El Dia de el Muerto

Via con Dios, Terri. Requiescat in pace.

Thank You ADAMS USA!

Alright, about a week ago I mailed off another package to Iraq. In that package were some Quarterback Arm Play Cards, a special request of the folks in the field.

I'm saying Thank You because Adams, the company that makes the play cards...they also make Trace, Neumann, Bucks and Bolco brands, cut us a MAJOR deal. They went down from $13 each (regular price) to $4 each because they were for the troops.

So, the next time you need any form of athletic equipment, may I suggest you use ADAMS and all her other name brands as a sign of thanks for taking care of the troops in the field? They've become one of my favorite manufacturers, I hope you'll think about it the next time you need a football product, or soccer, or baseball or basketball, etc.

Thank you Adams!

If you'd like to order anything directly from them their contact information is:

Adams USA Inc.
610 South Jefferson
P.O. Box 489
Cookeville, TN 38503

1-800-423-4321

Bitchfest

This entire post is a rambling rant. Bypass it if you'd like...part of me even suggests it because I'm bitchy today.


Okay, we've got 3 months left in this country, and I'm pissed. I had to go to the Commissary for some milk today (which is cool, not a problem). While there, I had to tell my 4 year-old I didn't have 72¢ for a Chocolate Milk. 72 Frikin' ¢ and I couldn't afford it. Why you may ask? Because this base sucks!

Now, the enlisted majority of the military get paid crap. It has always been this way, and I fear it will always be this way. We get paid more than previous generations, but still the amount someone is paid the give their life, if called upon to do so, is CRAP! Hubby with 14 years of service and ranking of Tech Seargent (E-6 for those with pay grade on the brain) gets comperable money to that of a brand spankin' new 2nd Lutinent (O-1). I'm not arguing the fact the officer has a college degree and gets higher pay for it. I'm arguing that a brand new to the miltiary officer, wet behind the ears with no kids, no wife, basically bupkis for bills, get's paid $$2,050.66 to hubby's $$2,555.49 (after taxes, but before everything else, also divide it in half as we get paid on the 1st and 15th). You can fiddle with the amounts, and see the difference here.

I was raised poor okay, so the lack of money isn't a big deal to me. I don't spend money very often. The only acceptions being when I go to a museum or on a once-in-a-lifetime trip. Even when I go to the British Museum in London I didn't buy anything, why? Because I had no money to spend. I had not asked for any to be pre-figured into the bills for the month. I wouldn't let my mother spend any of her megre funds on me either. I'm cheap in other words. I will do without to make it easier on others. Just my nature (very non-Leo actually, but hey I never said I bought all the astrology stuff). It doesn't help that when I do spend money on the credit card hubby gets irate because he had planned to buy more DVDs. So there in begins a fight of..."why do you bitch when I do spend and then bitch when I don't" (he's convinced I purposefully don't ask for things and HE'S RIGHT!). What's the point in wanting something you can't have because you don't have the money for it and you probably never will? I'm loath to pay $40 for a pair of Nikes, I'm cheap! I don't buy new clothes but maybe once every 3 or 4 years. If something wears out, you do without, but I do not apply this to him or our children. That is neither here nor there...

It just about kills me to tell my kids 'we don't have the money' for something they want. And it isn't like the 72¢ is that giant a deal to her, but it is to me. It is the straw that broke the camel's back. I just love hubby's reaction though..."you could have bought it, there's money in the account". (No there isn't, it's earmarked for bills that are soon to come due.)

The reason I led in with THIS BASE SUCKS is that our finances are in the crapper because of the shit going on at this base. We were recently VOLUNTOLD (I don't give a shit if the office doesn't like seeing that, that is what happened, buttheads!) for something. A Dorm Dinner, in which we feed 100+ airmen dinner. The event happens every month, 1 time each month with each shop supposed to take over at least once a year.

Now, I don't fault the Airmen that live in the dorms. They don't have stoves, ovens or refridgerators (unless they buy the little personal size ones). The way this little thing works is the Chapel re-imburses you $100 towards the costs incured. Yeah folks, that amounts to less than $1 per person fed. You know anyone that can feed that many people on $100? If so, I wanna meet 'em!

We did fajitas, which ain't cheap. Included were the guacamole, tortillas, the onions mushrooms and bell peppers for sauteing, the cheese, the sour cream, the plates, the napkins, the 'silver'ware. In a shop of 4 12-hour shifts (appx. 5 people per shift, normally more), plus the office workers (8AM-4PM Monday to Friday with all Federal and USAFE holidays too, compaired to shift workers that don't get days off extra, have to work 12 hours, plus the 1 required for shift change, and rotating schedules [Panama for those in the know]) which number appx. another 20, we had THREE PEOPLE help us.

Yes folks, out of FOURTY people, THREE helped. This is not including the Msgt. that VOLUNTOLD us for this crap. One made chicken fajitas, after we bought the stuff for them, which was almost $100 alone. One brought the drinks and cups. One made some kickass salsa (which ingredients we paid for as well...but I don't fault him that, he's only an E-4...just put on to, so I think he was an E-3 at the time). That left us with everything else. All told, we spent of $350 to buy the supplies needed.

