The gym is my friend, the gym is my friend, the gym is my friend... Maybe, if I keep repeating it I will believe it.
You got it. I am working at taking off all the pounds I want to put on at Christmas. (Not quite, but you'll understand in a moment.) This Christmas is my first Christmas home in a couple of years. Being deployed last year, DD and Johnathan were the only ones who were able to celebrate with my family. Johnathan loves Christmas with my family because "they do it right". Both my mother's mom & dad and my Dad's mom live in the same small community - as does about 100 of my other relatives (give or take 300! - hehehe). So, Christmas is a wonderful time to see every one and catch up. My brother and sister live close by - everyone is close so you can go visit them without having to jump in the car for another 500 miles or another trip to the airport. Needless to say - I am excited because it seems like forever since I have really been able to talk to them, much less see them. E-mailing and even handwritten letters do not make up for seeing them. AND the smell of the houses at Christmas...MMMMMMMM! Between all the cooking, the trees and THE SNOW!! I miss it.
The boys are so excited to see snow again. If we get it here - it is 6" or less and about once a season if we are lucky. But, remember the 40% chance of rain that caused the school closures here? That is even worse - let it be forcasted to freeze and mist - CLOSE EVERYTHING - BUY OUT ALL THE GROCERIES, STOCK PILE CANDLES, RAID THE PROPANE TANKS AROUND TOWN.... it goes nuts. Then if there is actually snow.... well, you can guess how silly it gets. Going back home just tells me that I am not nutso to think that these North Carolinians are a bit psycho when it comes to weather! (hehehe- sorry I still love all of you, you just WAY over react to FORCASTS!! Dude, they are rarely right anyway!)
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!
the gym is my friend, the gym is my friend, the gym is my friend....
Thursday, October 27, 2005
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Can You Say SUCKA'??
Yep, that's me - today I was a sucka'. With the boys in Pre-School, Dazjah and I go to the MotherRead time every week together. Usually it is me and 4-7 other mamas... we gab a little, we talk about our childhood, about lessons we teach our kiddos, about different parenting methods, read a children's book, talk about its underlying messages (yep, you got it - an I'm-a-big-girl-reading-and-analyzing-children's-books bookclub!). Anyway, this morning was the typical meeting until the time to leave approached.
Now, one thing I left out, this little MotherRead group meets at my kiddos pre-school.
Zephan's teacher comes in and asks if we are finished. Yep, I tell her that we are all on our way out and that we will be out of her hair momentarily. Silly me, I thought that she needed the room! No, No, No - She hints that we are leaving early this time... and then it comes... would you mind cutting out some pictures/figures that I had laminated. I figure, hey - I had planned on this taking another half hour anyway - sure I'll help her out!
I shoulduv' known!! Fifty - YES FIFTY - feet of laminated barnyard animals then procedes to be carried into the room. AND 2 pairs of scissors - so that I can cut with my right AND my left at the same time!! Lucky ME! - SUCKA'!!
Needless to say, we were there so long that DD had her first school lunch! She loved the grape juice!! AND she knows where the teachers hide their purses. She knows where the keys are hidden that open the snack cabinets. She even knows how to turn the laminating machine on! - Yes all this and she isn't even 2 yet! Bloody Brilliant little curly Sue - Me, I'm just a sucka'.
Oh, and did I mention that on my way into the classroom I was hit up to run a "fall festival booth"?? Who am I kidding, I will love playing Count the Pumpkins with 3 and 4 year-olds!! Shoot, I love saying 1,2,3,7 - hehehehe. By Monday I will have something figured out as to how I will be able to make it through counting from 1-20 over 80 times in 2 hours... ANY IDEAS?? SUCKA'
**DO NOT get me wrong, I love helping out my kiddos teachers, and I will love seeing their faces when they count the correct number of pumpkins - and I can give them prizes - then I AM THEIR HERO!! (along with the other 20 parents who will be running other booths). This is simply a blog about me laughing at my own poor time management/non-ability to say, "how about we set up a time when I can come in without my other cherub (DD) who will demolish the room while I assist you."
Now, one thing I left out, this little MotherRead group meets at my kiddos pre-school.
Zephan's teacher comes in and asks if we are finished. Yep, I tell her that we are all on our way out and that we will be out of her hair momentarily. Silly me, I thought that she needed the room! No, No, No - She hints that we are leaving early this time... and then it comes... would you mind cutting out some pictures/figures that I had laminated. I figure, hey - I had planned on this taking another half hour anyway - sure I'll help her out!
I shoulduv' known!! Fifty - YES FIFTY - feet of laminated barnyard animals then procedes to be carried into the room. AND 2 pairs of scissors - so that I can cut with my right AND my left at the same time!! Lucky ME! - SUCKA'!!
Needless to say, we were there so long that DD had her first school lunch! She loved the grape juice!! AND she knows where the teachers hide their purses. She knows where the keys are hidden that open the snack cabinets. She even knows how to turn the laminating machine on! - Yes all this and she isn't even 2 yet! Bloody Brilliant little curly Sue - Me, I'm just a sucka'.
Oh, and did I mention that on my way into the classroom I was hit up to run a "fall festival booth"?? Who am I kidding, I will love playing Count the Pumpkins with 3 and 4 year-olds!! Shoot, I love saying 1,2,3,7 - hehehehe. By Monday I will have something figured out as to how I will be able to make it through counting from 1-20 over 80 times in 2 hours... ANY IDEAS?? SUCKA'
**DO NOT get me wrong, I love helping out my kiddos teachers, and I will love seeing their faces when they count the correct number of pumpkins - and I can give them prizes - then I AM THEIR HERO!! (along with the other 20 parents who will be running other booths). This is simply a blog about me laughing at my own poor time management/non-ability to say, "how about we set up a time when I can come in without my other cherub (DD) who will demolish the room while I assist you."
Sunday, October 23, 2005
B-A-D Timing
What does one wear to lunch with the General?? NOT SWEATS!!
Well - just another story of me and my wonderful timing in life will follow!!
As many around me know, Johnathan and I try to do lunch one day a week. Sometimes it falls on his early Tuesday and other times we just squeeze it in over his lunch hour. Dazjah is always with us, so it tends to be a kid friendly, a.k.a. VERY CASUAL, place. Well, last week, I got a little too comfy!
Johnathan called me at about 9-ish to see if we could have lunch together. It was a pretty good day, the only possible catch is that I would be coming from the gym. He said sweaty was fine - we were just going to a Indian place, the smell of the food would totally hide my sweat! *Yeah right!!* So, at the gym I did my usual 2 hour workout and did a quick re-fresh before heading out to lunch. One problem, forgot my bag with the change of clothes because Dazjah was acting like a booger when we left the house. I figure, no biggie - I have an extra pair of sweats (they have a little paint on them, but they are clean) in my car. Quick change and I am on my way to lunch with my sweetie!
I should have known that the lack of "real" clothes was only another omen .... First, the morning was just hectic; 2) when I walked into the gym Dazjah needed a massive clean-up before I could even start my work-out; 3)when I walked out of the gym the cell phone had 7 missed calls - That was the sign I should not have missed - I am lucky to receive 2 calls before lunch and both of them are usually from Johnathan; 4)When I showed up at the restaurant of choice, Johnathan had been waiting for a half-hour ~ if you knew him, you would understand that this makes hungry caveman very irritable. Blah, Blah, Blah - lets get in there and put some good Indian food in his tummy.
