Play Me Another One, Sam

This morning I went to Sam's first music recital, he was adorable. He came in and looked through the crowd of parents but couldn't find me. His expression when he found me was all I needed to assure myself I made the right decision ditching work for an hour. He began singing and my eyes welled up with tears, he was so precious. I took pictures but they don't do him justice. When he was singing his little heart out to me I couldn't bring myself to look away to fumble with my camera.

I'm back at work now, still filling in for the Executive Assistant (or secretary, whatever). I have a big visit tomorrow morning and can't wait until it's over.

Yagopuchae is still in Paris, he may bring his family by Stuttgart and spend the night at my place. It would be wonderful but I'm still not unpacked after a year and a half, they'll be less than impressed with my housekeeping. It'd still be nice to have them stop by tomorrow night. We'll see.

On a completely separate subject, I have a crazy-ass zit on my lip that looks suspiciously like a cold sore but is NOT. It's becoming enormous and increasingly hideous. It's the most curious blemish I've had in a while, not your run-of-the-mill kind of thing. And painful, that's always a nice add-on. It's either throbbing or growing it's own heart and blood supply. If I grossed you out, you're welcome.

Memorial Day

I went on Sam's field trip Friday and I'm not sure when I'll sign up to do that again. It was exhausting sitting and walking with 20 kids all day. The museum had lots of interesting exhibits to see, maybe we'll go one day on our own.

On to the good stuff... I had a great time with the in-laws. They are so nice and funny. They came in Saturday, Sunday we went up to Bastogne and saw some cool WWII stuff. Monday, we went to St Goar to do some wine tasting and buying. Yagopuchae even bought a special bottle to celebrate when we finally get Sammy adopted. He's sweet like that.

It was a nice weekend and I was sad to come home...

Ain't I Purdy?

My dress got here last night so I hurried home from work to try it on. Cute cute. I stood in my room and examined myself from all angles, determining where it could be taken in. As I scrutinized I would periodically call out to Sam in the living room, "Isn't the dress pretty? Isn't this a pretty dress?" He lost interest in my dialogue after about five minutes, darn shame.

My future in-laws are coming in this weekend and I'm excited. They are so funny and nice, it should be a good weekend. Tomorrow is Sammy's field trip and I get to chaperone. He says that means he HAS to be my partner all day. (Despite his tone, I'm making that a positive statement.) I just can't wait to have a few days off.

Call Me Executive Assistant

My morning started out pretty well. I stepped on the scale and I'm finally below 140 again, I think it was around Nov-Dec that I passed that magic little mark.

A couple of slugs (not the fun beer chugging kind) from my office came in and did their best to apologize. Still don't like them but it was fun watching the spineless one squirm while I shot him with my ocular death rays.

I am STARVING right now because the hall smells like my momma's yummy potato salad. Try as I might, I can never duplicate it. (Have I ever tried? That's not really important.) It smells GOOD! rumble rumble

I kept having bad dreams about separating last night. I dreamt they officially announced a huge bonus for voluntary separations ($250k) but Yago, in his zeal, signed up for it before me. Then, I was afraid of both of us separating with only HALF-A-FREAKIN-MILLION dollars. It would have been about $350k after taxes though.

What Gives?

I'm feeling a little down in the dumps today and am not exactly sure why. My self-esteem seems to be taking a beating lately and I hate work. I'd like to go home and mope in private for a little while and then get Sam to cheer me up.

I have a festering ball of anger in my chest. Maybe it'll pass...

I'm substituting for the secretary again, this time for 2 1/2 weeks. Will I still do this after I make Capt? The other Capt hasn't ever had to fill in for a secretary but I bet I will continue... (I don't have a penis, after all.)

I can't get the Exec to send out an email tasking the divisions for Holiday Party reps. I'm supposed to have the first meeting tomorrow but he won't even send the stupid tasker out. I told him I was drafting it for his release, I went in and told him after I sent it to him, I sent him and email asking (begging) him to send it out and he STILL hasn't done it.

Everyone in my office took off for the day and went to see the forward operating site for Exercise COMBINED ENDEAVOR and not only didn't tell me but didn't invite me. (They're all jerks anyway but come on, this tops the office luncheons they don't tell me about.)

Plus, I'm feeling kind of ugly lately. I have the world's worst passport photos, no really. I'm not kidding. I put on a few pounds over the winter and have managed to lose about half of it but I'd be embarrassed if I ran in to an ex. I'm really putting too much thought in to that whole scenario, I just don't want it to happen.

I want out of this Division so badly, it's killing me. I want to go plead my case to the General but I can't really move when I've only been in this Branch five months. There's just no way I can excel over here. I have to remember it's better than the NOSC.

