spring!

So much to do now that I'm off. Yesterday Ralph and I went to Fontenelle Forest to play and this morning we went to story time at the library. There are some pictures around somewhere...

I met with a county VA service officer (or some title similar to that) last week. I was supposed to get a face to face board to dispute their findings but something got lost somewhere and now it looks like I've missed my opportunity. I'm stressed out about this dumb VA disability thing because I KNOW I'm right (as I generally believe myself to be) but don't have a medical degree to prove it. It's frustrating. I'm not out to defraud the government or the VA but it feels like I've done something wrong. As though I must defend myself when really I just want them to uphold the correct decision they made in 2001.

Better news is that I won this month's competition at bootcamp. I kept a food journal for a while and got a $30 coupon at a local salon. All I have to do now is wait for my hair to grow back where it was burned off in the (unfortunate) perm incident. I colored it myself for the very first time last month and it didn't turn out too hideous. Although what I did won't be confused with highlights done at an expensive salon anytime before hell freezes over!

Time to play Clue with Schmitty. He's out on spring break.

so sue me

I was supposed to give up the Internet for Lent but I started cheating early on and now I'm basically full on checking blogs and FB.

I have a friend that hooked us up with his neighbor's old basketball hoop. I picked it up yesterday and the boys have been playing with it non-stop. I'm so happy that they're so happy, if that makes sense.

The weather is supposed to be beautiful this week which has me very excited. Yago and I have been doing yardwork today, discussing plans for our landscaping. It's so nice to be OUTside. Don't let Yago know I said that.

Well, I'm supposed to be making dinner so I gotta run. Something like rigatoni with a green olive pesto.

Smooches bloggy, I've missed you!

666

I just logged in and saw that I have 666 posts on blogger, this will be 667. I just thought it was funny that I had 666 posts.

I'm getting a little nervous about Lent coming in a few days. I'm giving up the Internet, that means not refreshing my email every time I walk by the computer and not looking at Facebook all the dang time. I was thinking it could even affect my cooking, I won't be able to search for recipes.

It'll be a change, for sure.

blew a gasket

On the drive home today I blew a gasket. Schmitty and our carpooler were physically fighting in the backseat. Without threatening, I pulled the car over and made them get out. I moved Ralphie's carseat to the center position and then ordered the boys back in (with plenty of expletives). I felt dumb afterward, especially since the other mother is an O-6 in the Navy and soon to be Yago's boss. I'm praying the other boy feels so guilty about misbehaving he doesn't mention the incident to his mom.

Oh well. They fight, play, scream, and holler at the top of their lungs every day. I used to come home a frazzled wreck. Best case scenario, they don't yell anymore because they're separated. Worst case, he tells his mom and doesn't carpool with me anymore.

unpleasant surprise

I woke up this morning to get ready for my workout when I was unpleasantly surprised. I wiped my mouth after brushing my teeth and felt the unmistakable beginnings of a fever blister. Ugh. Why why why?

I know after really tough workouts or when I begin an exercise regime I'm vulnerable to either getting sick or getting a fever blister. Yesterday's workout was brutal, we got a partner alternated sprinting with sandbags. I felt it the rest of the day. I love a great workout but now I'll be paying for it on my face for the next two weeks.

In other news, I got a card from my stylist yesterday telling me she's going to LA in order to get qualified to do Brazilian Blowouts. I had to look that one up. I wasn't sure what it entailed... could be a complicated waxing procedure (who knows where the blowout would come in to play). Anyway, it's supposed to smooth your hair for up to six weeks if I remember correctly so you can just wash and go without a bunch of frizz. It sounded intriguing except that I just got a PERM a couple of months ago. That was a huge mistake on many different levels.

Anyway, my plan for my hair is to process and wash less. Unfortunately, I darkened my hair to brown (my natural color) so I wouldn't have to spend the time and money at the salon anymore only to discover I have a lot more gray hair than I'd known about! So do I just color it at home every couple of months and risk frying it myself or go back to highlights every three months because gray blends better with blond?

Well time to shower with a midget so I can get to work.

hangover

I'm recovering from a hangover. Not what you think though, it's a pizza hangover. Last night was the annual Huff Family Night. We ordered pizza (which we NEVER do), drank soda (even the kids), and played games. Hungry Hungry Hippo and 39 Clues were hits last night. It was fun even though I ate WAY too much.

I wish I had taken pictures. I didn't think about it until I was in bed reading. I guess next year I'll take some pics.

wild night at the vfw

I met up with a couple of former coworkers Saturday night at the VFW. (Dana & Ron) I know, it sounds pretty glamorous. And it was.

First of all, I'm old. I didn't know any of the operators there, I thought I would see some people I knew from Kadena or Mildenhall but it's all young'uns now.

