AGHHHHH!!!!

I survived the holiday barely... I swear it brings out the worst in people.... If I do say so myself the meal was great, the company on the other hand was stressful to say the least... My cousins were of course 2 hours late, my mother nagged me all day, my Aunt brought her own food (concerned that I didn't cook for her allergies), my sister and I are not speaking at this moment (we weren't on the best of terms anyway), my uncle got drunk, The Kid was great, but I saw him for maybe 4 hours during the 4 days... Other then that it was a great time had by all..A little sarcasm...

We did go shopping on Black Friday for a few hours, did quite a bit of shopping, it was very cold here so I didn't last long... 

Christmas: Mmmm, I will be finding a quiet place to hibernate until it is all over.. 

Leaving for The Kid's Graduation today.. WOOHOO he did it.  He will receive his SWCC Pin on Thursday.. I am so very proud of him... I have a wonderful cold.  I hate to travel with a cold, a present The Kid left me on his visit... 

Will post later, hopefully from San Diego..

Hope every one's holiday was wonderful... Give me hope please....

Family

Nothing like a good holiday to bring out the worst in a family. Can we say dysfunctional. I know they are family, but I am ready to head to a warm beach somewhere.

This person isn't speaking to this person, trying to please both sides of the family, why are you making that, don't you know so and so is allergic, why didn't you ask her second cousin on her mother's side, how come you invited him before you called me, I don't think you are making enough for everyone, why did you get a fresh turkey they are not at as good, she's not making the pies is she, and the worst, we will try and stop by, we are just waiting to hear from our friends before we decide where we are going.... These are all the conversations and issues I have had with family since I agreed to have Thanksgiving at my house, and only agreed due to The Kid being home. I was all set to just have a small dinner.

Is it allowed to use the phrase, Bah Humbug for Thanksgiving?

Can you say Ouch

So The Kid has been training in hand to hand combat. So needless to say he is pretty much black and blue from head to toe... Although he said it was scary, an adrenalin rush, coolest thing he has done so far, hurts like hell, and oh yeah mom we do it again tomorrow.. What do you say to that? I just listen and every few sentences gasp and say wow. I hear in his voice how confident he is, and listen to him talk about everything he is learning, and how far he is pushing himself. It is a weird sort of relieve to know that he is so capable of taking care of himself and his fellow soldier... He is all grown up and I couldn't be prouder..

Black Friday

So how many of you go shopping on the Friday after Thanksgiving? Do you think you get great bargains? What is your best deal?

I must confess, my husband and I both go out (he loves me what can I say)... If you go not expecting anything and you get a deal, great, if not then who cares. Last year we did very well, and that is the only shopping I had to do. I usually do most on the Internet. It was great since we had just bought our house and we got some great items for our home. I have had numerous family and friends join us, but usually that don't come the next year..

I just wish Starbucks opened up earlier..

Overheard conversation

My neighbors have a 5 year old little girl, I will call her NG. She was sitting on the trampoline with the neighbor boy, I will call him NB, who is the same age... I overheard this conversation..

NG "It is too called a virgin, and I have one and you don't."
NB "That isn't what it is called, that is Jesus's wife, it is called V-Gina."
NG "Whatever, I still have one and you don't, and my mom said you will have to pay lots of money to ever see one."

I so had to laugh, I think I would have stepped in if she decided to start show and tell!!!

Blogging rules

So I have been reading some new blogs, and I have found it interesting to see different points of view, comments, and how individuals write about them. Bag Blog and I were commenting on the use of bad language, which I have also commented on concerning the mouth of my own child. It doesn't bother me, but I guess I made a decision early on to try and not use it in my own blog. I do sometimes swear like a sailor( I wonder where my son gets it), but it is weird, I feel uncomfortable putting it in print. It won't discourage me from reading it in another blog, just doesn't work for me. I love Boobs, Injuries and Dr. Pepper, but it is funny coming from her blog. Some people can get away with it and some can't.. I do believe the blog world gives you a forum to write what you feel, and express it in a written form that works for you. Keep expressing yourself and we will either read it....... or not.....

