Great Googly Moogly

Because 2008 hates me.

2008-05-06T16:49:00.002-05:00

My dad called a week ago to tell us kids that he thinks he's dying.

Oh, and S. just got pulled for a USAF "short tour" in the middle east, and not the fun lovin' playground middle east. The real middle east.

A year.

He leaves in June.

She's gone.

2008-03-15T10:25:00.001-05:00

I haven't written very much about everything that's gone on. I'll write a little now. Maybe it will help me clear my head.

First, thank you all for your kind wishes.

When I came out, we had CT and MRI scans of my mother's liver that showed something "suggestive of metastatic disease." Metastatic disease is a less-powerful way of saying cancer that starts somewhere else in your body, but spreads to somewhere else. In this case, it was her liver.

My mom had been fighting various medical problems for a little while, and the main one was she was having some irritable bowel symptoms and a lot of diarrhea. She had a hernia repair surgery (emergency surgery) on 12/6/07 and the doctors' answer to the "I have diarrhea and it won't go away" was initially that when you have GI or bowel surgery, diarrhea is a side effect of recovery. So they asked her to wait a week and then come back. She waited two.

They saw her again and thought maybe she had an infection in her bowel after the surgery, and that could be causing the diarrhea. So they gave her ten days worth of antibiotics and asked her to come back after the antibiotics were gone.

She still had diarrhea. By the time she saw the doctor on January 21, she essentially camped out in his office until she could be seen because her diarrhea was every 90 minutes and she couldn't sleep through the night with it. He felt her abdomen and referred her for a CT scan.

On 1/23 the CT scan showed metastatic disease. An MRI two days later showed the same. The tumor was big. Really big. I told her I was coming. She said, "Don't you get on that fucking plane." I said, "Look here lady, my plane lands at 8am, and I will be in the driveway at 9am, so you better have your dancing shoes on 'cuz we're going to boogie." She said, "Then you better be prepared. I'm not doing very well. I've lost 25 pounds, and I'm too weak to make up the hide-a-bed in the guest room."

"I can make the bed," I said.

"I can't get the pots and pans out from under the counter to cook."

"I can cook for you," I said.

"I don't always understand what the doctors tell me."

"I'll understand and explain it to you," I said.

"Okay. Then come," she said.

While all of this was going on, the chasing of the symptoms after her surgery, one of the doctors had noticed that her thyroid seemed "a little enlarged." So they ordered a CT of her thyroid and she had scheduled a thyroidectomy because they just remove nodules when they get like that, especially in older people. She considered postponing the surgery because it seemed like it was secondary to everything else, but they encouraged her to "get it off her plate" so she didn't have to worry about it any more. They told her that even if it were thyroid cancer, it was probably not what was on the liver, because thyroid cancer "doesn't spread."

So on 1/31/08, she had a thyroidectomy. She wanted to drive herself to the hospital. She had, in the last week, had a brain scan (clean), and an abdominal X-ray (clean) and she and I had met her oncologist. We called him our Dr. House. He ordered a shit-ton of tests and assured us we were going to track down the cancer -- because you can't treat metastatic liver cancer without knowing where the cancer came from. Different kinds of cancer respond to different things.

The thyroidectomy came off without a hitch, and she went home the next day. We took walks around the block and she was going like a bat out of hell. "Mom, slow down," I said, "it's better if we walk a long way at a steady pace than a short way at a fast pace." She walked her bony little butt off wearing a compression neck brace and compression stockings, holding my hand as we went round and round the little neighborhood walking. Then two days later, she started slowing down.

We had a colonoscopy scheduled the following Wednesday. She had to fast for the thyroid surgery - then she had to fast a few days later for the colonoscopy. They didn't find any tumors. We didn't know what to think. The oncologist seemed convinced we were going to find a colon cancer tumor in her bowel, but there was no such thing. The oncologist scheduled a liver biopsy for the following Friday - two days later. She had to fast again for that. We had the biopsy on 2/8.

On Monday, 2/11, my birthday, we went to see the thyroid surgeon so he could take out her stitches. We walked in and my mother said, "Dr. H----, I want you to know that all this, me moving around so slow, and me having so much trouble doing things, this isn't because of what you did."

"Actually, I think it's related," he said. He told us that my mom had a very rare kind of thyroid cancer, called MEDULLARY THYROID CANCER. Of all cancer in the U.S., thyroid cancers are 1% of all malignancies. Of those 1% of all malignancies, 2% of those are medullary thyroid cancer. And it spreads. "I think that's what's on your liver," he said. "The oncologist will be giving you a call."

When the oncologist did call that day, he spoke to me directly. "Your mother has a very rare condition. Her liver is massive. And she has medullary thyroid cancer metastatic to her liver. Conventional therapy would be doing you an injustice. I am trying to find a doctor in Phoenix that can try to get her into some cutting-edge therapy or a clinical trial," he said. That's how we met Dr. G-----. We called my sister. She came out right away.

The following Friday, my mother had slowed down substantially. She didn't want to get off the couch or out of bed. She refused to eat. She was significantly confused. She couldn't hold a conversation with you, and acted very, very sleepy and tired all the time. We took her to our appointment that day with Dr. G-----, one of the foremost research oncologists in the country, who took our case. He told us there was a special medicine - just out of clinical trials - that had shown to help medullary thyroid cancer. And he said he thought she'd be a candidate for the medicine.

Saturday, we had to admit my mother because her lethargy and confusion had reached an all time high. We took her to the emergency room under Dr. G----'s guidance and she was admitted. Her blood ammonia levels were 170. Normal blood ammonia levels are 5-20. She was being poisoned by ammonia in her blood because her liver was starting to fail.

To shorten a very long story, my mom spent the last two weeks in the hospital taking laxative medicine to try to lower her ammonia (that's the treatment, poop it out) and she would bounce back to being lucid from day to day, sometimes only awake enough to say hi to us and tell us she loved us, but sometimes able to have enriching conversations. She fought. She fought and fought and fought. She did everything the doctors told her to do. She did things no human being should have to do. She was poked and prodded and submitted to so many tests. My sister and I had to work 12-15 hours a day at the hospital helping to take care of my mom because the medicine made her poop so much the nurses couldn't keep up -- so we would clean her up, change her bed pans, try to feed her, keep her hydrated, we did everything but administer her medicine. She was taking the cancer medicine from Dr. G-----, and her cancer wasn't getting any bigger -- but we were just too late.

One day I showed up to the hospital and she was unresponsive. I called my sister, who had temporarily gone home to be with her family and children, and told her I thought she needed to come back. I called my husband and told him I thought he needed to come out and be with me, because I could feel what was happening. My sister and her family came immediately, my husband followed closely behind.

On 3/3/08, they told us that her ammonia levels just weren't going to be able to stay down and they were in fact going up despite everything we were doing. My mother sat up and listened as the doctor told us that she would have no quality of life and that the cancer had swallowed up 90% of her liver. The remaining 10% was starting to fail. The cancer was inoperable, and incurable, and there was nothing else they could do for her. They asked us to let her go.

My mother had blessed us with the gift of a living will so that decision wasn't ours to make. She had already made it. Having a terminal condition that wasn't going to get any better with no improvement in quality of life meant the only choice was to discontinue my mom's medicine. We knew it would draw her into a hepatic encephalopathy coma. And that she would die.

Monday night we talked to her, told her what we were doing, and stopped the medication. She told us she loved us, and we told her she didn't have to fight for us any more. That she could let go.

Tuesday we had a day with just us family and her closest friends around her as she slipped in and out of consciousness, in an unresponsive state. We talked to her, did her hair, gave her massages and rubbed lotion into her dry skin, and told her how much we loved her. Last night, we left for the night at 1am and told her if God came for her, she didn't have to make him go around the block or anything -- that she could go with him. And that we would be okay.

On 3/5/08 at 8:45am, God stopped by to see her and she went with him.

Call your parents. Tell them how much you love them. Understand that every day with them is a blessing. If a doctor ever tells you to come back in a week, don't listen to them. If you aren't well and you know you aren't well, you fight and fight to do everything you can do to get diagnosed.

And if you are ever in the position that I was put in, to give someone the blessing of peace, to relieve them of their suffering, and to encourage them to move on to whatever comes next -- know in your heart that you are doing the right thing. You are giving them a gift. You are freeing them. Give them the gift of peace.

Anybody still with me?

2008-01-27T18:30:00.001-06:00

I know it's been forever. Please forgive me.

Between staph infections inside my body, staph infections inside my dad's body, deployments, multiple illnesses related to my recover from MRSA/staph, my sister having multiple operations, my husband being sick on and off, and my mother being sick on and off, it's been a very stressful, awful, pain in my ass year. And I haven't blogged because I just don't know, I guess I thought I would hold on to everything for like, as long as I could and maybe it would just all get better.

It didn't. And I have to ask for prayers, energy, mojo... anything you can spare.

My mother's health has taken a very sudden turn for the bad. I am getting on a plane tomorrow morning to fly back to Arizona to try to help manage her care and deal with doctors and everything else.

I bought a one-way ticket.

Anybody who can spare some positive energy... I'd owe you with my heart and soul.

I just hope someone still reads this.

HEY, I'M ALIVE.

2007-12-14T08:51:00.001-06:00

Hey hey.

I haven't written here in a long time but I'm still here.

Some fuckwad bought blogxchg.com and reset a script that was calling a button for my sidebar, which is why it was forwarding to some weird site.

I hope I didn't scare too many of you off -- or that the stupid website didn't --

I'll be back, I promise. Bleargh.

<3 all y'all.

Hey.

2007-10-30T11:05:00.001-05:00

Hey. I know, I fell off the face of the earth.

My life has been pretty crazy for the last two months, as you might know if you're a part of my off-blog life.

I just haven't felt much like writing about it.

S. and I are fine, my father is sick, I had a relapse of my staph, work has been crazy, I didn't get my once-a-year trip to see Shanna, S. just had a birthday, and I've been sick on and off with every variety of illness from stomach flu stuff to chest cold stuff to whatever.

I'm okay now, I think.

I just wanted to tell you guys sorry for not updating and that I'm alive. sigh.

Shitty Blog Survivor Journal -- Top Three

2007-08-09T19:15:00.000-05:00

The heat has gotten to me.

If it wasn't bad enough that I've had to spend all my time hoarding watermelons and coconuts, everyone else has undertaken their own little "island pastimes."

Nat the hippie has decided to hippie-fy her remaining third of the island, and has taken to collecting all of the relatively-big rocks she can find and assembling them into a peace sign on the side of the hill. She also made a big yellow happy face, although I'm not sure how she was able to manage that. Paint? Flowers? Who the hell knows. Her camp buts right up against mine, and I saw her using native berries to dye the tarp that went over top of her lean-to into psychedelic colors.

Monty, in true Okie style, has taken to barricading herself up on her third of the island. She might have blocked off all entrance to her particular parcel by making a fence out of conch shells and sticks and pieces of plants, but that doesn't mean I can't see her across the bay. Not like I'm going to cross the lagoon anyway for the goddamned sharks -- I'm sure as hell not going to be the next one on that bloody old crusty raft for their feeding time. I saw her putting up "keep out" signs as if there's anybody that wants to be around her -- the crazier she gets, the less safe I really feel around her. Today I wiggled my fingers at her and stuck out my tongue from the beach. I don't know if she saw me.

In the meantime, I'm just glad I decided to make my shelter near where I found the watermelons. I can't see any more coconut trees anywhere, it looks like I must have all of the coconuts. I piled them on a table next to the watermelons and put them by my oven. Maybe they'll ripen faster?

I know I can't do this place justice -- thankfully, Jeckles told us that we need to make a model of the island so he can see what's really going on here. I hope those crazy broads don't lie about their impending psycho fits -- hopefully Jeckles will see these pictures and realize I'm the only halfway sane one here.

Hopefully.

So here's the pictures. I'm sorry that some of them are blurry.

So um, holy shit.

2007-08-06T12:57:00.001-05:00

I'm going to take a vacation.

Yeah, I'm in shock too.

Shitty Blog Survivor Journal -- Week 4

2007-07-23T17:25:00.000-05:00

Hey!

So I've been feeling sort of - artistic. I've been feeling sort of - musical. You know, the kind of feeling that starts in the toe tapping hip swaying and takes you right up through the crescendo, I've been living it, thinking it, breathing it. Not a song, not a song like a lullaby, but something ... hipper.

Something ... groovier.

Something ... beatnik.

So I went out into the forest, see, and I found these coconuts. And I took an old sock and stretched one around a coconut, tight enough that it would make sound, and I had a bongo.

And I took that bongo and my scraps of paper and my one lone pen that hadn't run out of ink.

And I wrote my thoughts down
I wrote them all down
on
the
paper

and I made some beat poetry.

I taught one of the magpies in the trees my poem, complete with bongo sounds, and told him to fly, fly like the wind, find that sneaky Jeckles and give him my message.

My message of poetry.

My beat.

My words.

*snaps* *snaps* *snaps* *snaps*

Shitty Blog Survivor Task: Week Three

2007-07-09T21:59:00.000-05:00

WATERMELON CARVING CONTEST.

This week, we are supposed to take photos of a watermelon we have carved to represent something that well, represents, Shitty Blog Survivor and Survivor Island.

Since everyone keeps getting fed to the sharks (*gives a shifty look around*) I have carved this lovely Shark Idol Tiki thingamabobber to try to appease the Shark God.

And to appease the Jeckles God, his eyes are made out of some coffee beans I found lying on the beach.

Please observe my amazing kitchen facilities I have created out of sticks and dirt. And my make believe laptop computer.

I'm alive?

2007-07-09T14:42:00.000-05:00

Whoooooooooooo, I'm alive.

I'd be a little dramatic if I say I am "barely" alive, but I sure felt like I was going to die for part of that.

Here's the cliffs notes.

Wednesday: "Hey honey, I have a pimple under my armpit."

Thursday: "Hey honey, look, now I have two pimples. Wow, this one here really hurts."

Friday: "Hey honey, I can't move my arm and I have a fever, and there's a hockey puck in my armpit. Should I go to the doctor?"

On Friday, the off-base clinic that I got referred to (active duty appointments only, that day) poked my arm, said I had an abscess, asked if I'd ever had a staph infection, gave me some antibiotics, and told me to "come back in a few days if it hasn't improved."

Saturday and Sunday I could not get out of bed. S. was helping me put hot packs on my armpit and had to help me move my arm, as I could not move it. The abscessES (that's right, two of them) only got bigger and bigger. One burst, or I thought it burst, on Saturday night late. The two teaspoons of gunk that came out of it (that was the SMALLER one) turned out to be only the tip of the iceberg.

