www.fortcampbellmwr.com Contributors Tara Goodson Katherine Kolodzie Keri McPeak CH (Col) Alvin E. Miller
Photography Duronda Cannon Tara Goodson istock.com AGfota Stacey McRae
pg 10 pg 13
Fotilia Michael Ireland
pg 6
Publisher Creative ink
Creative Director Sears Hallett
Advertising Melissa Breed Creative ink 931-220-6911 sales@creativeinktn.com David Loos Creative ink 931-206-4459 sales@creativeinktn.com
CONTENTS January 2011 4
10
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Texas Hold-em
Healthy Barracks Food
Forgiveness
A look inside America’s hottest poker game.
Chaplin Miller has a great message about how forgiveness is vital to our health and life.
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Believe it or not - you can cook healthy and tasty in your barracks room.
Banish Winter Blahs
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Adventure Programs will help you combat winter boredom.
Smashville
What’s Happening?
The Nashville Predators hockey team turn Nashville into the exciting “Smashville”.
BOSS events for the month of January.
Disclaimers: Fort Campbell’s BOSS Life Magazine is a monthly magazine produced by the Fort Campbell MWR Marketing Department under the authority of AR 215-1. Facilities and activities publicized are open to authorized patrons. The purpose of Fort Campbell BOSS Life is to provide current information about Fort Campbell MWR and BOSS activities and events; to share ideas which will help readers become educated about Fort Campbell MWR and BOSS activities and motivate them to take full advantage of these programs that contribute to our Fort Campbell single Soldiers better quality of life. Views and opinions expressed are those of the authors. The mention or appearance of commercial advertisers, commercial sponsors and/or their logos does not constitute endorsement by the Federal Government. The information in this issue is current at the time of publication; activities and events are subject to change. MWR Marketing is located at 5663 Screaming Eagle Blvd, Fort Campbell, Kentucky. For more information, call 270-798-7535 or log on to www.fortcampbellmwr.com.
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Triple the Action of Texas Hold’em Learning America’s Hottest Game by Keri McPeak DID YOU KNOW THAT FORT CAMPBELL MWR offers Texas Hold’em poker? Fort Campbell has been offering the Fort Campbell community the opportunity to play Texas Hold’em at the Sportsman’s Lodge for over two years. Now we are upping the ante, as Texas Hold’em will be held three nights a week at Sportsman’s Lodge. Come out every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday nights for games at at 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. Players compete for nightly prizes as well as points which will qualify them to participate in the MWR Main Event held every quarter. No money is permitted in these games. If you have never played, no worries! Texas Hold’em is a fairly simple game to learn. Texas Hold’em is played following “Robert’s Rules of Poker” and is by far the best game for a beginner to learn. Here are thirteen steps to help you understand the game: 1. Depending on the limit and betting structure, players will place blinds and antes so there is an initial bet amount to get the game started. This is called posting. Blinds are partial bets put in by one or more players before any cards are dealt and antes are small portions of a bet contributed by each player. 2. The dealer shuffles up a standard deck of 52 playing cards. 3. Each player is dealt two private cards face down. These are called your hole cards or pocket cards. 4. Next, there is a round of betting starting with the player to the left of the blinds. This is the pre-flop betting round. Like most games of poker, players can call, raise, or fold. To call is to put into the pot an amount of money equal to the most recent bet. To raise is to increase the size of the bet required to stay in the game, forcing all other players to call the new amount if they wish to remain in. To fold is to discard one's hand and forfeit interest in the current pot. 5. After the betting round ends, the dealer discards the top card of the deck. This is called a burn card. This is done to prevent cheating.
