tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127435912011-04-21T17:32:02.989-04:00MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.comBlogger3061100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-81908397513561794902008-11-05T19:33:00.006-05:002008-11-05T20:38:16.411-05:00

My husband went to our son's Halloween party at school a couple weeks ago. Among the ghosts and star wars characters, a little boy caught his eye. He was wearing a suit jacket and a button that said "Future President." And he happened to be black.We've broken the most powerful color barrier there is. We did it without riots or violence or legal wrangling. Black children have someone to look up

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-48367972423031148452008-10-28T10:39:00.001-04:002008-10-28T10:40:57.096-04:00

I'll try not to go on and on about the marathon, but I think any runner can appreciate this video....

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-57519751012802342602008-10-27T10:32:00.006-04:002008-10-27T10:45:22.486-04:00

hehehe. I did it. I ran the Marine Corps. It was exciting...and painful. When's the next one?

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-46524429787129550882008-10-20T21:48:00.003-04:002008-10-20T21:56:56.499-04:00

I just finished watching Band of Brothers for the third time. The last time I watched it Terry was mid way through his tour in Iraq. I usually avoided war movies then, but I couldn't turn of Band of Brothers. This week was the same.I think you take away something different each time you watch a movie like this. Last time I was, of course, focused on the horrors of war. The segments in Bastogne

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-45334484991548090502008-09-16T16:08:00.003-04:002008-09-16T16:28:19.875-04:00

Asher (4)- Gabe, are you allergic to girls? Gabe (10) - No. Asher - But when you kiss them you can get sick. Gabe - [Confused] I know. [Eager] But I’ve never kissed a girl. Asher -Yes you have. You kissed mommy.

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-34686961316390993122008-09-10T21:35:00.012-04:002008-09-10T23:55:15.243-04:00

I've been away from blogger so long that I typed my address in wrong and got a page not found message. My heart stopped. Everything about the deployment, gone forever. Then I realized I forgot a 'w'. Whew. Crisis averted.Why have I dropped off the face of the earth? Life, lack of inspiration and motherhood. No, I am not one of the legions of women who are knocked up these days and are now

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-64086574186866319102008-05-26T11:51:00.001-04:002008-05-26T11:58:07.733-04:00

Jess Riley's book Driving Sideways is finally published! She is on my blogroll and is one of the best writers in blogdom. Check out her blog and maybe even pick up her book for summer read!! http://jessriley.blogspot.com/

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-22487371884068000662008-04-22T22:50:00.004-04:002008-04-22T23:22:11.114-04:00

I wasn't surprised when I read this story about a couple who lost their wedding rings at Disney World and Disney staff found them and returned the rings.When we went for a weeklong vaca in November - and had a thoroughly magical time celebrating Asher's birthday and Thanksgiving - my husband lost our camera. On the last day of our trip. With over 700 photos on it, including Asher's birthday at

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-80054478327089756742008-03-30T21:50:00.003-04:002008-04-02T01:21:10.114-04:00

Sgt. Matthew Maupin's parents can finally rest, though I know it was not the end they were hoping for. I hope though, it brings some closure instead of wondering every night what happened to their son.The longer this war lasts, the more I wonder how many more of our greatest will be lost; and how long America will not fully grasp the price that such a small percentage of our population has paid.

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-24752029640546373562008-03-24T12:30:00.002-04:002008-03-24T13:26:09.397-04:00

It's so, so terrible to know that 4,000 of our bravest have died. I think we are losing the best of our generation there.

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-10887270596039319632008-03-19T21:06:00.004-04:002008-03-19T22:44:44.952-04:00

Nicole posted this video on her blog: Marines in Berkeley and while it was hilarious, I was left kind of angry too. I detest these people who have no concept of what our military does or why we need them: "I don't know a good use of the Marines in my lifetime" says one peace activist."I felt like how the Iraqis probably felt, like we were being occupied," another liberal laments about the new

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-20390883329527286142008-01-08T21:53:00.000-05:002008-01-08T21:59:57.079-05:00

It was obvious I didn’t spend much time on post when I exited the commissary doors into the bittersweet sound of TAPS. And kept walking. The young bagger stopped. I looked at him quizzically and then slowly started to move on. He leaned into pushing the cart while he, rightfully, asked, “Um we’re not going to stop?” I spun around, “Stop? We’re supposed to stop?” I knew I had done something wrong

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-34310428607126221482007-12-29T11:19:00.000-05:002007-12-29T12:52:28.041-05:00

I can keep a secret about as well as Google, so when my colleague told me, gently, so I would not scream, that her husband had brokered a Wii for my husband son at the retail store where he works, I spent the last five days before Christmas shoving food into my mouth to stop the word "Wii" from squeaking out.This year, I alone would hold the title of Coolest Parent. Terry wouldn't even know what

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-35677370722565227892007-12-05T23:06:00.000-05:002007-12-05T23:46:46.469-05:00

It's the time of year when everyone counts down everything. Best books of 2007, best gadgets of 2007, and of course there will be the ego fest we all know as the Oscars to rate the best movies of 2007. (Or more accurately, the smallest budgeted movies released in the fewest theaters in the United States on Christmas whose scripts called for long silences and beautiful women made to look ugly.)

