CHRISTMAS 2009

Good Morning Campers!

Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas..the few of you who blogged about it seemed to have a wonderful time and I just spent a very pleasant half hour reading and looking at your holiday pics..this year was the first Christmas that I did not spend with hubby..every other year he managed to get to wherever I was...even the times he was deployed on a ship he would fly to England and meet me...I always went back to England for the holidays if he was away....I guess this year it was not meant to be..we did however have a wonderful day..the kids are older now and so they are better company and I did not feel lonely at all..his dad and his wife came round for the day and all in all it was very pleasant...I am very proud of the kids who bought me some really cool gifts and made sure Mum was not forgotten...I got gift cards to Yankee candle and Booksamillion...a pair of candle wall sconces and matching clock for the family room...socks..boots...ear rings..scarf..book mark..and a clip for my keyring that attaches inside your handbag...I was spoilt!! the kids got quite a bit too...not that it's all about the presents but there is nothing like the joy of giving and I think my kids finally got that this year..they couldn't wait for me to open my gifts...

Hubby called Christmas Morning from Iraq..and sent us some pics..including the on above...he said he has a lot to be thankful for after spending just a few days there...he will be back in Guam on the 29th...

Anyway..just wanted to write about our Christmas...it may have been different but it was as always FABULOUS!

Bring on the New Year!!

L xx

CHRISTMAS TIME..

Good Morning Campers....

How is everyone this morning?? It rained all day here yesterday ..it reminded me of rainy days back home...today everything is positively soaked outside but the rain has stopped...we needed a good soaking though...

So it's that time of the year again..the time for joy..sparkle..fairy lights..candles..carols...smiles..whispers..secrets..ornaments..trees..giant blown up Santa's bobbing in the wind on the front lawns...wrapping paper...red blouses..Christmas shaped everything...snowflakes..real and others hung on the tree...hustle and bustle ..and I LOVE every minute of it!! For some reason..perhaps the dreaded economy..everyone seems to be more in the spirit of Christmas than ever....perhaps this is just the little boost we all need to our spirits...hard to be in a bad mood when the whole world seems brighter and merrier and just plain 'ol happy!! Don't you just love this time of year??

Well other than being all merry and everything things are going pretty good here in my neck of the woods..the Christmas cards are trickling in...the tree is up and decorated..the lights are hung..the pressies are almost all bought and wrapped...I have even been enjoying the fireplace the last couple of nights...hubby is now back in Guam but he is flying to Iraq at Christmas to support his troops there..what an awesome Master Chief he is! he did not have to go but he volunteered..he said if he couldn't be home with us then he wanted to be with his "other family" the young guys that are serving on the front lines...yes he is that kind of a guy and one of the reasons I love him... ;-) We had a nice visit..it was nice just to hang out with him..he did a few things on the honey-do list but mostly we just spent time together as a family....

Not much else to tall you..just wanted to check in with you all...be safe and warm out there and remember to soak up this joyous feeling!!

L xx

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Good Morning Campers!!

It's a chilly 49F here this morning!! It definitely feels like the holidays!! Love it!! Just wanted to take a moment to wish each and everyone of you that celebrates Thanksgiving a wonderful day filled with the love and warmth of family and friends ...it's just me and the "kids" today..FIL wasn't feeling up to coming round so we will go say hi to him in a little while..hubby's thanksgiving is long over as he is 15 hours ahead of us....tomorrow I shall be heading out into the madness that is Black Friday!! woo hoo!! Today marks the official start of the silly season in my house and I intend to enjoy every last minute of it!!

Here are the things that I am grateful for on this day of thanksgiving...


1. my family...we may not always be together in person but we are bonded by love...

2.. my cozy house....

3... friends....

4.... the joy of the season....

5..... candles...my house smells so good right now!!

6...... my health....

7.......my happiness..I have had some struggles with this so I am grateful that on this day I can say that I am genuinely happy... and content...

8........ this blog..it may not get updated daily like it used to but it's always here when I need it...

9......... good books...

10......... all of you reading this!!

L xx

Monday Morning...

Good Morning Campers!!

