Everyone's got an opinion ...

When you live the military life, you learn early on that everyone will feel the need to share their opinion with you. It's like people rubbing a pregnant woman's belly - you can't stop it. You get a thick skin and learn to pick your battles, but sometimes even I get thrown for a loop.

At lunch today I decided to go into town to run some errands. While there I realized I was about 15 minutes ahead of schedule, so I thought I'd stop in and get my eyebrows waxed and save a trip after class this weekend.

As I sat in the chair thinking of what had to be done when I got back to the office, the girl who does my eyes, tiny Korean girl who I swear is 12 years old talks. I was only half listening, but then she asked where was my friend who I usually came in with. I told her she moved recently, which is why I hadn't been in (she usually drags me when her kids are driving her crazy and she can pawn them off on her husband.)

SHe continues talking as she finishes up and I start to pay. "There's something different," she said. "I got a new haircut a few weeks ago and got bangs. That's why I keep forgetting to get my brows done."

"Oh," she said, scrunching her nose, "I don't like it."

That's right people, I got dissed by the brow waxing girl. -Sigh- If it's not one thing it's another.

Waiting for Daddy to come home ...

we've had some long night waiting for George to come home as they prep for another deployment, but Sgt. Major will not go to bed until daddy is home ...

You thought you’re day was bad ...

Life in the military leaves you with surprises around every corner. My military readers may agree with me that in most cases, surprises happen when you PCS (permanent change of station which means move.)

I got a call today from a close friend (the one in a previous post that I said was like a little sister who needs constant care. I love her to death but she doubts herself so much sometimes that it’s like pushing her out of the nest with every change.) Anyway, she recently moved to another military installation.

When I talked to her early last week (or maybe last weekend) she said that they had received a house at the new post, but that only half of their household goods - the garage stuff - had arrived. Upon further investigation the other boxes was still here at Fort Polk, and they had reached their 10 day limit at temporary housing so they would stay with another friend who moved there last year, until their stuff arrived.

So today I get the call. She said that their stuff had arrived last week, but there was a small problem – the boxes with their furniture had LITERALLY fallen off the truck, at about 60 mph. She was having to deal with getting all new furniture for four bedrooms (she has three kids) and the living room and kitchen. On top of that school starts next week for her kids and she has to get clothes and supplies, an the baby has been sick with an ear infection.

Ain’t life grand. She said that the moving company would reimburse her for the furniture ... if she could provide receipts and it would be at a depreciated value depending on how long they had the furniture.

It was a good thing she laughed about it (‘cause I did), but things like this do happen. It’s just another example of how we roll with the punches in the military world. He biggest concern was that she sucks at hanging pictures (the woman can’t hang a level straight!), which is typical for her, she sweats the small things.

I guess in this gypsy life of ours you can’t place too much value on material things, because life has a way of putting it in perspective. My husband and I have a list of things that we will take in personal vehicles when we move, but I’m sure it’ll be funny over the years how that list of “important” things will change. All in all, you learn to laugh at how things turn out (even if you have to wait a few years and see a therapist to get through it!) It really isn’t the material things that matter, it’s the people that you meet and the memories you make that make this nomadic life so great. Looking back at issues last year seem so trivial now. Though we may rant and rave, most of us enjoy what we have. You just have to look at life through rose colored glasses ... and everyone knows I love PINK!

Catching Up with Friends

As I metioned in a previous posts, Friday night I hosted a dinner party for two of my husband’s co-workers. In many cases of meeting new officers and their spouses, especially those of higher rank, I feel indimidated and fear failure. In most cases I am (thankfully) wrong. Many are kind and generous, wanting to mentor their junior officers as part of bettering the Army as a whole. Still most events are semi-formal (meaning not laid back with drunks dancing on tables.) However, there are rare cases when small social gatherings can take on a life of their own ... taht is what happened Friday night.

We have had “Maj.” and “Cpt.” for dinner before and it had been a very laid back experience, with the guys telling stories about their deployment together and life at the unit. I usually just make something basic since single men will eat anything and I just sit around sipping my wine, retrieving more beer or cleaning around them. Really it is something that I enjoy, having their conversations and laughter mingling with the background 80s music and dishwasher hum. I am quite content to breeze in and out, answer questions when asked, but ultimately getting an insiders view to what life in the military is life for these Soldiers versus always looking from the outside in.

This week was different for one reasson, there was a female – the Cpt.’s new fiance. I was nervous to say the least, becasue i had manged to go three-plus years here without females visiting to judge my home (I am always scared that I do not live up the the “Officer’s Wife” unwritten code.)

I found out a day or so ahead of the dinner that she would be in town and George had invited her too. Not a problem, but I had planned to cook pot roast, in fact promised Maj. a few times that he would have slow roasted potatoes and roast next time they came over. Easy meal – yes, but not a very “dinner party” menu. In fact, i wasn’t even sure if I had met this girl before because she lived in another state.

