Day 79: What's Been Happening.. and Hotels Part 2

79 days...Wow. Time is flying by. I've been so busy that I havent had real time to sit down and say what we've been doing. And so much has been happening since the last post. Where does one begin...


Baseball season is in full swing now. (You'll have to pardon the pun there.) Z. is on a team called the Scrappers. And I've been made the dug-out coach for the team. Ever try to get 12 little kids ages 6-8 all ready to go up to bat? Keeping them in the right batting order, getting whose bat goes to whom, whose helmet goes to whom, and having them not fidget and fight while waiting for their turn?? PE teachers everywhere have my undying sympathy.

Ohh but they are soo cute. And some of them are really serious about the game, with little "game faces" and everything. We had our first game this past Saturday. I don't have any pictures of it like a good Mommy... I forgot my camera at home! But some of the other bleacher-mommas might have some they can send my way. And I was too busy keeping order in the dug-out to really focus on taking good shots, anyway.

We eventually lost the game 6-5. It was so close. I was hoarse from screaming and yelling. Everyone was hot and sweaty.. and all I wanted to do afterward is take a nap! But it's great fun to watch. I just wish Z's daddy could see how well his boy does. So.. I've really got to get some pictures! We have another game tonight. So.. honey... I'll bring the camera with me. hehe

Oh... and N. went to try out for a local cheerleading squad. She's never cheered a day in her life, but her friend goes, so she went. And of course, upon coming home, was all jazzed about being a cheerleader. I'm jazzed about her having an activity.. but not so much about the $60 a month it costs to join the elite gym where they cheer. So.... we decided that when July comes around we'll sign her up for the county soccer team. Which will get her leg strength up, and maybe some endurance, and then next year she can try out for that squad again. (psst.. plus the soccer is only a one time fee of $25... and if she hates it, I'm only out that...hehe)

The kids are happy to only have a couple more months or so of school. Me too. Once school is out we are planning on going over to Oregon to get my mom and take her out here to live with us for a while. Plus, I want to see some of the family way out there on the West Coast... Should be fun. And we'll be thanking God for the military discount at hotels. (Hey everyone out there Super 8's have a nice discount for military!! Plus you can bring your pets!)

But.. here are some hotels worth checking out if you are on the adventurous side....

The Hobit Hotel

Lord of the Rings fans will be happy to know, that yes... there is a Hobbit Hotel. You too can come on down to Orotohonga, New Zealand at Woodlyn Park, and stay in a Hobbit house, complete with round windows and sturdy little furniture. A night will run you about $170 a couple, and anyone else is only $12 extra a night. Here's a look at the inside:

If you've got the urge to live out your J. R. R. Tolkien fantasies, then this is the place for you.

Also at Woodlyn park is:

The Waitomo Express

This 1950's refurbished rail car is now a hotel. It is advertised as "a completely self contained motel unit, situated on farmland with farm animals and bird life adding to the stunning scenery."

It sleeps 6 and at $130 a night per couple, it might just the get away you are looking for.

But that's not all at Woodlyn Park. There is also:

The Plane Motel

From the website: "This plane was one of the last allied planes out of Vietnam. Possibly the only accommodation of its type in the world. A 1950's Bristol Freighter fully refurbished into 2 beautiful self contained motel units. " The 2 units are the plane cockpit and the plane tail. The price will run you around $150 a night, and what an experience this would be! Again from the website: "With your accommodation we can book any caving adventures, Black water Rafting, 4 x 4 bike riding and also Horse riding." And kids get a free pass to the Kiwi House, which seems to be some type of cultural show. Here let me show you the inside:

Too see all the prices and get all the info on Woodlyn park go to their website http://woodlynpark.co.nz/ But book early! I'm sure hotels like this fill up fast.

But maybe you don't want to travel all the way to New Zealand for an unique hotel experience, why don't you head on over to Cave Junction, Oregon. There you will find:

Tree House Treesorts

With quirky little names like Peacock Perch and Serendipitree, this place is all fun! Where else can have an educational, and adventurous, vacation site in Southern Oregon, and where you can, lit-treely, "go out on a limb"? Each little cabin style tree house is built into the trees of the area.

Most are heated and have small kitchen amenities. On the website you can see inside each of the cabins and see what they offer. Here's a look at the inside of one:

They describe themselves as "a B+B in the Trees!" There is a large main house where breakfast is served. Most of the cabins go for about $120 a night. You'd be a sap to not give it a try.... so head on over to http://www.treehouses.com/treehouse/treesort/home.html and book your stay today!

There's something about New Zealand.. Also from New Zealand comes...

Wagon Stays
From Christchurch, New Zealand we have"Where luxury meets history." The settlers would have considered themselves lucky to bunk down in these bad boys, which feature queen-size beds, computer-controlled showers, flush toilets, fully equipped kitchens, and satellite TV. The carriages also have glass doors that open to balconies, which are perfect for kicking back with a pint of ale after a long day of going absolutely nowhere. Here's a gander at the inside:

They don't venture to share the price, but you can go here http://wagonstays.co.nz/newzealand/main/ to contact them or book your stay. To New Zealand or Bust!

Ok that's enough to get you started thinking about your upcoming summer vacations. What are you doing still reading this blog?! Go and book your family for Pete's sake!

Day 56.. Summer's Coming!.. Are you ready??

Day 56 and they say that Summer's on its way. Not that you could tell from looking out my window today. Cold. Rainy. Maybe 40 degrees. But they say Summer's coming; I guess I believe them.

The questions is, what can I do this Summer? D.'s going to be in Iraq, still. The family is all on the West coast, and I'm on the East. I want to do something fun and memorable. So.. like just about everyone who has a computer these days, I did a Google search. When all else fails, there's still Google...

So, on my search for "unusual hotels".. I found some doozy's..

Vacation Destinations and Hotels (Part 1)

The Giraffe Manor





Breakfast of Champions


Yes, folks, thats a Giraffe at the breakfast table. Something that's commonplace at the Giraffe Manor that is 140 acres of indigenous forest just outside Kenya's capital, Nairobi. From their website:

"Travellers from all over the world now make The Giraffe Manor part of their East African safari, the only place in the world where you can enjoy the breathtaking experience of feeding and photographing the giraffe over the breakfast table and at the front door."





A whole new way to feed the animals.




And now that the U.S. has amended the no travel warnng to Kenya, it's deemed safe to travel there. But at $655 a night, I'm not ready to pack my bags, just yet. But maybe you are. You can check out their website at http://giraffemanor.com/index.html .


Dog Bark Park Inn--Bed & Breakfast


It's gone to the dogs! (Ok, I couldn't resist) But over in Cottonwood, Idaho, you can actually stay in a carved dog hotel! From the website:

"Dog Bark Park Inn is a bed & breakfast guesthouse inside the World's Biggest Beagle. Guests enter the body of the beagle from a private 2nd story deck. Some of the dog's decorative furnishings are carvings by Dog Bark Park chainsaw artists Dennis & Frances. Inside and up another level to the head of the dog is a loft room with additional sleeping space plus a cozy alcove in the muzzle."

And at $92 a night, its a steal of a deal. But if a lack of television or telephone bothers you, this is not the place for you. This b&b doesn't have any. But they do have a chainsaw art gift shop. So, pack your bags and head on over to Idaho for a "barking" good time. (Ok.. I'm sorry.. I just had to throw one more in...) For more info, visit their website: http://dogbarkparkinn.com/ .

Hotel Everland








Postcard from Hotel Everlund



From Switzerland-based installation artists, comes this portable, one-room trailer style hotel. The artists are moving it around Europe in 2008, so don't miss your chance to stay in this fancy little trailer. Where else can you view panoramic views of the Eiffel tower by night? But by day this hotel becomes an art exhibit, so you'll have to be gone early in the morning, or you could risk being a part of the exhibit yourself! The website has some breath-taking photos and at about $525 a night, this is not a glorified Motel 6. To take a look at the pics and maybe book a stay go to their website http://www.everland.ch/en/home/ .

