MrsDub

I'm back!

2010-03-17T13:42:00.003-06:00

I've been trying for quite sometime to remember my password for this account, and have had great difficulty resetting the password. Good news is, I finally figured it out and this time I've written it down in a safe place. Lots of things have happened since I last posted, so many so that I don't even know where to start. I was appointed last year as the Family Readiness Group (FRG) Chairperson for SgtDub's unit (Bravo Company/45th BSTB). This basically means that since he's the Acting First Sgt, I was volunteered for the position. I really don't mind, since there is not much to do during a non-deployment situation. However, that is about to change. The Guard has finally made family programs a top priority and is doing everything possible to promote and encourage the FRG's. My first FRG exposure came during SgtDub's first deployment to Afghanistan. The FRG was formed as the soldiers were leaving town. It was a group of spouses, parents, grandparents, sisters, brothers, friends, etc. Basically anyone supporting a service member. There was an advisory committee consisting of spouses of the "Top Brass". These women supervised and directed everything that the group did, from meetings to socials to the welcome home ceremony. I volunteered and served in a leadership position during this deployment. SgtDub's second deployment involved a unit from another town, and because of the distance, I was not involved with the FRG. The goal now is to get the FRG's established and functioning on a regular basis, and not just in a deployment situation, which is a GREAT idea! FRGs should be in place and operational year round and the families and friends should know that whatever needs they may have, that the FRG is available to assist them. My main goal as the FRG Chairperson is to be assessible to the soldiers and their families, provide support and resources, and to lay the foundation for a strong and sustainable Family Readiness Group!

"Work Day"

2009-08-03T08:47:00.005-06:00

Here are some pics from our "work day" around the homestead. We got alot done, but still have so much more to do. Just keep waiting for Dub to win the lotto. Guess he's going to want this own tractor now.

Memorial Day . . . May 25th . . . It is NOT just a day off from work!

2009-05-21T13:52:00.009-06:00

I am normally not a frequent reader of the daily newspaper, but this week I've been housesitting for my parents and have had access to their paper. I happened upon an article that said deadline approaching to nominate a Veteran (in our town) for an extreme landscape makeover. I decided Sgt.Dub would be a deserving Veteran, so I nominated him.

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing to nominate my husband as a Veteran deserving of an “Extreme Landscape Makeover”. My husband joined the Oklahoma Army National Guard in 1994, shortly after our daughter was born. From a very young age, he had a burning desire to serve his country. He attempted to enlist during Operation Desert Shield in 1990, but was turned away due to a knee injury. However, he didn’t let that stop him! He continued working hard, furthering his education, and providing a safe and secure life for our family. During the time that he was away at basic training, the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building occurred. This random act of terrorism only solidified his need and desire to serve his country. When he returned to Oklahoma, he began a new career field as a police officer with the Oklahoma Capitol Patrol, and for the last 10 years, has served with the Oklahoma City Police Department (due in large part for his strong desire to serve, protect and ensure a better life for his family and the citizens he serves).

I am extremely proud of my husband, and it is difficult to find the words to explain why I feel he deserves to be considered for this prize. When I hear the word “Veteran”, I immediately think of someone from past generations -- someone who has served in a World War, Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War, etc. As far as “Veterans” are concerned, my husband is a fairly “new” one. However, all Veterans are the same . . . they ALL deserve our respect and appreciation! Veterans have placed their lives on the line in service of our country. They have left behind family, friends, jobs, etc. to be placed on the frontlines of battle, protecting our freedom and this great Nation!

A little background on my husband . . . he was first deployed with the Oklahoma Army National Guard in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in August 2003 to August 2004. Prior to my husband’s first deployment, we lived in a cramped housing addition in south OKC. During the deployment, with the help of family and friends, we managed to maintain the house and yard and keep everything running while he was away serving our country. My husband’s lifelong dream was to own land and horses. As soon as he returned in 2004, we began searching for land in the area, and eventually settled down on 5 acres west of town. We had grand plans for our new home (which included landscaping and planting lots of trees!) Our plans (and lives) were put on hold yet again when he deployed once again to Afghanistan in 2006. Needless to say, our yard suffered during his absence. He was kind enough to purchase a new lawn tractor before he left, which made life a little easier.

My husband is always drawing plans, bringing home samples, colors and ideas to make our yard extraordinary. However, these are only dreams, as we struggle to make ends meet (as so many other Oklahomans do), and landscaping is just “not in the budget”. Our dream is to create a sanctuary around our home, a place where we can sit and enjoy a beautiful Oklahoma sunrise or sunset. Our life is truly blessed, and we are grateful for what we have. We realize that there are so many deserving Veterans, and your decision will be difficult. It is our hope and prayer that perhaps this day, you will select Sgt.Dub as the Recipient of the “Extreme Landscape Makeover”!

God Bless the USA, and God Bless All of our Men and Women Who Serve in the Armed Forces!

Sincerely,
Mrs. Dub

My Journey Begins . . . and now I'm sore!

2009-05-11T12:32:00.007-06:00

After watching NBC's "The Biggest Loser" this season, I've decided (with encouragement from the hubby) to set a goal to walk/run/crawl in a 5K race one year from now. One of the contestants (Helen, who is 48ish) just ran a full marathon last week, and completed it. This got me thinking that if someone (who is a few years old, and was in a lot worse shape than me) can do it, then WHY CAN'T I? I'll give you a little background on myself ... during school, I never really considered myself overweight. I was a cheerleader in junior high, and was always asked to be at the bottom of the pyramid and launch the "skinny chick" onto my shoulders, but I didn't stress over being "fat". My Grandpa used to tease my mom by calling her "Crisco" because he thought she had a big butt. Needless to say, he called me "Crisco Jr.", and thus I began to think of myself as being overweight. I weighed 107 lbs when I graduated high school, and was quite comfortable in my skin. I was never "skinny", and I was okay with that. I could still buy cute clothes and I didn't let it get me down. When SgtDub and I got married (1991) I weighed 122 lbs. He thought I was cute, and that's all that mattered. (NOTE: SgtDub was quite the hunk in 1991). As soon as we got married, we began to expand. We ate fast food all the time and never cooked at home or exercised. When I found out that I was pregnant in 1993, I weighed 150 lbs (oops, forgot to tell you that I'm 5'0"). I had a normal, but stressful pregnancy and ended up on bed rest at the end due to preclampsia (not sure about how that's spelled). By the time MissDub was born (2 weeks late via c-section), I looked like an elephant and felt like one too (I don't even recall how much I weighed at that time, but it was a lot). During the pregnancy, SgtDub was wonderful to me. I would come home from work, throw on my pjs and lay on the couch. He would go pick up dinner and rub my feet and I just laid there (looking like that "Jabba the Hut" dude from StarWars) and got bigger and bigger. (Note to pregnant ladies -- get off the couch and move around - you'll feel better, trust me). Once I reached my "maximum capacity", I decided to join WeightWatchers with one of my girlfriends. I joined around the time of my birthday, so my friend paid my initiation fee and that got me started. I starting keep a food journal, counting points and walking. Guess What? You can lose weight by doing that! It was awesome . . . I was averaging about 1 lb per week and reached my goal in about 8 months (128 lbs). I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT! After maintaining my goal weight for a certain amount of time, I became a Lifetime Member and can attend meetings for free (provided I stay close to my goal weight). I managed to keep the weight off for several years, and then slowly (unnoticeable) it started creeping back. I went from a size 8 to size ?? (after I swore I would never wear that size again). This time, I did it on my own. I started keeping track of my calories and walked like crazy. I would walk on my lunch hour and during breaks - the more I walked, the more I wanted to walk. I now weigh 135 lbs and I'm happy with that. I've gotten rid of all my "fat clothes" and am now wearing a comfortable size 10. Don't misunderstand, I do want to look and feel better, and I'm starting now to take steps to make that happen. I realize that I'm 40-something and "gravity happens". My body will never be perfect, and I don't want it to be. I want to be healthy - I want to eat better - and most important, I want to be a good role model for my daughter! Tomorrow I will tell you about our first "family walk in the park" . . . (note to self, NEVER attempt to walk, jog and do lunges on the first day!)

"The Bunny"

2009-04-13T15:14:00.004-06:00

In 1986, I gave my dad a white-chocolate bunny for Easter. The following year, my dad gave that same bunny back to me, and thus began the "passing of the bunny". Twenty-three years later, the bunny (pictured above) has gone back and forth between us. Each year, the bunny is pulled from the freezer and removed from his ziplock bag, and whoever is giving the bunny away writes their name and date on the box. We take a picture and then send the bunny back to the deep freeze, where he waits for the next Easter. After our daughter (MissDub) was born, my dad and her started sharing their own bunny, and even SgtDub and MissDub have a bunny together. I know this ritual may sound really goofy and gross to some people, but to us, it's a family tradition that we're proud of, and I hope the bunny lives forever! Easter Blessings to All!

Catching up

2008-12-04T10:44:00.002-06:00

I find myself at a loss for words when it comes to blogging, but I will try to come up with something interesting to report. Life around the farm has been fairly decent for the past 5 1/2 months considering SgtDub's gone again. For those of you who are keeping up with his blog, know that he's been in Arizona learning to speak Arabic. He's almost done and should be back home by Dec. 20th! Just in time for Christmas!! We had a great Thanksgiving. Dub got in around 8pm on Nov. 26th and stayed until Nov. 30th. We had everyone out to our place for the "feast", and it was wonderful! For as long as I can remember, my parents have hosted Thanksgiving at their house. Last year my dad decided it was time to start having it at our place. The only problem is, I don't cook! So everything had to be brought in and cooked on site. I did manage to make sweet potato casserole (which was delicious), and two pies (pumpkin & chocolate). Our house is bigger than my parents (except for the kitchen). My parents bought our old house when we moved to the country, and it had a great kitchen, and I miss it alot. SgtDub's planning to remodel our kitchen as soon as he gets home. We purchased a double oven last year, and it's just been sitting in the garage waiting to be brought inside. My hope is that everything will be done by next Thanksgiving, and I will be able to host everyone in our spacious new kitchen. But once I get a nice new kitchen, I think I will be expected to use it! My mom always complains that my kitchen is pretty to look it, but not very "user-friendly". In other words, don't make a mess! MissDub's doing great - she turned 15 on Nov. 4th, and is quickly approaching the driving age (argh!!!) I've been letting her drive on the back roads, and plan to enroll her in driving school in the spring. I will pay whatever price is necessary to avoid having to do it myself. It's worth the $300 to let them take her for the driving test. SgtDub is already making plans to install a GPS on her vehicle, so he can track her every move. This should be interesting. Knowing MissDub, she will figure out a way to disable the device, and will have him chasing a cow down by the river. My job is going well - it's either feast or famine. Some of you may know that I work for an "elected official", which means I will be without a job in two years. I don't have a clue about my future plans, but hope that something will come around that will keep me employed for a little while longer -- at least until SgtDub wins the lottery, and I can stay home and play. I hope everyone enjoyed a Happy Thanksgiving with family and friends, and I hope everyone will have a very Merry Christmas (or Holiday or whatever it is you celebrate). With love from our home to yours!

My day off!

2008-07-24T07:19:00.003-06:00

Yesterday was my "day off" from work, and I spent it running around having fun. I absolutely love "flex time", and I will hate to see it end next month. I would love to continue on this schedule, but after school starts, I'll have to stop. I suppose I could make MissDub ride the school bus, but that would require her getting up and getting ready on her own, which makes me very nervous. My mom and I have rented a booth at the local antique store and are trying to make some extra money. Between us, we've got a lot of stuff (antiques, collectibles, junk and more junk). My favorite thing to do is scour the local thrift stores for treasurers. I love it when I can pay $1.00 and turn around and sell it for $10. So far, my favorite item was the old garden gate that we had been using on the goat pen. It was about to go in the trash, when I decided to take it to the booth for display. I stuck a price tag on it, and low and behold, someone bought it for $30! I also collect vintage Fiestaware and have approximately 100 pieces. I purchased the Fiestaware in 1989 for $300, and it is now worth around $2500. SgtDub bought me some new Fiestaware Collector books, which were full of information and current pricing guides. I went through and tried to identify each piece by color, size, value and condition. Now I'm trying to decide if I should sell the collection in the booth, or just put it away and hope that it increases in value. Who knows, maybe it could fund MissDub's college fund (ha ha!) So if anyone out there is a Fiestaware collector and has info to share, I'd love to hear from you. MissDub and I went to see "Mama Mia" and thought it was a great movie. The music is awesome and I'm ready to see it again, and I definetely want to purchase the soundtrack. I gotta go for now, more later!

Wisdom Teeth

2008-07-22T06:39:00.003-06:00

MissDub had surgery on Friday to remove 4 wisdom teeth. The orthodontist was adamant that the teeth be removed ASAP, since she just had the braces removed. I guess that would be a waste of time to go through 2 years of braces only to have wisdom teeth come in and push everything out of the way. Back in the day, I had to have 4 wisdom teeth pulled PLUS 4 permanent teeth pulled BEFORE I got braces put on. I guess I had more than enough teeth to go around. I receive lots of compliments on my smile, and I thank my parents all the time for making the investment in my mouth. I find that it gets used daily :} Back to MissDub . . . she went to Six Flags on Thursday with her church youth group, and returned home at 1:00 am. We had to be at the surgery center on Friday at 7:45 am, so you do the math - we didn't get much sleep. Once there, the doctor administered the "laughing gas" before inserting the IV, which I believe helped tremendously because she wasn't squirming around -- however, it didn't do much to ease my squirming. The doctor let me stay in the room until they knocked her out, which was pretty funny to watch, but also very scary to watch your child being sedated and knowing they're about to be in serious pain and discomfort. The procedure lasted about 30 minutes and then I was allowed to see her in the recovery room. She was sitting up in a recliner and doing her best to talk with a mouth full of cotton. The nurse went over all the instructions and then escorted us out the back door, which I thought was interesting. I guess they don't want you scaring off any potential patients in the lobby. Everyone goes in, but you don't see them leave. Think about that next time you're waiting in the doctor's office lobby. Once home, I put her to bed where she stayed for the next 3 days. Overall, she's a great patient. She got a little cranky every once-in-a-while, but I can't say that I blame her . . . it hurts! Our next hurdle will be getting the retainer back in her mouth and hoping that the teeth haven't shifted too much in the past few days. Other than this, there's just not much to report around our place. SgtDub just finished week 3 of Arabic school and is doing very well. He's planning a trip home on July 31st, and I'm really looking forward to that. Although I will spend the entire weekend fretting that he will have to leave again on Sunday. I don't care how much he travels, I never get used to saying "good bye". Be safe and have a good day!

"Girls Day Out"

2008-07-10T07:20:00.003-06:00

I've started working "flex time" at my job, and now have one day off each week. My new hours are 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., which makes for a long day, but after having had my first day off yesterday, it's well worth it! MissDub and I went to breakfast at McDonald's and then ran some errands on our way to town. The whole purpose of the flex work schedule is to save money on gas, but we came to town anyway. We arrived at Glamour Shots around 10:45 a.m. and underwent extensive hair and make up preparation. It's amazing what those folks can do with a little putty and glue. I really need to get one of those airbrush make up machines for home. I could just spray on the concealer and hit the road, and hope that no bugs get stuck to my face on the way to work. Our photograher was a young man (about 20 something). He was very polite, but kept asking me to get into some rather strange positions -- I felt like it was yoga class instead of a portrait sitting. Whatever happened to just sitting on a barstool and smiling with your head tilted in a goofy direction? This guy had me squatting (in a dress), sitting on the floor, cranking my neck in positions it shouldn't be in (which by the way, creates numerous chins) and basically looking like a goober. He did an outstanding job with MissDub, and I had a hard time picking out any bad shots. I didn't however have any trouble eliminating my bad shots. The entire process took about 2 1/2 hours and cost way too much money! I hope SgtDub will be pleased with the finished portraits. We won't be able to post any of the pictures due to the copyright laws, but keep your eyes peeled next time you're in line at the grocery store -- you never know when MissDub might be on the cover of "Seventeen" magazine!

