Kimberly A. Cook

Military Romance Author

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Happy Veterans Day To All Who Have, Are Now And Will Serve

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by Kimberly A. Cook                         (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

Happy Veterans Day! To all my warrior sisters and brothers who have served in the Army, Navy, National Guard, Marines, Coast Guard, Air Force and Merchant Marine, active duty and reserve, thank you for your service. While we are veterans everyday, it is nice the nation sets aside one day to say thank you.

Our fabulous pink (me) and purple (Karen) fleece outfits before the 5K walk. Notice my first ever bib race number!
Our fabulous pink (me) and purple (Karen) fleece outfits before the 5K walk. Notice my first ever bib race number!

In honor of this day, I decided to do something I had never done before. This past Saturday I entered the first ever Veterans 5K Run/Walk at Camp Withycombe in Clackamas, Oregon.

My power walker sister Karen agreed to go with me and we were registered and off. The Nov. 8 race was 3.1 miles on the Camp Withycombe grounds with luckily a flat as a pancake course.

We got there at 8:30 a.m., got our race numbers and swag then hit the course after the kids. For some reason there were more walkers than runners, but works for me. We got to walk by the display tanks, through the motor pool, a fun time was had by all. They even had a fabulous drummer halfway through the course to help us keep a beat.

Coming attractions: Re-opening August 2015.
Coming attractions: Re-opening August 2015.

Now we did stop and take our pictures with the tanks. Since $10 of each entry fee went to the Oregon Military Museum slated to reopen in August, 2015, you know I was happy to support the tanks and their museum.

Once you’ve served in an Army mechanized division, you always love the tanks. It was a fun event and now we have to plan for next year. Maybe I can reduce my time by a minute or two.

 

A girl and her tank,,,, a true love story.
A girl and her tank….. a true love story.

I’m not a runner, with old joints and big boobs it’s just not a good thing for me to do. But walking is for me! Think I am going to frame my race number, we never got those when we did the PT tests in the Army or Air Force Reserve.

I also earned the coveted dog tag by completing the course – jewelry! My friends will faint when they’ve learned I competed in an organized athletic event. I’m not known for group games and competitions ever since surviving combat volleyball in the Army.

I’m lucky to have today off from the day job, so I’m going to meet with family for a Veterans Day lunch to honor my Marine Mom, my Army brother-in-law Gordon and my sister Karen for putting up with all of us. We will also have in our hearts my Army Air Corps Dad, my Marine Uncle Rod, my Army Grandpa John, and my brother-in-law’s Army brother David for their past service. We’re a joint service family!

Thank you to all who have served, those currently serving and those who support us. Today is your day!

Karen gets her own tank too! Best sister ever!
Karen gets her own tank too. Best sister ever!

Do You Have An Office Cat?

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by Kimberly A. Cook           (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

Spec Ops Cat has a lot of responsibilities here at the world wide headquarters of Warrior Tales. There is building security, ecommerce and training the humans. Even though he rules the home office, it is still a business and his time is plum full of duties.

Nice to know he’s not alone with his hectic schedule. Cole and Marmalade have the same work challenges in the video below. I think their video should be named “What it’s like to TRY and work with humans.” A cat’s work is never done!

Have a great weekend and Happy Quirky Friday!

 

 

Did You Eat “Military” Candy On Halloween?

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by Kimberly A. Cook              (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

Some folks are amazed how easy it is for me to find military connections for my writing and blog posts. The history of the United States revolves around our men and women patrolling and fighting around the globe and in space to protect our freedom. One of my favorite research topics has always been the role that candy plays in the military.

Part of my patriotic candy stash!
Part of my patriotic candy stash!

If you ate M&Ms, Hershey chocolate bars, Tootsie Rolls or Necco wafers this last Friday, you ate candy either developed for and or supplied to our troops in their rations. American troops in Iraq prized the Peanut M&Ms since they didn’t melt in the heat. The Marines at The Chosin Reservoir in Korea were air dropped Tootsie Rolls and it saved their lives. World War II soldiers were given Hershey chocolate bars, Tootsie Rolls, Mars Candy bars and Necco wafers in their rations.