The Maramara Antalya Beach and Resort





Large Window Panaramic Room View

At first look, you may think that the Antalya Beach and Resort, in Turkey, is just your ordinary resort. But what sets this apart is that this hotel rotates in a circle, allowing guests a different view from their room windows at different hours of the day. From the website:

"The Marmara Antalya is home to the dramatic “Revolving Loft,” a 24-room, tri-level exclusive building that slowly revolves to reveal a constantly changing panorama of mountains, the sparkling Mediterranean, and the resort’s expansive grounds. This stunning building is the world’s first and only building which turns a full 360 degrees on its foundation. The building floats inside a special pool system that aims to surprise guests with a different view of Antalya at different times of the day. These 24 unique rooms are oversized guestrooms, whose bright, contemporary style features distinctive furnishings that provide a comfortable and soothing environment. "

If you aren't sold on the rotating hotel idea, just take a look at this beach..

Ahhh.. Heaven in a deck chair...

To book your stay or satisfy your curiosity, take a look at their website http://themarmarahotels.com/The-Marmara-Antalya/index.asp .

I'll continue my quest for unusual hotels on the next post. Until then, have a blessed day and get out that bathing suit... Summer is coming!

Day 51:... It was .... Life Block...

Day 51 has come. So much has happened since the last blog entry. Let's see... St. Paddy's day. My son started baseball. I quit my job. I bought a lawn mower. My son and daughter stared their Spring Break. I cut off all my hair. My son had his school picture day. All these in no particular order.. but I can say the hiatus is over.

So many things I have wanted to write about. I have things all saved up in my email box; stories, and ideas of stories to write. So I can't say I had writer's block. Maybe I just had life block. You know, where life gets away from you? You realize that a week has gone by you, and you didn't even get a chance to catch it? And then it becomes two weeks? Yes, it was life block.

We all suffer from Life block. I think that happens when we get so busy in our lives that we forget things. We forget to call our moms. (Mom I love you!!). We forget to do laundry, and when we want to wear that one great shirt, it's still in the hamper. We forget to take out the trash, and wonder why our kitchens smell like 3 day old, chinese take-out. We forget to get that report ready for the boss, and get spun out about it all day. We forget to get gas in the car, and wonder why all of a sudden the gas gauge starts screaming at us. We just forget.

So today, if you are reading this, don't forget to be you. Light a candle. Say a prayer. Smile. Smell the air. Hug your kids. Read a book. Tell someone you love them. Listen to your favorite song, sway with the music; heck, dance like no one's looking! Just don't forget to be you. And don't forget to enjoy it!

Day 35: Cali-fornication...

Happy Monday to one and all. 35 days down... a zillion more to go. LOL Not much has changed around here, since Friday. The weekend was pretty average. The kids went out to play with their friends, and I puttered around the house, surfed the internet, read a whole book, and played some video games. Sunday was kind of interesting though. I went to a new church. Nice place, and nice people. I'll probably go there again.

Also on Sunday, the kids and I had a discussion as to WHY their daddy was in Iraq. And why some daddy's are in Afghanistan. Being too young to see the WTC collapse in 2001, they didn't understand what we commonly understand as adults, terrorists. I'm thankful really that their little minds can't fathom why anyone would come to this country with the sole purpose of destroying us. I explained about the planes and the buildings and about how many people lost their lives. I explained about the Pentagon and those brave souls who fought back on the plane going to the White House. Then they wanted to see photos. They wanted to know more. I had to battle with myself as to what to show them, and what would be too much. So, we found the news footage of the planes hitting the buildings. And the fire. And the plane hitting the Pentagon. And you know, my 6th grade daughter had never heard of the WTC. Nor the attacks on September 11. I wouldn't expect the education system to show all the footage. People jumping from buildings, or severed limbs, but I would expect them to show something. Or at least bring it up. And I guessed that's when I realized again, how important it is for us, as parents, not to forget who their first teachers are, us.

I have heard that there's a law in California for parents not to be able to homeschool their children. Well they can, if they have an education degree. That would leave many parents being forced to put their kids in public schools at least for the 4 years it takes to acquire the degree.

Many lawmakers – and home-schooling advocates – would prefer to keep home schooling out of the education code.

"If this goes to the [state] supreme court and it upholds it, this opens up this big Pandora's box. The state is going to have to define family rights, and to define to what extent [lawmakers] have to regulate," says Luis Huerta, a professor at the National Center for the Study of Privatization in Education at Columbia University in New York.

The prospect of the state sorting out family rights won't warm many homeschoolers' hearts.

"Many of those people believe – usually based on a philosophical worldview, and often Christian – that the state has no authority over their children's education and upbringing," says Brian Ray, president of the National Home Education Research Institute, a nonprofit group in Oregon.
Already, California home-schoolers are suggesting resistance would be widespread to any sort of enforcement by local school districts.

"We'd have to open Alcatraz [state prision] to hold all of us," says Loren Mavromati, a homeschooler and spokesperson for the California Homeschool Network. "Even if we all rolled over and complied and enrolled in public schools – how? They are laying off teachers during this budget crisis left and right." The reason many of these people homeschool is because of the state's failing public education. To make these parents then put there kids in the public schools they seek to escape, is asinine.

'In 1997, a study of 5,402 homeschool students from 1,657 families was released. It was entitled, "Strengths of Their Own: Home Schoolers Across America." The study demonstrated that homeschoolers, on the average, out-performed their counterparts in the public schools by 30 to 37 percentile points in all subjects'. There are other studies done and other reasearch to read about how homeschooled kids outscore public schools kids , you can find it at the Home School Legal Defense Association website: http://www.hslda.org/docs/nche/000010/200410250.asp

However for every study shown showing the merits of homeschool is another study showing the merits of public schools. But the point should be that is our freedom as Americans to be allowed to homeschool our children. I currently do not homeschool, but I feel that if you are called to do so, you should be allowed, without all the strings attached.

But this is not the only issue brewing in California. Now comes the plan, SB 1322, from state Sen. Alan Lowenthal, a Democrat elected from the state's 27th District, including the towns of Artesia, Avalon, Bellflower, Cerritos, Downey, Lakewood, Long Beach, Lynwood, Paramount, Signal Hill, South Gate and others."This bill would actually allow the promotion of communism in public schools. Just when we thought the indoctrination in California's public schools couldn't get any worse, state lawmakers introduce bills that will further brainwash innocent children," said a statement from Capitol Resource Institute Spokeswoman, Karen England, CRI is a traditional values and family advocacy organization based in California. We're in California. Of course it has a chance of succeeding; these people get bolder and bolder every year, she continued."

The state's Civic Center Act already requires a school district to grant the use of school property, when an alternative isn't available, to nonprofit groups, clubs or associations set up for youth and school activities. "But the law also states that the property may not be used by anyone intent on overthrowing the government," CRI said. Now, the group said, "SB 1322 would delete the requirement that an individual or organization wanting to use the school property is not a Communist action organization or Communist front organization." This bill would also strike the law that a public school or community college employee may be fired if he or she is a member of the Communist Party," the group said. Worse yet, the group said, "the bill would also strike the law that prohibits a teacher giving instruction in a school or on public school property from teaching communism with the intent to indoctrinate or to inculcate in the mind of any pupil a preference for communism," CRI said.

