I ate Kangaroo and it was delicious.....**

Whats up BLOGGY BLOG?

Weather Chronicle brought to you by TANK GIRL: Since we have landed in NEVER NEVER LAND it has been misty, foggy, the sun has poked out twice, and rainy.  Reminds me very much of Portland Oregon. Oh, and I noticed that I did not bring the weather report on my last blog, this weather girl should be FIRED!

BY THE WAY: I suspect my Blogs may be a little longer than they already are, and they may be a tad more informational and serious until we settled into NEVER NEVER LAND.   

The other night I told you we hung out with the Peterson's.  They are a family of six, 2 parents and 4 children, 3 girls and 1 boy.  The father I have nicknamed skids.  Here is the story;

So they are staying in the same B&B we are staying in, and we came downstairs to visit them.  I sat down in their living space, and the first thing Skids says to me is this;

Skids:'Tiffany, have you noticed the difference in the European toilets?'
ARMS:'Yeah I was noticing that it flushes different then the American ones....like there is no suction, it just fills with water and drains...'
Skids:'Yeah a tip I have for you is if your taking a big poop, like laying some serious cable, you should scoot forward a little bit on the seat or you will leave skid marks on the back of the toilet. Don't you hate skid marks?'
ARMS: In my mind.....Wow.....how should I respond to this? 'Um......I think you may want to share this information with LEGS?....'


So it shall be known that Mr. Peterson will hereby be known as Skids.

During the same visit LEGS was playing with Henry (the little boy) no nickname for Henry as I love his name so much as is.  Anyways, they were wrestling and playing, then Henry got down on all fours and started to growl at LEGS.  I would just like to say for the record LEGS was SHUT DOWN by a growling toddler, he had no clue how to deal or respond to this.

Yesterday I woke up at 3am and was wide awake and starving.  Since I have been here I have been waking up at odd times and more hungry then I can ever recall being.  I think its a combination of feeling cured from my cold, jet lag and the excitement of being in GERMANY has finally set in.  I wasn't really able to have that when we first landed because of how miserable I felt, but last night I was laying in the dark and thinking 'OMG I AM IN GERMANY OMG I AM IN GERMANY!!!!!'

We woke up and went downstairs to have a traditional GERMAN breakfast, it consists of more amazing bread, cold cuts of meat, and cheese.  Its not what we are used to in the states, and at first glance the meat didn't look that appetizing but it was ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS!!! And I am pretty sure I made LOVE to the tomato I ate yesterday was well.

We began the day by inspecting two apartments for rent.  One was in downtown Bad Winsheim, which is pronounced properly as 'Bad Vindsime.'  It was downtown above a design shop that does custom paint, flooring and tapestry.  

You walk up this junky set of stairs, where there is this open area to put your shoes (it is customary here, to remove your shoes outside the apartment), we walked through a white door with a glass window.  

Arguably the apartment was a one bedroom with one living space.  It had two large rooms, one large kitchen, two den/nook areas, and a terrace that overlooks the city.  It was very sheek, reminded me of a a tiny apartment you see in the movies.  We would never in a million years fit our stuff in there, and we would have to commit to walking Karmella everyday because there was obviously no yard.  The owner said he would paint and carpet the apartment however I wanted and was EXTREMELY friendly to me.  

It was pretty cool, and cute.  The greedy, adventurous part of me wants get rid of all of our stuff and move into that place.  But, the cautious conservative side of me realizes that I am in a different stage in my life.  If I had to pick out of what we saw yesterday I would pick this apartment.

The next place we looked at was located in Untertief pronounced 'ooonterteef', which is out in the country, about 20 minutes to base.  It was located in the same building as a restaurant and we would have American neighbors.  I found it to be a very odd space.  It had a large entry way, that connected to a long hallway, with very tiny rooms off the hallway.  It had a tiny kitchen, one large room in the very back, but it had a SUPER COOL loft above the big room in the back.  LEGS liked this apartment because it did have more space, but I wasn't sure how I would pull off the space with ANY of the stuff we have. 

So far my GERMAN has helped me and hindered me.  I was able to strike up a conversation with a fellow German dog owner the other day by saying hello and asking if he speaks English in German.  Once I established I knew a little German and was trying to improve my knowledge of the language he opened right up and started chatting us up.  

However they other night I was speaking both German and English to the nice lady Hiedi, who runs the B&B.  Her and I got caught up in this complicated misunderstanding about whether or not you needed an reservation to have dinner at the B&B.  Here is the conversation:


ARMS:'Guten Abend.  Where should I sit...anywhere?'
Heidi:'Ya anywhere...'
ARMS:'Are you expecting people for dinner?'
Heidi:'Ah yes, 6 people.'
ARMS:'Do I need reservation?'
Heidi:'You have reservation.'
ARMS:'Um...no...no reservation.'
Heidi: Yes this man called last week and made for you.'
ARMS:'Um....no?'


