Woke up with yet another sinus infection. I mean really, who gets this many?!
me. :(
So with my brain throbbing, someone behind my eyes kicking them foreward out of my head, someone else behind my ears pushing my molars and ear drums out - I made my way to the Advil. Yay Advil.
Of course, I my desperation for pain relief I forgot to eat a cracker, or anything.
Enter squeezy, queazy Advil-stomach. UGH!
I'd say I'm a knucklehead but the thought of knuckles and my head hurts too much to think about.
I have a lunch appointment at 11:30 and work from 4-10.
I spoke to V last night at length via e-mail exchange (her phone craps out more often than not) and she shared that she's feeling homesick for her home, her family and her friends. Nightmares, worries, just a head full of "what ifs" that are wearing on her mind and making school and focusing even more difficult. And she needs to focus on school and relaxing after studying! She should be able to have fun and blow off some steam when she's able ~ despite the stresses of Tech School and the other demands on her time.
She needs to have faith and confidence in her path, yet right now she feels doubt and worry. She needs to feel loved and supported in her goals.
I, of course, am worried about her.
Knowing my daughter as I do, I know that a big steak dinner, a good laugh, a good cry, huge hugs and a full night's sleep would work wonders!! :)
Barring that... a show of love and support would certainly help. To that end I am finally posting her name and address in a permanent spot on this blog. Keep it clean and use it for only positive messages, please. Abuses can only do her tremendous harm.
If there's anything you're inclined to say or to send to let her know she is supported and cherished, especially over this next 8 or 9 weeks of Tech School, won't you please? Just a card to let her know that you're FINE and that she needn't worry would be great. Even if she doesn't know you!
If you want to send something and need more ideas: Music is life to her, so CDs are perfect. Heck - she likes so many different styles - make her a mix disc (mix-tape?!)! Photos are always welcome. Beef Jerky. She loves it and is missing red meat something awful. Silly things! (somehow a Slinky comes to mind!) Draw her a fun picture (C'mon Marta, Nancy, Tillie & Hannah!) Chicken Noodle soup (healthy please, not Campbell's red label) Peanut Butter and Saltines - a favorite snack
If you send a simple postcard to let her know that she's loved and supported, then you have blessed her day beyond words. And for that I thank you deeply.
And now, for something completely different... Some post-Passover levity!
(Thanks for the link Gayle. Don't forget to turn off the playlist sound first!)
Hope you enjoyed that. It had me cracking up... Exfoliate?!
~~~~~
In other happenings...
I spent some time out in the garden before heading to work on Sunday. This prolific little patch of pink lilly of the valleys and fern started from 5 lilly pips and 4 fern plants. Only 3 years later they look like this...
There are now more than 50 lilly of the valley and about 20 fern!
Which reminds me of a song my mom used to sing in the car. (Yes, we all sing. Singing in the car is almost as good as singing around a bonfire!) I was reminded of this song because Patty of my Chant Group (Women With Wings West) suggested a song for spring and started this one! Shades of many happy miles came flooding back to my memory.
White coral bells upon a slender stalk
Lillies of the valley deck my garden walk
Oh how I wish that I could hear them ring.
That will happen only when the angels/fairies sing!
*Sigh - smiling*
Around the side of the house by the garage are some paper whites (narcissus) which I harvested for a tall thin vase.
And in the back garden there are some rather spectacular white and salmon colored, double ruffle jonquils (daffodils). I cut some for another vase.
~~~~~
News from Avivah. Saturday found her in Lompoc at a local fair with a few of her wingmen, some of whom were working at the fair as community outreach. She played a game (a Dart game, ironicly enough - she hates playing darts) and won! Her dorm room now has a puppy named Beethoven. Here's his headshot. Looks cute and cuddly, yes?
Here he is across her bed... BIG PUPPY!!! LOL
~~~~~
Saturday I took Joshua with me to the mall to get a couple things for which V had asked. While there we had a discussion about him 'gauging' his ear pierce. He wants to work down to a 14. Not that big a deal. I think I shocked him when I bought him a 16 and a 14 gauge split hoop and helped him put the 16 in. You never know what you can do 'til you ask, right!?
He also got a new pair of flip flops. This is the kid who managed to lose ONE flip flop in San Antonio. I've often marveled at people who lose one shoe. I mean, how does that happen? and Hmmmm, was it the flip or the flop?? Anyways, on the new ones, the bottoms around the sole look like Converse All-Stars! They're very cool.
Speaking of flip flops... I have a warning for everyone that was passed along by my friend Vicki. Do NOT buy cheap WalMart flipflops!! The link is from snopes and is not for the squeamish. WalMart flip flops. Just don't do it ~ Please.