"SB 1322 is simply shocking," said Meredith Turney, legislative liaison for the affiliated Capitol Resource Family Impact. "The socialist members of the legislature are now advocating that communism, one of the most brutal forms of government in history, be taught favorably to government school students. Anyone espousing communism, which does advocate for the violent overthrow of existing government, will be permitted to not only use government property, but work in schools and colleges, and teach their freedom-hating propaganda to impressionable young people." "Less than 20 years after the fall of the communist Soviet Union, California lawmakers are eager to once again begin advancing a political ideology responsible for the deaths of millions of innocent people," England said. "Instead of promoting communism in our schools, lawmakers should be focused on actually teaching students to read, write and think for themselves."On a blog on the Red County website, Mike Spence concluded: "I know there is plenty of indoctrination goin' on already but I gues (sic) they won't be staisfied (sic) until all school children are gay loving (SB777) and Communist. If only they could all read at grade level."

The bill itself explains that it would delete provisions "regarding a person who intends to use school property on behalf of an organization to deliver a statement, signed under penalty of perjury, that the organization is not a Communist action organization or Communist front organization required to be registered with the Attorney General of the United States or does not, to the best of that person's knowledge, advocate the overthrow of the government of the United States or of the State of California by force, violence, or other unlawful means."

The plan also outlines it would drop provisions that school and college employees could be dismissed for being a part of the Communist Party and drop a ban on "teaching communism with the intent to indoctrinate or to inculcate in the mind of any pupil a preference for communism."

The proposal itself noted that the teaching about the facts of communism was allowed, and the previous requirement banned teaching "for the purpose of undermining patriotism for, and the belief in, the government of the United States and of this state." However, the new plan drops that.

Also deleted was: "For the purposes of this section, communism is the political theory that the presently existing form of government of the United States or of this state should be changed, by force, violence, or other unconstitutional means, to a totalitarian dictatorship which is based on the principles of communism as expounded by Marx, Lenin, and Stalin."

Also deleted was the conclusion from the California Legislature that other nations already had fallen into totalitarian dictatorships through the establishment of communism as well as the recognition that "the successful establishment of totalitarian dictatorships has consistently been aided, accompanied, or accomplished by repeated acts of treachery, deceit, teaching of false doctrines, teaching untruth, together with organized confusion, insubordination, and disloyalty, fostered, directed, instigated, or employed by communist organizations and their members"

Also tossed out of California law was the recognition that communism even presents "a clear and present danger."

Does anyone else think this is scary? Ohh and this idea of teaching communism is not centered on only California. It's in Seattle too. Check out his article: http://www.therant.us/staff/huston/08102007.htmhttp://www.therant.us/staff/huston/08102007.htm

According to the article, the students had been building an elaborate "Legotown," but it was accidentally demolished. The teachers decided its destruction was an opportunity to explore "the inequities of private ownership." According to the teachers, "Our intention was to promote a contrasting set of values: collectivity, collaboration, resource-sharing, and full democratic participation."
The children were allegedly incorporating into Legotown "their assumptions about ownership and the social power it conveys." These assumptions "mirrored those of a class-based, capitalist society -- a society that we teachers believe to be unjust and oppressive."
They claimed as their role shaping the children's "social and political understandings of ownership and economic equity ... from a perspective of social justice."
So they first explored with the children the issue of ownership. Not all of the students shared the teachers' anathema to private property ownership. "If I buy it, I own it," one child is quoted saying. The teachers then explored with the students concepts of fairness, equity, power, and other issues over a period of several months.
At the end of that time, Legos returned to the classroom after the children agreed to several guiding principles framed by the teachers, including that "All structures are public structures" and "All structures will be standard sizes." The teachers quote the children:
"A house is good because it is a community house."
"We should have equal houses. They should be standard sizes."
"It's important to have the same amount of power as other people over your building."

Yikes! This should bother you. First, these children are not little adults and at a grammer school! Second, I understand the need to have children respect property. But I don't agree with this method. And I agree with that kid, If I buy it. I own it.

I guarantee that due to California's radical approach, other states will be looking closely at their homeschool laws, and students. Are you ready to get California-ized America?

Day 32: The Joys of Internet Shopping!

So, we've made it officially past the 30 day mark. And thankfully we are feeling much better. Sammy got to come home from the Vet. Z. and N. are feeling better. Its Friday! So.. let's celebrate!

Ok I would love to celebrate by saying that D. was coming home for a break from Iraq. But that's not happening for a while. But I did hear that he has put in for leave. So..now we just have to wait. He will be home either in the beginning of September, or the beginning of October. So I figure in the terms of this blog that will be at least day....182? Oi! That's almost depressing. But I'll be counting down nonetheless.

What does every girl like to do to make themselves feel better? Why shopping of course! But why leave the comforts of your home, jammies and fuzzy bunny slippers?! Shop online! Have you ever wondered what strange things you can buy online? Ohh well let me show you....
Climate Change Chocolate?? Bloomsberry, LLC., a chocolate maker based in Salem, MA, that sells its chocolate in crazy wrappers has now teamed up with TerraPass, a green energy broker, to offer these "Climate Change Chocolate" bars. On the wrppers are 15 tips to reduce your carbon footprint on the world. And with your sale price come enough carbon energy credit points from TerraPass to offset your footprints for one day. (Isn't that nice.. they jack up the price so you can save the planet.. bet they are laughing all the way to the bank..) Read more about these global warming (worming) goodies here: http://www.terrapass.com/lp/index.chocolate.html



Hillary Clinton toilet bowl brush! If Hillary Clinton should succeed in her bid to move back into the Whitehouse, Republicans can at least find some comfort while cleaning toilets with their "First Cleaning Lady" toilet brush. If you go to :http://www.theoriginalbowlbuddy.com/ you can pick one up for yourself. Just think of all the "White Water" fun you could have...

How about a "Reserve Your Spot In Heaven" kit?! From the website:

"Reserve A Spot In Heaven is here for the sole purpose of allowing you the opportunity to secure your spot in Heaven before it’s too late. Yes, at the moment there is plenty of room in Heaven for you and all of your loved ones,but what most individuals don't realize is that although a large portion of this space remains vacant, spots are filling very quickly. So quick that if you don’t act now you may lose your chance at getting in. How does a future of endless suffering sound? Not so good, which is why we are here to help."

Here is another little graphic to show how "helpful" this company is: You gotta love capitalism in action... This even comes with a money back guarantee! Can't beat that. LOL Also included is a "heavenly" issued certificateof reservation with your own unique ID number, a first class ticket to heaven, and official Heaven ID card, and a Heaven 101 information guide. So...if someone is dumb enough to buy this product then... what can I say? But if you want to check out this product go to: http://www.reserveaspotinheaven.com/

How about a Pop Art Toaster! This could make breakfast fun! Ok.. how it works is the words or pictures, from little plates you put in the toaster, appear on your bread after it gets toasted. There are several plates to chose from...from Disney plates to custom plates for a little more. Kind of a cute idea, but what good are words when you add the jelly? Check them out

here: http://www.poparttoaster.com/index.html (warning the guy on the main page is a little frightening in my opinion.. but click on to see all the products)

Ohh and let's not forget the BBQ WITH the MP3 player! Ummm I don't think you can really explain this one to me. A BBQ with a speaker, that plays music. Why on earth would you need this? George Foreman apparently thought we might, here check it out for yourself: http://igrillwithgeorge.com/gipod200.html

Well that's enough wierdness for one day. This goes to prove that if it can be thought up and made, someone will buy it! And....I didn't even go into showing you the baby crib with oxygen lid, or the poo shaped soap..

Happy Shopping!

Day 29: Crazy Days...

Well it's March. What do they say about March... In like a lion, out like a lamb? That seems sort of appropriate. The sick bug has hit the Scott house. First me, then Z. on Sunday. He couldn't go to a friend's birthday party. Then N. on Monday. I had to go to school to get her early. Also on Monday, I had to go and take Sammy, my doggy, to the vet. He too, is sick. He spent overnight at the vet last night. It's strange to walk in your house and not have your little greeter. The Vet wants to keep him overnight again tonight. Depending on my total bill, I'll make that decision. So, its about time we all get better!

