Party Update

Thank you to everyone for their gift ideas. To answer Susan's question, sometimes for bridal showers the host(ess) will give each guest a time of day to purchase a corresponding gift for the bride and groom. Mine was 8pm. I ended up getting them a bathtub table that stretches across the tub. You can rest a book and a glass of wine on it. I also found a sleep mask (although I don't use them) that said "not likely." Which I thought was funny.

As far as the party...no comment.

Why We Should Get Rid of West Point

Did you see this article???

Why We Should Get Rid of West Point

By Thomas E. Ricks

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Want to trim the federal budget and improve the military at the same time? Shut down West Point, Annapolis and the Air Force Academy, and use some of the savings to expand ROTC scholarships.

After covering the U.S. military for nearly two decades, I've concluded that graduates of the service academies don't stand out compared to other officers. Yet producing them is more than twice as expensive as taking in graduates of civilian schools ($300,000 per West Point product vs. $130,000 for ROTC student). On top of the economic advantage, I've been told by some commanders that they prefer officers who come out of ROTC programs, because they tend to be better educated and less cynical about the military.

This is no knock on the academies' graduates. They are crackerjack smart and dedicated to national service. They remind me of the best of the Ivy League, but too often they're getting community-college educations. Although West Point's history and social science departments provided much intellectual firepower in rethinking the U.S. approach to Iraq, most of West Point's faculty lacks doctorates. Why not send young people to more rigorous institutions on full scholarships, and then, upon graduation, give them a military education at a short-term military school? Not only do ROTC graduates make fine officers -- three of the last six chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff reached the military that way -- they also would be educated alongside future doctors, judges, teachers, executives, mayors and members of Congress. That would be good for both the military and the society it protects.

We should also consider closing the services' war colleges, where colonels supposedly learn strategic thinking. These institutions strike me as second-rate. If we want to open the minds of rising officers and prepare them for top command, we should send them to civilian schools where their assumptions will be challenged, and where they will interact with diplomats and executives, not to a service institution where they can reinforce their biases while getting in afternoon golf games. Just ask David Petraeus, a Princeton PhD.

Thomas E. Ricks is a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security and author of "The Gamble," about the Iraq war from 2006 to 2008. He will discuss this article at 1 p.m. on Monday at www.washingtonpost.com/liveonline.

Bachelorette Party

I've been invited to a coworker's Bachelorette Party this coming Friday. I've been asked to bring a gift for the couple that corresponds with 8pm. Any ideas???

My husband told me to get her a "hobby" that she can do so she doesn't nag her husband-to-be when he isn't paying her any attention at 8pm...hmmm....should I take the hint?

My male coworker mentioned getting her microwave popcorn...um...that is exciting?!?

I thought maybe bubble bath and fancy pajamas...satin sheets...b/c in our house 8pm is bath time...well, JMS's bath time...but bath time none-the-less. But, I don't know the size of their bed. I checked her registry and she doesn't have any linens on it. Grrr.

So...help me with ideas you married folks.

Teething Monster

JMS is working on his two year molars...any takers? I had to peel him off of me on Saturday so I could go to work. Poor little guy. Eat a Popsicle for him. :)

Random Thoughts

So, in my family you must be careful of your "inside jokes" because those material items affiliated with the joke might just follow you to the grave. One of the many things that happened to my grandmother in her life was that she had to have stomach surgery because it flipped and got twisted up...much like what happens to dogs. Well, the running joke was that she ate a blue bunny a.k.a. Easter Peep the wrong way. I guess my sister will demonstrate for you below the right way vs. the wrong way. You are supposed to eat the ears first...and grandma apparently ate the face first. What other explanaition is there for her stomach doing what it did? Well, we also needed to teach JMS how to properly eat a blue bunny...so his photo follows. Oh, and yes, there are blue bunnies in her now deeply buried casket. Be careful of your inside jokes. :)
JMS demonstrates and expresses sensory delight!If you haven't tried it, crocheting is a great and therapeutic distraction for times like these. I made this toddler poncho for Zoe in about a day. Quick pattern: Size N hook, Chain 35, SC first row, Chain 2, DC approximately 15 rows and tie off. Make two rectangles and stitch together; each rectangle folds over one shoulder. Fringe is optional.

Last thought for the night. Grandpa is teaching JMS how to dig for buried treasure. Apparently Grandma's flower pots grow pennies. :)

And...stay tuned for this beauty's graduation from USMA on 5/23/09. If you ever need an emotional boost...call her phone and she'll call you Ma'am or Sir. Haha...it makes me smile everytime.

Be sure to check out Kim's blog and guess at what this child hood thing is/was that she wanted oh so much...that her hubby finally got for her. She won't tell us until people guess.

Thank You

We buried my grandmother today. I'd like to thank everyone that sent cards, flowers, and/or prayers. I'd like to thank my cousin Jennifer for watching JMS and knowing that raising a good happy child is possible.

It was a long day for my grandfather. We started with a 10:30am visitation (wake) at the church, followed by a 12:00 noon Catholic mass. Then, we convoyed to the graveyard (about 6 miles) and buried her. I'd never been to the St. Joseph's (new) Cemetery. Then, we navigated our way back to the church for a lunch reception. By 3pm I know my husband and I needed a dose of Tylenol and a nap. So, when I heard grandpa say the same I knew it was time to go.

On the ride home I asked my husband what funny story he'd tell in my eulogy...and he said...how he thought Lobster would be the way I'd go...our first vacation together was to the Bahamas (trip c/o spring break dancing). I ate Lobster for the first time and got food poisoning. This is not recommended in a foreign country where all stores are closed on the day you are sick. We were in a hotel room no bigger than a 12 x 12 bedroom with only one bathroom, too. Man...he says, "if I can endure that..."OK, so I didn't think this story was very funny. So...friends...if he tries to use this story, tell him you've already heard it. :)

Dinner To Try

Dirty Rice...never heard of it, but they were making it on the food channel and I had similar ingredients. Key word here is SIMILAR. He he.

Kielbasa ......... I used Sweet Sausage
Brown Rice..........White Rice
Celery.....skipped it
Green Pepper.....Green Pepper
Garlic........Garlic
Onion........Onion
Thyme....Thyme
Chicken Stock........Chicken Stock

Brown up the meat and the Veggies...and then add the stock and rice and boil off the liquid. I added some salt and pepper and called it dinner. Mm mm.