No time like knitting time!

We closed on our house today!  SO exciting & I am incredibly exhausted after spending close to 6 hours unpacking.  Our earnest money will be returned on Monday as the seller's attorney in CA dropped the ball by not sending their paperwork.  *sigh*

Our painter's partner quit yesterday so he was alone to do our job today.  He still managed to get our bedroom & the bugaboo's bedroom done.   Our realtor liked our bedroom color so much (Behr's Witch Hazel) that he took our sample home to show his wife!  Bugaboo chose pink for her walls (Behr's Delicate Bloom)  & it's very little girl chic as opposed to Pepto-Bismol nightmare.  He's coming back tomorrow to do the hallway, guest room & to start the living room.   We will probably hire him once we decide on the colors for our bathroom & Bugaboo's.  The wallpaper in the house is a little scary. 

We've met several of our neighbors so far & they've all been wonderful.  I think we're going to be very happy in our new (beautiful!) home!
 

It's very strange when you're playing tourist in a city where you spent 7 yrs of your life.  You know so much about where you're taking your co-travelers (what? It's a word!) but things have changed just enough to keep you on your toes.

It's also very strange (and somewhat disturbing  & sad) when you run into old friends & coworkers who tell you that people you've never met asked them about you.  "What was she like?"  "What is their daughter's name?" 

A return trip to VT is in the works, just waiting for the call.

I think everyone on here who knows me knows that I was married once before.  We divorced.   At any rate, I moved down here & sometime afterwards the emails started.

I've been called every name in the book & have been made privy to information about my ex & the women in his life that may or not be true.  I've ignored it, I've replied to the little troll & I've  forwarded the emails onto my ex.

Hunter has been aware of it from day one & we've experienced similar things from his ex and people claiming to be friends of hers.   We're thankful that our phone number is unlisted & unpublished.   

Last year I was signed up for a book of the month club.  This year I've received religious junk mail (anonymously sent, of course) & have been signed up for a dating service.  I received email saying that my ex commented on my paris pics & how it was tragic our plane didn't go down & leave our daughter an orphan. 

The reason I'm posting this here as opposed to my regular blog is because I believe the culprit is someone who may or may not still be on his list of friends here on LJ.

So little troll person who has such an interest in my boring little life.  Find someone new to annoy. Don't you think that 6 years is long enough?   Tom/Morgan has his own life & honestly I am happy that he has moved on, found peace w/in himself & is at a point in his life where he likes himself.  I dont begrudge him that as I too am at a point in my life (and have been for a while) where I truly love myself, who I am & what i have.  I'm not jealous of him & I'm sure he's not jealous of me.   

Find someone else to stalk.   I'm really not that exciting!

 

From Angela

This is a list of 200 things, bold (and put explanation in parenthesis if you want) if you've done them before...

Got in from Paris late Tuesday night---truly incredible!  I impressed myself w/ my rusty French (I used to be fluent once upon a time) & was mistaken for a local outside of Notre Dame.  

Will post pics etc after we get home (still in VA at the ILS) & I transfer the 500 something pics we took onto my laptop.  

There's an unofficial date.  I say unofficial because nothing is set until he is on the plane & it is in the air.  But a DATE!

Flight/hotel in Paris have been booked & paid in full.

Disney is booked & paid in full.

Hunter's car will be paid in full on Friday when it arrives from NC.

House is in the process of being cleaned.  

Outfits are picked out.  Must get mani/pedi & color hair.  

Could this tour really be done?   

Okay , you know how to  do this.  Select "shuffle songs" & enter the title in the header.  No skipping ahead just because the song doesn't fit!



Opening Credits:
Crazy Little Thing Called Love—Queen    Hmmmm, is this an 80’s movie?


Waking Up:
He Went to Paris—Jimmy Buffett.    So apparently he left me?  And so soon.  What gives?


First Day At School:
Radio Free Europe—REM     Ooh, it’s the late 80’s.


Falling In Love:
Just Go With Her—Toby Keith.    “You dont stay with the one you can live with.  It’s the one you can’t live without. . .”

Fight Song:
Rednecks—Randy Newman.       Hahahhaha!  Apparently I’m in the South in the 80’s!


Breaking Up:
Many Rivers to Cross—UB40   


Prom:
Viva Las Vegas—Elvis.  Oooooooooooooooh yeah!


Life:
She’s a Lady—Tom Jones

Driving:
Shambalaya—3 dog night   


Flashback:
River of Dreams---Billy Joel


Getting Back Together:
The Kids are All Right—Dropkick Murphys

Wedding:
Underneath the Bottle—Lou Reed.    If I could stop laughing I’d write something cute.  “oooh oooh weee, son of a b!”


Birth of Child:
Maggie’s farm---Bob Dylan.   If this was some crazy homebirth in a barn I dont want to know about it!


Final Battle:
We Didn’t Start the Fire---Billy Joel.      

Death Scene:

The Angels Wanna Wear My Red Shoes—Elvis Costello.        Been my theme song for years. 


Funeral Song:
Never Been to Spain—3 dog night.        I blame Hunter as he nixed Barcelona on our upcoming trip!

End Credits:
Cadillac Ranch—Bruce Springsteen.       

I really  hate when groups tell me what to do.  Earlier in the year the MOMS club I belong to told us not to consign w/ a certain group in town for their sale b/c 2 members had problems with them.  Funny, I've consigned w/ them (as have other friends) several times without incident so it's funny ho w suddenly these 2 people have problems.

I dont believe in strikes so here you go!  
 
The Wee One is painting this morning & I'm taking it easy.  I'm getting over a cold & stomach bug so we'll lay low most of today.  

We're under 60 days until homecoming!  No dates yet, just ,  big ol' window.  Finally, an end is in sight!

will you just shut the hell up?  There's a woman on a message board I frequent who is quite possibly THE most annoying twit on the face of the Earth.  (No, fellow Creepies, it's not anyone on our board or nc.com!)  She knows everything, has done everything & has seen it all.  I'm not saying she isn't intelligent--she is but her know-it-all attitude is so.freakin.annoying.  I realize it probably stems from self esteem issues IRL but she really makes viewing this board a labor of love!

I'm sure the fact that I'm sick is only adding to my dislike of this person.  On a happy note--the Wee One turns 4 in a couple weeks---HOW is this possible??  What happened to my baby?  It's insane how quickly time has passed & what a wonderful girl she's becoming.  So amazingly smart, sweet & funny.  The other day we were coming home from school & I asked what her little friend Hannah brought for show & tell.  From the back seat this little voice says "Mommy, I have food in my mouth.  I CANNOT talk to you now!"  The look on her face was priceless.   She helped me put away laundry & has been quite the little hug monster!   She's a riot when she talks to Hunter online, esp on webcam!  I cannot wait for him to come home so they can spend some much  needed Daddy/Wee One time together.

This past Tues. marked 1 yr since he left for Iraq.  The only good thing is that his next paycheck will have an extra 1k which all service members receive when they are deployed for more than 12 months.  His will pay for our plane fare to Europe this summer!  There IS an end in sight to this suck year!

Just for a minute.  Humor me.

I think I can say, without argument, that I have a personal interest in the war in Iraq.  My husband's winding down his 3rd combat tour (this one our longest---15 months) & I've lost more sleep, acquired more gray hairs, worry lines, upset stomachs (I get physically ill when he goes on a missioin) than anyone I know.  Certainly more than the average person who doesn't have a loved one over there.

So as I step up on my soap box I say this to you.  Who in their right ever lovin' mind thinks that pulling our troops out of Iraq is a good idea?  Oh I know, the Democratic candidates say they will bring the troops home.  Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiight.

