Lewis Logic

Gone Again

2009-09-08T08:51:00.002-05:00

So R is gone, again. I was doing the math the other day and in the last 9 1/2 years he has been gone a little over 5 of them. Between Deployments, training and TDY. I will not turn this into a poor me post. I feel bad that he has missed so much of the kids growing up. He is missing E's whole senior year, he hopefully will be home for her graduation. Then he will go back and miss taking her to college.

Mean while back at the bat cave, life keeps going. We are busy with football games, practices, work and unit activities. I hate being so busy but it does make the time go by fast. Before I know it he will be home for R&R and then not long after he goes back we will be gearing up for their return. Such is the life of an Army family.

Who blogs anymore????

2009-07-17T14:33:00.002-05:00

I love to read my friends blogs. I am the first to admit that I really am not a great blogger and sometimes wonder if anyone even reads it.
Now there is this face book thing. I do have a face book account or whatever they call it, but to tell the truth I really don't have a clue of what to do with it. I read stuff people put on there but I can't really get into it. For one thing I am on the computer all day and the last thing I want to do at night is get online with my slow computer and try and figure out how to use it.
I kind of feel strange even having the thing since my teenage daughters are into it. Plus the fact that R would throw a fit if I came home from work and went and got on the computer. Maybe when he goes back to the sand box I will try and figure it out.

2009-07-09T13:11:00.002-05:00

Wow here we are almost to the middle of July! I can't believe how fast time goes by, even more so when you want it to go slow. R will be leaving again for the sand box. I have such anxiety about this. I have known too many people that's lives have change dramatically with a deployment. I made the comment to a friend of ours from Germany that was here a few months ago. I told him that every time R goes on a deployment I feel like we are playing Russian roulette and adding a bullet to the mix. I hate to have these feelings but I can't help it. I am a very superstitious person. So I look back on the other deployments and what has happened. I know I need to suck it up and drive on, and I am sure I will, I always do.

So we are trying to just enjoy all the time we have together and our Summer. We are maximizing our lake time and camping time. Plus just the being at home together time.

Another me

2009-06-29T10:01:00.003-05:00

I love Summer! I love to hang out at the lake. I love to go camping, of course this is mostly due to the fact that we have a camper. I love to have people over for BBQ's. I love to swim, ride bikes (both kinds). I love that it stays light so late.

But even though I love all these things it seems like I never have enough time to do everything I want to do. This is probably due to the fact that during Summer the laundry loads increase and since I never want to be in the house the house work just piles up. This is truly the time when I wish I had a wife! Not in any perverted way! Just someone that would do all the stuff I don't want to make time for. Wouldn't it be great to come home from work and have dinner on the table? Go to your closet in the morning and all your clothes are ironed? Never search for a shirt, shorts, ect to see if they are clean? No you just open up the drawer and there it all is, nice and clean and folded. Going to the fridge and or cupboard and finding it full of food. Never running out of toilet paper, paper towels, napkins, shampoo, conditioner, Q-tips, toothpaste or any other basic things?!

So my thought for the day is "I need a wife", as the song goes, "another me in my life."

18 already??

2009-05-14T13:14:00.003-05:00

So my little girl is graduating a week from Sunday. Where does the time go? One minute she is a little bundle of joy sleeping in my arms the next she is a young lady ready to go out on her own.

I am ready for her to go, I think. Some days more than others. I am a firm believers that the reason teenagers act the way they do is so it will be easier for you to let them go. I will admit that some days I would help her pack.

Of course she is the first to leave and I am sure since I will still be busy with the other two it will be easier. I still have 10 years till the little man goes. I laugh at myself and think I could almost be done..............but I wouldn't trade any of them.

Here is one of her Senior pictures.

Antoher Year Older

2009-03-16T09:35:00.002-05:00

So Saturday was my birthday. I usually don't get upset over birthdays. No big deal getting older. You know the saying like fine wine I just get better with age. Well this year it was different. I don't know if it is because this is my last "30" birthday or because it coincided with a full moon and R was in the field.

I don't think I look old, I don't feel old. OK some days I feel old and some days I think I look really old. But for the most part I think I am doing OK.

Since R was in the field my girlfriend took me out to dinner and then we went out for drinks after. OK she had some drinks and I had water, now there's a sign of aging!! We did have a good time and I am glad we went. Just another reason girlfriends are so important!

No time to blog

2009-03-02T11:47:00.002-06:00

I read several blogs, and it is funny that they are all saying the same thing right now. They are still around just to busy to blog. Usually I read blogs everyday but do not post very often. I guess I just don't think anything that I have going on in my life anyone would be to terribly interested in reading.

I'm busy with work at my new/old position. It is going great. It took me a whopping 3 days before I was back in the swing of things. The kids are busy, but things have slowed down a bit with them. I am still stressing about S graduating this year. E is working and getting ready for Dance Team tryouts. S is still full of energy and tests my patients daily. Hubby should be home today after being gone for two weeks. He will be home for about 6 days and then back out the field for 8 days. He will be gone this year for my birthday, which he tells me doesn't count if he is not here for it. So yeah for me I don't age this year!!! I won't age next year either since he will be deployed!!!

We thought Spring was on it's way here since we were have 65+ degrees but then mother nature decided to change her mind and we had snow late Friday night!!! Not to much but it was cold all weekend. I am so happy we have a fire lace. Nothing better than sitting in front of the fire place and watching movies all weekend!!

New Job.....

2009-02-20T07:34:00.004-06:00

Well today is my last day in this position I have had for the last year and a half. I have been working for a wonderful company that took over military housing. I have been working for them for almost three years now. I started out in a neighborhood office for the first year. Then I decided to take another position with the company. I have been the Small Business Administrator for the past year and half. It has been a great job for me. I recruit small business' to come work for us, but for about the last 5-6 months I have been bored. Not enough people contact for me. I am a people person, I know this about myself.

I have decided to go back to the job I had been doing. This is property management and I never thought that this is what I would be doing but I love it. This was a hard decision to make since I will be taking a pay cut to go back, but for advancement this is what I need to do. I look at it as one small step back to be able to go forward.

It is strange after all these years of being a military spouse and knowing that I could never really have a career with one company to be thinking of my career with one. We won't be moving again this is it I think we are finally done being nomadic. It is exciting and scary all at once. Finally after 20 plus years I can say I am putting my career first and not his.

I've been doing weight watchers here at work, we had a meeting yesterday and one of the things the lady spoke of was putting yourself first. I thought it was kind of ironic since I am finally doing that and it feels wonderful!!!

Love...

2009-02-13T08:02:00.003-06:00

Valentine's Day is upon us yet again. How do you explain love? I don't think you can. Love is a feeling and it feels different to every one.

