The weekend in pictures (with some words)

Thanksgiving Photos

Boy the table look REALLy small then.


Yes, I really did keep the kitchen that clean while cooking Thanksgiving dinner;-) My husband thinks I suffer from over obsessiveness.


My perfectly cooked turkey (I overcooked the pumpkin pies though ROFL. Stuck them in the oven shortly before eating, and then forgot they were there, for 2 hours!!!!!!!!!! They came out edible though;-D )

The long weekend was for the most part uneventful.
Friday morning, I was in NO mood to be awake at 5 in the morning for the "great" sales. I preferred to avoid the madness and mayhem and enjoy my very warm bed, which I did, alone. Daniel had a momentary lapse in sanity and decided to go to Best Buy, where he discovered just about everything gone. He returned home bearing breakfast from the whataburger, which I attempted to eat before my head hit the table. I went back to sleep, sleeping in until later, and then I decided that we should venture out and see what was about. The mall was still insanely packed, so we left there shortly and headed off to Target, where I picked up a few more tops for work. Later that evening, Daniel and I joined a friend of his from work, and his wife and went to an after Thansgiving party. As I knew NO ONE, I held back a bit, but soon was enjoying myself hanging around with his buddy's wife. After leaving we returned to Best Buy, where we discovered a very good deal on a microwave, making me very happy. I now am only missing but one item to make my kitchen complete: A Kitchen Aid!!!!! I have a slight obsession with these machines, but come now, they can do EVERYTHING, but cook the food, with the right attachments of course. Mummy had one growing up, and I got very accustomed to it.
Saturday was pretty lazy, but Sunday we got the wild idea to take a trip to Tombstone for the afternoon. It was freezing there, with the wind, but it was also empty of too many tourists and whatnot, so we spent a peaceful afternoon taking in the sights and window shopping.
These last two days I have been settling into my job rather comfortably, and taking on as many tasks as I possibly can. One can only answer the phone so many times and not wish to tear ones hair out unless there is something to occupy the mind with as well.




This is one of the more famous graves in Boothill Cemetary, for obvious reasons.


This is my personal favorite:)



The most famous of the famous in Tombstone



The view was incredible, to say the least



One of the many gunfights, this one amongst the more amusing

Happy Thanksgiving

The Turkey is in the oven, we are getting ready to sit down and enjoy watching the OLD tv series War of the Worlds in our wonderful little apartment, and new jobs. What else could you ask for? Be Thankful this year. For all that has happened that is bad, find the good in your life and be thankful.

I start tomorrow!

Yay me, I have a job, I have meaning and purpose in my life:-D Ok, I work for a real estate company, starting out as a receptionist and moving on up further should I show true value. (yeah, like that's going to be that hard:-D Anyhooo, I am cooking up meatloaf and mashed taters for dinner tonight to celebrate:) Meatloaf was on the menu anyway, but whos to say it can't be special? Especially if a fabulous cook, such as myself, cooks it:-D
I know, I am a little cooky tonight hehehehehe

More Saturday adventures

So last night I made reservations at the Laff's Comedy Club, for dinner and a show, and Daniel and I went out there to enjoy. Oh lordy was it funny. At one point I was laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes:-D
Today we mostly hit sales up in the hill country, which for me, sucked! I am so out of shape it isn't funny. Not to mention that my knee kinda hates hills. But it was fun, although nothing of cosequence came of it.
After yardsaleing along(not sure that is a word lol), we went to go see Harry Potter 4!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!! I love Harry Potter. The movie was great but I won't spoil it, just to say that the special effects are wicked and you NEED to go see it.
I failed to mention this, but the Sunday I spent with my sister in TN, we had gone to the mall and she had gotten me to get my ear pierced, up in the cartlidge area. Now I had always kinda wanted to do this, so what the hey, I could now, I am out. Unfortunatly I reacted to it and so had to yank it out a few days later. BUT tonight, hubby was having his done (again, same sort of situation) so once again, what the hey, why not. The guy assured me that it was all stainless steel, so no reaction this time. And since he used a needle, no trauma to the ear. So far, so good, I have a small hoop in my ear and Hubby another hehehehe. The couple that pierces together, stays together? hehehehe. His account is over at his blog, also has an interesting rundown of the last 2 months, so go read:-D Oh yeah, It's the very top link, Mace's madness.

