Sending Christmas Cards and Cheer

Stonewall and I have finally decided to take the leap. The leap that every couple will one day eventually take. For the first time ever, we will be sending out our own Christmas cards. Yes, we know this is a huge commitment. However, we feel that our relationship has reached the point where we can send holiday cards from the both of us and make the time to do so for the next 65 years.

If you and your spouse have also reached this monumental point in your relationship, when you're writing out your cards make sure to include one (or more) for the following:

A Recovering American Soldier

c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center

6900 George Avenue NW

Washington, D.C. 20307-5001

"Christmas is doing a little something for someone." Charles Schulz

Picture courtesy of Morgue File

Nursery Rhyme Baby Shower

My mom, my sister, and I threw a baby shower for my cousin over the weekend. Let me just say that we are completely awesome at what we do. Its no wonder we are the go-to people in our family when their is an event to be planned. (I totally missed my calling by not going into the event planning business but, hey, I'm only 25, so its not like I'm at the end of my road yet.) The shower went off without a hitch (okay, maybe a few hitches, but nothing we couldn't handle) and our theme was a total hit. Everyone had a really great time and the mom-to-be was sent home with tons of new baby stuff.

We wanted the shower to be classy and laid-back, as well as creative and fun. We decided to go with a nursery rhyme theme, which is perfect for a baby shower for the obvious reasons, but it also provided us with so many options for the games, food, and prizes.

All of our foods were inspired by different nursery rhymes: baked macaroni and cheese - Yankee Doodle Dandy; roast beef wraps - This Little Piggy, etc. We even turned the food into a game by having teams try and guess which food the nursery rhymes inspired. Even the drinks had nursery rhyme inspirations!


The games are definitely the most fun part about showers. Our invitations were based on the rhyme, Monday's Child, and we also used the invitations and rhyme to play a game "predicting" when the baby would be born. We also played Nursery Rhyme Pictionary. Nursery rhymes are so much more fun when they have to be drawn instead of recited. My favorite game was based on Baa Baa Black Sheep. We filled three jars full of cotton balls and asked the guests to guess how many "balls of wool" there were for the master, the dame, and the little boy who lives down the lane. Our final game was not based on a nursery rhyme, but I highly recommend it for a baby shower. It was called My Water Broke and there is nothing as funny as a bunch of grown women vigorously sucking on ice cubes.

We incorporated nursery rhymes into the games prizes as well. We put each gift into a different gift bag and we put a nursery rhyme onto the front of the bag that correlated with the prize: knife set - Three Blind Mice; crock pot - Pease Porridge, etc. The game winners had to pick their prize based on the nursery rhymes. So not only did the mom-to-be get to open gifts, but the guests did as well.


And of course, no shower would be complete without favor baskets. We bought green and yellow baskets and stamped "A tisket, a tasket" onto the handles. We put bread mix, pumpkin butter, a love bean, and cookies shaped like dogs and snails in the baskets with little notes we made with whatever nursery rhyme the favor was based on.

Overall, the shower was really great. And I think we also impressed our guests with how many nursery rhymes we were able to work into the shower. If you're planning a baby shower and you want some really good ideas based on nursery rhymes let me know and I'll be happy to pass along our inspirations!!

The Star-Spangled Banner

"The difference between Americans and other people on earth is that Americans would rather die on their feet than live on their knees."

George Washington

With how often we hear our national anthem, it is possible that sometimes we forget the true meaning behind its famous words. The story behind the Star-Spangled Banner is one that hits close to home for many other well known moments throughout American history. Our national anthem is not just our country's song, it represents America's way of life. Please listen to the following speech, a very touching and moving rendition of our national anthem's history.

The Star Spangled Banner, Like You've Never Heard It

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Being Thankful

I know what it is like to be half a world apart from my husband and because of that, I know how truly amazing and wonderful it is to be with him, and for that I am thankful.

Washington, DC

Stonewall and I took a four day weekend. For the past six weeks Stonewall has been working non-stop, weekdays and weekends, so he was ordered to take a 4-day pass. With the holidays coming up, we decided to save some money and we spent the first two days at home. However, a vacation would not be a vacation if you didn't go somewhere. We decided to take a trip to our nation's capital. (To get the full effect, please say the words "our nation's capital" as Forrest Gump would say them. Try it. You'll feel better.)

I love Washingon, DC. As does Stonewall. I love cities, in general. I could probably never actually live in a city because I would feel the constant need to wash my hands every time I touched anything. I do love visiting cities though. The hustle and bustle, and there is always something to do. In good ol' Po'dunk, PA businesses (and we're talking any business, even those of the food and beverage variety) close down by midnight. Even the bars which stay open until 2:00 AM tend to stop serving food after 11:00 PM. I love a place where I can call for Chinese at 3:00 AM and get chow mein delivered. Plus, and Stonewall wholeheartedly shares this enthusiasm, there are museums. Lots and lots of museums. We are both lovers of history. I prefer the pop culture history, whereas Stonewall goes more for the "stuff they teach you in school" kind of history. And let's face it, DC has all sorts of military monuments, so any American and military member can't help but feel an extra sense of pride while gracing our nation's capital. So needless to say a place like Washington, DC gets us both super excited.

