hmmm well ...so much for un-jinxing myself...

Well...I guess there is more to an unjinxing than I was aware of...may need to track those sticker guys down or something. We missed the blogging convention all together. Neither of us could take time off work. yuk and double yuk!
Forgive me for not blogging. Truth is I'm freakishly busy, overworked and extremely sleep deprived. Thank goodness my mom moved in with us in June (poor Jack) or I would have dropped dead by now. I don't know how I'm going to function when she leaves. Who would have thought I could be a wife and parent, have a full time job and be a full time graduate student? This just isn't fun at all. I keep telling myself it will be worth it but I might be more convincing if my employer were footing at least some of my tuition...
Jack is still blogging as far as I know... we don't see much of eachother these days. He's here and not in the sandbox this time but he's out the door an hour before I'm up and either home after I go to sleep or he goes to bed as soon as he gets home from sheer exhaustion... I think we communicated more when he was deployed. Such is life here in paradise. I sure do miss being a stay at home mom sometimes... Gotta get back to the homework...I'm an excellent procrastinator so maybe I'll blog again soon. I'd love to blog about the wonderful place I work...and if you know me at all you heard the scarcasim dripping off that sentence. hee hee hee.

I'm un-jinxing myself!

Milspouse
SO...here's my theory...the guys at the blogworld expo in Las Vegas last year jinxed me!
You know those guys that were promoting a blogging movie out of a VW bug? They handed out stickers that read "I Can't Stop Blogging". After Jack and I arrived home with our bags o swag (stuff we all get at these expo thingys), I put my sticker on my new laptop. As ridiculously superstitious as it sounds the freaking sticker has put some sort of anti blogging hex on my computer. Not a single post since I put that stupid thing on there. Coincidence? ...I think not.
So this is my official un-jinxing post.

The fact I haven't blogged in awhile couldn't possibly have anything to do with the fact Jack returned from 15 months of desert fun, my fifteen year old had a melt down and moved to Chicago (to live with her dad for the first time since she was 4yrs old), I volunteer for my 5 and 6 yr olds Parent teacher organization, I am working on my master's in Accounting, or I just started a full time job. Nah none of those things interfere with blogging at all. It's the darn sticker I'm sure of it.

I intend to begin blogging again...right after I scrub the residual sticker goo off my computer. I will be reviewing a book : "I Will Not Be Broken: Five Steps to Overcoming a Life Crisis," by Jerry White, the co-founder of Survivor Corps http://iwillnotbebroken.org I've already read the intro and first two chapters (thanks to the free download) and it's going to be inspirational and help so many people. I know it is something all my readers (yes all two of them ...hi dad!) will enjoy and pass on to those around them that need to hear the message and take the steps. I know I will. Looking forward to blogging again.

I've been tagged?

Okie dokie... here goes. I've been TAGGED!

I'm no woman of mystery but I've been tagged so I'll play along. Here goes...
five "FOUR" questions for me to answer
Four dishes I like to cook (and eat):
1. Thai Beef Salad (Yahm Nua)
2. chicken enchiladas
3. Thai chicken and coconut soup
4. homemade pizza with the girls

Four qualities I love in people:
1. Honesty
2. Outgoing/spontaneous
3. Humor
4. Integrity....not neccesarily in that order :)

Four places I have been(other than the mainland):
1. Philippines
2. Hongkong
3. Germany
4. Hawaii!!

Four things in my bedroom:
1. My bed, of course
2. A vintage 1967 Snoopy and Woodstock telephone that was actually used by my family when I was younger, my mom gave it to me a few years ago.
3. My favorite quilt given to me by Jack (one of his better gifts) beautiful American flags, handmade from pottery barn.
4. Vintage Fisher-Price Camper..great gift from my mom..it was one of my favorite toys when I was young.

Four dirty words (phrases) I like/tend to use:
first I have to say I don't use these words often...but when I do need an explative...
1. Shitballs! not sure where I picked this one up but it seems to fit in alot around here.
2. Are you freaking kidding me??
hmmm can't think of any others...I guess that's a good thing?

Four objects I will never part with, and will leave to someone to inherit when I die:
1. My vintage Fisher-price toys (see above)
2. The American Flag Chest (another great gift from Jack)

3. My engagement ring it's a keeper!

4. My Asian cookbook (hmmm another gift from Jack...aren't I lucky?)

So there you have it...All you never wanted to know about me. Ha

Blogworld Expo day two

Sat in on a terriffic milblog session, Blogging from the Front. Of course my favorite speaker of all time is Jack Army and he didn't disappoint. I was surprised to see the audience demographic almost an even split between male and female. Not that that's a bad thing, just an interesting observation for me. It was surprising to see the audience a little on the sparce side. I thought the milblog track of seesions was quite popular and full of relevant current events. I could be biased...nah. I'm a little on the tired side today, and not for the reason you would think...we went to the 10pm Cirque de Solie show last night. We went to one that was based on the music from the Beetles. WOW! It was amazing. Really a good show and if you ever get the opportunity to go, do it. It was cool.

