Growing up the daughter of a once upon a time Marine Corps Officer in teensy town America leads to several facts of life.
One: It is difficult not to be imprinted on the military man - uniforms are all around you, and they look good. Early remembrances of my father include seeing him march as a veteran in the Memorial Day parade in our little village, I suppose you'd call it - a little place with several hundred folk living there and a war memorial with at least a quarter of their names on it - two little general stores, a legion, a Masonic lodge, and a church - too small, even, for a school. The men folk wore their uniforms, or the parts of it that still fit - grandpas, uncles, dads, and brothers home on leave, they marched together on a hot day in May and at the end, we'd all gather in the park for popsicles - me in my girl scout's uniform having just marched myself. He wore his medals, and to this day, I don't know what they all meant. I do know, however, how very, very proud he was to find (late in the day) that he was a Nobel prize laureate - a number of years ago, the UN Forces in Korea won - and, as a US Marine, he was a member of that force.
Two: The military in the US is one of the only ways out of a small town. If your folks couldn't afford university, and many couldn't, it was what a guy did. Fresh out of high school, they'd enlist, get on the job training and possibly go to school after the 3 year enlistment with the money they'd accumulated as part of the GI bill.Military staff and service are just all around you - it is a part of everyone's lives. High school sweetheart? Now Lt. Colonel in the Army Corps of Engineers. Big Brother? Did at least 10 years in the Navy, and came out with the professional training that is still serving him today as a fire marshal.
Having imprinted early on and spent the grad school years in Tidewater Virginia, I crossed paths with a number of servicemen. And so to all of you - submarine operators, fighter pilots, Hughie mechanics, engineers, infantrymen and fire fighters, I say thank you.
My thoughts are with you all today, and I'm hoping that wherever you are, you are safe and have clean sheets to lay your head on tonight. And if you don't have clean sheets, then I hope you've got some clean, dry socks.
Wear your gear and keep your fuzzy heads safe.
Semper Fi, and pax.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
subconscious, working overtime
a list of possibilities offered by my subconscious over the past week:
1. The deputy director of another division within our organization, whose office is right across the hall from mine, has been secretly keeping track of my schedule at work. For all of those days I just knock off at 3.
2. I was suddenly the owner and very excited driver of a new VW something. The thing that made me most excited, though, was the fact that it was all wheel drive, which I could totally note as I drove it. (Which is awesome as that was the first time I've ever driven an all wheel drive vehicle.)
3. Through a very fascinating turn of events I don't precisely remember, so cannot reinact during daylight hours, I ended up sleeping next to Brad Pitt. (I'm just saying.) I was very excited, as you might imagine, with the upcoming possibility of seeing him at my next Hollywood function, for which I went to get a pedicure. Things took a turn for the worse when Brad did not remember we had had a date.
1. The deputy director of another division within our organization, whose office is right across the hall from mine, has been secretly keeping track of my schedule at work. For all of those days I just knock off at 3.
2. I was suddenly the owner and very excited driver of a new VW something. The thing that made me most excited, though, was the fact that it was all wheel drive, which I could totally note as I drove it. (Which is awesome as that was the first time I've ever driven an all wheel drive vehicle.)
3. Through a very fascinating turn of events I don't precisely remember, so cannot reinact during daylight hours, I ended up sleeping next to Brad Pitt. (I'm just saying.) I was very excited, as you might imagine, with the upcoming possibility of seeing him at my next Hollywood function, for which I went to get a pedicure. Things took a turn for the worse when Brad did not remember we had had a date.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
"Pro-comfort"
Dear o.b.:
I've been a user now, for well, longer than I haven't. Well, hold on, I'm doing the exact calculations, and, including pregnancies and what-not, nope, still, more on that off, if you know what I mean. And I know that you do. But enough about me and my age.
What I'm writing about is your recent change in packaging, and, if I understand correctly, makeup of the coating of your product. I, as much as any, appreciate something that would be more comfortable, I really, really do. What I'd really like to question, however, is the decision of your marketing team to describe your newly designed product as 'pro-comfort'. Given that I might have a bit too much time over the past few days to contemplate actions in the ladies' room, I'd like to enquire as to who, exactly, these 'pro's might be.
I must admit my creative and intellectual limitations when I say that I can only think of two broad categories of employment in which one would have greater than the normal amount of experience and could be construed as 'pro's in the action of sticking things up kittens - who's comfort, then, were you thinking of? Perhaps a physician? I can tell you from experience that they are not necessarily concerned with my comfort (speculum, I'm looking at YOU), and as such, I am less compelled to purchase your product on their assurances.
I can only, then, assume that you might mean the working girl, who, we might acknowledge, does have experience with the aforementioned activities. I can only imagine what that client focus group might have gone like. In most areas of my life, I would argue that the working girl might not be the best model for choices, but in this particular instance, would like to thank you both. I appreciate your hard work and selflessnes in research to find the best solution for us all.
Until next time - Katie.
