MnkyNthMddl
Member
Happy Holidays to all.<?xml:namespace prefix = "o" ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
fficeffice" /><o></o>I would like to start out by saying I've been a member heresince 2012. I have not posted much overthe years. Rest assured though that Igain great knowledge from all of the material.<o
></o>Not as an excuse but the last few years have been a bit of achallenge. I work in the oil industry so you can imagine where I ended up inMay of 2016. The oil/energy crash hit sohard in Texas that I was out of work for 11 months. When work finally came along in April of 2017,it came with a move to Washington State. I don't mind that so much though as itis really beautiful up here. Besides mywife is Canadian and this puts her close to home. My wife opened a new travelagency during my layoff period and we are building that (I help her with thatas I can). <o
></o>During the first week of being laid off, we lost my dad tocancer, Our youngest daughter moved out on her own, Our third oldest daughter (bythe way, we have 5 daughters and 1 son) joined the Air Force and is nowstationed a fair distance from home, Our only son, the youngest of six, whojoined the Air Force the previous year was just recently deployed toAfghanistan.
Please don't think that I'm crying in my pillow or feelingdepressed. I know my experiences make me stronger and I am immensely proud of allof our kids as well as my daughter and my son's military service. I served 6years in the USN and have somewhat of an understanding of the sacrifices theyare making. I'm terribly grateful that they have something inside them that compelsthem to serve the greater good of others.<o
></o>The purpose for the back story I guess is to try and justifymy lack of participation in the topics before. I suppose there is always time but I just haven't seem to have made it apriority before.<o
></o>I would like, in my small way, to send each of them a token ofthat appreciation. They get the letters,calls and presents for the holidays but I am looking for something special. <o
></o>Just when you think you hit on the right idea, it doesn't seemto be available. At least not obviously. I am looking for a few pen blanks withthe Air Force Insignia inlaid into the wood (See AirForce Pic). Most likely it will need to be a laser cutitem in a blank but I expect that. Don'treally want stained wood. <?xml:namespace prefix = "v" ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" /><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_4" style="width: 24.75pt; height: 24.75pt; visibility: visible; mso-wrap-style: square;" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="AirforceCombined.jpg" o:spid="_x0000_i1025"> <v:imagedata o:title="AirforceCombined" src="file:///C:\Users\klapeyre\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image003.jpg"></v:imagedata></v:shape> I found this (See Stained Pic) at https://www.woodnwhimsies.com/product943.html<o
></o>Im looking for something more like a natural wood, maybe awalnut barrel with a maple and cherry inlay. (Walnut barrel, Cherry for theBlue and Maple for the Silver). <o
></o>If anyone knows of something or someplace I can find these Iwould be very grateful for the information.<o
></o>Thank you and Merry Christmas.<o
></o>