The weather is even lion-ish. Today is crappy. Thunderstorms, and they are even saying there will be damaging hail tonight. Man, I just want spring to get here. I miss the flowers. The singing birds. Everything green... And new...

Speaking of new.. There is a new study conducted that claims that Moses was high on drugs when he was on Mount Sinai, and received the ten commandments. Moses was a druggy?! Sure puts a new spin on the idea of miracles in the Bible doesn't it? I'd like to see the study about the parting of the Red Sea...Here's the Story for you to read:

JERUSALEM (AFP) - High on Mount Sinai, Moses was on psychedelic drugs when he heard God deliver the Ten Commandments, an Israeli researcher claimed in a study published this week. Such mind-altering substances formed an integral part of the religious rites of Israelites in biblical times, Benny Shanon, a professor of cognitive psychology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem wrote in the Time and Mind journal of philosophy.
"As far Moses on Mount Sinai is concerned, it was either a supernatural cosmic event, which I don't believe, or a legend, which I don't believe either, or finally, and this is very probable, an event that joined Moses and the people of Israel under the effect of narcotics," Shanon told Israeli public radio on Tuesday. Moses was probably also on drugs when he saw the "burning bush," suggested Shanon, who said he himself has dabbled with such substances.
"The Bible says people see sounds, and that is a clasic phenomenon," he said citing the example of religious ceremonies in the Amazon in which drugs are used that induce people to "see music." He mentioned his own experience when he used ayahuasca, a powerful psychotropic plant, during a religious ceremony in Brazil's Amazon forest in 1991. "I experienced visions that had spiritual-religious connotations," Shanon said.
He said the psychedelic effects of ayahuasca were comparable to those produced by concoctions based on bark of the acacia tree, that is frequently mentioned in the Bible.

Also there was a study done that talks about Spiders that play dead for more sex. Yes, you read that right. Here, look at the story for yourself:

PARIS (AFP) - Advice on how to score with the ladies would probably never include the strategy that works best for at least one species of male spider: playing dead. Not all male nursery web spiders looking for a little arachnid sex adopt this technique, but those that do more than double their chances of hitting the jackpot, according to new study in Behavioral Ecology, reported Wednesday in the British magazine New Scientist. In experiments designed by
Trine Bilde of the University of Aaarhus in Denmark, researchers set up date-and-mate opportunities for Pisaura mirabilis, a species native to Europe. All the males sought to attract partners by offering a gift of food, held in the mouth. But the ones that lay flat and motionless -- even if meant getting dragged about by a female that had latched onto the victuals -- wound up in a much better position, as it were, to engage in sexual activity. The hapless males that tried the direct approach wound up keeping the free meal but not getting what they were really after. Males that played dead were also allowed to copulate longer than males that did not, ensuring more eggs could fertilized, the researchers reported. Playing dead is a well-known defence mechanism in nature, but this is apparently the first time such behaviour has been observed as a strategy for obtaining sexual favours.

Which leads me to the next series of questions: 1) Who thinks up this stuff? 2) Who pays for this? And... 3)Who the heck cares?

So, they think that Moses had a thing for the bark of a tree, and a spider has more sex if it plays dead. Yippie-Skippie. Couldn't this money have been better spent? Starving, homeless, and destitute people in the world and we worry about this stuff. Like I said...

.....Crazy Days

Day 25: I love Sunny Fridays!

Well 25 days have passed. I couldn't pass up the chance to post on Feb. 29th. It only comes once every 4 years, you know. As far as Fridays go, this one has been pretty good.

It started out with a day off. I actually got a Friday off. Yay me! Also, the tax return money hit the bank. Its sooo nice to look at the balance and see some green. (Although, it will be gone soon.. LOL) Also, I went and got a local cell phone number. Which actually turned out to be a bigger deal than I thought. I had to suspend my husband's number since he won't need it in Iraq. And I had to bring a copy of his orders to do that. They will only suspend it for 18 months, then if he is gone longer than that, I have to request and extension. I also had to bring in the 'ol Power of attorney to prove I had access to the account. So.. now I have a local number and am only paying for one phone. Its a lot of work to save some money. hehe

Oh.. and I went and got all the information on how to get my credit cards and other bills in D.'s name, down to reduced interest. Because he is deployed in Iraq, the credit cards and car payments can be reduced. I have to fax a copy of the orders and again the power of attorney. But, its all for a good cause. Lower interest! Can't beat that with a stick...

And... I went down to N.'s school today to deal with her problem there. Apparently there is a girl there that is telling lies about my girl. So I had to go and straighten it all out. Gotta love middles chool kids and middle school politics. *kneels down and thanks God I am done with middle school*

I signed up Z. for baseball today. So he will be playing with other kids in the county. He is soo excited. And I'm excited for him to be doing something constructive with his time. And plus I'll have some great pictures to share of games!

D. seems to be doing alright. I know he would love to come home, and we sure would love to have him here. But we have survived February, and that means we can look forward to the next month starting. And one month is down....

So, with that.. I am taking the kids out to eat and maybe a movie. Wish you were here to go with us, honey. We love you!!

Day 23: Education? What's that?

Initially today, I wanted to talk about how each of the Presidental candidates viewed the military, or how the military might be effected by their election as Commander and Chief. I got online, I looked at magazines, I scoured. And you know what? I saw plenty of ideas, name-calling and evasive maneuvering from all the candidates. But nothing about education. Nada. It could be that I missed this topic or it could be there is nothing to find. My guess is that it's just not a hot topic for this election. And not only our youth of today will suffer for it.

All this talk of education stems from my kids' lack of quality education. As products of public schools, they fall farther and farther down.

As a military wife, I have a unique perspective. In all our moving about, I have been through several school systems. The best schools have been DoD (Department of Defense) schools. Only children on bases can attend those. Which I find to be retarded at best. Shouldn't all military families be allowed to put their children in DoD schools? If we are willing to commute to the base to put our children in, shouldn't that count for something? But here I am begging to be allowed to put my kids in a DoD school, when regular American families don't even get that hope.

Nearly 50 million of America's children attend public schools. There is a serious gap in between what is, and what should be, when it comes to public schools. In a freshman class today, only 74% of those kids will graduate. And if we throw the minority argument in here, 50% of Black, Native American and Latino youth will graduate. Does anyone else think this is appalling? Or am I the only one??

Ok, to be fair, the candidates have thrown around the word "Education" a few times in the debates. We, as voters, got a little pat on the head and sent out to play. But no candidate, neither Democrats nor the Republicans are really coming up with answers. I challenge them to do so. What's the catch phrase now... ahh yes.. "No child Left Behind", ohh and "Education Reform". What do these really mean?

No Child Left Behind seems to be a code word for testing. Tests. Tests. Tests. Teachers teaching how to take tests! Gone are discovery and wonder in our grade schools. Gone are critical thinking and creative writing skills in middle schools. Gone are college prep courses and Humanites courses in Highschool. We are literally wasting our children's potential by making them little cookie-cutter automatons. And it doesn't appear that the current candidates care to adjust anything. It hasn't even been discussed!

Here's 5 good questions we should be asking:

1) Our Nation's schools are overcrowded, which causes teachers to spend more time policing the students then teaching. What is your plan to aleviate this overcrowding?

2) How will you ensure that our children's schools are a place of learning and not a place of crime and violence?

3) How will you work to make teaching a more respected and sought after career for college graduates? What type of insentives will you offer, or suggest?

4) How will you ensure that the children of today are reading and computing at their grade level? Will you reform the current testing? How will you ensure that children of today will master the skills for graduation?

5) How will you make it exciting for parents and adults to be a part of their child's education? How will you persuade them to help?

