Gina's Ramblings

I do not know much about the area other than the stuff I learned doing a quick Google search. From what I have seen though it is quite beautiful. The beaches look spectacular and some of the event look like so much fun. I am not sure i would want to purchase any dubai property. I would love to lounge in a more European flair :p but I am sure Some of the places would e fun to live in

This post sponsored by www.dubaiventure.co.uk

I have been working hard to keep this house in tip top shape. I have gone back to trying out FLYLady. While I must admit I am not doing EVERYthing that she says. I am doing more of her suggestions and I am cutting down on clutter. Cutting down on my clutter and those "hot spots" has helped keeping this house up to par ;)

Now Cingular: The New AT&T. The change...will it be MORE than just a name change? I can only hope I really hope that the changes include changes in service quality. I laugh...seriously laugh out loud each and every time I hear "Cingular with the fewest dropped calls" Yeah well they haven't been to our neck of the woods!!
Even up the I5 corridor we get so many dropped calls. It is rather frustrating and I am just lucky I have shown enough restraint to NOT throw my phone out the window! Maybe an upgrade will help me? AT&T cell phone This one is supposed to be the new launch after the switch. And since I AM in the market to upgrade our phones anyway...
The new thing here is the state trying to pass a hands free law. The military bases have already passed that law, pretty much every branch every base. I have been doing some research on the various hands free options. Oh my goodness there are so many options now. No screaming to be heard on the seakerphone or anything. The whole Bluetooth capabilities are amazing. I will definitely make sure our next phones have that capability. I can only hope that the weak service does not make Bluetooth a frustrating experience as well!
I think this change CAN be a positive thing. That is if the companies use this merger as an opportunity to do more of a combine forces and combine resources and improve the service in the areas that need it (cough cough like here!) I would hate to be disappointed and then have to change my service ;p

Is on the ball. Two days now. It seems like he HAS heard that resounding POP as the cranial rectal interface has corrected itself. This morning he got up in a great mood, Got his bed made, room clean, got a shower, got the dishes put up and even helped his brother! I know what a change huh? Now if it would be consistant I would be happier. Heck he is even wearing his hearing aid!!

In all of the shifting around to make the house ready for a growth in our family numbers I have been doing a lot of window shopping for furniture. I have found that childrens furniture has improved by leaps and bound and would even qualify as stylish furniture -Stylish furniture at FurnitureMinute.com. Especially little girls furniture. Then again maybe it is because we have all boys that I love the little girls furniture?? hahaha
You know though eventually I would love to buy a complete bedroom set for DH and I. I am truly tired of our mix and match bedroom

Hubby called again tonight. Of course he wanted to chit chat as he did his shopping for things we unfortunately forgot to pack, like ummm a TOWEL! Yeah it has been a few years since he has been on a ship in our defense. Being on TDY and having a hotel and maid service has spoiled him...and made me forgetful.
But still talking with him is great. Gives me the butterflies and all when I hear his voice on the phone.
Awww hell I am hopeless

I guess I am finally catching up with the 'times' and I am realizing how the new technology changes are helping the working world. WiFi is such an asset now. We all know that a with a successful business and business person everything does not happen at a desk or in an office. Being versitile and mobile is the key to success in my opinion. Having all of the correct tool at your disposal is especially important.VOIP well heck did you see them delve into the whole VOIP thing on what was it CSI Miami danigt I cannot remember now

Punk is for kids. Wait that doesn't seem right hmmm. My youngest. My music lover. He sings his favorite song. You should hear him sing "I Wanna Be Sedated". OK not singing really but he fakes it REALLY cute. Have you all seen that Chips ahoy commercial when they sing "Punky Chips Ahoy OI OI OI " ? Miniman loves it!! he jumps around saying "oi oi oi oi " OMG it cracks me up!!
Here is the commercial


I really need to get him on video singing and dancing.

