So yesterday I HAD to go to Walmart

[nadinbrzezinski]

I hate wally mart but you know what? I am not gong to argue with my seventy-eight year old mother over that one, and shucky darn she lives in Mexico where Wally Mart OWNS almost all the major retailers. So she cannot avoid them...

So she bought me some blouses and I had to go exchange them since they did not fit particularly well.

Here is where it gets good. (or actually tragic)

I step out of the customer service line, where I did notice the sign proudly displayed, "one of the best companies to work for in San Diego." (Yeah right)... and here is this woman pushing this kid in a wheelchair missing an arm, and two legs. So I aproach... and tell the kid, thank you for your service and welcome home. His eyes teared up. He's been home for oh... nine months, and nobody has told him this (outside the military that is, but they try to take care of their own).

So I told them, lunch on me, let me buy you lunch. So we walked over to the Blimpie and bought them lunch. Reason they were not at the demo... kind of hard to go when everywhere you go people stare. And he is not doing that well physically or otherwise... (and as an aside a kid 14 or so was playing SOCOM on his PSP, and starting talking softly to what assumed to be his buddy... I told them... this is war, that's a game, never confuse reality from fantasy... mom thanked me for confronting the staring kids, and said that is one reason her son, Jerry, is afraid to go out)

So mom tells me, they are fighting to get him his purple heart. Yep the HMVEE overturned as the official report says, (after hitting the AID), and they are also fighting to get him all the help he needs and fighting the bureaucracy at the VA to get him full disability. So I gave them some email addresses I know (for my US Senator, and her phone number, as well as mine) as well as telling her to write to Duncan Hunter (they live in his district), even if pro-forma. Once she contacts him, she can go on and contact the rest that WILL HELP. I also told her what vet organizations to contact, after they told me the American Legion has been all but helpful.

Oh and mom said that they all voted Republican all their lives. Solid Republican Family, no more. She voted a solid Dem Ticket, as well as the rest of the family, on Nov 7th, and they intend to continue voting Dem for the rest of their lives.

So I did not go to the demo since I also needed to go take care of my sis and her kids (local stomach flu, nasty stuff), but I ended giving direct help to a troop that needs it, and his mother.

God have I told you all how much I hate these plutocrats?

[rockymountaindem]

1. Very nice

And, calling your Senator can actually get you results. That's good advice.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. I know and Boxer will help

I trust her in that

[knight_of_the_star]

38. She would do it

She's a stand up lady, stands up for the right thing above all others.

[lostnotforgotten]

2. Good Job - I Am Glad That You Were There To Lend Solace, Comfort, And Aid

eom

[knitter4democracy]

4. What a damn shame.

That amazing kid afraid to leave his house, not getting the medal he earned or the help he deserves. Pisses me off, frankly. Thanks for helping him and his mom.

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. Well the same bloody thing happened in Nam

hell I even sugested they contact our local channel that does the crying shame stories... but the kid does not wnat that kind of exposure

And you know what, I can understand.

[knitter4democracy]

14. I can too. All those cameras and people in your face.

There should be a better way, though.

What if we had a website like anysoldier.com but it was anyvet.com--vets could post what they need, and we could send them what they need or even have Paypal accounts or something. Surely there's a way to help them once they get home that's better than the system we have now.

[nadinbrzezinski]

16. The system we have now WORKED at one time

very well, then it stopped, then it did again... the private sector is NOT the answer for this.

The current administration has done all it can to de-fund the VA, just as it has done all it can to de-fund everything else. What they want is for you and me to fend for ourselves. That is their goal, don't give in to it. After all, OUR TAXES should be paying for the three prosthetic devices in this particular case, and his ongoing medical care. There is no way that the private sector can cover the billions, if not outright trillions, that it will cost to take care of these kids properly for the rest of their lives.

[knitter4democracy]

42. I'm just thinking of the next two years.

I'm assuming Herr President will do more signing statements to keep messing up the VA funding and all to keep the money for his crazy war projects and that Congress will keep getting the runaround.

The best thing would be to impeach and convict the top administration "leaders" and get a real leadership in the White House. Then, kids like him will get the help they need.

[nadinbrzezinski]

52. I know but if we do that

we are cooked and they will use that as an excuse to end the system, as dysfunctional as it is

[knitter4democracy]

64. True.

They'll take any reason to get rid of helping anyone, won't they?

[porphyrian]

5. That really sucks. Can we get these people out of office now? - n/t

[hlthe2b]

6. Kudos.... I'm so very thankful you were there to offer some support

:toast:

[SeattleGirl]

7. Great thing you did,. nadin.

You helped that young man not be invisible; you acknowledged HIM, whereas others just seem to look at him as some kind of freak, like those two young kids who were staring at him (and thanks for doing that.)

