We have had pretty solid sales days lately. Even with the doom and gloom that is being spewed by the government and the media, we are showing solid 10% or more growth compared to last year. That is great news for us! Showing growth during such a downturn in the economy is a real blessing...
My collar bone is just not healing very well. I am functional, but definitely not healed. I get new xrays later this week, and I'm expecting my ortho doctor to suggest a surgical repair. I'm not opposed to that because I know it is what is needed to get this injury back to some type of normal state. However, starting from square one again, though, is disheartening. Uugghhh... Bummer...
We recently swapped out artwork in the shop. Thank you soooo very much to Nikki Connon, who showed her beautiful paintings here for so long. We really enjoyed having her bigger than life oil paintings in the shop. And it was so kind of her to give Tracy one of her paintings! How cool is Nikki?
Joseph Bishop is now showing his work, which is wonderful. What makes his artwork even more extraordinary is that Joseph was born with a lobe of his brain missing. He has never walked, never talked, and has involuntary motor control issues. His paintings, however, are completely amazing and let's us know there is a fully functioning, thinking individual at work. A lesson to be learned is to never assume ANYTHING about someone who appears to be disabled. God places talent in everyone, regardless... Joseph has discovered his God given talent and has given us some wonderful images to see... I'll post a few photos soon (don't have a card reader with me tonight).
Instead, I'll post a few military photos for you.
The multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) transits the Persian Gulf. Iwo Jima is deployed as part of the Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group supporting maritime security operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Chad R. Erdmann/Released)
GULF OF OMAN (Nov 7, 2008) Sailors assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disopsal (EOD) Platoon 222 are lifted by an MH-60S Seahawk helicopter assigned to the "Sea Knights" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 22 during a special patrol insertion and extraction exercise. EOD Platoon 222 is embarked aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) and is operating in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Nathan Lockwood/Released)
GULF OF OMAN (Oct. 15, 2008) An F/A-18C Hornet assigned to the "Stingers" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 113 embarked aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) flies to an Operation Enduring Freedom mission in Afghanistan. Ronald Reagan and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 14 are providing support to coalition forces on the ground in Afghanistan. (U.S. Navy photo by Cmdr. Erik Etz/Released)
GULF OF OMAN (Oct. 14, 2008) Plane captain Aviation Machinist's Mate 3rd Class Kyle Alhers performs morning maintenance on an F/A-18C Hornet aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). Alhers, assigned to the "Fist of the Fleet" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 25, begins the maintenance routine before sunrise and often works late into the night. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Gary Prill (Released)
HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan (Oct. 6, 2008) An F/A-18C assigned to the "Stingers" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 113 embarked aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) refuels from an Air Force KC-10 tanker during a mission supporting British troops in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan. Ronald Reagan is deployed to the U.S 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Cmdr. Erik Etz/Released
Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen assigned to Special Boat Team 22 (SBT-22) conduct live-fire immediate action drills at the riverine training range at Ft. Knox. SBT-22 operates the special operations craft-riverine and is the only U.S. special operations command dedicated to operating in the riverine environment. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Kathryn Whittenberger/Released)
A 10,000-pound underwater explosion rocks the amphibious transport dock USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) during a shock test off the Florida coast. The test is part of Navy trials for the San Antonio-class ship, which was commissioned last December. U.S. Navy photo (Released)
Sailors aboard the fast-attack submarine USS Los Angeles (SSN 688) watch from the bridge as ships from multiple nations gather in a 26-ship formation for a photo exercise during Rim of the Pacific 2008. U.S. Navy photo by Electrician's Mate 2nd Class Brian J. Hudson (Released)
Chief Warrant Officer Guy Inzunza, assigned to Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 2, rides a stage to the sea bed during a dive from the Military Sealift Command rescue and salvage ship USNS Grasp (ARS 51) supporting Navy Dive Global Fleet Station 2008 off the coast of St. Kitts. (U.S. Navy photo by Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Andrew McKaskle/Released)
The fast attack submarine USS Providence (SSN 719) is moored at the North Pole in the Arctic Ocean to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first submarine polar transit completed by the USS Nautilus (SSN 571) in 1958. Providence is en route to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility from its homeport in Groton Conn. (U.S. Navy photo by Yoeman 1st Class J. Thompson/Released)
An F/A-18E Super Hornet strike fighter assigned to the "Kestrels" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 137 performs a high speed maneuver over the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) during an air power demonstration for visiting ambassadors and senior military officials from Indonesia. Lincoln and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW ) 2 are on a scheduled seven-month deployment to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Brandon C. Wilson (Released)
An F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to the "Bounty Hunters" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 2 performs a fly-by over the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay (CG 53) and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Shoup (DDG 86) during an air show for the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) and her crew. Lincoln and Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 9 are on a scheduled seven-month deployment to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Justin R. Blake (Released)
Petty Officer 1st Class Julius Mcmanus, assigned to Mobile Diving Salvage Unit (MDSU) 1, plants an American flag on the site where an American WWII military aircraft crashed into the Pacific Ocean. Deep sea divers are assigned to Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) accounting of all Americans missing as a result of the nation's past conflicts. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Perez (Released)
...and I saved the best one for last. This is the USS Memphis, which I served on from February 1986 to October 1989!
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