Blogworld fun

Here at the Expo and already having fun. (No kids...coincidence?...I think not)
Tons of stereotypical geeky bloggers to laugh at and at the same time some great bloggers to learn stuff from. Not to suggest at all that you can't learn anything from the geeks quite the contrary in fact. Anyhoo...
Jack Army and I are sitting in on the milblogging track. Good info and although some of it was a wee bit over my head, it amazes me how far blogging, specifically milblogging, has come. I know I sometimes crawl too far under my parenting rock, but I had no idea the White House sat down face to face with milbloggers...That's cool! Jack would have loved to be in on that one. I am sure had they known he was available, instead of doing war stuff in Iraq, he would have been invited. We are staying at the cool castle Excalibur Hotel. It's pretty neat...our little princesses will be so jealous..oohh not to mention the pajama party ...they love a good pj bash.

Long time no blog

Hopefully my four readers haven't missed me too much.
A lot has been going on in the past month or so. Jack Army returned from Iraq and we all know what that means...Yep I gotta share my computer. Only because his is in the shop getting un-desertified--which means dumping out the sand from Iraq. Not that I mind of course, I mean I don't blog very often anyway... far too busy being a mom and all.
But there is good reason to blog today! We are in Las Vegas at the 2007 Blogworld & New Media Expo. Unfortunately our bags haven't made it yet so excuse the stentch. We got here last night from Hawaii where we left our children in the care of friends for five whole days! I just can't believe it. Five days with no children what will I do? Who will follow me to the bathroom? What will I worry about...oh I'm sure I'll find something...like do people who walk around with their mouths open get sick more? Nah I'm kidding...any mom knows the worrying doesn't stop because of distance in fact I think it makes it worse. Anyhoo...I'm excited to be here (kid free) and to see Jack in all his blogging glory...He's on a panel, how exciting.
I'm sure we'll both be blogging in the the next few days (hours for Jack ha ha) so stay tuned!

OOPS! broke first rule of journalism

I should have checked out the source for myself. Craig Smith wrote that rant on America Not Jay Leno. I'm sorry to misinform my HUGE readership. I guess you can't totally blame me though..I mean I do take full responsibility for messing up and not checking this out, but I suppose it is more of a story coming from Jay Leno as opposed to Craig Smith. I never even heard of this guy...so I don't want to nominate him for the presidency...not that I "knew" Jay Leno either but I hope you know what I'm saying here. At any rate thanks a bunch for keeping me on the straight and narrow and checking up on things. This is why America is awesome. I can say whatever I want whether it be true or not...and if I mess up nobody comes to my door and kills me and my family. Nice isn't it??? I know I love it! Great! Now everyone get right out there and thank a soldier! And have a great day in America land of the free and home of the brave.

Jay Leno for President!

Okay now I was kidding about that title of course please don't go hound Jay for his nomination but sheesh. Could we please at least try to have more people like him speak up??? This is what he said:

"The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true, given the source, right?

The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed, and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the President. In essence, 2/3's of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change.

So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, ''What are we so unhappy about?''
Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week?

Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter?

Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job?

Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time, and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?

Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state?

Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter?

I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough.

Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and
provide services to help all, and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.

Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family and your belongings.

Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes , an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss.

This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90 percent of teenagers own cell phones and computers.

How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world?

Maybe that is what has 67 percent of you folks unhappy.

Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S. , yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have , and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.

I know, I know. What about the President who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The President who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same President who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The President that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks?

The Commander-In Chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me? Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad?

Think about it...are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the "Media" told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day.

Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go.

They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an ''other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable'' discharge after a few days in the brig.

So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans? Say what you want, but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds, it leads; and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells , and when criticized, try to defend their actions by "justifying" them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book about "how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way"...Insane!

Stop buying the negativism you are fed everyday by the media. Shut off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is exponentially more good than bad.

We are among the most blessed people on Earth, and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative.

"With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, "Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?"

Jay Leno
2007

Could we please try and be a little less spoiled and alot more appreciative of what we do have? Turn off network news and turn on Joel Osteen perhaps if you just have to stare at the TV to believe in something...just last night Joel said "study the people that were put in your life...give them what they need not what you need" Our president needs his country to support the difficult and mostly unappreciated job he does. He needs us to have faith in him so that he can do the very best for the country. This country reminds me alot of my teenager...so incredibly frustrating at times. She fails to see the big picture, the forest through the trees, however you wanna phrase it. It's not all about you I tell her. Brad Paisley said in a song recently (letter to me I think it's called) "At 17 it's hard to see past Friday night..." So true. So my point is...ha you thought I didn't have one huh? The point is...grow up America! Look in the mirror and see just how good you've got it. You're 321 years old for God's sake...act like it!