Mama, Did You Wear Combat Boots?

What do you get when...?

2011-05-05T13:18:00.000-07:00

What do you get when you throw a party with a bunch of military spouses, a phallic shaped cake or two, and some champagne and Shiraz? You get one heck of a time! I had a blast last night at a local CG spouse's house. I won't say anymore for fear of her coming down here and censoring all the photos. Yes, there are photos. hee hee

Can you imagine what kind of party this was? Let's just say, I turned many shades of red, multiple times, laughed my tush off and now know how many wives survive deployments. ;)

Would you like some wine with that whine?

2011-05-04T10:09:00.000-07:00

I strive to be a very good friend and a positive person. Though, there are just folks who take, and take, and take and now that I am reaching a certain point in my life I have had enough. You see, I am a giver. I am a good friend and I try with all my heart and soul to be a good mother and loving wife. I like to help folks and laugh and share memories and build relationships. It is what I do. I cannot do it all on my own though. You know what I am talking about. You have had this happen to you too, haven't you?

It's tiring. It's frankly just not nice. It's not fun to have to accomodate others ALL the time and have them bail on you. It's not okay to whine, whine and whine all the time and hope I come running because I might be busy battling another dragon right now. I have my own commitments and things going on, but I put up a good facade and try to show the world it's all hunky dory. That's how I get through the day sometimes. I smile and do good unto others hoping the circle will come back around. Of course, that is not terribly an altruistic way of thinking, but we as humans do want to do good deeds in hopes that we will have good done unto us, right?

I understand you have trials and tribulations of your own, but when is the last time you asked about mine? I am not seeking pity here, but I want all of you who understand what I am saying to remember that asking your friend or neighbor or aunt or mailman genuinely how they are doing and actually care about their answer that you may make more of a difference in their lives than you could imagine. Just realize it is not all about you.

Sure it stinks when you cannot afford the ridiculous things you spend money on, but I have a mortgage and a rent to worry about, a houseful of hungry mouths and clothes to buy to fit their bodies, but that which isn't likely fashionable because unfortunately we are not rich. Oh, and that guy you brag about, don't even get me started because I have one too, but he is frequently gone. Scratch that, always seems more like it. Yes, he has his faults and we have our differences, but I don't need you to remind me of that because we work through it. I need my friend to just hold my hand and be there not criticize things. I am a strong and intelligent woman, I know a little more than you think I do.

Oh, and if you think these babies I had (and love and adore) are a piece of cake or maybe that their discipline is lacking and I should just not take them into public because you don't want to hear their misbehaving; maybe ask me what is going on. Psychologists and therapists are trying to figure that out right now, but you were too ignorant to ever consider that probably.

Oops, getting carried away there.....Yes, giving and friendship is about just that and no one should EXPECT anything in return, but reciprocation is nice. I don't want to be friends only sometimes. I don't want to have to try and work too hard. That is not a real friendship. I have done it too many times over and just don't have the energy anymore.

My house has an open door and friends and many strangers have been welcomed here for a meal, a shoulder to cry on, support, giggles, a chair to borrow, for childcare and just well, just because. I will probably always be like that, and that may be a fault of mine, but to me life is about the people you surround yourself with. I want to make them smile, but just every now and again I want to know I am appreciated too.

Please pass the chardonnay.

Old post alert! I haven't blogged and I cannot find motivation so here is an old post.

2011-04-27T19:17:00.001-07:00

LIES, LIES, LIES. aka Loose Lips Sink Ship, so Lie (or fib or leave out info and talk about the weather instead)

SUPER FUN while the man in blue is sailing the deep blue.

2011-04-15T16:51:00.000-07:00

He’s home. Here’s what he missed. It was LOADS of fun.

-> Fleapalooza 2011 and the crazy cleaning to ensure it didn't "infect" the whole house

-> My falling pretty sick from using way too many varied (and strong) cleaning products - stupid I know

-> Friend’s child missing nightmare when she didn’t get off the right bus to my house

-> Fifth’s Disease x 2 kids (which was misdiagnosed)

-> Houseguests (waiting on base housing to open up) – they were great though (mom, baby & dog)

-> Bead up the child's nose ER fiasco - that was pretty embarassing to explain and still not sure how that transpired

-> Incessant Hail Storms

-> Children's Night Terrors

-> Preschooler tantrums

-> Dog repeatedly ripping up my gardening/landscaping attempts

-> Tsunami Middle of the Night Mad Dash to Gas Station and related freak outs

-> Earthquake Drills

-> Preschooler tantrums

-> Ridiculous second grade sleepover drama (and some giggles)

-> Preschooler tantrums

-> Choking debacles of a child and subsequent swallowing issues

-> Preschooler tantrums

-> Tricare not wanting to approve some treatment

-> Mommy tantrums

-> The worry over the government possibly shutting down and possibly not seeing a paycheck

-> Friend fell sick and I took care of her kids (happily) thereby providing with a (hungry) brood of 6

Gosh, he’s missed all the fun. Such is the life of a Coastie wife, right?

Unfortunately, he also missed
- Various holidays
- A child's First Communion
- and two birthdays :(
- Oh, and the culmination of potty training (no more diapers in this house!!!!)

Such is the life of a Coastie.

Can I go on vacation now?

Spring Break is FINALLY over

2011-03-29T19:13:00.000-07:00

I am here. My children did not sell me to a wild band of monkeys. We simply were "enjoying" Spring Break. Woah, what a long, long, long time off. I am grateful for teachers. 'Nuff said.

I will say I have been busier than ever since school started again. It has been insane. Good insane.

In any event, I was enjoying Navy Wife Radio this evening. They were hosting Erica of "Guide to Military Travel" tonight. It was super! She has such great tips and a wonderful site. Be sure to check her out.

On another note, March is almost over. That is a PSA for those of you without a calendar. I am so eager for the flowers of April to be here and hopefully summer will be much closer than it is looking right now. I know I am pushing it, but this rainy Northwest weather has me worn down. I need some sun. Mail me some, please!

Anyway, bad blog. I stink at this tonight. I have a dog eating a yogurt foil top and three children running amok needing to be in bed soon. Ta ta for now!

Kiss Me, I am partially Irish

2011-03-17T17:19:00.000-07:00

"Here's to our wives and girlfriends: May they never meet!"

Yes, the above Irish toast was actually made at my wedding by my husband's best friend. Fortunately, it was not said in front of all of our guests.

And, with that, I wish you very happy St. Patrick's Day! Be safe, be green and be happy.

Wonderful Wordless Wednesday

2011-03-16T14:33:00.000-07:00

Two posts in one day?

2011-03-15T21:01:00.000-07:00

In one night even.

Pardon this blog interruption for random poetry.

On a western bay

I sit

Moments away

from you

Oceans take moments

from others

and from us

Our separation, though,

is so

minimal and

insignificant -now

We have been pardoned

by tragedy

Despite longing for your

arms

I rejoice

I know, unlike many, an ocean away

that you will be home again

My heart breaks for them

but sighs relief

that our separation is only temporary.

JAGIP sends

Coffee anyone?

2011-03-15T20:32:00.000-07:00

Living in the PacNW, it's ironic and semi-unfortunate that I do not drink coffee. I don't loathe it. In fact, I once drank it and enjoy many delicious flavors. Thanks to imbibing far too much in this bean based beverage during a couple year period in high school, I have no desire to ever drink it again. You see I worked in a coffee shop, as did my sister, my mother and my aunt. And, we all always smelled like coffee. We had this luxurious perk of being able to take beans or ground coffee home with us in varying amounts each month. So, that, my friends caused me to be coffeed out.

I have friends who are a flourishing mountainside shade of green with envy at the fact that I live here where coffee shops come in all different sizes, styles, locations, and budget areas. The Northwest is seemingly a coffee mecca in the United States. I think it is a bit insane, but that is only because I see drive-thru espresso shops. Funny. I wonder if they sell Coffee Gum there too? Ewwww.

Anyway, I met friends for coffee this morning. What? We met at this nifty little roaster on the bank of the Columbia River. I enjoyed a just barely piping hot - hot cocoa. It was divine. However, the most wonderful part was the delectable blueberry muffin that I purchased with it. It was melt in your mouth amazing. Oh, wait, the most wonderful part was the company I kept.

I was joined by some of the other CG wives I know whose men in blue work with my man in blue. We have created our own pseudo family of sorts as our community tends to have happen. They have been my source of sanity, friendship and humor on days when I long to be back on the right coast. They get me and I them. In fact, the CG community where I have recently found myself has been fantastic. Of course, I think it is like that everywhere, you just have to allow yourself to be a part of it, for better or worse. Sure, there are women and men here (or there or wherever) with personalities different from ours, but we can grow and learn to be better people by exposing ourselves to all types. That's what I try to remind myself anyway.

Let me put it this way, my friends back home are a tad bit---no rather, hugely different than the folks I have met here and who are from here or near here. They have different ideals and a different way of life all together. Little, yellow, different.

LOL

Anyway, I keep saying different. I suppose they think I'm, um, errrrr *different*.

I adapt though. I may be taking on some of "their" collective traits. The one thing I cannot seem to do though is to S-L-L-L-O-O-O-W-W-W down and chill. That is just not me. I am an East Coast gal with adrenaline and vibrant energy running through my veins. I am in a perpetual state of motion. Some people, here, are, well, they aren't like that. It's been a ginormous adjustment. Even the fast food is SLOW here. Weird.

I won't say that this new location is horrible, because, in fact, it is just the opposite. It is growing on me and I am making the most of all this locale has to offer, from the culture to the beaches and even the local politics. Of course, that is a post for a whole other day when I can ramble on about the diversity of politics everywhere I have lived thus far. Nah, never mind, you don't want to read that.

I did get a taste of the East Coast tonight when the youngins' and I got a chance to Skype with some of our other CG friends still living the dream in New England. Love hearing that "wicked" accent.

So, tonight, I leave you with this thought. Why did I eat a whole bag of Cadbury Mini Eggs between yesterday and today? Why, oh, why did I do that? *belly ache*

Holy Blogging Absence Batman

2011-03-14T09:36:00.000-07:00

My dear, dear friends, it has been oodles of months since I last blogged. Clearly. I apologize for my absence. Then again, did anyone actually miss me? Don't answer that.

Recently, I came to the realization that I need to recommence blogging. I need this cathartic outlet for pent up military life related frustration and well just ramble. You get that right?

My life has been so busy since I last wrote here. Of course, who's isn't? If you are ultimately bored and have no life, raise your hand. See, I didn't think so. You are likely reading this because you are looking to relate to something military/Coast Guard wife life related. I assure you, I am far more than that. In fact, I happen to think I am one of the funniest people on the planet. Sadly, I believe I am the only person who thinks so. Hence, my not appearing on Comedy Central anytime soon.

So, what have I been up to since last August? Well, we PCSd last summer 3,000+ miles from familiar territory. In my new location I have been fortunate enough to meet so many wonderful new folks, including one of my blog followers. :) (hey Chi!).

I am avidly volunteering, but also making time for fun when I can. I am the Sunshine Committee Chair and Newsletter Editor for my local spouse association. Woot! That keeps me busy, but so do a lot of other things, such as my three minions. With the man in blue frequently deployed, there is definitely not a dull moment around here. I am usually cooking someone, cleaning up after someone, chasing the dog back into the yard, skyping with family and friends, and otherwise saving the world.

I am going to make a concerted effort to blog every day, even if just to say, hey guys here is what I had for breakfast. I know you cannot wait.

Today, the coast is beautiful and the sky is blue (for the moment) so I am going to try and make the most of it.

Hit me up with a comment and let me know who you are and what you want to hear about. I'm all 'virtual' ears, kind of like Will Smith---ok that was wrong.

The Eagle Has Landed

2010-08-09T19:10:00.000-07:00

Well we arrived at our new duty station back at the end of June. I've been a bit all over the blogosphere and plumb forgot this one. I'm a terrible blogger as it turns out.

We survived the transAmerican PCS. It was fantastic, actually. Quickly after arriving real military life set back in to motion with the man in blue having to go to work of all places. Can you even fathom it? I was really looking forward to vacation mode all summer.

Truthfully, his going back to work gave us a bit of a schedule. Sort of. We still haven't truly adjusted to the time change or even the new home. I feel like we are on extended holiday in some foreign land. The people here have funny accents. Funny because they don't fit the area. Funny too because I know they look at us funny with our wacky accents. Well, the man in blue has a more recognizable accent. I think people are still trying to place me and figure me out. I don't really have anything that is discernible except a few slang words that might give away the farm.

Let's see what else? Hmmmm....Oh yes, I got the message from my mom this morning. It's been 2 months. I'm really missing you and the kids. I can't believe she had a going away party for us and it's been 2 months. Now, that's not really long in the grand scheme of things, but no matter where I've ever lived or been stationed over the years, she and I have seen each other usually within a 2 or 3 month period with one of us going to the other for a quick visit. And, now, it's much harder for her with the grandkids being involved. My dad, well he just goes with the flow. He doesn't say it much, but I know he misses seeing us all. He doesn't have to say it though, mom says it enough for him.

The next hitch in our schedule comes when school starts, which will be soon. Tomorrow is registration day for new students. Now, I have to spend the evening digging out immunization records and school transfer papers. Fun!

Well folks, as school time sets in and the man in blue travels, you may (or may not) find me blogging more frequently.

Until then, ciao and cheers and have a wicked good night!

PCS Chaos.

2010-05-21T17:51:00.000-07:00

For those of you who don't know, outside of Waiting for Ships and this blog, I'm also proud to be a blogger at My Military Life, please stop by and check us out.

Here's my post for today shared today on My Military Life:
___________________________________________________________________
The movers are coming, the movers are coming.

So, it’s nothing like Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride forewarning of the British troop invasion in the 18th Century, but I do feel like I need to let everyone know—family and friends that is. They know we are packing up and moving out, but they don’t realize the intensity of it all. You know what I’m talking about. The cataloging of serial numbers, the organizing, the purging, the selling, the donating….oh, the chaos!

The rollercoaster of PCS season is upon us. It’s living in my house. It’s making me anxious, this creature we excite about every few years. We yearn for it. We loathe it. BUT, when it’s here, we can’t stop talking about it. We are living in the thick of the madness; still running a household, but feeling like we are trying to beat the clock.

There are not enough hours in a day to accomplish it all. Or are there? Is there a need to stress out and go nuts? Nah. That is, not if you are organized by design. Me, am I? Not a chance. I’ve got some folks fooled, don’t ask me how that happened, they believe I actually have it all together. Nope, I’m a mess, a hot, nutty, PCS mess. I’m up. I’m down. I’m sad. I’m happy.

I cried today.

Yes ma'am and at work. I was drowning in paperwork, receiving phone calls from clients, requests from my boss and dealing with deadlines. The phone rings. It’s the moving surveyor calling to set up the survey. I hang up the cell phone.Call my husband and tell him the information. Hang up the phone. My boss gives me another pile of work. The office phone rings, a client is there to see me. Meet with client. I sit back down at my desk, which looks like a volcano of paper blew up all over it. My cell rings again, this time my children's school – turns out one of them is screaming and writhing in pain and they don’t know what’s wrong.I talk to her and calm her tears. She says her belly hurts, but she still wants to play outside. Okay, can't be an emergency then, right? I tell them I’ll see if my husband can pick her up because there is NO possible way I can leave, I’m still playing catch up from last week and from the sounds of it, the little one just has to visit the potty, at least that’s what she related to me on the phone. I call my hubby. He has a mandatory muster and can’t leave until it’s all done. I hang up the phone and bawl. I cried like a big, fussy cranky baby in a wet diaper who wanted to be fed. I couldn’t stop. I cracked.

Fast forward to this afternoon, the above-referenced matters all reconciled itself: child was okay, dad ended up picking her up after muster anyway just to be sure; my boss calmed down; and, the piles of paper slowly dwindled. I was still breathing. It all passed as always. It’s just that it all happens in one split second and BECAUSE it’s PCS season, it’s all magnified by a million. See, I’m not all together. Gosh, I wish I were.

This time next month, I should be sitting in a hotel in our new city waiting to move into our new house and waiting on HHG to arrive. I should be laughing at all of this. I know I will. It’s normal. It’s what we do; we military wives, we just deal day to day and we live through it.

It’s just PCS season right?

2010-05-16T15:19:00.000-07:00

From: The Adventures of our Army Life

Here are the questions I am passing on:

1. Why do you blog?        Stress relief and because I like to hear myself type

2. How did you meet your significant other?     um, at a bar

3. Where is your favorite place to shop?          grocery store - seriously

4. What is your favorite childhood memory?    vacationing at the beach

5. What is your favorite movie?   pick one? I'll choose "The Notebook" today, but I have so many favorites!

6. What is your biggest fear?   Outliving my children
7. What do you do for fun?    Oh, I am the fun! I can create my own with a piece of string, some gum and an accordion.

