At Work

But SO TOTALLY not working. I just can't get in the groove. My only goal today is to clean off my desk. I did clean off my deskTOP on my computer. I just can't really focus. I got to talk to Stephen for a long time on Skype this morning, the longest conversation we have had since he's been gone. (7 weeks today!) We talked about bills and the cat and the FRG and his work and mine and our families, and the weather and I don't even know what else. It really made my week.
Maybe I should think about working. Hhhmmm...oh, it's lunchtime! :)

Me and My Bests.

All three of us 40 years old, just from Nov 4-Nov 18.
This was taken Nov 12, 2010; 20ish years since our first ink.
I love these girls. (That's Jack with us. I don't love him, but he does nice work.)

:)

Catching Up on Photo-a-Day

In my previous life (you know, the other day) I'd have gotten all freaked out because I decided to do this photo-a-day thing and haven't been able to keep up with it for the past couple of weeks. But in my new "I'm being flexible and not so black and white about everything I put on myself to do" life, I'm catching up with what I can when I can. So here are the photos from the last week of October:

10/27 Kitty's new fancy fountain:

10/28 Stretching Kitty:

10/29 Meeting Darryl Worley:

10/30, Brunette:
10/31 Halloween Kitty! She's being scary by sleeping with her eyes open.
I'm working on the first two weeks of November...there will be fewer kitty and Heather pictures, more of what's going on around us!

This Week

I've been in the valley for almost a week visiting with family and helping my aunt take care of some business following the death of my uncle Dale. It's been a wonderful and sad time. It's hard for me to write about. It's kind of hard (but warms my heart) to think about. I just keep thinking about all those summers spent in this house. With the gold 70s carpet, and gold curtains that provided the backdrop for all my cousins event photos. It has changed, been renovated and updated, but it's still that house he came home to every day from work saying, "did we get any mail?"

Hard as it is to form the thoughts into sentences, here are some things that have touched my heart this week:

--Checking off things on the list that we made to get things going with those paperwork chores that must be done with someone passes away. I love feeling like I'm helping.

--Coke floats, a favorite in our family.

--All the kids, my cousins kids filling the house with laughter and youth and innocence.

One of them asking as they were preparing to leave for his Papa Wood. He's only two and knew that this is where he sees Papa Wood, and he didn't want to go without seeing him. One was glued to my side, reminding me of her mama when we were both much younger versions of ourselves. Another reminding me of her mama when she was young and ornery and loving and bold. And the oldest and youngest, just 3 weeks old soft, sweet and cuddly; and 8 yrs old getting wise to the world, saying the Lord's Prayer and blessing his family beyond his years.

--Tears. Some have fallen every day at some point from each of us. Obviously at the memorial. And on the day of arrival. Each time a person came to the house for the first time, they came in tidal waves. Then when each person left for their trip back to their town. Throughout the week comments and gestures and just the little things have brought them on.

--Reminiscing. SO many stories and memories and both good and bad times brought up. So much history.

--Siblings. My dad and his sister. My brother and me. My cousins. My Uncle Dale and his sister Frances. My cousins' other cousins.

--Good friends. My aunt's good friends looking after her. My cousins' friends flying and driving down and loving on them.

Miss you Uncle Dale.

Today's schedule

5:30am-awaken to kittyboo pawing at the blinds.

5:31am-crack blinds so she can see out and will be QUIET for the LOVE OF GOD!

7am-sleepily turn off alarm and reluctantly get up. Very reluctantly.

7:25-stop for coffee and bagel.

8am-arrive at Hair Experts to get a new look.

10:30something-leave salon stop a couple places to look for a sweater, be unsuccessful.

Noon-get a massage and wish this person would take a lesson from my brother.

1pm-go home, take and post photos of new hair and start laundry. Seriously consider nap.

2pm-wander into bedroom and see the one pillow on the one side of the bed. Lay down to cry because I want to show Stephen my new hair and complain that he's watching golf, but lay down with him on the couch and "watch" for a few minutes.

2:10pm-suck it up and drive on, switch load of laundry, untangle MASS of hose, 2 bras and pair of pants. Consider taking a photo of the serious mess it is. Decide I'm too lazy, besides, what am I going to do? Post a photo of my undergarments on the blog?

2:15-5:30pm-Finish laundry, sweep/mop kitchen, make some lentils, fight with computer, tear up a few more times about songs, photos, memories, daydreams or trips back into the bedroom.

5:31pm-Get a call from a friend to come over for dinner with her neighborhood. Think at first I'll just stay home as planned, but change mind and decide it will do me some good.

