Wow.
We had a bit of excitement at the home tonight.
After weeks of moderately begging and gravelling I bought him the Food Saver. He has been fixated on this idea and really thought we needed this machine/gadget.
We also about 30 lbs of Chicken and Pork from Sams Club.
He sealed and labeled for an hour or so. Then he zipped up leftovers and rice. THEN we get this great idea to make meatloaf and individually save it for his lunches.
We grab an older recipe from a Campbell's Soup cookbook and run out to pick up 6 lbs of ground beef, tomato soup and bread crumbs. Note: I said 6 lbs, that is a lot if beef. I maybe eat chicken twice a week. I do not eat beef or pork or wildgame. This is all on him. He grabs the Tupperware Thatsa bowl and mixes up the recipe filling 3 large pans.
Imagine in the entire oven filled with "meat-stuff". He bakes them, lets them cool, slices them and food saves all of them. I kid you not, we stayed up late in my standards...10:30. I read and watched the New England Patriots Game.
I will say that it is still happening. My eyes get misty and my throat tightens when they sing the National Anthem and every time they play those Army Strong commercials. If I was not already a veterans of 19 years, I would totally join just by watching those ads.

Hypothetical discussion.
Let's just say... Last year you helped your husband fill out his CFC deduction form and you assumed for an entire year you were doing good things to help veterans. And then you find out that somehow it did not get processed.
I guess I know what I am doing on Monday. I would rather do good than give it to Mr and Mrs IRS.

Cabin Pressure by Josh Wolk.

This guy I admire.
He was 34 years old gettting married for the first time.
Nintey days before the wedding he decides to travel back in time 15-20 years and do one last stint as a Camp Counselor in Nothern New England.
The book is short excerpts of his summer of freedom before marriage.
He is a writer for Entertainment Weekly and dabbles in blogosphere.

It is a good read and makes me want to do something spontaneous.

CURRENT OPERATIONS AFFECT WARFIGHTERS DEPLOYED TO COMBAT THEATERS, MARINES REMAINING IN GARRISON, AND FAMILY MEMBERS. EFFECTIVELY MANAGING OPERATIONAL STRESS IS VITAL TO THE READINESS OF THE MARINECORPS AS A FIGHTING FORCE, AND TO MAINTAINING THE LONG-TERM HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF MARINES, SAILORS, AND FAMILIES. REF A DEFINES THE MARINE CORPS COMBAT/OPERATIONAL STRESSCONTROL (COSC) PROGRAM AS ENCOMPASSING ALL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES TO PROVIDE ACTIVE AND RESERVE MARINES, SAILORS, AND FAMILY MEMBERS WITH THE TOOLS TO MASTER THE STRESSORS OF MILITARY LIFE AND DUTIES - STRESSORS THAT CAN OCCUR PRIOR TO DEPLOYMENT, DURING DEPLOYMENT, AND UPON RETURN FROM DEPLOYMENT.

THE GOAL OF COSC IS TO PLAN, TRAIN FOR, AND IMPLEMENT MEANS TO PREVENT, IDENTIFY, AND HOLISTICALLY TREAT STRESS INJURIES. WE MUST AGGRESSIVELY SUPPORT MARINES WITH WOUNDS CAUSED BY STRESS, JUST AS WE SUPPORT THOSE WITH MORE VISIBLE PHYSICAL WOUNDS.

for more reading

The Rules of War
During her deployment, Dr. Kraft learns the two most basic rules of war. In a dialogue with her colleague, Dr. Kraft remembers the television show M*A*S*H. The character Henry tells Hawkeye the harsh, but true reality about “the rules.” “Rule number one is that young men die. Rule number two is that doctors can’t change rule number one.”

I just finished reading Rule Number Two - Lessons I Learned in a Combat Hospital.

This is an amazing book. I highly recommend everyone reading it and taking to heart the stories on these pages.

Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund Please visit.

An online article/interview with Dr. Heidi Kraft

She currently works for U.S. Navy Combat Stress Control program

Santa brought Big Love Season Two.

I will post stories and pictures later.

Top 10 things I needed to be reminded about babies and toddlers

They love to play with shoes and the bigger the better. I caught my nephew attempting to don my daughter's Burger King converse. I laugh every time I think about it.

Cupboards make great forts as well as a great place to hide snacks and bottles.

Anything is a phone. The remote, the notebook battery, anything that fits in the palm of his hand.

The Barney Songs are the same as 1991, just new kids.

A toddler can find a coin anywhere in the room. I caught him with two Euros today and explained the deflated value of the dollar and that he had best not eat these coins.

No matter how many times you tell him to pet the dog softly, he has this innate need to poke their eyes and grab their fur.

Dog food is the sexiest snack I have in the house.

When drinking from a straw it is just as fun to let half of it roll down the front of you.

As soon as you think they are done with the diaper and you change them, it happens again.

