New Adventures in Our Own Backyard

Well, been a while since I've posted any blog, on here or any of my blogs such as the Traveling Teacups: A Creative Community for Military Families. The past year has been one of extreme change for me and I admit, somedays I have trouble keeping up. With George in law school and the Army Reserves, and Jamie actively involved in extracurricular activites as well as a educational program at school, I have my hands full and my schedule is feeling it as well. 

Last summer I also left my job at the law firm to help my parents move their company back to Texas. It was short notice so instead of having to find staffing on top of the phyical moving aspect, so I jumped in. It was not as fun as Duck Dynasty protrays a family business to be, but we survived the transistion.

In February I was offered a full time position as the South Texas Regional Account Executive for TEAinTEXAS, a cultural travel publication highlighting unique travel to promote that relaxing "tea state of mind". I've worked with the magazine on the annual Quilting (Fall) Issue the past two years, but to now have a full time postion at a dream job is exciting. The great part is that I am able to start writing again and for that I am excited!! 

I definitely get to explore some amazing things in my own backyard and will share these adventures with you, because really Texas is too amazing to keep to yourself!!

So hopefully I can get back into a schedule that allows me to blog more often because I love writing. So this blog may take on a new feel, but its not different than military life, change in inevidable ...

Until our next cup of tea ...

 

"Good Things Happen to Great People"

Today I was running errands and Jamie was being really good so I decided to stop at Sonic and get him some tots and me a strawberry limeade (now I don't usually reward him with fast food but so far his food today has been whole wheat waffle, banana, peas and multi-grain Cheerios, so it sounded like a good trade.)

When I got to the window and the cashier handed me my drink, she asked, "Do you want a big bag of food?" I'm sure I looked somewhat confused because the manager walked to the window with a big bag of food and explained that someone had driven off without their order and asked if I knew of a group of people who would eat it.

"I could take it to my husband's Soldiers at the base," I replied.

So he dropped a stack of napkins and straws in the bag (i guess the straws were out of habit) and handed me the bag. After getting my food, I headed to the base. There were 2 kids meals and 3 or 4 burger meals in the bag.

When I pulled into the unit's parking lot, my husband and a group of other Soldiers were standing outside the building. I handed the bag to my husband and explained what had happened. As I drove away I heard him say, "She brought some free food," and then I saw then dive into he bag of food he had placed on the gravel ... too funny! Free food and a lucky dad or two got to bring home toy for their kiddo!

On my way home I called Sonic and asked for the manager. I thanked him a gain for the food and explained that the Soldiers had been working all day in the warehouse and were thankful for the break. He said, "Woohoo! Good things happen to great people. I'm glad that we could give it to them."

Mommy's new iPhone is hours of fun ... for Mommy!

So my new iPhone not only takes pictures, it allows you to flip the screen so you can see yourself while taking a "self-portrait". I guess is this new "Me-Me-Me" society we live in it was only logical. However, Jamie LOVES to see himself in my phone and we randomly take self-portraits during the day to send to Daddy ... Here are a few ...















(I have no idea why that last one is upside down, but hey, I just went with it!)

Yeah, come to think of it, maybe it's time for playgroup to start up again ...

Just like G'ma did it!

When I was little, like 5 years old, my paternal grandmother, who helped raise my brother and I after my parents divorce, would make cookies and cool them on large bath towels. I don't know why, maybe they cooled more evenly, maybe it was just so she could put another batch in the oven, but this is a memory that stick with me ... sneaking hot cookies off the table, pull too quickly and part of the cookie stays stuck to the towel.

Even now as an adult, when I make cookies, I lay them out on towels to cool, for no other reason than that's what gramdma did. I tried to explain to my husband once and it was lost on him, so now he just accepts that we have a bath towel or two that is for the kitchen. I even found some dish towels recently with the same texture that have sections for stitching, so I'm thinking I'll stitch "cookies" on them one day.

