Rest Easy Todd North (1973-2013)

Two weeks ago Todd North, a husband, father to a little boy who won't turn 2 until later this year and an older little girl, Retired SSgt. of the United States Marine Corps, and a friend to everyone who ever had the chance to meet him was shot and killed at a local bar here that he was a bouncer at..... North was shot 4 times and still returned fire wounding the boy who opened fire on the bar, he also blocked the entry door to keep the punk from entering to hurt more innocent people. THIS MAN IS A TRUE HERO. His wife is one of my husband's Marines. He is a man that I have known since I moved here in 2008. My friends and I would frequent different bars to shoot pool and every time he was there he was engaged in conversations, laugh joke and offer his silly, sometimes smart ass advice on things that were taking place in every one's life. 

He was a big scary looking man, but those who knew him knew he was nothing but a sweetheart. I honestly cannot imagine what his wife is going through... Loss, pain, anger.... A sense of pride knowing he saved a number of others that were there.... 

A Facebook page called Remembering SSgt Todd North was started that can be seen HERE.

Along with a petition to sign to award him with the Presidential Citizens Medal can be viewed and signed HERE.

 This is a photo that has gone around facebook of him and their little boy, shortly before he left for work that evening....

The video to the brawl that started the whole shooting was released by the bar.... Seeing Todd protect those around for the last time is heartbreaking.... Seeing many people that I know and shoot pool with take cover from the High School student who took his life is frightening.... The brawl on video and only part of the shooting was aired from the bars surveillance cameras and can be viewed HERE. I watched it so many times in tears, with anger raging hoping that the thug KID that did this and took him away from his family and so many that loved him will receive the death sentence. Life in prison is too good for him, he does not deserve to live. 911 Calls were released as well that can be listened to HERE. I can only hope and pray that justice will prevail in the end.... Though I know it will not fill the hole of him being gone, maybe it will help begin the healing process.

Today a Memorial was held locally for him. My husband was able to attend (while I wanted to go, there was no one available to watch our children). As I expected, he said that there were hundreds of people there to show their love and support for him and his family. Marines in dress blues, 21 gun salute, bikers from every and any club throughout several counties lined up..... This is only of those he has touched locally. There will be another Memorial Service for him in California where he is from. As is much deserved, Todd Asa North, will have his final resting place alongside many of his own comrades in Arlington National Cemetery.... Rest Easy Marine, God Speed.

Throwback Thursday: The Day I Became a Marine

 10 years ago I graduated from boot camp with ladies from 4030 and my platoon 4031 (there's always one 31). 10 years ago I became one of the Few Good Women, a Marine. It had been a dream of mine since I was little to join the armed forces. It wasn't until the summer before my Senior Year of high school that I chose to enter the Marine Corps.

A bus filled with us recruits arrived on the island late at night or early morning, I really can't remember. We were told to exit the bus and stand on the infamous yellow footprints.

Then came the intake process of going through all the crap we were told to bring with us but were not allowed to keep. Filling out documents, writing to our parents our address, I think we even had to call them to let them know we made it.... That part is a bit fuzzy. Hustled off to get rifles, entered a squad bay and waited for our DI's to come in.... They don't call Marines Devil Dogs for nothing. Just thinking about it brings back that ringing in my ears.

We were the first female platoons to receive the (then) new Digi Cammies. Honestly, I was pissed and disappointed. I knew how to shine shoes to make them look like a mirror, I knew how to starch the uniform to make fine creases and have it stand up without even being worn.... That was something we and Marines who joined after did not get to experience.  I was assigned to be the guide through most of boot camp. Being on the Saber Team, Drill Team, and Color Guard in AFJROTC throughout high school had provided me with deep knowledge of the drill field. I was the most hated recruit by most and the most friendly to others. The DI's would call me into their offices for private chit chats (that would scare the HELL out of me because they were being "friendly"). I was busted and had the guidon taken away from me because I had family and friends pictures stashed away in my pillow case that I would look at during the nights I just couldn't sleep. Then they would throw it back at me a day or two later. Another Cali girl, that I am still good friends with, had the position as guide as well and rocked it too. We finally all became a unit that worked together and soon found the games that the DI's played with us more humorous than not. When we were first told we would be receiving sugar cookies I seriously thought they meant cookies. Nope, to the sand pit we went and we were shinning with grains of sand by the end, just like a sugar cookie. When one would get sent to the quarter deck we all started going to the quarter deck to go through it and motivate the one in trouble together. Health issues arose for me during boot camp. Stress will do that to you. Break you down, build you back up. My stomach was the worse. I was not use to 3 square meals a day, rigorous exercises, etc. My stomach became blocked up. To the point when going back into formation from chow that I passed out on a stack of rifles. I was rushed to the hospital and I barely remember them cutting my shirt off me, woke up and was basically told I was full of shit. Yea, literally, full of shit. I hadn't been able to "go" in weeks and it had all pushed up against my insides... The laughs I received when returning were a bit embarrassing. Once the Crucible came it was game on. We were within reach of our EGA's. Rifle range was interesting and our bag nasties (lunches) had barely enough food to put in our stomachs, the male recruits would have so much in their lunches that half the time they didn't finish it and would sneak us an egg, granola bar or piece of fruit. Then the night hike came.... Our team had gotten turned around. Our DI was radioing in to find out where the hell we were suppose to be. We'd be going along and then slam into the person in front of us because of a sudden stop in front. That's when shit hit the fan for me. The recruit in front of me stepped back just right with her heel to the middle-top of my right foot and there was a crack with instant pain....FFFFFFFF!!!!! Hobbled along the rest of the way. The next day and a half I refused to take my boot off. Limped my way back to the squad bay for the miles of that last proud hike back for the warriors breakfast. Stripped down and peeled my boot off of me which instantly swelled and revealed a gnarly looking bruise. Many other girls had blisters that covered the entire length of the bottom of their feet. I was sent to medical and it was determined the top of my foot was fractured. Wrapped it up, was handed crushes and felt like shit. Sure, I finished what was needed to become a Marine, but the Family Day run was out of the question. We were handed our EGA's inside an auditorium with the song "I'm Proud To Be An American" playing in the background. There wasn't a single one of us who did not have a proud and silent tear in our eyes.