Monday, with no improvement to what I thought was the larger abscess and minimal drainage out of the other one, we went to the base clinic this time. The nurse lifted up my arm and looked like she saw the creature from the black lagoon. She immediately went and got the doctor, and they informed me I had the worse case of what they believed to be multiple-resistant staph they had seen all year, and wanted all the information on the off-base clinic that had sent me home -- apparently they should have cut me open and drained the abscesses right then on Friday, or sent me to the hospital to have the same done.

I had what amounted to a minor outpatient procedure done in the base clinic because they could not get me into surgery WITHIN THE HOUR, and they decided my infection had to be immediately excised. So they held me down and injected 8-10 injections of numbing agent into my armpit and then came at me with a scalpel, cutting open both abscesses. Turns out the one that was the "smaller one" was in fact the larger of the two, it was just down inside my armpit which is why I couldn't move my arm. The one that was more towards the surface was no pansy, though.

A week later, I am about 100% recovered. The only real discomfort I have still is a little bit where it's scarring at the incisions. I've completed my antibiotics and they're running some tests to find out if I need some ointment to stick up my nose to you know, kill the superbug staph that might be living in there.

Also, I got to shave for the first time yesterday. FREEDOM, I'M FREE, FREE OF HAIR.

Staph sucks.

Wash your hands.

My first surgery!

2007-07-03T10:59:00.001-05:00

Bahahaha.

Okay so.

Yeah, they had to cut the abscesses out from under my arm. Apparently I have a staph infection. I'm on heavy medication.

OW.

But it's a different ow and not as much ow as the actual staph infection.

Staph: I wouldn't recommend it.

Actual Real Life.

2007-07-02T07:42:00.001-05:00

Okay.

So I have um, an abscess. Two, actually, under my left arm. Which makes typing a HUGE HUGE SUCK.

That's why I haven't been around. I go today to maybe have them aspirated. :(

I'm in the most pain I've ever been in my entire life.

Shitty Blog Survivor Journal -- Week 3

2007-06-29T14:17:00.000-05:00

So this morning we all got up, and Mike was gone. If I didn't know any better (and I don't, really) I would assume that the other survivors ate him the way I suspect they ate Sparky. I'm really glad that I've hoarded up all these coconuts and have figured out the whole cookie thing.

Cookies are yum.

When I was out in the jungle taking my morning walk and gathering coconuts, I wasn't watching where I was going and tripped over a mess of vines stretching across what I thought was the path. I followed the vines for a couple of feet and found a watermelon. Then another. And another. And another, and another, and another.

I'm pretty convinced Jeckles has this island wired with closed-circuit, because it's not long after that we got a bottle message washing up on shore telling us that we had to have a watermelon-carving contest. Sort of like a pumpkin-carving contest. But with watermelons.

I'm not sure how the hell I'm going to carve a watermelon without a knife... I did have my nails done before we got on board the "cruise" (DAMN YOU JECKLES), so I guess that puts me at least ahead of the remaining men. I haven't paid enough attention to which other ladies are manicureholics like me... I suppose I should do that.

I guess I better go find something to make a knife out of. Maybe if Utopia has killed one of her turtles for soup, I can find a chunk of shell. There's got to be SOMETHING.

I could always break this rum bottle Tammy gave me...

Shitty Blog Survivor Task Two: Photojournalism

2007-06-27T08:08:00.002-05:00

Shitty Blog Survivor Journal -- Week Two

2007-06-27T07:54:00.000-05:00

I've been playing with this camera-looking box, and have decided that it does in fact take pictures. It's weird though, the ones that come out, they come out looking kind of ... odd.

It took me a while to get used to using it, I'm sure I got some pictures of my feet or my eyeball, but I tried to use it to take some shots of what life is like around here. I'm going to see if I can organize them into some kind of an album or something, because people won't believe me when I tell them about it.

If I ever get home.

DAMN JECKLES DAMN DAMN.

Shitty Blog Survivor Journal: Week Two

2007-06-25T07:17:00.000-05:00

Okay. I've hoarded enough coconuts to feed myself and others for a couple of months. I've rigged a small solar-powered toaster oven and have made coconut cookies. I've scribbled slogans until I was, well, tired of scribbling slogans.

I have watched my fellow islanders all go a little bit insane.

And I think I'm with them.

This weekend while I was out in the forest looking for something fruity to mix Tammy's rum with (she offered some to me while hanging out of a tree) I found a little plastic and metal box with a lens on one side and a little peephole on the other.

I think it might be some kind of camera, although I really have no idea how to work it. I have shaken it and stuff, and it doesn't rattle, so I'm just going to assume in my limited technical capacity that means it ain't broke.

I'm going to see if I can get it to work.

In other news, I woke up on Friday morning and Sparky was gone. I haven't really had the time or inclination to talk to any of the crazies about where he might have gone, but I suspect somebody chopped him up and put him in the soup.

Poor Sparky.

Shitty Blog Survivor Journal

2007-06-18T10:40:00.001-05:00

Well, balls. BALLS, BALLS, BALLS, I SAY.

I just overheard Monty saying that Utopia has figured out how to make coconut liqueur, and is sipping it.

Monty's losing her mind a little bit. she's over there scribbling in her journal but she's saying every word out loud as she writes, which is more than a little bit creepy. Also, she thinks I spit in her cookie, so I should find some way to protect myself lest she come over here in the middle of the night and try to give me a little what-for.

While I was standing up ogling Utopia's coconut liqueur sippage, the wind kicked up and blew all of my scribbles and notes (pre pen-dying) of the different slogans, plus other diary entries, out into the ocean where they were promptly carried off. I wasn't going to go out into the shark-infested waters to get them, and anybody who thinks I should have can kiss my butt.

So I guess that original message in a bottle to Jeckles, with my Shitty Blogs Club slogan:

Shitty Blogs Club: Demented and Sad, but Social

... is going to have to cut the mustard. Thank goodness I got one of them in a bottle and out to sea before the FREAK WIND CAME A-BLOWIN'.

I've managed to scrounge up some pineapples, so if you couple that with my coconuts, I am 1/2 way to a pina colada. Now I just need some ice and some rum. Where's Johnny Depp with a hidden stash of pirate rum when you need him?

MMMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Johnny Depp.

MMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmMMMmmmm. Pirate rum.

DAMN YOU JECKLES, DAMN YOU AND YOUR THREE HOUR TOUR!

Shitty Blog Survivor Journal

2007-06-18T07:07:00.000-05:00

Day whatever. Who knows what day it is anyway?

I have hoarded and roasted enough coconuts to feed people for a long time. That was the least of my problems, it seemed, so I set about trying to make booze. That also failed miserably.

The minutes and hours have been running together here on the island, but I've mostly been keeping to myself. It seems like I've just been filled with thoughts of everything but coconuts lately.

This SLOGAN thing keeps being on my mind, and I become more and more concerned that no one has actually seen Jeckles.

I've been napping a lot. A LOT. Is that normal? For being on an island?

Yesterday, my pen ran out of ink as I was scribbling down slogans. This is as far as I got:

Shitty Blogs Club: You know you want to.

Shitty Blogs Club: Don't fool yourself, you belong here.

Shitty Blogs Club: Jeckles can take this piece of paper and st *runs out of ink*

I don't think i'm doing very well in the slogan department.

Shitty Blog Survivor Journal

2007-06-12T13:55:00.001-05:00

THIS IS A TOTAL RIP OFF.

So my brief hiatus from blogging gets interrupted when I let Jeckles talk me into signing up for a Shitty Blogs Club Cruise and we get stranded on an island. I would ask for my money back if it hadn't been free. I didn't even get a cocktail. NOT EVEN A COCKTAIL.

Now here I am marooned on this godforsaken island with nine other bloggers (who I have a sneaking suspicion would like to off me) and no functioning kitchen, no nice bottle of wine, no caribbean music, not even a blanket on which to lay in the sand and tan my toesies.

Today I spent part of the day hiking around trying to find the makeshift fixins for a shelter. I managed to build myself a crude hut out of palm fronds and twigs and reeds, while also managing to build a spectacularly au-natural solar toaster oven that I put to quick use roasting coconuts. When they're all starving and I'm the lady with the coconuts, THEN who's going to have the upper hand, huh? HUH?

Note to self: please make time to find a source for clear cool water, as dehydration appears to be taking its toll on what was left of my sanity before I signed up for this horseshit!

I found a bottle on the beach today with a note inside it. Apparently, Jeckles set it adrift on the waves as a plea from his remote location... leave it to him to be thinking about promoting the Shitty Blogs Club while we're all stranded on a goddamned island. He's asking for a new slogan for the Shitty Blogs Club.

I quickly pounded some paper out of palm tree pulp, picked a peck of pickled peppers, and put my palm pulp product back in the bottle in the hopes that it would find Jeckles. Scrawled on the paper were the words: Shitty Blogs Club: Demented And Sad, But Social. I made a lot of paper, so if I can find some more bottles I can try to send him some more.

This is a pretty nice little island now that I think about it. It'd be great if I didn't have nine neighbors to share it with. Maybe I'll just stick around and move in on their real estate as they each take a hike.

Note to self: learn how to build a real house out of palm tree fronds and twigs. Also, learn how to make booze.

Does Rose Have to Come Up There and Choke A Bitch?

2007-05-30T18:43:00.000-05:00

Holy hell.

HOLY HELL, PEOPLE.

I swear to God/dess, this is the phone call I had this afternoon:

"Hi, Rose? Hi, Mr. Manager here from the dealership. Okay, so your car is HAUNTED!"

"I'm sorry?"

"Your car! It's haunted!"

"You're going to have to explain."

"The tech has been driving it for half the day trying to recreate the problem. We can't seem to get it to recreate the problem. He says it's one of the smoothest-shifting Machs he's ever driven, or that we've ever had here at the dealership. 1-2-3-4-5 and Reverse, every gear goes smooth as silk."

"You have got to be kidding me."

"Nope, he didn't even know what was wrong with it and came to ask me, because he had no problems with it at all."

"You have GOT TO KNOW THAT WE ARE NOT DONE HERE, Mr. Manager. Right? Please tell me you know that."

*slams head on desk*

*slams head on desk*

*slams head on desk*

*slams head on desk*

*slams head on desk*

The One In Which She Goes Rather Apeshit

2007-05-30T07:09:00.000-05:00

Okay.

So, you all know that I am generally a mild-mannered, easygoing, simple-to-please girl. I don't ask for much in my life, I just crave some stability and some consistency, and I like things to work how they are supposed to work.

So last night we have Bubbles, our beloved 2004 Mach1 Mustang, out for a little trip to meet up with our fellow car club members for dinner. We're heading north on I-44 and the engine's purring and everything's fine, and S. goes to shift her from 4th gear to 5th gear.

And then, S. goes to shift her from 4th gear to 5th gear.

Then he tried from neutral to 5th gear.

And neutral to 4th gear.

And 4th gear to 5th gear.

... do you get where I'm going with this?

That's right, we lost the tranny. AGAIN. Back in November, we had her in the "shop" for an extended period of time getting an entirely new transmission put in her, under warranty. Shortly after that we had it back to the shop for some shifter parts that needed to be replaced since they had put a whole new transmission in the car, but hadn't replaced the mechanical parts in the shifter that butt up against the new transmission. (Transmisisons and shifters tend to work much better if all the parts line up and are even.)

Now, it looks like something's broken or gotten horribly mis-aligned within the shifter mechanism that won't let the car shift into 1-3-5.

We pulled to the side of the busy freeway and phoned some club members who were on their way to the same meeting. They were kind enough to come wait by the side of the road with us and then give us a lift following the tow truck back to the dealership, where we dropped off my car. I also had an extended conversation with "whoever the highest ranking person at the dealership is that I can talk to RIGHT NOW, and I'd prefer a general manager or [The Owner Guy] himself, please."

(Turns out, it was the New Car Manager, and he helped us get the car taken in and a "love note" written for the service manager, so I am expecting a phone call from the dealership some time this morning.)

When we were sitting on the side of the road after calling roadside assistance and while waiting for our friends to show up, I was so pissed off, so completely horked, so undeniably worked up, that my fingers started tingling and I was seeing spots and stars... I was starting to hyperventilate and was going to either pass out or lose my damn mind. Thanks to S. and a phone call to/from another friend of ours, I was able to calm down finally and become a little more functional.

We took our saviours out to dinner for coming to get us and missing the club meeting themselves.

Sounds like me and the service manager are going to have at least a telephonic pow-wow today. I guarantee he doesn't want to see me in person.

---UPDATE---

While writing this post, Mr. Service Manager called me. I gave him the update. He claims he can get the car into 1st gear but it is VERY VERY HARD to shift into 1st gear. He also listened to me refresh his memory about the awful situation with the car we had last time and the awful service we got and how frustrated we are/were with everything... he says he has it in a stall right now and will have a tech on it first thing and will get back to me by noon.

Fingers crossed, everyone, fingers crossed. Please, please, please. We have warranty on this car until September and I don't want any more wonky bullshit.

I am the best wife in the world.

2007-05-28T07:36:00.000-05:00

For today.

That's right, today I have beaten out all other wives, to temporarily hold the #1 Wife In All The World spot.

Pictures will be forthcoming. :-D

UPDATE:

Here's the newest addition to our family and the reason why I am the best wife ever. Not only is it economical on fuel, thereby reducing our environmental footprint and saving money, but he got to pick out exactly what he wanted (within his budget).

She's a 2003 Honda Rebel 250cc.

I can kill two birds with one stone.

2007-05-23T08:04:00.000-05:00

1) S. comes home today. TODAY. TODAY. TODAY. TODAY. TODAY.

2) My amazing darling and dear friend Aza tagged me.

Seven weird things about me

1) I like to eat salsa mixed with cottage cheese on cucumber slices.
2) I talk to myself, especially after four months on my own.
3) I have times where I'm afraid to drive.
4) It's very hard for me to justify ever, ever, ever buying or doing something for myself.
5) I pull on my own hair when I get nervous and frazzled.
6) My hatred for brussels sprouts, acorn squash, and bitter greens knows no bounds.
7) Sometimes I call myself Sissy Sassypants.

As I am too completely frazzled to tag anybody I hereby ask you ALL TO DO IT.

That is my wish! Let it be done! MAKE IT SO, NUMBER ONE.

love all you guys so much
Rose

I suck.

2007-05-22T17:59:00.000-05:00

SO here are the updates.

1) My father announced he was going to propose marriage to his young chippie girlfriend. (40 year difference, she has 3 relatively small kids)

2) My father announced they went to get a marriage license.

3) My father announced that the wedding would be 6/3.

4) My father announced that the wedding would be 6/2.

5) My father announced that he had to have back surgery and would be laid up for many months, causing us to cancel our plans to visit him in Mexico in July or August.

6) My father said he wanted to pay for us to fly to the wedding in Vegas, which was going to be a big pinch because we'd have to get leave for S., since he will have only been back a short time by then.