Second, I'm really happy I got out of that environment. My friend is recently divorced and looking to meet someone nice. Those guys really don't exist in the flying/deploying community. It reminded me of why I was so cynical a few years ago. I feel really bad for her and wish I could introduce her to a nice guy that can behave himself but I don't know anyone single our age. She's a good person but I know what she's up against. Even if she dated someone that didn't deploy she deploys all the time. She was gone something like 230 days last year. All I could offer was an ear. It's kind of depressing.

She asked how my marriage was and I couldn't help but tell her how great it is. ...How happy I am with my husband.

goals

So I have to set some goals here because I feel like I'm getting (going) nowhere.

First, I really have to get serious about SOS. I'm going to study every day. It's ridiculous that I haven't even taken a test yet. I'm not sure what to expect from the test and it paralyzes me in the studying. I need to get over the unknown and take a damn test.

I'm also going to take my GRE this year. We re-examined our budget this year and although we have no money for tuition I need to at least hunker down and study for the GRE. I can't figure out what I want to do. I mean I have dreams but reality isn't compatible with my dream. The fact of the matter is I'm almost 40 with young kids. It's a little late for starting a new career from scratch. Deal with it.

Finally, I need to refresh my Spanish. I will watch Telemundo or read Selecciones or something!

I'm giving up my computer for Lent. I think that should help in my endeavors of productivity.

losing hope

I'm frustrated with recent developments in gov't. So much so that I can't listen to NPR or talk shows. I'm giving up.

I'm starting to believe that most people are receiving medical care for conditions that are preventable. Maybe preventable conditions shouldn't be covered by any insurance. If you have diabetes because you're fat, perhaps you should have to be a healthy weight to get medical care, to include medicine. I work with a guy on a zillion meds basically because he's fat, refuses to exercise, and smokes. He had a heart attack last year followed by bipass surgery. Why should anyone have to pick up the slack (help pay his medical bills) when he's constantly stuffing pork rinds and cheese danishes in his face? Of course he's anti-health care because he's retired military on Tricare. He's convinced the only people denied access are lazy, unemployed, welfare recipients. I guess he doesn't realize those people are already COVERED by Medicaid.

I also think hospitals and doctors should post the prices of every single procedure or exam. You can choose what doctor you see, what tests you get, and where you get them. If you don't want to give up your cheese danishes and cigarettes you can make an informed decision and know how much they're costing you. I mean that's free-market capitalism at its finest, right?

And? Don't even get me started on the Supreme Court. I can't wait until the US becomes a third world country with no middle class.

And why is congress so completely impotent?

I realize, of course, my plan isn't a good one but I'm annoyed...

no haitian vacation

In the early 90s my squadron deployed to Eglin in anticipation of invading Haiti. We didn't invade and when everyone finally came back the trip was dubbed "The Haitian Vacation". They flew a couple of times but mostly the crews came back with drinking and strip club stories. I didn't go because I was still in training but I remember Jessica went. She was kind of bummed because she was underage at the time.

I got an email from the Reserves asking for volunteers to go to Haiti. I really wish I could go, understanding that it would never be called a Haitian Vacation. I tossed the idea around for a bit before I realized I couldn't do that to my family. I wish I could though. I feel like there's always a reason that I miss out on that kind of stuff.

I started bootcamp again, I went for the first time in over a month yesterday. My golly, I'm sore!

I'll be watching the election returns in MA today.

tsk tsk

It has been unbelievably cold here. The other day the high temp was -4. Driving in the morning my car's temperature gauge was hitting -15. School was closed three days again which was a total pain because I'm doing my annual tour right now.

I'm always toying with the idea of going on orders for three months to make some easy, extra money but when I attempt the juggling act during my annual tour I remember why I don't want to work nine hours a day, five days a week. Trying to pick the kids up from different locations, make it to piano lessons, fix dinner... it's too much stress. It's not that we couldn't do it, it's just I'd never have a meaningful interaction with my children during the week. I still would like to do something but I don't know what that will be or when. I've been kicking around the idea of preschool for Ralphie two days a week when the next school year starts. Maybe I could take some classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

I also think of working somewhere part-time where I want an employee discount. A high-end department store or a luxury hotel chain, either of those would be good. I love posh vacations, expensive clothes, and expensive furniture... things I'm doing without.

Well, not entirely doing without. I recently made a purchase that I have been telling myself for years was dumb. I bought a expensive purse with Christmas money that I pooled with a couple of disability checks. I was giddy over the purse and am fully aware of the ridiculousness of it. It's absolutely stupid to spend so much money on a purse but I can't help feeling inadequate around other women that have huge designer bags.

I've heard and read that such purchases don't bring lasting satisfaction but I disagree. According to a study I heard a while back you should spend money on experiences, tangible items don't bring lasting happiness. Supposedly the feeling you get when you buy a certain car or whatever fades but not so in my case. I'd always wanted a European car and although that sucker is eight years old, has over 100,000 miles on it, frequently needs tweaking, and isn't worth what a two-year-old Focus is I still love having it.