You love different people differently. I love my husband and I love my kids but not the same way. I would gladly give my life for both and do anything for both, yet I still love them differently. My mother told me one time that I would know I was truly in love when I felt the way at about that special person as I do about my parents. I don't think that is true.

It is not that I love any one person in my family more I just love them in different ways. On that same note I have friends that I love (Non-homo as the kids say). I would do anything for them also, I feel an emotional connection to them.

I think that once again here is another "holiday" that is commercialized to the max and made out to be for "lovers". Valentine's Day isn't just for lovers, it is for people you love. So to all of my Valentine's.........Will you be mine? Have a wonderful day and know that I will be thinking of all of you tomorrow, just like I do everyday of the year and wishing you warm thoughts!!

Getting Ready to Leave the Nest.....

2009-02-06T08:03:00.002-06:00

The time is coming for S to leave the nest. She will be 18 in less than 2 months, so she thinks she is a grown up. She is a senior in high school.

I have mixed emotions about this. On one hand I am so ready for her to be gone on the other not ready to let my baby go. She is so ready to be on her own and out of our house and away from Kansas.

She doesn't want to go to college right now, she is burned out with school. She hates Kansas and can't wait to get away from here. She thinks moving away will make things better. I try and tell her that if she is not happy with herself no matter where she goes she won't be happy "You take yourself every where you go". Of course I am mom and what do I know. I remember thinking the same thing at her age.

I am trying to give her some options or at least have her think about them. She is very hard headed and right now wants to move to Arizona where her biological father lives. Her and E just saw him this past summer for the first time in 11 years. So of course they thought it was great. He is re married with two little kids. I asked her where she thought she would live there and she said with her grandma. Now I know that Grandma would love to have her but I also know that it wouldn't last long and S would have to pay rent at some point. So I worry about that.

Times have changed since I finished High School, you can't go into the work force without a college degree anymore. I told her this but what does mom know. I tell her learn from me, I wish I would have went to college, I regret it every day. I told her if you don't want to go to college right now think about maybe going into the military and seeing some of the world, getting money for college, getting a job skill, having a pay check, a roof over your head, eating everyday!

I don't know what she will decide to do, what ever it is I have to support her, I do know that. I know that if I oppose anything that will make her want to do it all the more. This is a difficult thing to do, letting your kids leave the nest and spread their wings and fly or fall but letting them do it their way that is the only way they will learn.

DC Trip

2009-02-04T07:58:00.004-06:00

I was waiting to post this blog till I could also put our pictures with it. Of course I can't find the dang cord for the camera so here it is with out the pictures!

We drove through a mini ice storm Monday night to Kansas City, after working all day. I knew I should have packed on Sunday but I was being lazy and thought I could get it done after work. What a mistake!! About 3/4 of the way to KC I realized I didn't pack a bra, and all I had on was a tank with the built in bra. I then realized that I didn't bring a shirt to wear home on Thursday! No big deal I would figure something out, heck I could buy a shirt there to wear home. We finally arrive at the hotel and check in. It is gross!!! R looks at the door and sees their prices and about craps his pants when he thinks I paid $150 a night for this S--- hole, I tell him I only paid $42. This makes him a little happier. We finally get to bed (we have to get up early since we have to be at the airport at 0530) then the people in the room next to us decide that it is great fun to push the button on the light on and off repeatedly!! I was ready to kill them!!!! So just as I am finally about to go to sleep I realize I forgot my hair brush!!!!

Tuesday: We wake up early, not hard to do when you are in a bed that sinks into the middle unless you get to close to the edge and then it pitches you out. I make as much noise as I can because I'm still pissed about the light thing the night before. I comb my hair with my fingers and use their blow dryer that works by some stroke of luck and put my hair up and off we go! We arrive at the airport and go to the long term parking, but they don't call it long term parking they call it economy parking so this totally screws me up!! Any who we get there and see the shuttle bus so we haul ass and park grab out bags and run for the shuttle bus and don't look at where we are parked. Remember this because this comes into play later!

We have an uneventful flight to Chicago and then on to Washington. When we arrive in Washington a friend (E)picks us up. I look out the window of the airport and see that it is snowing and looks very cold, I brace myself for the cold as we walk out but surprising enough it was colder in Kansas than there. E takes us to the Big Red One Memorial that is located next to the White House, it is awesome!! We also walk around to the front of the white house and E tells us about all the security that they have now since 9-11. He tells us that if people are at the B.R.O. Memorial and the president is leaving the White House the secret service come out and force the people to leave and not very nicely. Then we are off to see the Vietnam Memorial, Lincoln Memorial and Korean Memorial. R was in awe he had never been to DC before and was loving every minute of it. After all of this site seeing I was very cold and hungry so we went to our hotel to check in and get some lunch. After lunch E left us till the next morning and R and I went to The Smithsonian Art Museum. It was great! Unfortunately we only had about an hour and a half to look at everything but we made the most of it. We went back to our room, which was very nice and in a great location (walking distance to all the museums) and watched a little TV had a lite dinner and crashed.

Wednesday: Up early again so we could be ready to go to SMA Bainbridge's funeral. E picked us up and off we went to Fort Myer for the service. The burial was in Arlington and we drove into Arlington, for those of you that don't know you usually can not drive into Arlington you have to park outside of it and walk in and it is HUGE!!!! It was awesome. After the ceremony we were able to go and see a dear friend of ours, that was killed in Iraq, grave. E had looked up where he is buried at for us. We then went to the Officer's Club for the reception. I was able to meet one of SMA Bainbridge's daughters, she lives here in Kansas just down the road from us. In case some of you were wondering why we went to this funeral: SMA Bainbridge was the CSM for 1-28 IN BN during Vietnam and was our honorary CSM for the Regiment, R was asked by our Division CSM to represent 1 ID at the funeral. After the funeral E took us back to our hotel where we changed and took off yet again for another museum after lunch. We went to The Museum of Natural History. We spent about 4 hours there another great place! E and his wife picked us up and took us to dinner at a seafood place. Now I love seafood but being from California I will not eat seafood when I am land locked, so it was a wonderful dinner not only the food but the company was great too.