7) We started working on trying to wrangle some leave for S., between a change in shops and a change in jobs and an international deployment and a change in leadership both here at home AND at his detatchment. (not an easy task)

8) My father announced that we should buy FULLY REFUNDABLE TICKETS to the wedding because he didn't know if there would be a wedding or if he wanted to "go through with it." Then he went to Mexico for "three days" and he has been there for ten days and he is still there.

9) My father had bouts of screaming at me and belittling me periodically in the last two weeks.

10) My father told my sister that the wedding is a sham.

That's right.

A sham. A show. All glitz. All sizzle, and no steak.

You see, they've been married for between two and three months already and he's been lying to us about it. They ran off and eloped and didn't tell anyone, so the wedding is just really an extravagant coming-out party for her, and something to show her family because they are trying to put on the charade that the official hitch date is 6/2.

So I am not fucking going to fucking Las Vegas so I can fucking watch my father pretend to get married to the girl who I HAVE NEVER MET and my sister HAS NEVER MET and who we have NEVER TALKED TO ON THE PHONE or TRADED EMAILS WITH or ANYTHING, so I can watch her kids be in the wedding and watch her family embrace him as their family while we are the only ones looking on who have anything to do with him.

And on and on and on and on, blah blah blah, pissed that he lied to me, blah blah blah, pissed that I put so much energy into worrying about his wellbeing, blah blah, pissed frustrated, blah blah.

And 11) S. comes home tomorrow, and it's not a moment too soon.

Happy Military Spouses Day!

2007-05-11T07:48:00.000-05:00

Military Spouse Day was first celebrated in 1984 when then-President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the observance to honor the contributions of military spouses. The military now sets aside the Friday before Mother's Day each year to pay tribute to the spouses who play a vital role in the nation's defense.

I'd like to take a moment to wish a happy Military Spouses Day to my amazing friends that I've met through this blog, plus all other military spouses.

You have a very, very, very, very, very important job.

I hope you get appreciated in all the amazing ways that you deserve it.

Much love,
Rose

Veteran's Administration Finally Allows Wiccan Symbol

2007-04-23T18:03:00.000-05:00

I am so excited. We've been waiting for this for a really, really, really, really long time.

Of course, S. now thinks he might want to become a Buddhist, but I am still so SO PROUD and so SO THRILLED for pur Pagan/Wiccan brothers and sisters in the armed forces who can now have their headstones as they so rightfully deserve.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/04/23/national/main2718944.shtml

The Wiccan pentacle has been added to the list of emblems allowed in national cemeteries and on government-issued headstones of fallen soldiers, according to a settlement announced Monday.

A settlement between the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Wiccans adds the five-pointed star to the list of "emblems of belief" allowed on VA grave markers.

Eleven families nationwide are waiting for grave markers with the pentacle, said Selena Fox, a Wiccan high priestess with Circle Sanctuary in Barneveld, Wis., a plaintiff in the lawsuit.

The settlement calls for the pentacle, whose five points represent earth, air, fire, water and spirit, to be placed on grave markers within 14 days for those who have pending requests with the VA.

"I am glad this has ended in success in time to get markers for Memorial Day," Fox said.

The VA sought the settlement in the interest of the families involved and to save taxpayers the expense of further litigation, VA spokesman Matt Burns said. The agency also agreed to pay $225,000 in attorneys' fees and costs.

The pentacle has been added to 38 symbols the VA already permits on gravestones. They include commonly recognized symbols for Christianity, Buddhism, Islam and Judaism, as well as those for smaller religions such as Sufism Reoriented, Eckiankar and the Japanese faith Seicho-No-Ie.

"This settlement has forced the Bush administration into acknowledging that there are no second-class religions in America, including among our nation's veterans," said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, which represented the Wiccans in the lawsuit.

The American Civil Liberties Union said the agreement also settles a similar lawsuit it filed last year against the VA. In that case, the ACLU represented two other Wiccan churches and three individuals.

VA-issued headstones, markers and plaques can be used in any cemetery, whether it is a national one such as Arlington or a private burial ground like that on Circle Sanctuary's property.

Wicca is a nature-based religion based on respect for the earth, nature and the cycle of the seasons. Variations of the pentacle not accepted by Wiccans have been used in horror movies as a sign of the devil.

The Wiccan symbol of a Pentagram now joins symbols like the Humanist Emblem of Spirit, Sufism Reoriented, a symbol to represent Atheism, Tenrikyo, Izunome, Eckankar, and other non-mainstream non-Christian symbols at the VA website:

http://www.cem.va.gov/cem/hm/hmemb.asp

Blessed be.

It's Sort Of Like An Anniversary

2007-04-20T15:09:00.000-05:00

Today, S. re-enlists in the USAF.

He got a real honor, today. The DETCO where he is (that's the head honcho, for those of you who aren't up with the lingo) told him that they wanted to take him on a ride-along on today's mission in the jet, and swear him in some time mid-mission. In the air. In the jet.

All day long I have been proud of him both for making such an amazing impression on his leadership that they would offer to do something that cool for him, but also for doing what he's doing.

And then a knock on my door comes... and I get these:

The note accompanying them was thanking me. For being so supportive and dedicated to his career.

I love that man more than anything.

Criminy.

2007-04-13T14:09:00.001-05:00

It's going to freaking snow tonight.

SNOW.

Just disappointed.

2007-04-12T17:46:00.000-05:00

Today, something happened to me that I can't even -- it's really hard for me to put into words. And I'm in a low place because of it, and I suppose I need to vent about it here.

I have a friend who has known me for a while now, and who knows my religious preference, and who has always been accepting of it. This person has also grown over time to be among my closest friends, and is someone who means a lot to me.

I was chatting with this friend in IM today, when the following exchange took place.

-------------

Friend: Okay, I should get going.

Me: Okay. I'll be around here until 5pm or so, I'm meeting a local friend of mine to do the card thing.

Friend: Card thing?

Me: Yeah, tarot cards, she's asked me for a while if I could read them, and I think the time's finally right so I'm going to.

Friend: That is such horseshit.

Me: You're entitled to your opinion.

Friend: I'm pretty open minded about things, but tarot cards, that's just complete bull.

Me: Well, thankfully it's not a prerequisite for you to believe in divination in order to be my friend. I don't have discussions with you about this because I know you're a skeptic.

Friend: Seriously, that's total horseshit.

Me: You don't have to believe in it. It works for me, that's all I know. I think most horoscopes are horseshit, but I think astrological charts can give insight to stuff. I believe in some things, and not in others.

Friend: Well, I believe in vampires, and zombies.

Me: You know I believe in faeries.

Friend: I know there are vampires because the IRS needs someone to work for them.

Me: That's perfect.

Friend: And I see zombies every day when I'm out driving the roads.

Me: Okay. I'm going to let you go, now.

Friend: Aw come on, don't be mad.

Friend: Be glad.

Friend: Not sad.

Friend: Don't be like that, come on.

Me: ...

Friend: Fine.

Me: I don't know what you expect me to say right now, actually.

Friend: Oh, come on.

Friend: Okay, I'm sorry for belittling your beliefs. Is that better?

Me: I suppose so...?

Friend: TTYL

Me: Okay.

----------------

There are just some days, and some things that people can say to you, that can make you feel like you just got run over by a truck.

This is one of those days. And that was one of those things.

I've been made to feel a lot of things by this friend in particular (that's part of why I enjoy them so much, I seem to learn more about myself through my interactions with them) but one thing I've never been made to feel is disrespected.

And different.

Weird. Abnormal.

No, let's stick with "disrespected."

And it's one of the worst feelings around. At least right this minute.

I need a shower.

2007-04-10T19:59:00.001-05:00

I just got eye-through-the-camera-fucked by Sanjaya, and I am totally, TOTALLY CREEPED OUT.

Hey ladies! Get funky!

2007-04-09T10:14:00.000-05:00

Okay. So. I know I don't talk much about the frou-frou girly side of me, or the girly side of anything, for that matter. That being said, I want to know where the hell all of you amazingly gorgeous gals have been hiding THESE THINGS, WITHOUT WHICH I WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO LIVE.

First of all, is Vincent Longo Lip and Cheek Stain in the shade "liquid kiss."

What the heck, women. What the heck, ladies. Where have you been keeping this stuff? This is THE PERFECT STUFF.

It has a great, thin consistency and goes on and dries very quickly. It lasts A VERY LONG TIME. And it doesn't make me look like I have lipstick on, only that I have very red, very pouty, lips. It's not sticky or waxy like lipstick, and I am not a lipstick wearer. I have to wear all day lipsticks when I DO wear them, because I cannot stand having lip prints all over everything and then having to worry about reapplying my lipstick.

A glamour gal, I am not.

But now I can be, with this. THIS IS AMAZING STUFF. $22 or so at Sephora, which is where I got it.

And I can pair it... with this...

Lip Injection by TooFaced, also purchased at Sephora.

This stuff? It doesn't make my lips LOOK plumper, it MAKES THEM PLUMPER. I guess I had heard about stuff like "Lip Venom" and the like before, but I had never tried them out. This makes my lips, which are otherwise thin and not at all pouty and sexy, just enough pouty and just enough sexy. And it's glossy. And it's not too sticky and doesn't taste like much, although you don't really want to lick it. It's tingly.

It makes my lips feel like eating red-hot cinnamon candy feels inside your mouth.

With these two things together, I can finally have the sexy red lip that I've always wanted but never been able to have, ever, ever, ever, ever. And I am thrilled.

Thus ends the girly moment... I just can't believe that you've been keeping these beauty secrets from me for so long. I feel like I am reborn. REBORN, I TELL YOU.

Kind of official.

2007-04-06T13:14:00.000-05:00

He's extended until 5/21. They will get the administrative issues worked out for me, or so they say. They have a few weeks to get it all handled.

PS: It is snowing.

PPS: SNOWING. IT IS FREAKING SNOWING HERE. It was 85 degrees less than a week ago, and today it has SNOWED on and off.

PPPS: S. hasn't been able to IM me today. sadface.

Dog phobia, pink wine, and bilnd seething rage

2007-04-05T09:18:00.000-05:00

1) Dog Phobia

I get a phone call from my apartment manager yesterday, calling to inform me that she had to "tell me a little something" about my new neighbors.

When we first moved into this apartment complex, we were the only people in the whole building and there were only two buildings constructed out of 10. After we had lived here about a year, they went about the process of making the two buildings closest to the office and pool, "no-pet buildings." This is mainly because you know, dogs pee on the bushes and stuff, which can make them brown, and they are touring people around the property over here and need to keep things looking nice. They did not make us move or switch units, they just grandfathered us in.

Apparently, a nice young family decided they want to rent a three-bedroom unit near the office and pool, and wanted a pet-free building. Excellent, said the management, these two buildings are pet-free and this building has three-bedroom units in it!

Because I am an excellent pet owner, they only see my dog when I am walking him, and they never hear him or anything because he's quiet and happy. So they sort of forgot I have a dog. And they rented these people an apartment on the bottom floor, near my second floor unit.

Yesterday while I was out walking Boomer in the morning, I passed a man I had never met who gave me the distinctly evil eye. Evil, evil, evil, evil, EVIL EVIL EVIL eye. He evil-eyed me as we walked past him, as we walked up the stairs, and he carefully watched me to see what unit I entered once I got to my breezeway. Apparently, he went straight to the office to report! me for! having! a dog! A DOG! in a pet-free building! the building! is pet-free! and she has a dog!

They explained to him that I am allowed to have my (loveable, adorable, quiet, well behaved) dog because I am a (responsible, thoughtful, valuable, excellent, wonderful) tenant who was grandfathered in, and they aren't quite sure what the problem is if my dog doesn't disturb anybody... well... his wife is dog phobic. DOG PHOBIC.

So the reason why they specifically picked an apartment by the pool and the office facing the main walkway in a pet-friendly complex that advertises that they allow dogs up to 40 pounds and relatively frequently hosts pet-friendly events in the office not 20 feet from their patio, is because the wife is dog phobic.

Why wouldn't you just rent an apartment in a complex that does not allow animals at all (and believe me, there are plenty) or get a unit that's on an upper floor that is away from main walkways and stuff, if your wife is going to totally freak out and have a panic fit becuase I am walking my dog in the common area?

Yeah, I didn't get it either. The manager assures me they do not want/need/expect me to change my "lifestyle" in any way, shape or form, so that's a good thing. And she kept telling me how wonderful I am and how thrilled she is to have me in this apartment and how they would never ask me to leave or move.

But jeez. Some people. I don't fault this lady for having a phobia, but they could have made some better choices.

2) Pink wine

Last night I had a couple of glasses of wine for the first time in nearly a month, after four 12-hour days of work, and I slept like a rock. And I overslept this morning. Ahhhhh, a little relaxation.

3) Blind seething rage

S. IM'ed me last night. They are extending him.

For a month.

I can't share all the details right now because he's trying to get it all worked out -- but apparently someone in the squadron here isn't aware that his (and subsequently, my) ID expires at the end of April, meaning that I would have no right to privileges, medical benefits, or anything until he returns or they find some way to get me my ID without my sponsor being available.

Because he hasn't officially re-enlisted yet -- when they told him they were sending him back on the 25th, they said, "You can just get sworn in at home."

*slams head on desk*

He's supposed to call some folks in the chain of command here and find out exactly what's going on. It serves me right, it serves me right, it serves me fucking right, for actually believing a date that they give me before he's on the plane. :(

I like the acoustics in the bathroom.

2007-04-04T08:19:00.000-05:00

I'm a musician.

I don't write about it very much, mainly because the shifts my life has taken in the last couple of years have essentially eliminated music from my life. It's a rather sad state of affairs, and it's something that I am trying to fix.

As long as I can remember, I have always fancied myself a singer. And it turns out, I'm pretty good at it. Or I used to be, anyway. I've won some money singing karaoke, although I've also had my share of "mediocre karaoke appearances," as Simon Cowell would say. I used to sing in the shower, sing in the car, sing anywhere I could get away with it.

When I was in college, I played some "gigs" with a friend of mine and we made quite a nice little acoustic duo. I would also sit with him on the corner sometimes down on Mill Avenue and fill in some harmonies while he sat at the coffee shop and did his thing. When I was in high school I would sing any time I could get away with it, making recordings at the shop in the mall that let you "record your own song" or even sitting in a park late at night with a dear friend of mine while he recorded me into a standard cassette recorder.

Just one of those things where I've always batted around the idea of "cutting a demo" or whatever, and then one day I woke up and I was a chubby 37 year old transcriptionist with no real hope of ever being able to go anywhere with my music. So now I just mostly consider myself a "music fan" and not a "musician."

When I met S., one of the things I liked about him is that he is also a musician, and is a music fan, and has spent some time trying to do the garage band thing. He understands what it's like when music is ingrained deep within you, when it's something you can never truly be rid of. He gets that part of me, and we used to spend lots of late nights sitting in front of the stereo singing, or sitting around with his guitar with me singing. Even if it was only singing to S., at least I was still singing.

