Great Day for two reasons, sad day for one

Today has been a great day! First, I discovered a large deposit in my checking account from the VA for underpayments for my disabilities. I got a letter on Friday telling me the Dept. of Defense had underpaid me by around $100 and that the VA also underpaid me. I expected about $300 but I was very happy and surprised to find it was significantly more than that. So, I am not getting a job after all!

The second reason it was a great day is because I voted in an election in person for the first time in my life! I joined the Air Force when I was 17 so although I have always voted it was by absentee ballot. I usually only voted for president, govenor and US Senate and House of Representatives. I was a resident of Idaho for all my life until July 2005. I didn't feel I knew enough about local and district candidates to make informed decisions on who to vote for so I always just skipped over that section. I have been doing some research and today cast my vote for all the offices! I am a Democrat primarily, however in the local elections I felt that the Republican candidates, for the most part, were better qualified to fill some of the County offices so I voted a mixed ticket. We have the new electronic voting machines and I really liked them. Much better than the punch card and paper clip I've had to use in the past!

The reason it is sort of a sad day is the only aircraft I've worked on that wasn't in the boneyard, is now destined to retire in the next few months. I have worked on the EF-111A, F-111A, F-111F, and F-111E, plus the F-117, aka the Stealth Fighter. All of the F-111 models have been retired for about 13 years, and now the F-117 is going too. Guess that's a sign of my age! Oh well, they all served well and I'm proud to have been part of their history. As in everything else, it's time for a new generation! Click on the title at the top of this post to read the full story.

Busy!

My weekend was busy with taking Chelsea to two parties. The first was a Halloween party and the second was a birthday party. She has quite the social life!

I spent some time working on some projects for the Idaho Scrappers Charity crop which is in Twin Falls on Saturday. I will be driving up there , spending the night and returning on Sunday. Chelsea is busy from 9:00 am until 8:30 pm on Saturday so she won't miss me anyway. Plus she is spending the night with her friend Lizzie, so she's actually happy I'm going to be gone.

While I'm there I will be working on projects for our church bazaar which is on the 18th of November. Maybe after that I can work on pages for myself!

I have a test in my computer class tomorrow and Thursday on Excel. I am amazed at all Excel can do and I am sure we just touched on the basics but it is a program I have very little experience with so I am really studying hard!

My Toyota Highlander just went over 100,000 miles. So now I am looking for a new vehicle. I really like the Honda Accord and the Toyota Camry. Both are around $20,000. I think I can get around $14,000 to $15,000 for my Highlander so I would only have to come up with about $6000 (which would include sales tax). There are some really nice 2006 models available. I've looked at 2005 models but they are running only about $500-600 less, so it's not worth going older to me. I may look at the Civic or Corolla also, since it is just Chelsea and me, with Scruffy tagging along occasionally.

I haven't done as well on my weight loss this week, primarily because of my lack of exercise. I don't know why I can't get motivated. I used to run 3-5 times a week and now don't even want to look at my running shoes. I need to get moving!

On Thursday I am going to watch a Celtic fiddle player with a friend. It was his choice, not mine, so we'll see how it goes. I've never actually heard Celtic fiddle but it might be fun. At least I'll be able to answer questions about it on Jeopardy if I ever go on the show! :)

Winter is about here!

It snowed a little yesterday and today was really cold. Guess that means winter is here! I think tomorrow we will go up to Snowbasin and get our season passes. It is much cheaper for us to get season passes than it is to "pay as we go". I get a great military discount and Chelsea gets a student discount so we get both passes for less than the cost of one regular adult pass.

Yesterday was a busy day. Chelsea had a physics project due today, and she left it for the last minute. Needless to say today wasn't a good day in her physics class. It was hard to feel too sorry for her, although she was the only one who's project didn't work. To make matters worse she told me it was done and would work so I let her go to the church's Halloween party. After we got home I asked to see it and of course it didn't work. And it didn't worka t school either. She said she cried in class, which broke my heart, but I think she learned a very valuable lesson.

I am on my church's nominating committee. We are really a search committee looking for people willing to serve on our church council. Suffice it to say that this can be a very sensitive situation and it will be interesting how it turns out. We do have volunteers, though, which is good considering our church is going through some issues right now.

School is going well, but I am starting to feel a little overwhelmed by homework. That's probably because I have so many other things going on like the committee at church, our weight loss group (by the way, I lost 2.2 lbs this past week) and all of Chelsea's soccer stuff. And I'm thinking about getting a part time job during the Christmas season. I may have lost my mind!

Well, I need to get to bed. I definately need my beauty rest!

A Busy Day

I made Chelsea Chocolate Malt-o-meal for breakfast. She absolutely loves it but hates to make it for herself. It's her 14th birthday today. I think I' ve just about recovered from her birthday party. I am just too old to go without sleep!

