Zshot

I would also suggest to add a rifle and/or revolver. This could be used to hunt for food. Also, emergencies can bring out the best in some people, unfortunately, it could also bring out the worst in some people...

In Arizona we have a "stupid motorist law" for those who ignore posted warnings about floods and still try to drive through the flooded area. They are responsible to pay fines and for the rescue workers who have to save them. The same should hold true for those who refuse to leave an area that were given evacuation orders due to an impending threat. They put themselves in harms way by there choice. They should pay for there decision if they need to be rescued.

:( Washington Post October 10, 2001 Pg. B1 Tear-Stained Spreadsheets Army Office That Lost Half Its Staff Reconstructs A Year's Work By Steve Vogel, Washington Post Staff Writer Robert Jaworski huddled with assistants in his Pentagon office, anguishing over a schedule of funerals for 34 of his employees. The big white calendar on the wall was filling fast, and Friday was a particular concern. "There's one at Fort Belvoir at 10, another one at a different chapel at Belvoir at 11, there's an 11:30 in Dumfries, there's an 11 in Manassas," he said. In the afternoon, there were two more, one of them in Georgia. Most had been Jaworski's colleagues for years. "What funeral do you go to? How do you have that choice not weigh on you?" he asked. "It's a dilemma you never visualize getting put into." Resource Services Washington, the close-knit Army office that Jaworski runs, lost more people than any other Pentagon office when a hijacked plane struck the building on Sept. 11. More than half of his approximately 65 employees were killed. In one division, the only workers who survived were out of the office when the plane hit. It is a casualty rate rarely seen by American combat forces, akin to what a few companies suffered landing in the first wave at Omaha Beach on D-Day. Those who died in Jaworski's office were not warriors. They were budget analysts and accountants -- most of them civilians -- who had been busy closing out the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30. "These were ordinary people, at their desks, doing their jobs," Jaworski said. In the days and weeks that have followed the attack, traumatized survivors have banded with volunteers from other offices -- most of them friends and former colleagues of those killed -- to complete the budget documents the terrorist attack left unfinished. Working up to 18 hours a day, through tears and memories and destroyed records, they managed to close out the fiscal year and are now firing up the fiscal 2002 budget. "It's a phenomenal thing that's occurred," said Sharon Weaver, who led the budget division until several years ago and recently came back to help. "Actually it's been a miracle." Her close friend Ada Mason, who took over when Weaver left, is among the dead. Indeed, the budget division lost 24 out of 28 workers. Of those who survived, one was on leave, two were in the restroom, and one had just returned from a doctor's appointment in time to see the jet plunging into her section of the Pentagon. Last week, Jaworski gathered what was left of his staff and told them that what they had accomplished was a tribute to their fallen co-workers and the work they had done before the attack. But more trials were ahead. The office would be reconstructed, with new people hired to replace those lost. He told them about the flood of pending funerals and memorial services. It would be impossible for everyone to attend every service, he said. But no one would be buried alone, without colleagues on hand. People comforted each other, passing tissues, patting shoulders, rubbing hands. They ended the meeting by joining hands and praying. "It's going to take a long time before we ever get to normal," said Jaworski, director of the office for 12 years. "We've redefined normal to basically mean survival." The scope of the disaster that befell Resource Services Washington was not immediately apparent to those who survived it. "You couldn't get a fix on who was missing," Jaworski said. "In a normal process, you would rely on a supervisor where their employees might have been. In our situation, there were no more supervisors." Half the office -- the budget and accounting divisions -- had moved two months earlier into newly renovated space on the west side of the Pentagon, on the outer ring near the heliport. Jaworski, who had yet to move, was supposed to attend a meeting in the new office on the morning of Sept. 11, but his plans had changed the night before. The meeting was to start at 9:45 a.m. -- about the same time the jet hit. Hearing the explosion and evacuated from the Pentagon, Jaworski saw thick clouds of black smoke coming from a spot near where many of his workers had moved. Initially he thought his staff might have missed the worst of it. But there was no way of knowing. From home, Jaworski and others began calling the families of the budget and accounting workers to find out who had heard from their loved ones. Almost nobody had. Some said they had been on the phone to husbands or wives or mothers about