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QUOTE OF THE DAY by Laura Bush: One day, my mother-in-law, Barbara Bush, received a call from the school principal, who said that George was in his office. She was shocked. George was a perfect student who was well-behaved and earned straight A's. She hurried to Sam Houston Elementary determined to give the principal a piece of her mind. But Barbara had to bite her tongue when the principal reported that George had disrupted his music class. In true Elvis fashion, he'd taken a piece of charcoal and drawn sideburns and then tried to perform for the other children.

By George Bush: I want to congratulate the teachers who are here from around the country. It is a -- it is a great experience for Laura and me to greet you in the Oval Office. I guess the word I would describe the teachers who came through is they're joyous people. There's such a joy that radiates on your face and in your character. And on behalf of our nation, I want to thank you for what you do. You make a great contribution.

First: Teacher of the Year Kathy Mellor; Second: Nancy Brinkler, The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation founder

Dose going up.

Pls wait to post photos till the All Clear.

Thanks for the Dose, Gretchen!

Great Pics! Thanx

ha, ha, ha, ha (sounds of glee at being in top 'something'

Thanks, Gretchen the New.

I have not been able to garner the masculine attention on FR as you seem to have, however unwelcome it might have been.

AWESOME photos of our HIGH ENERGY first couple -- at last count, the President has already given speeches at THREE major events today!

Since I'm working late again tonight, I thought I'd post some articles for you now:

ARTICLE ONE
BAGHDAD, IRAQ — Cars spin down the street at night, tricked out with blue neon lights and sporting CDs dangled from their rearview mirrors. Thriving shops blare 50 Cent's In Da Club, while the young techie at one of the numerous local Internet cafés prefers to blast Nirvana. Cell phones with personalized ring tones and text messaging are literally everywhere. And teenage gamers while away their afternoons playing Vice City and Tom Clancy's Medal of Honor. Anytown, USA? No: Welcome to the new face of Baghdad, where, to quote Army Sgt. First Class Woods, the kids "want to be like Mike, not like Mahtma."

Everywhere you look in Baghdad, there are signs of capitalism. The streets are festooned with signs for Samsung and Iraqna, the major local cell-phone provider for the city. Satellite dishes — the possession of which was punishable by the state under Saddam — now hang from houses throughout the city. It is difficult to walk down Rashid Street because of all the large hand carts overloaded with televisions, computers, air conditioners, and microwaves.

The locals are snatching up not only Western goods, but Western culture. As you might expect, this is particularly true among the youth. In addition to listening to Western music, increasingly available thanks to the Armed Forces radio station, they also follow the lives of music celebrities in Arabic magazines, which chronicle events like Britney's Vegas wedding. With the proliferation of televisions and satellites, Arabic music videos — strikingly similar to Western videos — have become popular. And once rock and roll is introduced, sex and drugs must follow — well, maybe not, but the taboo against alcohol is loosening, as many of the local men sneak around in the evening to taste the forbidden elixir away from the condemning eyes of wives and clerics.

But perhaps the biggest influx of Western culture is in the area of fashion. Young women are increasingly abandoning traditional Iraqi garb in favor of more form-fitting clothes. And while the middle-aged woman across from the palace in Adhamiya may scream "Whores!" as the girls pass by in their more revealing Western garb, she does so only as a break from indulging in her own Western pursuit: hocking Pepsi on the street corner. Men are also quickly snatching up clothes emblazoned with English words, only to ask passing Americans to tell them what their clothes say. (Imagine their chagrin when they learn that their shirts' logo is not really English, but rather a Greek word for victory.)

There is also a particular fascination not only with things American, but with Americans themselves. If you tell someone from Baghdad that you are from America, you are likely to be met with excitement and the common exclamation: "I love America." They will want to know where you are from in America, and what you think of Iraq. Without prompting, they will tell you what their lives were like under Saddam, and how they have changed. And their children are likely to be drawn to the American soldiers — waving, smiling, and running to meet them. For those whose impression of Iraqi sentiment has been shaped by the nightly news, the Iraqi response to Americans may be the biggest surprise to come from a trip to Baghdad.
— Robert Alt is a fellow in legal and international studies at the John M. Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs at Ashland University. He is beginning his second of four months in Iraq.
http://nationalreview.com/comment/alt200404210832.asp

ARTICLE TWO
In the words of 1st Lt. Edward M. Solis, a platoon commander with 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, "If the enemy only knew our will, they would've given up by now."
http://nationalreview.com/comment/smith200404210857.asp

ARTICLE THREE
People leaving Kleinhans after Bush departed said they felt energized and stirred.

