Deployment Journal Month 5

(For reference, these were written on the date in 2010!)

24 August

Today, this deployment is 4 months old.

I'm about to watch The Notebook. I hope everything I heard isn't true.

25 August

thinks it's perfectly acceptable to rinse off the BBQ implements in the garden hose when done using them!!

26 August

engaged in a battle of wits with the beagle last night. He is the sneakiest of my kids.

liked Plan A better--the one that didn't include talking any classes this fall. =/

I need help from my Hawaii friends--STAT!! Flower on left means "taken" right? Or is it the right? Don't confuse me, now ;-)

In case your kids are taking chemistry, I recommend you have them conduct the red cabbage + ammonia lab at a friend's house. Preferably a friend you don't care for much =/

27 August

just challenged Ross Knudsen and Cindee Fox Nebeker to a contest to see who can get the most friends to change their profile pic to the lovely one you see displayed to the left of this status! So, there you have it. Your mission is to change your profile pic crediting me for the idea so I can win.

at connor's insistence just finished Stranger Than Fiction. Good flick.

is getting confused with so many identical profile pics. Whose idea was this again?

28 August

is now free to change her profile picture back to . . . something besides a highjacked photo of a DQ Peanut Buster Parfait. The contest winner is Cindee Fox Nebeker! Hope you enjoyed your guilt-free PBP!

is not at all bitter that the work I just spent an hour writing up for my class disappeared via "error" when I tried to submit it. Not even bitter about the fact that this happens at least once in every class taken and that it's only AFTER this happens that i remember to copy the thread before attempting to post it because if it disappears, it’s just gone.  Like Toby Keith said, “She’s goooooone!”

29 August

needs back replacement surgery--STAT!

31 August

Housing installed vertical blinds on our back door and Caleb thinks they did it so he'd have something new to play with =D

helping lead my first Parent to Parent workshop this morning. Sink Library at 10:30--Early Literacy for parents and children! If you have little ones, and you are at Fort Campbell, you should come! www.militarychild.org

‎"Mom, this is really weird. I can't find anything about this Riot Squad Records patch that dad sent."
"Well, if you can't find it on Google, then it doesn't exist."

1 September

somewhere in my house is a half-drunk cup of coffee unflatteringly cooling itself off while it hides from me. And no, the cup is not drunk nor is the coffee itself. I just do not know the correct English for past-perfect for that particuluar verb. Or is that even the right verb tense?

‎" . . . and that's all I'm going to tell you because its actually pretty complicated for a 97 page book!"--Connor on why I should read Animal Farm.

 

‎"No Mom. He's just showing you what it feels like to be ignored!"--Caleb, explaining why Connor just said "what?"

 

pro deo et patria!

 

4 September

 

hopes to see lots of friends at Jazz on the Lawn today!

 

5 September

 

Is it possible that there's a TV character more stupid than Matt Parkman on Heroes???

 

‎"So mom, if you're fluent in sarcasm, does that mean you're bilingual?"
"Yes Caleb. That's exactly what it means."

 

6 September

 

Maybe it would have been best to not have had ESPN3.com recommended by Steve Bast C'mon BSU!!

 

7 September

 

Best Netflix genre category: Witty Opposites-attract Romance. 2nd Runner-up: Critically-Acclaimed Fight-the-System movies.

 

8 September

 

I wish I hadn't spent so much time hating school when I was a student. Now I can't get enough of it. I got to sub at a jr. high today and it just made me happy being there! I could live at school and be perfectly happy!!

 

9 September

 

has no idea what fell to the wayside today, but homwork is done, financial aid is stratightened out for class, and Connor applied for a few scholarships thanks to www.fastweb.com.

 

"Those are just facts and facts are just opinions and opinions can be wrong. The only thing that is never wrong is confidence." Veronica--Better Off Ted.

 

10 September

 

I naively thought that avoiding the news would be a smart thing to do during this deployment. Maybe I'm going to have to avoid facebook too? Say it isn't so =/

 

11 September

 

‎"Let's roll!"

 

just wants to say "thank you" and "I love you" to Corey Arnold today. Can't wait til you come home again :)

 

On my walk today, I noticed an empty cigarette box and I knew I was going to pass a garbage can in a quarter mile or so, so I picked it up. I wonder what the passers by thought since I was clearly not on a leisurely jaunt. "Can't that lady even manage to get through her exercise time without a cigarette?" Oh well.  Things aren’t always as they seem.