Where did the year go

I swear I feel like this year has just passed me by. I can't believe it is November. Where did September and October go. I love the fall here, the leaves changing, crisp cooler weather... I missed it. My closet still has all the shorts and flip flops at the front. I know you people that can wear them all year probably don't do this, but we have all 4 seasons and I usually put away the summer clothes, and move the winter ones forward, nope not done, my closet is a pit with everything just thrown in it.

We have already had 7 inches of snow, although it has been 70 degree's lately. Maybe that is why I feel that fall just decided to not stop by here.

Also what is with the CHRISTMAS MUSIC already, I walked into Walgreen's and it was playing. I AM NOT READY FOR THE HOLIDAYS. Although, The Kid by some miracle gets to come home for Thanksgiving... Don't ask how much that plane ticket cost.

I was talking to my good friend the other day and told her that my domestication diva skills have been truly lacking lately, an example, my poor other mother-in-law who is staying with us has had Stouffers 3 days in a row, I ran out of toilet paper, and we are using Kleenex, and I only have water to drink. Anyway she jokingly said I needed a wife, I laughed, but she is right. Maybe that is what my next job will be, a company that rents out wife's. Ok, I'm not pimping them, this isn't select a bride, just someone that will help us women and men who can't find the time to take care of all the domestic stuff...

I need to tell The Geek it's time to get the Christmas lights up. Yep I start now so by the time he gets around to it they aren't being put up at Easter. Hey maybe I need to add rent a Husband!

Microsoft Above and Beyond Award Winners

Very Cool...

Microsoft Corp., in collaboration with the United Service Organizations (USO), is proud to announce the winners of the Microsoft Above and Beyond Awards. The awards recognize the contributions of citizens across the country who brighten the lives of U.S. troops throughout the world.
"These winners are remarkable examples of how everyday people can do extraordinary things," said Curt Kolcun, Vice President of Microsoft Federal.
"Their actions showcase the best of American citizenship, selflessness, and support for our service members and their families - they are true testaments of how to salute our troops."
Chosen through a public online vote, the following winners will be honored for their service in these categories:

Effort Award: Patti Patton-Bader, Pasadena, Calif. Soon after Patton-Bader began sending care packages to her son in Iraq, she started a group of volunteers to "adopt" soldiers. Since then, the group's 100,000 members have sent tens of thousands of care packages and hundreds of thousands of letters to make sure no soldier is forgotten while serving. Its motto: "May no soldier go unloved."

Medical Attention Award: Walter Fricke, St. Louis Park, Minn. Fricke, a helicopter pilot wounded in the Vietnam War, knows firsthand that family can be the key to a soldier's recovery. One year ago, Walt founded The Veterans Airlift Command, not only volunteering his own aircraft and fuel, but creating a national network of over 500 volunteer aircraft owners and pilots who have joined in the effort to reunite wounded service members with families. The group has already flown over 180,000 miles to help bring wounded troops back together with their loved ones.

USO Promotion and Success Award: Paulette Nelson, Savannah, GA. Before her son's best friend's father was deployed to Iraq, Paulette didn't even know what deployment meant. But after noticing the tearful goodbyes, Paulette decided she wanted to help make a difference. Now she operates the Savannah airport's USO station, and from Hunter Army Airfield she makes sure every soldier gets a warm welcome, and a warm send off, even lending her cell phone so they can make that one last phone call home.

Everyday Difference Award: Todd Schmidt, Burke, Va. While on patrol in Afghanistan, Maj. Schmidt came up with an idea to provide school supplies for local kids. Thanks to him, donors and volunteers have sent hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of textbooks, school supplies and secondhand clothes to Afghanistan, Iraq and Kosovo. Under Schmidt's leadership, Operation Dreamseed has even helped build a school outside Kandahar City by raising more than $80,000 for the cause.

