Hobbies

Hobbies are a good thing, we all should have them.

She's leaving on a jet plane....

Okay so no this isn't my puppy but still this is the EXACT same face she gave me from her travel crate this morning when I was dropping off and helping my spouse check in at the airport at o'dark-thirty this morning. With the summer months approaching, her furry little body, and our PCS we had to take her back to the states early. July is too late in the summer and much to warm for the airlines to allow a pet to fly...And before you ask there is no way in hell the dog would fit under the seat, crap she'd take up two seats if she thought she could sit in the cabin - just so she could have room to stretch out before napping (and after chasing the food cart, the kids, and the attendants who made cute "awww" noises at her).

She will spend the spring and early summer with Gram and Gramps who have a full acre and the infamous cousin 'Bailey Dog.' I miss my puppy already, what the hell will I be like with kids?

Faith, Timing & Biology

Without getting graphic, the spouse and I took a somewhat scary step for us – the attempt to get pregnant over the weekend. It was weird in the sense that we are so anal retentive, to have so much planned out and then to just “see what happens” is really frightening for me. Yeah I know, “Haven’t you just…because? Or got caught up in the moment and forgot?” The answer to that is: No, we haven’t. We have never thrown caution to the wind when it came down to babies; it’s all been planned out, budgeted for and controlled.

Right now we have no control, it’s all based on timing, biology and faith – that scares the crap out of me. Honestly this is weird, I can’t control when we conceive (not totally), I can’t take a stick test everyday just to see where we are at in this whole process, its just so unnerving to have so little visible control. To bad I can’t conceive on a scheduled day and time...Heaven help this poor kid when it finally makes to the world with such a Type A Mommy! Oh well, at least we get to practice…and practice makes perfect (or a baby in our case).

Still waters creates inbreeding

Oh hell, I did not know the nepotism ran so deep on my frickin’ team! While absent mindedly listening to a co-worker talk to someone else in the building I just saw (okay heard really) how much the old boss was stacking the house with her friends on our team...

A female hire we shall call “Willow” is the girlfriend of her best male friend who works in the IT section (Do we still wonder how she got such easy access to my PC to search it while I was out on R&R Leave?). Nice favour don't you think, hiring your friend's girlfriend?

The newest hire we shall call “3” is good friends with another male friend whom she babysits their kids all the time. They all party in the same circles

She parties with an assistant on our team we shall call “Mrs Powers” as well as partying with the male we shall call “T.” These two are having an affair (it may be over now, I dont travel in that cirlce anymore)even though Mrs Powers is married. Don't even ask me to comment on this one.

Lastly my current boss who swears to me that she is quite aware of the moral deficiencies of the old boss still has lunch with the old boss at least once a week…yet she tells me to “trust” in her, that she knows my quality of work and that the old boss had personal issues with me. She will make sure that I get a good job reference where ever I end up. I have to wonder though if you lie down with dogs don’t you eventually end up with fleas?

And people wonder why I seem a little paranoid?

Parallel Lives

Damn, Sgt Hook has some deep readers....

Your alarm goes off, you hit the snooze and sleep for another 10 minutes.
He stays up for days on end.
__________________________
You take a warm shower to help you wake up.
He goes days or weeks without running water.
__________________________
You complain of a “headache”, and call in sick.
He gets shot at, as others are hit, and keeps moving forward.
__________________________
You put on your anti-war/don’t support the troops shirt, and go meet up with your friends.
He still fights for your right to wear that shirt.
__________________________
You make sure your cell phone is in your pocket.
He clutches the cross hanging on his chain next to his dogtags.
__________________________
You talk trash on your “buddies” that aren’t with you.
He knows he may not see some of his buddies again.
__________________________
You don’t feel like helping out your dad today, so you don’t.
He does what he is told.
__________________________
You walk down the beach, staring at all the pretty girls.
He walks the streets, searching for insurgents and terrorists.
__________________________
You complain about how hot it is.
He wears his heavy gear, not daring to take off his helmet to wipe his brow.
__________________________
You go out to lunch, and complain because the restaurant got your order wrong.
He does not get to eat today.
__________________________
Your maid makes your bed and washes your clothes.
He wears the same things for months, but makes sure his weapons are clean.
__________________________
You go to the mall and get your hair redone.
He doesn’t have time to brush his teeth today.
__________________________
You are angry because your class ran 5 minutes over.
He is told he will be held an extra 2 months. He does as he is told.
__________________________
You call your girlfriend and set a date for that night.
He waits for the mail to see if there is a letter from home.
__________________________
You hug and kiss your girlfriend, like you do every day.
He holds his letter close and smells his love’s perfume.
__________________________
You ditch class to go to a movie.
He goes where he is told.
__________________________
You roll your eyes as a baby cries.
He gets a letter with pictures of his new child, and wonders if they’ll ever meet.
__________________________
You criticize your government, and say that war never solves anything.
He sees the innocent tortured and killed by their own government and remembers why he is fighting.
__________________________
You hear the jokes about the war, and make fun of the men like him.
He hears the gunfire and bombs.
__________________________
You see only what the media wants you to see.
He sees the bodies lying around him.
__________________________
You are asked to go to the store by your parents. You don’t.
He does what he is told.
__________________________
You stay at home and watch tv.
He takes whatever time he is given to call and write home, sleep, and eat.
__________________________
You crawl into your bed, with down pillows, and try to get comfortable.
He crawls under a tank for shade and a 5 minute nap, only to be awakened by gunfire.
__________________________
You sit there and judge him, saying the world is a worse place because of men like him.
If only there were more men like him .

