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Sunday, January 29, 2006
Pictures

While attempting to organize the many pictures on the PCs, my laptop, and the 6 cards for my digital camera (there are even some on my PSP), I came across a few that I thought I'd share.


Picture #1

This picture was taken during our visit to NC during Thanksgiving. This is proof that my family is full of computer geeks. Besides the 5 laptops on the table, there was also one in the guest bedroom, and a PC in the house.

***************************************************
Picture #2:

Last week there was DVD avalanche in Chaos Cave (P's room). One of the shelves holding her colletion (more like inventory) fell off the wall. I think she this is a sign that her collection is out of control.

This is a picture of most of her DVDs (there was one more stack of 27 in her room, also):


Last week, P agreed to give 8 Elmo DVDs to one of her favorite teachers at school. The teacher has a 2 year old daughter that loves ALL things Elmo. Now if we could only find someone with a child that loves all things Barney. Or Bear in the Big Blue House. Or Dora.
****************************************************
Picture #3

P was playing with the timer on my digital camera and took this picture of her, me and Crazy Dog:

**********************************************

Tomorrow starts week 2 of my class, so I'm on the road again.


Posted by Margaret      8:56 PM      |

Thursday, January 26, 2006
Birthday Plans

Due to the overnight snowfall, my 70 minute morning drive turned into a 2 hour drive. Once I got to the class site, we just reviewed for tomorrow's test, and the class was released. I was in class only 1 hour 20 minutes, then I started the 1.5 hour drive back to the World's Busiest Air Base where I went to the library to study to kill time before picking up P from day care.

Durning the ride home, for the 796346th time, I asked P what she wanted to do for her birthday in 3 weeks:

Me: Where do you want to have your birthday party?
P: I don't want to have a party.
Me: Do you want to go somewhere instead?
P: Yep, I want to go to Africa.
Me: We've been to Africa before, when we went to Morroco.
P: Not THAT Africa...I want to see lots of animals. The Africa we went to only had buildings.

I told her that we don't have time before her birthday to make plans for a trip, but she did make me pinky promise to take her for her birthday when she turned 10 years old.

She still didn't tell me what she wanted to do for her birthday.


Posted by Margaret      10:31 PM      |

Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Back to School

Monday, I started Uncle LeRoy's class about the process of how his budget is Planned, Programmed, Budgeted and Executed, better known as fought over, begged for, and spent (sometines overspent). I'll be honest and say that although this class looks REALLY good on my resume (below all the other fluff), I wasn't exactly thrilled about having to attend. I decided to take the class here in Germany while I have someone to get to P at the World's Busiest Air Base if needed. The other option? Wait until I get a new job picking cotton in the US, (I have NO idea where we'll go), where I will have to find someone to take care of P while I take the class in S. Carolina for a couple of weeks. I'll take door #1. Thankyouverymuch.

Monday, the drive was pretty painless, only 2 hour 20 minutes on the road all day. I say painless, because I had this in the car:


I must say, the iTrip is the best investment I've made in the gadget category (Nurse Ratchet said we have TOOOO many gadgets). I was SERIOUSLY thinking about installing a cd changer in the New No Name Car, but why spent $400+ on a 6 disk changer when I bought both the iTrip and charger for less than $60 from The Red Dot Boutique (TimeTard). I can play any of the 245 songs on the myPod (it officially belongs to P) while driving.

This morning, somewhere between Kanye's 'Touch the Sky' and Jamie Foxx's 'Extravanganza', I forgot to stay in the right lane on one of the autobahns and was headed in the wrong direction. If you've ever driven on the autobahn, you know that if you miss an exit, there is NO such thing as just getting off at the next exit and turning around. The exits are few and FAR between. Today's 'next' exit was 5.5 miles away, which means today's Exit Escapade took me 11 miles out of the way, which means instead of being 15 minutes early for class, I was 20 minutes late.

Don't tell anyone I said this, and I'll deny it if asked...to be an Uncle LeRoy initiated class, this is a very interesting class. It's really interesting to learn how the annual budget comes about and flows on down. From the elected officials, on down the line to me, a cotton picker. They fight for it, and I ensure that the funds are legally executed.

It almost makes me not want to change career fields. Almost.


Posted by Margaret      8:25 PM      |

Sunday, January 22, 2006
The Answer is STILL 'NO'!!

P is still talking to and about her 'turtle'. I'm holding my ground, and the answer is still 'no'. I will not give in, although she's more persistant about the turtle than she is about a kitten, which she has been asking for for over a year.

P's other issue of the day is that she wants to go fishing. I have NO idea where she got the idea from, but she wants to go. This means I must find someone to take her. I call it outsourcing.

I got my taxes done for free at the World's Busiest Air Base on Saturday. Just now, I looked at the forms, and realized that the Tax Dude didn't complete the form for my retirement savings contributions. I'll have to get my return amended.

For the next two weeks, I have to take a class on how to properly execute Uncle LeRoy's money. I really don't mind that I'll take the class, because I can add it to my resume (which will then look kinda spiffy), but what I DO mind is being on the autobahn 2 hours each day traveling to and from the training site. The fact that I'll be reimbursed for my travel eases the discomfort. Kinda.