Everything is cool until Daddy and his baby girl go to the bathroom to wash their hands. I get up to get baby girls food and who should spot me but the General himself. General Granger, the one Erik, Curt and I worked for under in Iraq is eating at the little Indian dive! WHO KNEW??!! Well, he and his wife are a bit of social butterflies - as is expected for his position, but he calls me out! Worst part - I looked like the best of the white trash Fayettenam has to offer! They were graceful about it though - cordial and didn't even comment on my new grunge look! Even came over to the table when John and DD returned to meet the family - John in his office/doctorly attire, DD in her cute little 2-year-old girly girl outfit and gorgeous curls and me - in my sweats I use for painting, hair up in workout style fashion, and I am sure the sweet smell of sweat probably broke through my body spray.... yummy!
I am never one to dress up or down to run to the store for the emergency carton or eggs, or to make sure my make-up is just perfect before making the toast in the morning, but I will be darned if I make this mistake again - at least for not ... oh, say the next week or two!
By the way - I have started my next set of classes. My Managed Care and Medical Group Practice Management course has a lively instructor - my favorite quote from him thus far is, "Special is the new stupid."
We have done another day of work in DD's room - she now has something close to a Themed room - the walls are beautiful, the fairy/pixie border is up, there are porcelain pixies suspended from her ceiling, there is the wonderful "netting" draped around her bed, the curtains are hung... now if she would just sleep in there!
Well - just another story of me and my wonderful timing in life will follow!!
As many around me know, Johnathan and I try to do lunch one day a week. Sometimes it falls on his early Tuesday and other times we just squeeze it in over his lunch hour. Dazjah is always with us, so it tends to be a kid friendly, a.k.a. VERY CASUAL, place. Well, last week, I got a little too comfy!
Johnathan called me at about 9-ish to see if we could have lunch together. It was a pretty good day, the only possible catch is that I would be coming from the gym. He said sweaty was fine - we were just going to a Indian place, the smell of the food would totally hide my sweat! *Yeah right!!* So, at the gym I did my usual 2 hour workout and did a quick re-fresh before heading out to lunch. One problem, forgot my bag with the change of clothes because Dazjah was acting like a booger when we left the house. I figure, no biggie - I have an extra pair of sweats (they have a little paint on them, but they are clean) in my car. Quick change and I am on my way to lunch with my sweetie!
I should have known that the lack of "real" clothes was only another omen .... First, the morning was just hectic; 2) when I walked into the gym Dazjah needed a massive clean-up before I could even start my work-out; 3)when I walked out of the gym the cell phone had 7 missed calls - That was the sign I should not have missed - I am lucky to receive 2 calls before lunch and both of them are usually from Johnathan; 4)When I showed up at the restaurant of choice, Johnathan had been waiting for a half-hour ~ if you knew him, you would understand that this makes hungry caveman very irritable. Blah, Blah, Blah - lets get in there and put some good Indian food in his tummy.
Everything is cool until Daddy and his baby girl go to the bathroom to wash their hands. I get up to get baby girls food and who should spot me but the General himself. General Granger, the one Erik, Curt and I worked for under in Iraq is eating at the little Indian dive! WHO KNEW??!! Well, he and his wife are a bit of social butterflies - as is expected for his position, but he calls me out! Worst part - I looked like the best of the white trash Fayettenam has to offer! They were graceful about it though - cordial and didn't even comment on my new grunge look! Even came over to the table when John and DD returned to meet the family - John in his office/doctorly attire, DD in her cute little 2-year-old girly girl outfit and gorgeous curls and me - in my sweats I use for painting, hair up in workout style fashion, and I am sure the sweet smell of sweat probably broke through my body spray.... yummy!
I am never one to dress up or down to run to the store for the emergency carton or eggs, or to make sure my make-up is just perfect before making the toast in the morning, but I will be darned if I make this mistake again - at least for not ... oh, say the next week or two!
By the way - I have started my next set of classes. My Managed Care and Medical Group Practice Management course has a lively instructor - my favorite quote from him thus far is, "Special is the new stupid."
We have done another day of work in DD's room - she now has something close to a Themed room - the walls are beautiful, the fairy/pixie border is up, there are porcelain pixies suspended from her ceiling, there is the wonderful "netting" draped around her bed, the curtains are hung... now if she would just sleep in there!
Sunday, October 09, 2005
White gets the Wipe
This is great!! I came home from the desert and Johnathan had painted a good 80% off all the walls in our house "country white". Now, you should also know that the other 20% are pretty much the exact same color, except there is a hint of grey in "the other white". I say - white is for toilet paper.... that is all it is good for - seeing if your rear end is clean enough to pull your pants back up. Get my drift??
Well, over the last couple of weeks I have been putting some color samples up on the kitchen cabinets, dragging home little pamphlets of room/color scheme ideas... you know how we women do it - subtle suggestions before we go for the knockout idea/punch! (hehehehe!) This morning I went out and purchased a very vivid blue for the kitchen cabinets. Now, don't worry I haven't lost my mind ~ it is only to trim the cabinets with.
I think the desert made me do it... all that time without water, my psyche just needs to feel like it is near. SO , I am going for a bit of a mediterranean feel, trimming the cabinets in vivid blue this week, painting a 1/2 of a wall a cool ocean greenish blue (analogous to the vivid blue) next week... slowly, but surely color will be a part of my life again.
In other breaking color news: Dazjah's room is no longer white either!! Nanny and her hubby J.C. came over Saturday and painted her room pink and purple. I LOVE IT!! I will love it even more when enough of the paint fumes leave her room so she can get out of our bed!! Naw... she is sooooo cute when she is sleeping, but John doesn't get any sleep because she tosses and turns so much!! Her room is a fairy theme! Hey the boys got Dr. Seuss characters hand painted all over their walls - she gets a little mysticism!
So, here I sit in pigtails with paint all over the place! And here is something to make those boys in Iraq jealous - I bought my second 12 pack of Guiness for less than $7 today! Man, am I a bargain drinker, or what??!! A cold, dark beer and paint fumes - who could ask for anything more??? Better turn the house fan on as well!
Well, over the last couple of weeks I have been putting some color samples up on the kitchen cabinets, dragging home little pamphlets of room/color scheme ideas... you know how we women do it - subtle suggestions before we go for the knockout idea/punch! (hehehehe!) This morning I went out and purchased a very vivid blue for the kitchen cabinets. Now, don't worry I haven't lost my mind ~ it is only to trim the cabinets with.
I think the desert made me do it... all that time without water, my psyche just needs to feel like it is near. SO , I am going for a bit of a mediterranean feel, trimming the cabinets in vivid blue this week, painting a 1/2 of a wall a cool ocean greenish blue (analogous to the vivid blue) next week... slowly, but surely color will be a part of my life again.
In other breaking color news: Dazjah's room is no longer white either!! Nanny and her hubby J.C. came over Saturday and painted her room pink and purple. I LOVE IT!! I will love it even more when enough of the paint fumes leave her room so she can get out of our bed!! Naw... she is sooooo cute when she is sleeping, but John doesn't get any sleep because she tosses and turns so much!! Her room is a fairy theme! Hey the boys got Dr. Seuss characters hand painted all over their walls - she gets a little mysticism!
So, here I sit in pigtails with paint all over the place! And here is something to make those boys in Iraq jealous - I bought my second 12 pack of Guiness for less than $7 today! Man, am I a bargain drinker, or what??!! A cold, dark beer and paint fumes - who could ask for anything more??? Better turn the house fan on as well!
