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Patriotic Video That Gets It Right

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The Best Patriotic Video

Across the internet are scores of videos with patriotic songs, words, and performers that inspire and lift the heart. My plan this Independence Day weekend was to post several of my favorite patriotic videos here, and I had quite the list. But once I saw this ad by Food City centered around the true meaning of the holiday I changed my plans and only posted one.

Food City Patriotic video
Food City Patriotic video

The respect between these two men is overwhelming, and it’s a trait I see with people who serve in the military to those who have served before them.

As a Marine Mom this has special meaning to me. My two sons are in the United States Marine Corps and their grandfather was a WWII veteran and a paratrooper in the Army Airborne. He died in 1995, but would have been able to fit into his uniform. I could see him doing just this for one of his grandsons as they came home.

I normally don’t cry during patriotic videos, but I can’t help it on this one. The look on the Mothers face as she watches the two salute each other would bring a tear to even the hardest heart.

“At Food City, we honor those people that serve and protect our country, and we know that without the men and women who watch out for us, we would not have any of the luxuries we do. We are the land of the free because of the brave and we salute you!” Food City

It’s not often a company gets an ad right, but when they do it deserves recognition. I know these are actors, and not everything in the video may be accurate, but it accomplishes what it was meant to do. Remind the public that holidays such as Memorial Day, and Independence Day, often referred to as the 4th of July, are not just about picnics, barbecues and parties. But about recognizing why we celebrate our country’s freedom. It’s because of the brave men and women of our military, who for hundreds of years have fought for freedom so we can have the rights we have today.

If you have a favorite patriotic video please place the link below, I would love to see it and may even create a regular feature on either #MilitaryMonday or #WarriorWednesday

 

Where Poppies Grow, In Flanders Field

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I could make it to the Elmwood-Murdock Veterans Day program this year, so I’m posting last years tribute from the high school choir. It’s my favorite  and never fails to give me chills.

Thank you to all our veterans who have served and who are now serving in the United States Marines, Army, Navy, and Air Force.

Bohemian Rhapsody, Glee Style

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Bohemiam Rhapsody Glee style
Bohemian Rhapsody Glee style

The television show Glee has made show choirs popular and during last weeks Elmwood-Murdock spring concert the high school choir broke away from their traditional style of robes to give us a Glee or show choir rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen.

I talked to Mrs. Colbert, the vocal director, on what prompted her to try this and she actually had to be convinced by her friend Noelle, who is a choreographer at The Lofte Theatre.   Noelle had a goal to do such a project and was very convincing.

The students really wanted to sing Bohemian Rhapsody and had been requesting it for several years. The song was a reward for a good years work, yet Mrs. Colbert wasn’t convinced if the students would embrace dancing and adding movements. Remember, no one auditioned or signed up for a “show choir” and these students represent about 50% of the student body population.

Show choirs normally are not this big, and with the various personalities in such a big group there might be some ruffled feathers. There was, but their choir director diffused and redirected to create an overall positive attitude that thoroughly impressed.

This was the last concert for the seniors and they really went out with a bang.

To watch and listen to this choir that earned superiors at  districts visit my YouTube Channel

Day 121/365: Brody my Jack Russell, the Official Tester of Tough Squeaky Dog Toys

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I have found the MOST indestructible squeaky dog toys on the market! Seriously, chew toys your dog won't destroy. My Jack Russel is a pro at tearing toys to pieces and I have found the BEST squeaky dog toys for aggressive chewers.Toughest Toys – Squeaky Dog Toys for Aggressive Chewers

Many of you have followed my quest to find the indestructible dog toy. Specifically, a squeaky toy, my Jack Russell loves squeaky toys. So far only the toys that have past the survivability test has been his Nylabone Dura Chew and his Busy Buddy.

My postings on this adventure attracted the attention of the Kyjen Company who makes unique and innovative dog products.

They sent graciously Brody a box of challenging and definitely unique squeaky toys and I’m going to do them justice during my by documenting Brody’s experience.

Kyjen Pet Products and their tough squeaky dog toys

Outward Hound 32039 Squeaker Matz Gator 16 Squeaker Plush Squeak Toy Dog Toys, Large, GreenKyjen PP02255 Hard Boiled Softies Dog Toys Durable Rubber and Plush Squeak Toy, Large, Multicolor

The day the box arrived Brody just knew it was for him.

