Hatfields and Skywalkers

No talking to Sprout for a while. He's out on field training. I hate that he missed all the kids at Halloween again this year. My little gremlins just left here all hyped up on sugar and ready for straight jackets. It was nice and I took lots of pictures for Sprout but I just hate when he misses a holiday. The grandkids were Luke Skywalker and a unicorn (or unicycle...whatever she calls herself). And my almost 16-year-old nephew dressed as a deranged Teletubby. He wore three-sizes-too-small red long underwear and a viking mask. He looked more like one of the Hatfields or McCoys. At one point, he and my grandson were running around in the yard shooting cap pistols at each other. It looked like a fight between the Hatfields and the Skywalkers. Every now and then a lightsaber would appear out of nowhere. And Sprout missed it all. Dadgumit!

My Funny Funny Grandchild

Little Gidget called me at 6:00 a.m. this morning. I think the child was born with a cell phone growing from her ear. Her 4-year-old tiny voice says "Gwaaaaawma? Is Aunt Poet finished making my unicorn costume?" Apparently Aunt Poet's number is not programmed into Gidget's phone. And I'm thinking "unicorn costume...at 6:00 in the morning?" "Gidget, where is Mama and Daddy?" "They're asleep...and Gwawma...today will you...come get me at daycare...and take me to your house...and make some cocoa...and light a fire in the fire station?" She calls the fireplace a fire station. Is the child in the army or what? She gets more done by six a.m. than most people get done by noon. By six o'clock in the morning, she has already planned out her entire day and is making phone calls to arrange things. Now that's what I call motivated. If only some of my co-workers could be so eager. AND, she actually gets things done. Somehow she ended her day today by having connived her aunt out of one really cool unicorn costume and me out of one cup of cocoa and a fire in the fire station. I am most impressed. The girl is gonna be a millionaire some day. I get the biggest kick out of watching her little brain twirl. She's a cutey.

Just Little Ole Me

I spoke to Sprout for a good long time Saturday morning. We both needed it. Since there is a 14 hour time difference between us, his days are our nights and our days are his nights. Trying to catch him or us at a good time is just a little difficult. But waking up at 4:30 am on a Saturday just to talk with my son was worth it. Only a mother or a lover would understand. He has spent the last month working on a helicopter, helping to take it completely apart down to the frame and put it back together again. When he tells me the work is sometimes "a little hard", I have to wonder if he even realizes that his very first experience of a mechanical nature is being spent working on the most sophisticated mechanical vehicle in the world? Youth is so glorious. I was the same way when I was his age and took a job as a public safety dispatcher. For ten years, my daily job involved life and death situations that I was a part of. If I forgot to do something or did something wrong, it was quite possible that somebody might die. But I never thought of it like that. It was just a job like everybody elses. It wasn't until I left that job and took a more settled, regular-houred office position in which my work involved paying bills and shuffling papers, none of which had any connection to anyone dying, that I realized what a great opportunity that first job was for me and how it made everything after it so much easier. I hope it will be the same for Sprout.

And he says, no, don't send Spam for Christmas. Send iPod. Dang it!

Holiday Soldier Shopping

Well, all my worries are over. I have found the perfect gift to send my soldier in Korea...SPAM!. According to this article, Spam is highly regarded in South Korea. They even sell it in gift packs during the holidays. I reckon I could go by Walmart and pick up a case for Sprout to give out to his chain-of-command for Christmas. Yeah...that should earn him some points. Looks like shopping for Christmas this year will be easy...and cheap. I may even give it out to all my relatives here in the states too. A nice little can of Spam in the Christmas stocking...what better way to say "I care"? Actually, I love Spam but I rarely buy it, except during the hurricane season. I don't know why that is. It's a delicious food and when I cook it, everybody gathers around to get some. After our storm last month, we all laughed about our Spam dinners in the dark, but there were never any left-overs. Americans can be so strange. We have this really neat food with a really odd reputation. Go figure. Well, if I ever go to Korea, at least I know what to bring to my host as a gift.

Move over IPod...make room for Spam under that Christmas tree.

Wading Toward Home

Here's one of the better stories written about what really happened in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina hit. It's very long but very good. Grab a cup of coffee or a diet coke and sit back and enjoy the read. You won't be sorry and you may even laugh a little. It's in the New York Times and you may have to register but it's worth the time.

It's My Blogday.

Happy Blogiversary to me
Happy Blogiversary to me
Happy Blogiversary Stoicmother
Happy Blogiversary to me.

Can't believe it's been a year and not one member of my family has yet to find me out. Wahoo!

Samir and Saddam

The Times Online has this article about an Iraqi who helped in the capture of Saddam Hussein. It's a good read and this is the first time I've ever seen this picture. How good do you think this guy must feel? Since Saddam will be coming to trial soon, it's good to refresh our memories a little, no? Thanks to FLgator at Lucianne.com for leading me to the link.

The Perfect Girl Car

Where was this car when I was learning to drive? A car that doesn't back up...it pivots. For years I have been the brunt of family jokes about my "backing up abilities". Every time I get up to leave from a large family gathering, everybody runs out to move their cars for fear I might back into them. Well, as soon as Nissan starts selling this baby, the stigma falls. Of course, I don't know what I am going to do about those people who don't like my "forward" driving. Oh well. I can still claim the title of the only 16-year-old girl to receive a driver's license after hitting another vehicle while taking the driving test. Musta been my good looks or something.

SPROUT'S ANNIVERSARY

Sprout has just passed his 1-year anniversary in the Army. And what a year it's been for him. One thing is for sure...in the military you don't stay in one place for very long. If variety is the spice of life, the US military is the place to be. Sprout has gone from "away" to "farther away" to "halfway around the world" this year. He has been really busy in the last month but the one phone call we managed had him sounding so excited about what he's doing, it got me all excited. He is finally working in his MOS (for the un-military, that's Military Occupation Specialty...I think)and he loves it. He likes the people he's working with and seems to love what he is doing. I'm glad for him.

Happy Anniversary, Sprout!