It's been a while again...I remember the days when the first thing I did every morning was log in to my journal and see what was happening in the lives of my fellow journalers...those days have long since passed and I miss them...yes I get updates on face book but it is not the same cozy community we used to have.. I am guilty of not writing very much these days either...I used to think I was writing just for myself but perhaps not??

Anyway..this morning I am writing for me..I have a lot going on in this head of mine and the best way for me to clear it out is to get my thoughts down on "paper" so to speak...journaling. "Sudafed for the soul"...;-)


...I have been going through some crap with my friend again..her life is just one big drama after another and it takes its toll on me...an example of this is that she is moving again due to financial issues and has been pondering back and forth on what to do..whether to stay with her husband..she is miserable with him but financially she can't leave him..I have been there for her every day..listened to her..advised her...supported her...not financially I will add..those days are over...but I have been there in every other way..well this past weekend I got sick..nothing major..just a little head cold/sinus thing...I did not hear from her at all except for one text....I got to thinking about it and she rarely asks how I am or if I need anything or if I'm lonely ..missing my hubby..etc etc... it is always about her and her problems..well I am going to change that...I can't change anyone except myself and I am no longer going to allow this friendship to be one sided....it is toxic and I need to let it go..I will be her friend of course but I cannot allow her problems to become mine..I cannot feel guilty because my life is blessed...I cannot help that I have a wonderful husband and he provides for us..that my children and I have a great relationship and that there is not really any drama going on... instead of feeling guilty I am going to be grateful....

Speaking of grateful this is my favourite time of the year!! Time for me to start enjoying it ....I have allowed her troubles and anxieties for the season dull my joy! no more!! I am excited!! Hubby is coming home for 8 days!!! he has another conference in San Diego and has taken a weeks leave to fly home and see us! No he won't be here for Christmas but we will get to celebrate with him his 50th birthday and we will get to see him and hug him and be together!! he arrives on the 2nd...;-)

Well I feel better already! just getting my thoughts down on "paper" always helps me..I hope everyone has a joyful week getting ready for Thanksgiving...to me it is the official start to the "crazy" season..let the festivities begin!!

L xx

Happy Birthday in heaven Mum....

Today would have been my mums 73rd birthday. No Happy Returns Mum..just happy memories..

As you know I did not have the greatest of relationships with my Mum.She was moody, miserable, bitchy a lot of the time. She was also very funny, kind hearted, great with old people..would give you the shirt off her back.. great sense of humour..we once almost got thrown off a bus for the uncontrollable giggles caused by a man sitting oppisite us with this huge bandage on his nose..one look at him and her and I were off...it was terrible!! the more we tried to stop the worse it got... LOL She cried at the Waltons and Little House on the Prarie.. she loved dogs..we had a Red Setter called Tramp for 14 years.. she walked him 3 miles every day..sometimes twice...she could do cartwheels, juggle, ride a moterbike, never learned to drive..she tried a few times but always gave up she was way too nervous.. she made Christmas very very special.. she would begin "hoarding" food as early as September..she kept it all under th stairs...she loved Malteasers (english candy similar to whoppers) she smoked..in her later years rolled her own to save money.. I saw her get into at least 3 fist fights with women...she had a terrible temper...one time this girl was after me..said I had been after her boyfirend..my Mum drug her out the pub by her hair and told her she ever so much as looked at me wrong she would be back... ;-) She loved Country and Western music and dancing and slot machines. she was the life and soul of the party and no one would ever believe the way she was at home..she was terrified of Doctors, hospitals and had a morbid fear of choking.. she chewed her food into tiny pieces to avoid that....if we ever got hurt as kids she would go get the neighbours because she would panic......she once knocked two ornaments together while dusting and smashed them and cut her palms badly..she had to have stitches and they pretty much had to put her to sleep to do them..LOL...she was always dusting, hoovering, would come in on a saturday morning when I was trying to sleep in and open the curtains and the bloody windows and start hoovering around me...LOL.. she would spit on a hanky and wipe off my face as a kid ewwwwwwwwww...she was only just 5' tall..she was one of twins..her twin died at birth..she was born in a workhouse..she only weighed 2lb.. she never met her dad he was an alcoholic and died of Cirrosis of the liver.. her family was very poor.. she had 2 sisters and 3 brothers...hr real name was Diana but veryone called her babe as she was the youngest.. I once watched her and her sister get into a fight..my dad and my uncle had to sperate them with a water hose...LOL.. she was very very passionate... she would defend us kids to the very end...looking back I can see we had far more happy times than sad...but when I reached puberty that was it..we fought on and off for years..she semed to be jealous of me..she begrudged me the relationship I had with my dad..she felt like it was us against her...the things she said and did to me were awful..she hit me..she calld me all the names under the sun...she hated with the same passion she loved...but at the end of the day I can say that she loved me and she did her best...she grew up in a time when you didn't talk about womens problems, depression was not an option, I know she suffered from it though, and I know she had a terrible time with menopause but never asked for help... and I can admit I was a typical moody teenager. I just wish things could have been different.. I wish we could have had the kind of relationaship I have with my daughter... that is the one good thing that came out of it..I was determined to not be the way she was...
Anyways...
No Happy Returns Mum...just happy memories till we meet again..night night God Bless....
Lyn

