Miss Glass Is Half Full

I Blame It On Facebook

2009-12-14T09:03:00.002-06:00

I think one of the reasons I'm slow to blog lately is that I can pop in on facebook, see what's going on and then get back to whatever I was doing. It's quick. BUT it also just skims the surface. With blogging, I can expound, complain, share stories, etc.

Speaking of complaining... I'm trying not to this holiday season. There is so much for our family to be grateful for and enjoy. Although the holidays are different this year than in years past, Christmas will still come and I'd like to think we're recognizing and taking advantage of the blessings this holy season has to offer.

So in that spirit, I invite you to jog over here and read about building and sustaining hope. Good stuff.

Merry Monday!

The Big Snow of 2009

2009-12-05T07:58:00.003-06:00

It started snowing here late last night. I use the word "snowing" lightly as it was barely enough to cover the ground. BUT, it was enough to generate a LOT of excitement with the children!

Our poor little magnolia tree...

Emily's first words this morning were "Oh. my. gosh. Snooooooooooow!"

Keith...not even a little snow can slow him down.

Where The Wild Things Are

2009-11-30T07:13:00.000-06:00

At the USO in Kuwait, Sid had a chance to make a video of him reading to the children. He chose his favorite book as a child, Where The Wild Things Are. He was taped sitting in a chair in a library like setting while reading the book (and wearing his side-arm which kept getting stuck on the armrest of the chair). The DVD of him reading was put in a pocket inside the book and then mailed to the children. It's really neat!

The above picture is of Emily reading along in the book while listening to Sid. Keith kept saying "That's Daddy!" and pointing at the TV, illustrated in the picture below.

I took Emily to see Where The Wild Things Are at the movie theater. We really enjoyed it and I cried at the end when Max left the island. Emily just rolled her eyes at me and said "Daddy said you were emotional." She is her father made over.

Pirate Fun

2009-11-29T19:51:00.005-06:00

Pirate snuggled up with Keith on the sofa. He's a good snuggler!

Pirate asleep in my bed which, unfortunately, is his favorite sleeping spot...along with everybody else in this house!

Favorite sleeping spot? Sprawled across my bed.

I call this picture "Let Go!" Jasper and Pirate are getting along quite nicely. They like to roll around on the floor and play which is both fun and nerve-wracking to watch. Sometimes it's a little like watching Lenny play with a kitten. (nod to Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men)

This is the best. picture. ever. I call it "there's a Pirate on my shoulder."

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-26T06:40:00.000-06:00

13th Anniversary

2009-11-25T18:42:00.003-06:00

Sid and I celebrated 13 years of marriage on Monday, November 23rd. I didn't post because it would have been a bunch of whiney-ness about how I'm here and he's in a war zone.

BUT...

I did want to show you the flowers that were waiting for me when I got home from work on Monday night. They were perfect.

And here's a recent photo of the husband in full gear. Handsome.

The Muppets Cover Queen, and It Rules

2009-11-25T18:30:00.000-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving, Friends! May you enjoy good food with good friends and family. :)

The Muppets Cover Queen, and It Rules

Send A Card, Please

2009-11-19T11:22:00.001-06:00

Hey Friends! This takes just a minute to do and will mean a lot to the soldier who receives it. Thanks! :-)

Here's A Cartoon So You Don't Have To Listen To Me Whine About How I Got NO SLEEP Last Night Because Of Pirate Puppy

2009-11-17T10:26:00.002-06:00

Because I've Lost My Mind

2009-11-17T07:33:00.000-06:00

Meet the newest member of our family...this is Pirate, Keith's puppy. He's an Australian shepherd and Australian cattle dog mix. Keith LOVES him.

Here are all the animals! From left to right...Miti, Emily, Pirate, Keith, Jasper.

Four

2009-11-16T06:17:00.001-06:00

My sweet boy is 4-years old today. Happy Birthday, Keith!

Patio

2009-11-15T21:33:00.003-06:00

This is the beginning of the patio project. The existing patio was dug up and enough dirt taken out to lower the new patio six inches.

Notice the plywood over the patio doors? Those doors are rotten because the patio sloped towards the doors and whenever it rained, the rainwater ran into the doors and into the house. New doors have been ordered and should be here in about 10 days.

Here is Keith supervising the tractor digging out the dirt.

Our magnolia tree. It lives among other plants in the new flower beds - plants that I have no clue how to take care of. For crying out loud, I killed my aloe vera plant!

The finished product.

Alive and Well

2009-11-13T11:54:00.005-06:00

Well...it has been about 2 months since I was here. I've missed you!

Lots has happened during that time so I'll just give you two of the biggest today. We've got plenty of time to catch up later.

First, Sid left for Operation Iraqi Freedom at the end of September. The above picture is of us about 3 days before he shipped out. He was able to take the children to school that morning before reporting to Camp Shelby. Sid spent 2 weeks in Kuwait getting acclimated to the climate and getting new protective gear. He's been in Iraq for about 4 weeks. He says it's really pretty there at night but looks like a cesspool in the daylight. Temps are in the 70's. Following is an excerpt from one of his most recent letters:

"The Mission - my Military Police platoon is responsible for mentoring the Iraqi Police on the East side of the Tigris River in Mosul. Mosul has a population of 1.8 million. The Tigris River runs down the middle (mostly) and is the natural reference point. Not really an amazing river by our standards. More like the Okatoma with less trees. Anyway, I have 3 squads and they each are assigned to a District Headquarters. We travel to each DHQ about twice a week to train the police officers and assist in the maturing of law enforcement. I am out about 4-6 times a week as I travel with each squad on most missions. There are plenty of US forces here in Mosul, but the only ones going out are the MPs because of our mission."

One of the reasons I've not been blogging is because I've been trying to get us in a routine at home. Weekdays are easy...we have places to be and things to do. Get up, go to work/school, come home, dinner, bath, homework/movie/reading, bed and repeat. Weekends are hard. That just seems to be the time when we miss him the most. But the world hasn't come crashing down around us which makes me think we can do this!

Second, I celebrated my 40th birthday in October! To illustrate what it has been like around our house, here are some Emily quotes for you.

A few Sundays ago while thanking k-4th graders for making cards for Sid's platoon during Sunday school, I made a joke about Sid being an old man in the army to which Emily replied "Yeah, Daddy is 40. Wait...you're 40 so you're an old woman!"

**********************************************

Emily: "Mommy, when were you born?"

Me: "On October 15th, 1969."

Emily:"Wow, I didn't know they had months back then!"

**********************************************

Me: "Hey Em, do I look older?"

Emily: "Yeah and you look shorter, too."

So I guess you can see that things are pretty much the same since we last connected. I'm looking forward to catching up!

Exhibits A & B

2009-09-04T15:20:00.003-05:00

This is two nights in a row...everybody starts out in their own bed, gets up at some point during the night to go potty and then gets in bed with me.

This is why there is no room in my bed for ME!

***************************************************************

Last night during Praise Team practice, I got my feet tangled up in one of the mic stands and went tumbling down the altar steps. It was a pretty hard fall. I'm stiff today but otherwise just fine with the exception of some fantastic bruises forming down the left side of my body. This morning, I was telling Emily about the fall and pointing out a few of the bruises.

Emily: "What about your face?"

Me: "My face is fine."

Emily: "Oh, it looks puffy."

I'm waving my pride flag in surrender.

Sigh

2009-09-02T11:10:00.005-05:00

My most favorite piece of flair at this point and time.

We're just rolling through the days around here lately. A routine of sorts has been established...get up, go to school/work, come home, dinner, baths, bed and rinse and repeat. I'm trying really hard to keep it consistent. So much so, that we haven't been going to Wednesday night church. There's not anything specifically for the children this fall plus by that time of day, I'm not real interested in being around people.

Sigh.

I've started singing with the Praise Team during 8:30a.m. worship on Sunday mornings. It's been good for me. My initial reason for doing it was because I felt like I was going to need something to get up for on Sunday mornings. But really? It feels so good to sing again. Rehearsals are on Thursday nights at the church - it's a hard core, sometimes exhausting, span of two hours. We end, though, with a time of devotion and prayer. And even though I've only been singing with the team for 3-weeks, I've found myself looking forward to rehearsals and especially the devotion time. Because I'm the only one who needs child care, one of the nursery staff comes to my house instead of me having to drag the monkeys out and back late. She feeds and bathes them, helps Emily with her homework, and gets them in the bed...all before I get home. It's a pretty sweet arrangement, if I do say so myself.

Monday was a hard day all around. It would have been Lynell's 65th birthday. Add to that the call I got about an hour after I'd gotten to the office telling me that one of our very good friends had died from a massive heart attack during the night. Sid played rugby with Nick for years and he was also in our wedding. Nick was 51. So I had to track down Sid and tell him - over the phone - about Nick's death. What I really wanted was just to see Sid and make sure he was okay. But there is no laying eyes on Sid while he's in the thick of mobilization training and lately, days have passed without being able to talk to him on the phone. I suppose I need to get used to that. And then the straw that broke me was calling to make a hair appointment only to find my hairdresser no longer worked at that place. I burst into tears right there on the phone. Luckily, she had just moved to another local salon.

Sigh.

Your reward for slogging through this depressing post? An Emily conversation!

When I took Emily for her eye exam last week, one of the tests she had to do involved wearing a pair of sunglasses and identifying any objects on the page that looked like they were jumping out at her. As she took them off and handed them over to the nurse, this conversation followed:

Emily: "This is just like being drunk!"

Nurse: "And how would you know that?"

Emily: "Because my mommy does drugs and alcohol."

At which point I jumped in and said: "Mommy works in drug and alcohol prevention. Emily has worn the fatal vision goggles, which simulate being drunk."

Emily: "Yeah...it was fun. Mommy threw a ball at me and I couldn't catch it because I was drunk."

Me, capitalizing on a teachable moment: "That's right because being drunk is no fun Just think what all you could miss if you can't even catch a simple ball."

I was rewarded with an eye roll and an "I knoooowww."

Glasses and Donuts

2009-08-28T21:25:00.003-05:00

Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later...especially when you have a mother with -10.00 vision in both eyes. Emily got her first pair of glasses this afternoon. She's VERY excited to have them. She picked out the frames all by herself, too.

We took donuts to Sid's platoon tonight and stayed for a little bit to visit. Notice the gun holster...the soldiers are carrying weapons 24/7 now in preparation for Iraq. Honestly? (stop reading here if you're afraid of TMI) I think the thigh holster is super sexy.

Friday Five: I Like Myself

2009-08-28T10:53:00.002-05:00

SingingOwl at RevGals writes:

"Lately I seem to be encountering many people who have a very difficult time finding anything good to say about themselves. They are able to extend grace and forgiveness's to others but find it difficult to extend that same grace to themselves.

With that in mind, let's share some healthy affirmation today! Tell us five things you like about yourself!"

Hmmmmm...not easy!

(1) I am able to find the humor in most situations.

(2) I keep a relatively clean house.

(3) My smile.

(4) Although not spontaneous, I am flexible when changes occur. (Probably need to qualify this with a "more often than not")

(5) I am an encourager and nurturer.

This Makes Me Laugh

2009-08-26T15:43:00.002-05:00

Trader Tuesday - Improv

2009-08-25T10:04:00.003-05:00

I played around with stuffed peppers last night because I had some meat and veggies that needed to be cooked. Here's my new creation - taco stuffed peppers.

I cored and seeded some green bell peppers and put them in a pot of salted boiling water for about 30-minutes. (I like my peppers soft when they're stuffed like this.) While the peppers cooked, I browned ground beef. I added taco seasoning, a can of black beans, some leftover rice, and salsa to the beef. I covered the bottom of the casserole dish with tomato sauce and added a little tomato sauce to the meat mixture. Drained the peppers and then stuffed them with the meat. Cooked at 350 degrees for about 20-minutes.

Playing around in the kitchen is good therapy for me. What I cook doesn't always turn out tasty but this did!

