Update Dos

Dos, I think it's dos, not to be confused with DOS. Hehehe...

1. Pissed on hubby's vacation wheaties apparently. Credit cards came up, not a good thing...especially when I let it be known nothing will be bought for me while on leave - or at all, until the credit cards are paid off. I'm sick and frikin' tired of livin' this way - pay the credit cards then use them. It's counterproductive, and while we're in much better financial shape than we were when we got married, I want it to end, NOW!

2. Went to the Commissary to buy goodies for the family dinner I'm making Saturday evening. Parmesean Spinich, Bread - Oil - Vinegar as an antipasti, Baked Garlic and Herbs chicken breasts, Shells ala Vesuviana, Garden-style salad, and Tiaramasu (I bought it, I didn't make it!). I hope everyone likes it, as this is a purely 'Italian' meal and I don't think they eat much past spagetti as Italian. (Not that some of them don't make a damn good spagetti!)

3. Going up to Kyle tomorrow. Visiting my great-aunt with my mom, grandpa, and 3 kids in tow. Pray for my sanity!

4. We'll go to the Quadrangle next week. Do a google search, or SWICKI!! as the links I have are bad and I'm not fixin' 'em right now.


Time for Frito Pie! :D

Update

1. I'm sick. That SUCKS!!

2. Saw most of hubby's family; part of mine; must see more family.

3. Went to the Institute of Texan Cultures. Kids liked it, but they need practice on getting on and off saddles.

4. Have eaten at El Tipico - a family tradition; Arby's; Pancho's Mexican Buffet; Bill Miller's BBQ; Pizza Hut - damn kids!; chinese food buffet. Still need MORE!!

5. Have gone to 4 different Wal-Mart's. So many more, so little time!

6. Have our little '84 Toyota Van LE - a decent little beater. Shocked it's still running 23 years after it's makers rolled it off the assembly line. :D (The one in the picture is almost exactly like our's, though that isn't a photo of our's.)

7. Have hit every BX and PX in the area (to include Brooks 'city base' - ahem 'city landing'). May hit the naval bases when we drive down to Corpus.

8. Haven't yet gone to the Zoo or the Quadrangle at Ft. Sam. Waiting for warmer days.

9. Plan to go to the Witte on Tuesday evening (1500-2000 it's FREE - my favorite price!).

10. The Mission Trail is also a warmer day trip, still waiting on it.

11. Planned on going to the McNay Art Museum - don't know if I'll drag hubby along. Art isn't his thing, especially not modern art...


You can access any of these sites via the links under "TEXAS" on the left-hand sidebar.


Oh yeah, reset the type size. Are we getting closer to middle ground??

What is it about TEXAS?

by Bum Phillips

Dear Friends,

Last year, I wrote a small piece about what it means to me to be a Texan. My friends know it means about damned near everything. Anyway, this fella asked me to reprint what I'd wrote and I didn't have it. So I set out to think about rewriting something. I considered writing about all the great things I love about Texas. There are way too many things to list. I can't even begin to do it justice.

Lemme let you in on my short list.

It starts with The Window at Big Bend, which in and of itself is proof of God. It goes to Lake Sam Rayburn where my Grandad taught me more about life than fishin, and enough about fishin to last a lifetime. I can talk about Tyler, and Longview, and Odessa and Cisco, and Abilene and Poteet and every place in between.

Every little part of Texas feels special. Every person who ever flew the Lone Star thinks of Bandera or Victoria or Manor or wherever they call "home" as the best little part of the best state.

So I got to thinkin about it, and here's what I really want to say.

Last year, I talked about all the great places and great heroes who make Texas what it is. I talked about Willie and Waylon and Michael Dell and Michael DeBakey and my Dad and LBJ and Denton Cooley. I talked about everybody that came to mind. It took me sitting here tonight reading this stack of emails and thinkin about where I've been and what I've done since the last time I wrote on this occasion to remind me what it is about Texas that is really great.

You see, this last month or so I finally went to Europe for the first time. I hadn't ever been, and didn't too much want to. But you know all my damned friends are always talking about "the time they went to Europe." So, I finally went. It was a hell of a trip to be sure. All they did when they saw me was say the same thing, before they'd ever met me. "Hey cowboy, we love Texas." I guess the hat tipped em off.

But let me tell you what, they all came up with a smile on their faces. You know why? They knew for damned sure that I was gonna be nice to em. They knew it cause they knew I was from Texas. They knew something that hadn't even hit me. They knew Texans, even though they'd never met one.

That's when it occurred to me. Do you know what is great about Texas? Do you know why when my friend Beverly and I were trekking across country to see 15 baseball games we got sick and had to come home after 8? Do you know why; every time I cross the border I say, "Lord, please don't let me die in_____"? Do you know why children in Japan can look at a picture of the great State and know exactly what it is,,, about the same time they can tell a rhombus from a trapezoid?

I can tell you that right quick. You!.