At this point we are both utterly confused.


ARMS:'So you need a reservation for dinner?'
Heidi: Laughs at me and says 'No, no, no!'

She thought I was talking about a reservation for the hotel and I thought I needed to make a reservation for dinner.


Heidi and I have turned into fast friends.  She has three children, and owns a vacation home in Florida.  She has agreed to help me find an apartment by calling the places in the newspaper and setting up times to look at them.  This is a great help because I suspect the housing people are not showing us all the apartments that are available.  She has also agreed if we have to sell a bunch of our stuff she will help me do that as well.  She says she needs to practice her English and I have been asking her to help me with my German.  


The European Command and Europeans in general really admire and support the sport of boxing.  They have told me that there are no programs on any of the bases and have purposed that I start a program to teach people boxing on the bases.  I find this incredibly flattering but also very intimidating.  I do not feel I have enough experience to teach boxing, and I seriously need to get back into boxing shape.  I haven't made a decision yet, but I am not passing up the opportunity just yet due to my fear. 


We have made new friends.  Our sponsor's have been amazing.  'Sir Bradford' is a very well spoken, senior Warrant Officer 2, who uses very proper English, is very intelligent, and has some of the same nerdy tendencies as LEGS.  His wife,' Squirrely' and I have been getting along fantastically, she reminds me very much of my SISTER Rachel.  Last night they took us to an Australian Pub. The pub used to be an Irish pub, but there were so many fights they closed it down and re-opened it as a Aussie Pub.  


We had Kangaroo for the first time ever and it was delicious.  I had a slight apprehension to eating Kangaroo because its significance in the boxing as a boxing icon, but all that went away after my first glass of wine.  We also had this stuff called 'beet root mash.' Its mashed potatoes with beets in it, that was also delicious as well.  


We were given a proper welcome to 'Whiskey' company.  Some of the guys showed up at the pub a little later on.  We had great conversation over Keller Beer, Wine and Shots of a type of German Schnapps.  The schnapps was a little intense for me, and I totally thought that I would be hungover today, but we were told last night the Germans have very strict regulations about the ingredients in the beer/liquor, they do not allow all the junk that makes you feel so yucki in the States.  


After we left the pub, we walked down the cobblestone streets to get a Doner- this is a lot like what we know as a Gyro in the states, we took a peak at the catacombs in the dark- scary, and tucked into the B&B for the night.


Random Thoughts and Stories:


Since being here without my iPhone I have gone through SERIOUS withdraws to being constantly plugged into my email, and facebook.  I would just like to say that I am proud of myself for getting over the hard part, I am now able to enjoy REAL LIFE more!


The Hef- here is another character that entered our life last night.  There is a guy in our unit that we met last night.  Single, charming, attractive, and simultaneously texting two females that were in the exact same bar.  I suspect we will have many more funny stories about 'The Hef.'


When LEGS arrived here he was hazed.  All the guys switched ranks and proceeded to give him a hard time about taking a maintenance test flight and taking a emergency procedure test his very first day.  The community here is a familiar one and VERY comparable to the Recon community that we are so accustomed to, let the games begin!

I have eaten, chicken, beef, pork, lobster, crab, halibut, salmon, other assorted seafood,oysters, clams, duck, squirrel, AND Kangaroo.


I have some pictures of last night that I haven't uploaded, but they will be put up soon!


Over & Out.....


Just another day in the life of an unlikely military wife....**

Pastoriushaus.....Our first night and day in NEVER NEVER LAND....**

Guten Morgan BLOG!

Herlich willkommen im Pastoriushaus translation: Heartfelt Welcome to Pastoriushaus. The Pastoria House is actually located in Bad Windsheim, pronounced Bad Vindshime.

The Pastoriushaus (pronounced as I am told Pastoria House) is where LEGS and I are staying until we can find proper housing.  

Franz Daniel Pastorius (1651-1720)

Franz Daniel Pastorius was born in 1651 in Sommerhausen, Germany. He went on to study at several colleges but eventually earned his Doctor of Law from the University of Nuremberg. Pastorius lived and practiced law in the town of Bad Windsheim, where his father, Melchior, was mayor for 28 years. 

Pastorius was a member of a religious sect called the Pietists. Together with his fellow Pietists, they planned to create a settlement in Pennsylvania as a religious haven. He met with William Penn and soon converted to Penn’s Quakerism. In 1683, the Frankfurt Land Company and a group of merchants from Krefeld, Germany commissioned Pastorius to form a settlement in America. They purchased 15,000 acres in Pennsylvania that soon became Germantown.

