tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-356600182024-02-07T23:14:46.497-05:00Me and My BoysYet another military life blog, only this one is mine.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger343125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35660018.post-28821906799864027572013-04-25T16:59:00.005-04:002013-04-25T17:06:12.490-04:00Change of Responsibility<br />
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yesterday
was a big day for my husband and for our family. Darrell was laterally promoted from Master Sergeant (MSG) to First Sergeant
(1SG) and took responsibility for Charlie Company, 1-27 Infantry Battalion,
25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From this:</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ34wKh5Rg5KJQWUTOKiT7zNTYoI9cYvzeJVG1mSx4oR5pzidgE" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ34wKh5Rg5KJQWUTOKiT7zNTYoI9cYvzeJVG1mSx4oR5pzidgE" width="200" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">To this: <a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQhKqRosmz-E3sRH91I71WQ76kU3_rfuB1Z-g_58D0FMbQx_7nS" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQhKqRosmz-E3sRH91I71WQ76kU3_rfuB1Z-g_58D0FMbQx_7nS" width="200" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This
is a big deal. For enlisted Soldiers,
the position of First Sergeant is "it" - the guy in charge (or as his
company commander put it, the HMFIC). Rather
than have me try to explain it, here are a couple of "blurbs" written
by those in the know:</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">FIRST
SERGEANT (1SG) - Principal NCO and life blood of the company. Provider, disciplinarian and wise counselor.</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And: </span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If
the NCOs are the backbone of the armed forces, then the First Sergeant is the
heart and soul. No other enlisted person
carries near the responsibility and authority of the First Sergeant, no other
person in the squadron or company, including the commissioned officers,
possesses the First Sergeant's breath of experience, professional knowledge, or
education. A First Sergeant MUST be an
unqualified expert in promotions, demotions, military law, civilian law,
counseling, discipline, leave & passes, evaluations, inspections, public
speaking, billeting, PCS moves, TDYs, pay problems and procedures, child and
family support, bad checks, budgeting, loans, requisitions, dress and
appearance, awards and decorations, unit history, parades, ceremonies, family
advocacy, medical benefits and requirements, re enlistments, retirements,
weight control, professional military education, ID card privileges, off limit
areas, restrictions, etc. The First
Sergeant is the primary liaison with the commander on all matters concerning
the enlisted corps. He or she is the eye
and ear for the commander, and the mouth for the enlisted force.</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And: </span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When
you are talking about the First Sergeant you are talking about the life-blood
of the Army. There can be no substitute
of this position, nor any question of its importance. When First Sergeants are
exceptional, their units are exceptional, regardless of any other single
personality involved. It is the First Sergeant
at whom almost all unit operations merge. The First Sergeant holds formations, instructs
platoon sergeants, advises the Commander, and assists in training of all
enlisted members. The First Sergeant may
swagger and appear, at times, somewhat of an exhibitionist, but he is not
egotistical. The First Sergeant is proud
of the unit and, understandably, wants others to be aware of his unit’s
success. For the first time, the title
of address for this grade is not Sergeant, but First Sergeant. There is a unique relationship of confidence
and respect that exists between the First Sergeant and the Commander not found
at another level within the Army. He is
the provider, the disciplinarian, the wise counselor, the tough and unbending
foe, the confidant, the sounding board, everything that we need in a leader
during our personal success or failure.</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And: </span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I
AM A FIRST SERGEANT. </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">My
job is people — every one is my business. </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">I
dedicate my time and energy to their needs; </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">their
health, morale, discipline, and welfare. </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">I
grow in strength by strengthening my people. </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">My
job is done in faith; my people build faith. </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">My
job is people – </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">EVERY
ONE IS MY BUSINESS.</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I
think you get the idea. So, yeah, yesterday was a big deal. The ceremony was awesome. The downpour? Not so much. But hey, it just added to the memories...</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
Change of Responsibility ceremony is a time honored tradition. The Army holds the ceremony when a senior
non-commissioned officer (NCO) leaves a leadership position and a new NCO takes
his place. </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The narrator of the ceremony reads
the histories and accomplishments of both men, who will then step into position
for the change of responsibility. </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
symbol of an NCO position of responsibility is the NCO sword. The Army says that when an NCO is transferred
and a new officer replaces him, the symbol of the change and the heart of the
ceremony is when the sword is passed. </span></span></div>
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departing First Sergeant hands the sword to the company commander,
relinquishing responsibility.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
commander then passes it to the incoming First Sergeant, transferring the
duties of the position.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The speeches
follow – the company commander,</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the outgoing First Sergeant, </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and then the
incoming First Sergeant, after which the ceremony concludes. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have to take a moment to tell you how impressed I was with the Soldiers in formation. At no time did any of them even flinch. They were locked in tight. Very professional, gentlemen, I commend you. A million thanks go out to them, the MC (XO 1LT Jason Johnson), and the nice guy who loaned me his umbrella when the rain got really bad. A million more thanks go to those in attendance in support of Darrell and 1SG Ha. Above and beyond the call of duty...</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In Hawaii tradition, leis are presented to the family members of the incoming First Sergeant:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By the end, we were all completely drenched. Darrell ended up having a whopper of a first day (Red Cross message, called down to the MP station to bail out three Soldiers - turned out to belong to another company, etc...) and didn't get home until after 11pm. Still not completely dried out. It was a rough, but not surprising, welcome to the diamond. *laugh*</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I couldn't be prouder of my husband, and I'm absolutely thrilled with the commander he'll be working with. It's going to be an awesome assignment. Congratulations, 1SG Bosco!!</span></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35660018.post-53851054405197596242013-01-23T20:03:00.000-05:002013-01-25T20:18:21.037-05:00A day in the life of a first sergeant<br />
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This was obviously not written by an Army 1SG, but the gist
is the same. This is what we're about to get into...<o:p></o:p></div>
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<blockquote>
I AM A FIRST SERGEANT.
My job is people -- Every One is My Business. I dedicate my time and
energy to their needs; their health, morale, discipline, and welfare. I grow in
strength by strengthening my people. My job is done in faith; my people build
faith. My job is people -- </blockquote>
<blockquote>
EVERY ONE IS
MY BUSINESS. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
That's the first sergeant's creed. That's what he or she
strives for, every day. There are no enlisted personnel in the military with
more authority, more responsibility, and a downright busier day than a first
sergeant (Leading Chief Petty Officer in the Navy). </blockquote>
<blockquote>
Some of the "complaints" a first sergeant hears
most often are "I can never get hold of you," (untrue, as all
"shirts" or "tops" carry a beeper or cell-phone with them
24 hours per day, 7 days per week), or "You're never in your office,"
(true, because a good first sergeant is out and about, being the eyes, ears,
and mouth for the commander). </blockquote>
<blockquote>
Let's walk a day in his/her shoes: </blockquote>
<blockquote>
0230: The phone rings, jarring you from a too-short
sleep, just when you had settled into that deserted tropical island in your
dreams -- the favorite dream where it was just you, the beach, and no phones or
pagers. You pick up the phone. It's the Security Police (Military Police) Desk.
They're very sorry to disturb you (not really!), but they just picked up one of
your troops on a drunk & disorderly, and minor in possession charge. It
seems that the rocket-scientist thought it would be a lot of fun to streak
around the barracks wearing just his girlfriend's panties. Unfortunately for
him, his girlfriend didn't think it was funny, and locked him out of his room.
