What about Monkeys?
Haven’t you always wanted a monkey?
I don’t know if monkeys are halal, but I don’t think they taste too good, anyway.
This really spoke to me–while I’d like to send something for the kids, and I’m going to talk to my husband tonight to see what we can do–how would you feel about something for the adults? Like…soft slippers for grandma/grandpa, adult size shoes or clothing, thick scented candles, (any danger of candles being non-halal?), cushions or pillows, tough plastic dishware (so it travels well)?
I know these won’t be thrown to the kids from the truck, so if you couldn’t pass these along to the appropriate parties, do you know of a place that might accept such donations?
I dropped off my package today, and got a pleasant surprise. Seems like the local Lions Club had a little extra money, and are paying all postage for any boxes shipped to Iraq. How frickin’ cool is that?
I’ll have to try to get another one out soon.
Hmmm. They rate an exclamation point in a yellow triangle, which means “Halal if no alcohol is used in flavor”. How does one determine that? Ingredients list just says “artificial and natural flavors”.
Here’s a quick one. Well… it’s going to be a quick post, but the damn video took my all night and this morning to upload. But I thought this little kid was just too cute not to share.
Sometimes the use of vanilla extract would be enough to rule it out, even though the alcohol is cooked out of the foods.
Bear’s reply in post #28 to my question in post #23 cracked me up to the point that I asked the power that be if I could submit it to the Reader’s Digest Humor in Uniform feature.
Permission was granted, so I wrote it up and submitted it.
If the RD decides to publish this, they pay for submissions. Any money I get from RD will go straight to Bear for the kids.
Cross your fingers.
That would be so sweet. Let me know if it makes it. I want to buy that issue!
Here’s a clip I made of the first three balls. Thanks for those who donated! I will be able to buy a bunch of these. I can’t wait to receive frisbees too! There are none for sale here, and I think that was a great suggestion!
It’s nothing inspirational, but it does show the fun we’re having and the excitement of the children.
I have to wait for payday but I’m going to follow your beautiful examples. I have tears in my eyes - I love the SDMB.
Just letting everyone know that I got my first box today from fisha. Lots of Halloween chocolate, Plah Doh and other things. Most of it has already been tossed to the kids.
I am too nervous to throw the Play Doh from the truck. But tonight, I was able to show some kids the Play Doh before giving it to them. I’m not sure if they understood the part about “Keep it stored in the container when not in use”. But they’ll enjoy it for at least a little while 
And at least they wont eat it!
Anyway, thanks everyone!!! So far we’ve given out 6 soccer balls (had to go to another camp to find a pump) and lots of candy. Got pleanty of PayPal funds left and pleanty of boxes on the way. Thanks for the support everyone!!!
I’ll try to keep you guys updated. Don’t forget to stop by here and post a comment once in a while. Oh and I encourage anyone to ask questions about my job if you’re curious.
Thanks guys.
Bear_Nenno, check in please. I’ve forgotten if you’ve said exactly where you were, but the article linked below worries me.
3 Iraqi Children and 3 Soldiers Killed by Roadside Bomb. The article mentions the soldiers were handing out toys…
Seconded.
Bear are you OK?
If I remember correctly, he said he was south of Baghdad, this report was in the north. I might be wrong though.
There is a pretty good website, it is a clearinghouse for news from Iraq.
It has official DOD statements, KUNA, Reuters, AP, BBC, etc, etc. It’s pretty fast and mostly accurate. It’s also interesting to get different perspectives from the reporting.
It might give everyone a sense of reassurance, or it might make people more uptight.
I checked Bear’s myspace link from his member profile, he visited there sometime today, so there’s that.
Don’t worry too much, guys. I think the phrase is “No news is good news.”
Remember, he is quite busy from day to day, sometimes he may have to wander out into the boonies, and sometimes the connections are for shit. We may not hear from him for weeks.
Sucks, I know.
I haven’t mailed this box of mine yet, partly b/c I was sick all last week, and partly b/c I keep picturing a little yellow rubber duckie waddling down a dirt road and then blowing up.
I love your optimism, bear, but honestly it frightens me a little too.
Wow, thanks for your concern. I haven’t blown up yet, though.
The Play Doh was a pretty big hit. But actually, I think they’ll pretty much take anything. When I said I didn’t have more, they started asking for my watch, money, a pen…
My watch!? That was a funny one to hear. “Mister, give me your watch?” I guess it was worth a try.
Several kids have asked for sunglasses. I’m thinking some really cheap dollar store sun glasses would be a big hit.
I will be buying some more soccerballs soon. But my pump broke, so I need to wait for a day off so I can go to the other FOB and buy one. They dont have any here. I also got my hands on a couple of “Army Issue” soccer balls. These are the balls the Army passes out for units to give to the kids. (Now I know why all the kids ask for soccer balls.) I’m not sure where to get more of those, though. Someone just happened to have a few. They come flat, so you need a pump to inflate them. Luckily I just bought one.
Anyway. Things are going okay here. Really busy. Thanks again for the concern. I’ll try to post some more pictures soon.
Good. Don’t.
I’m glad you received the first package, Bear, I’m not sure how I missed that post. It’s cool that the little kids liked it, I’ll see what else I can rustle up.
I’ve always considered getting blowed up to be quite rude, and uncalled for behavior.
Can you clarify your email? I see you have a hotmail and a us.army.mil one in your profile.
The Army one.
I didn’t realize I had a hotmail one in there. Thanks.