Thursday: Finally we got to sleep in a little. We packed our things and checked out of the hotel, they let us keep our bags there and off we went to The Air and Space Museum, another wonderful place. For those of you that may be thinking of going to DC all of the Smithsonian Museum's are free of charge except for the media one. We spent a couple of hours there and then back to the hotel to get our bags and catch a cab back to the airport. We flew back to Chicago and had about a 2 1/2 hour lay over, so we went to the bar. I had a drink and it went right to my head! Good thing I had the drink because the next flight was totally booked and I had to sit in the middle of two men and was not happy about it. What is it with men that they think they should have both arm rests and they person in the middle should have none? It doesn't help that I have line backer shoulders! When we got off the flight in KC I turned my phone on just to get a text from my girlfriend that said she had Em at the emergency room! (She has been sick and they thought she had kidney stones, so we drove straight from KC airport to the hospital in JC. She doesn't have any stones, but they are not sure what is wrong with her. The medicine they gave her seems to be helping.) So we get our bags and go out to get the shuttle to the "economy parking". As we are driving out there the lady driving starts asking what number people need to get let off at, now remember we didn't look when we left. The buzz from my drink has long worn off and I am grouchy from the arm rest hogs and I am hungry and tired!!! I haven't a clue of where we parked the F-ing car and R is pissing me off! I finally just tell the lady to let us off. So here we are it is dark, cold and I have the keys in my hand hitting the panic button hoping I am close enough for the old piece of shit to work of course we are not! Now I am yelling at R in the parking lot and getting madder by the minute, he shuts up. I see a shuttle bus and flag it down. The nice man in it lets us on and I tell him that I pulled in the parking lot and made a left and then parked just a few lanes down, he finds my car quickly! YEA my hero for the moment! We get off the shuttle throw the bags in the truck and haul ass to the interstate. Now we need to get gas! I find a gas station and I got in to get some water while R gets gas. As I am at the ATM (to make sure we have cash for the toll road) R comes in and asks the attendant what is wrong with the pump, is there something you have to do to get it to work? he is pissed he is trying to use his card and it is not working for him, this is a major thing with him he hates this and it really gets him fired up. So he walks out after he tells the guy he will just go some where else to get gas. The guy starts talking about him and saying "well you need to be smarter than the pump" and some others things to this effect, as I walk up to pay for my water. I tell him I am sure he is smarter than the pump since I know him quite well "he's my husband!" The guy says "oh sorry", I tell him "I will tell you what I tell my kids, Be careful what you say you never know who is around that can hear you and knows that person!" He keeps apologizing as I leave! What a jerk. R did figure out the pump, you have to say you don't want a receipt for it to work, so their pump is messed up!!!

Finally at midnight we were able to get home and get in our own bed. I love to travel and see other places but nothing beats coming home and sleeping in your own bed!

Off to DC

2009-01-22T07:56:00.002-06:00

Hubby and I are off next week to our Nations capitol. Hubby has never been there and is so excited. We will only be there for a couple of days but I am looking forward to seeing all the sites with him.

There is so much to see there that 3 days just isn't enough time. At least we didn't have to go there this week, I couldn't imagine trying to see anything with so many people there. I know we could have been part of history but I'm not into crowds and either is hubby.

We will be going to see the Big Red One Memorial (1 ID is the only division to have it's own memorial in DC), the Mall and many other sites. We are so lucky to have a local friend that is going to show us around. I will post some pictures when we get back.

Winter.................

2009-01-05T14:07:00.003-06:00

Is it just me or is there kind of a let down after the holidays? I guess I feel that winter should be over and Spring should be in the air. Of course that is not how it is, winter is just getting started and Spring is no where to be found.

We lived in Hawaii for a time. I remember our first Christmas there and saying that I just couldn't get in the Holiday spirit when it was 75 and I was wearing shorts and going to the beach. By the time we left I couldn't think of living any other way. I had no closed toed shoes (except some tennis shoes), no winter coat, no winter clothes for the kids, it was great.
Now living in the mid-west things are a lot different. Of course Kansas weather can change at the drop of a hat. In fact the day after Christmas it was close to 70 and then we had snow flurries the next day!!!

I am ready for the sunshine and the lake, even if I know that I have about 4-5 months till that will happen. Maybe we can get away to go skiing!

Happy New Year!!

2009-01-02T09:14:00.003-06:00

Happy New Year!! I have made some resolutions this year.

1. Quite smoking, one day in and doing good.
2. Lose weight.
3. Exercise at least 5 times a week.
4. Be happy.
5. Be nice, OK this is a hard one for me because I tend to be to honest. I'm not trying to be mean it just comes across as that.

I hope everyone has a great year. I have some friends that are starting with some new things in their life: new jobs, new communities, new babies, kids starting school, kids graduating, husbands coming home, husbands deploying, and some moving on with their lives after many painful years. I want you to know that I think of all of you daily and you have all touched my life.

May the New Year bring you peace and joy.

Thought for the day

2008-12-16T09:33:00.001-06:00

There comes a point in your life when you realize:
Who matters,
Who never did,
Who won't anymore...
And who always will.
So, don't worry about people from your past,
there's a reason why they didn't make it to your future..

Tis the Season

2008-12-12T07:53:00.003-06:00

Tis the season................To fight the crowds, threaten your kids if they don't behave Santa won't come, look at Christmas lists and wonder how on earth are you going to pay for it all, try to squeeze in shopping in between all the invites you get.

It's the most wonderful time of the year, or so the song says. I truely love Christmas. I just wish that it wasn't so commercial. I know everyone says this every year. It use to be that when you would go to the mall to shop everyone was extra nice now it seems to be a battle in all the stores for everyone to get the latest greatest toy/gift that is on every one's list. I try to find the perfect gift for everyone, sometimes it isn't even what they have on their list. With teenagers it gets harder and harder every year to pick something out for them that isn't going to cost me hundreds and hundreds of dollars. I try to tell them that the money tree in the back yard isn't producing like it use to. They don't get it!!!

May you have a Holly Jolly Christmas this year!

Speaking Your Mind

2008-11-18T10:53:00.002-06:00

Why is it when as a woman you speak your mind you are a bitch, but if you never speak up you are weak? Now I know that I am very vocal, and I make no apologies for it. That is who I am, I will say that over the years I have learned to curb my mouth. I still say what I think I just try and think about how I am saying it, most of the time.
I think that sometimes people take offense to things that I say that I am not meaning to be offensive. I guess I should just keep my mouth shut......................well we all know that's not going to happen!

Unthankful kids

2008-11-14T07:26:00.002-06:00

Why is it that you can do a thousand things for your kids one day and the next day tell them no to one thing and they act like you never do anything for them?

I just wrote out a couple of checks yesterday for things the girls needed/wanted. This morning I told one of them no to excusing her from weight training this morning and she freaked out. What a way to start off a Friday!

A few years back while living in Germany and hubby was deployed I wanted to take the kids to a concentration camp for Thanksgiving. I really didn't feel like cooking. I told someone that I wanted them to see that they have a lot to be thankful for. I caved and went over to someones house for Thanksgiving and had a great time. I never did take the kids to the concentration camp, I wish I would have. Maybe then they would see that they have it pretty good.