So I scrubbed an already clean house, exchanged fresh towels for even fresher towels and tried in vain to look at my house through the eyes of someone else. I was a bit disappointed when I did that. George says I have the interests of an “old soul” tea cup collecting, needlepoint and Victorian decor. Definitely not a modern take on things.

Maj. arrived first, for which I was thankful. He is this amazingly wise person, when you get to know him personally. I think he makes me see what george will be like in 20 years because they are so much alike, and I think that my husband will be a great person who has a lot to offer, just like Maj. He is an amazing mentor to George and defies all of my “upper level officer” fears of by treating us with respect, valuing our opinions and making us feel as equals. there is never an awkwardness when we are together, like you might expect feel with someone in authority.

Cpt. called to say that he was a few minutes away and I started to get dinner to the platters as Maj. and George popped open beers.

I heard George open the door and for a second I felt my stomach dropped because the moment of truth was here ... would my house be judged and found wanting?

As soon as she stepped int the kitchen that all went away. MP, as I had recently learned her name was in fact not only someone I had met, but someone whom I had shared laughs and quirks with on several event occasions while the guys were doing what ever it is they do when at these unit events. I was so excited.

After everyone served themselves we took our seats at the table. (Was I suppose to serve them? I’m not sure, but we usually are informal when Maj. and Cpt. come over.)

Almost immediately we began talking and laughing, sharing stories. MP, being from the same part of Texas as George and I quickly jumped in with her own stories since we knew (and had spent time at) many of the same places. She too was shocked with some of George’s stories of how different his harsh gang-ridden neighborhood was from the innocent ones we grew up in. But we had many laughs over the stories of college hangouts since she was familiar with the town too.

All too soon it was time for them to leave. I think Cpt. and MP had plans the next day, but they bid farewell at about 10 p.m. or a little after. Maj. stayed a little longer, telling all kinds of stories about George from the deployment.

Honor those who served

I got a call from George yesterday asking if I wanted to meet him at home for lunch because he had dome work to do. I agreed and quickly ran to the commissary (post grocery store open only to military families and retirees) to pick up some microwave meals (I LOVE Lean Cusines). After getting the stuff for lunch and some added items for last night's dinner party, I jumped in the express line, really not in a rush because work was slow at the office.
At the cashier was an elderly gentleman who instantly reminded me of my great-grandfather who passed away a few years ago, and there were two ladies in line after him.
Not being in a hurry, I was zoning out while waiting in line and found it comical when I noticed the two ladies impatiently shuffling their items waiting for the gentleman to finihs. After a few minutes, my curiosty got to me why we weren't ovind and this is what I witnessed:

Cashier: "Sir, I need more money."

Elderly gentleman, as he pulled a orange medicine bottle out of his pocket and dumped change onto the counter: "I have some here."

Cashier, after counting change: "Sir, there is not enough. We need more."

Gentleman, kind of confused: "I gave it all to you."

Cashier: "But it's not enough sir. There is only $5 here."

Gentleman, looking flustered and nervous: "Can I bring you more later?"

Cashier: "No, sir. You have to put stuff back."

As he began to shuffle through his bags of instant noodles and soup, I walked forward and asked the cashier how much she needed. "Don't worry," she said. "He'll put stuff back."

"It's not a problem," I said. "Just tell me what you need."

"His total is $10.13, but he only has $5," she said. So I opened my purse and gave her $7 telling her to give the bagger the change as a tip. The gentleman turned and thanked me, smiling for the first time. The ladies behind him began saying they were sorry and would have helped if they had noticed.

As I got back in my place in line, I hoped that someone would help my grandfather if he needed it. When my turn came to pay for my groceries, the cashier said he came in each week to get his groceries for the week, but that he had recently been diagnozed with Alzheimers (sp?). I couldn't help but think that $7 for me is lunch at the deli, but it was a week's worth of groceries for this veteran. Being the end of the month, money is surely tight in many households, but to his it was truly the difference between eating or starving.

He had done his duty to this country, the least I could do was help him in his time of need. I think his smile will stay with me a while and serve as a reminder of how important it is to remember our veterans, even after they leave the service.

Craft Corner: Freedom and Cup of Tea

Ta da! Here is the project that I did at the sewing class today. I was a little disappoint with the class and teacher (I was the only one there and she couldn't answer any of my questions) so my plans for the pillow were altered, and now I may make it a wall hanging instead of a pillow. As you can see, the text is actually freedom in five languages.

