Christmas Shopping

Tie the season for crime. Criminals have kids and family too. For some reason, criminals think they are entitled to what you have. While you are out shopping here are a couple things to think about:

• Watch for anyone trying to get to close to you or bumping into you. It may be a mistake or you may have just lost your wallet.
• Don't carry all your Christmas cash in one spot. Have some in each pocket so you aren't flashing a wad every time you pay for something. Women don't put everything in your purse. If someone takes your purse, can you even get home? Put a couple things in your pocket
• Think about multiple trips so everything you bought at BestBuy is not sitting in the car while you go into target.  That big screen TV you just bought looks as nice to a thief as it does to you. 

Stay Safe,

Ben

Modern Self Protection

Daily Commute

I got stuck here for about an hour while I had to fix a trailer tire and then let my mini air compressor blow the tire back up.

Then I hung out and had lunch.

What's your commute look like?

Ben

Happy Turkey Day!

That's what my Grandmother calls it.

I just wanted to say Happy Thanksgiving to all.

I'm thankful for everyone out there.

Thanks,

Ben

Daily Commute

Today my commute looked like everyone else's. Everyone is leaving for the holidays.

Daily Commute

Here is a picture from my daily commute.  What's your commute look like.

Re: Free Lunch

My free lunch didn’t go so well.  I wanted to go to Texas Road House, but I went to lunch with my wife (A Little Slice of Life) and kid.  They opened at 11.  We got there 15 minutes early, and so did everyone else.  So I thought we’d go to Best Buy for a router, which they didn’t have.   We went across town to get one. 

We stopped at another Texas Road House and the wait was an hour long.  Across the street was a Chili’s that was also doing free lunch for Vets.  We had a great meal with good service and only had to wait about 10 minutes.

It was nice to be around all these Veterans.  The place had a great vibe, and at every table there seemed to be people telling war stories.  It was a lot of fun.

Veterans Day

On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month the guns fell silent. November 11, 1918 become the end of the “Great War.” The world hoped it was the “War to End all Wars.” It didn’t take long for us to learn that war will continue.

May 13, 1938 by an act of congress November 11 became a national holiday called “Armistice Day.” After World War II and Korea, congress amended the 1938 act in 1954 changing the name to Veterans Day to honor veterans or all the wars.

At one point (1971-1975) congress tried to make Veterans Day a floating holiday to create a three day weekend. There was uproar from the people and Veterans Day was changed back to November 11.

Lately I think Veterans Day is fading. After September 11, 2001, everyone honored our veterans, now we are starting to forget.

Here is a different reason to thank our Veterans. When someone joins the American Military they lose all of their rights and freedoms. They do this willingly for the term of their contract plus a couple extra years.

I learned this the hard way when I joined the Marine Corps October 13, 1998 (no I didn’t have to look up this date; it’s the day I reported for boot camp). From the time I stepped off the bus the Marine Corps told me when I could eat, when I could sleep, if I could make phone calls, and even controlled what news and mail I got from the outside world.

Once out of boot camp this continued. I was told when and where to report, when I got off duty, and where I could go when I was off duty. They controlled my entire life while I was on active duty.

Just remember to thank a Veteran today, they willing gave up their freedom so you could have yours.

Stay Safe,

Ben Branam

Modern Self Protection