WELCOME TO OUR VETERAN'S DAY HOP

I am so happy to be participating in this Blog Hop.  First and foremost, I'd like to share my Veteran's story with you, then more about the hop!!

This is an interview with Mike, and once again, I am so happy to share it with you. 


1. What branch of the service were/are you in?   US Army

2. What’s your rank?   Major (retired)

3. What made you decide to join the service? Why this branch?
Carter was President, the economy was horrible, I had a pregnant wife and the rest is history.

4. What’s the best thing about being in the military? The exposure to large, complex problems early and often. Awesome preparation to do just about anything on the outside. Too bad most employers don't get it.

5. What’s the hardest thing about being in the military? Being away from your family for long periods of time. Missing important things like anniversaries, your child's first steps or words….you give up a lot.

6. Do you think Veterans and Active Service Personnel get the respect they deserve? Today, yes. The 80’s were really bad.

7. What could crafters and artists do to help support you? Just about anything reminding of home and family helps. You get a sense of connectedness.

8. What else would you like to share with our readers? A military career is a tough road. Most don't make it past the first enlistment because it is so hard on people and families. Also, I know very few career military who want anything to do with war...there is a screwy popular notion that says just the opposite thanks to Hollywood drivel. A perfect example of the disconnect to reality was in the awful movie "The Hurt Locker". One, I would not have an idiot like the main character in any unit under my command. People like that get other people hurt and do not exist in anything like the reality I know. And yet we give it an Academy award. You should see some of the commentary on military websites. Also, military folks live at an accelerated pace. Most who have experienced real operations don't want to talk about it. Please respect that. A lot of vets and those currently serving have PTSD. They do not need reminding of what they've seen and experienced. It is not cool, glorious, or fun.

I am in awe of the dedication and devotion of this person.  "Thank you" seems so inadequate, but THANK YOU TO ALL.

You should have started the blog at http://karelj.blogspot.com/, and you should have arrived here from Celeste at Touched By a Butterfly.  When you are done here, please head over to see Michelle at Peanut Butter and Jelly Designs, http://peanutbutterandjellydesigns.blogspot.com/.

In celebration of Veteran's Day, I made this tic-tac-toe board.  The bear and sentiment are digi stamps from http://deedeesdigis.blogspot.com/.  Isn't that little bear cute?

In case any of you get lost hopping, here is our complete line-up:

1. KarelJ at One By One The Flamingos Are Stealing My Sanity http://karelj.blogspot.com/

2. Celeste at Touched By a Butterfly http://www.touchedbyabutterfly.com/

(you don't need to leave a comment here - bloghop problem!)

3. Deb at Tidbit’s Place http://tidbitsplace.blogspot.com/ (YOU ARE HERE)
4. Michelle at Peanut Butter and Jelly Designs http://peanutbutterandjellydesigns.blogspot.com/
5. Jennifer at Young’s Scrapping http://youngsscrapping.blogspot.com/
6. Diane at Crafting This Moment http://craftingthismoment.blogspot.com/
7. Judy at Be Present Be Real http://bepresentbereal.blogspot.com/
8. Marianne at Life From Marianne’s Table http://number1aunt.blogspot.com/
9. Deb at If It’s Groovy http://ifitsgroovy.blogspot.com/
10. Christel at One Scrappin’ Sista http://onescrappinsista.blogspot.com/
11. Belinda at Queen Bee’s Musings http://queenbeesmusings.blogspot.com/
12. Colleen at Col’s Creative Corner http://scrappycol.blogspot.com/
13. Summer and Jennifer at Cricut Diaries http://cricutdiaries.blogspot.com/
14. Rachel at Suburban Crafter http://www.rachelstampshappy.blogspot.com/
15. Gina at Gina Thornton Stamping http://ginathorntonstamping.blogspot.com/
16. Becky at Susan’s Blog http://sewingstitches.blogspot.com/
17. Rebecca at Creations With Becca http://creationswithbecca.blogspot.com/
18. Bobbi Jo at Sassy Sweet Diva
 http://sweetsassydiva-gspot.blogspot.com/

19. Angie at Gypsy Paperie http://gypsypaperie.blogspot.com/
20. Linda at The Tulip Collector http://thetulipcollector.blogspot.com/


Our amazing Blog Candy (2—count ‘em! TWO Chances to win!!) are brought to you through the generosity of Marlo, who created the marvelous Scrap’NTote and Anne, from Paper Patch Crafts.


The rules for entering are the same for both prizes: Hop along our path and leave a comment AND a way to contact you on each and every stop. Please leave contact information in a safe manner ( ie, written out, rather than a direct link). On Friday, November 12, KarelJ will use random.org to first select a blog number (1-20) and then a comment number from that blog for each prize. She will post the winner’s name on her blog and notify the bloggers, so they can also post the winner. KarelJ will contact the winner, using the information left in the comment. If there is no information available, she will choose another winner from the same blog. It is up to the winner to contact KarelJ at ksjennings(at)gmail(dot)com. If she has not been contacted by Monday, November 15, another winner will be chosen.

Now, on to the good stuff! Our first prize is a wonderful Pink Scrap’Ntote to store your Cricut Cartridges in! It comes to us from Marlo, at ContainYaCrafts. You can see the wonderful way this binder system keeps all your carts together, and ready to go in a flash on this link: http://www.cricutcartridgestorage.com/index.htm   Need more than one? Put it on the Christmas Wish List and have the hubs order NOW, as they are simply flying out of stock! We got one of the final donations for the year, and are so grateful to Marlo!

Our second terrific prize is a set of Spellbinders Nesties in the Crown Circle Shape. It comes to us via the generosity of Anne, whose family has an incredibly strong military heritage. You can read more about Anne and her husband on Linda and Gina’s Blogs. You can also check out paper Patch Crafts here, to see what other incredible things Anne has to sell! http://stores.ebay.com/Paper-Patch-Crafts