Plus, my dad wrote me. The Sabres lost last night, just let this day be over.

New Headquarters Badge debuts

"Airmen at the service headquarters often work 18-hour days, said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley. And while the Air Force can’t give the airmen extra money or time off, it can honor them with the badge, he said."

Well, zippity doo da!! Thanks Gen Moseley, maybe we could cut some more people and all work 19-20 hr days. Someone slap some stars on me and call me General.

Haircuts! Get your free haircuts!

I cut Sammy's hair last night. I cut his hair shorter than it has been since probably his third birthday. He thinks it's cool. (Not as cool as the mowhawk he wanted but he's happy.)

I just went to take a big swig of my water and noticed a BUNCH of crap in my cup. Gross. I wonder how much of it I ingested.

Bear with me...

Health care. It ticks me off. I HATE TriCare, mostly because I remember when everything was FREE. Because that's what I signed up with and it was taken away because TriCare was going to be SO much better and save the government SO much money.

Well, they're trying to overhaul it now because DoD is spending too much on health care. (Maybe they'd spend less if soldiers didn't keep getting wounded when they're sent off to war.) By overhaul, I mean charge us more for less benefits.

They're spending too much on pharmaceuticals. Huh? TriCare doesn't even cover new drugs, only generics that have been around something like 15 yrs. Don't EVEN get me started on THOSE lobbyists because it'll just ruin my day.

I think we should ALL have the exact same coverage the Senators get. People hated that Clinton wanted universal health care. Whatever, I don't think anyone should go bankrupt because they were in an accident or contracted a disease. What about all the schlepps working that aren't offered health insurance? It shouldn't be a perk, it should be a right.

Jennifer's Death

So here's my little story of the day...

Yesterday, I called Yago when I got home from work (as I always do) only to find him thoroughly annoyed. He planted basil the other day and went out to check on it yesterday afternoon. A slug had feasted on his beloved basil and he was... shall we say angry. (You must first understand his love affair with basil and rosemary, let's just say it borders weird.) After a five minute rant he told me he had to get off the phone and salt the slugs. (The evil basil robbers.)

I called him last night as I was going to bed (as I always do) and heard a man giddy with excitement. Hmmm, what's this about? "I named one of the slugs Jennifer!" Turns out, after we got off the phone he called his father who let him in on a little trick. "You see, if you get a bowl full of beer and put it in a little pit so it's level with the ground the slugs will come out to drink it. They get drunk, fall in the beer and drown! It's the coolest thing!"
"...so you named a slug you were trying to kill Jennifer?"
"I named her Jennifer because she hurried over to the beer! She really likes it, it's so funny! So I named her after you, honey." (He's obviously pleased with himself.)
"You watched her die? And you named her after me?"
"Uhhh... No, it's real funny." (A little deflated now.)
"You named a slug after your betrothed and watched her die?"
"Um, you're taking it wrong. I love you."
Hm.

Pumpkin Head

I sent Sam to school with some ORANGE hair today. I hope he doesn't get in trouble. I took him to school and expected to see kids with painted faces and all sorts of things. Nope. Not a single person was displaying any spirit. Oopsy.

I finally ordered a dress last night. Nothing fancy but nice enough to have a picture taken in. Sizing charts are always tricky so I ordered big thinking I can always have it taken in. You know, by the same people that sew my the pockets down on my uniform. Maybe not such a brilliant idea after all...

Field Days and Field Trips

Tomorrow is Field Day for Sam's school. He's competing in the Tug of War competition. (not the Hug of War as he initially told me) He's on Team Ireland so their colors are orange, white and green. Guess who's going to school with orange hair tomorrow... I hope they send a note home and let me know what time he's competing so I can cheer for him.

Next Friday they're taking a field trip to the Rosenstein Natural History Museum. We have a four-day weekend on Memorial Day so I'll get to chaperone and go with him. I'm looking forward to it but it means I won't spend an extra day at Yago's house, that's a bummer.

I got an email today saying that the Clerk of Courts needs a $6 money order to send us Yagopuchae's paperwork. You know, the paperwork we requested about 3 wks ago. The Legal Office sent another request with the money order today but that means it's another 3 wks before they look at it. Then we still have to wait for the stupid piece of paper to arrive in Germany. Maybe it's a good thing the AF retained me, otherwise I might be tossed out of Germany on my ear. ...Or have to get a job at the Shoppette.

Happy Mother's Day

Yes, I had a happy Mother's Day. Yagopuchae made me a gift that has kept on giving. Oat bran muffins.
Me: "Honey, how much oat bran was in those muffins?"
Yago: "A cup and a half."
Me: "Hmm, one serving = 1/4 cup. Holy crap!! I ate like five of those little suckers!"

