Question 1455: What is the best thing you have done just because you were told you can’t?
The day I arrived to my first duty station at Ramstein Air Base in June 2000, my sponsor called my new office to confirm I made it there. The first thing the senior NCO asked was, “How does she rate on a scale of 1 to 10?”
He didn’t realize he was on speaker phone.
Continue reading
Well, the word is out now, so it’s time for me to announce it: you are looking at my command’s newest Strategic Engagements Coordinator. After eight months working in a position created to take advantage of my expertise, I managed to convince my bosses that I really AM a hard worker who knows what she’s doing, and is a pleasure to work with…so they decided to keep me.
Continue reading
She received a volcano kit for Christmas, and decided this was the weekend to play with it. Mt. Vesuvius is baked and painted. Now, she’s recreating the city of Pompeii. Note the rose garden in the center, a temple, and a few aristocratic homes. Possibly a bathhouse if she doesn’t run out of building blocks.
Continue reading
Question 1208: What movie or book ending really left you hanging to the point of anger?
Spoiler alert: if you haven’t seen that Matt Damon and Angelina Jolie movie, and you still want to, then don’t read …
We were in Mehtar Lam, Afghanistan, our fifth location in less than four weeks. It was August, and everything was hot and dusty as we schlepped all our gear, weapons, and armour from place to place, documenting Airmen as they went on convoys, destroyed weapons caches, and trained the Afghan police force.
I was sleeping in a room designated for distinguished visitors, since I obviously couldn’t sleep with my two male teammates in their room. The room had a bunkbed, a wardrobe without a door, and bars over the tiny window in the corner near the ceiling. Compared to a tent, it was nice.
But it sucked.
Continue reading
I had a consultation with another plastic surgeon this morning. Within five minutes of walking in the door of the clinic, I knew it was going to be a NO for me, but we met with the surgeon anyway, to learn and see what he recommended. We walked away with more knowledge, so it definitely wasn’t a bust.
(Pun totally intended.)
Continue reading
For the first time in almost two weeks, I woke up this morning feeling like I‘m really FINALLY done with this flu business. We kept circulating variations of the crud. It’s what I get for living with so many walking germ factories.
Sure, there’s a lingering cough, but I have energy.
Continue reading
Question 350: What nickname have you been called you hate?
I’ve been called a lot of nicknames over the course of my life. No surprise: my most favorite is Mom. Most others were given in reference to my appearance, background, or a play-off of my name. There were a few unfriendly ones given to me during those middle school years, but even then, I didn’t really give a shit about what others called me, so nothing stuck for very long. My favorites came from my time in the military: Shorty, PA, Cincinnati, Vee-Dub, W-9, Four-Eyes.
Hate is a strong word, but there is one nickname that I still get called every now and then, and it annoys me every time.
Continue reading
Just LOOK what my sweet girl got me today!!! On her way home from school, she noticed the bakery is now selling my absolute favorite … quarkinis!!!
So she bought three just for me. This kid just *gets* me.
Ours is the sick house. Within 24 hours, Miss C, Amanda, and I have simultaneously come down with symptoms of the flu. They are throwing up. My lungs are on fire.
Continue reading
We bought the book during our recent visit to the United States, during one of our many stops at various book stores. Not only did Miss C and I want more material to read, but we wanted more material to help us write, too.
Continue reading