History lesson people.  Germany & WWII----we STILL have troops there.  The war ended in 1945 & the Berlin Wall came down in 1989.  Yes, we are paring down our bases but still have troops there.  Korea--that little "police action" that was never declared a war.  Again, troops are still being sent there.   It's an unaccompanied tour for most.  Don't believe me?  Ask my friend Melissa whose husband came home from his 2nd combat tour in Iraq this past spring only to go to Korea without his wife, step sons & 2 yr old daughter who has spent a fraction of her life with her daddy.   Then of course, there's Bosnia.  Our involvement there was a mere drop in the bucket yet we continue to deploy soldiers to good ol' Bosnia.  

Yet people actually think that Hillary or Obama will bring the troops home??? Come on people!  You're smarter than that!   I'm not saying to vote Republican if that's not your political bent.  I'm just saying get a freakin grip on reality.  STOP telling me that I need to vote for the Dems b/c they'll bring my husbnad home & prevent 3ID from going back in 2010.  Pulling the troops would be a big, huge, the biggest, mistake.  (bonus points if you get the "big, huge, the biggest" reference!)

 

The wee one & I had lunch w/ his aunt from Richmond while we were in VA visiting the ILS on our way home from VT.  

After being gone for almost 3 weeks,  I have to say it's so nice to be home & I cannot wait to climb into my own bed!!

when you go shopping for pants only to discover you are the same size you were as a sophomore in college.  You know, when you had an eating disorder & were taking a couple dance classes a week?  Yeah, then!   I discovered this Saturday in the fitting room in Macy's while shopping for jeans as my old ones are several sizes too big!  YAY me!

Here I am w/ the wee one at our FRG's Halloween Party last week.    She's going to wear that costume again next month when we go see Disney on Ice.  It's all about the princesses so she will most likely lose her mind when they come out!!

R & R that is.  

We had a great time which was nice.  We had a wonderful time at the beach despite Tropical Depression "10" threatening us & were grateful for 2 semi-sunny days.  We want to go back next summer when he comes home----probably after we come home from Europe.  It would be a long weeekend trip which would be nice.

The Wee One has already told me this morning that she's "sad" & is "missing my Daddy".  Breaks my heart.

I did some retail therapy on the way home from the airport & found the Michael Kors bag I had been looking for!  YAY!  A stila shadow & lip gloss later & we were on our way home.  

I slept well, all things considered & woke up at 4 to a phone call from Hunter saying he was in Ireland & would call when he got back "over there"

The wee one & I are going to run errands this morning (return the other MK purse I bought ---color is my 2nd choice, go pick up my ipod ---the one we bought was defective & they had to get a replacement in from another store, go to the grocery store for milk & a few other things.  Maybe pick up The Jungle Book DVD & have a lazy afternoon asit's sprinkling out.  

Is it June yet??

So happy!!!  Off to run a couple errands & enjoy some much needed family time!

Please pray for Fez, his family & the soldiers he left behind.  I've known about this for a week & was told not to say anything to anyone. 

Fez was one of Hunter's medics. He was a good kid---we had him here for Thanksgiving dinner last year. He was the guy that the others ribbed as they would a younger brother.

In my mind's eye I can still see him sitting in the chair in our living room giving as good as he got from the other guy.

Hunter is very torn up by his death & a friend of mine's husband (Fez's boss) blames himself.  

RIP Fez. You are missed.


From our local paper:

3rd Brigade medic killed in Baghdad

San Antonio's Spc. Javier Paredes remembered warmly by friends, family
BY MICK WALSH -


Fort Benning's latest victim of the war in Iraq was identified only by his dog tags.

"That's how they confirmed it was him," said Pedro Paredes, the brother of Spc. Javier Paredes, who died Sept. 5 from injuries sustained when insurgents attacked his unit during combat operations in Baghdad. "I didn't want to accept it. I never thought that would happen to Javier."

The official release of Paredes' name by the Department of Defense was delayed for several days after they released the name of the other soldier in the attack -- Spc. Keith Nurnberg of McHenry, Ill.

Both were members of Fort Benning's *unit name left out by me* part of the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, which has been deployed to Iraq since April 1. They were killed when a rocket-propelled grenade struck the Humvee in which they were riding.
Paredes, a 24-year-old medic from San Antonio, enlisted in the Army three years ago. A graduate of Ingram High School, he had worked in construction and as a dishwasher at a local market before joining the Army.

Family and friends were in shock when notified of Paredes' death after gathering at the home of his aunt, Maria Acevedo.
According to the San Antonio Express, Paredes lived much of his life in foster care.
"Javier was a good kid," Acevedo told the newspaper. "His mother would have been proud of him."

She died in 1999.
Paredes, known by his nickname Niño, lived with Acevedo just before he joined the Army in 2004.

The family described Paredes as a proud, strong soldier who loved his job and worked as a medic.
Gonzalo Paredes, 20, said he was going to miss his brother.
Paredes' best friend, Juan Medina, 21, said he worked with Paredes at the Central Market on Broadway in San Antonio for a few years.
Medina said his friend was a hard worker who washed dishes and did other jobs at the store, often volunteering for night and holiday shifts.
"The day he joined the military," he said, "he called me from the recruiter's office. I told him, 'Niño, what are you doing? You know we are at war, right?' But he said he had made his decision, that he was going to do it and I didn't need to worry. But that's the way he was, spontaneous."

Acevedo said she was also worried about her nephew's safety but told him the day he enlisted that he had her support in his decision.
"I told him joining the military was a bad decision," Pedro Paredes said, remembering that his brother also at some point considered college. "But when he makes up his mind about something, he does it, and he does it all the way."

The deaths of the two *again, leaving out unit name* soldiers brings to 10 the number from that battalion to die in the war. The toll in the brigade now stands at 22.

Mark with bold the things you have knit, with italics the ones you plan to do sometime, and leave the rest.


Afghan
I-cord
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up
Knitting with camel yarn
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens: Tip-down
Hat
Knitting with silk (if a blend counts)
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns (it's on the needles)
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Slip stitch patterns
Knitting with banana fiber yarn
Domino knitting
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Two end knitting
Charity knitting
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan
Toy/doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles
Baby items
Knitting with your own hand-spun yarn
Slippers
Graffiti knitting
Continental knitting (Can't do it--I have to think too much! LOL)
Designing knitted garments (once!)
Cable stitch patterns
Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book
Participate in an exchange
Scarf
Teaching a child to knit
American/English knitting
Knitting to make money
Buttonholes
Knitting with alpaca (again, a blend)
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Dying with plant colors
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items) on one or two circulars
Knitting with someone else’s hand-spun yarn
Knitting with dpns
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit
Bobbles
Knitting for a living
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dying yarn
Steeks
Knitting art
Knitting two socks on two circulars simultaneously
Fulling/felting
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener stitch
Knitted flowers
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO
Entrelac
Knitting and purling backwards
Machine knitting
Knitting with self patterning/self striping/variegated yarn
Stuffed toys
Knitting with cashmere (you guessed it---a blend!)
Darning
Jewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern
Gloves
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Free-form knitting
Short rows
Cuffs/fingerless mits/arm-warmers
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an on-line knitting magazine
Rug
Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair (no no no no!)
Hair accessories
Knitting in public

Roll your eyes & skip this if you want. Really, I wont be offended!


So I have a big birthday. The F word. People ask me how I feel about it almost daily! I loved my 30's & was really sad to see them end. F word seems old, maybe because when my parents were in their 40's I saw them as old. Most of the time turning F-word doesn't bother me as I really feel that age is just a number. But let's be real, the F word is a lot older than 25. Not that 25 was all that spectacular but the world is still your oyster at 25. By the time the F word rolls around it's expected that you have harvested that oyster already & either have a pearl or have enjoyed the oyster on the half shell. Yum. Oysters on the 1/2 shell. Oysters Rockefeller. Great, now I'm craving oysters. Or mussels at the very least.

