We went into Iraq to fix things. We got rid of a dictator. We installed democracy. First we did the fighting; then we trained their troops to do the fighting. We equipped them. We helped them set up a government. We did the best we could. And after all the blood sweat and tears; years, equipment, money, and lives, we leave and what happens? Chaos. It’s coming apart. Now back at home we attack each other over what we did wrong; who is to blame. Did we stay there too long? Did we not stay long enough? What else could we have done? What should we do now? Do we re-insert ourselves? If we don’t do anything are we disrespecting every life already lost in our efforts? Are we in so deep we can’t afford to quit? Perhaps there is a lesson to be learned. Could it just be that the United States doesn’t get to decide everything? Maybe some things are just going to happen, no matter how much we want them to be different. Maybe we can’t make other people be like us, no matter how hard we try.
We got this charming link
From our daughter about putting time into perspective. http://waitbutwhy.com/2013/08/putting-time-in-perspective.html I love stuff like this.
It’s Father’s Day
I get to do whatever I want. Even if what I want to do is not the smartest thing to do. This morning I walked a trail I hadn’t been on before. It’s in a wildlife refuge I’ve been to before, just not from this access point. It wasn’t actually much of a trail; it was a lot like a bushwhack. Years ago, before there was a wildlife refuge here, this was a dirt road but now the grass and brush have reclaimed it. In the knee high grass there are stickers. I could have turned around to walk somewhere else without stickers, but I wanted to walk that trail. There are a lot less stickers there now than there were when I started though, considering how many I brought home in my shoes and socks. 
Judy had an immediate solution for the socks.
The shoes took a little longer to take care of, but together, each with tweezers, we got all the burrs out in about 20 minutes. Sure glad it’s Father’s Day. And today is Henry’s birthday as well. He’s 4 years old already. Happy Birthday Henry! 
Judy had an immediate solution for the socks. The shoes took a little longer to take care of, but together, each with tweezers, we got all the burrs out in about 20 minutes. Sure glad it’s Father’s Day. And today is Henry’s birthday as well. He’s 4 years old already. Happy Birthday Henry! Serenaded
…by a Bewick’s Wren.
While a White-tailed Hawk soars overhead.
The day didn’t suck.
While a White-tailed Hawk soars overhead. The day didn’t suck. Friday
Off to see the knee wizard. So far, not so good. Judy’s knee is not better, it’s worse. We talked to the doctor and he thinks we should try at least one more of the three injections, so we did. (I use the term “we” liberally. Judy gets the shot; I hold her hand.) We’ll see how it goes. Having shot the knee, we moved on to other things. We drove to Turners so Judy could get a new pot for the porch, and a new plant to go in it. We drove to the People’s Street T Head in the Corpus Christi marina, and spotted the Brown Booby that’s been hanging out there with some pelicans.
Year Bird. We drove to Blucher Park just outside downtown Corpus and got the Yellow-green Vireo that has been there singing his head off.
Got him. In fact there were two and we got both of them. Year Bird. Drove to the pond on the Joe Fulton Trade Corridor and saw Wood Storks.
Year Bird. Wood Storks are fun to watch. Every landing is an adventure.
Having had a successful trip to Corpus Christi, we headed home. Happy Birthday to our daughter, our Friday the 13th baby. Friday the 13th, our lucky day. This one even has a full moon!
Year Bird. We drove to Blucher Park just outside downtown Corpus and got the Yellow-green Vireo that has been there singing his head off. Got him. In fact there were two and we got both of them. Year Bird. Drove to the pond on the Joe Fulton Trade Corridor and saw Wood Storks.Year Bird. Wood Storks are fun to watch. Every landing is an adventure. Having had a successful trip to Corpus Christi, we headed home. Happy Birthday to our daughter, our Friday the 13th baby. Friday the 13th, our lucky day. This one even has a full moon!