(Editor's note: This scenario really happened -- Edwards AFB, 1987). </blockquote>
<blockquote>
After grumbling that you'll be right there, you call the
individual's supervisor to request that he meet you at the cop-shop. The
supervisor responds that he really doesn't want to, as he has to be at work at
0700, and he got to bed late. Because you haven't had your first cup of coffee
yet, you convince the supervisor, via a one-way-conversation that it would be
advisable not only to meet you there, but to beat you there, as well. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
You start the coffee, do a quick shave while the coffee is
perking and put on your uniform. Although the phone call did not wake up your
spouse (he/she has learned to sleep through them), you don't bother leaving a
note. Your spouse knows, from long experience, where you've gone. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
0300: You arrive at the cop-shop and meet the
supervisor. You and the supervisor get briefed by the apprehending officer
about the situation. You read a copy of the police report, and sign custody for
the brain trust. You turn him over to the supervisor with instructions to make
sure he gets to the dorm, into his room, and put to bed. You tell the
supervisor you'll call him later in the morning with more instructions. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
0330: You're up, you're dressed, so you figure you'll
sneak into the office to catch up with some badly neglected paperwork. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
0500: You're in the middle of reviewing performance
reports, promotion rosters, decoration submissions, general correspondence,
reenlistment recommendations, detail rosters, and other pieces of dead trees
when your pager lets out a shriek. It's the Red Cross. Like always with the Red
Cross, it's not good news: The father of one of your troops has passed away.<br />You call the supervisor at home and tell her about the
situation. You inform her that you will notify the individual, and let her know
about any emergency leave plans. You get into your car and drive to the
individual's base housing unit. Fortunately, this turns out to be one of the
"easier" situations. The individual has been in touch with his family
and is already aware of the death. You express your condolences, and tell him
and his family that you, the commander, and the unit are at their disposal for
anything at all that you can do. You explain the emergency leave procedures,
and ask him if he plans to travel home. The answer is yes, so you call your
chief clerk and ask her to come in a begin preparing emergency leave paperwork.
You inform the individual that the paperwork should be ready by the time he
gets into the unit. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
0600: You stop by the Chow Hall to get something for
breakfast, and to do a "periodic check" on the quality of food being
supplied to your people. After filling your tray (fruit and toast -- you're not
getting any younger, and running off those extra pounds is getting harder and
harder each day), you find a table that some of your troops are sitting at. For
the next 45 minutes you sit and chat with them about this, that, and
everything, giving advice and answering questions about regulations, policy,
pay, leave, work hours, etc. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
0700: You arrive back at the unit and proceed to the
commander's office to brief him on the morning's events. The commander decides
to go with an Article 15 for the drunk streaker. On the way out, you stop by
the commander's secretary to make an appointment for tomorrow with the
commander for you, the supervisor, and the individual concerned to begin the
Article 15 process (the whole process will actually take three separate
meetings, spaced out over five or six days). </blockquote>
<blockquote>
0730: You return to your office and sign the emergency
leave paperwork. You telephone the legal office and instruct them to prepare
the Article 15 paperwork. You then telephone the folks at the Drug &
Alcohol center and make a referral appointment for the brain-trust. You call
the supervisor to let him know about tomorrow's appointment and the appointment
for the alcohol abuse referral. You call the supervisor of the individual going
on emergency leave, and let her know about the individual's plans. You then
instruct your chief clerk to make sure she picks up the Article 15 paperwork.
from the legal office later in the day. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
0805: You arrive at the NCO Club for the weekly first
sergeant meeting. As usual, you're a few minutes late due to the morning's
events, but then again, so are several other "shirts." For the 90
minutes, you receive briefings from the Command Chief Master Sergeant (Command
Sergeant Major), the legal office, personnel office, family advocacy office,
etc., ad infidium, about the latest changes to various programs. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
0930: You swing by the barracks to let your
"dormitory manager" know that you and the commander plan to do an
inspection this Friday. You go over the problems found on the last inspection,
and request that he take special care to make sure the commander doesn't see
these same problems again. While you are there, you take a quick walk-through
of the common areas, and talk to the folks who have been detailed for barracks
cleanup this week. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
1000: Your schedule is open for an hour, so you pick
one of the duty sections to "drop by" on. While there, you talk to
the supervisors and the troops about this and that, various policies, various
programs, etc. While speaking, however, you examine each and every face. You're
always on the lookout for potential problems that can be nicked in the bud
before they blow up. Finally, before leaving, you speak to the section
supervisor about any particular problem areas in the duty section. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
1100: Time for lunch at the NCO Club. Not a normal
lunch, however. This is the quarterly luncheon for the Airman/Soldier/Sailor of
the Quarter program. You sit through the lunch, the speeches, and the
announcement of the winners. None of your folks have won this time. But,
when they do win, it makes the boring quarterly luncheons all worthwhile. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
1230: You attend a family advocacy committee meeting
about one of your troops who was involved in a domestic situation the past
week. The family advocacy investigation has determined that a "minor"
incident did occur. The committee recommends whatever disciplinary action the
commander finds appropriate, and attendance at the anger management classes.
You approve the recommendations and make a note to talk with the commander
about disciplinary action (probably a Letter or Reprimand in this particular
case -- more "paperwork." you will have to prepare later). </blockquote>
<blockquote>
1330: Back at the office. You try to leave a couple of
hours open each afternoon in the office so your clerk can fill it with
appointments. Until 1500, you're "booked" with various individuals
who want/need to see you. You talk with folks about their dependent care plans,
financial management (you even show one two-striper how to balance a
checkbook), Professional Military Education, "minor disciplinary problems
(i.e. a "chewing out"), weight-control program entries,
dependent-support problems, domestic situations, off-duty employment
applications, cross-training opportunities, reenlisting......pretty much
everything the military has "invented" over the past 200 years. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
1500: Commander's Staff Meeting. All Senior NCOs and
officers meet to brief the commander on what's going on in the unit. You impart
the applicable information you obtained at the first sergeant's meeting. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
1600: Your beeper goes off again. This time it's good
news. The folks at personnel have the promotion listing for promotions to E-6.
You have seven people on the list. You quickly drive over to personnel to pick
up the listing. Upon returning to your office, you examine the list to make
sure there isn’t anyone there who the commander may want to
"redline." You call the various supervisors and tell them to keep the
individuals around the duty-section, using one excuse or another. You reach into the bottom of your desk drawer
and take out seven sets of E-6 stripes (you always keep extra stripes there). </blockquote>
<blockquote>
1630: You and the commander visit the applicable duty
sections and give out the promotions. It's always good when you can end the day
on a positive note. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
1730: Final daily meeting with the commander. You
discuss the day's events and reach a consensus for items requiring additional
attention. The commander agrees with your recommendation for a Letter of
Reprimand for the domestic case. You make a note to yourself to prepare a letter
