Nearing completion

Completion. What a great word. Anyone remember November 2007? Dan and I were starting the renovation of the kitchen with grand ideals to have it done by the next month before he deployed. Isn't that just quaint? We did get a lot of work done in those two months but here we are now a little bit later and I am finally seeing the finish line.

I won't bore anyone with the list but really all we have left is touch-up work, it feels really good. And I am loving my kitchen. I love waling into this room, I love the way it turned out and I love that we did practically all the work ourselves. The only thing we didn't do was install the oven and the counter tops. The backsplash was installed purely by me, I totally dig being able to say that. Dan did all the cutting.

Flashback to when we bought the house:



Now here is where we are at right now:







So now, besides the dozen or so touch up things we still would like to do, there were also some slight unforeseen hiccups. We changed the electrical outlets because they were all beige and we wanted white, sounds simple enough, yeah? Dan is no novice around electricity either, thanks to his time in the Guard, but now there are a few light switches that don't quite work the way they should. For example, the light above the sink is normally turned on by the light switch, now the only way to turn it on is when you have turned on the garbage disposal. Little glitches like that. But other that that, we are coming along, and on the bright side, I have never kept a kitchen so clean. It's like wrong to let this one get dirty, it actually gives me pain.

Coming soon, vacation pictures. And one last thing, happy anniversary to Dan and me, eleven years today!

Coming down

Man, has it been a wonderful month and half. Who knew having a husband around changed life so drastically? I really didn't appreciate what a transition it was from having him gone around 17 months to having him home - a lot. He has been working about three hours a day, when we weren't on vacation. He still probably won't start a normal work schedule for another couple weeks. I had no idea how independent I had become until I realized that I was getting irritated from having to tell Dan about my comings and goings, and not in a possessive way, just the regular way husbands and wives know what each other doing normally.

I just wanted to put in a quick update for some thing to look for. I will start posting pictures of our vacation soon, the cruise was so awesome. And before the vacation Dan and I were hard at work again in the kitchen and got a ton done before we left. It's just that between starting to be normal again, all the school work I need to catch up on from vacation, and of course, vacation laundry, all you can have right now is this teaser.

Just know that I am emerging from the bubble now.

Welcome and Un

Ahhh, so he is home. He got home last Thursday at a totally normal hour which is rare for the army. After all the turn-in equipment fun we were still home by 3 p.m., just enough time for Dan to crash out for a little while. A couple days of travel deserves a nap, right?

He came home just in time for Punx's tenth birthday that was on Monday. He also came home just in time for me and the boys to get a short stomach bug. A nice, 24-hour-I'm-unable-to-move-except-to-rush-to-the-bathroom kind of bug. Welcome home, that was how I spent the first full day of Dan being home. The next couple days was being weak and nauseous getting over it.

I have no pictures of the homecoming I was too busy squirming around trying to find him and point him out to the kids to actually worry about the camera.

Now he just has a light work load and he will be taking leave soon. We will be headed to TX to see some family and then going on a cruise just him and me in about a month, our first cruise. Dan promised me years ago a cruise for our tenth anniversary and instead all I got was a call from Afghanistan, so we are taking it now for our eleventh next month.

We are just trying to find the new groove, it's very strange. I had no idea how used to being alone I had become. We had a couple snow days before Dan came home, then he came home, then we were all sick, so I went like five or six days with someone always there and it was starting to make me twitchy. Also, the kids keep asking me permission for Dan to do things. Mom, can Daddy play a game with us? Mom, can Daddy watch a movie with us? It's really funny. It's an adjustment for everyone, I guess.

Sitting, Waiting, Wishing

That's the song title, and it seems appropriate right now, being that is all I am doing. Well, not much sitting. We are on day two of snow days here and I have used them to my benefit. Three extra set of hands for slave labor, I mean, help. Bug is convinced that we have the cleanest house in the whole world. Punx used the word sparkly for our bathrooms. I know Dan won't notice that the floorboards are clean but it sure does feel good.