The samespirit that made 186 men cross that line in the sand in San Antonio damned near 165 years ago is still in you today. Why else would my friend send me William Barrett Travis' plea for help in an email just a week ago, or why would Charles Stanfield ask me to reprint a Texas Independence column from a year ago? What would make my friend Elizabeth say, "I don't know if I can marry a man who doesn't love Texas like I do?" Why in the hell are 1,000 people coming to my house this weekend to celebrate a holiday for what usedto be a nation that is now a state?

Because the spirit that made that nation is the spirit that burned in every person who founded this great place we call Texas, and they passed it on through blood or sweat to everyone of us.

You see, that spirit that made Texas what it is is alive in all of us, even if we can't stand next to a cannon to prove it, and it's our responsibility to keep that fire burning. Every person who ever put a"Native Texan" or an "I wasn't born in Texas but I got here as fast as I could" sticker on his car understands.

Anyone who ever hung a map of Texas on their wall or flew a Lone Star flag on their porch knows what I mean. My Dad's buddy Bill has an old saying. He says that some people were forged of a hotter fire. Well, that's what it is to be Texan. To be forged of a hotter fire. To know that part of Colorado was Texas. That part of New Mexico was Texas. That part of Oklahoma was Texas. Yep. Talk all you want. Part of what you got was what we gave you. To look at a picture of Idaho or Istanbul and say, "what the Hell is that?" when you know that anyone in Idaho or Istanbul who sees a picture of Texas knows damned good and well what it is. It isn't the shape, it isn't the state, it's the state of mind.

You're what makes Texas. The fact that you would take 15 minutes out of your day to read this, because that's what Texas means to you, that's what makes Texas what it is. The fact that when you see the guy in front of you litter you honk and think, "Sonofabitch. Littering on MY highway."

When was the last time you went to a person's house in New York and you saw a big map of New York on their wall? That was never. When did you ever drive through Oklahoma and see their flag waving on four businesses in a row? Can you even tell me what the flag in Louisiana looks like? I damned sure can't. But I bet my ass you can't drive 20 minutes from your house and not see a business that has a big Texas flag as part of its logo. If you haven't done business with someone called AllTex something or Lone Star somebody or other, or Texas such and such, you hadn't lived here for too long.

When you ask a man from New York what he is, he'll say a stockbroker, or an accountant, or an ad exec. When you ask a woman from California what she is, she'll tell you her last name or her major. Hell either of em might say "I'm a republican," or they might be a democrat. When you ask a Texan what they are, before they say, "I'm a Methodist," or "I'm a lawyer," or "I'm a Smith," they tell you they're a Texan.

I got nothin against all those other places, and Lord knows they've probably got some fine folks, but in your gut you know it just like I do, Texas is just a little different.

So tomorrow when you drive down the road and you see a person broken down on the side of the road, stop and help. When you are in a bar in California, buy a Californian a drink and tell him it's for Texas Independence Day. Remind the person in the cube next to you that he wouldn't be here enjoying this if it weren't for Sam Houston, and if he or she doesn't know the story, tell them.

When William Barrettt Travis wrote in 1836 that he would never surrender and he would have Victory or Death, what he was really saying was that he and his men were forged of a hotter fire. They weren't your average everyday men. Well, that is what it means to be a Texan. It meant it then, and that's why it means it today. It means just what all those people North of the Red River accuse us of thinking it means. It means there's no mountain that we can't climb. It means that we can swim the Gulf in the winter. It means that Earl Campbell ran harder and Houston is bigger and Dallas is richer and Alpine is hotter and Stevie Ray was smoother and God vacations in Texas. It means that come Hell or high water, when the chips are down and the Good Lord is watching, we're Texans by damned, and just like in 1836, that counts for something.

So for today at least, when your chance comes around, go out and prove it. It's true because we believe it's true. If you are sitting wondering what the Hell I'm talking about, this ain't for you. But if the first thing you are going to do when the Good Lord calls your number is find the men who sat in that tiny mission in San Antonio and shake their hands, then you're the reason I wrote this night, and this is for you.

So until next time you hear from me, God Bless and Happy Texas Independence Day.

We're HERE!

And we have a 'new' beater (new to us anyways). Hubby didn't want to spend $2000 on a rental with nothing to show when we went back, so we bought an '84 7 passenger van. Oooh, and it has an "ice maker". Hehehe! We're stylin' now. ;)

Reset the typeface size. It was TINY in IE. Tell me if it helps.

That's all for today Time to go see some family members.

Leavin' on a Jet Plane!

I'll fly away (fly away) Oh Glory
I'll fly awy in the mornin'
(taken from the soundtrack for "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?")

DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS
Alvino Ray
- words by June Hershey, music by Don Swander

The stars at night are big and bright
Deep in the heart of Texas
The prairie sky is wide and high
Deep in the heart of Texas
The sage in bloom is like perfume
Deep in the heart of Texas
Reminds me of the one I love
Deep in the heart of Texas
The coyotes wail along the trail
Deep in the heart of Texas
The rabbits rush around the brush
Deep in the heart of Texas
The cowboys cry, "Ki-yip-pee-yi"
Deep in the heart of Texas
The dogies bawl and bawl and bawl
Deep in the heart of Texas

I come and go as I please
From down here
up north and in between
But baby it's a shame
'cause I always feel the same
When I can't see Texas from here

I can't see Texas from here
No matter how I try
it makes me wanna die
So if you see me looking down
I'm trying not to show this frown
'Cause I can't see Texas from here
(taken from "I Can't See Texas From Here - George Strait)

Somewhere Down In Texas
George Strait

I've been on the road now dang near all my life
I do love to sing a song
I can say I've worked hard, put in my time
Now it's time to go home
And catch up on my chores
Watch the sunset from my porch

Chorus:
I'll be somewhere down in Texas
If you're lookin' for me
Drinkin' in that great wide open
Soakin' up the summer breeze
Kickin' back and settled in with my family
I'll be somewhere down in Texas
If you'r?e lookin' for me

That's where I got started
Where I was born and bred
It's a fire inside of me
I couldn't have imagined this Texas highway led
Far beyond my wildest dreams
But I'll turn out the lights tonight
And say goodnight but not goodbye

Repeat Chorus

I've made so many friends
Hope we meet someday again
Till then

Repeat Chorus




See Ya'll in TEXAS!! :D

Sink or Swim Time

I guess I can tread water atleast.


The 2 year-old slipped while washing her hands last night, and ended up in the Emergency Pediatrics ward of the local hospital (our's is under renovation, thus all Americans must go to Pordenone).

Well, about 30 minutes after we left the house (should take all of about 10 mintues) but as I'd never been there, I had to follow the 'hospitale' signs - once I found them.

She rattled one of her front incisors. Apparently popped her mouth when she slipped but I was cooking dinner at the time so didn't see her do it, and she was siting when I came into the bathroom to check on her.

A good way to make a mommy panic is to have blood coming from one of her kids. Well, make it worse by having the bleeding start during dinner not at the time the accident happened and you'll really have one freaking out.

After several times of seeing her hand 'owwies' she suddnely pointed to her mouth. This was about 10 mintues later so I was at a loss as to why she was pointing at her mouth. But she hadn't eaten (pizza!) or drank any juice so far so I thought it really important to see what was wrong. WELL, there was blood coming from her top right inscisor. Not lots, not even enough to notice until I cleaned at the gumline, then it started really bleeding. Freak-out time was offically begun!

Told hubby I had to get her to the hospital (which at the time I was hoping they delt with dental emergencies too but wasn't sure - They DO). Had to call the Command Post first to get an interpetor to meet me at the hospital. (They're apparently all volunteers who are no more than 30 minutes from the hospital for use to converse with the personnel there.)

Left quickly and promptly couldn't find any signposts for the hospital. (Big red crosses on a blue background on the street signs - sort of 'point of interest' style ones.) Finally found the hospital which was a real b*tch to turn my truck into - damn tiny European roadways...

Well to access the Paedeatrics clinic you have to talk to the security folks. There's a mechanical arm across the road blocking you from driving through. So here's how it played out last night:

"Bwoiuqtwphtephosg" (something in Italian roughly meaning "Where are you headed" or "Can I help you", etc. - not really a clue as to what was said, just the general feeling from the words) coming from the camera/speaker mounted to the arm mechanism.

"Io no parlo Italiano. Parla Englese por favore?" from my crappy Italian speak.

"Oqoiewhasdgnago" - which ammounted to "wait just a moment". A big guy (I assume security) in a nice suit (Italian men dress well even if the women don't) came out of the security office and says:

"Bueno Sera" - basically "good evening". I repeat my crappy "I don't speak Italian, can you speak English please" - yeah it's basically worded YOU speak ENGLISH not really as a nicely phrased sentence, more of a demand.

He says 'a little' - which for most Europeans means a SHIT LOAD more than what an American would deem 'a little'. He asks what I need and I fumble with my pisspoor Italian again and ask "Donde parchiggio?" - which should be "Where park"..."para bam-bi-na e-mer-hen-cia" (basically 'where do I park for a child (female) emergency?').

He asks if I have the "bambina" with me. I roll down the back window - where the little turd is SLEEPING! He looks at me really funny (guess he expected lots of blood and crying, or suprised the rear windows go down, or something) and says I need to go to "Pod A, floor fifth".

I reply in crappyItalian with "Pod A, piano chinque, si?". He replies "si" and then tells the security guy inside to "oqwitgoiwehth" - raise the arm.

I drive straight through and there's Pod A. Park, get the sleeping patient out (think "it must not hurt that much, she's sleeping"), her coat on and into the building. Had to search around for the elevator but find it.

