Most Certainly Not

A SPC Lopez Update Part II

You do NOT want to miss CJ's follow-up post on SPC Lopez and his family.  It includes a photo of the SPC, his lovely wife and their ADORABLE little girl.  Oh, and the other guy in the photo is actor Johnny Knoxville who you might have seen in the Dukes of Hazzard movie.  I'm thinking the Dora the Explorer nightgown probably fits that little punkin and I'm so pleased about that!  I can imagine she and M2 would have a lot to talk about if they watched Dora the Explorer together.

March Approaches...

and as it does, February is coming to a close. 

Sad news over the weekend that Don Knotts had passed away.  Since my college friends freshman year dubbed my hometown "Mayberry" after visiting it, it seems appropriate that we'd honor one of Mayberry RFD's finest with a little tribute to Barney Fife.  You have to live a guy whose idea of proper weapons handling includes carrying one bullet in your pocket.  It's sad to think that this little bit of my childhood has gone by the wayside with Mr. Knotts' passing.

If that loss weren't enough, I read this afternoon that an actor who appeared in my favorite movie of all time has passed away too.  At first, it was hard for me to believe that Darren McGavin was over 80 years old.  I suppose when you come to know an actor in a particular role, they remain frozen at that age for you...kind of like our children never quite outgrown their typecast "that's my baby" role we place them in when they are born.

Darren McGavin portrayed the gruff, but ultimately loving, father in A Christmas Story.  He uttered one of the most poignant and memorable lines of any actor ever.  "BUMPESS'S!!!!!!"  And, who can forget his "grand prize" of an electric leg lamp (AKA electric sex gleaming in the window)?  He struggled with furnaces, neighborhood hounds, blown tires and even the English language at times.  His grand prize arrives in a box marked "FRAGILE" and he remarks to the Mrs., "Fra-gee-lay...must be Italian."  I realize that playing Ralphie Parker's dad wasn't the only role Darren McGavin ever played and it certainly doesn't represent the totality of his career.  But, having loved A Christmas Story for as long as I have, it makes me sad to think that the person who breathed life into such a fantastic character is no longer with us.

So, two Hollywood passings.  If my elders are correct, a third may be in the offing.

I must have missed this announcement yesterday.  Dennis Weaver of Gunsmoke & McCloud fame passed away as well. I've enjoyed his work from those vintage shows as well as parts he's played in more recent years.

Three more faces to add to the Dearly Departed montage at the Academy Awards...or, as we call the montage at our house, "Hey...I didn't know he/she had died!"

I'm officially set to come to the Milblogging Conference in April.  I booked my flight and hotel today through the AAA office.  Apparently, my hotel will be providing me with "sleep amenities" including a mask and a lavendar spray.  Little do they know that a dark room, a decent bed and a few hours is all I need to catch some really terrific, mind blowing sleep.  Now, if they'd like to toss in a box of chocolates, well...that would be just this side of heaven!

M1 is doing Jump Rope for her Heart this week.  She chose to remind me of that last night after we returned home from seeing nearly EVERY one of her relatives at the fish fry.  Sigh.  I signed her up for a website through the American Heart Association so I hope some of her digitally-inclined relatives will take pity on us and add to my donation to her cause.  She's $15 away from a t-shirt at the moment.  She was the big fund raiser in kindergarten so she feels she has a rep to protect, I'm sure.  I told her perhaps she should learn to jump rope a little better and then we could really push this whole jumping for your heart angle.

Soldier Love is coming in from all angles.  SW, whom I shopped for with funds directed to me as an official Soldiers' Angel shopper, wrote to let me know the boxes had been received, opened and completely emptied in a matter of minutes.  He was quick to point out "that's a good thing" and I remember learning that lesson from my Hubs when he explained the faster the items go, the more they were needed and the more they were appreciated.  Very true.

Then, this afternoon, I received word from AG, my newest soldier I adopted from Operation AC, that he knows he's officially adopted.  He wrote to say he has been in the States, but will be back in country by Saturday.  He came home to see his brand new baby boy who decided to arrive a bit ahead of schedule.  Hoping we'll become trusted with each other enough for him to send me a photo...love those babies!  He will be receiving a new pair of boots soon.  They are being ordered Wednesday!

Can't believe another Monday is already nearly gone.  Bring on Friday!!!!!

The Round-Up

As February draws to a close, let's have a round-up of what's what on this fine Friday.