And so we go on

I have my resume in with a temp agency here in Tucson, and have been going on interviews through them for a while. I discovered that this was a good way to go as the person assisting me is able to find only the best jobs and the ones most likely to hire me, although that has not happened just yet. The sting of rejection is starting to suck. I was offered one job, however chose not to take it as I did not think it a good fit for me personally. And so we go on.
However this morning was interesting, as one of the agency's clients had a sudden need for a receptionist, and as my person knew, I was around LOL. So she called me up and asked if I could do this for her. Right now, just about anything to get me out of this apartment is good. I rapidly prepared and drove north to the firm. I then spent the next 3 hours either answering phones, or twiddling my thumbs. I did have a chance to stuff a few envelopes though. It was an interesting place though, and the people who worked there very nice. The phone system fascinated me, as it was computer based. Very fun, and entertaining when more then one call came in one right after the other.
This evening, Daniel and I have reservations at the Laff's comedy club here in town. We discovered it last night while browsing the paper and decided to check it out. Neither one of us is very fond of clubs, with the loud music and crowded places, so a comedy club sounded perfect. We got to the bar attached to the place around 9:30 or so and the bartender greeted us. When he found out that we were new and had missed the show, he gave us a coupon for free admission, so I look forward to tonights hilarity. The bar itself was very nice, even after the show let out it had a very relaxed atmosphere, not very noisy at all. All in all a good place to sit down, grab a beer, and actually have a conversation.

photos

Daniel and I took a field trip up Sentinal Peak (I usually called it "A" mountain, in fact had forgotten its real name) last night to see the sights, and of course I had my camera with me.

The plaque reads:
" Below this 2900 - foot peak, the Santa Cruz valley was farmed by the Hohokam Indians as early as 800 AD. When the Spainards arrived in the 17th century, the Hohokam had vanished and settlements of Piman people dotted the valley. One called "Schuk-schon" meaning "At the foot of the Black mountain" was pronouned Tucson by the Spainards. The hill was a lookout for these early Indian and Spanish settlers who lived in fear of hostile raiders. The white washed stone "A" was constructed by University of Arizona students in 1915."

Adventures in.......................Yardsales!

We put probably 100+ miles on my car Saturday traveling throughout the city looking for people who no longer wanted some of their things. As we got a later start, we did strike out a good bit, but we did come away with a bread machine, so my dreams are fulfilled. No, seriously here, I have been dying for a bread machine since I don't know when. I LOVE fresh bread. We also found a beautiful refinished drop leaf dresser for a very reasonable price. Getting that, into my tiny car was FUNNY! We ended up securing it in the trunk, with multiple ropes crisscrossing it, and then driving VERY slowly home, hoping it wouldn't fall out.
Later that day we went for an adventure in the Foothills trying to find a few more yard sales we had seen signs for. In one case, we went looking for a moving sale, only to end up coming back to the same place three times, and still not finding it.
Did you know trying to find a bean bag chair is nigh to impossible. Most major stores did have them for back to school, but now no longer! We did finally find some disc chairs at Target, so we do have some place to sit and use our TV trays for dinner.
Can you tell we need furniture still?

I love my little city

Settling into the apartment is fun, although I really need a job. I could never be a stay at home wife ROFL. Not enough mind stimulation. I spent this afternoon refinishing a little patio set I purchased today. It was originally white and somewhat rusted, so I sanded it, and primed it, and now it is a beautiful hunter green. And so are my hands, my feet, and areas in my hair ROFL!!!!!!!!! I can't do much without making a mess of myself.
We went grocery shopping yesterday at the local Fry's and lord a mercy! We left with a car load, but now we don't have to go for a few weeks. It is starting to feel more like home, and I love the fact that I can read through my cookbooks, and when I see a recipe I like, not have to automatically decide whether or not I can make it in the microwave. I can make anything I want and can make now! I LOVE cooking.
Right now I am sitting here at Bookmans on Grant and Campbell. I remember this place from when I was younger, cause I love to read and cheap books are the best!