As for me: I have decided to try a new product that came out on the US market last summer I think. They're called FitFlops and are supposed to work the muscles in your legs and tush, building core strength as you walk and go about your daily business. Sounds good to me (even though I can't wear them to work).
I ordered my pair (in red like the pic) from BathandBodyWorks . Once they arrive I'll start wearing them for an hour each day. I'll keep you posted on this grand experiment as it goes along. ~~~~~
Last of today's tidbits is a picture I received attached to an e-mail from Tim. This is Avivah's friend and ~ as of last weekend ~ new Airman, Travis P. Congrats!
~~~~~
Please don't forget that your love and light is still needed by AF dad John and his family as he recovers from major abdominal surgery. Your prayers and positive energy are also needed by Sharon G., AF Mom Corinne, AF Mom Michelle (PA), AF Mom Lolly, her son Tommie (deployed) and many others.
With all that good news I suppose there had to be some less-than-good news too, eh?
1) I left one of my favorite sweaters at work yesterday. Got in early today to find that last night, one on my Assistant Managers had... Thrown it out. Seriously. Who does that?! I was so desperate that I even went dumpster diving. It's a clothing store with one dumpster, nothing icky there but cardboard and store trash. But no luck. :(
2) I was SOOOO ticked off about my sweater and having a very frustrating time of it today that I ticked off someone I love. Some days I need to hide in a hole.
3) AF dad, John, has developed Ileus. "A temporary arrest of intestinal peristalsis. It occurs most commonly after abdominal surgery, particularly when the intestines have been manipulated." AKA: His guts hurt and he's terribly nauseus. Yuck! The information I read says that it usually passes in 48-72 hours. I'm hoping for *now* or sooner. Keep the faith John & Hallie. Sending lots of light from Michigan to Maine!
4) I got so frustrated writing about how frustrated I was that I knocked over my open bottle of nail polish. The blog was open while I was on the phone and polishing. I multi-task. Sue me. Or better yet, spill my polish... oh wait... just did that. Well chit then!
So, since there's always a balance this must mean that there's more good news to share. Well there is!
V passed yesterday's Block III test with flying colors! She takes the Block IV test tomorrow morning.
These seem to be going really fast, then I realize that there are at least 13 Blocks in her 13 weeks there at Vandenberg!
Fly V Fly!
And now, for our ABCs and the mystery cage monkey...
You thought you knew your ABCs? HAH! These are military ABCs and you ain't seen nothin' yet!
V had asked about Peggy's son, Corey, who is at Minot (a base at which she may end up). She said: "Is he MMT? FMT? EMT? PMT? MHT?"
My ever-intelligent response was: HUH??(of course I dashed off a note to Peggy!)
V had also shared that she is a Missle Monkey and a CageGirl... SQWEH??? This is her response:
1) Joshua's caught up in all his classes and is out celebrating a stunning sun-shiny afternoon then off to the gym. I'm heading back outdoors in a sec myself. Time to plant the Morning Glories! (a pic from last year's garden)
2) AF dad John is very much in love with his new mistress, "Ms. Epidural" the pain pump. He's doing well so far, but taking it day by day. Thank you all for sending whatever positive energy you did.
3) Got an e-mail from Avivah this morning that had one particularly faboo line in it (among others): "I'm doing well in class, top in my class actually." Hot Damn!!
Speaking of "hot"... (Not that it compares in good newsness to #2 or 3)
We've been struggling and roasting at work with a heating/cooling system that just doesn't keep the store livable for us or our customers. Put it this way - we've all been in sleeveless tops since the first spring day it hit 60. So today we took the bull by the horns... We propped open the DOOR! LOL It helped a lot.
First off today, please hold AF Mom Hallie and her family in your thoughts as her husband (AF Dad) John undergoes major surgery this morning. The pic above is for you Mr. Hallisicle! May you be held safely.
Their sons are A1c CJ who is stationed at Hurlbert Field in FL and HS student, Connor. I'm sure the boys are both worried out of their mind about their dad. John does not heal well and has been prone to post-surgical infection so everyone's quite concerned that this be complication-free.
Light, thoughts and prayers go out to John, Hallie, CJ and Connor this morning.
~~~~~
Today is Earth Day! Go hug a tree or better yet, plant one. Whatever you do, take a moment and remember that we are all residents of one address.
There are now more than 50 lilly of the valley and about 20 fern!
Which reminds me of a song my mom used to sing in the car. (Yes, we all sing. Singing in the car is almost as good as singing around a bonfire!) I was reminded of this song because Patty of my Chant Group (Women With Wings West) suggested a song for spring and started this one! Shades of many happy miles came flooding back to my memory.
I ordered my pair (in red like the pic) from 