Right now it is the only thing from keeping me from running around screaming and being all fidgety, although that is starting to come on regardless of the busyness. I seemed to have pulled some sort of muscle in my inner-thigh, that has slowed me down a little.

But anyway, do you guys see my donut of misery list? It already says 100%, while that bugs me a little that it says 100% when he is not actually home it is hopeful. I just need the weather to cooperate now and then maybe the army will give me back my husband for a while.

Please just let it end.

Advice

Last month I went to a redeployment briefing in anticipation of Dan's homecoming. That is what they call it when they come home - redeployment. Makes me think of an assignment. Alright boys, strap in, your going home, this is going to be the tough one. The army takes the fun out of everything. So at the briefing we were given all sorts of advice, from finance to relationships to the signs of PTSD. All very useful stuff. My favorite bit of advice I will share because it can benefit all marriages. We were handed this piece of paper with an except from a Ladies magazine from 1955 on tips for being a good wife. Now that I know all the areas that I have been lacking I will share so no one else will have to suffer like my poor Dan has been suffering these past ten years. Remember that this came from a real magazine and that this was real advice.



The Good Wife’s Guide

Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal ready, on time for his return. This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospect of a good meal (especially his favorite dish) is part of the warm welcome needed.

Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so you’ll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your make-up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh-looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people.

Be a little gay and a little more interesting for him. His boring day may need a lift and one of your duties is to provide it.

Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives.

Gather up schoolbooks, toys, paper, etc and then run a dust cloth over the tables.

Over the cooler months of the year you should prepare and light a fire for him to unwind by. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift too. After all, catering for his comfort will provide you with immense personal satisfaction.

Prepare the children. Take a few minutes to wash the children’s hands and faces (if they are small), comb their hair and, if necessary, change their clothes. They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part. Minimize all noise. At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer, or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet.

Be happy to see him.

Greet him with a warm smile and show sincerity in your desire to please him.

Listen to him. You may have a dozen important things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first – remember, his topics of conversation are more important than yours.

Make the evening his. Never complain if he comes home late or goes out to dinner or other places of entertainment without you. Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure and his very real need to be at home and relax.

Your goal: Try to make sure your home is a place of peace, order and tranquility where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit.

Don’t greet him with complaints and problems.

Don’t complain if he’s late home for dinner or even if he stays out all night. Count this as minor compared to what he might have gone through that day.

Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or have him lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him.

Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soothing and pleasant voice.

Don’t ask him questions about his actions or question his judgment or integrity. Remember, he is the master of the house and as such will always exercise his will with fairness and truthfulness. You have no right to question him.

A good wife knows her place.

Housekeeping Monthly 13 May 1955

I sent this to Dan and he shared it with all the guys in the office. So now I know that Dan knows what my responsibilities are. Can you believe some of that stuff?

Note Home

We have a notebook call the Study Buddy that the kids bring home everyday and that I sign and return. It has homework assignments, bad notes, and upcoming events. Leafing through Bug's book is an excellent glimpse into the life of a kindergarten teacher. There is not a week without one or two notes to put a smile on my face.

The one that tops the list came yesterday...

"He had about 5 pair of underwear today."

That was all it said, so slightly baffled I called to him to explain. Did you have an accident? Did you take them with you? No, I had like 8 underwears on. All at the same time? Yes. How did your teacher find out? I told her that my stomach was hurting and she asked why and I told her because I had a lot of underwear on.

This was one of those times where no poker face parent is prepared for. I just started rolling. I signed the study buddy with: that is like the funniest thing one of my kids has ever done and got the reply: it cracked me up, too.

Today, he tried to go to school with two t-shirts on. I think the boy is cold, I'm going to the store to get him some underclothes.

It's the Final Countdown!!

