Milspouse Friday Fill-In

Okay, so I haven't done this in forever, but I'm joining back in...

1.What do you usually want to know about someone when meeting them for the first time?
Want to train for a triathlon/race with me?  I'm horrible at meeting people, so I do usually start with where are you from or how long have you been here.

2.Would you rather know everything about your spouse, or be regularly surprised?
He continues to surprise me after 16 years of marriage.  I wonder if I continue to surprise him or if he has figured me out.  Gunner?

3.If you could live in one city for the rest of your life, where would you live?
If money wasn't an option, I would choose NYC or Seattle.  If we have to be realistic, I like Colorado a lot.

4.When you go out of town, what one material thing do you ALWAYS take?
My cell phone.  If all else fails, I can snap pictures, talk to people, get on facebook, and blog.  

5.Using no more than 10 nouns, and ONLY nouns, describe yourself.
Ten nouns?  Ummmm.......triathlete (not the best, but I am getting there and enjoy it), mom, wife, professional student (I love going to school, and the abundance of degrees that I don't use....well....maybe someday), blogger, friend....having a hard time coming up with more......biggest fan to my husband and kids, procrastinator, military wife, and teacher.

Toddlers & Tiaras

Surely I am not the only one who has way too much time on their hands after the kids go to bed, and views such awful shows such as Toddlers & Tiaras.

Really, has anyone ever done pageants?  Are they this bad????

Some questions--Why do they think it is cute for the girls to talk like a baby?  Seriously, get them into speech, it's not cute and they look ridiculous.

Last night's episode involved a girl with ADHD, Cassidy.  I live with ADHD, that girl, while she may have had it, also had a serious case of being a brat.  Being allowed to act the way she did, and to treat people the way she did?  She needs an ass whipping.  Her mom?  She needs one too.  Who sits there and talk about their kid behind their back and be jealous of the girl who won because she's the "whole package" and her own daughter is a mess?  The whole family got under my skin.  Really, you have to take money away from your bills to put your daughter in a pageant?  Don't even get me started on how idiotic that is!

Kiara was cute, and at least her mom was out there trying to earn money, and she actually questioned whether or not they would continue.

Ellyson, the daughter of the Airman, she was cute, but her parents about sent me over the edge.  I'm all about being supportive of your kiddos, but they obviously are living out their fantasies in their child.  They should be saving that $500 for her education, but I doubt that will happen.

I guess I don't get the whole pageant thing.  I was in Little Miss Exxon when I was about 4.  I was painfully shy, and it was torture to get out there.  I have those pictures somewhere, I'll see if I can dig them up.  I was a cute kid, but thank goodness there were no pageants after that in my future!

I have no desire to put my girls in pageants, so I am probably not the best person to watch this show.  Why do I find myself tuning in each week?  Has your child ever done a pageant?  How did they do?  Is it a regular thing?  Did you do them growing up?  Seems like a strange way to spend Gunner's my hard earned money!

You Know When the Men Are Gone--Winner!!!

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max: Result:8Powered by RANDOM.ORG

The winner is:

JMBROOKS89 at While You Were Gone

Tostitos & the USO Reunite Soldiers and Families!

Heck, we won't have the big homecoming this year, maybe we should try for this?  That would be one heck of a way to welcome Gunner home and make it memorable!

Tostitos and the USO Reunited U.S. Troops Serving in Iraq with their Families during Tostitos BCS National Championship Halftime

Emotional homecoming for Tostitos “Connect to Home Bowl” military players becomes first of many heartfelt reunions to take place this year as part of Tostitos “Reunite America” campaign

PLANO, Texas (Jan. 10, 2011) – The Tostitos brand, in partnership with the USO, today revealed surprise reunions with loved ones for U.S troops live on field during halftime of the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game. The reunited troops played alongside former college football all-stars in the recent Tostitos Connect to Home Bowl, which took place at Joint Base Balad in Iraq over the holidays. The one-of-a-kind college football bowl game experience was part of a series of activities led by Tostitos, a flagship brand of PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay division, and the USO to honor and celebrate U.S. military heroes. The on-field reunions also marked the kick-off to the Tostitos “Reunite America” campaign, a program that will foster consumer-requested reunions of all kinds nationwide during 2011.

Moments before the surprise reunions took place, family members of four Tostitos Connect to Home Bowl military players were recognized on field for the sacrifices they make on behalf of the country each and every day. Then, in a dramatic and emotionally charged moment, from behind an oversized banner emerged their loved ones – the troops serving overseas who had made the more than 7,500 mile journey to reunite with their families in person. Among those reunited were:

·         SSG Alton Day, U.S. Army, Elizabeth, N.C., his wife Gwendalyn (Gwen), sons Alton, Jr. (age 14) and Aydan (age 2), and daughters Alexandria (age 12) and Alannah (age 5)

·         SPC Danyul Davis, U.S. Army, Houston, Texas, his wife Jalexus, son Jai (age 1) and brothers Jeremy Michael Powell and Guy DeJohn Jackson

·         Sgt Louis Davis, U.S. Army, Ft. Bragg, N.C., his wife Stephanie, daughter Zaiyah (age 3), mom Linda S. David and sister Simona R. Green 

·         PO1 Terry Eady, U.S. Navy, Ocilla, Ga., his daughter TeOndra (age 9), son Terrvon (age 12) and cousin Henry Leroy Fisher, Jr.

The reunions for troops and their families that took place as part of today’s Tostitos BCS National Championship Game were celebrated by millions around the country, but were only the beginning. Starting today, the Tostitos brand embarks on a mission to create real-world, consumer-powered connections throughout 2011 as part of Reunite America. To participate, consumers can visitwww.facebook.com/Tostitos to submit stories explaining who they would like to be reunited with for a chance to have the Tostitos brand actually make the connections happen.