It's official...Cindy Sheehan plans to export her brand of crazy to Germany next month.  Protesting at Walter Reed isn't enough for these people, they want to go to Landstuhl.  Gotta tell you...Hubs spent some time in Ramstein during train-up and I can't imagine the conversation he'd be having if he were there now and her broom was making its way to Germany.  You can read about this ridiculous woman's plans at HH6 and the Mudville Gazette.  If you're interested in learning about the real Casey Sheehan, without his mother's interference, check out B5.

The latest on the ports deal is that a voluntary delay on the part of the UAE's company will occur.

Slate.com's Christopher Hitchens organized a peaceful rally in support of Denmark.  A photo post shows lots of smiling and creative signs and there were no reports of calls for beheadings or bombings.

Olympic figure skater Sasha Cohen takes the silver medal in Torino.  Did you know she supports Soldiers' Angels?

Project Valour-IT is continuing to do good work.  Read one hero's story at Fuzzilicious Thinking.

The fam and I are headed north for the annual fish fry.  We expect to see half the town, most all the immediate and even extended family, and eat until we can't eat anymore.  I've been saving up my Weight Watchers points, after all. 

A Hero Update

Remember reading about SPC Sergio Lopez?  CJ at a Soldier's Perspective had the opportunity to visit with SPC Lopez and posts an update about the meeting as well as the conversation that took place. 

I am looking forward to April and a chance to shake hands with lots of our recovering heroes, just like SPC Lopez.

I'm going to e-mail CJ to pass along more well wishes to the SPC and you can do so too via CJ's blog.

A New Day, A Few New Thoughts...

The more reading I do regarding the UAE and the port terminal controversy, the more I'm beginning to wonder if it isn't much ado about nothing.  I've been reading, listening to the analysis and the more I do, the more I see the UAE as a moderate spot in the Middle East with an environment more accepting, open and even encouraging of the choices we have here in the West.  Tommy Franks was interviewed on Tony Snow's radio program this morning and made very salient points as well as offered enlightening information that someone in my position, and perhaps in yours, might not be privy to where the UAE is concerned.

First, it's the British who own these terminals in question and for the past decades, shipping has been more of an international affair than a domestic one.  Continuing on, the UAE is a place where the US military and intelligence community has been provided unprecedented access and cooperation.  It seems like of all the possible foreign entities to have contractural ownership of terminals in our port cities, the UAE has a good track record and even more reason to be vigilant when it comes to preventing incidents in the shipping business.  In Tommy Franks' estimation, the UAE shipping industry is one of the most efficient and security-minded in the world and most of the US Navy's shipping into the region feeds through the UAE port system.

I'm not against profiling as many people in our country are.  I'm not into stereotyping people.  I'm into trusting ones instincts and if something seems hincky to a law enforcement officer, I want him/her to follow that instinct rather than spending time running wands over infants and little old ladies from Florida.  I also find it disingenuous of many of the critics of this business dealing who have had positive dealings with the UAE in the past or who are vehemently against profiling to now be piling on and calling for a 45-day investigation.  It makes this smell even more funky.

If due diligence has been done and the vetting of the UAE which postdates 9/11 has shown only positive things, then I think it would be foolish of the US lawmakers to raise too much of a stink.  After all, if the UAE is participating in the kind of relationship with us that we are encouraging other Middle Eastern nations to develop, then what precedent does this set for those considering a more moderate future?

This whole situation is to my brain what eating a jawbreaker is to my mouth.  You try and try to crack it, but you can't.  So, you patiently hold it and pay attention as you go deeper and deeper through the layers.  Some are sweet, some are sour and some are red hot.  Finally, you do find your way to the resolution and I'm hopeful that if I keep thinking about this I will come to a resolution that makes sense to me...not that anyone but you all are interested (that may be a strong word!) in what I drone on about anyhow.

1/2 Way Through a Week

Receiving several questions about the port deal, my take on it and requests for updating that I promised early in the discussion phase.  Honestly, I cannot give you a definite take because every time I feel I have one, I become more confused and frustrated.

Michelle Malkin has been monitoring the story and the responses to the day-to-day happenings.  You can read her comprehensive coverage to gain a more in-depth understanding of the latest.  I do know two things for sure:  1)  our ports remain as vulnerable as they were pre-9/11 if not more so now as everyone KNOWS how poor the security is and 2) I am sorely disappointed that THIS is the issue on which George W. Bush would use the first veto of his Presidency.  This administration has allowed more spending and porky bills to fly that I care to count.  And this is the hill he's choosing to defend?

