Playing for Freedom by Zarifa Adiba and Anne Chaon

Playing for Freedom by Zarifa Adiba and Anne Chaon

Book Details

A detailed book about Zarifa living in Afghanistan, finding music, facing the Taliban, and loving her country.

It is beautiful and inspiring. 

My heart continues to be with the women and children trapped and living in danger.

Bataan

Participating in the Bataan was something I wanted to accomplish this year. Last year I met Vietnam Vet at TAPs whose father was in the Bataan and is son had died in Iraq. It was an inspiring moment and I wanted to do the walk. I honorably walked the half. Maybe next yeat I could walk the full with some preparation and discipline.

We always say keeping saying their names to keep their legacy alive. I had the opportunity to do that for almost six hours on Sunday morning and it was an honor.

15 Years

Fifteen years have passed.
It seems like yesterday. It also seems like a long time ago.
I can use the same words from 2008

August 6th - 3 Years Extortion 17

No Man's War: Irreverent Confessions of an Infantry Wife.

Can I Just say how much I loved this book?
I was never an Infantry Wife - but being around the military for 25+ years, I get this book. I guarantee you will relate to the references about drinking the kool aid, Longaberger Parties, deployment situations and military life. I do not yet know Angela Ricketts - but I am sure am proud of her for writing this book.

I am hoping I can get up to the Tatter Cover on July 29th to see her in person  Event - LoDo




From the Publisher

Raised as an Army brat, Angie Ricketts thought she knew what she was in for when she eloped with Jack—then an infantry lieutenant—on the eve of his deployment to Somalia. Since that time, Jack, now a colonel, has been deployed eight times, serving four tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. And Ricketts, has lived every one of those deployments intimately—distant enough to survive the years spent apart from her husband, but close enough to share a common purpose and a lifestyle they both love. With humor, candor, and a brazen attitude, Ricketts pulls back the curtain on a subculture many readers know, but few ever will experience. Counter to the dramatized snap shot seen on Lifetime’s Army Wives, Ricketts digs into the personalities and posturing that officers’ wives must survive daily—whether navigating a social event on post, suffering through a husband’s prolonged deployment or reacting to a close friend’s death in combat. At its core, No Man’s War is a story of sisterhood and survival.



Excerpt:
I’m a fresh start girl. Today is Day One. Today we start counting down the days, 455 to go. I walk into the bathroom and stare at his sink with his few ‘personal hygiene’ things neatly lined up. If I had to look at that tube of deodorant for fifteen months, pick it up to dust under it, I would surely lose my mind. No. My way is better. Fresh. I feel limp. Everything is gray. I decide to lie down before I start my ritual. The bed smells like him and it does not comfort me. I want that smell gone. It’s going to be fifteen months and I won’t be one of those women sleeping with some old t-shirt, clinging to his long faded scent. Part of my deployment ritual is to remove his daily things right away. It’s easier for me. I compartmentalize his crap, and I compartmentalize my emotions. That ugly faux leather recliner of his. I want this done before the kids return, so I drag it out to the garage. It does not come willingly; it fights me the whole way. It slams one of my toes, bringing a new round of tears and anger to my face. The chair refuses to comply, but I won’t let it stop me. Eventually it ends in the garage, pissed at me and defeated, but satisfied at having the last word by leaving a huge gouge in the new hardwood floors. That will be my one constant reminder of this day for the next fifteen months.

When Women Come Marching Home

Service: When WOMEN Come Marching Home 3 minute promo from Rock Stotter on Vimeo.

2013 End of the years Organizations to support

My post from 2011 is almost exactly what I would post today. Focus on People. We need to help one another...

Blog post from December 2011

With a few small changes. The Mission Continues - I support this organization - The mission just makes sense.Mission Continues
If you are a veteran or know of a veteran share this organization with them it just might change their lives.