“The joy people experience when they are reunited with those they care about is universal,” said Justin Lambeth, vice president of marketing, Tostitos. “And, it’s one of the many reasons Tostitos is so excited to facilitate a series of reunions and homecomings through Reunite America. It was incredible seeing our first big reunion happen at the Tostitos BCS National Championship with help from the USO. Now, we look forward to giving others a chance to spend meaningful time together through this program.” 

“The USO focuses on bringing our troops a touch of home when they are deployed, but actually coming home to their loved ones is what they look forward to the most,” said Sloan Gibson, USO president.  “We are a proud partner with Tostitos to make these very special reunions possible.”

                Current pop culture trends show that consumers are looking for ways to reconnect, not just online, but in real life. From television shows that spotlight high-profile reunions to the recent trend in tracing ancestry roots, people are seeking out long-lost connections. With that in mind, the Tostitos brand intends to make desired reunions a reality for many people who otherwise might be limited to connecting with friends and family online, or not at all.

Whether it’s reuniting troops and their families, reconnecting long-lost loves or bringing together former college roommates, Tostitos fans will be able to watch all of the reunions made possible by the brand at www.facebook.com/Tostitos, including the one taking place during today’s Tostitos BCS National Championship Game. They can also share the reunion videos with family and friends.

PepsiCo offers the world's largest portfolio of billion-dollar food and beverage brands, including 19 different product lines that each generates more than $1 billion in annual retail sales. Our main businesses - Frito-Lay, Quaker, Pepsi-Cola, Tropicana and Gatorade - also make hundreds of other nourishing, tasty foods and drinks that bring joy to our consumers in more than 200 countries. With annualized revenues of nearly $60 billion, PepsiCo's people are united by our unique commitment to sustainable growth, called Performance with Purpose. By dedicating ourselves to offering a broad array of choices for healthy, convenient and fun nourishment, reducing our environmental impact, and fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace culture, PepsiCo balances strong financial returns with giving back to our communities worldwide. For more information, please visit www.pepsico.com.

The USO (United Service Organizations) lifts the spirits of America’s troops and their families millions of times each year at thousands of places worldwide.  We provide a touch of home through centers at airports and military bases, top quality entertainment and innovative programs and services. We also provide critical support to those who need us most, including forward-deployed troops and their families, wounded warriors and their families and the families of the fallen.

               The USO is a private, non-profit organization, not a government agency. We rely on the generosity of our volunteers and donors.  In addition to individual donors and other corporate sponsors, the USO is supported by Worldwide Strategic Partners American Airlines, AT&T Inc., BAE Systems, The Boeing Company, Clear Channel Communications, The Coca-Cola Company, Gallery Furniture, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Procter & Gamble and TriWest Healthcare Alliance. We are also supported through the United Way and Combined Federal Campaign (CFC-11381).  To join us in this patriotic mission and to learn more about the USO, please visit www.uso.org.

What's your Hometown?

Someone asked me where I was from the other day, and I didn't know how to answer.

I was born in Australia.
Grew up in Houston.
Went to college in Waco.
We've been stationed at Hood, Germany, Ft Lewis, Hood, and now Carson.

My parents don't live in Houston anymore.

I'd hate to say my hometown is Killeen.

Do you get to just pick somewhere?  My favorite duty station?

Gunner is an Air Force brat, so he's lived everywhere, but spent the most time in California.

So do we even have a hometown?  How do we know where to go from here?

What's your hometown, and how did you figure it out? (Really, I do have more important things to worry about, but I just never know how to answer this question!)

Catching Up

Alegria was wonderful.

From facebook:  ABW had a great time at Alegria. The girls were amazed. We had watched people flying through the air, throwing flaming batons around, and more when Abs leans over and says "I don't know if this was the best place to take me, because I am now full of ideas!" She's planning on doing human body bending during recess from now on instead of "wasting her time with something useless like playing".


It was definitely worth the expensive tickets, and even Em sat there with her mouth open through parts of it.  I suggested that after Gunner retired he could be one of the fire guys, but the girls didn't think he fit the bill.  Whatever!


I just watched the Bachelor, and the vampire girl is still there?  Really?  He must get extra money to keep her around.  At least those two catty girls--the waitress and the manscaper--are gone.  All the crying and stuff was getting on my nerves.


I like Emily the best, and I hope it is not her that wants to leave next week.


I'm over the one on one dates and them having private concerts.  Please.


On the potty training front, Junior has decided that he is going to clean himself up and not tell me.  He came downstairs from quiet time and had on three pairs of underwear.  He had pooped, found some wipes, cleaned himself up the best he could and changed.  He stuffed his pullup in the closet, and his hands were filthy.


Into the tub we went.  On the bright side, he is taking care of it, on the other hand, I'm grossed out!  Let's hope things get better.  I figure he will wait till I have one trash day left and then knock it out and be potty trained by the time Gunner comes home.  I would not find that amusing.


I took Sammy to get groomed today, but apparently he was missing an updated rabies shot.  Don't they check these things?  They could tell me as soon as I walked in the door after my 45 minute drive, so it seems that they could have saved me the trouble.  Instead we did the self wash, had his nails clipped, and will figure it out this week.  At least he is clean and fluffy again, since he was looking pretty nasty from all the snow he's been traipsing through this week.


Here's to another week down.  Last week lasted f-o-r-e-v-e-r, so I am hoping this week will fly by to make up for it.