I am trying everything in my power not to get super over-the-top excited before it's time but Dan should be home soon. Dan should be home soon. Holy Cow, Dan is coming home! See how good I am doing holding down the excitement? I am torn between restraining myself and acting out in frenetic energy cleaning and organizing. What else would I do but organize something, right?

First victim was my pantry. Every closet in the house is painted with flat paint and the shelves are a not pretty plywood. So, over the Christmas break I emptied it out and organized. And primed and painted the beast.

Some befores:







The Afters:





The feature I like the most is the sound system that I installed so that every time you open the door an ethereal choir sings out heavenly soft ahhhs to serenade me to my pretty pantry.

I've already started on the bathroom. I got some matching organizer things for the cabinets and went through the thousands of items under the sink. I had no idea that we had that much medication, that much lotion, or that much junk. This coming from a person who doesn't wear product in her hair and hardly ever ears make-up. Where is all this stuff coming from? I got rid of a lot of stuff but I think I need to be more cut-throat. So much stuff that we hold on to because I might probably use it one day, possibly.

Last week was a great week for productivity. There is nothing like feeling like your husband is never coming home to depress me into action. On the flip-side, I also feel like there is not enough time to get it all done. This dichotomy was one of the shocking realizations this last week. But I think the most astonishing thing was finding out that it is no longer possible for me to be a depressed lump.

On Thursday last, I realized that morning that it had been over 36 hours since I had heard from Dan. That is very rare. We have been so fortunate that I normally hear from him twice a day. I didn't hear from him all Wednesday and his normal time to call in the morning on Thursday had come and gone. So I figured this was the perfect day to lay around and watch bad TV. I laid down for about twenty minutes and then got up and cleaned the kitchen. Went back to be pathetic and lasted only ten minutes before I was up and doing laundry. What?! I can't lay around and eat ice cream? What has this deployment done to me? It's so shocking. He called while I was folding the laundry.

Well, anyway, I am not wasting this energy. This house is getting clean and organized. The cars are getting oil changes, fluids checked and filled, cleaned and ready. One car down, truck next. All sorts of errands are getting accomplished. The list I got down last week makes me feel all gooey inside.

This week I look forward to more stuff getting done and one more week closer to the end. Also this week my new semester starts. Two classes, I switched to both online classes so I am home-schooled this semester. The kids were so jealous. The switch comes from me changing my major and deciding on a different path on what I want to be when I grow up. But that is for another post. Kind of burying a lead there, huh? Onto the mighty list!

Resolved

Ah, the New Year. Favorite time of people everywhere to come up with ways to improve their lives, start a new talent, or meet some new goal. To put it bluntly I hate New Year resolutions. I think the whole idea that at this randomly marked date in the calendar year that now I will be able to stick to whatever goal I have in my head that somehow I wouldn't have been able to make, say, in July. I do believe in goals, making them, keeping them, and adapting as needs be. However, the whole country believing that now I will write that novel, exercise regularly, finally learn synchronized swimming because Auld Lang Syne played, hmmm. Well, now I believe you. Any goal that popped into your head then probably has been there for a while but you waited for New Year's. You mean you've been procrastinating putting into effect this life-changing idea of yours. Yeah, that's going to work. All this does is crowd up the gym for a couple of months and drive me bonkers. So Happy New Year anyway but...

This year I resolve to make no resolutions.

Oh poop, I already broke it.

Yatta! ("I did it!" in Japanese)

This past week was the week for some serious arms up in the air and screaming, "Yatta!"

I will list my top three:

First:
Finished first semester of school, didn't do too bad on my finals, didn't kill the kids with all the stress, with the added benefit of being so stressed out that I lost a couple pounds. I finished the semester with three A's and one B. Of course, that B is in my Anatomy and Physiology lecture, I've never worked harder for a B or been more proud.

Second:
I fixed the toilet. Again, but really fixed the problem. The handle broke again and instead of just putting on a new handle I found out what was causing the handle to break. An old gasket in the tank. Replaced gasket, new handle, and learned how to stop it from running. I used to have to lift the lid to flush the toilet and then wait around to fix the running. Now I stay purely to thrill at the sound of a completely working flush.

