My friend tagged me for this meme and all I got was this lousy post

I was visiting my friend Ginger’s blog and imagine my surprise when I discovered she tagged me for this meme. Since my creative juices have been zapped lately, I decided what the heck. At least it’ll give me something to write about!

Eight things I’m looking forward to, in no particular order:

1. Going to Disney in June.
2. Finally having this house ready to go on the market.
3. Going to Disney in June.
4. Renewing my vows in June (it’ll be our 10th anniversary!).
5. Going to Disney in June.
6. Ashley and Amanda coming to visit for the summer.
7. This weekend to be over. The base is having an air show this weekend and I’m working a concession booth. The whole thing is turning into a major cluster f***, so yeah, I’ll be glad when it’s done!
8. Did I mention going to Disney in June?

Eight things I did yesterday:

1. Went to work.
2. Took the kids to Ryan’s for dinner (it was kid’s night and Dora was there…my two Dora fans were in HEAVEN!).
3. Stared at the humongous pile of laundry we’ve been neglecting.
4. Bought Alyssa a new pair of shorts so I could continue to neglect the huge pile of laundry (seriously, the child has ZERO clean pants or shorts to wear…still has plenty of shirts and underwear though!).
5. Did my charts for my Weight Watchers meeting.
6. Stared at spreadsheets for longer than any human should have to stare at them.
7. Had a lunch date with my husband.
8. Watched Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother, Two and a Half Men, and Rules of Engagement…laughed all night long!

Eight things I wish I could do:

1. Write as well as the rest of my blogging friends.
2. Retire tomorrow.
3. Pay off all my credit card debt today.
4. Move to San Antonio.
5. Win the lottery (I’d probably have to play it for that to happen!).
6. Lose 15 pounds in a week (sadly, that’s how many pounds I NOW have to lose to get to my goal).
7. Sell this house with no stress (LMAO!).
8. Go to the bathroom uninterrupted.

Eight shows I watch:

1. Big Bang Theory
2. Two And a Half Men
3. How I Met Your Mother
4. CSI (the original and Miami…not crazy about NY)
5. ER (still sad that it ended)
6. Friends reruns
7. Survivor
8. Lost (I’m behind by a few weeks though!)

Eight people I tag reasons I won’t tag anyone for this meme:

1. Ginger already tagged most of the people I would tag.
2. I don’t know eight people who blog.
3. Nobody would answer it anyway.
4. I don’t like tagging people…let them write what they want!
5. Well, I can’t think of any other reasons, so I guess you’re stuck with 4!

RTT: Craigslist, The South, and four day weeks

I think I’m in love with Craigslist. I’ve found it’s a great way to get rid of stuff. OK, so I’ve only listed two things for sale, but both things have gone within a day of me posting the ad. Late Saturday night, I posted our treadmill. By 3 pm on Sunday it was gone and we were $280 richer.

One thing I’m going to miss about The South is how open people are with their faith. It’s unlike anything I’ve seen anywhere else I’ve lived. On Saturday morning, we had a guy come in and clean our tile floors (took him 30 minutes and would have taken HOURS for me…well worth the $90!). After he was done he told us that he uses his business as a ministry as well. I kept waiting for him to invite us to a church or get all preachy with us, but he didn’t. Instead, he asked us how he could pray for us. And then we stood there, in the back yard, holding hands, while he prayed. I’ve lived here 8 years and things like that still catch me off guard. I was very touched that this man, who didn’t know us from Adam, was willing to pray for us.

I just realized that I capitalized “south” in my last paragraph without even thinking about it. I think that means I’m officially a “naturalized” Southerner. It also reminds me of the “schooling” I got from an ex-boyfriend about The South. He was a born and bred Georgian and one of the most important things he taught me was that Texas and Florida are not in The South. Well, according to him that was the most important thing he taught me.

Angelina is learning the days of the week at daycare. The other day at dinner, she decided to sing the days of the week song to us. It went something like this: “First you have Sunday and then Monday and then Friday and then Saturday.” Hmmm…I really like her week! Well, except for that Monday thing. Maybe we can work on that.

A house in my neighborhood that has been on the market since August went under contract this weekend. Tony and I drove around the neighborhood last night and only two of the seven houses in my neighborhood are not under contract. I’m hoping this trend continues. Although I find myself hoping my house doesn’t sell too quickly! We have realtors coming to look at the house later today and hopefully will have it on the market within the next couple weeks!