Monday Quiz

2009-08-17T16:05:00.001-05:00

Friday Funny

2009-08-14T10:27:00.002-05:00

You may have read this already but I think it's funny...so read it again, please! Have a great weekend, friends! :)

*****************************************************************

Dear Tech Support:

Last year I upgraded from Girlfriend 7.0 to Wife 1.0. I soon noticed that the new program began unexpected child processing that took up a lot of space and resources. In addition, Wife 1.0 installed itself into all other programs and now monitors all other system activity. Applications such as Poker Night 10.3, Football 5.0, HuntingAndFishing 7.5, and Racing 3.6. I can't seem to keep Wife 1.0 in the background while attempting to run my favorite applications. I'm thinking about going back to Girlfriend 7.0, but the uninstall doesn't work on Wife 1.0. Please help!

Thanks ...Troubled User

-------
REPLY:

Dear Troubled User:

This is a very common problem. Many people upgrade from Girlfriend 7.0 to Wife 1.0, thinking that it is just a Utilities and Entertainment program. Wife 1.0 is an OPERATING SYSTEM and is designed by its Creator to run EVERYTHING!!! It is also impossible to delete Wife 1.0 and to return to Girlfriend 7.0. It is impossible to uninstall, or purge the program files from the system once installed. You cannot go back to Girlfriend 7.0 because Wife 1.0 is designed not to allow this. Look in your Wife 1.0 manual under Warnings-Alimony-Child Support. I recommend that you keep Wife 1.0 installed and work on improving the configuration. I suggest installing the background application YesDear 99.0 to alleviate software augmentation.

The best course of action is to enter the command C:\APOLOGIZE.BAT because ultimately you will have to do this before the system will return to normal anyway.

Wife 1.0 is a great program, but it tends to be very high maintenance. Wife 1.0 comes with several support programs, such as CleanAndSweep 3.0, CookIt 1.5 and DoBills 4.2. However, be very careful how you use these programs. Improper use will cause the system to launch the program NagNag 9.5. Once this happens, the only way to improve the performance of Wife 1.0 is to purchase additional software. I recommend Flowers 2.1 and Diamonds 5.0, but beware because sometimes these applications can be expensive.

WARNING!!! DO NOT, under any circumstances, install SecretaryWithShortSkirt 3.3. This application is not supported by Wife 1.0 and will cause irreversible damage to the operating system.

WARNING!!! Attempting to install NewGirlFriend 8.8 along with Wife 1.0 will crash the system.

(see Wife 1.0 manual, Apologize, High Maintenance & Secretary with Short Skirt)

The Missing Piece

2009-08-12T13:48:00.004-05:00

So here's the thing...I feel like something is missing. What that something is? I have no clue. I can't articulate it or put my finger on it. I just know it's something.

Last week, I jokingly said to a friend that this was going to be the year of me. He looked at me and said "Why not? Why can't it be the 'year of me'?"

So I'm making a list of things I both need and want to do this next year. With Sid gone and the children settling into the school-year routine, I have the opportunity for some exploration. I've just started singing with the Praise Team at church. It feels right and good. I think that's a little something that's been missing. This week I started going back to the gym. It, too, feels right and good. I think that's a little something that's been missing.

Funny story...I was walking on the treadmill at the gym yesterday. I was keeping a pretty brisk pace, too, for someone who's just jumping back in to the exercise ring. I got a text message from a friend and was texting back when I lost my foot rhythm and went stumbling off the back end of the treadmill. I imagine it was like watching an episode of "I Love Lucy"!

Anyway, I am interested to see what this year will bring. I want it to be more than "the year Sid was in Iraq." I'm going to be 40 on my next birthday. I want to look back and say "Yeah...the year I turned 40 was the. best. year."

And on Day 6 of Deployment...The Note

2009-08-10T08:28:00.003-05:00

With Sid on active duty, I'm having to be both good cop and bad cop with the children. It's not an easy balance for me. By the time last night rolled around, I was exhausted from correcting and cajoling and moderating. Sid reminded me last night when I talked to him that usually he's the heavy around the house. This having to do and be everything? Well, it sucks.

Anyway, Saturday was Day 6 of Deployment. It was also the day that Emily decided to run away.

Emily spent Saturday afternoon with a friend. They had a great time - swimming, skating, and pizza. When the friend's mom brought Emily home around 8:00p.m., Emily had already decided the friend needed to spend the night. I said "not tonight" and listed my reasons - it was late, tomorrow was a church day, she needed a bath, she'd been gone all day, we'd do it another night when I was better prepared for an extra child in the house, etc. Emily, of course, was angry with me. I sent her inside to get in the tub and chatted with the friend's mom for a few minutes.

Emily showered and I finished folding a load of clothes. A little while later, I grabbed a stack of clean clothes to put away and headed down the hallway. Emily was in her room packing her clothes in a backpack.

Me: "What are you doing?"

Emily: "I left you a note that explains everything."

Exhibit A (pictured above) - the note "I'm goinog" which was on my dresser

Me: "Where are you going?"

Emily: "To a place where the Mom is nice."

Me: "Oh. Well, it's late. Why don't you wait until tomorrow after church? You might change your mind."

Emily: "I won't change my mind. You can just drop me off at the orphanage after church."

She never raised her voice. She just calmly kept taking her clothes off the hangers, folding them, and putting them in her backpack. It was unnerving.

I shut myself up in the office and called Sid. By the time he answered the phone, I was sobbing. After he calmed me down, he asked to speak with Emily. I'm not sure what he said but she was all "yes, sir" and "no, sir" while on the phone with him. While she was talking to Sid, I was unpacking her backpack and putting her clothes back on the hangers. She handed the phone back to me, laid down in her bed and pulled the covers up over her head.

Sunday morning? Emily got up, got dressed, we went to church. She hasn't said another word about running away.

Friday Five: Wind In My Sails

2009-08-07T13:35:00.003-05:00

Sally at RevGals writes:

I am taking a break from packing to move this week and following my family up and down the beautiful North Norfolk Coast as they take part in a dinghy racing competition. Yesterday as a rare treat Tim and I took out a friends Albacore dinghy. With the children soon all leaving home we are considering buying one to replace our smaller Enterprise racing dinghy Wild Goose.

[The pictures wouldn't transfer over but you can go here to see the dinghys!] The first picture is of Wildgoose, the second of an Albacore, at first glance there might not seem much difference apart from the sail colours, but there is much more room for my long legs in the Albacore!

So why all of this boaty information? Well because sailing is a family passion, we love the water and the wind, and take delight in the fresh air and quiet, but also in the competition, striving to do our best!

How about you?

1. Is there a sport/ hobby that is more of a passion than a past-time for you?

No sport is really a passion for me although I enjoy a good game of rugby, especially if the husband is playing! What I'm really passionate about is cooking. I love everything about it -- chopping, mixing, seasoning, experimenting with combinations/flavors, etc. I even enjoy the dish washing!

2. Outdoors or indoors?

INDOORS. I just flat out don't like to sweat. It's been hard to be lady-like around here in the 100 degree temps! Plus, I can cook in my pajamas.

3. Where do you find peace and quiet?

I can usually find some peace and quiet in the car in between shuttling kids to school and work and home. I've gotten to where I hardly ever turn on the radio. If I can stay awake long enough after the children go to bed at night, peace and quiet reigns!

4. A competitive spirit; good or bad, discuss...

I'm going to take the wishy-washy way out of this one...a competitive spirit is both good and bad depending on the situation.

5. Is there a song a picture or a poem that sums up your passion ?

Not really...but I do love the Swedish Chef from The Muppets!

First Day of 2nd Grade

2009-08-06T16:18:00.002-05:00

Keith asleep on the way home yesterday from the 114th deployment ceremony. It was right after we stopped for lunch...hence the Dorito face and hands.

First day of 2nd grade! Emily's backpack is green camoflauge - Sid had her name put on it in pink. Her lunchbox is pink camo. That's about as far as it goes with variety...yay! for school dress code.

This is the picture that was in the local paper today, taken during the ceremony yesterday.

Send-Off Ceremony

2009-08-05T18:47:00.002-05:00

Pictures from the send-off ceremony this morning for the 114th Military Police Company.

Trader Tuesday - Favorite Oatmeal

2009-08-04T02:32:00.000-05:00

The first and last vacation before children that Sid and I took was to San Francisco. Every morning for breakfast, we walked to a deli a few blocks from the hotel for the most fabulous oatmeal:

Regular oatmeal
strawberries
blueberries
bananas
brown sugar
almond slivers (optional)

Oatmeal goes in the bowl first. Put a tablespoon (more or less) of brown sugar in the middle. Surround with fruit. Eat!

This was Sid's request for last breakfast at home before mobilization. We had it both Saturday and Sunday. He reported at 7:00a.m. on Monday morning.

I appear to be a lone wolf

2009-08-02T14:42:00.004-05:00

Okay...am I the ONLY one who thinks the President's "Beer Summit" was a bad idea? I am not against beer. I am against the President of the United States setting an example for the children of this nation that you can have a friendly sit-down and overcome conflict by sharing a cold one. It annoys me...as a mother and as a prevention specialist.

Last year I ranted about school supplies. This year? Not so much. I was in a meeting a few weeks ago with the Deputy School Superintendent and he said the school supply lists for this year reflect the district's concern for the tight economy. I wholeheartedly agree. There was not a lot of superfluous stuff on the list...just what I consider necessities and most of it was for Emily, not supplies to share.

Vacation! (read with sing-songy voice)

2009-07-28T19:44:00.001-05:00

We're on vacation this week. This picture is from the World of Coca Cola. This is the week in- between Annual Training and Deployment...I'll take Sid to the armory next Monday morning and leave him there. The children and I will go back to the armory on Wednesday for the sending out ceremony. Contact will be sporadic until he actually gets on the plane, which will probably be mid-September.

I'm trying not to watch too much of the news but know that there have been several recent bombings in the area where Sid is to go. Nobody is more prepared to go to Iraq than Sid and I'm trusting that he'll be safe. If I can't do that, I'll go crazy while he's gone.

Anyway, we're having fun on vacation! I'll tell you all about it when we get home. :-)

Trader Tuesday - Muffins

2009-07-28T01:00:00.001-05:00

PB&J Surprise Muffins
	1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
	1/3 cup sugar
	2-1/2 tsp. baking powder
	1/2 tsp. salt
	1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
	1 large egg
	3/4 cup milk
	1/3 cup butter, melted
	1/2 cup strawberry, raspberry, or grape jelly

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line a 12 muffin tin with muffin papers. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. In another bowl, mix the peanut butter with the egg. Add the milk, a little at a time, then mix in the butter. Pour the wet batter into the bowl with the dry ingredients and stir gently to combine. The batter will be stiff!

2. Put a heaping tablespoon of batter in the bottom of each muffin cup. Use a finger to make an indentation in the center and put a teaspoon of jelly in the hole. Cover with another heaping tablespoon of batter or enough to fill each cup about 2/3 full. Spread the batter gently until no jelly is visible. Bake for 20 minutes, then turn the muffins onto a wire rack to cool for at least 10 minutes.

Be careful: the jelly centers can get hot. Makes 12 muffins.

**************************

As soon as we walk in the door at the end of the day, the children are Ready. To. Eat. Right. Now. These muffins have saved all of us from mindless snacking before dinner on several occasions!

And those who know me in real life also know that I would eat peanut butter spread over cardboard because I love it so much. :)

School Supplies

2009-07-23T09:28:00.004-05:00

Last night our church hosted a Mission Fest. It was an opportunity for the mission teams that have gone out to various places, both in and out of country, to share with the congregation how they have been the hands and feet of Jesus. There were lots of funny stories...you know fun things happen when a group of people live and work together for a week or longer. The team members told us about challenges (no electricity, transportation snafus, communication barriers) as well as gifts (the interaction with children, a double rainbow after a huge storm). It was one of the most meaningful times I've had in church for a while.

The pictures above? Well, our congregation has a faith-based partnership with a neighborhood school. People were invited to bring school supplies in return for a free meal before the program. The pictures really don't do it justice...people had to walk around the piles of paper, pencils, crayons, scissors, rulers, etc. just to get into the Sanctuary.

This is one of the projects that is "mine" -- I work with this school through my office as well as the church. My heart is with these students and teachers. I was truly overwhelmed last night with the generosity of our congregation. And even this morning, as I look at those pictures and remember last night, it makes my eyes sweaty.

Written by a kid in Arizona

2009-07-22T06:46:00.000-05:00

I got this in a email from a co-worker. According to the email, it was written by a kid in Arizona.