We were working under the assumption, NEVER TRUST A MILITARY SHOP...cheap ass bastards!, that the shop would pony up the difference between what the chapel pays for and what the actual costs are. WRONG! Hubby was told that 'we'll take care of it'. When he went to see about actually getting the $250 back, he was told 'we didn't put it in writing, so we're not paying'. FUCKING A! You just fucked a TSgt with 3 kids for $250 that was never planned for (they sprung this little jem on us AFTER payday, with like 1 1/2 week's notice before the actual dinner took place), and then wonder why his wife hates your guts?!?

We had to pay for that shit out of money set aside for bills! Good thing BT didn't ask for cash before that! I don't bitch at hubby much, but when he called to tell me aobut that the entire SHOP heard me! (He held the phone away from his ear so he didn't go deaf.) I hope every fucking lazy ass bastard in that entire shop knows just how much I loathe them. The MSgt that started this whole crapfest in motion did it so hubby could 'pad' his EPR (Enlisted Performance Report)...he was getting a Firewall Five ANYWAY! (Firewall Five means he's done excellent in every aspect, the highest you can get on any EPR.) Why did he need to pad it? I don't know!!!

So, back to the lack of cash. When the paycheck came in at the beginning of the month, guess how much we had to take out to pay for that fuckup? And where did it come from? Some from the groceries, some from the amount intended to over-pay the credit cards (trying to get out of debt!), the rest from the miniscule amount of money we have left after all that...I'm not kidding, it normally means around $20 to 'play with' until payday, and then it starts all frikin' over again! (I get $200 per payday for 2 adults, 3 kids, 1 dog and his work food. Drop $75 from it just for the amount I have to spend at Tesco for the stuff our Commissary doesn't carry and you'll begin to get the picture. This is pretty much the only money I will spend in any given payday. I'm not complaining, just stating what get's spent where.)

I worked my ass off on those fajitas and the guacamole. We got loads of thanks from the Catholic Chaplain (nice guy by the way...Polish, then to New York then to the USAF, talk about an accent!), and the dorm rats. Seriously, I don't fault them. They aren't the assholes that did this. What added salt to the wound is that hubby got his shit jumped for not MAKING people volunteer to help! Hello, VOULUNTEER NOT VOLUNTOLD! I appreciate the 3 folks that helped us out, really I do, but I also don't think someone should be made to help. It isn't as if the shop can say they didn't know what was needed, I drafted a Word documnet with the menu and how much of what would be needed, sent it to hubby, and he BCC'd me when he e-mailed it to the entire shop!

Those 3 folks didn't do a whole lot of work, which is cool. They volunteered for what they knew they'd be able to help with. My bitch is with the lazy ass bastards, all 37 of the F*CKERS that couldn't be bothered to help out with the single troops. (I've deleted 15 from the roster, unlisted, for that is the appx. number of single dorm rats in his shop, and I wouldn't expect them to cook for their own Dorm Dinner.) Every other person listed in that shop is either married, or lives off base in a house with cooking facilities. NOT ONE FUCKER among them had the cojones to help out, and not a one of them will cross me after my little 'temper tantrum' on the phone.

So, in all because there are so many fucking lazy bastards in his shop, his children and I suffered. I buy everything he asks for for work and such first, then the needed things (diapers, bread, milk, eggs) then can goods, then fresh fruit and veg and then anything 'extra'. He's the one with the job, so it's fair as far as I'm concerned. He brings home the cash, he gets the lion's share of the goods. I get bupkis constantly because I put the list as Him, the kids, the dog then me. Yeah, yeah, I'm not asking for pity here I'm just saying that's how the cash gets spent. I have no problem going without. I was raised without, and going without as an adult is not an adjustment for me, but I don't like it when my kids suffer for the shithead antics of a buch of panzyass f*ckers that can't be bothered to lift a frikin' finger to help out.

It's so bad my mom offered to put money in my account, and short herself, to make up for those dickwads in his shop. I wouldn't let her do it, it wasn't her job. And, almost a month later we've yet to get the $100 re-imbursement from the Chapel! (They're stuff all now has to clear Ramstein before Ramstein will cut and mail a check.) But I have made it crystal FUCKING clear those bastards will ask for NOTHING again. If they do, so help me God I will go off on the Senior Master Seargent that runs that shop. She already doesn't like me, I can make it hate real fast. I will rip anyone at this base a new asshole if they dare to ask us to help with anything in the next 3 months, so help me God! I'll rip into our First Shirt, and I'll have a field day with our Base Commander before it's over.


This base is fucked, and two of those three (you guess which ones) already know not to cross me. I'll give you only two more examples of what's wrong on this base and you decide how screwed up it is here...

