Rants

Just a some things that have annoyed me in the past 24 hours:
1. Bear's doctor appointment was scheduled for 4:15...we didn't see the doctor until 5:35
2. Angelina Jolie's decision to stop breast feeding is NOT newsworthy
3. CEOs of auto companies flying in their private jets (to the tune of $20K a flight EACH) to beg for bailout money
4. Smoke to your heart's content, but do not empty your nasty cigarette ash tray leaving a pile of butts on the ground in the parking lot at Wal-Mart so I can step in it as I get out of my car

That's it for now...

Happy Birthday Marines

Happy 233rd birthday Marines! November 10, 1991, I was exactly 5 days away from graduating from Marine Corps recruit training....looking back it seems like a lifetime ago. Tomorrow is Veteran's Day, take the time to shake the hand of a veteran.







Marine Wing Support Squadron Commanding Officer LtCol Nelson:
"Marines! What do we do?"
Marines: "SUPPORT!"
LtCol Nelson: "Marines! What do we stand for?"
Marines: "HONOR, COURAGE, COMMITMENT, SIR!"

"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference.
The Marines don't have that problem."
- President Ronald Reagan, 1985

Bible in a Minute...

Bible In A Minute - barats and bereta

Perspective...

Stolen from MEF, who took it from Tom...

A New Day

Ask anyone who knows me and they'll tell you that I'm not into politics. There are so many other things in this world that I would rather talk about than politics...but damn. My father is probably turning over in his grave as I write this. I remember back in 1984 when Jesse Jackson ran for the the Democratic nomination my father told me that if there was ever a black man elected to be the President he'd pack us up and move to Mexico. Well daddy, a black man has been elected...and I'm not moving to Mexico. As a child and even as an adult the thought of a black man in the White House was something that in my wildest dreams I could not imagine. But here we are, 24 years after Jesse Jackson was in the race for the nomination...our first black President-elect. I couldn't be more excited about the road ahead. Today our country begins a new journey...

A Hot Mess

This is what happens when you ask the 5 year old to get ready for bed by herself...

I hate Halloween

I hate Halloween...and I have no reservations about saying that. But, as we do every year, we bought a costume for Bear (who was a Jedi). Princess she wanted to be well, a princess! She has 5 princess dresses in her closet to choose from so I really wasn't feeling the need to purchase another dress for her. When it was time to get ready, I told her "go find one your dresses to wear". To my surprise, she came out in the witch costume she wore 3 years ago. I'm pretty sure she hasn't gotten any wider in three years, just taller. The costume fit her really well...so why not let her wear it. Off we went...all of the usual suspects in tow. We had Indiana Jones, a Werewolf, a whoopee cushion, a Jedi, a pirate, a witch, 2 devils and an ninja. Good times ahead indeed. This year we only managed to lose one child, and as luck would have it, it was one of mine. Princess wandered off from the group...turns out she was two houses ahead of the rest of the children. Pedophiles are one reason I hate Halloween...children running amok is another.

New (To Us) Furniture

Okay, I know some of you are going to think I'm crazy...but I traded our kitchen table for a red chair and couch. It's in fabulous shape and I love it! I've been trying to get Neighbor to sell me the furniture for several months now. One weekend she came to me and said "Hey Sas, I'll trade you the red furniture for your table and chair." SCORE! The table served as a landing pad for all things brought into the house. We never actually ate at it...so why not? After cleaning the living room and rearranging the furniture it looks great! Please, no comments about the off center wall thingamajig over the couch...it's a work in progress. :D

The Orchard

I finally found the MIA sync cable...why it was hiding in the coat closet I'll never know. Anyway, On October 26th, I decided that it was a day for family fun. It's not easy to get everyone on the same page, Teenager would rather hand out with GirlFriend than his siblings, Husband is grumpy, I'm tired and the little ones are hell on wheels. Regardless, it was a family day and I didn't care if it got bloody...we were going to have fun. So, we went to the apple orchard. We were sort of disappointed that all the apples were either on the ground or in bins located at the front of the orchard where the store is. And when I say "all the apples", I mean ALL the apples. There was not a single apple to be found on the trees. Rather than head home, the offspring and I jumped in the bed of the truck and Husband drove us around the orchard for about 30 minutes. I know what you're thinking, driving around the orchard doesn't sound like fun. But it was, there are hills, winding roads and a beautiful lake. We had a blast. We took a little break at the lake to enjoy the scenery and stretch our (my) legs. I took advantage of everyone's good mood to snap a couple of pictures...
This first picture might actually make it in to the christmas cards, and for those of you who do not believe me...I have full intentions of actually sending out the cards this year. :D We'll see though. ;)

This is a picture by the lake. In hindsight, I wish I would have taken this picture from the top of one of the hills; you get the idea though.

After all the complaining and the "I don't wanna go" pleas for mercy...we had a wonderful time. It's not often...but it's quality versus quantity.

Where oh where...

Where oh where are you my precious sync cable? Don't you know I need to download pictures so that I may post them to my blog...