RANDOMNESS...

Good Morning Campers!!

Lots going on this little head of mine..time for some randomness..is that even a word?? lol....

I miss reading Blogs...the one liners on face book just aren't the same...hows' your family? your kids?? your hubby?? what is really going on with you?? I miss you all!!!

I am B-O-R-E-D!!!..yep..I am...I need to find a job...hubby keeps wanting me to travel to go see him so finding a job seems ridiculous but I am getting tired of sitting here alone day after day and with "winter"coming it's only gonna get worse....

My son needs to find a job or go into the military...he is wasting his life....

I need to stop procrastinating and do my CEU's to update my license...

I need to make my Christmas shopping list and get started on my shopping..I have only bought one gift so far!!

I hate the dark nights already and we haven't even turned the clocks back!!

This is fun! ;-)

My daughter is addicted to getting inked..she told me she is getting number 5 on Friday....

have you seen all the new reality shows coming on TV?? it's crazy!!

I miss my hubby!!

Seeing him last week was like the appetizer..I want the main dish now please....;-)

I need new clothes...a little secret...I am dropping weight...shhhhhhhhhhhhh...don't want to jinx myself.... ;-)

I need a haircut....

so does my dog....

I miss my Mum..it is her birthday on nov 6th..and I can't think how old she would have been..shame on me...

The little girl who got killed here last week used to be one of my patients and it is the saddest thing ...our whole community is mourning...there are some sick people in this world....

my daughter has been playing Michael Jackson songs all morning..what is that all about?

my son slept over at his girlfriend's house AGAIN....nuff said...

It's foggy out..looks like a British morning...;-)

does anyone actually read my blog anymore??...

I need another cup of tea....

I said no to my son wanting a Halloween Party here at the house and it felt so good!!!

I don't like to drive at night....but I want to go out....

My dad had such a good time when he was here..I loved spoiling him!!

Hubby is having his first Colonoscopy soon...now that was random...lol

8 weeks from today will be Christmas Eve..

I am going to shower and leave this house today...

Yesterday I did not go anywhere!!

My mum would be 73...just figured it out...

I bought a beautiful angel for her grave and my dad took it back for me....

Walmart has Halloween on one aisle and Christmas on the other....

see I am thinking about shopping can you tell?

okay enough of this....back to face book to see what you all are up to.... ;-)

L xx

REMEMBER ME??

Good Afternoon Campers!!!!

It has been a very long time since I wrote anything ....I have been so busy but that is not an excuse... I just haven't got round to it...but I'm here today and ready to blow the dust off this poor old blog and catch up!!!