Thursday, October 06, 2005
Random Thought Process
Last night, while talking to my sister in Nebraska, we started talking about my last blog. She also thought it was hilarious that a Pre-Pre Kindergarten program would have the photographer take full-body pictures. Whew - I wasn't going mad. But we also were discussing the scenery/background that was used. Boy, she hit the nail on the head on this one - they used a foresty background and the boys were posed on a bolder-like mass (whole different subject). So, not only were my children a mish-mash of fashion trends, they also screamed, "Hey look at me - I'm wearing half a suit in the middle of the wilderness!" Bloody Brilliant - Pass ME a guiness.
Here's another wonderful chuckle maker - my wonderful, kind, thoughtful HAIRY man did a major trim job yesterday. He has a beard, thank you very much. It had been a bit bushy and sinse he was speaking at a symposium today, he decided that he should trim it. Well, yesterday was my Business Law final - that meant I had to cram the studying, writing of my final papers (yeah, 2 of them because I am such a slacker!) and a short speech/presentation into just a couple of hours. Well, I managed all of that, but not without the help of a mountain dew AND a cherry vanilla pepsi! So, by the time class was over - I had to zoom home. (College campus bathrooms are the last place I think a wife/mother should use - I won't say anything more than: Who knows what you could pick up in those stalls!) I run upstairs to use my own bathroom and I find this beautiful, weird mass in the toilet - You guessed it, he shaved~ what had to be equal to an adult male lion's mane~ into our toilet. WHAT THE...?? 1) Obviously my sweetheart thinks that drains don't ever clog 2) ever heard of flushing?? Holy crappola - I laughed so hard I had to really hurry to unbutton those jeans! Gross and hilarious all at the same time... The irony though - he complains about the "Hair spiders" I infrequently leave in the shower - i.e. when the kids are screaming, "MAAAW MEEEEE- I want _________ (you fill in the blank)!"... Okay - so that happens almost everyday.
Here's another wonderful chuckle maker - my wonderful, kind, thoughtful HAIRY man did a major trim job yesterday. He has a beard, thank you very much. It had been a bit bushy and sinse he was speaking at a symposium today, he decided that he should trim it. Well, yesterday was my Business Law final - that meant I had to cram the studying, writing of my final papers (yeah, 2 of them because I am such a slacker!) and a short speech/presentation into just a couple of hours. Well, I managed all of that, but not without the help of a mountain dew AND a cherry vanilla pepsi! So, by the time class was over - I had to zoom home. (College campus bathrooms are the last place I think a wife/mother should use - I won't say anything more than: Who knows what you could pick up in those stalls!) I run upstairs to use my own bathroom and I find this beautiful, weird mass in the toilet - You guessed it, he shaved~ what had to be equal to an adult male lion's mane~ into our toilet. WHAT THE...?? 1) Obviously my sweetheart thinks that drains don't ever clog 2) ever heard of flushing?? Holy crappola - I laughed so hard I had to really hurry to unbutton those jeans! Gross and hilarious all at the same time... The irony though - he complains about the "Hair spiders" I infrequently leave in the shower - i.e. when the kids are screaming, "MAAAW MEEEEE- I want _________ (you fill in the blank)!"... Okay - so that happens almost everyday.
Monday, September 26, 2005
School Picturer Takers: YOU SUCK!!
To all the picture takers who tromp into schools everyday - making sure my kid doesn't have boogers hanging out of his nose for his picture, making sure he doesn't color one of his teeth black so that I can tell the twins pictures apart, LETTING ME KNOW YOUR GOING TO INCLUDE EVERYTHING FROM THE TOP OF THEIR HEADS TO THE TIPS OF THEIR TOES IN THE FRAME - I HATE YOU!! Yeah, I would have appreciated knowing that you were taking a full body shot of my little princes! Maybe then I wouldn't have been so lax about letting them wear their open toed Power Ranger and Beach hoppin sandals with jeans, a button down long-sleeve shirt, tie and a VEST!! They look ridiculous!! Yeah, they looked a little silly goin' out the door that morning, but hey - I had a T-shirt for them to change into after they got their bust shot taken!! Who is in the wrong now??
OH YEAH, and thanks for making them smile so darn cute, even if they do look silly in their get-up! Yeah, the photographer knows I am a sucker - two poses of each of them AND two poses of them posing together!! You can't pass on a photo that will leave your entire family arguing for years over who is who in that photo! Their teachers already argued about it because Divon's little birthmark disappeared (in response to the bright light, I guess). Shoot, I even had to take a second look. (GET THIS!! - Daddy tells everyone that they are not identical - listen, Divon will still tell me that he is Zephan - AND HE MEANS IT!) Not too widely known fact about twins: just because they have separate sacks doesn't mean they are fraternal. If the egg split within the first 72 hours after fertilization - YOU GUESSED IT - you can have two embryos swimmin' around in their own, private pool!! Two sacks, Two babies, IDENTICAL TWINS. When this happens though, you won't know 'for sure' if they are identical or just really similar fraternal twins unless you have a DNA test performed. Well, there is your biology lesson for the day!
Once again, THANKS to all those bubble blowin', duck squeezin', "Say Cheez"in' school photographers! If no one else is able - YOU will keep our economy alive with what I am going to pay for those ridiculously cute photos!
OH YEAH, and thanks for making them smile so darn cute, even if they do look silly in their get-up! Yeah, the photographer knows I am a sucker - two poses of each of them AND two poses of them posing together!! You can't pass on a photo that will leave your entire family arguing for years over who is who in that photo! Their teachers already argued about it because Divon's little birthmark disappeared (in response to the bright light, I guess). Shoot, I even had to take a second look. (GET THIS!! - Daddy tells everyone that they are not identical - listen, Divon will still tell me that he is Zephan - AND HE MEANS IT!) Not too widely known fact about twins: just because they have separate sacks doesn't mean they are fraternal. If the egg split within the first 72 hours after fertilization - YOU GUESSED IT - you can have two embryos swimmin' around in their own, private pool!! Two sacks, Two babies, IDENTICAL TWINS. When this happens though, you won't know 'for sure' if they are identical or just really similar fraternal twins unless you have a DNA test performed. Well, there is your biology lesson for the day!
Once again, THANKS to all those bubble blowin', duck squeezin', "Say Cheez"in' school photographers! If no one else is able - YOU will keep our economy alive with what I am going to pay for those ridiculously cute photos!
Saturday, September 24, 2005
It's Been A Week Already??!!
Holy crappola! I haven't posted in a week... I guess that was a reality check! Time is flying by. (Yeah, Yeah - all the BS isn't letting me off the hook for my lackadasical bloggin'! I know!!)
This week has brought a lot of laughs - My little DD - she is two and KNOWS that she has BIG blue eyes... she will bat them at anyone to get her way. Well, momma has had to put her in her place a couple of times! She is almost two - and she is a tenacious two! This is a little woman who knows exactly what she wants and how she wants it done. Her eyes tell you everything about whether she approves or disapproves, or just doesn't care. I can't imagine where she got those qualities!! hehehehe! Lord, I was gone. Tenacity is genetic - this has proven it!
My little men - well, they are characters. Drama and charisma - Daddy and I are in for some ride with those two. The other day (they are only 3!) they wanted to switch classes for the day. Of course, I told them they cannot do that to their teachers. But, there was a part of me that wanted them to switch and see if they could pull it off! Man, I am just as bad as they are!
So, let me be honest with anyone who may still be checking in: I will post at least once a week, anything more than that is a bonus. But, I will try to leave more comments on your sites, rather than reading and running! Keep me laughing!