 

12 September

 

Oh yeah? Well my shopping cart is louder than your car! So there.,

 

‎"Legal is investigating that his death may have been a preexisting condition and he might not have been alive when we hired him." --Veronica; Better Off Ted.

 

13 September

 

The Military Families edition of "Minute to Win It" is scheduled to air tomorrow on NBC You'll have to check your local listing for time. We have no idea if we made "the cut" or not!

 

So Connor Arnold made note that too many of his friends like things and it clogs up his newsfeed. So he complained about it in his status. And Mikayla Twite liked it.

 

14 September

 

Remember to tune in to "Minute to Win It" tonight on NBC to catch the Military Families edition. Some families from our unit got to tape shout-outs to their soldier. Again, not sure if we made the cut. Check your local listing for time.

 

Remember to watch "Minute to Win It" tonight on NBC to see families from our unit saying hi to their soldiers overseas! Then let me know how it turns out because we don't get any TV channels--haha! Repost if you want :)

 

Hooah--Fort Campbell/101st ABD is representin' tonight!!

 

15 September

 

Felt like I spent the day in a time warp. It was like I traveled back in time to 8th grade. No, wait, I did spend the day in 8th grade . . .

 

You have not lived until you've driven a van full of teenage boys home from youth group singing the Pokemon theme song. Word for word. On key. Both verses. (Did you even know there were two verses?)

 

16 September

 

‎"I was just talking out loud . . ." said Caleb Arnold by way of explanation for rambling. That's quite the observation there, kid! ;-)

 

needs some downers for the cat. Anyone got a tranq dart?

 

17 September

 

Pau Hana. TGIF!!!

 

Subbed for the Espanol teacher today. And now the voices in my head have Spanish accents =/

 

18 September

 

I was just thinking that sometimes, we get so behind our political ideal that we fail to see common sense if not presented by the one with the right color tie. I don't think Independents are all that sensible either cuz it's awful easy to adopt an ideal. A little harder to put it into practice.

 

Could not get Liberty's page to load to finish classwork, so Caleb and I were "forced" to watch a movie instead. I have a new appreciation for why John Newton referred to himself as a wretch.

 

19 September

 

well. since you mention it i am not really sure how many olive garden breadsticks can fit in one of those little togo boxes. Maybe you should ask Caleb Arnold. ;)

 

got an extension for the assignments due tonight. I can read all my classmates' posts--I just can't get the window open to reply to them. Guess I get to go to bed early tonight :)

 

20 September

 

I'm not trying to brag or anything, but I totally fixed the internet problem all by myself. Well, I had a little help from Jeff at AT&T, but I gotta say that is one good thing about deployment--You just gotta figure it out. There's no waiting for hubby to come home and fix it. Thanks for the opportunity to figure things out for myself Corey Arnold but don’t get any ideas ;-)

 

21 September

 

did not know there were still applications out there to block! Been slackin' =D

 

22 September

 

The weirdest things remind me that my best friend is away. Like putting the clothes in the dryer. Not my fave thing to do and wouldn't usually associate it with Corey Arnold (since I'm not known for my domestic skills) but nonetheless, that was the catalyst for the melancholy moment last night.

 

Connor Arnold seriously needs your help!!! He's on the yearbook staff for Fort Campbell High School and is required to sell 11 more ads for the yearbook at $50 each! PLEASE (that's begging, not yelling) if you have any reason at all to advertise in the Fort Campbell area, please let me know. He has been asking everyone he sees and he has until Oct. 1!

 

Thanks Missy Scrivner for supporting our yearbook efforts this year! Good luck in your Scentsy business!! Feel free to post a link to your page below if you like :)

 

23 September

 

‎10 cc's of coffee. STAT!

 

was tripled booked tonight. Decided to stay home and finally do that homework. A little sad to miss Bastogne Homefires, though :(

 

"Well, you're a girl, Mom! You're designed to do everything at once!!"

Deployment Journal Month 4

24 July

One quarter. 3 months. 25%. 1/4. That's how much deployment has gone by so far. I wonder what the next 3 months will hold for us.

is only social on facebook. That's just how it is :)

25 July

is really proud of Cydney Sizeler Miller, Jensen Ellen Hart, and Jurnee Carr for representing Tennessee so beautifully at nationals!! Good job girls. Phil Frazer is a very lucky director :)

26 July

doesn't need everyone's contact information--only the important ones ;-) If you're one of my important contacts, please message me your number and address. Thanks. (Not sure if you qualify? I'll let you decide. LOL!)

still needs a brilliant plan to sponsor an ad page for suicide prevention in my son's high school yearbook and the TN International pageant program book. Which sounds better to you--a garage sale/fund raiser or Mary Kay sale/fund raiser? First deadline is Aug. 14.