Driving

I NEVER want to drive that far again!!!!!!!!!!!! I left NC on Sunday, spent 5 hours in Chattanooga with my sister, and then made it as far as Tallulah, MS before having to stop for the night. Then on Monday, I drove straight through the day and all night and made it to Tucson around 0700 on Tuesday morning. I then had an interview at 4pm LOL. I was dragging by that night!!!!!!!!!! But all is going well, I love being back in Tucson. For as many horribly bad memories of this place that I have, the few good ones far outweigh them in my love of this city. It is gloriously beautiful.
for a good laugh, I got this from the person whom I am hoping to replace in her job (she is moving on). I really hope for this job, because it looks way cool!
You Know you have been in Iraq too Long "When "

When mortars land near your compound and you roll over in bed and think "still way off, I got another 5 minutes"

* When you start humming with the Arabic song playing on the radio on the shuttle bus

* Every woman that reports to your unit starts looking attractive

* Every guy that reports to your unit starts looking attractive

* You walk an extra 6 blocks to eat at the KBR (contractor run) dining facility to have the exact same food they are serving in your dining facility because you think it tastes better

* You actually volunteer for convoy security duty because you still haven't seen the country yet

* You start picturing your wife in traditional Arab dress

* The contractors have more fire power than the military combat units. (This is true)

* You take the time to add your lines to this list

* You've spent $200 dollars at Haji mart on DVDs buying Basic Instinct, 9 and ½ weeks, and Body of Evidence just for the sex scenes

* You drink the water from the tap because you want to drop 20 pounds in two weeks

* Driving around in SUVs with weapons pointed out the windows and forcing cars off the road seems very normal to you

* You can put your body armor and helmet on in the dark in under 5 seconds

* When the organization you work for has changed its name more than 3 times

* When you can actually talk to people in the United States on a cell phone, yet you can't get people on their cell phone a block away

* When you actually spend more time writing e-mail about the dog in the compound versus how to conduct the fight in Najaf

* Your idea of a fun Thursday night is to go to the Palace pool to watch the State Department folks get drunk, naked and try to pick each other up

* When you actually get excited to get a package that contains 3 pair of socks, 12 bars of soap and a Victoria Secret Catalog

* When you start to enjoy the rocking of the trailer every time the MEDEVAC choppers fly over

* You memorized every episode from the 4th Season of Sex in the City

* You enjoy the audience commentary while watching a movie bought at Haji mart

* You see celebratory fire going over the compound at night and think, "wow the colors are so pretty" and want to fire back

* Your thinking of buying real estate in the green zone

* Your idea of sex is 20 minutes of Instant Messaging with your wife on the computer, OK, 10 minutes, who are you kidding?

* You wake up and think Baghdad, I am still in friggin Baghdad

* You make the new guy show you his count down timer just to make you feel better about your time you have left in country

* You're in the Army and you start saying Ooorah

* You're in the Marines and you start saying Hooah

* You're in the Navy and you realize you are in the middle of the desert, the exact opposite of being in the middle of the ocean, where one might normally find the Navy.

* You're in the Air Force, and you're on the plane home because an Air Force tour is too short to have been a long Iraq tour. Ignore this list, zoomie, you won't get it.

* You only notice the stench of Haji funk when its not there

* You plan on removing all trees and grass in your yard when you get home so it will look more natural

* You forget there are other colors than brown that can be found in places other than power point slides

* The temp drops down to 102 degrees and you shiver while reaching for your Gortex jacket

* You have noticed a change of season, from long, hot and dry to short, cold and wet.

* When you call home and your kids ask "Who is this?"

* You call home and your wife says hello Bill (your name is Sam)

* When you go on R&R, you duct tape your child to the roof of your car, hand him a pellet rifle, and assign him a sector of fire for the ride to "The Olive Garden."

* When you can comfortably shave and brush your teeth using bottled water, but don't mind showering in the "non-potable" local water.

* While on R&R, you look out the window and find Nature, which leads you to wonder who stole your sandbags.