This week has brought a lot of laughs - My little DD - she is two and KNOWS that she has BIG blue eyes... she will bat them at anyone to get her way. Well, momma has had to put her in her place a couple of times! She is almost two - and she is a tenacious two! This is a little woman who knows exactly what she wants and how she wants it done. Her eyes tell you everything about whether she approves or disapproves, or just doesn't care. I can't imagine where she got those qualities!! hehehehe! Lord, I was gone. Tenacity is genetic - this has proven it!
My little men - well, they are characters. Drama and charisma - Daddy and I are in for some ride with those two. The other day (they are only 3!) they wanted to switch classes for the day. Of course, I told them they cannot do that to their teachers. But, there was a part of me that wanted them to switch and see if they could pull it off! Man, I am just as bad as they are!
So, let me be honest with anyone who may still be checking in: I will post at least once a week, anything more than that is a bonus. But, I will try to leave more comments on your sites, rather than reading and running! Keep me laughing!
Sunday, September 18, 2005
OK, I hate my girlfriends...
He he he he... not so funny today am I??
Well, trying out a couple of wines with Christina was great, but it is the day after... Love ya' kiddos, what can I shove in your mouth to shut you up? - No, really - my kids are great, but they were whining as we left (they wanted to play in the pool), but it was nap time... and I had to start getting things ready for Monday (school for the boys, library for Dazjah and I - yeah! that means I shower in the morning!!!)
Quick review of the wines... we were trying Elderberry wines. They are something totally new to me. Johnathan and I tried one on Wednesday night when we had dinner with friends. It turned out to be delicious! The smell - well it smelled like red wine table vinegar - but the taste was completely different - tannins were on point (just enough that you knew they were there, but you didn't have to let the bottle breathe for an hour before you took your second sip) I believe it was called White Sambuka. This is one I will definately put on my table again and again! Last night we tried two more... another semi-sweet and a sweet. The semi-sweet, Elderberry wine, was good. Christina and I agreed that it would be great either with before dinner or transitioning from dinner to dessert. However, the sweet one (Muscadine) is not something I will ever try again. I normally enjoy the dessert and sweet wines, but not this one. Tried it at room temp and chilled - neither one had my boat floating... Christina though came up with a recipe for it - and applesauce to it and use it on pork chops! See why I love her!
So, I got about 2 hours of sleep last night - kiddos shot up at 6:15. Thank goodness Strawberries don't need to be cooked! Really, it was an excellent Sunday in spite of me and Christina cackling away with each other until O' Dark thirty this morning. Now, it is off to bed for me..... Sweet Dreams, Sleep Tight, Don't let the Bed Bugs Bite!!
Well, trying out a couple of wines with Christina was great, but it is the day after... Love ya' kiddos, what can I shove in your mouth to shut you up? - No, really - my kids are great, but they were whining as we left (they wanted to play in the pool), but it was nap time... and I had to start getting things ready for Monday (school for the boys, library for Dazjah and I - yeah! that means I shower in the morning!!!)
Quick review of the wines... we were trying Elderberry wines. They are something totally new to me. Johnathan and I tried one on Wednesday night when we had dinner with friends. It turned out to be delicious! The smell - well it smelled like red wine table vinegar - but the taste was completely different - tannins were on point (just enough that you knew they were there, but you didn't have to let the bottle breathe for an hour before you took your second sip) I believe it was called White Sambuka. This is one I will definately put on my table again and again! Last night we tried two more... another semi-sweet and a sweet. The semi-sweet, Elderberry wine, was good. Christina and I agreed that it would be great either with before dinner or transitioning from dinner to dessert. However, the sweet one (Muscadine) is not something I will ever try again. I normally enjoy the dessert and sweet wines, but not this one. Tried it at room temp and chilled - neither one had my boat floating... Christina though came up with a recipe for it - and applesauce to it and use it on pork chops! See why I love her!
So, I got about 2 hours of sleep last night - kiddos shot up at 6:15. Thank goodness Strawberries don't need to be cooked! Really, it was an excellent Sunday in spite of me and Christina cackling away with each other until O' Dark thirty this morning. Now, it is off to bed for me..... Sweet Dreams, Sleep Tight, Don't let the Bed Bugs Bite!!
Friday, September 16, 2005
So I love my girlfriends...
Ok - so me and my girl friend Christina - I love her for her true frienship she has always conveyed... - she liquored me up tonight. We had a great time... friendship, music, drinks, and talking about our men and kiddos... who could ask for anything more???
There were a lot of typos in those couple of sentences... you would have thought I was illiterate.. jhere 'l; show you,.... I woun't edict a couaple of sentecwas. hehehehe... Johnathan had a rugbt game today. I must admit... I was very impressed with his playing. Every time he received the rugby ball he charged forward. Much more than I could say for some of the other guys that were out there. BEAUTIFUL. Only down side is that Christina and I let our men go off and have a little party while she and I stayed here with the kiddos. I love 'em... don't get me wrong, but I would have loved to be with John tonight...
Christina is one of those girlfriends that you have to love.... she knows about being a momma - she knows how to pick a good wine - she knows how to pick a good wine (oops - I guess that you can see the affect of the wines we chose) - she is smart, and she knows how to let it all hang out after the kids have all gone to bed. I love her - she is one of the best gal pals you could come home to hang out with. (Both of out manly men love rugby.)
I didn't get around to SPF... sorry Curt and Eric... really, I have pictures...lots of 'em, but I am trying to get back in my swing of things. Eventually, I will include this as part of it.
OK, funky story for the day... I had to take the boys to the PX (Post Exchange) to go to the bathroom today, right after the rugby game that Bragg Rugby won. In the girls bathroom was a woman dressed up as Bugs Bunny. (Yeah, great! Buggs with a french manicure!) Well, the boys thought that was just SUPER! However, Daddy and the rest of the team and the fans needed explaining when the boys went back to the pitch and told them that there was a rabbit in the potty! For some reason, everyone thought that I had ran over a rabbit with my car. However, I managed to explain that no the boys had actually shared a bathroom with "the BUGS BUNNY". (I think she may have ridden the short bus though.) ...
I hope you all have a great weekend... it is late and I am feelin' great! dON'T WORRY i SENT YOU SOME eRIC AND cURT@! HEHEHEHEHE@1!
There were a lot of typos in those couple of sentences... you would have thought I was illiterate.. jhere 'l; show you,.... I woun't edict a couaple of sentecwas. hehehehe... Johnathan had a rugbt game today. I must admit... I was very impressed with his playing. Every time he received the rugby ball he charged forward. Much more than I could say for some of the other guys that were out there. BEAUTIFUL. Only down side is that Christina and I let our men go off and have a little party while she and I stayed here with the kiddos. I love 'em... don't get me wrong, but I would have loved to be with John tonight...
Christina is one of those girlfriends that you have to love.... she knows about being a momma - she knows how to pick a good wine - she knows how to pick a good wine (oops - I guess that you can see the affect of the wines we chose) - she is smart, and she knows how to let it all hang out after the kids have all gone to bed. I love her - she is one of the best gal pals you could come home to hang out with. (Both of out manly men love rugby.)
I didn't get around to SPF... sorry Curt and Eric... really, I have pictures...lots of 'em, but I am trying to get back in my swing of things. Eventually, I will include this as part of it.