Alone Again . . .

2008-07-08T10:10:00.003-06:00

Am I the only one who sees a pattern here that SgtDub leaves when it's "lawn mowing" season? Actually, he leaves at "snow shoveling" season too. SgtDub left on Saturday for a six month school in Arizona, where he will learn to speak Arabic. Apparently the National Guard has decided it needs to have more Citizen Soldiers who are fluent in the language. When SgtDub approached me about attending the school, I was somewhat interested in what he had to say. He's learned over the years that when presenting a proposal to me, he needs to have all the facts and must be able to "show me the money!", or at least how this will benefit me. I know that sounds selfish, but it's just the way things work at our house. SgtDub's tactic this time was to present me with the "worst case scenario" (possible deployment), followed by "second worst case scenario" (15 month school in California). So, by the time he got to the last option, it didn't seem so bad afterall. Besides, what's six months when we've been apart for 2 years! I believe he had been studying up on what to say and how to say it, because he got me to agree to letting him go. I've learned from past experience that nothing is ever what he says it will be. According to his calculations, he will make "x" amount of money per month, he will receive housing allowance, separation pay, etc., etc. Translation (in English), we'll end up paying the military for him to pursue this adventure. He says it will all be worth it when he gets done and the military pays him more money for speaking Arabic . . . yeah, when you're in a foreign country and they're using you as a translator, I'm sure the pay will be good! I hope the first words he learns are "yes dear" and "the check is in the bank". All kidding aside, we're very proud of SgtDub and the work he does. He sacrafices so much to be a soldier, and he's really good at it. I think he should be the "poster boy" for the National Guard because he truly is being "All That He Can Be!" We love you and we miss you . . . counting the days til you're home again!

I'm back

2008-05-28T15:10:00.002-06:00

I haven't blogged in so long that I had to look up my password. Not much going on around here. SgtDub is away for two weeks of "AT" (advanced training) otherwise known as "summer camp for soldiers". I remember back in the day when my dad served in the guard and his summer camp consisted of two weeks in the field, sleeping in tents and eating MRE's. Now days, it sounds like they've got it pretty easy - sleeping in air conditioned quarters with prepared meals in the mess hall -- and don't forget that high speed internet connection and cell phones! Although it does sound like Dub is sleeping with his equipment, it still doesn't sound too terribly awful -- gee, not like being home and having to do yardwork or clean the garage (jab intended)! From the time Dub and I got married, all he ever wanted to do was be a soldier. I resisted as long as I could and he finally wore me down shortly after MissDub was born. By that time, I had my baby girl and he was getting on my nerves, so I agreed and he signed up. The reason I gave for not wanting him to enlist was based on my own childhood memories of my dad's service. I'm very proud of my dad and SgtDub's military service, but because my dad would give up his 2 weeks of vacation to serve, we hardly ever got to take a family vacation. One vacation that I vividly remember is when we got to go to Fort Chafee to meet my dad and we went to "Dog Patch USA". We visited a civil war battlefield, and stayed at a little cabin on a beautiful river. I think that was my favorite (and probably only) family vacation. We had big plans to take a trip last year when SgtDub returned home, but that fell apart and we didn't go. This year, we were working on a trip to Denver the end of June, but as usual, another summer will pass without a family trip. We did manage to take a weekend to the cabin and SgtDub took me to the Military Ball in Tulsa, where we stayed at a very fancy hotel (thanks honey!) SgtDub will have a furnished 2 bedroom apartment, so we will have a place to stay when we visit, and hopefully he will get to come home often. And also "kuddos" to SgtDub for buying me that pretty JOHN DEERE LAWN TRACTOR . . . I'm set now!

Ice Storm 2007 . . . Here we go again

2007-12-13T14:07:00.000-06:00

Just a short note to let everyone know that we're okay. For anyone watching the national news, you've probably seen the coverage of the ice storms that blasted Oklahoma. The weatherman did a good job of warning us of the impending storm and we were able to buy groceries and were prepared to be "snowed in" for a day or two. What we were not prepared for was the devastation from the downed electrical lines. We lost power at 3pm on Sunday and have been without since. It wouldn't be so bad, but we are on a water well and it is powered by electricity. We made it through Sunday and Monday before a neighbor loaned us a generator and we were able to get some juice. SgtDub and MissDub opted for the TV/DVD player and the heater, while I preferred the refrigerator and water. Someone's got their priorities wrong. Since we weren't able to get the water well going, I went with their plan and we watched a movie until bedtime. Sleeping isn't too bad, it's getting up and out of the bed in the morning that's hard to do. We purchased a new generator yesterday and have managed to accumulate lots of supplies. As there are over 600,000 people without power in the State, everyone is scrambling to find supplies. We went to several different stores to find Duraflame logs, batteries and other essential goodies. It's almost like a scavenger hunt. Everytime I would find something on my list, I would call SgtDub and let him know I found something. We ended up cleaning out the refrigerator and took everything to my parents house - I'm hoping my mom will cook the turkey! I brought the Lean Cuisines to work and passed them out to my co-workers. We are hoping to have the generator figured out tonight and get the water well going. Having water will make things alot easier. I'm not complaining about our situation, because I know it could be alot worse, and there are lots of people who are worse off than us. We're fortunate that we have a roof over our heads and have warm clothes to wear. A situation like this forces us to stop and realize everything we take for granted. This time last year, our family was apart and now we're together. We will get through this and hopefully we will be better prepared for the next storm . . . in whatever form it comes. Hope everyone is safe, warm and ready for the holidays. I will do my best to keep you posted.

P.S. We made it one week in August without the air conditioner, so I think we can make it now without heat & water.

Happy Birthday Oklahoma!

2007-11-19T15:03:00.000-06:00

And what a celebration it was! We had a whirlwind week of things to do. SgtDub and I volunteered to work at a conference that my office sponsored. Our first gig was on Sunday night greeting visitors to the Oklahoma History Center at a private reception. We stood outside and said "howdy" as the guests stepped off the buses. We enjoyed heavy hors d'ouerves and musical entertainment. We worked all day Monday just doing miscellaneous tasks (basically wherever there was a need). On Monday evening we stood on a street corner in downtown OKC and directed visitors to the Skirvin Hotel for another reception. There was more food and entertainment by a band called "Pearl". We were so tired after working all day, that we grabbed a plate of food and headed home. We didn't have to work the conference on Tuesday and actually had an evening at home. The conference concluded on Wednesday night with a sit-down dinner at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. This time the entertainment was Blake Shelton and Vince Gill. Wow, what an evening! We had awesome seats and it was like having a private concert. SgtDub has a new favorite song by Vince Gill . . . something to the effect that it's "hard to kiss the lips that chew my A** all day long" I think he can relate to that (WHATEVER!) On Thursday, I went to Guthrie, Oklahoma to watch the ceremonial Legislative Session. It was part of the Statehood Day re-enactment ceremonies. Guthrie was originally the location of the State Capitol, before it was relocated to Oklahoma City. Friday (Nov. 16) was Statehood Day and it was a "special" state holiday. The Oklahoma Centennial Spectacular event was a concert featuring famous Oklahomans, to include: Reba McEntire, Vince Gill, Garth Brooks, Toby Keith, Carrie Underwood, The Flaming Lips, All American Rejects, Leona Mitchell, Willard Scott, Argus Hamilton, Rance Howard (Ron's dad), Johnny Bench, Bobby Mercer, 5 Miss America's (Lauren Nelson, Jennifer Berry, Shantel Smith, Susan Powell and Jayne Jayroe), and many more. It truly was a "Spectacular". The concert was aired live on OETA and concluded with a huge fireworks display in Bricktown. We headed home before the fireworks show started, but watched it on TV. It was a once-in-a-lifetime event and I'm glad we got to experience it firsthand. I doubt any of us will be around to celebrate the next 100 years, but we can say we were there for this one!

Fall is in the air

2007-10-10T14:02:00.000-06:00

It's getting harder and harder to find the time and something interesting to write about. We are all doing fine and enjoying the wonderful weather. It's beginning to feel like Fall and it's my favorite time of the year. We are currently enjoying warm, sunny days and cool nights. Plenty of stars in the sky, a few full moons and lots of fog in the morning. We've had some beautiful sunrises and sunsets. I wish I could make it home in time to enjoy the sunset on the porch with my hubby -- instead of driving straight towards it. MissDub will celebrate her 14th birthday on Nov. 4th, and I'm scratching my head and wondering where has the time gone? It was only yesterday that she was born and attending Mother's Day Out. I was standing in line at the pharmacy yesterday when a young mother was holding her 5 month old baby and stated that she "just couldn't wait for him to get bigger, so she wouldn't have to hold him". Man she just doesn't get it. From the day I found out that I was pregnant, I couldn't wait to get it over with. Then I was in a hurry for her to roll over, crawl, walk, talk, feed herself and be a big girl. Now, she's a big girl and I would give anything to have her crawl up into my lap and tell me she's just going "rest her eyes". SgtDub is staying very busy and trying his best to get things done around the house. There just aren't enough hours in the day for him to get it all done . . . but he's trying. Hope everyone is doing well. Keep in touch!

What's the Password?

2007-09-21T08:27:00.000-06:00

I know I haven't blogged in a while when I try to log on and forgot my password. I never write down passwords because I'm afraid someone might steal my organizer and then they would have access to my life. Instead, I try to keep it all inside my tiny little brain. Is it just me, or do we have too many passwords? At work, I've got passwords for my phone, computer and email. My phone password requires me to change it every 60 days, and that really screws with me. I've got passwords for on-line banking, ATM, MissDub's school website, my AKO email account, Walgreens and many, many more. Plus now I have to know my driver's license number and SgtDub and MissDub's social security numbers. I'm pretty good with SgtDub's social, because that's required to check MyPay for the military! (he he) In fact, I can blurt his out faster than my own. I've tried in the past to be clever and write down some of the passwords and important numbers by adding numbers and characters to the front and end. Only problem there is that I open my organizer and wonder "what in the heck does that mean?" It's just a bunch of garbled numbers. Another thing that irks me is trying to remember combinations to locks and those keys on my chain that don't appear to belong to anything. But, you sure can't throw them away, because sure enough, that will be the one that unlocks the backdoor. Argh! I vote to have "universal passwords" and microchips inserted in our bodies that allow us access to where we need to go. Do you suppose someday that we won't have to mess around with keys? Who would have ever thought you could go without a home phone? I'm sure the technology is already out there and all the smart people are using it, but I'm still waiting for my turn. Until then, I guess I'll keep lugging around the keychain and trying to remember my password.

On the homefront, things are still going great. SgtDub has finished the bathroom, but we haven't had the official ribbon cutting ceremony. MissDub has moved in and is using it, but I still need to put the final decorating touches on it and take some pictures before she trashes the place. Our baby goats are growing like weeds, and they're very friendly and loveable. I try to go out every evening to visit them and take some alfalfa. If I sit down in their pen, they will jump up in my lap and let me pet them. The little boy (Jasper) really likes to play "butt head" and likes it when I push against his horns. The little girl (Alice) is a little angel, just like her mother (Bella). We've kept the daddy (Edward) separated from the family since before they were born, and tried to reunite them recently, but they didn't seem to want to be together. We have some new neighbors that moved in and they have 2 geldings. Our mares have been tearing up the fence between us trying to tease the boys. It got so bad that the neighbor had to string some hotwire to keep them apart. Now, they just stand at the fence and holler. If you read SgtDub's blog, you heard about his new truck. I'm so glad we finally got rid of that hunk of junk he was driving. I just wish we had been able to buy him the dream truck he wanted. Maybe someday after MissDub is off to college he can have it. MissDub is doing good and got one of the lead roles in the school musical "Into the Woods". Taking after me, she landed the part of the "Witch"! She's very excited and has lots of lines to memorize. We decided to move her from the Honors Algebra class and put her in the regular class. She was really struggling with the homework, and was not enjoying it at all. Now, she's the smartest kid in class, and it really boosted her confidence. She actually said she was enjoying math (yippee!) Now if I can just get her to enjoy housework. Okay, this blog is way too long, and it's time to take a break. Sorry the Dubs have been out of touch lately. We've got good intentions and really want to stay in touch, but it seems there aren't enough hours in the day. Hope everyone is well, and I hope you'll stick around and keep sharing with us. Be safe and have a great day!

P.S. Oklahoma will be celebrating our 100th Birthday in November, and it promises to be SPECTACULAR! If you're in Oklahoma, check out the many Centennial Celebrations.

Life is Good!

2007-09-04T08:47:00.001-06:00

I'm sorry I haven't written in quite sometime, but I've been so busy enjoying my family. I'm happy to report that our air conditioner was replaced after only 7 days of sweltering heat! Our home warranty saved us a little money, but we still had $600 plus of out-of-pocket expenses. Did you know they charge you to dispose of your old unit? I think they haul it down to the recycling center and get the cash. SgtDub's been working his tail off. He's taken on a part-time job during his days off. He is working 8pm to 8am at Farmers Insurance. He gets to sit inside an office, but has to periodically patrol the parking lot. The pay is good, but those are long hours. Good thing it's not me, because I couldn't stay awake that long. He is also working another part-time job from 6am to 6pm on another day off. He really enjoys this job. He gets to sit inside an office there too, and he loves the people who work there (and I think they like him too). He's been working hard around the house. MissDub's bathroom is complete and ready to move in. I say "complete", but I haven't inspected it yet to find the 5% that's unfinished. My birthday was last Friday, and SgtDub and I spent the day sitting up a booth at the Flea Market. WooHoo! What a way to spend your special day. It was great just having Dub there and spending time together. Plus, it helps that he's so strong and can lift all the crap I'm selling. We spent our entire day on Saturday at the flea market and sold about $300. Although we only netted about $75, we were able to consign items for friends and family. They waived the normal $45 booth rental charge, so it was pure profit. I wish it was like that every time. Dub seemed really surprised at the items that sold, and the prices we got for stuff. Who knows, maybe he'll get the flea market bug and will start shopping for treasures with me. Our baby goats are doing great. They're getting really big and growing horns. They are so lovable that you can go out to their pen, and they will come up and get in your lap and let you pet them. Jasper likes to lean his horns against your hand and push as hard as he can. We tried bringing Edward (dad) back into the pen this weekend, but they were less than excited to see him. He was excited to see Bella (mom), but she obviously didn't share his excitement. We decided to put him back inside his own pen. I'm afraid we've kept them separated for too long now, and it will be difficult to reunite them. So, if anyone out there is a goat expert, let me know what to do to get them together. I will encourage Dub to update his post, and let everyone know what he's been up to . . . eat, sleep, work, etc., etc. Hope everyone has a great day and be safe out there!

How "Not" to Make me Happy!