I also got a surprise in the mail ... my back issues of Tea Time Magazine. Actually it was a long time coming. I found this magazine by accident one day and fell in love with it. It is a bi-monthly magazine dedicated to all things tea. So I decided to check out the back issues and pick a few, but I found that it is a faily new magazine so I decided to order a few each month until I get all the back issues. Well I ordered these May 31 and six weeks and two emails later they had still not arrived nor had I been contacted, so I called the customer service. The lady said the order hadn't been sent from the web site order site so I orded them again last Thursday.
I have for these, so if you have any of the other issues and want to get rid of them or know someone who does please let me know. It is definately something that I would love to spend some time on during the upcoming deployment.
- Tea Time Fall 2003
- Tea Time Fall 2004
- Tea Time Fall 2005
- Tea Time Winter 2006

In addition to the Tea Time Magazines I got a back issue of the Just Cross Stitch Magazine ... Feb. 2001. Do you see why??? Because it featured tea party projects! Yeah! The one I really liked is the patterns on the tea cozies below, but since I don't use cozies very often, I think when I get to this project I might put the larger piece in the center of a table runner with the smaller on either. What do you think?

There's tons to do ... if you take the time to look!

Sometimes I manage to work a project here at the newspaper in my favor ... and this one I am pretty excited about, but a little background first.
During deployment here at Fort “Middle of Nowhere” I would hazard a guess that maybe 50 percent of the families go back “home” or to where their families are. With the recent increase to 15 month deployments there is reasonable cause to believe that these numbers could rise, which could be a problem for the economy. If you think about it, when our battalion deployed it left with 1,200 Soldiers. Not that is approximately 600 families (spouse and multiple children) leaving the area. Now there could be any number of battalions deployed at a time, but for math sake, let’s say that 5 are deployed ... that’s 3,000 families leaving the area and as I mentioned before we are in the middle of nowhere, as are many military installations (cheaper land!) That means that the base is a valuable source of income for the local community. But in the Army’s point of view, that is also 3,000 families that the units have the potential to loose contact with leaving them and their Soldier “disconnected” from what is going on. It is hard enough to see Soldiers come home with no one to greet them, but if their families could not be reached to notify them they are coming home ... well you see how sad that would be. But that is just one example of the problems that could occur.
So in it’s defense, the Army works HARD to ensure that families are not neglected when their Soldier deploys. That is why they implemented Family Readiness Groups, Morale and Welfare activities and the Army Community Service program which offers things such as new parent programs, financial counselors, volunteer programs, and so forth. That is where the fun comes in for me.
They have been trying to find programs and such to entice families to stay especially those school age children so they are not transferring schools and more than they have to. Last week I asked my boss if i could participate in a few programs and then write a commentary on my experiences ... she said “yes.” But here is the fun part, I get to do these programs “on the clock!” That’s right, so today is my first one ... I am going to the weekly sewing class. They have projects each week or you can bring your own. I’m a little excited. I am also going to a couple of exercise class offered by the post gym, taking a lunchtime stress management class, find some project to volunteer at and a few others. There is also arts and crafts classes offered at the ... Arts and Crafts Center (I know that one was hard to figure out!)
It’s is really great. During the last deployment I was busy working on my masters but with that nearly complete, there are a lot of things I can do during the upcoming deployment. I really pushed some of my spouses to get involved when the guys were gone last year and they enjoyed it. There are tons of classes or children below school-age like toddler playtime and infant massage classes.
there are a variety of reasons why people go home, I had a 19-year-old pregnant with TWINS! I definitely knew she would need her family’s support, but she moved back after the girls were born and the guys were home soon after that. But for those who choose to stay, there are a lot of things to do to keep busy. There's tons to do ... if you take the time to look! The arch enemy of the spouse of a deployed Soldier is boredom. That whole “idle hands” thing gets some in trouble.

My life is not like a box of chocolates (but I sure could use some!)

Well this week has truly been "one of those weeks." I have had so much to do that my head is spinning. The weekend was a blur because my husband was called into work BOTH day because of stupid decisions made by Soldiers (related to alcohol of course.) So I think the leadership are trying to figure out a way to stop the Soldiers from hurting themselves or others because, let face it, their lives are already in enough danger without adding to it with stupid decisions.

In the past month I have lost nearly all of my friends to PCS moves: “My Dear Watson”, Mezz, my date when hubby is gone, Staci, “Dixie’s Mom”, and a few others. These gals were my rock, sounding board, shoulder to cry on and in the case of Mezz, a little sister who needed constant care, which kept my mind off of the last deployment. Now, I am months away from another deployment and ... well it looks like it’ll be a quiet one, but I have plenty to keep me busy.

Last week was chaotic at work and this week is a little better, but we start on the Back-to-School edition that comes out the week school starts and I have to be honest. I have been stuck with this for the past four years and I HATE it. I don’t have kids so it’s wasted info on me. The bus schedule is always provided last minute so the day before we layout the paper I spend 8-10 hours typing it up because they send it in an spreadsheet format by street and school and I have to convert it to paragraph format by bus number. UGH!!!! Oh, the bad words that spew from my mouth. I have actually cried from so much frustration. On top of that it is an 8-page layout so I have to do a plethora of other articles and projects to fill it up. I beg you this one time of year, don’t edit your newspaper and complain –– some days it takes all we journalists have to get it together, especially when you get the project two week ahead of print time instead of two-months like previously. I know bus safety in my sleep, I could recite to you the lunch schedule and give you the damn immunizations myself. On top of it I have my regular assignments which this week include (but is not limited to:) a deploying unit and Dining Facility that won national recognition (It’s not all glamorous!) But on to other topics ...