Maybe these questions aren't the sole purpose of the president. But they are valid questions that should be asked and at least examined, don't you think? I think at least the children of today deserve more than to be just an afterthought of the campaign trail. It should be a focus!

Our country tomorrow will be no better than the children growing up today. That's the bottom line.

Day 21: Busy Weekend

21 days. Three weeks. Only 1 week for a month to have gone by. Some days it seems longer than that. Some days, just fly by.

This past weekend was a busy weekend. Like I said, I took the kids out. We went to this local buffet restaurant. it was pretty good, but the best thing it was close to home. Then on Saturday, we went out to a friend's farm. It was like a free petting zoo! They have goats, cows, chickens, bunnies, dogs, cats, birds and even fish. I can't even imagine what it costs to feed all those animals! But the kids had a blast. I got to sit and talk and drink coffee. So we all had a good time. Sunday, I played video games with the kids and they got to talk to Daddy. All in all the weekend was just not long enough. But somehow, they never are.....

D. has been having a rough time over in Iraq. But today, he sounds like he is making an upturn. He finally got the package I sent to him for Valentine's day. Im so happy he did. I was wondering if that was going to end up being an Easter package! LOL

This past week, D. finally met up with his cousin over there. His cousin has a fairly dangerous job, so I can't tell too much about him, but it was sure nice to have them finally get together. (Unfortunately, I can't show any pictures, for his cousin's safety.)

I often look through the news to see if there is any news stories that catch my eye, and are about the military. 2 caught me today. One article said that troops deployed this summer for 15 month deployments will most likely only end up being 12 months. This is an effort to bring the troops home to spend more time with their families. Currently, the deployments have been 18 months, with 8 or 9 months off deployment, only to turn around and put in another year or more second deployment. Now, they want it to be one year no deployments in between and shorten the amount of the deployemnt altogether. This is good news for military familes. (You can see the whole article here: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/ARMY_SHORTER_TOURS?SITE=FLPEJ&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT )

Also there was an article about free tax preparation for military and their families. You can check out that information here:
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=48819

I don't know if that will help anyone, but it never hurts to try....

Not much else is going on around the 'ol Scott Homestead. We are plodding through the days, and making the best of them. The kids send their shoutout: "We love you Daddy!". We also send hugs and all our love. Stay safe!

Day 18: TGIF!

Friday... ahhh, blessed Friday. The joy of knowing that I don't have to get up early, or even get dressed if I don't want to tomorrow.

Work was a killer. Getting the books ready for tax season is tedious! Everything has to be checked and rechecked. All of this to go to the accountant. What the accountant has left to do after this, is a mystery to me.

My daughters science project finally got done. So much for it finishing itself, though. You know, after working so hard on the project with her, and her to come home and tell me that since most of the kids in the class didn't want to do the project, the teacher decided to make it only for extra credit is a real kick in the teeth. I mean we did a fossil model. Took pictures. Looked up information on the internet, and put it all together on a big display board. And now its only extra credit?! Sigh.

But.. I did get paid today. Yay! I think I'll take the kiddlets out to do something fun tonight.

But before I do that, I wanted to post something I found. It is an account of a military wife, by the name of Lori Kimble, who's husband was deployed to Iraq. She overheard some critical talk about the war and about the military and had something to say about it:

It could have been any night of the week, as I sat in one of those loud andcasual steak houses that are cropping up all over the country. You know the type- a bucket of peanuts on the table, shells littering the floor, and a bunch of perky college kids racing around with longneck beers and sizzling platters.

Taking a sip of my iced tea, I studied the crowd over the rim of my glass.I let my gaze linger on a few of the tables next to me, where several uniformed military members were enjoying their meals. Smiling sadly, I glanced across my booth to the empty seat where my husband usually sat. Had it had only been a few weeks since we had sat at this very table talking about his upcoming deployment to the Middle East? He made me promise to come back to this restaurant once a month, sit in our booth, and treat myself to a nice dinner. He told me that he would treasure the thought of me there eating a steak and thinking about him until he came home. I fingered the little flag pin I wear on my jacket and wondered where at that moment he was. Was he safe and warm? Was his cold any better? Were any of my letters getting to him? As I pondered all of these things, shrill feminine voices from the next booth broke into my thoughts. "I don't know what Bush is thinking invading Iraq. Didn't he learn anything from his father's mistakes? He is an idiot anyway, I can't believe he is even in office. You know he stole the election."

I cut into my steak and tried not to listen as they began an endless tirade of running down our president. I thought about the last night I was with my husband as he prepared to deploy. He had just returned from getting his smallpox and anthrax shots and the image of him standing in our kitchen packing his gas mask still gave me chills.

Once again their voices invaded my thoughts.
"It is all about oil, you know. Our military will go in and rape and pillage and steal all the oil they can in the name of freedom. I wonder how many innocent lives our soldiers will take without a thought? It is just pure greed."

My chest tightened and I stared at my wedding ring. I could picture how handsome my husband was in his mess dress the day he slipped it on my finger. I wondered what he was wearing at that moment. He probably had on his desert uniform, affectionately dubbed coffee stains, over the top of which he wore a heavy bulletproof vest.

"We should just leave Iraq alone. I don't think they are hiding any weapons. I think it is all a ploy to increase the president's popularity and pad the budget of our military at the expense of social security and education. We are just asking for another 9-11 and I can't say when it happens again that we didn't deserve it."

Their words brought to mind the war protesters I had watched gathering outside our base. Did no one appreciate the sacrifice of brave men and women who leave their homes and family to ensure our freedom? I glimpsed at the tables around me and saw the faces of some of those courageous men, looking sad as they listened to the ladies talk.

"Well I for one, think it is a travesty to invade Iraq and I am certainly sick of our tax dollars going to train the professional baby killers we call a military."

Professional baby killers? As I thought about what a wonderful father my husband is and wondered how long it would be before he was able to see his children again, indignation rose up within me. Normally reserved, pride in my husband gave me a boldness I had never known. Tonight, one voice would cry out on behalf of the military. One shy woman would stand and let her pride in our troops be known. I made my way to their table, placed my palms flat on it and lowered myself to be eye level with them. Smiling I said, "I couldn't help overhearing your conversation. I am sitting over here trying to enjoy my dinner alone. Do you know why I am alone? Because my husband, whom I love dearly, is halfway across the world defending your right to say rotten things about him. You have the right to your opinion, and what you think is none of my business, but what you say in my hearing is and I will not sit by and listen to you run down my country, my president, my husband, and all these other fine men and women in here who put their lives on the line to give you the freedom to complain. Freedom is expensive ladies, don't let your actions cheapen
it."

I must have been louder than I meant to be, because about that time the manager came over and asked if everything was all right. "Yes thank you." I replied and then turned back to the ladies, "Enjoy the rest of your meal."

To my surprise, as I sat down to finish my steak, a round of applause broke out in the restaurant. Not long after the ladies picked up their check and scurried away, the manager brought me a huge helping of apple cobbler and ice cream, compliments of the table to my left. He told me that the ladies had tried to pay for my dinner, but someone had beaten them to it. When I asked who he said the couple had already left, but that the man had mentioned he was a WWII vet and wanted to take care of the wife of one of our boys.

I turned to thank the soldiers for the cobbler, but they wouldn't hear a word of it, retorting, "Thank you, you said what we wanted to say but weren't allowed."

As I drove home that night, for the first time in while, I didn't feel quite so alone. My heart was filled with the warmth of all the patrons who had stopped by my table to tell me they too were proud of my husband and that he would be in their prayers. I knew their flags would fly a little higher the next day. Perhaps they would look for tangible ways to show their pride in our country and our troops, and maybe, just maybe, the two ladies sitting at that table next to me would pause for a minute to appreciate all the freedom this great country offers and what it costs to maintain. As for me, I had learned that one voice can make a difference. Maybe the next time protestors gather outside the gates of the base where I live, I will proudly stand across the street with a sign of my own. A sign that says "Thank you!"
-(Lori Kimble, the writer of the article, is a frequent contributor
of commentaries for the Washington Dispatch, is a 31 year old teacher and proud
military wife. She is a California native currently living in Alabama.)

