Proof!

This is proof that all the dishes are clean. Not only that, but the sink, itself, is all shiny too. I don't make any claims as to how long it will stay this way, but I have high hopes for at least 24 hours.

This little guy is anxiously awaiting tomorrow. This is my cookie bear. (This was a souvenir from a trip to Hershey Park a few years back.) I am going to retire for evening with a good movie.

To Do List

This is what I have... I feel like I am off to a good start.

Wash Red Car
Wash Blue Car
Laundry
Put Clean Clothes away
Grocery Shopping for Sunday Night
Cooking for Sunday Night
Take Bottles for Return
Items to Goodwill
Boxes for storage items
Clean Sewing Room
Clean Office


Fun Things
Spend Ann Taylor Christmas Cash (starts 11/30)
Spend Express Chrsitmas Cash (starts 11/30)
Spend VS bonus cards (x2)

Black Friday was a success.

Please don't get me wrong. I did not get up on black Friday with the intention of buying every front page deal on the add. We went out with the intention of buying one 2nd page item. We were successful. The checkout line at target was ridiculous, but my girlfriend managed to save $50 on a toy for her beautiful daughter. I scored a new DVD player ($19.99). I have been on the hunt for a new player since the one in the bedroom decided it was retiring. I really did not want to spend $50-$60 dollars on something like that, and I really didn't even want to spend $30. $19.99 was the right price, and there were fifty or sixty of them there, so no awkward scenes.

A late morning trip to the mall scored a couple cute sweaters at Ann Taylor for 50% off, and I am stocked for my holiday season. I am not sure how useful these sweaters will be when we move to Florida, but I am working to eliminate frumpy sweatshirt days from my wardrobe. It will be good to have sweaters in stock that I can wear from September to March. Sometimes in Florida the weather does dip below 60 degrees.

The sweaters will also serve double duty. In case my purchased jacket for homecoming will not be warm enough, I can always wear one of my fabulous new sweaters under a coat. (The purchased jacket is too light for a very cold day, and too bulky for anything warmer on top.)

Thoughts of future Thanksgivings

My favorite thing to eat on Thanksgiving is Snowy Mashed Potatoes. They are yummy and smooth. And so far I have always been able to just contribute these to the meal. I will be in poor shape on some day in the future when I am responsible for making the entire meal. Do you think the husband will mind if I make just potatoes?

So really now...today I am making a couple things.

I was assigned Potatoes (because my friends know how much I love these) and Apple Dessert. I am going the extra mile to make Candy Bar Fudge Jumbles (think oatmeal cookie, chocolate, an candy bar pieces all mixed up into one delectable dessert. I am also making spinach dip. This is not so bad though, because it is a crock pot dish. It takes about 15 minutes to prep all the ingredients and then it cooks it self.

I am thankful today that I have wonderful family that misses me. I am thankful for friends who invite me to join their family festivities.I am thankful that though my husband is not here to share the meal, he is happy, healthy, and will return home soon. My heart goes out to the many families who will never get to share the holiday with their soldiers or sailors or loved ones.

Final Night of Sex and the City

Its almost that time.... We are down to the final four episodes. Carrie is going to be left with a decision that she has faced before. After watching Mr Big in The Good Wife last night I will be happy to see his sexy face again tonight.

Movie night is Saturday, and I have avoided watching this movie for the last few months. It will be a fun night for Cosmos!

A Gloomy Turkey Day

Since we started dating, Drew missed our very first Thanksgiving, and that was all. I will miss him. This will be Thanksgiving for friends and no family this year. I send warm wishes  and happy thoughts out to those who don't get to be with their sweetie on this Thanksgiving day. I will be thankful good health and good friends, and hopefully the husband's quick return!

Neptune Jewels Update!

Steak and Shake

I love S-n-S! I know it sounds ridiculous, but this place holds a special place in my heart. Not only do they have a fantastic turkey melt, but without this place I might never have married the husband. One of the most fantastic parts about moving to Jacksonville is that we will be back in the land of S-n-S.

The turkey melt that they have there has turkey, a tomato (that you don't have to ask for) and tasty sauce. The fries teeny tiny, and the cheese and ketchup mixture is just so yummy in my tummy!



PS. If you are stumped on what I need for Christmas....S-n-S gift cards are always welcome.

Schnibbles Schlacker

No schnibbles so far this month. I have the kit, but somehow I haven't found the drive to start it. I haven't done much sewing this month. I need inspiration. If any fellow schibbles participants stumble here, I would love to see what you have. Leave me a comment with your blog.

Scruffily Quilt

I finished this quilt top in a couple of evenings. It is a Moda Bake Shop project. It is so much fun. the edges of the center squares are raw, and will get just a little frayed after I wash it the first time. It will be all nice and fluffy after a few washings. I originally planned to do it with the Patisserie fabric, but I made it with Simple Abundace. It is moda pre-cuts all the way. I used a layer cake, charm pack and jelly roll. There is enough of the jelly roll left for something else, but I have not decided what yet. , and I am excited to receive my backing fabric, so I can finish it up!