Go up to the 5th floor and have to locate the Paediatrics Unit. (The one with the painted walls decorated with Loony Tunes and animals is the one.) Walk all the way down the ward, can't find the 'check-in' place. Wander back towards the door and run across a nurse. She shows me into the examination room.

I tell her (my most useful phrase apparently) "Io no parlo Italiano, parla Englese por favore?" to which she replys "No" and asked something in Italian. I must look like a deer caught in headlights because she gets a look of searching on her face then says "Interpetor".

(You ever get the feeling your brain is rifling through itself to find something? Okay, well it was like my brain had a hand and was flipping at break-neck speed through the roledex of languages I know. Hit German, throw it out - useless in this situation. Find my Italian - SERIOUSLY lacking but I 'bookmark' it. Switch to Spanish - all else fails the TEXAN uses Spanish. Decide this one should be close enough to get the basics out - I hope. Bookmark my Latin just as an after though - a last ditch as it were.)

I get out my cellphone and say "Io habla Aviano. Interpetor is aqui" - roughly as "I talked to Aviano, the interpetor is supposed to be here.". Yeah, I used Spanish, bite me! And I know the verb does not agree with the subject or the tense. SUE ME!

She gets a look of 'oh crap I don't speak English'. Find the forms I need as asks "OIlkhther Aviano Basa WOEIthlkte". Basically are we from Aviano Air Base, to which I reply "si, Si!".

She hands me the Champus form (how the military pays for medical stuff off-base) and a big ass white form in Italian and English. I do all the paperwork, stopping to check my watch for 'check-in' time and date. have to think for a minute what the hell our Italian adress is (like I use it!) and then get the form signed and dated.

Hand the first big one over and she gets this relaxed look on her face that seems to say 'thank God, this I can read and deal with'. I get started on the USAF Champus form. (This is the mother of all crap forms - SSN, Sponsor info, patient info, how you came to be in the Emergency room, etc. but thankfully all in English.)

Get that one filled out and she's ready to examine stinky kid 3. To which stinky kid 3 wants NOTHING to do with.

She looks as me and just has this questioning look as if she needs to know something but not a clue as to how to ask me. I sorta shrug and give her a 'sorry, stupid American' look in exchange.

She brokenly asks "what wrong". Okay, this is the part where my brain goes "shoulda learned Italian by now, STUPID!".

I pull the heathen's thumb out (her favorite friend ya'll!) and pull her lip up to show her where the problem is. I tell her "lavar il mano"....ummm..."aqua para piano"...ummm...ummm...*insert slipping motion - how the hell do you say 'she slipped' in Italian?.

The nurse flips her hand over and I say "Si" - take it as she fell down but got back up. What I assume happened.

I show her the blood at the gumline and (get that rifling through the databanks feeling again) say "Sanguio...al dente". (Sanguio is Latin for blood. Al Dente means 'to the tooth' in Italian but it's the best I could come up with.)

She asked something that means "how much" and all I could think was "paqueno" is Spanish for small. Then it hit me "piccolo" is an Italian word for 'little' so I used it! "Piccolo sanguio"...umm...then "molto sanquio"...when I cleaned "dente". Yeah, it sucks but damnit that's all I could come up with!

She got the idea though and asked if the tooth wiggled. I said "piccolo" again.

She wanted to weigh the little turd but needed to remove "Scarpi". Shoes! How do I know this? There's a shoe-store called "scarpi y scarpi" with a picture of a high heel shoe on it. Bwahahaha! Yeah a crappy way to know the word, but it came in handy none the less.

So we get her weighted, and she asks me to wait for the Dr. So, we sat for a few (maybe 5 at the most) and the Dr. comes in.

He speaks much better English and double-checks what he's gotten from the nurse. Between the two of us (the nurse and I) we got it all correct and the Dr. didn't need to add anything.

He said the tooth looked fine. That she'd probably bleed for a little due to the trauma, but that there shouldn't be a problem. The gum would be tender, to give her Tylenol (he must deal with alot of American parents, as Tylenol is the US product, not the European one - sidenote the Brits call it Paracetamol instead of Acetamenphyn). He said to give her ice to chew on for the swelling and seemed quite pleased when I said she'd been chewing it the whole truck ride.

The Dr. cleared us to go on COT Monday. Said it shouldn't interfer with our vacation, just to make sure little turd eats soft food for the next 2-3 days.

He said I could wait for the interpetor if I wanted (yeah an hour and a half after calling still no interpetor). I waited for about 8 minutes (little kid was restless), called the Command Post back to tell them that I was done, no need for the interpetor. So that avenue probably won't be tried again, it was useless this time no reason to think it gonna be better if we need to go again, and knowing my kids we will.


I guess the point of this little tale is that we could survive at the local Italian hospital if all else fails. Just a very odd night was had last night.

