I'm tired.
We just had visitors from latin america at work ALL WEEK, and we've had meetings all day, then hosting them for dinners & entertainment at night. Going to be late every night, then getting up early. Though I did enjoy their visit, its a tough schedule.
Gonna nap now.

Had a nice quiet but busy weekend. Got to study some portuguese - kinda fun to be in school again, though there's always something to be done in the house that's calling my name. On Saturday we went to our favorite tiny french bistro and had a delicious dinner - that place is SO cute and so good I have to bring my family there one of these days. Then on Sunday I got to talk to my family.... some fireworks are still sputtering and threatening to combust vigorously... its pretty ugly when some people insist that the only possible choices are the ones they'd make and every other choice is not only wrong but Morally Ethically Wrong (yes, with capital letters) and they threaten to Stop Talking Forever to whoever does not agree with them. Puh-lease! Let's get a bit more emotional and irrational about it, shan't we? I HATE being put in the middle but I've got no choice... can't hope for it to blow away either, I'll just have to wait and see how it plays out.
Whoever said that soap opera's are not like real life hasn't met my family...
Got an interesting but busy week at work, there's several visitors from Latin America we'll be hosting. Should be fun to be talking Spanish!

I haven't blogged in sooooo long!!! Keep meaning to but never got to it, so I figured I may as well type something now while I'm thinking about it.

So much has happened since my last blog...

- my brother returned from Iraq (finally!), he looked great if a bit thin.
Feels more mature and grounded. Wonderful to see him!
- Went to Detroit, Indiana & Illinois with work, then Frank joined me and we spent the weekend in Wisconsin & Chicago visiting old high school friends. Had a GREAT time!
- My oldest brother got married in PR over labor day weekend. Beautiful wedding, lots of the usual family fireworks ;) but overall a great weekend.
- and most important of all... looks like St. Theresa was able to intercede for us... wouldn't say more yet for a couple of weeks but suffice it to say I'm SO grateful she helped out!! Can't wait to be able to spill the beans...

Next week we've got latin american visitors all week at work, should be fun!

OK, enough catchin' up, gotta go enjoy the sunshiny day out there!

I'm SO happy we're picking up Fern tomorrow!! Most of all I'm SO GLAD he's not in Iraq and this is his going to be his last day of being in the Military!!!

*happy dance!*

Yeah I know it will be crazy and confusing and rainy but it will be wonderful to give him a hug, feed him cookies and listen to him talking non-stop as he always does ;)

I'm still in schock...

Last night I got a phonecall from an old high school friend who had just married another HS friend last November. She was due to give birth in mid-June, and when we went to DC a couple of weeks ago I had called and left a message because we wanted to visit and meet the new baby. Mind you we hadn't heard anything about the baby's birth so I was a bit worried and even when I left the voice mail I tried to make it as generic as possible. I thought perhaps there was something wrong with the baby.

No.

There was something wrong with their marriage. So wrong that she left their apt. 4 days after returning from a caesarean delivery. So wrong she had to call the police on him because he wouldn't stop the verbal abuse.

I know he was a bit of a con-artist in high school, but a harmless one and a good guy overall. Apparently he didn't outgrow the con artist part, he told her he was about to get a new job. That was in November, he still hasn't got it. And apparently he wasn't pulling his share in the marriage. Not fair to expect her to support both him and the baby.

I'm so sad. This should be a happy time, with a happy healthy baby. And she's in the middle of this mess. At least her mom's with her, helping out so she's not completely alone in this, and her mom a great person.

We'll keep them in our prayers, that's all we can do.

Just read in the Yahoo Co. G board that someone got a call from their son - around 1:30pm today they were in Frankfurt with a 1 1/2 hr layover... which means he'll be hitting the US soil TODAY!!!! WoooHOOO!!!! I'm so happy!!!! Hey baby bro, hopefully we'll see you in a few days!!!

Then again... the poor honey is going to be walking right into a soap opera... I'll make sure he knows he's always welcome to GAFIAte with us.

Bottom line I prefer him over here even if there's a soap opera. Much safer than Iraq! WooHoo!!!!

Happy Monday...

Well, at least its sunny and I have a window to enjoy the sunshine from...

Its lunchtime and I'm enjoying a wheat bread, turkey & roasted pepper sandwich with some baby carrots & ranch dressing.
I challenged myself last Friday - to loose 5 lbs in 2 weeks. As of this morning I've lost 2 already... though that includes a long 'sitting' session so I'm sure it will inch back up a bit. Not bad, though! Anytime I get the urge to eat something that's not so great dietwise, I just say - two weeks, that's all! Its a big help to know there's a time limit.

Fern is hopefully flying back to the US even as I type. Poor honey!! I'm SO GLAD he's heading back here, and I wish the same could be said for all of our armed forces in Iraq. Of course he'll be walking right into the the family soap opera du jour but at least he knows all the players and he's been forewarned. My prayer is that it does not tear the family apart... but given how most of my family members subscribe to the 'my way or the highway' philosophy I am afraid, very afraid. Frank's so funny, he wants me to keep staying neutral, in his words 'be the Switzerland' of the family. As I told one of the brothers, we all have to live by our choices. And be aware of the consequence those choices have on others you love, not just on you.