Then life got away from me -- no, life got away from the both of us -- and it's made it really hard to get back into singing.

Now, I've been presented with an opportunity and it's scaring the living hell out of me.

A friend of a friend here is a musician, and amateur music producer, and actually plays gigs with a working band from time to time. He is, as it was relayed to me, "looking for a female vocalist" to work on some acoustic things he's been trying to get put together. When S. found out about this, he immediately got on me to respond and say that I would be willing to sing.

And then I croaked out a few notes through my sorely underused vocal chords and said no, I didn't think I could do it. I hardly TALK any more, let alone sing. My singing is like the dusty catacombs in the secret passage behind the library shelves in the haunted house. People suspect that it might actually be there, but no one's experienced it first hand in years.

Well... apparently between me mentioning my love for singing to a friend of mine and S. insisting that this is something I should try to do, word got back to the musician. He and I are acquaintances, and have hung around together from time to time when our lives cross. This last time, it was different.

He walked right up to me and put his arm around me and said, "Hey, so you're gonna have to pick a time we can get together and start working on some music. I'd love to hear you sing."

This both thrilled me and freaked me out at the same time. I felt like it was something that was really out of my control, a choice that I should have been able to make for myself but that was kind of made for me. You see, he did not ask me, he was telling me -- which means someone else told him that either I am hesitant and he's trying to give me a little prodding, or someone told him that I had expressed a willingness to do it.

So now I'm not sure what to do. I recently shared some a capella recordings of myself with some folks for their opinion, and they reiterated to me that they think I have the "chops" to try to piddle around on a project without hesitation. S. is all over me to sing more -- take time every day to sing, he says. Just make time for it. And the friends, even the ones who have never heard my singing voice, seem to have all the faith in the world that this is something I would do well at and make myself and others proud in the process.

I just don't really remember a time that I was this unsure of myself about anything. I am my own worst critic, and it seems that I'm either going to have to let myself hold me back, or I'm going to have to kick myself to the curb and do it in spite of myself.

I'm both excited and uncomfortable. And that in itself makes me kind of antsy. You know?

News, news, news.

2007-03-30T10:00:00.000-05:00

First of all, apparently I am not allowed to post pictures of pocky, as blogger is blocking them but no other pictures. Which pretty much pisses me off.

Second of all, I have some news about S. Good news, overall.

He will be coming home before the end of April, it looks like, which is right at 90 days. He re-enlisted while he was TDY this time (four more years! four more years!) and it seems nobody really put 2+2 together to realize that his DoD ID card expires on 5/4.

Well, guess who can't get on a AF plane to come home if they don't bring him home before 5/4?

Yeah, that would be my man.

So he will be home before the first of May, in theory.

In other news, when he gets back here he will be moving out of his godforsaken shop and into a much better job. WOOT WOOT WOOT. He was personally requested for a job in a higher-profile shop doing a more-critical job that is something he really wants to do.

Instead of having to work shift work (although he's been shift lead on every shift he's worked on and NCOIC in his shop) and change schedules up periodically, he will be in a days-only, weekdays-only, shop. NO on-call, no weekends, no overnights, no swingshift. YAY!

I'm really excited about that. So overall, this is a wonderful, amazing change. There is only one drawback.

The deployment schedule in this shop is 4 months out of every 12, or rather I should say, he will be gone for four months at a time -- it could be as much as 8 months out of 12 that he'd be gone if the rotation got wonky (gone for 4, home for 4, gone for 4) ... and it appears he will be in the sandbox.

(We are in an example of a wonky deployment rotation right now -- he was gone for around 2 months (supposed to be 3), then home for 3, then gone for 3)

There are so many good things that come out of that scenario, with the new job. Those of you who are military wives will totally understand it. More experience for him. More things he can learn to do. Places he can see and ways to grow professionally and personally. The good of it ultimately will outweigh any danger to it, if there even is any... in his job, he would not be necessarily in a hostile area.

But it will still be an adjustment for me and for us. And I can only hope we might get blessed with getting pregnant before he has to turn around for 4 months and leave again. :)

I don't know, I'm only venting. You guys know I can't really give specifics about what he'll be doing or where, or anything. I just had to get some stuff off my chest, I guess.

In other news, my ear infection appears to be gone. Now my ankle hurts like I broke it. I am losing some weight. S. is doing fine where he is, but he wants to come home. I am generally tired. My throat doesn't hurt any more. And I am sniffling substantially less snot.

How are you doing?

And what is this POCKY of which you speak...?

2007-03-21T20:44:00.001-05:00

(Pictured: STRAWBERRY Pocky)

Pocky.

Pocky, that glorious Japanese treat. Pocky, the only "junk food" that we really allow into our house on a regular basis.

Oh, Pocky, you come in so many flavors, and you are so delicious, I love you so.

In my pantry? Right now?

Green tea pocky. Green tea MOUSSE pocky. Peach pocky. Strawberry pocky (with bits of strawberry). Man Flavor Pocky. Inside-out pocky. Soybean paste Pocky. Black sesame Pocky. Dark Chocolate Mousse Pocky. Regular Chocolate Mousse Pocky.

In my pantry, ever? All of those, plus regular chocolate pocky, regular strawberry pocky, white chocolate mousse pocky, coconut pocky, pineapple pocky, purple sweet potato mousse pocky, pocky decorer (dark chocolate with designs on the outside), "winter season" pocky (dark chocolate mousse dredged in cocoa powder)... the list goes on and on.

Pocky. Pocky, pocky, I love you so.

Pocky is a delicious Japanese snack food that can be found in just about any market that has Asian specialties, including commissaries (for those of you who are familiar with AAFES), and even some Wal-Marts will carry regular chocolate and strawberry Pocky.

Pocky is like... I'm going to have to find a way to explain it. Pocky is delicious little thin sticks, about as thin as a small pretzel stick. But about as long as three small pretzel sticks. They are not salty, or bready, they are like a vanilla cookie stick. And then they dip them in different coatings.

Then, they package them about 10 sticks to a foil pack, and they put those foil packs in a box, and they put the box on the shelf, and you buy it, tear into them, and eat them.

Pocky.

If you google "Pocky" you will find pages and pages, wikipedia pages, fan pages, fan listings, all extoling the benefits, virtues, and amazing yumminess of everything that is Pocky. You can also find lots of fun/funny Japanese Pocky commercials on YouTube and other pages.

I am on a Lortab right now (by prescription, thankyouverymuch) so I am too lazy currently to find and link all the fun Pockyness.

I would just tell you this: If you can find it, buy it and try it. You won't be disappointed.

Oh, and I know it sounds risque, but "Man Flavor Pocky" is actually just pocky sticks dipped in dark (bitter) chocolate. They're my favorites, and if you can find those (green box) I would highly recommend them.

The red box is what normal, chocolate, original pocky looks like. If you can find it with Japanese writing on the outside, all the better. Other countries make Pocky too, and they are all slightly different -- chocolate Pocky from Japan will be slightly different than Thai Pocky or Filipino Pocky. You just have to hit and miss. While the non-Japan varieties are slightly less expensive usually, I don't think they taste as good.

Please, for the love of Pocky, can you guys share your Pocky stories with me in the comments? For all the folks who have no idea what Pocky is, I know there are some of you out there who do.

xoxoxo

I just want him to get it.

2007-03-21T11:45:00.000-05:00

His care package(s), that is!

Poor S. has been building me a list of stuff to send down to him. I keep saying, "I'll just wait until I have this next thing he's asked me for and then I'll send the box." Well, then he'd add to the list.

Then I got sick.

So I've been a bad wife, and by the time I went to the post office to send his care package to him, it ended up being enough to fit in two USPS flat rate priority boxes.

sigh.

I sent him:

1) Jogging pants he wanted
2) Cargo shorts he wanted
3) Three t-shirts he wanted
4) Three (new) pair of socks
5) Peach Pocky
6) Men's Flavor Pocky
7) Caramel Pocky
8) Strawberry Pocky
9) Chocolate Mousse Pocky
10) Cheese Pretz
11) Wasabi Peas
12) Wasabi Cashews
13) Meltyblend (Strawberry AND regular)
14) Some kind of funny looking cookie biscuit things I got at the Asian market
15) Inside-out Pocky
16) Some other crackers he wanted.

I'm going to have to send him another box here pretty soon, as a man can only live so long on pocky. I'm sure he's going to have some other requests for me to send down there, probably more savory than sweet if I'm guessing right.

By my calculations the box should be there today or tomorrow -- we've been checking the postmarks on the boxes that have been showing up down there, and it seems like right at a week is the amount of time it takes.

*fingers crossed*

A Fat Rant.

2007-03-21T09:28:00.001-05:00

I found this on a friend's LJ, and wanted to share. I really enjoyed it.

For the record, upon my life insurance physical examination, my weight was 234 pounds.

And life gets back on track...?

2007-03-17T17:32:00.000-05:00

Whew.

Well, let's see. What's been going on?

As I wrote before, I had to have a blood test. Here's THAT story.

I went to apply for some life insurance, this is something S. and I had talked about on and off for a while and I figured I'd just get it done while he was gone. My insurance agent had assured me that they had some policies in smaller price/limit ranges that didn't involve a blood draw.

I am needle-phobic.

(from Wikipedia:)
Vaso-Vagal Trypanophobia

People who suffer from vaso-vagal trypanophobia fear the sight, thought or feeling of needles or needle-like objects. The primary symptom of vaso-vagal trypanophobia is vasovagal syncope, or fainting due to a decrease of blood pressure.

The physiological changes associated with this type of trypanophobia also include feeling faint, sweating, nausea, pallor, tinnitus, panic attacks and initially high blood pressure and heart rate followed by a plunge in both at the moment of injection. In this case, the patient is more likely to react passively as opposed to aggressively.

Associative Trypanophobia

Associative Trypanophobia is the second most common type of trypanophobia, affecting thirty percent of needle phobes. This type of trypanophobia is the classic specific phobia in which a traumatic event such as an extremely painful medical procedure or witnessing a family member or friend undergo such, causes the patient to associate all procedures involving needles with the original negative experience.

This form of trypanophobia causes symptoms that are primarily psychological in nature, such as extreme unexplained anxiety, insomnia, preoccupation with the coming procedure and panic attacks.
Resistive Trypanophobia

Resistive Trypanophobia occurs when the underlying fear involves not simply needles or injections but also being controlled or restrained. It typically stems from repressive upbringing or poor handling of prior needle procedures i.e with forced physical or emotional restraint.

This form of trypanophobia affects around 20% of needle phobes. Symptoms of this form of trypanophobia include combativeness, high heart rate coupled with xtremely high blood pressure, violent resistance, avoidance and flight.

I have an overwhelmingly complete combination of all of the symptoms of all three types of needle phobia. In short, I go from perfectly rational to freaking out, sweating, crying, kicking, trying to run away, panicking, hyperventilating, screaming, and passing out.

I have even punched a nurse and kicked a dental hygenist or two in my day. No lie.

So, when I went in for my initial consultation for the life insurance, we agreed on a policy and a limit that would not require a blood draw. Unfortunately for me, it turns out that was at the "underwriter's discretion," and they phoned me two days later to tell me that the underwriter had determined I'd have to get blood drawn anyway.

Joy.

That was on a Monday. I spent the next two days completely freaking out, with my insurance agent trying to work it out where I wouldn't have to have a blood draw. That, you can imagine, is a concept that sunk like lead shot in a rain bucket.

In talking with S., we agreed that it seemed inevitable -- I would have to have blood drawn at some time. It was going to have to happen. S. wanted to be here for it, but understanding my very, very severe phobia, I would have given myself an ulcer in the remaining two months of his absence just waiting for him to come home so I could get blood drawn. It was going to have to be all or nothing, now. Find a policy that maintained no blood drawing, or just get it the fuck done with. Now it was just a matter of finding someone to go with me.

S. made the suggestion that I ask J., who is: (1) one of his best friends here, (2) the husband of one of my best friends here, (3) 6'1", (4) 230+ pounds, and (5) an Army Infantryman. I suppose the rationale behind that was that he'd be strong enough to hold me down or keep me there if needed, and he'd be able to keep calm enough through my panic to help me calm down, too. Fortunately for me, J and his wife were both on board with that idea and J. was not working the afternoon of the test, so J. became my blood test escort.

The physical was originally supposed to happen here at the house, but of course after I told them I was needle-phobic they insisted that I had to go THERE to the lab to have it done (God/dess forbid I be comfortable in my own home for the traumatic experience) and I had to have someone else drive me there (lest my car get a mind of its own somewhere between home and the appointment and just never arrive [I've done that] or pass out at the appointment and then not be safe to drive myself home [done that, too]. J. was here right on time, drove me to the appointment, ran blocker between me and the nurses who stuck the back of my left hand (ow!) and did a very good job of not getting weirded out when I (1) panicked, (2) cried, (3) screamed, (4) started to pass out, (5) kicked, and (6) wanted to flee.

So, today the blessing in my life is for friends who would have taken me to my blood draw. I am so lucky to say I have multiple friends here that I am sure would have gone with me. And if you're reading this and nodding your head that you would have taken me, then you know who you are. :)

The long and short of that is, that they came back and rated me very well even though I'm a little heavy (perfect blood test, I'm as healthy as a horse -- a chubby horse, but a horse nonetheless) and actually issued my policy at less of a rate than they had originally quoted me. So, that's a good thing, woot-woot, and yay.

The bad thing about it was, I gave myself a cold with all the worrying. It did as all colds I catch do, and immediately took up residence in my chest. I went to the doctor on Friday and they were kind enough to tell me there's really nothing they can do for me, as they are assuming it's viral... so I was prescribed some medicine that I'm not taking to help me not cough, and I'm just supposed to rest. And you know, get better.

So when I kicked the cold out of my chest, a rebel contingent took up residence in my right ear. YAY. I'm a little frustrated, being 37 years old and having the beginnings of an ear infection. I'm taking garlic and vitamin C and all my vitamins, some Guaifenesin (Mucinex) to help the fluids get thinner and drain, and I bought some ear drops today that are supposed to help with the pain... I'm also putting hot compresses on it. This is the second in a series of medical issues that affect my work in the last week or so... stuck me in the back of the hand? Black! And blue! BLACK AND BLUE! For a week! Sore! For a week! Typing? Yeah, I had to suck it up.

And now? I'm half deaf in one ear. What's that? Hearing lawyers and recorded interviews and psycholgogists talking to me? Sure! I can hear in the left side!

As regards work, things are going pretty well. I have a new client, and he's wonderful, and he loves me. And he keeps giving me work, which is excellent. I would love to have two or three clients like him, and then I could get rid of the pain in the rear-end client I have who just drives me freaking insane. INSANE. Oy. OY OY OY.

