Idle Wednesday

Doesn't she look excited to be posing?

Another project done!  I loooove this yarn.  It's soft, stretchy, and has great texture.  I found three skeins at Tuesday Morning the other day and fell in love.  I can't wait for it to get cold!  I wasn't sure that I'd be able to post this tonight.  I've been working feverishly for the past couple of hours to get done though...and stayed up later than usual too.  Thank you Laurel for staying up with me, knitting and watching "Roseanne's Nuts".

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Miah, a little more awake.

A mere half hour later (from yesterday's picture) , and she's actually awake.  Still a little out of it, but at least pleasant looking.  She is her Daddy's girl. 

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Something that makes you grumpy.

This may be why my days usually start off rough.  This is Miah's regular morning face.  Note the bright sunlight streaming through the windows.  Ugh.  I'm actually starting to look forward to Laurel driving.  I'm going to drive her nuts with chauffeur duties.  I'm about burnt out.

Long Weekend

Have you ever wanted to erase an entire day from your memory? I do. It's not that big a deal, but the Friday I embarrassed the hell out of myself. Laurel's first game of the season, and Jay and I were at the consession stand volunteering. It was hot as hell, and I hadn't eaten yet. So, I'm an idiot. I got sick. I almost fainted, tried to bow out gracefully, but that wasn't what happened. I ate, sat in the air for a few minutes, and got a cold wet cloth from a very nice couple of ladies. After a bit I thought I was better, but as soon as I got back into the stand I started to feel faint again. I got a couple of funny looks that made me feel pretty akward and embarrassed. Yay. Jay worked his butt off, and I thought did so well that he made up for my not helping the rest of the night, but that doesn't stop me from dwelling on the situation. I've decided that I'm just going to chaperone from now on. I obviously can't handle the heat. I spent All day Saturday and Sunday trying to recover. I thought I was getting sick, because I kept falling asleep on the couch. No fever, no other symptoms. I think that the heat and low blood sugar, along with high blood pressure knocked me for a loop. I probably should go get checked out at the Dr on post, but good grief. Such a pain in the rear. I think I'm feeling better now, so I'll do my usual wait and see. I'm going to do a better job of taking care of myself before the games. The embarrassment is a lot worse than feeling sick, I have to tell you. Everyone makes such a big deal about it when you fall over.
I still can't seem to shake the embarrassed feeling. I keep dwelling on it. That I keep dwelling on it makes me even more upset. I should be able to get over such silliness.
On the other hand, I have never been more excited for another person as I was Friday. Laurel marching on the field with the high school band was amazing. I was at the stands when she came off the field sweaty, red, and excited. I ALMOST got choked up. Xavier gave me a huge sweaty hug, then Laurel hugged me too. It was the sweatiest, stinkiest group hug ever, but I loved it.
I'm at work with Jay now, so I don't have the video with me to post, but I'm going to get it loaded as soon as I get home. They sounded great, they looked adorable, and I'm so proud!
This season is going to be busy, and crazy, but Laurel is going to love the hell out of it. Tons of pictures and videos to come! I hope some of you get to come down and see it in person!

Xavier, by the way is Laurel's friend. He stayed with us for the week while his mom went out of town on TDY for work. We've been hanging out, playing games, and eating together. Just in time for us to move again. Figures. Donna and Xavier are so fun to hang out with. Miah is so in love with the both of them. She was pining for X this morning, who went home after the game on Friday. I have to admit, it is a little lonley with out him giggling on the couch. :( The entire upstairs smells like his cologne, and crazy-for-him Miah says she never wants to wash her sheets. It's a little weird. We are going to have to keep her away from him! lol

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I'm watching Jay grade the Student's tests on their computers. He's so much goofier at work than he is at home. He's bouncing around, making jokes, and fussing at the students. It's odd to see him at work. He's usually so quiet at home. I used to go to his Commo Shop at Campbell all the time and watch him do his job there, but it was a lot different. The structure and aura of that place was more strict and stiff. Here it's a little lighter. I like to hang back and watch him interact with people. His personality changes drastically depending on the people around him, and it makes me wonder if it's a conscious change. I'd like to be invisible for a day, so that I can follow him around and observe him. I think he's facinating. Maybe that's why we are still married?

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Excuse me!

Miah was trying to get Laurel to smile for the camera...saying all sorts of silly things, and singing to her.  Harley, not liking what she thought was rough housing, intervenes on Laurel's part. 

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Good Morning!