On the other hand, I had a nice weekend. I wanted to goto the shore, but Saturday I was too tired in the morning and Sunday the day didn't look that great at 8am. So instead I sat in our yard for a couple of hours, I think I got a bit of sun. And we got to see Seabiscuit! What a great movie!! I wish they made more movies like that.

Hopefully next weekend we'll be in Dover welcoming Fern and the Co. G Marines back to good ol' NJ.

Can't believe we've had like 10 days without rain. I'm LOVING all this heat!! The one bad thing is that we need to water but Frank installed new hoses - TWO!! - on both sides of our deck and it makes it so much easier to do the watering that I don't mind. Tonight's my turn to do the watering again unless Frank beats me to it.

Looking forward to next weekend. We're going to try and use Priceline to get us a nice 4 star room in Downtown DC, hope we get a good deal!

Yesterday Frank picked 3 blueberries... I'm so *happy*happy*happy* that its blueberry season again!! My favorite time of year!!! I just LOVE picking those berries - and eating them of course. I'm so spoiled I can't eat other blueberries because they're never as good as home picked.

Went to a party at Stacy's last Saturday - it was nice to hangout with everyone, she's a pretty cool, down-to-earth hostess which I like, I preferred laid back hostesses who get to enjoy their own parties. Brought the guitar and made some noise with it, but it was a bit unorganized. Partly because I just haven't gotten around to creating a reportory for myself other than my church music. One more thing for my ever growing list of 'Things I'd Like to Get Done One Day'...

Well, gotta work so I'll close here. Hope the new blogger transition works ok...

Wow - Fern called ME yesterday!!! We talked for like 10 minutes. It was GREAT to hear his voice, poor honey! I wish I had had more to tell him, but in typical Fern fashion he spoke more than he asked. I'm really hoping he gets back here soon - hurry up, you replacement dudes from Italy!!

Then the other big news - Juani is engaged!! Wow! Ali suspected that this would happen, but I wasn't so sure give how much he and his girlfriend tend to clash. But I truly wish him the best. Kool Beans!!

"5" Birthday Interpretations 14th Day of the Month
A birthday on the fourteenth day of the month indicates a versatile and dual person with both a reasoning and a prophetic mind. "Lucky" in games of chance and contests, you're a natural bettor and gambler. Your success lies in business on a large scale, but you need some form of artistic expression for recreation and to "let off steam." Very emotional, you can always be appealed to through your feelings and sympathies. You are apt to crave constant change, and should avoid all of the pitfalls associated with the physical - drugs, alcohol, promiscuity and other sexual excess. You can be a bridge between the physical and spiritual worlds, and have great constructive or destructive power - as you choose.

Your Horoscope for June 14, 2003
IF SATURDAY, JUNE 14 IS YOUR BIRTHDAY


A full moon on your birthday means you will face a series of challenges this year, but it also promises that if you overcome them, you will gain in ways you never thought possible. Don't dream of an easy life because even if you got it, you would soon be bored. Dream of a life in which each new day is in some small way an improvement on the one before.

Sometimes you have to swallow hard to keep the peace and allow the other person to process their own issues... and keep your own issues at bay... no matter how much they hurt.... but that's what love is, isn't it... to put other's needs in front of your own... but when do you then go forward and bring YOUR needs to the front?
It just hurts.
Bad.

Yesterday I received a letter from Fern from the field. Poor honey - he wrote the letter on 4/1, apparently just arrived from the US, already feeling filthy. He also sounds a bit scared because he had to put on his chemical suit due to scud missiles being fired in the area. In the letter he put in some requests - for a spare battery powered shaver, and for a red flashlight. I feel bad because he mentioned the shaver before he took off for Camp LeJeune, and I kinda ignored it because he never brought it up again on the phone. Oh well, Frank was ordering it today.

I was listening to the NPR on the way to work, and they had a "radio diary" from an HR person talking about a mom at her work place who was told about her son having died in Iraq. I got so teary eyed I had to change the station. I knew better than to listen, but I couldn't help myself. Here's praying that all our boys & girls get to return home safely SOON.

Looks like Fern may have seen some action in Iraq, but apparently no marines were hurt.

Stay safe, little brother.

Echo trades fire with 'bad guys'

Echo trades fire with 'bad guys'

Tuesday, April 08, 2003

NASIRIYAH, Iraq - Two Iraqis are believed to have been killed after opening fire with AK-47s on Marines from Harrisburg-based Echo Company's 2nd Platoon yesterday.

The shooting began just 21/2 hours after Echo took control of part of the city. No injuries were reported among the Marines.

Last night, Marines from the 2nd Battalion 1st Marines were preparing for possible attacks from paramilitary forces in retribution for the shoot-out north of the Euphrates River.