Ok lately a lot of my posts have been centered around PayPerPost and all of the greatness that surrounds them. Like I threw in that greatness comment? Hey I know what side my bread is buttered on! haha The website Rockstartup is a reality show on the whole inner workings of the organization. Hmmm organization sounds like they are the mafia or something. Well, we all know there is no such thing as the mafia ;) They have had some interesting movies/episodes on that site. So far, from the ones I have viewed though the one about the weight loss challenge. OK first of all. The whole weighing yourself in front of all of your co-workers. Holy heck talk about bravery! Dang a nice reward might motivate me. Hmmm what shall I reward myself with? hahaha. I like the whole reality of it. DUR it is a 'reality show' but the truth of the struggle to lose weight and stay on a plan. so truthful! I really want to know the outcome. But then again I love to spy into folks lives hehe

well today was a better start for DS#1. I can hope his day at school is also better right?? Cross your fingers. I love the boy don't ever doubt that. But he also makes me want to bang my head into a wall hahaha. Ahhh the joys of raising children. Well I need to do one more post and then head downstairs to clean (yippie do dah).

I heard from my husband tonight for the first time since he left a week ago. It was heaven to hear his voice again.

been awhile. I have been sort of MIA on the blogging thing lately. I have been busy trying to keep things afloat I guess. getting the house ready for the inspection, painting (OK So I watched paint dry but didn't apply it lol) . So I slacked off on my blogging. Including the PayPerPost blog entries. Now How do I know I slacked off a bit much? Well I didn't have enough to make the car payment in my account! Grrr I had to get it from the other account to make the payment. I know boohoo huh?? Still I need to step up and get to posting. Anyway since I stepped back up to posting again I see a bunch of changes a PayPerPost. the least of which is the fact that there are some EXTREMELY high dollar post offerings up to $1000 for some of these posts! Holy moly!! When I get to the point of qualifying for those types of sponsored posts I could get the car paid off in a heartbeat. Come on Google page rank go UP!!!
Plus a little tidbit I learned on the PP blog ad network site. They only take a 35% service fee as opposed to another company that takes a 100% sercice fee. Meaning the poster only gets a miniscule pay-out. Booo

Let me preface this by saying I am not so naive to think that my soon to be teenager never swears when he is around his friends. That is not the issue nor has it ever been. I know he does it and he knows that I know. I also told him that I know it happens but he has to watch his mouth in front of adults including teachers etc and women. This coming from a woman who can outcuss a sailor (hanging my head in shame).
OK to the story. My beloved eldest got in trouble this morning. He neglected to do his chores and I called him out on it and told him I am DONE and he needs to step up and do his part. So I guess he was in a bad mood.
Fast foreward to 7:30am. The bus driver "B" calls me. B says that my oldest dropped several F bombs and referred to his B of a mother. LOUD!! She said stop, he didn't so she wrote him up. This offense is one he COULD get kicked off the bus for.
I went to his school had him pulled out of class and I had a talk with him right then and there about his language, lack of respect and attitude. His advisor sat in on the conversation as well. He wil not get kicked off of the bus this time. He will have lunch detention for the week. I also insisted he write a letter of apology to the bus driver. The advisor agreed. But I tell you the whole "the world owes me, it is everyone elses fault, entitlement" BS is old.

As I like to say "Lord grant me the patience to endure my blessings"

you like me now? OK well maybe not that dramatic of a question or anything. But we all know, by we I mean all of you illustrious readers, (all ummmm five of you) that I advertise using PayPerPost. It isn't a huge pay-out but it pays a bill It is nice to get paid to blog;) But I really need more traffic and links to my blog. The more links the higher the Google page rank. The higher the Google page rank the more posts I become eligible for. Well you all see the viscious yet delightfully devious cirle here. so anyway to the point. PayPerPost has a new program started where you can have your posts rated and rate others posts. Not to mention the fact that I will get paid everytime someone reviews my post. Please be gentle haha. And ignore the typos. I do not use spell check often.
I don't know I think it is a neat idea. What a way to get yourself out there and get more exposure. Plus a little constructive criticism may be a good thing. Though I do have to admit I tend to take hings a bit too personal. It is a personal flaw. I need to get over myself hahaha. Again I think it is a neat concept, not the getting over myself hahah the review my post program!