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-6247911831126643302007-12-03T16:10:00.001-05:002007-12-03T17:40:08.276-05:00

Holy cow! If this blog was my baby I'd be Britney Spears ya'll.What have I been up to? Writing, working, traveling. That pretty much sums it up. I've been to Vegas, Seattle and Orlando (Disneyworld!!) the past three months and that's the most flying I've done in over two years. I loathe flying cross country because I was across the country from my husband and Gabe when 9/11 happened and I hate

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-53027165863466507252007-10-22T21:37:00.000-04:002007-10-22T21:58:48.886-04:00

The strangest thing happened. I went to Vegas to turn 29 and a half, and I can't remember a thing. (Except that my party of eight and I got into Pure nightclub as VIPs :)With feeling: ChooooooocccaaaalllllatteWell, I decided not to write the book. At least not now or for that outlet and it's a good thing because last week I got another writing job with another military market magazine. I'm

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-10609925398485680522007-09-26T16:03:00.000-04:002007-10-08T23:28:56.273-04:00

Home Fires Burning by Karen Houppert is not your usual military spouse rah rah rah book. It's sold as a book about the military family. The author is an Air Force brat who lost her father to a flying accident while he was on duty, but she is not a military spouse. I want to say she is objective only because it's NOT like some of the god awful books by other mil spouses that I've read about

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-89663810099089963802007-09-20T23:04:00.000-04:002007-09-20T23:14:24.063-04:00

I'm going to tell you a little secret. I've been asked to write a book about surviving deployment. No big publisher, just a start up, and truthfully I don't think it will get anywhere far, but I can't say yes, and I can't say no. They say you should do the thing that terrifies you, well, this terrifies me. The time, the committment, I just don't know if I'm up for it. I basically feel like a

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-77407339159180036992007-09-13T21:51:00.001-04:002007-09-13T22:07:57.542-04:00

You know, just because I don't take the time to write anything cool doesn't mean I'm gone :) In fact, I've written three posts that never made it to "live." I thought it would help to tell you about what my days are like.Gabe started soccer and is in the middle of TKD tournaments. He ROCKS at sparring. Seriously he is amazing. He was MVP for the meet last time. But soccer is another story. We

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-3248323920613258592007-08-21T17:13:00.000-04:002007-08-24T16:12:38.929-04:00

So many thoughts have been tumbling through my brain with the tags "blog this" on them, but I just haven't taken the time to do it. I am really thinking about going underground. Meaning, I don't want anyone who knows the "real life" Monique to read this anymore. It's not that I have anything to hide, it's more to protect those that I love because I am very suspicious about who is reading my blog

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-43339592333468834362007-07-31T17:52:00.000-04:002007-07-31T18:20:48.136-04:00

I forgot to remind you all. Ter's been home for ONE year!!! He landed at his demob site on July 29, 2006, but didn't get HOME, home, until a few days later. Can you freaking believe it? Don't believe the hype about the one year mark. Things are tough around here. Everything, the emotions, the nightmares, are just beneath the surface, thinly veiled by normal, suburban life. I realized that I think

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-81405866408831526362007-07-31T17:44:00.001-04:002007-07-31T17:47:20.014-04:00

How is it possible that the news media had a positive headline about the casualties in Iraq. Apparently deaths are at an 8 month low. But that number still represents over 70 of our bravest lost their lives in Iraq this month. Still, I'm glad to see the news has found a way to show the work getting done there is getting us somewhere in the realm of winning!Let the lovers and haters commence with

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-28996020438349999232007-07-24T22:38:00.000-04:002007-07-24T22:47:06.827-04:00

I hate to admit it, but all the green press has made me rethink my environmental attitude a little bit. At the commissary, I got paper instead of plastic. I used to dismiss their requests to use paper with a wave of my hand. "When you start making paper bags with handles, I'll start using them," I would say. It's really hard to carry 20 bags of groceries two at a time, up 10 stairs. But, I

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-45296459559151935912007-07-06T00:08:00.000-04:002007-07-06T00:09:26.496-04:00

get P. Hilt's name off the top of my blog...commence with blog surfing...

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-60025499720255140042007-06-08T15:52:00.001-04:002007-06-08T16:28:00.756-04:00

I am basking in schadenfreude over Paris' return to prison. I could not believe that she got out of jail, leaving us all to speculate what she DID to arrange that, right? wink. wink.I know that 23 hours a day alone would probably send me into a nervous breakdown too, if my very heart pumping and blood flowing depended on someone with a light and a camera around me 24 hours a day, but seriously (

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-29407126883793822772007-06-02T23:33:00.000-04:002007-06-03T23:54:20.587-04:00

This is day two of our family's first separation from Terry since he returned from Iraq. He is at a course for the Army for a couple of weeks and we all feel like he's in Iraq again, even though he's called about ten times in the last 48 hours. Gabey feels it especially. He cried and I asked him repeatedly if he was ok, until I realized he must be feeling like daddy's in Iraq again, so I just

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-87540148256303551662007-05-29T15:33:00.000-04:002007-05-29T15:33:14.724-04:00

I’m so excited to be tagged by Household 6!! I thought I’d lost all my blogger friends by now :)Three Things That Scare Me1. Not having money in the bank2. Bird flu3. and for something not so heavy…crickets.Three People Who Make Me Laugh1. My husband (he’ll be surprised to read that)2. Steve Carell3. My boysThree Things I Love1. Tillamook chocolate peanut butter ice cream (can’t get it here)2.