*note to self----order mussels next time you see them on the menu. Or oysters.


So back to the F word. No one believes I'm there so why should I own up to it?? I could easily be 36 for the next couple yrs if I wanted to. 36 was nice. I was pregnant w/ the wee one & had her while still 36. It was a very good year.

Really tho, most of them have been good years! I'm very lucky.

So the other night I was putting the wee one to bed & we were having some snuggles after reading our bedtime stories (Meet the Dinosaurs, Snuggle Puppy, The Belly Button Book, Polar Bear, Polar Bear what doyou hear & Goodnight Moon in case you were wondering) & it hit me. What does my age matter if I'm THIS happy?


I have a lot to be happy about. I have a husband who loves me & who is healthy & alive & whole. Recent events here hit too close to home & I am counting my blessings that he's not injured, or worse.  I have a wonderful little girl who is healthy & sweet & so smart & beautiful. I have a dog who loves me no matter what my breath smells like in the morning! I have a family (parents, brothers, ILS etc) & friends who love me & support me. I have a roof over my head, food in my stomach, a soft place to lay my head at night & creature comforts. My health isn't perfect but I have legs to carry me, eyes & ears that see & hear, a mouth that can get me into trouble & hands that can knit, throw a ball for my dog or stroke my daughter's cheek. We're not in the same league as Donald Trump but we have enough $$ to live on & some to save.

I know I'm getting all Jimmy Stewart/It's a Wonderful Life here but it's true.

I haven't written the great American novel & I'm not a celebrity w/ a TV show (although I admit, I'd love to have my own talk show!) but I have a great life! I'm not at the place I thought I'd be at when I was 22 & starting out in life but man, getting here's been fun (again, for the most part) & this place is pretty damn good!


So, F-word birthday----bring it on!! 

or surely I will explode.

If you're a military spouse & your husband goes away for a month & you lose you freakin' mind &  have to go home to Mommy & Daddy,  YOU ARE A WHINEY ASS!!

I realize that civilian spouses may have a hard time with their loved ones being gone for a week  or 2 but we're not talking about civilians here.  We're talking about wives of soldiers during wartime.  Yes, it's hard to be Mommy & Daddy to your wee ones.  Yes, it's hard to be away from your family when your husband is away.  And yes, it's hard when you have your first deployment. 

BUT.

You really need to grow some & accept the fact that you are married to somone whose job will ask him to go to work on Monday & come home a year & a half later.  If you didn't realize that when you married him then obviously you should have sobered up & asked more pertinant questions before saying I do.


There's a blog on another site taht I read periodically.   The author is an Army wife whose husband went away for a few weeks.  She lost her mind & HAD to go home for support b/c she was overwhelmed by him being gone & her being alone w/ the kids.   It was everything I could do not to respond to her post & ask what is she going to do when/if he deploys to a combat zone??  Of course, when you do that you're considered to be mean.

Bite me.

Maybe it's the fact that we've had so many deployments in such a short period of time, maybe it's the fact that I am nothing if not a realist, maybe if's the fact that I know women here whose husbands avoid deployment by faking hearing loss so they have to be reclassed.  Maybe it's PMS, i dont know.  But for the love of pete,  get a grip on your life.  

Hmmmmmmm, I feel so much better----off to enjoy a glass of wine & work on my fall felted bag exchange bag.

3 years ago I had a baby who had started to roll over & was a wiggly giggly little bebe.

Today I have a little girl.  Not a toddler, not a baby but a little girl!  How is this??!!

She started back to school today & didn't even glance back at me when I left her classroom.  She was already playing with 3 kids & having a blast.  She was all smiles when I picked her up & was happy that she saw her "best friend" from last year on the playground.  They're not in the same class this year but will see one another during "recess".

I'm the mother of a big girl!!  Whaaaaa????

CT results!  Part of me is nervous but part of me says if they had seen something I would have heard before now.  We'll see in a few hours.  

Meet & Greet for the wee one's school tonight----We know of 1 little girl who will be in her class (they've played together once) & will see who the others are.  I'm hoping that a couple of the kids from last yr's class will be in this yr's too.  I know it would make things a little easier for her.

R & R is on the horizon & our vacation is booked!  It's going to be so nice to have our little family together again!  

On the knitting front I finished a kiddie capelet for my friend paige's oldest daughter.  Now to do one for her youngest.  She made the wee one an adorable outfit (sewn) for her 1st day of school so we're doing a little swap.  I realized that I had 2 prs of Addi 9's in 32".  How did that happen??  I really need a 9/24".  M aybe I can swap for them.

Im also working on the Yoda sweater for BIL & SIL's baby (due in Jan).  Ive got the back finished & need to CO for the sleeves.  MIL seems to think they're having a girl (they find out next month) & I've made it in boy colors (grass green & a varigated trim) so we'll see if I'm going to finish this one for the next person to have a boy & start a girl version for them.  I have a good stash of Plymouth Fantasy Naturale so I'm set.

Off to get ready for my appt.  

1. Do you still talk to the person you lost your virginity to?
No, I actually haven't seen him in oh, 13? 14 years. 

2. Is it harder to be rejected or to reject someone else?
To reject someone else---I hate hurting people

3. What kind of music did you listen to in elementary school?
Top 40 pop & whatever my brothers listened to that I thought was cool.

4. What is the best thing about your current job?
Seeing my little girl change day by day!

5. Do you wish cell phone etiquette were a required class?
Wouldn't that be nice!!

6. What's the last thing you drank?
diet coke

7. Have you been on a date in the park?
Yes.

8. Where are you going on your next vacation?
Europe after OIF5 is over

9. Have you ever thrown up from working out?
Yes

10. Are most of the friends in your life new or old?
Old.

11. Have you ever gotten so wasted you didn’t know what was going on?
LOL, not recently, but yes.

12. Do you like pulp orange juice?
I dont drink oj.

13. Are you touchy-feely?
It depends on who you are.

14. Did you cry at your high school graduation?
Yes.

15. Do you prefer the tanning bed or the sun?
I love being in the sun at the pool or beach!  .

16. What are two of your favorite places to eat?
Buckhead Grill in Columbus & Ken's Pizza in Burlington, VT

17. What could you tolerate, someone who snores or a sleep walker?
I'm married to a man who snores AND grinds his teeth.

18. Do you consider yourself bi-polar?
Nope, pretty mentally stable which is pretty impressive lately!.

19. What's something your friends make fun of you for?
My knitting

20. What's your worst personality flaw?
Im very judgemental

21. Have you ever gone to therapy?
Once.  I didn't like hearing that I was a control freak.  It was something I couldn't control  LOL.

22. Would you ever parachute off of a plane?
Life or death situation, yes. 

23. Have you ever ridden an elephant?
No

24. Are you Irish in any way?
100% French baby

25. Have you ever ridden in a U-Haul?
Yes--and driven one, too

26. Do you like to play Scrabble?
I'm not a big board game person (other than Candy land right now)

27. Have you ever been to a nude beach?
No, whatever floats yer boat.

28. Have you ever drank Jack Daniels?
Yes.

29. Have you ever had sex on the beach?
Yes.

30. What are you saving your money up for right now?
Saving our HFP & FSP for Europe & a downpayment on a car for hunter.  The rest of our $$ goes into our moneymarket & the wee one's college fund.

