You take your new SUV (Guaranteed to travel the roads well) to the nearest big city (Madison, WI) to finally get the stuff to send goody bags to my adopted groups.  The MidWest - including Wisconsin - underwent quite a mess yesterday.  Snow, sleet, rain all covering a thick sheet of ice on the roads.  Couldn't see a foot ahead of the car.  Didn't believe the reports so wore slip on shoes - no boots, left them home.  Denies extra discount for my soldiers at Target by my boss - but oh well.  I did get my usual whopping 10% off anyway.  The car - 2007 Chevy Equinox - is not worth the  price - don't buy one. I was all over the road.  Didn't have 4-wheel drive.  Bought it because I desperately needed a new one, thought the color was fantastic and the car was "cute".  Sometimes I can be a real airhead.  Pulled into McDonalds for lunch and used my cellphone to call the Chevy Corporate Hot Line and blasted the poor woman about what a horrible car I had.  She suggested I call on Monday when there might be a service Tech who could help me.  Geez!!!  But I got all the stuff, got home safe and sound and spent most of last night and all day today packing, packing, packing.  Each has a nice goody bag.  I put a Thank you Note - Pre-written with an appropriate response from a soldier and pre-addressed the envelopes with the names of friends and family to put into each bag - in hopes they would send off the Thank You to the people who will NOT be getting any other gift from me.  This is their Christmas gift - making a soldier smile.  What more could they ask? 

Now all I have to do is get back outside and see if I can get our used snow blower to cut through the ice and snow.  But I got the IMPORTANT STUFF done.  The boxes will be in the mail tomorrow morning.  HOORAY.

OH YES - I got my calendar yesterday, signed by both Marty and Brian along with a new patch to iron on the front of my coat - I look like a walking sign board for AnySoldier.  I e-mailed Support at AS to thank them for the calendar and signing it and Brian sent me a nice note back.  I copied it and taped it to my wall of honor by my computer. 

Have a Happy Holiday Junkies

Mary

I am so glad you got your calender..and a note from Brian, you are super special. Be careful out there driving in that stuff!!!

I just had my first Junkie moment although I've been supporting for a while. I was going to stop for Starbucks this morning on the way to work, tired, late and cranky and I *needed* that jolt. At the light I was digging in my purse because I knew I had a couple of ones but when I pulled out my cash it turned out all I had was one TEN! And my first thought was, "that'll pay for a flat rate box" and I went to work and drank work coffee.... ;)

 

Good story, Mary,  keep up the good work.  I wish I had the nerve to tell my family their presents were given to a servicemember instead!

Not only did I have the nerve to tell my family members that their gifts went to the soldiers - I actually did that to the members of my family who are so against the war that they can't see straight.  They e-mail me articles all the time about how awful the war and the government are, etc., etc., etc.  Well, they can't see the forest for the trees.  Forget the politics - SUPPORT THE TROOPS.  That means write letters, send what U can, honor the brave men and women over their fighting.  SO ------ the people who got "presents" that were actually sent to the troops are the ones who talk constantly and do nothing.  They - some of them anyway - will surely be enraged.  That should be fun.  The other members of my family that know my passion for AnySoldier.com will get cash contributions to the site to keep it going.  They understand and will be happy to know that their gift money will be helping others.  I'm 62 - heck if I can't do what I want at this age - when can I?  Just let them argue with me.  Selfish clods.

Mary

Proud AnySoldier Junky

Oh, Mary, I'm loving you more by the minute. 

Oh boy, I think you might just be my hero!  More power to you!!!

Heidi

Mary,

You are my Hero!

Mary,

For you -- MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!   Smile and keep on going.  Thhink of all the soldiers you have helped, that should keep you smiling.  And, hey, if friends/family are not satisfied with your choice, they can talk about one of their passions instead.

Pan

Go Mary......go Mary .......

My husband just had his first Junkie Moment. We were shopping in the grocery store, and he went down the popcorn aisle, and it was buy one get one free. He grabbed his usual box and I asked him if I could use his "free" box for my soldiers. He looked at me a moment and said that I could use BOTH boxes for them. What a sacrifice, he loves popcorn! *G* I am slowly getting him around to my way of thinking!!!!  He even knows to ask if the snacks in the grocery bag are for us or the soldiers now.

That does it....

I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!

Reta

Ok, that was funny....Mary, that particular "I LOVE YOU" was for you but it goes for everyone here anyway!!

....if you think about what you are going to get for your contacts instead of your husband and children  ...and it is easier to shop for your contacts than your husband and children.

 

ROFL 

Vicki 

vicki - doesn't it just seem to jump off the shelf right into the shopping cart?   Easy as pie!!

Ann