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-88865470635801264792007-05-28T19:50:00.000-04:002007-05-28T10:05:33.857-04:00

There are many names to remember this Memorial Day 2007. These are the ones on my mind:Sean Sims, Heidi and ColinTom Wren, his wife and childrenTyler Swisher, his wife and childrenRobert Hernandez, his fiancee and childrenJoel, his wife Mary and childrenRest in peace guys.

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-58108355707233079262007-05-27T17:28:00.000-04:002007-05-27T18:35:27.474-04:00

"Memorial Day orators will say that a G.I.'s life is priceless. Don't believe it. I know what value the U.S. government assigns to a soldier's life: I've been handed the check. It's roughly what the Yankees will pay Roger Clemens per inning once he starts pitching next month."This was written by a man who opposes the war, and lost his son in Iraq. Isn't it the saddest commentary about our

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-68424269899628451342007-05-20T15:41:00.000-04:002007-05-20T21:38:01.720-04:00

Well, I met the prez. Again :) in the east wing for mil spouse appreciation day event. He is not my favorite person, but he's still the most powerful man in the free world.Outside of that, we've just been working on our house. I don't have a before, but here is an after in the main living:Before Bath:After Bath:Those are the two big projects. And my husband, if we were talking in person, would

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-67016059216809859572007-05-08T22:02:00.000-04:002007-05-08T22:13:47.511-04:00

I have a new house, and it's keeping me crazy busy, so no real posts anytime soon. But I have to say I got excited chills knowing that the Queen was visiting. It's so amazing how all out Americans went to meet her. There is something calming about the formality and awe she evokes, especially in the midst of war.

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-3651944293759837582007-04-23T18:06:00.000-04:002007-04-23T18:49:55.324-04:00

I've shed a few tears for the victims at Virginia Tech, but not as I do whenever I even think of service members killed in war. I hate to weigh tragedies like fat celebrities, it's not a competition in horror, but I know I'm not the only one to connect the two. Actually, it wasn't that difficult since the next day newspapers ran the obligatory Iraq violence report which was, that day, over 300

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-61178919446270709432007-04-12T16:43:00.000-04:002007-04-12T17:22:26.606-04:00

This is going to be quick since I have zero time to write anything truly thoughtful these days...Al Sharpton came out blazing against Don Imus after his "nappy headed hos" remark, natch. Sharpton is a loud-mouthed, well-fed, media addict, IMHO, who will side with anything that involves a camera and a person of color. (And for those of you who don't know, I'm part black, too, so I am not a racist

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-33562965138276034522007-04-07T19:20:00.000-04:002007-04-07T19:21:19.142-04:00

I - have no words.

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-25370554821258095232007-03-29T15:59:00.000-04:002007-03-29T16:05:55.346-04:00

Staff Sgt. Robert Hernandez was killed in Iraq on March 28, 2006 by an IED. He left behind his fiancee (his partner of ten years), and three children.

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-5327438962501065592007-03-25T23:06:00.000-04:002007-03-26T17:32:05.796-04:00

I think Terry was sweeping the floor when I looked at him and felt a wave of emotion. It was a benign act with no power to evoke any feelings and that's the irony of these moments. Doing something routine represented something extraordinary: He was home, standing right in front of me. I had forgotten how that felt, to feel surprised that he was in my house, in my kitchen, not in Iraq sweating

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-65193868526211361872007-03-14T21:42:00.000-04:002007-03-16T20:06:00.003-04:00

If you are reading this blog, you are a loyal reader.Where do I begin? Life has been so wonderfully busy and full in the last few weeks. I've been working for almost two months now and I still love it, though we've been having a lot of car trouble with one of our cars, so I don't enjoy trying to get my husband to work at 7 and me to work by 8:30 and try to get the boys to their respective schools

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-78669453103419982182007-03-02T21:04:00.000-05:002007-03-02T21:25:49.182-05:00

What a rough week for military news. Walter Reed. Senior level officers firings. Homeless vets. Legless vets on the cover of Newsweek. And the sad thing is that it took the Post and MSNBC to get something done - well, at least put a bandaid on it and make some heads roll.It's truly daunting to think of the cost of war. Not only do we lose some of the best youth America has to death, but there are

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-952195187438332172007-02-18T23:06:00.000-05:002007-02-18T23:22:51.903-05:00

It's official. She's totally nuts. I don't know whether to feel sorry for her, or be happy that she may end her career and not make any more "music." (Although I do admit to working out to "Toxic.")Spears is one step away from pulling an Anne Heche. I kind of hope she gets some help and devotes her life to helping others.