"It was awesome," said Amherst Police Chief John J. Moslow, who sat near Bush onstage and spoke for a few minutes during the event. Afterward, Moslow said, he and the president got a chance to chat about golf and running.

Listeners said they particularly liked that Bush seemed like a regular guy - joking, laughing, and sounding fierce when he talked tough about terrorism.

"I thought it was great," said Wayne Pohle, a Buffalo Fire Department lieutenant. "I thought he was really down to earth. He sounded just like a real people's person."

Some elected officials in the audience said the president seemed to pull off the event with ease. "He sounded like a normal person, like one of us," said Erie County Sheriff Patrick M. Gallivan. "That's something people like in a leader."
http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20040421/1001526.asp

ARTICLE FOUR
. . . And given that "Plan of Attack" generally makes Bush sound pretty good, Woodward had to do something. He just couldn't bear being outsold by Richard Clarke. So what if he distorted the contents of his own book? He knows perfectly well that nobody actually reads him.
http://nypost.com/postopinion/opedcolumnists/19172.htm

That Nancy Brinker is a beautiful woman. She's a Dallasite and (I believe) that she is the sister of Little Mo Connelly.

Anyway, she's very active in the fight against breast cancer.

I always think she looks like what Nancy Pelosi wishes she did.

Hanoi Kerry at his "moment of glory."
What a piece of ******
The media WILL NOT mention this book.
I will!
The cover is a insult to Iwo Jima vets,
then it gets worse towards Viet Nam vets.
I was there the same time Hanoi Kerry was.
I served on a Destroyer which supplied PBR's
and gave gunfire support in North AND South Viet Nam.
My ship may have even supplied Hanoi Kerry's boat.
I VOW I will do everything I LEGALLY can
to keep this traitor from being elected.
I owe it to those who gave their all.

So Dubya and Laura can take a bad picture after all.

An update about Cesear. He is at Bethesda and will be there for a bit. We were told that he was coming West by this weekend but alas this is not so. His Mom is now going to fly to Baltimore to be with him. She is very happy that he is on U.S. soil and is able to call her.

As it stands now they should be flying to California some time late next week. Cesear's Mom appreciates all the prayers that have been offered up on his behalf.

A friend of mine that was on the prayer chain suggested after Cesear was shot that if he had not be on the prayer list prior to, that he would have been listed as a KIA instead of a WIA.

ATTENTION ALL PRAY-ERS!!

Before I leave and get to bed...... kitkat freepmailed me and said she is in great pain (from a previous injury), and asked me to pray for her.

I hope she doesn't mind my sharing it, but I know how much prayer support is out there among Dosers, and I know she needs it now!

Psalm 17

¹ Hear a just cause, O LORD,
        Attend to my cry;
        Give ear to my prayer which is not from deceitful lips.
       ²Let my vindication come from Your presence;
        Let Your eyes look on the things that are upright.

       ³You have tested my heart;
        You have visited me in the night;
        You have tried me and have found nothing;
        I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.
       ⁴Concerning the works of men,
        By the word of Your lips,
        I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer.
       ⁵Uphold my steps in Your paths,
        That my footsteps may not slip.

       ⁶I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God;
        Incline Your ear to me, and hear my speech.
       ⁷Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand,
        O You who save those who trust in You
        From those who rise up against them.
       ⁸Keep me as the apple of Your eye;
        Hide me under the shadow of Your wings,
       ⁹From the wicked who oppress me,
        From my deadly enemies who surround me.

       ¹⁰They have closed up their fat hearts;
        With their mouths they speak proudly.
       ¹¹They have now surrounded us in our steps;
        They have set their eyes, crouching down to the earth,
       ¹²As a lion is eager to tear his prey,
        And like a young lion lurking in secret places.

       ¹³Arise, O LORD,
        Confront him, cast him down;
        Deliver my life from the wicked with Your sword,
       ¹⁴With Your hand from men, O LORD,
        From men of the world who have their portion in this life,
        And whose belly You fill with Your hidden treasure.
        They are satisfied with children,
        And leave the rest of their possession for their babes.

       ¹⁵As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness;
        I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.

