Welcome to my World

Missing?

2006-11-04T01:14:00.000-06:00

OK, I know that I have been missing for a while. Football is finally over and there are only 4 weeks left of school. Lots of things have been going on and I haven't posted anything. Sorry for that to everyone who stops by here. To start the ball running I thought I would post a little joke from Iraq in response to John Kerry. Enjoy!

Remembering 9/11

2006-09-11T12:46:00.000-06:00

Wow, I can't believe that it has been 5 years already. I was here in Germany, sitting on my couch, watching Good Morning America. They broke through with an emergency broadcast and I could hardly believe what I was seeing. It was the first tower in smoke and before I could even imagine what was going on I watched the second plane hit the next tower. I was stunned on my couch. My husband had only been in the military for 1 year and we had just been at our first duty station for 5 months. I jumped off the couch to call him at work. I was new to the military and unaware of what to expect. We were watching total devastation going on in the states and I was thousands of miles away in tears. I called home to make sure that everything was ok in New Jersey and continued to watch the horror. My husband would be home soon and we would wait to get word on what was happening. I held my face and cried, imagining all the lives that were lost and the fear that people were going through. I felt helpless. I recently signed up for project 2996 and was randomly given a victim from 9/11 whose story brought me to tears again........

Zhanetta Tsoy

Ms. Tsoy arrived in America from Kasakhstan on 23 Aug. 2001. Her life was starting at a new job with Marsh & McLennan. She was 32 and could hardly believe that she was going to work as an accountant at one of the world's largest buildings. Not long after arriving in the U.S. Ms. Tsoy dragged her husband , Vyacheslav Ligay, and 4-year old daughter on a sightseeing trip to the world trade center.

September 11, 2001 was her first day of work at the World Trade Center. She wasn't due at work until 0900 but showed up early to make a good impression. Her husband later said she was "very hurried" when she left for her first morning of work.

Mr. Ligay has looked for words to explain the disaster to their daughter, Alexandra. He has searched for photos of their trip to the trade center, but they have also disappeared. His family members want him and Alexandria to come home to Kazakhstan but, Mr. Ligay cannot. "Dead or alive, this is where my wife is and as long as we are here, she is with us."

I can't imagine kissing my husband good-bye for his first day of work only to find out hours later that it was also his last day on earth. The heartache that Mr. Ligay must have as well as all the other families left behind must be enormous. I wont pretend to know how they feel. I can only imagine that it must be 10 times the amount of pain that I feel from that day.

Hysterical Moment of the Day!

2006-08-17T23:41:00.000-06:00

Let me set the scenario:
7:30 am and I am getting ready for work. My son is up getting dressed. My son comes to me holding his nose and this is the conversation....
My son:" Mom, you know those boogie grabbers in the bathroom?"
Me: "What?"
My son: " You know those silver ones , well anyway they hurt and all they did was
pull out a bunch of nose hairs."
Me: " Please stop using my eyebrow tweezers to pick your nose!"

Needless to say, with both started cracking up and now I have to go sterilize my tweezers!

Busy, Busy, Busy.....

2006-08-16T22:37:00.000-06:00

I feel so overwhelmed with everything that is going on right now. Where should I start. Well Erin left about a week and a half ago, and I am missing her like crazy! We make some lifetime friendships in the military and when we eventually all leave it is so hard. Erin wasn't just a friend she was more like a little sister and she was also my co-worker. SO, needless to say, my little sister has left me and now I am working full time until I can find a replacement. Which replacing her doesn't seem likely. We are also in the middle of football season which means, working 9-5 then football from 5:45 to 7:15...URGH! I love football season but, I am running ragged. Thank god for the weekends, however this Saturday we have CPR certification from 10-4. Oh, did I mention that during all this my husband is away at training and preparing to possibly deploy, YUCK! So like the post says BUSY, BUSY, BUSY........Anyway , I was reading some of my regular blogs and Sarah had posted about this 2996 project. They are looking for 2996 bloggers to pay a tribute to a person killed on 9/11. So all of you go to the site and sign up! Not much time left and they still need about 1,000. I signed up, and as busy as I am I know that I can find the time to do this, so you can too! OK more to blog later I have to go and get ready for work! Everybody have a great day!