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-15376090168547552762007-02-13T22:16:00.000-05:002007-02-15T21:21:38.433-05:00

Can someone please explain to me why men are coming out of the woodwork to claim ANS's baby? Is this just about money? Not to be rude, but what else could it be? They weren't fighting like this before she died...well, two of the four men involved weren't before...I had jury duty on Tuesday and got more done on my article for my latest gig sitting in the jury room than in my own home. It was quiet

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-25905650709855688942007-02-09T09:54:00.000-05:002007-02-09T10:02:22.834-05:00

Click below to see wounded veterans rock climb at Sportrockhttp://www.defenselink.mil/home/features/2007/Vets_Rock_Climb/Click on the photo to read the story behind it.

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-19497537937408719022007-02-02T07:27:00.000-05:002007-02-03T13:11:31.900-05:00

I always wonder how blogs get their names. Mine came about during an attempt to start a writing business during my husband's deployment (cue laughter), but since that didn't happen and I didn't want to lose the name, I used it for my blog. It was supposed to be a name that was generic enough to elicit a range of writing jobs, but not be boring - wordwell was the best I could come up with!Anyway,

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-59372257564870011352007-01-29T14:50:00.000-05:002007-01-30T17:38:35.570-05:00

Last weekend we went to a wedding. Over the past week you would have found me muttering at random, "who gets married in the winter?" - anger at the bride and groom because I had nothing to wear to a winter wedding. ( I ended up with a sleeveless, light blue dress worn only once when I was pregnant with Asher, to our last law school event, covered with a wrap.)About half way into the 5+ hour drive

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-34732703209274830572007-01-22T08:24:00.000-05:002007-01-23T08:29:19.783-05:00

It's Monday and school is delayed for two hours because of snow (blech), so while my boys watch TV/play Legos and the yet to be used bottle of bubble bath I bought a month ago when I was really depressed sits shattered on my bathroom floor, purple soap oozing across the tiles, I thought, "What better time to blog?", since these days will be fewer when I START WORKING THIS WEEK!First you probably

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-58316736722683778352007-01-18T22:07:00.000-05:002007-01-18T22:15:07.830-05:00

What do you do when your child is being bullied? Suggestions moms, dads, hitmen?

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-45157607436892378292007-01-17T20:36:00.000-05:002007-01-17T20:59:01.839-05:00

This is going to be quick and dirty.The last week has been crazy for me. After about 30 resume submissions and about as many rejections/no answers I got THREE job offers last week and one yesterday. WTF? Feast or famine, right?I agonized over my options:#1 A nonprofit in the city, decent pay, about an hour commute, would have to wrangle for flex hours to be home when school gets out. It would be

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-21933557349499913032007-01-11T11:09:00.000-05:002007-01-11T11:14:50.436-05:00

Place an X by all the things you've done, or remove the x from the ones you have not, and send it to all of your friends (including me). But you have to click forward before you can change answers. This is for your entire life:(x ) Smoked a cigarette(X) Drank so much you threw up() Crashed a friend's car() Stolen a car(X) Been in love(x) Been dumped( x) Shoplifted( x) Been laid off/fired(x) Quit

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-1217531201155705732007-01-04T18:38:00.000-05:002007-01-04T18:45:05.144-05:00

The National Military Family Association is preparing its legislative and policy goals for 2007. Congresspeople count on NMFA to keep them updated on the needs of the military families, so tell 'em!www.nmfa.org/whatsimportant

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-43742577345275839482006-12-31T18:54:00.000-05:002007-01-02T12:17:05.605-05:00

After three months of training and 12 months in Iraq, Terry returned home to us on July 29, 2006. The tour was the reason for starting this blog. He’s been home for five months and we’re almost at that 6-month mark where everything is supposed to be peachy. It’s not, but it's better than it was.There’s been a trade off of “issues;” some good exchanges, like he can drive without swerving away from

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-28412113452783713482006-12-28T18:19:00.000-05:002006-12-28T18:23:10.871-05:00

I'm working on a stupendous end of the year post, but until then, you have to see this video over at HH6.Love it.

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-43843327386419683502006-12-24T08:57:00.001-05:002006-12-24T09:14:53.786-05:00

I have a full weekend for Christmas this year. Church this morning. Church tonight. Asher is a sheep in the church play. Gabe is a wise man (of 20 wise men :). I am a sewer extraordinaire. In between our treks to church Gabe and I will be baking cookies. Chocolate cookies. Sugar cookies. Peanut Butter cookies. Yum. We will mix, and cut, and bake, and frost until our little fingers are stiff

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-43549771820591076672006-12-20T22:40:00.000-05:002006-12-20T23:35:26.693-05:00

Anyone read SpouseBuzz? A post began, "If I wasn't milspouse..." and you finished the sentence. This was a really interesting thread because among the canned, "I'm proud to be a milspouse" comments (including my own) there were a lot of hurting wives and husbands out there. Spouses cheating on TDYs and deplyoments. Spouses feeling backstabbed by their friends. Failing FRGs. No one to call.I can

