QA application anyway but figured it wasn't open for PS3 users. Looking forward to it being PS3 too. :-) #
• 20:07 @jeffbalke @btruax @JenXer: I haven't been there in years, so I could be persuaded. Couldn't make it until 8ish, though, probably. #
• 20:49 Calling all peeps! It's #LubbFest Wednesday night at Absinthe! Join us! @JenXer @TheWynk @thisisnotapril @cybertoad @jeffbalke are in! #
• 23:00 @ComcastCares: Are you down in 77373? I can't get online. Have rebooted router and modem several times. #

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LOGAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - In a ceremony held at Forward Operating Base Shank, the Spartans of 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, handed over control of their area of operations to the Sky Soldiers of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, based out of Vicenza, Italy, Dec. 20.

“As we say farewell to Spartan, we welcome back the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team to Combined Joint Task Force 82 and RC-East battle-space,” said Maj. Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, commander, Combined Joint Task Force 82.

Scaparrotti highlighted some of the achievements of the 3rd BCT.

“Working side-by-side with Afghan partners, you protected the southern gates of Kabul, improved the infrastructure at the provincial and district levels and extended the reach of good governors throughout both provinces,” he said. 

“While much has been done through Task Force Spartan, there’s still plenty of work to be done,” he added.   

However, Scaparrotti showed confidence that the 173rd will continue where Task Force Spartan left off.

“I look forward to the outstanding support the Sky Soldiers bring to the fight,” he added, “It’s an honor to serve with you again.”    

Col. David B. Haight, commander, 3rd BCT, followed Scaparrotti noting the accomplishments of his Soldiers during their time in Afghanistan. 

“With our Afghan army and police brothers, we planted our guidons in the heart of the enemy territory.  We dominated our battle space and established permanent presence in 10 districts, across two provinces, that have become dangerous sanctuaries for the enemy,” Haight said.

Haight also mentioned the progress made in the two provinces during the Spartans’ year-long deployment.

“We allocated almost 50 million dollars in development of roads, transportation, governance, water sanitation, health and education,” he said.  “All in an attempt to connect the people with their government and help them understand the work and progress made on their behalf.” 
 
Haight then turned his attention to the commander and soldiers of the 173rd ABCT.

“Col. Johnson and Command Sgt. Maj. Rolling, I could not be more confident in the success you will realize during the coming year,” Haight said.  “Your unit is disciplined, well trained, well led, and enthusiastic about the mission and that may be the most important thing.” 

“I am confident that you will prevail and greatly improve upon what has been established here in this battlefield,” Haight added. 
 
Recognizing the hard work and progress made by the 3rd BCT, Col. James Johnson, commander, 173rd ABCT made a final promise to the Spartans.

“You have set the high standard for us to follow, and we will do our best,” Johnson said.  “We will ensure that the sacrifice of Task Force Spartan was not made in vain.”
 

 

LOGAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Col. James Johnson, commander, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, and Command Sgt. Maj. Nicholas Rolling, brigade sergeant major, salute the brigade’s colors at a transfer of authority ceremony at Forward Operating Base Shank, Dec. 20. The Sky Soldiers of the 173rd are taking over from the Spartans of 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division. This is the 173rd’s third deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (Photo by Army Pfc. Michael Sword, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team)

LOGAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Col. James Johnson, commander, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, and Command Sgt. Maj. Nicholas Rolling, 173rd ABCT Brigade sergeant major, uncase the brigade’s colors at a transfer of authority ceremony at Forward Operating Base Shank, Dec. 20. The 173rd will be taking over the area of operations of Logar and Wardak provinces from 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division. (Photo by Army Pfc. Michael Sword, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team)

LOGAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Col. David Haight, commander, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, salutes the brigade’s colors at a transfer of authority ceremony at Forward Operating Base Shank, Dec. 20. “I am confident that you will prevail and greatly improve upon what has been established here in this battlefield,” he said, addressing the Soldiers of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team and the 3rd BCT. (Photo by Army Sgt. Rob Frazier, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

Made a spam comment on one of my posts, trying to sell Viagra.

It's been a long time since I blogged here.  Been a long time since I blogged anywhere, really, but when I've blogged it's been over at my blogger.com site rather than here.  Here might become where I focus my attentions on artificial colors, eating naturally, and healthier eating.  We'll see.  Anyway ...

There is a reason for my return.  Those of you that have read my blog over the years might remember M's allergy to Red 40.  Well, we just discovered a new one and promptly put it on the list.  I thought I'd blog about it here just to raise awareness about it.  The apparent new red dye du jour is Red 7.  Hadn't seen it before until we were reading labels on Children's Chewable Tylenol, as M is wanting to get away from the dye-free drinkable stuff and take medicine "like a big girl".  So, we looked at the label, it said Red 7 instead of Red 40, so we thought we'd give it a try.

The first dose, a week or so ago, seemed to go without incident.  This weekend, however, she had two doses at grandma's because she's got a new tooth coming in and add to that a headache from a stuffy head.  Both doses resulted in a really mean, nasty case of hives all over her face and ears and neck.  Mean, red, puffy rash.  My mom thought it might have been from M playing around the artificial Xmas tree with the cats, because she wasn't thinking of the medicine and couldn't pin it onto anything she might have eaten (my folks are great about watching out for her Red 40 allergy).  She had another dose before coming home, and the rash really exploded when she got to our place, and it was while we were talking about it that mom remembered the Tylenol.  There is no doubt that's what it is, as the hives came with a vengeance about 45 mins after taking the Tylenol.

I'm so pissed about this, so very very frustrated.  And M's not at all happy about it either, because for one it means she's got to go back to "kiddy" dye free liquid medicine, and for another it means that there's one more thing we need to look out for and that she can't have.  It's certainly served as a reminder to all of us, and has renewed my determination to be as all natural as possible, despite how hard it is.

People standing on their horses, WTF!?

• 02:38 I just unlocked the "Super User" badge on @foursquare! 4sq.com/8zCHE6 #
• 02:38 Getting my late night dinner. Tacos! (@ Taco Bell) 4sq.com/5Gu7U8 #
• 03:11 You can always pull out if you like it too much. ♫ blip.fm/~i2jf6 #
• 11:13 Yay Christmas spirit! Amazon's mp3 Deal of the Day: Ella Wishes You A Swinging Christmas by Ella Fitzgerald for $2.99: bit.ly/4IsVt1 #
• 13:28 I cannot believe that Brittany Murphy is dead. That is so fucked up. RIP Tai from Clueless. bit.ly/64FAog #
• 14:51 Fuck. I'm not psychic and do not know that plans have changed from the way we've done everything for years. I've had my own plans for months #
• 15:32 My day is rapidly turning to suck. Is it too early to start drinking? #
• 18:04 Oh, Hugh Jackman. You are so pretty. How I love you. #
• 19:29 Goddamn movies making me all wistful. #

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Where the heck is my remote control?

Bonus Q: How do I manage to misplace it so often?