Day 4 - "Leta" Week

The food coma continues - in a GOOD WAY!

This morning I walked into the office to find a wonderfully delicious breakfast!

French toast, link sausages, breakfast casserole, chocolate muffins, pigs in a blanket, peanut butter chews and fruit pizza.

The chefs of the day:

Derek, Rose and April

Just like the team from day 2 these great chefs work for our Financial Services Division but with whom we share office space.  I'm touched and grateful that they wanted to participate in the festivities this week.

Second guy from right is Andrew.  His wife, Shaunda, was also one of the chefs.

I love how everyone was "encouraging" April to hurry up and cut the fruit pizza so we can EAT!

It was another incredible day.  The food was so delicious but the comraderie was even better.  As much as I've loved every minute of this week I'm going to be sad to see it end - not because there will be no more awesome food but, because I'll be saying goodbye to an wonderful group of people that I have really enjoyed working with.

Sigh

Day 3 - "Leta" Week

Well I guess a few people can't go to bed until I post about Day 3 of "Leta" Week.  Sorry to be so late in posting but I'm in a food coma - one that's probably not going to end for a couple more days.

Thank you to Heather Ostlund for calling me to tell me she's waiting for this post.  I may have just slept right through the night.

We started the morning with Sausage Bread (YUMMY) and about a bazillion donuts.  Sausage Bread is this amazing creation of sausage (DUH), peppers, cheese, etc., wrapped in fresh bread dough and baked.  Did I say YUMMY yet?  Man it is good.  Washed that down with a donut and some Starbucks coffee.

For lunch:

Homemade vegetable beef soup, chili (with cheese to put on top), homemade chicken salad sandwiches (3 kinds of bread), summer sausage and crackers, chips and dip, cookies, pink lemonade and iced tea.

My gratitude and compliments to the chefs - Suzanne, Sharon H., Sharon W. and Pam.  I appreciate all of the time and trouble you all went through to make today's breakfast and lunch so enjoyable.

But I really should digress.  After the huge breakfast Connie just wasn't sure she could make it to lunch on her own power.  Brandon helped her out in our office rickshaw.  Yeah, we've got it all here, folks!

Brandon and Connie - man I'm going to miss these two clowns!

Throughout the week "things" have been appearing on my desk.  For example:

A lone but very delicious chocolate truffle

And these, one per day:

Monday

Sorry for the poor quality of the photo.  They are tiny little guys.  About an inch tall.  This one is wearing a parachute.  Heck yeah!

Tuesday

Wednesday

This is the stamp on the bottom of them:

I think they are neat as heck and I'm very touched that someone knows how much "my" Soldiers mean to me.  I know, these are marked "Union of S Africa" but it's the thought that means so darn much.  And they are cool as heck.

Yes, I've seen the menu for tomorrow.  Holy smokes!  I'm so very touched by the kindness and generosity of all of the people in our building and from around the region, too.  The emails I've been getting are incredibly thoughtful.  Sure, there are a few who won't miss me (is what it is) but to know so many will really makes me feel like I've made a difference here.  I couldn't have done it without so many of them pulling their weight and then some.

Speaking of weight...anyone have the number for Weight Watchers?

Day 2 - "Leta Week"

Well, it seems they meant it when they put up the sign for "Leta Week".  I punched in my security code, opened the door to the Operations Center this morning and found this:

Prepared by these ladies:

Janelle, Elizabeth & Donna

These ladies don't even work in our division.  But...my office is on their side of the building so they see me more than our division staff does.  Despite the fact that they probably listen to me growling and yelling at people all day they still wanted to be a part of "Leta Week".  That's pretty darn special to me.

Not pictured above is Libbie, the wife of our EVP/COO.  She sent a delicious oriental salad.  I could have eaten the whole bowl.

So anyway...by lunch time the entire building smelled DEELICIOUS and looked like this:

Pulled pork, a humongous crock pot full of homemade mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, ribs & kraut and the oriental salad.  Off to the right side are onions, pickles, bread, cream puff cake and beautifully decorated cookies.  What a wonderful midday feast!

Then the vultures showed up:

Shoo!  Go away!

Here's a shot of the cookies.  Believe me when I tell you that ALL of the food was just delicious but the cookies seemed to be deserving of their own shot - especially given the theme.

