Christmas "Vacation"

The drama of our flight could have been worse, like some people we could still be stuck in an airport that is somewhere en route (or not!) to our destination, neither here nor there, with a sack of underwear for a pillow and a bag of toiletries for entertainment. Instead, it took us only three and a half extra hours on the airplane, one extra landing, and a three hour drive from the airport which is usually only an hour and a half. It wasn't terrible, except that on the DC to PDX leg we were in separate rows and both stuck in the middle seat and I had the worst seatmate ever . I'm trying to let it go, the seat mate memories, because SGT T is tired of hearing about it, but it's lingering and I'm trying to deal.

Once here our trip has been great. It is always wonderful to see everybody, and all of our friends have made a lot of effort to get over to see us which reminds me that just because I don't have any friends in NC doesn't mean I like not havinng friends. I'm very appreciative of the time taken from work, the extra driving they all do since they don't live in town anymore, the taxiing me around, and all the extra laughs; my friends are the best. I especially love and appreciate the fact that they are anxious to see me this week even though I'll be moving here next month where there will be plenty of time to see me (or put off seeing me!). You guys rock!

My sister wasn't able to be here for Christmas day so her family came up on Christmas Eve and we had an entire separate Christmas with them. Turkey, gravy, Mom's homemade croissants, the whole she-bang! I made the vegetable, and since I had to do the veggie for Christmas day at my aunt's house, I decided to make the same thing for both. And, because I liked the green beans I made for Thanksgiving so much, I decided to make that again, for a larger audience. They may have just been humoring me, most people know that I need some extra back-patting from time to time, but it seemed genuine.

We have to return home on Monday, a sad and depressing thought. We're planning on going up to Portland on Sunday and staying the night since our flight is so early Monday morning, hoping to get to see SGT T's mom whom I've never met before. Assuming our flight gets us home as scheduled, SGT T will have 5 or 6 more days off before he has to be back to work. We'll have to figure out how to celebrate his birthday which is Wednesday, how to celebrate the New Year, all of which will have to be done with no money spending since pay day isn't until the 1st! After the first, I think we'll have to start buying packing materials and find a storage unit. It's time for us to start packing up and getting as much in storage now, as we can. I could be a little over-eager, but I can't help it! I'm so excited!

Out!

Leaving in a bit, pouring rain for the drive to the airport. Unknown if we'll be able to land in Portland due to weather, then an icy drive home if we do make it. I can't wait!

Happy Holidays!

Commencing countdown, engines on

I'm about to tell you something that may shock you: yesterday, I had a manicure AND a pedicure. I know, you are wondering who I am and what they've done with the real me, but calm down, it's me, I promise. For my birthday, SGT T gave me a gift certificate to the local "spa" here on the base so yesterday I finally used part of it. The certificate was for the "Queen for a Day" package, which, how pretentious does that make me feel?, and includes the mani/pedi, a deep pore facial, and a one hour massage. Oh, and my birthday was in August. I figured since I'm moving next month I better use it so I convinced myself that I would do the massage and facial as celebration for completing the Couch to 5K program and I'd do the manicure and pedicure for Christmas. I finished the jogging thing early this week but they had no openings for a massage so I'll have to wait until after the holidays. They did, however, get me in for my mani/pedi. My toes are bright red, for the holiday, and my fingernails were sort of a sheer gold color before I methodically picked at them until the were clean. And that is one reason I don't do manicures.

We leave tomorrow for Oregon and I can't wait! While chatting it up with the nail technician we ended up talking about being able to go home finally and one of the things you look forward to most is the restaurants. Oh man, I can't wait for a burrito from Andale's! From what I hear, we'll also finally get to experience some winter weather. I walked outside yesterday and the thought that ran through my head was, "What is this, California?", it was just too warm! Even the breeze was warm, not like some winter days where the sun is out and so it feels warm but then the wind blows and you're like oh yeah, there it is, it's December after all. Not here, which, I don't know if that is normal or not but it is entirely too warm for my liking. Lucky(?) for me, the PNW is having some crazy weather going on, lots (it's all relative, people) of snow and ice and closed school and closed roads, and that is just perfect for a cozy holiday at home! One thing I really liked about living in Utah was how much it actually felt like winter there, all the snow and cold and just great. SGT T hates it, but maybe because he has to be outside working in it, I don't know. I just know that I *heart* Winter!

We leave tomorrow and I've got so much to do before then. Must exercise since tomorrow will be a travel on my ass kind of day, then laundry so we can pack because I haven't a pair of clean undies left anywhere!, and most importantly cleaning the house so I don't have to worry about it when we get home. Nothing beats coming home from vacation to a shiny sparkly abode. Assuming the cats will pick up after themselves, of course. They've lately taken to terrorizing the windows and we will be lucky if all we have to do when we move out is replace every single set of blinds and not entire windows. I'll try to get a picture of their newest trick of climbing up the window (sheer strength of claws I guess) because it competes in cuteness/annoyingness with them climbing up the screen door and hanging out up their spread eagle.


In an effort to find some Christmas spirit yesterday, I left the house to join the holiday crowds at the local shopping establishments. Not the mall, because I think I would have passed out from stimulation overload, but both PX's here on post, as well as a beauty supply store across the street from the mall. I think I made up for my hermit-like lifestyle yesterday and used up my entire years quota of patience and just being near so many people. In a way, yes, it felt like the holiday season was upon me, I mean all those people spending all that money in an environment with all that forced holiday cheer, how could I not feel it? All I can say is I'm glad to be going home tomorrow so that we can be surrounded by our friends and family, maybe then it will actually feel like the holidays.