We've had our 6 year-old left out in the cold by a Girl Scout leader that instead of spending 2 frikin' minutes to call her damn registar sent our oldest home. No one was here, due to a MANDATORY PCS dental appointment, but that ain't the point. We've got 3 registered sex-offenders within 5 minutes walk of here (I kid you not!) and this bitch sent a 6 year-old home instead of using her cell phone, or the school phone, or the community center phone (where the meetings are held) to ensure she had all the relevent paperwork! When hubby went to pick her up from the meeting (NO ONE CALLED US!) he was told 'she's not on my list' as an acceptable answer when the bitch was told she sent a child home to a locked house in the cold! Yeah, and the bitch STILL is a troop leader! Any wonder why I refuse to allow any of my children to have anything to do with the Girl Scouts?!? Any wonder why I refuse to buy anything the Girl Scouts sell (including hubby's favorite Mint chocolate waffer things)? I won't support them in any way. I even went so far as to contact the North Atlantic Girl Scout's Council (they're in charge of the UK's US Girl Scouts, as well as Iceland's, Greenland's and a few other places), and their response was that 'the paperwork procedures have been changed to prevent this occuring in the future'. Seriously, that is the answer of the GIRL SCOUTS OF AMERICA when told a SIX YEAR OLD CHILD was left for over an hour in the cold, with sexual predators in the area!

I got the lady who's directly in charge of all the local girl scouts to drive to my house (un requested) to appologize. I wouldn't let the woman in my house! But I don't hold her responsible, she lives 3 hours away and is in charge of ALL the UK girl scouts so it isn't as if she's at each meeting. I had the registrar call and tell me it was all her fault because she didn't triple check to make sure all the paperwork was correct. I'll fault her only as far as she checked twice and didn't catch the error, no farther. The bitch that did it sent me an e-mail! A F*CKING E-MAIL! All about how she was 'so sorry' and 'I hope you don't get too angry and take her out of girl scouts'....UH, YEAH! I'll let you fuck with me, I'm an adult I can fight back. But the bitch fucked with my CHILD!! And then thought I was going too far in demanding she loose the TROOP LEADER position. Now tell me, all of ya'll reading this that are parents, what would you have done in my place? You've got a 6 year-old child in the cold for over an hour with sex offenders near by; no call to you, your husband, you husband's work, or your emergency contact that lives 1 1/2 blocks away; you've got an e-mail wanting to make sure you don't go overboard in the anger department and a bitch that has the GALL to say you should just get over it and allow your daughter to stay in Girl Scouts! What would you have done?!? Add to this the fact my 6 year-old saw her daddy's truck in the driveway and though we were home but just wouldn't let her in. How do you replace the trust that was destroyed that day?!? Really I want to know!

I told the big head lady if I caught the troop leader I'd kill her. I'm not kidding, I'd have killed her! The UK has no Death Penalty, and that would have been a justifiable homicide! And heaven wouldn't have been able to save her if anything had happend to my baby (other than the turning blue and shivering for over an hour afterwards as if that's nothing). Every time the woman sees me coming, she volunteers at the school...how nice, she turns and almost RUNS the other way. If she were a dog she'd tuck her tail between her legs and wet herself I swear. Let her know to be terrified of me, if she fucks with my children again I will not stop at the Commander's Office, I will have her sent back stateside if not in prison by the time I'm done!


Add to this the fact our newly renovated house is falling apart. I kid you not. We've got massive water damage in the master bath because the contractors didn't caulk the shower. They still haven't caulked the shower, over a year later! They've replaced the linolium which was water damaged, but they haven't done anything to stop the damage occuring. Nor have the actually come and sealed the lino! They just laid on the floor, never came and cauked it to prevent anything getting under it! It looks to be spreading to the kitchen ceiling (directly under the master bath), and still nothing has been done. I've still got nothing but a halogen standing light in the living room because the ceiling fan has shorted out so that no bulbs will work (it has 3 bulb holders and not a one of them works). The garbage disposal leaks whenever you put water in it, the dishwasher backsup into the sink with the garbage disposal and there is major waterdamage in the cupboard under the sink. Nothing has been done about it yet, over a year later.

Oh, they came and re-did the lino, and finally provided a lock for our sliding back door, but that was only after I had a shitfit in Housing's office and went to the Base Commander. I only did that after 11 months of hell in this house. The thing that finally set me off was Housing telling hubby and I both that we'd just 'have to pay for the damages when we PCS'. This was last November! (That's when they expected us to PCS in June of NEXT YEAR! They weren't going to do shit to stop the water damage for over a year and a half, and then expect us to pay for it!) I went bizzerk! I have 4 pages of problems with this house that I knew of. Add in another 2 pages the contractors wrote up when they did a walk through. That's SIX PAGES of fuckups in a brand new renovation! I printed copies for the contractors, one for me, one for housing and one for the base commander, then I went on the war path! The contractor signed it without a problem, he appologiezed profusely because they didn't have any work orders for the house (funny, 11 months of calling CE and not one damn work order!). When I went to housing, I scared the British dude that works there. I went to the manger's office and told the woman I wasn't leaving until she signed the paperwork acknowledging the faults of workmanship. The BITCH (yes, the woman is a BITCH) told me "I can't be held accountable for housing"....HELLO?!? WHAT THE FUCK IS YOUR JOB?!? She made some poor dude from CE sign it (which is okay, CE are the bastards that wouldn't forward the work orders), but the sheer fact the woman tried to tell me as housing manager that she wasn't responsible for housing. Oh my GOD! I went straight to the base commander after that, and he signed without a problem. He's assured me, and I have it in writing!, that we won't be made to pay for the damages to this house due to negligence on CE, Housing and the contractor's part. That in effect is a ticket out of here. I'm sure the bitch at housing is going to do our inspection, and I wouldn't put it past her to use a white glove, but I'll eat her alive if she tries any shit with me. (Now, I will pay to re-seed the grass before we leave. We've got a dog and a few large play equipment pieces in the backyard that have done damage to the lawn. That is our fault, and our responsibility to replace. I have no problem repairing or replacing something we've caused.) I'm to the point I don't care any more. If the house falls to pieces around us I'm just going to sweep them up, shove them in a closet and tell housing FUCK YOU when we leave! I'm not calling CE any more, I'm not running around the renovations area anymore to track down the needed folks to do the work. I'm not doing shit! Fuck 'em! They can't be bothered to upkeep the house when I beg, plead, and go to the commander, I can't be bothered to complain any more. But hell will be unleashed when we do our outprocessing!


