It's Waiting!

Here's a little something chilling in the fridge :)

Wow! Have I been busy...

Not really much time to post the last 2 months. The wife and I are in the same class right now at Franklin (good ole FU!) and the work prior to going back to the US has us here late most every day. I'm sorry if that sounds like whining.

Anniversary

This is the second time Jackie has had to spend an anniversary alone while I am in the desert. Luckily, it will be the last time. It doesn't seem possible that it has been 16 years. But I have completely forgotten what life was like before I met her.

Miss ya, sweetie. This trip is getting closer to being done, once and for all.

So I have been waiting...

...for the latest iPod nano to come out, to see if it is worth upgrading the iPod mini that a family member currently uses. Sure enough, it's worth every penny, and I was almost ready to close the browser window..until I checked out the other iPods. Like a Florida voter, something shiny caught my eye, and I noticed that Apple no longer offers a 160GB iPod Classic. They offer only a 120 GB version now.

Drat. I wanted a 160GB when I got back from the desert. {SIGH} So now I'll have to settle for the 120GB version.

Isn't it strange how shopping for somebody else always turns into shopping for me?

Sunday morning

Got up early this AM (3:45) to chat with the family. Daisy made a surprise visit to to the webcam, and Payton almost fell asleep on Jackie's shoulder. They both enjoyed the latest video, and I think we are all kind of getting used to the routine now. Not that you ever REALLY get used to being 8,000 miles away.

The picture is one that was created by a very clever friend, using a photo from the previous mobilization in 2004. I love the creativity it takes to do this kind of work, and wish I shared it.

Not quite as good as "Reading Lolita in Tehran" in Tehran....

I have been reading "From Baghdad, With Love", which Jackie was VERY KIND to find a copy and then mail to me. I admit, I have a soft spot for animals, dogs in particular.
Then I find myself traveling throughout the region, and carting it along in my leg cargo pocket. I don't drag it out for a few days, then it hits me: I need to take a picture of me reading the book when I actually visit Baghdad later that day. All goes well, I get the picture right under the sign welcoming visitors (thank you to the anonymous Air Force person for indulging me). So I am happily in possession of my picture and book, and then on the flight home....I leave the disposable camera on the edge of my lap, we take a bunch of turns....it decides to end it's own life under the cargo pallet right behind us.

I sighed heavily.

Jackie, can you add this book to the list of our books on the right? Blogger isn't the most user friendly in that regard....

Anyway, here is the video of the dog from the book:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLIzyAM5qrQ

Jackie's Birthday is soon

I find it not quite as nice when the present isn't a surprise, but it certainly is nice when you get EXACTLY what you want and/or need.

She usually lets me know either what she wants, or she goes ahead and gets it. Which is fine by me, since I possess male DNA which makes me clueless to most subtle hints.

I believe I know what she wants, but I will probably ruin the surprise by asking her to make a few key decisions.

Got so excited...

that I forgot to say the rest of the things I have to say.

Happy Ramadan (fooled you! that's an oxymoron.)

I have been getting a steady flow of boxes from back home thanks to Jackie, and the Rock*Star that she sends has been fabulous at keeping me awake for my schoolwork, etc. I know that it is probably bad to rely on a crutch like caffeine, but if we didn't send 44 year old men to the desert, then we wouldn't have this problem.

Also, happy Labor Day!

Oh, I have also started watching the older episodes of Battlestar Galactica the new series that started in 2003. I underestimated this show. I hope to get the 3rd and 4th seasons on DVD when they come out (in addition to the newest seasons of Weeds and Rescue Me).

Well, it seemed like I had more stuff I needed to say when I started this post, but I was wrong.

later..

Here's a new widget

I found this while surfing iTunes.

Hopefully, it gives you an insight into me via my music, and ALSO that it maybe works right.

Backstage

This was the very best part of the recital!

Just an average day.

I was uploading video from yesterday's recital and came across this little gem of a video that Payton created one morning. There is a brief flash of skin, but otherwise harmless stuff!

Poor, poor Missy P!

So, we find today that it's true. If you cry wolf enough, no one listens! P was whining at me last night that her throat really hurt. This was after running around the yard, playing in the pool and flying down the slide on the swing set. I just didn't really listen to her. She felt a bit warm when I kissed her goodbye this morning but I wrote it off as nothing.

Well, right around noon I get "The Call". Angie called to tell me Payton had a fever of 102.7. Oh no! What a mean mommy I am! The I realized, no, I was just fine, she's always whining about something hurting so it's easy to ignore. Angie and Terry felt horrible as well. They both had shooed P away when she went to tell them about her sore throat and how bad she felt. Angie realized when she touched Payton, she was on fire!

So, off to the Dr's office we went. I was able to get in to the regular office on a same day visit. That poor child was just exhausted! She slept on the way there, fell asleep while waiting to be called in and fell back asleep while we waited for the Doctor to see us. Yup, she has strep. Poor kid. It's times like this I really feel sorry for true single parents. I know I'll have Jim home at some point to help out, if I did this indefinitely, I'd be a whinier baby than I already am! We had to go to CVS's drive through for the prescription b/c she was in and out of sleep. I'd left my card at home so I had to go back for that. It was just miserable all around trying to do this with a child that should have been home in bed, not running all over the place.

She's now zoned out on the couch trying to figure out how to not take her medicine.