the attacks in New York when the line went dead. In the hours and days that followed, those who survived learned how many of their colleagues were among the 125 Pentagon employees who didn't. The list went on and on: Ada Mason, who'd been a mainstay in the office for nearly two decades. Dave Laychak, with his young children. Capt. Cliff Patterson, who had a 3-year-old. Carrie Blagburn and Brenda Kegler, inseparable friends. Terri Martin and Cortez Ghee, who'd worked there for years. "I wanted to cry," said Cheryl Reed, a longtime employee. "I couldn't cry, because there were so many to cry for." The office essentially pays the bills for the Department of the Army Headquarters -- more than $3 billion worth. To keep cash flowing, Army agencies around the world were relying on the staff to balance accounting and budget records by Sept. 30. "Essentially, we were decimated at the worst time of the year," Jaworski said. Even as he and other officials consoled families, Jaworski began assembling a "shadow organization" that could reconstruct and close out the year. The call went out for volunteers familiar with the office's procedures, and they came from across the Pentagon and across the country. Shirley Freelon, who'd leftthe department in 1999, came back from Texas, where she was working as a budget analyst at Fort Bliss. "I explained to my children that it was something I needed to do, because I felt like I owed it to my friends. We were a family, and I feel like I lost a part of my family." Freelon came back to find some of her best friends -- Brenda Gibson, Janice Scott, Robert Russell -- gone. "I knew it would be hard when I came back, but to actually walk in the office and not be able to see them, it really hits you," she said. John Olson, who in years of working at another Army agency had developed a friendship with Cortez Ghee, volunteered to finish Ghee's work. Initially, they had no place to work, with the budget offices reduced to "burnt rubble," Jaworski said. A sister organization -- the Defense Supply Service -- moved some of its people out of the Pentagon to give them a place to set up. Much of the budget data had been destroyed and needed to be restored. "We lost everything," said Maj. Sean Hannah, another volunteer. "We lost every single paper in the office. We lost all three of the servers that stored all our electronic information, and so when we came in, the task was basically, reconstruct a whole year's worth of activity for $3.6 billion, and you've got 10 days to do it." Much of the institutional knowledge was gone as well. "You don't realize how much you take for granted until you start asking for something," Jaworski said. "You would call so-and-so, and they always had that answer. Well, that answer's not there." The workers consulted with other Army offices, looking for e-mails or copies of reports, anything they could use to reconstruct budgetary items that had been in the pipeline. All four of the budget division's survivors, battling survivor's guilt and fears of returning to the Pentagon, went back to work. Gradually they reconstructed the budget information that had been lost. Every day, not far away, the bodies of their friends were being pulled from the rubble. Early on, Jaworski called meetings to announce who had been identified, but that soon stopped. "Frankly, it was too emotional," he said. But there were constant, hard reminders. "Every time you'd look you'd see the names of those people who've passed," Hannah said. "Every day people are calling and saying, 'I'd like to speak to Miss Blagburn.' Well, Miss Blagburn is not here anymore. They're looking at documents which have the signature blocks of the people. They're having to relive this every day." Motivation was not a problem. "We wanted to do that in their honor, because they worked so hard through the whole fiscal cycle; for us to let them down was unacceptable," Reed said. "We kept saying, 'You know they're looking down on us, saying, 'You go, you get those books closed.' " Weaver said, "It made the whole office come together, and finish what they had started. We kind of put ourselves on the side of the brain that says we want to accomplish this mission." They worked through the final weekend, staying until 3 a.m. on Oct. 1 to finish the job. They didn't celebrate, but they hugged before going home. Then they came back at 8:30 to start work on the fiscal 2002 budget. In one sense, closing the books, with the distractions it afforded, was the easy part. Now comes the painful ordeal of so many funerals for so many friends. "Five funerals in a day," Jaworski said. "It's going to get worse before it gets better. It's going to take an emotional toll on everybody." Just beyond that are difficult long-term decisions. "One of the big concerns, and we're going to see more of this, is that some folks feel they don't really want to be in the building anymore, and I understand that, and I'm not sure how we collectively are going to deal with that," Jaworski said. "Everybody's here. They may be physically present. I know at times they are mentally trying to deal with a lot of this. That's understandable. If it doesn't impact you, there's something wrong."

