Since P is a tad under the weather, we have no real plans for a New Year's celebration other than a Rugrats marathon. She has been sick since Tuesday afternoon, when she told the teachers at the daycare 'I don't feel good, call my Mommy, I wanna go home.'
Since we are home bound for this evening (believe me, I AM NOT complaining), I'll update and post some memorable pictures taken during our adventures this year.
January: Our trip to Milan, Italy with Time Tard, (my sister) and P's friend:
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February: Skiing in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland:
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March: Travelled to Maryland to meet Crazy Crew II:
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June: Our visit to Legoland
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July: In case anyone is looking for Kool and the Gang, P and I found them, at a small venue in Amneville, France while visiting the zoo.
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August: Our visit to London to see the Lion King (and go to the gap):
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September: P's altercation with a spider:
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October: P's visit to the pumpkin patch:
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November: P playing with the neighbor's new born calf:
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I can honestly say that I can't complain about anything that has happened in 2004. There was an issue towards the end of the year, and with a little help, I made it through with no ulcers (thanks, Mary).
I welcome 2005 with open arms, because there are more places to go, things to do, and people to meet.
GOOD BYE 2004...HELLO 2005!!!!!
Posted by Margaret
10:15 PM
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P now spends every other weekend at D's house (1 down, 46 to go! With the help of my virtual therapist Mary, I might make it!), and I've been thinking of a way to keep me busy. I'd rather do something constructive rather than counting down the 31 hours until she comes home on Sunday afternoon.
So, I've been thinking...what could I do? I could travel~I live basically 4 hours from most tourist attractions (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Paris, Lucerne), but I don't feel too comfortable being that far away from P, when she's only 10 minutes away from the house.
I decided I will to learn to play golf (P got a set of clubs last year, but she not allowed on the golf course on base ~minimum age is 7~ but she is allowed to go to the driving range).
So, today, I bought a set of clubs (aren't they purdy??):
(Crazy Dog is looking for his set)
Mine are the big ones in the back.
I have NEVER really played the game, but since I dipped into the retirement fund, I will learn.
Maybe in the spring we will go here, and I'll take lessons while P hangs out in the Swiss Alps and learns how to yodel.
Posted by Margaret
5:30 PM
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Armed with the knowledge that P loves all things My Little Pony, Strawberry Shortcake, and CareBears, Santa took it upon himself to bring her EVERYTHING he could find concerning all three subjects.
In Santa's quest to please P, he delivered a My Little Pony computer game along with the rest of her desires. This creates a slight problemo at the casa, which I know Santa didn't think about. This means I have to share Vera, the trusty home computer or Gary, the trusty laptop. I would trust anyone to drive Bruce (the BMW) before I willingly share Vera or Gary. But since I couldn't find anyone who wanted to drive Bruce today, I was forced to let P play with the Ponies on Gary.
Maybe she should get her OWN computer for her birthday in Feb. (donations, anyone?)
Actually, the computer situation should be the least of my worries. The #1 concern today should be: Where do I put ALL this:
In Chaos Cave:
The other side of the Cave:
Posted by Margaret
7:30 PM
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First and foremost, Happy Holidays (whatever you celebrate. Boxing Day, anyone?) to one and all, from the little Princess, Crazy Dog, and Me!!
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At least twice a day P and I have a discussion about who will turn on/off a light.
Although there is no school/work today, she was up bright and early at 7AM professing how she will starve if she didn't have breakfast soon. When she wants breakfast, it's NEVER just a bowl of cereal. So, this morning, she ordered oatmeal and hot chocolate, with lots of marshmallows (what is the marsh??)
Once I finished making breakfast, I asked P to turn on the light while I set the table:
Me: Your food is done, turn on the light so you can eat.
P: You need to put the food on the table, so you turn on the light.
Me: It's your food. Please turn on the light.
P: You cooked the food, so you have to turn on the light.
This time, I held my ground and did not turn on the light for her, but I did get her a flashlight. Eventually she turned on the light, just so she could see the candy dinosaurs in the oatmeal.
Posted by Margaret
8:36 AM
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P has been wearing glasses since July. Before she got her glasses, when she would 'read' or look at anything close, she would close her left eye. The first thing that came to mind is 'Oh, no, she's got a crazy eye!' (must have got that from Crazy Crew II). After wrangling with the wonderful people at the base clinic, she was finally to be seen by the best German opthalmologist in the area. He diagnosed her with an astigamatism in her left eye.
At the initial appointment, he said she needed glasses.
This is the first picture of P and the new glasses:
P 
The doctor informed me in July that if the crazy eye was not better in 6 months, he would patch the good eye to make her use the crazy one. She had her follow-up visit today, and the Doc proclaimed the eye was improving, and there was no need for a patch (any different, and I would have cried).