Please remember the following members of the military and their families/friends in prayer:

~ Gogranny ..... grandson Jarrett, deployed
~ Inspectorette ..... son Eric
~ LBGA ..... son is deployed
~ Slip18 ..... nephew is aboard ship - active duty USN
~ Himyar ..... son Robert
~ mrs tiggywinkle ….. nephew Michael is in the Navy
~ milagro ….. son is deployed in the Mid-East
~ Jewels1091 ….. friend of daughter … Chris (Navy)
~ from hoosiermama …
…..… Shanty & Josh (husband & wife just deployed separately)
…..… Bill and Bill (both military academy grads)
…..(when you teach, they're all your kids)
~ zlala ….. brother is deploying to the Mid-East
~ Pippin ….. niece in the Air Force …. nephew in the Army stationed in the Far East
~ WomanofStandard ….. a dear friend's sons, Troy (Air Force) in Italy and Tyler (Army) at Ft. Bragg, NC
~ kemathen7 ….. boyfriend, John (AirForce)
~ Warriormom ….. CIA agents whose plane crashed and may have been kidnapped in Colombia
~ Freeper Per-Ling ….. active duty in the Navy ….. has a wife and 2-year-old
~ brand new Freeper leenie312 ….. son Nicholas is in the Marines
~ rintense .…. friend's brother, Brian Z.
…..… friend, Matt (who is a Freeper), deployed to the Mid-East
~ AF_Blue ….. active-duty AF
~ stand 4 something ….. husband Mike AND son Scott, (both Air National Guard) deployed to the Mid-East
~ JulieRNR21 ….. a friend's grandson, Wesley in the USAF
~ TigerCap ….. co-worker, Kevin, Marine Reservist deployed to Kuwait
~ bigeasy ….. friend’s husband is deployed ….. he asks for prayer for justice, wisdom, swift return home
~ brand new Freeper fc2tomschermuly (Navy), who just signed up today to thank us for supporting the military
~ EuroFrog ….. husband, SSG Mike, deployed to Kuwait
….. SSG Kris, friend of SSG Mike in Kuwait
~ whoever ….. son Adam, on a Navy ship in a “hot zone” … he’s a single father (a widower) with a 10 y/o daughter
~ annyokie ….. son, Ian (Navy)
~ IncPen ….. Sarah (who was IncPen’s maid of honor at her wedding), Air Force flight nurse, just landed in Kuwait
….. friend’s son Matt is in Kuwait
….. brother in law Paul is awaiting deployment
~ TruthNtegrity ….. cousin's son, Andy, is an Ensign, USN
~ RoseofTexas ….. the son of a friend, Leo, an MP in Kuwait
~ baseballmom ….. brother's brother-in-law, Chris, USAF Blackhawk pilot, now operating in Iraq
~ goodnesswins ….. neighbor’s husband, Bruce, flying C-17's from Germany to Iraq
~ azGOPgal’s friend’s friend, Jeremy who is in the 10th Mountain Division
~ Warriormom requests prayer for April, a young, single mom de-mining the waters in the gulf
~ FresnoArmyBrat ….. a cousin
~ Jim Robinson ….. two nephews
~ Marysecretary ….. grand-nephew, Paul, who is in Iraq
~ tinacart ….. best friend's son, Cody - 4th Infantry
~ DallasDeb ….. niece in Army, posted to Kuwait, may be repairing comm equipment in Iraq
~ Texas Princess ….. nephew Roland, (Air Force)
~ hoosiermama ….. Callie, in Iraq; Dawn's brother ??? and George in a tank somewhere
….. … one of our teachers Dan, working stateside to help "process" military and supplies
~ bigghurtt ….. 5 years in the Army, soon-to-be Special Forces
~ STARWISE ….. friend Carol’s son-in-law Jeff … in Iraq as an MP
~ the family of Staff Sgt. Steven Mitchell, who lost their home in a fire while he was serving in Iraq … pray for their injuries received in the fire to heal, especially his 2-year-old daughter, Maddie, who was badly burned
~ JulieRNR21 ..... friend Betty's grandson, Matt, in US Army
~ Scott Speicher from Desert Storm
~ McLynnan ….. Seth, closest friend’s son-in-law, deploying to Iraq
~ PhiKapMom’s daughter, Jennifer, U. S. Navy
~ BonnieJ ….. cousin Doug (Army) is in Baghdad
~ RoseofTexas ….. cousin's son Mark, 20 years old ….. he is in the heart of Baghdad
~ TruthNtegrity ….. a Navy pilot, Lt. CMDR Andrew, has returned home, seen his now 9-month old son, and is training for who-knows-what!
….. … brother's retirement ceremony (John) is set for Oct. 3rd. Please pray for post-retirement plans.
~ the families who mourn for their fallen heroes
~ healing for the injured
~ Cate ….. son David, in Iraq since June with the 4th ID
~ ladyinred ….. Josh, newly deployed to Iraq
….. Also, Josh's sister Pamela
….. their mother now has 2 children over there and one who has just returned home
~ JulieRNR21 ….. J.C., now serving in US Army in Iraq
~ TruthNtegrity, mystery-ak …. .complete healing for the surviving crew and passengers of the downed Chinooks on Nov. 2nd, and Nov. 25th in Iraq.
~ ntnychik ….. the members of the 10th Mountain Division (which will be in Iraq for the long haul) and their families
~ Pan_Yan & Pan_Yans Wife ….. friend, Mike, stateside now but expects to go back to Iraq in late winter
~ Jewels1091 ….. Nick (friend of youngest daughter) going to Iraq for 18 months
~ SunflowerGal ….. grandson Daryl has just been deployed to South Africa ….. SG asks for prayers for his safety and for an ever-growing close walk with the Lord
~ CyberAnt ….. nephew Jody deploys to Iraq/Qutar on March 2
~ MS.BEHAVIN ….. friend's son-in-law, Scott, has been deployed to Iraq … his wife Tammy had recently lost a baby boy when she was 5 months along
~ hoosier_RW_conspirator ….. son Jake left for Basic Training on February 9 ... hopes to eventually qualify for Special Forces
~ Happy2BMe ….. son Aaron has just left for a year in Iraq
~ LKR59 ….. eldest nephew, Robert, went over to Iraq in Dec., right in Mosul, in the thick of things
~ Severa ….. husband (FR screen name Hostel), USN Submariner, will be home in a few weeks, at least for a while
~ GretchenM ….. son of dear friends, Silas (Army), serving in Germany currently, is interviewing for positions for when he leaves the service in October. He asks for prayer for the right doors to open.
~ baseballmom ….. friend’s nephew, Thomas (Navy), just deployed
~ RoseofTexas ….. Shannon G. -serving in the US Army in Iraq
~ TruthNtegrity ….. Jaime Bravo, USMC. He re-upped, not expecting to go back to Iraq … and was sent back for a 2nd tour of duty. Please pray for his peace of mind about this.
~ Jaguar Girl ….. nephew Jimmy is serving in the Air Force
~ jtill ….. friend's son, George (Marines), stationed in Iraq. Please pray for his mother Theresa also.
~ Blue Scourge ….. a Freeper who will be enlisting in the Air Force in May and asks for prayers for guidance
~ hoosierpearl ….. friend Robert, deployed to Afghanistan in March. He has three small children and a wife at home and has a particularly dangerous job
~ WVNan ….. John, the son of a friend, a Marine, probably in Fallujah now ... [Editorial note: special prayers not only for the safety of John and his fellow Marines but also for the success of their mission!]
~ Lunatic Fringe ….. brother deployed with the 2/7 Cavalry
~ Lunatic Fringe ….. best friend from high school, deployed with the 1/7 Field Artillery
~ ODC-GIRL ... part of her unit is in Iraq
~ Jaguar Girl ….. her cousin, Peter (Marines), has just been deployed to Iraq
~ An anonymous Freeper … had the potential for an opportunity "in theatre" - plans have changed and this FReeper is staying stateside for the immediate future