of reprimand in the morning. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
1830: A quick trip to the gym. After all, you don't
want to have to put yourself on the weight control program. 30 minutes on the
"Stair-Master" then 15 minutes of steam. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
1900: Super! It's just 1900 and the day is done! Your
spouse is going to be happy that you come home at a "decent" hour,
for a change. You get into your car and check out your pocket calendar for
tomorrow's schedule. Oh, no! You forgot about the Unit Softball Game, starting
right now. You rush to the field and lend your support with the other
"fans." 30 minutes after the start of the game, your spouse arrives
with a little KFC. As you and your spouse sit there, watching your unit win its
way to victory, KFC-juice on your fingers, the world isn't so hectic anymore. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
2200: Time for bed. It's been a long, long day (as
usual). Hopefully, tomorrow will be shorter. You don't need any sheep to fall
deeply into sleep and bring back that image of the deserted island......just
you, no phones, no beepers.......Suddenly, the telephone rings......</blockquote>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://usmilitary.about.com/library/weekly/aa021201a.htm">Source</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35660018.post-79297246885923515552013-01-19T10:59:00.000-05:002013-01-19T10:59:42.289-05:00The house I'm really hoping we get<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.islandpalmcommunities.com/Images/UserUploadedImages/3091/SNCO-1-slideshow.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://www.islandpalmcommunities.com/Images/UserUploadedImages/3091/SNCO-1-slideshow.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-axQxzVoVzSwAnVCIIHUwR8bwv-fKlD1b3SOYJb4OpI7pGI2G6MovMzAHYVJjyCOSjHwOo7Fu_GwXEua1n5gSlt1JPefhOXcnowF3QxoBkeMWa5c9cW2wP87REA2Hp1j_6045-g/s1600/down.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-axQxzVoVzSwAnVCIIHUwR8bwv-fKlD1b3SOYJb4OpI7pGI2G6MovMzAHYVJjyCOSjHwOo7Fu_GwXEua1n5gSlt1JPefhOXcnowF3QxoBkeMWa5c9cW2wP87REA2Hp1j_6045-g/s640/down.jpg" width="502" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLlrfAg4WphP3_9THOI8rF3oBJ97NAI_hB8xrhqUHlbWVnQ3DVYoT8ThLOOfolx2lkuWdPLJdb2kba71ZzQ-mmZfrledmg16TG1H8LGYc1TV6vDSry5SXXDfdMWPag_9amRvYWXQ/s1600/up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLlrfAg4WphP3_9THOI8rF3oBJ97NAI_hB8xrhqUHlbWVnQ3DVYoT8ThLOOfolx2lkuWdPLJdb2kba71ZzQ-mmZfrledmg16TG1H8LGYc1TV6vDSry5SXXDfdMWPag_9amRvYWXQ/s640/up.jpg" width="474" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLlrfAg4WphP3_9THOI8rF3oBJ97NAI_hB8xrhqUHlbWVnQ3DVYoT8ThLOOfolx2lkuWdPLJdb2kba71ZzQ-mmZfrledmg16TG1H8LGYc1TV6vDSry5SXXDfdMWPag_9amRvYWXQ/s1600/up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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So many things I really like about this house. Lots of storage (including under the stairs). Kitchen island. Computer station built in upstairs (our computer armoire probably isn't going to survive another move). Three separate areas - living, dining, family (although who needs a nook AND a dining room? not us...). Fence. A/C. Two car garage. Is that a covered lanai in the back?<br />
<br />
What I don't like about the house. Washer and dryer not located with the bedrooms. I wonder if there's really no door between the master bedroom and bathroom? D gets up much earlier than I do... I suppose the bedroom over the garage isn't ideal (garage door opener early in the morning), but that's just being picky. And yeah, that's all I've got.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35660018.post-25065270924990014512013-01-19T10:13:00.000-05:002013-01-19T10:13:53.107-05:00PCSing to Hawaii with petsWe've PCSed plenty of times. We've even PCSed with cats. But this one has been a new experience for us. It's the first time we've moved with dogs, with the added complication of thousands of miles of Pacific Ocean.<br />
<br />
Fortunately, Hawaii no longer requires quarantine as long as their <a href="http://hawaii.gov/hdoa/ai/aqs/aqs-checklist-5%209%2013%2011b.pdf" target="_blank">detailed process</a> is followed. Our dogs are good to go on their microchips and rabies antibodies, so no worries there.<br />
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In the past, we've packed up the cats with us in the car on the move. There's no way to do that this time - our eleven day cross country trek would definitely be too much for all of us bringing the dogs along since we'll only have one car and it'll be stuffed with kids and baggage. If this were a regular CONUS move, we'd have both vehicles with the ability to spread out a little. But, there's that pesky ocean to cross and we're shipping the truck weeks ahead of us so it'll be waiting there when we arrive.<br />
<br />
So, we've hired <a href="http://islandpetmovers.com/" target="_blank">Island Pet Movers</a> to do most of the work for us. They have great reviews from just about any website I've found on moving to Hawaii. The only negative I've read (and experienced) is that they're not very prompt in replying to email, but they do eventually get back to you. Once the animals are en route though, they answer their cell 24/7 for emergencies. They've provided advice on the paperwork process, called our vet directly to make sure the blood serum samples were taken correctly, emailed us the forms that the Hawaii Department of Agriculture requires, arranged the dogs' flights, and will pick them up from the airport and take them to the <a href="http://www.himwr.com/recreation-and-leisure/fmwr-pet-kennels" target="_blank">kennel</a>. I'll give a post-PCS report on how they did with everything, but I'm pleased so far, and the relief knowing I'm not going to screw something up out of ignorance is absolutely worth the price we'll be paying (which will unfortunately be considerable - this is not an inexpensive undertaking).<br />
<br />
The dogs are one of the main reasons why we'll be living on post in Hawaii. The rental houses I've seen in the areas we're willing to live have been great and within the housing allowance allotted to us, but very few of them allow pets, and even fewer still allow multiple large dogs. The on-post housing <a href="https://www.islandpalmcommunities.com/Become-a-Resident/Planning-Your-Move/Shipping-Pets-to-Hawaii/Army-Hawaii-Family-Housing-Pet-Policy/default.aspx" target="_blank">pet policies</a> allow two pets, size immaterial (although I'm sure they balk at horses), as long as they aren't one of a handful of specific breeds.<br />
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I'm not too thrilled with the idea of the dogs being kenneled for a month or more, but there aren't many options that I'm willing to consider and we're bound by a few regulations that others are willing to ignore but we aren't. From what I've been told, the kennel gives the dogs lots of socialization time which is something they desperately need anyway. We'll visit them regularly once we arrive and hope we move into a house quickly.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35660018.post-88414783522441333622013-01-19T09:36:00.002-05:002013-01-19T09:36:47.784-05:00So that job I thought I had...?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So, there's this <a href="http://usarmy.vo.llnwd.net/e2/c/downloads/278857.pdf" target="_blank">memo</a>...</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://usarmy.vo.llnwd.net/e2/c/downloads/278857.pdf" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="108" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5kGVNGxzPHFjsxhgsw0Jcz6tgKipx5H36zlpM4H4w1yIj5FuHh0TNdRXomlITfttxaQtgUUSA3tRxuy4xpkq0NgHWzd8QPKaf8tzifgOAN75KDDCrzcWdSHnw39Yf6hb2x3BQuQ/s400/Memo1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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Lots of yada yada, but the relevant paragraph (to me, anyway), is this:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAYReLDJRx8la2Sg-vAwYXP0OVIcQ3WxCw3CRDnYkNI2wjbNOJGfdo4sN53TFn0TMRpH1s35o31ORD6Z7kCHJl-kBDw7uDWlyAzbpRshAGrz8r4nPZTtKNwxzTJmsYXZsfAAMyog/s1600/Memo2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="45" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAYReLDJRx8la2Sg-vAwYXP0OVIcQ3WxCw3CRDnYkNI2wjbNOJGfdo4sN53TFn0TMRpH1s35o31ORD6Z7kCHJl-kBDw7uDWlyAzbpRshAGrz8r4nPZTtKNwxzTJmsYXZsfAAMyog/s400/Memo2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I haven't heard from the Tripler HR department, but it seems pretty clear to me that I won't be starting in March.<br />
<br />
Hopefully, the budget cuts being threatened won't actually happen and the hiring freeze will be lifted. Until then, I expect federal employment opportunities to be few and far between. I'll keep applying to anything I'm qualified for on USAJobs just in case. <br />
<br />
Nothing else to do but wait...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35660018.post-90502260153951214212013-01-16T21:25:00.000-05:002013-04-25T17:07:11.982-04:00Not just for lupus...<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I was
talking with a coworker today about choices.