It seems that twi is now just going thru the motions in order to retain assets, and the all important tax exempt status. They are doing just enough to keep those still under the illusion of what TWI is/was content. Hopefully, more people will realize that twi will suck the life right out of them if they don't leave. twi is a spirtual broken cistern that is almost dry.

From the title of this thread, I thought it was about the vertically impaired

Rocky is exactly right. Alot of people ran vpw's death through there various spin cycles for there own intentions.

(((((ROBI)))))) I just now read this thread. You and your family ar in my prayers. I have thought of you as a friend since I first came to GS many years ago. If there is anything I can do for you, let me know. Craig

I had 3 jobs during my wow year (actually 4). The first was working at a Wendy's. The pay was min. wage. The problem were that I wasn't able to get enough hours and transportation to and from work were an issue. I later got a job working at the BX on Barksdale AFB selling ice cream and hot dogs. This was at least within walking distance. They did an hours cut and staffing reduction and was let go. I was out of work for almost a month, when I was given permission to go go to Shreveport to look for work (we lived on the 1/4 mile from the city limits. I was able to get a job at an apartment complex as a painter/maintaince worker less than a 1/2 mile from where we lived. The problem was that it was a full time job :unsure: I was tired of not working and the LC calling to see if I had a job yet. I took the job, but didn't tell anybody that it was full time. I was tired of not having any money in my pocket. When I started working overtime my wow family found out and yelled at me . I didn't care and kept the job and kept working overtime Oh, yes... My forth job. I was in the Army Reserves and did my one weekend a month drills. During this year, I never was behind on my share of the household bills (even while unemployed.). I just didn't have any money in my pocket for most of the year (untill I got the job at the neighboring apartment complex). I was happy when that year was over. After the rock I decided to go active duty Army and I have been happy with my jobs ever since. By the way... After my wow year, I did not hear from my "wow family" except from the FC was went back into the WC. She was able to get my address and sent me a letter asking for money. I think I sent her some money (not very much). A few years back I heard that she is/was married with a couple kids and living in Wisconson.

Somethings evolve around different attitudes. For example In twi we may have held ouselves and others in in twi in higher esteem than we should. Now I have learned not to take myself and others too seriously and to keep my feet on the ground, not any higher or lower than anyone else. I joined a health club and learned to play racquetball and made some good friends over the years. Joining things you like will put you in touch with people who have similar interests. This will help with the "social" part of once being part of twi. For a while "all" my "friends" were in twi, and we know all to well what happened to those "friends" after we left. Take time to find out who you are outside of twi and enjoy being you!

I am a budget analyst for the Department of the Army. I also retired from the Army Reserves. And a wanna-be racquetball player

I was in Leominster (FT Devens), from 83-86. Then from 89-93. I was just another face in the crowd...

Don't people elope anymore? :blink: Wouldn't a couple of plane tickets to Vegas be cheaper? For the record, my girlfriend has used the "M" word :unsure:, :blink: What can I say... I'm a budget analyst

I agree with Groucho. I went out WOW in 1982. Almost all of the WOW's that I met had good intentions and wanted to do what was "right". dmiller, Well said.

What I do... My girlfriend has a spare key to my house, and I have a spare key in a key lock (combination lock) attached to my house. It is not a good idea to think that you can think if a "hiding place" that a burgler wouldn't think of

Psalmie, I have no comments or suggestions on your situation. However, it is in my prayers.