Third:
Survived first girl slumber party. DD turned eight last week and instead of some big party, I told her she could invite three friends to sleep over. I had this thing planned. Asked a friend to let the boys sleep over at her house so I could focus solely on the girls. They watched movies, played on the computer, video games, ate pizza, other various junk, and we made bracelets/necklaces with little picture frame charms for a picture of DD and whoever made the jewelry. And they were even quiet when I told them it was time to be quiet, I think I properly scared them with my I-am-the-crankiest-person-in-the-world speech. The next day was a little more challenging, they were all very tired including the boys. Everyone was all blood-shot eyes by the end of the day. None of them have ever stayed up that late before. They had a blast. Even if DD was having some serious entitlement issues, one more thing to work on.

Hunkered down

I am in full finals study mode. I have only four more days until I will be able to say I have survived my first semester back at school. I wasn't really feeling that much pressure, all my grades are pretty set. My English grade is right on the border of A/B, but I feel good with Hamlet so I am not that worried. I think I will be alright. I am very confident in my Algebra class that I will be fine. The final is accumulative and I have gotten A's on every test. To my surprise, I was the only one in the class to get an A on the last test. The test that I took early so I could go to the presidential rally. I was feeling the normal amount of stress going into my Anatomy final, it is on the last two chapters. I have a very solid B, so I just wanted to hang onto that. I emailed my professor to double-check that my grade was what I thought it was. I had figured an A was mathematically impossible but apparently he does some last minute curving. He told me that if I do very well on the final an A is not out of the question. So pressure back on.

As Sunday is a absolute no-study day, I can just veg out and post today. Especially since we didn't make it to church. A special thanks to Bug, throwing up at the Ward Christmas party last night. I can't tell you how good he is at telling me that he is feeling sick and that he needs to get to the toilet. He hasn't thrown up on the floor in years, leave it to now so we can be in public for that to fall through. He's not really sick, but that's a whole other story.

Here's the point just some lists of updates I wanted to share:

I did not get my flat screen TV, I wasn't impressed by the black Friday sales. The cheapest I saw was $100 off the cheapest I've been able to find on a normal day. That is not enough a savings for me to deal with crazy. I will wait it out a little bit more.

Way back on Veteran's Day, there was a program for Punx year group at school...



I just thought this was so funny. Do you see the arrow pointing to where you can see that tiny patch of Punx's head? He is standing on the highest tier there and the girls in front of him are a step lower and still that much taller than him. I just wanted a picture. We got there all early so we could sit in the front row so I could get some good pictures and maybe a video. And then this is all I could see. Then my battery died right after I took this picture. They sang very well though, it was a nice little program.

Then right before Thanksgiving I took the boys to go to the Presidential rally. DD had a field trip at school so I let her choose which she would rather do. She informed me that she had studied all about the President at school so she pretty much knew what he was going to say. It was a lot easier, I must say, with only two of them rather than all three. Especially since we stood there for about two hours before he came and then it took another two hours after before we could get back to out car. All for a twenty minute speech.

That morning as I was helping the boys get ready, I was explaining that they should dress nice. Not church nice, but let's not wear jeans. Note to self: it is so alright to wear jeans and comfortable shoes. I wore heels and was sore for two days. I was picking a nice outfit for Bug and just threw some random underwear at him, probably SpongeBob, and he picks them up and hands them back to me and says, "Mom, these are not nice underwear."



While we waited for the President. A very nice woman stood with us the whole time and even gave the boys a snack. They had sent out an email that we could bring food so I didn't but then they didn't even care. They had food there but I wasn't going to give up our spot to try and find our way to the snack tent at the back of the crowds.



As good a picture as I could get with the camera zoomed in and held over my head. As the President came in, a couple awesome soldiers reached back and picked up the boys to hold them up high so they could see him walk in. They pick them up one more time later on so they could look again. It was really nice, I can't pick up Punx like that anymore.