Pastorius led the group of Mennonite and Quaker settlers, and became Germantown’s principal leader and lawmaker, as well as a dedicated member of the Society of Friends. Pastorius opposed slavery, had it banned in Germantown, and in 1688 wrote and published the first anti-slavery protest in America.

An avid gardener, writer, and poet, he often wrote about the pleasures of gardening and beekeeping. He left 43 volumes of manuscripts after his death in 1720. Pastorius was truly a founding father of the Pennsylvania and the future United States. 

What's interesting about this is my 'Aunt Grace' lives in Redding Pennsylvania and we have had many conversations in which Germantown and the Amish/Mennonites have been mentioned.

About the Pastorius Haus:

 

In 1668 the City of Windsheim appointed the Praying Sisters, a group of women living in chastity and voluntarily poor, a house on the Pastorius Haus property. In 1710 a new structure, the present day Pastorius Haus was built. It would be known for centuries as the Bethaus, the prayer house.  With the help of donations and alms, the Praying Sisters did charitable work, cared for the poor, and nursed the sick. After the Praying Sisters, the house continued on to be known as the Bethaus but had a variety of functions until its eventual fall into ruins. 

 

(this one is for you kitty Kat!)

In 1984, the non-profit organization, Pastorius Home Association, Inc., acquired the house and after an over $1 Million renovation project opened its doors to guests in 1986.

The home is now operated as an American-German cultural center and bed and breakfast.

 

Since we have been here this is what we have learned:

The water is bad so you can't drink it.  It has a high amount of calcium in it, so it builds up on your teeth and your hair, if you drink it you are susceptible to kidney stones. So we have bottled water that comes in crates, which you obviously return and recycle.

 

Also, the living/housing situation is a little tricky.  If we want to get what we want then we will have to be VERY aggressive in finding the house ourselves.  

 

The reports so far have been we are only authorized a two bedroom place, you can be threatened with the revocation of your TLA- which is the money the ARMY is willing to pay for you to stay in the B&B, and the housing people can be very aggressive, unfriendly and insensitive to your desires.  

 

Right now we are scheduled to look at a few places tomorrow, one thing that saves us is the ability to live out in town and having a dog gives us more options further away from the base. 

Since learning this and being checked in to a very small room here at the B&B with our gigantic over-sized bags I had to sit down and give myself a counseling.  LEGS had left to get us dinner, I was sick and extremely tired, I did not cry, but I told myself that I was going to have to really let go of the material things I am so attached to.  If we do not get lucky enough to find a place big enough to accommodate the things we will have to sell them or possibly give them away.

I feel much more positive and optimistic after getting to sleep and feeling better.  So I am very much looking forward to being creative with the things we have and the space we get.

 

I heard the FRG here (Family Readiness Group) is pretty positive and amazing, I guess the leader of the FRG is VERY excited to meet me....I feel excited and happy about this but also nervous and apprehensive.

 

The B&B we are staying in is really small, but incredibly romantic, I cannot wait to feel better!!! Hint...Hint.... 

 

 

The shower is so small its like showering in a telephone booth, it occurred to me today that this may be the reason Europeans go Au Natural and do not shave.......

This is what I see out my window:

Random Thoughts and Observations:

I heard a European emergency vehicle out the window today, it sounds just like they day in the movies, all I could think of was The Bourne Identity.

The food has been delicious here. I had a salami sandwich on a kaiser roll, first of the roll is the best tasting bread I have ever had and the salami- well- I can't even believe we call the salami in the states salami.

I wish I was feeling a little better than I do, because first impressions are everything and I do not feel like myself. I am very lucky to have an amazing sponsor who happily dropped me off some 'supplies' today:

The comb my Mema got me for Christmas one year was the first casualty of the move. :( :(

 

 

 

I am upset at myself for not taking more pictures at the airport but I felt so lousy I couldn't even fathom it. But I managed a few of the airport and getting here so here they are:

This is documentation of us being treated like cattle.....I did not picture people because I did not want to embarrass them as well......

 

I think its cute they put a skirt on the girl!

Karmella was perfectly fine- VOLUNTARILY- climbing into her container AFTER the airplane ride, and so long as it was left open......maybe she has claustrophobia?

 

Last week I sent off my first pair of baby booties to a friend from high school who just had her fist baby. Even though they came out a little lop-sided I am very proud of them and think they are adorable. I knitted the cuff part onto the bootie part. You can find the booties at Micheal's, when picking out yarn read the directions, it said for beginner knitters, but I found it to be a little complicated, I suspect because I am a perfectionist, but remember even mine came out lop-sided.