Hmmm ... just thought I'd share since I spend a good portion of the day baking cookies for a bake sale ... you can return to your regularly scheduled programming ...

Until our next cup of tea (with cookies) ...

C'mon, Show a Little Support!

SO yesterday, Jamie and I went to Michael's to pick up some stuff for various projects I've got going on. While we were there I overheard a sad conversation between a mom and her kids ...

Mom: (obviously irritated) Where the hell is it?

Older boy: I don't know ...

Mom: Your teach is an idiot! She said everything we'd need would be at Michael's.

Younger boy: You could ask her ...

Older boy: No, stupid, its due on Monday.

Mom: I don't have time for this sh**!

All I could think was "Really!?! You think its a good idea to berate and ridicule your children's teachers in front of them?"

I mean its hard enough for teachers to get kids to pay attention in class or do their homework, it can't be easier with unsupportive parents in the mix. Obviously, the mom was too busy and allowed the boy to wait until the last minute to do the project, which means that it will be rushed and he won't learn anything.

{Sigh} I worry about the future of this country sometimes ...

Until our next cup of tea ...

Getting off to slow but organized start ...

Well we are deep into the third week of 2011 and I am just getting to my first post. I can hardley believe the new year is off to such a busy start ... oh, wait ... that's the one constant in my life ... a millions things to do, with time to complete a hundred!

Well, when it came to making new years resolutions this year, I debated going with the old standby - weight loss - but then decided that this year I wanted to do somthing new. I wanted to improve the whole "me". So while yes, better diet and exercise are an element of that goal, so is improving my skills in marketing and PR so I can find that perfect job, increasing my patience, maintianing my stress by organization (ah, I do LOVE organization!) and enjoying life a little more to include some "me" time.

I have picked up a few marketing "gigs" from close friends with their own business to help me get back into a 'creative" way of thinking. so welcome to ...



I am happy to be back to "work" even if it is only during naptime and such. I have also started to work on my photography again. Hopefully I can save enough to get the full Photoshop program, but for now I am having fun in my current "Pretty with Pink" series ...



I really do love landscape and nature photography ... less stressful than when I did family photography, but I may return to that too.

For Christmas George got me a Cruz ereader and I love it. I set a highly ambitious goal of 111 books in 2011, but want to see how many I can get too. So far I have finished 5 books and are switching between 4 others. I've broadened my usual list of mysteries, historic novels (I love anything Victorian era) and professional books to now include westerns (my grandfather's favorite author was Louis Lamour), biographies (I downloaded the Kendra book and have a Jackie Kennedy Onasis one) and even romances (that's new). If you have any suggestions please let me know!

All in all, the new year has gotten off to a good start. I am eating healthier, Jamie and I walk a few miles almost daily now, and I am learning to prioritize versus trying to get it all done like I'm some sort of superhero.

We've still made very few friends here, but the playgroup I lead has led me to make some really great moms and I think we'll have Jamie's 1st birthday there, since there is really no one else here to invite other than our neighbors to the left whom Jamie LOVES!

Well, back to life and all things adventurous! I should eat befoer the baby gets up rom his nap ...

Until our next cup of tea ...

Continuously Amazed ...

So I know that I've talked about my friend Maria at Persoanlized Sketches and Sentements before. Her art work is BEAUTIFUL, and in fact one of the first pieces I had commissioned was this piece of Texas Art for George. I loved it! She also did a rendering of a teacup using one of my grandmother's from my collection. I sust post a picture of the framed piece soon, but I digress.

Anyway, my dear friend (and military spouse too) never ceases to amaze me with her talent. I'd been trying to figure out what to have done for Baby George (Jamie) since George and I each have one. Its only fair! As many of you know we call him lil Monkey, because he's so active and brings a smile to everyone's face. I stopped by her page today and there it was ... scroll down on that post and you'll see it ... a little monkey! How could you not smile at that lil guy. Sure there's a chance I could win it in her drawing (HAppy 100th post, Maria!), but I've got to order it if not. What a perfect gift for Christmas, is not his first birthday in Februrary (you know I'm already planning it!)