New Bed for Payton

Ok, so not the bed itself, just the bedding! Payton told me that in order to sleep in her bed it had to be prettier, more comfortable, and warmer than mine. So, I broke down and bought her an Ariel comforter. I picked up new, soft and luscious sheets (do you know how hard it is to get a high thread count twin set?) A new bed skirt to set off the comforter and replaced her leaf with a net canopy. She loved it! Now we'll see if she stays in bed all night!

Missing Daddy

Payton did this with sidewalk chalk the other day. No, I didn't prompt her, yes, she misses her daddy!

Looking for video?

Well, while you sleep, I'm uploading video :)

Here's the long version of that one!

A slight pause

The rest of the family is enjoying Disney right now.

I got shot ( simulated) and died ( simulated) in a convoy.

It was okay, but kind of sweaty ( not simulated).

Daddy

New Soccer Season!

Well, we finally had our first soccer game of the season. Payton did amazingly well! I'll post more detail later, I just wanted to get something up tonight!

Things that make me shake my head.

Father at daycare admiring Daisy, "Wow, what a beautiful Golden Retriever."

Me, "Oh, she's not a purebred, she's a Golden/Labrador mix. Just look at how big she is! That's all Lab there."

Clueless Dad, "Yeah. Ya know? I don't think I've ever seen a Golden Retriever as big as she is, she's really big for a Retriever."

Me, "Uh, yeah, it's the Lab in her, she's not a purebred."

CD, "Just amazing a Retriever can get so big!"

Testing the iPod

Well, I downloaded P's first full length movie (thanks daddy!) onto her iPod. She's sitting on the floor by her computer totally transfixed by "Enchanted" on the little screen. Methinks this will be a total godsend when we travel next week! No more toting around a bunch of DVDs and a DVD player. Woohoo1

Oh No! Don't!

Those were the words out of my mouth when I saw this:



Payton had been lining up the wine bottles. She was happy and I was able to browse the 'net. I turned around just as she sent a bottle rolling towards the line of standing bottles!

I feel pretty, oh so pretty!

I found a dress to wear to the Pirates and Princess night at Disney1 I can't wait to show Miss P. We went out looking at some of the closer thrift stores last night for something suitable to wear. Little Miss P really enjoyed poking through all of the racks. I hope she's not too disappointed that I found this one without her. All this dress needs is to have the hem lifted and a bit of pressing and we're good to go! Now to find sparkly shoes and a tiara!

Earning Her Keep

Ellie is a pain in the butt dog on a good day. Sometimes it's hard to remember that she really is a sweet little thing. Yesterday I lay down for a minute on the couch for a little snooze. When I opened my eyes I saw the cutest sight! Ellie was stretched out on Daisy's bed by the TV. Payton was fast asleep on her stomach. It was just too sweet! Of course, we have two cameras and a flip video in the house. Did I have either at hand to catch the sight? Why no of course! I knew the minute I moved, Ellie would jump up and that's just what she did. So, no pics but a great memory!

Well, isn't that a happy coincidence?

Ellie the dog is there, and I am not.

Yippee!

Just kidding. Missing the whole family terribly. The video of the Pengin is wonderful; I am in awe of her ability to retain knowledge ( mom's DNA, for sure).

Mobilizing is one enormous project, with lots of time to get bored ( and no ways to relieve it) followed by stressful evenings ( with no time to communicate).



It is going to be a long year.

I'm told Spring is Recital Season

Payton's first really big dance recital is coming up in late May. She's doing an extra routing (why? Because she just HAD to do it!). I took this video so she can practice at home. We'll be missing quite a few practices due to vacation and starting late.

Do you miss them?

Just a little video of the girls playing. Do you miss them so?

Office Max Ink Refills SUCK!

After hearing so much about how wonderful ink refills are (they save money! They're just as good as new! It's environmentally friendly!) I sent Jim off to give it a whirl at the local Office Max. Well, that's definitely NOT something I'll ever do again. From the get go these have royally sucked. The first thing I tried to print off of them was a simple black and white screen shot for school work. It wasn't gray scale at all. It actually used color in some places. Weird. Then I did some test sheets and they were horrid! It looked like there was no red at all in the cartridge. I finally grew so fed up with the pure lack of quality, I took the time out of my day to bring them back.

MISTAKE! No, I did not have my receipt. Jim had it done and he's busy at the polls so if there still is a receipt, it's with him. I know this makes it harder but I also know there are many ways they can look up this transaction using the credit card that was used as well as the transaction date/time. The cartridge was clearly marked by Office Max indicating it was from them I obtained the refill. I didn't want my money back, I just wanted ink that worked! I was offered NOTHING. They didn't even attempt to look up the transaction. Office Max just said if I had the boxes (um, you mean the boxes that are normally thrown out as garbage?) they might be able to do something. I asked again if they could just look up the transaction with the credit card used. The Office Max clerk was vague and unhelpful. It was so surreal. It was like they just wanted me to quietly walk away with my crappily refilled cartridges.

I'm still seething over the amazing blankness of the people there. The manager was in the back and wouldn't come out so every question I had took forever to answer because the Office Max clerk had to go and ask. Very professional of them. They did run a test on them but didn't indicate what the problem was or even if there was a problem.

So, end of story. What did I learn? Office Max Ink Refills SUCK!

Update

Well, looks like this blogging thing is just not catching on for me! Ah well, I now have a reason to update daily. Jim is going back to Kuwait in March. We're not thrilled about it but it is what it is. We'll adjust like last time and get through it.

One great thing to come out of it this time is that I'm going to finally hire a cleaning service. Woohoo! No more scrubbing toilets on Saturday! It's the little things that make me happy.

I'll see what I can do to update further later today or this week. I just wanted to throw this up before I forgot.