Posted by Margaret      10:01 PM      |

Friday, January 20, 2006
The Never Ending Request

Below is a sign that was posted in the international dining facility where the menbers of the World's Biggest Gang get their lunchtime grubbage:


Just to reinforce the facts...you CAN NOT order scrambled eggs, toast and a submarine on Saturdays!!! FYI: Component days=Free days.
********************************************

P has one request...she wants a turtle. His name is already picked out. His name is Leo. When she's questioned (by anyone) as to what she wants for her birthday next month, the answer is always the same...she wants a turtle.

I heard her talking to someone while she was in her room alone. I creeped to the doorway and was listening to the 'conversation'.

Me: Hey, who are you talking to?
P: I'm talking to Leo.
Me: Who is Leo?
P: My turtle.
Me: Where is he?
P: He's right here:

I told her for the 9646594th time that I would not buy her a turtle. About 3 minutes later, she showed me this:

Me: What is that?
P: It's Leo, he's in his shell because he's sad.
Me: Why is he sad?
P: He's sad because you won't get me a real Leo so we can play with him. And you won't have a baby sister for me.
Me: Okaaaaayyy...

I think she's laying the guilt trip on pretty thick. I'll stay strong and not give in about the turtle. Maybe. The baby sister? No question about it, I WON'T be giving in. At all.


Posted by Margaret      9:08 PM      |

Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Thank You

Thanks to everyone for the birthday wishes!! I REALLY appreciate it!!

As usual, our weekend with members of the World's Largest Gang was great. Our Hostess was a tad under the weather with a 'flu-like-bug' (that's what she called it), but we still had a good time. The WLG do not celebrate American holidays, so everyone had to work and go to school on Monday. That left P and I on our own to venture around Germany/Netherlands. We made our way to the Happiest Store on Earth...IKEA!!! We were in the store for almost 4 hours.

Surprisingly, Crazy Dog was great all weekend. Except for one thing...I think he was on a hunger strike, because he didn't eat any food the entire weekend, also, most nights he didn't sleep.
Tuesday and it rained/snowed the ENTIRE 3 hour drive home. Needless to say, CD slept the entire way home, and once we arrived home, he was asleep in his house before the car was unpacked.
********************************************

Tomorrow, I take the Nameless New Car to get repaired. Hopefully, when I drop it off I'll get one of these as a loaner for the day:


Since there is no back seat (only platforms), I'd only keep it during the day because there is no way P is riding in the front seat.


Posted by Margaret      10:47 PM      |

Friday, January 13, 2006
The Weekend Ahead

After work on Friday, P, Crazy Dog, and I are on the road again...to Geilenkirchen, to hang out with members of the World's Biggest Gang. We'll return home on my birthday, 17 January.

Saturday morning, a group of us are going to the Rolduc Abbey in the Netherlands. I don't really know what's there, but I do know one thing:
THEY MAKE BEER THERE!!!!!!

I'm sure a good time will be had by all, even the designated drivers.

My favorite quote from the site:

Mens sana non potest vivere in corpore sicco (Translation: A sound soul cannot live in a dry body).


If the quote is true, I know a lot of bloggers that have VERY sound souls!!!
***************************************************

While you are blog surfin' this weekend, go on over to Chookooloonk's and leave a comment, telling her who you are and where you are from. For each comment left, she will donate $1 to AIDS Foundation Houston (plus, she takes really great pictures!!)

Everyone have a great and safe weekend.


Posted by Margaret      3:10 PM      |

Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Early Morning Altercation

This morning, after taking P to the place that I pay for her to play all day, while I was driving to the place that pays me, I had a 'slight altercation' with a car that was driving in front of me (no one was hurt). To make a long story short, he stopped, I tried to stop. But didn't. And couldn't. I came to a stop AFTER making contact with his bumper. There was black ice involved. When black ice is involved, it's never pretty.

The other car was, (to put it nicely) a '1919-Get-Out-And-Push'. I even told the driver to take the money and run, because I'm sure the damages are more than his car is worth.
Neither I or the driver of the other car were cited by the police that came to our roadside party, so no one is to blame for the altercation.

I wasn't too worried about the damages to the new hoop d'ville (still has no name). I was able to get an estimate for the repair after lunch today. The cost of the repair is far less than my 500 euro ($532) deductible, which means I won't have to sacrifice P's birthday party next month. Just kidding, I wouldn't cancel her shindig to fund the repairing of the new hoop d'ville. I would postpone it a few months. She would never know. I have an appointment next Thursday to get it repaired.

The results of the altercation (to show how early it gets dark here, the photos were taken at 1730~5:30pm for you civilians):


When P saw it after I picked her up this afternoon, the first thing she said was 'WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY CAR?' I would rather deal with precinct full of police than to deal with P's possession issues. Remember Bruce? He 'belonged' to her, too.


Posted by Margaret      7:43 PM      |

Monday, January 09, 2006
Mystery Food

When I picked P up from daycare, I asked her if she went to sleep at nap time and if she ate snack after naptime.

