April 27, 2012: Five Question Friday

1. Do you make your kids finish all the food on their plates?
No. A very emphatic NO. I don't force feed my kids. I do have rules though. They have to at least try everything I serve them. They aren't allowed to say that they don't like something they've never tried. If they don't finish their food, they don't get an after dinner snack or dessert. If you're not hungry enough to eat dinner, then you're not hungry enough to eat junk. (You can't have any pudding if you don't eat your meat.)

2. Do you give an allowance?
Yes. We give an allowance to our kids based on their age and what they contribute to their home.
 
3. Do you actually park your car in the garage?
Heck no. Our garage is barely big enough to fit our junk in let alone our junk and a car. 
 
4. What is one food you will NEVER cook?
Veal or lamb. I don't eat nor would I cook baby animals. Or rabbit. I have rabbits as pets. I don't eat them.
 
5. Do you have anything exciting planned for the summer?

Nope. We'll take our annual trip to Sea World but other than that, no plans. No trips planned and I don't think anyone has plans to visit us either. 

Plant vs Weed: Week 6...And Other Stuff

There's not much to report on Plantweed this week. Still growing and being eaten by snails. Plantweed did get a nice soaking last night though. We had a good amount of rain come through the area, which was nice. Here's a picture that I took yesterday, April 25th.

In other news...

I just finished one of the most painful classes I've ever taken. It was called Shakespeare Power and Justice or something to that effect. I'm not a fan, nor have I ever been, of Shakespeare. I can read it, understand it, and appreciate it as classic literary works but I would never read Shakespeare for "fun". To make matters worse, I had to argue why I think Shakespeare is still relevant enough to have a place in today's high school curriculum. I'm not so sure how much I actually believe that. The language is obscure, the themes are outdated (I managed to argue very convincingly that they aren't ;)) and I think the time spent on teaching and interpreting his plays could be better spent elsewhere. Like teaching teenagers that "ur", "okaay", "kk", and "fuk" are not correct spellings and when to use their, there, they're, its, it's, and other commonly misused and misspelled words. Ironically enough, the play that I think has the most modern relevance is Coriolanus and it's one of Shakespeare's most obscure plays that has only been produced as a play and/or movie a handful of times. Ralph Fiennes directed and starred in the movie last year as a matter of fact. Did you know that? I didn't until I started doing some research. It was so "popular" that it has made less than $700,000 since it's release in the U.S.

Anyway, I'm glad that class is over and that I have fulfilled that requirement and never have to take another Shakespeare class again. Thank you very much!

And FYI...

I'm thinking of imparting the importance of using your turn signal by accosting drivers, ripping out the turn signal handle in their car and shoving it in a very specific place that they won't forget that it's there.

I'm also thinking about driving around my neighborhood until I find the yapping dog that is left outside to freaking yap at 6 o freaking clock in the gosh freaking morning and kicking its owner until it stops yapping.

I have anger issues this week. I need to live on some remote mountain somewhere that's accessible only by helicopter so that I can't get away from inconsiderate people.

Military Wife Meme

I found this blog hopping the other day. I thought it made good filler.

How did you and your spouse meet?
We met in 1995 after being set up by my ex-sister-in-law. She and the Mister used to work together.

How old were you when you two met?
We were both 17.

How long have you been together?
We officially started dating April of 1995. We'll be celebrating our 16th wedding anniversary in May.

Where are you and your spouse originally from?
We're both from Ohio. Not the same town though.

How did you feel about him joining the military?
At first I was against it. I didn't like the thought of him going off for 13 weeks for very tough training. We had a 14 month old at the time. It was tough. Eventually, I came around. Looking back, it was the best choice for us.

Where did your spouse go to Basic Training?
Parris Island, SC

Has your spouse ever been deployed?
Yeah. He's been to Japan and Afghanistan.

Ever been to his promotion ceremony?
Umm. I'm trying to think. I've been to several ceremonies over the years but I honestly can't remember if one of them was for a promotion.