My Dad and best friend Di and her boyfriend came over at the end of September for a couple of weeks..it was an amazing visit....which included a surprise wedding on the beach! What happened was we were at our favourite Mexican restaurant and Di was telling us about a dream she had that she came on holiday and got married and my dad gave her away...well my friend Steve was with us and he pipes up "well I am a notary public so if you really want to get married I could marry you guys...and we could do it on the beach at my beach house" next thing you know Di's fella makes a "ring' out of a napkin and proposes!!!!!! The whole restaurant was clapping and cheering..we got a free round of shots and in the following week we managed to plan an entire wedding for under $500!! her wedding dress was $3.oo from the thrift store..the guys wore Hawaiian shirts..I picked up an Hawaiian skirt...we bought the booze at the base and a couple of Tiki torches and that was that!!! talk about romantic..it was just us and them and the most perfect sunset....they did call and tell his kids and their parents first but other than that it was a total surprise for everyone!! It was the most beautiful wedding I have ever been to and I was honored to be a part of it..I read Corinthians 1 verse 13...my Dad gave her away....it was perfect.... ;-)

I have also just got back from a whirlwind visit to San Diego to see hubby...we had a fantastic week together at the beautiful navy Lodge at North Island on Coronado island...our view was the beach..we literally walked out of our room onto the sand..we did a lot of sight seeing...spent time with his family..took a ferry ride..watched the Ronald Reagan come into port...ate tons of yummy Mexican food..it was absolutely what I needed and a good chance for us to reconnect...

Now the sad news.. a little girl from our community....about 3 miles from here..was kidnapped and murdered..she was taken as she walked home from school...her body was found at the trash dump...for those of you in the states you will have heard of this..her name was Somer Thomson and she was actually a patient of mine when I worked in peds.... i drove by her home yesterday to donate..the outside of her home is a shrine and it absolutely tore me up to see it...may that sweet little girl rest in eternal peace.... here is a link for anyone who hasn't heard about it...

Click here: Somer Thompson's Mother Diena Thompson Warns Killer


Well that's all for now...I have a mountain of laundry I am plowing through...I need to go to the Commissary tomorrow..they ate everything while I was gone...LOL...I will try to play catch up on the blogs...I apologize for the lack of visits..hope everyone is doing well...

take care and have a great week!!

L xx

HERE I AM...

Good Morning Campers!!

Well hubby has been gone for almost 2 weeks and I have allowed myself a week of feeling sorry for myself.. a week of letting my son take advantage of not having his dad here and having his friends hanging here and eating me out of house and home..a week of cooking meals hubby doesn't really care for...a week of hibernating from my friends and the constant phone calls to see how I am...a week of being crabby and miserable but enough is enough...I have had enough of that and am ready to move into the next phase...focusing on me..setting some goals and doing the things I like to do...I refuse to sit here feeling sorry for myself anymore!! I have been going to the beach with my beach buddy but other than that not a whole lot...next week I am going to spend some time working in the yard...I am going to get my CEU's done to get my Medical Assistant Certification current...and I am going to plan a trip out to see hubby in San Diego..he will be there for a conference for a few days and I am going to take advantage of that and go see him and visit with his family for a few days...the only person who can change the way I feel is me...I feel so much better this morning...I have an invitation to go to the Fish Camp by the river tomorrow evening...next weekend I am going to Tallahassee with my friend to go save another friend who is in a worse rut than me and take her out for a girls night out...I have a bag full of new books from Booksamillion that I intend to put a dent in... I want to get started on my writing...and I need to get this house in tip top condition for my dads visit in 2 weeks...so things are looking up and I am back!!!

I am making the rounds on the blogs..doesn't take nearly as long any more as not many of us seem to be writing...sad really..I can remember a time when I couldn't keep up!!

Have a great weekend!!

L xx

TWO DAYS TO GO...

Good Morning Campers!!

I appreciate every ones support of my last post. I did finally get a chance to talk to him about it and his response was that he had a lot of built up frustration and anxiety etc about the upcoming deployment..that he was just letting off steam...I can accept that but part of me is still reeling from the venom he spewed and will always wonder if he really thinks those things about me secretly..he did apologise and at this point in the game I chose to accept his apology and move on because the alternative is to let this rift stay between us and with him moving across the world from me there is enough distance between us without adding to it...does that make sense??

The count down to him leaving is very emotional...but I am ready to move on to the next phase..to shift the focus to me again..to start making myself a priority again and setting myself some goals...this last few months has been all about him and rightly so but I am ready to get on with this and get it closer to being over with ..