The New Pledge of Allegiance and Prayer

Now I sit me down in school
Where praying is against the rule
For this great nation under God
Finds mention of Him very odd.

If Scripture now the class recites,
It violates the Bill of Rights.

And anytime my head I bow
Becomes a Federal matter now.

Our hair can be purple, orange or green,
That's no offense; it's a freedom scene.

The law is specific, the law is precise.
Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.

For praying in a public hall.
Might offend someone with no faith at all.

In silence alone we must meditate,
God's name is prohibited by the state.

We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,
And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks.

They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.
To quote the Good Book makes me liable.

We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,
And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King.

It's "inappropriate" to teach right from wrong,
We're taught that such "judgments" do not belong.

We can get our condoms and birth controls,
Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles.

But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,
No word of God must reach this crowd.

It's scary here I must confess,
When chaos reigns the school's a mess.

So, Lord, this silent plea I make:
Should I be shot; My soul please take!

Amen

Trader Tuesday - What We're Eating These Days

2009-07-21T13:04:00.003-05:00

This pad thai was an impulse buy from the Target last night. Had it for lunch today and it was pretty good...not as spicy as I would have liked, though. Since I'm not cooking much with Sid gone, taking left-overs to work for lunch is not always an option. I'm really making an effort to not eat out so much while Sid is away. Perhaps the extra money I save on eating out can go into the babysitter fund!

Speaking of Sid, here is a picture of yesterday's lunch. This is a MRE or "meal ready to eat" -- everything is in a can...canned tuna, pringles, cookies, bread, peaches, juice, lasagna. Because his unit is on the firing range this week, they're not coming in for chow. They're having to eat at the range and out of cans. I think Sid actually may miss my cooking...even when we have to defer to sandwiches because something didn't turn out edible!

Emily's new hair

2009-07-20T11:02:00.003-05:00

Behold Emily's new haircut.

While I was out of town last week, she decided she wanted bangs. Really, it wasn't that bad. I mean, you wouldn't look at her and think "My God, that child cut her hair!" I was just so stunned that she did it.

Anyway, here she is with her new bangs and some fancy glitter!

Friday Five: Exercise

2009-07-10T14:27:00.004-05:00

The RevGals Friday Five is hosted by Sophia this week:

I just got back from an 8 mile bike ride down the beach boardwalk near our home, and was struck with the number of people out enjoying physical activity. Runners, other cyclists, surfers, swimmers, dogwalkers, little kids on scooters....

It's easy to lose track of my physical self-care in the midst of flurried preparation for a final on-campus interview Monday for a college teaching position in the Midwest (prayers welcome!) and the family move that would accompany it. But each day that I do make time to walk or ride my bike it is such a stress reliever that it is well worth the time invested!

So how about you and your beautiful temple of the Holy Spirit?

1. What was your favorite sport or outdoor activity as a child?

When I was a child, our neighbors had a cement porch that stretch from one end of the house to the other. It was perfect for roller-skating. They also had a huge magnolia tree in the front yard that had the best place for sitting and reading a book. I spent a lot of time at my neighbor's house!

2. P.E. class--heaven or the other place?

I wasn't a big fan of P.E. One year in junior high, P.E. was my first class. I had to come to school dressed in school clothes, change into P.E. gear, and then change back into school clothes and be hot and sweaty and stinky for the rest of the day. Again, not a fan of P.E.

3. What is your favorite form of exercise now?

My most favorite is a circuit - 5-minutes of cardio, 2-minutes of weights, 5-minutes of cardio...

4. Do you like to work out solo or with a partner?

I prefer solo yet don't mind having a partner. I don't like to talk when I exercise. Just one of my quirks, I guess.

5. Inside or outside?

INSIDE. The heat outside...good heavens, the heat!

Bonus: Post a poem, scripture passage, quotation, song, etc. regarding the body or exercise.

OK - I may have posted this a while back but it is still so hilarious to me.

************************************************
Dear Diary,

For my birthday this year, my Husband (the dear) purchased a week of personal training at the local health club for me. Although I am still in great shape since being a high school football cheerleader 43 years ago, I decided it would be a good idea to go ahead and give it a try.

I called the club and made my reservations with a personal trainer named Christo, who identified himself as a 26-year-old aerobics instructor and model for athletic clothing and swim wear.

My husband seemed pleased with my enthusiasm to get started! The club encouraged me to keep a diary to chart my progress.

________________________________

MONDAY:
Started my day at 6:00 a.m. Tough to get out of bed, but found it was well worth it when I arrived at the health club to find Christo waiting for me. He is something of a Greek god - with blond hair, dancing eyes and a dazzling white smile. Woo Hoo!!

Christo gave me a tour and showed me the machines. I enjoyed watching the skillful way in which he conducted his aerobics class after my workout today.. Very inspiring!

Christo was encouraging as I did my sit-ups, 20 although my gut was already aching from holding it in the whole time he was around. This is going to be a FANTASTIC week-!!

________________________________
TUESDAY:
I drank a whole pot of coffee, but I finally made it out the door. Christo made me lie on my back and push a heavy iron bar into the air then he put weights on it! My legs were a little wobbly on the treadmill, but I made the full mile. His rewarding smile made it all worthwhile. I feel
GREAT-!! It's a whole new life for me.

_______________________________
WEDNESDAY:
The only way I can brush my teeth is by laying the toothbrush on the counter and moving my mouth back and forth over it. I believe I have a hernia in both pectorals. Driving was OK as long as I didn't try to steer or stop. I parked on top of a GEO in the club parking lot.

Christo was impatient with me, insisting that my screams bothered other club members. His voice is a little too perky for that early in the morning and when he scolds, he gets this nasally whine that is VERY annoying.

My chest hurt when I got on the treadmill, so Christo put me on the stair monster. Why the hell would anyone invent a machine to simulate an activity rendered obsolete by elevators? Christo told me it would help me get in shape and enjoy life. He said some other shit too.

_______________________________
THURSDAY:
Asshole was waiting for me with his vampire-like teeth exposed as his thin, cruel lips were pulled back in a full snarl. I couldn't help being a half an hour late - it took me that long to tie my shoes.

He took me to work out with dumbbells. When he was not looking, I ran and hid in the restroom. He sent some skinny bitch to find me.

Then, as punishment, he put me on the rowing machine -- which I sank.
_________________________________
FRIDAY:
I hate that bastard Christo more than any human being has ever hated any other human being in the history of the world. Stupid, skinny, anemic, anorexic little aerobic instructor. If there was a part of my body I could move without unbearable pain, I would beat him with it.

Christo wanted me to work on my triceps. I don't have any triceps! And if you don't want dents in the floor, don't hand me the damn barbells or anything that weighs more than a sandwich.

The treadmill flung me off and I landed on a health and nutrition teacher. Why couldn't it have been someone softer, like the drama coach or the choir director?

________________________________
SATURDAY:
Satan left a message on my answering machine in his grating, shrilly voice wondering why I did not show up today. Just hearing his voice made me want to smash the machine with my planner; however, I lacked the strength to even use the TV remote and ended up catching eleven straight hours of the Weather Channel.

________________________________
SUNDAY:
I'm having the Church van pick me up for services today so I can go and thank GOD that this week is over. I will also pray that next year my husband will choose a gift for me that is fun -- like a root canal or a hysterectomy.. I still say if God had wanted me to bend over, he would have
sprinkled the floor with diamonds!!!

Emily is 7-years old today...

2009-06-26T00:00:00.000-05:00

Epic Fail

2009-06-10T03:12:00.000-05:00

My friend Tina sent this to me last week. It's from the local Wal-mart. Hilarious.

Trader Tuesday - BX edition

2009-06-09T06:41:00.002-05:00

I'm training at the Regional Counterdrug Training Academy this week. The RCTA is located on the Meridian Naval Air Station. The food here in the galley is nasty...mysterious and icky looking.

The rooms, however, are fairly nice...they have a microwave and fridge. So I went to the BX (Base Exchange - I can get in because I have a military dependent id) and bought a few staples for the week...oatmeal, peanut butter, bread, granola...things I can eat in my room.

Speaking of my room? I have it all to myself. Bed, bathroom, ac thermostat, tv remote. I almost feel guilty.

No Service For You

2009-06-08T06:44:00.002-05:00

I may have mentioned that Sid got called up for active duty soldier work at Camp Shelby about 3-months ahead of schedule. Well, his building gets NO. CELLPHONE. SERVICE. Unless you are hugging the window in your office. Sid usually walks outside to talk to me so he can get a consistent signal. Anyway, up top is Paul trying to use the phone in Sid's office. On the bottom is a picture of Sid's supervisor's cellphone...in the window sill.

My office is in the basement of the old federal building in H'burg. It's the safest place to be in the city if a major storm blows through. Most of the time, I have to walk outside and at least half-way up the steps to get a cell signal. Oh, well...I don't like to talk on the phone much anyway!

Soldier Stuff

2009-06-06T05:54:00.002-05:00

Camp Shelby holds a Memorial Day service every year. Wreaths are placed in front of memorials that are located around the Military History Museum.

The picture to the right shows the retiring of the flag before the service.

The picture below is of General Freeman and his wife preparing to place the wreath honoring military spouses. General Freeman is the AG for the state and is awesome. He's passionate about his soldiers and he's just as passionate about their families.

My boys...Sid and his best friend, Paul. They were roommates their freshman year of college - a potluck room assignment. Sid joined the infantry after his freshman year (and a stellar 1.6 GPA). They lost touch for a few years and then Paul read about Sid receiving the MS NCO of the Year award and contacted him. They've been inseparable ever since. In fact, right after Sid and I started dating, we went to dinner with Paul and his wife, Shannon. As we were walking into the restaurant, Sid turned to me and said "If Shannon doesn't like you, this isn't going to work out." And he was totally
SERIOUS! Needless to say, I passed the test.

This picture of Paul and Sid was taken after the Memorial Day service. Paul is in the 155th Brigade and deploys next week to Iraq.

The next picture is the 155th standing at attention on the field during the Memorial Day service. Sid is on the sidewalk (close to the flag) leading the wreath bearer to his location.

Cool, huh?

Friday Five: Moving

2009-06-05T12:39:00.004-05:00

Sally is hosting this week's RevGals Friday Five:

The theme of change is dominating my thinking at the moment, this morning my husband Tim has headed off for an interview in Sheffield. The West Sheffield Methodist Circuit are looking for an Evangelism/ Mission Enabler, in may ways this would be Tim's ideal job, but we wait on God... ( if you can spare a prayer today we'd be grateful)

...Sheffield is a commutable distance from my new post as Minister in Sherburn-in Elmet and some of the surrounding villages, before Tim gets home I will have left to join the Leadership team there for an away day on Saturday, I'll be staying the night with the current Minister in Sherburn to talk over some of the practicalities of the post.

ALL IS CHANGE.... and although I am looking forward to it, it is not without a sense of trepidation, as change always brings challenges.

Changing location also means packing, so next month will be a month of clearing and sorting, deciding what comes and what gets left behind...

So with change in mind I offer you this Friday five; ( if you've never moved here's a chance to use your imagination)

1. A big move is looming, name one thing that you could not possibly part with, it must be packed?

Yellow Chair. I've had Yellow Chair close to 15-years now. No telling how old Yellow Chair is...it belonged to my parents' graduate school professor and close friend, a woman that I called "Grandmother" when I was a child. When Grandmother died, she left her furniture to my parents. They used some, stored some, and gave away some. Yellow Chair became mine when I moved into my very first place of my own. It's a comfortable, wide chair...perfect for tucking my legs up under me or slinging them over the armrest and reading. I LOVE that chair. It desperately needs to be recovered as cats, kids, spilled drinks/food, and general wear and tear have left their marks. When (and if) we do recover it, even if it's blue or plaid or whatever, it will always be known as Yellow Chair.

2. Name one thing that you would gladly leave behind...

Over the almost 13-years of our marriage, we've moved approximately nine times. Each time we move, we have a huge garage sale...and I'm always embarrassed at the amount of stuff we've managed to collect.

All that to say that right now, I can't think of anything that I would gladly leave behind. Before our last move from TN back to MS, we sold everything but our beds. So really, we've just started over and have been mindful to only have what we need. One of the things we love about our house is that it's not wall-to-wall furniture and stuff. There's room to move.