I have been doing more 'educational' reading moreso than reading for pleasure. I have read 4 books on adoptive parenting and helping children adapt and cope etc. I have picked up another book I read a long time ago called 'The Surrendered Wife'. A good read but I guess a bit contreversial. I need to let control of more things go But living the life we do it is difficult. Handing over the bills to my husband? Yeah NO. He isn't home long enough nor does he even know what the bills ARE! lol
I need to read other stuff...enough of this improving myself BS HAHAHAH

Let's face it adopting is not something that you do to earn money. Anyone who thinks that doing foster care is a way to EARN money has never had to pay to raise a child before lol. so I guess you could say a bit of charity comes into it too. I really try to teach my children the meaning of giving. How by giving the biggest gift is actually to yourself. In a society where it is all about 'what can you do for me' i am doing my best to teach them that it is rather what can you do for others. There is this movie coming out called "the ultimate gift". It comes out March 9th. You can get a glimpse of the movie and movement at www.theultimategift.com. This is the official site of the movie "The Ultimate Gift" and the grass-roots movement its starting to help charities and give to others.


i really do think that the world would be a much better place if more people were willing to do just one thing for other. Just one. Even if it donating money to your most heartfelt charity. Or donating your time. Which let's face it is more valuagble at times than our money. If you think about every person doing one thing we could probably do away with the need for so many things so many programs to help others. If we all chipped in maybe there wouldn't be anyone who was in a position to need help anymore. Eh maybe that is a bit too much of liberal thinking on my part?

I am not a pink type of gal. Really is so not my favorite color. I am not a girly girl. I am more comfortable around the guys in jeans and whatnot. But lately I have been getting things that are pink. My reasoning was totally selfish. I figure if it is pink the guys in the house are less likely to use it. My Wii skin. Pink. I am considering upgrading my phone to a pink Razar too. The problem is this. Let me just give you the quote and you all can laugh along with me "Mom I am secure enough in my manhood to use things that are pink" Grrr foiled again by those meddling kids!

Those words. They strike fear in the hearts of mortal man, of maybe just the mortal advertiser? Hmm I don't think we will ever know. Or maybe I do know and I am just not telling ;P.
Well it turns out I do have the secret scoop. I know how can a stay at home mom in the Pacific Northwest have the inside scoop on a national company. Well the truth is, I have my ways. Moms know all. Did your childhood teach you nothing??
Were is the thing the big announcement.... Well it all comes down to one thing. WMD's. That is right folks weapons of mass desctruction. The reason we have not found any in Iraq... PayPerPost has them in a secret cache. The location, well I know but I cannot divulge that information for fear of the hit PPP squad showing at my door to silence me. I can tell you though that in order to hide the fact that they have had the WMD's for so long they have spread lots of misinformation. Leading the United States into a wild goose chase for something that is on our own soil. Oh wait I have said too much. Just wait for the announcement then we will ALL know
Call me a conspiracy theorist, call me a mad woman or simply call me a postie making a post to make money blogging. Call me what you must

I have dreams about dh cheating on me of leaving me etc on a regular basis. Damn that sounds bad. Especially when he is getting ready to leave and play sailor or when he is gone. I have chalked it up to my subconscious being PO'd at him for being gone or leaving again. Since in reality I just deal with the separations and look for the good things. The honeymoon period every time he comes home, or the time to work on ME and what I want to.
Anyway back to the point I had another dream my husband cheated on me. This time I wasn't grief stricken and I wasn't panicky. I was pissed. I wanted revenge. I got on the phone called some people and went out to a club and had a smashing good time ;p
Maybe I just really want to get out and have some fun (not the revenge part though LOL)

**disclaimer for the husband***
When you read this honey no worries about more critters save the heart attack for later hehe
***end disclaimer**

As promised I took the boys out to get Bettas. While in the store son #1 ran into son #2 who was holding his betta and DROPPED it. We did a quick change for a new one. I didn't want a fish who had shaken fish syndrome or anything.
DS#2 got a cool tank that has a little LED light that we found out after we got home with the fish....doesn't light up!! He got a pretty red betta. The fish has been dubbed by the little man as Red Octane. Octane for short haha
DS#1 got a pretty blue one who was named Killer Jr. in memory of his betta we lost during the power outtage.