Random thoughts

2008-11-03T07:42:00.002-06:00

Happy November! Here we go into the busy season! I love Fall and Thanksgiving. R and I went yesterday and got firewood, what a chore, but at least I got some exercise in since I am the one that puts all the wood in the truck. At the end I moved at a snails pace, I really need to get out and exercise more.
I don't know how to squeeze more time into my day. As it is S and I leave the house by 7 am and usually don't get home till almost 6. Then there is dinner to be made and homework to be done, oh yes and don't forget laundry and cleaning up the house!! There are days I think back on when the kids were little and I didn't work outside the home and wish we were there again. Now that I have two so close to leaving. I use to say I would be so happy when they were on their way out, not that it is so close I'm not so sure how happy I am about it.

I Don't know who wrote this but I like it!

2008-10-22T10:57:00.001-05:00

I Believe...That just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they don't love each other, and just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do love each other.
I Believe ... That we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change .
I Believe...That no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.
I Believe...That true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.
I Believe... That you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.
I Believe. . .That it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.
I Believe...That you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.
I Believe... That you can keep going long after you think you can't.
I Believe...That we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.
I Believe...That either you control your attitude or it controls you.
I Believe...That heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.
I Believe...That money is a lousy way of keeping score.
I Believe...That my best friend and I, can do anything, or nothing and have the best time.
I Believe...That sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down, will be the ones to help you get back up.
I Believe...That sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.
I Believe...That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.
I Believe...That it isn't always enough, to be forgiven by others. sometimes, you have to learn to forgive yourself.
I Believe...That no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief.
I Believe...That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but, we are responsible for who we become.
I Believe...That you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life Forever.
I Believe.. .Two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.
I Believe...That your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don't even know you.
I Believe...That even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you - you will find the strength to help.
I Believe...That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.
I Believe...That the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.'
The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything!

Weather and Moods

2008-10-10T08:03:00.003-05:00

Is it just me or can we never be happy with the weather? When it is cold I long for warm weather, to be able to go to the lake and wear shorts and BBQ. Then once it is hot I long for winter so I am not sweating my arse off. I do love Fall but it is such a quick season.
I love the change of seasons. I told the hubby that I wouldn't marry him until I saw all of his seasons. I believe people change with the seasons. Nothing could be worse than being with someone that turned into a total ass in winter, when you are all stuck in the house.

Tagged

2008-10-03T07:42:00.003-05:00

I was tagged
Here are the rules:
1. Post the rules on your blog
2. List 6 random things about yourself
3. Tag 6 people at the end of your post

1. I love to spend time laughing with my kids and hubby. Unfortunately with the kids getting older we don't do it as often as I would like, but when we do it is so much fun!

2. I want to go back to school and get my nursing degree.

3. I have lived in 20 different houses in the last 20 years!

4. I love the Army life and all the friends I have met along the way.

5. I am going to do the Ft Riley triathalon in 2009, even if it kills me!

6. I need to make time in my life for me.

Now to tag people. I think every one's blog I read has already been tagged so I won't make 6 but I'll do a few.

The Ashmead Family
Ray of Sunshine

Fall

2008-10-01T07:37:00.003-05:00

The first day of October, a little over a week into Fall. Fall is my favorite time of year. I love the cool crisp mornings and warm afternoons. I love the changing of the leaves and watching football. Not just pro or college, I love going to watch our high school football team, but I really love going to watch S play.

That's right little man is playing football this year. I think he is actually starting to like it. This is the first time he has played organized ball. It was a little trying at first. He thinks that he shouldn't have to practice, finally it is not like trying to pull teeth to get him to go. I have a friend that told me she gave her son a choice, he had to play at least one sport weather it be football, soccer, basketball or baseball. If he didn't want to play any of those sports then she was going to sign him up for dance. He is a great football and basketball player now and a junior in high school. So in my infinite wisdom I told S that also, he said OK I'll do dance! WHAT???!!! Thankfully he is still doing football. I think there is too much estrogen in our house.

I Suck at Blogging

2008-09-21T11:06:00.000-05:00

OK I think I really suck at this blogging stuff. I have several blogs I read and they are great. When I try and think of things to write about my mind completely closes down. I don't think I am a dull, boring person but, when it comes to writing I am.
I can carry on a great conversation with a complete stranger from politics to the difficulties of having teenage girls. So why is it so hard for me to write a simple blog? I guess nothing interesting is going on in my life, yet I go non stop everyday!

Gambling

2008-09-15T07:41:00.002-05:00

Hubby and I went to Kansas City Friday night. We went to a casino. We are not gamblers but some 28Th Regiment veterans treated us along with the Commander and his wife to a night at the casino. We had a wonderful time but I wonder what people see in gambling.
Now I grew up about 90 miles from Reno so I have been around casinos my whole life. I never thought much about gambling. My grandparents would go to Reno at least once a year and we would drive over to see them. I thought this was great because my grandpa would always give me a $5 chip to get ice cream.
As we walked around the casino that night I couldn't believe all the people there. We did do a little gambling, we both had $20 to gamble with. How boring it was to sit there and just punch a button. At least on the poker machine you were able to select cards to hold. Needless to say we did not win anything.
One of the vets wife was telling me that she saw this gal win $3000 one time. The lady that won said she was so happy she had won since she had spent 10 hours there and had gambled all her money she had, to include her rent money. Now how can you do that? What in the world would can you be thinking the gamble your rent money? The lady had said she sent her daughter home twice to get more money!
I guess I shouldn't be surprised since I had heard all kinds of stories growing up about people doing this. Maybe that is why I'm not a gambler. Thanks mom for all the horror stories growing up! You have saved me thousands of dollars I am sure!

I Still Remember

2008-09-11T11:23:00.002-05:00

I remember where I was.

I remember crying.

I remember what I was doing when I heard the news.

I remember crying.

I remember turning on the TV and watching those planes hit the World Trade Center.

I remember crying.

I remember wondering what on earth is happening.

I remember crying.

I remember feeling an overwhelming since of loss.

I remember crying.

I remember holding my kids tight.

I remember crying.

I remember mourning for my fellow Americans.

I remember crying.

I remember, I hope everyone else does too.

Favorite day

2008-07-30T11:29:00.004-05:00

Today is Wednesday, hump day, the middle of the week, only two more work days till the weekend. Why is it that everyone is in the best work mood on Wednesday? Is it because you have come off the let down that you are back to work after a weekend, but still to soon to get pumped up for the weekend?
I get several emails a month with little questionnaires to fill out, there is always the question on there of what is your favorite day of the week? How can you really have a favorite day? I have so many things going on that some weeks none of the days are my favorite and then I may have week that has more than one.
I think my favorite day is the days when my hubby comes home from work and is not in Iraq or in the field or TDY! I love it when the kids aren't complaining about something or fighting. So needless to say with two teenage girls and one smart little boy that doesn't happen much. But I do Cherish the days when it does.
So today is a great day! Even if it is the middle of the week.