OK, funky story for the day... I had to take the boys to the PX (Post Exchange) to go to the bathroom today, right after the rugby game that Bragg Rugby won. In the girls bathroom was a woman dressed up as Bugs Bunny. (Yeah, great! Buggs with a french manicure!) Well, the boys thought that was just SUPER! However, Daddy and the rest of the team and the fans needed explaining when the boys went back to the pitch and told them that there was a rabbit in the potty! For some reason, everyone thought that I had ran over a rabbit with my car. However, I managed to explain that no the boys had actually shared a bathroom with "the BUGS BUNNY". (I think she may have ridden the short bus though.) ...
I hope you all have a great weekend... it is late and I am feelin' great! dON'T WORRY i SENT YOU SOME eRIC AND cURT@! HEHEHEHEHE@1!
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
Repeat Offender
Well - as we can see, I haven't SPF in a while. I will get it done this week though! I pormise. Last week was Mid-Terms! Yes, Already. Business Law took up so much time. Good thing though - I aced the test!! (Just another point that proves my anal geekiness!)
Ok - here's my pet peeve to blog about today. We all know that Katrina was a real gold diggin' wench of a storm. But, Ophelia?? My children's schools have canceled school for tomorrow. I am glad to have the extra time with them, but c'mon! It is a level 1 - so it's gonna be a bit breezy in my neck of the woods, but other than that - the best they are giving us is a 40% chance of rain. 40% - that is it. Why? Because I don't live on the coast, because I don't own a $3 million dollar beach house that is going to fall down on it's 2x4 stilts that it is sitting on when a 10' wave hits it.... Why are the schools closing down for a 40% chance of rain?? What all of this really means is that I am now doomed because all the water, milk, bread, eggs, etc are going to be gone from the store tonight - so the boys are going to throw a fit when they can't have a PB&J snack because their silly momma didn't think a 40% chance of rain was going to make the store go dry. GRRRRRRRR!
Thats it - I'm done. Sign me up for SPF! Hopefully, I will get a little more out before then. (No promises yet, though!)
Ok - here's my pet peeve to blog about today. We all know that Katrina was a real gold diggin' wench of a storm. But, Ophelia?? My children's schools have canceled school for tomorrow. I am glad to have the extra time with them, but c'mon! It is a level 1 - so it's gonna be a bit breezy in my neck of the woods, but other than that - the best they are giving us is a 40% chance of rain. 40% - that is it. Why? Because I don't live on the coast, because I don't own a $3 million dollar beach house that is going to fall down on it's 2x4 stilts that it is sitting on when a 10' wave hits it.... Why are the schools closing down for a 40% chance of rain?? What all of this really means is that I am now doomed because all the water, milk, bread, eggs, etc are going to be gone from the store tonight - so the boys are going to throw a fit when they can't have a PB&J snack because their silly momma didn't think a 40% chance of rain was going to make the store go dry. GRRRRRRRR!
Thats it - I'm done. Sign me up for SPF! Hopefully, I will get a little more out before then. (No promises yet, though!)
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
SO I'M SLOW
Okie-Dokie... I haven't quite got the schedule down, but tomaroow I will be posting some more pictures. My kids are such hams and I have just got to share. Hopefully the computer is all set up and will cooperate.
Quick story.... we are scolding inanimate objects. For example, this morning one of the twin boys hit his head on the care door as I was droping them off for pre-school. Instead of crying for 10 minutes about it, as soon as the mouth opens for the "I'm so pathetic" bawling I start disciplining the "bad car door". I tell it that it was bad and I will send it to it's room if it doesn't say it is sorry. At 3, the boys find this hilarious.
Well, Saturday we were swimming in the pool at a friends house. My kids are pretty darn good at telling me when they need to use the restroom. Zephan says he has to go. So we quickly dry off and trot into the bathroom. He's 3 - pretty good at the aiming, but not quite perfect yet. Sure enough, he drips a bit on the floor. He then procedes to tell his penis to "Be good, No dripping on the floor, If you don't stop you don't get any dessert!" What?? I just want to know what my son has been feeding his one eyed worm for dessert! I laughed so hard.
To top that off, Dazjah - my in-training pottier asked her daddy to lift her out of the pool. He did. She proceded to squat and do a bit more than just pass gas. Gotta' love the girl for recognizing that ya' party not pooty in the pool! Gosh, what a day for bathroom humor!
Quick story.... we are scolding inanimate objects. For example, this morning one of the twin boys hit his head on the care door as I was droping them off for pre-school. Instead of crying for 10 minutes about it, as soon as the mouth opens for the "I'm so pathetic" bawling I start disciplining the "bad car door". I tell it that it was bad and I will send it to it's room if it doesn't say it is sorry. At 3, the boys find this hilarious.
Well, Saturday we were swimming in the pool at a friends house. My kids are pretty darn good at telling me when they need to use the restroom. Zephan says he has to go. So we quickly dry off and trot into the bathroom. He's 3 - pretty good at the aiming, but not quite perfect yet. Sure enough, he drips a bit on the floor. He then procedes to tell his penis to "Be good, No dripping on the floor, If you don't stop you don't get any dessert!" What?? I just want to know what my son has been feeding his one eyed worm for dessert! I laughed so hard.
To top that off, Dazjah - my in-training pottier asked her daddy to lift her out of the pool. He did. She proceded to squat and do a bit more than just pass gas. Gotta' love the girl for recognizing that ya' party not pooty in the pool! Gosh, what a day for bathroom humor!
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Back to Life
The transition is almost complete... I am back in the US and that makes not only me happy - but also my romantic guy and our wonderful cherubs. This has been a process. The first week or two back - I didn't want to talk to anyone. Well, not anyone other than John and the kids. That made for some hard feelings from John's father. My mom was pretty good about understanding it though... probably because she is use to my independent ways. HOWEVER, I am finally back to the land of the living, breathing, talking people. I guess the fact that I had to talk to get into college again, find a sitter, and get the boys started in pre-school is a good thing. Otherwise, everyone might have thought that my tongue was cut out while I was over in Iraq. I would have never had to talk again... everyone would have thought that I had just became a mute... some people become vegetarians - I became a mute!
The kids are great!! They make me smile and laugh SO much. I think I have taken about 100 pictures that are crap, but it is just my responce to being so glad to see them. I was always the picture taker of our little family. You don't see me in many of them because of that. Johnathan - I love him, but the man cannot take a centered picture of jumping, wiggling children. I have seen his pics from his trip to Israel - I thought he was photogenious!! Not so much with the kids. Well, I am not making this too long... this is my study break from one of my 15 papers for this "in-depth" Business Law class.... WHAT WAS I THINKING?? I came back from working with objects that didn't talk (the computers, Not Eric and Curt) to a class that constantly wants to here the voice of reason from every participant. Great - now I really want to cut my tongue out!
I'm back! Let me know if you are still listening! (That's my way of asking for a "welcome back!!")
The kids are great!! They make me smile and laugh SO much. I think I have taken about 100 pictures that are crap, but it is just my responce to being so glad to see them. I was always the picture taker of our little family. You don't see me in many of them because of that. Johnathan - I love him, but the man cannot take a centered picture of jumping, wiggling children. I have seen his pics from his trip to Israel - I thought he was photogenious!! Not so much with the kids. Well, I am not making this too long... this is my study break from one of my 15 papers for this "in-depth" Business Law class.... WHAT WAS I THINKING?? I came back from working with objects that didn't talk (the computers, Not Eric and Curt) to a class that constantly wants to here the voice of reason from every participant. Great - now I really want to cut my tongue out!
I'm back! Let me know if you are still listening! (That's my way of asking for a "welcome back!!")