6. The dealer then flips thenext three cards face up on the table. This is called the flop. These are communal cards that anyone can use in combination with their two pocket cards to form a poker hand. 7. The player to the left of the dealer starts another betting round. 8. After betting concludes, the dealer burns the top card again then flips another communal card onto the table. This is called the turn. 9. The player to the left of the dealer begins another round of betting. In many types of games, this is where the bet size doubles. 10. Again, the dealer burns a card and places a final card face up on the table. This is called the river. Players can now use any of the five cards on the table and the two cards in their pocket to form a five card poker hand. 11. There is one final round of betting starting with the player to the left of the dealer. 12. Next is the showdown when all of the players who have not folded reveal their hands. This begins with the player to the left of the last player to call. Players use a combination of their pocket cards and the community cards to form a five card poker hand. 13. The player who shows the best hand wins! Sometimes players with the same hand split the pot. Texas Hold’em is a great way to meet new people and share a fun event with friends. Everyone 18 and over is invited to play at Sportsman’s Lodge, and the top 20 players from each nightly game earn points. Anyone who earns 200 points or more in one quarter (three months of playing) is eligible to play in the Main Event. Great prizes are awarded to top players at the Main Event. Players are encouraged to play all “Texas Hold'em is games, each night, every great! It's perfect for week in order to meeting new people, accumulate the maximum number of points for a but watch out, the greater possibility to make game can be addictive!” it to the Main Event. Duronda Cannon Sportsman’s Lodge also Special Events Staff offers a variety of tasty food and beverages available for purchase. Now, you can also play electronic Bingo at Sportsman’s while you wait for another card game to begin! Put on your best poker face, grab your friends, and head on out to the Sportsman’s Lodge. For more information about Texas Hold’em, please contact the Family and MWR Public Relations Office at (270) 798-7535.
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Banish Winter Blahs Utilize MWR Outdoor Recreation by Katherine Kolodzie AFTER SPENDING THE HOLIDAYS SURROUNDED BY massive banquets of turkey, ham and other sleep-inducing foods, it is too tempting to curl up on the couch and veg out until warmer weather returns. Ditch the couch for real game, real guns, and real adventures! This month’s MWR Adventure Programs combat winter boredom with mountain biking, rock climbing, caving and hiking. Check out the great views at Land Between the Lakes while riding single track mountain bike trails. Explore 12,000 square feet of climbing space at Climb Nashville. Camp out in the Lost Seas Caves, where jaguars roamed, moonshine was distilled, and Confederate Soldiers mined gunpowder. At the end of the month, bring Fido to frolic with four-footed friends on post. Test yourself, challenge your friends or build up your team at the Challenge Course Complex. Scale a 50’ climbing wall with 8 different sides of varying difficulty. Help your team ascend the Alpine Tower, a vertical obstacle course of cargo nets, ropes, poles and hanging ladders. Take on the Odyssey and work your way across suspended cargo nets, ziplines, sliding platforms and cables. Come test your agility and push yourself to the limit on five different challenge elements! Call 270-798-2737 for more information.
club house is festively adorned with the “trophies” of many talented marksmen. Warm up from the cold inside the club house with free hot coffee. Active Duty Soldiers can bring their own shotgun, or rent one at the range. Open Noon-8:00pm Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, year round. Stadium lights keep the action going after dark. As of press time, Outdoor Recreation is slated to acquire a Personally Owned Firearm Range. Call 270-412-4015 for more information. Personal firearms brought to firing ranges must be registered with the Provost Marshall’s office, either at the Gate 4 Welcome Center, or inside the Vehicle Registration Office next to the Military Clothing & Sales store. Every month Outdoor Recreation offers exciting trips and activities to get you out of the house and into a new adventure. For more information, visit www.FortCampbellMWR.com/Recreation or call 270-798-2175 seven days a week.
Adventure begins at the corner of 101st Airborne Division Road and 11th Airborne Division Roads, just outside of Gate 10.