I'm tired of taking this crap and taking this crap and taking this crap. So far I have taken this shit to not cause waves, to not make his work life any worse than it is now, well...I have become the bitch of bitches on this base, and I will stay that way for 3 more months. If anyone crosses me, I'll rip them a new one, or two if need be! I don't care if it's an imbicile in the Orderly Room, the Base Commander, the First Shirt or any other fucker on this base. They're all one giant target for me right now. They try to pull something and I've the numbers to each IG in England, and the big boys at Ramstein. I will stir so much shit the stink will take years to die down! I will destory careers if that is what it takes. I am become bitch, destroyer of worlds!


Whoo, thanks for the bitch time. Not that you had much choice...well you could have opted to not read it but where's the fun in that? Nothing has changed but it's off my chest so there. :)

On Immigration

Homefront Six puts it pretty well. While I grew up in Texas, I see there wasn't much difference between there and Kooky Kalifornia. Go have a look, it's well worth the read.

"Striking" in the US Military

And why you don't do it...It seems a Pagan Priest, otherwise known as Spc. in the 596th Maintenance Company claims he's being unjustly punished for disagreeing with the US Army on Iraq. The Stars and Stripes has to whole story.

I'd have to say the man is and idiot, and his wife is pushing pretty hard too. I have my own paganic leanings, and know the base pagans, too. They aren't treated badly expect by a minority of stupid, hypocritical "christians" that claim God told them to badmouth, back stab and gossip about those that don't share their views. (IE, why I no longer attend chapel on this base.) It isn't even Catholics (not well known for their ability to tolerate differences). It's good 'ol Southern Baptists. Our Chaplain is but one of the circle of 'christians' that doesn't seem to have a clue what the Bible says about "Do unto others". I disagree quite strenously with almost everything the man stands for, and he is our only Protestant Chaplain at the moment, so to chapel I do not go.

Anyway, back to the morons at hand. I'd have to say the sitting "at a desk near the commander’s office instead of working" is what did you in, stupid. And, what's with the letter to the chain of command? There are very specific protocol to follow to obtain CO status, and that ain't it. Oh, and last I checked the US Army can't 'target' a civillian military spouse. They can punish the enlisted member, but I've never heard anything about a spouse being thrown into confinement for their religious beliefs, and I don't buy it now.

All in all, I hope the moron starves himself silly, and that the US Army doesn't treat him for it. It is his choice after all, so let him get his way. Just make sure he knows that if he wants to cut off his nose to spite his face, the Army won't later be accussed of not doing enough to take the knife out of his hand.

My Interview....WooHoo!

Now, I'm very honored. Rachel over at Bitchalicious chose me as one of her interviews. So without further ado...


1. How long have you been "blogging"?
Here on Blogger since October 2004. Before that at Mobynuke (they suck!)from early August 2004 (it is still there, but I don't really post there). Before that, probably since May or June 2004 I posted in the comments on other blogs. So, actually blogging myself for 8 months, 11 months if you want to include knowing about blogs and commenting on them.


2. What made you start and if it was someone then who was it?
I started because I despised John Kerry and the way he used the military for good when it suited him, and to lie about them when it suited him. I would not allow his voice to be the only one heard (even if no one really listens to me). My Blog Family, those who's blogs I got the inspiration to start my own from, would include Dean Esmay over at Dean's World; Her Majesty over at The Queen of all Evil; Smash, and Boyd at Texas Native. There are many more I read regularly (see the blogroll on the right) but those 4 formed the core desire to stake a claim to my own 'corner' of the internet.

3. Military wife.. What do you love most and hate most about it?
Love the most...that's a hard one actually. I love being married to my best friend, I love traveling the world (at the government's expsense...ticket prices will kill you), I get to see the great places of history and the museums with wonderful collections. Hate, that would be the actual packing portion of the PCS, the living without furniture between bases, and of course HUBBY BEING GONE while TDY.