P was not happy with this, because she wanted to be a parrot at school. I'll translate...she wanted to be a PIRATE at school! She wanted to wear a gigante band aid over her eye to school. She would rather wear a 20 cent band aid than the $200 glasses!!
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The Milk Incident
P LOVES milk. Many times, the milk does not love her. She will drink milk any time she can. Once during a ski trip to Gstaad, Switzerland we stopped for lunch at a restaurant on the slope (in the middle of the ski run). I ordered milk for her, and cook went out back to a barn and returned with FRESH milk for P (still body temperature warm). She LOVED it!!
I know it all comes from the same place, but milk in every country tastes different, but she loves it all.
This is what happened when she tried to help herself to a cup of the snow white nectar:
(she is attempting to clean the mess with the tissues and baby wipes)
Posted by Margaret
9:41 PM
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Operation PCP is STILL underway. I received 3 more packages in the mail today. I lost count as to what I ordered from where, but I think Target stills owes me a few things.
I sent P's Grandparents (D's parents, Leaders of Crazy Crew ll) some flowers today. Yes, I spent my hard earned money (I AM a broke single parent) on flowers for them, the ones who have called me ONE time since P was born almost 4 years ago, the ones who sent presents for P to D's house in Louisiana, when SHE'S LIVED HERE WITH ME HER ENTIRE LIFE, the ones who made a fake effort to visit us while they were here in Germany. I know what you are thinking, but NO, I am not bitter~at all.
For the record, my dad (Leader of Crazy Crew I) and Mystery Wife (MW), the lady standing between me and my inheritance, got only a card from us (whole 'nother story).
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If you need to buy something for the person who has EVERYTHING, I'm sure they'll appreciate a set of Gummi shot glasses.
Why would anyone in their right mind bid more than $125 for this Walmart gift card?
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As I have discussed with Mary, (my virtual therapist~Love ya!) there is a belt thief in my house!! I know most families have a problem with socks disappearing. Not this casa!!
P and Crazy Dog have lost her one and only trusty leather braided belt from the gap. Last night I thought I'd encourage P put forth some effort to locate the missing accessory:
Me: If you are going to wear jeans tomorrow, you need to find your belt.
P: I'll wear a dress.
Me: It's too cold outside to wear a dress, look for your belt before dinner time.
P: I can't find it!
Me: PLEASE find your belt before bedtime.
P: (with her hands on her hips) I don't like your stinky attitude!
Needless to say, P wore a dress today, the belt is still missing, and I ordered another one.
I think I REALLY need to toughen up before you see us on a daytime talk show entitled 'Parents who are Scared of the Kid~It All Started with a Missing Belt'.
UPDATE: The belt has been located, no thanks to P or CD. It was on the back of the couch, wedged between the couch and wall, along with 2 pair of P's glasses. P swears I put it there.
Posted by Margaret
8:15 PM
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I updated my 50 things on sidebar to 60 things (only 40 more to go).
One thing I know for sure is that there will NOT be a party at my house!! There will NEVER be more than 3 kids in my house at any given time. Last year, her birthday party was held at an indoor playground on base called the Kidzs' Zone and 34 kids showed up! Good thing I paid someone to set up and clean up, and play with the kids (teenagers will do anything for pizza and soda). I guess whatever Christmas presents don't arrive in time can be held for the birthday party.
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So far, only half of the Christmas presents for P have arrived! It's almost time to panic!
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Some terrible soul has informed P that she has a birthday coming up. There should be a law against telling a 3 year old that her birthday's 'just around the corner'. She is aware that she will be 4, like her part time best friend. Last night she decided that she wants a Bratz themed birthday party.
She seems really excited that her birthday is coming (even more excited than the thought of Christmas).
P: Something is going to happen when I have my birthday!
Me: What, you are going to have a party?
P: Nope, my teeth are going to come out, just like Tracey's did when she turned 4.
P remembers last year when her friend Tracey lost her first tooth, and she happened to be 4! She is SO looking forward to losing a tooth or two.
In 2 weeks the birthday planning frenzy should begin. Although her birthday is not until Feb.18, we must begin plannig soon. Her birthday is usually during President's Day weekend, so we have 3 choices:
Posted by Margaret
4:00 PM
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Mary sent this to me a few days ago, and it took me a while to come up with some of the answers, but I'm finally done. Sorry, I didn't pass it on to anyone, I don't know of anyone who has not done it yet.