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-1166137072353637832006-12-14T17:26:00.000-05:002006-12-14T19:01:46.163-05:00

In today's blog post:UpdatesChristmas to do crapBritneySeaTac Airport Christmas fearI think we're all still in turkey comas. My blogging friends are all MIA.I have not been writing much because my eyes are sore from job hunting on the web. (I even have to get my eyes checked because I find myself squinting at the screen a lot lately. But I think glasses would make me look smart. Don't you?)And

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-1165501566519246922006-12-07T09:20:00.000-05:002006-12-07T09:26:06.600-05:00

In remembrance of the lives lost that day."In about two hours of relentless bombing and torpedo fire, 2,390 Americans werekilled... Twenty-one ships were sunk or damaged, 175aircraft were destroyed, and a wounded, angry nation charged to war."

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-1164774208632621962006-11-28T23:11:00.000-05:002006-11-28T23:25:43.630-05:00

I received this link in an email and I just love it! Take five minutes to send a card and support the troops, especially now that it's the holiday season and Iraq or Afghanistan is the last place they want to be right now.Go to www.letssaythanks.com to select a card (cute ones made by kids!) type a message and send it to a servicemember. Hey, if Whoopi Goldberg can do it, you can too! (Though, is

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-1164516320073988302006-11-25T23:33:00.000-05:002006-11-25T23:45:20.250-05:00

...who believes in the right to arm yourself. LOL!I'm such a sucker for these things. So I did three...You Are 72% AmericanMost times you are proud to be an American.Though sometimes the good ole US of A makes you cringeStill, you know there's no place better suited to be your home.You love your freedom and no one's going to take it away from you!How American Are You?Your Inner Child Is

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-1164080936564416022006-11-20T22:03:00.000-05:002006-11-21T10:41:55.953-05:00

First, does anyone know what happened to Melanie???As you can see the writing has dropped dramatically. I guess my life is now a normal stay-at-home-mom, married to a part time soldier routine - and I like it like that - but it feels so, off. Not normal. I'm used to chaos and uncertainty. Actually there is a degree of uncertainty still and I think that's my problem.Let's go back to last

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-1163183539768842612006-11-10T12:42:00.000-05:002006-11-10T13:32:20.043-05:00

My husband, my grandfathers, my father in law, my husband's grandfather and great grandfather, my aunt, my friends in the real world, my friends in the blog world, those in heaven, those on earth - Thank you You are our national treasures.

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-1162697860875499312006-11-04T21:38:00.000-05:002006-11-04T23:28:03.006-05:00

A few things to remember as you vote:The FY 2007 National Defense Authorization Act includes only a 2.2 percent pay raise for military families - the lowest in 12 years. The House asked for 2.7 but went with the 2.2 percent offered by the Bush administration. The DIC offset was rejected in NDAA. The National Guard left over $30 million in equipment in Iraq and needs over $40 million.Remind your

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-1161981890344786712006-10-27T16:42:00.000-04:002006-10-27T16:44:50.410-04:00

We are a reserve family. I feel that now more than ever. At an FRG roundtable today, I felt almost like an intruder. All our soldiers are home, most are back to work. Of course I know that life is not normal for all of them. If our family's experience is anything like theirs, it is a daily battle to keep “Iraq” at bay in our minds and our hearts. Post traumatic stress is a very real thing. We say

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-1161284709589074672006-10-19T13:16:00.000-04:002006-10-19T16:10:26.196-04:00

Is emailing life changing information to friends and family a recent phenomenon, or is it just my friends and family?I’m not talking about tackiness as seen in the Radio Shack mass firing I’m talking about the sharing of emotional news here, people. Heart to hearts. Remember those? It’s when human contact with someone that does not require QWERTY makes your heart flutter, eyes well up, or the

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-1161098132229978882006-10-17T10:47:00.000-04:002006-10-17T11:15:32.366-04:00

The more I blog, the more narcissistic I become. Good lord...oh well, here's to my last year as a 20 something. I now have one year to write a book and run a marathon. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA Maybe it's time to set goals for 35.

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-1160528626769284782006-10-10T20:42:00.000-04:002006-10-10T21:03:47.140-04:00

Here are some photos from my conference where we had the privilege of hearing Dr. Randal Pinkett, winner of The Apprentice speak. Of course, you can see my head got cut off!Our other speaker was Rajiv Vinnakota, co-founder and managing director of The Seed Foundation.Two different, but equally inspiring people.And I just wanna say that I love Navy Boys.

