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Motivation

Have you ever been at a point in your life when you knew you needed to do something, but just couldn't find the desire or motivation?

Well, I'm there AGAIN! I know that I need to get back on the wagon and lose weight for my health, but every time I am faced with a choice of what to eat..... I choose wrong. Then of course there is the aftermath of the overwhelming guilt for eating something I knew was wrong.

I don't want to be one of those women who lives her life floating on a constant sea of diets, I would rather subscribe to a "lifestyle change". I managed to do it successfully in Germany to the tune of 36lbs., but gained much of it back with my "lifestyle change" back in the U.S.

Argghhh! Now that I have acknowledged my issue, guess that means its time to face the music and just do it.

Alright team, let's do it for the Gipper!

It's Official...I have a home!

He signed for the house today and we have keys in hand! Woo-hoo!

We walked into our brand new house and panic set in. After years of living in military quarters and being happy with what I had....my short departure set me up for a shock. Even though this house is brand new (never lived in) and has 2.5 bathrooms, laminate wood floors and granite counter tops.........the 1649 sq. ft was painful.

Our house was 2350 sq. ft and somehow in the span of 2.7 years we managed to fill it. Now we are trying to figure out what to purge, what to place in storage, and what to live with. Granted I have never lived in quarters with this much square footage, I'm still a bit freaked.

Also in my 2.7 years in my own house, I began to love walls with color. The white walls of this house seem so stark. Never-the-less, the furniture goes in tomorrow and I will learn to love it. I'm sure it will be packed to the hilt and we will feel closer than ever as a family (pun INTENDED).

Do you suppose the military does this on purpose....?
They cram you and your family into a tiny hotel room with 2 beds, 2 chairs, 1 desk, a fridge and a microwave to make you appreciate what little space they give you. I'm convinced it's a conspiracy cooked up between the contractors and the DOD.

Then again, it could be stemming from the insanity that developed from living so closely with two teenagers and grouchy husband.

I love my family! :)

We're here!

FINALLY!

As of Sunday we arrived in the Mojave. It's still as nice as I expected it to be. As we completed 10 mile stretch and crested the hill the child in the car with me let out a moan and said "that's it?"
In response, I remarked at how much it has grown since we were here 7 years ago, to which I received a "hmmph, Whatever".

The following day there was a quick shift in attitude...... One child remarked "it's so clean" and the other stated "everyone is so nice". All the while I was was smiling and thinking "that's the view I want my children to have of a community".

As for housing....we are the only ones on the list and have been told we could have a house by Monday or Tuesday. The house is part of the new construction on base and will require a $250.00 deposit PER pet. OUCH!

I started working again on Monday. There is some adjustment involved in working from home, but overall it's quite nice. I have more time to concentrate and think things through, but on the downside I can't just bounce an idea of the person next to me or pull a co-worker over to read my notes. As I continue to adjust I'm sure things will get better.

In the meantime, please send your prayers and/or good ju-ju my way to ensure I maintain my sanity while living in 1 hotel room with a husband and 2 teenagers. Oh the smells!!!!!

More updates to come.....

Ca-li-fornia here we come.........!

So...most of you know we are on our way to sunny CA. The trip so far has been eventful to say the least.

1. The military has decided to take their time processing our claim for travel pay. The move should be completed by the time they pay up.
2. Despite numerous warnings from his Mother. James decided not to get a good nights sleep the two night before driving and managed to run off the road within 4 hours of beginning the trip.
3. We forgot to set out the last bit of trash. (about 5 bags)
4. We forgot to submit the change of address form IN ADVANCE.

Part of me would like to say..."what else can go wrong?", but thankfully I'm not that crazy.

More updates to come...wish me luck and anything else that will get me through this with my sanity in tact.