The end of the semester is approaching fast and I have 11, that right not 10 but 11, papers to write including a 15-20 page research paper. While the hell did i go to sleep last night. I have class the first two weekends of Aug. and I gotta have SOMETHING to turn in.

On the home front, we have come to realize that Sgt. Major’s potty training has gone out the window since military housing changed our fences from wooden to the chain-link. That’s right people, my “I’ll bite your head off if you knock on the door or touch my mommy” guard dog is scared to potty outside by himself, so he has redesignated the floor beside the kitchen table as his new “hot spot.” George is going to try to find some sort of privacy fencing, but we cannot attach anything to the fences per the new regs. I say let’s drop Sgt. Major off at the housing office for a few days and see if they don’t change things ‘cause ol’ boy has some strong stuff coming out of his little body.

Speaking of george he leaves for four-weeks of training soon and it’s gonna be hard. Sgt. Major tends to get needy, I go on a house-cleaning binge and I hate the lonely night. A king-size bed is HUGE when you’re in it alone (even with a 60-plus pound bulldog.)

This Friday we are having his Bn XO over for dinner and while I absolutely ADORE the man because he is so funny (at least I think so!) I have got to remember to take the roast out of the freezer, bake some cookies (and not eat them) and get salad making stuff. Hopefully the produce gods will smile on me and the red potatoes in the pantry will not go bad Thursday night, like they usually do when planning a dinner party. I’m also hoping that a fellow Cpt. can make it for dinner too, ‘cause i want to grill him on his new fiancé before we get to the weeding in Sept.

On top of all that I voluteered to take on another position in the Family Readiness Group ... but more on that later.

All in all ... I probably had a lot better things to do than write this post, but I’ll chance it. I must get back to work. Life as an Army wife is NEVER dull!

Busy week, but nothing to report

Well it has been a busy week for me, but I found time to stop by most of the blogs on my list and found a few new ones. However, there is little to report. So in exchange I give you a few words from Sgt. Major ...


"This is my good side. Don't laugh. This is my serious face."


"Look Ma! No hands!"


"A few licks a day, keeps Mommy o.k."


"Beer and bones ... that's all I want!"


"Where'd it go? I couldn't have drank them ALL!"

Keeping busy is the key!

Sorry, if I haven’t stopped in your page this weekend. I had class, Early Cold War. As far as school goes it’s not too bad.

The Army works hard to ensure that the needs of Soldiers and their families are met and in most cases they do not apply to George and I as most are for kids. There are quite a few Mommy and Me, toddler playtime and other programs here on post. Even the older kids have summer camps and sports clinics. It’s really amazing, but I digress.

I’m not sure when the Education Program started but I know it has been a while. What they did was set up satellite schools from various universities where installation residents can earn a variety of degrees.

I am particiating in the Lousiana State University Liberal Arts: Military History Master’s Program. It has been great. We have three weekends of class, 9 a.m.- 4p.m., spread over about six weeks, depending on the Soldier’s rotation here and then turn in between 3-5 reports on topics covering that era. Then the class is over and you start the next one. You usually have until the end of the semester to have the work turned in. Not bad.

I am taking three classes right now, one independant study so I am writing a 20-page paper ona narrowed topic. After that I only have three more. Yeah! Looks like I’ll finish and graduate next May.

For those of you who love crafts, the installtion’s Directoriate of Morale, Welfare and Recreation also offers craft classes, although I haven’t been able to attend many because of work, family support group and school, I am definately looking forward to it, after I finish my masters. I think it’ll give me something to do during the upcoming deployment.

Sorry Lime, there are no tie-dye classes, but I'll let you know if i am successful in starting one. Well back to the books, a mind is a terrible thing to waste (and so are TV commercials!)

Good luck baby girl! Give 'em hell!

As some of you many know my niece is starting college in about a month. Being the ever supportive Aunt and organizational fanatic that I am, I send her a care package/graduation present. It contained:
-- 2007 Flavia desk planner (pretty pastel colors)
-- chocolate and pink note book
-- pink flowered cloth pencil bag (for her backpack- hello ... makeup!)
-- pink plastic pencil box (for her desk)
-- heart shaped post-it notes
-- square post-it notes with pink flower (I think tulip)
-- small green notebook (didn't have an extra pink one)
-- Official Disney Tigger Pen (in display box)
-- pink pen and pencil set from Calire's
-- assorted highlighters and pastel pens

As you can see it is filled with "I can't go to college without this stuff" package. I am so excited for her, I am going to call her "like all the time!"