Archers, take aim! The archery range features pressed foam targets at 20 to 50 yards. One target is dedicated to hunting broad head arrows. Bring your own compound or simple bows. No crossbows permitted. Open 7:30am til dark, seven days a week. Closed Noon-3:00pm on Mondays and Wednesdays. Keep your hunting skills sharp through the winter with small game such as rabbit, quail, raccoon, squirrel, fox, coyote, opossum and bobcat. Imagine flushing a covey of over 20 quail, or tracking predators like coyote and fox. If you didn’t get enough turkey over the holidays, make a reservation for the remaining weeks of winter turkey season, which closes January 17th. Don’t forget to acquire your necessary permits and instructions from the staff at Outdoor Recreation; call 270-798-2175. Gather your hunting buddies and schedule an area this weekend!
Come shoot a round of regular, doubles or 5-stand skeet at the skeet range. Achieve a perfect score, and your buddies can help you create a custom trophy right then and there. The ceiling inside the
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Child, Youth & School Services Child Development Centers (CDC) 1. **24 Hour Care (opening FY-12) 2. Bastogne (270) 412-4485 3. Eagle (270) 412-3303/3304 4. *Gardner Hills 5. Part Day Preschool (270) 412-6767 6. Polk (270) 412-4471 7. Tennessee (270) 412-4477 8. Waters #1 (270) 439-7993 9. Waters #2 (270) 439-7996 10. *CYSS Directorate (270) 798-6539 11. Family Child Care (FCC) (270) 798-4959 12. *Kids on Site (Estep) 11. Parent Central Services (CYSS Central Registration) (270) 798-0674 School Age Services (SAS) Centers (270) 798-4129 14. Billy C. Colwell Center (270) 412-2315 15. *Gardner Hills 16. *Werner Park #1 17. *Werner Park #2 11. School Liaison (270) 798-9874 18. SKIESUnlimited Center (270) 412-5455 Youth Activites 19. Teen Club 24/7 (270) 956-1033 19. Youth Center (Taylor) (270) 798-3643 19. Youth Sports (270) 798-6355 Community Services 20. Army Community Service (ACS) (270) 798-9322 20. Community Service Center (Lee) & ACS Director (270) 798-9322 21. Family Resource Center (FRC) (270) 956-2935 22. Financial Readiness (270) 798-5518 20. Lending Closet (270) 798-6313 23. Soldier & Family Assistance Center (SFAC) (270) 412-6000 24. Survivor Outreach Services (SOS) (270) 798-0277 Armed Services YMCA 25. Backdoor Boutique (270) 956-1566
26. Family Center & Co-op Daycare (270) 798-7422 Dining & Entertainment 19th Hole (Cole Park) (270) 798-1822 Conference & Catering Center (Joe Swing) (270) 798-2175 Community Activities Center (Cole Park) (270) 798-4610 Dawg Haus (270) 798-0766 Southern Buffet (Cole Park) (270) 798-4610 Sportsman’s Lodge (931) 431-4140 Recreation & Leisure Aquatics 32. Baldanado Pool (270) 798-5207 33. Dolan Pool (270) 798-5350 31. Gardner Indoor Pool (270) 798-6310 34. Singles Pool (270) 798-4247 Outdoor Recreation 35. *Arcade & Gaming Center (The Zone) 36. BOSS Program (270) 798-7858 37. Bowling Center (Hooper) (270) 798-5887 27. Golf Club (Cole Park) (270) 798-4906 82. Challenge Course (270) 412-7855 39. Adventure Program (270) 412-7854 40. Archery Range (270) 798-2175 41. Dog Park, North (270) 798-2175 42. Dog Park, South (270) 798-2175 43. Hunting & Fishing (270) 798-2175 82. Paintball (270) 956-3118 38. Parks & Pavilions (270) 798-2175 45. Riding Stables (270) 798-2629 46. RV Park (Eagles Rest) (270) 798-2175 47. RV Park (Flechers Fork) (270) 798-2175 48. Skeet Range (270) 412-4015 49. Small Arms Recreational Range (270) 798-3001 36. Recreation Center (Dale Wayren) (270) 798-7391 Sports & Fitness 50. Estep Wellness Center (270) 798-4664/4023 51. Fryar Stadium, Sports Admin Office (270) 798-3094 27. 28. 27. 29. 27. 30.
