Help somebody

Hurricane Katrina is the biggest natural disaster this country has seen since the turn of the 20th century. I realize we are "the wealthiest nation in the world", but that doesn't mean our citizens are all filthy rich. The people most affected by this storm are poor, or elderly, or both. They need help, as quickly as possible. If you can help in any way, be it financially, with food donations, with blood donations, or any other assistance, PLEASE DO SO! Every single one of us would hope some kind souls would come to our aid in the wake of such devastation, so please do everything you can to help those in need today. You can click the banner at the top of this page for the Red Cross, they will help you help others. If you don't want to go through Red Cross, please be careful who you are sending donations to. Donate to well known charities and organizations, because the sad truth is con artists will use this disaster to steal money from good samaritans.

A little Wednesday Lovin'

Daddy and Madison sharing the love


A rare moment of calm with these two


Th mohawk boys

Share thy frugal tricks!

**Going into full geek Mom mode**
I'm a bit obsessed with saving money, considering we're facing giving up our firstborn to fill up the gas tank. (I might complain, but I do like the kid!) So... I've been on a savings spree, trying to squeeze every possible penny out of every dollar. This area gets SUCKY coupons, and the commissary (unlike Ft. Hood, where I was SPOILED) has sucky selection and no military coupons. All of that means my grocery bill makes me want to curl up in the corner and cry, or at least pop a blood vessel or two. I've hunted down the best online coupons, but they have to be really good for me to print out since ink costs more than vital organs. I'm going to use an off post grocery with better deals, except for a few things I get MUCH cheaper on post. (Like milk, because dammit we go through a lot!) So, spill your best money saving tips. How do you live a comfortable life on a shoestring budget? What's your average grocery bill, how many are in your family, and how often do you shop? Groceries aside, what do you do to pinch pennies? Come on, don't be shy, we're all cheapskates at heart!!
**If you are a big spender, or LOADED, you need not respond, because we all hate you. Just kidding... sort of**

Venezuela

Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez has been heavily criticized by the US. Then he offers reduced oil prices to poor Americans, eye care to those who cannot afford it in American, and after Katrina he was the FIRST (and so far the only I've heard about) to offer aid. Food, manpower, water, and fuel, he offered this to us to help the victims of the hurricane. We offer BILLIONS in aid to most of the world, and when American needs a hand the first to step up is someone who has been badmouthed and even threatened by our country. I don't really know, or care, what our administration has against this man, but I have to say he's a stand up guy.

He can do it!!

Right now I'm sitting outside watching Shane ride his bike. That's right, he finally figured it out!! He's as proud as a peacock right now, he's been riding for a couple days, and getting better with each lap around the carport. Maddie is still uninterested, she likes to lead her bike around by the handlebars, like a prized showdog. Either way, I wish I could bottle up the joy on my son's face at his newest accomplishment. It almost makes up for all the times he drives me nuts. ALMOST.

Fair Trade

Will trade 2 healthy children, one male, one female, for 1 Venti Caramel Frap and a dozen Krispy Kremes. Please call (800)GONENUTS. Thank you.

The path of Katrina

All of those in Katrina's path are in our thoughts tonight, and through the week. This is frightening, even to those of us who are "used" to hurricanes. Please stay safe, and check in when you can.

Will blog for...

Some of my more attentive readers may notice I've added a couple things to my sidebar. Money things, to be exact. I hate to seem like a beggar, or someone who blogs to make money, but I decided to add the Paypal "donate" button and the Amazon.com associates program. So, if any of you are ever feeling generous, and want to help fund my now canceled trip to see Cori (I was actually going to get to see MY CORI during N's deployment, since we've been the best of friends for almost 2 years, but have never seen face to face!!) you now know how to do so. Of course, I'll lavish you with love and affection if you DO decide to share the wealth, but I'll still love you if you don't! Even better, the Amazon.com thing is just a click through to shop, and they pay me a couple cents, so if you are doing your Amazon.com Holiday shopping, could you go through my site? I'll have to go through someone else's since I can't use my own, and last year it looked like Amazon threw up in my bedroom at Christmas time! So, consider this my one and only greedy "send me money" post, y'all know how to do it if you want to. *wink*

Proof it's genetic

This is the scene at my house today. Please ignore the messy slipcovers, and witness the dorkiness. N's sleeve is up because he's airing out his smallpox vaccine, YUM! Note the socks up to his knees. Jake's pants have a big ass hole on the behind (more of a slice taken out of them), but I figured I'd spare you the photo.

Sunday, Muddy Sunday

We all slept in today, kids included, and that is always a good thing. Family breakfast (we do special family breakfast on Sunday) was homemade cinnamon raisin bread. YUM! It's a boring, rainy Sunday, negating any plans we had for spending the day in the sun and fresh air. Instead, the kids made crafts with the colored macaroni, the boys are playing Madden on the PS2, and I'm perched on the couch with the laptop. Since we bought it planning for N to take it to Iraq, I now get it as an early birthday present. (*cough* My birthday is next month if any of you are feeling generous!! *cough*) I mean, if we're gonna pay for the damn thing, might as well get good use, and I assure you I'm using it at every possible moment.

