You'd think I'd learn ...

... not to "read" tone of voice into innocent text messages.  Up and down day today, but ended up.

Sigh.

More to follow: but for now, I am off to dreamland.

Red Friday ~ Veteran's Week is coming up

This was what greeted me when I arrived at the office Thursday morning; as the Legion prepares to launch it's annual Poppy Campaign in advance of Veteran's week.


Sometimes, renting my office space from the Royal Canadian Legion brings a tear to my eye, and a lump to my throat.  I paused a moment, and reflected.

 

I lost my "suck it up" ...

I was supposed to go see S this weekend, but he is having a health issue and is on some pretty heavy meds.  We decided to re-schedule for a time we could actually have some quality time, vs me "sitting and watching him drool" (his words).


I talked to him a couple of times Friday morning, and then the meds kicked in ... and I haven't had so much as a text message since.  


And its killing me.


Mentally, I understand that he feels like crap, he is spending 23.5 out of 24 hours sleeping, and that's what he needs to do.  I understand that he's safe in his Q, not somewhere unpleasant sleeping on a rough bunk (or in an irrigation ditch).  I understand that when he feels better I get to go see him, and I don't have to wait months for that to happen.


I think it is worse because of the crap that has been going on the last few weeks, and some stress in my job too ... I was just looking so forward to seeing him in person, to feeling his arms around me, to looking in his eyes and getting a feel for how he is *really* coping with the stress.  I want to be able to make it better, even just for a little while, by being there.


 I have gotten so used to the regular contact through out the day, that I am really hurting with this.  I am obsessively checking my phone and e-mail ... and he's in country, for heaven's sake!  I honestly look back at last year, and can't find that mind set that got me through ...


I feel like such a whiner.  I have friends right now who's loved ones are away on deployments, and here I am whining about a cancelled weekend.  But my heart hurts.

Red Friday ~ Heroes Hockey Challenge

So very Canadian ...

http://en.heroeshockeychallenge.com/

Veterans Affairs to cut budget by $226M

From CBC.ca 


http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2011/10/14/veterans-affairs-cuts.html 

Veterans Affairs Canada plans to cut more than $226 million from its budget in the next two years in what's expected to be the first wave of reductions in the department, according federal documents.

The department's plans and priorities report, which lays out spending up to 2014, shows compensation and financial support for ex-soldiers will see the biggest reduction.
The budget adjustment is long planned and matches the dwindling population of Second World War veterans.

A spokeswoman for Veterans Affairs Minister Steven Blaney says the individual benefits, including new measures for the most seriously wounded, will continue without change or interruption, but the country will have fewer veterans overall.

"There will be no cuts to benefits for our veterans," said Codi Taylor in an email.
"The reduction in planned spending indicated in the Report on Plans and Priorities is due to the anticipated reduction in program uptake. The reduction is related to the sad reality that the number of Second World War and Korean War veterans and survivors of 'traditional' veterans is declining."

The department's budget is roughly $3.5 billion a year.

Royal Canadian Legion opposes cuts

But like other arms of the federal government, Veterans Affairs is looking for savings beyond the planned $226-million reduction. The Harper government's current program review wants to see existing spending in all departments and agencies slashed between five and 10 per cent.

The Royal Canadian Legion argued this week against any program review cuts, saying it accepts there will be fewer elderly veterans, but that the department is not taking into account the number of modern soldiers who will need services.

The most recently quarterly report from the Treasury Board, which tracks the federal budget, backs up the group's assessment. It shows compensation and financial support to veterans, in the current budget year, is running about seven per cent over what the department expected.

Veterans Affairs is forecast to spend $163.2 million more on disability awards and allowances because of a higher uptake in applications. The department is also expecting to hand out $10 million more in earnings-loss benefits than expected.

Taylor said if there are shortfalls in future, the department will ask the federal Treasury Board for a top up.

However, one of the things former veterans ombudsman Pat Stogran complained about last year was the reluctance of senior bureaucrats to ask the treasury for more money.
More money for memorials, monuments

Blaney himself recently acknowledged the need to cut expenses, but insisted former soldiers would not feel the impact and that reductions would be made through the unspecified elimination of red tape.

"What I hear [from] our veterans is that they're really seeking to simplify the process and I intend to address this issue very rapidly," Blaney said last week in restating the government's pledge to invest $2 billion in better benefits for soldiers over 50 years.
"What I can tell you is we're working to streamline the process and I'll be coming back to you with an update in the near future."

The budget planning report indicates the department will put more money toward memorials and monuments, but trim its outreach activities with veterans groups.
The Office of the Veterans Ombudsman will be spared the budget axe and the forecast doesn't anticipate any staffing reductions.

The Legion has called on the Harper government to exempt Veterans Affairs from the program review, the way the Obama administration has pledged not to touch its own programs in the U.S.

I expect you all can guess how I feel about this, but I'm a little too grumpy right now to put it into words.  I will be re-visiting this once I have let it percolate a bit; for now I just wanted to help spread the word.


If you are Canadian and you don't know how to contact your Member of Parliament (Federal), please follow this link to find out and express your opinion:
http://parl.gc.ca/parlinfo/Compilations/HouseOfCommons/MemberByPostalCode.aspx?Menu=HOC 


Please also send a copy of your comments to Steven Blaney, the Federal Minister responsible for Veterans' Affairs.

Mr Steven Blaney
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6
Telephone: 613-992-7434
Fax: 613-995-6856
E-Mail: steven.blaney@parl.gc.ca


or his constituency office at


Mr Steven Blaney
115 President-Kennedy Road, Suite 101
Lévis, Quebec
G6V 6C8
Telephone: 418-830-0500Toll Free: 1-877-630-0500Fax: 418-830-0504E-Mail: blanes1@parl.gc.ca 

If you are not Canadian and would like to express your opinion, Steven Blaney is also the fellow to contact. 

Red Friday ~ The Soldiers with Robin Gibb - I've Gotta Get A Message To You [Official...

Seems its music week here at the Crow's Song.


This is the first release from "The Soldiers" new album, to be released October 26.


http://www.the-soldiers.co.uk/ for more details.


This single is the official single for the Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal 2011.

http://www.redfridays.ca/index.htm

They can't take that away from me

One of the songs from my "WAG" playlist, for when I am in a sucky mood.

And ya, I'm in a sucky mood.  There is some crap going on, the same crap that has being going on for well over a year now, the crap that we thought would be cleared up in September.  More crap got added, with no end to the crap in sight.  Its not crap between us, but its crap that affects Sebastian's ability to move forward with his life.


And its crappy.

But no matter what ... they can't take us away from us.

Red Friday

I am spending Friday working at one of the local Fall Fairs, in the Support our Troops/Family Support Group booth.  It's great to spend the day interacting with the guys from the local reserve unit, and some older, retired veterans, and of course other families.  Hearing the messages of support from the folks that take a moment to stop and look at the displays, and actually talk to us or the guys, and ask questions.

Of course, I'll be wearing my red!

The disease called perfection (Single Dad Laughing re-post)

http://www.danoah.com/2010/09/disease-called-perfection.html

Go read this.  Now.  If its the only post you read today; it needs to be read.