8. Who is the one person you can tell anything to without judgement?     no one
9. Do you have any pets? not at the moment

10. What is your middle name and is there any meaning behind it?   Lee (no idea, my mom just liked it)

WW

2010-05-05T16:39:00.000-07:00

Cross post alert...

2010-05-02T16:31:00.001-07:00

They say you can't go home again...

Borrowing from JulieAnn who borrowed from Ellen in the spirit of Bloghop....

2010-04-30T17:21:00.000-07:00

Military Spouse Bloghop
Riding the Roller Coaster is hosting a Military Spouse Bloghop. What a fun way to find other military spouse blogs!

I'm Mama because I have 3 kids. I'm a military veteran. I'm a military spouse. Yes, I obviously at one point wore combat boots. They were in my basement, but suddenly have disappeared. I think my husband tossed them. He likes to purge. I keep things. I actually just went through my seabag the other day longingly looking at my old uniforms. I wondered. I wondered if I could still squeeze into them. I did a few years back. Then I ate cookies again. I think I will have to stop eating cookies.
My husband is an active duty Coast Guardsman. We have a lot of service rivalry in this house. I wasn't in the Coast Guard as you may have surmised by now.

We've been married for awhile. During that time we had three little ones. They are cute. They talk back. I don't like that.

I run (when I can - i.e. not in pain or when I am in really good shape). I dance too. Again, when things are good. Age and injury have gotten the better of me over the years. I'm making it my goal for the summer of 2010 to run a 5k by September. Let's see if I stick to it. I'm horrible with goals. I set them and don't follow through. Don't tell my husband I admitted that. He says that's the truth and I argue with him that it's not. It's just what I do.

Favorite things like JulieAnn....hmmmmmmm

traveling
writing
photography
dance
military history
psychology
grammar
spelling big words
writing horribly because I can
Irish drinking songs
French bread
shiraz
dark chocolate covered raisins
back rubs
a fresh box of crayons

And....we're back.

2010-04-30T10:56:00.000-07:00

With PCS upon us, and my job soon to be a thing of the past (for a bit anyways), I will have much more time to dedicate to blogging. I apologize to all my readers for being absent for all of these months. I've been posting over at Waiting for Ships, but haven't really made it back here. AND, I'll be back on My Crazy Military Life soon, thanks to Wendy. I just have to fix my log in over there. We had a glitch.

Nonetheless, I'm back!

We are doing a cross-country move this summer. I'm excited, but I've been having meltdowns. Yes, that's right. Me. I know, hard to believe for some of you. Usually, I am so semper gumby and all that, but not recently. I'm a hot mess.

I will try to write more tonight. I'm on a lunch break at the moment. LOL I should get back to the daily grind.

More later friends.

Squeaky Clean, Sassy, and Classy

2009-08-15T15:25:00.000-07:00

You MUST check out my girlfriend's website. Her business is simply fabulous and all you who love handmade, quality products created with love, will adore her, as much as I do.

Click on the link below!

Scentual Escape

Morning chaos

2009-06-21T04:27:00.001-07:00

Can it be possible that dad arranged for his little angels to be crazy on this fine Father's Day morning; knowing that I would let him sleep, snuggled in blankets, behind a closed door, away from the morning madness?

We have been up a mere moment yet it seems like an entire day. There have been demands for paint, breakfast (no surprise), a broom (my son likes to sweep) and to go outside. All of this and my eyes are barely open. Yet, I am blogging. I have run over here for refuge. They cannot grab me in cyberland. They cannot dictate what I type. Of course, I suppose they do since they are of what I write. Hmmm, it seems the troops have overtaken everything.

In any event, it is Father's Day. Blessed be the men who have fathered children all over the world. Okay, maybe not all of them.

I will say this though, despite the fact that I believe my husband and children have conspired to wreak havoc on my every single morning routine and dwindle my sanity, I adore him. I am honored to share this life with a man so loving and caring that he would take the time to educate his children on how to push mommy's buttons and drive her to blogging about the craziness so early in the morning, when I should be changing a diaper and fixing some eggs. Hey, it could be worse, couldn't it? The liquor cabinet is still closed, and I haven't quoted "it's five o'clock somewhere" yet!

Happy Father's Day!

WW

2009-06-03T08:24:00.001-07:00

Bribery at the Grocery Store

2009-05-31T12:01:00.000-07:00

I am well aware that bribery with children is not uncommon. I swore I would never become one of those parents. I would have such well-behaved and disciplined children that bribery would be completely unnecessary and foolish. Fast forward to me having children. I think that went out the window in the first 12-18 months when my first child was mastering walking and talking.

Today, in the checkout line, at the grocery store, as my oldest two children were pummeling each other, I didn't so much bribe as I lied. I neurotically scolded, Stop hitting your sister. See all these cameras on the ceiling. *they look up*. The policemen are going to see you and come and take you away. If they don't, I'm going to call them. Half chuckling, half embarrassed at my stupidity, I turn back to the cashier to see her smirking and say, Whatever works, and the lady behind me whose eyes seemed to say I've been there too.

Alright, so bribery would have been more like allowing them to swipe all the chocolate in the aisle to get them to listen to me. Whatever. Lies and bribery go hand-in-hand, after all.

Of course, my wise-cracking eldest will usually respond with something like Uncle Mike is a police officer, he'll take care of us. So, much for using the illusion of police authority to scare my kids. Hmmmm, maybe a different, more sensible approach would be better.

Bad Blogger

2009-05-30T06:03:00.000-07:00

I admit, I'm the world's worst blogger. I can't focus on more than one blog at once. I SWORE I would write here once a week, you know for that one person who might read my blog. Obviously, I have failed miserably.

To my latest commenting reader, no, it's no longer snowing. Thank heavens! The sun is actually shining here today and the children and I are headed to the park to meet up with one of my oldest daughter's friends. She hasn't seen her since December and has no idea we are going. She is going to be so surprised.

Let's see what else is going on....I just vacuumed my kitchen and living room. Actually, I more or less chased my 2 year old around with the vacuum as he exclaimed with glee; all the while scolding my middle child who was running around naked. That child is a wild one. Thankfully she has long since grown out of the stage where she would strip buck naked in the middle of a department store. Gosh, those days were fun.

As I'm typing this I have just run to get the phone three times. Apparently, my darling husband misses me so much or he can't answer his own questions. It's no wonder I don't get any blogging done.

Ta ta for now.

Going back into hibernation.

2009-03-02T03:48:00.001-08:00

Apparently, Mother Nature has laughed at my attempt to come out of hibernation. Go away snow! I have nothing witty or worthwhile to say. Just, go away. I'm ready for spring already.

Coming out of Hibernation

2009-02-22T07:24:00.001-08:00

I wish I could say it was sunny and warm here and that is why I am virtually popping out of hiding. Alas, it is still dreary winter. And, we are due to get snow AGAIN tomorrow. Perhaps I was overly optimistic that this winter would not be a long one. In any event, I am here. Quiet, but here. I am have been ridiculously consumed with work and the family that I have little time to focus on my vices, which quite obviously include this blog.

I must tell you that I have had an overly attentive husband that has been keeping me off the computer too. I don't mind that all too much. :)

In other news:

Lately I have had all these grand plans and ideas swirling in my scatterbrain. Now, if I could just focus on my energy on seeing on item through to its completion, I might actually get a sense of satisfaction. It is like a book you pick up with really good intentions and then put it down one day and never find the time to get back to it. I have a big, huge shelf of those--books and ideas. Work is really cramping my creative style.

A note on the career - The daily grind, albeit time consuming, has reminded me that my talents do not only include toilet training and baking. Of course, I will say that I did bake a scrumptious batch of brownies which I am currently enjoying. Pardon me typing with my mouth full.

On trying - I will not make a promise that I can blog everyday. The truth is that is not even feasible right now. However, I will make a concerted effort to type a bit of dribble at least once a week. Deal?

Grrr-troop troubles.

2009-01-04T15:47:00.001-08:00

I once was a Girl Scout leader. That was before I had children. I have opted to get back into it since my kids have showed interest in scouting. Piece of cake, right? Leading troops is somewhere on my resume and surely a gaggle of little girls is easier than that.

Well, it's not the girls causing me heartache, it's the fact that my troop can barely get off the ground. Here we are in January. I commenced this journey over the summer. There were few folks, if any, who stepped up for leadership positions. Because I didn't want my oldest to have to wait another year, I said that I would take on a troop. Well, if you know anything about GSUSA, the rules have changed. Each troop now must have two registered leaders present at each meeting who have completed required training.

I had one in September. We started the process and then she moved. I found another volunteer (who ironically has no daughters) and now she has to step down because of her health. I am at a loss. I have put some feelers out there to some of the parents. I sincerely hope someone is able to step in. I fear that these poor little girls will never see this troop come to fruition.

Salut!

2008-12-31T14:40:00.000-08:00

I am about to share dinner with my family, so I hope you don't mind the copy and pasting of a post:

Happy New Year!

Cheers to all!

Holiday Update - more or less

2008-12-30T17:03:00.000-08:00

Can it really be that a month has passed since I last posted?

My goodness.

Well, let me fill you in on some mundane (or not so mundane) happenings.

We have been battling the winter here in our neck of the woods since the beginning of December. Actually, things have been crazy since we returned from our vacation around Thanksgiving. My shoulder is healing, still never went to see the doctor, but I'm doing ok. I'm sure LAW will give me 50 lashes with a wet noodle for not taking her advice. Of course, since that incident, I also fell down a flight of granite stairs, seriously bruising my arse. Honest, I am not super graceful when it comes to difficult tasks like walking, but I try. This fall was due to wet stairs and slippery granite at work. My ego was greatly bruised as well. It was a heck of a fall and had it not been me, I would have laughed my butt off and rushed me to see the doc. Nonetheless, I'm doing ok. Oh, wait, I threw my hip out this morning. Who knows how that happened! Well, my loving husband decided to take the credit ~ funny guy.

At any rate, I am still alive. Hard to believe after all that, eh?

Outside of the injuries, we've had sick kiddos and numerous power outages because of the winter storms for the past few weeks. We roughed it here and there but made it through a little better than most. I can't believe the winter has only just begun.

Work has me straight out busy, but I'm still loving it. For those of you who give a hoot, I deal primarily with domestic relations work. Not surprisingly, things are really busy during the holiday season. Of course, my employer has been gracious to give us some early days here and there to tend to things with our families and whatnot. We also had a blast of a holiday party last week--on the day I fell down the stairs no less. Go figure! No worries the fall was at work and not at the open-bar festivities. ;)

I'm really hoping to get back into blogging soon. I truly miss it and was just telling one of my coworkers about it today. I feel as though I'm missing a part of me know that I don't blog as much. It's so much therapy for me to just write, even if it's just a brief posting. I'm sure many of you can relate.

For now, I should run, or hobble, to get a little one back to bed who has snuck her way down the hallway.

Hope this post finds you and yours happy and healthy and ready to bring on 2009!

Happy belated Thanksgiving my friends!

2008-11-29T14:52:00.001-08:00

Well, I have so much to be thankful for this year. Not only did I have my husband home to celebrate the holiday with me and the children, but we also just returned from a wonderful vacation. Of course, it was one of those vacations where you need another vacation to recuperate from it. You know the type, right? What can I say, with three small children in tow, there typically isn't much relaxing on vacation, unless, of course, you had a nanny or mother's helper along with you. We entertained the thought but realized money would be better spent in other ways on the trip.

At any rate, we are home. And, as they say, there is no place like home. Going from a small hotel room with 2 adults and 3 pint size individuals and lots of luggage, anything slightly bigger would have been inviting. Mama needs her personal space you know.

Oh, and how I missed my big, comfy bed. Although, I will say, my big comfy bed may be too big or too high off the ground. Our first night/morning back home (around 0530) I fell off the bed (sort of) and busted up my shoulder. The baby was beckoning me by screaming "Mama Mama" from his room. In an effort to rescue the little critter, I decided to pick up my middle child (who snuck into our bed in the middle of the night) and return her to her room first. With her in my arms, I started to get off the bed, slipped but quickly regained my balance. Nevertheless, as soon as I did that, I tripped on something (a shirt I think) and down we fell faster than you can say "oops".

Well, that hurt like the dickens. Somehow I saved our heads from crashing into the closet or the corner of the wall and only injured my shoulder by landing on my side. My dear sweet girl says to me (as I'm screaming in pain) "Don't worry Mama, I've got you." Made my heart melt.

My husband leaped out of bed and consequently, so did my eldest daughter to see what happened. Well, folks it wasn't Santa landed on the roof or an earthquake, it was just me at my finest. And, that my friends, is why another one of my nicknames is "Grace". Honest. It all began with me walking into a glass wall at a bank once upon a time, but that's another story for another blog post.

The jury has been out as to whether I busted my rotator cuff or just pulled a muscle. My mother has been urging me to go to the doctor while my hubby says I should tough it out, like he does. I've regained motion (for the most part) and some of the swelling has gone done. Thanks to, the hardcore military medical regime so many of us are accustomed to. What is that? Why, it's 800 mg of Motrin and water of course. It's the miracle cure. ;)

Oh, and what to wondrous eyes should appear when I returned home, but a fabulous new blog to follow (created by one of my favorite bloggers and artists and her friend): Glam Gals. Glory be!

Ciao for now.

Tomorrow, tomorrow....

2008-11-17T18:06:00.000-08:00

Is only one wakeup away. Yippee! We're going on vacation. We're going on vacation.

Can you feel the excitement! I can. Heck, I don't even know how I am going to work tomorrow morning. My adrenaline is already kickin'.

I'll be back around Thanksgiving to give you the lowdown and hopefully share some photos.

Have a great week everyone. :)

Pull up a seat, grab a cup of tea, stay a bit.

2008-11-13T16:55:00.000-08:00

So, my friends. Here I sit for a moment. How are you? I trust that life is treating you well and you are enjoying the ridiculous early holiday season we are experiencing. Seriously, Christmas music? Either I haven't been paying attention or it gets earlier every year. One station has been doing the 24 hour holiday music since Halloween. Give me a break. I'm all for the holiday spirit, but it's too much for me at this early date. I will say that the rumors about this has to do with the government and/or retailers desiring to stimulate the economy does make me chuckle. Um, ok.

On another note, I am pooped. Since I entered back into the workforce and became a fully taxed citizen once again, my life has been a whirlwind. Don't get me wrong, I'm so thankful to be gainfully employed, but boy, juggling it all takes a toll on a girl.

I was nominated for MSOY, thank you very much. That was a nice happy thing to happen to me recently. There are so many wonderfully deserving nominees. Seriously, after reading what these folks do and have done, you will want to do more too. Last year's winner, Chelle Brewer is a gal worth reading about too. She is remarkable!

On yet another note, I am going on vacation soon. Yes, that's right, a real live vacation where I can sleep-in. Hah! Nevermind, I forgot have three kids, I highly doubt there will be any sleeping in. Of course, I'm sure it will be a marvelous time despite the lack of sleeping. I'll fill you all in when I get back. We leave next week and return just before Thanksgiving.

Since I haven't been blogging lately, I am having withdrawals. I can't believe I didn't even post about the election. What a historical, time, eh? No matter what your views, this was such an amazing and intense time in our Nation's history. Of course, because I like to remain non-partisan and spare you from my personal politics, I'll leave it at that.

I promise, I will try my darndest to get on this blog and post some more before I jet out of this area for my vacation. I hope you are doing well and I'll try to stop by and visit your blog. Let me know you were here and I'll swing by and say 'hey'!

Cheers!

A day of honor.

2008-11-11T19:21:00.000-08:00

Happy Veterans Day to all my Veteran readers! Thank you for your service and thank you to your spouses/families who have supported you allowing you to serve this great Nation.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

2008-10-26T15:57:00.000-07:00

No, no, not Christmas. I am talking about autumn. I have always loved this time of year.

Today, the kids and I enjoyed the backyard. Well, I should say, I raked and raked and they then scattered my leaf piles all over the place. Needless to say, that was not 100% fun for me, but they had a good time. I felt accomplished. Silly me though, I know more leaves will fall and my backyard will once again be a rainbow pasture.

Oh, and great news on the troop front. We FINALLY have a meeting place. After ignores or "no's" from churches and schools, we had one place that said YES today. Yippee! I've got to make all of my parent phone calls this week to let them know where and when we will be meeting and what to expect for the first meeting.

