Friday, November 14, 2008

Dance the HAPPY DANCE!



Against the odds, Paul is coming home on Monday! LOL Apparently another thing has gone wrong with the "chase" bird and the team is pulling up stakes and coming home for a couple of weeks.

He'll have to go back to complete the testing the first week in December, but it should just be for a few days, not the months that this has been. And, hey.. worst case scenario, his leave starts on December 17, so I know he'll be back by then.



Thank you everyone for your support, well wishes and prayer.. Paul is coming home!

Pudge the fish

In the original movie Lilo and Stitch, Pudge the fish controlled the weather. Much like Pudge, I also control things... not the weather, but gas prices in lower Alabama.

I became aware of my power recently when I purchased gas. It seems that since prices started falling, every time I buy gas, the price seriously drops within HOURS of my purchase. It's kind of awesome to have that kind of power.. he he.
glitter-graphics.com

Today gas prices here are at $1.99 a gallon. I have to take off in a bit and I need gas. If my theory holds true.. by no later than tomorrow gas prices will drop again.

Alabama, you can thank me later.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Troop Support

During this time of year, I like to bring attention to various groups that offer ways for us to be able to support our troops. Although I am sure that those of you that have family members or friends serving in the military are supporting them every chance you get, I like to mention these places that have a pipeline to the troops for those of us that don't have someone that we currently are supporting.

At the present time the general public can no longer send packages, letters or cards generically marked "To Any Soldier". This is to protect our troops from various terrorist possibilities. So companies have stepped up to allow a bridge between the public and our troops to all ow those well-wishers to still be able to brighten a military members day.

My pick of the day is Military Care Package Soldier Gift Baskets Care Package for Troops Treats for Troops. These folks have set up a very user friendly website where you can send a package to any troop, or designate a specific troop... they have a birthday club, so you can send a package to someone specifically for a birthday. Just tons of options and all of it packed up pretty and sent out for you.

They even have a "Foster a Soldier" program, where you can give some guidelines to the individual you'd like to foster, ie sex, location, age range... I often choose two gals and a guy to support, to represent my babies out there. :)

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Support Supportive Employers

Kimberly's godmother sent an email to me this morning regarding Sears and what they do for their Reservist and National Guard employees. I've checked it out at Snopes and it's true. But.. here's the plus to this... Snopes also gave a web site Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve
where you can check out OTHER employers that go above and beyond for their Reservist and National Guard employees. You can check it out by state, so you can show some support to these companies.

Subject: Sears -
Christmas shopping has already started. I know I needed this reminder since Sears isn't always my first choice. Amazing when you think of how long the war has lasted and they haven't withdrawn from their commitment. Could we each buy at least one thing at Sears this year? How does Sears treat its employees who are called up for military duty? By law, they are required to hold their jobs open and available, but nothing more. Usually, people take a big pay cut and lose benefits as a result of being called up. Sears is voluntarily paying the difference in salaries and maintaining all benefits, including medical insurance and bonus programs, for all called up reservist employees for up to two years. I submit that Sears is an exemplary corporate citizen and should be recognized for its contribution. I suggest we all shop at Sears, and be sure to find a manager to tell them why we are there so the company gets the positive reinforcement it well deserves. Pass it on.

I should have known better

I was actually getting excited. Paul was due home on the 21st (delayed from the original date of 5 Nov.). I believed it was going to happen and I finally told the kids that Daddy would be home by next Friday... STUPID!

During our conversation last night, I discovered there have been more delays because of the crappy bird they have to use as their "chase" bird.. they haven't been able to fly it more than one out of every 10 days. They have test data in abundance on other aspects of this prototype, but they can't get the final stuff done so they can come home. And they keep sending the chase bird back to be repaired.. get a day out of it and then something else goes wrong... and more days are lost. At any rate... at this point Paul's return date is up in the air.

Initially he was going to buy a ticket to come home for Thanksgiving. But I told him no. .. unless the government was going to pay for that ticket, I didn't want him spending our money on that (we still have Christmas to deal with). I told him to go spend T-giving with his parents (he is just 6 hours away from Phoenix) and we'd see him when he gets back.. if he ever gets back. .this is becoming the TDY that never ends. LOL

Anyway.. in other news Mac, Kim and I went to see Madagascar: Escape2Africa yesterday. They loved it.... I slept through it. I guess I was tired. The part I did see, I didn't think was as good as the first one.

We did see previews for "Inkheart" though. Kim and I have both read the book and are so looking forward to that movie in January.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Quick Notes

This weekend Kim and I accomplished our gardening goals. We've divided up the work that needs to be done over three weekends. With luck we should be close to done when Paul finally gets home.

I'm on Kim's computer this morning. The fan on my computer died yesterday morning and I don't/can't run the computer without it. So.. .one more thing waiting for Paul to come home and repair.

Kendra is coming home today to spend the night and tomorrow with us. I'm thrilled because at first she wasn't going to come (boyfriend and classes) but her classes were cancelled and I guess boyfriend is working.

Paul and I spent close to four hours on the phone yesterday, divided up between 3 calls. I miss him so much... I'm really glad this separation will be over soon.