Plastic bowls are hats and sometimes big cups and even chairs.

Merry Christmas

Let the vacation begin..
OK, so far not that climatic but progress is progress.
II started picking up and putting things away.
We ran out of wrapping paper, so I grabbed a bit more. I planning on picking up the bulk after Christmas at Tuesday Morning.
I have a few more places to run today, nothing mandatory. But just finishing touches.

We are watching my nephew for a few days. It is fun to have him around. The dogs are loving the extra attention and rations. He drops two cheerios for everyone he gets in his mouth.
He is playing in my pots and pans cupboards and hiding things.

I finished reading Getting Rid of Matthew by Jane Fallon.
It is chick lit, but that is good everyone in awhile. I will post later about an amazing female Navy officer and her book. I know Black Five already has a column called "someone you should know" but I might have to add one as well.

It has been a crazy National Guard week. We each have had very unusual calls and meetings with our change of command. Of course, now that the husband has his 20 year letter in his had, they want to work with him and set up some flexible opportunities. Ahhhhh... the big number game. I might get chance to help them out at the Denver Stock show. I am actually kind of excited. We will see what happens. It might be fun to check out the rodeo and the cows. I love cows, but not as much when they are on the way to the slaughter house.

Yesterday, I received a Christmas picture from my cousin. I was blown away. His kids are now 8 and 9 years old. But his son looks so much like my daddy. I went and dug up a picture of him as a child and the resemblance was uncanny. WOW.

randomness

A little blog reading....
Secret Agent Josephine Very sweet.

WOW - My house looks nowhere near this one - Her photo's are stunning The Wooden Spool
I love all oher attention detail and the way she matches up random things to have a finished look.

I am always amazed at the "mad" skills ladies have when it comes down to baking, making and sewing.
Have fun and take a look at the suprises out there!

Elegant Gourmet elegant gourmet



Guess What... Just a few days left before Christmas vacation.
I picked up a stack up books from the library and I need to dust off the snow shoes.

I think I might make this for my neighbors and staff at church

Cranberry-Pear Butter
Although it contains ginger, this buttter is more sweet than savory and tastes as good on your morning toast as it does on a turkey sandwich. Make sure to stir the mixture often to prevent it from sticking and scorching. Straining the mixture is not essential, but is an easy way to remove skins
.5 pears (about 2 pounds), peeled, quartered, cored and thinly sliced (about 5 cups)
2 cups fresh cranberries , picked through and coarsely chopped
1 cup apple cider
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
Mix all ingredients in a large saucepan.
Bring to boil and simmer, stirring often, until pears fall apart and mixture thickens, about 1 hour. Working in batches, process mixture in a food mill or press through a fine sieve to strain out solids. (Can be jarred and refrigerated for at least 2 weeks.)
Makes about 2 1/4 cups.
Recipe courtesy Cooks Illustrated

THis makes me sick

Ok - I am having a very strange morning.
First I was dreaming that the CIA/FBI was interviewing me. Very odd dream conversations.


Then while watching the local morning news they announce,"Westboro Baptist Church Announces Protest At New Life Memorial". These are the same folks that protest military funerals and protest that God hates the homosexuals. I am furious they are going to protest at a funeral where a family lost two teen age daughters walking out of church! THis is not going to be good. I hope they come to there senses and stay home. If you have a few minutes pray for this sistuation today. Please pay for the Works family. The father was released last night from the hospital so that he will be able to attend the memorial service for his daughters today. News story

My friend from Michigan passed this photo along. It cracked me up. Poor baby jesus is under the snow. Think good thoughts for anyone commuting in tht neck of the woods, Old man winter has brought them plenty of snow.

Funny
We had my nephew all weekend.
Yesterday we took him to Sams Club and he was an absolute angel. We ran into two people. One for from my husbands work. He mentioned, that we had the baby with us... hmmm. We quickly identified ourselves as aunt and uncle. Then in the check out I bump into a co-worker that has teens at the same school. She said...a baby.. did I miss something? Umm... No you did not miss a thing, this is my nephew.
Today we ran into Marshalls to buy more presents that may or may not be adequate for my daughter and sure enough an older lady was chatting up a storm with the husband in domestics. Commenting on daddy taking him shopping.... We cleared it up with her and mentioned my baby was almost 17. Babies, they are people magnets. I love it!

I have all presents wrapped! and just a few more last minute touches.
You know I am just kidding myself when I say that. I will be buying up until Christmas Eve. Even if it is just Safeway.

Another week vanished.
THat is exactly how I feel. the time flew by.
Everyone eas pretty busy with school and work activities. Today we have nothing planned.
The Daughter has a her math tutor coming over.
I need to make a final list of small things I need to pick over. I am happy to say the list is pretty small, just some details to take care of a few small things to make the gifts complete.
I have only two packages left to mail! Yeah.
It has been nice to read the Christmas cards and catch up with a few friends. THat is one of the things I love about the season, it forces people for the most part to catch up.