Taken outside Miah's school with my new camera. 

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Random Bumper sticker.

One of the band kids has this sticker on his/her car.  We giggle every morning when we see it. 

Five Word Friday

Age doesn't automatically breed maturity.

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Unexpected Guest

After dropping the kids off at school yesterday, I saw this guy perched on the fence.  For some reason that morning I had put my camera in my purse, so it was handy.  I tried to approach him at the fence but he jumped down into the yard.  These shots are taken over the fence using the pull out digital screen on my camera.  It took me a minute to realize he was starting right at the screen.  I think he was hurt, b/c when I walked through the gate he was only able to fly about four feet high to the next yard before he landed on the ground and flopped out of the way.

Thursday's Thoughts

Those who are too dumb to engage in politics are punished by being
governed by those who are dumber. -Plato

It's that time again. We are gearing up for election season. The state of politics has bothered me for as long as I've paid attention to it, but it seems to get worse and worse every year. These days we do not elect the people that are best for the job, or even elect the people that have the answers. We now watch a battle of mud-slinging, pandering, and sound bytes and either for the person that has the least skeletons in their closet or blindly pick the person our party of choice has presented us. WHY?!?! There are people in this country who are smart enough to solve our problems. Millions of people balance their household budget every week. Millions of homes have learned to not waste resources. Business owners from state to state have learned to keep both their workers and their customers happy. Often one works to improve the other. But many of these same people are unwilling or afraid to step up and lead our country because the political realm is so dirty and vicious. If you are in one party, you will be attacked by the other, so first you must prove that you are a better candidate than anyone else in you party. Let me say that again, not a better leader, but a better candidate. Not that you are smarter, wiser, more discerning, better at solving problems or making hard decisions.... just more electable. I ask you all out there, everyone smart enough to fix the problem, please get involved. And voters, vote for the people who can fix our problems, not the people who will stubbornly drag their feet and blame everyone else for them existing in the first place

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6000 of something.  Yikes! 

I found these baseball cards at Goodwill for $4 a box (of 500)  for a total of 6000 cards.  We spent SEVERAL hours the other day sorting them, arranging them by number, logging them in to the computer, and boxing them back up.  Jay is in the middle of pricing them and adding it to his spreadsheet.  It was a lot of work, and I didn't enjoy it one bit, but I hope Jay has fun selling them.  If he's careful we should make quite a profit. 

Idle Wednesday

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Ky Car Clutter.  lol

The only place I've ever been where you find bibles tossed into the back seat of a car. Kentucky.  Jay and I giggled.  NOT that we are making fun of the person whose car this is.  We love you!

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Crazy Dog

On the trip home from Kentucky, Dobby decided that she deserved a little treat too!  She usually roams around the car looking for the best, most comfortable spot and this time it was my lap, and a milkshake.  Well the leftovers anyway. 

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Family!

Laurel, Me, Miah, Jay, Ron and Billie.  Mi Familia!

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We went home to Edmonton last week, just long enough to drop off some things and come back.  I wish we had more time, because it felt like we were rushing around trying to do everything, but that will have to do for now.  We stayed at Sheila and Scotty's house this time, rather than mom's so that we could bypass all the costumers and the girls could hang out with the kids, and the animals.  Miah was so excited about the animals that she really didn't want to leave.  She and Laurel fell in love with the kitties, and tried to talk us all into letting them have one (can you imagine, two dogs and a cat in one car!) but I fell in love with the puppies.  I want!
School started on Monday.  I watched Scotty's kids head off to their first day of school, and marveled (and laughed) at the paperwork they came home with, but Jay and I got hit with the same pile on Monday. Already we have a preseason football game that Laurel will be marching at, a parent orientation for band, band pictures, and holy cow, $200.00  for uniforms that we really can't afford.  I want to cry.  I know this school is a little more highbrow than we are used to, but they act like we all have money trees growing in the back yard! 
More exciting news: it's official.  Jay has orders, and we are off to a new post. The move is only a couple of months away, so I've already been getting ready to leave in anticipation. I have gotten rid of almost everything that goodwill will take, and have been tossing the rest slowly.  Unlike every single place I've ever lived, THIS place won't take extra trash (defined as anything not stuffed deep into the trashcan) without a huge charge.  I've been spreading it out as well as I can, but my trash bill was still 235.00 last month.  They suck.  I can't wait to GET OUT OF HERE!  

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Accidental funny

Deciding what to watch, I saw this...and laughed my butt off.  I had to share.