4. Are you a morning person or a night owl?
I'm a night owl. I stay up until 2 or 3 AM, then have to get the kids up and off to school at 8 AM. I go back to bed right after that.

5. What is your 'sign'? Do you think that suits you or do you think astrology is a load of crap?
I'm a Leo born in the Year of the Horse. I find astrology interesting. I don't think the Joyce Jillsons of the world know one piddly damn about what will happen to me today, nor am I inclined to call their 900 numbers for 'more details'. I think astrology can pinpoint common traits for those born under a certain sign, but as for seeing the future, no. I'll take my chances with the magic 8 ball. ;)

Villa Trip Tomorrow

Hehehe...I have this thing for Rome and Roman life. So, tomorrow since the middle one doesn't go to school I'm taking a trip to the North Leigh Roman Villa, if the weather holds that is...The floors are ranked within the top 10 villa sites that survive in the UK, and it's my favorite price: FREE! We'll even be taking a classmate of her's and his mommy. I so like Roman stuff, I am SO, SO happy to be going to Italy. Give me my Roman Fix! :)

New Blogger!

Literally in this case, she just started this month! An American in Italy is a US Army wife living the life I shall so be livin'. Including the suckyasss deployments and kids without fathers for exteneded time periods. Oh well, we go where they send us and make the best of it! :)

Can't see the forest for the trees

Oh, the Shavio case gets more interesting by the day it seems. The husband has now asked for an autopsy to be performed after Terri dies. He even goes so far as to state the reason he's asking for one is to shut the idiots up that swear he abused her without proof. (Proof, you know its that legal barrier that the 'he wants to kill her', 'he put her in this position' yada, yada yada folks have yet to reach.)

Then, Terri's father goes so far as to say her husband is planning to kill her! With a Morphine overdose! From the side that swears she's gonna get up and walk and talk tomorrow, you'd think that even if he did have her euthanised that'd be preferable to slow death, but not in this case! They don't want her to die, unless it's slow so they can get the most political points out of it.


Now I wonder will those throwing around the 'they want to murder Terri' and the 'culture of death' folks comment on these developments? Probably not, it's not as if they've let the facts of the case get in the way before now, so why break a perfect record? (I predict some new attempt at character assassination, again without PROOF, before this is over, and that is a sad comment on how far some are willing to go to 'win' in this sad state of affairs...)

Oh, by the way GET A LIVING WILL!

Blog Roll Addition

Okay everyone, I've added a new blog to the my blogroll. Stemily is a TEXAN (oh yeah!), an Army wife and mother, and a lady with a great sense of humor! Go, read, enjoy. LAUGH! You know you want to. ;)

Remember Goliad!

For those poor souls lacking a basic Texas history lesson, have a good look at TAMU's Massacre at Goliad historical rundown. (TAMU = Texas A & M University...best durn vets around, and very good at the Aggie jokes.) There is also a great deal of detail to be found at Lone Star Spirits (if you're of the supernatural bent).

Some brilliant photos of Goliad via Tourin' Texas.


FELLOW SOLDIERS: In the order of Providence we are this day called upon to pay the last sad offices of respect to the remains of the noble and heroic band, who, battling for our sacred rights, have fallen beneath the ruthless hand of a tyrant. Their chivalrous conduct entitles them to the heartfelt gratitude of the people of Texas. Without any further interest in the country than that which all noble hearts feel at the bare mention of liberty, they rallied to our standard. Relinquishing the ease, peace, and comforts of their homes, leaving behind them all they held dear, their mothers, sisters, daughters, and wives, they subjected themselves to fatigue and privation, and nobly threw themselves between the people of Texas and the legions of Santa Anna. There, unaided by re-inforcements and far from help and hope, they battled bravely with the minions of a tyrant, ten to one. Surrounded in the open prairie by this fearful odds, cut off from provisions and even water, they were induced, under the sacred promise of receiving the treatment usual to prisoners of war, to surrender. They were marched back, and for a week treated with the utmost inhumanity and barbarity. They were marched out of yonder fort under the pretense of getting provisions, and it was not until the firing of musketry did the shrieks of the dying, that they were satisfied of their approaching fate. Some endeavored to make their escape, but they were pursued by the ruthless cavalry and most of them cut down with their swords. A small number of them stand by the grave-a bare remnant of that noble band. Our tribute of respect is due to them; it is due to the mothers, sisters, and wives who weep their untimely end, that we should mingle our tears with theirs. In that mass of remains and fragments of bones, many a mother might see her son, many a sister her brother, and many a wife her own beloved and affectionate husband. But we have a consolation- yet to offer them: their murderers sank in death on the prairies of San Jacinto, under the appalling words, "Remember La Bahia." Many a tender and affectionate woman will remember, with tearful eye, "La Bahia." But we have another consolation to offer. It is, that while liberty has a habitation and a name, their chivalrous deeds will be handed down upon the bright pages of history. We can still offer another consolation: Santa Anna, the mock hero, the black-hearted murderer, is within our grasp. Yea, and there he must remain, tortured with the keen pain of corroding conscience. He must oft remember La Bahia, and while the names of those whom he murdered shall soar to the highest pinnacle of fame, his shall sink down into the lowest depths of infamy and disgrace.
*The preceding text comes from TAMU.*

So, as we all sit down to our dinner this fine Sunday, Easter Sunday even, let's all...
REMEMBER GOLIAD!¡Recuerde Goliad!