2007-08-10T13:41:00.000-06:00

Sorry for the delay in posting, but it's been a miserable week around our house. The problems started last Friday when we noticed our air conditioner was blowing warm air. We called a repair guy, who came out on Saturday and pumped in 4lbs of freon into the unit. Everything was fine until we noticed on Monday night that it was becoming warm again. We called the guy back out on Tuesday, and this time he said "you've got a REALLY big leak. Luckily, we've renewed our home warranty each year for this very reason. The people who built the house managed to use the cheapest materials available on the face on the earth, and now we're paying the price of repairing and/or replacing the big ticket items. We've lived in the house 3 years, and have replaced lateral lines, well pump and now a new condenser unit. The warranty is nice, but a real pain in the butt. As soon as you discover a problem, you must notify the warranty company, who then dispatches a work order to a local contractor. The local contractor has 24 hours to contact you to schedule an appointment. I reported the problem on Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. and waited until 2:00 p.m. before I called the contractor directly to ask when they thought they might get around to calling me. I was told that it would be Wednesday, anywhere between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm (translation: another day of vacation). Did I mention that this is the hottest week so far this year? MissDub bailed out and went to stay with Nana and Papa, but SgtDub and I are staying put -- mainly because of all the animals. If it weren't for them, we'd be staying with Nana and Papa too. Back to warranty story, the contractor arrived a little before 10:00 am on Wednesday and confirmed that we had a very big leak and would need a new condenser (translation: get ready to sweat). Contractor notifies warranty company, who either approves work or asks for second opinion. Once approved by warranty company, they call to say "are you aware that you have certain out-of-pocket expenses that are NOT covered by your warranty?" Well, no, I'm not because the small print on the warranty is so tiny that it can't be read even with a magnifying glass. $620 dollars later, I'm jumping up and down saying "yes I agree to pay the $620 - just get it done!". Mr. Contractor calls back to say they've ordered the part, but it may be Monday before they can install it. Like a dummy, I said "what about Saturday?" and he laughed and said "the warranty company doesn't pay us overtime!" By this point, I asked "what's your overtime rate? I'll pay it!!" Yikes, $250 big ones! Oh well, it's just money, and besides I'M HOT!!!!! It's now 3:00 pm on Friday, and I've had no contact from Mr. Contractor, so I decide to call him. Guess what? The part just arrived and they would like to schedule an install tomorrow morning (Saturday), and by the way, you agreed to pay us overtime -- is that correct? Gee, I was hoping you'd forget I said that and just do it out of the goodness of your heart (yeah right!) SgtDub is working this week, so he's had the added burden of sweating to death in his uniform and coming home to a sweltering house. Poor guy! I've tried to convince him to go stay with the in-laws, but he refuses to go. So, if you're out there reading this, and you're sitting in the comfort of your air conditioner, take a minute to realize what a luxury it is . . . and think of all the poor people who live everyday without heat or air. I'll never take it for granted again -- at least not until mine is back on! Have a good weekend and stay cool!

How to Make Me Happy . . .

2007-07-25T08:28:00.000-06:00

Just ask SgtDub, because yesterday he made me very happy! When I left for work on Tuesday, our house was a wreck. As usual, we bit off more than we could chew and have projects out the wazoo. SgtDub was working on the bathroom and converting the closet into DVD storage when he was pulled off to work at Grandma's house. She moved to an assisted living center, and now our family is cleaning out her house and getting ready for an estate sale. Our Grandpa was a carpenter and had a garage full of tools and equipment. SgtDub brought home several of his saws and I brought home the dining room table with 6 chairs, dresser and desk. Needless to say, our garage was full to the brim. Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised when I arrived home yesterday and found the garage was clear enough for me to park inside. I quickly noticed that the laundry was being done, the DVDs were in the new closet, the bathroom was painted, one wall had been covered in grass cloth, the new light fixture was installed AND he built a new stand for the fan in our bedroom. All that in one day!! Can you believe it? He is SUPERMAN! See honey, I don't just blog when I'm mad. MissDub did good too -- she helped him with all the projects and she did the DVD inventory. She put together an excel spreadsheet listing the movie title and rating. You know you have too many DVDs when you have to have a spreadsheet to keep track of them. And get this, we just signed up for unlimited Blockbuster rentals by mail. We have over 200 DVDs and we are paying to rent movies! I need to back up a minute and tell you our paint story. We stopped at Lowes on Sunday to get supplies. We always like to check the paint section where they keep the "mistints". We lucked out and found a gallon that I thought would work in the bathroom. It was marked $5.00, so we said "what the heck, for $5.00 it can't hurt to try it". Well, when we got to the register to pay, the clerk hands us a rebate by mail and says we'll get $5.00 off the paint! I'm not very good at math, but I believe that would mean FREE PAINT!!! We went back the next day and found 4 gallons of exterior house paint (enough to trim) AND it was FREE (after rebate). He he, we just love a good deal, and we got really lucky. We tried again last night, but didn't find anything. Better to stop while we're ahead. So now, SgtDub can add painting the house to his list of things to do.

The Babies Are Here!

2007-07-19T06:19:00.000-06:00

Edward and Bella (pigmy goats) are proud to announce the birth of their two new babies! MissDub went out to feed at 6am today and discovered Bella had just delivered two baby goats. Mother and babies appear to be doing just fine. Imagine that, she delivered them without our help. MissDub had been reading up on how to be a goat midwife, and didn't even get the chance to assist in the delivery. One baby is white with a little bit of black, and the other one is black with white markings. We can't tell if the sex yet, but they sure are cute. They were trying to figure out the nursing thing. The white one must have been the first born, because it was moving around better. We'll keep you posted and put some pictures up soon. MissDub went to Six Flags with her church group, so she's not home to play with them.

Little Black Box

2007-07-16T08:44:00.000-06:00

The word around our house is not the "Little Black Box", but rather the "Big Black Boxes". Do you recall the story and photos posted at Dub's site referring to the footlockers he was "lovingly" shipping home to me? Well, they arrived one by one (5 total), plus a backpack and duffel bag. I had threatened to leave all the boxes on the front porch until he returned, and then he could unpack them himself. Only problem is that he still has bags from the first deployment that aren't unpacked. Yes, that's right, there are still boxes in the garage that contain this and that, and probably some food items that are growing mold. This weekend while Dub was at work, my "OCD" kicked into overdrive, and something had to be done to remove the boxes from my home. Although they're stacked in the guest bedroom and not in my way, the mere thought of these boxes lingering gnawed at my mind until I couldn't stand it any longer. I had to take action! I began unpacking each box, sorting out the contents and mumbling under my breath that "there are times I'd like to pinch his head off!" Dub doesn't pack (or unpack) like normal people. Remember his room? Well, he apparently waited until the last possible moment and then scrapped everything off into a box. When that box was full, he moved on to another and another and another. Whenever I pack, I like to put similar things together. I fold everything and stack it very neatly to make optimum use of the space. Heck, I even go so far as to put my socks and underwear in ziplock bags, so they'll stay together. Back to my unpacking story . . . I spent several hours unpacking each box and then repacked them with similar items -- all cammo outfits together, all socks, underwear, t-shirts and equipment in another and on and on. I guess he didn't want to leave anything behind, so he managed to bring home every scrap of paper and toothpick he used during the last 15 months, plus a big ugly bug! I'll bet he was really tired after that ride! I quickly removed him to the backyard, and he's probably thinking "where am I?" I asked Dub why he hadn't unpacked yet, and his comment to me was "so he'll be ready to leave again" -- BEEP! . . . WRONG ANSWER! I feel really bad picking on my wonderful husband like this, but hey, isn't that what blogs are for? When he does something good I tell him about it, but when he does something bad, I blog about it and share it with the whole world! Next topic will be the DVD collection! Okay Dub, now it's your turn to tell your side of the story.

P.S. thanks for helping me get up last night after I strained my back -- otherwise I'd still be laying there waiting for someone to help me up!

Time To Make The Donuts . . .

2007-07-10T08:59:00.000-06:00

Life in our household is officially back to normal. SgtDub was up and at em by 5:45 a.m. this morning. It reminds me of the Duncan Donuts commercial where the baker gets up at the crack of dawn and says "it's time to make the donuts". He was really cranky yesterday, and apparently not very excited about returning to work, and I can't say that I blame him. In a perfect world, money would not be an issue, and we could both stay home and play. Maybe if we were willing to sell everything we own and live in a tent, we could do it now, but I'm not quite ready to make that sacrifice. We had a very relaxing evening. SgtDub had dinner ready when I got home, and it was quite tasty (hamburgers). After dinner, we spent time on the Internet searching for hotels for our vacation, and then sat on the back porch watching the storms roll in. There was thunder, lightening, rain, hail, more rain, more thunder and on and on all night long. I'd like to say that I slept well listening to the rain, but it wasn't like that at all. Between SgtDub snoring and the thunder, I don't feel like I got any sleep at all. Maybe tonight will be better. MissDub went to see the orthodontist today and came out with black and blue bands. Back when I wore braces, we didn't get to choose colors. I had a "tin grin" and it was extremely painful when they tightened and re-wired my mouth. She never appears to be in any pain afterwords, which is a good thing. Hopefully she will get the braces removed in March, and she will have a beautiful smile to match her beautiful face. Not much else to report around here. Bella (the goat) hasn't had any babies yet. She looks like she's about to explode, but so do I! Hopefully we will have some baby goats very soon, and we'll have even more mouths to feed. I will encourage Dub to post about his first day back on the job, and who knows, maybe he'll have some good stories to share. Be safe and have a good day!

It's been a busy week!

2007-07-06T19:36:00.000-06:00

Day 7 and we are making progress on the bathroom. SgtDub tried his hand at plumbing and after 2 very frustrating days, decided to hire a plumber who came today and saved the day. Our 4th of July was good and bad -- good in that we were all together, but bad in that my parents' dog (Jazzy) decided to run away when the fireworks scared her. We realized she was missing around 7pm and all began frantically searching for her. Our neighbors even pitched in to help. By dark, we had decided there was nothing more we could do, so SgtDub and MissDub put on their fireworks spectacular (NOT!) Man, what a disappointment! They spent $60 on fireworks and none of them were anything fancy. We had planned to have a big cookout at our house, but we had to cancel that due to all the rain. We could have played mud volleyball. I'm happy to report that Jazzy was apprehended about 3 miles from our house and returned safely. A very kind gentleman found her running along the highway and stopped to get her. We are so thankful that she was found safe. Dub's scheduled to return to work on Tuesday, and I'm a little nervous about that. Not that I doubt his ability as a police officer, but I worry about all the crazy people he has to deal with. Hopefully, they will go easy on him for a while and let him get reaquainted with the job. I can't imagine walking away from my job for 15 months and then coming back and remembering how to do everything. I've taken off work the last few days and have been home supervising the "project". I feel bad now that I got him started on a project that is obviously going to take a lot of time and money. I should have waited until he was better settled. I'm sorry SgtDub if you're reading this! Oh, one more thing I forgot to tell you about the fireworks spectacular . . . the first roman candle that they set off was upside down and it fired directly into the yard! It was hilarious and I got the whole thing on tape (he he). I will try to post again soon. Dub decided to download something to speed up our internet service and it apparently had the opposite effect . . . now we have none! Having to post from Nana's house. So if you're wondering why the family isn't posting on a regular basis, that's why. Also, if you're keeping up with MissDub's site - we still don't have any baby goats.

Bathroom Remodel - Day 3

2007-07-02T15:47:00.000-06:00

As you may have seen over at SgtDub's site, we began work on MissDub's bedroom/bathroom remodeling project. MissDub had been a "Cowgirl" and her room was decorated with all things "Cowgirl" and horses. This decor worked for quite sometime . . . that is until MissDub decided she liked "Asian" decor and was ready for a change. Well, that's quite a jump from cowgirl to feng shui. MissDub has a CD that allows her to render 3-D drawings and floorplans. She has already designed her dream home and will probably build it some day. She has drawn up the design for her Asian-inspired bedroom and boy is it fancy. I doubt seriously that SgtDub and I will even come close to her expectations, but we'll give it the old college try. We decided to go shopping without her and come up with some choices. We're big HGTV people and one of my favorite shows is "Designers Challenge" where 3 designers come in and give their ideas on a project, and the homeowner must pick one. That's kinda what I wanted to do, but I decided against it, because knowing MissDub, she'd pick the most expensive and most difficult project. Like Mother, Like Daughter! I'm not in to the "Asian" decor, but I'm trying to be flexible and go with it (more Zen like). The reality is, we don't want to alter our home in a way that will detract from future buyers. We're planning to stay put, but you just never know. I can't see anyone else coming in and saying "oh my, this bedroom is exactly what I was looking for". So with that in mind, we will update the bathroom, paint the walls, add new lighting, window treatments and furniture (within reason). After our shopping excursion, we estimated that the remodel (excluding furniture) would cost approximately $3000! Here is where I fainted and when Dub revived me, I said "heck no!" She won't keep it clean now, what makes you think she'll keep it clean after! We began the demolition on Saturday -- it was raining and we couldn't do anything else, so why not knock a wall out. We removed the vinyl flooring, fixtures and are attempting to remove the shower enclosure, which is proving a bit tricky. No work was performed on Sunday (i.e. Dub was on the couch and MissDub was on the computer), and I'm not sure if anythings been done today or not (I'm leaning towards nothing). I will be home shortly and will access the progress and if necessary, create a "to do list" and make sure I call home frequently tomorrow to ensure work is being done. I feel certain that they're both playing X-Box and as soon as I drive into the garage, they will rush to look busy. More tomorrow. By the way, I will be taking wagers on how many days it will take to complete the project. SgtDub has the reputation of being the "95% man", which means he WILL leave one part of the project undone . . . what will it be?

A Better Day

2007-06-27T09:00:00.000-06:00

Sorry to have been so gloomy with my last post. I'm in a much better mood and trying to get past my "OCD" issues. We are drowning in rain and it's really putting a crimp on our outdoor plans. We purchased 2000 feet of pipe to build our new fence. Only problem is our front yard is under water and the pipe is just sitting there. MissDub's goat "Bella" is about to have a baby soon. She checked out a book from the library and is learning how to be a "goat midwife". This should be interesting. We had planned to have a big 4th of July cookout, but that's been put on hold because of the rain. We've also decided to go to San Antonio instead of Durango for our family vacation next month. Fellow Blogger (Ron) let us know about a promotion that gives free Sea World admission to military families. Yippee, that will be awesome! I'm planning to turn in my application at Tractor Supply and see if I can earn some extra income. I hate the idea of working an 8 hour day and then putting in another 2 to 3 hours, but we're determined to get out of debt and this will hopefully help us out. SgtDub will also work a part-time job once he's back to work. He makes really good money as an off-duty police officer. I'm not guaranteeing how long I'll last, or even if they'll hire me, but I'm at least going to try. It was a toss up between Kohl's or Tractor Supply, and I think I'll spend less at Tractor Supply -- that is if I can keep Dub from coming in and getting the employee discount. Not much else to report around here. I told Dub that he needs to update his blog, but he's frustrated with the dial-up connection at home and says he can't get logged on. Hopefully he'll post soon. Hope everyone is doing well. Be safe and have a great day!

The Honeymoons over

2007-06-25T15:29:00.001-06:00

Just ask my family and they will tell you that the honeymoon is over! Our first week together was great! I was off work and we were all together enjoying being a family. The second week, MissDub was gone to camp, and Dub and I had had plenty of couple time (which was awesome). Now it's the beginning of week #3 and I'm back at work and SgtDub and MissDub are home together, which puts me in a really BAD mood! I want to be home too! It doesn't take much to put me in a bad mood, and when I make up my mind to be that way, there's little you can do to change it. The best thing to do is stay out of my way and as SgtDub would say "yes Dear". He refuses to fight back and that drives me insane! I haven't cleaned house since SgtDub returned, and that's bugging me too. I try to tell myself that it's only dust and dirt and nobody cares if my house is clean (nobody but ME!) Poor Dub and MissDub - they put up with me and all my ranting, raving and complaining. I hate myself when I get in a mood like this, but I don't know what to do to get over it. All I want to do is bury my head in the sand, and I'm sure everyone around me feels the exact same way! We watched several movies this weekend, which were pretty good (1) MissPotter (really good family film), (2) Pan's Lambrinth (weird and violent), (3) Happy Feet (boring), and (4) Flicka (fair to midland). Tonight we're watching "The Queen". We ate out a bunch last week, so this week will hopefully be dinner at home. We're settling into our routine (i.e. me being cranky and demanding). I'm sure Afghanistan is looking pretty good to Dub right about now. He's asking himself "why did I come home?"