Three names you go by:
1. Margaret
2. Peanut
3. Kennedi's Mom
Three screen names you have:
1. margaret.lastname
2. itsmyplace
3. mdrlastname
Three things you like about yourself:
1. My eyes
2. Sense of humor
3. My independence
Three things you hate/dislike about yourself:
1. Procrastinator
2. I don't clean my car often enough
3. I don't forgive too readily
Three parts of your heritage:
1. Black~dad
2. Puerto Rican~mom
3. Sicilian~mom's dad
Three things that scare you:
1. Scary movies
2. The future of the US economy
3. Anything bad happening to Kennedi
Three of your everyday essentials:
1. Kennedi
2. Vanilla Coke
3. Laughter
Three things you are wearing right now:
1. Old Navy t-shirt
2. Black Levis
3. Tag Heuer watch
Three of your favorite bands/artists (at the moment):
1. Diana Ross~ALWAYS
2. Fantasia
3. Kanye West
Three of your favorite songs at present:
1. I Believe~Fantasia
2. Do You Know Where You are Going To-Diana Ross
3.Through the Wire~Kanye West
Three new things you want to try in the next 12 months:
1. Hot air ballooning
2. Snowboarding in Sweden
3. Paragliding~Again
Three things you want in a relationship (love is a given):
1. Honesty
2. Laughter
3. Understanding
Two truths and a lie:
1. I have 3 tattoos (T)
2. I had my daughter when I was 30 (T)
3. I HATE my job pickin cotton for Uncle Le Roy (L)
Three physical things about the opposite sex (or same) that appeal to you:
1. Nice teeth
2. Nice hands
3. Sense of humor
Three things you just can’t do:
1. Say no to Kennedi
2. Pretend to like someone when I really don't
3. Be a kiss ass
Three of your favorite hobbies:
1. Blog lurking
2. Travelling
3. Being with my daughter
Three things you want to do really badly right now:
1. Go to sleep
2. Go to Norway
3. Buy my Land Rover Free Lander
Three careers you’re considering:
1. IT
2. Budget Officer
3. State Department~consulate level
Three places you want to go on vacation:
1. St. Lucia
2. Chicago
3. Turks and Caicos
Three kids names: for either a boy or girl:
1. Kennedi
2. Viktoria
3. Austin
Three things you want to do before you die:
1. See Kennedi graduate from college
2. Visit Kenya
3. Have all my brothers and sisters together in one room~even the one that owes me $500.
Posted by Margaret
3:30 PM
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Although I have sworn off visiting Paris again until fall 2005 (Disneyland Paris does not count), I think I will take it back. I saw on the news that the highest skating rink (188 feet above the Champ de Mars garden) in Paris has opened on the 1st level of the Eiffel Tower (P calls it the Apple Tower). With paid admisson to the tower, skating and skate rental are free. It's estimated that the rink can hold 80 skaters.
From the rink, in the distance, you can see the gold dome of the Invilades, which is the burial place of Napolean.
PHOTO COURTESY OF BBC.COM
Also on the 1st level is the Altitude 95 restaurant, which turns into a tea room each afternoon.
If you are interested, the cost of admission to the first level is $5.30 for adults and $3.00 for children.
Hmmm...I'm thinking we will go during MLK weekend. Care to join us??
Posted by Margaret
2:44 PM
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Operation PCP (P's Christmas Presents) is in full swing!! All week I have been checking the mail on base hoping that at least a portion of the presents I ordered would arrive before Dec. 26.
As Murphy's Law will have it, 3 GIANT boxes from Kbtoys arrived today, the only day P was with me when I checked the mail~and she had fallen asleep in the car during the journey. So I had to wake her to get the mail. During the ride home, I stopped counting after she asked question #6 about the boxes (it's only a 10 minute ride to our house from the base).
It's now after 4am and most of what arrived is wrapped and under the tree. P has appointed herself the 'tree lighter'. She turns the christmas tree lights on and off, so that means she's under the tree at least 2 times a day. Hopefully the wrapped packages will survive.
1 order down, 3 to go!
UPDATE: P woke at 7:30 this morning and after being in the living room .2541 of a minute she noticed the presents under the tree. Of course, she wanted to open them and reported to me that Santa delivered 6 packages during the night and he WILL be back to leave more.
Posted by Margaret
4:25 AM
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While making dinner this afternoon, I tried to find 'busy' work for P so she won't be tempted to assist in the cooking of the grubbage.
I asked her to write the alphabet for me, since she's an old pro at it (I thought).
Basically, this is what she wrote:
A B C D E F G H I K K p Q R S T U V W X Y Z
I know I should have corrected her, but she sang it with SUCH confidence!! Plus, she crawled, walked, started talking and was potty trained early (whole 'nother post!!).
Posted by Margaret
6:49 PM
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I was minding my OWN business in the likker store on base when I happened upon a display for Hpnotiq. I'll just say the folks that work there are NOT the smartest (they must toss a few back during breaks).
