Four things

These are some things you might not know about me:

FOUR jobs I've had:
1. data entry operator
2. waitress at Pinocchios' in Norman
3. retail- at the Limited
4. Teacher

FOUR movies I could watch over and over:
1. Dirty Dancing
2. When Harry Met Sally
3. Princess Bride
4. Hmmmm....can't think....anything NOT animated!

FOUR placed that I have lived:
1. Norman, OK
2. Fairbanks, AK

3. Pleasanton, CA
4. Fort Leavenworth, KS

FOUR TV Shows I love to watch:
1. Project Runway
2. Jon and Kate + 8
3. America's Next Top Model
4. My Fair Brady

FOUR places I've been on vacation:
1. San Antonio, TX
2. Charleston, SC
3. Napa Valley, CA
4. Valdez, AK

FOUR websites I visit daily:
1. yahoo

2. Blogger
3. my daily reads
4. Flickr

FOUR of my favorite foods:
1. bread
2. cheese
3. wine
4. olives

FOUR places I'd rather be:
1. napping
2. in bed
3. sleeping
4. do you see a pattern here?

FOUR things my four year sleeps with at night
1. this baby
2.this 'flyer'
3. this dinosaur
4. me!

FOUR things he better do tonight:

1. sleep

2. in

3. his

4. bed

Conversations with Livi

Tonight, like every night....we have the same routine: bath, story, bedtime. Lately Livi has been "reading" to me. Her favorite book this week is "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See".

She used to say the Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See, peek on the next page to see what the next animal is, and go from there. Well, after the thousandth time reading it, she has it memorized.

But tonight was different. It went a little like this:

Livi: Black sheep, black sheep, what do you see? I see a yellow fish, no wait....an orange fish, looking at me.

Me: Livi, it says "goldfish".

Livi: (looking at me like I am three degrees of crazy)....it DOES not, it is not a snack....it IS a yellow fish!

As long as we pass on the love of reading, I guess that is all that matters!

A little tag catch up:

Marie tagged me. This should be fun!

1) You must post the rules on your post before you answer the questions.
2) You need to list one fact about yourself using each letter of your middle name. If you don’t have a middle name use your maiden name instead.
3) When you are finished with your answers, you tag one person for each letter of your name.

L: Love: I love to sleep in, though it rarely happens!

E: encyclopedia: I used to read these for fun as a child!

E: enrolled: I was enrolled K-12 in the same school. Twenty four of the 56 kids I graduated with started kindergarten together! Can you say podunk Oklahoma?

Now I'm supposed to high-five three people, since that's how many letters are in my middle name. Alrighty...consider yourself tagged if you need some blog fodder.

Happy Thursday, y'all!

A little T for Tommie

1. What is your name? tommie

2. 4 letter word: toes

3. Vehicle: Tommy Kaira ZZ

4. City: Temple (TX)

5. Boy Name: Tommy (note the Y.....girls are IE or YE)

6. Girl Name: Tammy

7. Occupation: Teacher

8. Something you wear: Tshirt

9. Celebrity: how sad Tom Cruise is the first one to come to my mind (he is crazy as a loon!)

10. Food: Thai tea

11. Something found in a bathroom: two types of brushes (round and flat)

12. Reason for Being Late: tire was flat

13. Cartoon Character: Tigger

14. Something you shout: stop THAT right now!

15. Animal: Tiger

16. Body Part: toes

17. Word to describe you: Terrific

18. Beverage: The glass of wine by my side (does that count?)

19. Song Title: Talkin' in your sleep - the Romantics (thanks Cheeky )

Going green, bloggy love, and a meme

Lotus of Sarcastic Mom challenged any and everyone to participate in Project Support Beauty in Nature!



My little attempt at making the world greener......a couple of weeks ago I picked up some of the reusable green bags at the commissary for a mere $0.70 a piece. I bought ten thinking it would be enough. (A little commissary FYI: the baggers work for tips. I usually tip based on how many bags I have.) Even though these bags are about the size of a brown paper bag, I still ended up with about ten plastic bags.

So this weekend when I went grocery shopping, I ended up with only TWO plastic bags! We usually have no less than twenty bags. Since I go shopping every other week, this is a huge dent in how many bags are coming into our home! They did wrap the meat in plastic before they put them in the bags. I am thankful for that though.