She called today and was so excited. There was a lot of OMGs and "I'm so excited!" when she talked to me. I told her that we would buy her a new refill for the planner each Christmas. She was pretty excited about that too. We also sent her a check because she saved her money all summer to buy a laptop for school, so we wanted her to be able to get the Microsoft Office program and help with school supplies.

Anyway, I can't wait to hear how school truns out. I'm almost as excited as she is!

Like Linus, I will not let it go

In my previous post I wrote about my love for reading, in it I mentioned my pink blanket. Well here is the story of that beloved piece of fabric.

The blanket entered my life as a toddler. My parents were divorced and when I was an infant and my dad got custody. When he would take us the the babysitters before work (at like 4 a.m.) he would wrap my brother and I in our blankets while we were still asleep and drop us off on their sofas or extra bedrooms.

A few years later, in the 1980's there was a scare of electric blankets catching fire and my grandmother removed the wiring because I didn't want to give up my blanket. I held onto it for the next few years, but when my father remarried, my step-mother and I didn't see eye-to-eye and she trid to get rid of "the ratty thing" quite often. But alas, I won.

Over the years it did become tatter. I washed it regularly, especially when I was sick. I didn't sleep with it, I would curl up in it when I read which was about the same amount of time as sleeping. When we were homeschooled and later when I was doing homework after school, I would wrap my legs in it because the desk chair in my room was quite uncomfortable.

When I was 14 or so, I tried to stitch the tears in it with embroidery floss and pieces of fabric I got when visiting my mom one summer. It wasn't very professional looking but it held up until about three years ago.

I have been trying to figure out a way to nake it last longer -- maybe make it part of a quilt or something.



As you can see I've had to learn to share my blanket. Sgt. Major has taken a shine to it and I have to be careful not to let him grab it when he gets into his playful, tug-of-war moods or he'll tear it.

Love of books leads journalist to adventure, finding herself

Editor's note: This is a a commentary I wrote recently Some people will tell you that I am a fanatic about books, but don't beleive everything you hear ... o.k. this one might be true.

-- Published in Fort Polk Guardian (March 30, 2007) --
By: MICHELLE LINDSEY, Guardian staff writer

I have been a princess in a foreign land, a detective on the hunt for a killer. I have traveled the open seas in a ship rocked by towering waves and run the jungle paths with refugees fleeing oppression. I have been a Navy nurse and an Army general –– all while curled up with my favorite pink blanket.
I have lived the adventures of a thousand lifetimes through books. Growing up in a large family, we had two entertainment areas –– in the tree house or our rooms. There was no television, radio, game systems or motorized bikes. I was the fourth of 12, living on a chicken farm in rural Louisiana.
The cost of sending so many children to private school was a burden my father and stepmother carried for many years before deciding to home school us. With so many siblings, our home looked like a one-room school house, but it gave us the opportunity to sharpen our individual skills rather than follow a mandated curriculum in a public school system.
I remember, even before my parents decided to home school, they made it a point to ensure we went to the local library regularly. It was one of the few activities we could do on a limited budget. Instead of feeling cheated, I fell in love.
The smell of worn leather, the crack of a new book’s spine opening for the first time and the delicate pages of an old edition –– dreams were made of these. Opening a book for the first time was as exciting as starting a new adventure. I never knew where I’d end up, but I couldn’t wait to get there.
Once we began home schooling, we went to the library more frequently. We had more time, interrupted fewer people and it was easier for my stepmother to keep track of where we were. Once I picked a few books, I would grab my favorite pink blanket and curl up in one of the overstuffed chairs or on the carpet beside the window with a view of the old oak tree that seemed to be bigger than the small-town library. I would begin reading, falling like Alice in Wonderland, into the world within the worn pages.
I would often get irritated with the sibling tasked to tell me we were leaving. More often than not, the bruises scattered randomly across my legs and arms were from reading while walking, not playing on the farm.
My favorite books were from the Cherry Ames series, a mystery-solving nurse. I also enjoyed stories from the Victorian Era, classics such as Tom Sawyer, and mysteries. I read “War and Peace” in the eighth grade, though I admit, it was a bit complex.
As I grew older, I fell more in love with books. While other girls dreamed of being actresses, dancers and princesses, I wanted to be a writer. I admired those who could make words come to life. If I couldn’t be a writer, I wanted to be an editor, if for no other reason than to be the first to read a story.
My maternal grandmother was an elementary educator, and family vacations were always educational adventures, from spelunking in caverns to exploring Indian reservations. She encouraged us not only to read, but also write our own stories. She instilled in me a love for adventure, which I relive in the pages of my journals.
In college, while studying chemistry, I took a creative writing class to fill my scholarship requirements and rekindled my joy of reading and writing. I was good at science and math, but it didn’t hold my attention the way books did. After completing my degree that semester, I re-enrolled for a degree in journalism. I had finally found my place.
Today, that love is still as strong as ever. I sometimes visit the library on my lunch break or weekends. My favorite stop at the mall is the book store, the smell of new books and fresh ink is soothing. During my husband’s last deployment I started on my master’s in military history, which opened my eyes to a new genre of books.
The library is where I get my inspirations, whether for work or my personal life. The rows of books beckon me to join them in the adventures captured between their leather binding. Life may be busy, but I always manage to find time to read, still curled up with that old tattered pink blanket. Each book, like an old friend, waits patiently on the shelf.
The greatest gift my parents could have given me was a love of reading. It has opened my eyes to a world that I might not have otherwise considered. Now I just take life one chapter at a time. I am a book whose pages are still wet with ink, waiting to be finished.