H/T Sgt Hook

I am the donut, koo-koo-ka-choo

You Are a Caramel Crunch Donut

You're a complex creature, and you're guilty of complicating things for fun. You've been known to sit around pondering the meaning of life... Or at times, pondering the meaning of your doughnut. To frost or not to frost? To fill or not to fill? These are your eternal questions.

What Donut Are You?

What kind of beer are you?

It's Friday damn it have a little fun!

You Are Guinness

You know beer well, and you'll only drink the best beers in the world. Watered down beers disgust you, as do the people who drink them. When you drink, you tend to become a bit of a know it all - especially about subjects you don't know well. But your friends tolerate your drunken ways, because you introduce them to the best beers around.

What's Your Beer Personality?

Thank you, what vacation?....and baby update

Thank you, no a BIG THANK YOU to all the well wishers and friends on the return of my spouse! There are a few folks that I met through blogging who have made me laugh, made me cry and kept me sane during deployment. For them I thank them very much! I am excited beyond all belief that I finally get to sleep night after night next to a snoring, cover thief, with cold arsed feet. It has been my dream ever since I was a little girl. Honestly, I love that he is home cold feet and all.

I am pondering the thought about whether to keep blogging or not. Not a lot of folks comment much anymore so I am either really boring or readers are just really afraid of me. I am looking at moving towards documenting our upcoming move and of course the trials and errors of having kids. I am still up in the air and will have to think a little more as to how much time I can spend kvetching about the goofy things in life. It is a really good release for me but I can journal instead if I am just looking at a release of frustration, emotions or energy.

As for taking time off in general, folks I can’t. Work is not in a situation where they can actually let me go spend days with the spouse. With the Army transformation of Europe going where it is and what I do for a living, I am a VERY busy girl. If I could be home I would, but its not in the cards at the moment.

I spent one day at home taking another test called a HSG to look at the anatomical makeup of “my baby making stuff” on Monday. That was about the extent of my staying home with the spouse – getting poked, prodded and told to hold still…and don’t forget to breath. The good news is that this is the second test to show that there are no uterine abnormalities or issues with the tubes. The bad news is the Radiologist said my cervix was abnormal according to him. This is the third doc to say this, but I am now at the point where I ask is abnormal just another way of saying “healthy, but atypical anatomically?”

I am waiting to hear back from the OB/GYN to tell me to go forward and reproduce at will & hopefully it won’t be long now to hear those words. Especially since we all know that "practice makes perfect," right?

You will be visited by three ghosts...

WTF? Every time I turn around my old boss is in the damn building. It's like being visited by the ghost of Christmas past, with the annoyance of the ghost of Christmas future.

I need to get something done and honestly, I ignored anything she had to say when I was talking to my current boss. Actually I didn't really hear what she said (I am sure my selective hearing probably helped out on that) but continued down the hall to find the answer myself for the pure and simple fact that I'd rather drown then ask for her help.

Yes I know don't burn bridges, don't ignore help and let it bite you in the arse. But seriously, there is a long list of things that she has done or has done to me that are unprofessional and in some circumstances, kinda shady. I can't say that I really want help from someone whose moral compass seems to be stuck somewhere between self-serving and Hades.

I would rather let her fade away into the dust and move forward learning and growing from a more positive role model. There are plenty of other people in this building who could serve as a great role model/mentor.

So Marley's ghost needs to get a life and stay the hell out of my building....

Happy Days, He's home!

I woke this morning with a knot in my gut and the wired feeling of an 80’s Wall Street trader high as a kite. He is coming home….he’s coming home…he’s coming home, kept rolling through my mind. I called into the boss, gave her my notice that I wouldn’t be there and started to get things done.