I don't think in the case of the UAE and Dubai we can throw the baby out with the bath water.  There are nut cases and crack pots in every society and they have financial holdings in their countries.  The fact that two hijackers came from the UAE is less of a concern to me than other points in this story.  The small government loving part of me thinks a private business deal between a British firm and one in Dubai should be left alone; the other part of me says that during wartime, vigilance is key.  The point to remember is that the changes in management would more than likely be seamless and transparent on the ground.  Let's face it...if port security were iron clad, this wouldn't even be an issue.

Oh, and are we KIDDING with this?  The state of California (the ONE place where a story like this would have legs) has indefinitely postponed the execution of a convicted murderer based on his claim that lethal injection, if painful, could be "cruel and unusual" punishment.  What. The. ???

This is the same guy who raped, strangled and used a hammer to bash in the head of a 17-year-old girl whose only crime was having the misfortune of spending time with a guy who also happened to be dating this murdering scumbag's cousin.  This cousin, for the record, was also a guy.  He has been on death row for OVER TWO DECADES and since his execution order has expired and will more than likely not be re-signed given the ridiculous state of the courts in California, he's more than likely dodged a proverbial bullet.  The reason his order expired?  They couldn't find any medical professionals willing to administer the eternal nighty-night cocktail to this SOB.  I guess a doctor can kill you softly?  I suppose most doctors would consider that a violation of their oath...unless you could find a doctor who performs partial-birth abortions.  No wait.  Scissors in the back of your skull probably hurts a tad, don't you think?

This problem would be solved if criminals were forced to die the same deaths of their victims.  Hammers are cheap and if I were this girl's mother, I'd bring my own for the occasion.  Lethal injection is the best possible death scenario and far more than this pig deserves. 

His response when he heard his execution had been delayed?  He smiled.  The only upside to this tale is that it might take him longer to arrive in Hell, but he's still going.

On the personal news side, Hubs was set to accompany me to the Milblogging Conference in DC this April.  Unfortunately, he forgot to check his drill schedule and now discovered he will be completing his PT test while he is supposed to be in the nation's capital reveling in the glow of several hundred notebook computers.  He's the reason I have a milblog (although I would more than likely have an interest in supporting the troops via a blog with or without his enlistment status) and thus, the reason I'm headed to DC.  However, it is a blatant reminder about how very little I control what happens in our household's schedule...ever.  Lovely little flashlight on the lack of control over all things fun whether Hubs is deployed or not.

The end of this week at work should prove interesting...I will keep you posted. 

Wearing Red Today

Live blogging...

53 seconds left in my college alma mater/current employer/soon-to-be school again basketball rivalry game...

We're ahead by 5.  The Others were ahead by as much as 9 in the first half.  Hee hee.

Clock is running.

Eeks.  That was close.  28 seconds, ball nearly out of bounds & was tossed by in by a Good Guy.

21.6 seconds left.  We're (one of my former students) at the line.  He made it!  One more...YES!!!!!  Way to go, NP!!!

The student section is PUMPED. 

20

15

14.4 the whistle blows.  Foul by us on an Other.  He sinks it.  That puts them down by 4.  He makes the second. 

The score?  65-62...we lead.

12.6 and a foul on NP again.  One?  YES!!!!!  Two?  No.  That's okay, NP.  66-62, we lead.

11.6 left on the clock.  Ball knocked out of bounds; they say we touched it last.  Others' ball.

6 seconds remaining on the clock.  66-62, we lead. 

They threw it away to us!!!!!!!!!!!!!  LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!

66-62

Rock on!!!!!!!!

It'll be a good day on campus tomorrow!!!  :)

Not Surprising in the Least

Michelle Malkin's blog directed me to the Counterterrorism Blog's follow-up of a story from the Buckeye State.  I must say I don't find this the least bit surprising given the press that's been coming from northwest Ohio for awhile as well as a personal experience of one of my adopted soldiers who received a disgusting piece of hate mail from someone who claimed to be associated with a mosque/Islamic education center in Toledo.

This indictment focuses on three Toledo-area men who were bent on waging a holy war within the United States and on troops stationed in the Middle East.  Communication between this trio and someone in the Middle East is also mentioned in the indictment...just another pat on the back to the NSA and its counterterrorism program, I'm sure.  In the second count of the indictment, it's noted that US civilians abroad were also within the scope of this terrorism plot.  And, just for good measure, one of the three made threats against President Bush to another person which will find him facing counts aimed directly at himself.

The collective snoring is deafening across the fruited plain.  Let me try to wake you up a bit with some readings.  Try this.  And then this.

So Busy, We're Buzzing

No...wait.  That buzzing may not be the sound of busy, but leftover ringing from the Motley Crue concert.  At any rate, we're busy!