I guess it's a testament to my inner shallowness. Which I'm okay with. ;^)

Winter Fun

Is this not the cutest little man face?

time off

Why is my time off so busy? I'm off of work and the kids don't have school yet I'm running around everyday from right after breakfast until 3:00 in the afternoon. Schmitty has basketball camp from 1200 - 1400 and I run (shopping) errands the whole time. I'm taking him here and there to spend his Christmas money. At least basketball camp is over and he's broke. ;^)

I keep walking by my houseplants thinking that I haven't watered them in two weeks and they're dying, I'd better go water them. On the way to the sink I inevitably become distracted and forget.

Ralph is a little sick, he's got a gross cough and a low-grade fever. I hope he gets to feeling better soon.

record books

This holiday will go down in the record books. First, our refrigerator stopped working a few hours before our family was due over for a holiday party on the 21st. Completely kaput, no worky. We persevered but still no fridge in the kitchen.

Next, we left NE a day early because of an expected storm bringing sleet and freezing rain. We got to OK before the storm, good news. Bad news, it was the worst storm EVER in OKC. It was the most snow ever in OKC, it broke all sorts of records.

We picked out the perfect tree at a tree farm, Schmitty and Yago cut it down themselves. We put it up Christmas Eve but the tree was too small for the stand so it kept tipping over. After a few hours Yago and his father tossed the tree out the front door on to the porch. Really, not kidding. Christmas Eve we took all the lights and ornaments we had put on just a couple of hours earlier and tossed it outside.

Finally, on Saturday my car went over an embankment of snow and was damaged. I think some hoses were torn off... So my car in at a garage in Tuttle, we drove my mother-in-law's car back to Omaha.

I'm hoping the repairman calls today with a fix for the fridge. Otherwise, that might wind up on our front porch.

holiday creep

I can't believe how quickly the holidays creep up on me. If I think about it too much I become overwhelmed with all the stuff I have to do. I have to just take it one day at a time... We finally got the tree up yesterday so now it's just midget and frog wrestling.

Also creeping is my weight. No boot camp again until Jan 4 and all the cookies and sweets are taking their toll.

I've got to go pick up the boys from school. I chant, "Serenity now, serenity now." all the way home. The play/bicker/fight so loudly that it drives me crazy. At least they know I'm serious about the no-throwing-things-while-I'm-driving rule, finally.

i did it

I knew I would and last night I finally did it. I used the R word in front of my neighbor while telling a story. It happened just how I thought it would, after a few drinks and telling a story about how dumb I am. I couldn't tell what her reaction was but I feel very bad. I truly am dumb.

love them

I finally got a pair of Uggs today, the gray cardigan ones. I was supposed to spend my birthday money on them but when I got to the register I couldn't find the cash. That reminds me, I really need to find it.

Yago gave me free reign to go shopping for myself so off to the mall with midget in tow. He was losing patience while I was looking at boots when he heard another mother tell her child that they were going to get chicken nuggets. From then on it was, "Chic-ken nug-gets." from Ralphie. I told him if he behaved we'd get some. It worked for the duration of boot shopping but by the time I was ready to look for apparel it was over. We got some nuggets and headed home. He's currently still in the car, in an apparent nugget coma. A midget nugget coma. ;^)

rockin the 80s

So I decided last week to get a perm. Why? What was I thinking? I was thinking I had limp hair that could maybe get some loose curl and body. Wrong-o. Huge mistake. It's kinky and frizzy and takes twice as long to do. I feel it breaking every time I run a comb through it. It's pretty awful but I'm trying not to spend much time thinking about it.

Today I'm supposed to get a color since I couldn't color and perm on the same day. I want to get rid of all the bleached highlights but that means going dark for a while. It's not what I'm accustomed to and that didn't turn out so well last time either. I colored my hair pretty dark during the end of my pregnancy with Jake. Ugh.

doodling

Ralph and I went to Whole Foods today. While I was getting out of my car I noticed a dog in the SUV parked next to us. The dog was chewing on a bone but accidentally dropped it out the cracked window. I picked up the bone as the man inside the SUV called out that he'd get it. I returned the bone to the dog and asked about the breed. It was a goldendoodle, cute as a button. It was a happy, mellow dog. Makes me wonder what happened to ours...

patrick kennedy

I'm a little confused by the tea-baggin' crowd protesting Patrick Kennedy. I saw the cnn.com headline of someone holding a sign that says you can't be catholic and pro-abortion.

First, is anyone really pro-abortion? You may be pro-choice but I don't know anyone that's pro-abortion.

Secondly, you can't be catholic and pro-death penalty either. Is the bishop asking all the Republican Catholics to skip communion if they're in favor of the death penalty? If he has I haven't heard about it.