HOWEVER, I do remember having to give up my cement blocks and boards bookshelves after our first move as a married couple. Sid announced he wouldn't be moving them ever again. And he didn't!

3. How do you prepare for a move

a. practically? I'm an organizer. I pack room by room and label boxes. Even my labeling is OCD. Not just "Kitchen" but "serving dishes and hotplates" kind of labeling.

b. spiritually/ emotionally? Because I worked in the local church, every move came with a ready-made church family. Even when we moved back to MS, we knew we would be going back to the church that was my first appointment out of seminary. Knowing where I was going and what I would be doing kept me strong and steady.

4. What is the first thing you look for in a new place?

Actually, there are two things I look for: a grocery store and a book store!

5. Do you settle in easily, or does it take time for you to find your feet in a new location?

I like to think that I settle in easily...I don't recall ever having a hard time getting used to a new place.

The bonus for today; a new opportunity has come up for you to spend 5 years in a new area, where would you go and why?

I hate to be corny and say that now that we've finally returned to H'burg...home...there's not anywhere I want to go...but I am! :)

Poptart Gun

2009-06-05T10:35:00.005-05:00

This is the poptart gun Keith made on his way to school this morning. Hilarious...and a little messy in the backseat.

*******************************************************************

Backing out of the driveway this morning, I noticed neither one of the kids had on their seatbelt.

Me: "You guys need to get buckled pronto! Emily, help Keith. Keith, pull your belt over for Emily."

Keith: "Emily buckle me?"

Me: "Yes. Now pull your seatbelt over to help her."

Emily: "Yeah...I'm not a miracle worker here!"

*************************************************

On the way to a birthday party last weekend, Emily and I were sitting at a red light when a soldier crossed the street in front of us.

Emily: "Mommy, that soldier is SMOKING!"

Me: "Yep, he sure is."

Emily: "HOW is he going to defend our freedom when his lungs are black and he can't breathe to run? If someone tries to get me a cigarette, I'm going to say No! You are not my friend!"

That's my girl.

I told some friends at the birthday party what Emily had said and one of the husbands commented "The brainwashing has begun."

Well, yes...yes, it has!

Convention

2009-06-03T21:38:00.002-05:00

Back at the beginning of May, Sid and I went to the MS National Guard Annual Officer's Convention in Natchez, MS.

On Friday night, all the battalions host party rooms and people wander from room to room...snacking and drinking (laaaahts of drinking), seeing and being seen, shaking hands with the higher ups, and just relaxing and having fun.

The soldiers spend most of Saturday in briefings while the wives play. Of course, one cannot go to Natchez without going to Fat Mama's for tamales. The picture above is right outside the tamale shack.

Saturday night is the fancy schmancy dinner. Everybody gets dressed up for a huge banquet dinner. The picture below is of me and Sid on our way to the Convention Center for the dinner. Isn't he handsome in his dress blues? Back off...he's mine! :-) That broach is the Military Police symbol. Sid brought it to me from Fort Leonard Wood. It got lots of compliments...the General's wife even commented on it!

Question: What do you think of my hair? I'm trying to let it grow but not much longer than it is in the picture, I think. Also, color or no color? I've been using color-in-a-box to cover the massive amounts of gray hair. Sid prefers the natural color but I'm kind of partial to the red.

We stayed in a brand new hotel for the weekend. It was just built across the street from the Convention Center. This is the sign outside the elevator on our floor...hilarious.

F-word Post

2009-06-03T10:45:00.004-05:00

Warning...the F-word is sprinkled throughout this post.

There are people who don't like me. I know that. I accept it. EXCEPT when I find out in a way that hurts my feelings...like being unfriended on facebook. I know. It's fucking facebook. But this person was, or so I thought, a friend. We've shared meals together. We've worked together. We've played together. He's going through a really tough divorce right now and, according to mutual friends, is pushing lots of people away. Really? Because he's still friends with everybody in my office...except me. I'm the one he shut out. Just me. Stupid fucking facebook that hurts my feelings and stupid me for caring that much about it.

So I'm taking a break from facebook to lick my wounds and get some perspective. If you need me, email or call.

Coming up for air...

2009-05-21T15:54:00.004-05:00

...and headed back under the bus where I was thrown earlier this week. Am finishing up a grant that MUST. GO. IN. THE. MAIL. TOMORROW. I think my brain might be about to combust.

This is the text exchange I had with Sid earlier:

Sid (sending random message which he likes to do...movie lines, tv dialogue, song lyrics, etc.): Just ate a small bag of free popcorn. So I got that going for me.

Me: Under the bus.

Sid: Love you, my squished road pizza.

***************************************

And for fun! Here are a couple of pictures of my sleeping angels...

Trader Tuesday - Teacher Gift Ideas

2009-05-19T10:59:00.002-05:00

Happy Trader Tuesday! I swiped this recipe from Family Fun magazine. It looks delish and since this is the last week of school, I imagine Emily and I will be making something sweet for her teacher.

FYI - The recipe says to use sprayed wax paper but some of the comments I read said parchment paper worked better.

CRUNCHY SESAME CANDY

Brown sugar and honey make these Asian candies an irresistibly sweet gift, especially when they're tucked into small, colorful boxes (sold in most craft stores) or paper jewelry boxes.

RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
	1 cup sesame seeds (about 6 ounces)
	3 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
	3 tablespoons honey

1. Generously coat two large sheets of waxed paper with cooking spray. In a medium skillet, toast the sesame seeds over medium-low heat, stirring often, until they're fragrant and golden, 5 to 7 minutes.

2. In a small saucepan, combine the brown sugar and honey. Cook over low heat, stirring often, until the sugar is melted and the mixture is thick, about 5 minutes (because melted sugar can get quite hot, this is a step best left to parents). Add the sesame seeds to the sugar and stir well with a wooden spoon.

3. Place one sheet of the waxed paper on a work surface, greased-side up. Scrape the mixture onto the paper and top it with the remaining sheet of waxed paper, greased-side down. Using a rolling pin, roll the mixture into a square about 1/4 inch thick (a great job for kids).

4. Remove the top sheet of paper and cut the candy into 1-inch squares with a sharp knife. Let the candy cool completely. Break apart the pieces and store them in an airtight container at room temperature until you're ready to package them. Makes about twenty-four 1-inch squares.

In A Rush

2009-05-18T16:38:00.004-05:00

Well, hello there!

I have 15-minutes to write, so here goes...

Work is eating me up. I was told today that I'm on my own to write a grant that's due NEXT TUESDAY. And my boss and my direct supervisor are both out of the office for the rest of the week starting Wednesday. So who's been on the brink of tears all day because she has no eff'n clue what she's doing? That would be me. My experience thus far with writing grants has been making notes in the margins of the request for proposal form. I've spent today scrambling to fill out and download the forms that the boss has to sign before she heads out of town. All the narrative stuff is still in my head. Guess what I'll be doing tonight?

We had a good weekend. It was our first Yellow Ribbon Event -- the pre-mobilization program. There was child care for Emily and Keith, which they both loved. In fact, Emily's first comment when we got in the car to go home was "when do we do this again?" Sid and I sat through two days of briefings. The speakers were boring and most of the information was not new. But I did get to meet a lot of the guys in Sid's platoon -- they are so young looking. Seriously, most of them are just kids out of highschool who brought their moms to the briefings. Death by powerpoint was what they were going for this weekend, I think. Anyway, I met some people I needed to meet, heard some things I needed to hear, got some information I needed to get and I got to spend the weekend watching my husband in action. I'm so proud of him.

Cross my heart and hope to die, etc. etc....I am back on Weight Watchers. I've been thinking about doing it for the past couple of weeks. But what sealed the deal, you ask? Well, we were watching Get Smart (the movie) last night. There's a ballroom scene featuring a 300+ pound woman in a blue dress dancing. Emily turned to me and said "Look, Mommy! She looks like you...only your stomach is a little smaller." There you go. It makes me angry that I have seem to have such little control over putting food in my body!

Gotta run and pick up the kiddos, feed everybody, and get to work. Hope to be back on a regular basis real soon!

Trader Tuesday - Fruit Salsa

2009-05-05T06:45:00.001-05:00

Three-Fruit Salsa

1 cup finely chopped peeled cantaloupe
1 cup finely chopped peeled mango
1 cup sliced small strawberries
1/2 cup finely chopped seeded peeled cucumber
1/2 cup finely chopped green bell pepper
1/2 cup finley chopped red onion
1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons finely chopped seeded jalapeno pepper
1 tablespoon honey
1/4 teaspoon salt

Mix all ingredients together. Chill. Serve with a slotted spoon. REALLY good on fish! :)

Still Alive

2009-04-29T20:46:00.002-05:00

I'm still here! Let's play catch-up...

The past two weeks have been incredibly busy. Meetings and school programs out the wazoo. Over the last three days, I've been staff support for ten student assemblies in five schools. Throw in a RIF book distribution, a Coalition meeting, a meeting with a State Representative to talk about a social hosting ordinance, not to mention just basic daily office activity and you've got one miserable me. I've not fared well. I'm moody, irrational, overbearing, unorganized, exhausted and basically pathetic.

I've resigned my part-time job as nursery supervisor at the church effective at the end of this month. I just blurted out to Sid about a month ago that I didn't want to work at the church anymore. His response? "Well, I was waiting for you to figure that out." There was really nothing wrong with the job. Seriously, 95% of the time it was easy. But working two jobs, taking care of a family and a house and everything that comes along with all that stuff was just getting to be too much. The extra income has been nice but we don't really need it anymore because...

Sid was called up 3-months early for active duty at Camp Shelby. He's working there M-F and home at night and on the weekends. Come July, he'll be there around the clock in preparation for deployment sometime in August or September. His exact location in the sandbox has changed a couple of times and I won't be able to talk about it much on the blog for security reasons. Suffice it to say, where he's going is not a secure base. I'm not allowed to watch or read the news these days.

Josh is doing well at Fort Lewis. Actually, he and I have been texting back and forth tonight. Apparently, they served red beans and rice in the mess hall tonight which is one of his favorites. When he was home, I fixed it at least once a week. He leaves for Iraq in a few weeks as a medic with his unit.

In pet news...Jasper is fully recovered from his injuries and unless you know where to look and what you're looking for, you'd never know he was attacked by the neighborhood dog. Said evil dog is still alive and roaming the horse farm land. We're monitoring his every move pretty closely. Miti turned 15 this month. She is still playful and eats well and shows no signs of getting older. She also still goes ninja kitty on Jasper when he invades her personal space.

Emily is doing really well in school. She's got "A" averages in every subject and has been recommended by her teacher for the gifted program. I'm not exactly sure what that entails but will find out more when I go sign the paperwork for her to have an official IQ test next week. School will be out soon and she'll spend the days at the YMCA for summer camp.

Keith is busy. He is in constant motion. Did I mention he was busy? We got him a bicycle about two weeks ago and he promptly rode it down the driveway and into the ditch across the street. He is obsessed with all things Star Wars which thrills his daddy.

Okay...there's more going on but I'm tired. Will post again soon...pinky swear promise!

Trader Tuesday - Making Everybody Happy

2009-04-21T07:36:00.000-05:00

I copied this straight from Family Fun's online recipes. It looks like fun for the whole family...I'm thinking of trying this for dessert one night. Everybody can make their favorite!

Mini Caramel Apples

Bite-size versions of the fall fair treat, these tiny "caramel" apples are a great party snack.

	4-inch lollipop sticks
	Melon baller
	Granny Smith apples (one apple makes about 8 mini apples)
	Butterscotch or peanut butter chips
	Chopped nuts, nonpareils, sprinkles, shredded coconut (optional)
	Small paper candy cups

Step 1
First, cut the lollipop sticks in half at an angle (the pointy end will go into the apple pieces easier). With the melon baller, scoop little balls out of the apple. Each ball should have a section of apple peel. Push half of a lollipop stick into the peel of each ball. Pat the apple pieces dry.

Step 2
Melt the chips according to the package directions. Dip and swirl the mini apples in the melted chips, then roll the apples in nuts, sprinkles, nonpareils, or coconut, if desired. Place the mini apples in paper candy cups to set.