(lots of oy)

I've also taken on an enhanced role in the local car club, helping out a lot with the sponsorship efforts of the club and the events. Most recently we had a car show at the local Ford dealership, where 57 Ford Mustangs came out and participated. We raised a lot of money for the club and got some great publicity, and it was a HUGE turnout on very short notice. I even cleaned up and showed the Mach1, and although she didn't win any prizes, she did get a good second look from the judges and LOTS of compliments.

I think that might have me caught up. Up to speed, as it were.

The weather here has been so nice of late, I'm ready to start working on the patio again and starting my herb garden. I want to grow an absolute ton of herbs and this is going to be the way to get it done, I think. Start early. Grow fast. :D If the weather stays warm, I'm going to have a much better early growing season than last year. (Oh, EJP, are you out there? Have any seeds you'd like to swap this year?)

Well, I guess that's about all I've got. If you haven't heard from me in a while, rest assured I still adore you. I've just been a little ... meh ... lately. Hoping that I can get back into the regular blogging. *fingers crossed*

New Blogger, Head Colds, and Other Goodies

2007-03-08T07:48:00.000-06:00

I had to change everything over to the "new blogger" today. If stuff starts to look wonky, please tell me so I can try to get a handle on it.

I'd been postponing it as long as I could, and they finally forced my hand.

In other news, I am sick.

In other other news, I am sick because I found out I have to have a blood test taken on Friday, and I am freaking out.

That's all I've got for right now... maybe when my head clears up a little bit I'll be able to write some more. :(

Lemme catch y'all up.

2007-02-19T09:13:00.000-06:00

Here we are, on day... 26? S has been gone for nearly a month now, and we're hanging in there and doing just fine. So is he, it seems, doing fine. Not only is he in charge of some good troops where he is, but he is once again a go-to guy and they're depending on him for lots of extra things.

I just got an e-mail that they are processing his re-enlistment paperwork, too, so he'll probably be sworn in while he's away. I wish there were some kind of a tax-free bonus available to him, but of course there isn't. They were very happy to hear he wanted to re-enlist, though, and there's also the possibility of a job change (not a geographical change, just a job change) when he comes home.

Work is keeping me unbelievably busy. Insanely busy. In fact, I just landed a new client that could allow me to get rid of at least one of my pain in the rear end clients... if this client pans out to be as regular as I think it will be, it'll make me nearly as much in a month as all my clients put together. Which is a very, very good thing.

The weather here is finally starting to clear up a little bit. It was actually pseudo-warm this weekend, and the roads are staying clear. That means it's easier for me to get out and about, mail things, do things, shop for things, etc. I hate getting out anyway, so if the weather is even slightly bad I tend to use that as an excuse.

How is everything with YOU??

Picture pages, picture pages.

2007-02-15T08:52:00.000-06:00

So yesterday, I sat around feeling sad that everyone around me was getting to do valentine's day stuff.

Because I just figured there was no way S. could have done anything for me, considering where he is, and everything.

I couldn't have been more wrong!

Here's some pictures for you lovely folks.

First, of my lovely pink roses that S. sent me, sneakily and underhandedly without my knowledge.

Second, of some of the wall art that got hung in and around here, and some of the new accessories I put in the living and dining rooms.

Just to show y'all that I'm not sitting on my butt doing nothing, I'm earning my keep!

Stupid Shit My Mother Said: Birthday Edition

2007-02-12T07:57:00.000-06:00

First of all, thank you for the birthday wishes yesterday even though I wasn't even HERE. I turned 37 years old yesterday. My mom came into town so I wouldn't have to be "alone" on my birthday, and she was here from late Thursday night to mid-day Sunday.

Here's some highlights.

--------------
A year ago when I told my mom we were going to start trying for a baby, she told me, "Whatever doctor told you it's okay for someone as heavy as you to start trying to conceive is totally wrong, you need a second opinion." When I was forced by the military to switch doctors, had to go for an appointment and they said the only thing special they wanted me to do while trying to conceive was take prenatal vitamins, and said nothing about my weight endangering the health of an unborn child or anything like that (except for the normal thoughts relating to age and weight), she insisted that I must not be telling them something, or they weren't weighing me, or whatever.

So on Friday morning when we sat in Jimmy's Egg and had a girly splurgy birthday-ish breakfast of omelettes, she said, very matter-of-factly: "So people keep asking me if you guys are ever going to get around to having a baby, or if it's something you're just not going to do." When I told her that we have been trying (except for when S. is gone on TDY like he is now for 3-4 months at a time) to get pregnant, and started to choke up a little when I said, "I'm starting to come to terms with the idea that we might just not be able to get pregnant ourselves," she said, "Jesus Christ, Rose, I guess I should have waited to talk about this when you weren't going to cry all over yourself in public." Then she said, "I guess I didn't know if you chose not to talk to me about you guys starting a family because I told you that I thought you were too heavy."
----------------

We were in Hobby Lobby, and I had picked out a couple of accent pieces to hang on my wall where my new, big picture is hanging (pictures to come). My sister had given me a Kohl's gift card for my birthday. My mom told me she was going to buy the wall art for me as a birthday gift. So we were waiting to check out and I said, "Oh, if we're going to Kohl's let's go back home really quick so I can get that gift card, it's on the table."

She said, "What for? It's not like I'm going to let you pay for anything. Happy birthday!"

I thanked her and smiled, and we went about our business. Hours later when we got home after she had bought me some clothes on a shopping spree at Kohl's, she said, "Well shit, here's that gift card you had! And I just spent all this money!"
------------------

She got up at 6am on Saturday morning and cleaned her bathroom after I had already cleaned it, and cleaned my kitchen after I had already cleaned it. And made sure she told me she felt like she needed to clean them.

------------------

Saturday she said she wanted to eat something "light" so we were on our way to the "something light" place and then she smelled the BBQ from the BBQ joint and talked me into stopping there. Then later of course, she had to say, "You know, you did have barbecue today."

-------------------

Standing in the hardware store trying to find some nails to help hold up the new wall art, she kept bouncing back and forth on what she wanted. They need to be brown. They need to be black. They need to have a flat head on them. They need to be an inch long. They don't need the flat head if they're an inch long and brown. Maybe these would be better. Blah. Blah. Blah.

I said, "Let me go get a guy, and ask him, hang on."

She said, "Good lord, Rose, don't embarrass yourself. I don't have any questions."

I said, "If you don't have any questions, why have we spent eight minutes standing in front of the nails and fasteners section in Ace Hardware?"

She got quite angry and snatched up a packet of brown paneling nails and we left.

----------------------

"Rose, you should have a glass of wine."

"No, I'm okay."

"No, seriously, have a glass of wine."

"No, it's okay. You just said you want me to drive us up the street later and pick up burgers, I shouldn't have any wine if I'm going to be driving."

"Well Rose, if it came down to it, I could drive us up the road, right? Why won't you just have a glass of wine?"

"Are you trying to calm me down, or something?"

"Well yeah, I thought it might help."

I get up, go in the kitchen, find my smallest wine glass and fill it half full.

"Wow, I guess I really had to twist your arm to get you to have a glass of wine, huh?"

------------------

After dinner and sitting in the living room she says to me, "You can't let S. come home to this filthy house." We talk about how my house is not filthy. Then somehow it comes up and I get a little choked up, that S. was supposed to maybe go to Iraq this year instead of where he ended up going.

Then she argued with me about how ALL MILITARY WIVES (except me) know exactly where their husband is and how long he will be gone and know many months in advance he will be going. (S. thought he was going to Iraq but couldn't tell me for a number of weeks, because the information was classified, and I am totally okay with that... but she refuses to understand how since he has a classified job and his travel is classified, why that means he can't tell me where he's going even though someone in an infantry brigade might know four months in advance that they are slated to go to Iraq.) So we argued about that. Then I pointed out that the reason why we were having some tension around here before he left was because they changed the plans up on us and he couldn't tell me where he had been slated to go and all that stuff.

And she says...

... wait for it ...

"Well, looking around here I can only hope that the reason for his stress before he left was work-related."

I got so pissed off I just left her sitting there and went to bed. She insists she did not "imply" anything.

---------------

Sunday at lunchtime I told her I would make us some lunch. She insisted she was not hungry. The minute I got her to the airport, at 1:30, she bought a turkey sandwich.

---------------

She told me she was going to phone me when she got home to let me know she was okay. But she didn't.

So that's the highlights. :)

Everything other than those things and a few other little passive-aggressive moments I haven't detailed here, was pretty decent.

:)

The word of the day is "disablecapped"

2007-01-30T20:45:00.000-06:00

So hey.

Y'all have to go over HERE and read our deep, meaningful, intellectual discussion of tonight's Birmingham, Alabama American Idol contestants.

Not for the weak of heart.

GO HERE, YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO DO IT.

DO IT.

tired.

2007-01-30T20:41:00.000-06:00

Dear Universe,

I'm tired of crying.

Please make it stop.

Thank you in advance,
Rose

PS: at your earliest convenience.

It's like the BATSIGNAL, but for witchy peeps instead.

2007-01-28T19:23:00.000-06:00

So hey.

Anybody out there with divination tools want to give 'em a little workout?

I could use a short card reading, or a rune pulled, or anything like that, if anybody's feeling up to it.

Feel free to buzz me on Yahoo as sablerose70 (no spaces) or even on MSN using the e-mail address in my sidebar as the MSN name.

Thank you so much! My cards are laughing at me, as par usual, they don't like to talk to me about - well - me.

I'm bald.

2007-01-28T13:23:00.000-06:00

Or at least I kind of feel bald.

Saturday I went to a local salon with my niece and got my hair chopped. All in all I lost about a foot of hair, and the longest portion was sent to Locks Of Love as a donation.

This is my new haircut.

I'm adjusting.

(For those of you that might not have known... my hair was past my waist, it was down to my butt. So this is a huge adjustment!)

Two down, 88 to go

2007-01-26T16:46:00.000-06:00

He left at 5am on Wednesday. I'm doing surprisingly okay. I'm just not quite ready to write about it yet.

In other news, another of my resume clients just got a fantastic new job.

I rock.

Put me back on the list.

2007-01-23T09:22:00.000-06:00

Friday night we were told S. wasn't being deployed.

Sunday that was confirmed.

Today at 8:30am, they re-confirmed that as of 0-dark-thirty tomorrow, he is on a plane and going TDY for three months.

I'm a little ticked off, and very sad.

Damn you, Feria, DAMN YOU!

2007-01-22T22:01:00.000-06:00

Okay. So.

Here's the plan.

1) Move my hair back to espresso brown (#40) from chocolate cherry (#36). I love chocolate cherry #36, but the whole "get in the direct sunlight and shine a beacon of wine-colored burgundy red-haired goodness" thing was starting to get to me a little, especially after a friend of mine who is not my mother, made the same comment as my mother. Which would be, that perhaps I could go with a little more natural hair color.

(damnit).

2) Get together with my lovely 16 year old 'niece,' the daughter of one of my oldest and dearest and bestest friends, who now lives here... and go have a haircut. She has saved enough money from her first job that she wants to get a cut-and-color... so I decided I would cut 10 inches off my very, very, very long hair, and donate it to Locks Of Love.

3) Maybe, if there was money in the budget, get some nice auburn or caramel brown highlights over my (supposed to be) dark brown espresso hair.

Today, I decided to color my hair espresso (#40) and ended up with... espresso chocolate cherry brownish red.

Damn you, Feria. The very thing that makes me love you, makes me ticked off at you. I will never be able to duplicate this when my roots start growing in!

Stupid Shit My Mother Said, part XXXVII

2007-01-21T17:31:00.000-06:00

Well, fuck.

My mom. What am I ever going to do about, with, or for my mom?

We got a phone call at 8:30 pm on Friday night saying that S. has been taken off this deployment, for some really odd reasons none of which have anything to do with anything he did. Turns out they ran out of seats on the jet or something, so they are postponing him.

Well.

My mother bought an airline ticket to come out and visit me over my birthday weekend, specifically because S. was going to be gone. You see, they had a little friction when she was here over Thanksgiving, and so I think this was her way of sticking it to my man.

Honestly.

So I phoned her.

"Hey," I said, "I'm just calling you to keep you in the loop -- we just got off the phone with the base and it seems that S. isn't going to be leaving on Wednesday like they had said earlier. I mean, it's all up in the air and could change another nine times before then, but as of right now his deployment has been postponed! So, he's going to be able to be here for my birthday AND Valentine's day!"

"Huh," she said.

"Yeah, so I just wanted to tell you, and let you know.

"Uh-huh," she said.

"I mean, I thought I should let you in the loop because I know part of your motivation for coming out here was so I wouldn't be alone on my birthday."

"Huh," she said.

"I'm really excited that he's going to be able to celebrate with us, though. It's really great that he'll be here," I said.

"Well," she said, "I guess we'll just have to find a way to have fun with three people, instead of with just us two."

Then she fed me some line of bullshit about asking where he was gonna be going if/when he gets back on the rotation, and blah de blah blah. But not before she said, "It's not like I can change my ticket or anything now, you know."

Fuck you, mom.

Disrespecting Our Troops

2007-01-19T15:42:00.000-06:00

PLEASE WRITE TO THIS COMPANY AT THE E-MAIL ADDRESS LISTED BELOW, AND TELL THEM HOW FULL OF CRAP THEY ARE.

thank you.

ALSO PLEASE POST THIS AND SPREAD IT IN THE BLOGOSPHERE.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/war/apo.asp

APO'd

Claim: A U.S. Army soldier received a rude response from an on-line retailer after inquiring about shipments to APO addresses.

Example: [Collected via e-mail, 2007]

Below is an email exchange between a friend of mine's husband and a company that sells different types of mats. He is stationed in Iraq and was inquiring as to whether or not the company ships overseas. He wanted to get the troops better gear to sleep on. This is the companies response. I am floored. I am floored as a military wife and as an American. Please repost this so that this company will hear us loud and clear that we do not stand for this. Whatever your view is on this war - these troops are just following orders. Most are passionate about what they are doing. You can disagree with the war without disrespecting our troops.

From: SGT Jason Hess
Sent: Tue Jan 16 3:25

Do you ship to APO addresses? I'm in the 1st Cavalry Division stationed in Iraq and we are trying to order some mats but we are looking for who ships to APO first.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: contact@discount-mats.com
Sent: Tuesday, January 16, 2007 9:44 PM
Subject: Re: Feedback: from discount-mats.com

SGT Hess,
We do not ship to APO addresses, and even if we did, we would NEVER ship to Iraq. If you were sensible, you and your troops would pull out of Iraq.