I'm trying to make a concerted effort to organize things around the house as if Hubs were still deployed (although I was never more frazzled, my house was never cleaner and I was never more organized) so that when I start law school, he can adopt/adapt the household system as he chooses.

To that end, I'll confess that I fell off the exercise/eating wagon this weekend, but we're back on today.  I'm more organized when I plan ahead for eating.  It actually requires me to pack up my stuff, get up a little earlier and be really ready first thing in the morning.  By planning out our evening meals, I not only am able to accomplish the health goals I have for us, but I can work in my exercise as well.  I'm thinking I'll post some recipes we're enjoying for you.  It might be a benefit to those living the military family life as well as those with a deployed spouse.  I promise they will be good ( or we wouldn't eat 'em ) and EASY.

Yesterday was my weigh-in day.  Another 5 pounds down.  That's 10 pounds total, give or take.  The Weight Watchers website has warned me that it's "too fast."  Well, let me tell you something, when you eat like I did with no regard for your health and your favorite beverage is fully leaded Coke, you WILL lose some pounds if you go cold turkey, start eating better, drinking tons of water, taking your supplements and exercising.  So, sorry WW...I'll take it, be proud of it and thankfully, not be disappointed in how slow this is going and quitting...did I mention I'm impatient?

Today's recipe comes from my favorite TV Chef, Giada de Laurentiis.  Tonight we'll be having this marinara sauce over whole wheat, angel hair pasta (you can't tell the difference with the thinner noodles).  I've modified it based on my findings after making it a couple times, but the original is available at Food Network's site:

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 shallots, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 stalks celery, finely chopped
2 carrots, peeled and finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 (28-ounce) cans crushed tomatoes

In a large casserole pot, heat the oil over a medium-high flame. Add the onions and garlic and saute until the onions are translucent, about 10 minutes. Add the celery, carrots, and 1/2 teaspoon of each salt and pepper. Saute until all the vegetables are soft, about 10 minutes. Add the tomatoes and simmer uncovered over low heat until the sauce thickens, about 1 hour. Season the sauce with more salt and pepper, to taste. (The sauce can be made 1 day ahead. Cool, then cover and refrigerate. Rewarm over medium heat before using.)

I like to make this sauce as we eat 1/2 the first night.  I place the rest in a freezer bag and freeze it for next week's "Spaghetti Night".  Enjoy!

I'd Like A New Pair Of Eardrums, Please...

Man!  It's t-minus 13 hours since we left the Crue show and I have to tell you...the older you get, the less you remember about how LOUD rock concerts are.  I've gone to concerts in the past few years, but NONE were as loud as last night's Crue show.  Between the music itself and then the BOOMs accompanying all the hell-fire pyrotechnics...I feel like I'm underwater!  Definitely should have put some ear plugs in last night.  Lesson learned.

For what I went for (to see Tommy Lee & hear some old school Crue), I left satisfied.  I suppose the older gal in me could have done without the fast flying F-words and all the "Girls Gone Wild" stuff.  This is a family blog so I will spare you the details, but let me just say I haven't seen that many bare chests since I attended a breastfeeding class at the hospital.  The word "debauchery" came to mind more than once, but again, what did I expect, right?  I tried to appreciate the finer points and athletic skill displayed by the Crue Sl*ts (rhymes with 'guts') as they dangled above the stage in contraptions that aren't featured in any catalog that has graced my mailbox. 

Best part of the night?  Old school Crue songs and Tommy Lee's above-the-crowd, Peter Pan-esque flying to drum kits suspended over the floor seating.

Worst part of the night?  Knowing that a "father" had brought his M1-aged daughter to the show (floor seats no less) and that she heard every F-word and saw each and every raunchy thing that I did.  I wondered what that would do to a little person's soul as I was on overload about 1/2 way through the performance.

Leaving the venue, we saw that Kenny Chesney was coming soon with Dierks Bentley and Sugarland...thinking I may need to buy tickets even though Hubs will be gone.  I like all three so I'd be receiving lots of bang for my music buck.

In other news...Hubs went to his unit's drill yesterday even though he's exempt because of all the classes he's been attending.  It's re-enlistment time.  It's interesting to see his superiors become antsy when this time approaches.  Hubs is as career military minded as you can be in the Guard.  No doubt that he will be signing the paperwork and raising his right hand.

Also of interest and I will be as opsec-minded as I can...let's just say I'm thankful Hubs and I shook on a "you are not going anywhere unless GWB comes to pick you up himself (metaphorically) until I have my law degree in hand" because it looks like some will be packing bags very soon.  Part of me is disappointed for Hubs that he will miss this opportunity.  The other part of me is thankful that we aren't making this decision right now.