Hopefully my next post will be much brighter - until then, I'm burying my head in the sand!

"Date Night"

2007-06-20T10:01:00.001-06:00

SgtDub and I had our first official "date night" since he returned home, and it was wonderful! We had gone clothes shopping the night before, and I picked out several casual outfits for him. These were items he would not normally choose for himself (faded jeans, loose fitting shirts and thongs (flip flops). So when I got home from work, he was all decked out in his new clothes and he looked great! We went to eat dinner at Outback Steakhouse. I had yummy lobster and he had steak (again). We indulged in dessert "Thunder from Downunder", and it was yummy too! We finished our evening with a movie "Ocean's 13", which was great! Oooo - George Clooney is so hunky, and it didn't hurt that the other guys in the movie are hunky too. So, I not only got to sit next to a hunky man, there were hunky men in the movie! It ended up being a late night for me, since I'm normally in bed by 9pm, but it was well worth it. I'm so happy that he's home and we can have our special time together. Miss Dub is having a great time at camp and only called twice yesterday.

SgtDub Visits Tractor Supply and Sonic

2007-06-18T06:35:00.000-06:00

Well, since SgtDub isn't going to post about his adventures this week, I guess it's up to me to do it. We headed out on Monday morning with the camcorder in hand. Our first stop was at Sonic for a 32 oz. cherry vanilla coke. From there, we headed over to the new Tractor Supply store. I think I really embarrassed SgtDub and MissDub because I was video taping everything they did. SgtDub stopped to browse the gloves when one of the employees (Sonny) came up to see if he needed anything. Dub said he was "just looking" and I jumped in and said "he's been in Afghanistan for the past year" and with that, the guy shook his hand and thanked him for his service. They chatted a few minutes and I commented that he should get an application while he was there, and the guy said "yeah - I'd love to have you on my team". I said heck, maybe I should get one too, and he then grabbed two job applications for us. SgtDub and Sonny chatted a few more minutes and they shook hands again and then Sonny grabbed him and hugged him. It was hilarious, but awesome, and I believe it made SgtDub's day (although he wouldn't tell you that). We ran around all week looking at tractors (I think the only thing we have to pick is the color, because they all look alike to me) Blue, Orange or Green. We ate at Sonic several times this week, and I'm sick and tired of it. We've had an awesome week and managed to do a lot of fun things (actually ordinary things that we used to take for granted). We had family over on Saturday night to celebrate Nana & Papa's birthdays. SgtDub got a new gas grill for Father's Day, so he fired it up and cooked some steaks (yum yum). After everyone left, we pulled out the video tapes from the last year and started catching up. SgtDub got to see the video tape from the Veteran's Day ceremony at MissDub's school. She participated in the ceremony by reading a poem. It was really nice, and like the first time, I cried again. We went to church on Sunday. All the dads were given a key chain tape measure and then at the end of the service, the Preacher pointed out that Dean was back and had him stand up. Everyone applauded and he got several handshakes and thank yous as we left. I was very proud to be standing next to him! I'm heading back to work today, but only after we deliver MissDub to the church for camp (woo hoo!) SgtDub and I will be all alone this week . . . what should we do? Another exciting event this week . . . SgtDub was interviewed by the Mustang News. Maybe there will be a story soon!

Life Is Good!

2007-06-15T09:10:00.000-06:00

Wow, where does the time go? I feel like I blinked and the week is gone. I'm so glad I've taken off work this week - we've had so much fun being together. We haven't done anything exciting, but have enjoyed just being a family. It's a shame that it takes being apart for 15 months to appreciate what you have. SgtDub did a pretty good job of summarizing our week. I haven't had to feed the horses all week and it feels really weird. I keep feeling like I've forgotten to do something, and I guess I miss going out there every morning. In fact, I've been sleeping in and I feel like I'm wasting time that I should be doing something productive. I don't think I've nagged SgtDub (yet) -- I have picked up and taken things back to "his" room. Three of the footlockers arrived before he got home, and I parked them in the guest bedroom. He carried home 2 ruck sacks, a huge black bag and his backpack. It amazed me that he could carry that much stuff, but he did. Those bags got dropped in the garage and haven't come inside yet. I've asked him several times to bring them in the house so people wouldn't think that I made him leave them in the garage. He has his little piles of paper laying around everywhere. That used to drive me insane, but now it's a good thing to know he's home. Ask me in a month, and I'll probably be biting my lip and saying it doesn't bother me. We've been tractor shopping all week and it's so funny to see SgtDub drooling. We've also been truck shopping. We're trying to decide which one he wants/needs more. I guess he can always drive his tractor to town if he has to. We still have his 1994 GMC truck that runs, but is not in the best shape. The driver's side seat is broken, the window doesn't roll down, the windshield wiper motor works on sunny days only, and the muffler is rusted out. He says if we would invest about $500 we could get it back to decent condition. I've caught him several times just sitting on the back porch starring out and saying "there's so much to do". It's overwhelming and it's depressing because it all takes money. Although we did a pretty good job of paying off debt while he was gone, we didn't do so well about savings (bummer), but we'll make the best of what we have. It may take time and patience, but we'll get it done. He's started growing out his mustache and will soon have his "Larry the Cable Guy" goatee (snicker!) I love it when he grows it out, but I'm so sad when he shaves it off to go back to work. I will try to post again tomorrow and tell you the Tractor Supply story -- unless Dub decides to do it himself. Having a great time in Oklahoma . . . be safe and have a great day (we are!) Miss Dub says "hi"

Sgt Dub is finally home!

2007-06-10T11:45:00.000-06:00

Wonderful news! SgtDub arrived in OKC a little after 6:00 a.m. today. He was scheduled to arrive at 7:10 a.m., but believe it or not, his flight arrived 45 minutes early. MissDub and I arrived at the airport a little before 7:00 and noticed there were a bunch of soldiers standing around. We topped the stairs at baggage claim and there they were! I was so bummed out that we didn't get to greet him at the gate, but it was great anyway. As soon as I spotted him, I ran and hurdled a couple of duffel bags and jumped into his arms (yippee!) Talk about a great day! We had some friends from church present and Nana & Papa and Papa Phil and Aunt Susie. Everyone hugged and kissed and cried. It is so wonderful to look around and see the smiles on every ones face. There were some people standing in the background holding signs that said "Thank You Soldiers". Wow, that's pretty cool! We went to eat breakfast before coming home. SgtDub's been awake for the last 24 hours, so he was fading fast. He barely made it in the house before he collapsed on the bed (poor baby). He just got up after a 4 hour nap and I made him hot dogs with chili. I'll regret that decision later. How wonderful it is to have him sitting here with me. I'm signing off for now . . . Dub wants to update his blog. Be safe and have a great day!

1 Day and a Wake Up!

2007-06-08T12:42:00.000-06:00

SgtDub spent all day yesterday in briefings about how to communicate with your spouse, suicide prevention and driver safety. I guess they thought they forgot how to drive while they've been gone. As of Friday afternoon, he should be arriving at Will Rogers Airport on Sunday (June 10th) around Noon. I will post flight info when it becomes available. Everyone is welcome to join us at the airport and help welcome our soldiers home. There will be approximately 60 other soldiers, so it should be a real "joyfest"! As it stands right now, SgtDub and MissDub will be attending a performance of "Wicked" on Sunday night. I had only purchased two tickets because we were not expecting Dub to be home yet. The show is sold out and there are no more tickets to be found. So, I guess they will get Daddy/Daughter date night and I'll get to stay home and pout. Oh well, MissDub will be gone for an entire week at camp, and I'll get him all to myself (woo hoo!) We'll be meeting for dinner at Cattlemen's Steakhouse at 6:00 pm on Monday night. Everyone is welcome to join us, but let me know because we're making reservations. We've decided to take our family vacation in July and will be going to Durango, Colorado. I promise that we will blog as soon as he gets situated. And finally, I emailed our local newspaper to let them know he was coming home, and they're coming out on Wednesday to do a story on him (yippee!!) I believe a trip to Tractor Supply will be at the top of the list following that big juicy steak from Cattlemens! More later . . .

SgtDub Update

2007-06-07T09:07:00.001-06:00

SgtDub arrived at Fort Carson, Colorado on Tuesday, and is doing fine. They have him going through all the paperwork and medical exams necessary to release him from active duty. He had a hearing test yesterday that revealed his hearing has gotten a lot worse, and he will need to follow up with the VA to see about a disability rating. I hope they will pay for him to have a hearing aid, so he'll be sure to hear everything I have to say. I'm sure he will disagree and say he hears perfectly clear - he just chooses to tune me out. He hasn't had access to the internet because there is only one connection for all the soldiers, and his personal laptop was stollen in transit. When he first arrived at Fort Carson, they were told they would probably be home by Friday or Saturday and that we could pick him up at the airport. That plan changed the next day and they were told they wouldn't be home until Sunday and that we would have to pick him up at the armory. Apparently they were told they couldn't get a flight out on Saturday. I guess they've never heard of using those military airplanes that are sitting around. This is so typical of the military. They just have to mess with your mind and tease you. They've had total control of him for the past 15 months, and they can't even streamline the process to get them home. Oh well, enough about that, I'm just relieved he made it back safe and will be home by Sunday. This will be my last weekend without him, and by we can resume our lives. I've always said that deployment is like pushing the "pause" button on your life. You must go on with your day-to-day routines, but you don't want to make any changes or do anything major without your partner. MissDub and I haven't taken any trips or gone anywhere together because I feel guilty doing things like that without Dub. Now that he's home, we'll be able to get on with living and hopefully making lots of happy memories as a family. We spent many years saying "some day we'll do that" and now that "some day" is now! Thanks again to everyone for your prayers and support these past 15 months. We hope to be able to get together with everyone soon.

DUB'S BACK IN THE U.S.A.!!!!!

2007-06-05T08:39:00.000-06:00

I just got off the phone with SgtDub and he is in Illinois refueling and then heading to Fort Carson, Colorado!!!!!!!! He said he will post as soon as he can get to a computer :}

My Man is Headed Home!

2007-06-01T08:09:00.000-06:00

Great News! SgtDub should be home sometime next week!!! He was supposed to return to Fort Carson, Colorado where he would spend a few days before departing to Fort Bragg, North Carolina for a two (2) week school. He learned last night that he had been cut from the school, and would be coming home instead (yipee!). Anyone who deals with the military knows that plans change from moment and moment, and most times for the worse, but not this time! I had been making preliminary plans to take off work the last week of June and first week of July, but that will all need to be revamped (yipee again). I was also supposed to be going to Richmond, VA for a 3 day conference (June 11-13), but decided not to go (whew, good thing). We will hopefully get to pick SgtDub up at the airport and wisk him away for at least two weeks of family time. MissDub is scheduled to depart for Church camp the week of June 18th, so I guess that will give us some much needed quality couple time (he he) together. Our plans will include a steak dinner at Cattlemen's Steakhouse with friends and family and anyone else who wants to come. We will be having the "1st Annual SgtDub Firework Extravaganza" at our home on July 4th -- talk about celebration!! If you're in the OKC area and would like to join us, come on down! Our family truly appreciates all of your prayers and support during Dub's deployment. The support has been tremendous and I feel blessed to have made so many friends through our blog sites. Who would have ever imagined that total strangers would be brought together like this.

Family Vacation

2007-05-17T10:08:00.000-06:00

Our family is faced with a quandry as to how we should spend our family vacation. We are somewhat up in the air, since we don't know the exact date that SgtDub will be home. We have a general idea, but not enough to make reservations anywhere. Thus the problem . . . SgtDub is scheduled to be home sometime around the end of June, and he will have approximately two weeks off before he has to report back to work with the police department. He can actually take up to ninety days (I think) to report back to work, but that's only if you can afford to be without pay during that time, and we can't, so he's heading back to work. We've talked about trying to take a trip, but now we're faced with the problem that nothing is available due to the 4th of July holiday - yes, the 4th of July holiday sits right in the middle of our two weeks off, and apparently everyone in the world wants to take a trip on the 4th of July. So what should we do for our family vacation? Anyone got ideas or suggestions for some quality family time? If so, please share your thoughts and ideas. Thanks and have a great day!

Count Down To Homecoming

2007-05-10T08:02:00.000-06:00

We're starting to countdown to SgtDub's homecoming. As of today, SgtDub is scheduled to attend a 2 week school as soon as he arrives in the U.S. Hey, what's another 2 weeks when you've been gone 15 months! This changes daily, so I've learned to roll with the flow and not to expect anything. By going to the school, we will miss out on the official "Welcome Home Ceremony". This picture was taken during SgtDub's Welcome Home Ceremony in 2003. This was an awesome day. I vividly remember the moment my phone rang and it was Dub saying that he had just landed and was back on U.S. soil. I screamed and was so excited knowing he made it back safe. I got my first glimps of SgtDub when he marched into the church with the other soldiers. It's really hard to pick out your soldier when they're all wearing the same uniform and hats. The audience went crazy and I immediately started crying. SgtDub was seated several rows ahead of us, but we weren't allowed to go to each other until the ceremony was over. Talk about anticipation! I don't remember the ceremony, only that it seemed like an eternity. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the soldiers stood at attention and were dismissed, and with that everyone in the audience ran to find their loved one. SgtDub turned around and took several steps and MissDub and I ran to jump into his arms. This was one of the best days of my life! During SgtDub's last deployment, I served as an officer on the Family Readiness Group "FRG". The FRG is designed to be a support group for the spouses and family members of the deployed soldiers. Prior to deployment, we had a meeting and elected officers. I decided to volunteer, since I felt like I would have a lot of time on my hands and I thought "what better way to know what's going on", and I was right. As an officer on the FRG, I helped organize activities for the families, holiday parties and meetings. I made many good friends during the deployment, and it was wonderful having people around me who were going through the same thing I was. I haven't been involved in the FRG during this deployment, partly because the majority of the unit is located in another part of the state. I feel like the FRG plays an important roll in the deployment, and can be a very valuable tool. They offer assistance, resources and support. My previous involvement in the FRG has helped me better deal with this deployment and understanding how the military works. I have learned that the military can be your "best friend" or "worst enemy". Once you decide to embrace it and understand it, you will be amazed at all it has to offer. I hope anyone reading this post, who is facing a deployment, will contact their FRG and get connected. Don't allow yourself to be isolated and alone. You need the support and encouragement that the FRG offers. Deployments are hard on everyone, but you don't have to go it alone. You can survive a deployment. You can use the opportunity to become more independent, and you can learn to appreciate your blessings. Absence does make the heart grow fonder! I miss you SgtDub, I love you, and I'm ready to have you back in my arms! Be safe and have a great day!

Rain Rain Go Away!