Memory Lane

2009-04-15T10:29:00.003-05:00

I posted a few pictures the other day of Emily and Sid washing the truck. Well, Sid found some pictures of the two of them washing a different truck (moment of sadness here...I LOVED my Ford F-150 but had to give it up when the second child arrived because there just wasn't enough room for everybody).

Go here and take a look at my sweet baby girl...I think she was about 2-years old at the time.

Trader Tuesday - Not Your Mama's 3-Bean Salad

2009-04-14T14:03:00.002-05:00

We had this as part of our Easter dinner. It is FABULOUS!

3-Bean Salad

1/3 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup balsamic vinegar
3/4 cup sugar (or splenda)
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 can cut green beans, drained
1 can wax beans, drained
1 can kidney beans, drained
1 small red onion, sliced

Mix all ingredients together. Marinate at least 4-hours or overnight before serving.

Picture Sunday - Playing Outside

2009-04-12T08:22:00.001-05:00

Where To Begin

2009-04-11T11:23:00.005-05:00

This has been one of those weeks where I'm busier than I like to be. My plan for today is to clean house...literally and figuratively.

Tons of laundry to do, a kitchen and bathrooms to clean, floors to mop and vacuum, and really good intentions to tackle the home office.

And yes, I'll do most of this by myself because I want to...I like to clean and organize. It makes me happy.

Sid and the kids are going to wash the car and then I think he's taking at least Emily to see Monsters vs Aliens. Keith is still kind of "iffy" with sitting through movies. He and I usually end up walking the halls of the theatre while Emily and Sid watch the movie.

I've been angry this morning...for no reason I can point at other than I haven't had any solitude this week. There have been really important meetings for work every single day...the kind of meetings that either end with collaboration or a line drawn in the sand. So I'm tired. Just plain tired.

I'm also frustrated over a conversation with Emily this morning. Both children had Easter Egg hunts at school on Thursday. They have been overloaded on candy and so excited about the Easter Bunny coming. So this morning...

Me: "There is NO MORE CANDY. You guys have eaten it all (thank GOD). Do not ask me for any more for candy."

Emily: "But the Easter Bunny will bring more tomorrow, right? I LOVE the Easter Bunny!"

Me: "Yes. Tell me, though, what is the real reason we celebrate Easter?"

Emily: "For the bunny! and candy!"

Me: "Uh...NO. The hint is Jesus."

Emily ponders this and then says: "Uh...I got nothing."

AYFKM??? I got nothing???

So I reminded her of the story she already knows and why we believe what we believe and that Easter is NOT about bunnies and candy and then I told her to go away from me. What I really wanted to do was take that stupid Easter basket sitting on the kitchen counter full of empty plastic eggs and throw it out the front door.

Emily just grinned and slapped her forehead a la "I shoulda had a V8" style and said: "Oh yeah!" and then bounced off to the living room.

I caught Sid's eye and he said: "Let's try not to kill the children today."

Yes, indeed...let's try.

So now, in addition to cleaning my house, I've also got to work on my chi. Thank goodness the smell of clean always makes me feel better!

Brilliant or Manipulative?

2009-04-08T09:33:00.000-05:00

The New York City Department of Health has launched a new series of Stop-Smoking ads. One in particular of a little boy crying after getting separated from his parent in the train station is heartbreaking.

There has definitely been some uproar about these commercials.

Personally? I think the ad is brilliant...a crying child makes an impact. Why do you think those "feed the children" pleas work? Because the video is of a starving, crying child. People don't like to see crying children. People want to do what it takes to keep children from crying as a result of any kind of pain.

Sometimes shock value works.

Trader Tuesday

2009-04-07T01:40:00.000-05:00

I'm a sucker for anything with black-eyed peas. Came across this recipe in the latest Cooking Light issue. I heart black-eyed pea salad!

Black-Eyed Pea Salad

1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
2 tablespoons roasted garlic olive oil
1 teaspoon ground cumin
3 cups chopped and peeled tomato (about 2 large)
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro (I prefer parsley)
1 (15-oz) can black-eyed peas, rinsed and drained
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
pita or tortilla chips

Combine salt and garlic in a mixing bowl; mash with a fork until a paste consistency. Add vinegar, oil, and cumin, stirring with a whisk. Add tomato and following ingredients through pepper. Toss well. Serve with chips.

Monday, Three Weeks Ago

2009-04-06T10:35:00.001-05:00

Although I've got a real soft spot for Jasper, he is technically Emily's dog. We've been coaching Emily on how to care for him...food, water, exercise, etc. For a while, everyone was taking Jasper for a walk around the block in the evenings. We were getting Emily used to holding the leash, giving Jasper commands and knowing the route around the block. She is slowly growing into the role of dog owner.

Three weeks ago, Monday, I got home from work as Sid was preparing to send Emily on her first solo walk with Jasper. I decided at the last minute to walk with her and, of course, Keith decided he wanted to walk with us. We headed out the door with me holding the leash and trying to keep up as Jasper ran at the heels of Emily and Keith.

At the end of our block is a horse farm. It's owned by a local doctor and his family. In the "it's a small world" category, his oldest son is married to the sister of an office mate. Anyway, they have four large dogs that apparently (or so we've been told) are kept at the back of the farm. On this afternoon, as we rounded the corner, all four dogs were at the fence. As we walked down the street next to the farm, one of the dogs tracked us down the fence, growling and snarling the whole time.

When we got to our street, our neighbor dog was waiting to play with Jasper. I let him off the leash so he could run up to the house. I just happened to turn back to the horse farm and saw the dog squeeze through a hole in the bottom of the fence. He ran down Jasper and jumped him, tearing a hunk out of his right haunch and biting him in a couple of other places before running back under the fence. The kids and I caught up with Jasper in our carport which is when we realized how badly he'd been hurt.

Sid took Jas to the emergency vet where they had to sedate him to explore the rectal area and assess the damage. He came home a few hours later with a cone around his head and a drainage tube in his haunch. We were instructed to take him to our vet after three days so stitches could be put in place of the drainage tubes. Well, Jas was leaking blood all over the place out that tube so we put him in the storage room to sleep. He was pitiful...the howling and scratching at the door were almost too much to bear! Sid decided to sit with him for a while in the storage room to calm him down. He ended up moving an extra twin bed mattress out there and spending the night. Tuesday morning, Sid took Jasper to our vet which is where he stayed for the next 5 days.

The pictures up top are of Jasper after Sid brought him home at the end of the week. The cone? Well, it stayed on him maybe 2 days. Jasper kept bumping into door frames and getting it caught on door knobs or chair arms. It was torn to pieces pretty quickly. Plus, he figured out a way to contort his body so he could lick himself in spite of the cone.

It's hard to believe it's been 3 weeks. Seems like a lifetime ago! Jasper is fine. Unless you know what to look for, you can't even tell where the stitches were and the hair is growing back in the other places on his hips and back. I've finally let go of the "what if Emily had been walking Jasper by herself and that dog had come at her" horror. And after some tense conversations with the horse farm owner's wife, our vet bills were paid.

Our last couple of walks around the block have been as a family. Every time, that same dog has tracked us down the fence, which has not yet been repaired. Jasper plants his feet and refuses to get close to the horse farm so we cut through a vacant lot and the front yard of a vacant house to stay off the street. We're biding our time right now and hoping the fence will be repaired and the dogs kept at the back of the farm. We'll see.

Picture Sunday - Featuring a handsome soldier

2009-04-05T12:38:00.003-05:00

Sid had a 4-day drill this weekend. The time now is being spent getting ready to deploy...field exercises, medical record checks and re-checks, vehicle and equipment inventory and maintenance, etc. Sid called early Saturday morning and said they were doing vehicle rollover simulations and he thought the kids might enjoy watching. So we got dressed and headed that way. It was pretty cool...the soldiers get in this tank which is then turned over. The soldiers have 20 seconds to egress (exit) once upside down. Emily and Keith were enthralled with the whole procedure. Only once did the guy operating the rollover have to yell out "There are kids out here!" I suppose I'd get a little profane, too, if I were in a tank that was rolling over.

Anyway, it was a beautiful day at Camp Shelby. Keith and I made a lunch and went back a few hours later to have a picnic with Sid while Emily was at a birthday party. All in all, a good day.

The Cat's World

2009-04-01T04:41:00.000-05:00

The Creation Story (as told by the Cat)

On the first day of creation, God created the cat.

On the second day, God created a human to serve the cat.

On the third, God created all the animals of the earth to serve as potential food for the cat.

On the fourth day, God created honest toil so that humans could labor for the good of the cat.

On the fifth day, God created the sparkle ball so that the cat might or might not play with it.

On the sixth day, God created veterinary science to keep the cat healthy and the human broke.

On the seventh day, God tried to rest, but still had to scoop the litterbox!

Trader Tuesday - April Fool's Edition

2009-03-31T16:45:00.002-05:00

When I was in elementary school, a neighbor made chocolate candy for me and my sister. She brought it over on April Fool's Day...turns out it wasn't candy, but chocolate covered cotton.

Check this out for a fun April Fool's recipe! It's my favorite but there are others that you can click on from this link.

Have fun and be very suspicious of chocolate candy tomorrow! :)

Picture Sunday - Catch Up Edition

2009-03-29T19:56:00.003-05:00

Oh hi there! Apologies for my absence the last two weeks. A LOT has been going on...Jasper was attacked by a neighborhood dog (see top photo), Keith shimmied up some rotten wood and got stuck in a make-shift tree house at the edge of our back yard that appears to be 100 years old (see bottom photo), I've had a urinary tract infection and spent several days just wanting to die, Sid got called up for an interim job at Camp Shelby before his deployment (which is now to Mosul instead of Tikrit), I've been cleaning up my facebook stuff because I can't seem to maneuver through all the crap in the new set-up, I've been working 9-hour days this last week, and I'm at the threshold of too much family togetherness this weekend and need some solitude!

All that to say...I have a lot to share with you and will get busy this week. I promise!

Here are some conversation tidbits to tide you over...

Tonight while I was cooking dinner, Emily held up the cup she made in Sunday school and asked if she could drink from it during dinner. They've been talking about the Last Supper and she fashioned a chalice out of two plastic cups, some tape, and some ribbon this morning.

Emily: "Mommy, can I drink from my Jesus cup?"

Me: "No, it wasn't made for you to drink from at the dinner table."

Emily: "But I made it to resent Jesus!"

All afternoon when Keith has been asked to do something, he's refused. But he's very...uh...thoughtful about it.

Me: "Keith, come here and let me turn your shirt around."

Keith: "Uh...I'm going to say no."

***

Me: "Keith, it's time for dinner. Please put the napkins on the table for me."

Keith: "Uh...I'm going to say no."

***

Me: "Keith, it's getting late. Go ahead and put on a pull-up and brush teeth."

Keith: "Uh...I'm going to say no."

Trader Tuesday - I love a good casserole!

2009-03-24T04:50:00.000-05:00

Chicken Tortilla Bake

1 medium green bell pepper, chopped

1/2 cup chopped yellow onion

1/2 cup chicken broth

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 can Ro*Tel, undrained

2 cups shredded cooked chicken

9 corn tortillas, torn into bite-size pieces

1 cup shredded Colby Jack cheese

Preheat oven to 325F. Spray 8x8-inch baking dish and medium skillet with cooking spray. Heat skillet over medium-high heat. When hot, add bell pepper and onion; cook 5 minutes or until tender, stirring several times.Stir in broth, soup, undrained tomatoes and chicken; blend well. Bring to a boil; remove from heat.Layer 1/3 each of the tortilla pieces, chicken mixture and cheese evenly in baking dish. Repeat layers twice more. Bake uncovered 40 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

Quality Time

2009-03-19T14:05:00.003-05:00

It's Spring Break around here this week. Sid and I have both had to work so every day the children have gone to child care. Today, Sid decided to let Emily hang out with him...running errands, watching movies, and they even came and took me to lunch! Keith and I had breakfast together before I took him to child care and headed on into work. Donuts!

Trader Tuesday - Green Edition

2009-03-17T06:43:00.000-05:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

May you not be pinched today...unless you want to be! ;)

Happy Monday!