I need to look into some reusable fruit and veggies bags now.

Alright, anyone who bothers to visit my little blog....feel free to grab this bloggy love I received from Jen. Spread some love, y'all!

I am also doing a meme catch up....

Tagged by Heather at Chasing Butterflies




1) pick up the nearest book ( one of at least 123 pages)

2)Open the page to 123

3) Find the 5th sentence

4)Post the next three sentences

5) Tag 5 people!

"Still, there was no one. So when my friend Ian called and said that he wanted to fix me up with Evan, I was more than keyed up to go. Evan was an investment banker. "

This is a great easy read if you are into fluff. I laughed so much while reading this. While reading this book, I could easily imagine myself going through the same stages of life. The author must be close to my age (late 30's....at least for a few more months!) I will definitely pick up her next book!

***Just a little PS....spell check still isn't working, so I can't be held responsible for any spelling errors!***

Archive meme....

I've been high-fived by Mango Marie. It's an archive meme. I've been blogging a little more than a year, but I'll give it a shot.

Anyway, here is the reason why this meme was started:

"I know that when I find a new blog that I want to visit again, I rarely have enough time to go back and read everything from the beginning (although sometimes I do!). I want to get to know that person, but it's hard to commit to reading all of the posts from the last 2 years!This meme is designed to make some of those old posts readily available to those who may be new to your blog, or even those who are regulars, just not from the start."

And, here are the rules:
Go back through your archives and post the links to your five favorite blog posts that you’ve written. But there is a catch:

Link 1 must be about family.

Link 2 must be about friends.

Link 3 must be about yourself.

Link 4 must be about something you love.

Link 5 can be anything you choose.

Post your five links and then tag five other people. At least TWO of the people you tag must be newer acquaintances so that you get to know each other better. Readers - don’t forget to read the archive posts and leave comments!

SOOOO, here I go!

Family :my post for when Husband told me he was deploying, I think this sums up much about us as a military family.

Friends: this post is about making new friends

Me - I couldn't decide between When my camera broke and used old pics to post our "move history" and my 100 things about me for my 100th post

Something I love or should I say someone? This was easy: Tuesday Update: Thursday 13.......#20.....Our hero's homecoming

Anything I want: Another easy one: Tuesday Update: Get your tissues, I am getting super sappy here!

After going through all of these, I guess this last year was really about surviving a 15 month deployment. I have never felt like a "military advocate"...but most of these are about just that....being a military wife. That was fun......feel free to consider yourself tagged if you haven't done this one.

Finish this sentence

I saw this at Patti's blog, and I thought it would be fun since I have nothing important to say! Let me know if you play too!

Finish the sentence with the first thought that comes to your mind.

I know....I like a clean house.

I believe...in miracles.

I fought.... with Husband for the first time since he got back last weekend.

I am angered....by things not going as I want them to

I love....my husband and kids more than anything

I need....some alone time with my husband

I take.....time to blog

I hear....the the pig dog, Josie snoring (and don't you know I moved her bed so I don't have to smell her toots!

I drink.....(changing it to I am drinking) hot tea now. It is colder than (I'll let you fill in the blank, but the one I am thinking rhymes with witches mitt).

I hate....messy counters

I use.... a Canon digital SLR

I want.....a new flash for my camera.

I like.....this new bag I saw at Banana.

I feel....thankful.

I wear....jammies, wedding ring, solitaire earrings.

I left....a little girl sleeping in her bed about thirty minutes ago.

I do..... make the kids pick up their toys before bath time.

I hope...we go on a date this weekend.

I dream....about taking a vacation to the beach.

I drive....a Volvo XC70 wagon

I listen....to kid music when I drive them to school (lately Husband has been doing this!)

I type..... horribly on this laptop ( I must run spell check every time.)

I need... more Splenda in my tea.

I wish...the kids would sleep in their own beds all night long!

I am.... having a give-a-way: If anyone is in need of two new packages of 3T princess or Dora pullups, let me know, they are yours! I need the closet space.

I regret.... some things but not much

I care.... how clean my house is.