Two Days till Monday

2008-06-27T16:21:00.004-05:00

Happy Friday! So here ends another week. I love Fridays, everyone in the office is usually in such a good mood. How does one day do that for people? Because just two days later everyone is bluh. No matter how great their weekend is or isn't they are never as chipper as they are on Friday. I have one guy here at work that tells me every Friday, "Only two days till Monday". Some weeks I am really happy to see Monday. I guess when you are a working wife and or mom (outside the home) the weekend is just two days to catch up on all the things at home you weren't able to get to during the week.
I always have a long list of things to do for the weekend. Laundry being the number one. I really don't mind doing laundry, I don't even mind folding clothes it's the putting them away that gets to me. Now you would think that dear hubby would be able to at least put his own clothes away or at the very least, seeing the clothes basket full of folding laundry, pick it up and take it to our room...................No this almost never happens. Why can't he put my clothes away for once? I know in what drawer to put all his clothes, is it that difficult to figure it out? Open a drawer nope, that doesn't have the shirts in it, open another! As you know you never mention this to him because "he works all week!" Well HELLO so do I!! I don't dirty all the clothes by myself!!! At least I have the girls trained to do their own laundry.
OK enough of the ranting about laundry! I don't think it will get done this weekend anyway because it is summer and that means going to the lake all day! I guess laundry will get done sometime, at least I have enough clean clothes to wear!
Have a great weekend, and remember Only two days till Monday!

The Black Lions in France

2008-05-27T15:45:00.005-05:00

90 years ago 28th Infantry Regiment, Black Lions, were in France where they liberated a small town from the Germans during WWI. On Sunday my hubby took a color guard from Ft Riley over to France. Tomorrow the town will dedicate a statue to the 28th IN Regiment in memory of this event. Along with 1-28 IN BN from Ft Riley, KS, 2-28 IN BN from Germany will also be there. When they get back I will post some photos.
Hubby called today to tell me how great it is. They are all having a wonderful time. The guys had wanted to go to Paris on Thursday before they fly back home but have decided that they would rather stay in the town they are in to spend more time with the veterans of the 28th. I am so glad that these soldiers are having this once in a lifetime experience. More to come on this next week.
I hope everyone took the time yesterday to remember all of our veterans that have giving the ultimate sacrifice for our great country!

Prom

2008-05-20T09:34:00.004-05:00

The girls went to prom a couple of weeks ago. They looked beautiful, of course I think they always do :o) They picked out their own dresses and didn't break the bank doing it. With them being so close in age it is like having twins, two of everything for every event. Here are two pictures of them. One with their dates and one with their proud papa.

Want Another Baby????

2008-05-08T14:38:00.002-05:00

I went to a function last night and a very dear friend was there with her new bundle of joy. She asked if all I wanted to do was hold a baby? I told her that was all! I am done having babies. I have several friends who have had or going to be having babies. I am very happy for them and the babies are very cute, but I am DONE!! With two teenage daughters that are only 19 months apart and one little guy (9) I am done with the baby business. I have had my turn with all of that and am glad it is done.
I am perfectly content with holding every one's babies and then giving them back. Hopefully I have a few years until I am a Grandma. Of course the girls say they are never having kids, and I remember saying the same thing. If they choose not to have kids that is alright with me. I don't think being a parent is for everyone. I hope they at least keep that thought until they are at least 25! It only lasted till I was 20!
To all the mother's I know, Have a Happy Mother's Day!!

Just For This Day By Sally Meyer

2008-05-06T08:40:00.002-05:00

Just for this day.
Just for this morning, I am going to smile whenever I see your face and laugh when I feel like crying.
Just for this morning, I will let you wake up softly, all rumpled in your flannel and I will hold you until you are ready.
Just for this morning, I will let you choose what you want to wear, and smile and say you're beautiful.
Just for this morning, I am going to step over the laundry, and pick you up and take you to the park to play.
Just for this morning, I am going to eat a huge breakfast , with bacon eggs, toast and waffles, and you don't have to eat any.
Just for this morning, I will leave the dishes in the sink, and let you teach me how to put that 100 piece puzzle together.
Just for this afternoon, I will unplug the telephone and keep the computer off, and sit with you in the garden blowing bubbles.
Just for this afternoon, I will not yell once, not even a tiny grumble when you scream and whine for the ice cream truck, and I will buy you one if he comes by.
Just for this afternoon, I won't worry about what you are going to be when you grow up or who you might have been before your diagnosis.
Just for this afternoon, I will let you help me bake cookies, and I won't stand over you trying to 'fix' things.
Just for this afternoon, I will let you put all kinds of barettes in my hair, and put lipstick on my face, and I will tell you how pretty you have made me look.
Just for this afternoon I will take you to McDonalds and buy us both a Happy meal so you can have both toys.
Just for this evening, I will hold you in my arms and tell you a story about how you were born, and how much we love you.
Just for this evening, I will let you splash in the bathtub and not get angry when you throw water over your sister's head.
Just for this evening, I will let you stay up late while we sit on the porch swing and count all the stars.
Just for this evening, I will bring you glasses of water, and snuggle beside you for three hours and miss my favorite show on t.v.
Just for this evening, When I kneel down to pray, I will simply be grateful for all that I have and not ask for anything, except just one more day.
Sally Meyer
C. 1999.
No portion of this poem may be reproduced, copied, or forwarded, without express written permission by the author.

Funny Things

2008-05-06T07:54:00.003-05:00

As you know I like to laugh and make people laugh. Unfortunately not everyone gets my sense of humor. If you are a politically correct kind of person you probably shouldn't read this.

One of my favorite things to do is people watch. Now there is an art to this, you just can't go out and blatantly stare at people. Part of the fun of people watching is to not get caught doing it. Some of my favorite places to people watch is Wal Mart on a payday Friday night. Here are some of the things I have seen on such a night.

1. Lots and lots of people who think it is perfectly OK to go shopping in their PJ bottoms. Now not just any Jammie bottoms, the ones that say Jim Beam on them and you can tell that they are wearing them as pants ALL day long. By the looks of these "pants" you can tell that this is not the first time they have worn them out.

2. Slippers, not the "house shoe" type either. Slippers that are fluffy, pink and very much a slipper. Why won't people just slip on some flip flops? What drives them to go out in their slippers? Slippers are made to wear in the house to keep your floors clean so wearing them out to Wal Mart kind of defeats this purpose.

3. No bra! Now I am not talking about girls that haven't had 3 or 4 kids and are all perky. I am talking about the gal who has had 3 or 4 kids and has never lost the "baby" weight and is now sporting 36 longs!