Physical Fitness Facilities (PFF) 52. Fratellenico PFF (270) 798-9418 53. Freedom Fighter PFF (270) 798-7355 54. Gertsch PFF (270) 798-2753 55. Lozada PFF (270) 798-4306 56. Olive PFF (270) 798-4101 57. Softball Complex, North (270) 798-3320 58. Softball Complex, South (270) 798-3320 Trades & Services 59. Army Education (270) 798-5886 60. Arts & Crafts Center (Guenette) (270) 798-6693 61. Auto Service Center (Air Assault Auto) (270) 956-1101/1100 62. Auto Skills (North) (270) 798-5612 60. Engraving Etc. Specialty Store (270) 798-0171 63. Equipment Rental (Gear to Go) (270) 798-6806 64. Library (R.F. Sink) (270) 798-5729 65. Veterinary Services (270) 798-3614 Travel & Lodging 66. Army Lodging (Richardson) (931) 431-4496 67. Army Lodging (Turner) (270) 439-2229 68. Leisure Travel Services Office (270) 798-7436 Miscellaneous Services 69. 101st Airborne Division Headquarters (270) 798-9793 70. Blanchfield Army Hospital (270) 798-8055 71. Civilian Personnel Advisory Center (270) 798-7161 72. Commissary (270) 798-3663 73. Division Parade Field 74. Fisher House (270) 798-8330 75. Gate 4 Visitor Center & Vehical Registration (270) 798-5047 76. Gate 7 Visitor Center & Vehical Registration (270) 956-4495 77. In/Out Processing & MWR Public Relations (270) 798-7535 68. Main Post PX (270) 439-1841/1842 78. MWR Director (270) 798-9953 78. MWR Unit Funds & MWR Collections (270) 798-6818 80. Museum (Don F. Pratt) (270) 798-3215/4986 81. Wilson Theater (931) 431-3636 *Coming Soon
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DW Rec Center January 1 January 1 (& every Saturday) January 2 January 3 (& every Monday) January 5 January 6 (& every Thursday) January 7 (& every Friday) January 9 January 14 January 19 January 23
We are OPEN on New Year’s Day 8-Ball Tournament Movie & Popcorn 9-Ball Tournament BOSS Meeting Spades Tournament Table Tennis Tournament Post Wide Chess Tournament BOSS Civil Rights Museum Trip* BOSS Meeting Post Wide Pool Tournament
11am-8pm 3pm 2pm 7pm 2:30pm 6:30pm 7pm 2pm 2:30pm 2pm
*The National Civil Rights Museum is a great place to visit on Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday. The museum is located in the actual hotel where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. You could easily spend many hours at the museum perusing the events leading up to the death of Martin Luther King Jr., as well as the aftermath and investigation. BOSS will also visit Beale Street. Join BOSS for this overnight trip to Memphis on January 14-15, 2011. Advance registration is required by January 11. Call 270-798-7858.
Adventure Program Calendar January 4 Climbing 101
4pm -6pm
$15 Age: 16+
8am -4pm
$15 Age: 14+
A fun, easy clinic on rock climbing basics. Preregister by Noon Jan 4th.