This story has got me to thinking. Thinking about how important it is to support our troops. What do YOU do when you see a soldier? Do you smile? Do you nod? Do you wave? What is too much? What is not enough? There is a simple answer here. "Thank you." That's it. A lot is said with those two little words.

Let's not forget to show our gratitude. Our honor. And our Thanks.

Day 16: I Wish...

Well, its another week going by. Today I was thinking about all the things I wish could happen today.

• I wish that I could feel better. I have been sick for about 4 days.
• I wish that my tax return would hit my bank faster.
• I wish that my daughter's science project would just finish itself.
• I wish that my boss would give me the rest of the week off.

But most of all I WISH my husband could just come home, even if for one hour.

I would just like to see him. Its amazing how much you take for granted when you are with your husbands and wives everyday. Wives get annoyed because they have to pick up a wet towel, or that they have to make what their husbands want for dinner. Husbands lose their patience because their wives want to talk all the time, or go to buy yet another pair of shoes. But honestly, be thankful for what you have.

I found this little poem about being a military wife:

The Military Wife

The military wife is a special individual.

When she was a girl, her dreams were bold, as bold as her fine, free gaze; And every gift of grace and mind was hers in her younger days. When she was a girl, a golden girl, with a soul as fine as fire. She could outshine the brightest jewel that a rich man's love might buy her. Yes hers could have been the glittering path through a careless, carefree life. But she fell in love with an soldier, so she became a military wife.

Away from the home of her childhood she marched at her husband's side. For she chose a wide and winding road when she became a bride. And sometimes the road was a hard one, so different from what she had planned; And sometimes she wept for the home she had left as she lay in a foreign land; And sometimes her steps would grow weary as she followed the drum and the fife; But she set about making the world her home because she was a military wife.

She learned to build a hearth for them wherever her man was sent; And she knelt to plant a garden every time he pitched their tent. Yes, she always planted a garden though she never saw it grow, For she knew before the flowers came that she would have to go. But she left each garden gladly though it cut her like a knife,For she hoped it might bring some comfort to another military wife.

To the hardships in her married life she brought one simple truth, A promise that once was spoken in the ancient words of Ruth:"Wherever you go, I will go. Wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Thy people shall be my people and thy God shall be my God."She shared his joys and sorrows as they made their way through life, For she was proud to love a soldier and to be a military wife.

She bore the weight of worrying what fate might hold in store; And the wordless fear of waiting when her soldier went to war; And the nights that she spent fearing that her waiting was in vain; And the pain of wanting someone she might never hold again. But she bore his children gladly through uncertainty and strife, And they never heard her crying for she was a military wife.

She raised a military family with the faith her love had taught her; And she gave the pride she had inside to her son and to her daughter; And she taught them to love freedom and to know what it was worth, As they helped her plant her gardens in the corners of the earth. And she never wished for better than the road they marched through life. Because she was as much a soldier as she was a military wife.
– Author Unknown

Day 13: The Bamboo, The Dance, and Pics from Iraq

Well we have made it to day 13. Almost 2 weeks already. I'm not going to lie and say it's been easy for us, but we are making it. Thank God. We've had a couple of rocky days here. First, Valentine's Day happened. That was a tough one for me, with all the lovey-dovey advertisements on the TV.

But thanks to my thoughful husband, who left me a beautiful bamboo on my front doorstep, it got better. Attached was this note: "I love you! Keep this away from the cat. Love -D."

Now you, the reader, who is not familar with my household, or my cat, may wonder... Let me say this. I've got a cat, whom I rescued shortly after those huge hurricanes swept through Florida and made their way over to New Orleans. She was tiny, black and ohhh so cute. Notice the word: was. Oh.. she's still black. That's about it. Her name is Bella. That is short for Belladonna. Yes, the poison. She likes to think she runs the house. She doesn't care who gets in her way, if she wants it, she gets it.

Now... this lovely bamboo my husband just got me is not the first bamboo my husband has sent me from a deployment. When we first moved to Florida, he was called away on a deployment shortly after we moved into our house there. He sent me a bamboo, just because, with a note that says, "Just something to get us started in the new place. I hope this will grow like our love has. I love you always. Love -D." (And yes, my sappy self has kept this note..hehe) It came in a beautiful chinese vase, and was tiny little bamboo stalks, with tiny little leaves. Well it grew. And grew. It was full and green...until...we got the cat. She ate it. All of it. Nothing but bare stalks left. I was so sad, that I cried. I kept trying to revive it, because it meant so much to me, but I finally gave up in defeat.

Have I got the best husband in the world or what?! He got me a new one for Valentine's Day. He could have gotten me a stuffed bear or a bunch of roses, but he remembered that bamboo and gave me a new one, and even a bigger one! Here let me show you.

My Valentine's Bamboo

Ok, also this week, my daughter had her first middle school dance. Doesn't seem possible somehow. Sometimes I have to say to myself, "Yes Mom, she really is 11." ... So Friday was the big day. I spent all night Thursday running around looking for the "right" dress for her to go to it. She could have worn jeans, or any outfit she already had, but for her first dance? No way! So we got the dress, the shoes, a sweater and even a matching necklace. I am thankful that my girl isn't like some of the girls I see out there. You know the ones... the 11 year olds going on 18. My girl is 11. I couldn't be more thankful for that. Also, my girl has a heart of gold. She went with this boy in her class that she has made friends with. A lot of the other kids tear this boy down because of his differences, my girl holds him up and reminds him of his strengths. I couldn't be prouder of her because of that. She also defends him. She was telling me a story about a boy at the dance who tried to be mean, my girl got in his face and told him to go away. And he did. What my girl lacks in size, she more than makes up in spirit. Let me show you how cute she looked before we left for the dance..(psst...Grandmas, if you right click on the pictures you can save them to your computer...)

Miss N. giving me the model pose before the dance.

After we got to the school, I met her dance partner, and his father. Really nice people. Sometimes I'm so impressed with the simple things. I was very impressed by his father. A really big guy, but very soft spoken, and from what I could tell, soft hearted. And it was torturing him as much as me, to send his boy to the dance. hehe Well let me show you a couple of pictures of them together.

Not to be outdone by his sister, Z also got his picture taken before the dance... here it is:

This is Z saying,
"Miss you Daddy!"

Yesterday was a little tough too. I wanted to take the kids to the movies, so I tried to get online to see movie times, only to not be able to. I was on the phone with technical support for over an hour, for them to tell me in the end that it was a city-wide problem and would be fixed within 24 hours. (Sigh) So, I took the kids to the new movie The Spiderwick Chronicles. It would have been a fairly good movie, minus the crying babies and bratty kids. Doesn't anyone respect anyone, anymore? If ever I went to a movie and my kids were whining, I would LEAVE the theatre.... But no, these people stayed, and I think I missed a good 30 min of the movie. So, I was stressed out, and we still had to go grocery shopping after the movie. And we were going all right until checkout, where we dropped a bottle of soda. A glass bottle... and it went everwhere. After that my nerves were shot. And if I could of had a hug, it would have been heaven.

But today is a new day. And I'm good. The kids are good.

I even got some pics from D. Let me show you...

As I get more of them, I'll post them.

But now, I think its time to go do something with the kiddlets and do my best to enjoy my day. And as always, I remind you to pray for our troops. And pray also for our military familes.

Day 11: Wasn't I just talking about this???