When it was over, we didn't even try to get to the buses I thought we could just sit down on the bleachers and wait while all the hordes moo'ed their way along. All those people just stood there forever. A friend and her family found us and we all waited out on the side together while the kids ran around.



One thing all the crowds missed by trying to get out of there so fast was watching Air Force One take off. We were right there. I think the boys liked that. Then when the crowds finally started moving we thought we should get in line. Then all the soldiers started yelling, civilians, make a hole. Next thing we knew they all got out of the way and kept telling us to move up front. All civilians to the front. We kept getting pushed to the front until we were at the front of the line. We felt bad about that so we moved to the side. Then the buses came, it turned out everyone had been waiting until Air Force One had taken off, no one had left that whole time we had just been sitting around waiting for everyone to leave. Then everyone got all crazy to get on the buses so my friend's family and us, we moved to the side again. Next thing we knew another bus pulls up and stops right in front of us. So we just got in. It was hard not to laugh at all the impatient people pushing and trying so hard to get on that first bus when we just stood back and watched then one came to us. My friend's husband said, this is what an evacuation would be like, except that no one here is scared. That was a scary thought.

I really liked taking the boys to go see the President. Politics aside, I thought it was a cool experience for them. DD, of course, cried about it when she got home and thought the boys had more fun then she did. Not much of a surprise.

That's about it. Classes are over, so I do have a lot of free time to freak out and study. It turns out I am not that great at studying for prolonged periods of time at home. I think though that being on this side of the weekend and seeing finals so close will help me focus. Not so much tomorrow, though, mom day with a friend, I am going to see Twilight again.

I'm off!

Lovely school break looming before me, I am taking off to my sister's house for some turkey and hunting. I am hunting a flat screen TV this Friday. Our TV is the first TV we ever bought in our marriage and I am ready for an upgrade.

I will be back on Saturday or so and then I will post pictures of the Presidential visit to Fort Campbell yesterday that I took the boys to.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Uhhh, thanks?

Yesterday, I took a break from studying to actually do something. As I crashed and burned on my test this afternoon it probably wasn't the best idea. Anyway, I decided to go to enrichment. I have only gone like three times the year and a half we have lived here. It is the same time as swim team practice so I never make it. Yesterday, was the last day of swimming before we take a break. Less is more. So I pulled the kids out of swimming until Jan.

So, I get to the church and one of the first things someone says to me is..."You look exhausted."

I am pretty sure the phrase "worn-out" was in there also. I replied that, "Yes, I am but I am so glad that you can tell." Well, now. I have mirrors, I know that the bags under my eyes now resemble duffel bags rather than hand bags but ouch.

Here's to the future:

Life or Pancakes

From the movie "Stranger Than Fiction"

Harold Crick - "I want to live! I mean who in their right mind in a choice between pancakes and living, chooses pancakes?"
Professor Hilbert - "Harold, if you pause to think I believe you'd realize that that answer is inextricably contingent upon the type of life being lead and, of course, the quality of the pancakes."

On an aside, I really like this movie, some of my favorite quotes are from this little know Will Ferrell movie. It is not a normal sense of the word comedy but it is very funny. Smart funny.

To the point, I love that line. I'm not trying to sound pathetic, but I hope when I look back at my life it would appear to be better than high quality pancakes. I'm just saying.

Lather, rinse, repeat. As needed.

I know everyone knows the rut feeling. I have been feeling it something fierce ever since Dan left and just stepped back into the grind like nothing had happened.