I think I have the best husband in the world. Why you may ask? Well, for starters, everything I listed here. And the icing on the cake: he does floors. Sunday he scrubbed our entire living room and hallway. Last night, he scrubbed the kitchen floor. I’m talking hands and knees, crawling on the floor scrubbing. If that doesn’t qualify for husband of the year, I don’t know what does!

Want to join in the fun? Or just want to read some more random fun? Visit Keely over at The Unmom now. Go ahead. Go! What are you still doing here??

Spin Cycle: Mind Your Manners

This week’s Spin Cycle assignment is all about manners. Want to know more about the Spin Cycle? Visit Jen at http://www.spriteskeeper.com.

Living in the South, manners have taken on a whole new meaning. My friend, Ginger, once blogged about the fact that Southern women don’t get mad. I believe this is in a large part due to the fact that everyone is so polite down here. Even when they insult somebody, it’s done politely: “Bless her heart, she has the face like a horse’s butt.” Who can get mad at that?

I remember the minute I realized I was in a different world down here. My husband and I had stopped at a gas station just inside the Georgia border. I had to use the restroom, so I went insde. A man had walked out the door a several seconds before I got to the door. When he saw me approach the door, he stopped, walked 3 steps back to the door, and opened it for me. I was in shock! Especially since I’d just moved from an area where holding a door open was almost unheard of.

I think the biggest thing that sets Southerners apart from anyone else in the country are the ma’ams and sirs. I grew up in the midwest. Ma’am and sir were just not words that were used often. And depending on who you said them to, could even be taken as an insult (“I’m not OLD enough to be called ma’am!”). Getting used to being called “ma’am” all the time, took some time. I’ve finally gotten to the point where I’m not shocked every time I hear it. And I’ve long since stopped being insulted by it (or could it be that I reall AM old enough to be called ma’am now?). Teaching my kids to use ma’am and sir is a whole other ballgame though. I just hadn’t done it.

Alyssa picked it up a bit when she started school. Her first grade teacher was a bit of a stickler for it, but I’ve noticed over the last couple of years her usage has declined a bit. Angelina, on the other hand, has just picked it up. Every time we ask her to do something, we’re answered with “Yes, ma’am!” (Doesn’t matter if she’s talking to me or Tony, the answer is ALWAYS “yes, ma’am!” We’re working on correcting that one!). I find myself hoping this is something she keeps up after we move. It just sounds right and will be a great legacy from our time here.

Recipes by First Graders

While I was cleaning my kitchen today, I came across a cookbook Alyssa’s first grade teacher put together. She’d inteviewed all of her students and asked them to give her their favorite recipe. She then typed them all out and bound them in a book. Every time I read it, it’s like the first time and I find myself giggling all the way through. I, of course, immediately thought of my blog! So, without further ado, here are some great recipes! Enjoy!!

Spanish Guacamole by G.A.
Salty chips and lots of avacados and onions, salt, pepper, a bowl, and a knife.
Step 1. Get the bowl and put the avacados in and get the knife and cut little pieces.
Step 2. Put them in the bowl and mix it.
Step 3. Then you put the salt and pepper.
Step 4. Mix it all up.
Step 5. then you dip the salty chips in the guacamole.

Chocolate Chip Cookies by R.B.
You break them up. Then you put them in the oven on 250 degrees. (I love this recipe! You can tell how her mom bakes cookies!)

Chocolate and Coconut Cake by L.C.
Go to the grocery store and buy cake mix, eggs, milk chocolate icing, and coconut icing. You put the eggs in the bowl. You put 4 cups of milk. Then you stir it. Put it in the oven. Let it bake for 50 minutes.

Cherry Cobbler by M.C.
You go to the store and buy cherries. You put the cherries in a bowl. You get a certain kind of bread. Put the bread and the cherries in a pan. Cook it in the oven for 30 minutes on 350 degrees. Eat it!

Pizza by B.D.
Take the paper off. Get the pan. You put the pizza on the pan. You cook it for 30 minutes.

Cake by H.E.
You put the cake dough in a bowl. Then you put the cake in the bowl.

Popcorn by J.F.
1. Put it in the microwave. 2. Cook it. 3. Take it out of the microwave.

Hamburger by J.F.
1. 2 buns 2. Buy meat. 3. Make a patty. 4. Tomatoes 5. Lettuce

Pizza by T.G.
Roll the dough. Put pepperonis. Put it in the oven. Cook it for 1 hour on 450 degrees. (I think he likes his crust extra crispy!)