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. Wife of a retired chief

and former officer in somebody else's army... so yep, it pisses me off. Also I used that nice command voice that carries, so they were not the only ones shamed

;-)

[Cleita]

10. There was a time when we had Grey Davis as a Governor that

if you wrote him with your problem, he would do what he could to help or refer you to an agency that would help. I know I had to ask him twice to intervene for my late husband on some matters. I don't know if Arnold will give a damn but it couldn't hurt to try.

[nadinbrzezinski]

12. True, I directed them straight to Boxer

and even though he is a Hawaiian Senator, also to Senator Akaka... he does help vets from any state when he can.

[Bjornsdotter]

11. Don't believe in God

....but do believe in Karma. You were meant to be there to help these people.

Eases the pain of being at Wal-mart.

Great job!

Cheers

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. Don't believe in either

but I have been helping wherever I can

;-)

You might understand why I don't, but after ten years of EMS... and war on drugs, kind of hard.

[Swamp Rat]

15. .

:cry: :hug:

[nadinbrzezinski]

18. Hey there kid, how are you?

[ray of light]

17. If you decide to do a virtual card for him--include my name.

[John Q. Citizen]

19. Wow, what a great story. You created something beautiful and compassionate.

You rock!

[The Backlash Cometh]

20. This is about as close to tearing up as I've gotten all weekend,

God bless them and you. What a horrible, horrible thing that Bush has done to this country. Is this Duncan guy someone who will step up to the task of helping them? Or do you want us to e-mail him to give them more attention?

[nadinbrzezinski]

47. Duncan Hunter is a local congressman

running for pressnit, and part of the Abramoff scandal. We are all waiting on baited breath for the other shoe to drop on him...

Problem is, the prosecugtor who was doing such a swell job... she got removed by AG Gonzales... if you smell a rat, you ain't the only one

[hippywife]

21. I'd really hate to see what it takes

to get full disability these days if a missing arm and two missing legs doesn't do it.

Thanx for giving comfort where it was greatly needed.

[Hoping4Change]

22. Kudos. You have not only touched him but all of us with your

kindness. Thank you.


"So many gods, so many creeds,
So many paths that wind and wind,
While just the art of being kind
Is all the sad world needs."


Ella Wheeler Wilcox

[Dracos]

23. God blless you great job

we need more people like you.

[rosesaylavee]

30. Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[chknltl]

24. !00 "Way To Go"s

I once worked at a place where employees could sign and pass out little cards which said "Way To Go" to their fellow employees. This was in order to recognize performances above and beyond the normal work we were expected to do. This kept moral among the employees pretty high as well. Those cards could be traded in to the company owners for presents ranging from cookies to extra time off with pay, (took more than a few to get those paid for hours of off time btw).

In my estimation, as a fellow DUer, I would if I could present you with 100 "Way To Go"s. (I think that amount would have been worth about a week off....good thing DU does not do this because a week without nadinbrzezinski would be noticeable around here and not in a good way)

I love anonymously buying a round of drinks for an entire table at the taverns(s) I hang out in, in honor of the military person who is sitting at that table. I live right next to a major Army base, (Ft. Lewis) and a major Air Force base, (MacCord)(sp?), so I have gotten to do this a few times since the start of the first Gulf War. I feel kinda strange about doing that though which is why I make sure the bartender protects my anonymity besides which it is all about honoring the soldier anyway. I hope some of you who read this get to try doing something like this yourselves. You will always feel that it was money well spent!

[Straight Shooter]

25. You will probably never know what a difference you made in that young man's life.

You may have changed his attitude from one of total despair to holding onto a thread of hope. I cannot thank you enough for being there, not just in the right place at the right time, but knowing the right thing to say.

:patriot:

[Kurovski]

26. K&R(nt)

[tabasco]

27. Thanks for helping that vet.

It could have been me.

[nadinbrzezinski]

48. It coudl have been any of us

who have put on any uniform... we both know that

[me b zola]

28. Thank you, Nadin

You did good, real good. :hug:

[eleny]

29. You seized the moment

[lovuian]

31. Thanks for Sharing

that was a touching story Pat yourself on the back
:patriot:

[CAG]

32. Hannity and Coultergeist would call this family traitorous enablers of

the enemy, of course....

[JCastillon]

33. OK - am I the only one who doesn't quite believe this tall tale?

1 - The poster's profile indicate that she is a 'gamer, writer, and reader.' Fine, no problem with that. But her homepage, which is included obviously in all her posts is a www.deistgames.com. This lady evidently is one of the owners - her names is all over it.