P: I slept a LONG time at naptime.
Me: Why, were you tired?
P: I did get up, to see what was for snack, but I went back to sleep again.
Me: Why didn't you eat snack?
P: I didn't want any because it was nasty stuff.
Me: What did they have?
P: They bought us spinach cake, and it looked gross. So I went back to sleep for a little bit.

While gathering the 10+ pages of artwork from P's cubby, I was trying to figure out what spinach cake was and why would they serve it to the poor defenseless kids. When we were leaving the facility, I stopped by the menu board to see if they really had something called 'spinach cake' for snack.

There on the board, below the 1400 (2pm for you civilians) snack heading was what they REALLY had for snack...
Zucchini bread
I didn't blame her for sleeping through snacktime...I would have done the same thing.


Posted by Margaret      8:24 PM      |

Saturday, January 07, 2006
Why I Love My iPod Video

Because I can do this during lunch at the place that pays me:

Playing: Season 1 of the Office (downloaded from iTunes)
**************************************************

WARNING
: DO NOT teach a 4 year old how to play UNO. You've been warned!!


P received a deck of Winnie the Poo UNO cards for Christmas and last week I taught her how to play. Every evening after dinner, she asks to play, so I indulge her. For about 15 hands. I think it's time to upgrade to regular UNO cards and deal us each 21 cards.


A sign you are getting beat at Winnie the Pooh UNO by a 4 year old:


Posted by Margaret      8:31 PM      |

Thursday, January 05, 2006
R.I.P. Vic, I Think

First and foremost, I think we need to have a moment of silence for my desktop computer, Vic.
...
...
...

Now that that is out of the way, I'll tell you what had happened. Well, what had happened was...I came home from work yesterday and turned on the computer (before taking off my coat, as usual), the power light came on, but the fan wasn't humming. While watching the monitor, I noticed that the startup sequence didn't get beyond the BIOS screen. After the BIOS screen...NOTHING just a really dark blue screen...but not the Blue Screen of Death (there were no words on the screen). No words, no sounds (no fan), just power lights on both the tower and monitor. I have no idea what's wrong with it. In case you are wondering, no I didn't back it up. Not once in the 3 years I've had it.

Maybe I'll take it in to the shop to see what's wrong with it. Maybe I'll kick it off the patio. It depends how I feel next week. Considering my birthday is 17 January, maybe it WILL take a dive off the patio so I can then buy a new one for myself for my birthday.
**************************************

Last weekend, P was still complaining about her ear hurting. Tuesday, when the World's Busiest Air Base decided to wake from the weekend's slumber, I made an appointment for her at Pediatrics. When the Chair Force Doc looked in P's left ear, she let out a spontaneous 'Oh, my!'
She went on to tell me that P has an ear infection, but didn't say just how bad it was. She only said that she must treat it 'aggressively'. We left with a P a prescription for 13ml (almost 2.5 tsp) of amoxicillin twice a day for 10 days and some cough medicine for the coughing/sneezing/runny nose.

This is the first time P has had an ear infection since she was about 14 months old, when she had her adenoids taken out and tubes put in her ears.
If she is feeling better by MLK weekend, because we might go to either here or here, both places are in Austria, which is beyond my 3 hour driving limit, but I MAY make an exception this one time.
*************************************


Thanks to everyone for the advice regarding my question about scrapbooking. Maybe I can pay someone to be a cyber shopper for me and order everything I need to get started. Hmmm....

Just one more thing...

I am looking around for a car charger and FM transmitter for both my iPod mini (P's myPod) and my iPod Video. Does anyone have a suggestion as to what make/model I shoud get?


Posted by Margaret      10:20 PM      |

Sunday, January 01, 2006
Happy New Year!!

I hope everyone had a great time celebrating the new year. Me? We went to bed at 2230 (10:30pm for you civilians), and was startled awake at 3 minutes before midnight by the sounds of my WONDERFUL neighbors setting off fireworks. I'm not complaining at all, because at least the wild boars were scared enough to stay in hiding all night.
****************************************

Since I am officially finished with school (I received my letter of completion in the mail on Tuesday), I have some 'spare' time on my hands now. I was thinking about what I could do with the extra time and I said to myself
Diane (I call myself Diane), you need a hobby!
So I've decided that my new hobby will be scrapbooking, beginning with printing the hundreds of pictures I have of P and our adventures.

While I was in school, we had 3 kinds of evenings:
  1. School evenings (2)
  2. Homework evenings (3)
  3. Free evenings (2)
So I've decided that on 'homework' evenings, I'll start going to the gym and work up a sweat at the World's Busiest Air Base, and on 'school' and 'free' evenings, I'll start organizing the printing and organizing the photos.

Since I didn't have a photo printer, I bought this snazzy new gadget, and I LOVE it!:


The pictures come out REALLY nice. Now, can anyone tell me what I need to start scrapbooking, and where I can buy the supplies online?


Posted by Margaret      7:00 PM      |



Name: Margaret
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