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A Reflection of my Own Stress
I was running a morning errand when I saw the car screaming in reverse down the driveway. I tapped my brakes not knowing if she saw me. She slammed on hers to avoid hitting me. I saw the 2nd grader in the back seat, her daughter. I could see the mom YELLING at her daughter. Hands were in motion, up in the air. Mom was flabbergasted over something. It was 8:05am and I knew that kids were considered tardy if they arrived after 8:10am and we live about 5 minutes from the school. It was easy to draw conclusions but I don’t know what was happening exactly in the car that followed…
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Energy Independence and the US Navy – DoD Bloggers Roundtable
Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus (Official Photo). It will “make us better warfighters” Are we improving our national security by demanding that the Department of Defense use biofuels? Are we experimenting with our ability to fight a war by requiring that by the year 2020, 50 percent of our Navy’s shore based energy requirement be supported by alternative sources other than fossil fuels? According to the Secretary of the Navy, Ray Mabus, the answer is a big yes and no! The DoD Bloggers Roundtable met with SECNAV yesterday to discuss his energy goals and how they interfaced with joint initiatives with the Department of Energy and Department of Energy.…
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Growing Older in Mom’s Arms
A journey is coming to an end as a new one begins for this mom. Baby Boy *L* is a year old. It is amazing the transition that comes at about this age; from sleep deprived confusion full of unknowns -to- frenzied chaos as I try to stay just one step ahead oh him. So I sit here in this stage of reflection (well… quite honestly I don’t do much sitting lately). I am holding dear what I loved about the baby-boy and now watching him turn into a toddler. Remembering the sleepless nights as I now enjoy the 7AM wake-ups. Cherished are the sleepy cuddles, breastfeeding moments and the ‘drunk-baby’ look as he drifted off to sleep.We…
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Are we beginning to forget already?
It is amazing to me that I have now given birth to three beautiful sons. Three sons with a wonderful life ahead of them. Three sons who were but a twinkle in my eye on 9.11.2001. You can ask me where I was on Sept 11th, 2001 and I am instantly brought back to my apartment. (I worked from home); sitting at my desk; nursing a migraine headache. I can remember calling my husband; IMing my co-worker, Dan; learning that my dad, a colonel in the Air Force, was on high alert with a very long day (month … year…) ahead of him. Tears would stream down my face periodically…
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Commitments and Parenting
No one said being a parent would be easy. But does it really need to be this hard? What might seem like a small trivial decision is holding a great weight over my shoulders. Our teenage-son was asked to a attend the big Homecoming dance by a friend from another school district. We were excited for him getting to know new friends and spending time with a gal whose family we happen to really like. I had seen pictures of the dress, we had discussed corsages, permission forms had been signed, and dinner plans were made. So the news, five days before homecoming, that he wasn’t going to go with…
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The Weather in Baghdad and Kabul
I can be a Weather Channel junkie! We just had a wonderful rain shower and it made our spring flowers perk up big time as we had been dry for a bit! I was cheering for it so I wouldn’t have to drag garden hoses around tomorrow to get the vegetable garden some refreshment. While enjoying the cool breeze and listening to the rain fall I had a quick thought! What is the temperature in Baghdad right now? Hmm, according to a weather website it is 88 degrees and it is 11 PM and tomorrow’s forecast is for a high of 106! Think of our comforts and ability to adjust…