Go ahead, take some time and scroll through her whole blog. Its amazing how talented (and patient) she is! I'll sit back and enjoy my cup of tea while you go visit ... have fun!

Until our next cup of tea ...

Balancing a saved life with the freedom of choice ...

I am a habitual reader of Post Secret, a blog created by Frank Warren, where people mail in their secrets on a postcard and they are anonymously posted for readers to view. Some of them are heartbreaking, others are joyous, some make you think, and others make you feel less alone. Sometimes you are surprised to find someone else has revealed a secret that you share as well. For the most part, the emotions and feelings that they evoke in me are mine alone. I don't blog about it, share it with friends or family members or chat about it on social networks. But today, I read one that angered me ... no outraged me.

It was a postcard of the Pentagon and simply read: "I draft wills for those deploying. I ignore their wishes and make them all organ donors."

I had to read it twice ... it struck a chord with me. The audacity of this person to feel that their own beliefs outweigh the wishes of service members who are volunteering to put themselves in harm’s way to protect others. I mean if it weren't for the troops fighting for our freedoms think of the oppression we could be living with ... and this person's reply is to take away the freedom of service members to make that choice. Some people have religious reason for making the decision not to donate; others may have spoken their wishes to a family member under what conditions that they wanted their organs donated.

Its a sad day today ... to see one person deviously take away a freedom from the very people who protect them ...

And Stupidity Reigns Supreme

Have you ever seen the movie, Idiocracy with Luke Wilson? You know the one where Private Joe Bauers, the definition of "average American", is selected by the Pentagon to be the guinea pig for a top-secret hibernation program and awakes 500 years in the future where he discovers a society so incredibly dumbed-down that he's easily the most intelligent person alive?

Great movie, really wish I had it in my collection, but as funny as it is, do we really want to live in a world like that? Sometimes I feel like I do.

Now, many of you know I was raised in Louisiana, thus ... recieving Louisiana education, which has ranked at the bottom of the states for many years. Maybe its just that social network sites like Facebook, Twitter and MySpace have led us to feel like D-List celebrities thinking that everyone is interested in every though that we have thus we are in such a hurry to post our latest epiphany that we overlook spelling, grammar or even the ellusive "complete thought". Maybe I just haven't gotten my decoder ring in the mail ... I don't know.

Some days I can't get on these sites for fear of a brain aneurysm from trying to decipher other people's posts. These are actual posts that I have found on my FB "wall" in the past week. Do you know what these people are saying:

1. I got A felling every thing gone be Alright BeAlright BeAlright

2. InJoyed church But didn't inJoy the Trayler Park Drama

3. Wearing my New Altfit I baught yesterday I deserved new close cause I was tyerd of wearing the same ones

4. Might go to praktis with my MaMa tonight at church I really inJoy lisening to music music it's what keeps me strong for some reason music gets me out my depresshion mood sometimes

5. Sippn on my juice chilln n patio relaxn

6. OMG...I'M ALL SMILEZ RITE NOw...MMM...DATS ALL I CAN SAY...I HAVENT FELT DIS GUD N A LONG TIME...YAY FOR ME!!!

So is it just me or does your brain hurt too? Maybe I'm just not part of the "cool" crowd anymore. I can understand typos and such, but soon life will be full of "Trayler Park Drama" if we can't even "praktis" mastering our own language!

Until our next cup of tea ...

There's No Excuse, I've Been Hiding ...

Well, Dear Blogger Friends, I don't need to tell you that my posting have dwindled. I could blame it on being a new Mommy, but I've always been honest with you. When we were at Fort Polk, life was great. You were there, right alongside as I catalog my grand adventures, some that would rival Forest Gump's journey from the south to the White House.

