Winding down: Post it notes

I've kept the names of soldiers and Marines I knew who were deployed on post it notes stuck to my computer. And one-by-one, slowly but surely, I am happily taking them down. It's a great relief to have these guys home....a relief to all involved.

TPC: Military Appreciation Day

Receiving some positive media attention



Sailors heading to the Patriots' Outpost



President Bush (41) rides by.



Watching the 18th fairway



Representatives from the Wounded Warrior Project

Mother's Day

With sons having to head north to Ft. Bragg and south to Port St. Lucie today, Mother's Day was held here on Saturday. Sons ran the show (as they should) buying and preparing the day's dinner. Mom was thrilled.

Not sure whether any pictures will be posted since there was some shots of tequila consumed later in the day (not by Mom or Dad).

Happy Mother's Day everyone.

First meeting

There is a sentiment that he may be part Ewok.

It's official

Mark received his orders today. Thirty-seven days to go.

Military Day

Today is the final practice round at The Players Championship, one of golf's premier events. It's also the tournaments Military Day where active duty military are given free tickets and they can attend a ceremony honoring their service. Gayle and I will be heading over this morning with cameras (today is the last day you can carry a camera at the course)for pics for tomorrow's blog.

The pupster Glider

Settling in.

39 days to go

SGT Mark's packet has cleared brigade and been accepted at the transition office. Orders will follow shortly, possibly by Thursday and in slightly over a month he returns to Florida...for good.

Waking up SGT Mark to let him know Glider has left the ranch:


Pit stop:


Big pool, little dog. Already been in twice:


Checking out the new digs:



Smoozin' with the new fam:



Height comparison:



Settling in:

Military Appreciation Day

A big shout out and thank you to my Dolphin Cove neighbors and volunteers who hosted the 4th Annual Military Appreciation Day. It means a lot to our neighborhood military families. Quite frankly, I've never heard of another Jacksonville neighborhood that has ever done this. Thank you.

For those who were at the event and are new to The One Percenters: You are welcome to copy the photos to your computer and have them printed. If they are used in any publication the credit line should read: Photo by Mark Middlebrook, The One Percenters.

If you want a larger print, contact me at threemms@gmail.com



A good crowd showed up for the ceremony.



Mark Shaw, who once tried to teach SGT Mark how to play the piano, opened with the Star Spangled Banner.



Nease High School NJROTC honor guard.



Remarks from Master Gunnery SGT James Muller, USMC (Ret).



Presentation of a flag that flew above the USS Arizona Memorial to Guest of Honor Master Chief Arthur Riker, USCG (Ret). Riker spent 28 years in the U.S. Coast Guard.



Lt. Col. Paula Roderick, USAF (Ret) reads the names of those who are currently serving or have served. She is reading Mark's name in this photograph.



Taps.



Service flags.



One of the Moms has a daughter in 3rd Brigade, 82nd Airborne, currently in Iraq. Here's the banner before the ceremony.



And after.




DJ Marvin Sullivan




Free cake.



Tangling with the free cake.



The Marines set up a tent with a strength test.



Doug Fort and crew from Monster Dogs. (they were great)



Chicken dancing.

TPC

The Tournament Players Championship cranks up here in Ponte Vedra Beach Monday. Mark's battle buddy Ty is an avid golfer and wanted to come down and see the tournament. So Gayle and I bought two tickets as sort of a thank you to Ty for being there for Mark. But schedules got screwed up and it turned out they couldn't come. We hadn't planned to go this year....given the economy and all...so we ended up with two tickets for the week.

But last night Mark said that he and Ty are heading south for the third round of the tournament.

However, we are somewhat suspicious.:)

We know Ty would like to go to the tournament but we suspect Mark's motivations to come home have more to do with the little ball of fur that we are picking up tomorrow in Polk County. After all, it's the first dog he has ever owned.

Glider

Mark has posted Glider's bail money and we will be off to spring him tomorrow or Sunday. Puppy pics to follow.

Clones

I was filling out my annual report to the state for The Middlebrook Company and noted in corporate records that there was another Mark Middlebrook in the State of Florida ...and on the board of the Florida Aquarium in Tampa no less.

And sometime in June, Mark Middlebrook no. 3 will be arriving back in Florida. How many more of us can there be in Florida?

BTW, if you ever do a Florida trip and are in the Tampa area, the Florida Aquarium is an extraordinary facility. Not Atlanta's but very Florida and very, very cool.

Who knew?

The Army doesn't like SGT Mark's acceptance letter to the University of North Florida and has requested a new one. I find that beyond amazing.

Cool glider

From one of Mark's acquaintances.

The inscription:

To SGT Middlebrook

"Memories are for retirement!

That way you can have a beer with the kids and all the lies and war stories become believable. We have therefore taken a vote that you are not allowed to enjoy a memory of this place unless you have a beer or liquor on hand or until age 65, which ever comes first."

No surf? Try a pool instead.

Grand dog Bodie dropped by yesterday for a visit.

Mark's neighborhood during the surge

BAGHDAD — Two suicide bombers struck outside the gates of the holiest Shiite site in Baghdad on Friday, killing at least 60 people and wounding scores more, according to preliminary reports from police officials.


The blasts came after the single deadliest day in Iraq in more than a year, and punctuated a deadly outburst of violence in recent weeks. In barely 24 hours, at least 140 people have died and 240 have been wounded.

Friday’s bombings occurred near the shrine of Imam Musa al-Kadhim, one of the twelve imams of Shiite Islam, in the Kadhimiya neighborhood of Baghdad. Like some previous bombings, the attacks appeared to be aimed at Shiites.

I still have it bookmarked on Google Earth. Maybe it's time to get rid of those.

The rest of the story is here.