2007-05-08T11:52:00.000-06:00

Here are pictures from our front yard this morning. It's been raining for several days now and is expected to continue. Luckily, we are at the top of the hill, but our neighbors are not so lucky. There are two ponds that have gone over the road and broken a dam. We have several neighbors who are stranded. Anyone who left this morning, will probably not be able to return to their home until the water recedes. I had some trouble getting to work today. I drove through several areas on the highway where the water was across the road, and I probably shouldn't have gone across, but I did, and I'm fine. I would have to say that flood waters are my BIGGEST fear. Not sure why, but I have this recurring nightmare that I'm driving at night and I top a hill and discover that the road is gone and there is nothing but water. It freaks me out! Another reason why I shouldn't drive in flood waters is because if I ever get stranded (or worse swept away), then SgtDub would never quit teasing me. If you recall, one of my first posts was about the time he got swept away in flood waters and totalled our new Chevy Pick up. I guess he thought he could make it through too. We're expecting 2 more days of rain, so if Noah is reading this, please send the ark to pick me up tomorrow. Be safe and stay out of the water!

Miss Dub's letter to "Dear US Soldier"

2007-04-17T08:34:00.000-06:00

Something really amazing happened this week. SgtDub was given an opportunity to read a letter that was written by his own daughter (MissDub) and sent to an unidentified "US Soldier". Miss Dub was given an assignment in her keyboarding class to write a letter to a U.S. Soldier. She had absolutely no idea where the letter would be sent, or who would receive it. MissDub does reference in her letter that her dad is with the 45th infantry in Afghanistan, but does not give his name or rank. The box of letters was received at Camp Phoenix by a Major Ellis. Major Ellis apparently recognized that there was a soldier with the same last name, and he brought the letter to SgtDub. Below is the letter written by MissDub. We are extremely proud of our daugther for writing such a wonderful and heartfelt letter. You may want to get a Kleenex before you go on . . .

Dear U.S. Soldier,

My name is “MissDub” and I would like to thank for all that you have done for our country. I know what your family is going through with you half way around the world, only able to talk to them every few days, sometimes longer. My dad is with the 45 infantry and the 180th infantry from Oregon. This is his second tour to Afghanistan. I really appreciate everything you are doing to help keep this great nation free.
I hope you and your comrades are kept safe. Our prayers are with you and the rest of the troops. I deeply cherish the sacrifice you make on a daily basis to be away from your family, friends, home, and country. I know it’s hard, but you seem to always keep strong and never give up. This country may have some people who don‘t appreciate what you are doing, but know that everything you do is for a good cause. To keep America the land of the free and the home of the brave.
When you troops come home, you help make it the home of the brave. I don’t go to bed at night without praying for you and the others serving with you. I can’t wait til you and your comrades can come home to your families! It will be such a joyous reunion.
So, with that said, I thank you again for everything you have done in order to keep this great nation free. You of all people know that freedom is never free. I hope God keeps you safe throughout the rest of your deployment.
God bless you, your comrades, families, and everyone else serving to endure and protect freedom.
Forever in debt to you and our brave soldiers,

MissDub
7thGrade
Oklahoma
(6th hour keyboarding)

Dub & The Guv

2007-04-12T10:59:00.000-06:00

This picture was taken during Governor Henry's recent trip to Camp Phoenix. Great picture!!!!

Happy Easter!

2007-04-06T09:53:00.000-06:00

Here is a picture from SgtDub's last deployment . . . See, he doesn't work too hard!

Would the Real "SgtDub" Please Step Forward . . .

2007-04-02T08:48:00.000-06:00

Introducing the real "SgtDub" - yes, this is what started it all! Prior to SgtDub's first deployment to Afghanistan, our family spent the last days together shopping at the mall, eating out and just having fun. We stopped in at Build-A-Bear and decided to make some bears. Pictured above is my "SgtDub" Bear, and he is as precious as the real "SgtDub". My "SgtDub" Bear is even more special because hidden inside his paw is a tiny button that, when pushed plays a message from SgtDub. My message says "everytime you squeeze my paw, I'm sending you a hug and kiss, because I love you!" MissDub's bear is actually a horse, and her message from SgtDub is a bedtime prayer that we have said with her every night, since she was born. One time, I went to pick up my Bear, and I accidently squeezed it's paw. The recording went off, and scared the crap out of me. I love my "SgtDub" Bear, and I will cherish it forever. It's the next best thing to having the real "SgtDub". They're both cute, cuddly and very special! I would recommend a Build-A-Bear to everyone! They make awesome gifts, and the fact that you can record a special message and buy special clothing is just an added bonus. So get out there now and Build-A-Bear for the one you love!

Taking Shoes From A Stranger

2007-03-29T10:03:00.000-06:00

I had an exciting shopping experience yesterday, and SgtDub suggested that I blog about it. I was running errands during my lunch hour, when I decided to stop by a thrift store. It's a small store hidden at the back of a big warehouse. My friend Joyce and I had found it a month or so ago and I purchased a great pair of dress shoes for $6.00. The shoes are all marked $12.00, but they were having a sale. Anyway, I went into the store yesterday, and I was the only shopper in there. There was a young guy working the cash register (not the brightest bulb in the fixture). I found 2 shoes that I liked and wanted to find the mates. I asked his recommendation on finding the mate, and he said "there's only 1 shoe" - well, that would explain the 50% off! In the meantime, the young boy took a break, and an older gentlemen came in. By this time, I was still digging through shoe boxes and trying to find matches. I had found a pair of OSU orange (Oklahoma State University) Ralph Lauren pumps (brand new!!). Not that I was looking for, or need a pair of orange pumps, but I can always wear them on Bedlam Day. The guy asked me if I liked shoes and what size did I wear. He then said he had a bunch of shoes in the back room if I would like to take a look. Okay, this is where I lost all sense of brain function and said "yes I would". I proceeded to follow him into the back room with the promise of finding a great deal. He said "we don't normally let anyone back here, but I'll let you". Looking back now, that probably wasn't the smartest move. For a brief moment, I thought to myself "this guy could be a total pervert and he's luring me into a closet", and I'm following him! Just like a kid would follow a total stranger for a piece of candy. Well, I'm happy to report that he was not a pervert, and he did in fact have a store room full of shoes! Good shoes -- Ralph Lauren, Talbots, Unisa, and many, many more. Most of the shoes are sample pairs and the sizes vary. I just had to dig through the shelves. I was basically in shoe heaven. Knowing all the shoes would be $6.00, I grabbed as many as I could before I gave up. I bought 7 pairs of shoes for $43.00!!! I was so excited and rushed back to work to share my bargains with my co-workers. I was a little afraid they would be the same size as me and want to steal my secret. Luckily, they're all different sizes, so there's no need to worry. We plan to return today and hopefully the guy will let us shop in the "secret" room!!!!

Spring is in the Air!

2007-03-22T12:49:00.000-06:00

I must admit that this time of year gets me in the mood for spring cleaning. I'm also starting to panic because it's almost time for Dub to come home. My panic is that I had all these grand ideas of things I was going to do while he was away. I've never been the kind of person to scrapbook. Although I love to journal and save every card I've ever received, I don't do anything with them. My routine is to pile stuff in a dresser drawer and when it gets full, I transfer it to a Rubbermaid bucket (I should buy stock in Rubbermaid). I now have at least 8 buckets sitting in our spare bedroom waiting to be organized. I said I was going to take care of this during Dub's first deployment (2003), but I didn't get around to it (Okie talk - roundtwoit). I have friends who are avid "scrapbookers". They "crop til they drop", but I just can't get into the whole idea of cutting out little pieces of paper to make pretty decorations and writing funny little captions - heck, I can't even remember who's in the picture, much less something funny about when it was taken. Okay, back to my point . . . I went to a few of these scrapbook parties and was horrified to learn that I could be arrested by the scrapbook police! My pictures should never be stored in the attic (oops, better get them down), they should never be stored in photo albums that don't contain acid-free paper (oops again - aren't those the expensive ones?), and I should have all of my pictures sorted by subject, date, category, color, etc., etc. After enduring public humiliation, I took the first step and pulled all of my tubs from the sweltering attic. I stacked them nicely in the garage and eventually moved them into the closet (where they have remained for the past 2 years). I pulled them all out again when Dub left in March and I'm happy to report that they're still there. I did make a little progress when I bought the cute little photo boxes and sorted through my photos (holidays, trips, family, friends, etc.) Oops, I failed to mention that I've kept every single piece of paper that MissDub doodled on. There is just something about throwing away a piece of paper that your baby has drawn on. I know I must let go and lighten my load, but where do I start? How do you decide what stays and what goes? I say we just buy a bigger house, and I get one room dedicated to my Rubbermaid boxes. When the time comes for MissDub to leave home, I will simply hand her a bucket containing all of her stuff and say "good luck - I hope you're better at this than I was". By the way, my mom never scrapbooked either, and I think I turned out okay. I guess I would prefer to "preserve" my memories in my heart, than in an acid-free scrapbooks with cute captions.

HELP! . . . SgtDub Needs New Boots!

2007-03-20T08:35:00.000-06:00

SgtDub just informed me that he spent $111.00 today to purchase a new pair of boots. I asked why the Army wouldn't provide him with another pair if he needed it, and he said they only issue them one (1) pair for every six (6) months they are deployed and/or one (1) pair for every two (2) years of service. So, in other words, if he wears his boots out before his six (6) months are up, then he is S.O.L. and has to buy them himself. Is it just me, or does anyone else think this is wrong? I would think that if the boots are worn and need to be replaced, that he should be able to go to the supply and say "hey my boots are worn out and I need to get another pair" and they would say "okay, no problem, you're serving your country and fighting in a war zone, I think we can get you another pair of boots" - they could even offer to give him a new brown bath towel and wash cloth. Just another example of our tax dollars at work (not!). I think our soldiers deserve the very best, and they should NOT have to purchase their own equipment or clothing!!!!!!!

Good News . . . I don't expire until 2010!

2007-02-26T13:57:00.000-06:00

Today was my second attempt to get my military ID renewed, and I'm happy to report that I was successful. It only took me 1 hour and 10 minutes, but I'm good to go until 2010. This time I arrived at 12:15, signed the clipboard,took a seat in the breakroom and waited for my name to be called. Like before, I sat there while people buzzed around me and smiled, but no one ever says "have you been helped?" I guess everyone just assumes everyone is doing their job. This time, I waited 20 minutes before I walked to the door and asked "how long it would be". The guy said "it depends on how many people are ahead of you". Well, there were 3 others ahead of me on the list and the last one signed in 30 minutes ahead of me, and they were still waiting. Hum, not a good sign. I told the guy that I was on my lunch hour and just needed to know about how long it would take. He said "about 30 minutes because the computers were really slow". I don't suppose the operator has anything to do with that. It appears that the attitude is why hurry? that just means I have to do more work. I was finally called in at 12:50 and the guy apologized for the delay. SgtDub had to execute a Power of Attorney so I can file our taxes, and I apparently had to have one today for the ID. I waited for just the right moment to whip it out - he didn't think I had the "proper paperwork", but I fooled him (he he). Apparently with all the new Homeland Security changes, they have to be really cautious about issuing ID cards. The guy verifies all of my information, takes my picture and makes the card. He hands it to me, and I say "when does this one expire?" Oh look, Feb. 27, 2007 -- just like the one I just gave you. Duh! Another 15 minutes, and I'm the proud owner of a plain old ID card. No longer the fancy "active duty" card with all the privileges (not that I use them anyway). Apparently, Dub's MOB date (mobilization) is February, so they're standing firm that he's not active duty after tomorrow. Well see -- I'll bet he's still there and will be for a few more months. SgtDub will be happy to know that I did not make a scene and did not have to be escorted from the building. I exited the parking lot in the right direction and wiggled my way out of the gate. Hopefully, I won't have to do that again anytime soon.

Why I don't play well with others

2007-02-22T13:41:00.000-06:00

Today was the day that I finally broke down and went to the Oklahoma Military Department (OMD) to get my military ID renewed (it expires on 2/27, so I've waited as long as possible). I've gotten one before, so I just "assumed" it would be the same procedure, and I would be in and out in no time. Wrong! Why would I ever assume that anything involving the military would go smoothly? Did I mention that I don't cooperate with the whole "military" thing? From the first day SgtDub joined the guard, I was less than excited and didn't care to "participate" in anything they had to offer. I refused to go to the Commissary, I refused to attend the annual picnic, and I won't even think about having to use the medical facility. I don't like the thought of having to show my ID, stand in line, wait for my number to be called and then referred to as "the dependent". Excuse me, but I am NOT dependent. Well, today went like this. I'm nervous enough when I get to the gate - actually I'm dizzy from winding through the barricades. I show the guy my ID and he gives me the once over and lets me pass. I get to the building and go to the counter and wait for the guy to acknowledge that I'm standing there. He tells me go on back and I take off. I'm feeling like an outsider because I'm not in uniform and everyone is looking at me. I proceed to the room where I'm supposed to go, only to find no one in there. The lights are on, but no one was home. There also was no clipboard for me to sign in on (red flag somethings wrong). I pace around a few minutes before I decide to sit down in the break room across the hall and grab a magazine. I'm fanning myself with my almost expired military ID, hoping someone will notice me. I wait, wait a little longer and then a little longer and finally a lady walks by and says "Ma am are you here to get a temporary ID?" I said "No, I'm just here to renew it". Apparently, when I was issued my last ID the guy issued it for 11 months based on the fact that SgtDub deployed in February 2006 -- irregardless to the fact that he wasn't anticipated to return until June. I tried to argue back then, but the guy just issued the card and sent me on my merry little way. Luckily, since I don't do the commissary thing or the Tri-Care thing, I don't have to use my ID on a regular basis. I only need it to get on base. We went to the Commissary once and my ID had expired a few days earlier. I tried getting past the old lady at the door, but from 4 feet away, she spotted it and confiscated it! Talk about embarrassing! Okay, back to my story ... the conversation went like this: lady: "do you have your sponsor with you?", MrsDub: "no, he's in Afghanistan", lady: "do you have power of attorney?" MrsDub: "no", lady: "do you have proper documentation?", MrsDub: "no, I just want to renew the card", lady: "I'm sorry Maam, but without your sponsor, power of attorney, form 1040WD405ASAP (in triplicate, signed by the President) (okay I'm exaggerating now), I can't give you an ID", MrsDub: no words, just foot tapping, getting red in the face and thinking to myself "I have connections". I get up to leave and slam the door on my way out. Once in the parking lot, I whip out and realize I'm going the wrong way, so I turn around and go the other way (another rule I don't like to follow). I get dizzy again leaving - why do they have the curvy thing on the way out? I'm now back at work and calmed down. I've placed a call to my "friend" and will find out what I have to do to take care of this. In the meantime, my ID expires next week. According to the military, SgtDub should be home by then, so Dub, if you're reading this, I'll be at the airport on Tuesday to pick you up - because we all know the military is NEVER wrong!

"The Husband Store" . . . Glad I Got a Good One!

2007-02-19T10:34:00.000-06:00

Yet another email that was sent to me. I'm so lazy that I can't even come up with my own material. I hope you enjoy this one.

"The Husband Store"

The store that sells husbands has just opened in New York City , where A woman may go to choose a husband. Among the instructions at the entrance is a description of How the store operates:

WELCOME TO THE HUSBAND STORE!!
You may visit the store ONLY ONCE! There are six floors and the attributes of the men increase as the shopper ascends the flights. There is, however,a catch... you may choose any man from a particular floor, or you may chooseto go up one more floor, but you cannot go back down except to exit the building!