I was actively involved in the community, working with military families and working on my master's degree. You were there to ride out the rocky moments of deployments and separation and shared in the joy of homecomings. You laughed at the comedic view that I had on life, the world through the eyes of Sgt. Major, and many implored with me to write a book about living life with a laugh and latte, but alas, this duty station has beaten me down.

I was eager to start a new chapter with a baby and southern sun, jumping into the new adventures of life on a Air Force Base and Florida Beaches. Many of you begged me to slow down as I ran 90-to-nothing at 8 months pregnant, eager to explore my new home and meet new friends.

But here I sit, 9-months to the day since we moved in and I've lost my laughter. I love life with Jamie and his antics make me laugh daily, but more than no longer having access to my nostalgic New Orleans coffee of childhood days, I've lost my connection with the military community.

Maybe it's because we were at Fort Polk for 5 years, maybe it's because we live on base and I could throw rock and find someone facing the same issues, maybe it was I felt like I was doing something important when I went to work every day, but somewhere between Louisiana and Florida, I lost my spark.

I sit here, day in and day out in the house with Jamie and Sgt. Major, feeling trapped in my own home. George is only one of two Active Duty Army commanders on the post, the other being the general and we are surrounded by spouses who are married to his subordinates or his bosses, so either way I am on eggshells, watching what I say, what I do, how I act.

I've tried to make friends ... tried to volunteer, joined baby and toddler group, invited other spouses to lunch, but no one has stepped up. It’s hard to be the new girl who has to welcome herself. The spouses here are great, but none of the "parent" unit spouses have reached out and I have to schedule FRG activities to get someone to meet me for lunch. The leadership calls me when they need a volunteer, the spouses call when they need advice, but on the proverbial “Friday night” my dance card is empty. I have gone from the social butterfly to the girl nobody wants to dance with.

I’m tired of the pity party, so I am determined to pull myself out of it if I have to dance in the rain all alone. This isn’t me. I’m not the quiet wallflower (which is funny because I am naturally a quiet person), I’m the outgoing cheerleader (an still have the HS uniform to prove it!). I’m not going to let this place beat me. I’m not going to let the negatives of this lifestyle conquer me. I’m going to get out there, explore my world, face my fears, stitch a project or two and live life. My adventures are as numerous as the teacups I collect and I think it’s about time I get out there and add to both collections … just as soon as I finish my cup of hot Community Coffee. Thank God for internet shopping! If I can find my coffee, I can find my laughter!

Until our next cup of tea (or coffee!),

Happy Mother's Day!!!

Answers given by 1st grade school children to the following questions:



Why did God make mothers?

1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
2. Mostly to clean the house.
3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.

How did God make mothers?

1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.
3. God made my mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.

What ingredients are mothers made of?

1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.
2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.

Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?

1. We're related.
2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's mom like me.

What kind of a little girl was your mom?

1. My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.
2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.
3. They say she used to be nice.

What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?

1. His last name.
2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?
3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

Why did your mom marry your dad?

1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my mom eats a lot
2. She got too old to do anything else with him.
3. My grandma says that mom didn't have her thinking cap on.

Who's the boss at your house?

1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball.
2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.
3. I guess mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.

What's the difference between moms and dads?

1. Moms work at work and work at home and dads just go to work at work.
2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.
3. Dads are taller and stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friends.
4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.

What does your mom do in her spare time?

1. Mothers don't do spare time.
2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

What would it take to make your mom perfect?

1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.
2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be?

1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.
2. I'd make my mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it not me.
3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.

Happy Mother's Day to all my friends out there!

Mommy Needs a Timeout!