My son is the weirdest child ever. He's spent the day so far wearing his windbreaker jacket, complete with the hood, and walking around on plastic plates from a tea set. Strange little creature, but considering his daddy and uncle are both wearing hunter orange skullies indoors, I can see where he gets it.

I have a backache, added to the near constant headaches I've had lately. I'm not a happy camper, as Mortin, a bath, and being propped up on the couch are not helping. I'm way too young to feel this old. Anyone know a good chiropractor? In the meantime I'm going to break out the exercise ball and do some of the back stretches Tish recommended.

That sums up my boring day so far, what are you up to this weekend?

Macaroni Bread

Every once in a while you hear a truly priceless line, one that makes the speaker immediately think "What the hell did I just say?!" Tonight it was Nate's turn to humor us. I was downstairs dyeing macaroni by shaking it in a jar with food coloring. When I came upstairs, Nate asked me what I was shaking downstairs, and I said "macaroni." A few minutes later, while making bread, I came upstairs to use the scissors, cutting open a package of yeast. Nate says to me "What are you making? Bread?" I told him I was, and he replied "Macaroni bread?" with an incredulous look on his face. As soon as the words left his mouth his brother and I turned to look at him, like "Are you kidding?"
"Macaroni bread?! No honey, I'm making raisin bread for tomorrow. I was coloring macaroni for the kids to make crafts. What the hell is that?!" Needless to say, after laughing our asses off, I told him "I'm blogging this!!" He protested, but what is marital bliss when you have a blog to fill?! Now, can anyone share the recipe for the macaroni bread?

The Ball

Here are the pictures from the ball last night. One thing I learned upon uploading the pictures is not many people can work my camera properly, as proven by the blurry shots. Jake (my brother-in-law who is staying with us for a few weeks) did ok on the "pre-ball" shots, though I didn't realize at the time that the front door was open.

Us before leaving


Another shot of us, the pics don't do my dress justice, it was gorgeous!

The "Official Party" sat between those 2 screen, which displayed the unit crest. There was also a slideshow of the unit in Iraq, and a slideshow of the fallen soldiers from our unit. There was a beautiful tribute table for one, with an overturned wine glass, a pinch of salt, a slice of lemon, a slice of bread, a rose, and a candle. Each one represented something, like the salt is the tears shed by the soldier's family, the lemon is the bitterness of battle, the overturned glass is the soldier's inability to drink with us, etc. I'd list them all, but I can't remember the exact meanings, and don't want to screw it up. In front of the table was a stand with a rifle, boots, a helmet, and dogtags, honoring those lost.


This was our original table, we ended up moving (and be seated with a bunch of officers, can you say "out of place?") The weirdest thing, they set out the desserts before anything else, so by the time all of the cocktail hour, official stuff, and dinner was finished, the dessert was quite room tempurature. It was still yummy though.


This is one of the guys N works with, who was quite toasted by the time he captured us and demanded pictures for his mom. He was quite entertaining, and TALL!


It was a nice evening, we didn't really know anyone there, so we felt a bit out of place, but we got to dress up, and I met the people N will be working under. The man who he will be gunner for (he's high up on the chain, but damned if I remember how high) raved about N and his work ethic and assured me they will be promoting him ASAP. See, Nate gave up a rank to come back in, and every time we look at his uniform in the lower rank, it makes us see red. It's a money thing, sure, but mainly it's a respect thing, he worked hard to get to his positions, and had to sort of start over. Certainly not a problem, but it was nice to see his command acknowledge his hard work last night.

No title needed

I'm pretty dumbfounded by the addition of Walter Reed Army Medical Center to the BRAC list. For those of you not following this, the Base Realignment and Closure is working on closing some military installations, and moving divisions from one base to another. (Ft. Riley is slated for a big shake up in that, as well as Ft. Hood, where we call home) Anyway, a surprising addition added to the Pentagon's original list by the BRAC commission is Walter Reed. This is where soldiers go to rehab after war injuries, vets go for treatment, it's a MAJOR deal. That would be like closing the Mayo clinic or something, it's the best facility the military has. I simply cannot imgaine them closing it, considering how important this hospital is in military healthcare. I guess we'll wait and see, what else can we do?

Fancy pants

We're getting all dolled up tomorrow to head to a military ball, for N's unit. It's actually the first formal event he and I have been to, so we're pretty excited. I'll be posting pictures this weekend, so y'all can see that we clean up pretty nice. **wink**
So... where the hell is everyone? What are y'all up to? The land o' blogs has been so quiet, I'm begining to wonder if everyone ran away without telling me. Do I need to send out the search party?

Whiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnneeeeeeee!

Ok, so who is bringing the cheese? Because Maddie woke up with a serious case of the whines! Everything that comes out of her mouth is in that nasal-y whimpering voice, and makes me want to stick sharp objects into my eardrums. Pass the Motrin!

All domesticated and shit

I was putting on some shoes to go outside and smoke (Yes, Tish! I know I need to QUIT!! Love ya!!) and noticed something unusual. N's boots were yucky and dirty, not shined for work tomorrow. He's usually on top of such things, but has been feeling stressed lately, so maybe he forgot, or just doesn't care tonight. Either way, I want him to have nice shiny boots for the morning, so what's a gal to do? I decided to shine them myself. I've never shined boots before, and usually have him shine mine if they are looking a bit scuffed. Either way, I've seen him do it enough times to be able to figure it out, right? I mean how hard can this be?! Well, it wasn't very hard, but only god knows if I did it right or not. N will undoubtedly be grateful simply because I put in the effort, and he's appreciative like that. He is way too sweet to tell me if I totally screwed the pooch in my attempt, he'd rather grin and bear it than hurt my feelings. Still, they look better than they did.



Why am I babble-assing about shoe polish and the such? Well, one, because I can, and two, because I'm a total domestic. I love all things household, like crafts, and baking, and ironing my husband's uniforms. It's so un-pc to say that, but I do. I enjoy making my home and family look good. I was talking to Cori, and of course, this is one more thing we have in common. We're both in our 20s, yet we do "grandma" things like crochet and sew, and we could totally see ourselves in a 50's housewife role. I wasn't raised in a traditional household, I'm the child of a single mother, and later a blended family, step-dad and "half" siblings. I come from strong, self-sufficient women, but most of us have that Suzy homemaker side. My Aunt Susan taught me how to make pies (I need a refresher course next time I visit, as I've given up on my crusts), my Grammy taught me to make all kinds of cookies. I first learned to use a sewing machine on an old table model that my great-grandmom had. Now don't get me wrong, I don't serve my family like their butler and maid, and N will argue with me to no end about how it's not my JOB to iron his uniform, but when it's all said and done, it makes me happy. I'd like to think I've found the balance between equality and housewife, the balance of roles in a home. Perhaps it's because I am the "head" of some important areas (ie: finances), and not just the "little wife", that I can take pleasure in my homemaker role. In the opposite corner, my husband feels it is his duty to provide for our family, but if I'd LIKE to work, go to school, whatever, that is my option. We don't force roles on each other, and we split the ones no one wants. So, are you an independant wonder woman, or a domestic diva? Are you happy with your role, or would you love to switch places? What makes your hosuehold work? (sidenote to single parents: you take on ALL responsibility, and having been in your shoes, I tip my hat to you!!)

Life is normal

Life is officially back to normal in the Insanity household, or as normal as can be expected. Run errands, care for kids, cook, clean, and so on. I've had headaches all week, which make for a cranky and unimaginative mommy, but things are moving along. The kids keep surprising me with stuff, like Shane telling me "Thank you for making dinner, Mommy!" without being prompted. Every once in a while they do something like that, and make me think they aren't total brats. (OK, I'm kidding, my kids are amazing little creatures, and I love them more than anything!) Still, it's nice when they are feeling generous with their compliments.
Today included a trip to the mall, as well as a haircut. Thankfully, the stylist was able to fix the not so great cut that I got last month, so I'm pretty happy about that. I'll post pictures later. I promise I'll come up with something more interesting to read soon, so I don't bore you to death. Oh, and a new look is coming, so stay tuned to see my gorgeous new digs!

Nevermind

As of right now, N is NOT deploying. I know this seems like a good thing, but he was supposed to leave in a few days, and was fully prepared to go (looking forward to the opportunity, actually) and they dropped a little wrench in the plans. By telling us "He's going, 110% sure of it" and then waiting until the final hours to change their minds, they have screwed us mentally and financially. We're pretty pissed about all of that. Regardless, thank you for your well wishes and concerns, it means a lot. Regularly scheduled blogging to follow.

Peekaboo!

Just so everyone knows, I'm still alive, and well. (At least as well as I can be!) I'll be pretty scarce this week, N is leaving soon, I know y'all understand. If you pop in, don't forget to say "Hi!" or drop me an email, so I know you haven't forgotten about me!

Oh, and go say Hi to Cori, who is so glad to be amongst the bloggers!

Self Portrait Friday!!

Todays theme is what gets you worked up, stressed out, worn out. I adore my family, but they sure can wear me out!! I may add another picture later of something else that wears me out, but right now I need to CLEAN! The in-laws are coming, the IN-LAWS ARE COMING! **wink** Go visit Katy, and see who else played SPF!