How long have you been a military wife?
This September, it will be 15 years. Geez.

Did you marry him before or after he joined?
Before.

How did your husband propose?
He simply asked and I said yes.

Where did you get married?
The courthouse in Marion, Ohio.

How old were you two when you got married?
We were both 18. Young'uns.

Did he wear his uniform on your wedding day?
He wasn't a Marine yet, so no. We probably wouldn't have done the whole military wedding anyway.

Where are you and your spouse currently stationed?
MCAS Miramar in San Diego, CA.

Do you live on base?
We live in military housing but it's not on base. We've actually never lived on any base.

How long were you married when you had to go through your first separation?
Well, if we're going to count boot camp, we would have been married for two years by that time. If we're going to go by his first deployment, that would be after six years of marriage. He's been gone for so many different types of training over 15 years that I can't remember it all.

What is your favorite base so far?
My all time favorite base is MCB Camp Lejeune. It is the epitome of a Marine Corps base in my opinion. One time, I was driving along and all the sudden I start hearing explosions and I'm trying not to freak out. Then I see a sign for the grenade practice area, lol. We've only been stationed at two different bases over the years:  Miramar and Cherry Point. I liked them both for different reasons.

Does your spouse look good in his uniform?
Lol. Yes. I feel fortunate to be married to a man in uniform.

Do you think military life is more advanced than civilian life?
No. Just because we maybe experience more things or different things or live more places doesn't mean that military life is more advanced. I think the mere fact that the military is steeped in tradition and are usually the very last group of people to give up antiquated ideals makes us behind the times if anything. Military life may be tougher in some regards, that's for sure.

Do you like the benefits you receive as a military dependent?
I liked them a lot better 15 years ago before the DoD started whittling away at them. But yes, I like shopping at the commissary and being able to buy discounted tickets on base. I like going to Sea World once a year for free. I like having free movers. Tricare is, sadly, better than most other health insurance. It's better than my sister's who is a nurse. Explain that one. I suppose base housing is a benefit but I have a love/hate relationship with housing. So, yes.

Do you have a lot of military wife friends?
Not so much anymore. I have one neighbor that I'm friendly with but we're not confidants. Most of my friends are former military spouses. I have 2 or 3 military wives that I call friends. I don't get out much anymore, lol.

What is the hardest part of being a military wife?
Boy! This answer sure has changed a lot over the years. Recruiting duty would be at the top of the list by and far. That's only three years though. For the entire 15, being taken for granted as a built in babysitter is probably what I'm most resentful about.

Do you own any military wife stuff?
What's this supposed to mean? I don't have any stickers on my car. The only t-shirts I have are leftovers from recruiting duty and I consider them my "grubby day" t-shirts. I do have my Marine Corps jacket and sweatpants that I bought at Parris Island when the Mister graduated. The jacket still looks like new even though it survived three extremely harsh Vermont winters. The sweatpants have seen better days, lol. I have a D-ring keychain. OH! And I have a sign on my front door that says, "Home is where the Marine Corps Sends Us". I think that probably counts as "military wife stuff".

Do you support your spouse as a member of the military?
This is a dumb question. Then again, I know plenty of wives who have threatened divorce if their husbands reenlist. So, yes. I support my husband. I go where the Marine Corps sends him and do my best to overlook all the other bullshit.

April 20, 2012: Five Question Friday

1. Groceries are high right now what is easiest way you have found to cut back?

We don't do a whole lot of cutting back when it comes to groceries. If we need to cut back on the money that we spend on our total food bill, we stop eating out. I try doing the coupon thing every once in a while but I forget to use them more often than not. Something we used to do way back when the Mister was a PFC and then a Lance Corporal, we used to gather all the circulars from the local grocery stores. Then we would write down all the deals that they were having on items we wanted to buy. Then we would go to the commissary and compare prices. I would say that about 75% of the time or more, the commissary is cheaper. If there was something cheaper at another store though, we'd go grab it. Sometimes, this meant we shopped at 3-5 different stores. Albertsons has good deals on soda that the commissary rarely has though. Back then, this would have been 1999-2001 at the latest, gas prices were way cheaper than they are now so I don't even know if the minor savings would make up for the extra gas nowadays. 