Pizza by T.M.
How to make it: We put the dough on and put flour on top of the dough.
Ingredients: Flour and dough.
Put it in the oven for 20 minutes.

Pot Pie by N.P.
Degrees – on high
Minutes – 3
Put it in the microwave. It’s all ready to cook when you buy it.

Fruit Loops by T.R.
1. Get your bowl.
2. Pour the cereal in the bowl.
3. Pour the milk.
4. Get the spoon.
Then yum, yum, yum!

Cake by Alyssa
Get a bowl and then put the cake in the bowl. Then put the pink and white frosting.

Mashed Potatoes by E.T.
1. Ten cups of water – Then get potatoes.
2. 2 slices of butter.
3. Mix it up.
Then you’re done!

Green Beans
Buy green beans. Get a pot. Then put the degrees on 350. Then you just cook it for 39 minutes and it’s going to be cooked. (I wonder where he came up with 39 minutes?)

Gummy Worms by A.V.
1. Get some gummy worms.
2. Put the gummy worms on top of a pan.
3. Cook the gummy worms on low – 250 degrees.
4. How long – 2 minutes.
5. Wait for 2 minutes.

Sandwich by I.W.
How to make a sandwich:
1. Two pieces of bread.
2. Get baloney.
3. Get cheese.
4. Put it together.

Honey Butter by K.W.
You get a plastic bowl. Then you take regular butter. Then you get honey. You take a mixer that you just have to stir – the ones that turns on. Mix it until it tastes good to you.

Orange Pie by N.Z.
First, you buy it. You put it in the oven at 110 temperature. Take it out. You eat it.

RTT: Too tired to figure out a title

I have discovered the joys of Google reader. I’d heard it mentioned a few times on blogs here and there, but after reading this from Jen at http://www.spriteskeeper.com, I decided to check it out. It took me a bit to get everything set up (mostly because I can be dense sometimes and it took me forever to figure out that I did not have to go to each blog to subscribe to it). I like that I can do all my reading from one place and I don’t have to jump from blog to blog anymore!

Even better news…I can also VIEW posts via Google Reader AT WORK! Yahooo! Downside: I can’t see pictures and I can’t make comments.

Ashley called asking for money tonight. Her band is going to a competition in Dallas. All the kids had to pay $400 to attend. They’ve known about this since AUGUST! They’ve had opportunities to participate in various fundraisers to attempt to mitigate the costs. So, why exactly are we getting a call tonight asking for half the money for the trip? Oh and it gets better…she needs it by Friday. This couldn’t have been mentioned two weeks ago when we were there?? But I’m a sucker, so we all know she’ll get the money (well half of it…I guess her mom said she’d fess up the other half).

We have two realtors coming to the house next Tuesday to talk to us about selling our house. I’m a little daunted about the whole thing. The good news is two houses that were for sale down the street from my house both have “contract pending” signs on them, so we may be jumping into the market at the right time. I just hope we beat the huge influx of houses going on the market during the summer PCS season.

Of the two realtors coming, I’m almost 99% certain which one we’re going to use…based solely on phone conversations (well, that and reputation of the brokers). I almost feel bad having the one lady come, knowing that we probably won’t use her (unless she completely knocks our socks off, but I doubt that will happen!).

I hate going in to work after having an extended period of time off. I can’t get motivated to do anything. I did nothing on Monday. Well, unless you count figuring out that I can read blogs via Google Reader at work something. If so, that was my one accomplishment of the day (just don’t tell my boss!).

I can FINALLY sleep well at night! The Obamas finally have their dog. I don’t know about you, but I was losing sleep at night wondering what breed they would finally settle on. I’m glad that major world issue has finally been resolved!

I came home from my trip to Texas with an upper respiratory infection. How awesome is that? Going back to work AND being sick all on the same day! My Monday couldn’t get much better!

Want more randomness? Click on the button above to visit Keely. She’ll tell you what to do from there!

Tracks of my tears

One of the worst things about being a blended family is walking around feeling like half your family is missing. I think it’s even worse if you’re in the noncustodial part of a blended family. The times together are much too short and the times apart are far too long. I’ve found this to be true no matter now much time you have together or how long it’s been since you were together. It all just seems wholely unfair and it flabbergasts me that many states feel the every other weekend and a few long weeks here and there give a child enough time with their noncustodail parent. And that’s in the best of circumstances. In the worst, you have situations like ours: the military has taken us 1,100 miles away from my husband’s daughters. According to the state of Texas, the roughly 8 weeks of visitation we get each year is enough to build a relationship and is “in the best interest of the child.” (A phrase many people I know in stepfamilies have come to detest).