For more articles in the Fort Polk Guardian, visit our web page.

How did I survive childhood?

Now I know at times I can be a bit harsh on youth today. With all of this technology they have gone soft, but when reading ABCNews.com today, I began to wonder ... How did I ever survive childhood? This is what prompted by inquiry ...

Dangerous Lead Levels Found in Some Garden Hoses
July 12, 2007 — It's about as uncomplicated as it gets –– rip off the package, screw the fitting onto a spigot and your new garden hose is good to go.
At least that's what Louise Broyles thought.
"There was no reason to think it wouldn't be safe," Broyles said. "It's a garden hose so why wouldn't it be safe?"
But on the packaging of the garden hose was a tiny warning that said, "Do not drink out of this product," and, "This product contains chemicals known to the state of California to cause cancer, birth defects and/or reproductive harm."
It turns out some garden hoses may contain dangerous levels of lead.
In a test, reporters from ABC's Phoenix affiliate KNXV-TV bought 10 garden hoses randomly at places like Home Depot, Wal-Mart, Target and Ace Hardware.
They filled sections of the hoses with clean water, sealed the ends and put them outside for about a day. Then they delivered that water to a lab.
Five of the 10 hoses came back with levels of lead higher than what the Environmental Protection Agency allows for drinking water: 15 parts per billion. Four of those came back with extremely high lead levels.

(To read the rest of the article click here.)

Now that I look back I wonder if I should worry. As I child I did many things that now cause concern ... not just physically but psychologically too:

–– I drank from water hoses in the yard ... as long as I let the hot water run out I thought it was fine
–– I ran with scissors ... as long as I wasn't running a marathon with a crowd of people, I thought it would be o.k. to jog from the craft cabinet to the table
–– I slept in a room with lead based paint on the wall ... as long as I didn't write on the walls my parents weren't concerned
–– When I tried out for sports there was a chance I would NOT make the team ... I just tried something else until I found something I was good at
–– Only the winners got trophies –– If you didn't win you just tried harder next time, doing you best was what counted
–– I spent hours in the sun without sunscreen ... I lived on a farm, the sun meant "get your lazy ass up and milk the cows", at that point we were awake so we might as well get busy with the garden and feeding the chickens
–– My parents left us unattended ... I was one of 12 kids, my parents locked us out of the house just to regain their sanity. As long as we didn't start up the hay baler there was little danger. That's what the older siblings were for, they cared for the younger ones, thus learning responsibility.
–– I played with an ax ... I really did. My siblings and I built a log cabin in our back yard with trees from the wooded acres. We had the foresight to make it too short to be comfortable for adults ... at least that thought will comfort me when I am bed ridden. We also made out own bows and arrows so we could torture each other. That might leave so psychological issues to be dealt with in the future.
–– I had to do manual labor ... again, I lived on a farm and trust me cows don't milk themselves (although a dog will lick himself!)
–– I drank unprocessed milk and natural foods ... I guess that is what kept us alive seeing how all the fertilizers and stuff are causing cancer ... I often ate it without washing it though, does that cancel out the good!?!
–– I stuck a penny in a light socket ... well to my credit I was 3 and only did it once. We didn't have cabinet locks or electric socket covers. We learned our lessons through trial and error (or from a unfortunate older sibling.)
–– I had to take all of my school books home at night and back to school in the morning ... I'm not suffering any back problems but maybe I should note it for a later date.
–– We were spanked ... I know, the horrors. Although I don't have children and refuse to form an opinion on this until I am faced with an unruly tot of my own, I don't think there are many lingering issue, physically or psychologically. Although the threat of being sent to break off a twig does tend to give me chills.
–– We were told "no" ... again, how did I survive. My parent's didn't negotiate. With 12 of us they'd never win.
–– There were only two dinner choices: Take it or leave it! ... I only walked away from the table once. To my vegetarian friends, sorry, but if it comes to Bambi or going to bed with a growling stomach ... well do I have to say it!?!

Oh, the list goes on. It could be all in my head, but I think I am starting to feel some of the ill effects of my childhood errors now. It's a wonder I made it this far. Maybe they should test my blood for some sort of gene alteration that allowed me to make it nearly 30 years with this kind of history. I could be the cure for cancer ... at the very least a medical marvel!