Sunday, July 31, 2005
Another "TAG" from Enrique
Man, why didn't he give me this tag first - this one rocks! Literally. I too seem to be a bit of a r&r music lover... but really - I like music like I like people - I either love it or hate it. So, I will try to limit it to 10... that is SO hard (I feel like... 10 when I say that.).
1. Cowboy Mouth (I heard them today - much love to the military dj who played it!)
2. Bush
3. Cake
4. Norah Jones
5. Susan Tadeschi (Sorry Sue - I think I slaughtered you last name... I'll look it up and fix it later though. - AND REALLY SHE IS #1 ON MY LIST.)
6. Stevie Ray Vaughn
7. Diana Krall
8. 7 Mary 3
9. Enigma
9.25. SmashMouth
9.5. Enya
9.75. PapaRoach
10. Jewel
10. Metallica
OK - there they are my favorite 10. Thanks Erik - LOVED THAT!
1. Cowboy Mouth (I heard them today - much love to the military dj who played it!)
2. Bush
3. Cake
4. Norah Jones
5. Susan Tadeschi (Sorry Sue - I think I slaughtered you last name... I'll look it up and fix it later though. - AND REALLY SHE IS #1 ON MY LIST.)
6. Stevie Ray Vaughn
7. Diana Krall
8. 7 Mary 3
9. Enigma
9.25. SmashMouth
9.5. Enya
9.75. PapaRoach
10. Jewel
10. Metallica
OK - there they are my favorite 10. Thanks Erik - LOVED THAT!
A little smile
How did I know... I visited play.com this afternoon and guess what little treasures I found there? Well, besides another version (silver plated or sterling silver.. I forget) of the ballscratcher I also found out that this UK company is selling acres of the MOON, MARS and VENUS. Isn't that just a unique little gift? How is stock on property on the moon doing these days? Are property expenses going up? You can buy an acre for something close to $15 (USD). Mars and Venus though are a little more expensive? Hmmm, wonder why that is. Seems it should be the other way around... Given, Mars and Venus are further away, so they probably don't have the same gangsta' problems, horrible commute times, and sanitation problems that the moon does. But lets face it - the property values should be cheaper on Mars - NO WATER - hello - NO INDOOR PLUMBING!! At least on the moon the russians can even make a water delivery. Seriously though, if anyone has Donald's (Trump) number they might want to give him a call and tip him to the sale on the moon acreages.
OOOOH, they also had a Hot Plate & 4 port hub USB gizmo. Gotta' get one of those. It'll keep my coffee hot while I am bloggin', writing papers for my classes (YEAH, I will be starting my senior year when I get back!). A USB connection can do all that? WHO KNEW? I love those rascally europeans! All the more reason to kill all the terrorists in the world, as far as I am concerned.
** Just so y'all know... the farewell went well. It was as short & sweet as possible, so I am only sun & wind burnt slightly. Curt & Erik were great - they had a lot if pre & post BBQ tasks to do. THANX!
OOOOH, they also had a Hot Plate & 4 port hub USB gizmo. Gotta' get one of those. It'll keep my coffee hot while I am bloggin', writing papers for my classes (YEAH, I will be starting my senior year when I get back!). A USB connection can do all that? WHO KNEW? I love those rascally europeans! All the more reason to kill all the terrorists in the world, as far as I am concerned.
** Just so y'all know... the farewell went well. It was as short & sweet as possible, so I am only sun & wind burnt slightly. Curt & Erik were great - they had a lot if pre & post BBQ tasks to do. THANX!
Saturday, July 30, 2005
Enrique's Tag
OK - Here they are...
TURN ON:
*Muscular shoulders - I like a guy who makes me feel secure.
* Seeing my kiddos laugh with/at their daddy.
* Watching Johnathan laugh
* A gorgeous smile
OK - I am in Iraq... maybe I should make the TURN ONs list once I get back home and remember what that is.
TURN OFF: (this is the easy part, I have been subjected to them for the past year!)
* wimpy-ness (in character, personality, ethics, morals)
* stupidity/ignorance
* hypocrisy
* hoochie-mama/pimp daddy dressin'
* trying to be something you are not (frontin', posers)
* sleaziness
* blatant liars
* b.o. (ok - I am pretty use to this after the temps here for the last 2 months)
* just not taking care of yourself... you know the ones who have toilet mouth (we are not talking about swearing)
OK - in all honesty... I just don't think about these things that much. I either like ya' or I don't. I don't pretend, I don't sugar-coat... and I don't kiss butt - I treat ya' nice if you are worth it. I am not someone who thinks that you should tell everyone how great they are (lie) - I believe you should recognize the people in your life who mean something to you, who friendship is valued and respected by both sides, whose personalities align with your own morals. Stand for what you believe in, IS THAT SO HARD? (Sorry, it is still Saturday)
TURN ON:
*Muscular shoulders - I like a guy who makes me feel secure.
* Seeing my kiddos laugh with/at their daddy.
* Watching Johnathan laugh
* A gorgeous smile
OK - I am in Iraq... maybe I should make the TURN ONs list once I get back home and remember what that is.
TURN OFF: (this is the easy part, I have been subjected to them for the past year!)
* wimpy-ness (in character, personality, ethics, morals)
* stupidity/ignorance
* hypocrisy
* hoochie-mama/pimp daddy dressin'
* trying to be something you are not (frontin', posers)
* sleaziness
* blatant liars
* b.o. (ok - I am pretty use to this after the temps here for the last 2 months)
* just not taking care of yourself... you know the ones who have toilet mouth (we are not talking about swearing)
OK - in all honesty... I just don't think about these things that much. I either like ya' or I don't. I don't pretend, I don't sugar-coat... and I don't kiss butt - I treat ya' nice if you are worth it. I am not someone who thinks that you should tell everyone how great they are (lie) - I believe you should recognize the people in your life who mean something to you, who friendship is valued and respected by both sides, whose personalities align with your own morals. Stand for what you believe in, IS THAT SO HARD? (Sorry, it is still Saturday)
Timing is EVERYTHING
So I haven't posted anything recently... I will get to the "tag, your it" Erik gave me later. I have to spout for a moment about the past week. It's not going to be funny - so if your looking for a laugh try me again tomorrow.
Here's the thing... I am getting ready to go home. That means that I am going back to the people I love and cherish the most. The people who have managed through thick and thin, to make it without their momma, his one-and-only Heather - me for a year now. My children and Johnathan mean the world to me - not this job and not some menial detail like picking up cigarette butts (no, I am not a smoker) and ribs (you've sat there and looked at it for 2 weeks and NOW you are asking ME to pick it up - who needs help with this picture?). Fine I did the police call for the Farewell you are throwing me. Yeah, there is just something a little funky with that picture. The other two who are leaving with me had to go pick up all the food, beverages and ice for the party that is being thrown for them. Is it just me or is there something a little off with this picture? Why does this bother me so much? I guess it is just the fact that one of the personnel acts like he is doing us this BIG favor by doing this. A) We didn't ask for a party - as a matter of fact we asked for something more subtle - like a movie night with popcorn and sodas - where the people we actually liked and appreciated could just hang out and have a relaxing evening with us. (Actually - I first asked for a pool party up in the IZ - we don't have a pool that we are allowed to swim in here at our base. And you know what I think about these Bar-B-Q's in the desert heat, but hey! - Throw one anyway!) B) Many of the people we REALLY enjoyed working with have already left. Because I was out on missions - I didn't even get to attend there farewell - yeah, maybe I am a little bummed about that. But I can deal with it. C) Because we have been trudging around in the heat for the past two days I am completely nauseated. The heat and the sun do not react kindly with me. I will have a hard time stomaching anything this evening, but I will because Erik and Curt have been tasked out all day to make this thing happen. I guess maybe people forget that when you get to this stage - you really start focussing on the real people in your life, the ones that you have a life-long commitment and responsibility to. That is part of what is eating me... their are only 4 people left here that I really have/want to say "thanks for everything, I'll miss you when I finally get out of here." I just wish they would let us leave more quietly in this case. Don't try to make a splash out of a ripple.