I had Math and Social Work classes today. I got back my math test from last week: 96%! I also got back my Social Work test from 2 weeks ago: 96%! Yayyy! After class I went to the base to do my volunteer work. Then I went for a run around the base pond. I haven't run for about 3 weeks so it was painful. That and because I worked out with weights on Saturday and I am still stiff from that experience!

When I got home I had to take Chelsea to indoor soccer practice. It is way different from outdoor soccer! Very fast paced and the players are more brutal! She's going to have to get a bit tougher to keep up! I am the team fundraising coordinator and have decided our first fundraiser will be scented candles. So, fair warning, if you see Chelsea approaching with an order form and a pen and you don't want a candle you'd better run! The money raised is to help pay for her trip to Hawaii for the AYSO National Championship in July 2008.

After soccer we went to my friend Michelle's for her annual pumpkin carving party. There are about 15 families who participate each year and this year was no different. We were about 1.5 hours late so Chelsea had to do a very quick jack-o-lantern, and it looks that way! They had chocolate cupcakes with black frosting. I took a nice picture of her with black teeth and tongue. Once I figure out how to upload it I will. It's not a pretty picture!

I need to study for a test in my Marriage as an Interpersonal Process class tomorrow. I am also starting a Bible study tomorrow on the Book of Luke. I am excited. It should be very interesting and I really enjoy learning from my Pastor. She is such a good teacher and makes learning about the Bible so interesting.

There's a Wild Party Going On!

Oh my gosh, I am so tired and I have at least another half hour to go! I knew I'd lost my mind when I told Chelsea she could invite 20 friends for her birthday party. We actually had 19 show up! For those of you who've been to my house you know it's not that big. She is having a blast so I guess that's what counts.

My friend Carol reminded me that I need to update this blog and when I looked I couldn't believe it had been so long since I'd written!

So, since last Tuesday what has happened? Well, I started on a new weight loss journey with friends and fellow church members. I think I've done pretty good, except for tonight when I had a piece of birthday cake and a piece of pizza. I've been much better about exercising so that should help though. We'll see on Wednesday when I have to weigh in again.

I took a math test on Wednesday and who knows how I did. I know for sure I got one wrong, but I hope I didn't get too many others wrong. I need to get an A in this class to keep up with Chelsea.

On Wednesday night I test drove a 2006 Honda Accord, but it was just a little to spendy for me. I want to get rid of my Highlander because it only gets about 22 mpg and it has almost 100,000 miles on it, and it's only 6 years old! I don't want to spend too much on a new car though, and I don't want a used car with too many miles on it. I guess I'll have to keep shopping.

I had yesterday off for "Fall Break". Pretty much all I did was walk the dog for 3 miles, then clean my house. During mid terms I let the dusting and other minute housecleaning details go and so I thought I'd take care of them. I also wanted the house clean for Chelsea's party. I don't know why I cared because teenage girls don't really care. Plus I'll just have to clean it up again tomorrow!

Well, I am going to try to get the party to wind down so I can get the girls out the door by 11:00. We have church tomorrow, and even though we are going to late service I have to take two girls home and they live about 15 miles away.

Sorry I've been such a slacker. I'll try to keep up a little better.

Tuesday

This past weekend was pretty uneventful. Of course Chelsea had a soccer game, but this one was her Renegade (All Star) team playing her U-19 Coed team. Of course she played for the Renegades. Then she went to Lagoon with her friend Ashley. She got a season pass this year and so far has gone 4 times. At least it's paid for itself now.

After church on Sunday it was homework time! I had a math test to study for and some work for my English class.

We have had 3 meals from My Girlfriends Kitchen. One we thought was okay, the ravioli, and two were really good, the Korean bbq pork and the curry chicken with rice. I wasn't sure about the curry because Chelsea doesn't usually like spicy food but this was very mild so she did like it.

Tonight we are having a big ham and cheese sandwich. Chelsea has a band concert so we'll have a quick dinner. Besides I need to deliver dinner to a family where the mother is dying of cancer. She's been very sick for about 2 years but now she is completely bedridden and I think the time is coming soon.

Last night we had a parents meeting to discuss the cost for Chelsea's soccer team for the next two years. Basically $80 a month will cover everything including uniforms, tournaments, trainers, plane tickets and lodging in Hawaii. I may just have to get a JOB!!! I am the fundraising committee with another mother, so get ready to buy pizza! If you see Chelsea coming towards you with a pen and paper, RUN!!!

Chelsea's new Girl Scout troop isn't working too well. The leader lets the girls do whatever they want and they want to talk on their cell phones. Chelsea has another meeting this Friday. If it doesn't go well again we will either transfer her back to her old troop or try to find another one. She doesn't want to quit since she's been in GS since she was in Kindergarten.

Well, I need to get Chelsea up and we both need to get ready for school.

We're going to Hawaii!