I've got to admit though, my favorite part about any vacation is the food. It's not like they don't serve normal American food in DC, because they do and a lot of it. What they don't serve is Po'dunk, PA food and halleluhjah to that! (My perfect date is dinner at a restaurant. Restaurants are amazing. No, I'm serious, I'm not mental. Whoever came up with the idea to create a common eating place for people not of the same family, was a genius. People watching on a park bench is fun, but watching people interact at the dinner table is a whole different ball game. Not mention awesome food you didn't have to cook and plates you don't have to clean.) DC does not disappoint in the way restaurant choice. When we had to make reservations on Sunday night, I was ready to cry. There were so many choices and they all made me very happy.

We finally decided to eat at Legal Sea Foods. Stonewall and I both grew up with crab crackers in our little fists, so a good seafood restaurant with a raw bar: heaven. Of course we had to start with oysters. Yes, raw oysters. Everyone should try an oyster at least once. Just remember, don't chew, just swallow. Pile on some cocktail sauce, lemon juice and take that puppy down. We also had their famous clam chowda, which has graced the table at the past six Presidential Inaugerations. For dinner we both indulged in lobster. Stonewall had the clam bake with a two pound lobster and I had the lobster pot pie. Out of all the seafood places I've been, this one gets an 8 out of 10. (They didn't have the oysters I wanted to try, so they lose a point for that and I'm pretty sure there was a scallop in my lobster pot pie, so that's another point.) However, this is a very high 8, almost a 9.

We're already making plans to go back to DC again. A few things to remember for next time:

• Museums close at 5:30, so get an early start.


• Take your blood pressure medicine if you're driving.


• Take your compass, map, GPS system, nerves of steel, "Oh Shit!" bar, a crowbar to pry your nails from your husband's arm and learn to read the stars if you're the navigator/passenger.


• Go to Union Station first or a Metro parking lot because parking does not exist anywhere else in DC unless you have a permit or $40 in quarters.


• If your husband is breathing and he has access to a video camera, he will zoom in on your boobies even though the entire museum is watching.

"Thank You" Is More Than Enough

Stonewall does not like to go out in public in his uniform. He is very proud to be in the military and he will talk your ear off about how great it is to be in the military. However, when it comes to going out to dinner or stopping off at the store after work, he prefers to change into civilian clothes first. Now as much as I love seeing Stonewall in his uniform, I can't say I blame him. He knows, and I know, people are not trying to be rude or offend him, but sometimes people really need to think before they speak.

People have a natural curiosity about soldiers. I know I did before I met Stonewall, and I still do now. Whenever I see a soldier I wonder, "Where has he been? Where is he going? When was the last time he saw his family?" Being curious is not a bad thing and if the opportunity arises it is more than okay to say, "Thank you." However, unless the interaction between my soldier and a civilian is more than a mere passing, please stop there.

Stonewall likes when people thank him. I think its because it helps all the sacrifice and stress seem worth it. He knows that despite some bad press, Americans do support him, if not necessarily the cause. Here is the thing though. He does not like to hear that they don't support the cause because it is his cause. The war, the support of Iraqi civilians and the support of any oppressed/hurt/dying people, that is part of what he fights for, part of what he believes in.

My soldier does have an opinion. God knows he has lots of them. Stonewall will not share them with you. Like all soldiers, he does his job without question not only because that is what he is trained to do, but also because he has a sense of pride and loyalty no man can touch. My soldier does like to know that not only are you behind him, but also behind his cause. Stonewall is human also, and it can be hard to hear that a person does not believe in what he believes in.

If you want to thank my soldier, please do. Let him know that you support him and that you believe in him. You do not have to support the war, you do not have to like our president or government, you don't even have to be tolerant of foreigners, but Stonewall does not need to know that. My soldier will defend you and fight for you no matter how you feel. Trying to convince him that the war is wrong and that our president should send his daughters to Iraq, does not boost his morale.

My soldier wants to fight for you to hate him or to love him because he knows that is the right way. The great, no, the amazing thing about American soldiers is they are willing to die for those who do not support them or their cause. Take the time to thank all soldiers, and thank them with all of your heart and let them know that you are behind them 100%.

Picture couresy of Morgue File

Lend An Opinion!

Sarah is a sociology graduate student working on her dissertation on changing conceptions of public and private in contemporary society. She is asking personal bloggers to help her out by taking a survey about their blogging habits and perceptions of public and private in the blogosphere. If you have any questions you can email Sarah at ford@soc.umass.edu.