Wednesday Hero - Lt. Michael P. Murphy

This Week's Hero Was Suggested By Cindy

Lt. Michael P. Murphy
29 years old from Patchogue, New York
SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 1
June 28, 2005


On Monday, Lt. Michael P. Murphy was posthumously awarded the Medal Of Honor. His father was the one who accepted the award. Lt. Murphy will receive the award for his extraordinary, selfless heroism and steadfast courage while leading a four-man, special reconnaissance mission deep behind enemy lines east of Asadabad in the Hindu Kush of Afghanistan June 27 to 28, 2005

"We are thrilled by the President's announcement today, especially because there is now a public recognition of what we knew all along about Michael's loyalty, devotion and sacrifice to his friends, family, country, and especially his SEAL teammates," the Murphy family said in a statement released earlier in the month. "The honor is not just about Michael, it is about his teammates and those who lost their lives that same day."

Murphy was the officer-in-charge of the SEAL element, which was tasked with locating a high- level Taliban militia leader to provide intelligence for a follow-on mission to capture or destroy the local leadership and disrupt enemy activity. Taliban sympathizers discovered the SEAL unit and immediately revealed their position to Taliban fighters. The element was besieged on a mountaintop by scores of enemy fighters. The firefight that ensued pushed the element farther into enemy territory and left all four SEALs wounded. The SEALs fought with everything they had. despite being at a tactical disadvantage and outnumbered more than four to one. Understanding the gravity of the situation and his responsibility to his men, Murphy, already wounded, deliberately and unhesitatingly moved from cover into the open where he took and returned fire while transmitting a call for help for his beleaguered teammates. Shot through the back while radioing for help, Murphy completed his transmission while returning fire. The call ultimately led to the rescue of one severely wounded team member, Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Marcus Luttrell, and the recovery of the remains of Murphy and Gunner’s Mate 2nd Class (SEAL) Danny Dietz and Sonar Technician 2nd Class (SEAL) Matthew Axelson.

Eight more SEALs and eight Army "Nightstalker" special operations personnel comprising the initial reinforcement also lost their lives when their helicopter was shot down before they could engage the enemy.

Murphy was also inducted into the Hall of Heroes at the Pentagon during a ceremony yesterday. His name was engraved beside the names of some 3,400 other service members who have also been awarded the nation’s highest honor.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your blog, you can go here.

Wednesday Hero - Bert Brady

This Weeks Hero Was Suggested By Malinda

69-year-old Bert Brady has never stepped foot in Iraq or Afghanistan, yet many soldiers who have know who he is and appreciate what he's done for them. You see, for the past year Mr. Brady has made a trip to the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport nearly every morning to welcome home returning American troops. Bert Brady, along with fellow veterans, is a member of the Welcome Home a Hero program. They make sure that every soldier who steps off a plane in Dallas gets a special homecoming.

Brady shows up each day with the goal of making soldiers feel appreciated and proud of their service. He's often joined by veterans of the Vietnam and Korean wars who did not get a warm reception when they returned from battle.

"We are not going to forget them like a lot of Vietnam soldiers have been forgotten," Brady said. "We are not going to forget the soldiers of today."

To read more about Bert Brady, you can go to ABCnews.com

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. To find out more about Wednesday Hero, you can go here.

Graduation 2007 !!!

Words can't describe my happiness. He took his time getting there and didn't work as hard as he could have, but when the pressure was on he proved what he is capable of.

Watch out world!

Wednesday Hero - Lance Cpl. Steven Chavez

This Weeks Soldier Was Suggested By Cindy

Lance Cpl. Steven Chavez
20 years old from Hondo, New Mexico
2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force
March 14, 2007


Tears ran down cheeks and strong men choked back emotion as the city of Hondo, NM payed tribute to fallen Marine, Steven Chavez. LCpl. Chavez lost his life on March 14, 2007 in a non-combat incident in which he was accidentally shot.

Chavez enlisted in the Marine Cops. right after he graduated in 2005. "You pray and you pray that the day never comes, and then it does," said Novelda Chavez, Chavez's mother. "Your emotions are mixed — it’s not true, it’s a bad dream, a bad dream you never wake up from."

In a letter Chavez wrote before he was sent to Iraq, he wrote:
"First of all I would like to thank everyone for your support. When I'm home on leave and when I'm away. That is so important to me. Thank you for your kind, supporting words in your letters and for the packages I've received. Those are awesome.

I've been through some pretty hard times, in the short time I've been in the Marine Corp. None harder then what I'm about to face. Yes I'm scared; nothing is scarier than the uncertainty of what your future holds for you. I'm prepared to face whatever lies ahead.