Hagar International - Seriously transforming lives. Excited to partner with this organization in 2014. Very interested in the work they are doing in Afghanistan.  Hagar link


Humanitarian Organization for Local Development (HOLD)
HOLD A program near and dear to my heart and you will hear more about them during 2014. Just an honor to work with Zala and Susan. I will stand with the women in Farah, Afghanistan as long as I am able.


And something new Phoenix Mutlisport   Phoenixmultisport- Why? because deep down I wish so many people I know would get sober so that they could enjoy life more. S,o they could be happy more than being unhappy. Their children, family and grandchildren need them.

Lone Survivor - Trailer (+playlist)

My review of Lone Survivor Movie - absolutely amazing.
I had the opportunity to attend the Danny Dietz Memorial prescreening movie in Littleton.
I will never forget. SEALs in uniform, Blue Star families honored, tears and hugs.
I read Marcus Luttrell's book a few years ago and then read Service a year book. Both phenomenal.
amazed, humbled and a little broken for sure
The movie is intense - but I recognize the interactions in small teams and how the little things mean so much..

things I have learned in since January

things I have learned in since January

After living with 100+ degree temps for months 75 is freezing to me!
Perfect breakfast combination 1 packet of oatmeal and two scoops of peanut butter.
I can handle 3 Italian espresso's with 2-3 hours of one another! My Italian counterparts made amazing coffee with great pride!
A slight difference in Slovenian coffee, Turkish coffee and Italian coffee
Sometimes the nicest things happen when not expecting them (did not learn this over there but certainly experienced it)
Even ugly bare mountains can be peaceful and meaningful at times
I have the stomach for triage. I immediately fell into medic mode of which  I am not!
GSWs can be very clean.
Lettuce and Swiss cheese sandwiches quickly became my go to lunch favorite!
I was emotionally attached to either swiss or provolone and a little bummed if we were out..
That Bob's hot sauce that was on every table in the Farah DFAC is tasty on EVERYTHING.
Initially, I said I was not going to watch a lot of movies and I ended watching a ton.
I missed yoga incredibly...
I ate way too much ice cream in the evenings. I was an enabler!
I saved the book No Easy Day for one of the last books to read and I am glad that I did
I was inspired by the book Battle Ready - recommend it
I read three books that described Beirut / Lebanon and Palestine in great detail and I think I am smitten with the idea of going there
Somehow, I was inspired to take a vacation to Italy - Italy has never been in the top 20.
I increased my loans on Kiva and it has been pretty neat to watch the return
I can use this phrase in a sentence ll'invio tanto amore
Karzai never came to visit me... I had some things to chat with him about.
In Shindand the local workers made Mango Salad at the DFAC - it was probably the best meal I had the entire tour. I filled out a very enthusiastic comment card and quickly all of the workers knew me by my mango salad affinity.
I already knew this but..  some people I can have very easy conversations with and others are so painful...
The moon is beautiful there.
The red rocks that were barren jagged dirt hills - they pale in comparison to the mountains I can see everyday but I will miss them.
Downton Abbey was just as good the second time around - all three seasons.
The NameSake still one of my favorite movies.
I met some remarkable people and I will carry their stories with me for awhile.
I already knew I loved to go to the range but I really, really love to go to the range.
The simplicity is simple.
The complexity is complex.

saved what I thought would be appropriate for last...

I have been carrying the book No Easy Day  around for over ten months. There was a fair amount of drama about this book when it first came out so I set it aside.  I finally picked it up over a week ago and wanted to finish it before I left country. Partly because I was ready to read it and partly because I did not want to drag it back half way around the world. I was not disappointed. I think the story lines up closely with the two movies and the other articles I have read on the death of OBL and how detail oriented they were prior to the raid and out lines all of the politics in any high profile mission.
The book articulates the professionalism and training of soldiers and how rehearsals and plans pay off so things go smoothly even in the middle of chaos.  It also hopefully gives people the realty that one day you could be on a high profile mission and the next week you still mow your lawn and take care of your children.