This week, will be a crazy one for me. Isn't it always though? Sheesh, I need to stop making myself sound SO important. I may or may not be tapping my toes tomorrow night. The jury is still out on that. I have a parenting group on Tuesday. Wednesday is a jumping jive class. Thursday, well I think I can breathe on Thursday and then poof Friday is Halloween. The little goblins are going to be an adorable dinosaur, Ariel (the Little Mermaid) and Cinderella (which was supposed to be Giselle and has changed). Is it next weekend yet? I'm tired just thinking about all of this. Oh yeah, and work. Can't forget that.

Have a great week all!

Boo!

2008-10-25T18:01:00.000-07:00

Peek-a-boo.

Life is one big race these days. Days are melding together, the weekends are not nearly long enough and my feet hurt. That's right, the tooties are sore. That' s only because I spent the day tapping away in 2 1/2 inch heels though. I don't do that every day--though it might do wonders for my thighs if I did.

Tonight, we had an ice-cream social of sorts with the kids in lieu of trudging out in the cold for a local pumpkin festival. Ironic. We stayed in side to eat cold ice cream instead of going out in the cold.

The job is marvelous. The boss is great, thus far. No complaints. The hubs is being very domesticated lately and is making my transition back into the working force rather smooth.

I miss blogging. There, I've said it. I know you missed me too. I'm trying. I will try. I will get a schedule and have better blogging-management skills. Scout's honor. Just give me awhile to work on that. ;)

Apologies.

2008-10-16T19:16:00.000-07:00

I still breathe and live. I reside most days at a desk that has proven to be relatively lucrative and requires me to wear snazzy shoes and speak smart words.

Just lettin' you know I'm still here. Sort of.

M16 Dreams.

2008-10-12T06:42:00.001-07:00

Tell me why I had the most bizarre dream last night about fighting and sporting an M16 (me and my friend Amber together were be instructed by some crusty SgtMaj). Separated from my friend, I was then some odd combat situation wherein the goal was to retrieve/protect some egg (something like the snitch in Harry Potter, I guess).

Anyway, there were folks from my high school designs who were to be in some sort of relay team wherein they would run at the enemy hoping to survive. You know, like the lines of battle in archaic fighting, think lines of battle and company columns. Many of them perished. At one point, I recall thinking to myself (in my dream) that I was glad not to be a fast runner.

There was much more to the dream, but as they day goes on my memory is already getting foggier. I have no clue what the point or moral of it was. It was just plain weird.

Have you had any weird dreams lately?

Balancing Act.

2008-10-10T15:56:00.000-07:00

I have survived and enjoyed my first week. Seriously, I really am digging the new job. The paycheck is nice too. I love volunteer work, but it's nice to get paid too.

Here's the question of the week now. How do I successfully balance the volunteer stuff. I'm managing okay thus far, and am open to delegating some of my tasks. Still, I am a bit of a control freak and like to run the show, if in fact I have the chance. My friend and biggest supporter and my VP/co-chair/Design Guru/Spouse Extraordinaire (we really need a title for her) is wonderful. She has offered to take on a lot more work for one particular organization that I have/share what-have you. Still, I feel a bit guilty.

You see, she is a giver (bless her heart) and she likes to do a lot for a lot of people. She is worth her weight (and then some) in gold. Though, I don't want her to take on too much. Know what I mean? I'm having this dilema as she is a million miles away helping out another friend of hers and knee-deep in that admin stuff. Again, she is a giver.

What suggestions do you all have for:

a) Maintaining/increasing the success of an organization without delegating too much; and,
b) Recognizing someone who means so much to you that is often an unsung hero?

2008-10-07T17:49:00.001-07:00

I am here, sort of. My day kicks off now about 5 a.m. when the buzzer alerts me that morning has come far too fast. Rushing everyone here there and everywhere, I do drop offs and commence my commute. Arriving at my destination, only 2 days into the job, I am swamped.

I love it though. I am thrilled that I'm busy and not bored to tears as is often the case when you are 'training'. Still, I think I bypassed that stage completely and I was just thrown to the proverbial wolves.

My day typically closes when my head hits the pillow at 9pm far earlier than I have gone to bed in a long time. Of course, a long day drains a girl. I need my beauty sleep.

Tick tock goes the voting clock.

2008-10-03T15:15:00.001-07:00

Are you ready? Have you done all you need to? Are you registered? Are you set up for your absentee ballot?

Voters who are Military/Spouses/Dependents: be sure to get your act together in time.

Give 'til it hurts.

2008-10-03T13:41:00.001-07:00

AnySoldier.com is a great cause, especially if you are looking to donate.

Recently Maj Pain of One Marine's View wrote a blog post on donating and being thankful. Read it.

2008-10-03T13:32:00.001-07:00

I am starting a the new job on Monday. It's been a whirlwind of a week. I had hoped to spend the time doing mini day trips with the two younger kids, but instead we spent the days running errands and tying up loose ends. There were a lot. I'm surprised we hadn't unraveled up to now.

Absolutely amazing.

2008-10-01T06:38:00.000-07:00

I have been sending resumes out into the universe for a ridiculously long time now. Some were to see what responses I got in a particular field and others were downright serious with intentions on holding a particular position.

In the last two weeks, the rains came. I have had 2 job offers now, and 3 (other) interview requests. One of which is my ideal position. The call came yesterday. I am speechless. Part of me is overjoyed that I am in such *clears throat* high demand (LOL) and the other part is frustrated. Why is that when you accept a position somewhere, something that is seemingly equal and perhaps slightly better comes along just a little too late.

So frustrating!

Psttttt.....In case you were wondering

2008-09-26T09:56:00.000-07:00

I accepted a new position (I had 2 offers) this week. Shhh, not many folks know yet. More to come later.

Geranium thoughts.

2008-09-26T08:10:00.000-07:00

Flannery O'Connor fans, are you out there?

Even if you aren't or have no idea who Ms. O'Connor was, know this, she was a writer of that which most people can relate. Even if it's not on point, there's probably something in one of her stories that will ring true for you.

The Geranium is one such story for me. I can relate on a couple of different levels. I've had my roots up in the air, specifically when I first arrived in the black hole that was Jacksonville, NC. Mind you, after some time my views changed, but at first, I felt completely out of my element. My first unit was at Camp Johnson, if you can even call it that was a MAT platoon. What did we do? We waited, day in and day out to commence MOS classes. I wanted to be dropped to class so badly just to avoid the ridiculousness they had us doing. We field day-ed. Incessantly. Everyday. Oh, and then we scrubbed and brasso-ed the crap out everything some more. I won't even go into my assessment of the city outside the base gates. Just know that it was not beautiful. Good times. Good times.

So, you see, the changes that were happening in my life were less than desirable. I envisioned MOS school would be vastly different. Alas, it was merely an extension of boot camp games, with only slightly more freedom.

Going back to The Geranium, I can also relate to the issue of discrimination, although slightly varied from O'Connor's description. I did not experience this as much in the fleet (okay a little bit) as I did in recruit training. Just like O'Connr's character, Old Dudley, I found myself in a foreign setting (and you thought boot camp was a country club-hah). Upon settling-in at boot camp, as I became familiar with my fellow recruits, I quickly learned that I was a minority. Aside from delving into the issues that were ever-present, I will say that from this experience I gained a different perspective on discrimination and prejudice and learned that some folks will remain ignorant even if you slap them in the face with truth. Still, others will wake up.

As a military spouse, I never have personally experienced discrimination. Of course, maybe I have been the target of it, and haven't even noticed. LOL

So, back to the issues of roots. For you military spouses do you ever feel as though your roots are in the air? Or, do you firmly replant yourself in your new location?

RAINN Day 2008 - Sept. 25th

2008-09-25T03:59:00.000-07:00

"We must remember that every 2 minutes, someone in America is sexually assaulted, and college age women are 4 TIMES more likely to be victims of sexual assault." (RAINN.org)

For more information: http://www.rainn.org

Become a RAINNmaker.

Victim of military sexual trauma/violence? Visit United Against Military Sexual Trauma for helpful links and information.

WW

2008-09-24T17:16:00.000-07:00

Worldess and pictureless Wednesday. How's that for excitement?

Unconventional cover letter yields....

2008-09-23T09:22:00.001-07:00

well right now, it's yielding an interview at least. I hope to report back later that it was an amazing interview with the perfect job prospect. I'll keep you posted.

Until then, I had to share. I did something I never do with applying for jobs. I strained from the serious, formal format my industry often requires. I feel vidicated. I wrote this on a whim with no expectations. I sent the letter attached to my resume yesterday morning and within four hours had a phone call. Either they are really desperate or I wowed the pants off of them.

So, my advice, if you care, for the week: stray from the norm.

p.s. If you are wondering, yesterday's interview wasn't all that horrible. It was slightly pleasant, but still not sure I'd be taking the job if they offer it. The jury is still out on that one.

Can you smell the coffee?

2008-09-22T10:04:00.001-07:00

Ignorance is not bliss. Stereotyping is not acceptable. Discrimination is not okay.

Sometimes, people say things that make you want to shake them and wake them up.

Finding my way in the civilian sector

2008-09-19T14:51:00.000-07:00

I’ve been back on the civilian side of life for a good amount of time now, so my title is a tad misleading (pardon me, but I couldn't think of a snappy one today). Still, I find that people treat me differently when I talk about my military experience, largely the foundation for my current career path. They get this glazed over confused look. It’s a bit like ****duh****huh?****what’d she say?****

Now, I try to put things in layman’s terms and in a way that isn’t all military acronyms and numbers. Still, they get bewildered and don’t know what to make of it. Foolishly (and obviously narcissistic), I used to think they were perhaps impressed by my experience acquired at relative youth. Sadly, I now believe just the opposite. I truly believe they think I’ve lost my mind and maybe even made up a bunch of mumbo jumbo.

Here’s why.

Today, during a phone interview, a potential employer quizzed—no grilled--me about my experience and skills. Now, in the past, I've heard things akin to, “Thank you for your time, but it would seem that you are a bit overqualified for this position.” I kid you not. Today, this guy made me feel about 2 centimeters tall. I felt grossly lacking in any skills including the ability to use a fork at the dinner table. By the time he finished analyzing and critiquing my every single position and my education -- I was mush. That’s what I felt like. Sad, pathetic mush.

He practically discounted my graduate degree and dismissed my volunteer work. I agreed to an interview. Don’t ask me why. I don’t even know why he wants to meet me. Perhaps he wants to kick me while I’m down. I’m debating on keeping this interview. After telling my husband about it all, he summed up my feelings and said the guy sounded like a stuffed shirt. Bitter? Perhaps.

Maybe, just maybe he's way better in person. Maybe this is the job of a lifetime. Maybe.

I know; I should bounce back and just keep plugging away knowing that my ideal position is out there. I know there is something.

Still, this evening, I’m a little cranky after the ordeal and would prefer to sulk a bit more.

WW

2008-09-17T10:36:00.000-07:00

Blogger Rendez-Vous

2008-09-15T05:38:00.000-07:00

This weekend in Las Vegas, bloggers from all over (?) will converge on the Las Vegas Convention Center for the 2008 Milblog Conference (part of Blog World Expo, I assume). Well, don't be so surprised if you've never heard of this, I was already surpised enough earlier this year. It's like a phenomenon *chuckle*. You see, there are many other genres of blogger conferences. You have the Wine Bloggers and Chinese Bloggers who meet, then there is Blog World Expo (mentioned above) and even BlogHer. I am sure I've barely scratched the surface, but you get the picture.

Now, as much as I enjoy blogging and love to meet other folks who blog, I can't say that I'd make the trip to a location holding a conference on blogging. I won't say "never" because you never know. Still, if I had the dough for the flight and time today to make the trip to Vegas, I likely wouldn't be sitting at a conference. I'd be whooping it up and painting the town red or better yet, I'd take that money and go to a tropical island for holiday. That sounds a little more enjoyable. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure the conferences are wonderful and I've heard great things, but it's just one of those head scratchers for me.

So, what are you thoughts? Are you going to any conferences this year? Would you go?

Leading troops of a gentler kind.

2008-09-12T05:33:00.000-07:00

It's official. I'm going to be leading again; Girl Scouts that is. Once upon a time, I was a co-leader for a Brownie troop. This was before I even had kids. I even assisted with a troop when I could when stationed in North Carolina at a church not far from Camp Lejeune. The Girl Scout organization just appeals to me. It's truly a great outfit. As a young girl, I only actually participated for one year, but I hope my daughters will enjoy it for years to come and maybe even become leaders themselves one day.

Girl Scouts of America has recently restructured, well recently as in the past year. One little example of that is that Daisy Girl Scouts will now be 2 years instead of one. This is perfect because, we won't PCS for 2 years so at least I can finish out here, and if we move she can bridge to Brownies at our new location and our younger daughter can start her scouting adventure there at the same time. I was so concerned that my oldest would start Brownies next year and have to switch troops.

So, it's all very exciting. And, what's better is my co-leader showed up planning on only registering her daughter, who happens to be my girl's friend from school. I think someone convinced the mom to lead because by the time I saw her again, as I was leaving, she said she was going to co-lead with me. Yippee!

That's the news of the day. Now, to find a venue for our meetings. We used to hold that at leaders' homes, no apparently you are not allowed to, which is fine with me. That's just one less group for which I'd have to clean my house. ;)

On freedom, peace and being an American.

2008-09-11T04:21:00.000-07:00

Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.

Ronald Reagan

~~~~

On this day, September 11, 2001, we must remember and honor the lives lost in the attacks on our Nation. We must remember, too, that freedom is something not to be taken for granted and we are not immortal. Unspeakable atrocities happen in this world and it is up to each and every one of us to appreciate the relative peace that comes with being an American. No, we are not all living Utopian lives and we are not all wealthy. We are not all free from pain or grief.

We, however, do have a strong Constitution, a brotherhood and sense of community that will remain so long as we work to preserve it. After 9/11, people came together in support, love and hopes of peace. The Nation was awakened. While there are many on both sides of the fence concerning war and involvement in missions throughout the world, this is not a partisan issue. Freedom, justice and domestic tranquility are a goal shared by all parties. We must remember this. So, on this day, I urge you not to be concerned whether or not we should be fighting a way. There is a something bigger at stake. Something so much bigger than you and I, but it takes you and I to be the ones to always remember that in one day, in one morning, in an instant our sense of security and safety can be shattered.

Be kind to your neighbors, open your eyes to that which you were ignorant to before, share your vision for peace, get involved--in something, anything, and if you are an American, figure out what that means for you. Define your American citizenship by what you do and not what you say.

~~~~

United we stand, divided we fall.
Aesop

Seven years ago.

2008-09-10T16:31:00.000-07:00

Seven years ago, about this time in the evening, we were finishing up some dinner that was likely barbecued (his forte) and swapping work stories. In the morning, he was going to sign some reenlistment papers. I can recall us hemming and hawing wondering if that's what we really wanted. Ultimately, it was.

My job was mentally exhausting. About a month before, I commenced to working in a new firm. After my first day, I went home and literally cried my eyes out. I hated it. I detested the atmosphere. I loathed the laziness I had already witnessed in my new coworker who was senior to me. I would have preferred to endure scrubbing the tile walls at Grand Central Station with a chamber brush. That's how bad (I thought) I had it. At this point, someone should have slapped me up side the head stating: Self-pity is our worst enemy and if we yield to it, we can never do anything good in the world. ~ Helen Keller.

My employer was a discontented individual, I learned quickly that switching to this firm was a poor choice--career wise it was smart, but our personalities clashed. She was a curmudgeon, me an eager learner with a energy that would soon find itself sucked into a vacuum that was that office. Thankfully, at some point I did smarten up and find new employment elsewhere. Anyway, that's neither here nor there. My point is I had my own pitiful woes and was feeling sorry for myself for taking the overburdening job and I already had short-timers attitude wondering where the Coast Guard would take us next. I knew at some point with his reenlistment on the horizon we'd be on a new journey in the next couple of years. Or, so I thought.

I digress.

I'm pretty sure there was some hanky panky that evening. I'm also sure I was probably procrastinating on some class assignment. I'll just do it tomorrow, I probably thought. Time wasn't that big of a deal. There was always time and there was always another day like the day before to get the same things done. Not much changed from day to day in those days.

Tomorrow came. I went to work. He went to work. I sat at my desk. He sat in the YNs office in Boston and started to sign his name on the dotted line (again).

He called me.

Our world stopped. Everybody's world did. It was September 11, 2001.