I put my life in the hands of the Lord. And pray that He guides my fellow soldiers and I down a safe path, that He will calm our fears, and give us the strength to do the job we have been trained to do, and to do that job well.

There are many lonely nights, when you're lying in your bunk thinking of family and friends, wondering what they are doing at that very moment. Wondering what mom is cooking for supper. I can almost taste the tortillas on the griddle.

I want to say to all of you tonight, I wouldn't change one thing about my life.

I've never been more proud of the choices I made in my life than the day I graduated from basic drill instructor placed that Anchor, Globe and Eagle Pin in my hand I knew then I was a UNITED STATES MARINE!

I'm Proud to protect and serve My Country

I'm Proud to protect and serve My Community

I'm Proud to protect and serve you

Thank you so much for your Support. Keep those letters coming. Mail is a precious commodity when you're so far from Home.

YOUR U.S. MARINE

LANCE CORPORAL STEVE CHAVEZ"

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. To find out more about Wednesay Hero, you can go here.

Wednesday Hero - Hospitalman Luis E. Fonseca Jr.

This Weeks Soldier Was Suggested By Echo9er

Hospitalman Luis E. Fonseca Jr.


On August 11, 2004, Navel Hospitalman Luis E. Fonseca, Jr. was awarded the Navy's second highest decoration. The Navel Cross, which is awarded for extraordinary heroism while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States and must be performed in the presence of great danger or at great personal risk, was awarded for his actions while serving with Amphibious Assault Vehicle Platoon, Company C, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines, Task Force Tarawa, II Marine Expeditionary Force.

On March 23, 2004, Fonseca, Jr.'s unit were trying to take the Saddam Canal Bridge. Five Marines were injured when their vehicle was hit by an RPG. Fonseca, while still being fired upon by machine guns and RPG's, pulled the Marines to safety and established a casualty collection unit inside his own medical evacuation vehicle. After his vehicle was hit once again, Fonseca organized litter teams and directed the movement of four of the Marines, while personally carrying one wounded Marine over open ground to another vehicle. On November 15, 2004, Seaman Fonseca was awarded the "Grateful Nation Award" from the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs for his actions.

"I was doing my job," said Fonseca. "I wish I could have done more."

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. If you would like to participate in honoring the brave men and women who serve this great country, you can find out how by going here.

Wednesday Hero - Col. Cyril Richard "Rick" Rescorla

This Weeks Soldier Was Suggested By Sunny Kay

Col. Cyril Richard "Rick" Rescorla
68 years old from New York City, New York
16th Air Assault Brigade, Parachute Regiment (England)
Platoon Leader of 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) (U.S.)
September 11, 2001


Col. Rick Rescorla is a multiple time hero. In 1957 he enlisted in the British Army and began training as a paratrooper with The Parachute Regiment of the 16th Air Assault Brigade. He went on to serve with an intelligence unit in Cyprus, a paramilitary police inspector in the Northern Rhodesia Police (now the Zambia Police Service). When his military career ended in England he joined the Metropolitan Police Service in London. But he found the paperwork too boring and quite at the behest of a friend who encouraged him to join the United State Army. Which he did.

In 1963, Rescorla enlisted, with his friend, in the United States Army. After he completed basic training he attended officer training school and was assigned as a platoon leader in the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile).

He was shipped to Vietnam and participated in the Battle of la Drang. While in Vietnam, he was given the nickname "Hard Core" by his men for his bravery in battle.

In 1968, Resorla became a U.S. citizen and continued his service in the Army Reserves until 1990 when he retired. In 1985 he joined a financial services firm, located in the World Trade Center, as security director.

In 1993, when the WTC was bombed, Rescorla was instrumental in evacuating people from the building. Afterwards, he enacted a policy in which all employees of the firm practiced evacuation drills every three months.