Happy Shopping!!!!
So, a woman goes to the Husband Store to find a husband... On the first floor the sign on the door reads: Floor 1: These men have jobs and love the Lord.The second floor sign reads: Floor 2:These men have jobs, love the Lord, and like kids. The third floor sign reads: Floor 3:These men have jobs, love the Lord, love kids and are extremely good looking. "Wow," she thinks, but feels compelled to keep going. She goes to the fourth floor and sign reads: Floor 4:These men have jobs, love the Lord, love kids, are drop-dead good looking and help with the housework."Oh, mercy me!" she exclaims, "I can hardly stand it!" Still, she goes to the fifth floor and it reads: Floor 5: These men have jobs, love the Lord, love kids, are drop-dead gorgeous, help with the housework, and have a strong romantic streak. She is so tempted to stay, but she goes to the sixth floor and the sign reads:

Floor 6: You are visitor 4,363,012 to this floor. There are no men on this floor. This floor exists solely as proof that women are impossible to please. Thank you for shopping at the Husband Store.. Watch your step as you exit the building, and have a nice day!

Please send this to all men for a good laugh and to all the women who can handle the truth! If the grass looks greener on the other side of the fence... you can rest assured the water bill is higher there too!

Teenaged Daugther . . .

2007-02-14T16:43:00.000-06:00

My mom just sent me this email, and I had to share it. It is so true!! My daughter woke me up at 3:00 am the other night while she and her friend were playing make-up. This is payback!

Congratulations! You are now the proud new owner of a teenaged daughter. Please read this manual carefully, as it describes the maintenance of your new daughter, and answers important questions about your warranty (which does NOT include the right to return the product to the factory for a full refund).

IF YOU FEEL YOU HAVE RECEIVED YOUR TEENAGER IN ERROR: To determine whether you were supposed to receive a teenaged girl, please examine your new daughter carefully. Does she (a) look very similar to your original daughter, only with more makeup and less clothing? (b) refuse to acknowledge your existence on the planet Earth (except when requesting money)? (c) sleep in a burrow of dirty laundry? If any of these are true, you have received the correct item. Nice try, though.

BREAK-IN PERIOD: When you first receive your teenaged daughter, you will initially experience a high level of discomfort. Gradually, this discomfort will subside, and you will merely feel traumatized. This is the "Break-In Period," during which you are becoming accustomed to certain behaviors that will cause you concern, anxiety, and stress. Once you have adapted to these behaviors, your teenager will start acting even worse.

ACTIVATION: To activate your teenaged daughter, simply place her in the vicinity of a telephone. No further programming is required.

SHUTDOWN: Several hours after activation, you may desire to shut down your teenaged daughter. There is no way to do this.

CLEANING YOUR TEENAGED DAUGHTER: Having a teenaged daughter means learning the difference between the words "clean" and "neat." Teenaged daughters are very clean, because they take frequent showers that last more than an hour. They will scrub themselves with expensive, fragrant soaps which you must purchase for them because like I'm sure I'm going to
> use like the same kind of soap my mom and dad use. When they have completely drained the hot-water tank, they will step out and wrap themselves in every towel in the bathroom, which they will subsequently strew throughout the house. If you ask them to pick up the towels, you are confusing "clean" with "neat." Teenagers are very busy and do not have time to be neat. They expect others to pick up after them. These others are called "parents."

FEEDING YOUR TEENAGED DAUGHTER: Your teenaged daughter requires regular meals, which must be purchased for her at restaurants because she detests everything you eat because
> it is like so disgusting. She does not want you to accompany her to these restaurants, because some people might see you and like I'm sure I want my friends to see me eating dinner with my parents. Either order take-out food or just give her the money, preferably both. If you order pizza, never answer the doorbell because the delivery boy might see you and ohmigod he is so hot. Yes, your daughter's idea of an attractive man is the pizza boy.

CLOTHING YOUR TEENAGED DAUGHTER: Retailers make millions of dollars a year selling stylish and frankly sensible clothing which will look adorable on your daughter. If you enjoy shopping, you will love the vast selections which are available to you. Unfortunately, your teenaged daughter wants to dress like a lap dancer. You may be able to coerce her into putting on a cute outfit before leaving the house, but by the time she walks in the schoolhouse door, she will be wearing something entirely different.

OTHER MAINTENANCE: Teenaged daughters require one of two levels of maintenance: "High," and "Ultra High." Your daughter is "Ultra High." This means that whatever you do won't be enough and whatever you try won't work.

WARRANTY: This product is not without defect because she has your genes, for heaven's sake. If you think this is not fair, talk to your parents, who think it is hilarious. Your teenaged daughter will remain a teenager for as long as it takes for her to become a woman, which in her opinion has already happened and as far as you are concerned never really will. If you are dissatisfied with your teenaged daughter, well, what did you expect? In any event, your warranty does not give you your little girl back under any circumstances, except that deep down she's actually still there -- you just have to look for her

Every Day Should Be Valentine's!

2007-02-13T14:49:00.000-06:00

Imagine a world where every day was Valentine's Day! A world where everyone wore their best clothes, gave chocolate, cards and flowers and said "I love you". I'm thinking back to my first memories of Valentine's Day. I remember using red construction paper and heart doilies to make a card for my parents. I remember getting a box of heart shaped chocolates from my Dad. In school, we would have a party in the classroom and everyone would get a white paper sack covered in hearts. We would then go around giving each other cards. I also remember the disappointment in middle school when the student council would sell carnations for .25 cents. They would come around to each classroom to deliver the flowers. It seemed like all the popular people got tons of flowers while others got nothing (a glimpse of life ahead). I remember a Valentine's Day that I received an 8 foot heart made of lattice, filled with balloons. I remember a Valentine's Day when my brother-in-law and sister-in-law got married, and I remember many Valentine's that I didn't get anything. But, the best Valentine that I've ever had arrived on September 6, 2007. This is the day SgtDub managed to sneak home and surprise me with a 2 week pass. How in the world did he manage to pull it off without anyone knowing what he was up to? To this day, I am amazed that he was able to keep it from me. Many of you already know this story, but for those of you who don't, I will recap. My birthday was August 31st and SgtDub had told me "my gift was on its way and would be arriving soon". I just assumed it was going to arrive in the mail. Lesson learned - never assume. Needless to say, my birthday came and went and there was nothing in the mail. I rushed home each day, hoping to find a box on the porch. Labor Day came and went, and there was still no present. I was officially bummed out. I returned to work following the holiday weekend, and had gone out to lunch with my best friend Joyce. We were on our way back to the office, when Joyce got a call saying that we really needed to hurry up. I never suspected what happened next. The lady at the front desk said "you're package has arrived from Afghanistan", and I again assumed it was a box. To my surprise and amazement (with everyone in my office watching), I rounded the corner to find SgtDub sitting at the security desk, in his cute BDUs and grinning from ear-to-ear. I stopped dead in my tracks and just looked at him. I think I uttered "what are you doing here?" and then ran to jump into his arms. Wow, one minute I'm having lunch and complaining because he didn't send me anything for my birthday, and then the next minute I'm holding him in my arms. I will always remember that day! I've been blessed with a wonderful husband and a beautiful daughter, and therefore every day is special to me! Happy Valentine's Day to everyone - whether you're spending it alone or with someone special - know that You're Loved and You're Special x0x0x0x0 Love, Hugs & Kisses

National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans Week, February 11-17, 2007

2007-02-06T11:43:00.000-06:00

When was the last time you thanked a Veteran for their service? Here's your chance, the 29th Annual Naional Salute to Hospitalized Veterans Week will be held February 11-17, 2007 at all VA Medical Centers Across the Nation. Visit http://www1.va.gov/volunteer/nshv.cfm to learn more.

The purpose of the National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans Program is to:
pay tribute and express appreciation to hospitalized veterans;
increase community awareness of the role of the VA medical center;
encourage citizens to visit hospitalized veterans and to become involved as volunteers

The week of February 14 each year is your opportunity to say thank you to a special group of men and women, more than 98,000 veterans of the U.S. armed services who are cared for every day in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers, outpatient clinics, domiciliaries, and nursing homes. There is a link at the bottom of the website to help you find a VA Medical Center in your area.

God Bless America and God Bless Veterans . . . without them, we wouldn't be here today!

Happy Birthday SgtDub!

2007-01-31T09:21:00.000-06:00

Just a short blog to tell everyone that today (Jan. 31) is SgtDub's birthday!!!!! During our 15 years of marriage, SgtDub has managed to miss several of his birthdays due to military adventures. I don't know if he is doing this on purpose or what, but I'm starting to see a trend. He has managed (for the most part) to be around for my birthdays -- or at least make arrangements to torture me. He once took a real-estate sign, spray painted it and wrote Happy Birthday in giant reflective letters and stuck it in our front yard. He used this technique for several years until one day the sign disappeared. Whatever happened to that sign? As much as I hated turning another year older, I always laughed when I rounded the corner for home and saw that goofy sign. Last year, with the help of family, friends and co-workers, we managed to have the ultimate "surprise" party for SgtDub. SgtDub's little brother was in town visiting and we pretended that we were going to meet some other family members for dinner. I had one of my friends call me on my cell phone and say that something had come up at work, and I needed to run by and pick something up. The plan was that I would jump out and run inside to give everyone a head's up, while MissDub, Uncle Joey and SgtDub stayed in the car. Uncle Joey was supposed to then say he wanted to come inside to look around and then bring SgtDub to the conference room where everyone was hiding. It didn't happen this way, and they all piled out behind me, so I took off running and they were all saying "wait up". Goobers! Long story, short, MissDub, Uncle Joey and SgtDub wandered around for a few minutes before they came to the conference room door (all the lights were off). Uncle Joey opened the door and SgtDub saw just enough of shadows to know that he was about to walk into something he wasn't sure about. The lights came on and everyone yelled "surprise!" The look on SgtDub's face was priceless. He was so surprised that he had to be pushed inside the door. He soon realized what was going on and we had an awesome party. Papa Phil was the MC for the evening. We went around the room and everyone told stories about SgtDub adventures. His police buddies relayed the story of the time SgtDub almost got his head cut off by a clothes line while on bike patrol (I can talk more about that in another blog). Several people shared the story of the flooded truck (see previous blog), and I had the opportunity to talk about our life together. It was a wonderful evening and I know SgtDub was so happy. Anyway, SgtDub, I hope you know how much we love you and we miss you, and even though you can't be home on your birthday, we are there in your heart!

Friday Night in the Big Town

2007-01-26T19:45:00.000-06:00

WooHoo . . . it's Friday night and I'm home alone! I'm wondering how my life would be different if SgtDub was home right now. Would we be going out to eat dinner, seeing a movie, going to the mall, or just laying around? How wonderful it would be to have my family together! I never imagined I could miss him so much and long to touch his skin and smell his stinky feet. MissDub is having a sleep over with her best buddy, so here I sit feeling sorry for myself. I have friends who think I'm so lucky to have my "alone time". They live such busy lives and would give anything to have a night to themselves. Here I sit wishing I could walk around the corner and find SgtDub and MissDub sitting there watching TV. When we first married, we lived in a 900 square foot home. We could see each other from every room in the house. It was so small that you could watch TV and go to the bathroom at the same time. We moved up from there to a 1200 square foot home and thought we'd moved into a castle. We could still hear each other from one end to the other, but we had 2 bathrooms. We now live in a 2200 square foot home and although it's bigger than anything we've ever had, it's really small right now. I think back to how our life was before SgtDub was deployed and how we went about our day-to-day routines. We each spent time in our "own" rooms, and passed in the hallway. I took my family for granted. I assumed we would always be together under one roof. If I had known what was to come, I would have held them closer, said I love you more and spent more time together. I would have stopped long enough to sit and listen to what they had to say, instead of worrying about the dirt on the floor. Everything in life happens for a reason, and I've had the opportunity (twice) to realize just how very important my family is to me. After SgtDub returned from his last deployment, I swore things would be different, and they were -- for a while anyway. Time slips through your fingers like sand, and it's impossible to recapture what you've lost. I'm learning to enjoy the small things in life and not sweating the big stuff. It all works out, and even if it doesn't, as long as I've got my family, I have everything I ever need. With love, MrsDub

2007-01-24T10:25:00.000-06:00

Thanks for tagging me ... here you go
1. If you could build a house anywhere, where would it be? On a mountain top overlooking a valley with a river running through it
2. What’s your favorite article of clothing? comfy pjs
3. Favorite physical feature of the opposite sex? his smile
4. What’s the last CD that you bought? Rascal Flats
5. Where’s your favorite place to be? at home with my family
6. Where is your least favorite place to be? stuck in traffic
7. What’s your favorite place to be massaged? back and feet
8. Strong in mind or strong in body? mind
9. What time do you wake up in the morning? 6:30 am
10. What is your favorite kitchen appliance? dish scrubber that holds liquid soap
11. What makes you really angry? bad drivers
12. If you could play any instrument, what would it be? piano
13. Favorite colour? purple
14. Which do you prefer…sports car or SUV? SUV
15. Do you believe in an afterlife? Only in Heaven (not reincarnated as a cat)
16. Favorite children’s book? Charlotte's Web
17. What is your favorite season? Fall
18. Your least favorite household chore? mopping
19. If you could have one super power, what would it be? strength
20. If you have a tattoo, what is it? none
21. Can you juggle? no
22. The one person from your past that you wish you could go back and talk to? Mother-in-Law
23. What’s your favorite day? Friday
24. What’s in the trunk of your car? blanket, boots, toolkit, flashlight, ice scraper
25. Which do you prefer, sushi or hamburger? hamburger

I tag SGT Dub, if I had to do this, so does he.

"Do Nothing Day"

2007-01-20T11:49:00.000-06:00

It's Saturday morning, and I've decided to have a "Do Nothing Day". What is a "Do Nothing Day" you ask? Well, my definition of a "Do Nothing Day", is when you stay in your pjs, watch TV, veg and just enjoy the day. Not that this is different than any other weekend for me, I've decided that today I'm not going to drive myself nuts trying to get things done. I feel like I can do this today because I busted my hump last weekend with house cleaning and eliminating junk. My "Do Nothing Day" started at 7:30 a.m. when I was awakened to the whimpers of our dogs begging to go potty. Apparently the dogs don't respect me, or else they would have held it until I was ready to get up. Don't they know it's Saturday? This was my first set back. I sometimes fall back into bed and wait until our dog (Sunshine) starts scratching on the door to come back inside, which usually takes less than 1 minute. By this time, the horses are pacing the fence and begging to be fed. Again, no respect. MissDub and I have an arrangement that I feed the horses in the morning, and she feeds in the evening. It used to be that she would feed during the week, and I would feed on the weekends. Regardless, I think I got the short end of the stick (no respect). Whose idea was it to get horses? Oh right, SgtDub . . . and where is he? So I slid into my insulated jumpsuit, snow boots, hat, scarf and gloves and headed out to the barn. Determined to stick to my plan, I jumped back in bed and slept until 9:30 a.m. when the phone rang. It was SgtDub, so I decided it was time to get up. Following our call, I had my morning cup of coffee, wrote in my journal, read my daily devotional, ate breakfast and watched Rachel Ray (my favorite). I managed to last about an hour before I broke down and put on my sweats. The guilt was killing me and I felt like I had to be doing something. I then proceeded to make the bed, start the laundry and wander from room-to-room picking stuff up. Even though I'm no longer lounging in my pjs, I am going to try to do nothing for the rest of the day. I have to go now, the dryer just stopped and I feel the need to walk on my treadmill. I hope you have better luck at your "Do Nothing Day".

Things that go Boom!