Over & Out......

Just the first night and day in NEVER NEVER LAND for an unlikely military wife.....**

Across the Atlantic to NEVER NEVER LAND.....**

Hey Blog...you stranger you.....

Three things: I am sick, jet lagged and my head feels like its somewhere in the clouds, so please forgive my spelling/grammer.

Weather Condition Case History brought to you by TANK GIRL: We left Atlanta on Tuesday night at 6pm, it was a beautiful sunny day, but very cold and windy.  Once we arrived in Frankfurt it was sunny and the sun felt warm, but on the shuttle to Illesheim is was very foggy and cold.

LEGS and I arrived at the airport 6 hours before our flight departed, for several reasons, to get Karmella figured out, to check our bags, and because we had to check out of the hotel by 1230 pm.  

Unfortunately I had come down with a cold.  My throat was dry, scratchy and felt like somebody had set it on fire, and my nose was clogged up and draining into my already raw throat.  I didn't feel like myself which was annoying because I had envisioned being so excited and happy on the day we left, but instead I was sitting in the airport miserable and trying very hard to pull off the act of being happy and jovial.  

Several other military families were there very early as well.  We made new friends that will be stationed all through out NEVER NEVER LAND.  We had to wait several hours for the flight check in staff to arrive, but once they arrived we were first in line.  We successfully checked in all of our luggage and were able to get Karmella on board.  At this point I started to experience the relief and elation of making one of my life long dreams come true.  

We took Karmella outside for awhile, gave her some water and food.  I wanted to tire her out as much as possible for the long plane ride.  After painlessly getting through security we went and had our last dose of American Food at T.G.I. Fridays in the International Section of the International Atlanta Airport.  


A few observations:  

* One bonus to being military is short security lines (we have a special line) at the airport and they don't give you too much grief.

* We were only allowed plastic knives, which LEGS was confident if somebody was really motivated they could hurt somebody with it, he didn't need to convince me as I worked in a Juvenile Delinquent Center where 'shanks' were common.


* I noticed an immediate change in style and culture:

-People were dressed in all kinds of clothes, we saw people with       turbans, traditional middle eastern dress, high fashion, high heels

skinny jeans, high boots with high heels, flip flops etc.

- They had a live piano playing in the center of the food court, fresh flowers on every table, lots of high quality alcoholic beverages to choose from.

During dinner, LEGS had a margarita, but due to my current condition of having a raging head cold I opted for Air Borne, pain reliever, and sleeping pills.  We also sprinkled Karmella with pixie dust, who, was beginning to act up. 

Once we got on the plane, we were fortunate because it was not a full flight and we had an extra empty chair in our row of three.  By this time, Karmella was tripping!!! I put her in her container on my lap and proceeded though exhausted and sick to comfort her for the first 6 hours of the flight. LEGS helped me as much as he could, all she wanted was to be on my lap, however the flight attendants were very watchful and continually harassed me about Karmella's head poking out of the container.  During the last 20 minutes of the flight, Karmella ripped a gigantic hole in the side of the container and NEXT TIME she WILL BE put under the plane.

The next part of the trip was one of the worst parts of my life.  

We de-boarded the plane, went through passport checks, and went to pick up our luggage.  We sat there and waited a very long time for our luggage and soon realized it may not have arrived.  We asked the airport staff what was wrong, at first they said, they had a dilemma unloading the plane and our luggage should arrive on the claim shortly.  Then they said that our baggage had not arrived and we needed to file a claim with the luggage people.  

I found this amusing since we had only taken ONE flight straight from Atlanta, but LEGS and this German lady were PISSED.  Watching a German woman curse in half English half German was incredibly entertaining.  It was also funny that she walked up to LEGS and asked him a question in German, he just sheepishly smiled and requested she speak in English.  

I went to the bathroom and could not figure out how to work the faucets, a lady in there chuckled playfully at me and showed me how to work it.  I started to really feel isolated, everybody was speaking a different language, all the announcements were made in GERMAN on the plane and in the airport........this language barrier is not going to last long with this talkative girl.

We went over to the Luggage claim place and the most wonderful thing happened.  Our luggage popped out on the claim.  I felt as if I had won the lottery, all of us were hooping and hollering as only those silly Americans would.  

Once we got out luggage we were paraded through the entire airport in single file line following US Army Staff. I found this slightly humiliating for several reasons; number one they told us not to draw attention to our military/American background while en route, and once seeing the sophistication of the surrounding Europeans I began to feel uncomfortable with the sloppiness of my American counterparts.  