It wasn't a joke he told me. Look on the web--check Yahoo news. They just locked the base down. I don't know where I'm going or what's going to happen.

Bewildered, I saw the images, and any naïve sense of immortality I had slipped from my body. Individually I felt powerless and very naked. It was all so real and present.

My boss wouldn't let us leave. Where would we have gone anyway? She showed little concern despite her daughter living in NY. The office, the clients, everyone was in awe except the curmudgeon.

My husband and I were separated by an hour. My family was another two hours away. While I worried that the military bases might fall prey to an attack next, I sat befuddled in my rolling chair--helpless. I had friends there. Where were they on this day?

My heart broke in innumerable pieces for the lives lost. My mind scrambled to make sense of it all. I felt alone.

Though...in the hours, days and weeks that would follow brought changes. I never felt so connected to people, to a Nation in my life.

Seven years ago, my life and perception on a lot of things changed. It would be vain of me to think that I was alone in this transformation. All I can say with any certainty is that any self-pity I once had was replaced with feelings of kinship and empathy for my neighbor as well as a distinct awareness that freedom was fragile.

May those of you reading this who lost loved ones in the attacks on 9/11/01 continue to find peace and comfort in your memories of them.

We interrupt this Wordless Wednesday for crucial, life-altering blogging annoucements...

2008-09-10T11:57:00.000-07:00

Sadly, the Coast Guard has been omitted from this year's MilBloggies. If you read that over at Waiting for Ships, you already saw my email to Milblogging about it, so I won't restate it.

At any rate, this blog is still in the running for Veteran Blog, and.....

My Crazy Amazing Military Life is deserving of votes. My Crazy Amazing Military Life is a great blog to visit, if you haven't had a chance to stop by yet, please do. It's run primarily by Wendy of Navy Wife Radio fame, and she has involved an eclectic group of spouse contributors to share their stories on the blog. We hail from all branches and each bring a bit of our respective service-related slices of life to the table. Of course, you will find that we also share a lot of the same lifestyles, habits, traits, interests and so on. Such is the life of a military wife, right? Still, we are all unique in our own ways. So, if you get a chance swing on by.

Still, tonight if you want to vote this blog for MilBloggies in the SPOUSE category, you can

CLICK HERE

Make sure you are registered on MilBlogging.Com first so you can cast your vote.

WW

2008-09-10T06:23:00.001-07:00

A bit off topic, conserve resources.

How expensive is your water?

Check out the Department of the Navy Energy Program.

Frustrated and watering a tree that doesn't want to grow.

2008-09-09T06:10:00.000-07:00

I'm so frustrated this week because I'm running in 20 different directions. Isn't that every mom's story though? I have three meetings tonight, and I missed on last night due to finding out too late and having no back up childcare plan. Last night was a Marine Corps League meeting, the first back from summer break. I was so disappointed about this.

So, tonight, we have Open House at my daughter's school, which also happens to be the same evening of a parenting group session that starts tonight. We have to forgo one. Next week, I have a class that commences on Wednesday night which also happens to be the first PTA meeting of the year. Oh, yeah, and I'm SO going to be THAT parent. So, I'm hoping to make at least half of the PTA meeting before my class.

Of course, all of this begs the question, Am I the only one who feels like everything always happens on the same day or at least the same time? If the times didn't coincide, life would be peachy. One might say that this is where cloning might be a good idea. Scratch that, with my split personality tendencies my husband alleges I have, cloning might be detrimental to my reputation or that of my child.

I'm also trying to raise funds--beaucoup bucks to fund and initiate IRS filings for an organization. The money tree is not growing. I keep watering and watering and it looks at me, sad little sapling that could, and taunts me.

Yes, my dreams are bigger than the tree. Fear not! I have confidence in the universe. My mother tauts the powers of the universe, Put it out there, and it will happen, she asserts. Now, I enjoy a rousing discussion of entropy and energies as much as the next gal, but sometimes I don't have the intestinal fortitude to wait for the universe to spit something back at me in the form I desire. I'm impatient. I think (rarely brainstorm). I decide. I create. I like to see my plans realized instantly. You know, One shot, One kill instant. However, I know that just like red stuff in a plastic bottle, good things come to those who wait. So, I wait (drumming my fingers).

I think I need to go take a dip in the hurry-up-and-wait pool to bring up some of the patience I once had. Maybe if I wait really long, I'll be the next Albert Einstein or Stephen Hawkins. Hey, maybe I should talk to Mr. Hawkins about that whole universe thing. Maybe he's got some pull. ;)

Genius is eternal patience.

~Michelangelo

My little old lady.

2008-09-06T07:23:00.000-07:00

I bet you didn't know I gave birth to a middle aged woman. Well, now, she's matured into a little old lady. Alright, so she's just an old soul with a penchant for music from a bygone era, much like her Mama.

Walking, hand in hand with her Daddy on her first day of school, he reported that she regaled him with the following:

I've got the world on a string

I'm sitting on a rainbow

Got the string around my finger

What a world, what a life ...

Good sign, right? She was quite obviously optimistic about her little world and the first day! From her perspective, opportunities abound, it would seem. I will admit thought that she hears the Michael Buble version more than version sung by Ol' Blue Eyes, just because that's the CD most often played in the Mom-Mobile.

Let's hope that after a rough day someday, I don't hear her crooning Blue's in the Night. Of course, that might just come after her first little crush heart-break. Of course, if she ends up makin' it big, like Katie Melua, I think I could handle almost any song she wants to sing.

Dispelling a myth about deployments and my thoughts.

2008-09-04T10:20:00.000-07:00

Having been a Marine, I'm very familiar with high op temp, plentiful field exercises and training at CAX, and so much more. I haven't been endured all of them, but am familiar enough. At any rate, it's not surprising to me when people view the Coast Guard as being vastly different. Of course, all of the services vary in their training exercises and deployment schedules.

Recently I read on a question and answer forum an individual's query about the best service was to join and which had the least amount of deployments. Two people responded, in varied words, The Coast Guard. You will get stationed close to a single port. You will rarely deploy.

To that, I say, Watchoo talkin' 'bout, Willis?

This is a fallacy. It can be true for some rates and units. For others, it couldn't be farther from the truth. The Coast Guard certainly trains, but members of the Coast Guard are also deploying units all the time. Recently, Commandant, Admiral Thad Allen stated in the Leadership Journal, "Coast Guard men and women, with our partners at the Department of Homeland Security, are deployed all across the country and stand ready to respond to all threats and hazards as we carry out our duties as America’s lifesavers and guardians of the seas."

I don't like to cite Wikipedia as a absolute perfect reference, but this says it quite well and cites a Time article I wanted to share anyway: While most military services are either at war or training for war, the Coast Guard is deployed every day..." (citing, The Coast Guard Gets It Right Amanda Ripley. TIME. October 23, 2005. )