31. What was the last gift card you received?
Sephora

Note... I'm not exactly sure what happened to #32, but if </a>jennapeach said "Yes," then "Yeah, sure, why the hell not?" is my answer.
Yes

33. Does the number of people a person's slept with affect your opinion of them?
over a lifetime no.  In a day, maybe.  WHAT?  I told you I was judgemental!  Sheesh!

34. Have you ever gone to a party where you were the only sober person?
Yes

35. What do you do when you spot a bug in your house?
Kill it.  

Unless you are working on potty training.  Then they can be messy.  I am convinced that the Army really has it in for me---Hunter wasn't here when I did sleep training in Aug '04 (JRTC for a month), he wasn't here when she got the bulk of her teeth (OIF 3 in '05) & now he's not here for potty training.  This is getting to be just a little too convenient dont you think?

PT is going well-- only 1 or 2 accidents a day.  I had to buy more M & M's on Friday as we have gone through 3 tubes of the mini's in a week & a half.  I give her more than one for each successful trip so that's why.  Today we're enjoying our Little Mermaid panties & *knock wood* no accidents yet!  She'll get a pull up for rest time but that'll be it.

Tomorrow is my CT scan---hopefully they don't find anything.  Bwahahahhaha.  Seriously tho, I will be happy if t her are no masses on the reading.  I'm not having all the brain tumor symptoms & most likely it's pseudotumor cerebri (intercranial hypertension) but the worry is still there.   I'll know more by the end of the week/early next.  Then the fun begins (lumbar puncture!).   My ILS will be coming down to help me take care of the wee one when that happens.  I am crossing my fingers that it'll be next month before she goes back to school & not during Hunter's R & R!   I am looking forward to our beach trip----our family needs some time together away from home!

We have a FRG picnic this weekend---should be fun.  A few of my girlfriends are going & I'll have Ginger's baby pressies done by then (kimono, hat, 2 bibs & possibly booties).  

Off to grab some lunch.  Hope everyone has a good week!  and Angela---happy birthday to Emma!!!

we've got our own drama going on right here!

So last Friday night was Spouse's Night Out.  Six of us agree to meet for dinner (basically the same group of us that goes out every month!).  While we're at dinner we start talking about some of the other girls in our group.  Have you seen X?  Have you seen Y?  Yes, I've talked to X. you get the idea.

Well one of the girls names pops up---we all love her to pieces!  She's been having a rough time lately & I say that her husband has been going to talk to Hunter a lot.   Part of it is medical advice, part of it is personal.  So the decision is made to go visit her at the bar where she works on post.

If we're going to be true to Army Wives she would be called Roxy.  LOL

So we get to the bar & find her, actually she finds me & Kim first.  Soon the other 4 girls arrive & we're out on the deck having drinks (diet coke, thank you very much).  After about 1/2 an hour I realize I need to go get the wee one at the child care center as their free sitting ends at 1030.  

The girls stay & close the bar at 1 at which point Roxy suggests they go back to her house b/c the MP's are now telling them they have to move off the deck of the bar & go home.  The guys they've been sitting with all get up to leave

Let's just note that our heroine is home, in bed & far away from the drama that will soon follow!

So the girls pile into their car & follow Roxy home.  As they drive over to her car they see her putting 5 soldiers in her car.

Let's repeat that, shall we?  5 soldiers in her car.  

The girls drive to Roxy's house only to discover that she is home w/ the 5 guys.  One of whom has taken up residence in her bed!  Another, on the couch.  They're all incredibly intoxicated & one of them spills his beer on girl #3s leg & dress.

The girls assess the situation, have a quick after hours beverage & decide that the setting is grossly inappropriate, say their good byes & high tail it out of there.

One of the girls proclaims "this is going to be all over *insert FOB name here* by the time we wake up!"  since girl#3 was on the phone w/ her husband while everything was going down.

Sure enough, Saturday afternoon proclamation girl is IM'ing her husband who is asking her very direct questions about the evening. Proc. girl mentioned to her hubby  that our heroine was wise enough to go home & next time she will follow our heroine's lead!  PG's husband then tells her that Roxy's hubby is in his office & is the one asking the questions that he's typing.

Monday Roxy's hubby asks her point blank if there is anything she needs to tell him.  She says "no".   WTF?!  No?  How 'bout "yeah, Friday night the girls came out to see me & we went back to the house for an after hours w/ some guys we were talking to "  But no, just a "no" from Ol Roxy.  

Shit, meet fan, fan, shit.  Let's just say that R & R isn't going to be fun!

And on a side note, the wee one has an ear infection.  She was up during the night crying & miserable & wound up coming in my bed to sleep around 3.  A trip to the dr & a z pack later we're on the mend. 

I would personally like to thank the asshat who enrolled me in the Doubleday Book Club. They are currently doing an IP search to find out who did this. Obviously it was someone who knew my address & cleverly chose the "bill me" option.

You really are a sad little person, aren't you?!

That people think Memorial Day is a day to honor the LIVING?  I got pissy with someone on a message board yesterday over acknowleging a living Vet on Memorial Day.  Sorry but when your husband is in combat for the 3rd time you ARE hypersensitive to things like this.

Memorial Day---honors those who gave the ultimate sacrifice & those who have gone.

Veterans Day---honors the Veterans.  No apostrophe between the n & s either.

Tonight is MOMS Night Out.  Kelli is watching the wee one so I can go.  I  am watching her son today while she takes the baby to the urologist in ATL.  Right now her son is asleep in the wee one's bed---he had 2 melt downs after she left (which he never does here) & then fell asleep in my arms.  Poor little guy.

What a shock.  Hunter went to LIberty & my brother in law is friends w/ his nephew.  

What I cannot believe is that people who claim to be liberal, open minded, educated yada yada are spewing the same sort of venom that he did.  No, wait, I can.  As long as it's not directed at them it's okay.

One of my friends said this on a message board in response to these supposed open minded  people:

"His views and actions were reprehensible. But he was still a human being. I refuse to take joy in the death of any human being."

I hope his family is able to find peace.

Military Spouse Appreciation Day: May 11, 2007 

by Arlene H. Hull
LIFELines

"If the military had wanted you to have a spouse, they would have issued you one." Remember those words? Well, that was then and this is now. America's military has realized and acknowledged the significance of the military spouse. In 1984 President Reagan proclaimed the Friday before Mother's Day of each year to be Military Spouse Appreciation Day. It is your day to stand up and be honored.

For the times you've stood and watched a ship sail from the harbor, an aircraft disappear into the clouds, or a truck convoy pull out of sight, not sure when they would return, we thank you.

For the countless household moves you've made from a place you know to one that's strange and different -- often by yourself -- we thank you.

For the families you've held together, for the anniversaries, birthdays, and holidays you've celebrated alone, we thank you.

For the hand you've extended to another military spouse when the need was there, truly creating a military family, we thank you.

For the spirit and strength you've shown when your service member has gone into harm's way, we thank you.

For the pride you've displayed while serving as an ambassador of the military spouse to the rest of the world, we thank you.

Far too frequently, the sacrifices and dedication of the military spouse have gone unnoticed and unappreciated. In our nation's recent history, thousands of service members have been placed in harm's way as they stood watch as freedom's guardian. You too have stood watch at home, facing challenges alone. You have waved flags and held banners high to express your support. You have kept the candles burning on the home front as a reminder of our deployed military.

You have made difficult sacrifices of your own, and have called upon your inner reserves to nurture family life so your service member can focus on the business at hand.

Even in times of relaxed alert status for our military, you have stood ready and alert for the slightest of signs, perhaps overlooked or ignored by your civilian counterparts, signaling a potential change in the status of our military forces. As a military spouse, you have willingly packed up and relocated countless times, and may have been separated from your own parents and siblings for several years at a time.