We were led to the US Military 'reception area' where we were once again lined up and herded like cattle for role call etc.  As I looked around I could not determine who was leaving and who was arriving in GERMANY, but I was shocked at how many people were there due to the fact that I thought we were a little special for getting this particular duty station.  

We had to wait several hours for the shuttle.  I was absolutely miserable, my ears began to hurt, my nose was either running/dripping, or plugged up solid, I was so exhausted my eyes were red, dry and burning.  We couldn't catch any rest because of how uncomfortable this 'reception area' was.  LEGS and I had some coffee at Starbucks, he told everybody via facebook we had arrived safely, we walked Karmella who was now perfectly calm and VERY well behaved......

I had to keep going to the bathroom to get toilet paper to blow my nose.  European Toilet Paper is like sandpaper, so my nose was completely raw, red and begging for Kleenex.  Still I told myself to remain optimistic and not ruin LEGS' arrival in NEVER NEVER LAND.  

I watched in utter humiliation as my American counterparts completely botched the obvious and easy to follow recycling trash containers.  Then I observed one of the sanitation workers basically re-separate the waste properly, it was sooooooooo embarrassing, no wonder these people can't stand Americans, and the American Military.

Finally we were rounded up like sheep again, paraded through the airport in single file again, and loaded onto the shuttle.  By this time we were so tired, exhausted and beside ourselves that we were only keeping our eyes open by manually holding them open.  The battle was lost when hit thick fog and weren't able to see anything.  LEGS and ARMS passed out so badly we were both mouths open, drooling and snoring....

Several hours later we were dropped off on the base in Illeshiem, which was severely obscured by thick fog.  We had to move our 500 gigantic bags for the millioneth time five different times, before we were whisked away by our sponsor and his wife and put into the 'Pastorius House.' A little bed and breakfast.

LEGS went with his sponsor to get sandwhich's from 'Doner's', which is comparable to a Gyro.  We both visited with the Peterson's who are located downstairs in the same B&B, then we took Melatonin and passed OUT!

Over & Out.....

Just another relocation, duty station, oversea's trip in the life of an unlikely military wife.......**

What in the hell is wrong with me?**

Dear Blog.....

What in the hell is wrong with me? I haven't felt much like writing or drawing but I promised to chronicle the experience of a military wife so here goes:

Weather by Tank Girl: Rain in Alabama and Rain in Georgia. Go Figure.

I have been feeling exhausted lately.  I suspect its a combination of things:

-drinking more than usual
-eating an obscene amount of junk
-a bed where you can feel the springs through the fabric
-hectic days filled with crazy last minute errands mixed with periods of nothing to do but lounge
-saying goodbye to people that I love
-the overwhelming stress of traveling and living in unfamiliar areas.

I keep telling myself.......soon I will have more than enough time to rest. 

Our flight is tomorrow night at 6pm.  Since we spent most of the day today signing out of the ARMY, getting out of the hotel in Enterprise and driving to Atlanta, we need to get up early tomorrow and ship the TANK. We have to check out of the hotel at 11am, and catch a ride on the shuttle to the airport.  

Obviously....I am not looking forward to being stuck at the airport hanging out for 7 hours until our flight leaves, but with no car and being on a budget I am not sure how much of a choice we have.  


Our flight is direct from Atlanta to Frankfurt and is about 9 hours long.  Once we land in Frankfurt we have to catch another shuttle for the two hour ride to Illesheim.  It is shaping up to be a very long journey.....with a dog.

I have been feeling nervous, anxious, scared, excited, my heart has been beating fast, I have been feeling a little sad, tired, melancholy.  When I have said goodbye to my friends I have felt sad, but hopeful that I will see them again.  When I have spoke to my friends and family I have felt excited that they are excited but also a little depressed I will be so far away.  

Karmella has been handling all the changes very well and I have been clinging to her for comfort.  LEGS has been quieter than usual which is hard to imagine since he is practically mute, but I think he is nervous too about being a "rookie" at the new duty station etc.  

Its just always scary and final when you decide to do something so big, being cautious my entire life it is sometimes hard to let go of the control that I like to always have. 

We checked into another hotel today in Atlanta.  I told LEGS we should make reservations for the hotel early....yeah.....he didn't...so today when we got here the only thing available was a room with double beds and a smoking room.  I just love smelling like an ash tray and sleeping alone......can you hear the sarcasm?  If LEGS thinks he is getting Karmella tonight he is sadly mistaken..... 


Okay, now that I have written the most depressing blog in the world, I want everybody to know that sometimes endings are sad and sometimes change is hard.  I don't want anybody to think that I am depressed or not absolutely THRILLED to be going to NEVER NEVER LAND!