Turn-off alarm. Do a little reading. Get breakfast for the kids. Get in the shower. Backpacks ready, clean-up breakfast. "Does everyone have a sweatshirt?" Repeat question four times. Get my backpack ready. Grab whatever bottle is counting as my breakfast and throw it in. Watch for the bus, get out the door, go, go, go. Oh yeah, I love you, have a good day. Drive to school, talk to Dan on phone. Find parking spot, walk to class. Cram whatever study time I have in. Class, study, class, study. Drive home. Clean something. Eat maybe. Study, homework. Kids, their homework. Clean something. Stop fighting. What day is it? Swimming, scouts, what's going on tonight? Dinner, baths, jamas. Stop fighting. Go to bed, now, I love you. Study, homework, watch some TV. Talk to Dan. Read a little, set alarm, turn off light.

Repeat, repeat, repeat, infinity...

I feel nothing but stress, frustration, anger, and occasionally nothing at all. I am just coming off a wonderful girl's weekend. My sister and I and a couple of friends did a church conference thing, Time Out for Women. It was here in Nashville this past weekend. A single friend stayed at the house and watched the kids. We all got a hotel room, went to the conference, ate actual food, had a good time. Now here I am two days later, one day away from my first final and I am ready to explode.

I am very dispirited. I don't know how else to describe it except that I feel like I am failing. Not grade wise, potential wise. I am not doing my best work, the house is not clean, I feel like I am constantly pushing the kids away because I either need to study or please just let me have a minute to myself. In trying to get everything done, I feel like nothing is getting accomplished. I just don't know what to do with this feeling that I can't do this. The thought of settling for B's in some of my classes that I should have A's in makes me sick. And, yes, I know how stupid this all sounds. Now you know, I am truly that uptight.

So I have conceded. I am unwilling to live like this and unwilling to have my kids live this way anymore. As much as it feels like a kick in the gut, next semester I am taking the A&P II class with it's lab and nothing else. This class, this semester, has taken me at least 15 hours a week. I am just going to focus on that and maybe next fall I can re-evaluate, again.

But now, it is official, I will not be graduating here. It will be impossible. I choose sanity over a defined graduation date. It just really sucks. I have no idea where we are going next, if there will be a university there, if they will even have a program. It's going to be a great picture me in my gown next to Punx in his in 2024. That's figuring that Punx graduates on time for high school, serves a two year mission and takes five years to get through college.

The thrill is gone

Enough already. [cough cough] I am so over the charm of laying in bed and watching TV, as I sneeze and reach for the tissues. At least I was able to venture out today, I was out of medicine.

Sixty-five bucks later, cough drops in bulk, chest cough meds, and a humidifier with some fancy vicks stuff you put in the water.

It's time to get out of bed. I'm thinking the couch, the one with the DVR in front of it, I remember why I hate commercials now. [cough cough] Was that pathetic enough for you guys?

The bright side, the kids don't have school on Monday, so I am not going to my classes even though my morning class was canceled so I am only ditching one class. Then Tuesday is when Austin Peay is doing Veteran's Day so I don't have classes on that day so I can be all kinds of pathetic until Wednesday with no fears.

Tons o' Tidbits

I am having a wonderful sick day. I haven't left my bed except to do necessary things like get chocolate, water, the computer, tissues, and more cough drops. I have never not minded being sick before. I feel like crap but yet I am enjoying myself. I have just laid here and watched TV, actual TV with commercials and everything. I even watched some music videos this morning, that was awesome. It has been too long since I took a lazy day. I wanted to take advantage of the lazy day to spew out all the stuff in my head that I didn't get out during R&R or have been otherwise forgetting.

Grades: I have hit a pretty good grove with my classes and have nailed a few more tests. The day that Dan came home was my second A&P test so I had to take it early, got the results after we got back from our weekend trip: 97%! I still got a sticker but my "good" went to "excellent" and I got #3 in the class. We just had our third test which I didn't study too well for since Dan was home for the whole section: 88%, back to a "good," but still third. Another Algebra test: 94%. In my A&P lab I got a 97% on the midterm and the top grade in the class. Second English test tomorrow on Dante, don't feel so prepared. So eventually my lazy day must end for some studying. Oh, poo.

Halloween: We did Star Wars this year. I was so happy that Dan was able to be here for the ward party at least.



