Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!!

I hope the new year brings you health, wealth, and happiness!

Hubby - I pray for your safety there in the desert. I hate that you have to be so far away, but I love you and know that you'd be home if you could. I am so proud of you for what you do.
I miss you.

Saddam Executed

Saddam Hussein executed, state-run TV reports

BAGHDAD — Saddam Hussein, the brutal dictator who ruled Iraq for nearly a quarter-century before being toppled by a United States-led coalition in 2003, was executed by hanging Saturday for crimes against humanity, state-run Iraqi television reported.

Al-Iraqiya, a government-backed network in Baghdad, said Hussein was executed by hanging at dawn Saturday.

I got goosebumps when I heard about this today.
I've always been for capital punishment for murderers.
I'm glad he is no longer in a position where he can terrorize and murder the people of Iraq. I don't feel sorry for him one bit.
So I'm not sure why the goosebumps...
Death by hanging, maybe?

How do you feel about this?

Worrying...

Waiting and worrying...

Hubby is out of the loop for a bit and so there is no communication right now.
I can't help but worry. I just can't.

We've gotten so spoiled these days with email and chat. So, I get to hear from him somewhat regularly that way, even if he's only able to call about once a month.

It doesn't seem like that long ago when he deployed for Desert Shield/Storm. Communication then was almost non-existent.

He wrote me letters (SNAIL MAIL! Gasp!) when he could - I wrote him at least once a day. Long, detailed letters of daily life at home. Letters that would take weeks and weeks to find him.

I stayed glued to the TV watching the news. It was not healthy. But it seemed like my only link to him next to the occasional letters that would arrive in my mail box after a month (or more) long transit across the Atlantic. I read those letters over and over until I had memorized every word and every punctuation mark he wrote.

He called home whenever he could - I think there were a total of 2 or 3 middle of the night phone calls during the 8 months he was gone. The 2 minute phone calls that were so staticky I had to guess what he was saying and got disconnected before I could tell him how much I loved him.

I sent him dozens of snapshots.

I wrote "I love you" notes and had them published in the "Stars & Stripes" newspaper's personal ads, hoping he would somehow manage to get a copy there and see it. They didn't get the newspaper on anything near a regular basis. In fact, one day, on a bus in the middle of the desert, he reached down and picked up a piece of a newspaper... Just a random piece of trash on the floor... And there was the ad I had submitted. He still has that clipping today.

I sent lots of care packages full of his favorite snacks and things I hoped would make his life a little easier. Things I hoped that would remind him of how much I loved and supported him.

And I worried.

If you could keep him in your thoughts and say a prayer for his safety, it would mean a lot to us right now.

158 Days Ago Today...

This photo...
Hubby is waving "goodbye."

Taken just before he got onto the bus.

Just before I broke down and lost it.

I was going to be so strong and not cry, too.

It just didn't happen.


One hundred and fifty-eight days (or three thousand, seven hundred, ninety three hours) ago.

And, YES, I AM COUNTING!!

"When Are You Coming Home?" Video

"When Are You Coming Home?"

6 year old Heather Martin sings a beautiful song, written by her mother, for her brother, Shaun, who is in the Army and deployed to Iraq.
This is the first year Shaun will not be home for Christmas.

"When Are You Coming Home?"
by Cindy Martin

You were almost sixteen when I came into the world.
Mom and Dad had you first then 3 more boys I'm the baby girl.
I sure have a lot to look up to in you, you're really smart and funny with a big heart too.
After one year of college you knew what you had to do.
It's just like you wanting to help with the war.
So you joined the army when I was only 4.
This time of year we talk of big plans but you're over seas in some distant land.
You can't be here for Christmas, I don't understand.

Chorus:
When are you coming home, Shaun?
When are you coming home?!
We lit up the house like we always do but it doesn't seem bright 'cause we can't have you.
In my prayers I ask God to keep you safe.
And I'm trying to be really brave.
Tell me that the fighting's through.
Come home!
I really miss you.