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-1160144773243523472006-10-06T10:22:00.000-04:002006-10-06T10:26:13.703-04:00

I went to my first non-military function last weekend. It was refreshing, but I felt so out of place as a stay-at-home mom and wife to an OIF vet. I was with 500 students who had just been awarded the scholarship that I am now an alum of. I was one of 20 alum invited to "mentor" these new students. I swear I laughed after the hundredth ambitious, yet doe-eyed 18-year-old girl sing-songed to me, "

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-1159480547128016722006-09-28T17:22:00.000-04:002006-09-29T08:44:30.826-04:00

Being an adult sucks. You know it. I know it. You have to pay bills, accept that student loans aren't "good debt," gain weight, break up with friends who you find out slept with old boyfriends, decide between that sexy new shirt and something practical like - vitamins, stop eating cookie dough, limit your alcohol intake, take cholesterol tests and have your privates picked at by perfect strangers

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-1158892474240531462006-09-21T22:10:00.000-04:002006-09-23T11:24:48.176-04:00

I just watched the premiere of Grey's Anatomy. Channeling all the emotions of the finale I settled in to get back to that moment. Don't ask me why I wanted to curl up on the floor and cry like a baby again. I guess it was therapeutic at the time since Terry was still in Iraq and my battle buddy was seeing her hubby in Germany. Tonight though, the show was like taking a swig of water, thinking it

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-1158606943892228382006-09-18T15:12:00.000-04:002006-09-18T15:15:43.960-04:00

You, me and PTSD.Therapy for self.Therapy for us.Therapy for him.I know I'll be ok. But what about him? And all the rest...We ran away from it all last weekend. Lots of pics from Jamestown, Busch Gardens and Colonial Williamsburg - later...

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-1157826063744917772006-09-09T14:11:00.000-04:002006-09-10T20:49:01.830-04:00

Old Glory is retired from the Smithsonian National Museum of American History by the Army Old Guard Aug. 7, 2006. It will never be flown again. On Sept. 12, 2001, a day after the terrorist attacks, this flag was draped over the side of the Pentagon, where it remained for a month before it went to the museum. Photo by J. Leipold. This is what I wrote last year.I started to watch the Court TV

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-1157676995575228632006-09-07T20:23:00.000-04:002006-09-07T20:56:35.656-04:00

First things first - yeah for Rachel whose hubby is home on leave from Iraq!Gabey went back to school. He's in third grade. I want to cry.Terry goes back to work on Tues so no more sleeping in for me. I want to cry.This is Asher's last year at home. Eh. Feel ambivalent about that (see two posts ago).No luck with the part time job hunt. But I did successfully stalk a recruiter, who, if I didn't

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-1157155876461744282006-09-05T17:32:00.000-04:002006-09-05T17:37:58.703-04:00

I'm tagging myself for Nicole's activity.1. Grab the nearest book.2. Open the book to page 123.3. Find the fifth sentence.4. Post the text of the next 3 sentences on your Blog (Please include the book and author) along with these instructions.5. Don’t you dare dig for that "cool" or "intellectual" book in your closet! I know you were thinking about it! Just pick up whatever is closest.6. Tag five

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-1157206573578493542006-09-02T10:14:00.000-04:002006-09-02T10:16:13.596-04:00

Found this quiz at Soccer Mom (oops, I'm dead).You Have Your Sarcastic MomentsWhile you're not sarcastic at all times, you definitely have a cynical edge.In your opinion, not all people are annoying. Some are dead!And although you do have your genuine moments, you can't help getting your zingers in.Some people might be a little hurt by your sarcasm, but it's more likely they think you're

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-1156814071044927972006-08-28T19:04:00.000-04:002006-08-29T16:41:43.506-04:00

So I get a phone call today about a job opportunity. No big deal, I keep my resume circulating just in case someone has a job opening for oh, I don't know, a speech writer for the president or something like that (which of course I'm TOTALLY qualified for).But this wasn't another one of those contract/temp jobs that would only be a paycheck, a lot of anxiety and hours commuting/cursing/guzzling

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-1156428940477315962006-08-24T09:36:00.000-04:002006-08-25T11:56:35.206-04:00

Terry and I spent three days in NYC this week and somehow, at both of our nighttime venues, we ended up being one of the only straight couples around.After catching up with our family (visiting NYC from NZ) while gorging on $12 sandwiches at Katz (the famous spot where Meg Ryan faked an orgasm on When Harry Met Sally) we went to see the Broadway show Avenue Q.Hi-lar-ious. It is the Broadway

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-1155700666305197722006-08-15T22:40:00.000-04:002006-08-19T00:20:22.156-04:00

One of the classes offered to us couples reuniting after a deployment is called, "Putting things back together." Now, I don't want to be caught up in semantics, but it does make you think.One, we were broken apart while he was gone. Two, that those pieces of us can fit together the same way they did before. That's the part I have a problem with. The shape of "us" individually and therefore as a

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-1154836292857266932006-08-11T23:35:00.000-04:002006-08-11T14:15:26.656-04:00

Since that moment it’s been a rollercoaster of emotions. I’m so glad that I made the trek out there (though coming home I was EXHAUSTED). It was worth every penny. A MasterCard commercial is in there somewhere.Now to the boys' reunion.I returned home two days before he did, picked up the boys and decorated the house, the car and stocked the fridge. (Beer, meat and fresh vegetables.) I didn’t

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-1154835351212509652006-08-08T22:35:00.000-04:002006-08-08T20:31:08.756-04:00