I love my husband, I love my baby, I love my dog, I love my home and I love my military families, but sometimes, I just need a break! I've spent the last 5-plus married years going 90 miles-a-minute because I always thought, I'll take a break when I need one ... and many times though I juggled a full-time job, part-time masters program, maintaining a home and taking care of the families of my husband's Soldiers, I didn't really need one. An hour here and there working on some stitching project or reading a "non-homework-assigned" book and I was ready to hit the ground running, but now that Baby George is here and every minute of my time mst be accounted for, I feel like I am being pulled in a million directions like a rag-doll whose fate is left in the hands of a schoolyard bully.

I try to take an hour to stitch and relax after I put the baby to bed, but then hubby inadvertently makes me feel guilty by saying he was waiting for me, or bottles must be washed for the next day and then more often than not I find that the dog has taken my place in bed and I am resigned to sleeping on a sliver of bed until he gets tired of me pushing against him.

All day long the baby wants to be held or fed, the puppy wants attention to to go out, hubby wants dinner or ... well "other" things, the dishes have to be done, the floor mopped, laundry washed and folded and if I get a cup of coffee finished by noon I am freaking exstatic! I buy the instant cappicino so I can make a quick cup but still feel like I'm getting a "treat". I need Calgon to take me away!

I spent all day last Saturday cleaning out the office/craft room so I could have a place to get away and hopefully look into some freelance writing, but after it was all said and done, there are three huge (36-inches tall) boxes with hubby's stuff that sits in front of the closet that just irritate me and since his unit is moving buildings in two months or so, all of his "professional" gears (books and stuff) are taking up all the space on the bookshelf and my books (dear sweet treasures of escape) are piled on a side table one small nudge away from clammoring all over the floor. Sadly, it just irritates me to go in the room because all of my "working" craft projects are piled on a (smaller) side table on the other side of the desk, where they are being rotated around as I try to organize them into some sort of system. Oh, my poor projects, sadly neglected. If only I could clone myself so that I could spend more time nestled under the soft cotten fabrics of half sewn quilts, gaze upon the bright colors of partially embroidered linens, and sift through the glittery stickers and roughly textured paper of my scrapbook pages.

If I had a fairy godmother, I wouldn't ask for a beautiful gown and glass slippers so I could attend the ball, I'd only ask for time to stand still so I could parade about my in my pajamas and peruse my treasured books or lazily stitch something pretty and pink!

Until our next cup of tea ...

Setting New Goals, Aiming for New Distances

So the past few weeks have been a flurry of activity with the new baby, continuing to unpack the house and settling in with a new unit and new families. Now that Jamie is 6-weeks-old, and I've healed from the c-section (for the most part), its time to start getting into a routine and as part of that routine includes taking some time to take care of me or I will be no good to George, the baby or the unit's families.

Before I found out I was pregnant, I had discovered a healthier menu. I say "menu" because "diet" often suggests that once my goal of weight loss is met that it is over, but that isn't the case. In addition to the healthier food choices, I'm most excited about being able to work out again.

Before I was pregnant, I had started running as well as cardio work. Now I wasn't good by any stretch of the imagination, but I could hold my own and was continually inspired by fellow military spouse, Army Blogger Wife. I mean she manages to participate in runs and tri-athlons while juggling a very suppotive, yet busy husband, a pre-teen who thinks she's a wsie-adult, a creatively energetic and independent middle daughter and little boy who can ellicite laughter from even the grumpiest Scrooge!

So with a little prodding from my husband (o.k. a lot of prodding and guilt-trips of "I just want to spend more time with you") I agreed to set the goal of running the Miami Half-Marathon with him next January (why can't he just join me in a cooking class or something!) To make it even more enticing, he said he'd even let me enter the Disney Princess Half-Marathon in March 2010. The things I will do for a tiara!

So, tomorrow starts my workout (Doc cleared me to S-L-O-W-L-Y start working out again, but I never do anything slowly!) I am excited to see how this journey goes. I know I will be a little disappointed with my progress at first because even though my brain knows I have been preganant and thus unable to run, my competative nature says I should be where I was 9-months ago! We'll see. I'll try to post my progress often (though some will be upbeat and others may show my disappointment.)