September 11, 2001. Rick Rescorla was supposed to be on vacation getting ready for his daughters wedding. Instead he was at work covering a shift for one of his deputies so that he could go on vacation. When American Airlines Flight 11 hit Tower 1, Rescorla ignored officials advice to stay put and opted instead to put his evacuation drills to use. While evacuating the 3,800 employees of his firm in Towers 2 and 5 he kept reminding them "be proud to be an American ...everyone will be talking about you tomorrow" and sang God Bless America over his bullhorn. When Flight 175 struck Tower 2, Rescorla had already evacuated most of the employees from his firm as well as many others from other floors. He then went back in, despite being told he needed to evacuate himself. The last known words anyone heard him say were, "As soon as I make sure everyone else is out". Tower 2 collapsed with Rick Rescorla last seen heading to the 10th floor looking for more people to help.

As a result of his actions that day, all but six employees of his firm made it out alive. One of those being him and three others being his deputies who followed him into Tower 2, Wesley Mercer, Jorge Velazquez, and Godwin Forde.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. If you would like to participate in honoring the brave men and women who serve this great country, you can find out how by going here.

God Bless

I have pondered for days for something worthwhile to say about the senseless devastation at Virginia Tech. My heart, prayers and thoughts go out to the victims and their families and I wish the wounded a speedy recovery.

"Six degrees of separation" become more apparent to me everyday, as in a tragedy like this I know 2 people that bring me within 3 steps of the victims of Virginia Tech. Please do what you can to comfort these people in anyway possible.

Sixdegrees.org for VT
NetworkForGood

Blog, blog, blog

I have been so lazy about blogging lately. I look at it almost everyday, but yet can't seem to think of anything worth writing.

However, I do have a question for everyone.....

Is aggression an emotion or a behavior?

Introducing WTF?!?!?!?!?

WHO IS SAMWELL?

Bavaria in OK?

I will definitely check to see if the Heisse Leibe (Vanilla Ice Cream with Hot Raspberry sauce) is authentic. They even brew their own beer.

Royal Bavaria House

Cracks Me Up

While I have been on my mini-vacation I have had the luxury of catching up on my favorite talks shows and today was a winner. Watching Oprah and Paula Deen prepare one of Paula's decadent cakes.

Picture it...Paula is chatting away (as she normally does) and adding vanilla extract to a running mixer full over ingredients, when she drops the bottle into the mixer bowl. Instead of cutting power to the mixer, Paula instinctively runs away then realizes she should have cut the power and attempts to correct. While she is trying to turn off mixer the bottle is clinking and cake mix is flying out.

I'm sure this is one of those things you had to see to find humorous, but if you have ever seen an episode of Paula's show........I'm sure you know how funny she is.

I'll update if I can find a video of it on Oprah.com

Just call me DIRT

Your Vocabulary Score: B

You have a zealous love for the English language, and many find your vocabulary edifying. Don't fret that you didn't get every word right, your vocabulary can be easily ameliorated!

How's Your Vocabulary?

Fun......

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Midland   "You have a Midland accent" is just another way of saying "you don't have an accent." You probably are from the Midland (Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, and Missouri) but then for all we know you could be from Florida or Charleston or one of those big southern cities like Atlanta or Dallas. You have a good voice for TV and radio.
Boston
The Northeast
The West
The Inland North
Philadelphia
North Central
The South
What American accent do you have? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

Ice, Ice Baby!

The lastest winter storm to come through Oklahoma was doozy. We lost power on Friday, the first day and it's gotten progressively worse. Thankfully, the power was restored after about 5 hours. We were able to copy by playing an intense game of Monopoly Seattle edition.

James ventured out Saturday afternoon with some friends of his, which ended with a popped tire and minor damage to his friends car. Of course, the following day James was crazy enough to ask if he could then drive to the gym. His arguement was "how else do you expect me to learn to drive in ice and snow". Being the loving mother I am, I responded "how about when you are the on paying for the repairs". He gave up!

The ice on the ground is about an inch think and beautiful to look at. Enjoy!

(disregard pic dates, I'm too lazy to configure the camera)

Happy New Year!!!

Well, we made it! We survived 2006 and even the dread 6/6/06. 2006 was an eventful year and I'm happy to see it go. I'm looking forward to 2007 and all that it brings, to include everything from the husbands homecoming to the my baby graduating high school.

I hope that everyone has a wonderful New Year and I hope that good things come to all of you.