2009-03-16T10:08:00.003-05:00

Mr. Romantic

2009-03-15T18:30:00.004-05:00

I spent last week training at the Naval Air Station in Meridian, MS. In class everyday from 8:00a.m. - 5:00p.m. It was HARD work. More than once, I felt like my brain was going to implode with all the information. It's a 3-week academy with assignments and conference calls in between the sessions. If all goes according to plan, I'll graduate next February. So...a long process but worth it.

Sid was in charge at home while I was gone. I spoke to the kids every night around bed time. Apparently, it was all sunshine and roses around here while I was gone. I came home to a relatively clean house and clean clothes.

On the Friday morning prior to the week 'o training, I had my annual physical. Running down the list of questions, Dr. Rodney (whom I adore, by the way) asked how my exercise was going.

My reply? "Well, I'm sure it would be going pretty well if I actually did it."

His response? A FROWN. He frowned at me! Dr. Rodney does not frown. I considered myself properly and effectively chastised.

I told Sid about it and his response was "Well, you know we pay for that gym membership every month that you never use." Ugh...again, properly and effectively chastised.

So, while at the NAS, I started exercising again...kind of. Of course, I walked everyfreakingwhere I had to be on base. I bowled one night. I even got up at the ass-crack of dawn and went to the gym one morning with my second favorite dude in uniform, CAPT Crist. And I spent a fair amount of time thinking through next week and ways I could incorporate exercise into my routine.

When I got home Friday afternoon, Sid suggested I go ahead and unpack before picking up the kids. Opening the medicine cabinet in our bathroom to put away my toiletries, there sitting on the shelf was a hot pink iPod shuffle. My hot pink iPod shuffle! It's my incentive for going back to the gym...and it just might work. I've spent pretty much all afternoon loading music on it so it's good to go.

Romance is alive and well around here, my friends!

Oh, and Sid also turned the door around on the dryer so it's not so awkward to use. He's a good man.

Picture Friday - Rebuttal

2009-03-13T19:16:00.001-05:00

Here is Sid's response to the post below.

Enjoy the pics!

Dear Dogs and Cats

2009-03-12T15:45:00.001-05:00

Got the following email from a friend...Hilarious!

**********************************************

The following was found posted **very low** on a refrigerator door.

Dear Dogs and Cats:

The dishes with the paw prints are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Placing a paw print in the middle of my plate and food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.

The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Racing me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help because I fall faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort, however. Dogs and cats can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other, stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out on the other end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm.

For the last time, there is no secret exit from the bathroom! If, by some miracle, I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn the knob or get your paw under the edge in an attempt to open the door. I must exit through the same door I entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for years - canine/feline attendance is not required.

The proper order for kissing is: Kiss me first, then go smell the other dog or cat's butt. I cannot stress this enough.

Finally, in fairness, dear pets, I have posted the following message on the front door: TO ALL NON-PET OWNERS WHO VISIT AND LIKE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT OUR PETS:**

(1) They live here. You don't.
(2) If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture.That's why they call it 'fur'-niture.
(3) I like my pets a lot better than I like most people.
(4) To you, they are animals. To me, they are adopted sons/daughters who are short, hairy, walk on all fours and don't speak clearly.

Remember, dogs and cats are better than kids because they:
(1) eat less,
(2) don't ask for money all the time,
(3) are easier to train,
(4) normally come when called,
(5) never ask to drive the car,
(6) don't smoke or drink,
(7) don't want to wear your clothes,
(8) don't have to buy the latest fashions,
(9) don't need a gazillion dollars for college and
(10) if they get pregnant, you can sell their children .

Trader Tuesday on Wednesday - Galley Food

2009-03-11T11:26:00.005-05:00

So I'm training this week at a Naval Air Station Base. Meals are served in the galley.

Galley food? Icky.

So far, breakfast is the one meal I look forward to and that's because I can make my own toast and the eggs are good.

After the first meal here on base, one of my coworkers looked at me and announced "I'm going to die here."

The best part about being here? Men in uniform...everywhere. :)

Week of Quizzes - Monday

2009-03-09T09:01:00.003-05:00

I'm training all week with the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA). But guess what? I played around over the weekend taking quizzes and selecting one to post each day. Enjoy and I'll be back in real life next week! :)

Which Peanuts Character Are You?

You are Schroeder. You are brilliant, ambitious, and brooding; you tackle tasks with extreme focus. People don't always interest you as much as other pursuits, though, so you can come off as aloof.

Find Your Character @

I've Never Been To Paris

2009-03-04T09:34:00.001-06:00

What City Should You Live In?
	You should live in Paris. The city of lights will appeal to your appreciation of beauty and romance. You are a lover and a poet by nature, and Paris' sensitive charms will be a perfect match for yours.
Find Your Character @ BrainFall.com

Motherhood & The Military

2009-03-03T13:15:00.001-06:00

If you've ever wondered if my husband has definite opinions about serving in the military...this should answer your question.

http://thecrayonyears.blogspot.com/2009/03/motherhood-military.html

Trader Tuesday - I Heart This Salad

2009-03-03T03:45:00.000-06:00

Pasta with Arugula and Shaved Parmesan

2 1/4 cups chopped plum tomato
1/4 cup chopped pitted kalamata olives
1 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
4 cups hot cooked gemelli or fusilli (about 8 ounces uncooked pasta twists)
3 cups torn trimmed arugula
2 ounces shaved fresh Parmesan cheese

Combine the first 7 ingredients in a large bowl. Add pasta and arugula, and toss gently. Place 2 cups pasta mixture in each of 4 bowls, and sprinkle with cheese.

Yield: 4 servings

CALORIES 352 (28% from fat); FAT 11.1g (sat 3.3g,mono 5.6g,poly 1.2g); IRON 3.1mg; CHOLESTEROL 10mg; CALCIUM 240mg; CARBOHYDRATE 49.8g; SODIUM 469mg; PROTEIN 14.1g; FIBER 3.1g

7 Things That I Love

2009-03-02T11:53:00.000-06:00

Mandy tagged me for the KReATIV Blogger. Yay! My first award.

And because I can't figure out how to get the award to show up over here, you can take a look at it here.

Here are the rules:
List 7 things that you love and then pass the award on to 7 people...tagging them and letting them know they won! You can copy the picture of the award and put it on your sideboard letting the whole wide world know you are KReATIV!

Seven things I love (beyond the normal "my family" answers!!)

(1) Naps

(2) a relaxed evening with friends...dinner and good conversation

(3) my job...and how great it is to be able to say that!

(4) alone time...every personality profile I complete slates me as an introvert...I enjoy being around people, especially in small groups, but I also need time to recharge

(5) coloring with crayons

(6) a good thunderstorm...especially when I'm at home under the covers

(7) Bunco with the girls!

******************************

I'm not going to tag anyone because I thoroughly enjoy all the blogs I read on a regular basis and I'm feeling lazy. So, let me know if you play!

Except I am tagging Tina - If you would just start a blog, my friend... :)

Him and Me

2009-03-01T16:09:00.000-06:00

This is a marriage meme that's been going around. Thought it'd be fun to do on the blog. Hope you enjoy a little of our couple history!

**************************************

What are your middle names?

Mine is Gentry, my maternal grandmother's middle name. Interesting story...I was supposed to be named "Laverne" which was her first name. But my dad said when I was born, I didn't look like a "Laverne" so they pulled "Julie" out of the sky. I love that story.

Sid's middle name is Earl. He was named for an uncle who was killed in WWII at age 17. We have a picture of Uncle Sidney hanging in our living room. The resemblance between the two men is eery.

How long have you been together?

We've known each other since 1995. Married in 1996. Will celebrate 13 years of mostly wedded bliss in November of this year.

How long did you know each other before you started dating?

Two whole weeks! :)

Who asked whom out?

Sid asked me out first. I had a strict do-not-date-anyone-with-whom-you-work dating policy. He was persistent!

How old are each of you?

I'm 39 and Sid is 40

Whose siblings do you see the most?

Sid's...and not very often at that.

Which situation is the hardest on you as a couple?

Time together. With Sid preparing for deployment, he's gone for training a lot and then is scrambling when he is home to complete playground jobs. I've recently started doing some traveling with my job. These last few weeks we've been like ships passing in the night.

Did you go to the same school?

Nope. Sid went to University of Southern MS and I went to Birmingham-Southern College.

Are you from the same home town?

We both grew up in MS but not in the same town...Sid is from Natchez and I am from Jackson.

Who is smarter?

I think we're a pretty good match with brain power. However, if you want to know who is the more clever? That would definitely be Sid!

Who is the most sensitive?

Either one, depending on the situation. Sid has a heart for people in need while I'm a little more cynical. I'm quick to forgive and forget while Sid tends to not let people off the hook so easily.

Where do you eat out most as a couple? 

Truth be told, we don't eat out much. We like to stay home. I like to cook. Plus eating out these days is expensive when you have to include a babysitter in the mix.

Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?

That would be San Francisco, our first and last BIG vacation before we decided to start a family.

Who has the craziest exes?

Ummm...Sid?

Who has the worst temper?

Either one, depending on the situation. Sid is quicker to anger than I am, though.

Who does the cooking?

Me! When Sid cooks, it usually arrives at the door in 30-45 minutes. :)

Who is the neat-freak?

It rotates between the two of us. I'll sometimes let the household chores slip and then go on a cleaning blitz. Sid has no tolerance for children's toys being all over the house so he's usually in charge of the playroom.

Who is more stubborn?

If you ask Sid, he will answer "Julie." But since I'm the one answering the questions, Sid is definitely the more stubborn.

Who hogs the bed? 

We do fine in the bed, just the two of us. It gets crowded with 2 kids, a cat, and a dog!

Who wakes up earlier?

My alarm usually goes off first, but that doesn't mean I'm the first to wake up!

Where was your first date? 

Our first date was dinner at Sid's house. He cooked his favorite meal...chicken tenders, carrots, and rice with gravy. We even had strawberries with cinnamon sugar for dessert! As I was leaving, I said, "I had a really good time. We should do this again." And Sid replied with his crooked smile, "You never know what might happen." I still smile remembering that story.

Who is more jealous?

Oh, I don't know...me? The only example I can think of is the time we were out eating dinner with friends and the waitress kept touching Sid's arm every time she came over to the table. I called it to Sid's attention...he hadn't even noticed.

How long did it take to get serious? 

Not. long. After that first "you never know what might happen" dinner, we were together pretty much all the time. We had a whirlwind romance.

Who eats more? 

I think I probably eat more during the day and Sid eats more at night.

Who does the laundry?

Me...mostly because I have a system of washing, drying, folding, and putting away. (And this question has not been asked, but I am the more OCD of the duo.)

Who’s better with the computer? 

Definitely Sid!

Who drives when you are together?

Usually me. Sid doesn't really like to drive and I don't really like to ride so that works well for us.

Friday Five: The Fork In The Road

2009-02-27T12:59:00.003-06:00

For today's Friday Five, Singing Owl at RevGals writes...

I am at a life-changing juncture. I do not know which way I will go, but I have been thinking about the times, people and events that changed my life (for good or ill) in significant ways. For today's Friday Five, share with us five "fork-in-the-road" events, or persons, or choices. And how did life change after these forks in the road?

(1) professional musician OR full time church work?

It seems like until my junior year of college, my life long dream had been to sing professionally at the Met. Several factors caused me to change course...first, my parents were insistent that I graduate with some skill that would put a roof over my head and food on the table while I pursued professional singing. Second, I took some religion courses and LOVED them. Third, I resented having to spend so much time in a practice room the size of a small closet. And fourth, as I completed an internship in the church music department of a large church, I got to know myself a little better and it became quite clear to me that being a full-time musician was not right.

(2) stick with the "under no circumstances will I ever date anyone with whom I work" policy OR give in and go to dinner with the director of the child care center at church?

I'd been serving my first appointment for a year when Sid was hired as the church's child care director. Technically, I was his boss as the child care center fell under my umbrella of responsibilities. We had been without a director for about six months so Sid and I spent quite a bit of time together going over records, policies, history, etc. when he started the job. We often ate lunch together. He kept asking me to dinner and I kept refusing. Lunch was business. Dinner would have been a date. But Sid was persistent and I finally accepted his dinner invitation. The rest is history. :)

(3) stay in TN OR return to MS?