Rabbuck or Dubbit? Either way, Happy Easter! 

Happy Easter! 

On all things Ice Cream

I was recently reading the Queen of All Evil's site and she's got an article up about B&J's Phish Food ice cream. I will admit ignorance as I've never even desired to taste that flavor.

But her post got me to thinking (which is never a good thing), which in turn lead me to post on those icy items I miss the most. I really, really miss Blue Bell. For all ya'll poor folks that have never had that little tub of heaven with the wooden paddle for a spoon, I pity you. Seriously, I do. That is some of the best ice cream on the Good Lord's Green Earth, and he was kind enough to grant an already heavily blessed Texas with it. Yet one more reason why I LOVE TEXAS!

The second ice cream I really miss, almost and possibly that little bit more than Blue Bell (sacrilege for a Texan, I know) is Promised Land. While their site only lists the milk products (I assume because the ice cream is only available in a very limited, local area), if you ever get down to San Antonio I really would recommend the Strawberry Ice Cream made with real, fresh, succulent Poteet Strawberries. (You can only get it when the strawberries are at their peak though, so plan accordingly!) I also highly recommend the recipes section of Promised Land's site. Whoo buddy, do they make good stuff!

Back to Poteet and it's claim to fame, STRAWBERRIES! They are out of this world sweet little lumps of goodness. Thousands besiege the city of Poteet when the strawberries are in season just to get some of those juicy little berries. I'd really recommend you do the same if you ever get the chance. (This year's Strawberry Festival will be 8-10 April, so you've still got time to book a flight on Southwest into San Antonio and rent a car from Alamo...not that I'm pushing you to...more strawberries for us Texans that way.)

I MISS TEXAS!!!

A Coding Question

I was wondering how to code something. Or, more specifically how to code it so I can place it into my Blogger Template. If you visit my old blog, you'll notice a rotating list of quotes up in the top, left-hand corner.

My question is this: How do I code those same quotes into my current blog, so that they'll continue to rotate and show them all? I've looked at the source info on my old page, but I can't make hide or hair of it...[right clicked, 'show source', read the lines, saw the quote listed but I don't get how to convert it into a rotating table].

Is there anyone out there reading this can knows how to do this? I'm talking Coding for Dummies level here. I've checked W3 schools but I don't seem to know where to look (tables with cells I get, vaguely) and my search suggestions aren't turning anything up. Even a link in the comments would be greatly appreciated!

Faces of the Fallen

In an exhibit honoring the troops that have given their lives to their country's service, there is an exhibition of portraits opening today, 23 March, at Arlington National Cemetery. Aptly, and honorably named Faces of the Fallen, it's mission statement is:

"Faces of the Fallen honors America's servicemen and women who have died in Afghanistan and Iraq. The exhibit utilizes the power of art to recognize, with gratitude and respect, their sacrifices and the sacrifices of their families."

The exhibit will run from 23 March 2005 - 05 September 2005 at the Women In Military Service For America Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington D.C. Please read the article from the Stars and Stripes, and visit if you get a chance. If you can spare some donation money, they would be greatful and it would help get the exhibit on a national tour.

When is Enough enough?

I have made myself quite clear on other blogs about how I feel in the "Save Terri" fiasco. In short, I haven't seen a reason to post myself on the issues as I am not Terri's husband and legal guardian, nor do I see a reason to violate Federal Law and Florida State Law to remove such guardianship from him. That said, doesn't anyone involved in this fiasco think it's time to let go?

I doubt Terri's family will ever read this but: 15 years folks, let Terri have some dignity instead of a feeding tube for the rest of her 'life'. Go to her bedside; sit with her and hold her hand until she passes; hold a good Irish wake and remember the great times. Don't become bitter and hateful. I don't know any child that would wish their parents to do that. This is your daughter/sister/cousin/friend folks, treat her as such, not as a rag-doll to fight over.

For Mr. Schavio: Make peace, as best you can, with Terri's family. You believe you're doing what she wants, they believe they're doing what's best. Accept you all love her and are trying to show that. Give them some time alone with their child; keep your lawyers at bay. Let them mourn the loss of their loved one in peace. Show you care for her, and through her them, by giving them their time with her.

For both sides: You each obviously love Terri or you wouldn't have gone through the last 15 years of this battle. While I doubt you can shake hands and make up, be at Terri's bedside together when it's time. Allow her to see her familiy, blood and marriage, united instead of at each other's throats. Do for her now what you haven't done for her in the last decade and a half. Show her you love her enough to be in the same room as the other people that love her. Send her into the arms of God surronded by family and friends that love and cherish her and that will miss her deeply.

I think that's the best I can say on the matter without getting snarky or judgemental.

What Media Bias?