I arrive two days before he does and I’m telling you it was like a mini vacation not having any responsibilities for two whole days. I read a new book (20 Times a Lady.) I went to a movie. I had lunch with a friend. I shopped. I slept aaalllll night long. It was awesome!The day before they arrived my battle buddy Shannon and I sat at Arby’s and talked about what it would be like to see our

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-1154831748029755232006-08-05T22:23:00.000-04:002006-08-05T22:35:48.703-04:00

I wrote this out and it was three pages long. So I’m breaking it up into days in hopes that you will read every word. :)Reuniting after a 15-month deployment ranks up there with the birth of my children. It was better than my wedding day, to be perfectly honest. The families were discouraged from traveling all the way to the place they de-mobed. It's in the middle of nowhere, hot as heck, and

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-1154539869012345122006-08-02T13:24:00.000-04:002006-08-02T20:38:15.446-04:00

HE IS HOME! This was at their demob site, I surprised him there! He'll be HOME home tomorrow and see the boys...Complete details in future post, but wanted to share the news asap!!!!

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-1153709280376312282006-07-23T21:27:00.000-04:002006-07-23T22:48:00.530-04:00

Tagged by ChristinaFive things in my purse wallet1. lip gloss2. money3. pictures of my family4. ibuprofen5. chuck e cheese ticketsFive things in my refrigerator1. milk (my boys drink gallons and gallons of organic whole milk!)2. apples - boys' favorite fruit3. grapes - same reason4. string cheese5. tequilaFive things in my closet1.piles of shoes on the floor2. boxes of heels I can't walk in but

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-1153452713371667812006-07-20T22:41:00.000-04:002006-07-20T23:37:21.630-04:00

This is probably a mistake given I just had a drive by blogging yesterday, but I can't resist opening up my blog for comment on the Bush massaging/groping/rubbing German Chancellor Angela Merkel. If you haven't seen it on YouTube, all you're missing is 4 seconds of Bush awkwardly grabbing her shoulders i.e. the "massage" followed by her instantly tensing up her shoulders and looking like she's

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-1153279208137455362006-07-18T21:45:00.000-04:002006-07-18T23:22:37.696-04:00

Today, I spent 10 minutes looking for parking in a packed metro lot and resorted to stalking a woman to the point of offering her a ride to her car just to get her spot, opened my car door to a blast of air so hot it can only be described as the breath of Satan after a bag of Spicy Nacho Doritos, and thought, "If I turn back now, I can still catch the 1:30 of You, Me and Dupree before the boys

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-1152832982317019822006-07-13T18:49:00.000-04:002006-07-13T22:54:50.796-04:00

I started a 12 step program. I mean I formed it, and then became its first member. It's new, but I think there are millions suffering from my addiction - I Burn Through Home Projects Like Chocolate Covered Crack (Deep Fried.)It started with a simple desire to have the home ready for Terry. Call it nesting. But replacing the lamp shade led to painting the side table, which led to realizing the

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-1152731881295427802006-07-12T14:25:00.000-04:002006-07-12T18:19:42.766-04:00

Correction - This is worth mentioning Basic trainees carry legacy of Vietnam vets I have nothing interesting to write about. Here are my options and none of them are appealing enough to spend brainpower on, tell me what you think:My broken vaccum cleaner and the anguish I go through in deciding whether to repair or replace.How tired I am of driving everyday to Gabe's swimming lessons, but how

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-1152493900470330412006-07-09T17:36:00.000-04:002006-07-09T21:12:14.130-04:00

Not much is going on here. Just housecleaning, decorating and checking tasks off the to do list that's been building for about 400 days.30 Days till Terry gets home

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-1151961983326552042006-07-03T16:52:00.000-04:002006-07-03T17:26:23.466-04:00

When I was thinking about what to write for the 4th of July, I realized that Terry was home on leave from training that weekend. We celebrated Gabe's birthday early, went to an amusement park and stayed inside for the fireworks. Actually that was our last night. He had to leave the next morning and we knew we wouldn't see each other until he was home on leave from Iraq. It was very emotional, but

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-1151638133329121382006-06-29T23:00:00.000-04:002006-06-29T23:58:18.536-04:00

I'm sorry, I just can't resist. She cries about her privacy and then poses nude a la Demi Moore."Take my picture!""No, don't!""Take my picture!""No, don't!"Either you want publicity or you don't. Don't you think posing nude is going to bring unwanted attention from the Papparazzi?And the other big news about Star Jones, (no pun intended) ? I was surprised to hear that she was being replaced by

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-1151554786047813582006-06-28T23:51:00.000-04:002006-06-29T00:19:46.073-04:00

Well, school's out. Cry with me.Having Gabe home all day, everyday, is fun for the first few days when you get to sleep in, but after getting up at the oh so leisurely hour of EIGHT O'CLOCK ( a whopping 30 minutes later than the school season schedule :) I realized that all I was getting was more mess to clean up after the boys made their own waffles. In the living room. With lots of syrup.Gabe

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-1151279751956219802006-06-25T19:19:00.000-04:002006-06-25T19:56:32.006-04:00