I've been a user now, for well, longer than I haven't. Well, hold on, I'm doing the exact calculations, and, including pregnancies and what-not, nope, still, more on that off, if you know what I mean. And I know that you do. But enough about me and my age.
What I'm writing about is your recent change in packaging, and, if I understand correctly, makeup of the coating of your product. I, as much as any, appreciate something that would be more comfortable, I really, really do. What I'd really like to question, however, is the decision of your marketing team to describe your newly designed product as 'pro-comfort'. Given that I might have a bit too much time over the past few days to contemplate actions in the ladies' room, I'd like to enquire as to who, exactly, these 'pro's might be.
I must admit my creative and intellectual limitations when I say that I can only think of two broad categories of employment in which one would have greater than the normal amount of experience and could be construed as 'pro's in the action of sticking things up kittens - who's comfort, then, were you thinking of? Perhaps a physician? I can tell you from experience that they are not necessarily concerned with my comfort (speculum, I'm looking at YOU), and as such, I am less compelled to purchase your product on their assurances.
I can only, then, assume that you might mean the working girl, who, we might acknowledge, does have experience with the aforementioned activities. I can only imagine what that client focus group might have gone like. In most areas of my life, I would argue that the working girl might not be the best model for choices, but in this particular instance, would like to thank you both. I appreciate your hard work and selflessnes in research to find the best solution for us all.
Until next time - Katie.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Mankin love
He'll be two in roughly three weeks. He's in the range of 30 pounds, MasterP. He loves to get dressed up in my sunglasses, road id, and his rubber boots and wave goodbye to everyone. 'Bye! He yells trying to unlock any door, 'Bye!!
And yet?
And yet. A favourite game is the baby game, played right out of the bath, when he stands naked and wet, with his arms pressed tight to his body waiting to be swaddled in his hooded towel. Ooooh, I croon to him, as I lift him, ohhh, my baaaaaby. Shhh, my baaaaaby. His head in the crook of one elbow and my other hand under his bum I hold him tight and he lays draped across my torso, his legs dangling behind us - a delighted and massive newborn.
Last night, as we pretended, his eyes started to roll. Oops, I said, look at this - he's done! C'mon manny, let's have your medicine (he was running a mild fever and could stand with a better night's sleep - thanks, Advil!) and get you ready....
My 'newborn' could only be consoled by the promise of a blanket swaddling after jammie application. And so, for the first night in years, I rolled him up and offered him round' for kisses, his chubby hand shooting out to hold his night bottle.
It's weird and delicious - two. A mix of independence and babyhood that I'm really in no hurry to end.
And yet?
And yet. A favourite game is the baby game, played right out of the bath, when he stands naked and wet, with his arms pressed tight to his body waiting to be swaddled in his hooded towel. Ooooh, I croon to him, as I lift him, ohhh, my baaaaaby. Shhh, my baaaaaby. His head in the crook of one elbow and my other hand under his bum I hold him tight and he lays draped across my torso, his legs dangling behind us - a delighted and massive newborn.
Last night, as we pretended, his eyes started to roll. Oops, I said, look at this - he's done! C'mon manny, let's have your medicine (he was running a mild fever and could stand with a better night's sleep - thanks, Advil!) and get you ready....
My 'newborn' could only be consoled by the promise of a blanket swaddling after jammie application. And so, for the first night in years, I rolled him up and offered him round' for kisses, his chubby hand shooting out to hold his night bottle.
It's weird and delicious - two. A mix of independence and babyhood that I'm really in no hurry to end.
Heeeeee.
A) Jorge Hiney. Just say it out loud. Sure, you may be a well-respected Latin American scholar, but come on. How many times have you wished desperately for a different last name?
B) Can we really be this old? Can it really have been 5 years? Ran into language training coffee mate this morning. We ran across the street to Starbucks every morning when we finally got the nod at 10:15. We don't feel any older; how can it be possible that our kids are?
C) I Scream, You Scream, by Wendy Lyn Watson released today. Check it out!! I think you'll love it.
B) Can we really be this old? Can it really have been 5 years? Ran into language training coffee mate this morning. We ran across the street to Starbucks every morning when we finally got the nod at 10:15. We don't feel any older; how can it be possible that our kids are?
C) I Scream, You Scream, by Wendy Lyn Watson released today. Check it out!! I think you'll love it.
Friday, October 2, 2009
September Wrapup
oh goodness, I can't focus.
September, my dears, almost killed me. Seriously. It really, really did, with its huge stresses of two (!) new care providers, and negotiated changes to bus routes, and school, and Grammar exams, and interviews, and Doctor's appointments - mine and care providers', and a half marathon, and visits to and from family, and you know, some work in there somewhere.
Let's just say that it's a pretty good thing that boss-man apparently likes me, because the work/life pendulum has been swung away from him all month. Sorry, boss-man.
