American Cowgirls

American Cowgirls

My mother in law just sent me an email about American Cowgirls. I was fascinated by it and thought I would like to share it.

Here is the link.

http://www.americancowgirl.com/film.htm

Go Army

Clint took me on base to show me where he has been spending his time when he is not at the hotel. There are pictures of the Veterinary branch and a cool helicopter. It is amazing the signs we often have to put up due to peoples' stupidity.

The River Walk

After going through the Alamo, Clint and I went to the River Walk and enjoyed the shops, and watching the boats go up and down the river. Although it was a VERY hot day, it was a nice place to be because there was lots of shade which made it nice. We had a great time and it was wonderful to see each other. The picture of me and the giraffes is for my mom because she has a baby giraffe at her house.

The Alamo

Over the 4th of July, I visited Clint in San Antonio, Texas. On the 4th we went to The Alamo and here is some information I learned about Texas history. There was even a Dolphin Ward Floyd in the listings of the Heroes of the Alamo.

Originally named Misión San Antonio de Valero, the Alamo served as home to missionaries and their Indian converts for nearly seventy years. Construction began on the present site in 1724. In 1793, Spanish officials secularized San Antonio's five missions and distributed their lands to the remaining Indian residents. These men and women continued to farm the fields, once the mission's but now their own, and participated in the growing community of San Antonio.

In the early 1800s, the Spanish military stationed a cavalry unit at the former mission. The soldiers referred to the old mission as the Alamo (the Spanish word for "cottonwood") in honor of their hometown Alamo de Parras, Coahuila. The post's commander established the first recorded hospital in Texas in the Long Barrack. The Alamo was home to both Revolutionaries and Royalists during Mexico's ten-year struggle for independence. The military — Spanish, Rebel, and then Mexican — continued to occupy the Alamo until the Texas Revolution.

San Antonio and the Alamo played a critical role in the Texas Revolution. In December 1835, Ben Milam led Texian and Tejano volunteers against Mexican troops quartered in the city. After five days of house-to-house fighting, they forced General Marín Perfecto de Cós and his soldiers to surrender. The victorious volunteers then occupied the Alamo — already fortified prior to the battle by Cós' men — and strengthened its defenses.

On February 23, 1836, the arrival of General Antonio López de Santa Anna's army outside San Antonio nearly caught them by surprise. Undaunted, the Texians and Tejanos prepared to defend the Alamo together. The defenders held out for 13 days against Santa Anna's army. William B. Travis, the commander of the Alamo sent forth couriers carrying pleas for help to communities in Texas. On the eighth day of the siege, a band of 32 volunteers from Gonzales arrived, bringing the number of defenders to nearly two hundred. Legend holds that with the possibility of additional help fading, Colonel Travis drew a line on the ground and asked any man willing to stay and fight to step over — all except one did. As the defenders saw it, the Alamo was the key to the defense of Texas, and they were ready to give their lives rather than surrender their position to General Santa Anna. Among the Alamo's garrison were Jim Bowie, renowned knife fighter, and David Crockett, famed frontiersman and former congressman from Tennessee.

The final assault came before daybreak on the morning of March 6, 1836, as columns of Mexican soldiers emerged from the predawn darkness and headed for the Alamo's walls. Cannon and small arms fire from inside the Alamo beat back several attacks. Regrouping, the Mexicans scaled the walls and rushed into the compound. Once inside, they turned a captured cannon on the Long Barrack and church, blasting open the barricaded doors. The desperate struggle continued until the defenders were overwhelmed. By sunrise, the battle had ended and Santa Anna entered the Alamo compound to survey the scene of his victory.

While the facts surrounding the siege of the Alamo continue to be debated, there is no doubt about what the battle has come to symbolize. People worldwide continue to remember the Alamo as a heroic struggle against impossible odds — a place where men made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom. For this reason, the Alamo remains hallowed ground and the Shrine of Texas Liberty.

Blessings on our house

After dinner tonight, Grandma and I drove around the areas hit by the tornado that his June 11, 2008. Even though it has been almost three weeks, I was still in shock to see the amount of destruction for this town that everyone swore would not get a tornado. I drove by the house of some friends from church because she had spoken to us about their steps to survival. It was simple things like putting a crib mattress in the window that kept them safe in the basement. I was shocked to see their house. There was extensive damage, not as bad as some, and especially not too bad considering that the house right next door was leveled. Gone, nothing left. Grandma and I were shocked to see how the tornado flattened some houses, yet left others untouched. Or to see an entire street leveled except for one house.
It was nice to hear about the amount of community service people are offering, and the comradery neighbors have toward each other.
I think what was so eye opening was that almost everyone you talked to said that Manhattan was the safe place in Kansas to live because we live in a bowl and therefor tornadoes just skip over us, or hit the hill tops, but not the areas that are low. NOT TRUE! It didn't matter where on the hill your house was, if it was in the way of the tornado, it was eaten up.
I looked on youtube and there is some great footage. Especially the news report from the local station. It shows the tornado off in the distance and you can see it touch down on the west side of town and make its way to KSU then take out the camera. Amazing 7 minutes of footage and well worth watching. Just type in Manhattan, Kansas tornado June 11th and you will get lots of video clips.
I think the best part of today was driving by the dealership that was hit really hard and seeing a sign that said, "Heck yeah We're Open!" What a great since of perseverance.
Even thought it was about 2 blocks from my house, I was not as close as some. Just down the road is a cute little house that is still in perfect condition, flowers in the yard, yet all the houses around it are destroyed.
I feel blessed that my house and family are safe and that I was able to come home from Japan and stay in Japan knowing that Grandma and my animals were fine.

Home sweet home and REAL food...

Well after 30 hours of being up and many many hours on a plane, I got home around 11p.m. on Thursday. The flight back from Tokyo got so turbulent that the overhead bins started to shake and the food cart next to me was rocking back and forth. Terrifying!!! The flight back from Chicago was turbulent also, so as Grandma says, I got off the plane looking white as a ghost.
As our Tokyo trip started to wrap up many people were talking about what they were craving for food. It didn't hit me until the last week that I really wanted to go to Chillie's and have some REAL food. As you can see, I got the only thing I order there. Baby back ribs!!! Very very oishii (delicious to you westerners). Hit the spot. It was great to order in English and from a menu that had only English. It also was nice to order something and know what you were getting and hat it would taste like.
The following picture are some of the people I had dinner with from my school. From left to right is David who was my para and who Brooke and I are fighting over for next year. :) Next to him is his daughter-in-law, Billie, who is our secretary and equally AWESOME!!! I worked with her last year and I have never met a more patient person. Next to Billie is Sara, who taught 3rd grade at our school. Next to Sara is Brooke who also taught 3rd grade last year. These are just some of the very wonderful people I work with and it was very nice to see them. I really missed them.
There are also two pictures of my house. I wanted everyone to see the hard work Grandma has put into our garden. It is thriving and can't wait until the crops come in. More good eating. :)
I included a picture of me and the animals to show you how much they all missed me. The black cat is Wesley, the Orange and White cat is O.C. (Orange Crush) and our dog Reiner. The three of them never left my side. It was great! In fact as I sit here on the couch they are still in the room with me, but I think they are more hungry then wanting attention from me.