Dolphins that won't swim

What does every submariner's wife need in her baking arsenal? Well, a dolphin cookie cutter of course!

So I had these grand plans to make cookies for SOSA bunco. But I got distracted and didn't pull the cookies off the cookie sheet in time. Some of them stuck, and came off in pieces, but this little bugger survived. Yummy Yummy Yummy. I have been craving sugar cookies for a while now. I will enjoy every last one of them....and make something else for Bunco.

Bradley Baby Quilt

This quilt is for the Bradley Baby. I was so excited to hear that Bradley's were cooking a baby! After quizzing Erin on her nursery plans, I found this great pattern, and I think it will go perfectly. I noticed from the nursery pictures that there was no pink to be found, so I tried to stay neutral. No pink at all, :) Hopefully she will snuggle with this for many years, even after she has outgrown her nursery bedding. The back is a snuggle flannel!

The Mack-Noodle is testing for softness! He approves.

Her name is Kiera, she was born on November 12th. She is adorable! I hope Drew and I are able to go visit soon...

2010 Census

As an amateur genealogist, I am very anxious to fill out the 2010 census. This will be my first time filling out any census. I will imagine the joy my great grandchildren will have digging my information out of computers some day. I have spent many hours pouring over census forms for years past. Currently the latest census forms available for my perusal is the 1930 census form. The law states that the information can be made available to the public 78 years after census year. The 1940 census data will be available in 2012. This is done to protect the information and privacy of the people on those records.

My only concern is our move date. We will be moving right around the time that the census takers will be knocking on doors. I am afraid that if we don't have a door to knock on (or a mailbox) then we might be missed altogether. I will find a way to fill out the form, even if I have to fill it out with a hotel address. I am sure I will create many unanswerable questions for my descendants if I am living at the Holiday Inn. I have one ancestor that I found twice in one census year. It was very confusing at first, but then I realized that one census was taken in April, and the second in June. It turns out that my ancestor also moved, and was counted in both homes. Amazingly, if he had moved in reverse, he never would have been counted!

My public service announcement....for your grandchildren and future genealogists of the 22nd and 23rd centuries....FILL out your CENSUS form.

The perfect outfit...

...is now sitting in my closet. Well, actually it is on the bed. If it is anything like the other clothes on the bed it might be there for a couple more days. The important thing is, it is now in my possession. My own personal rules dictate that it be weather appropriate, and functional for (semi) everyday wear. My outfit meets both of these requirements. Homecoming is still a long ways away, but it is nice to accomplish these little milestones. It helps to make it feel like it is coming sooner.

I was amazed at the last homecoming about the outfits I see people wear. I mean really, there is no reason to wear a "hoochie-mama" skirt in forty degree weather. I have less issue with shoes, but I really don't see the purpose in six inch heels on the pier either. I could really care less what other people wear, but I just don't understand why some women think that homecoming day is the perfect day to show off the boobs or the behind. Your sailor knows what these look like, he will enjoy being home regardless of whether he (and the rest of the crew) get a showing of "the goods." So why not find a cute (and warm) outfit, and save the peep show for home?

Waiter Blogs

I will say this now before I say anything else. I have never worked for tips. I stumbled upon a random waiter blog, only to discover a unique little microcosm of the universe, filled with disgruntled workers. While I always knew that these people existed. I dread the thought of eating in a restaurant where they could possibly be working. I have never worked in this industry, I do have a great respect for the people that do. I know that it is hard work, but I absolutely hate the feeling that I am am being held hostage for my money at the evening meal. I also have this same horrible sinking feeling about movers. Sometimes I worry that unless I start flashing them twenties, then all my favorite items are going to missing or broken when my truck arrives at my destination.

So back to the waiters...I can understand the complaints about people showing up five minutes before closing. Truly though, the restaurant industry knows that if you close at 10pm. People will show up at 9:58 and expect to be seated. So therefore the restaurant owner/manager will publish closing time accordingly. If he plans to have staff in the kitchen and servers until midnight, then published closing time would be safe at 10pm. If the restaurant owner/manager wants his staff out enjoying their evenings by 10pm sharp, then the last seating should probably be somewhere about 8:30. This is not rocket science.

It blows my mind that they are proud of the vengeful things that they do to customers. I know that people can be rude and inconsiderate, but everybody has to deal with things about their job that they hate. There is a little something called accountability. Every person has different opinions on how a tip should be given and how to calculate a tip. The husband is very generous with his tips. I am slightly more sensitive to the tip/ service relationship, but never leave anything less than standard. I just hope that I am never served by any of the bloggers below!


http://bitterwaitress.info/wp/

http://allprowaiter.blogspot.com/

http://waiterrant.net/

Holiday Craft Fairs

I love visiting holiday craft fairs! Today I went to one in Hartford with one of the other San Juan Ladies. We found some wonderful treasures, and I have found some wonderful gifts for various occasions. When it comes to gifts, I love to find unique items that cannot be found in big box stores. (I hope my recipients feel the same. ) Regardless of weather I am shopping with a specific purpose in mind, its always fun to go and see the unique items that crafters and foodies can come up with.