I should....move the vacuum cleaner to where it belongs.

I am.... a wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend.

I said....twinkle, twinkle, little star to Livi as she went to sleep.

I wonder....if school is going to be cancelled tomorrow.

I changed....or I should say Livi changed clothes three times today. What is it with girls?

I cry...hardly ever, UNLESS I am "being a woman", then the floodgates open at the craziest things.

I lose....pens all the time.

I leave... as much negativity behind as I can

reflection on 2007

Swiped from lisa *** sorry if you read this before 8:50PM....I accidently published some of Lisa's answers that I copied and pasted***

1. What did you do in 2007 that you’d never done before? survived a 14 1/2 month deployment


2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for 2008?I don't think I made any resolutions.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Yes, both sister's in law.....or is it sister in laws

4. Did anyone close to you die? Husband's grandpa.....the one Bubba is named after.....Makes you realize how short life is.

5. What countries did you visit? Just the good ole' USA

6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007? family time

7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why ?the holidays husband missed

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? the day husband came home and both kids and the dog were fine!

9. What was your biggest failure?Oooh, failure is such an ugly word. <------totally have to agree with this one

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? just a home sick heart for one with the ititials MCA

11. What was the best thing you bought? I do like the rooster and the Gobble gobble turkey.



12. Whose behavior merited celebration? duh hubby!

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? mine when I lost it with the kids

14. Where did most of your money go? Pre-schoolTuition, mortgage, good wine. ....life is way to short to drink cheap wine

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? I know I sound redundant, but the day Husband came home.

16. What song will always remind you of 2007? Stand by Rascal Flatts.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:a) happier or sadder? Happier.b) thinner or fatter? About the same.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of? relaxed

19. What do you wish you’d done less of ? Obsessed about cleaning

20. How did you spend Christmas?I spent it with my family.

21. How did you ring in 2007? At home, safe and sane.

22. Did you fall in love in 2007? Just more in love

23. How many one-night stands? are you kidding me?? none

24. What was your favorite TV program? Any fluff TV....Real Housewives of Orange county....any reality show.....and my new favorite was on MTV.."A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila" <----totally wished she had chosen Dani!! 25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? Life is too short to hate someone. 26. What was the best book you read.....Target Underwear and a Vera Wang Gown: Notes from a Single Girl's Closet ....very entertaining and it wasn't "Sam I Am" <---which I can pretty much quote from memory.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery? I like to find new stuff on http://www.pandora.com/....you put it a song you like and it will find songs similiar it think you will like!

28. What did you want and get?A digital SLR camera!

29. What did you want and not get?Heh, lots of things.

30. What was your favorite film of this year? not a big movie person

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?I turned 39 and I spent it with the kids.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? having husband home!

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007? Casual cool mom...

34. What kept you sane?My family. They also made me insane on occasion.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? couldn't tell you

36. What political issue stirred you the most? Don't discuss politics much

37. Who did you miss? Far-flung friends and family.

38. Who was the best new person you met? Other wives going thru the same thing

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007.Do your best to forgive everyone, especially yourself.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. From Stand by Rascal Flatts

You feel like a candle in a hurricane

Just like a picture with a broken frame

Alone and helpless, like you've lost your fight

But you'll be alright, you'll be alright

Chorus:'Cause when push comes to shove

You taste what you're made of

You might bend 'til you break'

Cause it's all you can take

On your knees you look up

Decide you've had enough

You get mad, you get strong

Wipe you hands, shake it off

Then you stand, then you stand

Christmas Questions and Answers

I got this in an email from my former co-workers......made me miss them!!


1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Usually I'm a gift bag type of gift-giver... EXCEPT at Christmas. I am attempting something new this year: Will's stuff is wrapped in green, Livi in red, and us in white. We'll see how it goes.


2. Real tree or artificial? Artificial. Allergies.....and totally stealing this next part from my old co-worker, David: "if you really need that "Pine Fresh" smell, I'd suggest cleaning your toilets."


3. When do you put up the tree? Our tradition is to always put it up the day after Thanksgiving. This year it is up but not decorated. We are waiting until Husband gets back.