Aside from being treats and sugar for energy, candy was also a way to connect with locals. My Dad told a story about being in occupied Japan on patrol in the neighborhoods. Since he was among the first troops in after Japan’s surrender, locals were afraid of what the American GIs might do to the Japanese.

He said they came down a street and kids were outside playing. The children stopped in fright when they saw the soldiers. Dad called one kid over and gave him some of his Necco wafers. Dad ate one himself and then showed the child through pantomime to share with the other kids. The young one did as he was shown and the kids all scattered inside their homes. Later on, the children would come out to get the treats when troops came by, beginning détente after a brutal war.

Who knew the power of candy for improving world relations? One never knows how one single gesture can affect so many lives. To the Hershey company who produced more than a billion ration candy bars during World War II and Necco wafers and Tootsie Rolls who did the same, I feel it’s my patriotic duty to support these companies year-round.

The astronauts even chose M&Ms as the first candy to go into space.  If there is one thing we all have to do on this planet, it’s eat, so it might as well be patriotic candy. Especially on Election Day. Got any military candy stories?

Pachyderms, Pumpkins and Holiday Movies?

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by Kimberly A. Cook                            (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

Today is a very special Quirky Friday Halloween holiday two-fer. First up is Oregon Zoo pachyderms pulverizing pumpkins in the annual “Squishing the Squash” event. We’ve got elephants versus 1,200 pounds of giant pumpkins. Guess who wins? Miss Lily is even practicing for soccer or football using the pumpkins and plastic grey cans. She’s a little several hundred pounds cutie!

Next up is the Hallmark’s Channel launch of their Countdown to Christmas movie series on the link below. On Halloween. Yeah, I don’t get the timing either, except maybe they had too many new movies and not enough weekends? Also, know there are many other holidays out there to celebrate besides Christmas, so everyone can start their countdown for the holiday of their choice. Because the holiday decorations have been right next to the Halloween candy for several weeks now.

Have a great weekend and a Happy Halloween Quirky Friday! Don’t eat too much candy….

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What Does A Retired Baseball Legend Do? Publish!

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by Kimberly A. Cook                    (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

Catching up on my overloaded DVR this past weekend. Decided to check out Derek Jeter’s visit to the “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.”  I can’t stay up that late on a work night. Or just about any night these days. Anyway, the guy is such a class act and easy on the eyes to boot, it was fun.

AND found out he not only has his book coming out today, “Jeter Unfiltered,” he has started a publishing company including books for kids and a media platform for professional athletes.

How can this guy get any cooler? Not sure. His company www.jeterpublishing.com is launching both his book and a series of book for kids about the ten rules he follows in his life and career. Great list for all of us. The goal of his “Turn 2 Foundation” he started in 1996 goal is to turn kids away from drugs and toward healthy lifestyles. Not sure how the name came about, but I know it’s a Navy phrase for “get to work.” Hmmm.

In addition, he has started a media platform for professional athletes to be able to tell their stories directly to the public, not hampered by paparazzi or journalists. This venture is titled www.theplayerstribune.com

Read a very interesting article by Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks quarterback, about how he was a bully as a kid and how that has to stop in todays epidemic of domestic violence. Pretty hard-hitting writing. http://www.theplayerstribune.com/lets-talk-about-it/

Now, I am definitely more of a football fan than baseball, but I always admire smart and classy and Derek Jeter is both. So maybe this means when I finish my writing career, I can become a New York Yankees shortstop? Don’t think it quite works that way, but I can dream!

Link to The Tonight Show appearance: http://www.nbc.com/the-tonight-show/segments/12976

How About Basic Training For Kittens?

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by Kimberly A. Cook            (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

Discovered another video I can’t believe I haven’t seen before yesterday. Spec Ops Cat loves his Friskies wet food, plus his Science Diet, so it makes sense this little training video has been a big hit online. It’s always a good thing when the old timer shows the FNG (#$^ new guy) the ropes, be it soldier or kitten.

Have a great weekend and stay warm and dry! Happy Quirky Friday!