It's hard to enjoy the holidays without you.
But we're so proud of you and all the red white and blue.
Remember that Jesus is your best friend,
And someday our families will be together again.
Wow! You know we'll have a great big party then.

Chorus

I want to show you how tall I've grown and introduce you to my new friends at school.
Maybe we could go and get some ice cream together but I really don't care what we do.

Chorus

General Claus' Visit

General Claus' Visit

To: All Personnel

_1._ An official visit by MG Santa (NMI) Claus is expected at this headquarters 25 December 2006. The following instructions will be in effect and govern the activities of all personnel during the visit:

_a._ Not a creature will stir without official permission. This will include indigenous mice. Special stirring permits for necessary administrative actions will be obtained through normal command channels. Mice stirring permits will be obtained through the office of OSURG, Veterinary Services.

_b._ Personnel will settle their brains for a long winter nap prior to 2200 hours, 24 December 2006. Uniform for the nap will be: Pajamas, cotton, light, drowsing, with kerchief, general purpose, camouflage; and Cap, camouflage w/ear flaps. Equipment will be drawn from CIF prior to 1900 hours, 24 December 2006.

_c._ Personnel will utilize standard ration sugar plums for visions to dance through their heads. This item will be drawn from the servicing dining facility.

_d._ Stockings, wool, cushion sole, will be hung by the chimney with care. Necessary safety precautions will be taken to avoid fire hazards caused by carelessly hung stockings. Unit Safety Officers will submit stocking hanging plans to this headquarters prior to 0800 hours, 24 December 2006, ATTN: AEAGA-S, for approval.

_e._ At the first sign of clatter from the lawn, all troops will spring from their beds to evaluate noise and cause. Immediate action will be taken to tear open the shutters and throw open the window sashes. ODCSOPS Plan (Saint Nick), Reference LO No. 3, paragraph 6c, this headquarters, 2 February 1995, will be in effect to facilitate shutter tearing and sash throwing. Division chiefs will familiarize all personnel with procedures and are responsible for ensuring that no shutters are torn open nor window sashes thrown prior to start of official clatter.

_f._ Prior to 2400, 24 December 2006, all personnel will be assigned "Wondering Eye" stations. After shutters are thrown and sashes are torn, these stations will be manned.

_g. _ODCSLOG will assign one each Sleigh, miniature, M-66, and eight (8) deer, rein, tiny, for use of MG Claus' driver who, in accordance with current directives and other applicable regulations, must have a valid SF 56 properly annotated by Driver Testing; be authorized rooftop parking and be able to shout "On Dasher, on Dancer, on Prancer and Vixen, up Comet, up Cupid, on Donner and Blitzen."

_2._ MG Claus will enter quarters through standard chimneys. All units without chimneys will draw Chimney Simulator, M-6, for use during ceremonies. Chimney simulator units will be requested on Engineer Job Order Request Form submitted to the Furniture Warehouse prior to 19 December 2006, and issued on DA Form 3161, Request for Issue or Turn-In.

_3._ Personnel will be rehearsed on shouting "Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night." This shout will be given on termination of General Claus' visit. Uniformity of shouting is the responsibility of division chiefs.

__CHRISTOPHER K. RINGLE__

Colonel, US

OIC, Special Services

h/t: Yeah, Right, Whatever

Merry Christmas

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas, no matter where you are.

Ours was quiet. Too quiet, I guess.

Thing1 and Thing2 both got cell phones for Christmas this year... (what has this world come to?)

Overheard while Thing 1 was helping Thing 2 set up her new phone...

"What's the date today?"

Honest. I couldn't make that stuff up!

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

The girls and I went to a Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at the Chapel here.

#1 -- I was shocked at how FEW turned out at this service. There weren't more than 15 families in the entire church.

#2 -- I was surprised at how very casual the service was. I guess I was a little disappointed, too. The Chaplain wore a Hawaiian print shirt for the service. I guess that is all part of the "Aloha Mentality" that I've come to LOVE like recognize here on the island.