Some St. Patrick's Day Videos

Yeah, I'm not Catholic and my family left Eire about 130 years ago, but just some videos for today. (No they're not all about booze, Eire, or shamrocks!)

**I'm only listing the pages as I know the videos can be hell to load on dial-up.**

Tribute To America - Garth Brooks

Standing Outside the Fire - Garth Brooks **A great song, and one of the greatest videos themes out there.**

For You - Johhny Cash and Dave Matthews (from the "We Were Soldiers Once" soundtrack)

Beer For My Horses - Toby Keith and Willie Nelson (Two of my favorite country stars of yesterday through today)

Now, go out and have a Guiness, Kiss and Irishman (or lass), and toast the good St. Patrick who cleared the snakes from Eire.

News From CentCom

Better known as the boys and girls in the DCUs from the Horn of Africa throughout the Middle East and into Eastern Asia.

This is the text of the statement General John. P. Abizaid, Commander United States Army Central Command gave to the Senate Armed Services Committee on 14 March 2006. It is 2006 Posture of the United States Central Command. It deals with where the US CentCom stands on the WOT, what challenges are expected, and how the folks under CentCom's command will meet those challenges.

It's a long read, but well worth it.

The Refridgerator Meme

Well now, I like Memes, but this one is one-of-a-kind. Zippo the Pirate asks us for "Take a picture of your refrigerator. You know the one,", and so I am doing as the pirate commands (don't want to walk the plank you see).

Here is Zippo's, with his commentary on just what's what on his fridge. I'm sorry...Wards Signature Avacado Green 1974.


Well sorry, mine's just plain ol' USAF housing white, but here it is in all it's non-glory.


**Alright, hopefully the photos are showing now. Sorry, been having some Blogger issues of late.**


My children's art skills are on prominent display on the bottom half (notice the TEXAS magnet...thank you very much!). You can tell we live overseas as we have an AAFES Culligan delivery number, and the Tricare Europe phone-numbers magnet. We also sport "Harry Potter and the Prizoner of Azkaban" magnets, and of course a "support the troops" magnet.





Okay we've got kid photos, like every other parent on Earth! Also note the "I Love Mom" letters from the 7 year-old. Awww!

I've got 'box tops for education' tags for school, and a baggie of Dum-Dum wrappers so the little heathens can order their catalog stuff. We've got several pizza and chinese food menus and cards, along with the school bus route info. Also notice the second Harry magnet (the 7 year-old LOVES Harry Potter stories). We've got a magnet from Germany (the coocoo clock) and one for RAF Fairford (the only one of the set for all the bases we visited to survive the move).

We've got one for my birth month (hidious color and flower I say), one for TEXAS again, and several 'shake & bake' ones from almost a decade ago. They used to have more photos in them but as the one with the gum can attest Mommy couldn't salvage them...so I need to print more.





Okay, so I showed you mine, you show me your's. ;)

Iraq as seen by the Iraqis

Today is the third article by the Stars and Stripes Ombudsman about the Global WOT and how Stripes (and the 'mainstream' press) covers it.

Today's article is about how Iraqis view the situation in Iraq. While S&S can't been said to cover all the Iraqis, you'll get a better idea of Iraq from Iraqi eyes if you read the S&S. They actually report on anti-terror Iraqis, not just those who like to blow-up other Iraqis.

I agree with the Ombudsman that the coverage could be better, but considering no US papers are even TRYING to cover it from the side the S&S are (the average Iraqi not 'feel bad for the terrorists'), the information Stripes provides on a regular basis is quite endepth.

He goes on to state that Stripes needs more journalists embedded with the troops to cover a wider range of stories. I'd very much like to see Stripes get more reporters in the field, but even with the few they have now they are making vast inroads into what's actually going on in Iraq and Afghanistan versus what the MSM brings you everyday. ("Iraq worse under US than Saddam "springs readily to mind...stop beatin' a dead horse ya'll!)

Tomorrow's article will deal with how S&S' reporting on Afghanistan fits into their WOT coverage. I hope you'll click on through to read it yourself. The Stars & Stripes link can be found under Military News Links on the left-hand sidebar.


Maybe if we start sending S&S coverage to the MSM they'll take the honest journalistic approach and do their own investigation of their coverage. (Nah, why let things like readers and content get in the way of hating bushilterchimpymcshrub...They've got that down to a science.)

English Anyone?

Being the fiend for languages that I am, I just had to steal this one from GuyK.

Reasons why the English language is so hard to learn:

1) The bandage was wound around the wound.
2) The farm was used to produce produce.
3) The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
4) We must polish the Polish furniture.
5) He could lead if he would get the lead out.
6) The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.
7) Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.
8) A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.
9) When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.
10) I did not object to the object.
11) The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
12) There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.
13) They were too close to the door to close it.
14) The buck does funny things when the does are present.
15) A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.
16) To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.
17) The wind was too strong to wind the sail.
18) After a number of injections my jaw got number.
19) Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.
20) I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.
21) How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?