2007-01-16T15:22:00.000-06:00

A term I don't wish to hear again . . . SgtDub started my day with a phone call to let me know about a car bombing that happened outside the gate at the camp where he is stationed. Definitely not the way to start the day (or end it). SgtDub and all the soldiers are safe and no one was injured (Thank Goodness!) I'll leave it up to SgtDub to give a description (if possible) of what actually occurred. He's learned from past experience that I do NOT wish to get my news from the television. We've had issues in the past with the police department when I would see breaking news of a shooting or police chase or something big and I would start trying to call him, and get no answer. The problem being he's on the scene and unable to call. I've now got him trained at the first sight of a news team to pick up the phone and call to say it's not him. That's all I need to know. So, on to lesser news . . . Day 5 of the winter blast and we're still here. School was cancelled today and is already cancelled for tomorrow. The highways are clear, but the problem comes in getting there. I stayed home from work again today - I never thought I would miss work, but I do. Why don't we get "heat days" in the summer, say when the temp reaches 90 degrees, we all stay home -- at least we could go outside and have some fun. I'm happy to report that MissDub has finally finished cleaning her room and it looks and smells so much better! We'll see how long it takes her to trash it again. She wants to re-do her bedroom when Daddy gets home, so I've told her that if she keeps it clean, we will proceed with the room make-over. My alternative is to let her grab one change of clothes and her toothbrush and then I'm putting a pad lock on the door. She can just wash her clothes every night and wear the same thing over and over. I think she finally realized that I was serious and not going to back down. Although I did end up helping her last night. I told her that she could just pay me $10 an hour to do it. She jumped right on that (she's obviously getting too much allowance), but I told her to keep her money. So, at the current time, we all have clean and organized rooms - at least until June. I'm really trying to loosen up and not worry so much about what the house looks like. In my younger days, I would clean every Thursday night (whether it needed it or not), now I'm lucky if I clean every 3 months. Before long, I won't even care, but by then MissDub will be old enough that I can make her do it for me. Maybe tomorrow I will tell the "Cheesey Italian Turkey Hash" story. Til then, be safe and warm :)

"Oh What a Beautiful Morning!'

2007-01-15T08:32:00.000-06:00

Although I don't think this is the kind of day they were referring to when they wrote the song, it's a beautiful morning to me! For the first time in 3 days, I woke up to see the sun shining in my window (yipee!) I've been keeping all of the blinds closed to keep the heat in, so today I got to run from room-to-room opening the blinds and letting the sunshine in. I don't know what it is about sunshine, but it makes me happy. Everything outside is covered in a thick white blanket. It's not ice, but it's not snow either. There are no footprints and it crunches when you walk on it. It's pretty to look at, but I'm ready to get out of the house. I thought I did okay on stocking up on groceries, but apparently not. Our meals quickly turned to as what MissDub once called "carbonated" foods (carbs). We've had packaged noodles, canned beans, potatoes, cornbread, garlic bread, cinnamon toast, crackers, cereal, cereal and more cereal. I did manage to buy some fruits and we've eaten that, but I didn't get any fresh vegetables, salad or even meat. MissDub is really picky about meat. She refuses to eat fish, chicken, pork and ground beef. However, she will eat Sonic burgers, chili and $20 filet mignon. She likes the way I make meatloaf, but won't eat Papa's. She did try sushi the other day (California Roll). I told her to just shove it in her mouth and not to try to chew it. She ate it and didn't spit it out. Not sure if she will ever want it again. SgtDub is weird about meat also. Hmmm, wonder where she got it from? SgtDub won't eat fatty meat, rare meat, shrimp or Cheesy Italian Turkey Hash (another story), but he will also eat a $20 filet mignon. He goes as far as to trim the fat off of bacon and ribs. It's quite comical when Papa and SgtDub are eating together. Papa makes a meal off what SgtDub cuts off. Now I know where bacon bits come from -- SgtDub sits there with his knife and cuts them up. If you haven't figured it out by now, I'm not much of a cook. I have all the tools and toys to cook, I just choose not to. When asked what I'm making for dinner, I say "reservations". I'm ready for the ice to melt, so I can get some "real food" -- RESTAURANT FOOD!!!

The "Big Chill", Day 3 . . .

2007-01-14T14:35:00.000-06:00

I'm happy to report that MissDub and I are still doing fine. We still have lights, heat, running water and cable (whew!) I keep puttering around the house trying to do projects. I have a real problem just sitting down and doing nothing. Just ask Dub, I sit down to watch TV and I notice the curtain is crooked and I jump up to fix it and then get distracted and end up mowing the lawn or something like that. I like to think of myself as being fairly relaxed, but I guess those closest to me would disagree. This morning I decided to curl up on the couch and read a book. The book was a gift from my brother-in-law and sister-in-law entitled "E-Mail to the Front", One Wife's Correspondence with Her Husband Overseas. The book is written by Alesia Holliday and published by Andrews McMeel Publishing. My first thought was "why would I want to read someone else's emails", and then I thought "the same reason people are reading my blogs". Alesia is the mother of 2 small children, a dog named "PJ", and her husband "Judd" is in the Navy. Reading her emails made me laugh, cry and laugh some more. My heart goes out to the military spouses with young children. Deployments are hard on children (any age), but I think when they are older, they can at least understand the concept of time and what is going on. Regardless, they still miss mom or dad (or any relative). Our MissDub tries to be such a "tough girl". She doesn't let anyone see her cry. She cried when the dog had to be put down, but not when Dad left (at least not where anyone could see her). Why is that? It's okay to be sad, lonely, and mad while still being proud. As I sit here writing this blog, I am reminded of the toll this war is taking on my family. A poster hangs on the wall in SgtDub's office that is MissDub's winning Poster entitled "My Dad Police and Soilder" (actually spelled that way). The picture is a soldier standing in front of an American Flag, and I smile every time it catches my eye. Okay now, wiping tears -- Alesia's book is great and if you get time, check it out. I can relate to the lawnmower story, shopping at the Commissary on pay day, "Top Ten Things Not To Say To a Military Spouse", and last, but not least, "I never thought I'd appreciate the sound of your snoring". As I just said to SgtDub, if they ever published our correspondence, it would be a comic book. Hoorah!

Ice Storm - Day 2

2007-01-13T09:24:00.000-06:00

Is it warm anywhere else? It's freezing here and I'm ready for summer. We are now 24 hours into our "Arctic blast" and the second wave should be arriving soon. The worse is yet to come and should arrive on Sunday. Oh goodie! We made it through the day without losing electricity. The satellite dish was of little use because the wind was blowing. We've never had satellite before, so we're not real sure if that's normal or not, but our "Dish" stinks! What good does it do to have it, if it goes out every time the wind blows? It's really useful during tornado season (laugh inserted here). It's easier to stand on the porch and watch for the tornado to drop out of the sky, than to get the signal. Our horses are staying warm and dry inside the barn (if that's what you want to call it - it's more like a lean-to). We tried to put the blanket on MissDub's mare (since she's old), but it wouldn't stay hooked. She got it caught on the fence last year and ripped the trim off of it. I tried doing what SgtDub would do if he was here, so I just "duct" taped it. Is that "duck" or "duct" tape? Always thought it was "duck" tape, but couldn't ever make the connection. Anyway, it didn't work (I must not used enough), so we had to take it off. During the last ice storm, both horses stood in the rain and were covered in ice. Horses aren't real smart - I guess that's why they're outside in the barn and I'm in the house. I really need to clean house while I'm home, but can't get motivated to do it. My attitude is "why bother" - it's not like anyone will be dropping by, and it doesn't appear to bother anyone but me. MissDub is in the midst of cleaning her bedroom. She, like her Daddy is a pack rat and it drives me insane! She and I go round and round over my definition of "clean". I reached my limit the other night when I went looking for a pair of socks in her room. I started opening dresser drawers, only to find clothes stuffed inside. I started pulling everything out and making piles in the floor. I even found some of my clothes crammed inside a drawer!!!! She has been banned from doing anything until the room is clean and organized. My mother just laughs and says this is "payback" for the all grief I caused her. I actually caught myself saying words that were straight from my mother's mouth . . . "do you think I'm an idiot?" Well, yes I did, but now I don't.

Ice, Ice Baby . . . Winter Blast 2007

2007-01-12T09:50:00.000-06:00

Anyone who has ever been to the Great State of Oklahoma knows that if you don't like the weather, just wait a minute and it will change. This is so true! Yesterday it was 71 degrees and very windy. Today I am sitting at home because a major ice storm is upon us. I had planned to go into work for a while to get some things done, but the storm is moving faster than expected and the roads will be freezing soon. I did manage to drop MissDub off at school before returning home. I did my grocery shopping on Thursday morning before work to stock up on the necessities (which was 4 boxes of SpecialK Red Berries). I've become addicted to cereal and want to eat it at every meal. I guess their slogan is correct that if you replace 2 meals a day with SpecialK, you will lose up to 8 lbs in 2 weeks. Worked for me, I've lost 8 lbs, 1" from my waist and 1 1/2" from my hips. Only problem now is that MissDub is also eating it, so we're going through a box a day. I guess they're are worse things we could be eating. Back to my storm update . . . I had to go to 2 stores this morning to find milk and bread. I grabbed the last loaf of bread off the shelf at Homeland. Yikes, I guess this is going to be serious. They are predicting that we will have freezing rain, sleet and high winds (which will cause power lines to snap). We could possibly be without power over the weekend. Although we use propane for our heat, oven and hot water tank, everything else is electric. We have a water well, but it has an electric well pump. It's times like this that the generation gap becomes apparent. So far, during my 40+ years on earth, things have been pretty convenient. I've always enjoyed color TV (although I was the remote for my dad -- thank goodness there were only 3 channels). We always had air conditioning and indoor plumbing. I do remember a time before microwaves, CDs, cell phones and believe it or not, the Internet!!! I guess that makes me old. My point is that I've never learned to be prepared for "what if". Living in Oklahoma, we've had our fair share of disasters (natural and otherwise), and through them all, I've managed to be okay. We've been inconvenienced by not having power for a few hours or no phone service, but never anything serious (thankfulness inserted here). I got really upset at my mother last night when she called to ask me if I had taken care of groceries, batteries, flashlight, water, matches, etc., and then she proceeded to go through every possible doomsday scenario with me. Yes mother, I bought groceries, no mother, I don't have a generator, yes mother, I realize it would be much easier to just pack our bags and come and stay at your house, but we can't always do that. I've got responsibilities that force me to stick close to home. Yes, in a perfect world, SgtDub wouldn't be 7000 miles away fighting in a war zone, but he is, and he's not here to protect us at the moment. If he was here, we would have everything necessary to make it through the storm. At least we have a home to protect us from the elements, we currently have heat, clothing, food and running water. If that does not continue to be the case, then I believe we'll survive (at least for a couple of days anyway). SgtDub left some yummy MRE (meals ready to eat) in the garage, and I've got plenty of bottled water. So folks, if you don't hear from me in a few days, you'll know that I'm sitting in the dark, in the boonedocks, freezing my butt off. I think next time I'll be prepared for "what if". P.S. Mom I'm sorry I barked at you, and I love you (and I would rather be curled up at your house)

2007-01-11T09:51:00.000-06:00

Sgt Dub tagged me with the silly meme so here are my answers.

1. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought? Man, my hair looks good enough that I don’t need to wash it.
2. How much cash do you have on you? $22
3. What's a word that rhymes with DOOR? More
4. Do you label yourself? A Compulsive Perfectionist
5. Bright or Dark Room? Depends – sleeping dark / office bright
6. Why is there always a missing question? Could you repeat the question?
7. What does your watch look like? Anne Klein II
8. What were you doing at midnight last night? Sleeping
9. Where is your nearest 7-11? 3 1/2 miles.
10. What's a word that you say a lot? “hello”
11. Who told you he/she loved you last? SgtDub and MissDub
12. Last furry thing you touched? Simba (the cat)
13. How many rolls of film do you need developed? None, just dropped 3 off Saturday
14. Favorite age you have been so far? 28 (the year I married SgtDub)
15. Your worst enemy? No worst enemy, just a lot of people that I complain about
16. What is your current desktop picture? My horse standing in the snow
17. What was the last thing you said to someone? I’ll take care of that
18. The last song you listened to? Don’t know the name – just listening to on-line radio at my desk (KLOVE)
19. What time of day were you born? Not sure – maybe late at night
20. What do you do when vending machines steal your money? Depends on what I was trying to get – if it was chocolate, I would beat the h*%$ out of it ! Otherwise I would probably just be mad.
21. Do you consider yourself kind? Yes, but only to certain people
22. What's your life motto? Life’s too short not to light the pretty candles
23. Name three things you have on you at all times? Wedding ring, SgtDub prayer band, underwear
24. Can you change the oil on a car? No, but the guy at JiffyLube does
25. When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper and mailed it? 1994 – letter to my father-in-law apologizing for making him mad.

Another Weekend Down

2007-01-07T21:21:00.000-06:00

MissDub and I have had a busy weekend. We had "girl's night" on Friday with dinner and a movie (The Pursuit of Happiness), which was an awesome movie. We spent Saturday doing chores around the house (which I would have preferred to delegate to SgtDub), but they had to be done and I'm happy to say we did it! GIRL POWER! I'm still working on taking down the Christmas decorations. I'm almost as excited (not) as I was when we put up the Christmas tree. It was flashback to when SgtDub was gone in 2003. We have a big tree, but weren't able to maneuver it, so we opted to use the small one instead. We used patriotic decorations with red, white and blue lights. It looked really neat. MissDub did all the decorating this year -- I just showed her the boxes and said "knock yourself out", and she did a great job! We listened to Christmas CDs and one song that played was by Randy Travis "Where My Heart Lives". One line says "don't start celebrating without me", which believe me, is hard to do. Sorry this isn't a more exciting blog, but it's been a long weekend, and I've got a really big day at work tomorrow. MissDub and I are attending a formal ball tomorrow night, and as usual, it just won't be the same without SgtDub. I hate that he's missing out on so many things, and I wish we could rewind and get the time back that we've lost. Do you suppose we can get a "do over"? I hope everyone has a great week and I will try to have a better post on Tuesday.

10 Things I Take For Granted

2007-01-06T19:34:00.000-06:00

I've been thinking lately about all the things that I miss about SgtDub and all the things I take for granted. I thought perhaps I would do a top 10 list (although there are more than 10 things), this is just a few . . .

10. Fresh air and clean water
9. Sunset and Sunrise
8. My job
7. Being an American (the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave)
6. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
5. A warm bed
4. Foot rubs and back massages
3. Good health
2. The yard work being done
1. MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS!

Now for 10 things I miss about SgtDub (and believe me, there are a whole lot more) . . .

10. Being able to ride in the passenger seat and stare out the window
9. Being able to call his cell phone as often as I want
8. Curling up together on the couch
7. The way he fixes things around the house
6. Holding hands
5. Rolling the trashcans to the end of the driveway (he he)
4. The smell of his cologne
3. The way his mustache tickles my lip (he he)
2. Bedtime prayers
1. EVERYTHING!!

I've decided I need to list some more . . .

11. letting the dogs out to potty in the middle of the night
12. Chocolate milk in the fridge and Cocoa-Puffs in the pantry
13. tripping over his shoes
14. folding his laundry and then complaining when he doesn't put it away
15. Playing "pinch bug" when we see a Volkswagon
16. Being the good guy when MissDub's in trouble
17. Putting my cold feet on his back
18. The way he looks in Wrangler jeans (he he)

I watched the sunset tonight and took this picture to share with you. When was the last time you watched it? Have a good day and be safe!

I hate surprises!