Don't get me wrong.
I'm glad we went.

The message is the most important tonight of all nights.

Merry Christmas, everyone. I hope your day is special.

Merry Christmas, honey. I'm sorry you have to work all day and be where you are. Just know that we love you and miss you and we couldn't be prouder of you.

Thank you for your service and for your loyalty and your hard work. Thank you for taking such good care of us - even from the other side of the world.

Be safe.

Beautiful

"Beautiful" is not a word that is normally used to describe a man, but this song reminds me of him. He is beautiful.

Weight Loss

I do not recommend this method of weight loss (sending your husband/best friend off to a war zone), but I'm so glad I'm losing the weight instead of gaining it. I was pretty miserable with myself just 10 months ago.

Do I feel better? Sure. There are tons...er... lots of problems associated with the weight gain that I was dealing with this time last year that are now gone.

But the best part is being able to fit into my old clothes again. The cute jeans and tops fit again! Which means I'll actually be able to wear something I like when I get to pick hubby up from the airport when he returns for R&R! (This is my motivator!)

I'm not quite "there" yet, but I'm close.

If I could just get up off my arse and exercise, I'm sure this would be a breeze.

Charlie Brown Christmas

Firefox

Because I ***LOVED*** the new and "improved" Internet Explorer 7.0 ***SO*** much (rolling eyes), I decided to switch to Firefox as my new browser.


Anyone else use Firefox? (prolly shoulda' asked that BEFORE I downloaded and installed it on my own system)

Do you like it? What are the pros and cons?

My frustration tolerance level is very low these days and I was just fed up with IE 7. The switch was easy and painless... so far. I can actually see my title bar on my blog with Firefox, instead of the top half being hidden with IE 7.

So (looking around)... what else can I "switch" around here to ease the frustration and stress?

Anyone want a couple of daughters? They are both potty trained!

31 More Fridays!

Wow.
THAT is a LONG time!



I miss you, honey.

Christmas In The Desert

The tree I sent hasn't made it to the Desert yet. (It'll probably show up around the first of the year, knowing my luck!) Thankfully, there was another tree they could use to hang the 300 or so ornaments we made for them (one for each soldier in the company at that FOB).

I'm glad they have a tree and decorations.

They have stockings and care packages sent from very generous folks back home.

They will have a hot meal on Christmas Day.

They are supported 1000% by their families and friends all over the world.

They are loved and missed more than they will ever know.

Merry Christmas, honey. We love you.

Remember Me

Christmas Survey

1.Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Both!

2.Real tree or artificial?
Usually artificial... However, this year our 10 year old artificial tree is in the possession of the USPS, lost somewhere between here and the Desert.

3.When do you put up the tree?
Usually the weekend after Thanksgiving... However, this year, I didn't get around to it until this past weekend. (BAD Mommy! I know!)

4.When do you take the tree down?
Usually the weekend after New Years Day... However, this year, I just might save it for hubby to take down during R&R... In February! LOL!

5. Do you like eggnog?
Never had it, but the thought of drinking something made with raw eggs does not appeal to me in the tiniest bit.

7. Do you have a nativity scene?
Yes, we do. However (boy, I use that word a lot this year!), it is still in a box of Christmas decorations that did not get opened this year.

9.Easiest person to buy for?
Thing 1.
Without a doubt.
Every other phrase out of her mouth these days is, "I want..."

10.Mail or email Christmas cards?
Mail. Just ask the mailman. He hates me.

12.Favorite Christmas movie?
"Elf"

14.Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Sure, once or twice.

15.Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Turkey and stuffing

16.Clear lights or colored on the tree?
This year they are colored lights.

17.Favorite Christmas song?
Frosty the Snowman

18.Travel at Christmas or stay home?
Stay home this year... Wish I could travel to the desert to spend it with hubby!