You know I was lovin' that!

Towards the end of the day I received an email with this pic:

And this text:

It’s going to hard to beat the treats we’ve enjoyed the last two days – but we’re gonna try.


Tomorrow we will be serving:

     Breakfast Menu: Donuts and Sausage Bread

     Lunch Menu:  Soups - Chili and Vegetable, Summer Sausage and crackers, chips, Chicken Salad and dessert

I think I'm going to need a "to go" box before this is all over.  What an amazing team of people to work with.  I'm so thankful!

I'll Bet You Didn't Know That It's "Leta Week"

Yep, here's the proof:

OK, a little explanation here.  I've been working on contract for a client for the past 23 months.  The initial contract was for 4 months.  I guess they liked me, well maybe not all of them.  We did accomplish a lot of great things together.  I stayed around so long they decided to name me Operations Manager.  Not too shabby, huh?

Some of my AWESOME team members working on a problemo.

Pam, Brandon and Connie - man I'm gonna miss you guys like heck

So I walked into work this morning and this is what I found:

French Toast Casserole, Pigs in a Blanket, Breakfast Casserole, Fruit Salad, Cranberry-Orange Muffins and Cinnamon Rolls all laid out on a beautifully decorated table.

I loaded up my plate and headed into the Monday Morning Management Meeting.  Oops...none of the other Managers brought in food.  Oh, well.  I thoroughly enjoyed the meeting.

This afternoon "the boys" kept with tradition:

Butch & Sundance aka Brandon and Zach, making my EVERY afternoon Starbucks one Splenda latte.  How spoiled am I?

And then there was tonight.  Tonight they had a dinner in my honor at the Chicken Ranch.  Ok, ok, the name is really the Chicken Place but I've always called it the Chicken Ranch.  I've written about the Chicken Ranch, uh, Place here and here.  I was touched that team members and management from each of our six offices around the region took the time to come tonight.  We had the BEST crowd. 

Annette, Amanda, Janet, Tom, Joe and Tony

(Tony is a fellow pig wrestler)

Marie, Sharon W, Martha, Sharon H, Bonnie & Paula

Corporate Accounting - in the house!

Vicki, Quintin & Annette

Bonnie, Paula, Tim, Marie, Pam

Dana (sorry about this shot of you), Lori, Loretta & Brenda

Sarah (in jacket), Brittany (in purple) and Sandy (standing near the door talking - NO! Sandy talking?  LOL)

Christi, Vicki, Quintin, Kim L and Kathy

And they even had a cake made for me.  Can you tell they know what my passion is?

LOVE IT!

Along with the breakfast, dinner and cake they presented me with a very generous check made out to Defenders of Freedom.  When Joe presented it to me he commented that they thought I would prefer that to a present.  I told him he was right - the check was a gift - a gift that would go towards helping some combat Veteran.  Nothing gets any better than that.  THANK YOU SO MUCH!

My major "partners in crime"

Brandon (Systems Administrator) and Connie (Service Manager)

No, "thank YOU" everyone!

If it's Leta "week" I can't imagine what is in store after the amazing day today.  I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to get to work with so many incredible people.  As for the rest of the week - just spending it with you all is more than enough.

I do know one thing about tomorrow.  I have a massage scheduled after work.  YAY!

Remembering SFC Matthew Kahler Killed In Action 26 January 2008 - Afghanistan

SFC Matthew Kahler

24 July 1978 – 26 January 2008

Chosen Company, 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment

SFC Kahler was killed by small arms fire on Jan. 26, 2008 at Forward Operating Base Fenty in Waygul, Afghanistan.

SFC Kahler left behind a wife and daughter as well as legions of family members, fellow Soldiers and friends who miss him as much today as they did four years ago. His death left a huge hole in many hearts.

There is a slide show here with photos of SFC Kahler with his family and on deployment.  There is another photo gallery here of the day SFC Kahler was brought home to Granite Falls, MN, his final resting place.

 

Sergeant First Class Matthew R. Kahler was born on 24 July 1978 in Carroll, Iowa. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on 5 June 1997.

