Make Them Pay

"Hello, Sir, welcome to the Astrodome... I see you have a car registered in your name?"
"Yes"
"Here is your cot, your blanket, and your bill. Have a nice day."

"In Arizona, under the so-called "Stupid Motorist Law", municipalities and rescue agencies can charge people for the cost of being rescued if they fail to observe posted warnings"
This means for those idiots who choose to try to drive across flooded roads, the drivers will be charged for the cost of their rescue, up to $2000.00.

Now I may get shit for this- but of the 100,000 people left stranded in New Orleans, how many of them REALLY had no means to get out? Probably not many... If they could get to the super-dome, they most likely could have gotten to Baton Rouge. Excepting of course those in wheelchairs and beds, taken there from nursing facilities an hospitals... how many could have left but didn't? There may no have been an open room where they went- but hey, they are sleeping in a stadium now, so what's the difference of sleeping in a car?

I am not saying this blindly mind you. We used to live close to Pontchartrain... Even close to the 17th street levee that broke. We met people there. Never in my LIFE have I seen a community so very steeped in arrogance and poverty... and more than happy to stay that way. Up until the last minute, I am sure there were those thinking they were going to "get lucky again", and decided to stay. I remember driving through the suburban areas way outside of the French Quarter, to see folks sitting in their rocking chairs on ramshackle porches, with yards falling to complete shit, and peeling paint on their homes.... they were just a'rockin. Not one or two houses- whole neighborhoods... these weren't even the "slums". It is just the attitude there. They are "Southern Folk." It's the way it is, leave it be.

Hey, Genius- you live in a canyon surrounded by water, so, why not stay when the experts say the levees probably won't hold a category 4 storm? Because it is arrogant and stupid, that's why.

The people left behind who are indigent and were unable to evacuate, my heart goes out to them. The geriatric, the bed-ridden... But the rest of you dumb bastards? I hope the city and state charge you for your ignorance, just like Arizona does to assholes who drive across flooded roads. I will happily give my taxes to help clean up the town, repair the levees, and get New orleans back on it's feet, but it pisses me off to know part of those funds are going to pay for frickon busses to get your dumb ass out of town 5 days after a mandatory evacuation was called for.

I can't watch the news anymore... I don't want to have to throw a damned shoe at the silly bastards who didn't leave New Orleans when they were able.

In other news?!

I can't watch the news anymore. Beyond the stupid asses crying on the news about how they are stuck in the city of New Orleans because they didn't leave sooner- it bugs me to know that over 800 people were killed in Iraq yesterday and I haven't heard SHIT about it from the US Media. Why? Because the only thing that matters to American Media is Americans. There was even a media source who said that Europe is not covering it. That is complete bullshit...they are just covering everything else too. This is the attitude that leads the world to generally think of us as a bunch of dickheads. My prediction? You won't see shit on the news about anything else until the 11th, when the media shifts slightly to cover the 4th anniversary of the WTC.
It sucks.

Wuss

I just returned from getting my beautiful son from his second day of school.
Having grown up between Phoenix and Las Vegas, I have always considered myself a desert rat. A spoiled woman who hates humidity, and thinks that any count of moisture above 15% is muggy. I always, always had air conditioning in my house, and since my mother is akin to Nanook of the North, the house was always 65 degrees year round. It could have been 118 degrees outside, it was winter in our house.

Then we got our PCS to Germany- The land of no Air Conditioning, not even in most cars. Having lived here for three years, it seem my body has forgotten where it come from. It is about 90 degrees on my patio, and to me it feels sweltering. As i walked home from the school across an unshaded basketball court, I felt the first stages of spontaneous combustion from beneath my shirt. Now that I am home and in front of my fans, I can cool off enough to jump in the shower and remove the film of perspiration that has drenched my bra, and threatened to prune up my tits, like bath water does to ones fingers.

In my defense it is about 40% humidity outside. When I was in the shade, with a slight breeze blowing on my face, it felt pretty nice. The temperature officially is reading in the low 80's... but my WEST facing patio, and WEST facing non-solar reducing kitchen windows make for a different reading. The temperature on that white tiled piece of unshaded glare reflecting dog shit is about 95 degrees- and the sun ain't done out there yet.... since it doesn't set here until about 8:15 p.m.