Everything we do is the result of a choice that we make, either
consciously or not. Some decisions are
worth a great deal of energy. Others are
...... not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Years ago, I
worked with a woman that had lupus. She
pointed me to this story online, and it resonated with me. Now, I don't have lupus, but I love the idea
behind it regardless. We all have a
limit to what we can handle. We should
all make wise choices as to where we spend our energy. Trying to take care of everything just
exhausts a person; rather, we should decide what is truly important and spend our
"spoons" on that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">The Spoon Theory<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">My best friend and I were in the diner, talking. As usual, it was very late and we were eating
French fries with gravy. Like normal
girls our age, we spent a lot of time in the diner while in college, and most
of the time we spent talking about boys, music or trivial things, that seemed
very important at the time. We never got
serious about anything in particular and spent most of our time laughing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">As I went to take some of my medicine with a snack as I
usually did, she watched me with an awkward kind of stare, instead of
continuing the conversation. She then
asked me out of the blue what it felt like to have Lupus and be sick. I was shocked not only because she asked the
random question, but also because I assumed she knew all there was to know
about Lupus. She came to doctors with
me, she saw me walk with a cane, and throw up in the bathroom. She had seen me cry in pain, what else was
there to know?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I started to ramble on about pills, and aches and pains, but
she kept pursuing, and </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">didn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> seem satisfied with my answers. I was a little surprised as being my roommate
in college and friend for years; I thought she already knew the medical
definition of Lupus. Then she looked at
me with a face every sick person knows well, the face of pure curiosity about
something no one healthy can truly understand. She asked what it felt like, not physically,
but what it felt like to be me, to be sick.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">As I tried to gain my composure, I glanced around the table
for help or guidance, or at least stall for time to think. I was trying to find the right words. How do I answer a question I never was able to
answer for myself? How do I explain
every detail of every day being effected, and give the emotions a sick person
goes through with clarity. I could have
given up, cracked a joke like I usually do, and changed the subject, but I
remember thinking if I don’t try to explain this, how could I ever expect her
to understand. If I can’t explain this
to my best friend, how could I explain my world to anyone else? I had to at least try.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">At that moment, the spoon theory was born. I quickly grabbed every spoon on the table;
hell I grabbed spoons off of the other tables. I looked at her in the eyes and said “Here you
go, you have Lupus”. She looked at me
slightly confused, as anyone would when they are being handed a bouquet of
spoons. The cold metal spoons clanked in
my hands, as I grouped them together and shoved them into her hands.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I explained that the difference in being sick and being
healthy is having to make choices or to consciously think about things when the
rest of the world </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">doesn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> have to. The
healthy have the luxury of a life without choices, a gift most people take for
granted.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Most people start the day with unlimited amount of
possibilities, and energy to do whatever they desire, especially young people. For the most part, they do not need to worry
about the effects of their actions. So
for my explanation, I used spoons to convey this point. I wanted something for her to actually hold,
for me to then take away, since most people who get sick feel a “loss” of a
life they once knew. If I was in control
of taking away the spoons, then she would know what it feels like to have
someone or something else, in this case Lupus, being in control.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">She grabbed the spoons with excitement. She </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">didn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> understand what I was doing, but
she is always up for a good time, so I guess she thought I was cracking a joke
of some kind like I usually do when talking about touchy topics. Little did she know how serious I would
become.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I asked her to count her spoons. She asked why, and I explained that when you
are healthy you expect to have a never-ending supply of “spoons”. But when you have to now plan your day, you
need to know exactly how many “spoons” you are starting with. It </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">doesn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> guarantee that you might not lose
some along the way, but at least it helps to know where you are starting. She counted out 12 spoons. She laughed and said she wanted more. I said
no, and I knew right away that this little game would work, when she looked
disappointed, and we </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">hadn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> even started yet. </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">I've</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> wanted more “spoons” for years and
haven’t found a way yet to get more, why should she? I also told her to always be conscious of how
many she had, and not to drop them because she can never forget she has Lupus.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I asked her to list off the tasks of her day, including the
most simple. As, she rattled off daily
chores, or just fun things to do, I explained how each one would cost her a
spoon. When she jumped right into
getting ready for work as her first task of the morning, I cut her off and took
away a spoon. I practically jumped down
her throat. I said ”No! You don’t just
get up. You have to crack open your
eyes, and then realize you are late. You </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">didn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> sleep well the night before. You
have to crawl out of bed, and then you have to make yourself something to eat
before you can do anything else, because if you don’t, you can’t take your
medicine, and if you don’t take your medicine you might as well give up all
your spoons for today and tomorrow too.” I quickly took away a spoon and she realized
she </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">hasn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> even gotten dressed yet. Showering
cost her spoon, just for washing her hair and shaving her legs. Reaching high and low that early in the
morning could actually cost more than one spoon, but I figured I would give her
a break; I </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">didn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> want to scare her right away. Getting dressed was worth another spoon. I stopped her and broke down every task to
show her how every little detail needs to be thought about. You cannot simply just throw clothes on when
you are sick. I explained that I have to
see what clothes I can physically put on, if my hands hurt that day buttons are
out of the question. If I have bruises
that day, I need to wear long sleeves, and if I have a fever I need a sweater
to stay warm and so on. If my hair is falling
out I need to spend more time to look presentable, and then you need to factor
in another 5 minutes for feeling badly that it took you 2 hours to do all this.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I think she was starting to understand when she theoretically </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">didn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> even get to work, and she was left with 6 spoons. I then explained to her that she needed to
choose the rest of her day wisely, since when your “spoons” are gone, they are
gone. Sometimes you can borrow against
tomorrow’s “spoons”, but just think how hard tomorrow will be with less
“spoons”. I also needed to explain that
a person who is sick always lives with the looming thought that tomorrow may be
the day that a cold comes, or an infection, or any number of things that could
be very dangerous. So you do not want to
run low on “spoons”, because you never know when you truly will need them. I </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">didn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> want to depress her, but I needed to
be realistic, and unfortunately being prepared for the worst is part of a real
day for me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">We went through the rest of the day, and she slowly learned
that skipping lunch would cost her a spoon, as well as standing on a train, or
even typing at her computer too long. She
was forced to make choices and think about things differently. Hypothetically, she had to choose not to run
errands, so that she could eat dinner that night.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">When we got to the end of her pretend day, she said she was
hungry. I summarized that she had to eat
dinner but she only had one spoon left. If
she cooked, she </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">wouldn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> have enough energy to clean the pots. If she went out for dinner, she might be too
tired to drive home safely. Then I also
explained that I </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">didn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> even bother to add into this game that she was so
nauseous that cooking was probably out of the question anyway. So she decided to make soup, it was easy. I then said it is only 7pm, you have the rest
of the night but maybe end up with one spoon, so you can do something fun, or
clean your apartment, or do chores, but you can’t do it all.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I rarely see her emotional, so when I saw her upset I knew
maybe I was getting through to her. I </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">didn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> want my friend to be upset, but at the same time I was happy to think
finally maybe someone understood me a little bit. She had tears in her eyes and asked quietly
“Christine, How do you do it? Do you
really do this every day?” I explained
that some days were worse than others; some days I have more spoons than most. But I can never make it go away and I can’t
forget about it, I always have to think about it. I handed her a spoon I had been holding in
reserve. I said simply, “I have learned
to live life with an extra spoon in my pocket, in reserve. You need to always be prepared.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">It’s hard, the hardest thing I ever had to learn is to slow
down, and not do everything. I fight
this to this day. I hate feeling left
out, having to choose to stay home, or to not get things done that I want to. I wanted her to feel that frustration. I wanted her to understand that everything
everyone else does comes so easy, but for me it is one hundred little jobs in
one. I need to think about the weather,
my temperature that day, and the whole day’s plans before I can attack any one
given thing. When other people can
simply do things, I have to attack it and make a plan like I am strategizing a
war. It is in that lifestyle, the
difference between being sick and healthy. It is the beautiful ability to not think and
just do. I miss that freedom. I miss never having to count “spoons”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">After we were emotional and talked about this for a little