Over at SpouseBuzz, Andi brings us a special showing of Dancing with the Troops with Service Wars: Bust-A-Move Edition. Once you're done laughing your ass off put in your two cents on which branch can get their groove on the best.

TMI

Stonewall has never been a fan of the whole Facebook/MySpace fad. I never really understood why. I have accounts with both sites. I like to update them with new and exciting life events. I also use the sites to keep in contact with friends. They were always harmless tools to tell the entire world all about me.

If you're smarter than me you probably understand the downfall of these sites right about now.
That's exactly what these sites are for: To tell the entire world all about you. When you make a profile for yourself on these sites, you are letting everyone know where you work, where you live, how old you are, how accessible you are, and what you look like. True, most people post these things to keep their friends and family in the know. Unfortunately, the information on these sites can be used against you by people you do not know.

This past Friday I realized just how bad these sites can be when I received a letter from an inmate. An inmate in jail for murder. An inmate in jail for murder who is up for parole in February. Oh yeah, and he obviously has my address.

First of all, I don't know that he got my address from one of these sites. To begin with, I don't post my address on these sites. However, I did post the name of my work and that is the address he sent the letter to. With today's world wide web of information, if you have a name, it is not that hard to find an address. The inmate is from Ohio, so it is not likely he found my name through any means except the Internet. While I can't be 100% sure, my instinct tells me he found me on Facebook or MySpace.

I was able to locate more information about my secret admirer on the Internet. Like I said, with today's technology, it isn't that hard to find the information you want. In 1984, he was incarcerated for the murder of an adult female and he is up for parole in February of 2008. Now my instincts also tells me this guy is not looking for his next victim. I do think he was just a lonely inmate looking for someone to talk to. However, I, in no way, asked to be contacted by inmates, so I feel this letter was completely inappropriate.

The Internet is not bad. In fact, it is quite helpful and just plain useful. However, as the need and dependency of the Internet grows, the easier it is to become a victim of someone who uses the Internet for illegal purposes. It is important to remember that what you put out there on the world wide web can be read by your neighbor, as well as by a complete stranger halfway around the world.

Perception is Everything

My dad married a German woman. I mean, literally from Germany. Eventually she moved over to the USA and they got married. She also has a 10 year-old son from a previous marriage. Germans, Europeans, are very different from Americans. They live on a completely different level from us. I don't think one way of life is better or worse than the other way of life, but they are different. I had to laugh though, when I found out how different our perceptions are of what a soldier does.

One evening the son was marching back and forth across their living room.

"What's he doing?" my dad asked.

"Oh, he's playing soldier. He's a soldier," the wife answered.

My dad started laughing.

"What?" the wife asked.

"Well, if he were an American boy playing soldier he would be shooting at the enemy," my dad said. "It's funny that he thinks all soldiers do is march. No wonder every time someone is in trouble they call America."

We Need to Talk

Dear Army National Guard,

As you are aware, I am very fond of you. I am a frequent wearer of your personalized clothing. My refrigerator is decorated with your magnets. If you were a football team and played the Navy, I would be in the stands shaking my green and brown pom-pom. I like you. I must because after all I married you and one of your soldiers. However...we need to talk.

I am quite upset with you at the moment. How is that an organization can plan and win an entire war, but it can not pay its soldiers in a timely manner? I realize you are quite busy. In Pennsylvania alone you have over 20,000 soldiers. So how can one measly little army wife expect that HER husband will be paid in a timely manner when there are so many others that need paid as well?

Allow me to explain what I expect. A few months ago you sent Stonewall on TDY. However, even though YOU were ordering Stonewall to TDY, WE had to pay for it. This included hotel, food, and some travel. As our paychecks are already allocated to savings and paying bills, we had to put his trip on our credit card. Finally, as per your instructions Stonewall submitted his travel voucher no less than five business days following his return home.

As you can see, we have done our part. Yet, you have not done yours. Months later we still have not recieved the money that is owed to us. While I realize there is nothing Stonewall or I can do, but write this letter as a blog post, American Express does not feel the same. AE still expects payment every month (with interest) whether or not the ANG provides us with the money to make those payments. And once again, while I realize there is nothing Stonewall and I can do, but complain to one another and my wonderful readers, if we refuse to pay AE until the ANG pays us, AE can and will send our debt to a collections agency.

I do believe two months is enough time for you to have processed Stonewall's travel voucher and return our money to us. I also don't think its too much to ask to expect re-payment in under two months. If you can make a phone call and expect soldiers to be locked and loaded in under 24 hours, I don't see why with a flick of your magical AK-47, you can't have your financial wizards reimburse us in under two months.

I appreciate your attention, if not expediency, to this matter.

Sincerely,
(army)wife