27 July

Is gonna brave the Y today then take on the clothing room at the Ranch! Cue superhero music.

Enjoyed Olive Garden with my boys tonight. That is until Caleb said, "Mom, have you given up on your diet?"

28 July

is so grateful for the help of friends while we take this "little" trip; Lillian Ruiz-Orellana for spoiling our pets, Melissa Leonguerrero for being on guard of our home, April Christenson Tupper and Paxton Tupper for putting up with us--I mean putting us up, and of course Chettie Cole for having yet another teenage boy inhabit their home.

29 July

is tired of the one week's worth of clothes I brought on this 1 month visit--but I don't have the heart to complain about it in the face of knowing that friends lost everything in the fire yesterday and would probably be thrilled to have one week's worth of clothes right now :(

must have done something realllly bad!! The TV in my room is gone! In other news, I wish I could have been there for Military Spouses' Day with the rest of my Bandit ladies!

30 July

Is about to cash in on my Dutch bros coffee drink Connor owes me. I'm going o order something cold, decaf, & sugar-free: everything coffee is not s'posed to be

31 July

Wants to reboot.

Thinks you should come down to the Canyon County fair and say hi to me!

1 Aug

‎'s eyes are leaking just a tiny bit.

‎'s phone now operates normally. So much phone drama.

2 Aug

Managed to score a decent seat-mate for the bus ride to CIY.

3 Aug

First order of business at Corvallis CIY--clapping clinic/tutorial. We are now learned clappers.

is so thankful to Kaylea Scott for bringing an extra towel for her brother and deciding that he A) didn't need it or B) didn't deserve it. Now to find a sheet!

6 Aug

Kicked it old school tonight with Robin Sigars who spoke on the influence that his wife had whie dying of cancer. Felt like I traveled back in time 22 years.

7 Aug

In my pocket is a challenge--a mission--if I choose to read what it says, I must agree to do what it says (if I have any semblance of integrity) or I can throw

would love to tell you more about the week's events at the Christ In Youth conference, but has just been informed that what happens at CIY stays at CIY. . .

is posting a vital sign check for Robyn Randall, Carrie Carlile Odell, Magen Kelley Roberts, Melissa Settje Ice, and Nancy Everest Odell: Pulse? check. Respiration? check. Facebook status? check. :) See you girls later in the week!!

8 Aug

Well, unless the chair is supposed to feel like it's surfing ocean waves and the computer is supposed to look like it's dodging baseballs in a batting cage, I think I better get to bed before I get car sick sitting in the living room.

is really impressed wtih Teenage Boy upgrade 14.0. It includes a partial tree-root removal feature when you down load the will-work-for-food software!

9 Aug

bags are packed. Ready to go. Well, mostly ready. I love you guys!!!!

Has got to be the only American driving cross country today with a dead shark along for the ride. Thanks, Arwen. Thanks, Mik.

Wyoming, we seriously have to stop meeting like this. No really. I mean it. =/

10 Aug

noticed that when you write a name in black marker on a clear ligjtbulb, you can't see the writing after the bulb is lit. (CIY reference. Anyone else notice?)

Hello Kansas! Didn't we just see you?

11 Aug

Is on th e final stretch.

This status marks the official end of summer for the Arnolds. Next adventure starts right now--better buckle up. :D

12 Aug

somehow got the kids out the door to school today. Did we just spend 3 days driving across the country (with a dead shark) or was that just my imagination?

Does anyone know if Awaken Salon and Day Spa in Hopkinsville has closed? The number is disconnected.

restocked the fridge. Please don't ask me to do anything else today!

does anyone know how to unstick an emergency brake on a suzuki vitara? At least I think that's what's wrong wtih it. It won't move in any direction, but it tries.

