Rocky Horror Season is Upon us

I went to the Rocky Horror Show last evening at the Hoogland Center. I had a good time. Springfield turned out and filled the theater for this stage production. Now you have to understand this, Springfield is the capitol city and very reputation conscious so this is breaking loose. The cast and crew did an excellent job. I sat in the front row and made the usual script responses. I shared a balloon to volley around the audience before the show began to lighten up the virgins and introduce them to audience participation. Normally this balloon is to be popped during the flat tire scene but it was still bounced around at the intermission. I realized after the show and talking with the cast that they enjoyed my interaction. I guess it's as motivating to them as an applause. The orchestra was great too. Some of the music is a bit a challenge to emulate the original show. I plan to go again tonight but maybe in one of my other costumes.

My only dilemma is where to go next weekend....Springfield's show again, which I'll have seen twice, or the Peoria Player's midnight show. Either way, I can go to the show at Illinois State on Nov 1st. My friend and I will play Columbia and Eddie with the Samurai Electricians
on Nov 6 and 7 at the Tivoli in St Louis.


Here's the review of the show last night:
http://www.sj-r.com/entertainment/x665148046/Review-Rocky-Horror-Show-still-has-legs

Here's my Rocky Horror website for Illinois shows:
http://rockyhorrorillinois.webatu.com/

Rock on Rocky!

Sale-abration this Saturday!

It's a garage/yard/Soldiers' Angels informational booth and it may be happening in your neighborhood! To find the Sale-abration near you, click here.

To find out more information about the Sale-abration click here. If you have any questions, email saleabration@soldiersangels.org.

From Guns to Blogs

A group of gun enthusiasts led by blogger "Mr. Completely" recently turned their love of firearms into laptop computers for wounded warriors. For the third straight year, the Gunblogger Rendezvous in Reno, NV has made Soldiers' Angels Project Valour-IT its fundraising focus. In addition to a raffle, the registration form for participants this year included an option of donating to Valour-IT while paying the registration fee.

Things got off to a rocky start when PayPal shut down the online raffle that had been set up, but Brian David Crane of Lucky Gunner (one of the Rendezvous sponsors) stepped up to fill the gap, making for a fantastic fundraiser that brought in nearly $7000 from tickets alone.

And the gunbloggers didn't stop there! Thirty-seven blogging participants at the Gunblogger Rendezvous raised additional funds through raffle tickets purchased at the event in Reno, direct donations during the weekend, and funds from registration fees once expenses were covered. At the end of the Rendezvous, event sponsor NSSF announced their direct donation of $1000 to Valour-IT, leading to a grand total of $8243.80 raised for Valour-IT!

The Gunblogger Rendezvous is an annual "real life" meeting of an online community of about 125 bloggers who discuss firearms and 2nd Amendement issues (37 attended this year's event). Each year they include a charitable aspect to the festivities, and for the last three years that has been Valour-IT.
This year their activities included shared meals with lively discussion, a visit to the world's largest sporting goods store, target shooting events, and several friendly competitions.

Major Chuck Ziegenfuss, the co-founder of Project Valour-IT, was in attendance for the 2nd time and found himself stunned when he pulled his own name out of the "hat" during the 2nd part of the drawing.

Soldiers' Angels is proud and honored to receive such generosity from patriotic Americans who have found a way to celebrate their rights and favorite pasttimes while supporting the troops!

At the Gunblogger Rendezvous, Chuck demonstrates use of the voice-controlled software that wounded warriors can use on Valour-IT laptops.

Vet GI Bill Problems?

WLF partners with White House and VA to get GI Bill payments expedited

The Warrior Legacy Foundation (WLF) is working with the White House and the VA to assist veterans who have been experiencing delays in GI Bill payments. Recently a number of veterans have not received payment for college expenses they are due in a timely fashion. This has caused financial hardship in an already difficult economy. This is unacceptable and WLF is committed to helping fix the problem.