Chelsea (aka Cheeto) made the AYSO soccer team so we are going to Hawaii in 2008! I am very happy for her since she has been stressed about it lately. The coach is great, very nice, and the other girls on the team (most we already know) are good girls and thier parents are nice people. This will be so much fun.

Cheeto and I went to My Girlfriend's Kitchen tonight and made 24 meals. We had fun and we have a freezer full of real food. I have to tell you we've eaten too much fast food in the past, and now we have no excuse. We have ravioli, a couple of crock pot meals, cordon bleu, apple pork chops and more. And having Chelsea come to help assemble it was a great idea because now she is excited to try each dish! It cost me $211.00 for everything. Each meal makes 3 servings (its usually 12 large meals but we got 24 small instead) so it works out to less than $3 per meal. Even a "value meal" at a fast food restaraunt costs more. And each meal has the Weight Watchers points and nutritional info, so you can see how healthy it is! We had so much fun we signed up for next month! That should keep us in food for awhile! We might even need to borrow freezer space from friends!

I have a paper to write which is due tomorrow and it's already after 9:00pm. Nothing like procrastination! I am signing off so I can get this done!

I don't feel good. :(

I woke up this morning with a headache, sinus pressure and the dreaded canker sores. And when I say sores, I don't mean one or two. Oh no, I can't do anything half a**ed. If I am going to have canker sores I'll just have them all over the inside of my mouth. I know that sounds attractive but imagine how it feels! I started getting them about two years ago, and usually only get them when I am stressed. I have been somewhat stressed lately but hopefully the worst is over and these sores will be gone soon.

In my computer class I am learning about Excel. That is one amazing and confusing program! I am glad I am finally learning how to use the programs I've been attempting to use for years. I have a great teacher and she makes going to class fun. Good thing since it could be really painful if the teacher sucked!

I went to the county office to get my veteran's disability offset on my property taxes. Since my disability went up by 20% this year along with not having to pay property tax on my house, I now don't have to pay it on my car either! That saves me another $110 per year! YAY!

I need to get some math done. We are doing a little bit of statistics and I am a complete idiot on that subject so I need to study!

When is Soccer Going to Be OVER!!

It was so cold today! I sat outside, in the rain for two hours this morning! The things mothers do for their children! And the bad thing was the other team didn't have enough kids for their team so they had to forfiet. Chelsea's team still wanted to play so they loaned some of their kids and they played. I was all for just forgetting about it and going home, but I lost. Oh well, only two more weeks of outdoor soccer.

Chelsea seems to have gotten over her objection to wearing glasses. Either she has decided it's not worth arguing about them, or she has decided they aren't that bad after all. She does look cute in them, but then I am her mother, so I think she looks cute most of the time.

We went to see the WSU production of Morrissey Hall. It is a British musical comedy. Lots of fun! The cast was wonderful and the script was very funny. If you live near WSU I'd recommend going to see it. I believe it is playing several nights during this next week.

I need to get down to my craft room and get some scrapbooking done. I need to make items for two charity events. One for my church and one for my Idaho Scrappers group. Both are in November, and I've barely gotten started! I've poured myself a glass of wine and I am off to the basement. Mary

My daughter has 4 eyes

Chelsea got her glasses today, then she wore them to a choir concert she went to watch. When I went to pick her up she started crying and said she hated glasses. She wants to know how much it costs to get contacts. Poor girl. I will not get her contacts until I know she will wear her glasses. If her eyes aren't bad enough to wear glasses they aren't bad enough to wear contacts. I am also afraid she won't take good enough care of contacts. And I certainly don't want her to end up with eye infections.

I guess if she wears them for the next month or two I'll entertain contacts around Christmas. I just suck as a mother. I will probably win the "Worst Mother of the Year" award this year.

On the other hand, I am letting her have over 20 kids here for her birthday in a couple of weeks. And for those of you who have been to my house you know there really isn't room. Plus, I just found out today she invited 4 boys. Hmmm. When I first brought this up she said she only wanted girls. Wonder what changed that?

I can't wait to start my churches new weight loss program. I feel like a fat lazy slob! Who knows, in a couple of months maybe I'll be a not so fat lazy slob! :)

It's Monday again!

I am actually glad the weekend is over. I had a great day at school today. Speaking of that I have noticed a disturbing trend. What is up with guys who have long hair and then pull their hair up into a bun or pony tail right at the top of their head? I saw it at school and also on "The Biggest Loser" on TV. Come on guys, just get a hair cut! Pony tails went out years ago and the bun just makes you look like someone's great grandmother!

I reconnected with my friend Stacey, who was stationed at Hill AFB with me in 1996-97. I went off to Guam and she went off to Hawaii and in the meantime she got married, has 3 kids and one on the way. She got out of the Air Force to be a full time mom. And she is a great one! The last time I saw her was in 2004 when I was in TX for the Air Force. I'm hoping they get stationed here sometime! It's good to hear from old friends!

Nothing else exciting going on. So I guess I'd better get some homework done.