Bargain Suppliers
Discount-Mats.com

Origins: APO (Army Post Office or Air [Force] Post Office) and FPO (Fleet Post Office) addresses are part of a military mail system used for exchanging mail with U.S. personnel stationed outside the United States, generally at the same domestic rates charged for sending mail within the U.S. Military personnel, their families, and others who have had occasion to order merchandise for shipment to troops stationed overseas have generally learned to first check with the vendors to ensure that they will indeed send product to APO/FPO addresses. Because shipments sent to APO/FPO addresses require extra processing (e.g., they must be sent via USPS, mailed from a post office, and accompanied by customs forms) and involve additional mailing restrictions, not all businesses are willing to accept orders intended for APO/FPO destinations.

The e-mail exchange reproduced above took place in January 2007 between a U.S. Army soldier serving with the U.S. 1st Cavalry Division in Iraq and online retailer Bargain Suppliers Discount Floor Mats of West Allis, Wisconsin, with the former inquiring about whether the latter would ship floor mats to APO addresses. Not only did the retailer reportedly respond in the negative, but they couched their turn-down as the rude statement that "We do not ship to APO addresses, and even if we did, we would NEVER ship to Iraq. If you were sensible, you and your troops would pull out of Iraq."

Discount Mats didn't respond to our inquiry, but Sgt. Hess wrote back to us and confirmed that the correspondence was real:

This is all fact and true what happened. I'm with the 1st BCT 1st Cavalry Division in Iraq just trying to find someone to send supplies that we needed.

Last updated: 18 January 2007

The URL for this page is http://www.snopes.com/politics/war/apo.asp

The one where she gets her ass kicked into gear

2007-01-17T09:56:00.000-06:00

My dear and darling friend Andie has tagged me, and even IM'ed me to follow up and let me know she had tagged me.

It's like having an intervention!

So here we go:

Meme

A- Available or single? Um, married. So... neither?

B- Best Friend? Shanna and Maury.

C- Cake or Pie? Cake. Which is really hilarious if you've been here to hear the "pie" jokes, which you haven't, but maybe I have to blog about that now too.

D- Drink of Choice? Non-alcoholic: diet Pepsi. Alcoholic: wine.

E- Essential Item? My computer, without which I would be cut off from civilization.

F- Favorite Color? Red.

G- Gummi Bears or Worms? I haven't had candy like this in years. Bears? The white ones.

H- Hometown? Where I was born: Anchorage, AK. Where I live now: Tinker AFB, OK.

I- Indulgence? Dark chocolate.

J- January or February? My birthday is in February, which makes it a fabbo month.

K- Kids and names? No kids yet, starting to wonder if there ever will be.

L- Life is incomplete without? Love.

M- Marriage Date? 10/31/03 and 1/9/04. Yes, two. Yes, to the same guy.

N- Number of Siblings? One.

O- Oranges or apples? Ooh, oranges.

P- Phobias/Fears? Needles.

Q- Favorite Quote? "The Mississippi's mighty, but it starts in Minnesota at a place that you can walk across with five steps down."

R- Reason to Smile? My hubby.

S- Season? Spring. When the world is in love!

T- Tag three people! Shanna, Stacy and Betty.

U- Unknown Fact About Me? I am CONSTANTLY mistaken for 10 years younger than I am.

V- Vegetable you hate? Acorn squash. yuck.

W- Worst habit? I'm a nailbiter, which is why I have to have 'em done all the time.

X- X-Rays you’ve had? Full skull, X-rays for teeth at the dentist, and a lung X-ray.

Y- Your favorite food? Sushi.

Z- Zodiac? Aquarius, baby!

----------------

A side note: We had an ice storm here. Well, a sleet storm. Except then the sun came out just long enough to bake everything in time to make it hard so it could re-freeze. Three inches of ice EVERYWHERE here. I haven't left my house since Friday except to walk the dog and fall on my ass.

And we're gonna get 5" of snow on Saturday now they're saying.

Joy!

A quick catch-up

2007-01-10T08:33:00.000-06:00

Hi, all.

Let me just give you a few tidbits. I haven't been much in the blogging mood lately, but I know you'll understand why.

1) I got sick. Again. So this time it's been a snotty head cold, and I have had it on and off for about two weeks. No chest cold, just hacks and snorts every morning until about mid-day. This is keeping me from a wide variety of stress-relieving activities like singing, and it's pissing me off.

2) I got a new toy! After Christmas, a friend of mine was selling his Nikon D50 digital SLR with some extras like lens, memory card, etc., and I picked it up for a steal. A STEAL. This is a pretty huge upgrade from my Olympus C-2100 UZ and I hope to get to learn how to use it and get pretty good at it over the next few months because...

3) S. is being deployed again. It seems like I just got him home! He came home in August, and he's being sent back out. Three months this time, for sure. He leaves on 1/24. So, we've been going through that dance that military couples do when there's a TDY looming on the horizon. We've been holding up surprisingly well.

I'm hanging in there, doing okay, and seem to be holding it together all right under the circumstances. I know where he's going to be, and it's not the worst situation ever. He's been there before. There's some turmoil there since the last time he was there, some political upheaval and the like, but I'm sure he's going to be all right.

He's going to miss my birthday again, but that's the price we pay, right? At least we had a nice dinner out last night for our (legal) wedding anniversary. Went and took my 'niece' Sarah out for sushi dinner to celebrate her pulling up one of her grades in high school, and combined it with our anniversary dinner. It was a lot of fun and I always like seeing Daryl (her dad).

I have a wide variety of "plans" (I don't like to call them resolutions) for myself that I'll be undertaking while S. is gone on his TDY. He'll be gone until April, which gives me some time to get myself, this household, etc., into shape. Seems like since the holiday stress started looming back in October (regarding my mother's Thanksgiving visit) things just haven't been quite ... "right" ... around here.

So, I have grand plans. And among those plans is more blogging. I need to keep in touch with this thing more. Perhaps this will be the year I break down and move my blog to its own domain, in the hopes that I will actually write more in it.

Who knows?

Just know that every time I look over here and see comments from you guys or hits from you guys (holy crap, my sitemeter says we broke 100,000 hits, wtf) I get excited and reminded that even though sometimes I feel alone, I'm not alone.

And to those of you who IM me or e-mail me or keep in touch with me that way and put up with my quiet-ness and lack of writing but still dig me, you know, thank you.

So anyways. Here's to more blogging. Right? Right?

Happy new year!

2007-01-02T07:07:00.000-06:00

Ooooooooooooooooooooooogh.

I'm over my hang over. I got right hung out to dry.

How are all of you?

Cookie Recipe

2006-12-20T09:16:00.000-06:00

An oldie but a goodie.

Here is how to make my favorite Jose Cuervo Christmas Cookies!

Christmas Cookie Active Ingredients:

1 cup of water
1 tsp. baking soda
1 cup of sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 cup of brown sugar
lemon juice
4 large eggs
1 cup nuts
2 cups of dried fruit
1 bottle Jose Cuervo Tequila

Sample the Cuervo to check quality.

Take a large bowl, check the Cuervo again, to be sure it is of the highest quality, pour one level cup and drink.

Turn on the electric mixer... Beat one cup of butter in a large fluffy bowl. Add one teaspoon of sugar... Beat again.

At this point it's best to make sure the Cuervo is still OK, try another cup (just in case.)

Turn off the mixerer thingy. Break 2 leggs and add to the bowl and chuck in the cup of dried fruit, Pick the frigging fruit off floor... Mix on the turner. If the fried druit gets stuck in the beaterers just pry it loose with a drewscriver.

Sample the Cuervo to check for tonsisticity.

Next, sift two cups of salt, or something. Who giveshz a sheet. Check the Jose Cuervo. Now shift the lemon juice and strain your nuts. Add one table. Add a spoon of sugar, or somefink. Whatever you can find. Greash the oven.

Turn the cake tin 360 degrees and try not to fall over. Don't forget to beat off the turner. Finally, throw the bowl through the window, finish the Cose Juervo and make sure to put the stove in the dishwasher.

CHERRY MISTMAS!

I totally suck.

2006-12-18T09:09:00.000-06:00

I can't get in the holiday spirit for anything.

Except for the cards that I wrote and got from others for my cards for soldiers card drive, there are no Yule or Xmas or Christmas or Holiday cards in the mail for any of my friends or family.

I just kept putting it off and putting it off, and now it's too late.

I am barely done with gift shopping. I also don't have gifts for many of my friends because I am a huge loser.

I don't have any decorations up.

I can't seem to get with it. I can't get it figured out. I can't get excited about any of it. NONE OF IT.

If you've sent me a Yule or Holiday card... thank you. If you've received a card from me before and didn't get one this year, please know it's not because I didn't send one to you, it's that I didn't send any to anybody.

Because I feel like a huge dorkus loser.

Good God, an update?

2006-11-30T17:44:00.000-06:00

Um.

So I know some of you have been wondering what I've been up to.

Here's a hint.

Yes, that's me.

Mwah!

Could you ever have guessed?

2006-11-15T08:09:00.000-06:00

Two weeks without an update. Two. Weeks. I'm not sure what's crawled into my head lately and died, stopping up all the plumbing, but I've just been out of blogging mode. I want desperately to be IN blogging mode, which has kind of been grating on me. I just haven't had a whole lot to talk about.

Let's see if I can catch you up.

1) We named the car. Her name is Bubbles. That's right, goddammit, her name is Bubbles. Now some big boy gearheads have said things like, "How can you name such a muscular mean looking car such a goofy name?" To them I say the following: She chose the name herself. There is no way in hell either of us could have come up with a name like that if we weren't told, BY the car, in her own special new-car way, exactly what her name was. And who am I to buck tradition? The car's name is Bubbles.

2) We took Bubbles to a charity car show to benefit the Oklahoma Regional Food Bank. We did not win any awards, of course, and we didn't expect to. But the fact is we entered her in the show, got a lot of compliments, and helped out charity. We were also on the team of people who was working the particular car show, so we got to see a bunch more great cars and do a good deed, which is always a good thing.

3) Last weekend, we went to Houston. Well, not precisely Houston, we went to the Texas Renaissance Festival in Plantersville, TX. This was such a big deal for me in particular because it was a joint trip with Shanna, who has been my wonderful and amazing blog friend for - we figured this out - something like three-four years now. S. has met both Shanna and Shanna's man B., and I have not had the pleasure of meeting either of them until this last weekend. There was much mead and ale consumed, we walked around the faire a lot, we even shared a hotel room, and Shanna and I bonded over late-night Denny's while the boys slept off their big day in the hotel room. It was very, very fun, and we are already planning next year's trip.

4) I returned from Texas sick as a motherfucking dog, and am currently hacking up a lung. It couldn't have come at a worse time, either, with my typical Wednesday deadline looming over my head for work. Seems like all my clients run in circles that revolve around Wednesdays. So with that, since I slept in an hour later than normal so I could try to give myself enough good rest to try to ditch this damned head cold, I should probably get to work.

Here's to me trying to blog more often, and here's to any of y'all that haven't given up on me yet sticking around for the ride. *clink*

Cheers!

Blessed Samhain!

2006-10-31T08:36:00.001-06:00

To all my friends who celebrate today as the New Year, to you, I say, Blessed Samhain, and may you receive all the blessings you so richly deserve in the year to come.

To everyone else, happy Halloween, and have fun!

New car pictures

2006-10-27T12:07:00.000-05:00

We had the hood stripe repaired today (it had a little snag in it, the guy who owned it previous to us ran it through a mechanical car wash) and had some vinyl bumper inserts put on.

Also, we bought a new grille emblem, a "Flaming Pony," and installed that, too.

Minor modifications, but they are also the newest modifications, so I thought I should share. :)

Happy happy, joy joy

2006-10-26T08:36:00.000-05:00

It is S.'s birthday!

Happy birthday, baby!

(He says I didn't have to get him anything for his birthday, because his present is in the garage. Hee!)

This is a chocolate service announcement.

2006-10-23T11:11:00.000-05:00

Do you like dark chocolate?

Now, do you like dark chocolate the way *I* like dark chocolate?

Me? I could eat dark chocolate so dark and bitter that others can't eat it.

I am one of those people who is anxiously searching for the Lindt 85% dark chocolate.

Yum.

I found this at the BX the other day: Hershey's Cacao Reserve. It's dark chocolate. From Hershey. But it's organic or something. And it's high-percent dark, I think about 66%.

With nibs.

Cocoa nibs.

Delicious, crunchity, roasty little bits of cocoa nibs in the chocolate.

You know, nibs. What chocolate comes from.

I LOVE IT.

That's all I had to say about that, really. :)

Baby's first photo album!

2006-10-21T12:34:00.001-05:00

Assuming Blogger does not totally fuck this up like it has been screwing up things all morning, I present to you our new 2004, 40th anniversary edition, Oxford White Mach 1.

There were only 512 of these made (in this color), making it the rarest of the Mach 1 colors.

It is "bone stock," as the gearheads say. This means it has no modifications to it. The only thing that isn't factory on it is the antenna, and the window tint.

And we love her, and we need a name for her.

Any ideas?

It's the bump day after hump day

2006-10-19T07:21:00.000-05:00

Whew.

Wednesdays are usually my hardest days.

My two biggest clients both have Wednesday deadlines. Even though I tell myself that I am going to, at least in my head, adjust their deadlines so one of them is on Tuesday or something, I never do and end up having to go balls-out on Wednesdays.

Just how I am, I suppose.

It almost has taken its toll this week. But, hopefully I came through it okay.

And now? Today? Car day! YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSs CAR DAY. Today at about 10:30, we are going to go downtown to the credit union and see a man about a car.

This photo is not our exact car, but looks exactly like our car, with the exception of the window tint. Our windows are tinted pretty dark.

It is a 40th anniversary 2004 Mach 1.

My father, apparently, had a conversation with my sister about how I do not appear to be "financially mature" enough, regarding things like uh, well, money.

Why did he think that?

Because when I told him we were going to buy a car, and that the blue book value on the car was around $24,000, he didn't understand why that was such a big deal. Of course, he carried on with me as if I had struck a gold mine... but then he told my sister, "You would have thought she was buying a Lamborghini."

This from the man who can walk onto a car lot and drop $60k cash on a new tricked out whatever-the-fuck, just because he feels like having a new car today.

I don't know. Let's see. Saving up enough money to put half the value down on a used car (that will hold its value, since it's a limited edition car, better than other cars of the same year)... is financially immature?

I think he just doesn't understand that S. and I live a relatively simple life, and we are happy with the little things we can do and have, and that's all we really need.

Meanwhile, he's off trying to find how many things he can do or buy that are going to enrich his life.

I think I'm better off. How about you?

PS: ZOMG WE ARE GOING TO BUY THE CAR TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There's a reason for everything.

2006-10-17T06:49:00.000-05:00

Hi, all. I am SO SORRY I haven't been around. I'm trying to be a better blogger! I'm trying to be a better blogger! I'm trying to be a better blogger!

(do you believe me?)