I am off to shower... I may just stay in there until sunset.

Dentists....

My son is at the dentist right now, having a tooth pulled out. That brave kid who a few months back went through the torture of drilling and capping of his first cavity now has a tooth abscess from that said same tooth.

I was thinking today about where my entire phobic dislike of dentistry comes from, and I am pretty sure it is based in an incident when I was a child. I fell out of a car door, because I was sleeping against it, and ate curb. I don't remember much about he ensuing dentist's appointments, other than it being painful. (I was 5 years old.) Given a lifetime of other appointments with dental professionals, I have developed a full grown case of the wiggins at the mere thought of sitting in that chair, smelling the room, hearing the drill....

I just can't imagine why anyone would want to be a dentist. Not that it is a bad thing- I mean, it is a noble and much needed profession, to help others with their smiles, and be a doctor, I just can't imagine how it comes about in someone's life... who says to themselves, "I want to grow up and stick my fingers into other people's mouths for a living."? Nasty. All I can think of is Steve Martin in "Little Shop Of Horrors", having a talent for causing things pain.
I suppose I am short sighted ad narrow minded... maybe I am just that wigged out by the whole thing. Our friend who left here last year- she was a hygienist- and I asked her how she could stand it. Never really got much of an answer- she thought I was being funny. She also quit doing it in lieu of a bank job a few months later.

In any case, my big boy bounced out this morning with a smile on his face, promising to be a brave boy, like he was before, because the doctor was going to make him numb. I'll update later with his progress. I will more than likely be employed with making soothing soup for the afternoon. THAT is a job I can get into.

It Worries Me, That's All.

It's called idiopathic toe walking.

My son walks on his toes. Not just sometimes. Always. I took him to he doctor last year to have them look at the problem, and peds promptly sent me to a pediatric orthopedic surgeon, (granted he didn't speak very good english and he was 4 towns away), who assured me he would "grow out of it". Thats was over a year ago. He has been walking this way for so very long now, it is hard to remember when it started. In 2 days he will be starting first grade, and in 2 short months, he will be seven years old. The doctor said since he can walk normally when prompted it is nothing to really worry about... Of course a year ago, when prompted, his normal walking was far more...normal looking.

So, you did go to medical school, right doc? Any idea of when I can expect my son to be able to walk normally, or is i likely you bastards will put off doing anything about it until he ruins his calf muscles and tendons, and has to end up as the class retard in Forrest Gump leg braces? AT what point does it go from habit to problem requiring intervention? Maybe you think the peer pressure of a sound ass beating from other kids making fun of the way he walks will help him out grow it?

He can't run either. As he runs on his toes, he can be bested by a 4 year old in a foot race. He falls down far more than he should. It is certainly not a lack of trying on our part. One might think we are nuts by listening to our household throughout the day. "Toes. Toes, Brenden. Toes. Heels first. Walk flat. Toes. TOES. TOES!!!"

I am at a compete loss of what to do about it. He started soccer last week, and it was emotionally painful for me to watch him be out run, and out kicked by every other little boy on the team, because he lacks the necessary balance of using his whole foot. My upset is not something he noticed. He was having a great time. We were the smiling, waving, supportive parents across the field.... Our quiet discussion to each other was far different.

Something has to be done, even if I have to choke out every doctor in pediatrics, orthopedics, and neurology.... and I will, too.

Bad Idea

Saying only this...
When one has had a recent surgery, it is a painful experience to get up and down, on and off the floor to do CPR skill training on mannequins... especially when to do it properly, one has kneel and sit on their feet, thusly putting weight on the surgical site.

Today had a tendency to make me a bit bitchy.

Dog Ass...

Been spending the last 2 days in the FCC classes to get my license for child care. I am dead ass, dragging tired... Feels like lead in my eyelids... My body hurts from 8 hours in a damn uncomfortable chair-
All around I feel like a 10 pound can of "smashed assholes in shit gravy".
I am just glad I didn't waste time with make-up this morning; that would have been another 10 minutes I wasn't sleeping.As it was, I didn't get much sleep. Ran errands, came home, got the family and went to soccer practice to watch my kids run crazy, and not listen to the coach's directions. Amongst the screw about was watching my son make armpit farts with the other boys, using his hand that he slathered with spit, while waiting for his turn to kick.
Can't rest now though. Kids need bathed, dishes need washed and I have a proverbial mountain of laundry needing folding that my husband sorted and washed for me today.
Tomorrow is CPR and First Aid Certification day... Then more training on thursday.
Maybe later this month I will have time for the nervous breakdown I so desperately deserve.