Until our next cup of tea ...

Why I am proud to be an American ...

1. JFK'S Secretary of State, Dean Rusk, was in France in the early 60's when DeGaule decided to pull out of NATO. DeGaule said he wanted all US military out of France as soon as possible.

Rusk responded "does that include those who are buried here?"

DeGuale did not respond.

2. When in England , at a fairly large conference, Colin Powell was asked by the Archbishop of Canterbury if our plans for Iraq were just an example of empire building by George Bush.

He answered by saying, 'Over the years, the United States has sent many of its fine young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom beyond our borders. The only amount of land we have ever asked for in return is enough to bury those that did not return.'

3. There was a conference in France where a number of international engineers were taking part, including French and American. During a break, one of the French engineers came back into the room saying 'Have you heard the latest dumb stunt Bush has done? He has sent an aircraft carrier to Indonesia to help the tsunami victims. What does he intended to do, bomb them?'

A Boeing engineer stood up and replied quietly: 'Our carriers have three hospitals on board that can treat several hundred people; they are nuclear p owered and can supply emergency electrical power to shore facilities; they have three cafeterias with the capacity to feed 3,000 people three meals a day, they can produce several thousand gallons of fresh water from sea water each day, and they carry half a dozen helicopters for use in transporting victims and injured to and from their flight deck. We have eleven such ships; how many does France have?'

4. A U.S. Navy Admiral was attending a naval conference that included Admirals from the U.S. , English, Canadian, Australian and French Navies. At a cocktail reception, he found himself standing with a large group of Officers that included personnel from most of those countries. Everyone was chatting away in English as they sipped their drinks but a French admiral suddenly complained that, whereas Europeans learn many languages, Americans learn only English. He then asked, 'Why is it that we always have to speak English in these conferences rather than speaking French?'

Without hesitating, the American Admiral replied, 'Maybe it's because the Brit's, Canadians, Aussie's and Americans arranged it so you wouldn't have to speak German.'

5. Robert Whiting , an elderly gentleman of 83, arrived in Paris by plane. At French Customs, he took a few minutes to locate his passport in his carry on.

"You have been to France before, monsieur?" the customs officer asked sarcastically...

Mr. Whiting admitted that he had been to France previously.

"Then you should know enough to have your passport ready."

The American said, 'The last time I was here, I didn't have to show it."

"Impossible. Americans always have to show your passports on arrival in France !"

The American senior gave the Frenchman a long hard look. Then he quietly explained, ''Well, when I came ashore at Omaha Beach on D-Day in 1944 to help liberate this country, I couldn't find a single Frenchmen to show a passport to."

So you were all right!

O.k. to my dear blogging friends who told me these last few months of pregnancy accompanied with a move and drive across the nation for a baby shower and time with out families would make me lose my sanity ... well, you were right. I also lost track of time from switching time zones, feel "icky" because I haven't been able to stay on my healthy eating regime (I NEED MORE FRUIT), and have a million (o.k. a few) half written posts.

I promise I will get back on track. There is so much I want to tell you ... especially about the baby shower (and how the heck we managed to get everything home from Houston to Miami!)

Well, we're off to get food and truck inspected and stop by my FIL's plot at the cemetary. Hope everyone has a good day and I promise, I'll return soon!

Until our next cup of tea ...

A promise to be better ...

O.k. This is my promise to be a better blogger friend! With the move, finishing my masters and then getting pregnant, I admit that I have not had as much time as I'd like to read other blogs or blog myself, but I promise to be better.

Now that I am in "mommy" mode I think I have come up with a system to accomplish this. Each time I post on one of my blogs (this one or The Teacup Collector's Cottage (Craft, Collection and Home Blog) I will put a colored star on my calendar (a different color for each blog.) My goal is also to visit the blogs on my sidebar weekly. Each week I visit each blog I'll put a different colored start on my calendar. (If I missed you, please let me know. As I get comments I will check to make sure you are on the list.)