while longer, I sensed she was sad. Maybe
she finally understood. Maybe she
realized that she never could truly and honestly say she understands. But at least now she might not complain so
much when I can’t go out for dinner some nights, or when I never seem to make
it to her house and she always has to drive to mine. I gave her a hug when we walked out of the
diner. I had the one spoon in my hand
and I said “Don’t worry. I see this as a blessing. I have been forced to think about everything I
do. Do you know how many spoons people
waste every day? I don’t have room for
wasted time, or wasted “spoons” and I chose to spend this time with you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Ever since this night, I have used the spoon theory to
explain my life to many people. In fact,
my family and friends refer to spoons all the time. It has been a code word for what I can and
cannot do. Once people understand the
spoon theory they seem to understand me better, but I also think they live
their life a little differently too. I
think it isn’t just good for understanding Lupus, but anyone dealing with any
disability or illness. Hopefully, they
don’t take so much for granted or their life in general. I give a piece of myself, in every sense of
the word when I do anything. It has
become an inside joke. I have become
famous for saying to people jokingly that they should feel special when I spend
time with them, because they have one of my “spoons”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">© Christine Miserandino (<a href="http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/" target="_blank">Source</a>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">There's
another analogy out there that I love:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Take a jar
and fill it with ping pong balls. Is it
full? Yes, but only of ping pong balls. There’s plenty of room for gravel. So, pour in gravel until it’s full. Is it full? Yes, but only of gravel. There’s plenty of room for sand. So, pour in sand until it’s full. The ping pong balls represent the most
important things in your life. You have
to start with them first, because if you start with the gravel (urgent but not
important) and sand (not urgent or important), there’s no room left for the
ping pong balls. Now is the jar full? No, there’s always room for coffee with a friend. <o:p></o:p></span><span style="line-height: 115%;">J</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">I don't consider myself an optimist or Pollyanna or the like. I define myself as a realist who chooses to look for silver linings. There's almost always something positive that can be gained from any given situation. It's all a matter of choice. Whatever is happening is going to happen regardless of how much you stress about it. So, rather than stress yourself out, choose to look for the silver lining.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 18px;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">I also do a time-check often. "Will this matter to me in a week?" Or a month, or a year? If not, why spend so much energy worrying about it today?</span></span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35660018.post-15801731267601061042013-01-05T13:09:00.003-05:002013-01-05T13:09:58.185-05:00Road Trip!! Eleven days, three thousand miles. I'm exhausted just thinking about it.Ok, the plan... We'll be at the mercy of the weather, but hopefully it'll go something like this...<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Leave PA on Friday, February 15th. About ten hours later, arrive in St. Louis, probably stopping at Pantera's on the way.</li>
<li>Spend Saturday the 16th in St. Louis. [Note to self - D's driver's license]</li>
<li>Sunday the 17th is Justin's 1/2 birthday! Leave late morning, catching lunch at HuHot on the way out. Arrive in Manhattan in time for La Fiesta for dinner. We'll stay at the birthday hotel (the Wienkes know *grin*) for the night.</li>
<li>Monday the 18th, drive seven hours to Colorado Springs. Elephant Bar for dinner?</li>
<li>Spend Tuesday the 19th in Colorado Springs. [Note to self - K's driver's license]</li>
<li>Then ugh, the two worst days. Long 9-10 hours driving time, plus the Rockies, plus mid-February. The 20th will be a nine hour drive to Salt Lake City; the 21st will bring us another ten hours to Suisun City. Both will probably take us much longer than that.</li>
<li>Spend the 22nd in Suisun City, drive to Petaluma for the night.</li>
<li>Spend the 23rd in Petaluma, drive to Santa Cruz for the night.</li>
<li>Spend the 24th in Santa Cruz. Might spend the night again - still working this out.</li>
<li>On Monday the 25th, drive up to SJC, pick up rental car. Drive to Oakland, drop off the Rav4. Drive to Aromas to spend the rest of the day/night.</li>
<li>Tuesday - airplane day! - Need to be at SJC at 7am to drop the car, check the bags, get through security, yada yada...</li>
</ul>
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="350" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Erie,+PA&daddr=St.+Louis,+MO+to:Manhattan,+KS+to:Colorado+Springs,+CO+to:Salt+Lake+City,+UT+to:Suisun+City,+CA+to:Petaluma,+CA+to:37.8082562,-122.4767222+to:Santa+Cruz,+CA+to:Aromas,+CA&geocode=FUjXggIdvf85-ykf97I94X8tiDEKWx0SLq7ziQ%3BFbpmTQIdlKqf-in5ju36qbTYhzFb4Lsiyuo5vg%3BFfjkVQId624--iktY8NE77e9hzHvxxJzSF0YqQ%3BFdqOUAIdjY3A-Skr0uahLkEThzETa-j1kuuOQQ%3BFcv1bQIdma1U-SntMdGIlD1ShzHKMU1IoLdTWw%3BFSd4RwIdTNC5-CmBM_nfmxWFgDGA9DnDyazpAw%3BFWFhRwIdlLaw-ClNDHTCjEqEgDHyYi1kNbj_qw%3BFYDoQAIdTiez-Cmr_zNckIaFgDESikQ0XWPaLA%3BFSUuNAIdNPW5-ClJ1TZ8G0SOgDGF-dcqSxDKUg%3BFfXfMgIdB-C_-CkZszLqbQKOgDEQP4Lg33QEBw&aq=&sll=37.466139,-121.777954&sspn=2.245273,4.641724&hl=en&mra=ls&via=7&ie=UTF8&ll=39.508885,-101.358985&spn=5.24065,42.55535&t=m&output=embed" width="425"></iframe><br />
<small><a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=embed&saddr=Erie,+PA&daddr=St.+Louis,+MO+to:Manhattan,+KS+to:Colorado+Springs,+CO+to:Salt+Lake+City,+UT+to:Suisun+City,+CA+to:Petaluma,+CA+to:37.8082562,-122.4767222+to:Santa+Cruz,+CA+to:Aromas,+CA&geocode=FUjXggIdvf85-ykf97I94X8tiDEKWx0SLq7ziQ%3BFbpmTQIdlKqf-in5ju36qbTYhzFb4Lsiyuo5vg%3BFfjkVQId624--iktY8NE77e9hzHvxxJzSF0YqQ%3BFdqOUAIdjY3A-Skr0uahLkEThzETa-j1kuuOQQ%3BFcv1bQIdma1U-SntMdGIlD1ShzHKMU1IoLdTWw%3BFSd4RwIdTNC5-CmBM_nfmxWFgDGA9DnDyazpAw%3BFWFhRwIdlLaw-ClNDHTCjEqEgDHyYi1kNbj_qw%3BFYDoQAIdTiez-Cmr_zNckIaFgDESikQ0XWPaLA%3BFSUuNAIdNPW5-ClJ1TZ8G0SOgDGF-dcqSxDKUg%3BFfXfMgIdB-C_-CkZszLqbQKOgDEQP4Lg33QEBw&aq=&sll=37.466139,-121.777954&sspn=2.245273,4.641724&hl=en&mra=ls&via=7&ie=UTF8&ll=39.508885,-101.358985&spn=5.24065,42.55535&t=m" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">View Larger Map</a></small><br />
<br />
I have even started the After Arrival Plan. Too much going on between now and then! I know I need to start, though, as the days are zooming!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35660018.post-4322174691430232052013-01-05T11:30:00.000-05:002013-01-05T11:42:21.316-05:00Research and decisionsNow that the plan seems to be ironed out, and the GO date is getting closer, it's time to start locking in reservations.<br />
<br />
Up first - vehicle shipping companies. The truck will be shipped by the Army, and fortunately there's a drop-off point seemingly next door to family in the St. Louis area. Score! Darrell will drive it down, drop it off, spend a day or two with family, and fly back. Very convenient, and the flight back didn't cost as much as we expected. Excellent.<br />
<br />
Shipping the car, though, is on us. We looked into prices - it's MUCH less expensive to ship from the west coast, and that works into the plan quite nicely. We'll be driving from PA to CA, stopping along the way to visit family and friends. There are many options, but after some investigating and suggestions from those who have been there and done that, we're going with Horizon. It's about $1100, and should take a week and a half between dropping off Monday morning and arriving Wednesday. <br />
<br />
We're hoping/expecting his truck to arrive before we do. However, we'll need another vehicle to get the boys to school and for me to take care of other things during the three days in between Darrell's return to work and the arrival of my car. We're USAA customers, so I looked into all four companies they have deals with. Enterprise wins by a mile. After discovering which locations are open on Sundays and comparing prices with the others, it looks like we can get a three day rental for under $100, including all taxes and fees. Excellent!!<br />
<br />
Next up - hotel reservations for the road trip.<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35660018.post-279481103371450232013-01-05T08:53:00.003-05:002013-01-05T08:53:58.455-05:00DC trip next weekendBefore we move thousands of miles further from DC, we figured we'd squeeze a trip in. With only two days to work with, we're focusing on the monuments, memorials, and a couple of the museums (Air & Space, of course being one of them). Thanks to Susan's suggestion, we'll probably stay at the <a href="https://www.navy-lodge.com/lodge_page.html?p_lodge_number=44" target="_blank">Navy Lodge</a> and Metro to the Mall on Saturday, then drive by a few places (Capitol, White House, Pentagon) that we'd just like to see, not necessarily walk around.<br />
<br />
We're total public transportation noobs, so we still have that to figure out. Can't be that hard, right?<br />
<br />
The countdown is at 41 days to departure. Still doesn't feel entirely real...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35660018.post-85181767223720081652013-01-01T19:47:00.000-05:002013-01-01T19:52:40.312-05:00Hibiscus Half Marathon, here we come!My only goal/resolution this year is to complete a half marathon before my 40th birthday. Checking the Hawaii races list, it looks like the best bet is the Hibiscus Half Marathon in late May. Darrell said he'd run it with me. He's in good enough shape that he could run it tomorrow. I... am not.<br />
<br />
I'm not a fan of hills, but I suppose <a href="http://tropicaltriplecrown.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Hibiscus-Half-map.pdf" target="_blank">it could be worse</a>.<br />
<br />
I asked for and received a <a href="http://www.fitbit.com/one" target="_blank">FitBit One</a> for Christmas. Today, I've taken over 15,000 steps. My usual work day, not counting days I get in some exercise, is about 2500 steps. I've been sedentary for quite a while. <br />
<br />
I also have about thirty pounds I hope to lose. I'm not making weight loss part of my resolution, but I will be eating less and moving more to assist in my race preparation. I'm really hoping to get to 10 minute mile pace, and enjoy the training and the race enough to keep the running motivation going. Is there a full marathon in my future? Doubtful, but I certainly won't count it out.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35660018.post-1875389922019184242012-12-31T20:14:00.000-05:002012-12-31T20:59:55.884-05:00Honey chicken - in the crock or the oven<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyr6nmuXqml85ad8ripM6SzJKN1_MqJQxAEhOhRzgTbxPcuoxvnClm7UDe6if4P5jcuoofWbHfXjUk1DuvlkdoVnVHCoQqDWpP_tUMxDi87JKaVaf8UE2EKR4Sh8aWQ9zZR7jlgA/s1600/honey.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyr6nmuXqml85ad8ripM6SzJKN1_MqJQxAEhOhRzgTbxPcuoxvnClm7UDe6if4P5jcuoofWbHfXjUk1DuvlkdoVnVHCoQqDWpP_tUMxDi87JKaVaf8UE2EKR4Sh8aWQ9zZR7jlgA/s320/honey.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
We're way too impatient to wait, so we use the oven...<br />
<br />
3/4 pound chicken<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1/2 tsp. salt<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1/4 tsp. black pepper<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1/2 cup honey<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1/4 cup soy sauce<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1/8 cup ketchup<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1 Tbs. vegetable oil<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1 clove garlic, minced<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Season both sides of chicken with salt and pepper, put into
crock pot. In a small bowl, combine honey, soy sauce, ketchup, oil, and garlic.