Quite often, you have been placed in an unfamiliar ethnic or cultural setting, or a remote location. You have met this challenge with confidence and pride, making your nation proud of you. By the same token, you have extended your hand and hospitality to visitors to our country.

A country cannot count itself strong by its armed services alone, but must also depend on its civilians. With military wives and husbands setting a superior example through devotion, courage, and commitment, we are a nation of strength.

Military spouses ... stand tall, stand proud ... we salute you, you are truly our unsung heroes.

 

 

And then THIS was in my inbox this am----obviously written from a wife's point of view!

....When someone asks when your husband will be home, you say July or
August
instead of 5 or 6pm


....You live on your own and by yourself more after you're married than
before you were married.


...Most of the married women you know or meet are under 21 and if they
are
over they have kids, sometimes even under 21.


...You know all of your husband's coworkers by their last name, and
rarely
know their first name.


...When you say "I'm going to the commissary" instead of "grocery
store".


...When you need I.D to buy groceries


...You are called "Ma'am" at the age of 18 by every MP or SF that comes
into
contact with you.


...When you forget you have a driver's license and take your military
ID
everywhere with you.


...When you hear of another death or injury of a US Military and weep
inside
for that wife or mother that loved that Marine, Soldier, Airmen, or
Seamen.


...You read everything you can get your hands on to learn more about
your
husband's job.


...When you've never given a haircut in your life but you've perfected
the
medium fade, 6-8, skin.



...You ask someone "what's your MOS?" instead of "what's your job?!"


...When half of your wardrobe has some kind of Military insignia on it
and
once belonged to your husband.


...When the sounds of helicopters, and Jets flying over your house
shaking
your windows, surprisingly soothes you!

...When you classify people by what phase, class, or rollback they are.


...your husband's work and dress clothes cost more than yours do.


...You only write in pencil because EVERYTHING is subject to change.


...You know that a 2 month separation IS short, no matter what your
civilian
friends say.   (WORDY MCWORD!!!)


...You know better than to go to the NEX or commissary between 11:30
and
1:30 unless it's a life or death emergency.


...You show your military ID to the greeter at Wal-Mart.


...You know that any reference to "sand box" describes a deployment to
Iraq/Kuwait, not your kid's backyard toys.


...You have enough camouflage in your house to wallpaper the White
House.


...You don't have to think about what time 21:30 is.


...You can't remember the last time you saw a doctor who wasn't wearing
BDUs.


...You pick apart uniforms on TV and in the movies for being inaccurate
with
your husband.


...You are asked to stop talking in acronyms and translate it all to
English


...You have multiple copies of P.O.A.'s for whenever!

I have been waiting months for this book & yesterday picked it up at Barnes & Noble.  Got to read the first 100 pages while waiting at the mechanics.  For some reason, I don't think that 2 week old brakes should be squeaking.  Granted, auto repair isn't my area of expertise but as it turns out I was right!  My brakes needed to be deglazed.   I'm still wondering if chicken broth or white wine were used.

Anyway, Bright Lights, Big Ass is just as good (so far) as Bitter Is the New Black.  I especially loved the chapter on Rachael Ray.  Thankfully Hunter can't stand her!

Especially when vomiting  milk.  *gag*   I swear, I've been vomited on, spit up on (mmmmmmm breast milk down my back at 4 am!), peed on, pooped on but there is NOTHING that will make me gag like cow's milk vomit.  So.Very.Foul.

So no groomer for Libby, no pedicure for Mommy & no shopping for my knitted bag exchange pal today.  And Jami's b-day present is going to have to wait to go out.  

We're snuggled on the loveseat which has been covered with a towel, as has the wool Persian carpet (from OIF3) that's in front of it.  Poor thing hasn't had anythign to drink in over an hour & a half & hasn't eaten anything yet today.  I'm hoping she takes a nap in a little bit before lunch.  She's exhausted. And stinky too.  I'm hungry but don't dare eat anything in front of her.  And if I get off the loveseat she gets whiney.

I'm trying to schedule a Meals on Wheels for our FRG---one of the wives is delivering early & the poor thing's been ordering take out for a week b/c she didn't want to inconvenience anyone.  She's got a 5 yr old little boy who is a cutie---Bets had a good time playing w/ him at our wives mixer last month.  They ran around & screamed.  Truly the test of a good time for toddlers!  Screaming involved?  Good!  Running?  Good!   Hopefully 3 wives will reply to my email & I'll be the 4th who'll bring her some goodies this weekend!  And hopefully her husband makes it home for the birth, or at least shortly thereafter!

But someone's napping so we're not outside in the pool.  Hopefully tomorrow!  But the high will only be 89 LOL. 

You know I'll be bitching when the humidity gets to town & it's 97 degrees & 97% humidity!

. .  .DISNEY ON ICE!   The Wee One is excited but I dont think she truly appreciates where she's going.  She knows there are Disney characters involved & that there's this "ice" stuff.  (poor child hasn't seen ice/snow in over a year) but does she get that it's a show?  Probably not.

My girlfriend (we're going w/ her & her 2 kids) told me that lots of kids go in costume so the Wee One is going dressed as Snow White!  Can't wait to see her face when I get her dressed!  Michelle's kids are also going in costume.  We're taking them to lunch afterwards & then I need to upload pics so Daddy can see her in costume!

Hair before.   Curls & waves.  The only time I wore it this was was if it dried at the pool.  Put it this way---Hunter & I have been married 4 yrs & we were married for a year before he saw it curly!

Hair after---silky straight & stays that way even in humid weather!   I had it done a month ago & am still loving it.  I can wash my hair & let it air dry & it's straight & in better condition than before I had it straightened.  I had been wanting to straighten my hair since shortly after I graduated from UVM & my old stylist refused.  I'm so glad that hair "technology" has progressed to the point where straightening can be done & the results worth the effort!

Hunter left on 11 March & arrived at his FOB early last week.  It's quite nice apparently---he said it's the nicest FOB he's been at in all 3 deployents to Iraq.   And it's quiet!  PHEW!  

He sent me a rug while he was in Kuwait----6x4 hand knotted silk.  Beautiful.  Right now it's still in the box---I haven't figured if it's going in our room or the living room.  He also picked up a ring for me & 2 charms for the wee one's charm bracelet.  

She's on spring break this week (for preschool---where do they go for break?  Mcdonalds??  LOL). & wlll get to celebrate her birthday w/ MIL & FIL.  I cannot believe she's going to be 3!  Where has the time gone?  How is my baby going to be 3?!  She is so sweet---loves anything art related (esp water colors!), loves to dance & sing & is fascinated by animals.  Right now horses, cows, ducks , dogs & cats are her favorites.  She's a major Dora the Explorer fan & has roughly 1/2 of the Dora display @ Toys R Us in the house!

The deployment's going to be 12 months MINIMUM but most likely between 15-18 months.  I know that NG & Reserve units are gone for that long but they're generally training on US soil to get up to speed w/ their Active Duty counterparts.  And it's not their 4th deployment in 5 yrs.  

I knew what I was getting into moving in (and marrying) him but still.  This is insane.  They are the most deployed division in the Army.  Some distinction.

And to add insult to injury----they're working today!    The Army supports families----just not their own!

I swear, I'm going to have a hat made that says "FTA" & wear it to our next briefing and/or FRG meeting.  

Speaking of which,  out of the 8 wives on my calling list 6 are long distance.  Who divvied up these names???!!!!

Can you tell I'm a total crosspatch today?

I'm hoping this is only a 1/2 day & he's home by lunch!

because he's sending some divisions early! 

Hunter was due to leave in May for another yr in Iraq well, we got word today he's leaving mid-late March-early April for not 12 mos but most likely 15.