Youth Leadership Award: Brittany and Robbie Bergquist, Norwell, Mass. Just 13 and 12 years old, these siblings heard about a soldier who had run up an $8,000 phone bill calling home. With two cousins deployed overseas, Brittany and Robbie know how important phone calls could be, so they committed themselves to helping soldiers call home. To date, they have raised nearly $1 million and donated over 450,000 phone cards, equaling 2.5 million minutes of talk time
After announcing the awards in mid-September, Microsoft and the USO received hundreds of nominations, narrowed down the list to finalists in each of the five categories, and facilitated a public online vote to choose the winners.
The awards will be presented on Veterans Day (observed), Nov. 12 at a ceremony in New York City's Rainbow Room.
"We knew we were on to something special when we first discussed with Microsoft how we could honor those who serve our troops," said Elaine Rogers, President, USO of Metropolitan Washington. "Now, seeing how these winners embody the principles of service and community should inspire each of us towards greater contribution."
Kolcun added, "All of our nominees, finalists, and many others out there who support our troops everyday should all be commended for their great work to support our services members and their families. We hope this handful of wonderful examples helps further everyone's efforts and inspires others to get involved."

More information:
Microsoft, in Partnership With the USO, Announces "Salute to Our Troops"
Microsoft and the USO Announce the Microsoft Above and Beyond Awards for Those Who Brighten Lives of Service Members and Their Families
The Congressional Medal of Honor Society and EPOP International Launch Above & Beyond
Above & Beyond, co-created by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and EPOP International is the first time all of the living Medal of Honor recipients have bonded together to create a national platform to promote "Service before Self." At the heart of the initiative is the Above & Beyond Citizen Honors, which recognize and honor those ordinary Americans who become extraordinary through their selflessness.
Microsoft and the USO are pleased that our award winners will have the opportunity to enter their stories and be considered for the Above & Beyond Citizen Awards. To learn more about Above & Beyond, please follow this link: http://www.aboveandbeyond365.com/.

Military Mom Thoughts

I am having those Military Mom thoughts lately. I know, "get a life lady!!" I'm trying, see the blog title....

I'm sure the thoughts are brought on by The Kid's graduation from SWCC at the end of the month. They are of course the Oh Shi* thoughts, and the crying jag thoughts, and the proud moment thoughts.

The Kid is now talking about where he will be stationed (not my first choice, but it has the best boats, and the job he wants), so then my thoughts are those deployment thoughts... See what I mean about the thoughts...

I was watching a video on SWCC training that The Kid sent me, and it stated that he will have traveled 3,200 nautical miles, 900 of them at night, shot 10,700 rounds of ammunition, ran 400 miles, swam 100 miles, and will have done 20,000 push-ups. I am exhausted just writing it. I asked him about it, and his comment was, "how F*** cool is that Mom and I got paid to do it!". I then said, hey your still talking to your Mom, watch the mouth..

I was also talking to him about the Holidays, and his Birthday is in December.. Before he would want the typical stuff, clothes, video games.. Nope not this year, he wants a gun. Can you say Visa gift card anyone!!! As I have said before life with him will never be the same..

Well here is wishing all you other Military Parents and Spouses HAPPY THOUGHTS!!

Also note some new favorite clicks, the very cute USO Girls, the Navy Dad Requiem, and another Military Dad, This War and Me

I Love this Commercial

Everytime this commercial comes on I have to laugh.

New Shoes Always Make Everything Better

As some of you may know I am a shoeaholic and I don't have a problem confessing it. Well I also love EBay, Craigslist etc... Well I met a women a while back that had on the coolest pair of Tennis Shoes, I asked her where she got them and she said New York. The shoe brand is from a Tattoo Artist "ED Hardy" that has put his tattoo's on shirts, shoe's, etc... I loved them til I saw the price. Ok, $90.00-$150 for shoes that I'm not going to run in, maybe wear a couple times a year, I think not. But hey when I want something I figure out a way. I went on EBay, and low and behold they had them and I was a bid away from having some very cool footwear. Well they just arrived and I LOVE THEM... I know a little funky, but they are me, it says "Love Kills Slowly"... I am so easily pleased...