CNN is reporting on yesterday's testimony in the Michael Jackson saga. In short a comedian testified under oath that she thought the family was being held against their will, but how does CNN lead-in the story?

MICHAEL JACKSON Comic's testimony
The father of the teenager accusing the singer of molestation pressed for money, a comedian testified.

So instead of reporting that a witness in the molestation trial says she believes the victim and his family were held captive, we've got a comment about how dad asked for money. Yeah, that's good reportin' right there! Sheesh, is the rule in the news that the freakier or less desireable a human you are the better the press you get?!?

THANK YOU!!

Sheesh, how hard is it to say those two simple words? Especially to a serviceman or woman?

There is stuff going on today, and there is a major line waiting to get on base, and off base. We've got gate guards doing their damndest to protect the base, and the people on it and trying to get on it, by following all their protocols. So, WHY are there assholes that think it's fun to attack and badmouth these folks?

They stand in the rain and cold every damn day. They search cars and trucks, check IDs, do full vehicle searches, write visitor passes, open and close gates, salute....all in all do a pretty damn good job of keeping our folks safe on that base, and keeping the undesireables OFF the base. Why can't some folks just say THANK YOU! and be done with it?

What gets into the head of a moron to start abusing the person charged with protecting them and the base? Come on, they're all lower ranking enlisted personel, and they've got a pretty crappy job. They stand in the cold and rain day-in and day-out; they get to smell every stinky breath from every person driving a vehicle onto base; they get harrassed by the British who think it's some God-given right for them to gain access to our base...and then they have Americans giving them shit for doing their job!

These folks are the FIRST LINE OF DEFENCE for you, your family, your property and your base...just say thank you sir or thank you ma'am. Sheesh, you'd think asking some puttzes to be polite to the very people that protect them is too much. I swear some military personel and their dependents are no better behaved than their anti-military counterparts screaming 'death the US miltiary industrial complex'.

There is no difference between asshole military members and their families than there was with the idiot civillians harrassing gate guards at the USAFA in Colorado Springs immedietly after 9-11. It is their JOB to check IDs, it is their JOB to deny access to those that can not produce a valid vehicle card and ID or reason for being there.

The very least some assholes can do is to just drive on base without saying anything. I'd far rather more people do as I and hubby do...say Thank You Sir or Ma'am and wave as you go through the gate. Smile for goodness sake, let these poor folks know you appreciate the job they do and the conditions under which they do it. If in the end you can't say anything nice to the people doing their best to protect your life and the lives of the ones you love, then shut the hell up!

Verbs, verbs the magical words...

Allright we're now going to work on VERBS! Don't worry, you've already conjugated due (Doo-eh) = two verbs without any problems. The ones we've already worked on are vorrei (Vor-reh-ee) = I would like and ho (Oh) = I have.

First we're going to learn different nouns forms (I, you, they, we...etc) and then we'll move on to using different verb forms to match those nouns.

io (Ee-oh) = I

noi (Noy) = we

lui (Loo-ee) = he

Lei (Leh-ee) = you (VERY formal, use for everyone but your family or very best friends)
Be VERY CAREFUL with these two. Only the capitolization will tell you!
lei (Leh-ee) = she

loro (Loh-roh) = they

tu (Too) = you (informal, used in only the most personal circumstances ie within family or close friendship groups)

Voi (Voy) = you (plural usage, we would say you all or y'all)

Now let's use those words and match the italiano with the English counterpart
noi I

loro they

Lei you (familiar)

tu we

io he

voi you

lui she

lei you (plural)

Next we'll learn sei (Seh-ee) = six basic, common verbs and then how to conjugate them with a fool-proof 'formula' of using endings to tell you noun personage (1st, 2nd, 3rd...) and their number (singular or plural). These are all verbs you'll use on a regular basis.

parlare (Par-lah-reh) = to speak

ordinare (Or-dee-nah-reh) = to order

imparare (Eem-pah-rah-reh) = to learn

abitare (Ah-bee-tah-reh) = to live, to reside

comprare (Kohm-prah-reh) = to buy (very close to the English compare, as in comparison shopping...hence buy)

chiamarsi (Kee-ah-mar-see) = to be called



Now on to the basic formula:

For every verb to use the I format, replace the last 3 to four letters (are, ere, ire, arsi, etc...) with the basic 'o' like so:

io parlo (Par-loh) = I speak

io abito (Ah-bee-toh) = I live/reside

compro (Kohm-proh) = I buy

imparo (Eem-pah-roh) = I learn

ordino (Or-dee-noh) = I order

mi chiamo (Mee Kee-ah-moh) = I am called, my name is...this one does NOT follow the same rule! Commit this exception to memory!

You will notice I dropped the io (Ee-oh) = I from several of the verbs. In Italian you can use the verb and subject, or just the verb as it will tell you the number and person of the noun. Your choice, but it is one less word to have to use in every sentence.

With the noun noi (Noy) = we you'll do roughly the same thing. Drop the last remaining letters of the verb, and add iamo in their place, like this:

noi parlimo = we speak

noi abitiamo = we live/reside

ordiniamo = we order

compriamo = we buy

impariamo = we learn

ci chiamiamo (Chee Kee-ah-mee-ah-moh) = we are called/our name is...again Chiamarsi does NOT follow the standard rule, remember this!