Random Thoughts:


Why is everybody starring at us? 


Damn it stinks!


The salt on my margarita tastes stale.


I sound negative....and depressed.......


I have been calling all my family members and friends today and it is a little depressing.....

I wish I was a better more relaxed traveler. 


I always try to see the best in people, to believe they are innately good in nature, and the mistakes they make are just mistakes, but this whole entire premise has been seriously challenged the last few years and its damn hard not to become jaded.


Over & Out...


Just another day in the life of an unlikely military wife....**

I'm a Politician and LEGS is Sherlock Holmes.....**

Dear Blog,

Weather Report brought to you by your faithful weather girl: Its been as cold as Illeshiem Germany down here in L.A. and rainy.

Okay.....I really try to not make my blog political because I don't want to lose people over my political beliefs, but this is something that I went through and I want to share, all and any feedback is welcomed.

I can see why my Daddy's blood pressure is SO high.  Its because he watches the news.  Yesterday while I was on the treadmill I was watching the news.  A guy named Imam was being interviewed.  WOW.....JUST WOW.....that psycho believes that the whole world should be governed Sharia Law, which is the sacred law of Islam, but he believes in the radical version where all women should wear burqa's etc. I found myself running harder and harder because of how boiling mad I was that any man believes the government and religion should have that much control over people.  

Side Note:  I am a very open person, I like all kinds of people and I am fascinated by other cultures and religions.  Down here at Fort Rucker, there are students learning to fly from all over the world.  This morning when I left for the gym, a man from Saudi Arabia (I know this because I pay close attention to the difference in Uniforms) came out of his room across the street.  I swear on my mother's life, he watched me get into my TANK so stalker like I almost ran back inside and told LEGS about it. I had a VERY serious case of the heepy jeepies......

Later on I asked LEGS what the deal was.  He said (based on his multiple deployments to this part of the world) that most these men do not see women very often growing up because they are covered from head to toe.  (Okay now I know what you are thinking, No I did not have some cut fitness outfit on, I am a boxer I wear nasty sweats and a hoodie to the gym.) So what happens is they don't know how to act appropriately when they see women in the States.  Fair Enough.  


Now I am not sure what I think.  Part of me is sad that these men are probably experiencing so much disdain and discomfort based on their obvious 'culture shock.' And then I start to wonder are they just so lusty in nature that they need that kind of barrier (the Burqa)? Just some things that are rolling around in my head.

Karmella went to the VET yesterday to complete all the necessary paperwork for her to travel with us to NEVER NEVER LAND.  I thought for sure she would resist going in there because the last time she came toe to toe with a REALLY BIG needle and the needle won.  

I must admit the Vet is a distinguished older man, with good looks, and southern charm.  Secretly I think that she knows we both enjoy these visits.  Today I am not so sure she was that enchanted with the VET, he sucker punched her up the butt with a thermometer, it was a very embarrassing moment for poor little Karmella. My embarrassing moment came when I handed over a thank you note with the name Dr. Cartwright on it, turns out the VETS name is Dr. Carter.  


After that we went and put a hold on our mail at the post office until we get our new address set up.  So its probably a good time to announce to all of you that you should stop sending ALL THAT FAN MAIL, because I don't need the little hick post office getting overwhelmed with how much I get.  


I called all the utility companies: Water, Waste, Electric, Internet and broke up with them.


Then we went and got out tickets.  Because we are shipping the TANK, we need to drive to Atlanta on Monday to do that and fly out on Tuesday night.  By Wednesday next week ARMS, LEGS and Karmella will have run away to NEVER NEVER LAND! 

I picked up that Jewelry that LEGS had worked on for me today.  Its a white sapphire that my Grams on my Dad's side had.  I was able to get my hands on the initial wedding band and engagement setting my Daddy had first purchased for The Mommy.  I had the white sapphire put into that setting and had it sized to fit.  When I wear it I will remember there was a time when two people had fallen in love, they brought 4 daughters into the world, and that relationships are fragile so I must always work and care for my marriage.

Tonight we are having a Farewell get together at a local Oyster Bar, I am very excited about having Patron and Oysters and also celebrating new beginnings with NEW BEST FRIENDS!

Random Thoughts & Stories:
 
Have you ever had this experience: You see somebody you think you recognize but you know it could not possibly be the person that you know.  But the person that you know royally screwed you so the person that looks like that person you know, you want to curb stomp?