2. What are the top 3 things on your "bucket list"?

• Move to Europe. Italy, England, Ireland, or Scotland are my top choices but not necessarily in that order.
• Get my Master's.
• Visit Yosemite.

 P.S. Those aren't necessarily my top 3 but rather what I could come up with offhand.

3. Would you rather give up AC or heat?

I've gone without both of these at one time or another. I would have to say I'd rather live without the AC. While this can be miserable, we've lost power in the middle of winter once in Vermont. It was actually a winter storm that knocked out the power. That was scary. I'll take miserable over scary.

4. What's your favorite cocktail??

Lychee Girl!!!! Then I would say Sangria (does Sangria count as a cocktail?), Mojito, Moscow Mule, and a Cosmo. In that order.

5. What was your first job & how old were you?

My first job was selling sweatshirts at a kiosk in the mall. I was 16 I think. Maybe 17 but I'm thinking 16. 

Plant vs Weed: Week 5

Snails are my nemesis. I've tried espresso and now eggshells and neither seem to be much of a deterrent at all. The day after I put eggs shells in two different pots, I go outside about 7:15 in the morning and there are snails hanging off my plants and SITTING on the shells. WTF?!?! The Mister finds this hilarious that snails are kicking my butt. But they seriously eating Plantweed. Grr! The next thing I'm going to try is copper wire. That is, if I can find it. Supposedly I can get copper wire at a craft store. We'll see. It's supposed to shock the snails, heheheh. Little devils.

Anyway, here's the latest picture of Plantweed taken on April 19th.

If you click on the picture to make it bigger, you can actually see the snail damage. You can also very clearly see my worthless eggshell barrier. I'm peeved. I also just noticed that I was a little too close to the pot for this picture. Sorry about that.

April 13, 2012: Five Question Friday

1. Who mows your grass?

 

It depends really. It first started out being the Oldest child's chore but she did such an incredibly lazy, lousy job at it, that she got fired. Then it became the Mister's chore. Now, he and I kind of share it. I used to refuse to do yard work because the way I figure it, I do the laundry, dust and vacuum, do the dishes, clean the bathrooms, etc., etc., so why the hell should I have to do yard work too?? But one day, I went out back for whatever reason and the lawnmower was sitting there. I decided to push it around a little and found that I like the work of it. I do the back part of the yard and the Mister does the side part and the edging with the trimmer. Housing does the front yard and all common areas though. 

2. Do you have a picture wall or picture gallery in your house (show us! <--- my addition to the question)?

 

Nope. No picture wall. I'm not big on hanging things on the wall. I have a few random whatevers here and there, but no groupings.

3. What book has influenced your thinking the most? Or, what blog? (I want to read what gets people thinking!)

 

This is a head scratcher. Still scratching my head. Hmm. Let's see...

 

Lately, I've been fascinated with Marie Antoinette's story. I think she got a really raw deal in history. I'm currently reading Secrets of Marie Antoinette:  A Collection of Letters by Olivier Bernier. I thought it was going to be a timeline of letters from Marie to her mother and vice versa as well as letters from the Comte de Mercy Argenteau to Maria Theresa (Marie's mother) and back. But the author interjects with his own thoughts and interpretations from time to time and it's clear he thinks Marie Antoinette was just stupid. His word. This novel really has me thinking right now. Back when I first read it, The Da Vinci Code really made me think too. I'm tired. This is all I can come up with right now.