Pour over chicken. Cook on low for 3 hours or on high 1 1/2 hours. Cut chicken into
bite size pieces, then return to pot and toss with sauce. Serve over rice.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To bake chicken as a 30 minute meal:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dice chicken and season both sides with salt and pepper,
place in 8x8 pan. Pour sauce over chicken and bake at 350 for 20 minutes,
stirring after 10 minutes.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We usually serve with steamed broccoli. The sauce is yummy on it.</div>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://mmmcafe.blogspot.com/2010/01/honey-sauced-chicken.html" target="_blank">Source</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35660018.post-28166749977999870502012-12-31T20:09:00.000-05:002012-12-31T20:09:08.331-05:00Easy peasy lemon squeezy, only without the lemon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5h7kexTGaIKb1flwf7L1BQ0Na3sHEtJTmH-GWwfo6NrzfFKWCuKfS5t6_IJOZJkK5-3abuXOVL5oDzlE43ajDx0bNzhlLCo9zUNPmmpTn1Slz2yrZgh-PKLp2UdO9Cr8W2AORgg/s1600/pork.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5h7kexTGaIKb1flwf7L1BQ0Na3sHEtJTmH-GWwfo6NrzfFKWCuKfS5t6_IJOZJkK5-3abuXOVL5oDzlE43ajDx0bNzhlLCo9zUNPmmpTn1Slz2yrZgh-PKLp2UdO9Cr8W2AORgg/s200/pork.jpg" width="199" /></a></div>
Stick a pork tenderloin in the crock pot and cover with root beer. Once the meat falls apart, pour out the soda and pour in your favorite BBQ sauce. Heat until hot, then serve topped with provolone cheese on soft rolls. It's messy eating, but super tasty. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://quick-dish.tablespoon.com/2011/05/18/3-ingredient-slow-cooker-pulled-pork/" target="_blank">Source</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35660018.post-4094667750009982442012-12-31T20:04:00.003-05:002012-12-31T20:04:45.483-05:00Pizza bites - but ours aren't nearly as pretty as the picture<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH4xscRlJxN8eLdG2hfO-XPs8A2oOdsxVGv0bAxxk1tZqq282ragjz7vFAVneY-V4jONnm0ERuiky7waghXPD_5Ah_eXYUGLo9rWGUiG1nT_QKktOjiRS6Asg2R0A4-7VxF8As8Q/s1600/pizza.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH4xscRlJxN8eLdG2hfO-XPs8A2oOdsxVGv0bAxxk1tZqq282ragjz7vFAVneY-V4jONnm0ERuiky7waghXPD_5Ah_eXYUGLo9rWGUiG1nT_QKktOjiRS6Asg2R0A4-7VxF8As8Q/s200/pizza.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
1 roll refrigerated pizza dough<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Brick of mozz - cubed<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pizza toppings, whatever floats your boat<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Cooking spray<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Garlic bread sprinkle<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Preheat the oven according to the dough directions. Lay out the dough; use a pizza cutter to cut
into squares (24, give or take). Place
your toppings on each square and top with a cube of mozzarella. Wrap the corners of the dough around the
toppings. One dough fills a 9” pie pan –
put the ends side down. Spray the top
and sprinkle generously. Bake for as
long as the dough tube says (keep an eye on them). Eat ‘em while they’re hot. Dip in pizza sauce if you want.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.ourbestbites.com/2009/06/stuffed-pizza-rolls/" target="_blank">Source</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35660018.post-68118690028255849912012-12-31T19:53:00.001-05:002015-11-06T21:24:04.928-05:00Chicken and rice soup<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvV-qKYNcxbUtGqClOHVtSN-1oIUb_fNdujUUjeoZvXkiXRm5oqa6cX3HuLAQ3d5cjvhU-TGGTOK7CBhjN9QsvSIJBHZzMV-TMx0IDIXom4mzxytKf-coV7EiE79iI77RpovgIUQ/s1600/soup.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvV-qKYNcxbUtGqClOHVtSN-1oIUb_fNdujUUjeoZvXkiXRm5oqa6cX3HuLAQ3d5cjvhU-TGGTOK7CBhjN9QsvSIJBHZzMV-TMx0IDIXom4mzxytKf-coV7EiE79iI77RpovgIUQ/s320/soup.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
It's soooo good. Crunch up some saltines and toss 'em in. Oh man! This barely fits in my crock pot, so I usually cut back a little on the water.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
4 1/2 cups chicken broth<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1.5 cups water<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1 package of Uncle Sam's long grain and wild rice <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1/2 tsp salt (plus more to taste)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1/2 tsp pepper<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1/2 cup all purpose flour<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1/2 cup butter<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2 cups half and half <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1 cup diced carrots<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Combine broth, water, carrots, chicken and rice
(along with seasoning packet) in a large slow cooker. Cook on low for 6 hours
or on high for 4 hours. Take out chicken and shred with two forks and then add
back into slow cooker. In a small bowl combine salt, pepper, and flour. In
medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Stir in flour mixture by
tablespoon to form a roux. Whisk in cream, a little at a time, until fully
incorporated and smooth. Stir cream mixture into slow cooker and then let cook
on low for 15 more minutes.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://chefmommy-brandao.blogspot.com/2011/02/slow-cooker-creamy-chicken-and-wild.html" target="_blank">Source</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35660018.post-1805296525072280602012-12-31T19:47:00.003-05:002012-12-31T20:57:20.417-05:00Cashew Chicken, without the green onions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTAQkmFJc9Y3T_5uJfKSlg7Ua3H8SIgIGWduT69URghWlE9UQCs-rNBmBNY3gZrNOSGk_Wh_va3oIWKESqVyssjMrq3T9r7QanSoohJ-rAx2zgRRNFdX6CU4FhmuCvWIevnL2GCQ/s1600/cashew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTAQkmFJc9Y3T_5uJfKSlg7Ua3H8SIgIGWduT69URghWlE9UQCs-rNBmBNY3gZrNOSGk_Wh_va3oIWKESqVyssjMrq3T9r7QanSoohJ-rAx2zgRRNFdX6CU4FhmuCvWIevnL2GCQ/s320/cashew.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
I don't do green onions. Or any onions for that matter. I do like Burger King's onion rings, though. Not convinced there's anything that ever resembled an onion in those things, so maybe that's why I like 'em. <br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">2 lbs
boneless skinless chicken, chopped<br />
8 cloves garlic<br />
1 cup cashews<br />
4 tablespoons Hoisin sauce<br />
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar<br />
2 tablespoons corn starch<br />
3/4 water or chicken stock<br />
2 tablespoons olive oil<br />
kosher salt and pepper<br />
steamed white rice<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 15.0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt; mso-outline-level: 3;">
<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; text-transform: uppercase;">DIRECTIONS:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">1. Cook
white rice according to package directions. Preheat large skillet or wok over
low heat. Add olive oil, garlic and cashews to skillet. Saute over low heat
until garlic becomes golden, but don't let the garlic brown, or it will become
bitter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">2. Salt
and pepper chicken. Add chicken to skillet and cook until chicken is no longer
pink. Add cornstarch to a small bowl with the water and mix well. Add
cornstarch and water to chicken. Then add hoisin sauce and vinegar. Simmer for
5 - 10 minutes, until sauce has thickened. Serve with rice.<span style="color: #4b4d4f;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt;">
<span style="line-height: normal;"><a href="http://eclecticrecipes.com/cashew-chicken" target="_blank">Source</a>.</span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35660018.post-19232853178117468552012-12-31T19:43:00.000-05:002012-12-31T19:43:06.016-05:00Bacon Cheeseburger Chicken<br />
<div style="padding: 0px;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZn945Fz0-25mSStSSLRz-TtXz5bUX5UJOh6n0ANSp1a_QOn29_D4nf7fY8rqStHgd43lKrXiRsF3mgejjDo4dAW0-2y96YUg8QtK9fzBm7HZLJTTkMtHKMlVHUMrHyKiNsxPA7w/s1600/BCC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZn945Fz0-25mSStSSLRz-TtXz5bUX5UJOh6n0ANSp1a_QOn29_D4nf7fY8rqStHgd43lKrXiRsF3mgejjDo4dAW0-2y96YUg8QtK9fzBm7HZLJTTkMtHKMlVHUMrHyKiNsxPA7w/s320/BCC.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">2 tbsp olive oil</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">2 tbsp butter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">6 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, split<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">1/4 cup teriyaki sauce<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">1/2 cup Ranch dressing<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">1/2 lb bacon (or bacon bits)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large skillet, heat oil & butter over
medium-high heat. Add chicken breasts,
and sauté 4 to 5 minutes each side, until lightly browned. Place browned chicken breasts in a 9×13 inch