Because I blogged about pee

I feel bad, I want to blog, I want to tell you all about my life and stuff, but I just have nothing going on and it is sad and depressing and makes for less than interesting blog posts which leads me to thinking it is a good idea to tell you about how many times I peed last night. To make up for it, I thought I'd post a few of my favorite pictures from my trip to Europe last Spring.

This was in an alley in Barcelona


Sacra di San Michele - Near Turin


Sacre-Coeur Basilica - Paris


Les Invalides - Paris


Big Ben and London Eye - London

My cape is yellow and my tights are too

Last night I drank so much water before I went to bed that I got up to pee three times in the first 40 minutes I was in bed. Not counting the two times I went before I crawled under the covers. And by "so much water" I mean the last, oh, I'd say about 4 ounces left in my water bottle.

Those of you that know me know that if I have a super power, it is the power of the Super Tiny Bladder. I should know better, even if I'm a raisin and just crossed the Sahara on my hands and knees without a canteen, I should probably not drink if I'm going straight to bed. I know this and yet I do it, time and again. Not the desert crossing (with or without canteen, on my knees or feet), the water drinking.

I'm not sure what kind of good I can do the world with this kind of super power.

I may not have anything going on in my life, but some people do!

Let's talk about my social life. Oooh, sounds fun, but what is there to talk about, you have none.

True dat, people. But listen, I've been stalking you guys fair and square and feel as though I have a vested interest in the events in your life. Sure, I've probably never delurked and commented on your webpage, even though you've bared your soul a time or two and perhaps shared your most vulnerable life experiences. And sure, you've probably never been to my page and so don't know who I am. Or even if you have, you maybe read a post or two and then shrugged your shoulders and said, "meh, ok". Thank you for loving the little people!

Anyways, my point is, wait, do I have a point? Kind of, bare with me! So many of the authors of blogs I read have had so much going on lately, life changing events, and I am so excited for them! The interweb is strange, isn't it? You read what, in some cases, amounts to the journal of a total stranger and feel like you know them. There are babies on the way (and here and here too!), there are hopefully babies on the way, there are house completions, and there are engagements! It seems like every day I refresh my google reader to find more good news out there and it just makes me so excited!

I probably shouldn't be so excited or care so much for the happiness and success in life of total strangers, people I've never talked to, but you guys, I don't care if we never ever talk, I'm just so happy for you all! So, I guess this is like one giant de-lurking comment (but uh, shamelessly on my page instead of yours) to say congratulations and good luck and thank you, thank you for sharing your stories with me!

Warning: No happy ending here

Tuck the little ones in, sit back and relax, I'm going to tell you a story.

It all began about 7 months ago, in South Korea. We had a cat there, Kimchi. You remember Kimchi, don't you? If you've been with me since my MySpace blogging days, you are well aware of the Kimchi saga.

Poor Kimchi was a sickly kitten. He was a scrawny, bug eyed, floor-peeing little rascal, but he was my companion. After many vet visits, both Korean and American, much debate and many tears (on my part, SGT T must have a heart of stone), it was decided that he probably wouldn't handle the 18 hour flight (and oh, like 30 hours of travel) involved in getting us from the hotel at the base to my parents house in Oregon very well and we "surrendered" him to the nearest base vet. I don't know why they use that word, but it's like that here too if you are giving up a cared for animal.

Fast forward about 2 months.

Remember Big Mama? She was one of two or three strays that were hanging around our house last summer. Big Mama kept coming back, sleeping on our porch, when the others left. We decided she was looking for a safe place to have her babies and so took her in. She chilled in our basement, only coming upstairs on delivery day and on occasion after that to try to lay a claim to Axle's territory. I say Axle's territory because Axle is clearly the dominant party in the four-legged crew of this house.

Big Mama had her babies, 8 of them at first. While we had them, 3 died, or more likely, were sacrificed by Big Mama, since she was so sickly and didn't have enough in her to keep everybody going. When she started having frequent diarrhea we accepted the fact that we couldn't do enough to keep everybody alive. We figured that everybody was probably well enough to be moved, so we called animal control and they came and got them. More tears.

Then I got out of bed this morning. It was a gorgeous sunny morning, so I went outside to chat with SGT T while he smoked. I saw movement a couple lawns over and finally recognized it as a dog. A puppy - black lab. The dog went up on the porch of our neighbor and I saw a side view of it. I nearly died then, it is possible to have a broken heart over an animal, and to die from it. This dog, no, this puppy, was incredibly emaciated, all bones with a bloated belly, and a limp just in case she wasn't miserable enough. She had a collar on, and if she hadn't been so obviously starving, I probably wouldn't have done a thing, figuring that she just got out of her yard and would make her way back home when she got hungry.

As it is, our morning began with a drive to the county shelter to drop off the dog. When we got there, I went in to make sure we were at the right place, and get a leash. They asked me all the questions they have to ask, my name, address, etc. When I brought her inside, the first thing they said was "Oh, you poor thing". The second thing they said was "How long have you had her?" in a borderline accusatory tone. I hope nobody goes through all the paperwork I've created in my animal rescuing endeavors, I'll come out looking awfully suspicious, don't you think? If we weren't limited to two pets by post housing, we would have Big Mama and her babies, our two cats, and a puppy by now! Thank goodness for strict pet rules, is all I can say.

That is the story. The end. Why do we get all the strays at our house and do other people rescue animals as frequently as we do? I've seen SO many strays on this base and it makes me sad. Sorry for the sad them of this post, it's rather depressing to think about. I'll try to bring something lighter soon, I promise!