Busy

Long weekend, busy week ahead. Will write when I get home from my Child Care Classes.
Just didn't want you fretting, Rodney. :)
Later I will no doubt be expressing my outrage at these so-called scientists who are trying to push evolution out of the schools in favor of "intelligent design".
I believe in God, I am a Christian... but it just doesn't make sense.

Read Here

Just a Game

I have spoken to Heidi and apparently it is a common theme among men.
They hate to lose. Especially at video games. They cuss, and bounce in their seats, they jerk the controllers and grind their teeth. Heidi has more extensive experience in this field, as she has the husband and two boys who squat in her living room, and zone out into the worlds of Xbox Live and Pogo.com. I am watching my son play Vex, and he is talking to the monsters on the screen, saying "Take that, evil guy". He gets pissy at times too, and he is only 6. Heidi has regaled me with stories of her household males and their freakish behavior, controllers in hand... I believe she has even threatened to take the games away. It's nuts.
I grew up with the ultimate good sport; my dad. (Then again, every time I have broken out the cards and cribbage board in the last few years, he has gotten a little pouty.) I suppose growing up with a good loser is why I feel ill prepared for this temper tantrum type behavior from the guys in the house and those I play with online. Even one of the guys I play scrabble with will bail out on a game if he is getting whooped too badly.
It's ridiculous.
I got called the nastiest names yesterday while playing Halo 2, by some guy who I beat... not when the game was over, mind you, but all during game play... By the choice words he was referencing, he assumed I was a man; until the game was over and in the sweetest feminine voice I could muster, I said "Good Game". I am not entirely sure, but I think he growled at me. Growled. Perhaps it was insult to injury to get beat by a girl?
This is just something to accept about the male of the human species, I suppose... As I will spend all my life in vain by trying to convince men that "It's just a game."

Yes, I am Crazy...

The kids start school a week from Monday. Yay Woo. Its that light at the end of the tunnel. It's what I have been working towards since I decided to be a stay at home mom. I will probably cry my eyes out when I get back to an empty house.... at least for a few minutes. Right until I run through the house, then head off to a hot bath with lots of bubbles... and leave the bathroom door OPEN.
Next week, I start my classes for certification as a child care provider. I plan to do before ad after care. Which means I will drop kids off and pick them up after school, and keep them til mom and dad get off work. When I fully licensed, I will get $75-$80 a week per kid, and work from 7 AM til 8 AM, and then from 2 p.m. until about 5 p.m. I can have four kids here besides my own. So... $320.00 a week for part time work- that's good money by any standards. And tax free, as I earn it under a German Tax ID number.
Its a bit of a racket, I'll admit, but it is a service that needs provided. Being paid to stay at home and play with kids.... Fly kites, go to the park, walk in the woods, make snacks...
And, yes, I do take paypal!

And for the American Readers...

I see this commercial all the time on the BBC Five. It's great. I even tracked down the song to buy. It's called Jaques Your Body. (Good workout song...)
Anyways... watch the video. It's worth the load time. On the bottom of the left hand side bar, you can watch or download the ad.
My son finds it especially entertaining, as he LOVES the transformers. So cool.

2 pounds

It doesn't seem like much...but thats what I have lost. 2 pounds. Of course, I just started on Sunday, so it is the first of many. Now that my ankle is about as good as it is going to get, I am back on the road to getting in shape.
WooHoo for me.