13 Aug

is gonna settle down with the kids to watch the next episode of Heroes. Only problem is we can't seem to remember which episode we left off or what happened since it's been over a month! Should be fun =D

14 Aug

Thinks it's awesome how confidently Caleb said he would take a look at Connor's car to see if he can fix it himself. He totally could, too!

also, found it ironic that we always joked about how many points you could earn for hitting moving targets while driving, and points on your driving record are exactly something that nobody wants. Ok I'm done now. Go back to your lives, citizens

15 Aug

We Are Marshall is one of the best movies I've seen in a long time. Of course I haven't seen any movies in a long time either; -)

16 Aug

I made a hard decision last month to withdraw from the TN Int'l Pageant. While I love competing, I just could not be ready by the deadline due to some poor planning on my part. However I'm still committed to suicide prevention and awareness and will continue to work with organizations that are dedicated to ending this tragedy!

could really use some help! Is anyone available Wednesday afternoon to help get Caleb to a dentist appt? Please msg me and I'll fill you in on the details. Thanks in advance!

17 Aug

has awesome kids.

Is not sure how this Pac NW girl ended up in the South. Texas--you are HOT!! And that is not a compliment!

20 Aug

Doesn't understand why clothing companies don't pay people to wear clothes that have a label so ridiculously large they resemble a walking billboard.

graduated from Military Child Education Coalition Parent to Parent training today! Now, if only I could navigate the Dallas airport =/

Is home and will not be going anywhere any time soon.

21 Aug

is proud of all of you that Ran for The Fallen this morning. Would have been there if last week hadn't been so intense!

just made a deal with Caleb Arnold to work on a book together: his art + my poems!! Can't wait to see how it turns out =D

Who's going to Jazz on the Lawn today?

22 Aug

is sporting a new blister on each heel.

23 Aug

Did Bella really just tell her father she was going on a date with Edward Cullen while he was cleaning his gun??

Deployment Journal Month 3

24 June

I had to watch this for my class (because it discussed an educational philoophy). So I thought I'd share with you, too. You're welcome! ;-)

needs help from any of my former students!!! I "get to" write a paper on my philosophy of education. If you could give me one piece of advice, from the student to the teacher, what would it be? Why? You can message me or post it here.

25 June

can't believe how few people want to tell their teacher how they should do their job!! Guess I'll just take that as a sign . . . unless any of my students would like to chime in on what advice they'd give their "old" teacher!

26 June

Help!!! Connor Arnold is using big words!! Doesn't he know I just got back from a PHILOSOPHY class??? I think I left him alone far too long . . .

In honor of those soldiers who gave the ultimate sacrifice. http://irunfortheparty.com/

I recently found out that Rascall Flatts is now partnering with The Jason Foundation! What is your favorite Rascall Flatts song? I may have to become a fan =D I have also added new sponsors--I will post them tomorrow because I really need to get to sleep tonight!! http://b1.jasonfoundation.com/

27 June

‎"I don't need to cuss. I know some big words." --Connor, age 16

only needs 57 more sponsors to reach my goal thanks to Lillian Ruiz-Orellana, Savannah Leyde, and George Arnold!!

29 June

was not prepared for the aftermath of my deep tissue massage! Ouch!

30 June

I think this might be when it starts to get hard. Loving and missing you Corey Arnold. But today's gonna be a good day no matter what! =D

1 July

To our Idaho and Colorado friends, we're heading to your neck of the woods next week! This is your only warning! Haha!

Word of advice for all you 1-32 Cav wives out there. if you order merchandise from the Bandit store in Cafe Press, do not be tempted to order from the "girl bandit" section unless your DADDY really IS a bandit. I'm just sayin'. And if anyone, who's daddy really is a bandit is in the market for an XL cap sleeve T, I know where you can get a great deal.  Ahem

2 July

loves to write. So WHY can't I get started on this paper????

Wanna have some fun? Friend my friend Daisy Martin and her cousin Matthew Maples. Why? Because they're trying to get 100 mutual friends by the end of the night. I hear there's some monopoly money in it for the 100th person. Good luck :)

Now, would I let my son friend people who weren't cool? huh? Seriously, what else are you gonna do tonight? Friend Daisy Martin and Matthew Maples. It'll be fun.

3 July

My work here is done :)

in a moment of weakness, downed some of the delicious alfredo that Connor Arnold whipped up for dinner last night followed by this comment from him, 'Would this be a bad time to tell you that you're really looking skinny these days?"

Countdown to Caleb Arnold's facebook page debut--14 days and counting!! Whoo hoo!

wants to talk to the organizer who planned the race start time for 7am.

4 July

‎5k this morn to honor our fallen heroes. So very thankful for our independence and freedom. I wish I could do more . . .

how many 5ks from here to Afghanistan?