Its getting late here on Day 11, in a couple hours it will actually be Day 12. Not much is going on, the kids are finally asleep, after consuming a truckload of candy. My daughter had her Valentine's Day dance tonight at the middleschool, and I'll have pictures of her and her date on tomorrow's post. I was getting the photos all cropped down and ready for that, when I thought I'd look at the news. Yahoo usually has quick snip-it news stories on video.....And I came across a news story about how the USO is having trouble getting entertainers.... and wasn't I just talking about that????

Check out the video: http://www.news.yahoo.com/page/uso_tours

So... I guess I wasn't the only one who noticed this. There might be hope for the media after all...

Day 10: Happy Valentine's Day!!

The History of Valentine's Day

Saint Valentine discovered a unique type of love. A love so exciting, so powerful, so overwhelming as to make the romance of Romeo and Juliet look like puppy love, and the affairs of Josephine and Napoleon, Anthony and Cleopatra, Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor look second rate.

He lived in Rome during the third century. At that time, Rome was ruled by an emperor named Claudius. Emperor Claudius, was never a favorite of the people of Rome, nor Saint Valentine.
Claudius wanted to have a big army and he expected men to volunteer to join. Not many men signed up. Many men just did not want to fight in war, they did not want to leave their wives and families. This made Claudius furious. The Emperor thought that if men were not married, they would not mind joining the army. So, Claudius decided not to allow any more marriages. Young people thought his new law was cruel. Saint Valentine thought it was preposterous!

Saint Valentine, being a Priest, loved to marry couples. Even after Emperor Claudius passed his law, he kept on performing marriage ceremonies secretly. Usually it would be in a small candlelit room with only the bride, the groom and St.Valentine. They would whisper the words of the ceremony, listening all the while for the steps of soldiers.

One night, while performing the wedding ceremony St.Valentine heard the sound of the steps of soldiers. He made the marrying couple run in time but he, himself was caught. He was thrown in jail and told that his punishment was death.

While in prison he tried to stay cheerful and many young people came to the jail to visit him. They gave him flowers to show that they, too, believed in love.

One of these young people was the daughter of the prison guard. Her father allowed her to visit him in the cell. At times they would sit and talk for hours. On the day he was to die, he left his friend a little note thanking her for her friendship and loyalty. He signed it, "Love from your Valentine."

This note was written on February 14, 269 A.D. It is believed that this note started the custom of exchanging love messages on Valentine's Day. Now, every year on this day, people think about love and friendship. And when they think of Emperor Claudius, they remember how he tried to stand in the way of love.

With the help of Saint Valentine we remember that love can't be beaten!

Day 9: Our Story

Well, Valentine's Day is of course tomorrow. You should see all the lost men in the candy aisle in Walmart.. It's almost funny. (I had to go in and get a bag of candy for Z's. V-day party at school.) I watched this poor young guy walk up and down the same aisle at least 8 times, pick up the same baskets, and put them down again. He was still there when I left with my little gifts for my kids and my candy. Jeez ladies, do we put a lot of pressure on these men or what?!

Oh, and I did hear from D. today. Poor guy. He's really miserable. So, if you are reading this, and you know my husband, and even if you don't, please put up a little prayer for him. He has some big decisions he has to make. I pray that he has a clear path. On a side note, he did get some good medication for his ankle, and now is not in so much pain. Thank God for that.

And he says that I should be receiving a package on my doorstep tomorrow. I wonder what it is??? I can't wait. I also sent him a package, I wonder how long it takes to get to him....

Ok, in honor of Valentine's Day, and me feeling sentimental, I am going to talk about my husband's and my story. Keep in mind that I am not a novelist, nor a poet.

D. and I met sometime around September 1995. The postage and shipping store I was working for set up a little kiosk in the local mall. We were gearing up for the Christmas season. Across from my little stall was a specialty knife store. You know the kind... they sell medival swords, chess sets, and an odd assortment of whatnots. Well, D. was working at this store. He had a jovial co-worker named Deanne.

I will never forget Deanne. Deanne was the kind of person that could make you laugh just by looking at you. (Well at least that's what always happened to me.) She was happily married and I guess always trying to be the matchmaker.

I honestly never knew D. existed. He was just some guy that worked in the store. I went in there a couple of times, I knew him by name, but I never really thought one way or another about him, other than he was a nice guy. But Deanne had other ideas, and I'm guessing D. did too.

Deanne was always trying to get me to come over to their store. She would ask me where I live, and what I was studying in college; it was always a constant 20 questions with her. Unknown to me, I think she was relaying this information to D. Well, somehow I started talking to D. more, when I found out we had more in common. And I started to notice he had the most amazing molten copper colored eyes. He also was attending a bible college, played guitar, and had a funny, almost British, sense of humor. Which were all things I liked, and still do.

So, one day, as I was getting ready to go back to my kiosk and get ready for my next shift, he blurts out, "Do you like concerts?". I said I did. He wasn't really sure of himself, but he said he knew of a church that was having a concert in their basement and to get in you had to bring a can of food, for the hungry. And would I go with him? Not really thinking much of it, I told him I would go. He told me the time and date of the concert, and we went back to work.

Fast forward to the day of the concert. He used to drive this little Ford Escort. (He is soo going to kill me for saying all this, lol) This little car was a piece of crap! (oh, come on honey, you know it was). It was white, with blue vinyl seats and blue carpet on the floors. It smelled like old shoes. If you cranked the windows extra hard, they might come down. The headliner was also blue, and torn in several places. This car was not the total dream car for a guy trying to impress a girl, let me tell you. To this day, I will never forget that car, so I guess it made some sort of impression, right??

For this concert we had to go into the bigger city and go to a church I had never been to. I was excited to see the show, but I was worried too. So we walk into these double doors, drop our canned food into these bins and walk down the stairs into this blue youth room. There are people milling around, and I don't see anyone I know. Then all of sudden I see someone from my old church youth group, so I walk over to say hello. And lo and behold the whole clan is there! I hadn't seen these guys since I moved from my small town to go work for the shipping place. They are all around me asking me what I was up to, and who was this guy with me, and question after question. D. is just standing there. I introduce him to everyone, and D. was jealous of all the guys talking to me. (He said years later I was like some queen holding court).I didn't even think about that, I was just so happy to see everyone. Even after the concert, he was trying to usher me out of the basement quickly, before they all started talking to me again... lol

So, on the drive home we started talking about who we really were. At one point, I remember him saying to me, "You know, you really are a strange girl." I of course thought this was funny, because it was not the first time someone had said that to me. He took me home. And after that we talked on the phone for hours almost everyday. And after a while I figured out that I couldn't live without him.

We ended up getting married Oct 13 1997. Shortly after we got married, he left for basic training. So now ten years later, I've learned a lot about what love is, and what it should be. Things have been wonderful for us. Things have been rocky for us. In the ten years, the thing that I hold on to the most is that I know that no matter where he goes, and no matter what he does, he loves me. And I love him.

So, in honor of Valentine's Day tomorrow. I just wanted to share this little story. Maybe it will make him smile. It sure did for me.

Day 7: The USO (part 2)

Well we've made it through the first week. Doesn't really seem like much of a milestone, considering the time we have left, but for me, it is. Not much has happened in the week, other than the normal deployment adjustments. Dad's gone; so the kids try to strut their stuff. I'm pretty good at keeping things under control, though. The kids don't really know how to act, they just miss their dad. It will get better with time.

I did get their report cards. So far both kids are doing great school-wise, with A's and B's across the board. N. still has her science project to do, but has changed her mind and wants to do some sort of fossil project. Her teacher thought her bug idea wasn't complex enough. Z. is doing alright, but I think he is having a tougher time with his dad gone, and will take more time to adjust.