Yesterday we were in the hotel room.  LEGS asked me if I farted. When he asked me I honestly couldn't remember if I did or didn't.  Later on in the evening we were in the TANK and I did fart.  He asked me if I farted again, this time I admitted it.  He said: 'I knew it! You farted earlier today in the room too because they smell the same!' I wasn't sure what response he wanted for me so I just gave him points for being a regular Sherlock Holmes.

LEGS said:' I am so happy to be married to you Tiffany Coussens.'
ARMS:' What has gotten into you?'
LEGS:' I don't know.....but I will probably be mean to you in 30 seconds so just suck it up.'
ARMS: In my mind 'Whaaa?'

Over & Out,

Just another day in life of an unlikely military wife....**

ARMS: I do all my own stunts......**

Hey Blog.....

TANK GirlZ Weather Story: Once upon a time there was a frightful storm and then it got really cold.  The End.

We had a severe Thunderstorm the other night.  There were sheets of rain, crashing thunder, ultra violet lightening, gale force winds and the power kept surging on and off. As I lay there in bed the thunder sounded like the movie Jurassic Park. It would rumble and vibrate the house very far away and the closer it got the more it would sound like a gigantic dinosaur running toward the house.   

The Scissor Situation: My friend Manda is a new mommy with her first baby.  She is a very cautious, aware, and particular mother, as she should be.  When we went over to their house the other night I was working on a knitting project. I kept very AWARE of my knitting needles and my little travel scissors while being in the Buford's home.  I told myself 'DO NOT LOSE TRACK OF THESE DANGEROUS WEAPONS.'

I realized later when we got home that I couldn't find the scissors anywhere.  I started to panic, part of me wanted to keep quiet so I wouldn't have to experience the shame in the admittance of being A NEGLECTFUL PERSON TO A SMALL BABY.  Even though Asher isn't mobile yet, the GUILT CONSUMED ME and I couldn't stand it anymore.  I hung my red face with embarrassment and texted Manda to let her know how IRRESPONSIBLE I had been.  She looked for them and couldn't find them, but told me not to worry.  

This troubled me, and I kept going over and over in my head how DANGEROUS and NEGLECTFUL I was to children.  I worried and worried and worried, where had those scissors disappeared to? Did they fall into the couch? Did they get left on the counter? Manda trusted me in her home.....Did they fall into somebody's pocket? Did Asher pick them up? I am going to be a horrible mother........Did Asher grab them? Did Asher hide them? Did Asher.....eat them? OH MY GOD MAYBE ASHER ATE THE SCISSORS!!! To calm myself down I pulled out my knitting.....and the scissors rolled out onto the floor....

Lease Lady: The other day LEGS went and spoke to The Lady at the property rental place.  While there she told him that he needed to get the carpets cleaned.  Here is the point of contention, LEGS swears she said we could do it ourselves, which is why I spent many many grueling hours shampooing the carpet.  

During our visit yesterday The Lease Lady insists that she would have never said that and that we have to have them professionally cleaned.  While I could tell that LEGS was about to blow his top next to me, I soothed over the tension by making arrangements to get the carpets professionally cleaned.  (This is one of those rare moments in life where I was Ghandi, and I peacefully dealt with my anger while influencing others to do the same.) 

But this is what bothers me.  She made one remark toward, yes I said TOWARD me about the carpet's being BRAND NEW BEFORE WE EVEN MOVED INTO THE PLACE.  Later on in the day I started to focus on this one snide comment she had made in my direction and proceeded to get HOT!  So......in order to deal with my anger in the most mature way possible this is what I am going to do:

ASHLEY (yes this is her real name) at Prestige Homes:  You are extremely difficult, objectionable, and unpleasant female, you should look up this definition in the dictionary, there is nothing 'Prestige' about you.  Yes the carpets were BRAND NEW when we moved into the house, and they were also the cheapest ugliest carpets you could find.  The carpets are still in impeccable condition, as well as the rest of the house. I am directing this information TOWARD you: We left that house in better condition then we found it in, which was dirty and run down. In the event you have some contention I will meet you at any time and any place. P.S. I do all my own stunts.

Today LEGS and ARMS got into a big fight it went like this:

LEGS told me that he told me to do something.  I don't remember this thing that he supposedly told me.  Here is the grand debate in my perspective:

LEGS: 'I am an Officer. You are a child.'

ARMS: F@#* You!

LEGS: NO! F*&# You!

Then we sat there in silence and daydreamed. 

Number one, most fights are usually because one or both people are tired or hungry or both tired and hungry.  Turns out we were both. 

Number two, right after this incident we both apologized.