So we have more creatures in the house now.

Is snoring. I think he knows I miss the hubby and is trying to fill in for him :p

That when our kids are grown and out of the house that I will not have any issues to it just being the husband and I.
When he is gone I miss him a lot. Not just the extra adult to help feild whatever but I miss HIM. I miss his company. I actually enjoy being around him. I know I know we are not supposed to like each other because we are married and all ;P But hey I guess I am a rebel lol
I guess it is just one of those nights. The house feels big and empty and I feel alone.

To my little pirate





Yes in the picture he is making a very convincing "arrrrgh" sound haha

His birthday isn't until the 22nd but we had an early celebration dinner. A lasagna dinner...heck everyone was happy.
Excuse the messy house we are finally done painting that area downstairs and not everything has been put back.

Monday, February 19, 2007

When he put up the hearth gate he thumped his chest and proclaimed "I am man I build" When he put up the ceiling fans it was a louder thump but still the same sentiment. Hey he is man he does well. Definitely a keeper! Today he and the oldest tackled the garage!! yup you heard it they cleaned the garage and got my new freezer up and where it should be. By the way it is freaking beautiful (for a freezer :p ). it has all the bells and whistles and some electronic temp. monitoring system and an alarm if the temp gets low the door is left a bit open etc etc. So now I have a 21 cu ft freezer to stock up ;)
But I do have to say I am proud of my men for tackling such a daunting task today. They ROCK!

but I am OK with that. haha
OK seriously I am now a sheet snob. Less that 600 TC? "ugh like sandpaper!" This from a woman who never cared if the sheets even matched lol.
I went out and got some phad thai and some sushi. Let me say black dragon rolls THE BEST.

A real quick couple of pictures of the master bedroom. Sorry for the mess. Lots to reorganize since everything got moved.

My doggie is OK. I will spare you what taking a geriatric dog to the vet costs you when they run tests. But the good news, he does not have cancer!! they did xrays the lump is not a tumor. It is simply a swollen joint. When dogs get older just like people especially when they have arthritis joints can get enlarged. It was such an immediate swelling that didn't go down though I really worried. I am glad I went in though. I heart our vet :) He is a wonderful guy and a terrific vet. He also preformed a glaucome test on Taz. We have had some issues with his eyes. They get red and bulgy etc and he is losing his sight. The news there is.... he has "young eyes" no signs of glaucoma at all!! The chest xray and bone xray were clear. He now has some extra pain meds to help (we hope) and we are home and happy!

Well another year of no husband on Valentine's Day. Trust me SO not the first. Damn good thing we do not really celebrate the day or I might be bitter about it lol.
I always do something for the boys though. So another heart shaped pizza will make them feel all special I am sure ;)
I think I am more upset he is missing #3's birthday this year. But that is OK we are celebrating a little early. We are having a Blue's Clue's Party. DH got him some notebooks to play along with the show and I found him a thinking chair haha. So I figured I would go ahead and get the kiddo a Blue's Clues cake too. Tada an unintentional themed party.

tax time. Normally it is pretty boring for me. Let's face it, I haven't worked since I quit dispatching about nine years ago. For some reason, filing taxes has fallen to me, the farthest from a math wizard there is. I am not sure why but yeah it is my responsiblity. Normally like I said it is pretty darn boring I fill in all of dh's income information. All of HIS earnings. But guess what? This year I got to enter MY earned income. Yeah so it was nowhere near what dh makes in a year. Which the military is underpaid in some rates/jobs should any government types in power be reading this blog ;p . But last year in the few months I did work for PayPerPost I made almost $900!! I know some of you all are thinking yeah...so what? It is MY money. Money I have used to pay for my new car :) Well OK OUR new car lol but still hahaha. Now if I would be a better manager of my time I could get some more work in here and there. Yes I call PPP my Job I get paid to blog. Well second behind raising smart, independent wonderful children :) I cannot say enough good things about PPP and the things it has allowed me to do

I have:
Vacuumed upstairs and steam cleaned the carpets
It is sheet day so all of those are washed and dried
Got a load of laundry in
The upstairs bathrooms cleaned
half of my dusting and now it is almost noon and I am about DONE Well at least done upstairs here
Time to break for lunch for the baby and I. I have to sweep and mop the kitchen floor before I put miniman down for a nap.