Can you take a guess at what diestgames does? It is a company that is apparently in the beginning stages of developing some type of fantasy role playing game, basically a WAR GAME. The writer of this post makes a living making things up and creating an intergalactic system where people from different world can kill each other. Here is a quote from the website:

"Main Characteristics Proprietary D12 Engine Flexible Character Generation, allowing you to build characters using skill packages, individual skills or a combination of the two Fast and fun combat system A Tactical Rule System, developed for 15 mm scale, but with guidance to use 28 mm and 187th scale Construction System, allowing you to build all from a wheelchair to star system defense networks."

Even in this person's weird fantasy game of intergalactic war, you can build your own wheelchair - well isn't that cute. Maybe this sweet lady will give that soldier a free copy.

2 - I'm having a hard time believing anyone in their right mind would walk up to someone and automatically assume that because they 'missing an arm and two legs' that they must be an Iraq vet. What, was he wearing a button? She describes this guy as someone is afraid to go out, yet evidently he didn't have a problem having a complete stranger come up and start asking a bunch of questions...and buying him lunch at Blimpies.

3 - "So I aproach... and tell the kid, thank you for your service and welcome home. His eyes teared up. He's been home for oh... nine months, and nobody has told him this." I've attached below information on "Recognizing a Narcissist" according to Sam Vaknin.

-They are the biggest liars you've ever seen. They will look you right in your eyes, swear on a stack of bibles and tell you the biggest lie you've ever heard. They will say they're not going to do something, while plotting to do just what they say they wouldn't do. They're very out of touch with their feelings. They talk just to hear themselves talk - while not believing anything they're trying to convince you of.

-It will become obvious very soon: an over-inflated ego. Astonishing lies. Exaggerated emotion.

-The old adage "if its too good to be true then it usually is" applies directly to narcissists.

-They will relate to the problems in your life, claiming that something very similar has happened to them. They make it sound like they and they alone truely understand and relate to you. They get you to share very personal things and make you feel like you've found someone who has been through what you have been through. And it's very comforting.

4 - "...a kid 14 or so was playing SOCOM on his PSP, and starting talking softly to what assumed to be his buddy... I told them... this is war, that's a game, never confuse reality from fantasy." - See #1

5 - She starts a post about going to Walmart, with her Mother (who lives in Mexico?), then jumps to talking about her blouses didn't fit, and, this part I love, she actually writes, "Here is where it gets good." Ok, she tried to write it off in her paranthesis, but to even think something like, here is where it gets good? (See #3)

6 - In one of her posts down the thread (#8) she indicates she is a "Wife of a retired chief and former officer in somebody else's army...so yep, it pisses me off. Also I used that nice command voice that carries so they were not the only ones shamed." OK, I'm not even sure what she meant by somebody else's army. Also, knowing that this kid struggles with anxiety in public she evidently doesn't have a problem yelling in public which would only bring more attention to him. Notice she didn't put that part in the first post - she must have forgot that part. See # 3 - again...

I could go on, but my God if this women is actually making this up to get some type of weird attention, then that is probably one of the most disgusting things I have ever seen.

[lonestarnot]

34. Ugh no, you are not the only one.

But I nominated because even if it may not be true, it was a good fantasy.

[JCastillon]

35. I've never been so furious at what someone has written.

But I'm new at this...and I get bored quickly, so I won't play here long. I was late to the gym today because I was reading this stuff...very bad sign.

Lesson Learned - I need to realize that there are people that go beyond normal annoyances and into disgusting territory apparently without any problems. I should not have wasted time on writing the first post. I just couldn't believe that many people believed that lady's story. Anyway, I'm going to bed. Thanks for the note to let me know I'm not the one that is nuts, or at least not as nuts than what's her name who wrote the post.

[lonestarnot]

36. Well goodnight and goodluck...

as I have a feeling that you could be doing a little trolling yourself.

[JCastillon]

44. Good point

I've been learning a lot more about this 'trolling' stuff. I like Wesley Clark, and I tend to try and not automatically jump on the Hillary and Obama train. Not sure when you stop becoming passionate about how you feel, and starting to get disruptive.

Still think this lady's post is just so sad, but for all the wrong reasons.

[kdpeters]

46. most times they come in the "I confronted a freeper in the parking lot" variety

Most of them are so obviously fake, yet again and again they continue to be voted to the greatest page. These things show up every now and then and people always vote them up. You'll have to learn to ignore it.

