I can't move to Maryland right now, either, BUT since they have to sell a required number of tickets or the raffle can't take place, I am going to buy a ticket anyway (I just need to budget for it).  And if I win anyway, there are other things I can do with it - sell it for the cash, rent it, or use it as a second home.  Lots of ...

Central Texas (Austin) here.  Have also spent time in California.  I am currently supporting 2 groups semi-regularly and they are both from Texas; one group mostly from Austin, and another group from Fort Hood.  In the past, I've supported a great group of guys from NY, and others from Tennessee.  I tend to choose my ...

There was an AS supporter on here not long ago who owns a commercial spice company  (www.mesquitecountryseasoning.com) ejwyatt@hotmail.com. She was starting a pet project to "make MREs taste good", which is a great idea - you may want to contact her to see what she has available.  Here is the original ...

Great post -  I guess because I work in the food business, checking expiration dates is a compulsive habit.  Out of date product costs companies money since it can't be on sold on the grocery shelves, but I have seen a lot of it at places like Big Lots and other liquidators. I never send anything due to expire within more than 2-3 ...

Cute story, Lilly!  I have about 2 dozen made up and ready to send this week.  With another 2 dozen cut out waiting to be sewn. I was skeptical about them, too, until my a/c unit died yesterday in 100+ degree Texas heat & humidity.  I felt a little guilty stealing from my soldier stash - but I wore one around the house all ...

Interesting post!  The comments here have helped me out - if nothing else confirmed that I am sending the right kind of 'stuff'.  I DO ask them what they need, if I can.  But have found that if I do hear back from my guys (and I send to several groups, two of them now home), they seem reluctant to personally "ask" ...

 Okay, this is the supplier that I found.  I found it in a comment on the Gator Project instructions for cool ties (thegatorproject.org).  He mentioned that 100% cotton desert camo is $1.25/yard and poly blend fabric is available, too.  The comment was just posted May 25, 2008. Magna Fabrics www.magnafabrics.com 2600 72nd ...

 I was told by my Army Medic friend, YES, it should be 100% cotton for 2 reasons: #1 - Synthethic fibers melt to the skin if exposed to heat & flame.  Cotton isn't impervious to flame, either, but I believe it takes more exposure with cotton. #2 - Synthetic blends do not have the same powers of absorption as cotton.  The ...

I had this same dilemma about fabric colors, and finally asked a co-worker who had been stationed there.  He said stick with desert cammo - no black, no white - both give too much contrast to the desert and are easily seen by the enemy (as are other bright colors). We logged on to anysoldier, and he said just use the colors in the ...

 Thanks, George - I actually think they would be fine to ship.  I ended up leaving them out of the box ("when in doubt...."), but that was okay, because it left a little more room for some other things that I *knew* we safe to send.  I'm going to use the bag I bought in my own grill and make sure there's nothing in ...