January 8
LBL Mountain Biking
Enjoy views of Land Between the Lakes while riding beginner and intermediate single track mountain bike trails ranging from 1.5 to 11 miles. Bring lunch, snacks, and plenty of water. Bikes, helmets and gloves provided. Preregister by 4:00pm Jan 7th
January 15
Climb Nashville – Indoor Climbing
10:30am-3:30pm
$25
Explore 12,000 sq feet of climbing space at Climb Nashville. Tickets include a 2 hour Intro to Climbing/Belay class. Preregister by 4:00pm Jan 14th
January 22-23
Lost Seas Overnight Caving
11am 1/22 – 3pm 1/23
$89 Age: 10+
Crawl through cracks and crevices between undeveloped cave rooms. Campout overnight in caverns where jaguars once roamed, moonshine was distilled, and Confederate Soldiers mined gunpowder. See remarkable rock formations, including rare cave flowers! Mandatory Pre-trip meeting at 5:00pm on Jan 20th Preregister by 4:00pm Jan 7th
January 29
Dog Hike – On Post
11:00am
$2
Bring furry friends along for a hike on trails around Outdoor Recreation. Dogs must remain on leashes and under control at all times. Preregister by 9:00am on Jan 29th
Super Bowl Party
At DW Rec for fans of all ages on Feb 6. Game kickoff is at approximately 5:45pm on our large screen in the main lounge, with pregame activities beginning earlier in the afternoon. We will have all types of food for you to enjoy, beginning around 5pm, with replenishment at half time as well as door prize drawings for some fabulous gifts. Mark your calendar NOW!
Smoky Mountains Ski Trip
Let’s all go to the mountains of Tennessee for a wonderful getaway. If you don’t know how to ski, instructions are available to all beginners.This trip is scheduled for the Feb 18-21. You pay for the skiing, lodging and meals and BOSS provides the transportation. Pack your toboggan, snow boards, and head on up the snow covered paths of the Smoky Mountains. Call the BOSS office at 270-798-7858 or stop by the Dale Wayrynen Recreation Center, BOSS headquarters for more information on this trip. The price of this get-a-way weekend will be determined by the number of people who sign up! Remember to get the word out to your unit. The more that go, the cheaper the trip!
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Sound Tax Tips for the Modern War Fighter by Robert W. Mitchell TASKED WITH ANY NUMBER OF EXERCISES AND unpredictable events from special training exercises to PCSing, ETSing and deployments, many of our military members have service requirements that may affect their tax filings next year, according to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The IRS asserts on its website that certain events such as relocating to a new post and the actual process of getting there (whether flying or driving) can impact tax returns filed by military members. For members of the armed forces, here are few tips to help Soldiers maximize their returns. Moving Expenses A member of the armed forces on active duty who moves as a result of a permanent change of station (PCS) is permitted to deduct reasonable expenses due to the cost of moving. The expenses are for costs not reimbursed by the military. They also cover cost for members of Soldier’s household. Combat Pay Compensation for enlisted Soldiers and warrant officers who served in a combat zone for any part of a month in the year is completely exempt\t from taxation. For commissioned officers, that exclusion stops at the highest enlisted pay, plus any hostile fire or imminent danger pay. Deadline Extension For Soldiers and other military members who qualify, there are automatic deadline extensions for filing tax returns, paying taxes, filing claims and for other transactions involving the IRS. Uniform Cost and Upkeep If Army regulations prohibit the wearing of certain uniforms when off duty, the maintenance and upkeep of those uniforms can be deducted, however those expenses must adjusted in conjunction with any allowances or reimbursements received. Travel to Reserve Duty Expenses incurred as result of travel to a reserve duty site can be deducted if they are not reimbursed and the distance is greater than 100 miles from your place of residence. ROTC Students Subsistence allowances paid to ROTC students participating in advanced training are not taxable. However, active duty pay – such as pay received during summer advanced camp – is taxable. Civilian Life Transitioning Costs incurred while looking for new employment may deducted for recently separated Soldiers. Such deductions may include travel, resume preparation fees, outplacement agency fees and moving costs should a relocating event occur in conjunction with the start of a new job. Tax Help Most military installations offer free tax filing and preparation assistance during the filing season. For Soldiers stationed at Fort Campbell, the Fort Campbell Community Tax Center offers tax preparation services and advice for all military personnel. For more information, see IRS Publication 3, Armed Forces’ Tax Guide, a summary of key military-related tax topics. The publication can be downloaded at www.irs.gov or ordered by calling 1-800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676). Source: IRS.gov