Just look for that perfect zinger at the end of the story (how convenient) that leaves said freeper stammering and stuttering and slinking away in defeat.

Yeah. Whatever Mary.

Oh, yeah. If you question the position already deemed 'correct', someone will call you a troll. Get over it.

[grace0418]

40. True or not, I had trouble making heads or tails of the story.

But yes, I thought the part about assuming a young man in a wheel chair was an Iraq war vet as opposed to just disabled or the victim of a car accident was either missing a great deal of detail or just plain odd. Like you asked, was he wearing a pin? Or a t-shirt? Or in uniform?

And anyway, what exactly did returning blouses at Walmart have to do with any of it? Either the OP is just really bad at telling a coherent story or it's one of those lies stacked with a lot of detail to make it seem true. My uncle was great at that.

Just for the record, I cannot honestly say whether or not I think this is a true story, just that I thought it was odd.

[Hekate]

41. Um, Mexico is next door to San Diego, so lots of people commute.Other than that, I'm a bit baffled

...at your monumental objections. I guess I was inclined to believe Nadin's version of events because she is a frequent poster here. I'd have been more critical had I received this story as spam from one of my email correspondents, because those always come as a narrative with beginning, middle, end, and moral.

It's late at night,so I'm going to leave it there. The only part I can be sure of (not having been there) is that there is a lot of commuter traffic every day between San Diego and Tijuana, people living in Mexico where it's cheap and working in California where they get paid better. So it is entirely plausible for Nadin to have a mother living in Mexico, either because she was born there or because she retired there.

Hekate

[raccoon]

43. Thank you! I have a problem believing it too.

Somehow it just sounds too much like a parable.

Also, as you said,

"I'm having a hard time believing anyone in their right mind would walk up to someone and automatically assume that because they 'missing an arm and two legs' that they must be an Iraq vet. What, was he wearing a button? She describes this guy as someone is afraid to go out, yet evidently he didn't have a problem having a complete stranger come up and start asking a bunch of questions...and buying him lunch at Blimpies.'"

And I wouldn't recommend this, because stuff like this could make a person doubt true stories here on DU.

[nadinbrzezinski]

49. Ok let me give you more of my CV

you may call it fantasy

1.- San Diego State University Graduate, with a degree (Masters) in Mexican History (my thesis was on Fray Servando Teresa de Mier Noriega y Guerra, I know quite a mouthful, and you too can go check it out at the SDSU's virtual library)

2.- I am also a veteran of the Mexican Red Cross, you want to know something about the war on drugs, and how much, as much as Lou Dobbs likes to fantasize about it, the border is NOT a warzone... sure will explain it to you,. Will even tell you where Traffic was "wrong" since they wanted to keep some believability going

3.- Yes I am a gamer, so is my husband, a veteran of the USN Navy and retired Chief.

4.- Future Nexus is a war game, kind of sort off, if you read any of the fiction you'd realize it is the first antiwar, wargame... why? Been there done that, as in getting shot, and far more than it is cracked up to be.

5.- I live in San Diego, home of one of the largest military communities in the West Coast, smaller than Hawaii, but you get the point. We have one of the tertiary care military medical centers in the country (Balboa Medical Center, which incidentally is where this kid will probably get some of his care)

6.- Being a writer and a gamer does not necessarily mean that I have to make these things up, they happen, and in this town we have been seeing the effects of this war. Why? 1 MEU (Marine Expeditionary Force) deploys from here. Oh did I mention the USS Ronald Reagan and her battle Group? (32nd Street Naval Base)

Ultimately it is not up to me to make you believe, if you don't, that is your problem. But just because I run a SMALL business called Deist Games (yes I am the owner and President and we have not made a profit yet) does not mean this did not happen

Oh and here is even more about myself... shame on me, when I send care packages to the troops I include a copy of the game... I know the troops will appreciate it.

So now that I have answered your questions, what exactly have you done for the troops? I am not kidding, put up or shut up!

Oh and the officer in somebody else's army... FYI, until the civil war started in Mexico, the Red Cross was part of the Mexican Army Reserves, a little thing going back to WW II. I held a commission, something about first that bachelors and then that masters... oh and in case you wonder... I don't have to put in my profile the fact that my husband is a retired Chief, or that he got a wonderful DD 214 when He left the service.

Oh and one more thing, my mom LIVES in Mexico City. Hell I was born and raised in Mexico City, imagine that... and yes, Walmart has bought Superama, VIPS and other major retailers in Mexico, so when you go to buy your groceries at Superama, guess what, YOU ARE BUYING FROM WALMART... but I am sure you can do a web search for Walmart and Mexico and confirm this for yourself. Oh and even more shocking, they come to visit their grandkids and us older kids regularly... they take planes... they have an airport down there you know... a LARGE airport... in fact one of the largest in the world. They even have running water and electricity too.

