Tuesday, March 20, 2007

FO's and an important anniversary


Here are the MDK baby bib, Heartbreakingly Cute Baby Kimono & the March mid-month KAL for my Yahoo monthly dishcloth group. They're going to be given to my friend Josie tomorrow @ her shower (along w/ some baby wash & lotion & some onesies). Im thinking that I could get another bib done tonight & get it into the gift bag before the shower tomorrow am!
Today is also the 4th anniversary of the start of OIF. I remember the countdown clock on MSN & worrying about Hunter who was in Kuwait waiting to go into Iraq. I hadn't talked to him in 3 weeks & wouldn't until almost Memorial Day weekend. I remember Ari Fleicher coming out to the podium & saying "Operation Iraqi Freedom has begun" & my heart sinking. After it was announced my phone started to ring shortly past 10 pm on the 19th & didn't stop until well into the wee hours of the morning. Other military wives whose husbands were over there as well calling to check in w/ me & share their fears. Friends who wanted to make sure I was "hanging in there" which became the popular saying'-----"you hanging in there?" I hung in there by a thread, as did many of my friends.

I remember going to bed somewhere around 430am & waking a few hours later. I was good, I actually turned the tv off to sleep. It would be the last time I did that for a long while. The tv was ALWAYS on. When they'd announce a 3ID soldier was hurt or killed my heart would jump into my throat. When the phone would ring & it was a Ft Benning number (my friend Teri was working on post them) my blood would run cold. I remember my mailman bringing me a package in the early days of the war & knocking on the door. In my mind's eye I could see our Rear D CO, NCO & chaplain standing there but it was only the mailman. When I opened the door I told him Hunter was in Iraq & that he'd given me a heartattack he promised that the next time he brought a package he'd knock & say "MAILMAN" really loud so I'd know.

I spent part of the 20th on post at a briefing so we would know where the guys were & that thankfully we hadn't had any casualties yet. They began offering the briefings every Friday at 9am & 6pm so that's where I'd go once a week. Sit in the conference room that has now been named for one of our KIA's (who died in Hunter's arms en route to the medevac exactly a year before to the day that the wee one was born) & hear the names of Iraqi cities & get an idea of where Hunter was & what battles he was in.

Mail took a month to get to us so by the time he would have time to write & tell me what he had seen/done it was old news to me. I cherish those letter & someday when the wee one is old enough she can read them. Of course some parts will have to be blacked out since we were newlyweds (we'd been married for a month before he left) & missed each other a lot! LOL

I have one of his letters framed & hanging by my bed---it was written on Iraqi Ministry of Intelligence letterhead. They were sleeping in there for a while & used some of the stationery. He also sent Iraqi dinars in that letter & they are put away for safekeeping.

So 4 years later we have 2 Iraqi deployments under our belts & are in the early days of our 3rd. As my friend Melissa (whose husband just finished his 2nd deployment & is slated to go back in Jan) said to me---the 2nd time is easier. In some respects it really is. You know the fears, the dangers & hardships. You know the loneliness, the heartache & frustrations. You know society is either for or against this war. You know you're going to hear "I dont know how you can deal with being alone" ALL THE TIME & you're going to cringe.
People ask you "aren't you afraid he's going to be killed/hurt?" Um CHA! You want to ask them if they go up to cancer patients & say "aren't you afraid to die???" People lose all common sense around you.
Others are incredibly kind & move me to tears w/ their generosity. Last time I signed him up for the "adopt a soldier" program & I'm not kidding when I tell you that we didn't need to buy toothpaste or shaving cream for a year! People who didn't know him from Adam were so incredibly generous.
I wear Hunter's unit pin w/ a yellow ribbon under it on my shirt everyday that he's deployed. It's something I did on his first Iraq deployment & did thru his 2nd. Many times people will comment on it & tell me they're keeping all of our troops in their prayers & they'll thank me for what my husband does & the sacrifices we make. I have to say that it's those moments that restore my faith in society!

Thursday, March 15, 2007

Has it really been 2 weeks???


Since my last blog?? Time flies.


Since then we've had our new bedroom suite delivered (LOVE it!), spent as much time together as possible & as you can see, said good bye to our hero. (be kind---we'd had a rough day & both look awful).
I'm back to knitting with a vengence & am working on a mini layette for a girlfriend who is due in early April. Her shower is on Weds & I only have a MDK bib done! GAH! I'm going to CO for the baby kimono tonight while watching Flags of Our Fathers tonight. Probably not my wisest choice of movies considering but Survivor's not on due to March Madness & our other Netflix movies have been sent back. My plan is to do the kimono, 2 bibs & 2 washcloths. I have a pack of onesies & a baby wash & lotion to add to the present.
Then I need to start 4 more bibs & 4 more washcloths for 2 more friends who are due in May. We have quite the baby boom going on here.
After the baby gifts are done I'm going to start 2 shawls for a friend in CA. She sent me the yarn earlier this week & thankfully isn't in a rush. I also have 2 MDK cloths (the slip stitch & circular) to make for another friend for a housewarming gift for her friend. Phew. Eventually I'll get to my clapotis!!

Sunday, March 04, 2007

Tornado damage












just a couple pics from the neighborhood my friend lives in. She was lucky---the tornado passed over their house & only sent a patio table & some of her son's toys flying.


We have a hotel missing most of it's roof, an Eckerd's with a huge hole in the side of the building & many many other businesses & homes that are damaged. There's about a mile of Veteran's Pkwy that is closed b/c of the damage & destruction.
I've never been thru a tornado & this was too close for comfort. Give me a Nor'Easter anyday.


I'm hoping to see blog posts from Laura (doogleknits) & Lacey. Laura's in AL & Lacey in Americus, GA which was very badly hit. Keeping you guys in my prayers. I hope you are safe!


Saturday, March 03, 2007

silky straight!



My hair before ----naturally curly, which I always wear straight.

I straighten it almost daily with a straightening serum, heat serum, big round brush & a flat brush. I use a flat iron on occasion.







My hair after 3 hrs & a CHI thermal straightening. She also took off almost an inch after straightening!! The color variation is caused by the solution that is applied to the hair prior to straightening. It looks like a fresh color job!
It is so soft & shiny & best of all no more flat irons! My stylist says that with my hair's growth pattern it should last me almost a year! So bring on the humidity you hot GA summers----my hair will stay straight & smooth this summer! YAY!!!