Let's face it - English is a crazy language. There is no egg in eggplant nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins weren't invented in England nor French fries in France.

Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat. We take English for granted. But if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.

And why is it that writers write but fingers don't fing, grocers don't groce and hammers don't ham? If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth beeth? One goose, 2 geese. So one moose, 2 meese? One index, 2 indices?

Doesn't it seem crazy that you can make amends but not one amend. If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it?

If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?

Sometimes I think all the English speakers should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane. In what language do people:

Recite at a play and play at a recital?

Ship by truck and send cargo by ship?

Have noses that run and feet that smell?

How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites?

You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house ca! n burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out and in which, an alarm goes off by going on.

English was invented by people, not computers, and it reflects the creativity of the human race, which, of course, is not a race at all. That is why, when the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible.

PS: Why doesn't "buick" rhyme with "quick"?


Don't forget to visit GuyK for your daily dose of American humor. Just remember your "couth drops" as Guy says, and you'll be fine. ;)

Day Two - Stars and Stripes

Today is the second day the Stars and Stripes Ombudsman is looking into Stripes coverage of the WOT.

Today's coverage is about how S&S presents military outlooks (with direct articles) versus what's being reported in the states (wire stories carried by the S&S to show what's being seen in the US). Stripes comes out quite well in their WOT coverage, so far. Tommorrow will deal with what kind of articles S&S is publishing showing how Iraqis feel and are dealing with us being there.

You can read more about the purpose of these articles here, as well as finding a link to the first article.


All in all Stars and Stripes is one of the least prejudiced papers around, and they strive to show the good, the bad, and the ugly of what it's like where US troops are, and just how it's being spun to the folks back 'home' in the states. I would seriously suggest that if you need a dose of what life on the ground is like (be it in Europe, the Middle East, or Asia) that you read Stars and Stripes, the military's "hometown newspaper".

Template Stuff

Okay, I've opted to delete several of my shorter posts, and condense them into one. Here's how it goes on the template so far:

1. I expanded the center column. Is this a better fit than before?

2. I changed the text coloration. Is this more readable?

3. I've changed the text size on the sidebars. Any comments or suggestions?

4. Does anyone know what all codes need to be deleted to make Blogger Comments a thing of the past? I prefer the control I can have, versus spammers and idiots, with Haloscan.

5. Does anyone know how to code the page so that I don't have to use < font >? (It's unsuported in the latest form of XTML. I should be using CSS instead but have only the most basic grasp upon it.) I want my font to be Times New Roman.

6. My new Swicki search engine is on the right-hand sidebar, under the 'helpul links' area. It's designed to "learn" from the searches used, so USE it! Teach my swicki, please! :)

7. Any other suggestions are more than welcome. Leave a comment or e-mail me at:
a_texan_abroad@yahoo.com

New Template and Stuff

Okay, I've got a new template. I think I've got all the same goodies as before, just moved around a bit (Pooh went to the footer). Well, minus the CRAPPY Google shit. No more Google ads, no more Google search. You can FUCK OFF you little Red-boot-likin' wannabes! "Don't do evil" my ass!!

I've got Swicki! A totally customizable search engine. Why don't you give it a spin? It's pretty damn cool - oh and a word of warning, I'm not your Net Nanny, I've allowed 'adult' searches.

Well, I'm still workin' on getting Haloscan back up and running. Until then I'm stuck with Blogger comments and no trackback, sorry!


Let me know if any of the colors are hard to read, or if you really like (or loath) something with the template. I'll take feedback, and may actually even apply it. ;)

Blog Photos

Dirty Bastards!

Google thinks they're smart folks. Not as smart as me technology wise (that's a put-down buttheads!). As soon as I posted on Google wippin' certain sites from their search-engines my ENTIRE template (minus about 2 lines at the top) disappeared! GONE from the 'Template' page and I haven't tweeked it in a couple of days. If I was a suspicious person (I am) I'd think there was a message invovled, espeically with Google owning Blogger.

Hhhhhmmmm, let's see if my posts remain, shall we??

Where is "The People's Cube"?

Google ERASED IT!! And so Google's rolling over and lickin' Chinese boots begins in ernest.

Tell me boys and girls, how much of the internet's traffic depends on SEARCH ENGINGES? And what happens when a SEARCH ENGINE BANS you?? You in effect cease to exist.

When did we make Google the arbitor of what sites are and aren't searchable??

**Hat Tips to Anti-Idiotarian Rottweiler & Right As Usual**

Stars and Stripes Ombudsman on Iraq Coverage

Today starts the first in a series of 4 articles, about the Stars and Stripes WOT Coverage. There will be more articles, but this is the what they will cover:

This study focused on five questions:

* Have the opinions of reporters and news executives shown through the Stripes coverage?
* To what degree has Stripes been able to provide “a balance” to the daily attacks that are part of this different kind of war?
* To what degree has Stripes been able to provide coverage of “what life is like” on the ground for American military personnel?
* To what degree has Stripes been able to provide coverage of “what life is like” for Iraqi civilians?
* And how does coverage of Afghanistan fit into the Stripes approach?

