Man Day

Jason is off today so he came down to Stuttgart a day early. He and Sam are enjoying a "Man Day" while I'm at work. I don't know what that means but I'm pretty sure it involves pajama bottoms and no shirts.

I have an appointment with the General in 30 mins to ask for his support in separating. I'm nervous as heck. I'm also afraid of ticking off my entire chain of command only to have my application turned down at AFPC.

In other news, today is my last duty day as a Lt. After I get back from leave I'll be a Capt.

Stick With It

I was given some advice last week, "You have to just make a decision and stick with it. You have to think about the worst case scenario on both sides. Can you live with it? Once you decide, you can't look back afterwards." Hmm. I can sit on a fence with the best of them.

Sam's last day of school was yesterday and his report card improved. He scored highly in all the academics and his behavior improved too. That's great news.

We leave this weekend for the "honeymoon." There might even be a wedding July 7th. Who knows.

Susie Homemaker

It's weird that I long to spend the day home cleaning and cooking. I was never really interested in being a domestic. Of course, before Sammy, I wasn't really interested in being a mother either. I still remember when I bought diapers for my niece and hussling out of Albertson's before anyone (besides the cashier) saw me. I didn't want anyone to think I had a baby! I despised the word "wife" until Yago told me he wanted me to be his. ;^) Suddenly, it had a certain ring to it.

I think I'm mostly tired of a lot of things. I'm tired of a messy house, of sticky floors, of throwing dinner together and mostly I'm tired of being tired. I want a home not a place where we all crash at the end of the day. It'd also be nice to learn to cook something that wasn't "cajun style."

Picture This

I've been trying to post pictures from when the family was in town but my computer at home is stupid. Yeah, it's the computer that's stupid.

I was lamenting yesterday to a coworker/friend about how I don't get any significant work but am getting paid a crap load of money. When I told her how much I get paid she couldn't believe it. She said something to a LTC (reservist) and he thought she was joking. When I showed him he was surprised and appalled that I make more money than HE does when he's 3 pay grades over me. I'm amused. Really. Probably more than I should be.

I have NOTHING to do today. Honestly. I should just go buy some fresh food and make an awesome dinner. Spend the day relaxing. I think they call that AWOL though.

Colonel Who?

I had to bring Sam in to work one night last week. I picked him up from the CDC, got a pizza and brought him to the office. I warned him to be very careful because we were eating at my boss' boss' conference table. "Okay," he answered.

Later on he wanted to play a game with me. "Mom, can we play a game? Pretend I'm your boss and I'm calling you. Pretend my name is Colonel Sam, okay?"

This has been our game lately. We pretend he's my boss and he asks me to go get him pizza because he has to work late. I ask, "I'll get it, what would you like on your pizza, sir?"
"Pepperoni."
"Yes, sir. I'll be there in a few minutes with your pepperoni pizza, Colonel Sam."

Can't think of a title...

I haven't blogged in nearly a week, don't have anything funny or particularly interesting these days.

Yago and I finally got our Russian Visas, that's good news. Honeymoon is still on.

I lost my debit card and curse you Mickity, I'm dependent on it now. I can't order anything on line because I had the lost one cancelled and haven't gotten the new one yet. I was going to order a swimsuit and some new clothes for our trip but I can't. I'm back to the check writing days and it's driving me crazy.

Add to that, Sam got in trouble at school last week and was sent to the Vice Pricipal's office. He disrupts the class (trying to clown around) and doesn't listen to the teacher. But, only a week left of the school year.

The secretary is putting in her 2-wk notice today and I'm afraid I'm going to become the full time secretary. Make no mistake, I'll be TICKED. My boss says he won't let it happen but he's pretty spineless so I don't put much stock in it.

My Turn?

I was here (at work) until almost 9:00 last night which makes me wonder, should I go in the office and start patting myself on the back for staying late last night? That's what everyone else does... Is it my turn to be an ass?

The in-laws (heehee) are coming back from Paris today and spending the night at my house. I really want them to come but my place is a DISASTER! I'm afraid they'll try to talk Yagopuchae out of his commitment. I dumped everything in one of Sam's toyboxes last Friday so I could take it to Yago's house. Sam needed a place to keep his things and it makes his bedroom there more his own. Anyway, Sam's room is a mess because I haven't had a chance to pick up all week. Nevermind the rest of my house looks like the dryer exploded because there are clothes EVERYWHERE. Some folded, some not. The priority is clean, then folded, then put away. I haven't gotten to the put away part yet.

The General's visit should be over around 4:30 so maybe I can get out of here and tidy up a bit before they all show up. I'm excited though. It'll be fun.

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?"