Battle Ready - Must read

At the beginning of August I finished reading Battle Ready by Mark L. Donald. A hero for all to take a moment and reflect upon.
BATTLE READY is a powerful military memoir based on the life of one of the highest decorated combat veterans of the Afghan and Iraqi wars and the most decorated medical officer for service on the battlefield since the Second World War.

Giuseppe La Rosa

The importance of partnerships and friendships.
I only had two conversations with him and frankly I am not even sure what we chatted about. The other folks on our team were closer to his team.
I attended a beautiful Italian Memorial Ceremony for him on Sunday and then watched his arrival into Rome live in the Italian DFAC.
A bit surreal, saddened and restlessness.


Rest in Peace - Giuseppe La Rosa

note

Ok today sucked.               (this was written several days ago)

Not in the way the military in general can make things miserable… it is bigger than that I guess.

The actually act of being a soldier was good today. I did what I needed to do to accomplish the task, no major issues, went to the shooting range, cleaned my weapon and pretty much did what I needed to do.

I received confirmation from American University that I can take online classes with them over the summer – no issues. The rate per credit hour is absolutely ridiculous but I think the door opened for a reason. That is all I am saying. More to follow on that.  I have been wanting to do this since the 12th grade. Many moons have passed.

Then internally I started feeling something weird. I had just finished reading some open source articles about the events that had taken place in Kabul. Young girls being in school being “poisoned”. Who poisons girl’s in school?  Later I read an article about a young girl taking refuge in a city because her father had married her off to a 36 year old man that already had one wife and her step father allegedly was abusing her.

Then the punch in the stomach came. Two women were murdered on a bus. Why, you ask? Because they were travelling alone without a husband, brother or uncle. Yes, the crime was immediately punished by death.  If everyone would stop blowing the crap out of one another maybe there would be some men folk left.

One recent revelation is that not only are these women struggling for education and  to survive but so many of this young male population are now addicts over here

.

So, it is complication after complication mixed with extremism mixed with 30 years of war poverty and corruption. A cocktail one cannot constantly consume and survive.

On top of all that this happened.  Attack in Afghanistan

These folks live 3 minutes walking distance from me.  One of the Marines was from Colorado. I never met CPL Sonka but I think I would have eventually. He had a working dog and he actually passed us on the dusty running trail with his 4 wheeler a few days ago with his dog.  I love dogs - you know eventually it might have happened.

So, today I dedicate to you CPL Sonka and your dog.

And tomorrow to the ladies that were just trying to get somewhere for something and to the young girl that walks in fear and goes to school anyway.                                                       

 

another day has been given

Day to Day is either completely mundane or completely obscure.

Yesterday, Small Arms Range – great training. Throw lead downrange, practice, concentrate and with a somewhat solid zero I have comfort knowing I have the capability to protect myself.

Lunch – Telling a gentleman whom I think is from India about romaine lettuce. My eating patterns are even more obscure here than they are at home. I will say that I consistently ask for two pieces of cheese (swiss or provolone) and 3 pieces of romaine lettuce. Yesterday he asked me where that word comes from and if it is the same as lettuce. I told him yes but now when I go back tonight I have a little more information for him.  It comes from the Greek language and the ancient Greeks and Romans held lettuce in high regard both as a food and for its therapeutic medicinal properties.   - Thank you Whole Foods :)

I need all of the therapeutic properties I can get at this point!
Some sorting, working and planning.
Catholic Mass and then protestant community led service.

I read this article - Which inspired me to send a note to the chaplain in the article. Everyone needs encouragement! I invited him to come out west!

Then I listened to yoga nidra and slept deeply.

Today – entirely different so far, but maybe some of the same.

I woke up to the neighbor down the hall playing Bryan Adam’s live cd. I cannot explain. It was a private sign that my God pays attention to even the very small stuff.

Namaste.

 

Bow to Nobody