I think I nailed the buns, that took some configuring. A natural bun of my thin hair is about the size of my ear, I made those from yarn. I took it easy this year, not much sewing. Dan's costume is thrift store with a little altering, mine is a Roman costume from years past with some altering, and the kids are purchased or borrowed.



There they are: Queen Amidala, Obi-wan, and Darth Vader. I couldn't find a picture where Bug is wearing his Darth Vader mask.

I already informed the children what we are doing next year. They have no choice in the matter, we are finally going to do what I have dreamed of doing for years. These will require five from scratch costumes so I have to get started real early, that's why I figured I'd let the kids know now that I took their free will away. I'm so excited, my dream Halloween.

Another swim meet: This time it was at our Y, so much easier. I don't know what places the kids got in there final events but they each won a few of their heats, they were very excited about that. The big one about this one was that they each got to do some relays for the first time and Punx did a 100 IM for the first time, one length of each stroke, it was amazing. He was so tired by the end, it was his hardest event and his last event. I was so proud. We have a couple more weeks of this session left and then we are taking the next session off. Just a little break, more free time during the winter and especially finals for me.

And lastly My kids on:

My kids on Finances:
Bug: If I had hundreds million dollars I'd put my hands in the air and say, "Victory is Mine!" Then take dollars and throw them in the air.

My kids on the eventuality of Death:
Bug and DD: Driving to Bowling Green, KY we drive through a small town called Russleville and it's graveyard every time.
Bug, "Mom, a dead yard"
DD, "Is that where you bury the people that you love?"
Me, "And where do you put the people that you don't love, in the garbage?"
DD, "That's all the people? How can that fit all the people who have ever lived?"
Me, "All the people that ever lived are not buried in Russleville, KY."
DD, "Oh, just all the people of KY and TN, then."

My kids on compliments:
DD, "Mom, you're nice and funny."
Me, "You forgot something."
DD, "Oh yeah, nice, funny, and beautiful."
And the same time Punx said, "Aggressive."

My kids on the election:
DD, "Mom, who are you going to vote for? At school there is a box at the cafeteria where we can vote."
Punx, "What are you talking about? That's for your favorite food, I voted for hamburger."
DD, "Oh, I saw someone vote for Obama."

The vote counters, that's one vote for pizza, one for Obama, one for hamburger, and one for Ralph Nader? Who put that in here?

That about all my diseased brain can remember for the moment.

Super Cheesy/Gushy Confession

I am not one for emotional outbursts. Wait, let me rephrase that so it's true. I am not one for outbursts of positive emotions. Spontaneous hugs, Golly gee your swell kinda stuff. Nothing makes me want to kick my own butt more than when I cry in public. I'm not all that comfortable when other people do it either.

But the truth really is...there is a soft sort squishy person deep inside there that I keep chained up and buried beneath sarcasm, wit, and (hopefully) a good dose of dark humor.

This election has made my squishy come out.

I know that I will take this back, maybe even by the time the results come out but I am so happy today. I have always been too interested in politics, I remember when I went crying to my father to tattle on my mother for having a Dukakis pin on her purse. I was mortified, what was she thinking? She couldn't possibly be thinking about voting for him. It was 1988, and I was ten, it's a little bit of a head scratcher why I am like this.

I love this country. I mean Apple Pie, Fourth of July, Big Band, Fireworks, bring on the Lee Greenwood love this country. Every Fourth I take the kids to the show on post and we sit real close to the band and I cry. I am so embarrassed. I try to hide it every year and am always so grateful when it finally gets dark.

Here's the point. Voter turn out has always been one of those things that gets my blood boiling. This great right we have and so many people not exercising it. So much blood split for it and people don't care. I missed the registration deadline after I turned eighteen by one day, I didn't know about deadlines then. On the day of the election I went with my boyfriend to the polls and watched him vote for Bob Dole as I hide my tears. I've never missed a deadline since, even with all the moves.