Yup it's true. We were invited to the annual Tball game on the South Lawn and got photos, autographs and hugs from the president. (I swear, this is not a cutout. :) I only wish I didn't look so frazzled. My hair was a sticky mess by the time we met him and I had straightened it that day (normally it's curly) and the humidity did a number on it.Gabe was asked by our group to present the President

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-1150737316733155162006-06-19T12:28:00.000-04:002006-06-19T22:23:51.006-04:00

Am I mistaken or didn't Congress pass some bill that led every health care provider to ask me to sign a paper stating that I've "read" their 24 page, size 2 font privacy practices, in an effort to increase the security of personal health information such as what exotic diseases I may have had in the past or that I'm flagged at the ER for possible child abuse for the sheer number of visits I make

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-1150430491327192032006-06-15T23:09:00.000-04:002006-06-16T00:05:15.956-04:00

Tonight Gabe came downstairs crying. He said something about daddy dying."Why did you picture daddy dying, Gabe?" I asked."Because I was watching Asher sleeping and it looked like he was dead, and then I thought of daddy."I just sat there and held him. I wanted so badly to tell him his daddy would come home, to promise him nothing would happen to him. But I couldn't, because it would just be

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-1150250722416699362006-06-13T21:18:00.000-04:002006-06-13T22:05:22.486-04:00

I think I need medication.Today was such a strange day, for no reason at all. Terry didn't call. Nothing major happened. I went grocery shopping and jammed to tunes in my car (that's "me time" these days) on the way from the commissary to Costco and suddenly in the middle of a song I thought about a conversation Terry and I had the other day. He said, "I can't wait to get back to my life again.

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-1150061763744153942006-06-11T17:13:00.000-04:002006-06-11T17:36:03.780-04:00

This is what I did all day.This is what my kids did all day (last year, but same actions)

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-1149823124637228552006-06-08T23:01:00.000-04:002006-06-08T23:20:41.096-04:00

So another week of running around like a chicken, etc, etc. and tonight I am exhausted! We had a reunion briefing about two hours from where I live and there is another one near my home tomorrow, but I'm doing the childcare for it so I went to the OTHER one tonight. As much as they scared the hell out of us with visions of soldiers punching us out due to a flash back or attempting suicide - I'M

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-1149643748311534992006-06-06T21:16:00.000-04:002006-06-06T21:29:08.346-04:00

Sometimes it is so hard to get a photo of this kid. He can't quite smile on command... That's the one!

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-1149562683132846352006-06-05T22:25:00.000-04:002006-06-05T23:07:19.933-04:00

I have been going 100 miles an hour since Memorial Day. I was determined not to spend it alone and sad, so we went to all the events we could handle.Since then I've been living and dying by my "tasks" list on my Palm and it just keeps growing. When I've had a millisecond to breathe, I look around for more to do. I've stopped working out, stopped writing, and have been filling my days with

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-1149109705641459372006-05-31T15:58:00.000-04:002006-05-31T17:50:19.016-04:00

I have a story for you.When Gabe was five years old Terry dreamed Gabe had a heart problem. The next morning at Gabe's five year check up, the doctor heard a heart murmur. It turned out to be nothing serious, but when I called Terry at work to let him know we had to go in for an echocardiogram he fell dead silent. He asked if I was kidding. I said no and asked him why would I joke about that and

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-1148790869905086202006-05-27T22:53:00.000-04:002006-05-30T00:46:18.946-04:00

I never knew these men, but their names and pieces of their lives have crossed my path in one way or another since my husband deployed last year. The point is they became people to me, not just names in a paper or on a casualty list. They had lives, all had children and people they loved and loved them back and they gave it all up.Today I will remember:Sean Sims, Heidi and ColinTom Wren, his wife

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-1148569210638881072006-05-25T10:33:00.000-04:002006-05-25T11:01:08.073-04:00

Will you take five minutes to cut and paste this letter into Word to support the families who lost their soldier in Iraq or Afghanistan? Go to http://www.house.gov/ to locate your local rep. Put in your zip code. It will find your rep and you can click on the name to his/her webpage where you can get their address.We shouldn't wait to experience this kind of loss, to care enough to do something

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-1148262587176121342006-05-21T19:30:00.000-04:002006-05-21T21:54:12.343-04:00

Continuing with my parenting theme...If you want to feel like you're a good parent or at least normal, go to Dr. Spock's Ask Our Experts page. Once you read scenarios like this you'll feel like Mrs. Cleaver:Seven year old secretly wearing baby brothers diapersNine year old threatening to kill herselfChild bites himself after punishmentNot to make fun of these people's problems, but really, it

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12743591.post-1148079708909214752006-05-19T18:44:00.000-04:002006-05-19T19:01:48.933-04:00

I saw the coolest thing tonight.I was leaving the video store where I wander like a sad little puppy on the weekends, pretending to look for a video, but really hoping some young, vibrant woman my age will say, "Hi, wanna be friends?"As I was leaving with two movies in hand I saw a group of three thuggish looking teenagers, perhaps 16 or 17 years old, clad in black and white (which I assume was

MQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09124576409375038121noreply@blogger.com3