After SFC Kahler completed Basic Infantry Training, Advanced Individual Training, and Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia, he was assigned to A Company 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina on 17 November 1997. While assigned to the 504th PIR, he held the positions of Assistant Machine Gunner, Machine Gunner, and Fire Team Leader. He deployed to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1997 in support of OPERATION DESERT FOCUS and OPERATION DESERT THUNDER.

SFC Kahler was assigned to 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team in June 2001. While assigned to the 503rd, he held the positions of Fire Team Leader, Rifle Squad Leader, and Platoon Sergeant. He helped form and train Able Company during countless training deployments to Grafenwoehr and Hohenfels. SFC Kahler deployed and served in the Brigade as a Rifle Squad Leader during both OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM I and OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM VI. SFC Kahler deployed with The ROCK to Afghanistan in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM VIII as the Platoon Sergeant for 2nd Platoon, Chosen Company, 2nd Battalion (Airborne) 503rd Infantry Regiment.

SFC Kahler’s awards include: Bronze Star (2, Posthumous), Purple Heart (2, Posthumous), Army Commendation Medal (2), Army Achievement Medal (4), Army Good Conduct Medal (3rd Award), National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Afghan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with numeral three, Army Service Ribbon, Over Seas Ribbon with numeral four, NATO Medal, Ranger Tab, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Expert Infantryman’s Badge, and Senior Parachutists Badge with Combat Bronze Star Device. SFC Kahler was also recently inducted into the U.S. Army, Europe Sergeant Morales Club as a lifetime member.

SSG Tyler Schmidt (Former ROCK Paratrooper) Earns His Pathfinder Badge

Current Pathfinder Badge without enameling

The original Pathfinder badge was designed in 1944.  In 1964 the current badge design was adopted and made of felt.  In 1968 the current badge was approved and is made of metal with enameling.   The wings on the badge represent airborne capability and flight while the wings represent leadership and guidance.

I learned today that, in order to earn the Pathfinder Badge, the student navigates dismounted, establishes and operates a day/night helicopter landing zone, establishes and operates a day/night CARP, GMRS, and Army VIRS parachute DZ, conducts slingload operations, provides air traffic control and navigational assistance to RW and FW airborne operations. Students participate in a three day FTX (I think that means in the field) as a member of a Pathfinder Team.

Specifically Soldiers learn the following skills at Pathfinder School:

Navigate cross country on foot

Establish and operate a day/night helicopter landing zone

Establish and operate a day/night parachute drop zone

Conduct slingload operations

Aircraft rappelling

Provide air traffic control and navigational assistance to aircraft within an operational site control zone

It is my understanding that there is only one Pathfinder school within the Army.  It is located at Fort Benning, GA.   However, the Air Assault School at Ft. Campbell, KY is authorized for Pathfinder training and the Army National Guard Pathfinder Mobile Training Team (MTT) provides Pathfinder training to Army National Guard and Reserve Soldiers.
 
So today, in true Army fashion, the graduation was held OUTSIDE in a freezing rain only feet from a huge, warm, dry building.  But I wouldn't have missed it for anything!
 
Tyler, I could not be more proud of you for this accomplishment and so many others you have attained.   WELL DONE!  Congratulations to Misty, too, for her support of your Army career and those long and difficult deployments.  You two are an amazing couple and it is truly a privilege and honor to know you and call you friends.

Today's graduating class at Ft Campbell

SSG Schmidt, 1st row, 4th from right

The man of the hour!

It's Official!!!

Behind every successful Soldier is a supportive spouse! 

SSG Tyler and Misty Schmidt

Aww...come on, Misty.  Do it!  Do it!

Well, Misty, if you won't, I will!  Time to draw some blood and make sure that badge sticks!

Love you guys and thank you for introducing me to some of the men from your recent deployment.  Being at your graduation was one privilege.  Meeting those men was yet another.

Now get some rest before moving on to your next task.

One Last Gift

Grab your tissues, folks. 

From 9 News in Colorado - the story of how people around the nation came together to help honor the wish of a fallen Hero,  CPT Bruce Hayes from the Wyoming National Guard, deliver "one last gift" to his wife and daughters.



Remembering CPT Bruce Hayes - killed in action 17 September 2008 by a roadside bomb in eastern Afghanistan.