New Favorite!!!

2006-08-15T05:49:00.000-06:00

I can't get enough of Jack Johnson!!! Erin introduced me to him and I fell in love at first sound. I am currentley listening to Banana Pancakes( one of my favorites) . I hope some of you fall in love as well. Listen to some of the tracks on Walmarts website.

OMG....Look she has a new post!!!!!!

2006-07-31T23:02:00.000-06:00

I have decided to set aside early morning time with my coffee , as blogging time. I have a lot to tell everyone about but today I will start with being tagged by Yvonne and Sarah..

5 things in my purse
1. Cell phone
2. Pair of socks(Hey its summer, all I where is flip flops and you never know when you may
need to cover your toes)
3. Memory stick
4. Band-Aids
5. Excedrin

5 things in my refrigerator
1. Yogurt
2. Pineapples
3. Hoison sauce
4. Apple cider
5. Fat free half and half

5 things in my closet
1. clothes
2. shoes
3. Christmas presents
4. purses
5. candles

5 things in my car
1. maps
2. Home sweet Home air freshener
3. blankets(for winter emergency's? Its summer)
4. Travel chairs
5. Lots of different meds( Tylenol, benedryl, imodium, etc...)

OK now who to tag....Lesley, Erin.....
And thanks to the girls who inspire me to blog, Love ya guys!!!!!

Happy Father's day!!!!!!!!

2006-06-18T02:04:00.000-06:00

A BIG "HAPPY FATHER'S DAY" to my wonderful husband, Dad and Father-in-law!!!!!

My Father-in-law...I was so blessed to have such a wonderful man come in to my life and then when I met his father, I knew exactly how he became so wonderful. Dad thank-you for raising your son to become the best father and husband that I could have asked for. You are truly an inspiration ......I love you!!!!

My husband.......When you walked into my life I knew that I was in love...I thank god every day for bringing you into mine and Anthony's life. I knew just by the way that you loved my son and thought of him all the time that you were the one for me. In our future I know that we have many more children to come and God couldn't place them with a better father..I Love You!!!!

My Dad.....You were placed into my life for a reason and when I was young I may not have always known why but now I am thankful for it every day. God gave me a dad to look up to, a figure that showed me what a father was. I don't know what would have happened to me had you not been in my life. You mean the world to me and I probably don't tell you enough how thankful I am that you are my dad...I love you !!!!!And to all the other Fathers that I know...Enjoy your day and your children for every day is a day to be celebrated!

Vilseck...

2006-06-18T01:27:00.000-06:00

Erin and I decided to go downtown and take some pictures of our little city before she takes off on me and moves back to the States. We had a great time just walking around, looking like tourists and snapping as many photos as we could. I thought that I would share them with you as I am sure she will too...Enjoy!!!!

Guest house....(hotel)

Vils River.....

Catholic Church.....

Town Watchtower.....

Cigarette Machine.....They are everywhere and the strangest looking things.

Mail...

2006-06-11T02:31:00.001-06:00

I love getting mail from my mother! I just received a box from her, and even though I love everything that she sends me sometimes just the smell of the box makes me homesick. I can smell her house in everything that she has sent. The cardboard even smells like home. It is really hard to explain unless you have been in my mother's house, but I will try. I can smell the lavender and patchouli that is always in her house as well as the salty ocean air that reminds me of the beach. Now of course my mother can't really smell these things but when I get the box I do. Then I pull the Exit Zero magazine out and I can really feel like I am there. This summer we are not going home and so the next time I go it will have been 2 years since I have been there and that is a first since I moved to Germany in 2001. I am already feeling like I need to go back now for my home fix so I can just imagine how I am going to be feeling my next summer...BLAH! Don't get me wrong I do enjoy being here in some ways, but I have always managed to make it home at least once a year and I am not sure that I am going to be at all happy not making it home this year. However, I do have a consolation prize since mom and my sister Casey are coming out here in October. I am sure just having a piece of home out here while be enough to carry me through the long year till I make it home again. For now I will smother myself in the cardboard box, never wash the shirt that she sent me and look at old copies of exit zero until I receive new ones......