They're spending most of this month at NTC & when they get back in Feb they're being told they  will be ready to deploy at a moment's notice but most likely it'll be the March/April time frame.

So all you silly democrats, do your worst---Bush is gonna get what he wants regardlessStick that in your designer suit Nancy Pelosi!

I told my MIL tonight that it's things like this that really make me hate the man.


I'm not looking for sympathy because it is what is. Hunter joined of his own free will & has stayed in because he believes in what he does. And I knew what I was getting into when I married him. . I am just really pissed at the fact that it's their 3rd time over yet there are asshats here who are failing hearing tests purposely so they can avoid going for the FIRST time. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRrr

Repeat after me: It is what it is.

( my xmas stocking )

About once a week or every other week I'll have a night where I just can't sleep---tonight is that night!

We had a wonderful anniversary---ty for all the well wishes!!  We went to dinner on Friday night (Sushi & Japanese steakhouse---yum!) & enjoyed the weekend together. 

My parents sent a card & $$$, ILS sent a card, my friend Franca @ Ft Riley rememberd & sent a card! 

We made chili & had that w/ some yummy bread for dinner.  

Hunter brought home a beautiful flower arrangment & I got a new digital camera!  It's a Sony Cybershot w70 (i think?) 7.2 megapixels.  The LCD screen is  yoooooge & it takes amazing pics!  I'm going to knit & felt a case for it.  

Hunter received the first disbursement from his Grandfather's estate.  Suffice to say it was about 3/4 of his annual salary & we are now debt free except for my car payment!  We're buying things we've been wanting/needing but within reason.  We're also going to talk to his uncle about investment options as more $$ will come when the house sells.  

I'm almost done with my Christmas shopping.  Today I had a little Dora the Explorer lovefest @ Toys R Us & Walmart----picked up the talking doll house, 3 rooms of furniture, 3 character sets & a dvd.  The wiggly one is DONE!  I also managed to get Hunter the Le Creuset dutch oven he's been wanting.  It's wrapped & hidden & he has no clue!  Tomorrow I'm going to pick up a bottle of good port & a gc to the hobby shop for his radio controlled air plane.  He got a new laptop (HP w/ this crazy huge screen---I "inherited" his 5 month old Dell XPS that I'm very happy with!) so that was his "big" present.  We also have to look for a new car stereo for my car---one that has the adaptor thing for my MP3 player.

The cookbooks that my MOMS group published are due to arrive this coming weekend so as soon as they do I need to get them out to people.  The $$ is going to the March of Dimes which we felt was a worthwhile cause  

The wiggly made me cry this morning---she named all of her friends at school.  Major feat as she has a mild speech delay.  I'd decided that if she wasn't talking more by Christmas that I'd take her dr up on the referral for speech therapy.  We were frustrated b/c we knew she understood us & knew what certain words meant but that she wasn't speaking.  We could tell her to do something  & she'd do it.  Thanksgiving weekend she came up to us w/ a dora dvd & said "dorooooooooooo peeeeeeeeeese"  I believe we've reached a major milestone & she's going to take off talking.  And if she's anything like her mother I am so.screwed!!!

This month we have so much going on that it's crazy.  Sunday we had the wiggly one's friend's b-day party.  This weekend we have the MOMS holiday party, next weekend is another friend's daughter's b-day.  Inbetween I have the board meeting tomorrow niight, MOMS Night out/ornament exchange next week & Recipe Club at our house that friday.   We still need to get our tree---hopefully Hunter wont get called in on Sunday (loading up to go to NTC to train) & we can get it then!  I'm ready to decorate our tree!  This yr is a happy Christmas as he's home.  Last year I was in such a bad place emotionally during the holidays.  I missed him so much & missed that the wiggly one was w/out her Daddy at the holidays.  Next yr will be the same so I'm planning on going home a few days after she gets out of school.  We'll stay in VA for a few days w/ the inlaws & then make the trek up to VT.

I'm getting sleepy now so I'm going to try to get some sleep before Hunter wakes up at 430!

Hunter & I got married!  Here we are "after" on the steps of the court house.   

I wore black because it was officially deemed the "un-wedding"  we went out to lunch after the pic was taken w/ my friend Michelle (our official photographer & witness!) & then home to celebrate our birthdays (which were in Aug & Sept)---Hunter had been home from Kuwait for a week (after being gone for 6 mos) & would leave to go back to Kuwait & subsequently Iraq a month & 3 days after this picture was taken.

I love you sweetie & am so honored to be your wife.  You're a wonderful husband, friend & daddy & the wee one & I are so lucky to have you in our lives!!!  

we had a great Thanksgiving this year.  First of all it was great having Hunter home (and bittersweet knowing he may not be home with us next year).  We had 6 of his single guys over :& had turkey, green beans w/ cashews, squash w/ onions & bacon, cornbread stuffing, my Memere's meat stuffing, garlic mashed potatoes.   We had a yummy caramel apple pie for dessert.  

Like every other Thanksgiving the wiggly one has refused to nap so she went down, exhausted at 7 15 & slept until a little past 8 this morning.  

We're goingot the library as our books are due today & maybe grab lunch somewhere.  I need to get more of my Clinique Almost Makeup but will wait until the weekend's over & the crazed shoppers are gone!

I'm almost done my Christmas gifts---Hunter's felted slippers need to be CO, possibly one more pair of socks for my brother Todd & some wine glass markers for Hunter's Aunt & Uncle.  I finished the markers for my brother Michael & his wife last night.  They came cute & I'll try to get a pic of them soon!

Hunter's been able to call almost every night around dinnertime so I'm hoping he calls tonight so I can thank him for being our hero & for his commitment to his country.  

Today's been good despite the weather.  I got my towels  & sheets washed this morning, clean sheets on the bed, laundry put away, trash taken out, picked up a few groceries @ Publix , kitchen cleaned, made my Memere's meat stuffing for my MOMS Recipe Club meeting monday (We're having a THanksgiving celebration).  I also got to watch most of Patton & am now enjoying Sgt York (one of my all time faves) while knitting.  The wiggly one's been sweet & snuggly today & is having her supper late tonight.  

I took a shower while she was napping & have felt sleepy every since.  I didn't even use my nightime shower gel from B & BW (lavender & acacia)---what gives?  Hopefully tonight I get to bed before midnight

Hunter's in the field right now doing live fire exercises & won't be home until Monday at the earliest .  Isn't it ironic that Hammer/Marne focus are always scheduled during the week of Veteran's Day?  Lovely way to honor those who've been to Iraq multiple times (and are going for a 3rd in '07!).


We have a card & special dinner planned for him when he gets home! 

We're remembering  his friends who didn't come home from Iraq & keeping them & their families n our prayers. Jason, Jens (who was killed en route to Jason's memorial service) Michael, Lee, Jeffrey, Joel, & Ricky to name a few.

His friend Cropp who survived an IED blast in 2/05 only to be murdered a few months after he got back in '06  I still have his picture on my cell phone from the night we went out in Feb (before he vanished) for his birthday.  I miss him & his sense of humor a lot!

And especially Kelley Prewitt who died in his arms exactly a year prior to the date that our daughter was born.

My friend Rob from college.

Last night the wiggly one woke up at 10 coughing & as we discovered when the coughing didn't stop, vomiting. Poor little thing was covered. So we get her & her bed cleaned up & after some snuggles, back to bed.

About 10 minutes goes by & we have a repeat performance. Hunter decides we need to go to the ER.

By thhe time we got there she'd vomited 3 more times iin the car & then 2x in the waiting room.

They drew blood, took a urine sample by foley catheter (my poor girl!) & started an IV for fluids. She finally conked back out in the exam room at around 230.