If you don't have the time to read the Time article, here's the blurb I really wanted to share, said by then (10/23/05) Vice Admiral Thad Allen:
'The Coast Guard has always been, in a word, busy--whether during war or peace. "We are deployed every day," says Allen. "We fly every day. We respond to oil spills every day." Also, since the Coast Guard is the only military branch allowed to perform law-enforcement duties, it is accustomed to engaging with civilians. In one day, a Coast Guard boat crew off of California might arrest as many people as it saves.'

~~~~~~~~~

Being a Spouse: Some people have cast doubt on my ability to understand the trials of military deployments.

I am the wife of a Coast Guardsman. I am a military wife. I know the sadness and emptiness that goes hand in hand with your loved one being deployed. I have been there and will be there on and off until he retires. I know the look of confusing and bewilderment that leaps from a young child's eyes when you say, Yes, daddy has to go away again. I know the power of simple communications (email, letters, a simple I love you during the rare phone call) and how they can rebuild your spirit to go for long stretches. I know the yearning for a warm body beside me in my empty bed for weeks and months on end. I know.

Don't tell me the Coast Guard doesn't deploy. Don't tell my friends who's spouses are serving in PATFORSWA and other combat areas that they don't understand military deployments, because they do. We do. We are military spouses, no matter what branch.

I live my life. I breathe my air. I love a man who is sometimes far away. I do fine (most of the time). I may not have an FRG and we may not fall under the DOD, but the USCG is an armed service. We are a military family.

WW

2008-09-03T14:57:00.000-07:00

Watching from afar. There were no tears, for those of you wondering.

Bittersweet Feelings - a little girl and her hero

2008-08-30T07:35:00.000-07:00

While folks are buzzing and bickering about Vice Presidential candidates and recent Olympic memories, my sights are set on smaller, yet, important-to-me things for the time being. Today, I ushered my daughter into a whole new world. We met her first teacher at Open House. My daughter shouted to me after asking her thoughts today, "Mommy, my teacher is going to be
F-U-N". That's right, off to Kindergarten she will trot next week. Of course, don't get me wrong, I don't normally dismiss political issues or athletic triumphs for grade school matters. Still, right now, this is what counts. The campaigns still have a few good months left in them, the first day of Kindergarten; however, is breathing down my neck.

I have all the usual emotions—excitement, happiness, sadness. It's all bittersweet. My first baby is going to school. She's growing up. The worst part, I'm not going to be there to see her off. I'll be at home, probably balling my eyes out.

Our daughter declared "Daddy is taking me to school on my first day. Mommy, you can pick me up later." Hmph. Trying not to pout, I plastered on a smile for my girl and hoped she can't see the tears in my eyes. I wanted to be the one to bring her and hold her hand and watch her walk into her classroom. I always planned on being the one.

When I see my husband don his uniform and throw his sea bag over his shoulder as he boards a ship, I know he's going to miss things. These types of things often are seemingly small but are big in our world. In a life where change is constant and deployments plenty, it's nice to have the little things and childhood moments to share. Fortunately, he's home right now, which is why HE became the chosen one and not me.

Despite my melancholy mood about the situation, I know how much it means to her that Daddy is home right now. He's missed so much in her little life so far. Being there to escort her to her first day is an achievement—an extremely proud moment for her. He's her hero. Who wouldn't want to show off their very own superman to a new set of friends? Smart girl, I have, very smart girl who loves her Daddy so.

More Financial Tidbits for Military Families (from NMFA)

2008-08-27T15:22:00.000-07:00

More Financial Tidbits for Military Families, as reported by National Military Family Association (NMFA) citing Donna Miles (American Forces Press Service, 8/15/2008):

The economic downturn that has hit many Americans appears to have had less impact on service members, partly because of the nature of military service and partly due to the vast network of programs and services available to help them. The latest annual Defense Department status of forces survey conducted in April by the Defense Manpower Data Center supports this assessment. The full results of the survey have yet to be published.

There’s no question that service members and their families feel the pinch of spiraling gas, grocery and other prices. However, because service members have secure full-time jobs, commissary and exchange privileges, free to low-cost medical care, and allowances for housing, they are less likely to be as financially stressed as some of their civilian counterparts. In addition, service members on deployments benefit financially from tax-free earnings in combat zones, hazardous duty pay, and if married, family separation pay.

Three-quarters of service members who live off base rent their homes, so they’re not as hard-hit by the depressed housing market. Additionally, as discussed last week in the Government and You E-News, the recent change to the Joint Federal Travel Regulation (JFTR) authorizes the military to pay for local moves when a landlord defaults and the military tenant is forced to relocate to new housing.

One segment of the military population likely to be hardest hit by the housing downturn is the twenty-five percent of service members who own their homes. If individuals are unable to sell their houses for what they owe and can’t get enough rent to cover the mortgage, they’re likely to feel the pinch. This is especially true for service members moving from a high-cost housing area to a lower-cost housing area. Another provision in the JFTR offers a protection for service members. They can elect to leave their family at their old duty stations as they move to a lower-cost area and continue to draw their housing allowance at the higher rate where their family lives. It is not an ideal circumstance, but it could be a lifesaver to some families facing a financial crisis. Each service Secretary may determine the circumstances that authorizes/approves a housing allowance based on either the dependant’s location or the old duty station. This discretion is left to the service Secretary for each branch.

NMFA would like to take this time to remind service members and their families of the myriad of financial services that are available to help at no cost to service members. Personal financial counselors, legal assistance staff and aid societies are available for one-on-one sessions. If you are not comfortable with a personal meeting, take advantage of financial counseling over the telephone through Military OneSource by calling 800-342-9647.

(Source: http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=50833)

Wow, only 25% of service members own their own home? I didn't realize the number was so low. Perhaps, that's actually high. Whatever the case, the above news is a bit daunting. We are due to PCS in the next couple of years and since we own, I'm getting worried. Fortunately, we could always do the GEO thing. I guess we will just play the wait and see game.

Wordless Wednesday

2008-08-27T05:39:00.000-07:00

In 2025, my boy will be old enough.

2008-08-26T10:32:00.000-07:00

He will be old enough to enlist. He will be eligible to apply for entrance at any one of the military academies. Of course, my girls, being older, will have reached that eligible age already. However, for the sake of all that is sugar and spice and everything nice (and to not cause ulcers in my husband's belly), we'll just discuss the boy.

I was a Marine. My husband is a Coastie. Stop laughing. Yeah, yeah, he can swim, and I sink. I've heard it all. Carry on.

At any rate, we are obviously a military family. I had always envisioned that if I bore a son, he'd grow up to show interest in the military. Notice I say show interest? I'm not going to force him. My husband is quite possibly going to dissuade him. Still, I can't help but wonder what the years will bring. I am on the fence about the matter, which is quite comical because (1) he's still in diapers and (2) since it will really be all up to him one day.

I see many parents in this day and age cringing at the thought of their child trotting to the local recruiter's office. I try to put myself in their shoes. It's frightening. It's got to be. I'm sure for many, it's honorable and they are extremely proud of their youngin's joining the Armed Services, but not everyone feels that way.

I've recently been reading about a mom named Carla. You see, she writes a blog "Some Soldier's Mom" (and apparently many other things) all about her life as a military mom and spouse. In 2004, she wrote:

We always thought he would grow out of it. The wanting to be a soldier. It was going to be just a fad he went through. Like most boys...Although his two older brothers were in the Navy (one after high school and one during college), we actively discouraged this son from enlisting. It wasn't that his Dad and I objected to the military, but we wanted him to consider all his options. At his insistence, enlisting remained a part of every conversation we had with our son about his future.By his senior year, we were certain that he could be distracted from enlistment as his and his friends' attention turned to colleges and graduation. By November, we had become so tired of his insistence that we sign the consent for the Army's delayed entry program (DEP), that we forbade any mention of it until after the first of the New Year.

He honored our wishes. Until New Year's Day. Then the floodgates opened. And every day after that, multiple times each day, he implored us, begged us, pleaded with us, argued with us to meet with the Army recruiters. We refused. After all, he was still about 90 days from his 18th birthday. No amount of cajoling or urging on our part could convince him to apply to colleges. With the talk of war escalated, he never wavered. His friends talked to him, but even they will tell you that he wanted to serve, that his highly developed love of his country and his patriotism drove him.Three weeks before his 18th birthday, accepting that it was unlikely that he would change his mind, we agreed to meet with the Army recruiter. But we made no promises other than to hear them out...He wanted infantry. He wanted Airborne. Straight. Square. Bold. Certain. He looked us firmly in the eyes and said, "Yes, Dad. Yes, Mom. This is really what I want."

(To read Carla's full post, visit: http://somesoldiersmom.blogspot.com/2004_12_01_archive.html for her most updated post, please visit: http://somesoldiersmom.blogspot.com/)

So, I guess my worrying is for naught. My son will grow up. He will ultimately make his own decisions. I should know this. I should accept this. After all, I too had the passion (perhaps rebellious streak) that Carla's son had. I too had my heart set on the military much against my parents' (mostly my mother's) wishes. When I was 17, I joined the DEP and less than a year later, I was on a flight to Parris Island to begin my military journey. *sigh* I suppose if my son is anything like me, I better get used to this idea now.

Once Upon a Time, I was Snow White.

2008-08-25T13:26:00.000-07:00

I just visited a lovely military spouse blog, and chuckled at her quote. It goes as follows:

I used to be snow white, but I drifted. ~ Mae West

I've heard this quote, and I have always enjoyed it. One reason is because one of my high school nicknames was "Snow White" for a number of reasons. I have dark, dark hair, fair skin and often wore my hair in a bob. I would love to tell you it was also because I was heir to a throne somewhere, but I never lie. So, I'll fib and just reference that I was verging on perfection. *giggle*

At any rate, my nickname also meant a lot more (if you know me, please don't act so shocked, there was once a time...). I was pure, you have no idea, how innocent and naïve I was. Seriously. It's amazing I made it through boot camp let alone to the fleet.

Rest assured, I've drifted. Of course, how could I not have? You just grow up. The military does that to you as well. I won't say I blame all of my drifting from complete purity on the military, but it can be said that the real Snow White probably never shot a SAW. Wouldn't that be a fascinating fairy tale?

Snow White looked at the wretched witch and declared I don't need your flippin' apple. Take a bite of this Evil Queen. And, from beneath her billowy skirts, the princess whipped out a SAW and blew the witch's head clear off her shoulders. Snow White returned to the kingdom and took the throne wherein she presided as the Queen for the next 50 years. Oh, and as for the prince, she didn't need him. She sent him packing despite his wooing and courting efforts. Silly fool couldn't do anything but kiss her. Hmph.

Alright, so that's not at all so pleasant. I suppose I won't be sharing that with my girls any time soon. Pardon my warped storytelling tendencies. I told you I drifted.

So, what's a quote about you? Is there one that perfectly describes you or the former you?

One mile. One cause.

2008-08-24T17:03:00.000-07:00

No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave.
-Calvin Coolidge

I ran today. I ran a mile.

A small thing for a much larger cause.

From RunForTheFallen.org:

ONE MILE FOR EVERY SERVICE MEMBER KILLED IN OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM.
Beginning Flag Day, June 14, 2008, a dedicated team of runners will run across America from Fort Irwin, CA to Arlington National Cemetery, one mile for every Soldier, Sailor, Airmen, and Marine killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom. For ten weeks, team members will mark each mile with an American flag and sign card in an apolitical reflection of remembrance of each service member.

We encourage all Americans to run one mile for a service member on our last day Sunday, August 24, when we will reach the gates of Arlington National Cemetery. It is on this day that we run in honor and remembrance of all fallen service members killed in both Iraq and Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom).
We refuse any political affiliation or agenda, but simply honor those who have fought, and those who have fallen under the American flag.

Define Freedom of Speech for me. What does it mean to you?

2008-08-24T12:11:00.001-07:00

What it does not mean to me is haphazard spamming (aka forwarding) email messages to everyone in your email inbox with political propaganda.

Still scratching your head on how to answer my intro question. Fear not, you don't have to define it. Our Constitution has already done so in the First Amendment.

Now, I have religious and spiritual beliefs, and I am political in my own right (no, I don't claim any particular party affiliation, I look at candidates individually not by their party). Still, I don't spout my beliefs or attempt to persuade individuals to see things my way, even though I really, really want to sometimes ;). I firmly believe that individuals must make up their own minds based on actual-no-bones-about-it facts, their personal experiences, and their respective spiritual and cultural values. That being said, I will share my opinions, but attempt to do so cautiously and fairly. I try not to judge, and I strive to provide accuracy when providing information on a religious or political issue. That is, when I discuss those two things, which is rare.

I will add that I do not typically discuss these things with friends. Let me rephrase that, unless I am 100% certain of two things, I will not discuss these matters with friends. These things are:

(1) I am knowledgeable of my friend's beliefs and know where they may stand on certain issues; and,
(2) Whether or not they are sensitive and whether or not such discussion is welcome.

I like my friends. I prefer to keep them. While we may not see eye to eye on things, that doesn't mean we cannot be friends. Still, if I don't know their perspectives, I think it's best to talk about other vitally important issues such as shoe shopping, alliteration, how angelic my children are, and, of course, favorite colors.

All that being said, I think most of my friends and family members know where I stand or maybe they don't and just don't want to discuss it themselvse. Regardless, it doesn't matter. Unless, they are running against me for some extremely affluent/public office, then I suppose it might matter a teensy bit.

Recently, an acquaintance sent me an email. It was a mass one and she added her two cents in. At first, I shrugged it off because she is one of those who is a chronic-forwarder. You know the type! They said you everything from "FWD: FWD: FWD: Let's win a million dollars together by sending this to a trillion people" and, even, "FWD: FWD: FWD: FWD: FWD: FWD: I haven't even read this but I'm going to forward it anyway". These people NEED serious intervention. In fact, there should be Email Forwarders Anonymous (EFA) group for them. Oh, look I just started a blog ----- http://emailFWDanonymous.blogspot.com/

So, if this applies to you, please join in the discussion. Everything will be held against you and I will forward everything I can to your email address as a way of therapy. Go ahead, it's like shock therapy.

I'm digressing way off here, anyway.....

I actually viewed the clip (I think I'm now dumber because of it). The video was utterly ridiculous and I can't believe someone wasted time (like I am now discussing it) creating it.

First of all, it was evident that said acquaintance had assumed I shared her views, otherwise she might not have shared it. Of course, perhaps she didn't give a hoot. I believe she thought I was hoping she would show me the light though, and forgot I had a brain. Or, perhaps, she was too stuck in her own ways to consider that others can see through such propaganda and do not tolerate the perpetuation of half truths and misinformation. Whatever her motive, she was not using her head, maybe it was located in another body part at that particular moment. I don't need to be educated, that's what I read gossip magazines and watch faux news for. I'm politically brilliant!

After providing the video clip link for the email recipients, said acquaintance warned readers to get their little hankies ready because it was going to be heart-wrenching. She then urged them to vote because what they would see would change their minds or at least get them to vote.

My problems with this are:

(1) Spamming (STOP please) (I have since rectified that problem as she is blocked);
(2) She assumed people the recipients weren't voting (okay, so many don't vote);
(3) Maybe by "not voting" she meant "not voting for my guy";
(4) She believes we are putting are lives, our beliefs, our everything into the one guy's hands, if he gets elected.

C'mon. Seriously? I'm all for supporting your party/guy/gal/what have you, but I refuse to believe all is lost if one person gets elected. I may not agree with the values, platform, voting record of one candidate, but I'm not going to give up all hope if he gets elected. And, despite what you may have heard, I will not move to France either. I may just piss and moan for four-eight years ;). Nevertheless, I like to think I have common sense (even if just a tiny bit). I like to believe (call me silly) that we elect members of Congress to also represent the beliefs of our Nation's people. We are not a country run by a dictatorship, despite what people believe.

As is my habit, I'm rambling. I do that. I apologize. Can you tell this acquaintance irked me. No? Oh, well then, here's why I'm so irked:

I actually responded to her. I stated that I respected her values and beliefs but advised that she not spread unsolicited emails presenting false information. I meant that. I do respect her values and even share some of them. Nonetheless, we don't agree on EVERYTHING. That being said, I don't think everyone should believe the same things (see, I'm smart) and I'm all for sticking to your guns and following your faith/ethics, if that's what is right for you. I also reminded her that the Commander-in-Chief does not unilaterally make decisions for the Nation, which I know many people disagree with, but I'm okay with that. It's my belief (take it or leave it).

So, after all that and some other words from me (no they weren't rude or 4-lettered), here is the response I got (more or less):

She came back surprised that I responded since I don't talk politics. Ummm, excuse me. Pardon me for sounding like a five year old, but she started it. She said she shared the clip because of the supposed atrocities represented therein (no, not in those words). Then she declared, "When I go and vote I want to know if the person I vote for Commander in Chief is one that I will stand up for, I don't want to be wishy-washy I want to be 100% positive that this is the person I want leading my family and friends. I know when I vote I am voting for their beliefs as well, and if this is a type of belief one would have than to each their own but I don't want any part of it. (I would like to think all people take this stance when voting. Nevertheless, it seems she assumed most people need unsolicited political issue education.)

Foolish acquaintance then stated: I was just getting something out that I feel everyone should have the right to know. Let’s see what's the first amendment? Oh yeah, Freedom of Speech...

Well, my goodness. Maybe I should be thanking her. Maybe I should have just read the email and not responded and just changed my thinking completely. After all apparently she is covered by the First Amendment and has just shared with me amazing information. Since I live under a rock, I might not have been privy to that sort of stuff. Also, I got the impression that because I didn't agree with her, Freedom of Speech didn't apply to me. Alright, maybe that's a big assumption, but when deal with an ass, you can assume things, right?

I should have said, "Good for you. Hooray! I hope you keep sharing all this misinformation because apparently the First Amendment allows you to spam folks with fiction purported to be fact, right?", but instead, I responded:

I appreciate your values. However, you were sending something political that was slanted. I can't stand by without a response. This is why I actually replied the way I did. I feel that once it's out there and in part directed at me (as part of an email recipient), it's up for discussion. You shared your beliefs in a way by passing it on, and I merely responded.

You are certainly entitled to your political opinions and values...this is the reason I rarely discuss politics. My intention was not to hurt your feelings. It was to provide another side and to address the matter at hand. Freedom of Speech, right?

Sorry, perhaps that was snarky of me. I am just about fed-up with individuals feeling they need to share crap that is not true. Use your brain people. Disagree with someone, but don't make up a bunch of BS and try to tell me it's fact. Of course, if you have something you MUST share with me and you can back it up with facts, I'm all for listening (seriously), even if it contradicts my viewpoints. I'm open minded and I like to learn, that's just what I do. I just don't have patience for ignorance and mindless followers.

At any rate, before you hit that send button, before you feel like you NEED to enlighten people about the "truth", please make sure you have our facts straight or that at least be prepared to have a response. Because that recipient just may come back with their side and might even tell you that *gasp* what you sent was asinine.

I know many of my readers come from various cultural, religious and politic walks, so please know that this isn't directed at you (of course, if you are her, you will know - LOL). I am trying to vent and still be humorous. Maybe I didn't pull that off so well. I enjoy reading and learning about various political stances, I do (honest). Just don't pee on my leg and tell me it's raining. I already have kids who try and do that stuff and they get put in time-out.

All politics and foolishness aside, I hope you are having a wonderful summer and that you don't have to deal with idiots in your inbox.

Today was a beautiful day.

2008-08-22T17:35:00.000-07:00

I was able to do some important research this morning. I compiled lists for a organization that is up and coming. That, to me, felt satisfying. Of course, it wasn't an easy task. You see there were, as always, children afoot. So, googling and yahooing and analyzing requires talent some days. Thankfully, I can multi-task. I enjoyed my bowl of Special K, tickled a baby, wiped up spilt milk and typed a list of resources almost all concurrently. Alright, so I'm not 8 legged and three headed, but some days I feel as though I am.

Do you ever just slump down on the couch at the end of a looooooong day and look around? Then you ask yourself How did I get it all done? That was me today. Of course, most days it's I need about 10 more hours to get it all done. Today was an exception. Maybe it was partly due to the fact that the children played well together today. Perhaps it was the gorgeous weather that lifted my spirits and got me going. Maybe it was even the fact that I'm much better with time management these days. Who knows.

So, I had a chance to do some things that rarely ever get done today. I pruned the weeds in my garden. It's not much of a garden, but it's there and I like it. I also washed our the van and my hubby's car. That was fun. I felt like a kid again. Nonetheless, I kept shouting No, get out of that puddle; and, please stop putting mud on the house, but it was fun. The baby truly amazed me and sat in his stroller the whole time. He just watched me and didn't put up a fight. I think he was just amazed that mom was off of her butt and away from the computer. It was like nothing he's ever seen. Maybe he didn't even recognize me.

The end of the afternoon did have my head spinning. Between the baby being practically choked by his sister and the girls losing their clothes I was so irritated. Yes, they asserted that someone stole them as they strutted around the house in their underwear. I was none too pleased and ordered them to put their clothes back on. Many tears later, I found that I was in fact the one who had stole the clothes (by accident). They were in the hallway with a pile of towels to be washed and I threw them in the dirty laundry. Oops, my mistake.

So, it's now nighttime and here I sit. My husband sits in front of the television, viciously clicking as though he'll miss something on another channel. I should go to bed. Instead I type. I fear I may not have another free night for awhile. I fear that I may be just posting articles written by other people again. While that information is great and hopefully helpful to you, I do like to type all about my wicked exciting life and bore you with all the details.

'til next time.

You can't save everybody.

2008-08-19T07:25:00.000-07:00

That's what my husband said to me yesterday.

You see, I was at a local drugstore picking up a few items when a man in line ahead of me was checking out. He was an elderly gentlemen, I'd say about 70+ years old. The clerk told him his debit card was declined. So, the man fumbled through his wallet and popped a new card into the machine. That too was declined. I watched him do this two more times and I watched the woman in front of me grow very agitated. She got upset and I got sad. Soon the man was pushing the bag off to the side and said something to the clerk.

At this point, the man shuffled out of the store and the woman in front me rushed to check out. By the time she was completed and leaving, the old man returned. He had a new payment method. Well, he swiped the card and again the clerk told him it was denied. The man's shoulders slumped and he sighed and said "nevermind". I was heart broken.

All the while he was checking out, I tried to read the screen to see if he was purchasing medication or something, but I couldn't tell. I know that's probably not polite, but I wanted to know. After all, if he needed the meds, someone should have helped, or so I thought.

I did see that his purchase was about $39 and some odd change. I only had my debit card on me and wasn't sure if I could justify the expense for a stranger to my husband had he asked. Part of me wanted to just pay for the man and part of me held back. Of course, I didn't want to offend him and bruise his ego. I know that can be humbling for many, especially a man of this gentleman's generation. Then again, I also didn't know if perhaps he was trying to purchase cigarettes or something unnecessary. So, all the while he was being declined, my conscious and my heart were in a battle to do the right thing. I don't think I did. I let the man walk away and I feel terrible. I feel utterly helpless and hope the man got what he needed later in the day perhaps with the help of a friend of family member.

It was so heart wrenching to see this man go through this and know that it could be anyone's father or grandfather. I know the expenses of medications and lack or low insurance some of these folks have to deal with. It's tragic at best.

I was still upset by the situation when I returned home and told my husband about it. He said he probably would have wanted to pay too and also agreed with my thinking. Of course, he said as terrible as it is that he couldn't pay for such a small purchase You can't save everybody. And, he's right. I can't.

Those who know me do know that this is one of my flaws though. I like to believe that I'm a superhero. I want to fix things and I want to help others in ways that I can't. I love the concept of giving and paying things forward. Still, I struggle with how to make it happen without putting financial strain on my own family.

Hmph.

I'm rambling. I just needed to get that out.

I hope I have another chance this week to help someone out like I should have helped here. I really do.

ProjectWorkingMom.com/eLearners.com

2008-08-13T06:08:00.000-07:00

ProjectWorkingMom.com/eLearners.com “Project Working Mom: Putting Learning To Work” Scholarship Awards
[Online Information at www.projectworkingmom.com and http://www.elearners.com/projectworkingmom/

Purpose: Project Working Mom seeks to raise national awareness about the educational challenges facing many working mothers. For instance, while 83% of single moms have high school diplomas, only 16 percent of them have a bachelor’s degree or higher. And, 35% of families in poverty are headed by single moms. Project Working Mom believes that online education is the answer to many of the challenges facing working moms, both single and married, who want to further their education and lives.

A select group of online schools have teamed with eLearners.com to support Project Working Mom. Each of the schools has committed to providing full-tuition scholarships worth up to $2 million dollars to working moms to help them further their education and obtain their degrees.
You can apply to one of the scholarship sponsors for a Project Working Mom scholarship. Each scholarship sponsor will designate its own scholarship selection committee to select scholarship award recipients.

Scholarship Sponsors: The following online schools are sponsoring Project Working Mom:
American Sentinel University - www.americansentinel.edu
Ashford University - www.ashford.edu
Capella University - www.capella.edu
Everest University - www.everest.edu
Penn Foster College - www.pennfostercollege.edu
Eligibility Requirements: “Project Working Mom: Putting Learning to Work” scholarships are for single and married working moms who are interested in enrolling in an accredited online degree program. Employees (and family members) of scholarship sponsors or eLearners.com and their respective affiliates are not eligible to participate. All application materials submitted become the property of eLearners.com. One application per person.

Application Process: To apply for a “Project Working Mom: Putting Learning To Work” Scholarship, simply complete the online application, located at http://www.elearners.com/projectworkingmom/Scholarships/EntryForm.aspx?tsource=home&tid=200 where you will be asked to fill in the following:
Name
Age
Number of Children
Current Work Status
Email
Current Address and Phone Number
Future Career Goals

An essay of 1500 words or less, describing why getting your degree is important to you. Tell us about (a) your life, education, and/or career goal(s), (b) how education will ultimately enable you to achieve those goal(s), and (c) why online education is the right choice for you.
We strongly encourage you to discuss any personal challenges or obstacles you have had to overcome in your pursuit of getting your degree.

Selection Process: Applications will be reviewed by Project Working Mom scholarship award committees of each of the online schools you designate in your scholarship application. The scholarship recipients will be selected based on the strength of the application and written essay as determined by each designated scholarship committee. Scholarship sponsoring schools and scholarship recipients are responsible for the details of the delivery and acceptance of the scholarship award including but not limited to any applicable tax obligations with respect to the award.

Deadline: Applications must be received online by Sunday, August 31st, 2008 (5:00 P.M. ET).
Award: The scholarship award recipient will be selected by Tuesday, September 16th, 2008 and will be notified shortly thereafter by the school awarding the scholarship. Scholarship award recipients will also be posted online at http://www.elearners.com/projectworkingmom/winners/ in late September 2008. The award recipient may be required to submit documentation (such as an IRS form W-9) to receive payment. Except where prohibited by law, the award recipient consents to the use of recipient’s name and application in any manner by eLearners.com without further compensation. The details of the terms and conditions of accepting a scholarship award will be set forth in an award agreement and affidavit/release to be signed by award recipients.

In the event that an applicant for the scholarship subsequently enrolls in an online college program between the dates of 6/23/2008 and 8/31/2008 and is awarded a scholarship by one of the member schools, eLearners.com will reimburse scholarship recipients for any tuition incurred from 6/23/2008 until 8/31/2008 on a pro-rated basis. To receive reimbursement, the award recipient is responsible for providing proof of enrollment and tuition receipts to eLearners.com. Members have until 10/30/2008 to file for reimbursement.

Choice/Opt-out: Scholarship applicants acknowledge that a representative from American Sentinel University, Ashford University, Capella University, Everest University or Penn Foster College may contact them about enrollment opportunities at each respective university. eLearners.com, EducationDynamics, and its subsidiary companies reserve the right to contact registrants for Project Working Mom for future communication and offers from eLearners.com. Users who no longer wish to receive any communication from eLearners.com may unsubscribe and opt out at the following address:
http://www.elearners.com/projectworkingmom/Scholarships/OptOut.aspx. If users are receiving newsletter communications, users can opt out by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the newsletter.