19.Can you name all of Santa’s Reindeers?
I think so...
Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Blitzen, Comet, Cupid, Donder, Vixen, & Rudolph

20.Angel on the tree top or a star?
Angel... A suicidal angel who insists on doing double backflip dives off the top of the tree whenever we aren't looking.

21.Open the presents on Christmas Eve or morning?
Christmas morning.

22.Most annoying thing about this time of year?
The consumerism of it all.

23.Do you have Jebus in your heart this Christmas?
No but I have Jesus in my heart.

24.What would you like for Christmas?
Hubby to come home safe and sound. Period.

Santa Claus is Comin' to Town...

I can't believe Christmas is just a few short days away.

In a sense, time is dragging by as we wait for this deployment to be over.

But in another way, I can't believe it's already Christmas!

I hope you've been good this year!

Redneck Time Out

I am a firm believer in the power of duct tape! (Or, as we military folk like to call it, "100-mile-an-hour tape!")

BTW... This is NOT my child in the photo, I promise.

(As if I would take pictures!... I know better than to leave behind such incriminating evidence!)

Kidstoned Chewable Valium

Where do I buy this stuff?
Do they sell it by the case?
Do they ship overnight? FedEx?

Tuesday Chuckles

I SO wish the Santa Threats still worked in our house!!

Christmas Vacation (or as some now prefer to call it, "Winter Holidays") has not even started yet and Thing 1 and Thing 2 are already at it! Fighting over the TV, screaming at each other, calling each other names...

Calgon! Take me away!

Well, this is a year of firsts... Thing 2's first Christmas without her Dad, first year in Paradise, first time we've ever gotten a fresh cut Christmas tree, first time the kids will be grounded on Christmas Day...

Hey! Does this mean I can return all those gifts?

Dear, sweet baby Jesus, please let us survive these next 3 1/2 weeks without school...

Quiz: What rank are you?

morality score 85%

 

85-95% SFC MSG/1SG Command level decisions are in your court. THIS is where the medal meets the meat 95-100% SGM
You Are the ultimate in NCOs lower enlisted than your own rank all look to you for guidance.

Enlisted Army Rank Quiz
See All Our Quizzes

O' Christmas Tree...

Yeah, yeah.

Finally got the tree put up.

Thing 2 helped decorate.

Thing 1 sat in the recliner and tried to supervise.

Oh well. It's up.

Christmas without hubby sucks.

This is the first year we've ever gotten a fresh cut tree. I mean, ever. I mean, we walked through the forest and chose this tree and the guy cut it down for us.

(Yeah - the guy cut it down. Come on! Didja' really think I was gonna cut it down myself? Sheesh! Get real!)

It was a pretty neat thing to find here on "The Rock." I think the tree farm is a pretty well kept secret even though it's just a couple of miles outside of town.

Where else on earth would we have our Christmas tree cut down by a guy in shorts and slippas? (Flip Flops)

Wish you were here, honey. Wish you were here.

"Thank You, Dad!"

Thing 2 says,

"It's so pretty!"

"I'm going to eat it anyway!"

"Thank you, Dad!"

She has now been gazing at the pretty lollipop for 20 minutes without so much as a single lick.

And to think "SANTA" just dropped $$$ on this kid for Christmas. Whoda' thunk a simple rainbow lollipop would've amused her so easily.

Funny Stuff

Check it out.

North Shore

It really is beautiful here in Paradise.

You know when you see postcards and photos in magazines of the beaches here and you think that surely the color of the water has been enhanced or something...

No. It really is that amazing.

And the various beaches on opposite sides of the island are even different. The water is different shades of blue and the sand is a different texture even. But the colors are just amazing.

It's nearly Christmas now and look how GREEN it still is. It was about 80 degrees today with a good breeze. This evening it rained a little bit and the wind picked up even more. Many people were complaining because they were SO COLD. It couldn't have been cooler than 70 degrees outside. I swear.

I was out in search of a unique Christmas gift and decided to go ahead and drive the couple extra miles out to the beach... Just for the view. I'm glad I did because it was a nice reminder (that I sorely needed) of how blessed we are to be here.