The morning of graduation I had to report to medical and I knew that if I didn't just suck it up I would be stuck on PI for awhile... Went in and told the doc that I was fine, it was sore but tolerable. That's when he started pushing on my foot. Through gritted teeth I said I was fine. He cleared me, sent me on my way, but refused to let me march with my platoon for graduation because he didn't want any added stress on the foot. Another FFFFFFFFFF!!!! I graduated in the top 5 of my platoon on the sidelines. It was a proud but disheartening feeling not being side by side with them.

During the last week of boot camp we were granted permission to get a disposable camera to make our SDI a little scrapbook of our platoon, 4031. Sure enough, I have some of those pics.

2 4030 ladies, a 4031 gal and me

SDI being held up by DI for cleaning

My Footlocker

The Sqaudbay

Family day- Parents took pics. Wash room

Family Day. Yea, I was pretty pissed mom was sitting on my rack.

4031

Me and Mom

Me, Burrows and Cox

Me and Dovidio

The Birth Story of Jake

Today marks the day of my oldest son's 8th Birthday.....

Tissue paper fun after opening presents today

 Our boy was due September 13th 2004. 3 months prior I went into labor with constant contractions. They gave me meds to stop them and once they subsided they sent me home. Sept. 11th came around and I was miserably large. We went to an outlet mall and walked around for hours. Came home and nothing but swollen feet were what I was blessed with. His dad (real daddy, not my hubby now who is his loving step dad) had duty 2 days later, then after that he had a full day of work. Once he got back we went to bed and I was having terrible back pain... Couldn't get comfortable, cried, and finally gave in and said we needed to go to the hospital. At the time we were living on base and the Naval Hospital was only a few minutes away. We stopped off at Burger King first because I remembered them saying if I were to be admitted I wouldn't be allowed to eat until after birth. I chowed down on some food and then went in. They said I was dilated to 4 and the contractions were steady, I was admitted around 10pm. I had an epidural done and suddenly all was right in the world again. ;) I was dilating slowly so the put pitocin in the IV and the fun began. I started pushing at 5am.....

 His dad was passed out in a pull out bed and silly me told them to just let him sleep. He woke up to me pushing and was pissed. I felt bad because he had been up for well over 24 hours and he looked so peaceful.... Wrong thing to do. He quickly got over it and stood by my side. Jake was not dropping down far enough so they had me do squats to try to get him lower.

 Started pushing again and still nothing, he wasn't budging. 2 hours later the doctor decided I would need to have a c-section. My mom cried, his dad was anxious.... I was loopy and just wanted to get him out already. I opted to go for it because of the dangers it could've caused Jake and having an emergancy c-section was not something I wanted to experience. My father, S.Mom and two brothers made it down from NorCal in record time. 10 hr drive took him 6-7 hours.... Let's just say the stars were on his side that evening with his heavy foot. They came in just minutes before I was rolled away to surgery. 

Going into surgery I was cut open and my insides were placed on my belly. A sight his father says he will never forget. (He would joke about how he has seen me inside and out, lol). Then there Jake was, screaming his way into the world. The nurse took pictures and his dad brought the camera back and showed me. They had already begun stitching me up and then it started.... An intense amount of pain throughout my lower body. The next thing I knew they were rushing his dad out of the OR, fluids were placed in my IV and I was gone....

Our families watching video of Jake just after entering the world before brought to the labor room

2 hours later I woke up in recovery..... Crying my eyes out not knowing what happened. I hadn't even gotten to see my little boy. I didn't know if he was okay.... I was wheeled back in my bed to the labor room and there everyone stood, welcoming me and saying how gorgeous, healthy and big our little boy was. BIG? Our thoughts were that Jake was going to be a small baby. I was only 5 lbs when born 2 weeks late, and his dad was only 4 lbs.... As new parents we figured he'd be between 5-6 lbs. HAHAHA!  Turns out he was 8lbs 11oz. And ALL BOY! No wonder he didn't fit through my small hips!