Spinning My Wheels

I made an appointment with my doctor to get a general physical and thereby get my pass for the Family Child Care License. At 10:20 this morning, I thought I would be well on my way to financial success and home employment. Contrary to my hopes this is NOT what happened.
After digging through three toy boxes and locating 4 shoes for two kids, I finally got out of the house about 20 minutes late, and arrived amazingly at the doctor's office on time. Whilst the kids read books, (an activity usually associated with quiet, except in my case), I sorted through the papers I needed signed. When I got into the office, I was asked for my clearance from immunizations. Not only do I have to do all this foot work, but I have to do it in a specific order. So, down the stairs and across the parking lot I go to the shot people. Do I have that paperwork? Fuck, no. I have to have a TB test first- so now it will be Thursday before I can get my shit done, which sucks, as you can't even SEE where they put the scratch test now.
I attempted to call my husband at work from the clinic and got a bust signal, so I figured I would head over there, as I had paperwork I needed him to get signed- hence the phone call. By the time I got back to base, via Burger King to quiet the screaming wails of starvation from the back seat, my beloved was not there.
Okay... So, let's go get the groceries, we'll try after that. The commissary is a horrible place, but less so during the afternoon hours in the middle of the week. The terror of picking through produce you know every other person in the KMC has touched, trying to find unbruised apples and ripe nectarines
is troublesome at best. I am a fast shopper though. I blew 185 dollars in about 40 minutes and ran for the door... at the car I lost the 5 dollar bill, as it had been caught by the wind and blown under the passenger side tire. Did I get another one? Fuck, no. I got down there and dug it out.... can't just not tip the bagger.
Off to daddy's work again, we got no answer at his desk. I try again. No answer.Just at that moment, one of his coworkers zooms up in a bright blue shiny sports car... (I expect to see a young guy jump out- it's a middle aged man... driving up fast.... in a shiny sports car... hmmm... anyways.... )
I give him the paperwork and ask him to deliver it unto my husband. Which I am hoping he did.
I got home and tried to break my hand lugging about 10 bags of food up four flights of stairs, and I sit at the computer to rest a second, and see if anyone called while I was out getting nothing accomplished.
There is an icy cold glass of water on the desk, and the browser is open to a page I didn't leave it on... and look at that... an empty bag of cheese popcorn. He was here. I was looking for him and he was here, obviously enjoying a healthy lunch of junky food... and he took the recycling down (bonus). Had I but known, I would have skipped the extra shit and came right home so he could break his hand on grocery bags too.
This is the part where I do the heavy sigh... and try to plan Thursday to be more productive than today.

Vice

'Tis true I have few vices.... Well, few I will admit to in front of a global reading audience. But one of my addictions is playing Halo 2.

It is an odd past time for a woman, I'll admit, and my rather Kathleen Turner style voice seems to make my blending in with the guys easy... So I play on live, and at times on Kai XLink. Both are great fun.
My favorite thing? Shooting my dad (and our personal friends). We do this almost nightly. It passes the time, and has a seriously stress easing quality I have ne'er found anywhere else. My aim is to get the "heavy sigh" of frustration from my dad over the microphone. It is happening less and less as he improves his game, but on a good night, I can still get one.
My unfavorite thing is getting my ass handed to me by a bunch of foul-mouthed shit-talking 10 year olds, who I can only assume are holed up in their rooms while mom and dad are downstairs, completely oblivious to the "Fuck yous" and "Take that bitch's" muffled by behind their child's closed door. The kids are far worse than the grown ups the game was intended for. Would that I could just kick their asses and teach them a lesson...but kids like these do nothing BUT play the game, and are far superior to me... You would never know this by their ranks, of course.
In their infinite bravery in the game, they haven't the sack to go ask mommy to buy them a real membership to Xbox Live, and come up with a new persona every two months, therein resetting their online stats to newbie status. Little imps. I hate them all.... and one day... I'll be good enough to kill them too.

Dinner and a show

Four kids, four adults, small tables and slow-ass service.... The entertainment factor of watching the four adults try to keep control of said kids as well as their own patience as they wait endlessly to be fed... fighting the urge to reach out and choke the ever living shit out of the waitress whom we are sure is starving us on purpose to fulfill some sick sadistic impulse.