I am so proud of everyone this year. Bursting. Millions of new registrations, millions of first time voters. It is anticipated anywhere from 20-40 million more people will vote in this election than the last presidential election. That is so huge!

With all the division in the country, all this break-down among party lines, today I just don't care. Today everyone gets their voice. Americans are taking their voices back. This is why I am so happy, so pleased, so squishy.

Today I honestly don't care who wins. Because with so many people finally voting it makes me feel like we will be getting a President that America has chosen, even if it isn't the one that I voted for. How can I be upset at that? Now I make no promises on how I'll feel in a few months when the new administration does whatever it is they are going to do that I don't like.

Right now, inside I am all roasted warm marshmellow. I voted today, I hope you did, too. The will of the people will be done today. For the People, by the People.

I have no words for this

I took Dan to the airport today. I can't tell you how wrong it feels. There is this "back to normal" feeling. I shouldn't feel like things are going back to normal now that Dan is heading back to Afghanistan. I drove straight from the airport to my afternoon A&P class, then home. Right when I got home it was right to chores, dishes, laundry, etc. It felt all like normal. I'm not sure what's going on. Just knowing that Dan will be coming home soon, knowing that I know what to expect now, knowing that I can do this. Dan should be home in about three months. They have cut off two months from the deployment.

Let's get to the fun stuff. R&R was beyond wonderful. Dan and I spent a couple of days in Nashville and in Kentucky at the Land between the Lakes. Just us two. We have only done that once before after we had kids. Man, it was great.



This is the view of Carnton Plantation in Franklin, TN. Dan and I did a tour. It was a plantation turned into a field hospital during the Battle of Franklin during the Civil War. There are still blood stains on the wood floors. There is a historical fiction out called The Widow of the South, it was very interesting. Also nice was taking a boring adult history tour of something and having no one to shush.



The view from the cabin we rented at the Land between the Lakes. Beautiful. I wish we could've stayed there for a few more days.



We came home on Sunday morning. I walked into the house and called the kids into the living room. Hey kids who wants to see what I brought home from my trip? Yeah! I opened up the front door and there stood Dan. They just yelled and ran to him. It was indescribable. This picture was taken within minutes and I think that is enough.


Having a man around the house again...



He did this to the garage in one day. One trip to Lowe's for a tool rack thingy, toy thingy, another couple shelves and the garage is so pretty. I wish I had a before picture so you could really get the full benefit. Let's just leave it at that there was a free path from the car door to the basement door.

He mowed the lawn twice, trimmed all the trees and bushes, took two trips to the dump, and a trip to the recycling place (we don't have pick-up here in Clarksville, we have to take it ourselves). And he bought me this...



We didn't quite measure the cabinet right and the fridge was too high, so Dan took care of that, too. He cut the lower lip of the cabinet so the fridge fits. I'll admit it, I have hugged my new frigde. The best part for Dan is the old fridge in the garage, the next time we went to the commissary he made sure we bought a whole mess of soda. While we would be watching TV in the basement he would just step into the garage and come back with a cheesy grin on his face and a cold soda.

I hadn't realized how many things I had let slide, couldn't do, or didn't do until I had a man in the house again.

Now lets get to the important part. What I wore to the airport.



I'm going to come clean about this picture, its a re-enactment. The picture at the airport is bad. When Dan came walking down that hallway thing and I saw him, I starting bawling. I never got fully into an ugly cry but when I cry my face gets all puffy and red. It shows up on the pictures. And the person who took the picture didn't get the full effect of the outfit. So, yes, I made Dan do a re-do. As much as I worried about this outfit I needed pictoral proof.

So now back to "life." I don't even want to think about what my inbox looks like or the google reader. Looks like I have a lot of deleting to do. I hope everyone had a good eighteen days.

He's home!

Dan's home! Dan's home! he he he

To sum up

I can sum up all of Saturday with this:

I ate my emergency Snickers bar.