Craft Corner: Got a lot to be done ...

Editor's note: At the end of each month I will update this post with the changes for the next month. I will also make a link to it in each month's monthly goal list. At the end of the year, we'll all see what kind of progress I have made. List compiled and originally published 1/28/07 @ 4:36 p.m.

O.k. so it's been a while since I posted my list of craft projects to be finished, but with my recent oral surgery, I had some time to re-evaluate things and get a little work done. So here it is ... my mighty list of procratination.

To be "finished" (meaning framed, made into pillows, etc.):
1. Frame 4-Heart lace square Completed Feb. 2007
2. Frame Freedom in different languages
3. Complete Christmas wreath pillow
4. Frame embroidery samples (2)
5. Frame purple quilt block

To be stitched, sewn or otherwise completed:
1. Sew and stuff childhood Lion (it is one of those "panels" you buy at the fabric store and sew together. My mom bought it and never did it, so I decided I would do it.)
2. Stitch "stained-glass" nameplate
3. Stitch roly poly Santas (these are really cute, but I lost the motivation when I came home from work and found that Sgt. Major had chewed it up. I was able to salvage most however.)
4. Stitch Victorian nativity
5. Stitch rose quilt blocks
6. Complete pink and blue lap quilt (this is actually on hold because I don't have a sewing machine. I started it when I was in college and would use one of my mom's three sewing machines.)
7. stitch Humpty Dumpty bib
8. Stitch large Red, White and Blue Ribbon
9. Stitch Love, Honor and Cherish centerpieces (these were actually centerpieces for my wedding, but the Army had other places and we never had the ceremony. Now I am tring to finish them as decorative placemats for the kitchen.)
10. Stitch SAL ornaments (I started these as a monthly stitch-along project with my online stitching group, but the deployment, work and school left me very little time.)
11.Stitch "God Bless Me" crib set (I was making these for my stepsister's second child, when I stopped by for a visit and saw that the set I made for her first child was now being used as a dog bed. Needless to say, she lost any future stitching presents.)
12. Stitch "Welcome to our Home" lace circle.
13. Stitch Easter Bunny and Egg (this is a project my mom bought for me to make her. I wasn't really excited about it, so I have been pushing it aside for nearly five years now.)
14. Stitch Army Seal
15. Stitch Daisy tabletopper
16. Stitch "Tea for Two" towel Completed Feb. 2007 – a few fellow stitchers suggested that I add some small flowers under the text, so if I find something I like, this piece may make another appearance later this year.
17. Stitch "Recipe for Love" sampler



This is the "recipe of Love" sampler I worked on while driving back and forth to Houston this past weekend. This was the last time I posted progress, so as you can see I've gotten very little done, but I plan on working on it over the next few weeks in between studying for school. We'll see how far I get.

Red, White and Blue, but no preview

The 4th of July was a very fun day. The installation hosts and annual FreedomFest and I was tasked with covering it for the newspaper, but other than that we thought we might play golf, but the weather did not cooperate. We had received and invitation to the commander's house since we would be in town, which we thought would be a special treat.

His wife, although extremely busy with the duties as a VERY involve mother, Family Group Advisor, and whatever other requirements attached to the wife of a Lt. Colonel, recently told me she does needlework. We've talked about it a few times, but I am still hesitant to "make the first move" even though she has always made me feel welcome in her home whether I am there for an Army event or social or just a personal visit. I think I am most intimidated because first of all she is an amazing person and a great example of what a military spouse should be and I would be content to live in her shadow and soak up all I can from her. But I digress.

I decided that I would make a red, white and blue custard to bring so I started off working on it at 10 a.m. Now I KNOW custards are tricky, but I was convinced I could do it. Not so ... after 7 hours it still wouldn't set ... so I improvised, but most importantly my HUSBAND came up with the plan. I placed my Mikasa candy dish in the center of the matching serving tray. I surrounded it with strawberries then a circle of blueberries, then sprinkled white chocolate chips throughout the ring of blueberries. I filled the candy dish with vanilla pudding and placed a strawberry in the center. Ta da! Berries and chocolate with a pudding dip. We make a great team. Unfortunately, in all of my excitement, I forgot to take a picture, but here is a picture of my preparations of my patriotic dessert in the tart pan it was to originally be in.



Now, I am going to get that custard thing figured out, maybe make it for a social or something. I think I jinxed myself by taking a ton of pics of me making it in hopes of posting it here. That's how life is sometimes.

On another note, the FreedomFest was o.k. It was very wet thin year and unfortuately about 2/3 of the fireworks didn't clear the trees they set it up behind, but Monday there should be some pictures on the paper's website, www.fortpolkguardian.com. Hope everyone else had a great holiday.

Have a safe holiday!

Glitter Graphics

All dressed up

I did not forget ... I said that I would post pics of our recent military ball. Here they are:

This is George and I ... all dressed (OMG ... my shoes REALLY hurt!)