Deciding to return to MS was the easy part. Getting to the place where that decision had to be made was one of the most devastating journeys I've ever been on...unexpectedly and cruelly fired from a job, no steady income, no health insurance, no church family support system, two small children, a husband with a small business just getting off the ground. Looking back, it opened a whole new world of opportunities for me and my family. And yet, two years later, there are times when it still feels like an open wound.

(4) stay at home OR work part-time OR work full-time?

I've had the opportunity to do all three and have been ready to move to the phase when the opportunity presented itself. One of the consequences of staying at home was that Sid worked out of town during the week and spent the weekends at home with us. When I started working part-time, Sid was able to start over with the playground business and I was able to be home in the afternoons with the children. Full-time work has basically meant starting over with a new career mid-life for me. I'm working in alcohol, tobacco, and substance abuse prevention and loving it. It's turned out to be the right kind of challenge for both my brain and my heart at just the right time.

5) random

There are a few more examples of fork-in-the-road times of my life that I don't want to send out into blogworld. Suffice it to say that God always manages to put the right person and/or experience in place to help me make good (most of the time) decisions. I don't always realize it at the time but at the risk of sounding trite, hindsight really is 20/20!

Random Picture

2009-02-25T10:09:00.000-06:00

My blogfriend Mandy played this game over at her place. It looked like fun so here goes...

Here are the RULES:

1. Go to your Picture Folder on your computer or wherever you store your pictures.
2. Go to the 6th Folder and then pick the 6th Picture.
3. Post it on your bloggy and tell the story that goes with the picture.
4. Tag 5 other glorious peoples to do the same thing and leave a comment on their bloggy tellin’ them ’bout it

So I'm at work...working...and here's my picture. This is the most awesome fountain at the Gaylord National Hotel in National Harbor, MD, which is where I stayed for the CADCA Conference (CADCA=Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America). There was a fountain show with colored lights and music every night at 6:00p.m. We had some friends on the 15th floor with a balcony that overlooked the atrium where the fountain was and got to watch it one night from up there...way cool!

I'm not going to tag anybody specific. Just let me know if you play! :)

Trader Tuesday - Pita Pockets

2009-02-24T03:56:00.000-06:00

I found the following recipe when I was cutting coupons out of Sunday's paper. Although I haven't tried it yet, it looks like something I'd like and I have plans to make it sometime this week.

Guacamole Chicken and Rice Pita Pockets

1 bag Success Brown Rice
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1 clove garlic, chopped
1/2 pound ground chicken or turkey
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1 can (8 oz) sliced water chestnuts, drained and chopped
1/3 cup carrot, shredded or grated
1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
4 whole wheat pitas, cut in half
1 package (7 oz) guacamole

Prepare rice according to package directions. Heat oil in a non-stick skillet, add garlic and saute. Add chicken and cook until no longer pink, stirring to break up any clumps. Stir in soy sauce, ginger, water chestnuts, carrots, cilantro and cooked rice. Blend well. Place about 1/2 cup mixture into each pita and top with guacamole. Serves 4.

Some thoughts...when I make it, I will probably use chicken strips instead of ground chicken. I'm also not a fan of cilantro, so I'll either cut that amount down dramatically or out altogether. I also think I could mix some more veggies in with it like broccoli or onion or snap peas or edamame.

To Baby Or Not To Baby

2009-02-23T15:39:00.002-06:00

Before you read any further...TMI warning

It's no secret that I breastfed both of my children until they were about 2 1/2 years old. Weaning Emily was fairly easy. Keith? Not so much.

Last night, I snuggled up with Keith in the bed, read Sandra Boynton's Pajama Time for the 1.4 gazillionth time (we read it EVERY NIGHT), and then said prayers. Keith flopped over on his belly and I started patting his back.

Keith: "I not a baby, Mommy!"

Me (still patting his back): "I know. You're a big boy."

Keith (shifting under my hand): "I not a BABY!"

Me: "Ohhhh...so you don't want me to pat your back?"

Keith: "No. I not a baby."

There was quiet for a minute and then...

Keith: "Mommy? I hold your t!tty."

Me: "Uh, no...you're not a baby...remember?"

I'm not going to lie...there was satisfaction at being able to outwit the 3-year old because it's usually a little trickier to outwit his 6-year old sister!

Picture Saturday - Nap Edition

2009-02-21T18:27:00.003-06:00

Emily and Keith napped. Sid played on the computer. And I went to the grocery store all by myself. :)

How was your Saturday?

Friday Five: Taking A Break

2009-02-20T02:01:00.002-06:00

Songbird at RevGals writes:

Where we live, it's February School Vacation Week! Yes, that's an odd thing, a vacation extending President's Day. But it's part of our lives here. Some people go South or go skiing, but we always stay home and find more humble amusements. In that spirit, I offer this Taking a Break Friday Five. Tell us how you would spend:

1. a 15 minute break

Maybe one of the following...have a snack; set the timer and blitz clean the bathrooms; play on Facebook; sit still and enjoy the quiet

2. an afternoon off

I could squeeze a few of these in to an afternoon off...catch up on recorded TV shows; nap; blog; read; go to the grocery store by myself; see a matinee

3. an unexpected free day

Sadly? and because I know myself too well...catch up on laundry and clean the house, possibly lunch with the husband, take a nap, maybe try a new recipe for dinner because I have the time.

4. a week's vacation

Some of #1 and #1 plus organize the home office...only because it's going to take a week to do it!

If the kids were out of school, we'd probably take some day/overnight trips to the aquarium or planetarium or zoo or science museum.

5. a sabbatical

Hmmmm...I'd really love to take a culinary class and have the opportunity to "play chef" with a professional. Of course, that has nothing to do with my job and isn't a sabbatical supposed to build on your job skills in some way?

**And now I'm trying to find a way to skip out of the office early this afternoon...a nap sounds heavenly! :)

Et tu, Brute?

2009-02-18T19:16:00.004-06:00

Tonight at church during the family worship time...

Carly says to her parents: "Emily has a stepfather, too, just like me."

Me, having just met Carly's parents for the first time tonight: "Huh?"

Emily: "Well, you and Daddy were fighting. I could have a stepfather."

Me, trying to not crawl under the table while Carly's parents are snickering: "Emily, sometimes Daddy and I fight but that doesn't mean we don't love each other. It also doesn't mean that you're getting a stepfather."

Emily: "Well, Daddy said it was all your fault. I heard him!"

Me: "Oh. my. god. EMILY!"

Carly's stepfather: "Kids just can't keep a secret, can they?"

********************************

So a little later on in the evening, I'm telling some girlfriends what Emily said...

Tina: "Oh! Did I tell you what Emily said Sunday afternoon? She said that her cousin was Obama's son."

Me: "But Obama has two daughters."

Tina: "Yeah, I know...but that's what she said."

Rebecca: "What a wonderful imagination Emily has!"

Me: "So that's what we're calling it?"

AJ: "Yeah...imagination...lying...you decide."

Picture Wednesday With My Boys

2009-02-18T07:47:00.001-06:00

Well...&*%#@!!!!

2009-02-17T14:59:00.005-06:00

The one thing about me that most people know is that it takes a lot to make me angry. Angry enough to be speechless. I am an easy-going, pretty even tempered kind of girl. However...

I'm already on edge. The next two weeks have some really significant work-related stuff going on...a grant is due on 2/25, there's a meeting on the coast tomorrow, the Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Coalition is meeting, I'm speaking about the DFC at two luncheons, and my DFC site visit review where the supervisor comes in from Washington DC to go over every minute detail of my work. On the home front...Sid is weapons training this week so I'm a single parent, Josh is here and must be fed, Emily has started asking questions about where babies come from (WTH is up with that?), and Keith refuses to sleep.

So this afternoon I get a call from a colleague who tells me the county school district has made a budget cut...there will be no elementary school counselors next year and there will be one counselor for the high school. The two elementary school counselors remaining for the rest of this school year have divided up the five schools and each counselor is seeing 100+ students a week. I know, I know...the state cut its budget 5% which means the school systems have to cut their budget which means somebody is going to get a pay cut and/or lose their job. But, you ask, what about these students who need counseling services? Well, in all likelihood, mental health case workers will step in. However, a student must have a case worker ergo a mental health case file number to see someone.

I've spent the last 18-months cultivating relationships with the county school counselors. I've been able to do activities in the schools that otherwise would not have happened. Now? It'll be like starting over. The next few months will be spent scrambling to develop the right contacts with the right people so I can continue to do prevention work in the elementary schools. Gah!!

Perhaps I'm being dramatic. Maybe, maybe not. Putting aside the frustration I feel about the work I've put in that I'm seeing go down the drain, I just can't help thinking about the ripple effect this is going to have...with our students and teachers/school staff. Who is going to pick up the slack? What are we going to hear about on the news that could have been prevented if a school counselor had been present to intervene? Who is going to make the phone call to DHS when a child consistently comes to school with bruises? Will students feel comfortable enough with their teachers to discuss their problems? Better yet, will teachers know how to appropriately respond if a student does come to them?

It is inevitable that students will fall through the cracks and/or go unnoticed and that both angers and terrifies me...as a mother, as a prevention specialist, and as a member of this community.

Trader Tuesday Featuring Yet Another Chocolate Recipe

2009-02-17T09:24:00.004-06:00

 5 MINUTE  CHOCOLATE  MUG  CAKE


4 tablespoons flour 
4 tablespoons sugar 
2 tablespoons cocoa 
1 egg 
3 tablespoons milk 
3 tablespoons oil 
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional) 
A small splash of vanilla extract 
1 large coffee mug 


Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well.   Add the egg and mix thoroughly.
Pour in the milk and oil and mix well. Add the chocolate chips (if using) and
vanilla extract, and mix again. 

Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts. The cake
will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed! 

Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.

EAT!

Trader Tuesday Featuring Chocolate

2009-02-10T10:42:00.000-06:00

Here's the February recipe from the Betty Crocker dessert calendar. Perfect for a Valentine's Day treat...Enjoy!

Easy Brownie Torte

1 box Betty Crocker Supreme chocolate chunk or triple chunk brownie mix
water, vegetable oil, and eggs as called for in the brownie mix
1 container Betty Crocker Rich & Creamy chocolate frosting

Heat over to 350 degrees. Line 13x9-inch pan with foil so foil extends about 2-inches over sides of pan. Spray foil with cooking spray.

Make and bake brownies as directed on box for 13x9-inch pan. Cool completely, about 1 1/2 hour. Remove from pan by lifting foil. Peel foil away and cut brownie crosswise into thirds.

Spoon frosting into microwavable bowl. Microwave uncovered on High for 15-20 seconds. Stir frosting until smooth.

Pour 1/3 of frosting over one brownie piece. Place another brownie piece on top; pour half of remaining frosting over second brownie piece. Top with remaining brownie piece; pour the rest of the frosting over top. Refrigerate 30-minutes to set.

If desired, garnish with chocolate curls. Store loosely covered.

At Least I Know Where I Stand

2009-02-07T13:24:00.005-06:00

Thursday of last week, Emily came home with the yellow block circled in her assignment book. Yep...talking.

The school PTO was meeting that night and the students were singing. She walked right in and found her teacher and apologized for talking. We came home after the 1st graders sang because we needed some supper and Keith had reached his "be still and watch Emily sing" limit. Emily's consequences were no TV/computer/iPod and she had to spend the evening in her room with the exception of dinner. After dinner, she helped me clear the table and headed to her room. After a little while, I stuck my head in to check on her.

Me: "Hey...you okay?"

Emily: "Mommy, the iPod doesn't matter. You do."

Me: "Excuse me?"

Emily: "You matter, Mommy. You and Daddy and Keith. Well, a little bit of Keith...maybe 10%...because he hits me."

Friday Five - My Favorite Things

2009-02-06T09:05:00.004-06:00

Songbird is in charge of this week's Friday Five from RevGals:

In a week of wondering how various things in our family life will unfold, I found myself thinking of the way Maria comforted the Von Trapp children in one of my favorite movies. Frightened by a thunder storm, the children descend upon her, and she sings to them about her favorite things, taking their minds off the storm.