* ~ mike1sg and mystery-ak …. Prayers as Mike prepares to return to Iraq to serve with his unit, whose tour of duty has been extended for several more months. Prayers for the morale of the unit and their families.
* ~ radiohead ….. niece Angel is home safely with her husband and small child! Prayers of thanksgiving!
* ~ Freeper Joe Boucher's nephew has succumbed to his serious injuries sustained while fighting in Iraq on 4/6/04. Prayers of gratitude for a life lived valiantly and of condolence for his family. May God give them courage and strength for the days ahead!
* ~ Keith Matthew Maupin, the soldier who has been taken hostage. Prayers for his well-being and for his safe release and for strength and courage for his family.
* ~ TejasRose ….. Candice, daughter of a close friend, is serving with the Army in Iraq
* ~ GOP-Pat ….. penpal Jim, SSG in the Army … has returned safely from Iraq. Prayers of thanksgiving.
* ~ notpoliticallycorewrecked ….. CD, a former Boy Scout from their BSA troop joined the Marines right out of high school and was just sent to Iraq. He has been wounded … had surgery in Germany and is currently at Bethesda Naval Hospital.

* denotes change to the list (an addition or sometimes, thankfully, someone who has come home safely)

(Please FReepmail me with changes to the list because I may miss any pings. Thanks.)