What I can say is this: October looks pretty good so far. The new care provider is good and MlleL seems to really enjoy being there - except for the double drop, which gets me to work late every morning - bus routes were changed in time for the first day of school, school is awesome (MlleL loves it. And is learning crazy new stuff every, every day), Grammar exam was passed (woooot)!, Interviews completed, Doctor's appointments attended, visits with family joyous.
Oh. The half? You'd like to hear more about that?
Well. It began bright and early on a sunny and cool September 20th, when I stopped by Janey's to pick her up at 8:15. Start time was 9:00 - and we were there in plenty of time this time not to have to jump fences and elbow our way into the crowd far from our intended corral (Ottawa 10k, I'm looking at you.) The start cannon scared us all, and a few moments later, we were off. About four blocks into 21.1k, Janey looked back over her shoulder as she always does and waved, and I blew her a kiss like I always do and I wouldn't see her again until I crossed the finish line, standing waiting for me after the medals with the biggest grin I've seen in a long, long time and a super sweaty and pretty teary hug. It will shine for me as one of the best moments of achievement in my life, and I'm so, so happy to have been able to share it like that. Sigh.
Mrs. Maiden drove down from Places North to see it - but was too teary eyed herself to see me cross. Well, she saw, but didn't recognize me until I was standing just on the other side of the fence yelling "MOM!"
Oh, the run?
Yeah. It was really, really long, but I ran it every step. Maybe you saw me? In the back of the pack with the shades on? I smiled the whole way.
September, my dears, almost killed me. Seriously. It really, really did, with its huge stresses of two (!) new care providers, and negotiated changes to bus routes, and school, and Grammar exams, and interviews, and Doctor's appointments - mine and care providers', and a half marathon, and visits to and from family, and you know, some work in there somewhere.
Let's just say that it's a pretty good thing that boss-man apparently likes me, because the work/life pendulum has been swung away from him all month. Sorry, boss-man.
What I can say is this: October looks pretty good so far. The new care provider is good and MlleL seems to really enjoy being there - except for the double drop, which gets me to work late every morning - bus routes were changed in time for the first day of school, school is awesome (MlleL loves it. And is learning crazy new stuff every, every day), Grammar exam was passed (woooot)!, Interviews completed, Doctor's appointments attended, visits with family joyous.
Oh. The half? You'd like to hear more about that?
Well. It began bright and early on a sunny and cool September 20th, when I stopped by Janey's to pick her up at 8:15. Start time was 9:00 - and we were there in plenty of time this time not to have to jump fences and elbow our way into the crowd far from our intended corral (Ottawa 10k, I'm looking at you.) The start cannon scared us all, and a few moments later, we were off. About four blocks into 21.1k, Janey looked back over her shoulder as she always does and waved, and I blew her a kiss like I always do and I wouldn't see her again until I crossed the finish line, standing waiting for me after the medals with the biggest grin I've seen in a long, long time and a super sweaty and pretty teary hug. It will shine for me as one of the best moments of achievement in my life, and I'm so, so happy to have been able to share it like that. Sigh.
Mrs. Maiden drove down from Places North to see it - but was too teary eyed herself to see me cross. Well, she saw, but didn't recognize me until I was standing just on the other side of the fence yelling "MOM!"
Oh, the run?
Yeah. It was really, really long, but I ran it every step. Maybe you saw me? In the back of the pack with the shades on? I smiled the whole way.
Friday, September 25, 2009
putting a name on the secret
Dudes.
I'm a guinea pig.
It began with that secret I told you about, and swiftly (well, you know, for a dermatologist) turned into a trip to a dermatologist and allergy testing.
When we had the appointment on Wednesday, the Doctor was very animated, indicating she thought that I would be an 'excellent case' and very well may result in her publishing the results. Awesome! I'm gonna be famous!!!
I thought we were talking about 10 or 15 test spots. We were actually talking about more than 125. And surgical tape from my shoulders to my waistband. Meanwhile, I'll be here until Monday with my entire back looking like the result of an alien attack, and trying to bathe without getting it wet.
Short of the bugs'n'honey diet, I'm beginning to feel much in common with John the Baptist and his hair shirt.
In short, it's not nice. It's a little too warm, very, very itchy, and a constant reminder of my evil deeds through shopping.
I'm a guinea pig.
It began with that secret I told you about, and swiftly (well, you know, for a dermatologist) turned into a trip to a dermatologist and allergy testing.
When we had the appointment on Wednesday, the Doctor was very animated, indicating she thought that I would be an 'excellent case' and very well may result in her publishing the results. Awesome! I'm gonna be famous!!!
I thought we were talking about 10 or 15 test spots. We were actually talking about more than 125. And surgical tape from my shoulders to my waistband. Meanwhile, I'll be here until Monday with my entire back looking like the result of an alien attack, and trying to bathe without getting it wet.
Short of the bugs'n'honey diet, I'm beginning to feel much in common with John the Baptist and his hair shirt.
In short, it's not nice. It's a little too warm, very, very itchy, and a constant reminder of my evil deeds through shopping.
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