6pm-go to friends, have 2 beers, eat some German food (it was an Oktoberfest themed gathering) and have a good time. Boss is there and he tells me that I am doing a phenomenal job, I am the example of what someone in my position should aspire to, and that hiring me was one of the best decisions of his command. (seconds later-made mental note to remember what he said)

8:30pm-Returned home, so happy that I got out of the house and into a new frame of mind.

8:45p-1:25am-Pay bills, watch tv, post Darryl Worley photos, organize photos of the day...there MUST be something else! That's a long time to not do much!

Time for bed! And tomorrow, we're sleeping late. Hear that, kittyboo?!

hhhmmm...27

I cannot fathom that it's only been 27 days. And at the same time, I'm already getting tired of that photo-a-day great idea I thought I had 27 days ago. I'm not tired of doing it. I'm tired of Stephen not looking at them. In his defense, he didn't have his computer until today (and I don't know if it is connected and working yet) and he's been working 7 days a week from about 7 or 8am to 9 or 10pm. That's too much. So I get it that he doesn't have the time or energy to borrow someone's computer to look to see a photo of the cat, a sunrise, or whatever funny, cute, or interesting random thing I felt photoworthy on any given day.

So, I've stopped sending them. I'm going to start sending them weekly, at least until he is up and running and requests that they be changed back to daily deliveries. I'll be sending them by posting them here because I think that is easier for him to look at than downloading each and every one. Why didn't I think of that sooner? Oh, that's right. It IS sooner. It's only been 27 days.

Tired, fat kitty boo (10.22)


Me with Chris and Mary's cat Alex, who is not interested in cooperating in the photo shoot. (10.23)

New sandwich maker! (10.24)

Beautiful sunrise (10.25)

New egg pan that I dearly love. Look how cute it makes the eggs stay small enough for the bread. AND I can flip it! (10.26)

English/Grammar/Pronunciation/Vocabulary Irritation

I know this is crazy. I know I'm being rude and a little bit ridiculous. But I am not being an elitist.

e·lit·ism or é·lit·ism (-ltzm, -l-)

n.

1. The belief that certain persons or members of certain classes or groups deserve favored treatment by virtue of their perceived superiority, as in intellect, social status, or financial resources.

2.

a. The sense of entitlement enjoyed by such a group or class.

b. Control, rule, or domination by such a group or class.

Yes, I looked it up. I don't think I am better than these people. I'm sure they have math abilities or cooking talents I can't touch. I'm just saying that it grates on my last nerve to be in a class and have the following violations committed:

Pacific. Not as opposed to Atlantic, but as in "a pacific plan." You mean SPECIFIC.

Inter Regration. That is how it was pronounced. The word was integration.

Because, why? I don't know if this is really incorrect, but I do know it's annoying. "The chicken crossed the road. Because, why?" Pause for class to answer the question. "to get to the other side."

Electronical. Not a word.

Pedofilers. Also not a word.

Supposebly. UGH.

Cognant. Again, not a word. It is cognizant. To be aware of or have knowledge of.

and yes, this is how I spent my time in training this week. Making notes of these gaffes.

Call Day!

So...I hope this doesn't become a "he called today" blog. But Stephen called! (yesterday). It's been hard for him to call or email because he doesn't have his computer and he's been busy doing inventories and...well...killing mice. I guess there were a couple residing in his detention facility home and they've been taken care of.

Other than that, not much to report from Kirkuk. He says the food is good, it's about a 40 step walk to the port-o-let, or another 100 ft to a bank of showers and toilets. So, not the picture of modern convenience, but he said it's not bad. It's a 2 minute walk to the shack he works in from his living quarters, and a bus or humvee ride to the dining facility.

That's about it for his news, just busy, busy, busy.

I've been working, and keeping myself occupied after work with Army spouse stuff, rearranging our furniture, etc. Also, starting today, I'm Walk To Iraq and Back! (Figuratively)

Settling In

Stephen called today to give me the 4-1-1 on the sitch in Kirkuk. He's apparently living in some sort of detention center/jail. He's got his own room, and there is one bathroom that 9 of them will share. There is another one in a "shower trailer" outside or down the street or something.

He is starting to settle in, and worked a 12.5 hr day today. He expects he will be working a lot, long hours and long days. He said he and his group of 7 will do the work of the departing group of 16. I guess that means he won't be sitting around bored as he feared.

I expect to get a mailing address soon, and I'll pass that along.