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GRAB THESE DOCUMENTS BEFORE YOU GO TO THE TAX CENTER Proof of identity/military identification A copy of last year’s Federal and State tax returns if available Social Security cards for you and any dependents included on the return. A Social Security Number verification letter issued by the Social Security Administration is acceptable. Birth dates for you, and any dependents who will be included on the return Wage and earning statements (Form W-2) Interest and dividend statements from banks, mutual fund companies and brokerages (Form 1099) Retirement income/distributions (Form 1099-R) Miscellaneous income statements (Forms 1099-misc, W2G, etc) Student loan payment information IRA contribution information Documentation for deductions including unreimbursed medical expenses, state income and property taxes, mortgage interest, charitable contributions and unreimbursed business expenses Daycare expenses and provider’s Tax Identification Number or Social Security Number Bank routing number and account number for direct deposit tSource: Fort Campbell Tax Center: (270) 798-1040 Fort Campbell Community Tax Center Open to all military personnel, Family members, DoD Civilians and Retirees, the Fort Campbell Community Tax Center offers free federal and state income tax preparation to everyone who possesses a valid identification card. The center is located at 2699 on Kentucky Avenue, between the Dryer Field House and Burger King. Single Soldiers can complete their tax returns without missing work by taking advantage of the Drop-Off service available at the tax center. This service is available to single Soldiers without dependents. Tax documents can be dropped-off at the tax center or at its AAFES location. Tax returns are usually ready for pick up the next day. The tax center also offers Time-In and Time-Out cards and appointment slips to better plan your visit. Also, to expedite the tax preparation process, Soldiers should complete a client intake sheet before going to the tax center. The form is available at the tax center. It can also be downloaded at www.campbell.army.mil/campbell/SJA/Documents/2009%20Intake%20Sheet.pdf. Business hours at the Tax Center through April 15, 2011 are: M-F 0900 to 1900, SAT 0900 to 1400(Walk-ins Only), SUN Closed, DONSAs 0900 to 1400 (Walk-ins Only). From April 16 – December 15, the hours are: M-F 0900 to 1600, SAT- Closed, SUN – Closed, and DONSAs – Closed. Appointments made with the tax center can be made in person and should be scheduled two weeks in advance. For more information, contact the Fort Campbell Community Tax Center at (270) 798-1040.
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Healthy Barracks Recipes You really can cook healthy meals in your room by Tara Goodson I KNOW IT SEEMS LIKE AN OXYMORON TO USE THE words “healthy” and “barracks recipes” in a title, but you really can cook healthy meals in the microwave in your room. Eating out, whether it is at a sit down restaurant or fast food drive-through, can add inches to your waistline and narrow your wallet in a short period of time. Take a look at your bank statement and add up how much money you have spent
eating out last month. Now add how much comes out of your pay for your meal card. (Have you tried your dining facility lately? Lots of choices there…you might find something new that excites your taste buds!) More than you thought? With a few minor changes and a trip to the commissary, you can enjoy meals you prepare yourself. You won’t even have a lot of dishes to clean up!
Flavorful Couscous In a microwave safe bowl, heat a can of your favorite vegetable soup until it has just started to boil. Immediately toss in eight ounces of unflavored couscous. Cover the bowl and let the couscous absorb the liquid, approximately five minutes. You can shake in some garlic salt, cayenne pepper, lemon pepper seasoning or any other seasons you enjoy.
Fantastic Fish Get your omega-3s by preparing fish in your microwave. Place two wild salmon fillets in a shallow, microwavable dish. Season with salt and pepper, add one crushed garlic clove or garlic powder, and drizzle a tablespoon each of olive oil, lemon juice and white wine (if you are 21 or older, of course!) over salmon fillets. Cook on high for 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are flaky. Let stand 2 minutes, and then dig in.