baking dish. Cover with teriyaki sauce
and dressing. Sprinkle with cheese and
top with bacon bits. Bake for 25 to 35
minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink and juices run clear.</span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">For as long as it lasts, <a href="http://www.kevinandamanda.com/recipes/dinner/bacon-cheeseburger-chicken.html" target="_blank">here's</a> where I got it.</span></div>
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35660018.post-84428840902231570672012-12-31T17:37:00.002-05:002012-12-31T19:55:25.408-05:00Meatballs! And a lesson...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkjGsy0F8BkgEC_DwYslGdlo6nEXZ1GaSdia7cOC1hLmY0pTKv4xzZ62r5FEMvwkzvuKjjIl0kXr3EKObYYFeeCd1BEGvjaVKg00-CyMtbz5Ppn4sh8M5Bm5WjYzghOE2mdyUTtA/s1600/Meatballs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkjGsy0F8BkgEC_DwYslGdlo6nEXZ1GaSdia7cOC1hLmY0pTKv4xzZ62r5FEMvwkzvuKjjIl0kXr3EKObYYFeeCd1BEGvjaVKg00-CyMtbz5Ppn4sh8M5Bm5WjYzghOE2mdyUTtA/s320/Meatballs.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
We're making our favorite super easy crock pot meatballs for dinner tonight. I went to pull up the recipe from my <a href="http://pinterest.com/krbosco/recipe-keepers/" target="_blank">Recipe Keepers Pinterest board</a>, and the link was broken. *despair*<br />
<br />
Fortunately, I was able to find it - someone else pinned it and included the recipe with the photo. Whew!!<br />
<br />
So, to make sure it doesn't happen to more favorite recipes in the future, I'm going to bring 'em over to here over the next few days...<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
14 oz ketchup<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1 c brown sugar<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1 t salt<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1 t pepper<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1 t garlic<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1 T Worcestershire sauce<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
a few dashes of soy sauce<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1 bag frozen meatballs<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dump it all into the crockpot and cook until hot. Doesn't get much easier than that!<o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35660018.post-23202158816471096172012-12-29T14:34:00.003-05:002012-12-29T18:38:28.829-05:00Achalasia update<a href="http://dkjk.blogspot.com/2011/12/achalasia-talk.html" target="_blank">I last posted on this about a year ago</a>.<br />
<br />
Things are... ok. I'll never be normal again, and I'm starting to think I'll never eat a meal without problems again. That being said, it's not bad. As long as I don't try to eat without a drink, it's fine. Try to eat even something as slippery as mac & cheese without a drink, though, and it sticks.<br />
<br />
I did go to Cleveland Clinic. Had all the tests, even the dreaded manometry, again. The GI doc did a dilation during the EGD, but it didn't seem to help. Still, I'm glad to know my esophagus isn't getting stretched out. I was prescribed Prilosec for a while to heal some erosions. I made sure to take the meds longer than he said to (but still far less than the refills he included) to make sure everything was good and healed. I'll probably just make sure to go in once or twice a year for a look-see, and hope things stay as they are... <br />
<br />
It won't get better, but I'd really like to not get worse.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35660018.post-32991695830826690212012-12-29T08:44:00.000-05:002012-12-29T08:44:17.200-05:00Or, we could live down south...Someone brought up another option - since the traffic from Schofield to Tripler is HORRIBLE, we could instead live near Tripler and have Darrell do the commute to Schofield. Yes, the distance is the same, but the traffic flow is not. It'd be about 30 minutes for him, similar to what I have now. I've been hearing stories of 60-90 minutes for me. *shudder*<br />
<br />
I've asked to join a Facebook page for spouses that live in the IPC South neighborhoods to gather information. Hopefully I'll be accepted soon. Until then, I've been scouring the net for possibilities.<br />
<br />
From what I've been able to find, the neighborhoods in the IPC South area all have the new floorplan (all fairly similar to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.229432350477464.57644.137336963020337&type=3" target="_blank">this</a>). We could also apply to live in <a href="http://www.hickamcommunities.com/" target="_blank">Air Force</a> or <a href="http://www.fcnavyhawaii.com/" target="_blank">Navy</a> housing (Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam). From what I know at this point, I prefer the Ft Shafter, Red Hill/Rim Loop, or Tripler housing - mainly for the <a href="http://www.moanaluahigh.org/" target="_blank">high school</a>.<br />
<br />
We've already been talking with a lady at the housing office for IPC North, so I think we'll have to decide pretty soon. From what I understand, we're not allowed to be on the waiting list for both, although we can get added to the other services' lists at the same time (but we'll be a lower priority since we're Army).<br />
<br />
Forty-eight days until departure. Fifty-nine until arrival.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35660018.post-11184065958616519932012-12-15T09:46:00.002-05:002012-12-15T09:46:59.885-05:00Housing options - it's a win/winWe're hoping to live on post. From what I understand, we have two basic options - either an older remodeled duplex with a bit more space between buildings and more centrally located on post, or an almost new fourplex that's more tightly packed and not as centrally located but has more modern floor plan. There are more floor plans than these, but I believe they're fairly representative of our options.<br />
<br />
Newer style:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rhyBplqSFOM/UMyKNCFNeOI/AAAAAAAAI_U/JhZ9flNOADI/s545/NewFloorplan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="492" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rhyBplqSFOM/UMyKNCFNeOI/AAAAAAAAI_U/JhZ9flNOADI/s640/NewFloorplan.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Older style:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-judkhhXI9NE/UMyKQLDef4I/AAAAAAAAI_c/t-ZkxeDctFg/s430/OldFloorplan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="502" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-judkhhXI9NE/UMyKQLDef4I/AAAAAAAAI_c/t-ZkxeDctFg/s640/OldFloorplan.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
We've requested the older style, but in all actuality our request means nothing. We'll get what we get, and we won't throw a fit. Either way, I'm okay with it. The older homes are zoned for the elementary school I prefer and I'd rather have a bit more elbow room between us and our neighbors, but I like the kitchen and master bedroom better in the newer floor plan. Nothing to do but wait to see what we're offered...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35660018.post-46684879130744462932012-12-13T06:11:00.001-05:002012-12-13T07:02:57.494-05:00Selected!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Your application status has been updated for the following
opportunity(ies) in USAJOBS. For additional information, <a href="https://my.usajobs.gov/application/listapplications" target="_blank">log
in to USAJOBS.</a><br />
<br />
Control Number: 329665100<br />
Department: Department of the Army<br />
Agency: U.S. Army Medical Command<br />
Job Title: Secretary<br />
Series: GS-318<br />
Announcement #: WTEW12168611773765D<br />
Status: Selected</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35660018.post-75873418898859032232012-12-10T20:47:00.001-05:002012-12-11T06:16:49.050-05:00Super yummy orange cake<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
1 box yellow cake mix<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1/2 cup vegetable oil<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1 can (29 oz) mandarin orange segments, drained (reserve 1/3
cup liquid)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4 eggs<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1 box (4-serving size) vanilla instant pudding and pie
filling mix<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
½ to 1 teaspoon orange extract<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1 tub frozen (thawed) whipped topping<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1. Heat oven to 350°F
(325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Grease or lightly spray pan bottom
only. I use two 9” round pans.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2. In large bowl,
beat cake mix, oil, 1/3rd of the orange segments, reserved 1/3 cup orange
liquid, and eggs with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, then on medium
speed 2 minutes. Pour into pan.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3. Bake 25-30 minutes
or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely, about 1
hour.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4. To make frosting,
stir together remaining orange segments, dry pudding mix and orange extract.