All forms of Lei, lei, e lui = you, she, and he use the same verb form, makes it simpler on you!

parla = you, he, she speak(s)

abita = you, he, she live(s)/reside(s)

ordina = you, he, she order(s)

impara = you, he, she learn(s)

compra = you, he, she buy(s)

si chiama = your name is/his or her name is

When using Lei, lui, e lei add an 'a', after dropping the last 3 or 4 letters, if the verb ended in 'are'. For all other verb endings and an 'e'.


Now we'll work on loro (loh-roh) = they...

parlano = they speak

loro abitano = they live/reside

ordinano = they order

loro imparano = they learn

comprano = they buy

si chiamano = their name is


Now, I'm going to give you sei more verbs. Using the above 'rules' and examples try conjugating them. It is easy, you can do it...Remember, even if you get the tense or person for the verb wrong, any Italian will be greatful that you've even made an effort to learn their language. Most of all, remember to HAVE FUN!

venire (Veh-nee-reh) = to come

andare (Ahn-dah-reh) = to go

vorrei (Vor-reh-ee) = would like

dire (Dee-reh) = to say

avere (Ah-veh-reh) = to have (Change this to ho, ha, he, abbiamo, hanno Yes, I did this one for you but it's changes aren't as easy as the others.)

avere bisogno di (Ah-veh-reh Bee-zohn-yoh Dee) = have need of/to need


Go through this entire lesson several times. Create your own sentences using these verbs, and any of the previous words that strike your fancy. The verbs won't be easy, but once you've got the hang of them you'll be able to form, and answer some very important questions.

The "Mass" Protests in Europe...

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! You'd think there were major turnouts from this CNN story until you actually read it! Oh, and never let the anti-US side be accused of having brains capable of coherent thought...

"I think it's outrageous what Blair and Bush think they can get away with," said retiree John Salway, 59, who said he had marched in nearly every London protest since the fighting began. "I'd like to think we can put a dent in their arrogance."

Oh I don't know, it seems we can get away with 25 MILLION FREE IRAQIS! Schools being re-opened, the repulsion of Saddam and his cronnies, the rights to freedom of the press and dissent, a recovering economy...Oh yeah, and something about the first democratic government in the country in it's modern history (modern being post Ottoman-Turk Empire) yes sir, yes sir we're the bad guys sho nuff'... BWAH!

Where is Justice?

Blind, bound and raped by this man, and the Police are powerless to stop it.

16 years of a LIFE sentence? He gets to win the lotto while released? (He's banned from getting the money but still that is so wrong on so many levels.) The Police themselves say they're afraid he will continue to attack and rape women?

This all passes for 'justice' here in the UK. And they say Texans are uncivillized for our major prison population and the Death Penalty...

Some of the signs I made and put up. Yeah they're simple designs, but I thought those would be better than "We ROCK, you SUCK!"... 

The needed supplies for becoming a 'political' statement maker...as if the "Proud to be an American" and "Made in America" shirts didn't do it... 

Photos, O PHOTOS?!? (AKA Pro Troop Counter-Protest)

Okay, I've got photos of the signs I made, but Picasa 2 and Hello (my publishing program) have crapped out on me. I'm working with their Tech folks, but it may be awhile before I can publish photos again.

So, since I can't publish the photos, I'll give you a wordy version...

To 'celebrate' or Counter-protest (I like the counter version better) the 2nd Anniversary of the war in Iraq, I made some support signs. So as to avoid any chance of violating the SOFA (I checked them all, didn't find anything about signs but hubby was still antsy about a 'political statement') I put them up under cover of darkness. Very cloak-and-dagger...I put them up the night of the 18th so they'd be ready if there were protesters on the 19th (the actual anniversary).

Anyway, while putting them up I got quite a few folks that slowed down to read them, and at least 2 that actually stopped! I'll swear that one person actually went around the nearest circle and came back for a better view, but it was dark so it might just have been a different car, but I don't think so. I can't tell you if they were British or not, though it's nice to think they were US servicemen and women that drove by.

Being an idiot I forgot my camera that night, though I do have photos of before and after making the signs. Yeah, yeah, I'm a dipshit but I did atleast remember the signs and the hammer to pound them in with...

We had some friend go up Saturday, 19 March, and they said the signs were all still up and visible (nice since they're just posterboard and it rained...it is England after all). They didn't say anything about protesters, so I'm hoping my signs were just a pro-message instead of countering the anti-message, but still the signs being there was a victory of sorts.

So, again I'll post photos ASAP, aka when Blogger and Hello work together again. Until then, have a look over at Smash's for his article on their counter-protest in San Diego. Also, check back often as there are supposed to be some updates, major ones I'm sure, of what went down.

Two Year Anniversary

That's right folks, the War in Iraq will be 2 years old come tomorrow. There are major protests scheduled around the globe. I'll be doing my part to counter act the ninnies with Freedom of Speech and no thought processes. Check back mañana for some photos...