4. When do you take the tree down? Between the 26th and New Year's.


5. Do you like egg nog? Is there bourbon involved?


6. Favorite gift received as a child? I don't really remember.....which makes me wonder if my kids will remember anything they ever get!

7. Do you have a nativity scene? Just the Little People one the kids play with

8. Hardest person to buy for? Usually it's my father-in-law, because he never really needs anything.


9. Easiest person to buy for? the kids

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? socks from my great aunt Ruth....actually it wasn't the worst, probably the funniest....she also used to give us chocolate covered cherries.

11. Mail or e-mail Christmas cards? I am totally playing the "deployment" card this year....I might mail them out in January....call them New Year's cards.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? A Christmas Story

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? The last few years I have done the hardcore combat-day-after-Thanksgiving shopping with my sister. But I buy stuff year round and keep it in a 'gift closet'.....you know I do!

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I think I like recycled better than re-gifted.....but yes, I have done this with smelly things that make my nose itch.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? divinity

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear white lights. simple and classic

17. Favorite Christmas song? I know I blogged about this: TSO Carol of the Bells


18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? We are staying home since he has a little bit of work stuff until the 23rd.


19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers? Yes, there's Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen. and the most wonderful reindeer of all, Rudolph, **way too many Christmas movies on these days***


20. Angel on the tree top or a star? I think it is a star...how sad that I can't even remember


21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? We do both. One on Christmas eve....usually the jammies, and the rest Christmas morning.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? People rushing around three degrees of pi$$ed off.....I am like, stop and enjoy the season.

23. What I love most about Christmas? vegging in pjs with the family all day

HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TSO Carol of the Bells

I found this Christmas Meme several places, most recently at Kerri's of More, More, More.

1. Egg nog or hot chocolate?Hot chocolate - Neither, how about hot buttered rum?

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Since they are just now getting into Santa, I think they will be wrapped. (note: I said 'will' be....meaning they are not done!

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? white lights on tree, none on the house.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? No

5. When do you put your decorations up? The weekend after Thanksgiving.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert): grilled asparagus with an aioli sauce

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child? Sitting in the hall at my grandparents home with my cousins, waiting for the older kids to bring us our presents. We would all laugh when my great aunt Ruth gave us socks or a box of chocolate covered cherries.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I don't really remember.....

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? I did growing up . ...as a family now, we open one and the rest on Christmas morning.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? We collect ornaments from various places we have lived, so there is no color theme, though I do tend to gravitate towards a cranberry red color. We also do an ornament exchange in lieu of gift with Husband's sisters, so we have various ones from them now too.

11. Snow: love it or hate it? Hated shoveling it when we lived in Alaska.....

12. Can you ice skate?...Tried it once, so uuuhhhmmmm, NO

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?Husband is getting better after years of training! .....He would probably say it was a paper shredder...which I did LOVE!

14. What’s the most important thing about the holidays for you? Enjoying it.

15.What is your favorite holiday dessert? divinity, which reminds me to make this for Muffin Monday some time this month!

16. What tops your tree? an angel

17. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving?hard one!! definitely giving, I love trying to find the perfect gift and seeing their reaction.

18. What is your favorite Christmas song? Carol of the bells**trying to insert a video here**....it's not working! ugh! ...okay, I got it working, but it has to be in it's own post....what am I doing wrong??

19. What is your favorite Christmas movie? A Christmas Story.....

20. What would be the best gift you could receive this year? Husband home, safe and sound with our family.

Friday fill in

Courtesy of the Janet.

1. When my blog is broken, I just save a draft in an email and email it to myself.

2. I saw the most amazing smiles this afternoon!

3. Enchanted is the new movie I’m most looking forward to seeing.

4. Work: Necessary and never ending!

5. Of all the new tv shows, I enjoy fluff reality tv the most. (Real Housewives of Orange County is the current favorite.)

6. If only the next 19 days would fly by.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to enjoying a glass of wine, tomorrow my plans include putting the rest of the fall decorations in the attic and Sunday, I want to make pancakes for the kids and stay in jammies all day.

Manic Monday....and oh how it has been one

You can find my meme Manic Monday here, each and every Monday.