I questioned a sales person about the price of the .75L bottle, and she said 'There is a sign posted near the display'.
Check out the prices 'posted near the display' (yes, I 'borrowed' the sign):
What are the chances that someone that was Hypnotiqqed (is that a word?) priced the .75L bottles?
Posted by Margaret
8:13 PM
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Editor: I numbered my thoughts~~as I always do when I think. I've been thinking about a few things~ I'm done, thanks for listening!
Posted by Margaret
4:45 PM
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One evening during bathtime, the little one had drank a considerable amount of Bathwater Martinis, so I woke her to go to the bathroom in the middle of her beauty rest. I took her in the bathroom and she said when she was done, she would get back in bed. I went to make sure she was in bed ok, and she wasn't there, so I checked the bathroom:
One of my friends had sent her a box full of toys and we unloaded the toys the day before the picture was taken. I thought she was quietly playing with the toys in my room, so I left her alone. After about 30 minutes, I went to check on her:
As usual, she wasn't playing with the toys at all. She always finds it more fun to play with the packaging~~even today.
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We have spent the last 3 Independence Days at Disneyland Paris. We go to Paris for 4-5 days, and stay at a hotel in the park, but spend only 2 days in the park. We take the train into Paris the other days (to go to the gap, of course!) and just hang out. On the last trip, The Lion King Review was playing at the park, so we decided to wait the 2 hours in line for it to begin. While in line, the little one started to doze... 
I thought about going back to the hotel, but I'll be John Brown (don't ask who JB is) if I was going to hike AALLLLL the way through Disney Village to the hotel only for her to wake once we got there.
I MUST say that that is the LAST trip I took her stroller with me!! I'll be John Brown (don't ask!) if she falls asleep on me again so I can get all the dirty looks from folks that think I'm a bad mother because she's so tired!
When we went to London in August, I didn't take the 'baby car' and we took the train, bus, and walked ALL over London and she had a great time (plus strollers aren't too welcome in Harrod's).
Posted by Margaret
9:30 PM
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It's official...the Christmas tree is up, but up ghetto style.
The tree is fake, and I'm proud of it!! The tree is too big for the corner in have it in, so I didn't put on the back branches. So, it's really only the front and sides with branches. Also, I took off the bottom row of branches because they are much too close to the floor. The lights are another story...since the lights are 220v, they aren't like those in the states. Imagine 200ft of wire, with a light every 8 inches. More like a tangled mess. I tried to use only one set, but I was forced to use 1 1/2 sets. 1/2 of the second set is still on the holder thingy on the floor. Once the lights are turned on it looks ok. I can just see it...come home from work one day and the tree has fell over because the front is so heavy!! Ornaments...what ornaments?? The only ornaments we have are the Dr. Seuss silver ones from Burger King last year (yes, I bought them ALL). We do have plenty of candy canes on the tree. The topper...we don't have one!! No star, no angel, or anything else (maybe to complete the ghetto look I can top it with a trucker hat). I'll find some ornaments and a topper this week.
Posted by Margaret
6:41 PM
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You heard it here, first!!
Posted by Margaret
8:05 PM
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P has told me 9 times today so far that Christmas is comming. I bought NOTHING for her for Christmas until 2 days ago. It's not like I haven't tried. I would buy her something, and just give it to her, so it's Christmas all the time at my house. Because of this, when I ask P what she wants for Christmas, she basically says 'I just want 2 birds and nothing else.' She.wants.REAL.birds. Not 1, but 2 (because 1 needs a friend).
A few weeks ago I bought her a Color Pixter (which was to be her Christmas present) but I gave it to her. She LOVES the Pixter and can use the cartridges from the black and white one she got last year. The same happened with the VideoNow Color (and the 7 movies for it I gave her).
Since there is just about 3 weeks to Christmas, I figured that I should get started. So, off to a few websites (kbtoys, Walmart, Target, Nordstroms) to spend $,$$$.00. I really don't think the stuff will arrive in time. The estimated arrival date for most of the stuff is 14 December. But thanks to USPS, US Customs, Military Mail, the Post Office 'volunteers' on base, and the stores mailing my merchandise space available, I'm sure they won't get here anywhere near that date.
Yes, I know it's my fault for waiting, but I have a plan. If nothing gets here on time, I can always spend $$$.00 for the birds.
Posted by Margaret
8:05 PM
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I got my graded midterm back today.
I got 98%!!!!!!
With my 13 FREE points, my grade is.....
Let me see, cary the 1, square root of 45.5, plus 7, minus .789...
I got 111%!!!! In the spirit of holiday giving, I tried to give the extra 11 points to Sorry Soul. He could really use them.
Posted by Margaret
8:37 PM
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