Five-Word Friday

Test day Friday -

My Favorite

Thursday's Thoughts

A short one:

What does it say about a man when the pictures on his desk face out?

My boss has one picture on his desk. It is a picture of his wife. He can't see her from where he sits, but everyone that comes into his office can. I think this reveals far more about him than he thinks.

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Miah learns the benefits/folly of animal labor.

10/26/2008  Fort Campbell.  Miah and Dobby

Dobby and Miah playing with the blocks.  The dog got a huge kick out of helping Miah tear the buildings apart.  The problem Miah found, was keeping Dobby from knocking it all down before she was supposed to.  Absolutely hysterical to watch.

Idle Wednesday

Light bulb bud vase

I got the idea from www.readymade.com  my now **favorite** website.  Check it out!

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Something that shouldn't be.

Jefferson Davis State Historic Site

I just can't figure out why the heck this guy gets such an extravagant monument. I used to pass this every time I drove home to Edmonton.  I always frowned at it, and pondered it's existence.  It struck me as one of those nasty southern things, the old south still telling the north to kiss it's ass. Learning about history is one thing, but this history hardly deserves the third largest monument in the United States.

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Family

Miah was just a couple of days old.  Jay couldn't keep his eyes off of her.

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I got inspired to look through old photos this morning, and I came across a whole lot of Miah dancing videos.  The kid is hilarious!  I think I'm going to post some more here and there.  I laughed so hard...

First Day of School

First Day of High School

Never Grow Up lyrics
Songwriters: Swift, Taylor;



Your little hands wrapped around my finger
And it's so quiet in the world tonight
Your little eyelids flutter 'cause you're dreaming
So I tuck you in, turn on your favorite night light

To you, everything's funny
You got nothing to regret
I'd give all I have, honey
If you could stay like that

Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
Just stay this little
Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
It could stay this simple

I won't let nobody hurt you
Won't let no one break your heart
No, no one will desert you
Just try to never grow up, never grow up

You're in the car on the way to the movies
And you're mortified your mom's dropping you off
At 14, there's just so much you can't do
And you can't wait to move out someday and call your own shots

But don't make her drop you off around the block
Remember that she's getting older, too
And don't lose the way that you dance around
In your PJs getting ready for school

Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
Just stay this little
Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
It could stay this simple

No one's ever burned you
Nothing's ever left you scarred
And even though you want to
Just try to never grow up

Take pictures in your mind of your childhood room
Memorize what it sounded like when your dad gets home
Remember the footsteps, remember the words said
And all your little brother's favorite songs

I just realized everything I have
Is someday gonna be gone

So here I am in my new apartment
In a big city, they just dropped me off
It's so much colder than I thought it would be
So I tuck myself in and turn my night light on

Wish I'd never grown up
I wish I'd never grown up

Oh, I don't wanna grow up, wish I'd never grown up
Could still be little
Oh, I don't wanna grow up, wish I'd never grown up
It could still be simple

Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
Just stay this little
Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
It could stay this simple

Won't let nobody hurt you
Won't let no one break your heart
And even through to you want to
Please try to never grow up

Don't you ever grow up
(Never grow up)
Just never grow up
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listening to this song,
i feel my heart crack a little.
i'm not ready for this
experience.
high school!
wasn't i just there?

wasn't i just hiding from my daddy,
under the covers,
waiting to jump out and finally get him?

and wasn't laurel just
doing the same?


high school!


how did the years
fly by so fast?  -S.
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Fifteen lyrics
Songwriters: Swift, Taylor Alison;

You take a deep breath and you walk through the doors
It's the morning of your very first day
And you say hi to your friends you ain't seen in a while
Try and stay out of everybody's way

It's your freshman year and you're gonna be here
For the next four years in this town
Hoping one of those senior boys will wink at you and say
"You know, I haven't seen you around before"

'Cause when you're fifteen and somebody tells you they love you
You're gonna believe them
And when you're fifteen feeling like there's nothing to figure out
Well, count to ten, take it in
This is life before you know who you're gonna be
Fifteen

You sit in class next to a redhead named Abigail
And soon enough you're best friends
Laughing at the other girls who think they're so cool
We'll be outta here as soon as we can

And then you're on your very first date and he's got a car
And you're feeling like flying
And you're momma's waiting up and you're thinking he's the one
And you're dancing 'round your room when the night ends
When the night ends