2007-01-05T11:28:00.000-06:00

Since marrying SgtDub 15 years ago, he has managed to surprise me on more than one occasion. One such surprise occurred when SgtDub decided he wanted to buy a used truck at an auction. Money was tight (as always) and we had agreed upon an amount and he had strict instructions not to spend over the limit. Well, he apparently decided he was smarter than me, so he bid (and purchased) the truck for substantially more than we discussed - SURPRISE! Needless to say, SgtDub was soon parted from his truck (he was the one surprised). Another surprise came on Mother's Day 1993 when SgtDub was summoned to help a relative who's house was about to be flooded. He had been given specific instructions (do you see a pattern emerging here?) that he could not drive up to the house because of the high water. Well, SgtDub again decided he was smarter than everyone else and by gosh and by golly, he made it to the house and pulled in the driveway. Our relatives were standing on higher ground when he drove by and they said to themselves "what an idiot!" It was at that moment that they realized it was SgtDub. Well, before he could gloat on his accomplishment, the flood waters swept him and his truck down the creek - SURPRISE! Yet another surprise occurred prior to SgtDub's first deployment. We had planned a farewell party for SgtDub at a local restaurant, and all of our family and friends were there. Apparently, SgtDub thought it would be funny to have a surprise 40th birthday party for me. Only problem was that I had just turned 39!!! And now for the biggest surprise . . . Around my birthday this year, SgtDub had indicated that he was sending me a package. I rushed home everyday, only to be disappointed because I didn't have a package waiting for me. I asked if it was coming to the house or office, and he said "either". He then even said "your package should be arriving any day now". My birthday came and went and there was still no package. I was really getting bummed out at this point. I returned to work following a long holiday weekend and had gone out to lunch with my girlfriend. As we were returning to the office, she received a call saying that we really needed to hurry back. I wasn't sure what was going on, but didn't expect what happened next. I entered the office and the receptionist said "your package has arrived from Afghanistan" - my response was something like "well it's about time" and then I rounded the corner and noticed all of my co-workers starring at me, and that's when I saw him! There in person was SgtDub grinning from ear-to-ear. I don't remember what happened in those few minutes, but I do remember saying "what are you doing here?" and then ran and jumped in his arms - SURPRISE!!! Well Dub, I think you out did yourself on that one and it will be hard to ever top it. That my friends was one of the BEST days of my life and I still smile every time I walk into the office and think about him sitting there waiting for me.

Saying Goodbye . . .

2007-01-03T11:08:00.000-06:00

It's hard to believe that 2006 is already gone. It seems like just yesterday SgtDub was packing his bags and shipping out. SgtDub had to report for duty on March 1. MissDub and I were able to drive down with him and stayed with relatives. We attended a farewell ceremony on March 2nd and then drove home without him. This was probably one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. We were 3 hours from home and it was the longest drive of my life. MissDub and I both cried and listened to songs on the radio. The song playing when we pulled out of the parking lot was SheDaisy "Please Come Home Soon". Wow, the timing couldn't have been better. If you ever get the chance, listen to this song. It was written from a military spouse's standpoint. Our sadness turned to joy when he was allowed to come home for a short visit (May 24th to June 2nd). I was fortunate enough to be able to take leave from work and spend time with him before he departed for Afghanistan. We hung around the house and enjoyed every moment together. I found myself fighting sleep at night because I didn't want to let go of the day. I used to complain about his snoring, but now found myself enjoying the sound and feeling comfort knowing he was home. The time flew by and before I knew it, I had to let him go (again). While he had only been gone a few months, I had settled into my day-to-day routine (school, work, chores). Hours turned to days, days into weeks, and weeks into months. Don't get me wrong, I was so happy that he was coming home, even if it was only for a short time. I did pretty good until the day before he had to leave. I started feeling sad and dreading his departure. I know how hard it's going to be and that I will have to start hurting all over again. It's like pulling a scab off (sorry, that's gross, but that's what it's like). Although he had a plane ticket back to Mississippi, I convinced him to ride back with the other soldiers on a bus. This meant we would have to make the 3 hour drive to meet the bus, but we were willing to do it because it would mean we would have more time -- precious time. My parents accompanied us on this trip, so the drive back was not as bad. Once home, I wandered from room to room expecting to find him just around the corner. I went outside and looked some more. The first few nights are terrible. Turning off the lights and going to bed, and waking up, knowing you're alone. I am hoping that MissDub will blog about what this experience is like for her. She doesn't talk much about her feelings and she tries to hold it all inside. She has cried a few times, but quickly "sucks it up" and moves on. I guess I'm the emotional one in the family, because I cry at the drop of a hat. Well, I had again settled into my day-to-day routine when I received a big surprise from SgtDub . . . and you'll just have to wait until tomorrow to hear the rest of the story!

Til Death (or Deployment) Do Us Part

2007-01-01T09:48:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year! I hope everyone is safe and ready to start 2007. I know I am. A few of my New Year's Resolutions include: losing weight, exercising, stop using bad words, and learn patience. MissDub has agreed to help me with my "expressive" language, but I'm on my own for the rest. My motivation to lose weight is to look good when SgtDub returns. During the last deployment, I worked out with personal trainer and thought I looked pretty good -- that is until someone snapped a picture of me hugging him (SgtDub - not the trainer) and my rear-end looked like the hood of a Ford Truck after a hail storm (yikes!) So, my goal is to "wow" him when he walks in the room.

My blog today is "Til Death (or Deployment) Do Us Part". As a kid growing up, my dad served in the Army National Guard and was a "weekend warrior". Back then, it was only 1 weekend a month and 2 weeks in the summer. I don't have many memories of our family vacations due in part to the fact that my dad' vacation was always spent at "summer camp". I remember going to Fort Chaffee, Arkansas to visit him for the weekend and we stayed at some shanky little motel and we got to visit DogPatch USA. WooHoo, big family vacation. From the moment I met SgtDub, he had a desire to serve in the military, and we discussed the pros and cons, and I always prevailed with the cons. I was determined that I didn't want my kids growing up not being able to take vacations because he would be having drill or summer camp. SgtDub never gave up, and he finally wore me down (actually MissDub arrived and I was just too tired to argue), and he enlisted in the National Guard, and thus began our family's military journey. SgtDub attended boot camp at Fort McClelland and was gone for what seems like years, even though it was only a few months. MissDub and I basically moved in with my parents while he was gone. We didn't get to talk much by phone, but he did write a lot of letters. Looking back now, our country was about to change, and that change occurred on April 19, 1995 at 9:02 am when the Oklahoma City Federal Building was bombed and 168 people were killed. SgtDub was at boot camp and didn't get the news about the bombing until sometime later, and then he was allowed to call home. I remember just feeling numb, crying and not being able take my eyes off of the TV. MissDub was about 18 months old at the time, so she didn't have any idea what was going on, other than everyone was crying. The image that is burned in my memory is the fireman carrying Baylee Almon out of the daycare center and her lifeless body was covered in dust and all you could see were those tiny little socks. SgtDub completed boot camp and returned home in June 1995. We went to the airport to pick him up and I guess I had this preconceived notion about how things would be. He would think I looked great and would make over me and MissDub and everything would be perfect, right? Not so, SgtDub stepped off the airplane wearing his military uniform and standing very tall and serious. The military had changed him -- he wasn't the same man that left us several months earlier. He dotted on MissDub and then gave me a peck on the cheek and a hug (a hug? what the heck was that?) Needless to say, the mood had been set for his homecoming and it wasn't what I had envisioned, so I wasn't happy. It took us a very long time to reconnect as a couple and as a family. I thought he was arrogant, but now I realize he had gained self confidence and respect for his country. SgtDub never missed a drill weekend and sometimes he would volunteer to do extra tasks. He was always signing up for some class and would take every opportunity he could to better himself and gain another promotion. Before long, 1 weekend a month and 2 weeks in the summer turned into month long classes out-of-state and more and moret ime away from home. Just as I suspected the family vacations got put on the back burner. Once again, our Country experienced a change - this one on September 11th. What started out as a crisp fall day, quickly turned to panic and fear. SgtDub and I were both a home and MissDub had just stepped on to the school bus and drove away. My heart sank in fear of not knowing what was going on, and when it became clear it was a terrorist act, that's when it all hit home. Our safe USA would never be the same again. We would become a country at war and all of our soldiers would be called to duty. SgtDub was assigned security duty at the Armory and we stayed at home waiting for direction. Life eventually returned to normal, but we were at war and troops were being deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. Lives were being interrupted and families were being separated, and ours became one of the statistics. Before SgtDub's first deployment, I resisted the military and refused to participate in any aspect of it. I couldn't even sit through the annual family picnic without complaining. I didn't like someone telling me what time I had to show up to play horseshoes and when I could leave. Once the orders arrived and it was clear to me that I didn't have an option, I decided to embrace the military and use it to my benefit. I purchased books for military spouses and learned about those stupid acronyms. The military can't use simple words. My first hurdle was the pay issue, but I figured that one out quickly and to my amazement, the military pays on time and so far, we have never had a problem. I joined the Family Readiness Group (FRG) and volunteered to serve on the committee. I jumped in with both feet and kept myself busy with support group meetings, family activities, newsletters and socializing. I made some really good friends through the FRG, and I recommend anyone facing a deployment find their FRG and get connected. Our first reunion was terrific! The soldiers marched into a packed auditorium and we waited for what seemed like an eternity to get our hands on him. Once I had him in my arms, there was no letting go. He was back and we could resume our lives! The excitement lasted about a year before word came again that he was going back to Afghanistan. We packed his bags, sat through a deployment ceremony, cried alot, said goodbye and now we communicate by phone and email. SgtDub just re-inlisted, so we're in this for the long haul. We're hopeful that this will be his last deployment, but we all know that anything can happen and we just never know what's ahead. Our family has sacrificed a lot for SgtDub to be able to serve, and we will gladly pay the price for freedom. So Dub, Happy Anniversary and next time we renew or vows, let's add "Til Death (or Deployment) Do us Part". All my love XoX0X0

You'll always be my friend . . . you know too much

2006-12-29T20:28:00.000-06:00

I'm almost embarrased to write this blog because I feel very selfish. I just returned from a trip with my 3 best girlfriends. We've been friends for about 8 years now and we've always talked about taking a trip, but just never had the time. With SgtDub being gone, I seem to have alot of time on my hands, and the timing was right for all of us to scurry off and enjoy a quick trip. Our trip began 7 weeks ago, when we visited a little town in southeastern Oklahoma quaintly called "Hochatow" pronounced "Hoocha" town. We stayed at a cabin and visited a whinery called "Girls Gone Wine". The whinery offers packages where you can actually make and bottle your own wine. At the time we took the trip, we didn't realize that we would "have" to return in 7 weeks to bottle the wine (duh!). I guess I just assumed we would make it and take it the same day. So, we made the 4 hour drive, arrived at the cabin, changed into our comfy clothes and watched a chick flick. It started to rain during the night, and it was so relaxing to listen to the rain on the tin roof. Although I'm having a great time with my friends, my heart longs to be enjoying this trip with my family (SgtDub & MissDub), and I hope and pray that we will have the opportunity to take this trip together very soon. SgtDub is so supportive and encourages me to spend time with my friends - I guess he knows just how important their support is to me (especially at this time). Family is the most precious commodity you can own, but friends are certainly at the top of that list as well. I've been through good times and bad with my friends and through it all, we've been there for each other - to laugh, to cry and to just be quiet. I saw a quote the other day that says "A friend knows when to talk, when to listen, when to pour you a glass of wine, and when to shut up and just give you the bottle". To SgtDub, MissDub, NaNa, Papa and our good neighbors, thank you for allowing me 24 hours of quality time with my friends. SgtDub, hurry home, so we can park our rears on the banks of the Glover River and watch the water flow! That's all for now, I'm exhausted from my relaxing trip.

2006-12-28T09:48:00.002-06:00

Captain's Log Stardate 12-28-06 . . . this is the maiden voyage of the blog site "MrsDub". It's one year mission (or whenever I get tired) is to try to keep up with my better half (a/k/a SgtDub), who is currently stationed in Afghanistan with the Oklahoma Army National Guard. SgtDub's been posting for some time now and has a fairly large fan base. He's even been picked "Bestest Blog of the Day". I thought perhaps I might post a few comments from the military spouse's point-of-view. This is our second deployment, and hopefully our last. SgtDub's been gone this time since February 2006 and we're hoping to be reunited sometime this summer. SgtDub's hoping to be home before July 4th, so that he can play with fireworks. Many counties in our state have outlawed fireworks inside the city limits, but our little corner of the world still allows and encourages fireworks. In fact, there is a fireworks warehouse on the outskirts of town and people come from all over to make their purchaes. Funny thing is, the warehouse sits right on the county line and if you turn left after making your purchase, the local police departments are there to escort you back across the road (after seizing your purchase and imposing a penalty). I don't know that for sure, but since SgtDub is a police officer in his "normal" job, he's spoken before of having to apprehend fleeing felons who are transporting illegal fireworks. He also has trouble with people stealing beer and donuts. I will now try to find a topic and stick to it. A little background on me (and my family) . . . I'm 40 something, work outside the home, have a 13 year old daughter (MissDub), been happily married to SgtDub for 15 years (officially on New Year's Eve). We live on 5 acres in the "burbs" and have 2 horses, 2 dogs and 2 cats. Although all pets belong to our daughter, I am the official caretaker (i.e., feeding, scooping the liter box, etc.) The arrangement with MissDub is that I feed in the morning and she feeds in the evenings - although this rarely works out, and I get stuck with the chores. We moved to the "burbs" two years ago, just after SgtDub returned from his first deployment. Had I known he would be going back to Afghanistan, I would have thought long and hard about being stuck in the boonedocks with a bunch of animals and lots of grass to mow. He did at least buy me a used riding lawnmower before he left (thanks honey). MissDub and I have managed so far thanks to the help of family, friends and good neighbors. One neighbor in particular is priceless! He keeps an eye on our place and lends a hand when needed. We are very grateful for his help while SgtDub is away. My parents (Nana & Papa) are also priceless. They still live "in town", but are always there for us when needed. They help out with MissDub, invite us to dinner and provide moral support. I also have terrific support from my girlfriends and co-workers. I have a very exciting job, but can't disclose what it is - let's just say it's never a dull moment. Since SgtDub's been gone, I have had to learn to do a lot of things on my own. My biggest fear was hooking up the horse trailer and actually hauling the horses to the areana. I was very independent when SgtDub and I first married, but I quickly decided that life is easier when I let him handle things. I discovered quickly during our first deployment that I had to be responsible again and it was up to me to keep our family operating on a day-to-day basis (paying bills, making repairs (hiring them done), keeping MissDub in line and most importantly, keeping SgtDub encouraged that we were fine. This is the hard part -- while you want your soldier to feel comforted that the family is doing fine, you don't want them to ever feel like they're not needed. It was ackward at first when SgtDub returned home - as he was trying to resume his role as head of the household - it's hard to give up control and it's hard to step up and assume control. But he did, and we did, and we're all stronger because of it. The separation is difficult, but we are fortunate to talk by phone twice daily and email on a regular basis. I cannot imagine what it was like for past generations during war time. Sending your solider off to battle and not hearing from them for months or years and the fear of not knowing how they are and relying solely on a letter. I have no complaints about being a military spouse. The military's been good to our family and has provided (and continues to provide) an education for SgtDub, good pay and good benefits. This has not always been the case with the military and I am so glad to see people supporting our Troops (even if you don't agree with the war), it's our duty to keep the home fires burning and encourage our soldiers that what they're doing is making a difference. I'm proud to be an American, I'm proud to be an Okie, I'm proud to be MrsDub and I'm especially proud of SgtDub for his willingness to serve his country -- sleep well - SgtDub's got your back!