The family visit was fun..the going away party a huge success...my hubby will go away knowing he is loved and will be missed and that his home and family will be well taken care of...and that was my goal...

This military life is a roller coaster of emotions that's for sure...but it's been a good life to us and I know I am blessed...sometimes the struggles are hard but they have made me what I am today..a strong secure woman...I will survive these next two years..we will achieve our ultimate goal of a secure retirement and I know one day we will look back and miss all this...

Have a wonderful weekend...

L xx

SAD

Hubby and I had a huge fight last night and he said some of the most hurtful things he has had ever said to me and I feel absolutely hurt to my very core...it as if he has been building all this up inside and just spewed his hatred of me out..if he meant a third of what he said about me last night then I honestly do not know what will become of us. I am only writing this post as documentation. We hardly ever fight...we may have a cross word here or there but we rarely get into it the way we did last night....some of what he said was done purely to hurt me...I was called fat..a bitch..he said no one likes me..that I am a miserable person..that I am negative...lazy...that my kids hate me...like I said most of it was said in an attempt to hurt me but from what place do words like that come from??...somewhere very very dark and evil..and not anywhere I wish to be...

This morning my heart is very heavy and I am just so so sad...to make matters worse we have family in town and tomorrow we are having a huge cook out/going away party for him and now I have to face all these people when all I want to do is curl up in a ball and cry....

Even if he only said it to hurt me part of me believes that I am that way and that scares me...

L

MONDAY MORNING...

Good Morning Campers!!

Hope everyone had a nice weekend...mine was okay...nothing too exciting...was without a car Saturday..hubby's friend fixed a few minor things that needed doing..so I was home all day watching way too much TV...Sunday I went to the Flea Market..then to lunch with my Daughter and to the movies to see "Ugly Truth"..it was hilarious!! We cooked Ribs for dinner last night..that's about it for my weekend...

We are going to have a Barbecue/going away Party for hubby on August 29th...I hope the weather will cooperate...it has been awful here lately...lots of rain..our yard keeps flooding because of it...hubby is actually going to find some sandbags this week because the last big storm caused water to seep into the Florida room....

My dad is going to come over with my BF Di!! I am so excited!! I never thought he would come without my sister but Di is like family anyway and she will take care of him at the airport and stuff...it's been 2 years since he was here...It is sad that they will miss hubby by days but nothing we can do about that...

Not a whole lot write about ...LOL..but thought I would do an entry anyway...hope everyone is doing okay...I see a lot of you on face book...;-)

L xx

EARLY MORNING RAMBLINGS...

Good Early Morning to you!!

Yes it's 2.30 a.m. here and I am wide awake..I went to bed early to read and fell asleep but woke after 4 hours so I am piddling around online..between Facebook..Myspace..Blogger and my emails I can easily spend an hour catching up.... speaking of catching up I cannot believe how few people are posting from my Blog roll...I need to edit that....and for the 174 followers of mine you need to check your dashboard because only a handful of you are reading my posts...not that I write for you but a little feedback at least lets me know someone is out there!! I remember when I would get at least 50 comments..these days I am lucky to break double digits.... I try to comment at least once a week on the blogs I read just to let the person know I am still reading.. from my lack of comments I don't think I have many readers anymore....that's why the follower thing frustrates me...before I didn't know who was "following" me" so I never gave it a thought...now I wonder where you all are...