I'm still not in the Christmas spirit. I'm going to try and take Thing 1 and Thing 2 out this weekend to buy a Christmas tree. We'll see how that goes.

I've got to tell you - I'm about Christmas Partied out now... If I never see another sugar cookie again, it will be too soon. (Don't worry, honey - my parties are very G-rated... lots of kids, lots of cookies, lots of punch, and lots of "fun Christmas crafts.")

So... Tell me again...

Exactly how many popsicle stick reindeer do I need for this non-existent Christmas tree I have???

Must... Stay... Awake!

Ever have one of those weeks where no matter HOW much sleep you think you get, you spend the whole time walking around like a zombie?

Yeah. Havin one of those weeks now...

No time for being LAZY around here, though!

Must. Stay. AWAKE!

Sick

Is everyone on this island sick???

I don't know what it is about this place, but people are always sick!

Colds, viruses, bronchitis, pneumonia!!!

I've met four people here in the last couple of weeks who have recently been diagnosed with pneumonia! That's more than I've known in my entire life!

I had pneumonia last summer and it hit me like a ton of bricks... Out of nowhere. I went from perfectly fine when I went to bed one night to full-blown pneumonia the next morning. I was out of commission for 3 weeks with a 104 degree fever that wouldn't budge, coughing, and sweating like there was no tomorrow. It was miserable.

Thing 2 has been home from school for 2 days with this sore throat and tummy ache.

I just pray I'm not next... though the headache I've had has been getting a little worse and my throat is a little scratchy.

New Phone

Well, I was very kind of good this year.
I asked Santa to bring Hubby home.

Since I don't see that happening...

My Christmas present to myself this year is a new phone.

I was so excited to be replacing my RAZR, but now I'm not so sure I like this phone any better.

The reception on the RAZR is the pits and the flush buttons make it hard to type text messages while barreling down the highway in my 7,000 lb. SUV sitting in my car in the parking lot.

I can't figure this thing out.


I guess it's time to read the manual.

;-)

You know, when all else fails...

What are you asking Santa for this year?

Uninvited Guests

This one was a relatively small one - compared to the first one anyway. This one was "only" about 6 inches long.

I'm thinking we need to start charging rent or claiming these guys as dependents on our tax return if they don't find somewhere else to call 'home' soon.

What do you think?

Bah Humbug

The Christmas Party we've been planning for 2 months now?
SUCCESS.
DONE.

We had a decent turnout, good food, and a lot of fun activities for the kids, including a special visit from jolly St. Nick.

My ladies REALLY pulled together and put out a great party. I don't know what I'd do without them. They were fantastic.

Now... I wish I could just fast forward to like... say, February, so that we can be past all of the holiday hoopla.

The house is not decorated. There are no lights strung up outside. There is no Christmas tree inside. There are no big plans for turkey dinners with friends. Christmas shopping? Hmph. Notsomuch.

Getting into the holiday spirit has been impossible for me. I just keep thinking of hubby sitting in the desert doing what he's doing and I struggle. I think of the crap he's putting up with and stuff he's dealing with and I just can't find it in me to find the cheer that I need to be festive this year.

BAH HUMBUG.

Schofield mourns loss of five more soldiers

You can read about it here.


Please keep these soldiers' families in your thoughts and prayers.


My heart goes out to them. They have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

God bless you all and Thank You.

Meez

www.meez.com

Go on! Make one of your own!

***UPDATE***
Hubby asks, "Why is there a picture of you standing in front of my Privates?"
LOL!

So True...

Headache!

AARRGGHHH!!!!!!!!!

Migraines SUCK!

Preventive meds are NOT working.
Treatment meds are NOT working.

Going back to neurology in 2 weeks.

Meanwhile...

AARRGGHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Colors

Over There.














Here.

Navy Wins

26 - 14, Navy wins

But this picture was
too funny
not to share!

Ranger Coffee Video

GO ARMY!