4. The bathing suit. Now I have run into Wal Mart with my bathing suit on, with shorts on also, to grab some ice or soda before we head out to the lake. I am talking about the people that go shopping in their swim suits, carts full and doing full fledged shopping. Stopping in every department. Why would you go shopping in your swim suit. The word "swim" is in there for a reason! Plus the fact that some of them don't have a mirror or a good friend at home to tell them that they DO NOT look as hot as they think they do!

Patriot Riders

2008-04-15T08:27:00.004-05:00

Yesterday I went with the Hubby and the Patriot Riders to escort 7 buses of soldiers home. It was great. How wonderful to stand on the over pass waving as they drove down the interstate and then jump on our bikes and ride along side of them waving and seeing their smiling faces. They are so happy to be home. We then led the buses for awhile down the interstate. We broke away and got to the gate of Ft Riley just in time to dismount and salute our American Heroes as they drove on base.

The Patriot Riders then left (it is a pain to get on base with out a sticker) Hubby, another friend and I got on the bikes and then led the buses to the re-deployment ceremony. It was so great and I am so happy I ducked out of work for the afternoon to do this!! I think that the soldiers really appreciated it.

April Showers

2008-04-10T12:56:00.002-05:00

Ah April, what is the saying "April showers bring May flowers"? I don't think that downpours are really April showers. Hopefully all the flowers that have started to bloom last through the heavy rains, hail, frost and possible snow!
So this is the beginning of "tornado season", what the heck!!! Now I am from California and I am not a big fan of the tornado season. People from the Midwest always tell me, "well you have earthquakes in California". Well hello we don't have "earthquake season". There is something wrong with have a natural disaster season. Needless to say I am scared to death of tornadoes. I told the hubby that we need to get the laundry room stocked up with supplies just in case. I would rather be prepared just in case. I asked a co worker the other day how long is the tornado season? He tells me it lasts thru June, good lord I have to deal with this for 4 months??!!!! So now every time it rains and the wind starts blowing (we're in Kansas the wind blows ALL the time), I am a nervous wreck. I am so glad we bought a house with a basement.
I will let you know if we visit Oz and I will give the wizard your best. I am hoping the ruby red slippers fit me!

My Sisters

2008-03-25T11:16:00.001-05:00

Time passes.

Life happens.

Distance separates.

Children grow up.

Jobs come and go.

Love waxes and wanes.

Men don't do what they're supposed to do.

Hearts break.

Parents die.

Colleagues forget favors.

Careers end.

BUT.........

Sisters are there,

no matter how much time and how

many miles are between you.

A girl friend is never farther away

than needing her can reach.

When you have to walk that lonesome valley and you

have to walk it by yourself, the women in your life

will be on the valley's rim, cheering you on,

praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on

your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the

valley's end.

Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk

beside you...Or come in and carry you out.

Girlfriends, daughters, granddaughters,

daughters-in-law, sisters, sisters-in-law, Mothers,

Grandmothers, aunties, nieces, cousins, and extended

family, all bless our life!

The world wouldn't be the same without women, and

neither would I. When we began this adventure called

womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or

sorrows that lay ahead. Nor did we know how much we

would need each other.

Every day, we need each other still.

Short and very sweet:

There are more than twenty angels in this world.

Ten are peacefully sleeping on clouds.

Nine are playing.

And one is reading this right now.

Happy days

Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we should dance....

Spring Is In The Air

2008-03-25T09:08:00.003-05:00

I am hoping that this statement is true. I am so ready for Spring. I think we all are. I just love the warmer days and I can't wait for boating season.
We have a boat. It is a pontoon boat that is not new with a little motor on it, the kids laugh because we can't go more than 15mph with it, but it is a boat and we all enjoy it. Last summer when the hubby was gone Em and I would take it out. Of course Spenc would have a friend along as would Em. I loved showing up at the dock and pulling the truck around. I would have it lined up and we would all jump out and start our preparations to get it in the water. It never seemed to fail that there would be some guys around that thought a couple of chicks couldn't get that big pontoon in the water by themselves. Well they were wrong! We had it all figured out and could get it backed up, started and off the trailer in no time flat! GO GIRL POWER!!!
So here we are one weekend out on the lake. We take the boat to a beach you can only get to by boat. Everyone goes to this beach and hangs out. It is lots of fun for the kids because their friends go out there and Spenc can swim and play in the sand. Sorry back to my story, Em brings her friend Shi with her. Now Shi has a pool, they opted for a pool instead of a boat, so she comes out to the lake with us. So here we are cruising around looking for a place to park and we see this really old pontoon. So Shi pipes up and says "Wow and I thought your boat was old!" Well needless to say Em and I at the same time said "Well at least we have a boat!" Shi was quite embarrassed by her comment but Em and I just laughed!
Old boat or not I hope that the kids will remember our summer lake trips for years to come. I know they are all looking forward to this summer with dad home so we can camp also. I really didn't think I had it in me last year to camp with the kids by myself. I'm sure I could have done it, I just didn't have the energy.
So here is to warm weather, camping, boating and good times! I hope everyone has a wonderful Spring and the rain, snow and cold go away soon!

The Final Count Down

2008-03-03T07:59:00.002-06:00

Here we are at that wonderful exciting time of the deployment........HOME COMING!!! We are at the one week countdown, it is a time of excitement and slow days! Why is it when you want time to go fast it feels like the clock is tick.................tocking? My wonderful hubby will be leaving Iraq very soon then he will be heading home. We can't wait to see him.

I do have the same emotions I think that every military spouse has, has he changed? Have I changed? How are the kids going to react to having him around again? Will it be the same? How will it be different? Of course we have all changed and it will be different. No one can leave for over a year and not change. I think the biggest adjustment will be with the girls. Having two young ladies in the house is a big adjustment for everyone, even if you have been with them everyday. They are becoming their own person and ready to be an adult. Of course they don't really understand what it means to be an adult.

I heard this song on the radio the other day and it is such a good song. I can't remember the name of it but it says you're going to miss this. It basically goes on about a 17 yr old in the car with her mother saying how she can't wait to be an adult and on her own, and her mother is telling her "You're going to miss this, these are the best days of your life to try and grow up so fast". Then it kind of takes you thru her being a newly wed and still looking ahead and not enjoying where she is in her life right now, the last one is the kids are screaming she has the repair guy there and the repair guy is telling her the same thing her mother did when she was a teenager, you're going to miss this, believe it or not you are.
So I really started thinking about it, life goes by so fast and you really need to enjoy the here and now, because you do miss those things that you have already been through. I don't think I will miss this past year plus with out my husband/best friend, but I do think I will miss the time that the kids and I got to spend together. We all did a lot of changing this year. I am just sorry that he had to miss so much of the changing with the kids, it is something that we will never be able to get back.
Well you can't change the past you can only keep moving forward and as my dad always tells me your ass gets really red from kicking it for things you should have done!