The only thing they could do was push fluids & try to keep her comfortable. At 430 they released her & told us if she continues to vomit we need to bring her back in so she can be admitted. 

I almost burst into tears when the dr said he'd admit her.  I know that they can care for her better than we can in a situation such as that but the thought of my bebe in the hospital was very unsettling to say the least.  

Poor thing fell asleep on the floor as I was going to get her pedialyte & slept from 930 & we snuggled on the couch watching a movie. Mommy finally got the bright idea of moving into Mommy & Daddy's bed to finish watching the movie.  Our viewing list for the day was:  Babar, Alice in Wonderland, Lady & the Tramp & Snow White.

The good news is she took a 2 hr nap from 2-4 & has kept down some cheerios & a couple sips of 7up & a juice box. She will NOT drink the pedilyte. Hunter tasted it & said it's pretty nasty.

She didn't want anything for supper but had a few sips from a 2nd juice box & found the energy to chase Libby down the hall a few times as well as play with her baby doll Maggie & put on her Cinderella dress up shoes. She had a good time in the bathtub & got some nice snuggles from Daddy before going down at 815.  

Wish us luck tomorrow!

The wiggly one & I tonight at our neighborhood's Halloween party. 

 

The following is from the Burlington Free Press in Burlington, VT.  Michelle Gardner-Quinn is a senior at my alma mater, the University of Vermont.  She's been missing since late Friday night/early Saturday morning.   All I can think is "there but for the grace of God go I"---how many times did my girlfriends & I accept rides, walk home with with people we just met, go for "after hours" drinks?   

 

I feel so bad for her family & friends who want nothing more to see her face again.  Please keep them in your prayers

 

Police ask for public's help in finding missing UVM student

Published: Tuesday, October 10, 2006
By Adam Silverman
Free Press Staff Writer

The search for a missing University of Vermont student expanded Monday as more than two dozen law-enforcement agents searched Burlington and beyond, and the young woman's friends plastered the city with fliers.

Police said members of the public should be conscious of their personal safety, and investigators asked for help in finding Michelle Gardner-Quinn, a 21-year-old senior from Arlington, Va., who vanished early Saturday morning as she walked back to her campus dorm room, alone, from downtown.

For many, though, worry was beginning to take the place of hope.

"Time is of the essence," Burlington Police Department Chief Thomas Tremblay said, "and the more time that goes by, the more concerned we become."

Gardner-Quinn was last seen at about 2:15 a.m. Saturday on Main Street near Edmunds Elementary and Middle School. She had dinner earlier that evening with her parents, who were in town for UVM's Family Weekend, said family friend Gail Fendley of Falls Church, Va. Then Gardner-Quinn joined a group of friends to celebrate a 21st birthday at several downtown bars.

She left one bar to find another group of friends, but when she couldn't connect with them, she decided to walk back to her room in University Heights, friend Tommy Lang said Sunday. Gardner-Quinn never made it back, and her parents reported her missing the next day when she didn't show up for dinner, Lang said.

The family, through police, declined to comment Monday.

Fendley said she has known Gardner-Quinn for nearly 10 years, ever since her son, Ian Willson, met Gardner-Quinn at a summer camp for gifted children in eighth or ninth grade. The two dated on and off during high school and have remained "really close," Fendley said Monday as she drove to Richmond, Va., to comfort her son at college.

"He's distraught," Fendley said. "Michelle is terrific. She's reliable. She's responsible. She's traveled extensively. This is so totally unlike her, especially with her parents in town. They are such a close-knit family."
Request for help

Burlington police are working with canine teams and authorities from UVM, the Vermont State Police and the FBI, Tremblay said at an afternoon news conference. The chief said detectives remained uncertain whether they were investigating a crime.

"Investigators have been working around the clock following leads," Tremblay said. "No specific suspects have been identified."

Investigators were trying to find a Subaru or similar-type hatchback whose driver was reported to be acting suspiciously around the time Gardner-Quinn disappeared, Tremblay said. Police didn't say whether the vehicle was a station wagon or a sport-utility vehicle.

The driver, a white man in his 20s, stopped his car and asked a woman he did not know to get in at about 2:35 a.m. Saturday near the Salvation Army Thrift Store at 336 N. Winooski Ave. The woman did not get in, Tremblay said, and she later told police the driver appeared to be alone. That incident occurred about a mile north of Edmunds.

"We are considering it a vehicle of interest, a preliminary lead that may or may not be related to this case," Tremblay said.

He described the car as white with gold trim and a gold pinstripe, likely with a green Vermont license plate that has a bent-up bottom. The driver is about 6 feet tall and muscular with short-cropped light blond hair, a day's growth of stubble and possibly one nostril larger than the other, according to police. He was wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and a light-colored baseball cap.

Police also asked that anyone searching their neighborhoods for personal belongings or clothing matching the description of what Gardner-Quinn was wearing -- a gray peacoat, green button-up cardigan sweater, light blue T-shirt, and a black Puma purse with white straps -- not touch anything they might find and to call city police at 658-2700.

Precautions suggested

Police encouraged people to take precautions while they are out in Burlington: Walk in pairs or groups, stay in well-lit locations and away from dense shrubbery.

"Be aware of your personal surroundings, be aware of the things that are going on around you, and trust your instincts," Tremblay said.

A safety forum has been scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday at a location to be determined.

Gardner-Quinn transferred to UVM this year from Goucher College in Baltimore, friends said.

Fendley said she's not sure why Gardner-Quinn transferred, but she's an avid snowboarder, interested in environmental studies and once had a boyfriend in Vermont. Fendley knew of no troubles from Gardner-Quinn's past.

"She was a good student," Fendley said. "I can't imagine any problems. She was a good influence on my child."

Contact Adam Silverman at 660-1854 or asilverm@bfp.burlingtonfreepressRgw

  Finished knitting them Friday at Lunch Buddies & got them stitched together & the drawstring on the inside that  afternoon while Betsy was napping. They're for my friend Tara's daughter who is due to make her appearance in Dec.

The pattern is one I made up after examining a pair of Betsy's 3-6 mo. pants & taking the side of the kimono into consideration. I'm going to submit it to the
"pattern a day" people & afterwards to the Mason Dixon knitting gals. It's amazingly simple & they are too cute in person!!

Blankets & a tote!

Am I glad last week's over!

We got word early last Weds. am that Hunter's grandfather had died during the night. He was 94 & was a truly remarkable man. He was such a positive influence on Hunter after his father died & I'm glad that Hunter has those memories of doing special things w/ his grandfather & grandmother.

We drove up to VA on Thurs., Friday morning was spent picking up things we forgot to pack & Hunter going to his granfather's house to see his aunt & her family & get more info about the funeral & the will, lunch w/ Hunter's family & Friday night was the wake, Saturday the funeral, interment & luncheon. Saturday night MIL & FIL had their neighbors over for dinner & Sunday we had a family lunch with his grandmother (other side of the family). Sunday night his parents watched the wiggly one so we could go out to dinner---just the 2 of us. Monday I had a "ladies lunch" with MIL & her mother & a family dinner Monday night w/ MIL, FIL, grandmother & BIL. We left for GA on Tuesday.

We were making great time on the way home only to be caught up in a traffic jam that had 85S closed from exists 61-64. We were lucky that we weren't too far ahead of schedule otherwise we would have been right behind the accident & Hunter would have been required to get out to help the injured.  (He's an experienced combat medic as well as an EMT). It was bad enough that we took almost 2 hrs to go a mile & a half to be detoured off the highway. We should have been home at 630 but instead got in at 915. We were all beyond exhausted.

Weds we sent Bets to school & Hunter & I got his stuff together to go to the field. He's gone for about a week so we're having a girls weekend here.

