Wednesday, April 30, 2008

22 years ago today...


Yes- I'm 22 today!, originally uploaded by ZhenPanda.

I was giving birth to my #1 son. He was such a wonderful child. It was a true blessing when we welcomed him into our home.

He was born on base, back when Malmstrom had a real hospital. My husband at that time was a security police specialist who worked on campers which meant he would leave at all hours of the day or night. That morning I was not sleeping well (if you have been pregnant you know how that is) and kept getting up to use the bathroom. At about 3:30AM the phone rang for him to go to work. I used the bathroom again and went to sit on the bed when my water broke. He called work back & we headed to the hospital.

At 4PM our little boy was born. I remember the look on my husbands' face and how proud he was as he called his family in Minnesota. My parents came to visit him just after dinner.

It's funny how life changes over 22 years. Today I am on speaking terms with the ex after many years of animosity and turmoil. He called to sing the boy "happy birthday" before I left for work.

Happy Birthday SON#1!!

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

*sigh* I will probably never see this License Plate in Montana

DAMN IT!!

Why can't more people from Rhode Island visit Montana??

Monday, April 28, 2008

Weird

Somehow geocaching lead to the hubby buying a gun!

*shakes her head*

Only in Montana...

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

I'm tired....

Holy $#^%!

I had a fun-filled day! I got to spend it with the coolest blogger around-ReAnn! She was kind enough to donate about 7 hours of her day to help me re-arrange and organize my office as well as set up the self-help clinic which will open shortly.

I am sore but my office looks EXCELLENT!!!!

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Earth day

OK. I feel I should do my best to not create more than my share of junk (although I have my off days) but when a comment on a blog I was perusing today mentioned it was also Hitlers' birthday I had to stop. I laughed so hard I had to leave the office and head to BK for a burger & soda!

(I have to find that blog again)


*UPDATE*
It is not the same day after all!

Monday, April 21, 2008

I must be bored

I have been watching the moose cam all weekend!

Saturday, April 19, 2008

The latest from the homefront

The Hubby re-enlisted this month.


He is now totally regretting it.
I hope the next four years go quickly.



Hubby' quote of the week (from A Few Good Men):
"I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom I provide, then questions the manner in which I provide it. I'd prefer you just said thank you and went on your way."


Thursday, April 17, 2008

As if the migrain was not bad enough...


View from the waiting room, originally uploaded by ZhenPanda.

I had to drive Son#2 & Step to the base to get our new ID cards. Nothing like being out in the bright sunlight when your head & neck hurt... ugh. After the 15 minute wait for the Hubby to get out of the office and the 3 minutes it took for the very nice and professional airman to complete our IDs I found a nail in my front tire.

*sigh*

The hubby filled it up at the base gas station so I could get to the tire store.

In under 30 minutes the great guys at BigO tires fixed it and rotated the tires!

To make the day better I picked up dinner from Noodles Express, came home & popped a maxalt.

"What's in a name" or "Does the title make the person"

Over at Raising Country Kids, Erin has a post titled I earned the Mrs. I read it over & shot off a quick reply that when you read it over looks to flame her. I did not mean it that way. I just stated that I did not agree with the entire post but I think it was well done.

Now I have spent a bit of time re-reading the post and really thinking about what it was that I was first taken back by I can try to respond more clearly.

I think one main point was she is offended by strangers who address her (by mail) as Ms. Married instead of Mrs. Married. I really don't argue that but I usually ignore mail such as that because it is obviously either created by a computer or from a company which has not had prior dealings with me. It's just mail.

I did get a laugh out of her statements about pregnancy/childbirth being part of her
"right" to be called Mrs. I have given birth to four children as well but my labor added up to much more... and really that doesn't mean anything. Many other women have had more children with more labor & some have had fewer children with less labor. It really doesn't define you as a Mrs. It makes you a mother. period. If I really wanted to go on about adoption or surrogacy....*OMG* I'll stop now.

She made a jib about her degree. I have to throw it out there I have a BS in Education...but if I remember correctly she has a BS in writing/journalism....hands down funnier than mine!

"Common sense" is really hard to define these days. In some cultures a child gets a hyphenated name containing both parents' names and I believe there is one culture where the man takes the womans' surname. Montana traditional "common sense" would be if Bob Smith marries Jane Doe she would be Jane Smith and the children kid1, 2 & 3 Smith. But I think we live in a very complicated age. Multiple marriages, unwed mothers and absent fathers make FAMILY a complex concept.

Now does a title define a person? I have to say not totally. I have a Masters degree but no one calls me Master Maidenname-Droopy (I prefer Mistress anyway...ROFL) and my husband is NOT Mr. Droopy his correct title is Technical Sergeant (TSgt) Droopy.

I worked for several years to get my BS before I remarried. I was also divorced for over 10 years. My divorce was very ugly & in the end I gave his name back & my youngest did not even get his name. That had a big influence on my current name. Names do define us to a point. Although my legal name may read Zen Panda Maidenname-Droopy; my friends call me Z, my hubby calls me Panda and at work they call me Zen or Mrs. Droopy occasionally even Ms. Maidenname. They are all ME. I am comfortable enough with me and all that I have experienced to become ME to know that the two or three letters before my name are not as important to me as who I believe I am.

I really did like the piece she wrote...it made me think about something less frustrating than work!

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Shovler ducks @ gibson pond


P1170994, originally uploaded by fishlady_Montana.

I took a break from the office to send the mail & noticed ducks that did not look like mallards on the pond. I had to call my Aunt to come & look as I did not have my camera.

There were a group of about 4 males & 4 females.

Monday, April 14, 2008

Plugging other blogs

occasionally I spend a spare minute or 30 at the Big Sky Blog blogroll and discover some fun, new or just different blogs.

Here are a couple I added to my RSS reader this week:

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Yet another one I want to apply for

Another dream teaching position!

When I was in college I fell in love with South Western Montana. I hope to live there again someday.

Monday, April 7, 2008

#1 reason to be a single female

Right here!

I'm leaning toward McCain

Here is why:

1. Obama & Clinton do not seem to address issues which affect MY life.
2. He has a military background which gives him insight to the GWOT.
3. His stance on Military & VA issues was laid out very clear in the magazine i read when I was at Fort Harrison a while back. (When I figure out the magazine I will link here)

Unlike many people in Montana, the military affects my life everyday. My husband just reenlisted for 6 more years. Son#1 is impacted by changes to VA benefits.

I am still open to all the potential candidates.

Sunday, April 6, 2008

I still remember

Two years later, I still miss him.


Friday, April 4, 2008

Thursday Night fun!


Thursday Night fun!, originally uploaded by ZhenPanda.

6 1/2 hours at the ER!

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

GUILTY!


GUILTY!, originally uploaded by ZhenPanda.

Michael Gerstner was found guilty April 2, 2008.

*UPDATE* Tribune article

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

My temporary office


My temporary office, originally uploaded by ZhenPanda.

My regular computer is on it's last leg so I'm in the market for a new desk top as well as the car & dog. LOL

I think we should prioritize before I cause too many changes at once.

I think computer is first since the hubby has to deal without his laptop at the second job.

Cheaper than a car too!