Just got home from dinner at Chili's... It is very close to stateside Chili's, but it is missing the crucial awesome blossom thing. Good dinner, great company, as we went with the Watsons.
Last night I got flowers from my husband- red and yellow roses. They are damn pretty, if I do say so myself...
It was a late night, as I was drinking something that looked rather innocuous, but ended up kicking my ass a little bit. No hangover, so i didn't over indulge. Except at dinner. Heidi and I went out for Mexican food only to fill ourselves so sickly full on chips and dip, as to hardly touch our entrees. Good times. The guys went out for a going away party, and Kevin seems to be suffering a little from it today. he had a good time though. Always good for the men folk to go out ad be men folk, and let us women folk be women.
You know those girl's nights when you can freely talk about the trials of motherhood... those evenings when girls can chat about periods and acne and cramps and child birth without the men rolling their eyes and looking for a desperate escape from the uncomfortable topic at hand. We also get to sit around and talk mostly about the men... we compare notes and roll OUR eyes at the stupid shit they do, in a way we can't when they are around. It is an age old tradition of women through the millennia, and it is great fun.
I have come to regret as of late that we didn't get to know Scott and Heidi better, sooner. They will be leaving here next year, and as all military families do, we will have to start over making friends with new people.... and that can be a bit of a crap shoot, as you never know if you are going to end up with a great set of friends to have dinner with and drink beers together; or a couple you avoid like the plague and make nice with only at the "mandated" holiday functions. It has that uncertainty type of apprehension to it, and it sucks...
At least we have them here for now, and I can delude myself now in the bliss of the friends we have thus far made, ignoring the impending departure they will make in the spring.

Traffic

I have joined blog explosion.
It serves two functions... it brings new blogs to my screen for me to read while I am drinking my coffee. Always a good thing. They also bring new people to my blog, so they can read. Also a good thing...so for all you blog explosion peoples out there- welcome to my madness.

Other traffic... I have to go run errands today. I am procrastinating, as the idea of facing the Stau on the Autobahn on the way to Ramstein is just totally killing the good vibes I am getting from listening to swing music and watching Rachel dance in circles. She is of course doing this in the middle of the living room, in front of the TV, pissing off her older brother because he is trying to play Vexx. It's such a wonderful dynamic of a relationship they have.
Today's errands include Family Advocacy and the Ramstein Cop Shop to get paperwork for the Family Child Care deal signed... mmmmm... Ramstein parking. (Blech) I am also sending a letter to my friend in Vegas- the missing one- in hopes he still lives in the same house. A big wait and see, I suppose.
Lets see, what else, I have to go to the BX for cat food- since the Commissary doesn't sell Science Diet Cat Food.... and the Commissary, since the BX doesn't sell milk. Could they make the shit any more a pain in the ass?
Tonight, the men folk are going to a guys night out going away party. Oh Joyous day... We shall be going to have dinner in their absence as a form of female libation.

Damn... and it just keeps getting later... nagging me that I should get my bra on and go. Stupid errands.

Political Quiz

This is WAY too funny....

Geo Bush Loyalty Quiz

My Results:

The George W. Bush Loyalty Quiz

10 Questions to Test Your Allegiance to President Bush

Your score is 1 on a scale of 1 to 10. You hate Bush with a writhing passion. You think he is an idiot, a liar, and a warmonger who has been a miserable failure as president. Nothing would give you greater pleasure than seeing him run out of the White House, except maybe seeing him dragged away in handcuffs.

This is not to say I am a big democrat fan either. I think the two sides of government in fighting is a bad idea all around. Too bad I can't vote in primaries, being an independent type of voter and refuse to align myself with either side to make myself a part of one sides' numbers.
(There my not be any easy answers out there... but there has to be better than we got now.)

They have a few political quizzes on this page... Enjoy...post your results in the comments.

Kids and Questions

The 5 year olds train of thought....

"Mommy, are you mopping?"
"Yes, I am."
"Why?"
"Because the floor needs mopped."
"Oh.... Is the mop wet?"
"Um... yes, you just saw me put it in the water, right?"
"Does that mean I can't have lunch?"
"Not right now, it's not lunch time."
"You mean because the floor is wet?"
"No, because it's not lunch time yet."
"When is lunch time?"
"Same time as every day."
"You mean we can't eat until dinner?!" (she is getting whiny and hysterical.)
"No, we eat lunch at lunch time. We eat dinner at dinner time."
"What comes after Wednesday?"
"Thursday."
"Do we eat lunch on Thursday? Can I have a cookie after dinner? How did you make oatmeal cookies?"
(I had to pick a question to answer, so I went with the last one.)
"I baked them."
"You mean you make them from oatmeal, like from breakfast? Leftovers? ....Where does oatmeal come from?"
"They grow it."
"Where?"
"In oatmeal fields, I guess."
"Oh. What's for lunch?"
"I don't know."
"Can I pick it?"
"Sure."
"So, what can I pick?"