* When some of the contractors wear their DCUs (Desert pattern camouflage uniform) more properly than some of your soldiers.

* When 12 hours is a short work day

* When, During the BUA, "DIV asked MNSTC-I for the FRAGO that MNC-I was supposed to publish, but couldn't because MNF-I hadn't weighed in, since they were too inundated with MOD and MOI war-gaming the JCCs
within the ISF to square us away!" is a valid comment and generates no questions.

* When you start using words like G'day mate, Cheers, and Bloody hell as part of your normal vocabulary

* When you have your opinions printed in the STARS and STRIPES more than 3 times

* When the palace catches fire and instead of helping to put it out you grab a bag of marshmallows and start roasting

* When you step into any office and there are 6 colonels, 12 lieutenant colonels, 15 majors, and 8 captains supervising the work of 1 sergeant

* When you end every phone conversation with "Out"

* When you're ordered to get an air mission together on short notice because it's a "Hot priority" only to have the Major call back once he is in the air to ask "Does anyone know where I am going?"

* When the weapon buyback program has become so successful that you have issued the same AK-47 to the Iraqi army 3 times

* When you can actually tell the difference between the sound of an exploding car and an exploding mortar

* When on R & R you tell your wife that your weapon status is Red and your looking for the clearing barrel

* When on R&R you go to Church and wonder why no one is wearing body armor or carrying an automatic weapon to the service

* You see an indirect fire attack take out a generator and get angry at the enemy for not hitting the one that powers your computer

* You see an indirect fire attack take out an air conditioner and your vigor to fight is renewed

* You yell at the FNG for shouting incoming when the rounds don't impact close enough to hit your tent with dirt

* You know that you need to run inside immediately after any win of an Iraqi sports team to keep from being hit by celebratory fire

* You decide for that for poops and grins - lets take a run around Lost Lake at Camp Victory to see if we can get shot at by the sniper

* You never worry about oversleeping because if the morning call to prayers doesn't wake you, the daily 0430 mortar attack will (most mornings)

* The highlight of your shopping experience at the PX is to see that they got in a new shipment of Schick Tracer razor blades

* When you send out your laundry and your whites become grayer, your blacks become grayer and your DCU's become grayer - makes it easier to sort loads...

* You get offended by people wearing clean, pressed DCU's

* You decide that it is a better course of action to pull your blankets over your head than put on your body armor during a mortar attack - the woobee will save you and at least you are comfortable

* You make a contest out of seeing who can wear their uniform for more days before becoming entirely disgusted with themselves

* You wonder if the fish served at dinner really was carp caught out of the Tigris or Camp Victory's lake

* You find it completely acceptable to pick your nose while talking to a complete stranger or member of the opposite sex

* A rocket or a mortar really isn't a big deal until the crater it leaves is big enough to trip over in the dark on the way to the latrine

* You go to a social gathering and intermittent gun fire or explosions don't even cause a pause in the conversation

Go Army

So, new things to go see, and to give up a bit of your hard earned money in support of the troops. Come on now, you know you want to.

In other news, I am in NC currently spending the day with my family before taking off tomorrow to head to TN, and then on to AZ. I do not look forward to the drive! Something about napping at rest stops is unnerving, not to mention that I literally have no room in my car. I PACKED that thing out this last week. I have just enough space in the rear view mirror to see out, and that is about it.
I did have one rather BAD day yesterday, I stayed over at my best friends place, as we went out Wednesday night to eat, and I ended up a little over the top tipsy (Jager, tequila, and later vodka. Thank goodness for the good sense to drink a lot of water)
Anyways, her daughter and cousin managed to get a hold of my bag, and my meds. Her sister and I were in the next room, and when it went dead quiet, we knew someting was up, we just weren't prepared to discover 2 3 y/o's chowing down on my Ambien and Zoloft!!!!!!!!! So I called 911, and we spent the afternoon at the emergency room. I don't think the kids will be messing around with any bottles any time soon. Oh and if you are wondering, no, the child saftey caps weren't on because it makes it very hard for me to open. Yes, I feel rather badly and guilty right now. But the kids are fine, and were acting normally (that is to say tearing around the hospital) by that evening.