4. Do you have allergies? If so, how do you handle it this time of year?

 

I have minor seasonal allergies. Nothing that really bugs me too awful much. Itchy eyes and nose mostly. If it gets to the point where I start feeling lousy a lot, I'll take an OTC allergy med. Most of the time though, I just keep tissues nearby and deal with it.

5. What's your go to meal to cook in an hurry?

 

I don't have one. If we're in a hurry for some reason, we'll either just eat out or throw a frozen meal in the microwave. 

Plant vs Weed: Week 4

I'm really beginning to think that Plantweed is actually a lily plant. Looking down in the middle of the largest plant, I can see what looks to be buds. It's just really hard to believe that something that I was growing managed to propagate on its own after being killed off by frost last year. If this really does turn out to be a lily plant, EVERYONE must go out and buy their own because they would have to be deemed the easiest flower to grow. ;) Well, aside from dandelions.

I still don't have the snails under control. The espresso didn't seem to work all that well and I keep forgetting to save my egg shells. Considering that Easter was this past Sunday and we colored a dozen eggs then turned them all into deviled eggs, I would have had a lot of egg shells. But alas, I forgot and we threw away the egg shells. Another suggestion was to put hair around plants because snails don't like to slither across hair. But the thought of doing that grosses me out. Yuck. Can you imagine a patio full of pots with hair in them?!? Eew! Shivers.

Oh. And one last thing about Plantweed:  There are seven individual Plantweeds in the pot. I discovered more young'uns while I was picking out snails this morning.

In other news...

My mother-in-law went home today after visiting us for nine days. We had an absolutely fantastic time. We did San Diego touristy things like going to the Children's Pool to gawk at the seals, dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe, shopping at Seaport Village, and we also took in an exciting Padres game. After the Padres game, she dropped the Mister and I off at the downtown Sheraton and we spent the night downtown and took in the Gaslamp. Too much of the Gaslamp to be honest, hehehe. I found two new yummy drinks that I love:  The Moscow Mule and the Lychee Girl. It had been so long since we've been out amongst people, that I had no idea what people are drinking nowadays. We sat at the bar and I watched the bartender making drinks and when she asked me what I wanted I said, "What did you just make in the mason jar?" When she told me it was a Lychee Girl, I told her that I'd take one of those. I did the same thing with the Moscow Mule which comes in a copper mug. Very cool drinks. We had so much fun. I'm sad that she went home today. Now what??

April 6, 2012: Five Question Friday

1. Would you prefer having people over for dinner or going to their house?

I'd rather just eat out somewhere I think. That way nobody has to do the dishes.

2. Favorite Bible verse and why?

Even though I'm not religious, I like the "Judge not lest you be judged" or however that goes. All I can hear in my head is Metallica's version, lol. I like it because it should apply to everyone, religious or not but hardly anyone actually abides by it.

3. What was the first concert you ever attended, and the most recent one?

The first concert I ever attended was Metallica in 1996. It was awesome. The most recent concert was the Foo Fighters last year. Best show ever.

4. The year is 2025. What are you doing, and what have you done?

Let's see. That's 13 years in the future. My kids are 26 and 29 and I am 48. I'm probably a grandma by this time. I'm either living in California or Italy. I would like to think that I've gotten my master's by this point (I mean, geez) and I'm working in a museum or in a library. What I'd really like to be doing is living in Europe and doing the historical research that I long to do.5. What's your favorite Easter treat?

I like the Reese's peanut butter eggs.

Plant vs Weed: Week 3

Other than growing, Plantweed hasn't done too much since last week. I did some research and found some things to try where the snails are concerned. First, I tried espresso. I had mixed results. While there are fewer snails, I still have snails. So, I'm going to try egg shells next. I just need to remember to save some egg shells. Here's this week's picture. I just snapped it a couple minutes ago.

As you can see, I have resisted the urge to pluck the two slivers in the pot even though I know they are weeds. They have to be. What else could they be?? I might be a bit hard to tell in this picture, but there are four Plantweeds growing and they are doing really well.

Until next week...