Six (almost 7) year old reproduction:
Last night my son saw a woman on TV giving birth on the show "Third Watch".
"Why do they say push?"
"Because she has to push."
"Push what?"
"The baby."
"Out of her tummy?"
"Yes."
"Does it come out of her belly button?"
"Um... no."
"Where does it come from? They reached between her legs. Is that where it comes from? Like her butt or something?"
"Um... between her legs yes, not her butt." (I am not going to lie to him)
"How does it get in there?
"I don't think you are old enough to understand yet, baby, okay?"
"Just tell me."
"It's complicated. I can't explain is so that you will understand. When you are older okay?"
"Sigh. Okay. Will you tell me tomorrow? I will be older tomorrow..."
"Not tomorrow."
"Fine... (huff and puff)"

I am exhausted.

TKS BS

Spent the day ass deep in emails and phone calls.

TKS is full of heaping steaming piles of bullshit...this is the only thing I have discovered for sure.

I have tracked down he right people in the military who may be able to help me affect a change in the policies of TKS, however, it is not a change in the policy of the military. Neither the Army nor the Air Force demands the cable company block my IP from my neighbor as a measure of security. I knew they were full of crap. I knew it.
It all boils down now to a matter of principle. They are shoveling bollox at me hoping it will make me go away. They have only succeeded to piss me off. A lot.
I don't know if anything will change- we are trying to send this through the proper channels to get things done... but at least now I can go to sleep with a sense of self righteous vindication of the fact that I am not crazy &/or wrong.

Aggrevation

Imagine, if you will, taking a ten yard full blown run towards a brick wall and hitting it full speed with your head...
This is what it is like trying to get an answer from TKS Cable Service.
They sent me to ARMY HQ in Mannheim to track down the policy regarding internal IP blocking. What was their answer, you ask... "Who is TKS?"
I did some internet reading to find out that Mannheim and the 5th signal command turned over control of the communications workings, including housing, in may of 1977... that's right.. 1977.
The USAF has no idea who would control this, as I have so far been able to find out. The comm guys at Ramstein have no idea who to talk to, except of course TKS. Even a search of the name that TKS gave me returns nothing. Bogus, yes?
I am waiting for a call back from TKS. I am hoping (against all odds) that they provide me with a name and phone number and an email address of this ghost who controls this policy and contract saying that my neighbor is a security threat and risk.
(1977?!)
It is more than an answer I now seek. It is a reckoning.

Celebrations

As I went to bed last night, and cried myself to sleep, asking... the ceiling, I suppose... Why did you do this to yourself, I finally fell asleep and had odd and disturbing dreams.
I was of course, not talking to the ceiling, but to the memory of a departed friend. One I should have been calling today to rub in the fact that he was 32 and I'm not. Although I can deal with death, suicide for me has been most difficult. Here I am, a year later, still angry and trying to come to terms with the means of his disappearance from this earth. It is my way today to pull a Scarlet O'Hara, and think about it tomorrow.

On the up side of my life, my husband offered to take me out tonight, despite a massive hang over from the consumption of the "Jack-of-daniels" last night. He is so sweet. I also took part in last evening's libations, but did not wake up with that nasty little gremlin with the huge jack hammer in my head, laughing a nasty evil laugh, as he chipped away pieces of my skull. I lucked out. I just don't feel much like playing nickels tonight.
So we shall be staying in, and taking gleeful note of the things the last nine years of togetherness have brought us. There are times when Kevin's tendencies towards being a homebody can drive me a little bat shit. Tonight it is my turn to just want to sit around the house, barefoot and bra-less and maybe share an intimate dessert with him after the kids are abed... two 30-something people, side by side on the couch with messy hair, ugly pants and baggy shirts, eating from the same Ben and Jerry's tub, while watching sci-fi shows and sitcoms.
That is the definition of growing old together, right? There are days when I am sure we must be the most settled 30-somethings I know. Shit, we don't even bother to fight anymore. Despite our faults and short comings, I think we both have it pretty good... and that's what to take note of on one's anniversary.