wow..I rambled on a bit there huh?? LOL

So I went round my in laws today...my step Mother-in-law drives me nuts...she was on my face book but would try to tell me what I could and could not post on there..or she would text my hubby and tell him what I had written..he doesn't have face book..so I blocked her..then she writes me and asks me why....I told her I don't like to have to filter what I write so I thought it was easier to block her..not to mention with hubby leaving she would be emailing him about me all the time..I have nothing to hide but hubby hates gossip of any kind and he hates it when she feels like she has "something" on me....then we get home and hubby tells me that the table they have been storing for us in their barn needs to come back here..believe me they have more than enough storage and they won't put anything up in the attic part of the barn where this table is but she has never wanted it round there in the first place..in the 11 years they have been over there that is the only thing I have ever asked of her...if she would store that table for me...she doesn't like me...the feeling is mutual but I show respect for her because she is married to my father-in-law and I adore him..I think she is very selfish..her family is over here every other month but as soon as any of my father-in-laws family wants to come over it's all "too much" for her...they have 3 spare bedrooms and plenty of space...her son is over at the moment with his wife and son..her daughter just went home..and her other son is planning his 3rd trip over here this year...but the mention of hubby's sister wanting to come for Christmas is "too much".. She also worships the ground hubby walks on and keeps going on and on about how awful it is that he has to go away for 2 years...poor him...blah blah blah...excuse me?? he is going to a Tropical Island for 2 years..will have his own apartment overlooking the beach with a Chiefs club in the building..golf courses within walking distance..scuba diving etc etc..I will be the one stuck at home alone with all the responsibilities of running this house and huge yard..and of course the kids..the dog..the bills... the decorating..the cars..the errands... but it's all about hubby..it always is....

I did call this early morning ramblings didn't I?? lol...

On the positive side...I have been spending time with my friends..they are so very important to me... as I have mentioned before it is the 4th Annual girls weekend at the Beach nest week..today we went to the Base to buy the refreshments..$200 worth!! Let's just say Happy Hour is covered!!! It is 3 days of sun..sand...relaxing..gossiping..giggling..card playing..junk food eating..drinking..laughing till you pee in your pants kind of fun!! and this year I need it more than ever...

I have been reading a lot...and even broke out my sketch pad and doodled a little..and I am writing my life story ...I wish that my Mum had written hers...there are so many things I wish I could ask her but can't now as she has gone on...so I thought it would be kinda cool to write a journal of the story of my life and leave it for my kids....they will have this journal online too .... but there is a something about a book they can actually open and read in my handwriting...what I wouldn't give to find one written by my Mum...I do have my dads diaries..he kept a written daily diary for 30 years..he quit writing the day my mum died and gave them to me..I treasure them...

Spending time with hubby...we have had the last 5 months at home together...to be absolutely honest we are driving each other nuts!! one of the reasons he took the job and not early retirement!! We have both discovered we are way to young to be home..we both need more in out life ...he has golfed at least twice a week .. and he has played way too much online PlayStation war games...he is going a little stir crazy..so am I..so he is actually looking forward to getting back to work..his present job he only has to check in once or twice a week!! So apart from being so far away and for so long we are both relieved that we have a life plan again... and goals we have set for this deployment and something to work towards..

okay enough rambling.. ;-)

I am going to try and get back to sleep...

L xx

my family...

some pics....

WEDNESDAY....

Good Morning Campers...


It's been a while again....so much going on but nothing really...does that even make sense?? The dog days of summer tend to blend into one long day....hot..humid...thunderstorms in the afternoon...days by the pool...or in the air-conditioning...trips to the beach...the lake....long lazy days....




My brain is on overload lately .here are a few of the things running through it....


My worries....

Guam...2 years ...for real? 2 years..cannot even fathom how this is going to work...

Ryan...2 months after graduation..no job..no motivation..."it's summer Mum"..

Job..me..what do I want to do?? Full time? Part time?? when to start looking...how will I manage work and the house and everything on my shoulders..alone...

family..hubbys..drive me crazy...it's all about poor hubby...what about me??

Friends...trying to keep everyone happy....when did I sign up for that role??

Weight...will I ever conquer that demon??

Finances...economy....will we really be okay???

Yard..yes the flipping yard keeps me awake at night...so much work..will I be able to cope with that on my own??


My blessings...

hubby...and the sacrifices he makes for us...

my kids...if they weren't around I would really be a nut job....

being able to take this summer off and spend it with the family...

lazy summer days ...although I may be a bit bored at the moment I know how lucky I am and there are far worse things I could be doing like still working for that terrible woman!!

friends..although the juggling act gets to me I love my girlies...

Beach weekend...August 7th...just the girls...4th year in a row...;-)

Blogging...I don't write often enough but I am reading whatever you write... trust me...;-)


That's it this morning...

L xx

MONDAY MORNING...

Good Morning campers!!