For All My Military Sisters

2008-02-26T16:05:00.006-06:00

Things Not To Say To A Military Spouse

1. "Aren't you afraid that he'll be killed?"

(This one ranks in at number one on the 'duh' list. Of course we're
afraid. We're terrified. The thought always lingers at the backs of our
minds ---but thanks brilliant, you just brought it back to the front.
Maybe next you can go ask someone with cancer if they're scared of
dying.)

2. "I don't know how you manage. I don't think I could do it."

(This is intended to be a compliment. Though, its just a little
annoying. Here's why: it's not like all of us military wives have been
dreaming since childhood of the day we'd get to be anxious single moms
who carry cell phones with us to the bathroom and in the shower. We're
not made of some mysterious matter that makes us more capable, we just
got asked to take on a challenging job. So we rose to the challenge and
found the strength to make sacrifices.)

3. "At least he's not in Iraq."

(This is the number one most annoying comment for those whose husbands
are in Afghanistan. What do they think is happening in Afghanistan? An
international game of golf? Guys are fighting and dying over there.)

4. "Do you think he'll get to come home for Christmas/anniversary/birthday/birth of a child/wedding/family reunion, etc?"

(Don't you watch the news? No! They don't get to come home for any of
these things. Please don't ask again.)

5. "What are you going to do to keep yourself busy while he's gone?"

(Short answer: Try to keep my sanity. Maybe there's a military wife out
there who gets bored when her husband leaves, but I have yet to meet
her. For the rest of us, those with and without children, we find
ourselves having to be two people. That keeps us plenty busy. We do get
lonely, but we don't get bored, and drinking massive amounts of wine
always helps keep me busy.)

6. "How much longer does he have until he can get out?"

(This one is annoying to many of us whether our husbands are deployed
or not. Many of our husbands aren't counting down the days until they
"can" get out. Many of them keep signing back up again and again because they
actually love what they do or they VOLUNTEER AGAIN and AGAIN to go back
to Iraq b/c there is work that needs to be done.)

7. "This deployment shouldn't be so bad, now that you're used to it."

(Sure, we do learn coping skills and its true the more deployments
you've gone through, the easier dealing with it becomes. And we figure
out ways to make life go smoother while the guys are gone. But it never
gets 'easy' and the bullets and bombs don't skip over our guys just
because they've been there before. The worry never goes away.)

8. "My husband had to go to Europe for business once for three weeks. I
totally know what you're going through."

(This one is similar to number two. Do not equate your husband's three
week trip to London/Omaha/Tokyo/etc. with a 12-15 month or more
deployment to a war zone. Aside from the obvious time difference,
nobody shot at your husband or tried to blow him up with an I.E.D., your
husband could call home pretty much any time he wanted to, he flew
comfortably on a commercial plane, slept between crisp white sheets and
ate well, paying for everything with an expense account. There is no
comparison. We do not feel bonded to you in the slightest because of
this comment and, if anything, we probably resent you a bit for it.
Comparing a 12 month combat deployment to a few weeks business trip is
like comparing a shitty ford Taurus with Mercedes convertible.)

9. "Wow you must miss him?"

(This one also gets another big 'duh'. Of course we miss our men. There
are some wives who do not and they're now divorced.)

10. "Where is he exactly? Where is that?"

(I don't expect non-military folks to be able to find Anbar Province on
a map, but they should know by now that it's in Iraq. Likewise, know
that Kabul and Kandahar are in Afghanistan. Know that Muqtada al Sadr
is the insurgent leader of the Mahdi Army in Iraq and that Sadr City is
his home area. Know that Iran is a major threat to our country and that it
is located between Afghanistan and Iraq. Our country has been at war in
Afghanistan for seven years and at war in Iraq for five years. These
basic facts are not secrets, they're on the news every night and in the
papers every day ---and on maps everywhere.)

11. "Well, he signed up for it, so it's his own fault whatever happens
over there."

(Yes, ignorant, he did sign up. Each and every day he protects your
right to make stupid comments like that. He didn't sign up and ask to
be hit by anything, he signed up to protect his country. Oh, and by the
way, he asked me to tell you that 'You're welcome.' He's still fighting
for your freedom.)

12. "Don't you miss sex! I couldn't do it!"

(hmmm, no i don't miss sex. I'm a robot. seriously...military spouses
learn quickly that our relationships must be founded on something
greater than sex. We learn to appreciate the important things, like
simply hearing their voices, seeing their faces, being able to have
dinner together every night. And the hard truth is, most relationships
probably couldn't withstand 12 months of sex deprivation.)

13. "Well in my opinion....."

(Stop right there. Hello, I didn't ask for you your personal political
opinions. Hey, I love a heated political debate, but not in the grocery
store, not in Jamba Juice, not at Nordstrom, not in a bar when I'm out
with my girls trying to forget the war, and CERTAINLY NOT AT WORK. We
tell co-workers about deployments so when we have to spend lunch hours
running our asses off doing errands and taking care of the house, dog,
and kids, they have an understanding. We do not tell co-workers and
colleagues because we are giving an invitation to ramble about politics
or because we so eagerly want to hear how much they hate the President,
esp. while we're trying to heat up our lean cuisines in the crappy
office microwaves.)

last but not least....

14. "OH, that's horrible...I'm so sorry!"

(He's doing his job and he's a bad ass. Don't be sorry. Be appreciative
and please take a moment out of your comfortable American lives to
realize that our soldiers fight the wars abroad so those wars stay
abroad.)

Mortgage Oh Wonderful Mortgage

2008-01-31T14:19:00.001-06:00

So we finally did it! We will close on our new monthly payment, what can go wrong next money pit. In other words we bought a house. We did this via instant messaging, phone calls and emails. The poor hubby hasn't even seen the house. How trusting he is to let me pick it out.
Any one that knows me at all knows that once I have set my mind to something it is pretty hard to get me to change it. I think I did very well for being a first time home buyer. We will close on our new home on the 7th of Febuary and be moved into to it before he comes home in March.
When he left last year we lived in one home, when he came home for R&R we lived in another and now we will be in yet another house for his final homecoming. I joked with him and told him I would leave his truck with a strip map and a key to the new house in it and he would have to find it on his own. He didn't think that was funny.
We will be moving into a 2,560 sq ft five bedroom three bath home with a full walk out finished basement on just at an acre of land out by the lake. As usual there is plenty to do before we can actually move in. One being paint, paint, paint! I am enlisting the help from several of my friends to accomplish this task.
We are very excited to finally have our own home. Where we can paint the walls any color we want with out the worry of thinking about painting them back in 2-3 years to move yet again. Once we are in I will post a picture of it. I'm sure there will be lots to share after this experience. Wish me luck!!