So break out the junk food and pour me an ice tea in a spaghetti sauce jar! We're celebrating!

Weekend Plans

We are fast approaching the "big" August weekend. As the smell of baked chicken wafts through my house, I am thinking and planning tomorrow night's dinner, where we will probably host the Watson's. I am thinking Lasagna. Easy to make and serves a crowd rather well.
Tomorrow is my mother's birthday... Here she is crashed out from jet lag on my couch last year. I am sure to hear at least a minor complaint from her for posting this pic. :)
So happy B-day, "old woman". She is to be 51. She gets to have Olive Garden for her birthday. I am most jealous. When we get back to the. states, I plan to hit every Olive Garden and Jack in the Box between Sierra Vista, and Las Vegas.
Saturday night, we plan to drop the kids off with Auntie Heidi, and have a nice dinner, then go play nickels. Should be a blast.
August sixth is sure to be a bit of an emotionally mixed day, as it would have been my best friend's 32nd birthday. He won't be having one this year... dead people usually don't care for parties. I miss him much. Especially his laugh.
The husband is complaining that he doesn't want chicken for dinner. Tough shit, since it is all but ready now. He did, after all, get to have his junk food tacos last night. I am the cook. I am the master of the kitchen- and I DON'T do requests.

Blocking Internal IPs???!!!

We have just given an incredible amount of money to Microsucks... something that I usually would NOT condone- in order to play online games with our friend here on base.
Our ISP is the ONLY One in the world we have ever heard of or can find who BLOCKS internal ip addresses from seeing each other.
Why? They say security.This is complete bollox, of course. There are keeping us secure from a handful of other on base military users? I am severely pissed off. The reason they are in no danger of losing any business from this? The US Government was nice enough to give TKS a monopolized contract for all cable and internet services on base. It goes beyond that.... If we wanted to switch to TKS DSL? No way. Out of the question. They have a contract to provide just certain services to certain homes. It's slow cable, medium cable or fast cable for our house. Such a wide variety of options! NOT.
Wanna get a Sky box and watch British TV? Tough titty.
The Germans have yet to catch on to the concept of customer service- especially within major companies. They feel you have no choice, so why should they work for your business...
I am posting the letter here in hopes of it spreading out there that TKS needs to fix this problem... even if it takes people who live on base bitching at them until their ears bleed to do it.
If you happen to be a military member in Germany- join the fight. This company is a division of Verizon. In the states, they believe in customer service- lest you take your money to Sprint. You can find the contact form for TKS HERE. Write them and tell them... well... that it is asinine to "protect" us from the guy next door.

We have purchased $200.00 worth of software to be able to play games online with our friend who lives a few buildings down the way from us here on Vogelweh. We have called your service representatives regarding the blocking of internal IP addresses pinging each other, and been told that there is absolutely nothing that can be done, as it is TKS policy to block these IP addresses. We were also informed by the representative that TKS receives many calls regarding this matter from unhappy customers on base.
As of yet I have not been able to find another single ISP in the WORLD that does this, for security reasons or otherwise.
It is the user's responsibility to protect his computer from attacks, and those attacks can come from outside your net as well as from within. If the only reason to block internal IP addresses is to protect the security of the end user's computers, then I feel you are censoring the users who are least likely to be at risk from one another, as we are all military here. As the US Military we are reminded DAILY of the importance of anti-virus and anti piracy software. It is not TKS's responsibility nor right to block my IP from anyone else. That, if anyone's, is my job.
Your blocking is protecting us from each other?... a maximum of approximately 10,000 other users?... and the rest of the internet is free to ping our IP addresses? It is a means without an end, and frankly, nothing but an inconvenience, and a waste of the money we, as users spend on software offered to us at the base exchanges to play games. If there was another cable company in the world that did this, I am sure their business would suffer for it. It is unfair that TKS uses it's on base monopoly to govern our internet usage.
I would like to know how we get this policy and blocking changed. Whose decision is/was it to implement it in the first place? What would TKS require of the users to change the policy? Please do not write me back and placate me with a simple answer and tell me there is nothing to be done. I require a name, an action... something that can be done, as I know I am not the only person on base who has run across this problem, nor made a complaint.
By the time we leave Germany we will have paid TKS over ten thousand dollars for service. I would like my money's worth, and the self determination to protect my own computer from other users... and use my computer to play games online with other users; even if you think that they are a risk living right next door.