Which personality trait has gotten you into the most trouble? probably being so talkative.....I got kicked out of a music class in high school because and I quote "I cannot offer Tommie the structure she needs in order to be successful in my class." LOL Whatever! It was a time to catch up with my friends! Or at least it was for a few weeks.

If you had to gain 10 pounds what would you eat to gain the weight? cheese and crackers with a glass of wine

How is your private self different from your public self? Just thinking off head, sad to say I am probably crankier. Because I am wearing the "I-can-do-this-deployment-thing" with a happy little mask, once I am settled in with close friends....then they see that I have worries as much as the next person. I just try to keep a positive face in front of the kids.

Friday fill in ....a day late....

1. I enjoy good food, friends, and wine more than anything else.

2. Blogging satisfies my need to keep Husband and family up to date with us.

3. When I look at a full moon, I feel peaceful.

4. If I want a snack, I usually reach for cheese and crackers.

5. The most recent movie I saw, (how about listened to ...on the drive home) Barbie, Island Princess made me want to get home quickly .

6. If only the next 24 days would fly by .

7. And as for the weekend, (last night) I looked forward shopping with sister (which is a post in and of itself!), today my plans include driving back home and Sunday, I want to put up some Christmas decorations.

Many thanks to Janet for providing the Fill-In!

yeah, we made it back safe and sound.......hope you all had a happy Thanksgiving!

Our link chain to count down the days....

Our link chain to count down the days...., originally uploaded by tommiea1.

This is the paper chain we made to count down the days. Rather than deal with the fight of who would cut each one off each day, each kid made their own. I am all about eliminating as many whiney fits as I can. Of course there is the token 'crazy face' pic for Dad. I can hardly get them to take a normal one now.

here's Manic Monday, hosted by Lisa


What is your least favorite day of the week and why?
None really, but if I have to pick just one, I'd say Thursday....it's not quite the weekend, and if it has been a long week, it just seems to go on forever…



What’s the best way to end the day?
Relaxing - catching up on whatever DVRd fluff I have that isn't kid appropriate.


Which animal would you have left out of the ark?
Definitely scorpians! Also exactly why the Orkin man comes out every month.

Happy Thanksgiving all....the kids and I are off to the land of no internet....Yes, there are still people who still don't have it, even dial up. I am related to them!

Friday fill in #11

Courtesy of Janet

1. The things I give thanks for this Thanksgiving are my family, friends, my health, and most importantly ...my Husband....even if he is thousands of miles away.

2. My Thanksgiving traditions include watching the Macy’s Parade!

3. The best part about Thanksgiving is spending it with whatever family or friends nearby.

4. My favorite Thanksgiving food is the stuffing Husband makes.....since I don't eat pork, this is one of the recipes we have altered from the notes we have from his mom.

5. I don't think I have anything that was the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to me on Thanksgiving.

6. After the meal, I talk with my family and help with the dishes.When I was younger, my older cousins and I used to load up the kids in a couple of cars and take them to see whatever Disney movie was released. Now that the cousins are older, we are now taking our own kids! It gives the 'adults' some time to spend together and the 'kids' love it. Sounds funny now that I am 39 and still considered one of the 'kids'.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to putting my feet up, tomorrow my plans include going to a kid's birthday party (yeah me!) and Sunday, I want to get the laundry done so I can lay out what clothes we need to take to my mom's house.

ps....just a little note on the slippers....I was very hesitant to get them...I HATE toe cleavage...but they are oh so comfortable and remind me of the old ballet house slippers I use to wear. Do they not make those anymore? You know, the ones with the little leather soles, the little stretchy tops.....oh well....these are a close second, even with toe cleavage!

Happy Friday, y'all.

Thursday 13.......#16 ......thirteen strengths of my Melancholy self

Thirteen Strengths according to: Free Personality/Temperament test ....kind of scary how right on these are. Next week, I will do weaknesses....gotta start with the good stuff.