:sarcasm:

By the way, I have a Friend who works at Target, and lives in Tijuana... he commutes every day and takes the trolley.

[glitch]

54. You don't have to provide this. We know

:yourock: too late to R but here's a K

[Hekate]

55. Thanks Nadin -- for everything. I realize I could have phrased my reply to the OP better...

...but like I said, it was late and I was starting to fall asleep at the switch. I seized on the one portion that I could verify to hang the veracity of the rest of the story on.

Yes, you ARE believable to those of us who've been here awhile because we know you. And yes, I've also gotten those maudlin spam about Marines getting a standing ovation on an airplane -- who needs maudlin fiction when the truth is so much more dire?

My impression of that poor kid -- he has Max Cleland's wounds, doesn't he? It's going to be rough going for him. You did well.

Hekate

[nadinbrzezinski]

56. Yes he has the same kind of injuries

and he unfortunately lives in one of the redest distrcits in town

And the answer what to Mr I don't believe you since yuo are a writer and the rest of it.

He made me smile actually

And yes I can understand that doubt. That is why I told the kid, go confirm what you can confirm.

I guess I was just "lucky" to be there to help this family.

And I hope all works well for them in the end

[JCastillon]

57. By all means...keep digging.

It's also becoming obvious you have more that one screen name on here...and you know who you are. ;-)

[nadinbrzezinski]

58. RLOL

This is hilarious

if you think that kid, your problem

By the way, I gave you quite a bit of my CV... afraid to go look for what you can dig out easitly?

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

By the way I have not laughed this hard IN A LONG TIME... thanks for it, I truly needed it!

On edit, I need to go back to my fantasy world of Kir (something about a D20 COMERCIAL setting), and get to work. Them maps are a pain to draw, but hey players like them, and I needed the map as a hard reference for the ahem, geography section of the continent

Oh and in fact here you go, some on Walmart and Mexico (hope you can speak the lingo)

http://www.walmartmexico.com.mx/

http://walmartstores.com/GlobalWMStoresWeb/navigate.do?catg=379

Oh and here is my thesis from SDSU

http://libpac.sdsu.edu/search/a?SEARCH=brzezinski%2C+nadin

Can I continue laughing now?

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:


Google, a wonderful thing.

[Name removed]

59. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[nadinbrzezinski]

60. RLOL

ok you have made a charge, what is my other screen name?

And let me try to explain this to you in simple terms. I agreed to go to walmart with my mother who SHOPS at Wally World in Mexico CITY mostly out of no choice, since I do not want to argue with my 78 year old mother.

She bought some blouses for me, they did not fit well, I went exchange then on my own. Are you that dense?

Now again since you made a very serious charge, what IS my other screen name?

(Since I don't have any other what you are engaging is in an assault upon my character, so put up or shut up)

Oh and I did also ask, what have you done for troops? We send a care package at least twice a year, to people we don't know, some of them the kids of DU'ers.

So what exactly have you done?

[JCastillon]

61. and digging...

[nadinbrzezinski]

62. And trolling

now I will be reporting you to the mods

have a good life, troll

[truedelphi]

37. All in a small moment's time YOU ROCK!

I feel intimidated thinking of what you accomplish in 24 hours...

[nadinbrzezinski]

51. We all can do it

a conversation here at the coffee shop, while in line, a talk there at the supermarket

Printing hand bills

We are all part of this.

In some ways I feel this shares somethings similar to the American War of Independence (for many historical reasons well it was a war of independence), and we need to do this person to person

We saw some of the results during the elections, but don't be fooled they still have the machinery to steal them

[babylonsister]

39. Stop the goddamn funding that's creating such tragically injured people!

:banghead: :banghead: Stop the goddamn funding so we don't have more wounded soldiers, that this country won't take care of. It's NUTS!
And thanks for recognizing that, nadinbrzezinski. I wonder what that purple heart will do when/if he gets it.

[SammyWinstonJack]

45. K&R! Glad you went to WalMart on this day! You helped!

:yourock:

[nadinbrzezinski]

50. I was glad too

I hope they get the help they need

[ronnykmarshall]

53. You are the coolest!

Thanks for sharing this story and thank you for being so kind to that vet and his family.

[Cha]

63. I'm so glad you were able

to help this maimed Vet, nadin! THe story is really sad but will turn out better because of your knowledge and the serendipitous meeting in "shucky darn" wal-mart.