Things have just been kind of crazy insane here. Between more work than I can do, house guests, and the topsy turvy turmoil that comes from trying to purchase a car, I've been less than conversational. I have in fact been communicating mostly through a variety and manner of grunts, hems, haws, and occasionally screeches. It hasn't been pretty.

Not. At. All.

The definite highlight of my week was when my 16-year-old "niece," the daughter of my brotherfromanothermother, came to stay with us for a few days while her dad was on a scouting/recon mission in the OKC area. You see, they are moving here! Next week! And! Then they will live close. Close enough to have coffee with. Close enough to have them over for dinner. Close enough to do "family" things with them. We are all very excited, and I hope you'll extend your mojo to them so that they have a safe journey this coming weekend, pulling their belongings from TN to OK in a U-haul truck and a vehicle dolly for their car.

So, I have THAT to look forward to.

On the vehicle front... I've been fielding questions on and off from those of you who IM with me periodically, and let me try to sum this up.

The guy with the car we wanted to buy is a fuckwit.

Now that I've gotten the compulsory cursing and lumping-in-with-other-dumbasses out of the way, let's see if I can go into any more detail.

9/15/06: Told guy we want to buy his car.
9/15/06: Told guy we were putting our car up for sale so we could buy his car.
10/2/06: got final offer on our car.
10/3/06: met Gpa Elmer at the credit union and sold him our car. (This is important, keep this in mind)
10/3/06: Called Mach 1 guy and said, "We sold our car and we're ready to go."
10/4/06: Called Mach 1 guy, no response.
10/5/06: Called Mach 1 guy, no response.
10/6/06: Called Mach 1 guy, no response.
10/7/06: Called Mach 1 guy, no response. Went to look at other cars.
10/8/06: Mutual friend calls Mach 1 guy and tells him to pull his head out of his ass.
10/9/06: Mach 1 guy calls us and says, "Oh, did you sell your car? Oh, do you still want to buy my car?" We make clear our intentions, but by now we also have lots of feelers out on other Mach 1s.
10/10/06: Apparently, Mach 1 guy has to request another title from the state of OK.
10/13/06: Mach 1 guy calls our mutual friend (not us) and tells him he has the title.
10/14/06: We go see another perfect Mach 1. Kid's ready to sell it. He's ready to deal. It's a better car for us. It's white. It's in great shape. Low miles. I fall in love with the white one.
10/16/06: We call Mach 1 guy (first guy) and tell him to call us back before EOB Monday 10/16 to tell us when he can meet to sign paperwork.
10/16/06: Mach 1 white car guy calls us and tells us he'll knock $200 off the price, deliver it to OKC (he's in rural OK) and can we sign paperwork Thursday.

First guy never called us back.

We are buying the white one.

Can you see now why I have been a bundle of nerves, piss and vinegar for two weeks? I've been stuck at home (down to one car), S. has been insufferable, and we've been chasing this guy around waving thousands of dollars at him trying to get him to just take our goddamned money and give us his car.

It's amazing.

BUT I'M BACK.

How have all of YOU been?

Requesting more mojo, pls.

2006-10-06T12:51:00.000-05:00

We are having trouble connecting with the Mach 1 owner.

Our wires seem to keep getting crossed.

Since we are currently mustang-less, any help anyone could give us in the way of positive energy would be greatly appreciated.

I'm juggling!

2006-10-04T08:28:00.000-05:00

Well, we're moving closer!

We've figured out how much we're going to finance/put down on the car and have put in our application. I should hear back from the credit union today, but I don't imagine that it's going to be any issue at all. AT ALL.

But that's not the only big things going on in our life.

My dear friend Daryl is going to be moving here from Tennessee, so he can live closer to his girlfriend and also for a change of pace. His daughter is going to be staying with us in the evenings for a little while until he gets some things settled, probably a week or so. It'll be nice to have someone new in the house for a little while. And, it will be the funnest ever, to have one of my closest friends (we've known each other over 20 years) living here in town. I tell myself that it'll help me get out of the house more regularly, since I've turned into quite the homebody. But at the very least, perhaps we can get together for coffee and stuff.

Goodness knows I haven't been very social OR sociable in the last few months. I have to get to changing that. I have friends who live locally that I hardly ever see, and because of my aversion to talking on the phone, I hardly ever actually voice-talk with. My closest friend here in town and I are relegated to a few IM sessions a week, and short ones at that. I need to remedy all of these things. AURGH.

S. has already asked me if we have any "plans" for this weekend, as he wants to take the new car (provided we get all the paperwork finalized) on a cruise. I think that will end up being totally, awesomely fun.

And then? And then? AND THEN? We will be meeting Shanna and her honey just outside of Houston for a few days at the Texas Renaissance Festival, come the first weekend in November.

LOTS GOING ON. The planner in me is in overdrive, I tell you.

What do you guys have planned for this weekend?

We need your mojo.

2006-10-02T07:51:00.000-05:00

Okay.

Since I am once again not pregnant, I am shifting my attention to my mechanical gasoline-and-steel baby.

Supposedly, someone will be contacting us today from the credit union to write a cashier's check to buy our car.

PLEASE THINK HAPPY THOUGHTS and help us get this to happen today.

If this happens, it will be huge. HUGE.

pleasepleaseplease

---------------------

UPDATE

---------------------

Because of all your wonderful wonderness, Grandpa Elmer has driven off in our V6, and his granddaughter is one happy girl. We are a few thousand bucks richer until later this week when we put that money down on THIS piece of amazing hotness:

So I am scared shitless, but thrilled, but happy but sad. Bye bye, little V6, our little Babydoll, our wonderful little car. We hope your new owners love you as much as we loved you.

I'm not one to make excuses.

2006-09-28T07:28:00.000-05:00

Heya.

So, I'd like to apologize for being away for various and sundry reasons. It isn't because I don't have things to blog about. It's becuase I have some things that I'd LOVE to blog about that aren't resolved enough to blog yet. It's also because I've been trying to spend some quality time with S. since he's been home. It's also because I have been covered up with a lot of work.

I know.

I said I wasn't going to work as much.

I know.

This is how things go with me, haven't we been together long enough to know it's true?

After S.'s arrival, I have been busy trying to play Donna Reed and June Cleaver, to no avail. I can't keep the laundry done, I can't keep the kitchen clean, I still find a way to cook meals, but it's all hit-and-miss. Sometimes, even after a short absence, getting back into the two-person routine is rough after re-adjusting to a one-person routine.

One big important thing we've done since he's been home is, though, we've gone looking at cars.

yes.

that's right.

We're going to get a new car. Well, a new(er) car anyway. Right now we have a little red v6 Mustang. And it's pretty and we love it, and we've done a lot of things to it. You know, upgraded exhaust, some body modifications, typical "project car" type stuff.

But now? Oh yeah, now we're moving up.

As Mustang fans, we've decided we are going to buy a 2003 Mach 1. It's a faster car, with a V8 engine instead of a V6. It's also beautiful. And the one that we've picked out is kind of a charcoal grey (called Dark Shadow Grey) and is a real garage queen... hardly been driven.

So we put our car out on the "lemon lot," which is the resale lot out on the base, and we're hoping to get a nibble this week. If/when we sell our car, then we're immediately going to go for financing for the new(er) car, which is being held for us by someone who knows we want to buy it.

So.

Perhaps that's part of the reason I've been feeling okay with having a lot of work. :)

I wish I could say the last couple of weeks have been filled with excitement, but that's about it. Just re-adjusting, car-shopping, home-cooking, and work.

How have all of YOU been?

DON'T FORGET ABOUT MEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

2006-09-27T15:43:00.000-05:00

I'm sorry.

I have been working and having lots of quality time with S.

I'm going to come up for air VERY SOON and we'll have fun, just like old times.

Don't break up with me!

Instant Messaging Fun With Andie And Rose

2006-09-12T17:13:00.001-05:00

Okay. So yeah. Because, you know, I love Andie and because we are soul sisters and because this is what it's like to crawl into our brains after we've spent the whole day typing the words of other psycho people:

Andie: speaking of food
Andie: I dunno if you like Paula Deen or not, but I bought her magazine
Andie: it sucks
Andie: don't get it
Rose: oh no!
Andie: Rahael Ray's is much better
Rose: I love her!
Rose: OH NO!
Andie: me, I love her
Rose: See, I love Paula Deen, and I mostly just like Rachael Ray.
Andie: but the mag is really bad
Andie: me too!
Andie: but seriously, Ray's mag is super good
Rose: Sometimes I want to strangle her when she says ee vee oh oh.
Andie: I've made a drinking game with her show LOL
Rose: AHAHAHAHAH no way!
Andie: everytime she mentions family you must drink
Rose: I WANT TO GET SCHNOCKERED TO RACHAEL RAY.
Andie: LOL
Andie: drink twice if she says her "daddy's from down south"
Rose: What about her "sicilian mama"
Andie: drink three times when she says her "secret ingredient is a little grated nutmeg"
Rose: BWAHAHHAAHAHAH!
Rose: "It'll make them go, 'Hmmmmmm, what is that in there?'"
Andie: ROFL!
Rose: I am LAUGHING! OUT LOUD!
Andie: you only have to drink once when she mentions her mom
Rose: Do you drink for a "screamin' hot pan?"
Andie: but you have to drink twice if she said her mom worked in the food business
Rose: Bwahahahah!
Andie: screaming hot pan!
Andie: ack!
Andie: yes you must drink for that!
Rose: heeeeee
Rose: There is always! a screaming! hot! pan!
Andie: or
Andie: a screaming! hot! grill pan!
Rose: Yessssssssssssssssssss.
Rose: excellent.
Rose: Any others?
Rose: By the way, I am TOTALLY going to blog this.
Andie: LOL LOL
Andie: that's awesome
Andie: one drink if she is carrying stuff from the pantry
Rose: You're awesome for thinking of a Rachael Ray drinking game! Seriously! This is fabulous!
Andie: "and she says her mom is going to kill her"
Andie: hahaha!
Rose: OKay so wait, the carrying and the saying are combined, right?
Andie: right
Rose: In-transit with the goods, and her mom's gonna kill her.
Andie: right
Andie: or how her mom always tells her to make two trips
Rose: hahaha!
Andie: bonus points if it's an old episode and she tosses the salt over her shoulder
Andie: two drinks if she mentions how she lives in the boonies
Rose: You should have to drink when she lectures you about coming home on Sunday from the grocery and dissecting all your greens and washing them and wrapping them in a wet paper towel and putting them in a zipper bag so they are READY! TO GO! WHEN YOU NEED THEM!
Andie: S just said that one!
Andie: hahaha!
Rose: Ahahahaha, we're tuuuuuuuuuuned in, me and your S.
Andie: And always rub your mushrooms and celery with a damp cloth! DO NOT! RUN THEM UNDER WATER!
Rose: CHICKEN STOCK IN AN ASCEPTIC CONTAINER ADDS THAT ALL-DAY-COOKING FLAVOR TO YOUR 30 MINUTE DINNER.
Andie: AND!
Andie: It keeps better than stock from a can
Andie: because you can snap a lid on it and KEEP IT IN THE FRIDGE!
Rose: And just pop it out! And sip it into your sauces! And stoups!
Rose: STOUPS!
Rose: Because it's brothy like soup! But chunky like stew! STOUP!
Rose: Oh my god, I am cracking myself up. The dog is staring at me.
Rose: And also? I hear her on in the background, it must be 5pm.
Andie: OMG! I did I forget about STOUPS!
Andie: hahaha!
Rose: AHAHAHAHAH!
Rose: Oh my god, this is the best drinking game ever.
Rose: I better be prepared to sit down for an hour or two when I play it.
Rose: You're amazing.

Thank You, Kasora Teas!

2006-09-12T14:11:00.000-05:00

So. I heard from a.k.a. Monty, I believe, about this new tea company called Kasora Teas.

They are doing a link-rewards thing similar to what Adagio Teas did last year.

If you put a link to Kasora on your blog and then visit their site to find out where to e-mail them for link rewards, they will send you a thank-you gift commensurate to your Google page rank. I also highly recommend looking around their site, by the way, at all the beautiful and exotic teas that they have in stock.

On Thursday, I e-mailed them to let them know I had put a link on my blog to their site. (This blog has a Google page rank of 5.)

On Monday, I received an amazing gift from them!

I received a sampler pack of 9 different beautiful display teas, as well as four delicious-looking teas (one black, one green, two white) from their exotic collection in foil sample packets that are designed to keep out the light, air, and heat.

I am thrilled! And, we can't wait to try them out. The display teas SMELL delicious (I had to open the pack, I couldn't wait) and we imagine they will BE delicious. I am certain we will become frequent customers, too, with the cold weather right around the corner. We are most definitely a tea-drinkin' family in the wintertime when something warm and soothing is the best. thing. ever.

I'm particular interested in their white tea selection because I can't drink black tea (I get headaches). But, S. loves black tea and can't wait to tear into the black tea sample we received. And the display teas, we might just have one of those tonight. SO GORGEOUS. And they smell floral and green, so I think I will be able to drink them too.

Thank you, Kasora Teas!

---------------

P.S.: S. is home! He finally made it home at 6:30pm on Sunday, after a couple of postponements. We are settling in and getting back to a normal routine around here, and everything is going swimmingly.

I have a big pot of homemade chicken soup on the stove right now (getting to be soup weather here, finally) and we're going to enjoy it together tonight.

9/11 Tribute: Patricia Stanton

2006-09-11T08:00:00.000-05:00

A while ago, I quietly signed up as a volunteer for the 2,996 project. The Blogosphere, standing together to remember the victims of the 9/11 tragedies, individually.

I was matched up with Patricia Stanton, who was killed in the attacks on the World Trade Center.

I don't know anything about Patricia. Well, that's not completely true. I have found out that she was from Guayana.

It is all the things I don't know about her that made this project all that more important, moving, at least for me, I think.

Did she have children? Certainly, she was someone's child. There were other Stantons, other Guayanese people named Stanton, who were killed in the attacks. Were they siblings? Family? Were they together at the time of the tragedy?

The people like me who were on the outside looking in, that fateful morning, we may never know these things for sure. We speculate. And we do our best to extend our hearts and minds to remember what happened, and not to take the memories of the victims in vain.

But in doing all the research I tried to do in order to honor Patricia, I have learned about many more of the victims of the events of 9/11/01, and on this five-year anniversary of the tragedy I encourage everyone to remember. Just for a moment, remember how it felt to be watching it on the news. If you were out of touch with a loved one who could have been in harm's way, remember how it felt to worry for them and to worry for all the people who were in such danger.

Here, I honor Patricia Stanton. I honor her memory, and I extend the love in my heart to her family and friends. And by doing so, I honor the memory of all the victims. I encourage you to do the same.

Don't be afraid to remember.

Postponement.

2006-09-08T13:51:00.000-05:00

I love the USAF. I love the USAF. I love the USAF.