Number three, a couple we both know got a whiteboard in their house, every time they say something mean to each other they have to write it on the white board.  Turns out neither has said one mean thing yet because neither one wants to put it up on the board.  Since we are traveling right now, we just say "I'm sorry that deserves to go on the white board."  When we get to NEVER NEVER LAND, guess what we our first purchase from IKEA will be?  

We checked into the Daleville Inn.  Daleville is sleepy town on the other side of Fort Rucker.  I had my suspicions about this place, I figured it might be pretty run down and ghetto.  It turns out its not, but my gut wasn't that far off instead its just BIZARRE.  

YES.....that is a FURRY HEADBOARD....

Last night LEGS was leaning up against the headboard, I said:

ARMS: 'I wonder how many people have made whoopi in here?' As I stroked the fur.  

LEGS: Immediately adjusted his position so that he was not touching the fur headboard.

 

Random Thoughts and Stories: 

We went to a goodbye dinner for one of our dear friends from Alaska the other night.  He was LEGS' stick buddy during primary, and we never knew him until we got down here.  Anywhoo, one of the gentlemen at dinner said something like this: 'His wife is a real sweetheart.' (this was not sarcastic) So I asked him what describing noun he would give me.  He said: 'I would say, she's a fighter and she can kick your ass!' DAMN STRAIGHT! 

LEGS really LIKES SPACE BAGS!

I am really sick of cleaning......

Its 730pm and I am ready for bed.

I really wish I had all of my stuff, but we are traveling and you can't have every little thing your heart desires.  

I don't know how many times I have walked upstairs, opened the door, turned on the light.......to my empty closet, wanting another item of clothing or pair of shoes.....

Over & Out....

Just another day in the life of an unlikely military wife....**

ARMS is feeling BLUE......**

HI BLOG FACE......

TANK GIRLZ Weather Log book:  They are talking about this gigantic winter storm, that fortunately is going to bypass us. So far here it has been overcast with partial sun, and breezy.

Guess what!?! I got my Passport so we can leave to NEVER NEVER LAND VERY soon!!!!

Yesterday we were offered reprieve at a Manda's house.  I spent the afternoon knitting with her and Rico.  We had Polynesian Chicken with rice for dinner and it was so delicious LEGS begged me to get the recipe this morning.  Manda also combined two of LEGS' favorite desserts with a Brownie Cheesecake.  

It is times like this where I reflect on the friendships I have created in Alabama, and the friendships I have had all my life.  I don't know why but I am continually surprised how generous, thoughtful and caring people are about LEGS and ARMS.  I always wonder if I deserve it and if I make people feel the same way? 


These days it is hard to make friends and friendships can be more work than they should be, but this isn't high school anymore.  People have busy lives, different schedules, some have kids, school or pets etc.  But I am always thankful during the times of transition in this military lifestyle that I worked so hard to make friends that I can now count on.  And I will continually count on them for support and comfort during difficult times.


And even though it is sad to say goodbye, because for some reason it finally occurs when you are about to leave you genuinely care and love these new people in your life. And in return you get this wonderfully heartwarming sensation and refreshing knowledge that they will miss you too. You can be sure that 'Life without a friend, is like Death without a Witness.' -Spanish Proverb

LEGS and ARMS have been doing some dirty work today.  Like the kind you see on 'Dirty Jobs,' well maybe not that bad, but sometimes I can't believe how dirty we are as human beings, and I consider myself pretty anal retentive about being clean.  I hope we get our whole security deposit back because we have left this house in better condition then we found it, the people that lived here before us were pretty hard on the house and very dirty.


When I got home from the gym this morning, I needed to lay down because I wasn't feeling well.  I had the most disturbing and sad dreams. I lost someone very, very special to me this year and I had haunting dreams about him.  They were very upsetting and when I woke up I realized that I am glad to be leaving this house behind.  There are still feelings and emotions, that I have experienced in this home that bother me, and I think sometimes the only way to really to get over those types of situations is to start fresh.  

But.....No matter where I go, or what I do, my heart will break continuously forever over losing my dear dear friend LEX.......

When I see the news coverage about the uprising in Egypt, I feel so happy to be an American where Freedom is at least valued.  I know that we are leaving to go to Europe and I am very excited about it, But I also realize that one thing I will miss is the freedom I feel every single day in the United States.  

Random Thoughts:

Grilled cheese is the best! Especially when LEGS makes it.

Today on the news they said to cut your salt intake in order to be healthy.  I believe it have you looked at how much sodium is in your food?  


Damn.....LEGS is PISSED OFF.....Whoa get out of the way!


I hope my friends come to celebrate with us Friday night......


EWWWWW.......gah! Sometimes I hate cleaning!

I am feeling a little blue..... 


Over & Out.....


Just another day in the life of an unlikely military wife.....**