Wheel thrown pottery is one of my favorite items. I always love the different types of pottery, and am almost always too week to keep from purchasing something. The good thing is, that pottery is usually only found at the big expo-center-esque type fairs.

Update 11/18 Pictures of a couple of my finds....

Home Buying Tips

Hopefully we will soon be proud homeowners. We are looking forward to our move to Jacksonville, and a very welcoming real-estate market. I have a great family who has of good knowledge to share about the process and specifics about the Florida markets, and I do feel much more informed and mentally prepared to start this process. It is still very overwhelming. If the husband were around I would probably not be such a worry wart, but he will be home soon enough!

I have been very busy looking at online listings, and making lists of building features, and other dream items for our first home. I would love to hear real life lessons about that home purchase, and shoulda - woulda- coulda's. Please share your lessons learned!

Veterans Day Genealogical Ponderings

World War I – known at the time as “The Great War” - officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.”

In Europe Veteran's Day is known as Armistice Day. It is bittersweet to celebrate this holiday. The great war did end, but another horrible war would soon follow, and the war to end all wars was followed by more sick and twisted ways to humiliate the adversary and torture the enemy.

My family has a proud history of military service. A great many ancestors have served their country, and I am happy to be serving in my own way. (I feed a very sexy sailor, during the six months he is not deployed.)

I do have one ancestor which I have not yet discovered the details regarding his military service. Russell Jefferson Rawls is my great great great grandfather. He was born 1836, and he died 1886. There are no records of service in the confederate army, but he fathered no children between 1882 and 1886. (Years with no births usually indicate a child who passed, or an absent father). He was noted member of the community, and his father was a military leader also. Many family genealogists before me have not yet uncovered the mysteries around his military involvement, but maybe by next veteran's day I will have another clue!

Early Morning Phone Calls

I will admit, my favorite time of the day to receive phone calls from my husband is during the wee hours of the morning, EST. This of course only applies to the days when he is making phone calls from distant lands, and time zones. If he continues this practice of calling me on the telephone when the boat is here in Groton, CT, he's got some 'splainin' to do. Getting a phone call at 4am means that there is nothing is going to interrupt a nice conversation. There will be no background noise if I am in a store. There is no worry of other phone calls ringing in, and I won't have to find the phone because it is always on the night stand.

The hardest part about waiting for phone calls is the actual waiting for the phone call. It is very emotionally draining to be carrying the cell phone with me everywhere, worried that the second the phone is out of my hand, will be the second he calls, and I am unable to answer. Though I miss talking to him, it is almost a relief when they are unable to call, because I can rest easy knowing that I will not miss an opportunity to talk to him.

I will continue to wait patiently for my phone calls until they leave, but am anxiously waiting for the day when my good morning will not require a very expensive phone card, time zone calculations and country code.

Wink and a Smile

This cute artwork has been finally appropriately framed. I won't get to hang it until my picture hanger returns, and due to upcoming move, it might not actually get wall space until we own wall space in Florida, but at least now, I can oogle it finished. It was made especially for us by Rebecca at Lovely Yellow Ribbons. She has so many cute pieces. I think everyone should have one in their home.

U.S. Submarine San Juan Visits South Africa - US AFRICOM News

U.S. Submarine San Juan Visits South Africa - US AFRICOM News

So even if I cannot remember exactly where the husband is planning to go, the world news agencies will keep up with it for me. Its pretty cool that they get to go play games with other countries. Hopefully the husband will bring me a souvenir native to Africa......a diamond!

Update: No sooner than I posted this, but the husband calls!

Giveaway at Jaybird Quilts

There is a fantastic giveaway at Jaybird Quilts. Click the title!

1. a quilt kit for easy 1..2..3 of spring fever [quilt #2}


2. a charm pack from spring fever

3. a pinwheel & rubber ducky from me & my sister's booth decorations!

Thankful Thoughts

There are all sorts of things that people post on facebook to rally their friends to do something. This I thought, was very worthwhile. I am going to post things I am thankful for throughout the month. Aside from the normal...life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness I am very blessed!

Today, I am thankful for friends who cook me dinner. It seems like such a trivial thing, but it is such a blessing to eat with friends everyday. There is nothing more depressing for me, than to eat alone, night after night. Working from home, I get to interact with dog during the day, and its nice to have friends to share the evening with.

We have orders!

We finally have them. The husband sent me the important "portion" via email, and though it is nice to finally have somewhat official notice that we are moving, it says we are to detach in JANUARY! Okay, so it says detach in January, and report in February, and though this means nice things in relation to boat activity...it means that I have to leave all my fantastic friends so very soon!

Jacksonville, Florida Here we come!