One Big Family Part 2

Well, we finished collecting all the things for the family members overseas in Iraq or Afghanistan. We collected over 900 pounds of items such as toothpaste, soup, shaving cream, soap, playing cards, granola bars, candy and a whole bunch of other things. There were 130 boxes being sent to about 15 service members. I'm really proud of my coworkers. Dave, Mark and Karen lead the way and the rest of us came through. The postage is over $1,500 and through donations from 3 of the unions, the Sr. Plant Manager and other employees we will be shipping them out.

Above are some pictures of the 2nd graders that came at 6:30am to help pack the boxes. Thanks to them too!!!! They were able to make a difference in some one's life at such a young age. Some day they will realize how much they really helped.

Borrowing

Ok, let's say you buy something. Then, someone borrows it. If you want it back, should they return it right away or should they use it as long as they want then return it?

I guess it all depends on how you were raised.

Busy Weekend

I had a busy weekend. On Friday my son came home from school and told me he got an A+ on his reading test. This was great because when he moved back here from the Philippines he needed help with reading. I am so proud that he has excelled and is now doing great. He really wants to impress his older brother. I'm glad he has such a positive role model in his life.

After that I took them to get a haircut. Big brother is coming on Saturday and they want to look good! hahaha. When I looked at my daughter I saw that she had 11 inches of her hair cut off. After the initial shock I asked her why she had so much taken off. She said she wanted to donate it. Some places will accept hair if it is long enough and make wigs for people with cancer. I was so proud of her. I didn't think that a 6 year old would think that way.

Finally, on Saturday my oldest came home. I haven't seen him since November. He will be home for 2 weeks. It's great having him around. I wasn't able to spend a whole lot of time with him while he was growing up because I had to work so much overtime and at night. I really regret that. If I could do it over again I would spend more time with him and less time doing something I hated. I'm glad the lack of me being around as much as I would have liked to didn't affect him as much as it could have. He's an amazing person.

Saturday night there was a birthday party. The woman turned 50 so she got a lot of gag gifts. It was a good time.

I got some bothersome news but nothing I cant work out. Something is always happening so I am used to it by now.

One Big Family

I work with a lot of former military people. I have never been in the military. I tried to join the army when I was younger but they refused me because I was born deaf in one ear. It was a dream I had since I was about six but such is life.

Some people I work with also have children in the military. My one buddy, Dave, likes to talk a lot. He was talking to another coworker, Bob, about their children. Bob mentioned that his son is deployed in Iraq. Well, after talking for a while Dave asked what his son misses most aside from the usual things like family, the food, etc. Bob came up with a list of thing, mostly toiletries, puzzles, cards, hackey-sack and things like that.

Dave decided to get a collection going for those of us that work overnight so that we can send these things to the family members of those deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. It wasn't saying that we are either for or against either war, it was saying that we care about them.

Well, to cut the story short, we have collected over 800 pounds of things to send. The whole idea caught on like wildfire and now we are looking outside our facility for more family members. Even a local school is writing letters and collecting things. It's amazing.

I know you don't read this but way to go Dave! Great idea. And way to go my coworkers. Even if we aren't all buddies, we are one big family!