I think this way I will be able to see at a glance how I'm doing. Isn't it a bit sad though that I have to revert to the system parents use to get their kids to do chores? I promise it's not a chore, my days seems to run together now that we prepare for ANOTHER move and the baby. I've already done two posts in two day on this blog, so the system must be working!

I hope everyone has a great week!

Until our next cup of tea ...

Let me introduce you to a friend ...

Do you remember when I told you about the art piece I had commissioned for my husband's return from Iraq?

I had so many people asking for the artist's contact info and as an avid supporter of military spouses I was happy to pass it along. Well, ask no more, my friends, because now the artist Maria, has her own blog as well as a Esty shop! Now you can explore her beautiful art without waiting!

Well, I am am off to explore more of her work!

Until our next cup of tea ...

Only in Louisiana ...

This one is for you Lime. You and Tommy Gunn are the only two who would truly appreciate this in all its glory!

On the way to take my master's exit exam on April 1 we stopped at some random gas station along the way for a bathroom stop. The women's restroom was simply marked "Women", but this is what the men's restroom said ...



If I've said it once, I've said it a million times ... You can't make this stuff up! Lime, I can't wait to hear what you have to say ...

Until our next visit ...

A Challenge Accepted ...

Today in visiting blogs participating in Pink Saturday I found Susan @ A Southern Daydreamer Reads and she is hosting a Spring Reading Challenge.

"What fun!" I thought as I a stack of books stare down at me in disappointment since I should have been doing homework. Yes, I should not be on the computer playing, when my master's exam is merely days away, but this would make the reading more fun right!?!

So here is the information:

Challenge: Spring Reading Challenge 2009
Start date: March 20, 2009
Finish date: June 20, 2009
Hosted By: A Southern Daydreamer Reads

Rules:
1. Make a list of books you want to read this spring.
2. Write a post with your list on your blog. (You can add to or change this list at any time during the challenge)
3. Please post the direct link to your Spring Reading Challenge 2009 post. (so that other participants can visit and see what you are reading)
4. You can write another post in June to let everyone know how you did.

I will compile a list and update it soon, but for starters, here is what I have to read for school (its a master's in Military History):
1. The American Way of War: A History of United States Military Strategy and Policy (by Russell Weigley)-COMPLETE
2. The Warrior Image: Soldiers in American Culture from the Second World War to Vietnam (by Andrew Huebner)-COMPLETE
3. Passage through Armageddon: The Russians in War and Revolution (by Bruce Lincoln)
4. A Stillness Heard Around the World: The End of the Great War (by Stanley Weintraub)
5. Hitler's Army: Soldiers, Nazis, and War in the Third Reich (by Omer Bartov)- COMPLETE
6. War Without Mercy: Race & Power in the Pacific War (by John W. Dower)
7. Why the Allies Won (by Richard Overy)- COMPLETE
8. After Tet (by Ronald H. Spector)
9. The Limits of Air Power: The American Bombing of North Vietnam (by Mark Clodfelter)-COMPLETE
10. On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society (by Dave Grossman)
11. Wartime: Understanding and Behavior in the Second World War (by Paul Fussell)



I'll try to post a review as I read them, but the school books will be all at once, as soon as testing is done ... Some are not that bad! Take some time and visit Susan @ A Southern Daydreamer Reads to learn more and to sign up! Off to read some more ...

Until our next cup of tea ...



Editor's note: Original post 3.29.09 @ 5:00 a.m.

The Soldier's Spouse Creed

I am in love with a United States Soldier. I will support him in his defense of the Constitution of the United States of America. And I will understand that he must obey the orders of those appointed over him. I represent the true backbone and fighting spirit of the Army. And for those who have served before me I salute you with all the strength and loyalty my heart can muster. I proudly stand by the one I love with Honor, Courage and Commitment. I am committed to support my soldier and the United States Army.