Users of our site are always notified when their information is being collected by any outside parties. We do this so our users can make an informed choice as to whether or not they should proceed with services that require an outside party.

Contact Us: If you have questions, please contact us at projectworkingmom@elearners.com.
Please note: Each scholarship sponsoring school is responsible for administering each scholarship that it awards; eLearners.com and EducationDynamics, LLC are not responsible for the awarding or administration of the scholarship.

READ ONLINE

Housing Law Provides Protection for Military Families

2008-08-12T12:01:00.000-07:00

According to National Military Family Association (NMFA), August 12, 2008:

In late July, President Bush signed “The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008”, H.R. 3221, into law (Public Law 110-289). This legislation is designed to help homeowners keep their existing homes and provide first-time buyers access to affordable housing.

Military families should know that there are several provisions within H.R. 3221 that uniquely impact service members and veterans.

The law will:

Exclude military housing allowances from counting as income when service members try to qualify for low-income housing;

Expand the foreclosure protection for service members returning from deployment. Previously, service members had 90 days of protection from foreclosure, now they have nine months. This temporary protection expires on December 31, 2010;

Provide a temporary increase until the end of the year for the maximum loan guaranteed by the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA). The cap can be as high as $720,750 and as low as $417,000 depending on the median housing prices for the area;

Require the Secretary of Defense to develop a program to provide financial counseling to returning service members, including credit and home mortgage counseling;

Provide a moving benefit to service members who are forced to move out of rental housing if the owner of the housing is foreclosed on;

Increase grants for severally disabled veterans from $50,000 to $60,000;

Make totally disabled service members held on active duty for medical reasons eligible for VA grants for home alternations before their discharge;

Extend grants for specially adapted housing and assistance to veterans with severe burns and veterans residing outside the United States; and

Allow veteran benefits received as a lump sum to be treated as monthly benefits for the purposes of eligibility for Section 8 Housing assistance.

We are especially pleased members of Congress recognize the problems military renters face when their landlords go into foreclosure. NMFA will monitor the implementation of this legislation and provide updates as they become available.

To review the full law, go to: http://thomas.loc.gov/ and type HR 3221 into the search field.

Hooray! Thoughts?

A program to help military families and spouses (OEF/OIF)

2008-08-11T16:13:00.001-07:00

There are some folks down at the VA in Amarillo, TX, looking for some feedback. In fact, they are seeking the assistance of military spouses and families in order to help the same. Two individuals that I have been in contact with regarding a new program are Richard Johnson and Suzanne Morton of the LEAD program through the VA (Thomas E. Creek, VAMC).

Currently, they are looking for ways to assist with families and spouses in via an outreach program entitled LEAD. Recently, Mr. Johnson posted about goals to address the concerns, issues and needs of families on the homefront. They are currently on an information gathering session and are asking spouses to contact them individually (keeping OPSEC and PERSEC in mind of course).

They are open to your thoughts and suggestions on how to provide support to spouses and families of members in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) and said veterans. Use them as your sounding board, they may have more resources to share with you than you knew existed and if they don’t, perhaps they can make some waves in getting the resources you seek.

Keep in mind that anonymity will be maintained as when reporting their findings, no names or other identifying information will be used concerning spouses/families who contact them. VA members are well versed in the security matters and while they respect your privacy, you too should be vigilant not too give away any unit/deployment/rotation information. At this time, that information is not needed for this program. I would venture to say that if you contact them, you can even choose just to give your first name.

Some of the questions they are seeking answers to are:

1) What has been the hardest struggle you have had to overcome?
2) How has behavior changes affected your family and social environment?
3) What benefits would you like to see offered for the spouse/family of veterans?
4) Would you benefit from meetings with other spouses and or family members?
5) What avenues have you tried and what were the outcomes?
6) Do you know of any OEF/OIF family members that are having problems? What are they?
7) What do you think would be the best way to get the information out to spouses or family members; through email, letter, booklet or CD?

Another matter Mr. Johnson wanted to raise awareness about is that “Veterans have up to 5 years after separation to seek services.”

If you would like to contact them, you may do so via email or phone at:

Richard Johnson
Richard.JohnsonJr@va.gov

Suzanne Morton
W.Morton@va.gov

Phone: (806) 355-9703 ext. 4917

Daddy is home and all is right with the world.

2008-08-09T06:30:00.000-07:00

My husband flew home last night. Well, wouldn't you know the little boogers turned into perfect angels once they saw him.

Hmph.

Anyway, it's reunion time at my house. So, back to the arms of my man I run.

Oh, and for those of you wondering, I finally did get some sleep!

'Til later folks. :)

Did you hear that? It's quiet?

2008-08-07T18:07:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm on a blogging kick today, aren't I?

I should tell you that despite that, today has been chaotic. Alright, chaotic isn't the most accurate description. It's been verging on...well, it rhymes with swell and swell it was not.

It all started last night actually. I had a bout of insomnia. With the man in blue gone I've been out of my sleep comfort lately. Up until last night, it wasn't that bad. Well, I tossed and turned, catalogued things to do in my head, thought about what I didn't get done yesterday and pondered the complexities of the universe. I finally started to fall asleep at one point only to be jolted awake by a screaming black cat outside of my bedroom window. Black. Cat. Ugh.

Anyway, it apparently had been fighting with something. I was irate. I actually got up and started shouting at the menacing devil cat out the window. I even hissed. Yes, I did. The cat looked at me as if to say What the f&*! ? So, we had a staring match. All the while I could have been trying to get back to sleep. Somehow common sense smacked me upside the head and back to bed I sauntered. ****WAAAAAAHHHHH*****

Darn it, the baby's up. He starts with the "Ma Ma Ma maaaaa". So sad and sweet all at the same time. I gamble that he may fall back to sleep. After about 2 minutes, I cave and go and rescue him. Well, after he's soothed and back in his crib again, I gave the whole sleeping thing another shot. FINALLY, at what I assume was officially hours after zero dark thirty, I fell asleep.

Well morning was ushered into by two screaming banshees. My eldest had previously poked me and asked to play on Playhouse Disney, which I obliged only to squeeze out a few more minutes of sleep (as if that was possible). Her sister, bound and determined to do whatever she was doing scampered down the hall to join her. The quiet and sweet sisterly computer sharing lasted for approximately 24 seconds. My mommy clock told me so.

Wild, blood curdling screaming ensued. The pinching game was on. Well, I was up now and sleep would have to wait (again). The baby, of course, heard all of this joyous music and, he too, was screaming. Well, he needed a diaper changing (badly). So amidst, wrestling the foul thing off of my sweet boy, I was trying to wrestle the two girls apart. She pinched me. No, I didn't. She wouldn't leave me alone. I want breakfast. Mommy, mommy, mommmyyyyyyy. Seriously, they were about a foot from me all while this madness took place.

I'm truly amazed that I didn't absolutely lose my mind and dissolve into a pile of ashes right in front them. Okay, so this seemed to go on for an eternity, while it actually only probably was about 2 minutes before everyone was calm again. My eyes were barely open and I really, really wished the man in blue was home because he SWEARS stuff like this never happens with him. Okay, Super Dad, what's your secret?

At any rate, most of the day was back and forth bantering. The lady next door to us a school teacher. When retrieving the mail, I asked Is it September yet? She said all the parents ask her that and she doesn't want to go back yet.

Oh, yes, there is more. So, we finally made it out to run some errands at one point. My mother tries to reach me by phone and does eventually. Where are you? There's a tornado warning in your county! Get inside somewhere. Go to a basement. Where are the kids?

Ummmm, well I'm trying to buckle them in, we just got out of Target and I have to run to the grocery store. You can't, get to a safe spot. At this point, I'm already on the highway heading home. I was officially spooked as I did see a sudden onset of nasty weather and lightening strike down practically vertically about a mile up the road. Yikes! Okay, I'll call you later, we'll go into another store. Well, I decided to brave it and head home. We have a basement, so it was the wisest thought (in my crazed mommy mind). Fret not, we made it home safely.

We did have to venture back out to retrieve items from the grocery store and that included a lot of Can I have? and I want..... Please tell every child in America is like this. If they are not, lie to me because mine can't be all that spoiled. Honestly, they CAN be real sweethearts and are well-behaved (for other people ;) ).

So, since I am writing a book here I'll cut to the chase...bedtime has come and gone and all is quiet on the homefront. I should really go to sleep now. Wish me luck with that, would ya'?

WWII Hero Passes On

2008-08-07T17:41:00.000-07:00

London - Eric "Digger" Dowling has passed on. His Legacy page is up on the net by the AP.

Many of you may have seen or at least heard about the 1963 film The Great Escape. It was largely based on the escape and the planning leading up to the escape (with some theatrics and dramatics added in, of course). Dowling was a Lt in the Royal Air Force Bomber Command and had become a POW at an Allied prison camp after being shot down in WWII (specifically in 1942). While Dowling didn't actually escape as part of "The Great Escape", he was instrumental in mapping, digging and assisting men in escaping.

2008-08-07T08:21:00.000-07:00

So, I received all of my Fellowship materials this week. Classes don't actually commence until September. However, being the uber-excited student that I am, I'm already delving into the depts of finance.

A friend of mine has also received this Fellowship and we will be traveling through webinars and studies together. Oh, and another friend of ours has already completed the program. She was chosen as a recipient in 2006. I've declared her as my mentor. She is a wealth of knowledge and a pretty spectacular person to boot. It's people like her that make me want to do great things. Let me tell you a bit about my mentor. She's a mom to two beautiful young children. She's also a military veteran (of two services) and a military wife. She also has her MPA and is quite the Suzy Homemaker as well, from what I hear. I love people are multi-faceted. Don't you?

Better late than never, Almost Wordless (ok not at all) Thursday

2008-08-07T07:46:00.000-07:00

This is me and my niece the day of her Baptism.

(pardon the thrilled look on my face)

Then there is a pic from the other day (on the right) , my niece is the tall one in the middle and she is all grown up, well almost.

Either time really flies or I'm just getting old. Hmph.

All over the map.

2008-08-04T17:47:00.001-07:00

I love to watch where my visitors hail from (or at least where they are currently located). I know folks in some of these regions, but not all.

So, readers, make a comment, even if it's not on the topic at hand. I'd love to know where you are from or even a little about you. More importantly, if you are a long-lost friend who is secretly (or not so) reading my blog, give a shout out. Say "hey". I know of one place recently that popped up and I only knew of one person to ever reside there. So, I'm curious.

What do you want to read? What intrigues you? What bores you? If I bore you, why the heck are you here?

C'mon, you know you want to talk to me, so talk.

These sneakers were made for walking.

2008-08-03T08:04:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm gearing up. I'm getting read for the big 3-Day walk. If you don't know what I'm talking about, then let me tell you. I'll be traveling to Boston in August to walk in the Breast Cancer 3-Day which benefits Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Now, I'm pretty fit, and I've conquered many physical obstacles in my life, but this upcoming walk is a little daunting. No, there will be no "Slide for Life" or rappelling. Rather, it's just a walk. Still, this walk is 60 miles in 3 days. It's 60 miles of poignant, life-changing talks and meetings with families, friends and survivors who have been touched by Breast Cancer.

I thought one of the hardest parts was going to be raising the money for this great walk, but it's not that at all. Suddenly, I feel as though I'm going to be walking among giants. My girlfriend did this walk a couple of years back and has been forever changed by the amazing people she met and has since developed friendships with. She has warned me that I will never be the same.

I am participating in this walk for a number of reasons. First, I had the intentions of doing the walk years back with my husband (then fiancé), but we were never able to raise the minimum funds required. Fast forward a few years, I seemed continuously pregnant or not able to get childcare for the 3 days, so I never managed to pull it off. This year though, I made a commitment to this cause. I decided I just had to make it happen. Second, I want to help fund the research that could help me and my daughters should we ever face this horrible disease. Finally, I'm walking in memory of a military veteran and spouse, Rachael Jensen and in honor of a number of amazing survivors.

Nearly at the minimum requirement in my fundraising, I haven't yet met my personal goal, but that's okay. I am confident that I'm still going to raise more funds in the upcoming weeks. My training is going well so far. I did admit to my husband the other night that I'm a tad anxious about being away from him and the kids for 3 days. He chuckled and said it was because I was afraid to leave him in charge for that long. He's probably right.

At any rate, I'll be detailing the walk in the week following the event, but for now, if I'm not online as much, just know that I'm here and in training. I have to significantly increase my mileage this week. Of course, I'm not too concerned about my stamina. Since, my husband is currently traveling, I will have kids in tow with me wherever I walk. So, with a baby on my back and me pushing two older kids in a double stroller, the walk should be a piece of cake come check-in day when the only thing I have to carry is my Camelbak, moleskin and perhaps some Kleenex. :)

WW - Eine Mark

2008-07-30T18:16:00.000-07:00

Traveling back in time.

2008-07-27T17:55:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was transported back to a time when butter was rationed and plane spotters patrolled the streets. I listened, with my loving husband, to the stories of two amazing people of The Greatest Generation. They shared with us their intimate memories and fears and anecdotal tales from high school up through the early 1950's. These were my husband's grandparents. Now both in their 80's still have quite remarkable memories.

In fact, I mentioned to my husband how I think I just received the best history lesson I ever sat through. It was candid and pure and kept us on the edge of our seats wanting more. We poured over albums and books and time slipped away from us. What first started with my interest in the era evolved into my husband and I becoming historian apprentices, in a way. The torch has been passed. We are now the keeper's of so much more than we ever dreamed. For we have stories to share for the next generations in our lives and those which will ideally be passed on even further.
The best part was the brilliant happiness the couple had in sharing their lives with us. It seemed as though they felt no one ever took an interest before. They were surprised by my fascination and were more than eager to answer all of my questions. I must admit, I felt a little sheepish at times because I didn't want to pry to much or compare what little I knew to the reality that existed back then. After all, I didn't want to insult or offend them.

In the coming weeks and months, I intend to share with you all so much more, but for tonight, I shall close with this:

They remarked to us how the most common denominator between those living during WWII and now was the military families. In their eyes, the military families exemplify a patriotism and honor that seems lost on most of today's society.

What have I been doing?

2008-07-25T15:21:00.000-07:00

Well, in this crazy life of mine, things are never boring (well not for long anyway). We are entertaining my teenage SIL this week who is here on vacation. Oh, and the other night I was able to enjoy a Ladies Night Out (a rarity). Today, the rains finally let up and sun shone bright. So bright in fact that it was insanely hot and humid. So, we took the little ones out to a local water park. You know, the kind where the fountains spit water at you and the lil' tikes run and shriek with excitement. Yeah, that kind of park. It was fun. It makes me wish adults enjoyed such simple pleasures. Wouldn't life be so lovely?

I think the next time I'm the boss somewhere that's what I'm going to instill. I'll call it "Let's Be Kids Day". Genius, right? We will venture to our local park and run like mad, laughing and not have a care in the world. Either we will be completely relieved and relaxed or the boss-bigger-than-me will fire us all. In any event, it should be interesting to see what transpires.

Seriously though, I can't be the only one who misses the carefree days of childhood or the teen years? What are your favorite summertime memories? What made you feel most at peace or still gives you that feeling. Here's a list of my favorites that I either haven't done in years or don't get to do much anymore:

1) Swinging (on the swings people, c'mon);
2) Running through the sprinkler;
3) Bike riding and kicking your feet out to the sides (you can picture it can't you?);
4) Napping (alone) in a hammock;
5) Hula hooping (I still do this though, so, does it count?);
6) Sitting on the beach and staring at the ocean around sunset (not sunbathing);
7) Oh, and, sitting by a campfire and staring into the warm and glistening embers.

I figured I should stop here for two reasons (1) because I write/talk way too much; and (2) well 7 is a lucky number.

Now, you go.....

I'm still breathing...

2008-07-25T08:59:00.001-07:00

Sorry I have been running around like mad. No time to blog. Busy, busy, busy.

Don't I sound so important?

WW

2008-07-23T07:22:00.001-07:00

The last time we made a welcome home poster, the girls really felt Daddy needed sparkles and lots of splashes of color. I don't know about you, but I think that sparkles and color do a man good. Keeps him in touch with his feminine side, you know?

Addiction to Education

2008-07-22T11:46:00.000-07:00

I have a myriad of addictions. Some healthy, some not so much (think: Coca Cola and chocolate). I am addicted to books. I collect them. Although, they often rest on my shelves beckoning me; begging for my time. However, my insatiable literary appetite is often trumped by insatiably hungry children beckoning me to come hither for a brawl over dolls or something of that nature. So, it takes months (usually) for me to get through a book. Other addictions I have include writing (shocker, isn't it?); WWII era music (to listen, sing or dance to); purchasing colorful and uniquely designed scrapping paper (of which I have less time for than reading); and last, but certainly not least, higher education.

While most people are content with a diploma or GED, I was not. After lopping off my hair and running off to Parris Island, I still intended on obtaining a college degree. I wasn’t the best student at the point because sadly I was either too busy with work to make it to class each night and/or I had other plans. Yes, I was a slacker and foolishly did not take full advantage of my military tuition assistance. Nonetheless, upon leaving the service, I set my sights firmly on completing my Bachelors. It took me about 6 years of night school/weekend classes and online courses, but I did it. I started and then stopped for about a year, then started again and stopped because of my ridiculous billable hours requirement at the firm, and then started again (for the last time) right before I gave birth to one of my kids.

Yes, I was 8 ½ months pregnant when I resumed classes for the last time in undergrad. By the time I graduated with my BA, I had two beautiful children who I am proud to say were present at my college graduation. All in all, it was a tumultous and very long road, but the end reward was so sweet. I graduated magna cum laude and as a member of the Alpha Chi Honor Society. Woot, Woot! What made this all so special, aside from how long it took? Well, during this period, not only was I giving birth and raising babies, but my husband was deployed for almost the whole time. Oh, and I was periodically working too. It was insane! I spent many a nights rocking/nursing babies while analyzing research and dissecting literary metaphors.

Phew. That was a mouthful.

Anyway, my loving, sweet, devoted husband breathed a sigh of relief when I graduated. He was elated (I’m sure for a number of reasons). The primary cause for his happiness was that when he was home from deployments, my nose would no longer be stuck in a book. Au contraire mon mari. Within a year, I had applied to graduate school and a fellowship program. Unfortunately, I wasn't accepted for the fellowship, but I a fabulous grad school accepted me and promptly started billing me too. ;)

At this point, I was pregnant AGAIN (I know, I know, fertile Myrtle over here). I had two little ones and a baby on the way and I was starting a new job. Boy, did everyone think I was crazy! I did too. Nevertheless, in amazement I graduated with my Masters and my husband again breathed a big, ginormous sigh. (Yes, ginormous is a word--look it up.) Of course, some will say that with an English degree almost anything is possible. Maybe I SHOULD start making up new words.

Following the latest commencement, with a Masters under my belt, I began to contemplate PhD programs. My husband scowled and refused to entertain the thought. So, I researched and conversed with myself about it. Fortunately for him, I didn’t find one (yet) that appealed to me or was within my reach. He, not the quintessential student, doesn’t understand my passion for school. I imagine that he thinks I'm a bit loopy. Personally, I think he’s quite a lucky man. After all, I could be sitting around doing nothing with no plan for a lucrative career or a way to contribute to retirement or children’s education funds. Hey, someone’s has to plan for the future, and I’m that gal!

At any rate, that fellowship I applied for in the past, well I applied again and was accepted this year! It’s a fantastic program and one that actually ties in with something I’ve been wanting to do for a long time and correlates to some of my previous training. So, yay! I got the fellowship and am awaiting classes to commence in the fall. I think my husband has given up and has resigned himself to the fact that while I mean well in my housewife duties, it’s more of a hobby. I squeeze it in between assignments and juggle childrearing at the same time.

As an aside, I will say that you'll will probably agree that I'm off my rocker. When my oldest was a baby, I used to read my assignments aloud while she lay on my lap, cooing and gurgling. It would soothe her to sleep (likely boring her when I studied Freud) and would give us some time together while I did school work. To this day, she is keenly interested in my studies, and while I have to censor the topics a bit, I do try to engage her. She has a thirst for knowledge and that makes me proud. Of course, I pity the man she marries, because if she’s like me, he’ll be phoning his father in law playing on the words of George Strait, “If she’s so much like her mom, There must have been times you felt my way…”

New Information from The Miles Foundation

2008-07-22T10:35:00.001-07:00

I just received this email update today from The Miles Foundation. With recent topics of assautl and domestic violence, I thought it would be appropriate to share with anyone who might want to take a gander:

The Encyclopedia of Interpersonal Violence includes articles relative to sexual harassment, sexual assault and domestic violence in the US Armed Forces. The Encyclopedia also contains an article relative to the Family Advocacy Program. The Encyclopedia is among reference books published by Sage Publications. Additional Information: CLICK HERE

Anita Sanchez, Director of Communications, The Miles Foundation

Marching through familiar territory.

2008-07-20T17:55:00.001-07:00

Once upon a time, I was a little girl. My family vacationed yearly in the same beautiful spot. Every summer it was filled with amazing, yet simple experiences. In my mind, we were in paradise. In my memories, the world was perfect and my sister was my best friend (okay, we fought a little).

My family never took extravagant vacations, rather my parents focused on the family first and how even the little things could bring us together. To some, going to the same place every summer may seem boring and dull. To me, it was familiar, comfortable and perfect. I came of age in the same place where my mother did. She grew up going to the same coastal location with her family. It's a multi-generational thing I suppose. She and my dad basically honeymooned there as well. I can't even begin to tell you how many countless trips I made to this place. I suppose it was a home away from home--and it still is.

A silly story is before I joined the Corps, I visited here with my family (of course). I thought it was going to be my last trip there ever. I figured by enlistment would take me very far away from this little piece of heaven on earth. So, I stood out on a rock in the surf as the tide rolled in. I just stared out into the sunsetting on the horizon and contemplated my life up until that point. I imagined where I was going and the path my life would take. Never in a million years did I ever envision going back to this place, much less vacationing her with my husband and my little ones. Silly, right? I guess my point is that sometimes you feel you can never go "home" again because it's not always the same, but this place, this haven will always be "home" and I never feel strange. There's just an overwhelming peace that comes over me when I return.

Since I gave birth to my first child, I have amazingly stayed within reasonable travel distance to this very same spot. Now, with three little ones, I marvel at my ability to share with them each summer the same place I grew up loving. Of course, they may not know the impact of this, but maybe one day when they are much older, they will look back with fond memories too. I hope I can give that much to them.

We just arrived home today from our most recent trip. My girls are still giddy with excitement about the sand, shells and sea salt in the air. My husband, well I haven't seen him have so much fun being a daddy--well ever. He is such a doting dad, and a 'water-man' to boot (having grown up near the beach). Since he deploys often, he's not always been able to come with us to the beach, so this year was something really special. He had a blast building sandcastles that were quickly pummeled by tiny feet and jumping the waves for the first time with our little boy in his arms. We took them to a nearby lighthouse and were just amazed at the sheer curiosity they had about the whole experience. It was so cool. I think my favorite part was when we were just all together enjoying the moment, feeling no rush and no one was picking on anybody (LOL).

I'm still reeling in the afterglow of a great family journey and hope you and yours are able to treasure such special moments, whether it's to the beach this summer, a family picnic or even just a campout in your backyard. Give your children the gift of family memories, in any way that you can.

Venturing back out into the civilian workforce: Sort Of.

2008-07-14T16:56:00.000-07:00

This morning, wiping sleep out of my eyes after a very restless night, I reluctantly got up. I clumsily made my way into the shower in hopes of waking up. While the water was refreshing, it didn’t make me any less sleepy. How on earth did I ever get up for 0430 PT runs? Oh, that’s right, I was but a young(er) lass then.

I made sure to be up no later than 0630 giving myself at least an hour to shower, dress and eat (and again wake up) before getting on the road. My journey was but a mere 29 miles from my home, still in a region I’ve not yet navigated. Darn, luxury vehicle of a minivan. Why didn’t you come equipped with a GPS?

So, as I’d rather be on time (you know, at least 15 minutes early) then running in disheveled—trying to present the opposite image—I left an hour an a half early. One tenet of Marine Corps doctrine is that, “Being on time is being late. You should be at least 15 minutes early to everything”, (Brent D. “The Ominous Comma”, Nov. 9, 2007).

At home, I pull on this (what I think looks like) silk, blue suit. Yes, I’ve come such a long way with blasts of color in my wardrobe (at least it’s not wool or gabardine). It does seem a bit formal and corporate; but hey, if it lands me the job, right? It’s been my power suit for about 5 years now. Funny, how for the most of those years I’ve been wiping faces and butts at my house. I guess the suit has lost its pizazz, but I digress.

My husband, be still my heart, barely let me out the door. He alleges that a woman in a suit (aka me) makes him gaga. I truly think he just didn’t want to be left alone with the little ruffians for the morning. Still, he can stroke my ego with flattery and well…I won’t tell you anymore. ;)

Getting to the good stuff: Yes, today, I had an interview. Yes, folks a real big girl type job in the civilian world. I’ve had some of those. Details about them decorate this piece of paper called my resume. Sometimes I get saucy and call it my curriculum vitae. Still, that’s usually only commonplace in academic or scholarly settings, so I missed the mark with that one when some cross-eyed interviewees asked “A what?” in the past. Note to self: Don’t try to sound smart. Just look smart. Wear the blue suit.

I drive down the highway….lah de dah….no screaming kids. A gal can get used to this. I arrive at my destination 45 minutes early. It was a piece of cake to get to and there was parking on site—for free! Bonus! So, I check my lipstick. Reapply. Read my resume. Scoff at the guy who parks next to me and bumps the van with his car door. Reread the job description. Wished I had brought a snack. Do I need more lipstick? No, that would be overkill. (I have a lipstick addiction).

Alright, it’s now about 20 minutes ‘til. That’s sufficient. I grab my briefcase and adjust my suit, walking across the pavement in my blue suit. I feel so….so….Woman Hear Me Roar.

The interview process kicks off a tad slow. The interviewer is a lovely woman, petite, polished and kindly. She is a social worker and speaks much more cautiously than my punctuated excitedness. I decide if I am to work here, I need to tone down a bit. I am so accustomed to deadlines and stress that the calm atmosphere is going to have to grow on me. After a score of questions, I dazzle her with some psychology knowledge even reference the DSM-IV. Not surprisingly, I would require some additional training because the position calls for experience in an area vastly different than what I’ve been working in for the past 12 years. It could work though. I learn real well—people tell me that. They do. I don’t just play smart on t.v. Oh, and in case you are wondering, a Masters degree (in anything) doesn’t impress people someone with a MSW or a PhD. (that was a joke, you can laugh)

Here’s the kicker: The position is a union contract. Hmph. It’s a lower pay bracket than what I’ve earned in the most recent past so that could be a deal breaker too. Still, social services don’t yield high wages, and I wasn’t shocked. It would be glorious if she said, You’ll be making $200K a year, but I live in the real world. At least most of the time.

You may be wondering if I’ve made a decision. I haven’t. I have to crunch some numbers and I’m still interviewing and applying elsewhere. I don't know if I will actually go back to work right now. I enjoy searching for the perfect job (if there is such a thing). I love the prep that goes into the interview process (weird, I know). And, part of me feels I need to justify the pretty diplomas that I owe a lot of money for.

Of course, part of me wants to continue doing the stay-at-home mommy thing where I get to eat Bon Bons and watch soaps all day. Still, the power suit beckons me. It urges me to get up at zero-dark-thirty to wash my hair and slather on makeup so that I can trudge off to a Monday morning meeting.

What’s that saying? The office/house is always greener on the other side?

Fading Memories

2008-07-11T07:39:00.000-07:00

Photo source

My great grandmother passed away last year at the age of 93. I can’t begin to tell you how much I miss her. My family at large recognizes a void when we gather. She had a spirit about her. No, it was more spunk. Yes, even in her old age, she was spunky. I loved her and so terribly regret that I missed out on so much as I myself grew up. I never got a chance to ask her so much. Today, I sit here with questions that could fill the pages of a novel.

Her name was Ann. She was part of the Greatest Generation. This is my favorite period in history, and I never thought to ask my grandmother about it when she was still alive. Sure, I have a few stories from her childhood and the tales she told of the early years of her marriage, but my memories are now fading with time. I should have written them down. I should have paid better attention.

My grandmother had Alzheimer’s disease, which is both progressive and fatal for many. It’s a heartbreaking condition that has the ability to tear you apart knowing that you cannot give someone back their mind and memories. You feel helpless. I imagine the patient feels the same in some respects, then again, do they know? They are frustrated and they are bewildered at lot of the times because people are trying to remind them of things that they didn’t even know were forgotten. It’s tragic.