Our leaders have been in contact with veterans officials at both the White House and VA and they agree this is a priority that must be addressed. They have dedicated resources and we will be working with them to expedite these payments and to ensure that systemic problems are addressed. We will provide assistance to veterans affected by this and connect them with the proper authorities to get them the benefits they earned. We appreciate the attention and help from both the White House and VA in rectifying this.

Veterans who have not received payment can contact us at info@warriorlegacyfoundation.org with GI Bill in the subject line.

David Bellavia
Executive Director
Warrior Legacy Foundation

Additional information & press inquiries:

Jim Hanson
Sr. Director Communications
jim.hanson@warriorlegacyfoundation.org

Landstuhl needs your help

You may not be hearing about it on the news, but the fighting in Afghanistan has been very heavy, with many wounded moving through the military medical system. Our wounded heroes, their families, and the doctors and nurses who care for them desperately need our love and support. Please consider how you can help.

MaryAnn, head of Soldiers' Angels Germany, writes about the need:

All summer we have been experiencing a very large number of incoming medevacs, particularly from Afghanistan. Unfortunately, the past several weeks have been even worse. We are in urgent need of the following items. Please help if you can. Please also pray for our patients and staff during this very difficult time. Thank you.

Most Needed:

* Sweatpants and Zippered Hoodie Sweatjackets (M, L, XL - Gray, Black, Dark Blue)
* Blankets of Hope
* Lounge/sleep pants/pj bottoms (M, L, XL)

2nd Most Needed

* Undershirts and plain T-shirts (M, L, XL)
* Shorts, baggy basketball-type (M, L, XL)

3rd Most Needed

* Men's Boxerbriefs (M, L, XL) 2nd choice boxers. Please do not send "tightie whities"
* Socks

For a complete list of items, see the Soldiers' Angels Germany blog. NOTE: Please do not send clothing sizes Small, 2X, or 3X. Also, please do not send books or magazines.

Shipping Address for Soldiers' Angels Germany:

MTD
Attn: Soldiers' Angels
CMR 402
APO AE 09180

Important:

* Please email mphillips @ soldiersangels.org when items are shipped.
* Include a note with your name, email address, and brief description of items sent in your packages. Without this information, we will be unable to confirm their receipt.
* Please allow 6 - 8 weeks for receipt confirmation.

Please help our wounded heroes however you can. In addition to the great work of Soldiers' Angels Germany, you can assist the wounded and their families through Soldiers' Angels Blankets of Hope, First Response Backpacks, Hero Flights, Valour-IT, and Wounded TLC.

Camouflage Stockings

What does Santa do when his target is a hero in a war zone? He deploys a camouflage stocking, of course!

Unfortunately, Bob Gilead discovered it's hard to find a camo stocking when you're not Santa. A few years ago he wanted to send his deployed daughter a Christmas stocking appropriate to her situation, he found himself stymied. So finally, in frustration he purchased a red and white stocking in a style he liked, bought a yard of camouflage fabric, and paid a seamstress to make a camouflage stocking for his daughter. Thus the birth of Camosock, and Bob is now Santa's helper for the rest of us...

Today Camosock offers spacious, festive, well-made Christmas stockings in digital camouflage patterns/colors appropriate to each of the five U.S. Armed Forces service branches, including a choice between woodland and desert patterns of Army camouflage.

As a veteran himself and the father of a veteran, Bob has generously chosen to pay it forward by offering Camosocks to Angels in a way that supports the work of Soldiers' Angels. For each Camosock sold through Soldiers' Angels this holiday season, Bob will donate $3. It's the perfect gift for adopting Angels to send their heroes!

Spread the word, and be sure to use the coupon code CAMO10 when you check out!

MilSpouse Supports SA

Army Wife and advocate for military families Andi Hurley has designed a beautiful shell-pendant necklace in honor of what she calls, “the thousands of Angels worldwide who give so much of themselves to our troops and their families.”