At 11:20 p.m. Iraq time yesterday (3:20 p.m. EDT), the Echo Company compound came under fire again. Several shots were fired from an AK-47 toward the compound.

An Echo Company sentry opened fire, while flares were fired into the sky to light up the area. No one from Echo was wounded in the shooting.

Also yesterday, Marines from the 2nd Battalion 1st Marines, who took over an area that had been patrolled since last week by Echo Company, came under heavy attack and called for support. No further details were available late yesterday.

Further south of the city, in a known hot spot for paramilitary activity, another Marine reconnaissance unit came under attack late in the day and called for support.

Echo is responsible for guarding a main route that leads to the area.

Stepped-up activity by members of Fedayeen Saddam against the American forces came as the Marines shifted units, and Echo and Golf company, of Albany, N.Y., took control of the city east of Route 8, the main north/south route that is key to supply and communications.

"I don't think it's a coincidence that they started a fight the night we moved out," said Maj. Geoff Rollins, commander of Echo's nearly 180 Marines. "I'm sure they know what we're doing. They've been watching us."

Echo was working out of a former Baath Party headquarters compound without benefit of generators, electricity or running water. The Marines' reception has been mainly friendly, although there is a growing unrest in the city because of the lack of utilities.

Echo's shoot-out occurred near the site of a recently discovered former Iraqi military training facility.

"These are the slums, as far as the city goes," said Maj. Nick Visconti, Echo's executive officer. "This is some really, really bad-guy country. This is the wild, wild West."

The area had been cleared by vehicle patrols, but Echo was the first to conduct foot patrols.

"You can walk down the street and they're waving at you sometimes, and then there's an ambulance driving around screaming anti-American slogans," Visconti said.

The shooting occurred not far from the Iraqi training site discovered Sunday that contained mortars, guns, rocket-propelled grenades and gas masks. Marine officers said it was unclear whether the shooters had a connection to the facility.

Another former Iraqi Army post was found yesterday about a mile from the former Republican Guard base being used as the headquarters for 2/25 and the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The Marines hoped to take an oil painting of Saddam Hussein found at the site back to battalion headquarters in Garden City, N.Y.

Sixteen prisoners captured a day earlier were transported out of the area. One Iraqi POW with a gunshot wound and another with other injuries were treated by a Navy physician before being transferred to a nearby Army hospital.

Brett Lieberman of our Washington Bureau is in Iraq with the 2nd Battalion 25th Marines. The battalion's Echo Company is based in Harrisburg

Wonder where Wil is? He hasn't posted since last month! Here's a link to his last entry:
WIL WHEATON DOT NET: Grand Slam

Here's hoping the !@#$%^&** snow melst REAL SOON 'cause I can't stand seeing any more white stuff!!!

Gross!
Its SNOWING out there. Not raining. SNOWING. Supposedly it hasn't snowed this last in the season for at least 21 yrs. Isn't it supposed to be spring? Why o why don't I live in the Caribbean? I'm hoping they send us home early from work...

Quiet weekend otherwise. Made some sticky blueberry buns for fellowship at church which came out INCREDIBLY yummy. Yes, 'Its a good thing' I kept this recipe from Martha's magazine :)

Well, I decided to create a bulletin board community to share info on Fern, here's the link:

Fernando @ www.ezboard.com

I'm meeting my Emcore friends for lunch - looking forward to seeing these guys!

Weighed myself this morning, and I was surprised to see I've maintained my weight, I was sure I'd gained a couple of lbs - sure gives me motivation to try and lose 3-5 lbs before vacation!!

Monday Morning.

Poor Frank is still suffering from his molar tooth extraction - I think he's got what's called a 'Dry Socket' - in layman's term, tooth (or rather the lack of tooth) is hurting like !@#$ and unfortunately time and sedatives are the only cure. Poor honey! He slept only 3 hrs last night and that was a GOOD night!

We did manage to visit the 'Beneath the Sea' dive show on Saturday. It was fun to bump into Silvia from the Plaza Resort in Bonaire - she was our instructor when we got certified. Plus talking/ seeing diving stuff was fun, if bittersweet since we don't know when we'll get to go next.

Having a hard time with the diet thing - both the 'losing weight' diet and the 'acid stomach' diet. Plus I've been getting sick of watching what I eat. Had pizza on Saturday night and paid for it all of yesterday. ugh.

Fern got shipped out to Kuwait this past weekend. We're not certain exactly when, because he couldn't say but he did say if we didn't hear from him by today to assume he's gone out there. Be safe, little brother, and come home soon.

Billy is doing his chemo again this weekend. Poor honey is barely eating, my sister has to force feed him practically. I'm looking forward to seeing them the first weekend in May.

Here's to the hope that we'll see a peaceful world in our lifetime.

Just realized that my 3/27 blog did not contain the link I thought I'd put in there, so here it is:
www.minimumeffort.com/nutshell.html

CNN.com - First Stop, Iraq - Mar. 24, 2003

I thought this was a fascinating story of how the war in Iraq came to be...