'Cause when you're fifteen and somebody tells you they love you
You're gonna believe them
When you're fifteen and your first kiss
Makes your head spin 'round
But in your life you'll do things greater than
Dating the boy on the football team
But I didn't know it at fifteen

When all you wanted was to be wanted
Wish you could go back and tell yourself what you know now

Back then I swore I was gonna marry him someday
But I realized some bigger dreams of mine
And Abigail gave everything she had to a boy
Who changed his mind and we both cried

'Cause when you're fifteen and somebody tells you they love you
You're gonna believe them
And when you're fifteen, don't forget to look before you fall
I've found time can heal most anything
And you just might find who you're supposed to be
I didn't know who I was supposed to be at fifteen

Your very first day
Take a deep breath girl
Take a deep breath as you walk through the doors
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too many lessons left to tell
mind spinning like hell
all i know
is i did my best
its up to her to do the rest -S.
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i dread that first heartbreak
the day she comes home crying
how do i keep from taking off and kicking his ass? -S.

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Stop and smell the flowers.

North Pole Alaska, July, 2010

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The little Monkeys.

Gatlinburg, July 31, 2005 at 5:13 pm 
Mom, me, Jay, and the girls all went camping in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. This is on top of a mountain on one of the driving trails.  This is one of my favorite places in the world to be.

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History

The girls and I took BF Sheila, and her husband to the 101st museum on Fort Campbell.  Jay was deployed, so it's easy to see why this display, and especially this letter held my attention longer than the rest.  The museum is named the Don F. Pratt Memorial Museum. More info about him can be found here.
I'm not sure how well you can read the letter, so I will transcribe it to the best of my ability.  Miah found it especially eerie that the letter was written on her birthday.
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 Supreme Headquarters  

Allied Expeditionary Force

Office of the Supreme Commander

June 23, (1944)

My Dear Mrs Pratt:

It is with great sadness that I try to explain to you my sympathy in the loss of your husband. He was a gallant and valuable officer-we could not afford to loose him.

I hope you will remember, with great pride, that he made the final sacrifice for his country and for a noble cause, and did so unflinchingly. May a mercifal God help you to bear this great burden.

Sincerely,

Dwight D. Eisenhower

Mrs. Don F. Pratt

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


He is respectfully buried at Arlington National Cemetery, but you can see his history, and his gravestone here.

He is still remembered, here.

And also here.

What is sad is that I cannot find any solid information about his wife, Martha.  There is a rude joke I've heard a million times, "If the Army wanted you to have a wife, they would have issued you one."  It seems that history feels the same way.  The only information I've found is her birth date, death date, and where she is buried.
The Wikipedia page mentions that Saving Private Ryan refers to Pratt's situation.  I recently watched that movie with Jay, but I don't remember the scene they are talking about.  I may talk Jay into watching it with me again, just to check it out.
Sorry if I bored you with this one, but I find the history fascinating.  Especially with my "soldier's wife" perspective. I empathize with Martha.  When I was reading the letter, standing in the museum surrounded my the history of the 101st and the wars they have participated in, sterilized and compartmentalized, this display pulled me into the reality of it.  I used to think that the Army, it's history, and the wars, were romantic history.  Having now lived (some of) the future's "War on Terror" history, I  have rethought that idiotic idea. 

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LaUrEl a year later!

Good Grief!  Put a brick, or better yet, a box of bricks on their heads, and make them stop growing!  I am now officially the mother of a 14 year old HIGH SCHOOLER and an 11 year old Fifth grader.  Gulp.

Idle Wednesday

The entire wind chime.

The handle of a spoon becomes the hook for the top.

Hematite beads hold the "string" in place. This means that the spoons, forks, and butter knife's height can be adjusted to fit the space you place it in.

Sheila's house warming gift!
It's incredibly simple to do, with the right tools, some patience, and time.  I have a couple more of these mugs, so if you want one, let me know!

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A whole year gone by

I can't believe how much Miah has grown in a year!

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Rain!

It's rained every single night.  Not that I mind the thunder and lightening...actually I love it...but it really needs to start actually cooling the temperature down !  Usually rain makes it drop a couple of degrees, but not here.  As soon as it started raining Miah ran out to the back porch to get cooled off, but she ran back in yelling that the rain was hot!  What the heck?  I miss Kentucky!

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Squirrel!  -purely for Jay, and Harley

I remember spending an hour and a half crawling on my stomach and waiting for this squirrel to trust me enough to get this close.  Miah was so excited about it she actually help still for quite a while too.  This is a great accomplishment for a little girl who never stops moving.