The Melancholy as a Parent: (my opinions after the **)

1. Sets high standards **I do this, even Livi can make her own bed at three.

2. Wants everything done right **check....why do it wrong?

3. Keeps home in good order ***again, Flylady keeps me sane

4. Picks up after children ***what mom doesn't, even though they do most of it

5. Sacrifices own will for others **I am getting better at making time for myself, but with Husband gone it is hard!

6. Encourages scholarship and talent **I try to do this.

The Melancholy as a Friend

7. Makes friends cautiously **biggest understatement EVER

8. Content to stay in background **I do have to disagree with this one.

9. Avoids causing attention **true....

10. Faithful and devoted ***Very true

11. Will listen to complaints ***Depends what it is about. I find it hard to listen to someone griping about something they can't change. For example: Not a single thing I can do about this deployment. I will listen to my friends and neighbors gripe, but then "Get over it....not a single thing we can do but mark off the days!"

12. Can solve other's problems ***I usually can do this, but have to really refrain from offering my opinion unless I am asked.

13. Deep concern for other people ***Definitely...

Bonus ones since they were on the list

14. Moved to tears with compassion ***Only if it Aunt Flo is here

15. Seeks ideal mate ***been there, done that....Hurry home, Husband

Edited to add: This test is based on a book called "Personality Plus: How to Understand Others by Understanding Yourself "(Paperback)by Florence Littauer

Manic Monday....

Manic Monday is hosted by Fleur-de-Lisa

What family traditions or customs would you most like to see preserved?

For Thanksgiving, we try to celebrate it with whatever family we are close to. Being in the military we aren't always close to relatives, so we welcome any other scragglers into our home. When Husband was a new Lieutenant(before we were married), his younger sister came out to help him do Thanksgiving. His mom wrote out from start to finish how to do a Thanksgiving dinner. We still refer to those notes, even though they are tattered and soiled. We have tweaked things a bit here and there. The kids are old enough to help now as well.

What do you feel is the least sexy part of the body?

Not a big foot person.....

What keeps you awake at night? Why? (This could be worries, recurring thoughts, pain or any other distraction. Read into this any way you wish.)

Mainly worrying about all the things I need to do the next day. Or the fact that Husband is in a combat zone! Take your pick....

Flowers and a Tag

I was tagged by Carrieb, so I thought this would be a good time to fill it in....



1. . My Love Language is Acts of Service. I've would love for it to be physical touch or even receiving gifts. But no, take out the trash and give the kids a bath...and I am good! So today when I got these.......

Oh wait that is the pic of the ftd.com flowers from their website.

The ones I received looked like this! Granted Mike ordered them from Iraq....maybe half fell out by the time they got here. All joking aside....I burst into tears when I opened the box. I am so NOT a flower person....but after the week I have had.......I knew my husband was showing me the only act of service he could. He can't be here physically, but he can bring a smile to my face even from the other side of the world.

PS....I was totally impressed with FTDs customer service. When i called to tell her the flowers were a poor interpretation of the picture on the website...she offered to 1. send out another bouquet or 2. refund my money ....I told her I didn't know how Husband paid for them (because you know I checked the only credit card statement that he has with him.) She said she had to email him about it....but she was really nice and didn't even want pics.

Okay, back to the tag....

2. One of the reasons my week has been horrid is Husband's granddad passed away yesterday. He has been very sick with cancer for a while. He is finally at peace.

3. Will is named after both of Mike's granddads. When we had Will, Mike got to name him and I named Livi....

4. We are at 50 days and they can't come fast enough.

5. This week I felt like I needed to just tie a knot in the rope and hang on.

6. I know I am hyper emotional because I am being a woman, but dang! This is getting old. I am way to old to be using BC pills. Any of you knocking on 40s door have any recommendations?

7....Yikes, that hurt to type 4-0....can it be that in 2008 I will really be the big 4-0....??? I certainly don't feel it.

You know how I feel about tags....steal it if you are post lacking anytime...

happy Thursday y'all

ETA: I joined the NaBloPoMo-- Short for National Blog Posting Month. .....so this totally counts as the first post for November!!!

Friday fill in #10

Don't forget ... the Friday Fill-Ins are over here now!

1. The last good thing that came in the mail was _______ .

2. This week I'm grateful for _______.

3. _____ is the most delicious thing ever.

4. _____ inspires me.