~~~

On a happier note, I recently finished reading an amazing book, by Elizabeth Berg. Dream When You’re Feeling Blue paid homage to the servicemen at war and the families on the homefront during WWII, the greatest generation. Since I have such an affinity for anything associated with this era, I could see myself in the plot, I felt akin to the characters. Berg, a New York Times bestselling author eloquently depicted many aspects of romance and family life as well as patriotism. Those which stood out to me the most were sacrifice, honor, and responsibility.

You will fall in love with the Heaney family and your heart will both ache and leap with joy as you journey through time with this tale. While it’s a fictional piece, the majority of it is based on factual places and events. In fact, Berg painstakingly researched this book and the history behind the times to present the most accurate description of the period and lives she was telling about. Not only is this a chronicle of love and honor, but is also one of history that is easy to relate to in our own tumultuous times.

To buy this book online: Visit Random House for online retailers
Audio Book: Simply Audiobooks

Another intriguing read, I hope to get my hands on soon: An Album of Memories: Personal Histories from the Greatest Generation by Tom Brokaw

Photo source

Dishwashing Woes

2008-07-10T06:05:00.000-07:00

We have really been dealing with a battle in the kitchen these days. Actually it’s been going on for at least a year. We purchased a new dishwasher in 2006. However, it doesn’t work. That’s right, it doesn’t do it’s one job and that is to wash dishes. Who knows if we had a warranty because we can’t find the paperwork. Anyway, lesson learned, make sure you keep all of those warranties in one place folks!

Fast forward to last week: the hubby and I to a trip to Lowes, and spoke to the gentleman in kitchen appliances. Yes, the children were with us, and, yes, they were less than enthused to be there. Anyway, the guy tells us that the dishwasher we had was just about the worst out there and he won’t sell it to anyone unless it’s perhaps a landlord that needs a dishwasher for a rental fast. Okay, so it was cheap, but we were trying to save money. Well, as they say, you get what you pay for.

I’m proud to say that yesterday though our new dishwasher arrived. It’s wonderful. It washes the dishes. Can you believe it? So, for now, no more rinsing the dishes, putting them in the dishwasher and then haven’t to rewash. I think this one may actually do its job. Oh, and it’s a water saver one too boot—which is a plus!

I’m excited about a dishwasher; excited enough to blog about it. I think I’m officially old now.

