Nancy Parode on Military Life

Zero Degrees of Separation

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 18:29:44 -0400

Four years ago, I took a taxi tour of Belfast with my family. The taxi driver, who grew up in the Shankill Road area, took us to the Peace Wall and invited my children to sign it with a Sharpie marker. As my young daughter added her autograph to the thousands of signatures on the barricade, we adults talked about the violence that plagued Belfast for so many decades. The taxi driver told us that every single person he knew - every one - had either been personally harmed...

Summer Safety Reminders

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 08:23:44 -0400

Summer is here, for all intents and purposes. Our community pool, like many in the area, opened Memorial Day weekend. Already I've noticed a huge increase in pedestrian traffic, especially near the pool. Because my son is learning to drive, I've paid more attention than usual to basic safety issues lately.

Please remember to drive slowly in areas frequented by pedestrians. I know this annoys the drivers behind you, but nothing is more important than ensuring...

A Salute to Tradition

Mon, 18 May 2009 10:39:04 -0400

Commencement Week is here. Our Naval Academy midshipmen will be commissioned Friday morning and head off to begin their Navy and Marine Corps careers. Proud parents and family members are in town to celebrate with them.

Graduation is always a time for reflection and prediction. For our midshipmen, this holds true in a special way because the Navy and Marine Corps are all about tradition. Commissioning Week happens the same way each year - the Blue Angels fly in on...

Summer Camp Signups, Easter Events and More

Sun, 29 Mar 2009 22:11:58 -0400

It's that time of year - the time when we are still shivering but have to think about summer activities for our children. Fort Meade is still accepting summer day camp signups; contact the registration office at (301) 677-1105 if you have questions. If you're stationed in Annapolis, you can sign up for summer camp (youth...

Ever Vigilant

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 21:57:00 -0400

This isn't really a political blog, but I learned something about myself this week that relates to politics, journalism and military life. When I read that the Obama administration was proposing that veterans' private health insurance carriers reimburse the Veterans Administration for care provided for service-related injuries, I got angry Really, really angry. I contacted military friends, asking them to write to their elected representatives. ...

Just an Ordinary Day

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 22:09:13 -0400

I think today was one of the most typically military days I've had in a long time, one that showcases just what military life is really like. I woke up when my husband's alarm went off and realized that I was going to have to take him to the clinic when he hacked and coughed and registered a low-grade fever. He called for an appointment. A couple of hours later, we were on our way. I dropped him and his eight-inch stack of medical records off at the clinic door,...

Apply For a Space Camp Scholarship - Deadline March 10

Fri, 06 Mar 2009 21:49:47 -0500

If you're anything like me, you've heard of NASA Space Camp, but you have dismissed the idea of sending your child because, well, it's pretty expensive. Not only is it in Huntsville, Ala., which isn't exactly nearby, the tuition is $799. Add it all up, and it's tough to do.

But, if you act quickly, your 6th - 9th grade child could qualify for a Space...

Sign Up for Youth Sports

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 09:09:10 -0500

Time's running out for spring youth sports signups at Fort Meade, Aberdeen Proving Ground and NSA Annapolis. Fort Meade is accepting youth sports registrations until February 27. Sports included are baseball, T-ball, soccer, swim team and track. You will need to pay a registration fee, which varies by sport, when you sign up. Late registrations (with higher fees) will be accepted March 2 - 23.

NSA Annapolis is taking youth T-ball and baseball registrations...

Get Job Search Help From Your Military Base

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 18:14:14 -0500

There's no doubt about it, these are challenging times for job-seekers. There are more applicants out there than ever before, it seems. What can you do to stand out from the crowd?

Fortunately, your local military base stands ready to help you through the job search process. Both Fort Meade and Annapolis have programs and resources available to anyone, adult or teen, who holds an active duty, dependent or retiree military ID card. Some of Fort Meade's programs...

Snow Days

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 21:21:25 -0500

I was born and raised in southern California. Heck, my cell phone's ring tone is "Sons of Westwood," the UCLA fight song. I didn't know snow days existed until I married the Navy and moved east. A couple of decades later, I can't say that I love snow, but I'm pretty used to living in it. I can even drive in the stuff.

Which brings me to my main point. I've seen lots of military folks drive in the snow, not only here but also in...