Here are a few of us girls being girls! We all had so much fun and we are still trading photos like they are baseball cards. I'll have to post a pic of my hair after I took it down ... it was big ... Texas big!






Within the next few months all except a few of us will be moving to new places. It's just another part of military life, but you learn fast to hold on to the friendships you make ... they are your biggest supporters!

Class notes ...

Well it's that time again. I got to get busy finishing some of the projects for my master's program if i want to graduate on time. I got a phone call on Thursday and an e-mail today that left me in better spirits and definitely inspired o get back to the books ... but let me start at the beginning.

My mom had my brother and I at an early age, and being the oldest her sibling were still in school and college. While I don't remember too much from my earlier years, there is one thing that stood out for me and set me on a mission when I reached college.

My oldest aunt, Laura, was in college when my brother and I were early elementary school. Actually she has a doctorate, so she was in school for a while. I remember spending time with her and her sorority sisters of Phi Mu in Houston. Their friendships seemed unbreakable and no matter what they did – activities, charities, etc. – they always seemed to have fun.

Now my grandmother, an educator, was set on my brother and i attending college to get quality education. I wanted to attend college to be a Phi Mu sister. It was my driving force. I studied hard in elementary school, worked to be ahead of my peers in junior high and began volunteering and other extracurricular activities. It wasn't the popularity I wanted, it was the prestige, camaraderie and dedication that I saw as a young girl that I wanted desperately to be a part of.

When I attended college at sam houston State University, there was no Phi Mu. I tried a second option, but when that sorority was temporarily closed by the University, I saw it as a sign that I shouldn't settle for second choices. When I started my master's at Louisiana State University, I approached my aunt who is still highly actively involved in Phi Mu. She said I should give it a try, although my circumstances were nontraditional. She said if that is what i wanted, then I shouldn't walk away and she would help if she could.

For the past year i have been trying to get in contact with the LSU chapter, but have met roadblocks, mainly my situation being unique – I am a campus student, but the professors come to the military base and that is where my classes are. The e-mail today, merely said that they would look into the issue and get back to me, but that is more than I had in the last year and with only one year remaining of school, I was worried that my chances were slipping away. It may happen, it may not. I have always managed to reach the goals I set for myself, but maybe this one is a lesson in not giving up on a dream.

The other good news is my niece, Stephanie, called to say she registered for her first semester of college classes and said she requested information about Greek Life. I know it's hard for her because she lives with the "middle child" syndrome and may often feel as if she is ignored. I have tried to be supportive and at times I find myself throwing around phrases like "Oh, my God!" and No, way!" or "That is really cool!" when talking to her. I guess I'm reverting back to my earlier college years, but it is so exciting to view college through the eyes of someone starting out. The optimism and excitement is catching on. I am excitedly getting stuff together that "every college girl should have."

Who knows what tomorrow may bring. But I do know that I will not have any regrets when it comes to trying to reach my dreams. I am so excited to share this with her, both of us college students. Maybe, we'll stay up all night talking about boys and eating ice cream, maybe we'll stress about finals together. Either way, if i can inspire her the way my Aunt Laura and her Phi Mu sisters inspired me, then whether I'm in or not doesn't matter. I'll still THINK PINK!

Spoke too soon ...

O.k. so it's been a day or so since I last stopped in ... that's because when I was chatting about the ease of recovery, I was setting myself up for failure.

On Saturday, I had some sort of reaction to the pain meds, or at least that is the best that we can figure. The dosage may have been too much or something, because I could not keep anything down - which is hard to do when your mouth is filled with stitches. It was the most painful experience. On top of that, I can't eat anything other than soft foods, so there was really nothing in my stomach leaving me with painful dry heaving.

I didn't feel sick until late Saturday night, but I was already stir-crazy that morning, so we went in search of a sofa. George and i have been working on making our house a home and recently recarpeted the livingroom (Army housing is not all that decorative or comfortable.) So after much negotiating (Goerge is GOOD) we got a sectional that can convert, meaning the side do not attach, so if we go to a installation with smaller livingroom, the pieces can be seperated and they are finished. Not only did we get a sofa with sleeper, but we got two recliners with a console, so it looks like theater seats. The wedge is COMFORTABLE, I've already taken a three hour nap in it. AND ... since George is so good a negotiating, we got a FREE chaise lounge. On top of it, we used a company that takes old furniture, fixes it and donated to Soldiers in need. Take a look ...




It's a beautiful mircrofiber browns. The chaise is perfect for ... you got it STITCHING or reading. It is comfortable for working on the computer, doing homeowrk, etc.

On the stitching note, I did get some done this weekend, regardless of not feeling well. Here's an update.



It's about 80 percent done, but I'm not sure how I want to finish it yet. I'm excited to finish it and hope to get it done over the next week. Well I'm gonna try to eat something now ...