One Dish Microwave Spaghetti In a microwave safe casserole dish crumble 1 pound ground beef. Add a packet of spaghetti seasoning. Cook on high until no longer pink, approximately 4 minutes. Drain excess fat off and break any large pieces of meat up. Add 1 jar spaghetti sauce, ¾ jar of water and 1 package of uncooked spaghetti noodles broken into 2 inch pieces. If you like sliced mushrooms or any other vegetable in your spaghetti, now is the time to add these ingredients. Just remember to add small amounts of water for the additional ingredients. Stir well and cover. Cook on high for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from the microwave, let stand 5 minutes, and then smother in parmesan cheese.
Breakfast in a Cup Place a small pat of butter or margarine in a large coffee mug. Add 1-2 eggs, a dash of salt and pepper and a small handful of shredded cheddar cheese. Add a splash of milk and mix everything with a fork. Cook on high for 45 seconds to a minute. If eggs are still runny continue to cook in 10 second increments until they are just soft set and moist. Let stand for 2 minutes to finish cooking. Do not overcook eggs, or you will have something similar in consistency to a rubber ball! If you have some bacon, ham or turkey, this is a great addition.
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Nashville Predators Show Their Teeth in
“Smashville” by Tara Goodson FORT CAMPBELL’S PROXIMITY TO NASHVILLE means we have great access to a variety of activities. Music, historical events and locations, outdoor activities and sports are all within driving distance. The Nashville Predators are the 27th franchise in the NHL’s history and the Preds faced-off for the first time on October 10, 1998 against the Florida Panthers. If you grew up watching hockey, then you can get your fix watching the Predator’s great defensive line-up at the Bridgestone Arena. Never been to a game? You can cheer them on for some of the lowest prices around. The entire team is well known for being avid Military supporters. Every Monday home game is $20 Military Mondays; you can purchase the best seats available for only 20 bucks! The next Military Monday is February 7 against the Edmonton Oilers. Fort Campbell has also been the recipient of FREE tickets to almost every game this season. Thanks to anonymous donors, MWR Leisure Travel Services is able to distribute those fast moving tickets on a first come, first served basis; please contact them at (270)798-7436 for information. Bridgestone Arena also offers many other discounts, so don’t hesitate to check out their website when you are looking for upcoming games. Having grown up in Montana, I enjoyed hockey every weekend. I grew up watching everything from pee-wee to adult games. It’s amazing to see young children honing their skills in the ice. I can’t stand up on ice skates, much to my mom’s chagrin, but I sure do know how to yell my lungs out while watching a game. You can cheer on the players with the mascot “Gnash”, the Ice Girls, Pred’s Dancers, and all the other rabid hockey fans of Nashville. Because of the Arena’s layout, you will have a great view no matter if you are in the cheap seats or on the glass. Gnash, a saber-toothed tiger, pumps the crowd up by rappelling from the ceiling, zip-lining across the stadium or bursting onto the ice in a four-wheeler. There are activities, games and great music to listen to during the 20 minute intermissions between periods. Even though the Preds are a relatively young team, they have set significant milestones in their ten year history. They have made it to the play-offs four times in the last five years despite talk of the team being sold and moved to a different city. Rumors persist that Music City only cares about football, but based on the nearly sold
out games this year, I’d say hockey is catching on in this southern city! Part of the reason for the increase in attendance is the Nashville Predators Foundation. The charities that benefit are listed on the Predator’s NHL website. They also host Stick to Reading=Succeeding, Friday Fun Day and Pencil Partner Program. You never know when you will catch a player supporting the local community! This year’s player that has the privelege of wearing the Captain jersey is defenseman Shea Weber. Shea was drafted as a 49th pick in the second round in 2003 and has spent his NHL career with the Predators. His teammates this year include players from the U.S., Canada, Sweden, Belarus, Germany, Finland and the Czech Republic. While there is not a Hall of Famer on the roster, the team has the honor of having two members play in the 2010 Winter Olympics. Shea played for the Canadian team and Ryan Suter played for the American team. It was a nail biter when they faced off for the Gold, which the Canadians won. Ryan comes from hockey history, as does his dad, Bob Suter. Bob played on the Miracle on Ice team in 1980. This team, made up of collegiate and amateur players, played against the Russians for the Gold Medal. The Russian team was considered the best team at the time and went on to win the Silver that year. Why do I think you should go to a Nashville Predator’s game? Tell me what other sport can you go to that has blood, sticks and ice? I hate to admit it, but a big appeal of the game is the chance of a fight. You ever heard of the saying…” I went to a fight and a hockey game broke out”? Of course there are penalties, from a minor one like cross-checking to a major one like charging, but the time goes by so quickly and the team without the penalty has the chance to score on a power play. If you brave the chill of the ice and the screaming crowds, you could see a hat trick, and I just might see you there!