Seriously, it was almost like ESP and he could sense all the fun inside. I let Brody pick out of the box and the first one he picked was the Hard Boiled Softies. It honks rather than squeaks and this was different. It is a plush covering with a hard rubber “yolk” inside.

white dog playing with his dog toy
It’s a bee! It’s different!

He pushed and honked it and eventually the antennae and the wings came off. Then he went to work on the bottom part of the plush bee because he couldn’t get at the noisemaker.

After a few hours, the egg came loose from its fabric. I was very impressed with the thick rubber construction. Since it was a very large size it was more difficult to puncture.

Dog toys in my house get destroyed
Got it loose!

After the egg was out of the “shell” Brody played and bounced it around all night.

What? All night, a toy actually lasted all night? This is a first!

The squeaker stayed in the egg even. It wasn’t until the next day the squeaker became dislodged and disappeared inside the dog toy cavity. I fully expected it then to be chewed into many pieces. Nope.

A week later I’m using the egg as a treat toy. I break up his dog bones into three pieces and put them inside. It’s a perfect size the egg is large enough in diameter to encourage some serious chewing and tossing to get them out.

This next phase of toy play will last him hours if I keep the treat pieces large enough.

I have put the egg back in it’s shell a few times, but it’s chewed up enough where it doesn’t stay. But I’m impressed.

As you can see from the video Brody really loves his toys, small toys are a challenge to play interactively with him as he plays keep away. Next review is a toy that is the perfect size in my opinion, maybe if they merged the two together?

Thank You Kyjen!

I have found the MOST indestructible squeaky dog toys on the market! Seriously, chew toys your dog won't destroy. My Jack Russel is a pro at tearing toys to pieces and I have found the BEST squeaky dog toys for aggressive chewers.PetSafe Dog Toys the BEST tough dog toys for aggressive chewers

In my years of buying and testing dog toys, I’ve learned that the Petsafe dog toys are really TOUGH dog chew toys and the BEST on the market.

Here are my favorite dog toys that meet the tough, and fit into the truly indestructible category. PetSafe makes super quality dog toys and the Busy Buddy was Brody’s first toy, my request, or wish, they make a tough durable squeaker came true and the Booya is what every dog toy should be like in the future.

PetSafe Busy Buddy Waggle Dog Toy, Medium/LargePetSafe Busy Buddy Waggle Dog Toy, Medium/LargeBusy Buddy Squeak N Treat Booya Dog Toy LargeBusy Buddy Squeak N Treat Booya Dog Toy LargePetSafe Busy Buddy Barnacle Dog Toy, LargePetSafe Busy Buddy Barnacle Dog Toy, LargePetSafe/Premier Busy Buddy SQUIRREL DUDE Dog Treat Chew Toy LargePetSafe/Premier Busy Buddy SQUIRREL DUDE Dog Treat Chew Toy Large

If you’re looking for GUARANTEED indestructible dog toys these are your best bet, but you may have a dog that is a super aggressive chewer and these still won’t last. One tip is to get one size larger than recommended.

Top Gun: Dangerzone Theme Song

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Something a little extra for your listening enjoyment. The music Danger Zone from Top Gun. Both my son and daughter play in the Elmwood-Murdock High School band and tonight was their annual fundraiser.

Over 600 people attended the spaghetti dinner and listened to the various bands from the elementary, junior high, jazz band and high school band. Jen plays percussion, in this song the timpani, which is awesome! My senior plays the trumpet.

If you have been following this blog you might remember that both communities together have a population of about 1000 people, so to say we had a good turnout is an understatement. A lot of this is due to our band director Michael Hanson. When he arrived the band had dwindled from a strong group of over 60 students to the low twenties. In just a few years his leadership has encouraged students to once again pursue music and strive to be the best.

During the fall the students compete in marching band competitions including the Apple Jack Festival (1st place the past three years) and in 2010 won 1st place in their division and third overall at the Harvest of Harmony parade in Grand Island Nebraska. This festival hosts over 100 high school marching bands  in one of the oldest high school marching band competitions in the Midwest, now going on 70 years.

Last year they were invited to march in the Washington DC, Memorial Day parade. It was quite the experience.

More videos on the band and choir can be viewed on my YouTube Channel, including their other piece The Lord of the Rings: Two Towers, A Symphonic Suite