I sure have been neglecting this Blog huh? Don't really know why..I do know that my life seems to be in a bit of a rut these days...on the outside it appears that I have it all but on the inside...well..not so much.... I am in a turmoil about hubby's orders..to anyone who isn't on Face Book hubby got screwed over with his last orders..he was supposed to have this ideal job waiting for him when he got back from Japan..he would do that and then retire...well that all fell through and we have been waiting since February to find out where they were going to send him...he has 26 years in and our goal has always been for him to retire after 30 years in order to get the maximum retirement..so finally last week he found out he is going to Guam..for 2 years without me....I will be able to fly there to see him and he will take his 30 days leave and come here...probably once every 3 months or so but it means 2 lonely years ahead for both of us...the good thing is they have put on his record that he is to have orders to Jacksonville on his return..this time we have made sure it is in his record!! We have done this before and can do it again but for some reason it is affecting both of us hard...hubby has worked hard on the house and yard while he has been home and I know he is going to miss it..also his Dad is getting frailer by the minute...our son who graduated in May has yet to find "himself" ..I am bored being at home and will definitely need to find a job to keep me occupied.... so that's whats bothering me...and as always I feel better getting it off my chest!!

Now to list some of the POSITIVES in my life...

1.. My fabulous hubby and the sacrifices he makes for his family...
2.. Blogging...it does help!!
3... Great friends online and off...
4....Lazy summer days by the pool...
5.....The Library!! I have been reading a lot this summer!!
6...... Spending time with hubby...he only has to go into work when he wants right now!
7.......My BFF is still going to come visit me in September!!
8...... Girls weekend at the Beach coming up...yay!!
9.........Airconditioning..it has been soooooooooo HOT!
10.......... All of you reading this..I know the numbers have dropped but I appreciate those of you hanging in there with me!!

Make it a GREAT week!!

L xx

4TH JULY...

Hope every one had a safe and Happy 4th July...as you can see from the pics we had a bunch of our freinds over and had a blast..it was very hot but thankfully between the canopy..the umbrellas and the pool we managed!

I will be back later to write more but as you can tell I am uploading pics...gotta do it while my Blog is allowing me too!!

L xx

VACATION PICS...

AGING GRACEFULLY...;-)

I got this in an email and had to share...

I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become kinder to myself, and less critical of myself.

I've become my own friend. I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avante garde on my patio.

I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant.?I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM and sleep until noon? I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60 &70's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love ...

I will.I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set.They, too, will get old.

I know I am sometimes forgetful.But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten.. And I eventually remember the important things.Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers,or even when somebody's belove d pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding andcompassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face.So many have never laughed, and so many have died before theirhair could turn silver.As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think.

I don't question myself anymore.I've even earned the right to be wrong.So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever,but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be.

And I shall eat dessert every single day (if I feel like it).

MAY OUR FRIENDSHIP NEVER COME APART ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART!

SOME PICS AND SOME RANDOMNESS...

So it's been a while...lots going on in this head of mine so let me just have a ramble and see what comes out..hope you like the pics of my "kids"..I have a lot more that I need to upload to the computer...anyway..randomness...

feeling frustrated with the Navy...hubby still has no orders and what they have to offer sucks...but he will take what they hand him because our life plan has always been he will do 30 years and then retire

hot hot hot...not me the weather...

temps in the 100 degree range...

glad I have a pool..

BUT pool is 90 degrees... :-(

love the thunderstorms...

beach tomorrow..

girlfriend has week off so we are taking advantage and hitting the beach the lake and of course my hot tub formerly known as pool...

we are working on our relationship....

remember how we fell out??

sometimes you have to look at the good and the bad...

I missed her so I shall overlook the bad...

but I haven't forgot!

having 4th July Barbecue at our house..

pretty ironic as all out friends will be celebrating their Independence from their hosts...LOL..

got some major fireworks to let off...

sis boom bah!!

bored...me that is...

will be finding a job in the fall...

the grass is not greener on the other side...

another thing my Mum was right about...

God rest her soul...

grocery prices are way up at the Commissary..

I shopped for a month today and spent $400!!!!

used to be $250 would do us for a month...

oh well..blessed to have the $$$ to do it...