But have I got any work done? Nope Any school work? Nope. But I do have the painter coming tomorrow and want everything ready for him

Talk about well rested!! I just woke up at 10 am. DH was super sweet and took over kid wrangling (it is a new olympic sport honest) and let me sleep in. It feels terrific.

OK well I have a lot of errands to run today So I am going to have to do that. Le Sigh.... I wish I had a wife or something. They run errands for you right???

I went today and picked up all of the paint for our bedroom, the kitchen, living room, and eat in kitchen area. Nine gallons of flippin' paint. The painter, yes PAINTER is coming on Tuesday to finish up everything for the builder and then do the painting I want.
My dear loving husband put up two ceiling fans in the living room along with two wall remote switches. They, the fans and switches, look fantastic.
Now for the pain.... My dog is nine now. He has had arthritis for a couple of years. The other day he went out and played and then could not make it up the stairs because he hurt so much. Today I notice a lump on his hind leg. I am not sure if it an extremely swollen joint or maybe something worse. I called our vet and we have an appt on the 14th. I am so damn worried. I know you all are thinking I am crazy he is "just" a dog. But he has been my buddy and companion since he was 8 weeks old. I know he is getting older but damnit I am not ready for anything to happen to him, you know?

In our talking about careers for the hubster when he grows up and stops playing Navy man. I brought up local law enforcement. His responce, "Nah that is too dangerous" It actually gave me a chuckle. Too dangerous?? With some of the places he goes. Seems like a step down adrennaline wise. Not that DH is an adrennaline junkie or anything.
We have a few years to figure things out

DH has duty tonight. So I will see him tomorrow afternoon. I was dead to the world asleep this morning whe he left too darnit. Today we have had interesting events like my youngest German Shepherd jumping over the stair gate going DOWNSTAIRS. He actually did it with surprising grace and agility. I was honestly expecting him to break a bone! Talk about a mini heart attack!!
Tomorrow dh is getting purposely sprayed in the face with pepper spray. Part of the security training or some other such nonsense. I never understood it though law enforcement and military make you get sprayed with the pepper spray to know what it is like so you can be certified to carry it. Let's all hope they don't institue getting shot in order to carry a gun huh???
Anyway after 24 hrs of duty and then getting pepper sprayed, DH will not be having the best of days tomorrow. I got out steak for tomorrow's dinner. I also changed bed set to the new one. I washed the nice high thread count brand new sheets and will put them on in the morning for him.
But you know what? Don't tell him, but he is right, we have too many pillows! I was taking all of the pillows off to move the mattress today. There are 7 pillows!! Why in the heck do we need that many pillows on our bed? That isn't including my body pillow LOL
Anyway I have a terrible headache and as is tradition DS#2 and I are going to watch Survivor

Why does my bottle of Ambien say "May cause drowsiness" ? I sure as heck hope it will :p

#2 told me the other day he thinks stars are the souls people who have been reincarnated and been through multiple lives. But they are done being reincarnated so they (the souls) become stars.
Pretty deep thougts for a little kid.

Tattoo.




No really It is mine. The angle is terrible I took the picture myself. But it is a Celtic motherhood knot. It is hearts intertwined, no begining,no end . It is supposed to 'symbolize' fertility (HAHAHA) and motherhood. The three circles represent the boys. I picked the color green because it is a color representative of life in my opinion.
When we adopt of if we happen by some rare chance have more biokids I will add more circles for those kids :)

Lots of stuff going on here. I have been fairly busy to say the least. I really want to keep up to date on my posting but it is just not working out like it should. I apologize