Yesterday  we went to Monkey Joes w/ the MOMS club & had a blast! Bets loves going there & climbing up all the jumperoos!

Today we went to Starbucks for a Pumpkin Spice Latte (crack!) & then to Toys R Us (gotta love buy 2 get 1 free Color Wonder Markers), AC Moore for yarn & buttons for another sweater for the wiggly one, Bed, Bath & Beyond for splatter guards & Marshall's for the heck of it. 

I did get 2 baby blankets done & 3 spa cloths this week. This weekend I'm going to start Betsy's sweater & work on the socks that I had CO on the way home from VA on Tues.  They're for me so they'll probably get finished sometime after the 1st of the year LOL!

Now it's naptime for the wiggly one so I'm off to get her ready & see what's on tv.

I finished the sweater I started last week for the wiggly one. It's a variation on the LB 7 Seas Baby set. I used the LB Microspun in lilac doublestranded but due to poor color selection at the stores here in town I decided to make it in a solid color. When I finished it on Saturday (sewed the buttons on & finished the left front, buttonholes etc) she giggled as I put it on her! It'll be perfect for the poor excuse of a winter we have down here. Watch---this will be the year we get snow! Hey, a girl can dream, right?!

I also have my International Tote Exchange II bag done. I just need to attach the strap & see about whether the bottom needs additonal support (plastic needlepoint canvas!). I have a few extra goodies for my partner & will get the bag ready to go out next week.

 

I'm also working on baby items for my friend Tara who is due in a couple months. Her hubby is due to be home on R & R from Afghanistan in a couple weeks---I'm so happy for them! I know how hard this deployment has been on them (it's their first) . So far I have a baby kimono, coordinating hat & a washcloth for her. I have 2 bibs but they're in pink & purple & the other items I've made are in pink, orange & yellow & it hit me how cute it would be if I made everything to coordinate (like w/ Shannon's from a couple posts ago) rather than just in traditional girly colors.

This week is going to be hectic (when do I have one that isn't?!)---today is mallwalk, tomorrow the wiggly one goes to school & in the evening I have the vendor sale for the Just4Kidz consignment sale. Weds is the MOMS Exec Bd Meeting, Friday we have a function to go to & get Hunter ready to go to the field for a week-10 days.

The funny thing about field time is that for me, a week is nothing. It's time to watch the girly movies that your husband wont watch, fix things for dinner that he won't eat (shrimp scampi!) & time to catch up w/ your girlfriends. I guess after a year apart & 2 back to back 6 month deployments a week really is nothing!

Hunter got called out of the Combat Lifesaver class he was teaching last Friday to go down to the Battalion office where the Brigade CO & all the BTN CO's were having a meeting. He (and 3 of his friends) get down there to find out they're receiving Army Commendation Medals for saving the life of a guy in their unit last month. He's a 35 yr old man who suffered a heart attack during PT. Hunter & the 3 other medics fell out of their run, sprang into action & did what they do best. They got his heart going again & kept him stable until he could be transported to the hospital.

In addition to their ARCOM they also received a division coin which was nice. I am SO proud of him. This is the 2nd soldier whose life he saved in a non-combat situation (the other was a guy when they were at NTC in '04---they diagnosed him w/ appendicitis & got him to the hospital at Ft Irwin (they were in the "box" at the time) in time for the doctors there to operate.) I'm not even going to talk about all the soldiers & Iraqis he treated during OIF1 & OIF3.

Way to go sweetie! I am so proud of you!!


And a memory:

3 years ago today we found out about the wiggly one.  We'd gotten home from leave the day before & went in to MACH so I could have blood drawn.  Made the confirmation call 2 hours later to be told "yes, you ARE pregnant" & that's when the adventure began!   Mommy & Daddy love you sweetie!!! Thank you for making our lives so much richer!! 

Had a great time at MOMS Night Out last night.  It was our end of the year dinner & was a blast.  Our outgoing president Kinsey recognized the outgoing executive board & those people who helped run the club.  Goodies abounded as she bought pressies for the board & several members of the board exchanged gifts---I made earrings for them & Kris bought us all gorgeous bath salts, fizzies, candles & soaps from her hometown in IL.  The board bought Kinsey a 75$ gift certificate to Bliss for a facial or other spa services. She was to the point of tears!   I'm really glad we did something to recognize HER & all her hard work.   We did a trivia quiz to "roast" those members who have embarrassing items (Kelli & her "From Justin to Kelly" Dvd, the time I left the car running w/ the doors unlocked for 2 hrs at Col. crossing last summer & other good times!

Today Bets & I went for a walk & to Hobby Lobby for a button for a baby bib I knitted.  Found 2 cute little fish buttons that will work well.  I'll get the bibs wrapped & saved for Tara's baby due in Dec.  

I uploaded all the work I've done since June started & added it fo my flickr site.  2 baby blankets, 1 sock (lol--the mate is on the needles), & 1 block to my log cabin throw for BIL & his wife for Christmas.  I have also done 9 dish cloths & scrubbies but didn't take pics of them.  They're all done in "Alex's cloth" pattern & the scrubbies just in plain garter stitch w/ tulle knitted w/ the cotton.  I also finally got my Tote Exchange bag lined (thanks to MIL!) & it will go out this weekend.  I hope my partner likes it!  I've decided I'm going to make the same bag for myself for fall but in brown & cream & felt it.  I have a cone of chocolate brown wool I got from ebay & hopefully can get the odor (that smelly wooly sheep smell) off it so I can get it wound.

Here's the link to flickr    http://www.flickr.com/photos/90711551@N00/    

Off to get the wiggly one ready for her nap!

Let's see, the past couple weeks in a nut shell:

I've been busy with MOMS & last week was elected President of the club for the '06-'07 year.  I LOVE the girls who will be on the executive board with me & it looks to be a good (busy!) year!   I've decided that this will be my last year on the board & will maybe do a committe chair next year as Hunter will be deploying sometime after May & I want to be able to go home for a few weeks w/out worrying about leaving my responsibilities on someone else's shoulders.

Christmas gifts are flying off the needles!  Right now I'm working on a pair of socks for my Mom w/ some beautiful Trekking XXL yarn I picked up in VA back in Feb.  My Mom is so cute!  We're talking the other day & she lets me know she saw these socks in the Knitting pattern a day calendar & didn't they look like the ones I made Todd for Christmas last year.  So I look at my calendar & sure enough, they're Todd's socks.  She then goes on to say that "you know, Moms like brightly striped socks too!"  LOL   So I dug out my sock stash & found the Trekking & CO the socks on Friday night.  Sock #1 is done & #2 is about to be CO.

I also have a pr of socks on the needles for my brother Todd.  I was working on them in the waiting area of the Oral Surgery unit the other day while Hunter was supposed to be having his wisdom teeth out (more to follow).  3  people asked me what I was doing, how did I learn to knit, how hard were socks & that knitting with 5 needles looked incredible!   I guess if you've never seen sock knitting  on double pointed needles that it looks weird!  I still need to pick up my Cat Bordhi book on using circulars to knit socks.  Maybe my next pair.

So back to the wisdom teeth ----we arrange for Bets to go to Kelli@ at 8 am on Weds so I can be Hunter's "escort" for his surgery.  We get to MACH & my husband who has been in combat twice, has had much worse surgery (testicular cancer scare) & has witnessed my C section is nervous.   Trust me when I say this ISN'T a good side of him!  Well he goes in to be prepped for surgery & tells them that he ate after midnight---on the way in he grabbed a bite of my hashbrown.

Game over, surgery cancelled & we're on our way home.  He goes in next month to have it done.  Grant me strength!