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Forgiveness The vitamin that strengthens relationships by Chaplin (COL) Alvin E. Miller During my twenty plus years of military service as a U.S. Army Chaplain and Pastoral Counselor, I have come to the conclusion that one of the greatest enemies against fostering and nurturing healthy relationships is UNFORGIVENESS! Refusing to forgive is like a person putting a lethal snake in his or her treasure chest and allowing others to open the box, only to be bitten by the deadly snake. Believe it or not, when people refuse to forgive others, it is a very unhealthy predicament to be in. It is very difficult to breathe when something is restricting your oxygen flow. An unforgiving attitude is like a constrictor that drains you of your energy to be happy. Unforgiveness eats away at the joy, heart, and soul. Refusing to forgive is one of the ways we cut off our ability to grow as a human being of a grateful and gracious society. When blockage occurs in heart arteries, doctors work diligently to remove the blockage for the sake of the patient’s health and life. The same rule applies when people have unforgiving ‘dust clouds’ as part of their lives. When we refuse to allow the purging of forgiveness to operate to the fullest in our lives, it creates blockage in our spiritual house. When we refuse to forgive, it is an indication that we have a crack in our foundation that needs repairing. The angry ghost that refuses to forgive will hang around as long as you allow it to. It knows it cannot survive without using your energy, strength, and heart. If you refuse to deal with it, it will become a runaway train and begin to suppress your joy, steal your peace, and destroy your relationships. I have watched the cruelty of the unforgiving transform people into individuals they were ashamed to be associated with once they had worked through their unforgiving pain. An unforgiving complex is like having a colony of termites in untreated wood. If the termites go undetected and untreated, just imagine, in a short time they can destroy the most beautiful buildings imaginable. We must understand that termites eat away at wood even
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when we are sleeping, and most of the time their destruction goes unnoticed until it is too late. The damage is already done before you can bring in the exterminator to eradicate the infestation. When people perpetuate the actions of an unforgiving enemy, the vibe from the campaign is so powerful, lethal, and destructive that it can wipe out many with just one retaliatory act. If you are struggling on the dark side of life because you are entangled by a grudge that you find is difficult to let go, please consider this basic fact: no one is perfect and we all have made and will continue to make mistakes. Some of our mistakes have been small, while others have been large; yet, somewhere along the way, were forgiven. Much of our success in life is attributed to others forgiving us and giving us new opportunities to correct our mistakes. Forgiveness is like planting a seed on fertile ground - immediately it springs up and you begin reaping a life sustaining harvest from the seed. I believe forgiveness is one the principle attribute that makes Americans good people and America a great nation. The willingness of the people to give others a second chance is the one of the “unsung heroes” of America. If you were to trace the successful pilgrimage of some of America’s greatest heroes, you will discover their success was a direct result from the action of willingness to forgive somewhere down the line. Forgiveness has a habit of leaving a positive trail of hope. Therefore, as you start your day, please do not forget to take your forgiveness vitamin; it will give you the energy and fortitude to grow stronger in your relationships regardless of the storms you will encounter in life.