The entire time I was knocked out his daddy refused to let anyone else hold him. He held him for 2 hours and placed Jake in my arms for the first time. And while I loved him from the first time I saw his little peanut form.... I fell in love all over again and even more deeply that moment we met each other for the first time.

Jake in his going Home outfit 17 Sept. 2004

 8 years later and my love for him is stronger as each day passes. He is truly a gift from God and I am so very proud that he is mine. He amazes me with his knowledge, motivation to try new things (except for odd looking food) ;) and his sweet, kind and loving heart. He is the most wonderful big brother a mother could ask for and cares greatly for the little brother he has always wanted. My world is and has been a much more beautiful place since he entered my life. He and he alone brought me back to God after spending nearly two years believing there wasn't one. The moment I held him in my arms I knew there had to be a Higher Power, my little miracle was God's way of showing just that.
I love you Jacob Thomas. Happy Birthday My Big (baby) Boy!

Jake and his daddy on his 8th Birthday

Jake and Mommy on his 8th Birthday

9/11 Never Forget.....

What started out as a normal Tuesday morning quickly became a day that will never be forgotten.... Waking up for our second week of Senior Year in high school many of my friends and I began to get ready for the day..... Hurrying down the stairs to grab a fast bite to eat before heading out my step dad had the news on.... And there it was, 0700 pacific time, reports of two planes crashing an hour earlier into the towers.... Hurry to get ready and rush to school with my boyfriend at the time and best friend and meet everyone in the JROTC classroom.... Sit and stare at the TV..... Watch replays of planes crashing, news comes across of the Pentagon, then the PA field crash..... Sit, stare, watch, cry.... Towers begin to fall and hearts clench immediately.... This can't be real, oh my God, all those people.... Request over and over again to put the American Flag at half mass.... Denied the right to do so until it was a Presidential Order to say to.... Watch further in horror.... Hear some students state their family members were in NY for business.... Get excused from almost every class and sit and stare at the tv in JROTC... Go to English, sit and stare at that TV.... Anger, pain and knowledge that I had just signed up for the Marine Corps the previous month flood my thoughts. This was an act of war. I was ready, willing and wanting to go that instant. The day was a blur of emotions, disbelief... a complete daze all together.... 11 years later and the sting of this terrible act still pains the nation tremendously. God Bless all those that lost their lives and their familes, God Bless those that stepped up and became Hero's that day, and God Bless the Military Members that answered to the call!

Where were you and what were you doing when the world stood still? 

***Throwback Thursday: Junior Year 00/01***

Junior year.... OH BOY!!! Talk about a year of fun times great friends and my first car (a 25th anniversary, 1992 RS Camaro)! The car was a beast and while it was bought rather cheap it of course had issues, the AC didn't work instead it was 2/60 (2 windows down, 60 miles per hour). I didn't care though. And when we'd go anywhere with a hill, like 29 Palms, one of our constant places to get our friends that had recently graduated and were going through school there, we'd have to blare the heater while going up hill so she wouldn't over heat. Then for a long while she didn't have a CD player, so me in my infinite wisdom would pop in some earbuds and use my portable CD player on long drives. Anything over 80mph and she would shake like the earth was falling apart beneath me. She was teal when I first got her, had a disgusting paint job done that made her my black knight. She'd whisk me and friends away to Hollywood, to the beach, to various theme parks, LA, off roading (yes, she handled well for off roading but did get stuck once), the mountains for fun in the snow, out for nights of swing dancing, up to NorCal to visit family and of course to school and work. The summer between Junior and Senior year was an absolute blast! Starting working at Vans Skate Park, out with friends constantly on days off, and attended the Leadership course with JROTC and made my decision on entering the Marine Corps (which no one was too pleased with).

Now for the pics and of course great tunes from 2000/2001!!

My first car

Steph and me..... SMH, those pants... "onion booty" pants is what I was later told they were buahahaha

Kat and me getting ready to cause trouble ;p

Me and my good friend Kyle, little brother as I called him

Steph and Me Halloween at school

Attending the All Academies Military Ball

Fun at the Orange County Fair

My high school bedroom ;)

Clippers Game with Steph with JROTC

Me Christen and Steph

Daughters of the American Revolution Award JROTC

Going out for dinner and dancing

Drove the Black Knight to the mountains for snow.... Hit an ice patch while driving slow and had to veer into the mountain instead of off the cliff. Had fun though!

Flying over Southern California in a B-25

Junior Prom with my best buddy Little John

Paddle Boatin with my little brother on 4th of July 2001

Leadership course Meeting the Sgt Maj of the Air Station, Camp Pendleton. He gave each of a girls a challenge coin that I ended up carrying with me in my uniform all throughout boot camp. After graduation I went back in uniform and gave him one in return.

Leadership Course, ready for the AmTrak ride