Party, Party, Party

2008-01-14T07:46:00.000-06:00

Do to the ice storms we had in December a couple of Christmas parties were canceled. Oh excuse me, Holiday Parties! Any who that is a whole other issue.
On Friday we had my Company Holiday make up party. Now I work for a great company and we have the best parties. So I went and helped decorate on Friday afternoon and then went back at 6:30pm for the party. My friend wanted to ride together but I decided to drive myself. I don't like being at the mercy of someone else. If I want to leave sooner or later than that person I want to have that option. I actually didn't even know if I would be able to drive home but wanted to keep it open just in case I could.
So let me back up a little. I really hate trying to find something to wear to parties. My weight goes up and down so having something that is appropriate that fits is always a guessing game. Low and behold I found a dress in my closet that fit and was perfect. I hadn't been able to get in this dress for probably almost 4 years. So it was like having a new dress with out the cost! BONUS!! Then you have to go through the whole hair thing, another thing that I hate. Thank goodness for teenage daughters! I did state that I didn't want to look like a teenage wanna be. She did a good job and I was happy with it. Another first.
We get to the party and I go right away to get a beer, can't do the wine thing and a mixed drink is a big no no for me. I know I have to function the next day for another party that includes kids. Can't have the kid screaming thing with a hang over. Well 4 beers later I feel pretty good. There was lots of dancing and socializing. I had a good time but something was missing..........my husband. It's hard to explain but you feel like you are missing part of you when your partner isn't with you. I love to go out with him. There are two things that I love about going out with him. First he always tells me how beautiful I look and when someone else says you look great it doesn't mean the same as when he does. Secondly I love to go home after a party and talk about it. We laugh and laugh and I miss that.
So all in all it was a good party. My girlfriend did end up driving me home in my car. The next day I did have a slight hangover and had to deal with the screaming kids but it was nice to see them all having such a great time. So even though they were both suppose to be Holiday parties in December it really didn't matter that they were in January, it just mattered that we all got together and had a good time.

None of That Sissy Crap

2008-01-09T16:08:00.000-06:00

Are you tired of those sissy "friendship" poems that
always sound good, but never actually come close to reality?
Well, here is a series of promises that actually speak
of true friendship. You will see no cutesy little smiley faces on this card-
no teddy bears, no hearts, no rainbows, no angels-(Bible angels are NOT babies! )

Just the stone cold truth of our great friendship.

1. When you are sad -- I will help you get drunk and
plot revenge against the sorry bastard who made you sad.

2. When you are blue -- I will try to dislodge whatever
is choking you.

3. When you smile -- I will know you are plotting
something that I must be involved in.

4. When you are scared -- I will rag on you about it
every chance I get.

5. When you are worried -- I will tell you horrible
stories about how much worse it could be until you quit whining.

6. When you are confused -- I will use little words.

7. When you are sick -- Stay the hell away from me until
you are well again. I don't want whatever you have.

8. When you fall -- I will point and laugh at your
clumsy ass.

9. This is my oath.... I pledge it to the end.
"Why?" you may ask;
"because you are my friend".

Friendship is like peeing your pants:
everyone can see it, but only you can feel the true warmth.

Best Commercial Ever

2008-01-02T08:02:00.000-06:00

I just received an email from my sister titled the best commercial ever. I have seen it before and it is very touching. Maybe even more so for me because I have witnessed it first hand when my husband and his fellow soldiers came home for R&R (rest and recuperation). I had had asked my husband if they received this kind of welcome at the other two airports he stopped at before he got to us. He told that he had and that Atlanta was OK, this seems to be a very unfriendly airport as I have traveled through there before. He also landed in Dallas and said that was the best. I guess at that airport there are quiet a lot of people that go there everyday to welcome home the military personal that arrive back from Iraq. A girlfriend of mine lives in Texas and her and her children have gone to Dallas to welcome home the service members coming home. Her husband is in Iraq right now with mine. So here is her story about when her husband came home for R&R.
My girlfriend has three children ages from 10 to 3. The boys are the oldest and then little bit is a beautiful little girls who's smile lights up her face. Now they had gone to Dallas to go to six flags and while there they went to the airport to welcome home soldiers this past summer. In October they went back and my girlfriend told the kids that they were going to go and welcome home the soldiers again (they had no idea that their Daddy was coming home). The first day they went was not the day he came home. The people that arrange this were informed by my girlfriend that her husband was coming home and that the kids did not know. The kids of course were asking when is daddy coming home? The second day they went the people there had them go to the front and told them since it was their second day there that they should be in front. The people on the other side knew what was going on so they had her husband be the last one to come through the door. Well you can imagine what her 4th grader did when he realized that it was his daddy coming threw the door, he went and tackled him just then the other two kids realized it was daddy and they too jumped on him. From what I hear from my girlfriend there wasn't a dry eye in the place. Even writing about it right now I still tear up.
Please keep all of our military members and their families in your thoughts and prayers. It is a hard life but one with so many rewards. Don't ever hesitate to tell a military person or their family members that you appreciate what they do, you have no idea what it means to them to hear it.
May 2008 bring you good health and happiness!

House Hunting

2007-12-28T08:50:00.000-06:00

We have decided to buy a home here in Kansas. I thought this would be fairly easy finding the "right" home for us......WRONG!! I did everything you are suppose to do, I got pre-approved and got a real estate agent. But finding a home is a lot harder than I thought. I have waited a long time to buy a house, this is no small investment and after 20 years of moving I am ready to buy a house that I want to stay in at least for more than 3 years. I really think that people have a delusional perception of what their home is worth, or should I say what I am willing to pay. I found a house that I really liked. I offered them quite a bit less than what they were asking, of course they countered but didn't come close to what I want to pay. I guess they feel that everyone will love a purple family room with a 3' x 3' crappy patch job on the ceiling, and countless other things that need to be fixed and updated. I keep hearing it's a buyers market right now, so I guess I will just sit tight and wait. I'm not in a hurry, maybe after that house has sat on the market for another 4-5 months my offer won't be looking that bad to them. All I can do is wait and see. Until then the search continues...................

I finally did it

2007-12-26T09:52:00.000-06:00

So I finally broke down and decided to do this blog thing. I am a horrible writer but I am hoping this helps. I was happy to see it has spell check!
So here it is the day after Christmas, of course the kids and I did this one alone again. As all my military sisters know this isn't uncommon for us. Another mile marker down on the deployment cycle.
I have to say it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. My kids didn't even say "is that all" after they opened their Christmas presents! We did have snow on the ground if only in patches. I had a couple of girlfriends over who's husbands are also deployed. All in all it was a good Christmas the only thing that could have made it better is if the hubby was home.
Happy Holidays to all and may the New Year bring you happiness and joy!