I have Google Wave invitations to hand out. Please post in the comments if you want one.
*crossposted
On November 10, 1775, a Corps of Marines (United States Marine Corps) was created by a resolution of the Continental Congress. Since that date, many thousand men have borne the name Marine. In memory of them, it is fitting that we who are Marines should commemorate the Birthday of our Corps by calling to mind the glories of its long and illustrious history.
The record of our Corps is one which will bear comparison with that of the most famous military organizations in the world’s history. During 90 of the 146 years of it’s existence the Marine Corps has been in action against the nations foes. From the battle of Trenton to the Argonne, Marines have won foremost honors in war, and in the long eras of tranquility at home. Generation after generation of Marines have grown gray in was in both hemispheres and in every corner of the seven seas that our country and its citizens might enjoy peace and security.
In every battle and skirmish since the birth of our Corps Marines have acquitted themselves with the greatest distinction, winning new honors on each occasion until the term Marine has come to signify all that is highest in military efficiency and soldierly virtue.
This high name of distinction and soldierly repute we who are Marines today have received from those who preceded us in the Corps. With it we also received from them the eternal spirit which has animated our Corps from generation to generation and has been the distinguishing mark of the Marines in every age. So long as that spirit continues to flourish Marines will be found equal to every emergency in the future as they have been in the past, and the men of our nation will regard us as worthy successors to the long line of illustrious men who have served as “Soldiers of the Sea” since the founding of the Corps.
My lovely wife is another year older. A lot has changed in the last year. On her birthday last year, she was in the hospital having pretty major surgery. Since then she has become an STNA, and currently works as a Ward Clerk. This is her first full-time job outside the home in several years. She also started back to school to become a nurse.
It is amazing how much can change over the course of one year.
Please feel free to leave birthday wishes in the comments. 
RJ starts the second grade in the morning. It is hard to believe that I am the father of a second grader. He is very excited because he in the class of the teacher that he wanted. He also started Taekwondo. He took a couple of classes at the community center over the summer and really enjoyed them.
Tony starts his second year of preschool in a couple of weeks. He really wants to be like his brother, so we brought him an embroidered backpack, just like we did for RJ. He is very excited about going back to school.
With the boys getting older, we decided we really need a yard. The condo was a great starter home, but we really need a place with yard for the boys to play. So we put the condo on the market. It is very difficult with both Beth and I working to keep the house clean, but somehow we manager.
I honestly believe we have made more improvements to the condo in the last couple of weeks that we have since we moved in, but that is probably exaggeration. we are focusing more on the outside, since the inside is already beautiful, and it is as good as it is going to get.
Since we moved in four years ago our mailbox has been sitting in posts held up by cinder blocks. Yesterday that changed. It took about four hours of my time and three trips to Home Depot, but the mailbox posts are not firmly planted in the ground.
Well, no matter what happens, we will be the better for it.
Is anyone in the market for a condo?