Gently stir in whipped topping. Spread on cake. Store tightly covered in
refrigerator.<o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35660018.post-24559738171514673512012-12-09T14:13:00.003-05:002012-12-09T14:13:35.693-05:00Free Kindle books - list of blogsI love to read. I love my Kindle. And until I started running across blogs filled with free books, I spent a lot of money. Now, however, almost everything I read is free. Sure, many of what I read is the first book of a series, and occasionally I enjoy book #1 enough to buy the rest of them. I'm okay with that - Amazon and the authors won't keep writing and publishing if the readers don't spend money. I'm willing to do my part. I have hundreds of books on my Kindle that I haven't read yet, but I still check every day or three for new ones. What if I miss something awesome? Can't help myself... I'll be totally set for the drive to California!<br />
<br />
Here are the blogs I check regularly:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://ereadernewstoday.com/category/free-kindle-books/" target="_blank">eReader News Today</a><br />
<a href="http://www.pixelofink.com/category/free-kindle-books/" target="_blank">Pixel of Ink</a><br />
<a href="http://www.fkbooksandtips.com/" target="_blank">Free Kindle Books and Tips</a><br />
<a href="http://hundredzeros.com/" target="_blank">Hundred Zeros</a><br />
<br />
And others that I've found, but haven't added to my rounds (yet):<br />
<a href="http://hunt4freebies.com/113-free-kindle-ebook-downloads-from-amazon/" target="_blank">Hunt4Freebies</a><br />
<a href="http://bookbub.com/deals/tag/kindle/" target="_blank">BookBub</a><br />
<a href="http://ebookshabit.com/" target="_blank">eBooks Habit</a><br />
<a href="http://www.freebooksy.com/" target="_blank">Freebooksy</a><br />
<a href="http://kindlebooklist.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Kindle Book List</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35660018.post-50047414096508893122012-12-09T13:56:00.003-05:002012-12-09T13:56:58.848-05:00The position I interviewed for<br />
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The interview was a couple of weeks ago. They said
they'd be willing to wait for me if I'm selected for the position. I've
heard nothing. At the same time, I was referred to the selection official
for another similar position, supporting the Deputy Commander for Nursing.
They weren't willing to wait for that position, and I've already received
the notice that someone else was selected. Nothing to do now but wait,
and continue to apply for others.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Job Title: Secretary (Office Automation)<br />
Department: Department of the Army<br />
Agency: U.S. Army Medical Command <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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OPEN PERIOD: Thursday, October 25, 2012 to Wednesday,
November 07, 2012<br />
SERIES & GRADE: GS-0318-07<br />
POSITION INFORMATION: Full Time - Permanent <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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DUTY LOCATIONS: 1 vacancy in the following location:<br />
Tripler Army Medical Center, HI United States <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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WHO MAY BE CONSIDERED: United States Citizens<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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About the Position: This position is located in HQ
Tripler Army Medical Center, Office of the Commander.<br />
- Salary includes applicable locality pay or adjustment.<br />
- Currently authorized 12.25% Cost of Living Allowance; COLA is always subject
to change without advance notice.<br />
- Permanent change of station (PCS) expenses (i.e., travel and moving expenses)
are not authorized.<br />
- Defense National Relocation Program will not be authorized.<br />
- Immunization screening will be required.<br />
- Must be able to obtain and maintain a SECRET security clearance. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Who May Apply: US Citizens<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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KEY REQUIREMENTS<br />
Must be able to obtain and maintain a SECRET security clearance.<br />
Immunization screening required.<br />
Qualified typist is required (minimum of 40 wpm)<br /></div>
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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /></div>
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DUTIES:<br />
- Serve as Secretary and principal clerical assistant to the Chief of Staff/Deputy
Commander for Clinical Services, Tripler Army Medical Center (TAMC).<br />
- Receive telephone calls and visitors; respond to those inquiries which
can be answered; refer calls on technical or policy matters to supervisors
or subordinate staff members.<br />
- Maintain supervisor's activities calendar; schedule appointments and conferences,
providing briefs on matters to be considered prior to scheduled meetings; makes
travel arrangements as needed.<br />
- Compose and review correspondence; review all incoming mail including
correspondence, reports, memoranda, hospital regulations, inspection reports,
and other material related to the management of the hospital. From brief
verbal instructions or guidance, compose correspondence. Maintain
control records of incoming correspondence and action documents to ensure
timely action in accordance with established requirements and deadlines.<br />
- Obtain and present information, such as material for use in writing correspondence,
reviewing actions, programming and planning, preparing for conferences, etc.
Assemble or summarize information for supervisor's convenience.<br />
- Maintain files and records on health care administrative residents receiving
training in the hospital. Record and transcribe minutes for weekly
conferences. Record and transcribe dictation for a variety of material.
Establish and maintain subject matter and all other files, including personal
and confidential files.<br />
- Use word processing software and printing equipment to create, copy, edit,
store, retrieve, and print a variety of standardized documents.<br />
-- A qualified typist is required.<br /></div>
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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /></div>
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QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:<br />
Specialized experience: To Qualify applicants must possess one year of specialized
experience equivalent to the next lower grade/level (GS-6).
Specialized experience is defined as experience in performing all of the
following: administrative duties for an office; maintaining appointments
and schedules; compiling information and files; and preparing correspondence
and other documents.<br /></div>
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You will be evaluated on the basis of your level of competency (knowledge,
skills, abilities)in the following areas:<br />
Skill in office administration procedures.<br />
Skill in preparing and maintaining office documents and forms.<br />
Skill in compiling and summarizing information.<br />
Skill in using various automated software programs (e.g., Word, Powerpoint,
Excel).<br />
Oral Communication.<o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35660018.post-28912933596543067942012-12-09T13:33:00.002-05:002012-12-09T13:33:30.557-05:00Oh my gosh, $10 million for me?!<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";">INSTRUCTION
FROM FBI!! URGENT<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";">This is to
inform you that your payment of USD 10 Million Dollars from the Federal
Republic of Nigeria has been released and ready to be paid to your via ATM VISA
CARD. GET BACK TO US FOR MORE DETAILSFBI<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";">Sent from: Robert
Muller <accounting basicshealth.com="basicshealth.com"> <o:p></o:p></accounting></span></div>
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<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0