S.'s return has been delayed at least 24 hours. They're having technical difficulties.

I love the USAF. I love the USAF. I love the USAF.

ZOMG

2006-09-07T07:28:00.000-05:00

Oh my god, S. comes home tomorrow. TOMORROW.

And then I am taking days and DAYS AND DAYS OFF WORK.

FO REALZ.

This is relevant.

2006-09-07T05:32:00.000-05:00

Besides just being stuck in my head for the last couple of days, this song is oddly relevant to something that happened to me this week. If you know why it is relevant, then you know.

If you don't know, then that's okay too, but I probably won't be writing about it. :)

But I'm fine, I promise! :-) And I am anxiously awaiting S. to come home, and I CAN'T FREAKING WAIT.

So anyways... when I used to actually blog every day, I would make posts that just said, "Music touches me." And then I would post lyrics. This is one of those songs.

KT Tunstall - Black Horse and Cherry Tree

well my heart knows me better than I know myself
so I'm gonna let it do all the talking.
I came across a place in the middle of nowhere
with a big black horse and a cherry tree.

I felt a little fear, upon my back
I said don't look back, just keep on walking.
when the big black horse said look this way
he said, hey there lady will you marry me.

but I said no, no, no, no-no-no
I said no, no, you're not the one for me
no, no, no, no-no-no
I said no, no, you're not the one for me

and my heart had a problem, in the early hours,
so I stopped it dead for a beat or two.
but I cut some cord, and I shouldn't have done that,
and it won't forgive me after all these years

so I sent her to a place in the middle of nowhere
with a big black horse and a cherry tree.
now it won't come back, cause it's oh so happy
and now I've got a hole for the world to see

and I said no, no, no, no-no-no
I said no, no, you're not the one for me
no, no, no, no-no-no
said no, no, you're not the one for me

big black horse and a cherry tree
I can't quite get there cause my heart's forsaken me.
big black horse and a cherry tree
I can't quite get there cause my heart's forsaken me.

Still barely.

2006-08-30T06:53:00.000-05:00

I've been absolutely buried in work, you guys, that's why I haven't been around. I'm really sorry.

I'll be back soon, I promise. Just have some deadlines to meet.

XOOXO

I'm alive, barely.

2006-08-18T07:05:00.000-05:00

Hi, all.

My dad's doing great. Niece and nephew have lived through their birthday party. S. is safe and I get to hear from him for a few minutes most days.

I'm sorry I've been sporadic-to-no-posting. My clients have "gifted me" with a lot of extra work.

At least it's keeping my mind off the lonely, right?

XOXOXO

So, I really need your mojo.

2006-08-09T07:44:00.000-05:00

My dad's having some surgery today on his foot. And I can tell he's pretty scared about it, and about the impending, very intensive, very painful, very long, recovery.

He goes into surgery at 10:30am Alaska time. Could you all say a prayer or keep him in your thoughts? I'd really appreciate it.

He'll be recovering for 2 months minimum after the surgery, and on some very strong narcotics. So we're all a little worried.

If you could do that, it'd be awesome.

XOXO
Rose

I live in the wild, wild west.

2006-08-08T08:19:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, I had this note on my door:

"Dear residents,

As you may know, there was an incident on the property of [apartment complex] this weekend in which a firearm was discharged outside, but within the premises, of [apartment complex]. Thank you to all the residents who called to inform of us the activity.

Apparently, this was a party that got out of control. Thankfully, no one was injured. We are currently acting to remove the residents involved from the property in our continued mission to provide a safe and comfortable environment for our residents.

Thank you,
[apartment complex]."

So um, yeah. The first thing S. told me was, "If someone comes into that apartment, I want you to unload both pistols into them."

I said, "Uh-huh."

He said, "Then you know where that card is with the statement you read to the police officers, right? You know, the one that says, 'Officer, I understand that you are questioning me because I may, or may not have, shot someone.'"

I said, "Uh-huh."

He said, "I just want you to say, "I was afraid for my life."

Yes, dear.

As regards my uterus

2006-08-07T10:24:00.000-05:00

Dear Blogosphere,

Please send happy fertility, pregnancy, conception, baby vibes my way.

I really need my sore-ass tits and imminent crankiness to be due to something other than PMS.

Join hands, sing Kum-Ba-Ya, and envision my girly parts plumped and filled with life.

There will be punch and pie for all those who participate.

Thank you,
Rose

He's safe.

2006-08-05T17:48:00.000-05:00

I just got a call, he's safe and fine. The phone call at 6:33pm yesterday was, indeed, him. *grumble*

2006-08-05T16:18:00.000-05:00

Well, today is looking up a little bit although I'm spending my afternoon working.

This morning, I got a call from some friends of ours who were going to be in the neighborhood and they asked me if I wanted to join them for lunch. So, I went up to Chili's with them and had a nice big salad!

Then I went to the store and got the fixins for a huge container of Gazpacho (which is chilling in the fridge) and also some tomato-mozzarella-basil salad (the basil's in my garden). I also got coffee creamer. I am telling you all of this because my life is currently reduced to the shopping list.

I haven't heard from S. yet. I'm starting to get a little bit freaked out, since it's now 36 hours since I last spoke with him. And I fully expected to hear from him before this.

sigh.

I'm tired.

Ow.

2006-08-05T09:45:00.000-05:00

He did not call last night, unless it was while I was out of the apartment at exactly the time I didn't want to be out of the apartment, driving to the FedEx warehouse to pick up a package that they said they tried to deliver at 3:15 p.m.

Fucking bullshit.

I'm a little touchy right now.

Leaving on a jet plane.

2006-08-04T04:40:00.000-05:00

I know. Corny.

But I'm up at 4:00am to take S. to the base so he can go on his TDY.

It's about all I got.

:(

Still charitable? Read on.

2006-08-02T07:36:00.000-05:00

Okay.

If you are not among those of us who tapped ourselves out financially during BLOGATHON and if you are considering a charity to donate to this year, I have another one.

Oh yeah, baby.

My friend Apollo is sponsoring his friend Seth in a charity cycling event called the Pan-Mass Challenge.

They are riding for cancer research. Specifically, they are raising money for cancer research at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.

I'm sure I don't need to say it, but a great event for a great purpose.

I would ask that you consider sponsoring Seth in the Pan-Mass Challenge as every little bit helps. If you couldn't find a charity that you liked in Blogathon, or if you're like me (and most other people) and have had your lives touched by cancer in some way, please consider doing what you can.

At the very least, please go by and see Seth and let him know you're aware of what he's doing.

If you can't donate yourself, perhaps you can spread the word on your blogs in the hopes that someone who CAN, will.

Make a difference. Here's another chance.

PS: The Pan-Mass Challenge is THIS WEEKEND. So act fast.

XOXOXOXOXO.

Our bond runs deep.

2006-07-31T10:57:00.000-05:00

A little AIM fun for Monday:

S: I'm in line waiting at MPF to fill out SGLI pw.
Rose: SGLI?
S: Lf ins. Went up to 400k.
Rose: oh
Rose: you better make sure I'm first in line for that cashola.
S: Figures...
Rose: Hey. You marry a trophy wife, you have to figure at some point it becomes all about your money.
S: LOL

Monday!

2006-07-31T07:38:00.000-05:00

Meh.

Turn out the lights, the party's over.

2006-07-30T10:10:00.000-05:00

Thanks everybody, for your excitement, participation, and sponsorship in BLOGATHON.

If you haven't sponsored us already, please click a button here. We can still officially "get" sponsors for up to 48 hours after the Blogathon ends.

At Stale Betty's blog, you can see all the hard work that was put into this blogathon to make it fun and exciting for everybody. Go ahead, read back through the last 24 hours' archives. Even my S. got into the act, posting as a part of my shift.

And then, please sponsor us.

It was our complete goal to reach $2,000 in pledges. We are at $1,800. That's SO CLOSE. Do you know? Do you know how amazing it would be if you could help us reach $2,000?

Anyway.

Thank you all for everything. I know a bunch of awesome people.

Totally.

Awesome.

People.

I'm GIVING STUFF AWAY.

2006-07-29T15:31:00.000-05:00

Over at Stale Betty we are BLOGATHONNING.

I am on-shift right now, until 4:30pm Central Time.

I AM GIVING AWAY PRIZES.

Go. now.

win.

It's SATURDAY, what are YOU doing?!

2006-07-29T11:51:00.000-05:00

Why aren't you joining us at the BLOGATHON?

That's where *I* am!

That's where we *ALL* are!

Go, now! Have some fun! We're playing a very fun mystery game with cash and prizes.

Okay, no cash.

But prizes! I promise there's prizes!

It is also not too late to SPONSOR US.

COME JOIN THE PARTY!

TMI

2006-07-28T10:12:00.000-05:00

Also, I may have ovulated.

This has been your Friday Fertility update.

Need coffee, STAT.

2006-07-28T07:17:00.000-05:00

Okay! So yeah! It's Friday!

Have you sponsored us in the Blogathon yet? You haven't? Well, it's your lucky day. You can sponsor us TODAY! The blogathon is TOMORROW!

PLEASE SPONSOR US. We are somewhere between $1,500 and $2,000, and we REALLY want to hit $2,000. Plus, if you HAVE sponsored us and you have not responded to an e-mail from BLOGATHON to confirm your pledge, then your pledges aren't counting. It's very important that you do that. We have about $200 in pledges that aren't being counted because they are UNVERIFIED. Please! Do that!

Ahem.

TGIF, and all that!

The guest room, she is clean and comfortable for my SIL and BIL who are coming to visit us tonight. They'll be staying through the weekend, and we're very excited. We don't get many visitors up here in Okieville, you know. Now I just hope it doesn't rain tomorrow morning so we can go to the Farmer's Market!

Other than that? Um yeah. I have a ton of work. Yup.

So, I probably should get to it.

PLEASE SPONSOR US.

IN BLOGATHON.

I'M BEGGING, NOW.

IT'S NOT PRETTY.

DON'T MAKE ME BEG.

PLEASE.

Mean, clean, and not-so-lean

2006-07-26T08:44:00.000-05:00

So, the carpet cleaning guy came yesterday. The bad news? He sees the carpets from "guys that work at Tinker" that get this odd grey stuff tracked on them, that's very hard to get out of carpet. Meh.

Yeah, we have some of it. But, at least it's evenly distributed and doesn't look too bad, just like ... a traffic area.

The good news? The carpet only has a four-year life to it (thank you, apartment carpet) and the guy said he'd never have guessed that (1) we live here 2 years and (2) we have two pets.

SO.

Everything's good with the carpet.

On the not-so-lean front, I need to get back in the gym. I guess I'm just vocalizing that here (haha, vocalizing on a blog, as if) because I'm feeling sedentary and more pudgy than normal.

And mean? Yeah, I'm just feeling mean.

BAH!

Cuz that's how I roll

2006-07-25T07:00:00.000-05:00

In an interesting coincidence that has nothing to do with my shitty mood, I have been named the shittiest of the shitty for the month of July.

What's that, you say?

Oh, just THIS:

That's right, I've been named the Shitty Blogs Club, Shitty Blogger of the Month for July, 2006.

Wahoo!

Thanks to the SBC and my stint on Shitty Blog Survivor, I've made some great new blog friends. And in case you couldn't have seen this one coming a FREAKING MILE AWAY... some of them are blogging in BLOGATHON.

Sponsor Jeckles to fight Hunger (www.freedomfromhunger.org).
Sponsor Webkittyn to support the Humane Society of New York.
Sponsor aka_Monty to support the United Cerebral Palsy Foundation.
Sponsor Utopia to support the Special Olympics.
Sponsor Mango Radio to support Autism Awareness.

OR SHOWER YOUR GENEROSITY UPON ME AND THE STALE BETTY TEAM: Sponsor me and seven other amazing military wives, (blogging as a team at Stalebetty.com) to support the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund.

Blogathon is less than a week away! We're chewing up our weekend to provide entertainment for you, and raise money for these charities.

PLEASE sponsor someone today if you haven't already. Don't forget, the sponsorship gets counted now but you don't have to make your donation to the charity until after the 29th of July. You could even make it the first week of August if you were so inclined.

Yes, I'm throwing around my newfound power as the Shitty Blogger Of The Month to try to get you to donate to charity. Do you blame me?

Insurance

2006-07-24T10:12:00.000-05:00

I decided to take some of the beautiful blueberries that we bought at the farmer's market this weekend, and try to infuse some vodka with them.

So I washed them, put them in a glass bottle with cork, and poured the vodka over them. I think it'll take a week or two.

I am also infusing some lemon vodka with the zest of a gorgeous lemon I bought.

I figure, if I have this to look forward to, then I will most certainly end up pregnant so I can't drink it.

Right? Right?

I'm pissy.

2006-07-21T09:41:00.000-05:00

Blah, blah, blah, blah, whatever. Blogathon, blah blah, my dog, blah blah, it's Friday, blah blah, work, blah, blah blah, gun show, blah blah, Clerks 2 blah blah blah.

Blah.

Whatever.

Oklahoma: Redneck Dumbass Central.

2006-07-19T18:55:00.000-05:00

With some notable exceptions, of course (this means you, wonderful literate Oklahoma bloggers).

The TV news primetime anchorwoman on channel 4 just said that Pamela Anderson and Kid Rock are going to get married.

On a yacht.

Near Saint Tropez, France.

That's how she said it, too. "Near Saynt Troh-pezz, France."

SAINT TROPEZ.

*slams head on desk*
*head desk*
*head desk*

Fucking shoot me.

A kitty needs a home.

2006-07-19T07:06:00.000-05:00

While you're all feeling generous and digging into your pockets to sponsor us in the Blogathon, please also stop by and see Aza and see if you can help her with finding a home for a special kitty.

Aza came close to witnessing an act of heinous animal cruelty on a 10-week-old kitten, and then she and her family rescued the kitten. She's not asking for money -- she's asking to find this kitty a home.

The kitten (estimated at between 10 and 12 weeks old) as of 2:45am is still alive and seems to be stabilizing. The vet said she didn’t know how severe the brain damage would be but felt that she would make it a good recovery with a lot of time and work. We have to pick her up by 7:30am (in just a few hours) and will take her to my regular vet by 8am to see what else can be done.

Once she has recovered, if anyone reading this in Florida/Georgia would like to adopt a special needs (I’m assuming she’ll be deaf in one ear and will walk with a head tilt at the least) kitty (or knows anyone who would)- I will pay ALL vet bills including her spay, vaccines, FIV/FeLV test and travel to get her to you.
I just ask the following…

Indoor only, No declawing, Good Diet, and Lots of love.

PLEASE GO SEE AZA and PLEASE SEND THIS AROUND THE BLOGOSPHERE. Let's find this beautiful little kitty a forever home with a family that will love it for all of its days.