And I did hear from D. From what I can tell, he is working non-stop. And he has to share a trailer with a guy who snores. Thankfully he is on a different shift, but being stuck with a snoring roommate can't be fun. He's working so much that phone calls and emails come sparingly. Down-time doesn't exist there. They even have to wear their uniforms 24/7.

That's why organizations like the USO are so important. Soldiers separated from families and friends and even basic American culture, need to connect with what's going on at home.

Unfornately I've come across some websites and blogs discussing American stars who refused to do USO shows for Iraq. Always the optomist, I am hoping it was a conflict of scheduling and not as a political statement. However, I find that difficult to believe in some cases. Take Susan Sarandon and Sean Penn, neither of whom I found as refusing to go; I didn't find any soldier support whatsoever. Instead, they have staged hunger-strike style rallies with sometime actor/activist Danny Glover. Now, tell me....how does fasting for 24 hours bring the troops home? Perhaps, they should put their money where their mouth is and donate time and energy and maybe a little bit of green for returning wounded soldiers, families who've lost a loved one, or maybe to the USO who provides stations of comfort in many different places for soldiers, at home and abroad. Staging a hunger-strike makes a spectacular media stunt, unfortunately, it does nothing real for the troops.

But I digress. And I'm sorry if I offend anyone with this post. I am just a humble military wife who gets angry at the lack of real support for our troops.

Following the Sept. 11 attacks, some of the biggest names in show business jumped at the chance to entertain our troops. Jennifer Lopez and Brad Pitt just to name a couple. What we have today, is a far cry from that. "After 9/11 we couldn't have had enough airplanes for the people who were volunteering to go," Wayne Newton, the Las Vegas crooner who succeeded Bob Hope as head of USO's talent recruiting effort, told USA Today. "Now with 9/11 being as far removed as it is, the war being up one day and down the next, it becomes increasingly difficult to get people to go." Newton goes on to question the reason that celebrities have been afraid to go in that that it might be seen that they are endorsing the war. "And I say it's not. I tell them these men and women are over there because our country sent them, and we have the absolute necessity to try to bring them as much happiness as we can" ,says Newton.









"Mr. Vegas, Wayne Newton performs at a USO show.


And that my friends, is the point.

Ok, so Iraq is a country at war. Perhaps they have legitimate fear. "They're scared," country singer Craig Morgan, who was in Iraq on the USO's Hope and Freedom Tour 2005, told USA Today. "It's understandable. It's not a safe and fun place and a lot of people don't want to take the chance." But I challange that by saying, on a base with thousands of soldiers, where are you any more safe than that?

One blogger wrote something that puts this fear into perspective:" I suppose the stars of today consider themselves too good, and their political views too important to sully themselve by joining the ranks of Bob Hope, Bing Crosby and Marlene Dietrich. Dangerous? Dietrich was a German refugee -- what do you think would have happened to her if the Nazi's had captured her -- and do you think she didn't know that?"

And also this quote: And scared? Please! If it is safe enough for our troops, I am sure they will be safe enough. If Bob Hope could do it, so can they!

Some of the entertainers still willing to travel are die-hard true believers - rock musician Ted Nugent carried a Glock handgun to shows in Iraq and said in a radio interview that he manned a machine gun on a Humvee. But many of the USO's regular performers are fierce critics of the war, among them the comic and star Robin Williams, who told USA Today, "I'm there for the [troops], not for W," he said in a reference to the president. "Go, man. You won't forget it. You'll meet amazing people," is his message to stars that ask him about the tours. Other critics of the war who regularly perform include the leftwing comedian Al Franken, and the punk legend and actor Henry Rollins, one of the Bush administrations most vocal critics.








Robin Williams clowns around with the troops.








Al Franken and on a visit to Iraq.






Henry Rollins poses with service members.


From the USO website FAQ page, the question is asked, How do entertainers get selected to tour with the USO?" The answer: If a performer has charted on Billboard or has a name that is universally recognized, he/she has probably been contacted by the USO. Political views don't play a role in determining who is part of a show, Powell (President of The USO) said. "We don't recruit based on politics. We recruit based on requests from the soldiers of who they want to see."

Once a die-hard Democrat, Toby Keith said he no longer affiliates himself with political parties as much as he associates himself with being American. Ever since events of Sept. 11, 2001, Keith decided it wasn’t about politics.“I’m here to support America and I’m here to support the Armed Forces,” Keith said. “Politically, I’m not educated enough on the issues to know why we came here (to Iraq), but it doesn’t matter to me. I go wherever American military families and troops are to try and give something back to them.”

“From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank every one of you for my freedom and for putting your life on the line for me,”Keith said. "Everybody who wears the uniform is a warrior for me. My family gets to lay their head down every night and sleep in Disneyland because of what you do. American troops should never have to think for one second America as a whole is not behind them.”





Toby Keith with a crowd of soldiers.


Powell said he followed Robin Williams down a line of servicemembers as the comedian left Baghdad in 2003, three weeks after Bush had been there for Thanksgiving. Powell overheard a reporter asking a soldier to compare Williams' visit with Bush's.
Powell said the soldier replied: "The president's visit was really cool, but you know, sir, he had to come. And Robin Williams didn't.""And that," Powell said, "is the point."


So, not that I'll know any stars. Not that I'll influence them either. But I encourage them from a distance to see beyond the Rebublican and Democrat issues of their Hollywood careers, and see the real issue of the people. Some of the greatest fans in the world are in need of some morale. So, give your time, your energy, and maybe a little green.

Support your soldiers. They are Americans just like you and me.

Day 5: The USO (part 1)

Not much going on around here today; 5 days into the deployment. 8am and N. is happily playing Thrillville: Off the Rails, on the XBOX. Z. is playing a game on his daddy's computer. Me, I'm just pulling together today's post. I might take the kids to a cheap dollar movie, or play some video games myself. It's all about keeping busy. This is the first weekend, and I don't have work to distract me and make time fly. I just need one day to float into the next....

I imagine that is what it is like in Iraq for the men and women there. Wanting one day to float into the next so they can come home and see their loved ones.

To make things easier on the troops, the USO (United Services Organization), puts together shows of celebs and stars to entertain the troops, since its beginning in 1941. President Franklin Roosevelt asked six organizations --the YMCA, the YWCA, National Catholic Community Service, National Jewish Welfare Board, Traveler's Aid Association and The Salvation Army--to come together to help boost troop morale, and together they formed the USO. Congress charted it as a non profit organization, and every president since FDR has been an honory chairman.

Of all the benefactors, none has been bigger than Bob Hope. From his first radio show at California's March Field in 1941, to last show in Bahrain for Operation Desert Storm, at the age of 87, Bob Hope was the USO.

Hope wouldn't fully recognize today's shows by the USO, which is trying to update how it entertains the troops. Performances from 50 cent, Kid Rock, and various Country Music artists, have boosted moral. The USO now even gives some leeway to comedians who use more "colorful" language. But it all is for the same reason. For the troops. And the troops appriciate it.

"It really helps getting through all the stressful times in Baghdad", says one soldier.

I've found some good USO footage of stars who have made their way over there. I'll show you just a bit of what our soldiers enjoy:

From: Toby Keith

From: Kid Rock

(warning: has some of that "colorful" language I was talking about, but a good show)

WWE Superstars



And even some lesser known folks have gone over, like Kellie Pickler (country singer who appeared on American Idol), who sings with this member of the US Air Force:



The band Drowing Pool even made a music video of one of their songs based on their trip to Iraq (loud song, you may want to turn your volume down, but has great footage of Iraq):


(several of the videos above have links to other shows you can see)

But Drowing Pool makes a great point with their song. This is for the Soldiers! In my search for USO information, I came across some of stars that have refused to go to Iraq to participate in the USO shows. I'll have more on that in The USO (part 2).

But for now, I remind you to keep the soldiers in your thoughts and prayers. May God bring you all home safe!