‎"No," I keep telling Connor Arnold, "It's perfectly normal for a 16 year old to be addicted to classical Russian music. When I was your age, I couldn't get enough, myself!" Yeah, I just keep telling him that. (13 Days to Caleb's facebook page debut!)

watched a few fireworks go off in the distance decked out in glow bracelets with the kids (who thought they were at a Rave). I was figuring the lighting bugs would put on a good show if our "seats" for the fireworks (from the back yard) weren't so hot.

Top of Form

6 July

so excited for the two baby girls born in the past two days! Congrats to the proud parents of Eliana and Claire!

can't remember if Colorado Springs is humid or not. Missouri sure is!

thinks it's wrong for kids to give parents a taste of their own medicine. "Well Mom, sometimes you have to do things you don't want to do?"

Darn If we didn't miss the Meatloaf Festival in Flint Hills, KS. Maybe next year =D

ok, this van aint big enough for the three of us.

Made it to the Springs with the boys! Settling in for the night and wondering what to do tomorrow. Any ideas anyone? Haven't been here in 7 years.

7 July

temperature highs in the 70's today. I am in heaven! Now to stay hydrated. Gatorade, anyone?

Decision=Garden of the Gods. Any takers?

Connor, Caleb, and I earned our lunch today. Dinner, too (thanks Robin & Ed). Next time we get lost at Garden of the Gods, we'll fill the water bottles first =/

8 July

Just turned in the final project for my class! Had an awesome lunch with the Weathers today--it was so nice to meet you guys!!

9 July

is being chauffeured around Colorado Springs by Connor. We had a great dinner with the Bruners last night. And Smokey =D

Connor, when passing by the Powers Animal Rehab Center said, "Is this where you bring your cat when it's addicted to catnip?".

So, with a completely straight look on his face, Caleb asked if he could have a "man card" for his birthday. Perhaps if I can find one on sale =D. But only 8 more days til he gets his own Facebook account! (Awesome lunch with Vicki, Brandon, and Bri today!)

got attacked by a pilon in a construction zone! Connor managed to knock it off to the side of the road thereby saving the lives of possibly thousands of motorists :). (Pilon rhymes with Cylon. Hmmmm.)

10 July

‎"Caleb, what are you doing? I said 'brush your teeth' not 'brush your hair!'"

don't need no edjacayshun.

11 July

wants to publicly apologize to Paxton Tupper. There.

12 July

I love being back "home" for this time, but I find myself missing my Army spouse family today! Glad to have so many places to call home :)

It stays light really late here. It's kinda throwing me off a little.

13 July

Just wanna shout out to my 1BCT Chappie Spouses, Nancy Everest Odell Robyn Randall Magen Kelley Roberts Carrie Carlile Odell Melissa Settje Ice and little Eliana! BASTOGNE!!!!

14 July

Another shout out to the spouses of 1-32 Cav! Too many to tag--which makes us a force to be reckoned with! Hooah!

15 July

Technology--schmechnology. Who needs a BlackBerry anyway? Evidently not me =/

has 3 things to say 1) Zumba should be offered in a room. You know--the kind with walls that separate the weight lifters from the Zumba-ers. 2) WANASGites, I hope you like liver and onion birthday cake. What? I told Caleb he had 20 minutes to get out the door or . . . 3) Aspercreme!! Did you all know it actually works on back and knee pain?  And you didn’t tell me?

16 July

has a new phone and no idea how to use it. Hmmm.

17 July

Well, it is officially Caleb Arnold's 14th birthday! Happy birthday Caleb and we love you very much!!

The Sorcerer's Apprentice was an homage to physics geeks everywhere. And the guy who plays the kid saves Nicolas Cage's perfrmance.

19 July

Soooo, CarolBeth Crane Hawn made me cry today. Yep, she did!!

21 July

was a study of non productiveness today.

22 July

I can't believe the news coverage being given to a spoiled 20-something year old. Here are a few 20 year-olds worth knowing about: Justin Allen 23, Brett
Linley 29, Matthew Weikert 29, Justus Bartett 27, Dave Santos 21, Chase
Stanley 21, Jesse Reed 26, Matthew Johnson 21, Zachary Fisher 24, Brandon King 23, Christopher Goeke 23, & Sheldon Tate 27.  These 20 somethings gave their lives for you this week.  Lindsay who?

Benefit concert with Reilly right NOW at Eagle Christian Church. Come on down :-)

23 July

is surrounded by boys. Everywhere I look--boys! I'm so glad tonight is girls' night :)

is going out with the girls tonight, and Caleb Arnold says to me, "And you're wearing THAT?"