Isla Verde Beach - San Juan, Puerto Rico (2003)

This is my son John and his friend Vertis relaxing on la Playa de Isla Verde (Isla Verde Beach) in San Juan. The picture was taken in late 2003. John, at that time, was in his first year of Optometry School. John was later accepted into the Ross University School of Medicine and has just this past week completed his fifth semester. He will now be studying for his Step One Boards which he must pass to be assigned to Clinical Rotations. I am looking forward to spending some time with him as he will soon be here in Missouri for a few days. We are going to go together to Fort Leonard Wood and hang out with Matthew.

My Special Friend Jacquelin

For the entire time I have lived in the Dominican Republic, Jacquelin has done my housecleaning and laundry. Jacquelin is one of the nicest women I have ever met. She is very special to me. Recently her son was killed and she is raising her grandson. He is a sweet little boy and often comes to the apartment with Jacquelin and watches cartoons while she is working. Jacquelin I miss you and will be happy to see you again in November when I return to la Republica Dominicana.

My Good Friend Marcos

John and I lived in San Juan from January through December of 2004. Marcos became a very special friend to both of us. I will never forget all the evenings when Marcos and Erika came up to our deck to hang out, drink beer, listen to music, talk and laugh. How special those times were! This is a picture of Marcos in an area just outside of San Juan called Pinones. On this day Marcos and I were on a road trip. Today Marcos is working for a boat-building company in Florida. I miss you Marcos!

Some Pictures Of Dominican Life

Most Dominican families are very poor. Although I did not take this picture, I have seen this scene in the barrio. This woman has devoted a corner of her casa as a place to go to practice her religion. She is seen here reading the bible.

Anyone who is a baseball fan will enjoy going to the Dominican Winter League games. Each of the teams are filled with Major League players and the quality of baseball is top notch. One of the things that makes their games special is the crowd. It is definitely a 'party atmosphere' with loud music, dancing, cheering. Each team has their own cheerleaders who dance on the field and on the dugouts.

Moving about on horseback is very common sight in the campo (country) of the Dominican Republic.

Two smiling Dominican children. Mothers take great care in fixing their hair just like these girls.

This is a small colmado (little store) in the barrio. The lady is holding a pez (fish). These little places are very common in the Dominican barrios.

You can't walk down the street in the Dominican Republic without seeing a scene like this. These men are playing dominos. Americans play cards. Dominicans play dominos and they are very good at it. It is fun to watch them play as they yell and scream and really get into their games.

The Bodies Of Soldiers Killed In Iraq

American Deaths In Iraq This Month
17 Already This Month

Spc. Hai Ming Hsia, 37, of New York, N.Y., died Aug. 1 during combat operations in Ar Ramadi, Iraq. Hsia was assigned to the 6th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Division, Baumholder, Germany.

Sgt. Dustin D. Laird, 23, of Martin, Tenn., died on Aug. 2, in Al Qaim, Iraq, of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his HMMMV during combat operations in Rawah, Iraq, on Aug. 1. Laird was assigned to the Army National Guard 913th Engineer Company, 46th Engineer Battalion, Union City, Tenn.

Sgt. Ryan D. Jopek, 20, of Merrill, Wis., died in Tikrit, Iraq on Aug. 2 of injuries suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his convoy. Jopek was assigned to the Army National Guard's 2nd Battalion, 127th Infantry Regiment, Waupun, Wis.

Cpl. Joseph A. Tomci, 21, of Stow, Ohio, died Aug. 2 while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Marc A. Lee, 28, of Hood River, Ore., was killed on Aug. 2 during combat operations while on patrol in Ramadi, Iraq. Lee was an aviation ordnanceman and a member of a West Coast-based SEAL Team.

Sgt. George M. Ulloa Jr., 23, of Austin, Texas, died Aug. 3 from wounds suffered while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Lance Cpl. Kurt E. Dechen, 24, of Springfield, Vt., died Aug. 3 from wounds received while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, while attached to Regimental Combat Team 5, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died in Ar Ramadi, Iraq, on August 4, when an improvised explosive device detonated near their HMMWV while conducting combat operations. Both soldiers were assigned to the 1st Calvary Regiment, 1st Armored Division, Friedberg, Germany.

Killed were:
Staff Sgt. Clint J. Storey, 30, of Enid, Okla.
Sgt. Bradley H. Beste, 22, of Naperville, Ill.

Sgt. Leroy Segura Jr., 23, of Clovis, N.M., died on Aug 4, in Habbaniyah, Iraq, of injuries suffered from a HMMWV accident. Segura was assigned to the 362nd Engineer Company, 54th Engineer Battalion, Fort Benning, Ga.

Spc. Brian J. Kubik, 20, of Harker Heights, Texas, died on Aug 5 in Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Landstuhl, Germany, of injuries suffered on Aug 2 when his unit encountered enemy small arms fire in Baghdad, Iraq. Kubik was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Ky.

The Department of Defense announced today the death of three soldiers, who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died in Baghdad, Iraq on Aug. 6, when an improvised explosive device detonated near their HMMWV while conducting a combat operations. All soldiers were assigned to the Army's 2nd Brigade Troop Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

Killed were:
Staff Sgt. Stephen A. Seale, 25, of Grafton, W.V.
Sgt. Carlton A. Clark, 22, of South Royalton, Vt.
Cpl. Jose Zamora, 24, of Sunland Park, N.M.

Three Soldiers assigned to 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division died from enemy action while operating in Al Anbar Province today. The names of the deceased are being withheld pending notification of next of kin and release by the Department of Defense.

American Deaths In Iraq This Year

August - 17 (in 9 days)
July - 44
June - 61
May - 69
April - 76
March - 31
February - 55
January - 62

Total American Deaths In Iraq This Year - 415

Total American Deaths Since Bush Invaded Iraq - 2592
Total Coalition Deaths - 231
Total Iraqi Deaths - A Modest Estimate Is 100,000

Number of days since Bush said he'd get Osama Bin Laden "dead or alive": 1788
(Has anyone mentioned to him that Osama Bin Laden is not and never has been in Iraq and that Al Queda was not there either before he invaded Iraq.)

Number of days since the occupation of Iraq began: 1234

Number of days since "Mission Accomplished": 1194

Number of days that the the Vice President has NOT shot a man in the face: 172

It is still 920 days until the end of the Bush Administration -- unless we impeach the whole sorry lot.

Last night I decided to read a few blogs posted by Conservative Republicans. As it turned out I was only able to read one. It was quite enough. Here are some exerpts from the blog:

Conservatives For American Values
by Herman B. Hayes
http://cfav.blogspot.com/

Israel Has The Right To Kill Everyone.

Any and all who are enemies of the great nation of Israel should be destroyed by whatever means necessary.

Israel has the right to defend herself, even if that means incinerating children with phosphorus bombs.

If you disagree with me, then Israel has the right to kill you, too.

We have your back, Israel. Bring it on.

I think the thing that bothers me the most is that these words came out of the mouth of an American with a religious background. Very Frightening! Very Disturbing!

On the right side of his blog he has a list of liberal blogsites under the title: Enemies of God

This Sounds Kind Of Like

"There are some who, uh, feel like that, you know, the conditions are such that they can attack us there. My answer is: Bring 'em on. We got the force necessary to deal with the security situation. “ - George W. Bush, July 2, 2003.