So, let's encourage ourselves. Share with us five of your favorite things. Use words or pictures, whatever expresses it best.

(1) My children, Emily and Keith.

(2) Cooking...trying new foods...dirtying up every pot and pan in the kitchen.

(3) A good haircut!

(4) Children's books...especially when a child is reading one to me.

(5) Laughing. :-)

How about you, my friends?

Let's Talk About Black History Month

2009-02-05T08:54:00.005-06:00

What are your feelings about this idea for students celebrating Black History Month?

I read in a recent issue of Teaching Tolerance that "educators choose safety and compliance over boldness and creativity." Maybe...maybe not. School administration figures in to the equation, I think, because they've created an environment that encourages being on the safe side of any argument. Don't make parents/community leaders mad. Don't put something into motion that's going to cause controversy. Personally, I'd like to see an approach that includes thought/activities across a wide variety of educational issues such as civil rights, black leadership, black identity, the connection between race and culture.

Here's another thing...all children do not experience school in the same way. Their social class, race, gender, family make-up and other social differences influence how they perceive school and may leave a negative and indelible mark on their memories of school, not to mention their engagement with learning. Giving students the opportunity, encouragement, and freedom to express themselves and their heritage may require thinking outside the box and doing something that might make people uncomfortable.

I'm not saying dressing your child as a cotton-picker and sending her to school is the best way. But I will cut some slack for the group of teachers who came up with the idea...at least they were trying to be creative. This is probably one Black History Month the students at Lillie Burney (which is, by the way, a 100% black school) will remember forever!

Picture Wednesday

2009-02-04T03:02:00.000-06:00

Not the best quality as I was still learning how to use the new camera, but here are some pictures taken the day after Christmas at one of our favorite Mediterranean restaurants.

Trader Tuesday - Easy Comfort Food

2009-02-03T06:58:00.000-06:00

Skillet Lasagne

6 ounces dry campanelle or other pasta shape, uncooked
1 lb ground beef (or sausage)
2 cans (14.5 oz each) Diced Tomatoes with Basil, Garlic & Oregano, undrained
1 can (6 oz each) Tomato Paste
2 cups (8 oz) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
Prepare pasta according to package directions.

Brown beef in medium nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally to crumble; drain. Add undrained tomatoes and tomato paste; mix well. Reduce heat to low; simmer 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Transfer meat mixture to medium bowl; set aside.

Drain pasta in colander. Place half of pasta in same skillet; top with layers of half each of the meat mixture and cheese. Repeat all layers. Cover skillet with lid. Place over medium heat; cook 5 minutes, or until all layers are hot and cheese melts. Remove from heat; let stand 1 minute before serving.

Whatever, Monday

2009-02-02T00:39:00.000-06:00

I was channel surfing on Saturday morning and came across this show called "Whatever, Martha." It's hosted by Martha Stewart's daughter and the daughter's friend (who co-host a show on Sirius satellite radio). They watch clips from archived Martha Stewart shows and comment on everything from what she's wearing to the materials she's using to hideous design ideas. The daughter also throws in comments from what life was like growing up as Martha Stewart's offspring. The show is HILARIOUS. What's even more hilarious, though, is that Martha Stewart does the intro to the show...she knows they are commenting and making jokes about her shows.

**************************************************

I think I need to work a little more with Keith on his counting skills. I gave him some coins on Saturday which he promptly spread out on the floor and counted like so:

"Tree, fo-rah, fi, sick, tirteen coins, Mommy!"

So I spread them out again and invited him to count with me...this time starting with "one."

**************************************************

I'm working on a grant opportunity at work that is really, REALLY exciting. In fact, I've been kind of giddy about the possibilities. The nuts and bolts are being put together this week and I'm so hoping that everyone I've been in contact with buys in to it so we can move forward. I'm going to try to not be too disappointed if they don't, I guess...at least I will have planted the seed for the next time. I'll keep you posted.

**************************************************

Confession: I DVR'd the SuperBowl just so I could fast forward through the game and watch the commercials. My three favorites: MacGruber/PepSuber Pepsi commercial, Alec Baldwin and hulu.com, and the Heroes cast playing football against former football greats.

What was your fave?

Picture Saturday - Pajama Day

2009-01-31T09:16:00.000-06:00

Nothing much going on this weekend. We're just taking it easy...watching movies and drinking chocolate milk under our Princess and Thomas blankets. Sid and Paul are in Belize sighting out a zipline course over 647 acres of land. The owner is designing an adventure resort which I think is TOO COOL, although my lazy boohiney would rather lounge under an umbrella on the beach. Sometimes the playground business is rough!

See the Rubbermaid containers behind the sofa? Normally, they would already be full of summer clothes and in storage. However, since the temperature around here lately is swinging anywhere from 75 degrees one day to 54 degrees the next, it's kind of hard to decide what needs to go in storage and what needs to stay out. Just this past week, one could wear shorts and this morning I have a fire going in the fire place. So the containers sit in my living room as a testimony to MS weather.

Notice also the curtains on the door are wadded up? That's because Jasper likes to see outside when he's inside and inside when he's outside. I prefer they not get shredded in the process!

Happy Saturday!

Friday Five - HGTV Edition

2009-01-30T12:04:00.003-06:00

WILL SMAMA brings us this week's Friday Five from RevGals:

Greetings all!

As some of you may know I am in the midst of my first home purchase. It is a new-build and so some of the fun was picking out upgrades and major decor items to my taste rather than walking into a previously owned home that needed to be upgraded room by room (pink and teal tiles in the bathroom, anyone?). As much as decorating is not my thing, I did try to embrace the moment because just how many times do you get to have a do-over on kitchen cabinets/floors/countertops?

And so, my questions to you this fine Friday involve your home past, present or future...

1) If you could, what room in the place you are currently living would you redo first?

MASTER BATHROOM!!

pedestal sink = no counter space
small corner shower = no room for shaving and no tub for bubbles

Sid has big plans for our bathroom. The more he talks about it, the more I'm ready for it to happen.

2) What is the most hideous feature/color/decor item you have ever seen in a home?

I wouldn't call these things hideous, but they certainly are not my favorites: green shag carpet, dark paneling. Really, nothing in particular comes to mind. What I do intensely dislike, though, is a home with wall-to-wall furnishings. I'm a fan of open spaces.

3) What feature do you most covet? Do you have it? If not, is it within reach?

Hardwood floors, which we currently do not have. However, it is on our list to be done. We're just not exactly sure if it will happen before or after Sid's deployment.

4) Your kitchen - love it or hate it? Why?

I'm kind of in between love and hate, so...Meh...for how I feel about the kitchen. It has everything I need, plenty of counter space, the appliances are in good condition (old stove, though), and it's not isolated from the rest of the house so I can enjoy conversation while I cook. Sometimes I think it needs to be...ummmm...brighter.

5) Here is $10,000 and you HAVE to spend it on the place you are living now. What do you do?

Build bookshelf units in the living room and office, replace doors leading to patio, expand and decorate patio area so it's more family/guest friendly.

OR

Install a Viking gas range stove in my kitchen! :)

BONUS: Why do you think there was such a surplus of ugly bathroom tile colors showcased in all homes built from the 1950's right through the early 80's?

Honestly, bathroom tile color is something that doesn't bother me and I don't pay much attention to it except to find a shower curtain that matches.

Picture Wednesday - Cat and Dog

2009-01-28T02:44:00.000-06:00

This is Miti, illustrating her usual position on the kitchen counter when Jasper walks by. Usually she goes all ninja on him and starts batting her front arms around his head. She will even throw in a fierce hiss or two.

Is this not the sweetest face? It makes me sick to think that someone abused him. If you look closely, you can see a scar across his nose.

When I'm walking back and forth from the living room to the kitchen, Jasper will just place himself right there on the step inbetween the two rooms.

Big dog. And below are some Big Dog casualties...

Trader Tuesday - SuperBowl Appetizer

2009-01-27T04:34:00.000-06:00

This is similar to a Mexican layer dip that I've made before...and the best part is that it can be made in the microwave! Try it with breadsticks and/or carrots for dipping.

Hot Pizza Dip

1 (8oz) package of cream cheese, softened

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
1/4 teaspoon dried basil
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup pizza sauce
2 tablespoons chopped green bell pepper
2 ounces pepperoni sausage, chopped
2 tablespoons sliced black olives

In a small bowl, mix together the cream cheese, oregano, parsley, and basil. Spread mixture in the bottom of a 9 inch pie plate, or a shallow microwave-safe dish. Sprinkle 1/2 cup of the mozzarella cheese and 1/2 cup of the Parmesan cheese on top of the cream cheese mixture. Spread the pizza sauce over all. Sprinkle with remaining cheese, then top with green pepper, pepperoni and olive slices. Cover, and microwave for 5 minutes. Serve hot.

Scattergories

2009-01-26T12:41:00.000-06:00

el-e-e played this game on her blog and it looked like fun...she gave me the letter "L" and I have to list 10 things I like that start with that letter.

Love -- I am blessed to love and to be loved by some very special people.

Lists -- I am a crazy list-maker. It makes me feel organized even if, at the end of the day, nothing is crossed out!

Lotion -- Sea Island Cotton and Velvet Tuberose are my two current favorites from Bath&Body Works.

Lying around -- One of my favorite activities at the end of a long day.

Lazlo -- Our favorite cartoon monkey.

Legs -- The one body part that never fails me. I'm happy to have good, strong legs.

Legumes -- Love them.

Leashes -- for without one, Jasper would be running around the neighborhood free as a bird.

Linear -- I'm a pretty basic thinker and have to work pretty hard to think outside the box. I can do it...it just takes concentrated effort.

German Lieder -- In particular, Robert Schumann's Frauenliebe und -leben (A Woman's Love and Life). I learned this song-cycle in college and still to this day remember it. The cycle describes the course of a woman's love for her husband from their first meeting to marriage to his death and after. I can remember standing at the piano in my instructor's studio and hearing him say "Close your eyes...think of the man of your dreams...the man you'll love forever...and sing to him." My heart still races just thinking about it.

Picture Saturday - Pet Edition

2009-01-24T08:52:00.006-06:00

Poor little wooden Jonah...probably would have been safer in the belly of the fish!

This is Jasper's "I don't know what you're talking about...I've just been right here resting" face. We see it a lot...especially when something is missing a head/arm/leg/wheel/left shoe.

My sweet Miti in her favorite spot...my pillow.

Jasper is tired after a day of hunting and gathering...both indoors and out.

Friday Five

2009-01-23T10:53:00.003-06:00

Singing Owl brings this week's RevGals Friday Five...

Sorry for the late posting! My daughter's car won't start, and I just returned from driving her to work. I think she made need a block heater. Speaking of that...

Here in snow country we are settled in to what is a very long stretch of potentially boring days. The holidays are over. It is a very long time till we will get outside on a regular basis. The snow that seemed so beautiful at first is now dirty and the snow banks are piling up. Our vehicles are all the same shade of brownish grey, but if we go to the car wash our doors will freeze shut. People get grumpy. Of course, not everyone lives in a cold climate, but even in warmer places the days till springtime can get long. Help! Please give us five suggestions for combating cabin fever and staying cheerful in our monochromatic world?

Well, here in South Mississippi, we have two seasons: summer and January. And this year, even January has been pretty mild. Today's temperature is supposed to be in the low 70's! But supposing I did get cabin fever, here are a few things I think would help me stay cheerful...

(1) Snuggling up on the sofa to watch a good black and white movie like Philadelphia Story, Arsenic & Old Lace, Casablanca, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.

(2) Getting productive in the kitchen and maybe even a little creative with what's in the pantry, a la Iron Chef.

(3) Playing games, reading, building tall towers with Legos with Emily and Keith and getting out of the way when they run and hide from Sid and/or chase him with Nerf guns.

(4) Catching up on placing pictures in photo albums but being able to take my time to relive the memories attached to the photos.

(5) Nap. A good nap always makes me happy!

My Word

2009-01-22T05:42:00.000-06:00

Your Word is "Love"

You see life as possibility to form deep connections with a few people.

Relationships are the center of your world, and you always take time to bond with those you love.

You are caring and giving. You enjoy helping those you love.

And when it comes to romantic love, you feel passionately ... even in a very long term relationship.

What's Your Word?