The Adventures of Maisie, Part One

Yesterday morning, just after sunrise, the kitten jumped into bed with us and was crawling around near my face.  I instantly realized something was amiss judging from the odor wafting from her small body.  Apparently, she had stepped in her poop on the way out of her litter box because she reeked.  I rushed her upstairs and proceeded to douse her paws in the faucet.  She started yowling, and before I knew it had wriggled her way into soaking most of her back as well.  Fortunately, about then, Brandon came upstairs to rescue me and he held her while we shampooed her tiny self.  She was NOT a happy camper.  I was trying to clean her belly and she kept tucking her tail firmly between her hind legs and curling up into a ball.  When we finally succeeded in rinsing her, I wrapped her in a towel and started drying her off.  She kept shivering and huddling into a ball.  I felt bad for her, but we didn't have many options at that point.  I carried her back downstairs with us and tried to comfort her as best I could.  Still shivering, she crawled underneath the covers between Brandon and I and proceeded to clean herself for the next hour.  Somewhere about halfway through, she began purring, and I smiled because I knew all was well with Maisie again.  Silly little bean.

I couldn't get a very good picture, but this is her under the covers cleaning herself.  She looked like a drowned rat at this point.  :-P

Article Link - Toy Gun Exchange

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/bay-area-elemntary-school-holds-toy-gun-exchange-172910646.html?vp=1
Don't get me wrong - I don't think this is a bad idea at all.  But I wonder how effective it will be.
Not to sound harsh, but my brothers were never allowed to have toy guns, were not allowed to watch movies or television shows featuring guns, and they still grabbed the nearest stick outside while playing pioneer and called it a gun. So, good luck, guys.  Incidentally, none of my brothers have ever discharged a firearm in a harmful manner.  They are all responsible, law-abiding citizens.
Personal opinion?  Any time you forbid a kid to do something, you make it more an object of interest.  Why not redirect instead by having honest open discussions about the importance of safety?  Why not have an age-appropriate discussion about the difference between right and wrong?
In my opinion, it's like avoiding the topic of sex because it's uncomfortable to talk about with your child.  Wait too long, and your 12-year-old daughter has already been verbally sexually harassed and had no idea how to respond because you didn't equip her for the harsh realities of life.  What's more, because you didn't take the time to talk to her on a personal level, she's probably not going to come to you and tell you what happened either.
I'm not a parent, and even if I were, I would not have all the answers.  But I firmly believe being honest with your children in an age-appropriate manner is always the best policy.  You can't hide them away from the world forever - it will find them at one point or another.

We Can't Help You - said no customer service rep worth his pay ever.

"We only suspend the contracts of active duty military service members for a year. It's not a service we provide to their families," said the sales rep with the spiky hair at the Verizon counter.  "You know, we want to thank them for their service to their country, but we can't do that for spouses also."  His tone conveyed complete disdain for my request and my presence in the store.
"That's interesting," I replied.  "Military family members serve their country by supporting their soldiers."
He said he guessed that was true, but they couldn't help me, and then added that they have started cancelling phone lines even for deployed troops when they've suspended their service for longer than a year.  It's costing the company too much money to offer them indefinite suspension of service during deployments, he continued to say.  I stared at him like he'd suddenly sprouted a giant fungus out of the middle of his forehead, because clearly something was impeding normal brain function for him.  His complete lack of manners was unbelievable.  Maybe one of his super-hold gel hair spikes had inverted into his cranium...?

When I walked into the store, I had walked in with command sponsorship documentation in hand, my military dependent ID card, and a smile.  I left with a lot of angst and unanswered questions.  They had only guaranteed my suspension for up to 90 days.  They told me I would have to re-process the suspension every 90 days online or via telephone.  They didn't even look at my orders or my ID card.  They literally didn't care who I was.  *facepalm*  I happen to know that was all BS, because when I worked as a civilian employee of the DOD, they suspended my service for a year, no questions asked.

I felt more than a little bit of righteous indignation.  I tried not to show it on my face, or in my tone of voice, and I refrained from saying what I was actually thinking.  But I wondered if Mr. Spiky Hair actually has an idea what it's like to be a military family member.  Did he really want to cross a newly-wed military wife who put her husband on a plane after only 5 days of wedded bliss?  Who is probably going to get only a few weeks with her husband in Germany before the Army sends him off for a class for two months?  Do ya really wanna go there, sir?

Upon reaching home, I called customer service, which I should have done in the first place.  The agent answering the phone was friendly, helpful, and apologetic for the manner in which the store sales rep had treated me.  She was able to process my request and suspend my service indefinitely from the starting date which I requested, until I notify the company to renew my service.  She apologized again for the inconvenience earlier, and wished me a safe and pleasant trip to Germany.  She is the only reason the company isn't getting written up to the BBB.  I don't know her name, but I'm thankful for the ray of sunshine she left me with, and her genuine compassion.  All I really needed was someone to process my request with a friendly attitude.  And she provided that.  She should train Spiky Hair as her padawan, except I'm pretty sure he's already gone over to the dark side.

In retrospect, I should have just asked him to suspend my service one month for every ounce of hair product he had applied that morning.  I would have probably been set.  (pun intended)

My Bucket List for the Next Year

I thought since I'll be spending nearly another whole year in Germany, I would make a bucket list of the things I most want to do while I'm back in Europe.  Although Brandon and I did a lot of cool things the last year, there are a few left on my priority list that we missed the last go-around.

So, in no particular order, here's my "bucket list for Germany".  ;-)

1. Take a German class (or two)

2. Visit Dachau - somber, but important I think

3. Travel to the U.K. - preferably make it to Scotland and England, and maybe even Wales

4. Go to Switzerland and visit where my ancestors are from

5. If we go back to Ireland, buy a recipe book that tells how to make Irish bread and soup!

6. Visit Berlin

7. Travel to Vienna, Austria 

8. Paris, France?

9. Visit the Waterford crystal outlet I've heard about

10. Travel somewhere exotic, like Morocco, Istanbul, or Greece

We'll see how many of those I actually get around to.  Hah!

Here's to the next grand adventure!!!

"Dandelion" - a poem by Patti Neal

Dandelion you’re like me

Set adrift to ride the breeze

Drifting here and settling there

To grow as if you have no care

Only those like you will know

The sudden rush to rise and go

On any current you will flow

On any weathered wind you’ll blow

In any sea, on any tide

On any ground, you will abide

And you never do decide

Just where you’ll go, or how you’ll ride

Around the world, among all kinds

Flying with no tie that binds

Always leaving friends behind

Trying not to show you mind

Dandelion I’m like you!

Of my future, I’ve no clue!

I put down roots that have no glue

So I’ll move to somewhere new.

Patti Neal Cadwallader 2009