This column will address the first question. Subsequent columns this week will address the other questions.

The article takes the AP to task for publishing opinion and conjecture as fact and news. Score 1 for the S&S!

The article quotes an Editorial Director for S&S having issues with publishing the recent Zogby poll everyone lies to quote. WHY? Because it's difficult for professional newsmen to understand due to it's "anti-war activist" commissioner, it's "ambiguity" of wording, and lack of perspective (which S&S tried to supply in their reporting - they did, I read all their articles on it since). Score 2 for S&S!

So, now we've got newmen, PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS (that's so stressed by the MSM in relation to us "pajama wearing" bloggers with "no credentals") questioning the coverage S&S has given to the issues. When are their fellow 'newsmen' going to do the same thing?

I've only scratched the surface of the article, by the way. Go read it all and make your own decision.

BRAVO STARS AND STRIPES for listening to, and responding to, your readers! I'm almost always happy with the balance in the paper, and I'm extremely pleased you're listening to your readership. I will continue to read and enjoy every issue. Thank you for having integrity in reporting the NEWS and showing BOTH sides. It is a trait seriously lacking in US news.

COT Commeth!

6 Days, we'll be on the plane and then in TEXAS!!!! YEA TEXAS!!!! (Can you tell I'm excited? What was the giveaway?? Was it TEXAS!!!! by any chance?)


My bag is packed, I packed the bag for heathens 1, 2 & 3 (that sounds Suesical you know, 'thing 1 and thing 2'). I even fit clothes for all 3 girls, plus shoes and dressy clothes in ONE suitcase...I don't I'll ever be able to accomplish that feat again. I'm working on carry-ons and hope ya'll have some suggestions. Specifically snack suggestions. Tomorrow's payday so I can go get the goodies to pack in the other carry-on that way. We're entittled to 5 carry-ons but I'm not that insane. That would make 8 bags, plus 3 carseats and 1 stroller. I'm nuts, but not that nuts!


Anyhoo, I need to decide what's going on the carry-ons for the heathens. I've got a change of clothes for all of us (minus hubby...). I'm going to pack their Leap-pads (need to find their headphones), a couple of color books (AAFES has NO color-wonder stuff here ar at Vicenza...bastardes!) and colors but I need some 'junk food' ideas. Not like loaded with nothin' but sugar (3 planes ya'll, 15 & 1/2 hours in the air, another 4 in lay-over time if all goes to schedule). Well you can suggest all-sugar if YOU plan on pickin' 'em up at YOUR airport.


I'm thinkin' a box of Capri Sun drinks (they travel well and can get 'squished' without exploding - within the bounds of reason, thus why I'll be double-baggin' 'em). Some Scooby Snacks (made with juice but I don't kid myself on the sugar content). I'm thinkin' some Kix in a baggie (or 3 - that way no fights) plus some Mutli-grain Cheerios (my kids love 'em). Any other suggestions? No fruit or veggies as I'm afraid they'd get destroyed beyond my ability to clean the bags out. *Just what I would need, the dogs keying on us for squishy bananas.* Leave a comment if you have a suggestion on snacking stuff, for me and hubby too.


I plan on taking a big ol' bottle of water with me on the plane and a book. Unlike hubby I sleep like the dead, even on planes. And since we're getting up at 03:30 Monday morning, I'm GOING TO SLEEP on the plane, AS ARE MY CHILDREN!!


I've confirmed our flights to the states. I need to reconfirm on Saturday night/Sunday morning. We've got the middle of the frikin' plane from Deutchland to Dulles, but 3 rows in the 2-&-2 plane from Dulles to SA (hubby is none too happy about that). We'll have to get our seat assignments at Venice for the flight into Germany, she couldn't do it via her computer. Oh well, we're shooting for about 3 hours early, should be able to be one of the firsts in line (Europeans have the same timeframes we do but apparently don't as a continent own watches), hopefully making it no problem to get our seats all together or row after row if it's a 2-&-2 config.


Alright, since Crimson and Lorelie both helped me out on my earlier book question, both of you send me an e-mail so I can get your addresses and any items you might like. Lorelie you can have something from Texas if you want as you can get all the same Italian stuff I can. :)

AGH!!!

Oh VEY! I HATE technology sometimes. I can't get my stupid fax machine to work, and I need to fax some stuff, ASAHP.


Oh great HP Gods, please convince my poor little all-in-one printer to allow my fax to go through. I will offer up a new color and black printer cartridge in thanks.


Sheesh!!

'Saving' Sucidal People

Well now, California has come up with a new low in the idiocy games. Beats out TEXAS politics anyday.