Work had been busy to get all things in order before next Friday.

I picked a few tags off our giving tree at work.
I had fun picking up some clothes, robes and hats and gloves. As much as I do not like Walmart, they really do have affordable items. They had shirts and pants for $3 each. I picked up 2 pair of pants and 3 shirts for $15 for someone that really could use them. I hope every thing fits and they are something she might enjoy.
The daugher helped collect over 150 food baskets at school. We were proud of her efforts.

Happy Birthday Mom
1941-1998

I know it is his birthday - but these were from tierra santa

The list is growing.
I need to finish the Cards and get them in the mail.
I have 3 boxes ready for mailing they just need the final touches.
We have the house partial decorated, but no tree. I know, I know...
I am arguing daily with what the daughter wants for Christmas and the fight about the car we are buying the weekend after Christmas. These conversations are dulling the true meaning of Christmas.
We had snow overnight. So, I am going to work from home for the most of today. It took my husband 45 minutes to go seven miles.


While In Argentina I visited Tierra Santa. Spanish for the "Holy Land"
It is a theme park in the city that displays the life of Jesus.

This article explains it
better

Pictures to follow

Airport reading

I read two books The Rug Merchant by Meg Mullins and A Skating Life by Dorothy Hamill.

One fiction, One non-fiction.

Both were very enjoyable.

From the publisher
At the heart of Meg Mullins’s debut novel is one of the most touchingly believable characters in recent fiction, a gentle soul in the body of an Iranian exile in New York. Ushman Khan sells exquisite hand-woven rugs to a wealthy clientele that he treats with perfect rectitude. He is lonely, and his loneliness becomes unbearable when he learns that his wife in Iran is leaving him. But when a young woman named Stella comes into his store, what ensues is a love story that is all the more moving because its protagonists understand tragedy. The Rug Merchant will sweep readers away with its inspiring, character-rich tale about shaking free from disappointment and finding connection and acceptance in whatever form they appear.

By the end of the novel, I was wanting to know more about Ushman and thought maybe it would be nice to have coffee with someone of his character someday.

The dazzling smile, the signature haircut, the staple spin. "America's Sweetheart" Dorothy Hamill grew up on the ice, working toward the dream she was to accomplish by age nineteen: winning Olympic gold in figure skating. But life was not the picture of perfection it appeared to be. Dorothy faced a painful inner struggle from the time she was a young girl that followed her into adulthood—though she would not know about the depression that ran in her family until much later in life. Weeks and months away from home to train and compete took a difficult toll, yet little reprieve could be found in the tumultuous and fragile relationship she had with her parents.
Dorothy went on to marry the man of her dreams, only to have the partnership end in heartache and a tragedy that almost pushed her to her breaking point. Then, just when a light at the end of the tunnel finally began to appear, a second failed marriage tried and tested Dorothy's trust and strength yet again—a travesty that could have led her to give up. But, she found a remarkable strength in what she did have—her greatest love, her daughter Alexandra.
"Thank goodness, I had my skating. There was certainly a pattern to my life. When times were tough, I went skating. It was only while I was out on the ice, enjoying the freedom of movement and my love of music, that I was able to escape from my bottomless heartache."
In her deeply moving and honest memoir, Dorothy opens up for the first time about love, family, courage, and what it means to truly win both on and off the ice.

Tyra's new hiding place

snowy morning....

Team building.

Each time I travel down here I try to bring a tradition from the good ole USA with me. In the past I have brought Candy Canes, made Coke floats and Reese Peanut Butter Cups.

Today, we had a gingerbread house competition using graham crackers. Thye did pretty good for the first time.

sights from today

Life without HP: Car Wash
Uploaded by HPTotalCare

Life without HP: Experts
Uploaded by HPTotalCare

Airport blogging.
I am getting ready for my 12 hour flight.
I will be checking in - but keep th family in your thoughts!
The daughter has to work much of the week and then she has the ACTs bright and early on Saturday morning.
Have a great week.

The daughter and I are loving Six Feet Under

HBO Link

Good grief.
I thought I had drill this weekend.
I woke up at 5 am, showered and dressed. But, in the back of my head I kept saying... double check the website.... So, at 0520 I check it. Damn it is December 8 & 9.

So, my schedule is now being totally changed. Next weekend I am not available until Sunday (my flight gets in Saturday morning).
I guess I will decorate, finish the Christmas Cards and wrap the gifts that need to mailed.
I was able to mail 3 Care packages for soldiers stuffed to the gills. My team at work brought in goodies for soldiers!
If anyone needs addresses for cards and the like, send me an email.
I uploaded photos to Walgreens and picked them up for the cards and gifts. I will post later on the progress.
shoot. shoot. shoot