Semper Fidelis

I found this on another blog, and I had to share it on mine. It definitely teared me up.

Excerpt from President Ronald Reagan’s March 4, 1987 speech, dealing with the Marine Barracks Bombing in Beirut, Lebanon:

“…May I share something with you I think you’d like to know? It’s something that happened to the Commandant of our Marine Corps, General Paul Kelley, while he was visiting our critically injured Marines in an Air Force Hospital. It says more than any of us could ever hope to say about the gallantry and heroism of these young men who serve so willingly so that others might have a chance at peace and freedom in their own lives and in the life of their country. I’ll let General Kelley’s words describe the incident.

He spoke of a ‘young marine with more tubes going in and out of his body than I have ever seen in one body. He couldn’t see very well. He reached up and grabbed my four stars, just to make sure I was who I said I was. He held my hand with a firm grip. He was making signals , and we realized he wanted to tell me something. We put a pad of paper in his hand - and he wrote “Semper Fi.”

Well, if you’ve been a Marine or if, like myself, you’re an admirer of the Marines, you know those words are a battlecry, a greeting, and a legend in the Marine Corps. They’re Marine shorthand for the motto of the Corps - “Semper Fidelis” — “Always Faithful.”

General Kelley has a reputation for being a very sophisticated general and a very tough Marine. But he cried when he saw those words, and who can blame him?”

Child Modeling 101

The Story

Like most parents I know, our children are gorgeous to us. I find myself tempted to put Miss K in photo contests so she would get recognized, and someday be the next Gap Kid model. Every fall, Gap.com does a contest to appear in the Baby/Kid Gap spring 2011 clothing line. Every year, I forget to add a photo for submission, or I can't decide on the "winning" picture.  Miss K has such a vibrant personality, and I can't help but daydream about her being in the ads of Gymboree, Gap, The Children's Place. Lol, I know, I am crazy, right? Now, I wouldn't dare put her in pageants, ugh. And if she didn't like doing it, then I wouldn't force her too. So, forget these endless contests. I decided to go straight to the source.

(Pictured at right: Miss K when she was 15 months)

What I have learned about finding a reputable agency

They are freaking hard to find. Google "Baby modeling Agencies" and you will get site after site trying to get you to buy a list of agencies."You can get our list of agencies for only..." Ugh. 

BEWARE: Don't buy into it. You can find agencies without having to spend money.

Reputable agencies don't charge any up front fees either. They only tack on a commission when your child has landed the job.

Most agencies have a minimum age requirement. Most only accept 4 years and older. Miss K has to wait until next summer.

After calling a few agencies in driving distance - if you live more than an hour and half away, they will push you away. You live too far. (A tad frustrating for me, the drive was within two hour and half hours)

There isn't "open casting calls" for children. You literally have to submit photos and your child's info through the mail, and pray for a reponse.

Anywhoo, that is what I have learned today, with a lot of research.

Blogs with substance

So, I made the mistake to add quite a few blogs that mainly do "giveaways". I thought their blog was cute, and therefore added them. I didn't realize that their "family" blog would litter my dashboard with giveaway after giveaway. Not that I am against bloggers having giveaways, maybe give out a few here and there, but-- when your blog starts to lag substance, it becomes too much. So, I decided to delete them. I am sorry. But, I actually like reading blogs.