Apparently the ONLY way to 'save' sucidal people is to bild larger fences on bridges. Not spend money on mental health, oh no we have to STOP them from being able to jump over the edge.

I know, how 'bout break their knees? It's cheaper, and will solve the problem permanently if not set properly. That's about as good and idea as the one proposed by Dr. Mel Blaustein, head of psychiatry at St. Francis Hospital and president of the Psychiatric Foundation of Northern California.

There do seem to be SOME working braincells in California. Miracle of miracles, an architect possesses them.

"If we were to take care of all of the life-threatening circumstances of the public environment, we'd be walking around in a padded cell. We might take a look at the Golden Gate Bridge and decide there is some kind of attraction there that can be fixed, but I don't think we want to fence off everything that could possibly be a place someone might commit suicide.''

So who will win out? My bet is the 'Dr.' will sue and California will fold to his demands. And no mental health issues will be addressed, but we'll come closer to the "padded cell". In that case, who exactly 'wins' as society looses it's freedom of movement and view??

E-mail Publication Subscription

Okay, I tried the Atom/RSS feed and it didn't have good results. (I'm not that tech savy, and neither are alot of my family.)

Anyhoo, NOTR (ROFASIX) made a suggestion to use an e-mail subscription, and I tested it. Works fine for me, so I thought I'd add it to this page as well.

So just type in your e-mail address and you should get a notification e-mail when I update. Might come in handy for when we're on COT (ONE WEEK BABY!!) so that ya'll know if I update, and when.

I'm so thoughtful. ;)

Search Help Please!!

UGH!! I can't locate what I'm lookin' for to save my life. I've checked Amazon, Books A Million, Overstock, eBay (shocked the don't have it), Half Price, Wal Mart and have done as many Google searches as I can before loosing my mind! I'm asking my more tech-savy readers, or those that want a search to amuse themselves, if they can locate it for me. Please? Pretty please with sugar on top?? Heck, I'll even throw in some whipped cream and a cherry.


What I want is to find a copy of Hugo's Latin in 3 months. NOT Latin-American Spanish (hablo espanol, no necessita mas libro para espanol).

It's published by Hugo's Language Books, Woodbridge, Suffolk, UK but I can't find their website, or their contact details. I, being the bookfiend I am, thought that I'd be able to track a copy down really easily. Well, I was WRONG!! I stand seriously corrected, and jonsin' for a book. The copy I had was a plain yellow cover with just the black wording of Hugo's Latin in 3 months printed on it.

I'm afraid the book went out of print, and I can't locate one. I've been brushing up on my Latin, and happened to have that book ordered in by my library from RAF Lakenheath. Well, I want to own a copy myself, but I can't find one to buy. Please, feed my addiction. PLEASE!!!

Soooo, anyone who can find it for me might just get an Italian reward. So, get them fingers walkin' and find me somewhere to buy that book, por favor?!?

Quoting Me

The basic rules for anyone that wishes to quote me. (Pay attention those who are at Aviano, I won't repeat it again...)


1. Use my actual words. I give you enough cannon-fodder, you really don't need to cherry-pick 'em.


2. Provide proper context to my words. Fits well with #1.


3. Don't be stupid enough to make it so that I can provide the proper words and context to that you wished to start shit with.


4. Do not attempt to get my husband's FS involved. See that lovely little disclaimer on the right-hand side of my blog? Right there under my photo? Yeah, this is what is says, for those too wantonly stupid to read it:

All views expressed on this blog are the sole product of the author. They do NOT reflect the veiws of my husband, the USAF, the DOD or the US government, though somtimes I wish they did. No link on this page should be construed as an endorcement by the linkee of A Texan Abroad (thought I hope they enjoy it).

(That there disclaimer is purely voluntary folks, the DoD can't touch me, the USAF can't touch me, USAFE can't touch me, the 31st Fighter Wing can't touch me, I got those words straight from the Pentagon - I'm a USAF SPOUSE (yeah, pay attention to that designator) repeat SPOUSE. I am not held to the UCMJ. I have a CONSTIUTIONAL RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH. No jumped up USAF person (or their too-damn-nosy-for-their-own-good spouse) is going to illegally take it from me, nor are you going to attempt to punish my husband for anything I write - take heed, I won't play nice next time.)


This is the only warning I will give. Harrass me again folks, and I will become your worst nightmare. You don't really want to turn one of your staunghest supporters into someone who's entire purpose will be to make your job into a living, unending hell.


That is all.

A new 'button'?

Well, maybe, I don't know yet...

Remember Casey?

Apparently his sainted mother doesn't. Casey STILL doesn't have a gravestone. 18+ months and NO STONE? But Cindy swears she loves her kids and family and is doing this for them (in addition to ALL Americans - unless you call her on it, ofcourse). So all-loving mother-Sheehan, a simple question for you...

WHERE IS CASEY'S GRAVE STONE??



Hat Tips to Angry in the Great White North, Blackfive, SMASH

Thanks!