July 1st (Navy Wife Radio)

2008-07-01T17:31:00.001-07:00

From Navy Wife Radio

Tuesday - July 1st - MyMilitaryLife Bloggers - A Day in the Life of a Military Spouse - Join us for a conversation with some of the bloggers from http://mymilitarylife.wordpress.com. We are featuring Submarine Wife Megan, Coast Guard wife “Just a Girl in a Port”, Army wife Cristin and new Navy wife Hillary. This is our lineup at press time, we are hoping to add to the list.
Have you thought about starting your own blog, but not sure how to get started? We will be answering that question and more. Plus, we will also be talking about how blogging can help you through a deployment and be a virtual scrapbook for your thoughts and experiences.
If you have a question for our authors, please email them to jessica(at)navywiferadio.com.

Daddy's Home (AGAIN)

2008-06-26T08:36:00.000-07:00

Folks do not be fooled when you hear "land unit"--please don't assume it means "home everyday/night". I didn't think he was going to be safe from traveling. Actually the break is nice and welcome once in awhile, but my goodness. Lately, he's been a coast trottin' fool. We've talked to him on the phone more than in person these past few months.

At any rate, I apologize for my absence. We've all been enjoying the return of my husband. The kids were a little bewildered at first. I was a bit moody. Can you blame me? Our schedule was thrown out of whack!

Things are blissfully wonderful again and he actually returned to work today after a few days off. That was nice as we were able to work out in the yard and get some things done around here. He actually had his buddy over to help him put up a small fence in our yard. You can pick yourself up off the floor now, Coasties do actually DO WORK. I have some pics to prove it! Shhh, don't tell them I caught them on camera, they may not ever lift a finger again. Too used to riding the desk these days (I'm kidding, or am I?)

Things Daddies miss.

2008-06-22T06:53:00.001-07:00

When daddy is away, he misses the tantrums and the sibling rivalry. He also misses the swallowing of pennies or marbles and umpteen million requests for one just one more drink before bed. Some kids skip school and dad misses the calls home from the principal while other children stay out past curfew worrying mom as she paces the floor. Maybe he misses the awards ceremony at school or at the soccer field and other momentous occasions.

I know the things my husband misses when work takes him away from home. While he misses the tough stuff and parenting struggles, my heart knows he’d rather be here for he misses the precious and tender moments of childhood too. He misses the cuddles and smiles, discoveries and silly secrets and most of all he doesn’t get to hear them say the words I hear all the time about how much they miss him. You dads who are gone for deployments or even just a regular work day know that, if your children are anything like mine, they think of you often. They are eager to share with you the simplest things upon your return whether it’s how an ant ran across the yard or how they wished upon a star you were also sleeping under. Children don’t need extravagant gifts or superheroes to brighten their day. You, daddy, are their hero and the best gift of all and is greeting them with open arms upon your return.

Issue in Need of Attention

2008-06-20T16:46:00.000-07:00

Sexual assault and rape aren’t new to the military. In fact, many women suffer in silence and never report their attackers. That isn’t the point of my post though. What I recently read is a tad concerning, but will hopefully be addressed with expedience and great care.

Medical News Today (20 Jun 2008) reported that, “VA officials said that nearly one in five female veterans seeking care has been diagnosed with military sexual trauma; however, some believe the figure could be almost one in three.” One in five is a lot and one in three is downright frightening. Resources are out there though, what’s the concern, you may ask? Truth be told, the resources are limited. In fact, this is something I’ve been working on in the back of my mind and really hope to make something come to fruition in the not to far future. My concerns stem from personal experiences as well as a concern for the greater good. Any one interested in learning more about my intentions to this end is welcome to contact me.

The article also referenced that a quarter of a million (give or take) female veterans were treated at VA facilities last year alone, with the expectation that this number will only continue to rise. I’m sure that’s just a drop in the bucket compared to how many male vets are treated at these facilities, but still, one would imagine and hope that with the increase of need for treatment, more resources would be readily available. You know kind of something to do with the law of supply and demand. Oh wait, didn’t we hear about budget cuts and the VA being shortchanged not all that long ago?

The White House had published a succinct little fact sheet concerning the VA budget, but one might ask how much of this has and will realized. Read the FACT SHEET

In February 2008, the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs discussed requirements for FY 09:

“The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) requires, at a minimum, $4.577 billion in additional funding in FY09 over FY08 to support its medical care operations. Our requested medical services increase is $2.562 billion over the Administration's request. The total required for all of VA's discretionary accounts is $6.614 billion over FY08.”

For a look at the full press release, please visit the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs site. It’s a lengthy but easy read. Let’s hope this budget, if not more, is approved and shall more than compensate for the shortfalls referenced in the aforementioned Medical News Today report.

I’m far from an expert on this subject and only know what I read and try to absorb from reports that come down the pike. Regardless, I’m a female veteran, so the matter hits close to home for me. Additionally, I’m largely concerned about veterans (regardless of gender) and the care they may or may not be getting. Still, this whole issue begs the question about PTSD. No, I’m not talking about PTSD as a direct result of combat. Rather, I’m concerned about the PTSD for the females who are assault and rape victims. I think that not many folks would consider this issue. We are so wrapped up in the combat end of things (a worthy concern, no doubt), that we may overlook the other causes for PTSD.

Last fall, a doctor writing for About.com reported about this very concern of mine. Matthew Tull, PhD (26 Sep 2007) stated that:

“The experience of a sexual assault (ranging from unwanted sexual contact to rape) is also a widespread problem in the military (often referred to as military sexual trauma or MST). Studies indicate that around 23% to 33% of female veterans report experiencing a MST. In addition, there is some evidence that women who have experienced MST are at high risk for developing PTSD. One study found that approximately 42% of women who had experienced a MST also had PTSD as a result of the MST. Other studies have found that MST was more likely to lead to PTSD than other military or civilian traumatic events.”

PTSD or MST, whatever you want to call it, exists, and it’s not a new issue for concern. On a military discussion board I frequent someone took an anonymous poll last year about how many women were the victims of assault and/or rape (whether reported or not) and the numbers were staggering. I don’t have the poll in front of me, so I cannot say for certain what the actual figures were, but it was eye-opening. A great number of the responders were either female veterans or women currently on active duty.

There is good news though, well if you can consider anything in this subject matter good. Victims and PTSD/MST sufferers have help available to them. That is the counseling through the VA. This is why the funds need to increase because female vets and active duty women have few places to turn to for military sexual trauma issues. If the VA loses funding and can’t provide for these women, who can? Who will step up to the plate? If I had a billion, even a million, or just a few thousand dollars, oh what I would do. Of course, I don’t, but my wheels are in motion. I’m researching and looking at options. I urge any of you with thoughts on this, again, please contact me. One person can make a difference, two people and more can make an even bigger difference.

Feeding the Lonely

2008-06-17T17:01:00.000-07:00

Sure, your beloved is gone, and it’s tough. You find yourself giving in to cravings and trying to feed the pain. Your brain says “No”, but your taste buds and aching heart say “feed me”. You don’t want to pack on the pounds while he’s away. Truthfully, you want to look pretty svelte upon his return. So, you hit the gym and start working up a sweat. Girl, doesn’t that feel great? You know the saying Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels. Well, I’m here to inform you that something does taste as good. In fact, it tastes so good, you may think about hoarding them in cold stores in your own home. Trust me, you will want to fashion something to keep them safe—away from any animals, bugs, dust, warm weather, children, spouses, visitors that might try to get to them.

What is this spectacular treat? Champion Chip chocolate chip cookies by Newman’s Own Organic (The Second Generation) are a gift from the heavens. They are beautiful. They are delicious. They are why my husband might come to a whale of a wife. Try them, if you can find them at your local store. Oh, and put them in the freezer—they are extra yummy that way.

If this current deployment of my husband’s gets extended, I won’t cry. Rather, I might just run (or waddle) out to the store to pick up some more cookies. They make my soul happy. Of course, they can’t cuddle like he does (that can’t be replaced). Maybe I’ll cut back on the cookies just a bit. Nah, I’ll just have to go to the gym more so I can justify this coping mechanism.

Go do The thing With the Boy

2008-06-15T04:45:00.001-07:00

These are words uttered to me in the middle of the night to my husband. What do they mean though?

I crashed hard the other night. I think in part because I was exhausted and also because I had a cooling fan blowing on me. That and the white noise invited deep sleep. Apparently, the baby awoke in the middle of the night. I reacted to the loud crying by saying to my husband in a muffled muttering "Goooo...do that --- Thing-- With the boy."

HUH?

That was his reaction too apparently. Now, mind you, I don't remember saying this, but he does and he said he turned to me (from his own sleep) and said, "Honey, what are you talking about" only for me to repeat it. He reports that he laid there and hoped the baby would just stop crying and fall back to sleep. He didn't. The crying started up again, at which point, my husband nudges me, "Go get the baby, he's hungry." In a trance-like state, I actually got out of bed and retrieved the little booger from his crib.

Seriously, why didn't my husband just go do the thing with the boy and let me sleep? Me!

Blisters and X-Rays

2008-06-13T16:14:00.001-07:00

My most recent stupid move was not wearing gloves today. I had the brilliant plan of hand tilling my backyard. It was a bit of a big job, but we need grass back there. It's quite barren and gets awful muddy with any amount of rain. So, I decided to pick up where I left off a few weeks ago. I was doing great, until I started to get tired. I think I tilled 10 square feet at this point. Sad, I know.

Here's the kicker...

Gardening Gloves are not just for beauty. No, my friends, they serve a purpose. A purpose for which I did not utilize them. Now, I'm sporting a very sore and raw open blister. Nasty, isn't it? There's today's stupidity for you.

Rewind to this morning...

After discussing my penny-eating child with the doctor yesterday because of recent complaints and symptoms from her, they asked me to bring her in for today. Doc checks her out and all appears fine. To err on the side of caution, she ordered an abdominal x-ray. The man in blue was doing "darkened ship" work today, so couldn't miss work. As such, I had all of the children with me. Well, you, obviously, can't bring all the little ones into the room with you when once child is being x-rayed. So, the screaming baby and worrisome older sister were "watched" by some of the lovely nurses at the hospital. Meanwhile, inside the radiology room, I was begging, pleading and fighting against a very anxious and frightened little girl.

It broke my heart. She was so scared. She's normally not, so that's what made this all the worse. I couldn't calm her down. The radiologist, well he had the bedside manner of Attila the Hun. He was no help. The sweetest nurse did come in to help me. Still, it was traumatizing and they couldn't get a good shot for the little one was writing and squirming so much. So, we had to endure too many tries. Heartbreaking I tell you.

Afterward, as we were on our way out, I saw the film. There it was. The big ole coin (which now I wonder if it was a penny) in my tiny girl's body. We saw the doc for a follow-up. She recommended a few things and if we don't think/know that it's passed in another week, we have to go back.

So, there you have it. My day in a long-drawn out, very winded blog post. And, that's just two of the things that happened today. Can you imagine the book you'd be reading, if I told you everything?

The Day Without Words

2008-06-11T06:15:00.000-07:00

I don't normally participate in "Wordless Wednesday", but I've been "wordy" lately in my blogs. So, here is goes. I'm not talking/writing any more today. :)

I took this photo a few weeks ago, at a local Air Force Base.

From the mouths of military babes....

2008-06-09T17:01:00.001-07:00

Mommy, we are getting deployed.

Honey, what do you mean? Wait....do you know what deployed means?

Yes, it's when daddy goes away.

That's right, when daddy goes away for work, just like other members of the military do, he is deploying.

OK, well, since we are going somewhere this weekend, we are going away this weekend deploying.

For the record, we have no plans to go anywhere. Additionally, I don't know if I'd call a family vacation or trip a deployment. Of course, it often does require extensive preparation and strategic planning as well as packing, reconnaissance for sustenance and studying of a map for logistical purposes. Perhaps, it could count as a deployment after all. I wonder if we could start claiming per diem and mileage for a weekend jaunt to the coast?

Under Heavy Fire on the Homefront

2008-06-06T13:37:00.000-07:00

Irritable troops in the heat often bewilder me. Sometimes nothing I can do or provide for them appeases them. The phone rings a great conversation with a good friend is consistently intruded upon by whining individuals getting into everything. On the other end my friend notices my “niceness” fading away. Those little ones sure know how to push my buttons and many of you know trying to diffuse them and redirect their attention while you are fielding a phone call and cleaning house is no easy task.

The afternoon leads to a semi-calmer evening (for a bit). Dinner goes relatively smoothly and bedtime is soon underway. Whilst getting things squared away and wrapping up some things in the living room, a child tells me her sibling has money and it was taken from the baby’s piggy bank. Great, a preschool thief. Hand it over. Do not go in your brother’s piggy bank again.

I search the bedroom and am sure all of the money is confiscated. Good. It’s all taken care of. I go back to wrap up what I was working on. Not even five minutes later a little cherub comes skipping towards me. Mommy, I have money in my throat.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME WITH THIS?

I immediately go into panic mode. I’ve never had this happen before—amazingly enough. Though, if it were any one of my children to swallow coins, my money would have been on her (sorry for the pathetic pun).

Scooping her up the grilling commences: Is it stuck in your throat? Can you breathe? What color was the money? Does it hurt?

Okay, we learn that it’s not stuck in her throat. She is conversing and the money was “gold”. So, I’m 99.9% sure she swallowed a penny. At least it wasn’t a quarter. Sitting her on the couch, Okay honey, I want you to open your mouth, stick your tongue and say Ahhhhh. Peering in with a Maglite, I discover nothing. I don’t really know what I expected to see. I guess part of me imagined the penny would be sitting there on the back of her tongue ready for me to pry out safely. Well, no such luck. At this point, she says, It’s in my belly now.

I panic and call my husband who is still deployed. That was another “huh?” moment of mine. What did I think—he was going to rescue the penny from thousands of miles away over the phone? I tell him, I’m going to go to the ER. Down the hall, one of my other children starts to panic. My calm husband says, Just call the doctor. Whilst, I’m calling the on call doctor, my other daughter totally goes into freak out mode. She gets severe anxiety attacks about anything medical. She goes pale and clammy. Great, I’m now expecting her to pass out on me. What the…

The phone rings back. It’s a nurse from the doctor’s office. She asks me about it and as I’m telling her the story, I do realize that millions of children probably do this a year and that I’m far from the first parent to lose my mind over the simple situation. The nurse assures me that as long as the child is breathing, eating and drinking, that the penny will just make its way on down and out (at some point). I chuckle at my ridiculous panic and the nurse reassures me that it’s alright to worry about this kind of stuff. You’d have thought I was a brand new mom or that something far worse had happened.

After I get off the phone, I struggle to calm the other panicky child. She’s pleased that we won’t have to spend the evening in the ER. Though, she’s still very concerned about her little sister. It’s okay. She’s going to be fine. Mommy shouldn’t have gotten so worked up, honey. It’s alright. So, off to bed, she went. The money-swallower is now back to normal and running and jumping and getting into stuff again. She never stops! The baby, thankfully, had slept through all this craziness.

Lest I forget, that during all this chaos, the money-swallower also managed to mess her pants twice. This is completely out of character for her since she's been potty trained, and I have no explanation. So, you can imagine how unamused I was when I had to change her twice. For fear of setting her into regression (which we endured last year), I didn't yell. I didn't pitch a fit. I just calmly asked Why? To this, she replied, Because I did. Oy.

At this point, it’s after 9 pm and I’m exhausted and hoping that all the children will be safely sleeping and not causing concern for the rest of the night. The hubby calls to check on me and the kids. Why couldn’t he be here? Why does he miss all of this kind of stuff?

Well, fast forward a few days, as I’ve said, he’s home now. I’m sleeping like a baby at night (which is very unusual for me) and the extra set of hands with the troops is greatly appreciated.

He's home.

2008-06-05T07:26:00.000-07:00

Yippee!

Well, the man in blue returned home late last night. It was a long day. You know the typical preparations for the return home, cleaning house and all. Well, we had a bunch of other stuff going on too, which made it an interesting day, but I'll spare you the details.

Anyway, his flight was delayed and the piece of that which really stinks is that our home is an hour from the airport he was arriving at. So, not only did we have to wait for him to take off to begin to track his flight home, but we also had to wait for him to call us. This was because he also had to go back to his office to unload all of the equipment he and the guys were using on this trip before even thinking about going home.

Two thirds of the children were still up and and awake, excited beyond belief, when I loaded them all into the van for the hour ride. We didn't actually make it to the base until about 11:45 pm. Thankfully everyone slept almost the whole way there and the whole way home, save for a few crying outbursts.

He's so glad to be home, and we are so happy too. You know that refreshing feeling of peace once your whole family is under the same roof again? Yeah, that's how it feels. I love that feeling.