Long time, no blog...

2006-06-10T07:27:00.000-06:00

OK, ok I know that I haven't blogged in a while and I really do have a lot to say but I can't seem to find the time. I think about it now and that is crap too, I just have to make the time. Anyway, I will blog again tonight and update everyone. In the mean time Sarah has started to blog again so check her out.

Mother's Day

2006-05-14T12:07:00.000-06:00

I just wanted to say Happy Mother's Day to everyone, especially to my own mother.

Mom, I can only hope that one day my own son will love and cherish me as much as I love and cherish you. There are really no words in the dictionary that could explain the love of a child for its mother and I now know why. I can never imagine a day without my mother, a day where I couldn't call if I wanted to. Mom you encompass everything good in my world , without you I have no idea where I would be. I can only hope that I have been as good a daughter to you as you have been a mother to me.

The Charge of the Night Brigade:

A scurry of feet on the bedroom stair,
A titter along the hall--
And this is the charge of the night brigade,
To capture me heart and all.
And there is the Captain, Sleepy Eyes,
And there is Lieutenant Dream,
While the only arms of love are theirs
As into my heart they stream.

A low, little laugh as they form in line
Robed in their slumber gowns--
No armor rude with its harsh intrude,
No helmets that clank and frown;
They come for the hug and the goodnight kiss,
And unto my heart they bring
The song of the bedtime troops of love,
With its old, ineffable ring.

I sigh as I think of the lonesome folk
In their fortresses alone,
Where never the children charge with their cheer
Where the bedtime song's unknown;
Who sit in their childless realm aloof
Nor ever behold at all
The Sleepy Eyes and the Golden Dream
Come marching down through the hall.

Who never have felt around their necks
Nor ever upon their lips,
The soft caress of a little arm,
Or a kiss with its sweet eclipse;
I do not know what I would do
Were the bedtime troops away,
And I almost dread the time to come
When they'll march to the grown-up fray.

In a single file, to a merry tune,
Whispering, wild with glee,
They turn the knob and open the door
And rush to the heart of me;
Retreat is vain, resist I won't,
So on my lap they leap--
The troops of the night brigade that come
For the kiss of the tender sleep.

WRONG SIDE OF THE BED......

2006-05-09T18:01:00.000-06:00

Today is again one of those days. You know that life throws you curve balls all the time, right? So what do you do? You swing and hope that you hit. Well, when life starts slapping you in the face all the time, you eventually start walking around with your hands up to guard yourself. So when do you learn that you can stop waiting for the slaps because there aren’t going to be anymore. I mean, I know that life has its ups and downs, but I am tired of the big downs. I want to be able to walk around and just breathe, smile and not wait for the floor to fall out underneath me. I am not pointing out anything specific, since most of you know my life; I am just trying to learn how other people cope with the BIG events. You know, the life changing ones.

I am looking for some change, so Tuesday I will get my hair cut in hopes that it puts some spark in my step. I will post before and after pictures so check back for the new style.

New Hair!!!!

2006-05-09T11:10:00.000-06:00

BEFORE:

AFTER:

ANGER...

2006-05-09T10:02:00.000-06:00

THE ONLY UPSIDE TO ANGER IS THE PERSON THAT YOU BECOME.
Hopefully someone that wakes up one day and realizes they’re not afraid of its journey. Some one that knows that the truth is at best, a partially told story. That anger, like growth comes in spurts and fits and in its wake leaves a new chance at acceptance and the promise of calm.

- The Upside of Anger

Here come the Strykers

2006-05-05T08:40:00.000-06:00

We are getting a new Brigade on post.