The Soldiers' Angels necklace is now available on her new online store, Military Matters, which caters to military spouses, moms, girlfriends and female service members, offering fashionable military-themed jewelry, planners and novelty items. Three dollars from each Soldiers' Angels necklace sold on Military Matters between July 14 and August 31 will go directly to Soldiers’ Angels. Andi will also be donating $2 to SA from any other Military Matters purchases made during that time.

Andi has been a supporter of America’s military families for years, and was a major figure in the miliblog community within which Soldiers’ Angels first found its wings. Today she runs SpouseBUZZ, a great site full of camaraderie, humor and good advice for and by military spouses.

Military Matters developed out of a need Andi discovered about three years ago when she was looking for a unique, military-themed gift for a friend's daughter and noticed that everything she came across was red, white and blue. She’s as patriotic as any American out there, but she believed military families didn't have to be limited to those colors--they could show pride in their association with the military in brown, green, turquoise, purple and yes, even pink! After discussing the concept with other military spouses, and with the input of her many friends, Military Matters was born this summer. To celebrate the debut of its new product line, Military Matters is offering a Grand Opening special: from July 9 - August 31, 2009, customers receive 20% off of their order by entering MMGO in the promo code field at check-out.

Soldiers' Angels salutes Andi for all she does for military families, and for her great style and generous heart!

Assignment Afghanistan: Burned Books

Sangamon County Circuit Clerk Tony Libri, who has been serving in Afghanistan with the Illinois Army National Guard for several months appears in this WGN TV video report:

Assignment Afghanistan: Burned Books
The Taliban Foils a Humanitarian Mission Involving Illinois National Guard Troops

Tom Negovan WGNTV Reporter

June 7, 2009

http://www.wgntv.com/wgntv-assignmentafghanistan-burnedbooks-jun07,0,4909965.story

He is shown around the 2:55 mark

http://weblogs.wgntv.com/news/wgn-news-blog/tom-negovan-in-afghanistan/

It might also be shown on CNN.

Illinois veterans face difficult decision - News

Illinois veterans face difficult decision - News: "Illinois veterans face difficult decision"

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Something Funny

Victory In Iraq Day ~ June 13, 2009

show of support for our troops

Please feel free to make copies, and distribute them wherever you can.

This can and should be a tremendous show of support for our troops.

Post this on supermarket bulletin boards, at work (of allowed), at VFW and American Legion halls, and anywhere else loyal Americans gather.

http://rose.rosec.googlepages.com/vi_day_poster.pdf

Illinois Solstice Sign vs Veterans Memorial Wreath

It’s been too cold to walk over and check on the Wreaths Across America Statehouse Wreath after the ceremony and subsequent relocation to the rotunda but I did so today. This wreath is our state’s gift to honor our Illinois veterans and is made by the same folks at the Worchester Wreath Company that decorate the graves in Arlington. Last year this veteran’s wreath was in the center of the rotunda. This year it is on the sidewall by the elevators. Our gifted wreath’s previous place of honor now has a solstice sign. The veterans who fought for freedom of speech, and are honored by this wreath donated to our state, have been replaced by the very freedom for which they fought. My only regret is that it is too late in the season for this year's memorial wreath. Both will be taken down shortly but I'll never forget that the atheists have taken a step ahead of our fallen veterans. I believe you can click to read the sign but if you cannot, I have transcribed it here: At this Season of the Winter Solstice may reason prevail. There are no gods, no devils, no angels no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but a myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds. The sign on the below justifies the sign in the capitol but not the placement.

   

 https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/2008/12/17/atheist-group-turning-to-bible/48879244007/

It has "Thou Shalt Not Steal" to appeal to someone that stole the original sign. See Story in the State Journal Register at: http://www.sj-r.com/archive/x1720697940/Atheist-sign-stolen-from-Capitol-rotunda