I had one essay question to finish on my midterm and sat on the couch in an outfit that no one should ever attempt again. My hair was done, contacts in (which were older than dirt and hurt like hell – but I looked good so it was worth it), a nice top, it fit well with just enough cleavage, but not too much, a pair of sweats and my “hooker boots.” They are a pair of nice suede boots that come up just below the knee with a 3 inch heel – hooker boots are just the what most of my friends would jokingly call them.

The first call came in, “Sorry it’s so early, they are on their way.” I knew I had a little time to keep writing on my essay and just keep myself in check. The second call came in a couple of hours later, “Sorry, they have been delayed. The new show time is 1400.” I actually breathed a sign of relief I could, work on the paper a little more. An hour after that I got a call stating that they made up some time and would be landing in an hour.

I changed out of the sweats and into the skirt, grabbed the brownies I made last night, a sign for the man and a sign for a friend, my camera and kissed the dog goodbye. I then proceeded to go to the bathroom, like six times before I even left the house. The last time I was this nervous I was eight and my mom was piercing my ears. I think it took twenty minutes between ears because I kept having to “go” when I really didn’t at all.

I finally arrived, reconned my seat so no poles would get in the way while I took photos, and sat down. You could feel the emotions in the air and cut them with a knife. Everybody was damn happy to be there and we all were bursting to see our soldier. Every time someone came to the podium the crowd instantly hushed, no one wanted to miss what was said. General West wandered about, introducing himself, asking who we were waiting for and what section they worked in. I snapped a few of him talking to other spouses just because I could and I like taking photos of people. And we just continued to wait.

As that hanger door opened I jetted out of my seat, dropped to one knee and started taking pictures. One of the press members tapped his leg on mine so I knew he was there, two others hovered in and around me – I must have been a sight for the spouse, the press snapping photos and the wife smack dab in the middle looking like a pro.

I started scanning the squads searching for him, hoping to make eye contact while they made their one minute speeches. I couldn’t find him, but kept searching. When the call for dismissal was made, my heart skipped a beat. Where the hell was he? I stood on my toes cursing my shortness, looking, searching and starting to get teary wondering where in the hell was my man? I turned and locked eyes on the woman who was sitting in front of me. Her eyes too had the look of panic, tears welling up as we both said to each other “Where the hell is my husband?”

I finally went roaming the crowd, stopping, standing on my toes hoping to find him in the sea of hugs, kisses and smiles. I felt manic, crazed like someone had just told me that that the place was on fire but not where the exit was. Finally I spot his profile across the hanger. I zigged and zagged around happy couples and families trying to get to him without losing sight of him. I found the exit in the burning building and I sure as hell wasn’t going to lose sight of it! Rushing up to him I threw my arms around him nearly knocking him over, dropping my head into his chest, pulling him tight, I cried.

I don’t know how long we stood like that, for me time stood still. I know a few flashes went off and I heard the PAO say something to the effect of “nice shot.” I didn’t care, nothing outside that hug even existed. My skirt could have been tucked into my pantyhose and it wouldn’t have mattered. What mattered was him, there, in my sight, in my arms, in my space….home.

LOVE (Part III)
Wild nights! Wild nights!
Were I with thee,
Wild nights should be
Our luxury!

Futile the winds
To a heart in port,—
Done with the compass,
Done with the chart.

Rowing in Eden!
Ah! the sea!
Might I but moor
To-night in thee!
-Dickenson-

Moonbat's bailing on protest?

Apparently Cindy no longer plans to protest outisde of LRMC or RAB if she still comes to Germany at all.

Cindy Sheehan says she will not be near Ramstein Air Base or participate in a protest march from Landstuhl to Ramstein on Saturday if she goes through with a planned trip to Europe.

Instead she may be backing out due to injuries supposedly sustained while being arrested by the New York Police.

"If I am there, I won’t be anywhere near the air force base ... or participate in the march,” wrote Sheehan on Wednesday. “I was brutalized in New York the other day by the NYPD (New York Police Department) and I need to go to the doctor today (Wednesday).

So are you really backing out because you support the troops or do you just fear how the Polizei might treat you?

When asked why she would not protest near the air base, Sheehan replied: “I don’t want the soldiers to feel we don’t support them, and soldiers can’t redeploy themselves.”

I wonder if she will recant this remark three months from now like so many others of hers...thank heavens, stay home lady.