5. I'm most happy when I _____ .

6. And all the roads we have to walk along are _____ .

7. As for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _____ , tomorrow my plans include _____ and Sunday, I want to _____

1. The last good thing that came in the mail was a letter from Husband.

2. This week I'm grateful for the seven more days crossed off the calendar of a fifteen month deployment.

3. A glass of wine, a plate of cheese, crackers and olives is the most delicious thing ever.

4. As sappy as it may sound, my kids inspires me to be the best mom that I can with what I know and can be right now.

5. I'm most happy when I feel in control of my life.

6. And all the roads we have to walk along are full of adventure if we look around for it.

7. As for the weekend, tonight **(which was really last night) I'm looking forward to taking the kids to a birthday party at an indoor rock climbing place, tomorrow my plans include going to a VTC (video teleconference) with Husband and Sunday, I want to sleep in.....I swear it will happen one day....but most likely it won't until Husband is home in 56 days!!

Tag, you are it.....

Since I am clueless as to what to write about this evening, I think it will be a world record that I did this tag the same day it was issued/given/whatever you call it.

Seems like somebody out there (Cheeky) wants to know some random info....so here goes. She keeps me laughing so I will do it....the Tag is that I have to post 6 things about me and of course tag others at the end.

1. I have used an outhouse at the Arctic Circle. I had to trudge through thigh high snow just to get to it. Fun times when the in-laws come to visit us and want to drive to the Arctic Circle. I do have a picture, but I don't have a scanner, and it was before digital. I could take a picture of the picture, but I am really feeling lazy tonight.

2. I could eat frosted mini wheats for breakfast every single day of my life. Here is the part of that is probably TMI......if I eat them past nine o'clock I get the toots....and I can't like toots. My kids already like way too many body function noises.

3. I have never gone on a blind date. I really need to control my environment and that might have sent me over the edge! Good thing I met Mike when I did.

4. Speaking of Mike, I met my husband at a New Year's party when I was cleaning up empties.....I was housesitting for his Colonel at the time. They had two neurotic dogs that needed watching. They got back after Christmas and asked me to stay for a New Year's party. It was all she wrote after that. We were married 11 months and 29 days after that. That was ten years ago next month!

5. My clothes are hung in order of the color wheel, sleeve length...with white on the left and black on the right. .....Pants are short to long by degree of darkness....lightest on the left. I am a firm believer of one shirt out for every shirt in. For example I got the cutest apple green cable pullover yesterday. I have already pulled two shirts out that I didn't wear at all last fall/winter. (PS, I did two because they were right besides each other and I couldn't decide which one to pick.)

6. Keeping with the TAG theme, If I ever win the lottery, this would be on my short list of things I would blow money on first. It's pink, sparkly, and shiny....what is not to love? Husband, don't get any ideas, it is just a wish!!!

Just a brief look into my little world....or madness as I prefer to call it.....

Not a good tagger,.....do it if you haven't done it....sounds like blog pressure when I say it that way...

happy Friday

4 Questions and Answers

I was tagged by Works for Mom .....feel free to consider yourself tagged if you are lacking a post in the near future....

Meme #2 - 4 Questions & Answers

4 jobs you've had:
1- Babysitter
2- Data Entry operator
3- Special Education Teacher
4- Special Education Coordinator

4 movies I could watch over and over
1- Princess Bride
2. Steel Magnolias
3- A Christmas Story
4- When Harry Met Sally

4 tv shoes I watch
1- America's Next Top Model
2- Grey's Anatomy
3- The Bachelor
4- Desperate Housewives

4 places I've lived
1- Lawton, OK
2- Fairbanks, AK
3- Pleasanton, CA
4- Fort Leavenworth, KS

4 favorite foods
1- Pizza
2- Greek pasta salad I make
3- cheese
4- olives

4 favorite colors
1- Crimson
2- Cream
3- black
4- khaki

4 places I'd love to be right now
1- with husband
2- with husband
3- with husband
4- okay if I must say something different....then Lake Austin Spa and Resort

4 names I love but could/would not use for my children
1- after being a teacher, there were few I would use....these were some of the most usual
2- Sir
3- Princess
4- Slade

I found this picture while going through some old files on my computer. It was taken a couple of weeks before Mike left. We were in OH visiting his mom and dad and his sisters. We are down to 57 days.....whew hoo!