Lil' Buckaroo

All Sam was missing this morning was a cowboy hat. He looked countrified but still adorable. He has a green checker western shirt that he wore with blue jeans and a denim jacket. He didn't even want his hair sticking up as usual because, "Cowboy hair is flat."

I'd just like to throw this out for my own amusement... Has ANYONE (besides Yagopuchae) ever heard of someone using "raisin" in place of the word nipple? i.e., "My raisins are poking out?"

Congratulations!

I've been inundated with congratulations on my retention. It's retarded. A Colonel that's nowhere near my chain of command just congratulated me. The secretary gave me a handwritten note from the General congratulating me again. I think word is out among the Lt Cols and below that I didn't want to be retained because I've been asked a few times.

Meanwhile, I ran in to Mrs. Verbeck at Burger King this afternoon and she congratulated me on my engagement. Silly General, telling his wife...

Also, I saw Sam's teacher at the post office last night and asked if his behavior has improved. Indeed, it has. So I offer congratulations to my (our) little Sammy.

Disenchantment

Since my conversation with Mickity last night I've been thinking...

Many years ago I was watching a program about the deficiencies of American schools. It focused mostly on the disparity of achievement among Asians and Americans. What it boiled down to was expectations. In the Asian culture it was the child's "job" to be a student. They didn't spend an hour after dinner doing dishes, they spent the time studying. Their job was to study, not to help out with household chores. The father's job was to earn a living, the mother took care of the home and the children studied. School was their priority. I thought that was interesting and find myself telling Sam that his job is to do well in school.

I look around now and am worried and perplexed about our future as a nation. Kids finish high school and can't add unlike fractions. Nobody can spell worth a damn anymore because it's not important. There's spell check for papers and most writing now is informal, IM and email.

For the vast majority of the population, education is the only way to increase your net worth over a lifetime. The higher your education the more money you make, it's that simple. However, schools are more and more unequal. It's always been that way but it's getting worse. There is a distinct difference among the classes. (and the classes)

In the meantime, our government is moving to cut aid and student loans making it even more difficult for a kid from an average income household to go to college. Legislators are also well on their way to approve an extension of a tax break for investors. That's great for all those people making money off investments but what about the Americans that live paycheck to paycheck? So the parents of a 6 yr old in the suburbs (whose mother is schlepping her to French lessons, gymnastics and swimming class) just got an extension on their tax break. Meanwhile, the family of the 6 yr old living in the city whose is going to a rotten school district isn't any better off. He's not going to learn trig in his public high school and he's not going to be able to afford college.

This is all especially groovy when you take into account crumbling pension plans and global outsourcing.

Oh Bloggy, wo bist du?

I can't see a damn thing. I'm getting the black screen of death, what is going on?

BONKERS!!

I'm going bonkers!! This guy has been trying to drill a safe open for hours. However, there are intermittent breaks from the drilling when he pounds on it. I'm normally pretty good at tuning out that kind of stuff but Jeezy Creezy, it's been 3 or 4 hrs.

I'm still adjusting to the fact that I'm going to spend the summer here in Stuttgart instead of at Ramstein. (Or Ramstead, as my mom calls it.) I had been trying to sign Sam up for swimming lessons and everything, thinking I'd be on the total slacker schedule.

I need to get out of here before I start screaming at the German.

Speculation

The news is out, finally. I'm being retained by the AF. That's right, they're keeping me in even though I wrote a letter and said I wanted out. Ah, how typical.

I misinterpreted a conversation with the Exec earlier today. I thought I was going to be forced out without the severance package. I was told the AF was going to treat the people who wrote letters as voluntary separations, making me ineligible for the money. I was bummed about not getting the GI Bill but was adjusting. Then the General called me in to his office and announced I'm being retained. "Congratulations, Jennifer. You're doing a great job."
Fake smile, "Um, thank you sir." Brain, process message. You must have misunderstood.

Changes

Yagopuchae is getting a new job, sounds a lot better than what he's doing now. The big bonus (in my opinion) is he won't be working for Arty. And hopefully, I'll be starting my new job soon. The one were I get to watch Oprah every day. The announcement should come next Wednesday. I'm warning you now, it's probably going to be a daily mention here on the ol' blog and if you call me... I'm bound to bring it up. I'm a total girl like that. If it's on my mind, I'm yapping about it.

Sam's sleepover went a lot better than I expected. They were good but they managed to bicker about everything, gives me a new appreciation for my mom and sister. Two kids are harder than one. I've heard that after three it's all the same.

I've got a four star event tomorrow and life should be SOOO much better after that's over.

I want to get out of here. Just take a couple weeks off and chill with the family but it'll have to wait...