We are suppose to be getting ready to return to our families. For the 3 in my group - that is a different scenario for each of us. Johnathan has been handling all of this so well, but I can tell he is feeling pressure from being a single daddy right now. I will always be amazed with how well he has handled this. I wasn't so sure when I left - I don't think he was either. Not in his parenting, but just with the fact of doing it all alone. I wish there was something I could say or do that would really encompass my love and respect for him. Charish - is the only word that comes to mind right now, but that is not enough. It is more than just that. But I'll just get him liquored up and take advantage of him... HA! No, but really... we have birthdays to celebrate, holidays missed, holidays coming up, more birthdays coming up... I wish there was a way to give it all back to each of them. To celebrate the things like 4th of July in the middle of August with Johnathan and the kids... then the week after that: Valentine's Day, then St. Paddy's... you see what I mean.
Don't worry - I have mad a promise to post another "FUN" post tomorrow.
Here's the thing... I am getting ready to go home. That means that I am going back to the people I love and cherish the most. The people who have managed through thick and thin, to make it without their momma, his one-and-only Heather - me for a year now. My children and Johnathan mean the world to me - not this job and not some menial detail like picking up cigarette butts (no, I am not a smoker) and ribs (you've sat there and looked at it for 2 weeks and NOW you are asking ME to pick it up - who needs help with this picture?). Fine I did the police call for the Farewell you are throwing me. Yeah, there is just something a little funky with that picture. The other two who are leaving with me had to go pick up all the food, beverages and ice for the party that is being thrown for them. Is it just me or is there something a little off with this picture? Why does this bother me so much? I guess it is just the fact that one of the personnel acts like he is doing us this BIG favor by doing this. A) We didn't ask for a party - as a matter of fact we asked for something more subtle - like a movie night with popcorn and sodas - where the people we actually liked and appreciated could just hang out and have a relaxing evening with us. (Actually - I first asked for a pool party up in the IZ - we don't have a pool that we are allowed to swim in here at our base. And you know what I think about these Bar-B-Q's in the desert heat, but hey! - Throw one anyway!) B) Many of the people we REALLY enjoyed working with have already left. Because I was out on missions - I didn't even get to attend there farewell - yeah, maybe I am a little bummed about that. But I can deal with it. C) Because we have been trudging around in the heat for the past two days I am completely nauseated. The heat and the sun do not react kindly with me. I will have a hard time stomaching anything this evening, but I will because Erik and Curt have been tasked out all day to make this thing happen. I guess maybe people forget that when you get to this stage - you really start focussing on the real people in your life, the ones that you have a life-long commitment and responsibility to. That is part of what is eating me... their are only 4 people left here that I really have/want to say "thanks for everything, I'll miss you when I finally get out of here." I just wish they would let us leave more quietly in this case. Don't try to make a splash out of a ripple.
We are suppose to be getting ready to return to our families. For the 3 in my group - that is a different scenario for each of us. Johnathan has been handling all of this so well, but I can tell he is feeling pressure from being a single daddy right now. I will always be amazed with how well he has handled this. I wasn't so sure when I left - I don't think he was either. Not in his parenting, but just with the fact of doing it all alone. I wish there was something I could say or do that would really encompass my love and respect for him. Charish - is the only word that comes to mind right now, but that is not enough. It is more than just that. But I'll just get him liquored up and take advantage of him... HA! No, but really... we have birthdays to celebrate, holidays missed, holidays coming up, more birthdays coming up... I wish there was a way to give it all back to each of them. To celebrate the things like 4th of July in the middle of August with Johnathan and the kids... then the week after that: Valentine's Day, then St. Paddy's... you see what I mean.
Don't worry - I have mad a promise to post another "FUN" post tomorrow.
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
Discovery Launch
Blog 2005
Originally uploaded by twinsleymom.
All eyes in the office were locked onto the TV during the launch this evening. Even now, while the news is reporting the story of the successful launch, all ears are locked onto what they are reporting. We only get 6 channels and nobody cares what is on the other 5.
Yep, that is Curt standing there evaluating the launch. Everyone was in awe over just how quickly it blasted away from earth. The comments were always referencing look how far, look how fast... OHP - the fuel tanks are gone, it was clean. I am so glad it went well. I don't think any of us could have taken it if something had gone wrong. What they say about space exploration and advancement is true. If something tragic occurs it kills a little piece of our hope in the future, our imagination. But I think it is even more crucial for those of us that are serving over here. The heavens always inspire. The skies do not restrain. Hope as a nation, hope for the future, hope for ourselves just seems more possible when things like this launch succeed. Call it positive energy, call it karma, call it luck, talent... I don't care. It feels great and I am so proud to be part of a nation that reaches for it's dreams.
At this moment I wish I could be near Johnathan and our children to share all this excitment, emotion... I hope they were able to see it. An event like this just makes ME feel like a kid again.
Silly Office Shrine
Blog 2005
Originally uploaded by twinsleymom.
SO much to blog about... what's up with that pic? Well - it is a little representative of my time here. Of course the American flags because I am American. The bobble-head Jesus came from my friend Davey. That man can send a care package (it included some really HOT salsa, smoked salmon, tea cookies, gormet crackers, yo-yos...). I met Davey in Korea and he has one of the best senses of humor a man can have. Their is a story behind the bobble- head Jesus and a song that he use to sing. The jist of it is that as long as the bobble head Jesus is with us we are not bothered by the threats here. The camel is Erik's and, of course, represents the desert we are in. The British flag - well Erik had picked some up and we figured that since this is a multi-national forces base we would include it. Now, I know, you are dying to know why Jesus is holding the US flag and the Camel is holding the Brit's. Well, lets just say rock, paper, scissors was involved.
I received the bigger US Flag inside a box from Treats for Troops. THEY ROCK! First - I open the box and it has a couple of big bags of peanuts and raisins. Mind you, these are not treats I rave about, but if you remember I love to put stuff in my Kettle Korn. We all get excited when we see not 1, not 2, but 3 containers 'Country Time Lemonade'. Great!! Nothing like a nice cold one in this heat. And since there isn't a cold beer any closer than a 3 hour flight away - Lemonade Rocks! OOOOHHH - but then I spy (with my little eye) a wonderful little treat. These people know what I want... I see two little baggies of Burt's Bees products. The little Head to Toe Starter Kit - Yummy!! AND the Burt's healthy treatment facial care kit.... I don't know who they hired or who runs this group that packs these boxes, but they nailed it as far as I am concerned. There was also some sunscreen (crucial in this area of the world), lip balm - I almost forgot... they also sent Erik's coffee a competitor. It is a tea called "Morning Thunder". NO JOKE. I am scared to drink this stuff. Only thing that came to my mind was "why THUNDER?" I went on to read the box... oh, no... it contains many references to this tea being "moving", "unpredictable", "changing", "charging", "spilling over the edges"; being harmonious with nature... this stuff screams toilet time will be approaching. I can't wait to try a cup! (Did I mention there is a buffalo on the box?)
wooly bully, wooly bully, wooly bully
Monday, July 25, 2005
Kettle Korn Concoction
Just wanted to let all of you know exactly why I chose the title. My mom - gotta' love her - has kept me supplied with my favorite tasty treat since January. THANK YOU!! However, I am not big eater of it plain outta' the bag - ok, yes I am ... but, I like to add extras to it if I can.