Jon and Kate have got their come uppance....

I can't stand her...

she always was shrew...

belittling her hubby in front of the kids...

but they still want to do the show..

for what?

to expose the kids even more...

and they say they hate the cameras..

excuse me you just lived the past 3 years in front of them...

okay...enough randomness for tonight......

was that an echo I heard??? is there anyone still out there in Blogville???

have a great week.....

L xx

THE BRIT IS BACK...

Good Morning Campers!!

I am back from our vacation to Myrtle Beach....it was a very relaxing week..our condo was on the the beach and as we were in the "Penthouse" (condo talk for top floor) we had an amazing view of the ocean ...the Condo itself was nice...2 bedroom 2 bath with washer dryer..which was a godsend for the towels and bathing suits etc...the only downside was it was Senior week (woop woop!) and Ryan got sick and ended up in the ER with a 103 fever...he got tested for Flu..Mono and Strep ..all came back negative but the Dr. gave him a Z -pak..and prednisone for the swelling...his tonsils were almost touching! he also got Phenergan for his nausea and Vicodin for pain....after that he was fine but the stubborn little shit refused to go to the hospital till flipping Friday..if he had gone on the first day he felt bad he would have enjoyed his vacation instead of "toughing" it out in his room ... But when it's all said and done we had a fab family holiday and we had some great "moments"..we played cards...we played pranks on each other..I got Ryan good my laying between his and True Beauty's beds and hiding while he was in the bathroom..when he got back into bed I slipped my hand in his bed and tugged the sheet..when he looked down I jumped up and yelled "boo"..yes he almost crapped himself...LOL!! We ate out at a different restaurant every night...we went to the Aquarium..we enjoyed the lazy river pool and the beach...we went to the pier...True Beauty and I spent a lot of time together working on our tan...out trip home included a stop for Fireworks....BUT I was glad to get home...Myrtle Beach is okay...but to be honest it has nothing on the beaches here and the area we were in was a bit "dodgy"..we could have just as good a time if we had rented a place on the beach here but the kids voted on Myrtle beach and it was good to get out of Florida for a while if only to realize there is no place like home!! My dog is acting weird by the way...I think he misses my in-laws Yorkie..either that or he got in trouble while we were gone or he is pissed that we left him..whatever it is he is acting weird and I don't like it!

Hope everyone is doing okay...I will get around to your Blogs..Happy Belated Fathers day to all you dads out there and all you Mums who pick up the slack for the deadbeat dads!!

L xx

R.T.T.~~ RANDOM THOUGHTS TUESDAY~~

Good Morning Campers!!

Thought I would thrill you all with a post..;-) as most of my thoughts are random why not participate in random thoughts Tuesday...

I am happy the sun is shining...
I have actually been having sun withdrawals...
Vacation Saturday...
Myrtle Beach....
hopefully no rain..
missing my computer...
been in the shop for over a week..
the summer "help" backed up my files but failed to order me a new Mother Board..
sigh....
need to write about sons graduation..
it was incredible...
I about burst with pride...
I went to the kegger party in his honour...
don't judge me...:-P
I have been crash dieting before vacation..
oxymoron really as we pig out on Vacation...lol..
had a great weekend..saw friends that used to be stationed with us...
the proof is on face book...
sigh again...
can't put pics on from sons computer...
probably wouldn't anyway...
lol...
love random thoughts...
this is how I journal on paper...
did anyone watch that show about OCD last night??
lady scrapes poop out her butt for over an hour in the shower after a BM..
holy shit..
literally...lol
with a toothbrush by the way...
has been hospitalized from losing blood...
makes my OCD seem minor...
it is really...
just the usual stuff..checking and rechecking...
hubby still has no orders...
we are both home and going a little nuts...
we are acting retired and we don't like it...
going to the library and shit..
we are too young to be retired...
job hunting in October...
might as well have the summer off...
hmm..maybe that's why it's been raining so much...
punishment...
old office is literally hanging by a thread...
makes me happy in a gleeful way...
I can hear hubby getting his golf clubs out...
retirement shit again...lol
that part he likes...
okay enough randomness..
peace out...

L xx