From the beginning of our journey, the drop offs have been the worst for me. In the beginning, I cried. Always after they left and never when they could see. After a couple years, I started to get moody towards the end of their visits. I guess as a way to protect my heart from the pain I’d feel when they left. It didn’t work. I still cried. I still felt as if my heart were breaking in two. I still felt as if there was a huge hole in my family. A hole that wouldn’t be filled for another few months when my family would be intact once again.

Last weekend, we visited with Ashley and Amanda again. My time with them was much too short (Tony went out earlier than I did). Due to Alyssa’s spring break and various other factors, I was only able to spend 4 days in town. I dropped them off at their mom’s house on Sunday night and we left Monday morning. This time, I didn’t cry.

At least not until we got home.

Ashley finally gave me access to her MySpace page. I’d been pestering her for months to add me as a friend, but she wouldn’t do it. I think when she realized that I don’t spend all that much time on MySpace, she figured it would be OK to let her dear old stepmom see what was on her page. I started browsing through her pictures. The first set were from her 16th birthday party (she turned 16 on 19 March). Looking at her pictures made me incredibly sad. Sad for the “every day” moments that we miss. Sad for the special occasions we can’t share with her or her sister. Sad that I have never gotten to see her march with the band or hear her play the clarinet (her dad has been lucky enough to be present during a concert band competition, so I guess that’s something). Sad that we’ve never gotten to see Amanda perform at the thing she loves most: cheer and tumbling.

As I look further at her page, a new sadness overcomes me. Her “family” album contains no pictures of her family here. I’m sure it’s not intentional, but it still cut like a knife to see the pictures missing.

Last night, I cried. I cried for the missed moments. And I cried for the many missed moments to come. My heart broke all over again. And once again, my family feels incomplete.

Is it Tuesday already?

Wow! Time sure flies when you’re having fun! I’ve been on vacation since Thursday. It’ll be over by next Thursday. Maybe we can rewind time a little bit…I’m not ready for it to be Tuesday yet!!!!!

I’m getting tired of hearing about the Obama’s dog. Do people really consider this newsworthy? Are there people out there as obsessed as the news seems to be? Or maybe I’m just watching the wrong news programs?

With all the crap that’s been going on with us, we forgot to call Disney to make our dining reservations. We called last night and tried to make them. We only wanted two dining experiences: Cinderella’s Royal Roundtable and Chef Mickey’s. The Royal Roundtable is book EVERY day of our trip. And they had ONE reservation available at Chef Mickey’s…at 7:30 in the morning. Tony’s going to try to call back every day to see if we can still sneak in if somebody cancels.

The weather has been great in Texas. I’ve been wearing shorts all week. I’m not looking forward to going home where it’s been in the 50s & 60s and raining all week. Ugh!

Alyssa and I flew out here lst Thursday. There was bad weather in Atlanta AND Dallas (our connecting city). When we first arrived to the airport, our flight was just delayed. After about 30 minutes, they cancelled. If it wasn’t for the guy sitting near me getting a text telling him it was cancelled I never would have known! I called the airline and they re-booked me on another airline…of course it was out of another terminal and we had less than 30 minutes to get there! As we were gathering our things to get to our flight, they FINALLY announced that our flight was cancelled. I was glad I overheard that guy talking! Alyssa and I ended up making it to Laredo close to our original time. My friend wasn’t so lucky. She didn’t get in until almost midnight!

Tony asked the girls if they would want to do a year of school in Italy. Amazingly, Ashley is thinking about it. I don’t think it’ll happen…I’m sure her mom will either pitch a fit or find some way to talk her out of it. The fact that Ashley is even thinking about is shocking to me though. She’s even been telling her friends about it.

Tony’s aunt has a mean cat. Really mean. He hisses at anything and everthing that gets near it. If you get too close, he has no problems taking a swipe at you. My kids can’t leave him alone! I keep telling his aunt to just let them get scratched and they’ll figure out to leave the cat alone, but she keeps rescuing them.

Well, that’s all the randomness I have this week! Want more? Go visit Keely over at The Unmom, grab the button, and join in the fun!