Recently the Yellow Ribbon Fund treated the wounded warrior families to a day at the National Building Museum in DC. It was a day full of learning and a few little surprises were tossed in there too. We took the Metro's Red Line to Chinatown and enjoyed a lovely short walk to the Museum.The museum is on 401 F St NW and you could take the Judiciary Square stop, but it was a beautiful day for a walk and we wanted to discover food on our way over.

When you walk in the museum's Great…

     Military families are well-versed in separation and loss. Combat deployments are, I can only imagine, an often grueling, sometimes punishing ordeal for military spouses. And of course there is the loss of life, the death of a loved one…something so profoundly devastating that mere words cannot possibly capture the resulting grief and anguish.

     So I am well aware that another type of separation pales in comparison, and it seems rather trivial to even mention it. But they have…

On Your Mark ...Set...Register!

All over the internet and airwaves you can find secrets to living better and longer lives. Whether it’s a medication, diet or exercise plan, book, or even a mattress – everyone seems to be looking for the answer. Col. (Ret) William Stephens has learned the secret to well-being, one he’s practiced for 75+ years. It’s the power of positive thinking and its benefit to a long, happy and successful life. Col. Stephens sat down with me…

Summer is coming to a close...the kids are back in school or almost. What will you do with all that free time? Why not take a look at joining the AFOWC (Air Force Officers Wives Club) in the DC area? There is great line-up of events and lots of opportunities to help the community. The kick-off event is coming up and I am happy to provide you with the details below. So calling all Air Force, Army, Marines and Navy ladies...think about it!…

The story begins on the island paradise of Hawaii.  Sara was working in a Dunkin Donuts when Marcus Burleson (known as Mark), who was a Marine stationed in the area, spotted her.  Although he did not drink coffee, he visited frequently, just to get a look at the angel behind the counter. 

On February…

Over the past two years I have been taking care of my mom who has Alzheimer's - trying to take into consideration all of her wishes to the best I can which is very challenging at times. It is a very hard disease to watch someone progress with. I am an only child so I am the one that manages all her needs - care, finances, doctors, etc. I was fortunate enough to have Power of Attorney so I could manage certain aspects of her daily living. My mom tho' has become very beligerant and agitated…

     My "other blog" initially started out as an English assignment via a Professor who not only teaches at one of the local colleges in Northern Virginia, but works at the Marine Corps War College at Quantico MCB.  It was a rather unique approach to English and from there I learned that I "needed to find my voice."  Although I haven't quite figured that one out, I have gathered from friends and family that "my voice," is really who I am, sort of a "jack of all trades and master of none."…

Recently, our Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) concluded that The Stolen Valor Act of 2005, 18 U.S.C. § 704, infringes upon speech protected by the First Amendment. The case, United States v. Alvarez, centered around an individual, Xavier Alvarez, who was…

A few weeks ago we ventured out to Clemyjontri Park in Fairfax County, Virginia. It was a short drive from our apartment in Silver Spring, MD. We enjoyed an amazing day of fun at this park that is accessible for kids of all ages. Here's an aerial view of the layout of fun that was to be had. 

The amazing Yellow…

     At my kids’ karate this afternoon, the topic to begin class was ‘intuition’. The instructor went on to say that intuition was like a sixth sense, which, for a kid, wasn’t a bad definition. The lesson led to a discussion of occasions where one might feel uneasy or threatened by a person or a situation, regardless of an actual perceived threat. The brief discussion of, what we in military circles would call ‘situational awareness’, suggested that someone else’s hurt feelings are not as…

On August 8, 2011, when my son, Derek, was in the SICU at National Naval Medical Center (now Walter Reed National Military Medical Center)(also known as Walter Reed Bethesda), which is located in Bethesda, Maryland, I was given news that shook me to the core.  Derek was septic.  His blood pressure was beyond dangerously low.  The doctors rushed him off to the Operating Room to try to save him.  It did not look good.

In a daze, Derek’s fiancée, Krystina, and I made our way down…

If you’ve been as inspired as I have by the competition in the 2012 Summer Olympic Games to get off the couch and start moving – Dr. Charles Toftoy has a suggestion for you. Why not take part in the Senior Olympics, the national fitness program for those over 50? Locally, Northern Virginia’s Senior Olympic (NVSO) competition is set for Sep. 15-26 and Maryland’s events are happening now until Sept. 30. It’s not too late to sign up and try for your own medal according to Toftoy.

Toftoy,…

Disabled Veterans Enrolled in a VA Training Program

Disabled veterans eligible for training under the VA vocational rehabilitation program may enroll for training or work experience at an agency under the terms of an agreement between the agency and VA. While enrolled in the VA program, the veteran is not a Federal employee for most purposes but is a beneficiary of the VA.

Training is tailored to the individual's needs and goals, so there is no set length. If the…

30% or More Disabled Veteran

30% or More Disabled Veteran allows any veteran with a 30% or more service-connected disability to be non-competitively appointed.

You are eligible if you:

• Retired from active military service with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more; OR
• You have a rating by the Department of Veterans Affairs showing a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more.

This authority can be…

Veterans Employment Opportunity Act of 1998, as amended (VEOA)

 Veterans Employment Opportunity Act of 1998, as amended (VEOA) is a competitive service appointing authority that can only be used when filling permanent, competitive service positions. It cannot be used to fill excepted service positions. It allows veterans to apply to announcements that are only open to so called "status" candidates, which means "current competitive service employees." 

To be eligible for…

Veterans' Recruitment Appointment (VRA)

Veterans' Recruitment Appointment (VRA) is an excepted authority that allows agencies, to appoint eligible veterans without competition. If you:

•   Are in receipt of a campaign badge for service during a war or in a campaign or expedition; OR

•   Are a disabled veteran, OR

•   Are in receipt of an Armed forces Service Medal for participation in a military operation,…

Schedule A Appointing Authority

Though not specifically for veterans, the Schedule A authority for people with disabilities, 5 CFR 213.3102(u), is an excepted authority that agencies can use to appoint eligible veterans who have a severe physical, psychological, or intellectual disability. To be eligible, you must:

Show proof of your disability. Documentation may be from any licensed medical professional (e.g., a physician or other medical professional certified by a…

Do you need a nice quiet place to retreat? Would you like to not travel very far to find a  little peace in the city? Well I have the place for you.

Wednesday I took a Mommy's Day Off and joined my fellow caregivers at the Hillwood Museum. This immaculate place is definitely a hidden treasure in DC. Hillwood is so peaceful and quiet you would never know it exists. You surely don't know that just two turns away is the hustle and bustle of the big city. It was just amazing.

The…