A Little Waiting Humor

I ripped this along with a few other special songs on his Jukebox a few days before he left. I created folder that he wouldn't find right away. About a month into the deployment he wrote me to tell me that he like my special set list I created for him. This song was just too perfect to pass up:

TAKE ME I'M YOURS

I've come across the desert
To greet you with a smile
My camel looks so tired
It's hardly worth my while
To tell you of my travels
Across the golden East
I see your preparations
Invite me first to feast

Take me I'm yours
Because dreams are made of this
Forever there'll be a heaven in your kiss

Amusing belly dancers
Distract me from my wine
Across Tibetan mountains
Are memories of mine
I've stood some ghostly moments
With natives in the hills
Recorded here on paper
My chills and thrills and spills

Take me I'm yours
Because dreams are made of this
Forever there'll be a heaven in your kiss

It's really been some welcome
You never seem to change
A grape to tempt your leisure
Romantic gestures strange
My eagle flies tomorrow
It's a game I treasure dear
To seek the helpless future
My love at last I'm here

Take me I'm yours
Because dreams are made of this
Forever there'll be a heaven in your kiss

- The Squeeze-

What Ben Stein thought of the Oscars

I have always liked Ben Stein, his dry tone of voice speaking with sharp, no poignant words has always made me laugh and listen. What he had to say about the recent Oscar's is no different.


Thank you Ben for realizing that Service Members exist out here in the real world.


H/T Andi's World

Two Tin Cans & a Hell of a lot of String

The hubby called this weekend to let me know he no longer has easy access to communication devices. He begged the new guy if he could borrow the phone to make a call since the line at the public phones was a few hours long.

Knowing that he can't call on a regular basis anymore just makes it more real for me, he will be home soon. Just like CVG & Hooker's Girl I too will soon be riding the eurphoric high of seeing, holding and giggling over the return of my spouse.

Now if I can only control the darn snowfall! I was stuck in my house all frickin' weekend because nothing was open or shoveling all that dman snow. Either way I got nothing for his return done at all - grrrr!

Protest Update

Well folks like I said last week, I am trying to finish up some work that I owe my prof. before he kicks me out of class. I am almost caught up and thanks to the small blizzard we had this weekend there wasn't a whole lot for me to do BUT my work.

Cindy (aka Moonbat) is still coming to Landstuhl but with a few changes. Apparently she no longer is attempting to enter Landstuhl with her flowers and food. There has been such an uproar of the military community and the German supporters that they are supposedly not going to make a large noisy protest outside the hospital either.

The counter protest has been set up outside of the Air Base. You can go here to see the time to show and what not to bring. If you can attend great! If not then donate to Soldiers Angels.

Here are few good reads about Cindy and her, well her idiot self.
Soldiers Angels

Andi's World on Cindy's supposed change heart

SMASH attending a local speech Cindy made at a law school and another Gold Star Mother catching her up in a bunch of partial truths.

It's back to work for me.

Feeling like the White Rabbit

Blogging will be light the next week or so. I am behind on some class work and my Prof has sent me the nice reminder that I am slacking hardcore. I also sat last night in bed staring at the ceiling planning my weekend of all the crap I need to get done and on what days in order to finish things up before the man gets home.

I have to say its a little sad that I had to schedule in going to a little girl's birthday party. I should just be able to go, not make it an appointment to attend. I am just so afraid that if I don't I will get caught up in running errands and miss it. It would break her heart if I don't go roller skating with her but that is just a sad state when I had to plan for it.

I also have several updates on the counter protest of Sheehan here in Germany but because it requires me to go around linking and pasting I just don't have time at the moment. It's important stuff though so it will get on here soon, I promise!!

Play nice and don't run with scissors!

Dates, Prunes and Raisins

Sorry I was trying to be funny. Get it? Last night we were given the "date" our spouses will be returning home. Of course this is all subject to change as mentioned before by Maj D. Basically once the Rear D gets the okay to release the flight info they will call the spouses and we will make a mass attack on the meeting point to decorate and set up all the goodies.

I plan on making a sign to hold up and want it to be witty and full of smart arse-ness because a smarty arse is so me! Here's what I have, but does anyone have suggestions?

3 Bathroom Fixtures - $50
2 Headlights - $25
1 Kitchen Light Fixture - $40
A Carpet 5 lbs overweight for MPS - $!%&#
Having you home - $ PRICELESS

Shoveling in a winter wonderland

Well good news, the USA Men's footie team beat Poland last night 1-0. The bad news was not only did they play in near whiteout conditions but I got to shovel about 4 inches of powder this morning before going to work. Of course the KMC was in road conditions Red but my work was not. I had to drive to work anyways - yeah me!

I will be happy when the spouse can help me shovel snow, throwing snowballs into the street instead of at his back is not a lot of fun.