My all time favorite is CRAISINS! Man, I love those little gumps of pure heaven - hehehehe - but I do love 'em. Probably my second favorite is to add dark chocolate M&Ms. I didn't even know they made such things until one of the guys here in the office received a couple of packages of them - I think they were the "Darth Mal" ones or something... anyway - they were great! Then there was the time that I got completely outrageous and added BOTH Craisins AND Dark Chocolate M&Ms - Watch out - Mad woman on the loose. Well, that is what these bland men in the office thought.
Geesh - I know all you moms out there probably make little treats/snacks - fruit, fiber and some sweetness - I have always done the cereals (you know, what is left at the bottom of the box, but not enough for a bowl) plus whatever dried fruit we have in the house and in the summer the colored marshmellows left over from Hot Cocoa season. It is a good thing I am going home though - I only have 4 packets of craisins left - You know what - that is how they should determine when your tour is over. They give you a 6 month to 1 yr. supply of your favorite snack - when it is finished - you get to go home... Yeah, bonus points to those who can get their friends to eat extras!!
Curt would have a year's supply of chocolate chip cookies and sardines - he would finish the chocolate chippers in no time flat, but the sardines would keep him here an extra 6 months - but the smell of all those sardines would make us all wish that he would have left 9 months early.
Erik - he would have a year's supply of coffee and cake. - Although he would love to finish them off in about a week, I think that as long as the cake stayed moist, he might take his time and finish it off in about 2 months. Of course, you know from my previous posts that he would not gain a single ounce from eating all of that cake (because of the sludge he calls "coffee" he pours into his intestines everyday).
Oh, Well! Just another manic monday...woah, ohh Wish it were a Sunday ....
My all time favorite is CRAISINS! Man, I love those little gumps of pure heaven - hehehehe - but I do love 'em. Probably my second favorite is to add dark chocolate M&Ms. I didn't even know they made such things until one of the guys here in the office received a couple of packages of them - I think they were the "Darth Mal" ones or something... anyway - they were great! Then there was the time that I got completely outrageous and added BOTH Craisins AND Dark Chocolate M&Ms - Watch out - Mad woman on the loose. Well, that is what these bland men in the office thought.
Geesh - I know all you moms out there probably make little treats/snacks - fruit, fiber and some sweetness - I have always done the cereals (you know, what is left at the bottom of the box, but not enough for a bowl) plus whatever dried fruit we have in the house and in the summer the colored marshmellows left over from Hot Cocoa season. It is a good thing I am going home though - I only have 4 packets of craisins left - You know what - that is how they should determine when your tour is over. They give you a 6 month to 1 yr. supply of your favorite snack - when it is finished - you get to go home... Yeah, bonus points to those who can get their friends to eat extras!!
Curt would have a year's supply of chocolate chip cookies and sardines - he would finish the chocolate chippers in no time flat, but the sardines would keep him here an extra 6 months - but the smell of all those sardines would make us all wish that he would have left 9 months early.
Erik - he would have a year's supply of coffee and cake. - Although he would love to finish them off in about a week, I think that as long as the cake stayed moist, he might take his time and finish it off in about 2 months. Of course, you know from my previous posts that he would not gain a single ounce from eating all of that cake (because of the sludge he calls "coffee" he pours into his intestines everyday).
Oh, Well! Just another manic monday...woah, ohh Wish it were a Sunday ....
Sunday, July 24, 2005
Packin Up
Seems like everyone has been moving in the blogs I have been reading lately. Well, I AM TOO!! Ohhhhhh, it is so close.... So I am packin up my 6x6 - how the heck did I ever accumulate so much crap in such a small space??? There are some things that you look at and go - "definately goin' home with me" - other things "Where the heck did that come from" - yet other - "trash - why isn't it already there??"
One of the guys who is headed home at the same time laughed because I was taking home my good shampoo, conditioner, body lotions, etc... he was all condescending saying, "yeah, I don't know why you sent that stuff back." This coming from the guy who sent back 100 movies (haji copies - cost us a buck or two each) where some of them didn't even play. OK - this is starting me on another (off the subject) rant.... What is up with people who think that everything they like, and ONLY everything that THEY like, is cool? They come off as condescending pricks and then get all upset and act like you've sucker punched them if you throw it back at them. This guy even goes so far as to think you should love the food he likes, love the same music (the crap rap, the re-makes that sound like the chipmunks singing a previously good song - yeah, love it - not so much...) As a matter of fact, if you have a food on your plate that he doesn't like - he makes a loud barfing sound - not just gagging - actual up-chucking sound. Lovely! STFU already - you don't like it - that's why you didn't put it on your plate. Get over yourself!! ahhhhhh.... anyway.
So I had some crap that at first I couldn't remember where the heck it came from. One of them was a feminine wash (yes - wash - as in similar to body wash, but for our "feminine areas"). However, I never bought it - so I began thinking... where did this come from?? Oh yeah - the OLD roomie gave it to me when she left... who passes on feminine body wash?? I only kept it because I was trying to decide how I could throw it away without the haji's seeing it. Why did I even care what a haji thought of some feminine wash?? (The haji's, "local national males", go through our trash when they pick it up. - It isn't hard to figure out which room the stuff comes from there are only two garbage cans for every 6 people.) Needless to say - the haji's will be outside my room laughing about it tomorrow morning - it is in the trash. Back to the packing for me - the rest of you - hope your weekend went "swell". (Eddie Haskel style) hehehehe!
One of the guys who is headed home at the same time laughed because I was taking home my good shampoo, conditioner, body lotions, etc... he was all condescending saying, "yeah, I don't know why you sent that stuff back." This coming from the guy who sent back 100 movies (haji copies - cost us a buck or two each) where some of them didn't even play. OK - this is starting me on another (off the subject) rant.... What is up with people who think that everything they like, and ONLY everything that THEY like, is cool? They come off as condescending pricks and then get all upset and act like you've sucker punched them if you throw it back at them. This guy even goes so far as to think you should love the food he likes, love the same music (the crap rap, the re-makes that sound like the chipmunks singing a previously good song - yeah, love it - not so much...) As a matter of fact, if you have a food on your plate that he doesn't like - he makes a loud barfing sound - not just gagging - actual up-chucking sound. Lovely! STFU already - you don't like it - that's why you didn't put it on your plate. Get over yourself!! ahhhhhh.... anyway.
So I had some crap that at first I couldn't remember where the heck it came from. One of them was a feminine wash (yes - wash - as in similar to body wash, but for our "feminine areas"). However, I never bought it - so I began thinking... where did this come from?? Oh yeah - the OLD roomie gave it to me when she left... who passes on feminine body wash?? I only kept it because I was trying to decide how I could throw it away without the haji's seeing it. Why did I even care what a haji thought of some feminine wash?? (The haji's, "local national males", go through our trash when they pick it up. - It isn't hard to figure out which room the stuff comes from there are only two garbage cans for every 6 people.) Needless to say - the haji's will be outside my room laughing about it tomorrow morning - it is in the trash. Back to the packing for me - the rest of you - hope your weekend went "swell". (Eddie Haskel style) hehehehe!
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