Over the years many people have come and gone. And some have left then later have come back. Many have talked about there sorrows and happiness that they have gone through along life's journey. There have been debates from philosofical, to political, to spirtual/relegious, relationships and day to day practical issues. Comfort has been given and received. Help in all areas of life have been given and received. And yes, feeling have been hurt and tempers have flared. There is a place to ask for prayers and to pray for people. There is a place where we can try to connect with people we have lost touch with. We are a comunity with different opinions on many different subjects. And this is celebrated. For some this is/was the beginning of thinking outside a small box of beliefs and doctrins that have proved to be questionable. This has been a place of where some have started the process of healing from mental and spirtual wounds. This is a place where people have talked about there experiences (both good and bad). In short, Paw, thanks for putting up this site and keeping it up.

Congrats on your new wheels!!! I bought my first "new" car last year. A 2007 Honda CR-V (blue, like my eyes).

Neat, another GS'r here in AZ

Not 30 years yet... For me, I was introduced to twi in 1980. I didn't go wow till 82... I admit too many of my decisions were based upon what "more mature" "beleivers" thought I should do and/or be doing. Without going into detail, I made some decisions that I wish that I wouldn't have made. During my time in twi, I met some great people and I met some jerks. I have some friends that are still associated with CG that I still talk with. One of the many things that people that were in twi that too many people (including myself) wrongly embrassed was' "I have no friends when it comes to the word". I wonder how many missed opprotunities that I missed to have and make friends because of those words. Now, I concider friends as more of a quality of life indicator than things... I am the sum and substance of all my experiences, action, inactions and beliefs. There is no way of telling where my life would have been without twi (in some ways maybe better and in some ways maybe worse). However, I can say that I am happy with where I am at. I have a house, a car I bought new last year, a good job, a wonderful girlfriend, some good friends, good health, a racquetball sponsorship, and a cat who loves me. There is life after twi, and a good life at that.

With the exception of my wow year, twi had no influence as to what city I lived in. I was a wow in Bossier City, LA (hated it). After my wow year I joined the Army and they decided where I was going to live for the next 6 years. After I left active duty (I was still in the Army Reserves and later retired from the Reserves, but thats a different story). I decided to move to Leominster, MA (I lived with some some great people). From there I moved here to Southern AZ with my job. I still go home to Salt Lake City, UT to visit my family. I am very fortunate that I am still close with my family. There is never going someplace and returning to exactly what you left. People and things are always changing and evolving.

Have a great Birthday.

Here is some information from the U.S. Mint web site under FAQ: Question Can you tell me why "In God We Trust" is inscribed on coins? Answer Legislation approved July 11, 1955, made the inscription of “In God We Trust” mandatory on all coins and paper currency of the United States. Legislation approved July 30, 1956, made “In God We Trust” the national motto of the United States. Question Where is "In God We Trust" on the Presidential $1 Coin? Answer "In God We Trust", "E Pluribus Unum", the year of minting or issuance, and the mint mark are on the edge of the Presidential $1 Coin as required by the authorizing legislation

I hope you have a great Birthday!!!

I was a wow in Bossier City, LA... The lc at the time was St3v3 B@tt3r@ck... When somebody was down, he was there to kick you. All I could do (at the time) was just think to myself , "what an @$$ h0le!". IMO his visits were useless. I was out of work in the middle of the year and it was taking longer for me to find a job than what the lc thought it should take... He talked to me and I just looked at him with the look of "you have no idea what your talking about", which p1ss3d him off, however he was smart enough to realize that I was bigger and stronger than he was and thought I might "kick his @$$" (which I should have done <_< ). The missnomier that was commonly used was "tough love", the big problem is that all they wanted to do/be was tough, there was no love to be found...

:unsure: http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/20...nterstitialskip http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Taxes...TaxRebates.aspx President Bush signed the economic stimulas package today. Part of the package includes many Americans getting a check in hopes that the average "Joe Sixpack" will spend it to stimulate the economy. What people are not hearing is that this could be an advance on you 2008 tax refund. What this means is that when you file your taxes next year, you will be paying back this advance. When you get the check, plan accordingly...