Background:
After the end of 3rd Brigade 1st Id's tour in Iraq last year, the Army had decided to move the whole Brigade back to the U.S. (about 2,800 soldiers I am told, although not an exact number) and to replace them with a Stryker Brigade from Ft. Lewis Washington (about 5,000 soldiers, again not an exact number) My husband is with 3rd brigade and is one of the trail party soldiers that will stay until June 06. We just recently received orders to stay on longer and move to another unit not affiliated with 3rd brigade.

Ok that's done now here are my issues. We have been hearing so many rumors about the new Brigade. I know that a rumor is just that, a rumor. But, I cant help getting caught up in them sometimes. Things like they are spoiled and want everything handed to them. Well that is the fault of the command that is here right now because they are holding their hands through this transition. Also, the rumors of gang affiliations out there and how bad some of the kids and young soldiers are.

I really like this community and some of the reasons that my husband and I have chosen to stay here are based on the quiet and serene area and being able to isolate our son from some of the downsides to the U.S. Don't get me wrong Vilseck is by no means heaven on earth but, I do love my son not being aware of crime and poverty as much as he would in the U.S. Now this could all backfire as well, because we are not going to be living here forever and he is going to have to face the real world at some point, but at what point do we make that decision?

Now that the Strykers are coming I feel that decision has already been made for us. I would love for someone from Ft. Lewis to read this and please dispel rumors of gangs, crime and overall pettiness. I know that not everyone is going to be like this and I can only hope and pray that these rumors are coming from people that just don't like the changes that are occurring. I think that I should do a little research on the internet and see for myself what kind of news comes out of the area, because like I tell my husband "No matter what your views or impressions of something are you better do your research and be able to back it up or just shut up!" So I need to do my own research and hopefully get some comments from Ft. Lewis to ease my mind and begin to look forward to the Strykers coming since we are going to be staying, and if my husband has his way, for a long time...............

Good laughs!!!!

2006-05-04T12:03:00.000-06:00

Ok, when you clap and laugh at the end of a movie, yell “I love it” and stomp your feet, then turn around and remember that your all alone ,at your dungeon of an office, it must have been good…. I think this movie is absolutely the cutest …………… Thanks for the recommendation Erin
Just Friends http://www.justfriendsmovie.com

Friends

2006-05-04T12:00:00.000-06:00

I have been trying to write this first post for over 2 weeks now and just couldn’t make up my mind on what to start with so, I am just starting with the basics …….

Sarah left on Tuesday and Vilseck is again not the same. Let me explain that for you. I have said goodbye to three very good friends in the past two years and none of the experiences have been easy. With Sarah leaving that is # 4 and I am getting a bit tired and numb to it. This is the only drawback to being a military wife, in my book. I can deal with the long and very sporadic hours, the deployments (although not at all pleasant), away from home training and never knowing where you are going next, but friends moving SUCKS!!!!!! My 11 year old seems to handle this part much better then I do, since many of his friends have moved recently also, he just makes new ones. Ahh the joys of being a child, how I wish I could just go make new ones as easily as him. Why is it so hard for adults to walk up to someone and say “Hello my name is ________ ! Do you want to play?” Or in my case knit, quilt or go shopping!
I can at least thank the Big Army for not giving Erin and Mark orders yet, which means I will still have her here for a while. Sorry Erin but I do take a little pleasure in that. When she leaves I have not one close friend left. I mean I have plenty of acquaintances and some potential friendships out there but nothing set in stone yet. I do hope to build a better friendship with The Girl. We met through Sarah and have spent some time together as well as Sunday knitting. I think we have good potential. I know that sounds kind of analytical, but friendships for me at least, are hard to build. Anyway off that subject for now….

Today my son has a baseball game at 1700 and I have a million errands, as usual, to run.
I have not yet gotten used to baseball since he has only played football and basketball. In comparison baseball is sooooo much slower in pace but I am dealing with the change.
He seems to like it and I wonder if one day I am gong to start hearing how he wants to play for the Cardinals. Since he is already going to play for the Broncos and the Sixers…….

Well that’s all for now…tell me what you think girls and please be honest and let me know if I am a total dweeb………