Shopping

I am married to an incredible man... and an incredible geek.
With the impending approach of our anniversary in less than a week, I am again having my gift panic attacks. In the past, I have tried to stick by the general rules of what Kevin likes- that is to say- anything with a plug that has lights on the front that blink is a good gift. At least it used to be. So often in the past few years I have gotten the "I love you for trying" look when he opens his gift. Consequently, I have found myself standing in the return line the next day.
I could go with the old stand by and get him clothes- but he HATES that. I may not have to return the shirts or pants, but I get the disappointed look that one usually only sees on the face of children Christmas morning when they don't get that sling shot they asked for.

Two years ago, we had been talking about a new game system, and the subject bounced back and forth between PS2 and Xbox. When I felt secure in his desire for a PS2, I went and got one. I wrapped it. I put a pretty bow on it. I was proud of myself... He wanted an Xbox.
Yes, I did. I returned it, and got the Xbox kit. The complete set that included a controller.
I presented it to my beloved- Happy Birthday, take two. Although my pride was dampened, I did get him what he wanted, and ultimately saved face....or so I thought.
Another dismal failure, as I had to return that one too- getting the set with the big controller and no game instead of the one with the s-type controller and a driving game. Of course, they were the same price, and I had failed to notice this. Yep, I returned that one too.
What one must realize is, by the end of all this, I was completely flustered, and the idea of gift giving was a nuisance and a big fat pain in my ass... all the joy in it was gone.
His last birthday, I got him a die-sublimation printer. Returned it, as it did not print anything bigger than a 4x6. Last Christmas, bought a new stereo with lots of fun features for the car. Returned that too- it was missing a certain type of wire harness. I got instead a season of Seinfeld (stupid ass show that he likes). I returned that too. It's really beyond funny at this point.
Add to all this the strain of trying to find that perfect something or other at the local AAFES Power Zone. It's beyond the needle in the haystack- it is trying to find something that may or may not exsist. Like looking for microbes with a magnifying glass.
So often I go in there for one specific thing, and end up settling for something else. When it comes to bestowing gifts on the husband, "settling" gets me another trip to the customer service desk, receipt in hand, and tail tucked so far between my legs that it tickles my nose.
I was thinking a flat screen monitor for our anniversary, maybe a new hard drive... but I am as gun shy as a Kennedy... and with good cause. Maybe I should just write him a check. It may prove easier and less stressful in the end, even though it would cause me great heartache to not give him something personal. Apparently I suck at personal.

Shrink

This thursday I will be going for an appointment with the local Head Shrinker. Why? Well, since I went back on BC pills to help control my female problems, my bipolar brain has been thrown completely off balance... and it was a delicate balance to start with. Let's face it- there are days when not losing it is like walking a tight rope of spider silk.
Awakening this morning, the kids were playing quietly and nicely together- somehow the injection of me into the room changed all that, as they began fighting immediately. Not just the mediocre bickering, mind you, but the full fledged crying, screaming, and throwing match that is every parents nightmare. I half expect them to pull off their kid masks to see little demon minions under the faux rubber front; green and drooling with sharp teeth and long frito like fingernails... sent here from the mouth of hell to test my vigilance, patience, and love.
For the moment I have confined them to time out, across the room from each other. Now we are having the "Stop looking at me" argument. I have been out of bed all of 20 minutes and it has yet to stop, and I wonder when it might.
When, Lord, when will the endless drone of high pitched wails and moans come to a blissful end? When will the children cease the innumerable tirades and rants of anger and deceit towards each other? My daughter taunts him, he reacts. All of which pisses me off more... She should not egg him on- on the flip side- he should not react so that she will stop antagonizing him.
No wonder I need a shrink. Being an only child, I am ill prepared for this type of behavior, no matter how many times I am told it is normal.
The bald spots on my head from yanking out tufts of hair may start showing soon. Hopefully doctor head shrinker can give me some practical advice and maybe some kind of resources to assist me in managing my own instabilities. Those which have at this point become a far back seat to the "Stop looking at me" fight that is still going on.