A History Lesson...

mixed with an ancestory lesson...for the screamers.

Tonight we were reading a free book we found in the mail (I requested it, it wasn't some random box stuffing) about Thanksgiving and the history of it and such. I flipped through it a few days ago, giggling at how I was going to present it to the screamers...segway to tonight. Picture us all snuggled down in the big bed, blankets securely tucked around the screamers and Mommy sitting between with a paperback....

M (Mommy) "Tonight we're going to read a little about Thanksgiving."

OS (oldest screamer) "Why?"

M "Because that's the book I picked up. Now sit down and listen."

I read a bit, details on why the Pilgrims head over and such. Then the coming over, then the landing and tada the intro to Native Americans.

OS "Is that Pappaw's grandpa?" pointing at a rather unflattering rendering of a man supposed to be Squanto.

M "No, but let me give you another lesson...Mommy's ancestors, people from a long time ago that are part of our family, were like these people" I point to the delicately drawn white woman wrapped in a shawl shivering against the cold "Daddy's ancestors were both these people (again the white woman) and these people (Squanto)."

OS "So we are Natip Amernicans"

M "Yes and no. Not fully."

OS sits back and chews on that for a little while before he interrupts a bit on the Three Sisters (beans, squash and pumpkins for the uninitated). "Momma, where are all the Natip Amernicans?"

Ah, I've been waiting for this one...I really have.

M "You know that green vine we see when we're going to KY...the kudzu?"

OS "Yeah?"

M "Well, the white people were like that vine. They weren't from here, they were transplants. But they grew like that vine. They spread out all willy nilly and just took over everything. They pushed the Natives out or crushed them, just like that vine. The Natives were told that they had to leave and live on a little bit of land...they couldn't stay where their people had always been, couldn't hunt there or plant gardens."

OS sits quietly for a moment before looking up and saying "That wasn't very nice, was it Momma?"

Sigh..."No baby, they weren't."

I think, just maybe, I might be raising a kid that is a deep thinker...lol. Wonder how he would react to the Trail of Tears story (sadistic ain't I?) after all...those were/are his people too. I'm saving the plight of the Irish for later.

Random Update...(and a rant)

Let us begin with the rant, shall we...because I can.

Dear University of Phoenix (more specifically my Academic Advisor and Financial Advisor),

WHY THE HELL ARE YOU SCREWING WITH ME!?! You screw up the "paperwork" but as usual it is the little guy that suffers. I want my f'ing Pell Grant and I want it last week. Just so you know, I'll be on the phone with you AGAIN in the morning and every morning until I have the $$ in my account. It should have been there two weeks ago, then again this week...now you are saying December...UNACCEPTABLE. Don't F**K with me...DON'T.

Now that is out of my system...

I have discovered that I really, really dislike doing dishes (could be that's why the Spouse did them). I miss the Spouse, I miss his doing the dishes...sigh. The screamers miss him too of course, especially when Mommy goes all Drill Sgt on their rears (the tone, look and volume work really well for a reason). But hey, I gets results...no toys in the floor as a look around right now. Such good little dirtbags...I mean privates...I mean screamers, yeah, screamers.

The Spouse seems to be enjoying his time in OK for the moment...he's all excited about the intense PT program more than anything else. Whatever floats your boat babe. Since he is a 'student' and not a 'trainee' he gets to chitchat on his pre-paid cell during his free time. But then again, I think that is an AIT thing anyway...not sure. I know it wasn't when he went through the 1st time, but hey things have changed and they got to be all nicey nice now (did you know that BCT enlistees carry around stress cards so the Drills can keep tabs on them...stress cards for crying out loud).

At any rate, we are getting by...biding our time 'til that 1st check comes in and hoping nothing gets cut off (electric, phone, etc) 'til then since University of Phoenix is a bunch of dumb a**es (see above rant).

As to the few that have emailed me about my thoughts on Hood...you've heard back from me. Have nothing to add here except all of the fallen, the wounded and their families are most definitely in my thoughts and prayers.

Been posted before...

and it's out there floating around on the net...but I just gotta put it here. Why? Because I can and I want to...just a little reminder that our heros in uniform are very often followed by heros that aren't.

The Military Wife

The good Lord was creating a model for Military Wives and was into his sixth day of overtime when an Angel appeared.

She said, "Lord, you seem to be having a lot of trouble with this one. What's wrong with the standard model?"

The Lord replied, "Have you seen the specs on this order? She has to be completely independent, possess the qualities of both Mother and Father, be a perfect hostess for four or forty with an hours notice, run on black coffee, handle every emergency imaginable without a manual, be able to carry on cheerfully, even if she is pregnant or has the flu, and she has to have six pair of hands."

The Angel shook her head. "Six pair of hands? No way!"

The Lord continued, "Don't worry; we will make other Military Wives to help her. And we will give her an unusually strong heart so it can swell with pride in her Husband's achievements, sustain the pain of separation, beat soundly when it is overworked and tired, and be large enough to say "I understand" when she doesn't and "I love you" regardless."

"Lord", said the Angel, touching his arm gently. "Go to bed and get some rest. You can finish this tomorrow."

"I can't stop now", said the Lord. "I am so close to creating something so unique. Already this model heals herself when she is sick, can put up six unexpected guests for the weekend, wave goodbye to her Husband from a pier, a runway or a depot, and understand why it is important that he leave."

The Angel circled the model of the Military Wife, looked at it closely and sighed. "It looks fine, but it's too soft."

"She may look soft," replied the Lord, "but she has the strength of a lion. You would not believe what she can endure."

Finally, the Angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek of the Lord's creation. "There's a leak," she announced. "Something is wrong with the construction. I'm not surprised that it has cracked. You are trying to put too much into this model."

The Lord appeared offended at the Angel's lack of confidence.
"What you see is not a leak. It's a tear."

"A tear? What is it there for?" asked the Angel.

The Lord replied, "It's for joy, sadness, pain, disappointment, loneliness, pride and dedication to all the values that she and her Husband hold dear."

"You are a genius!" exclaimed the Angel.

The Lord looked puzzled and replied,
"I didn't put it there."

-~Author Unknown~

At this very moment....

I'm watching something that is more than a little disturbing. I am watching streaming video from NASA as they crash a $79M rocket into the moon...$79M...and that's not really the most disturbing part.

The part that bothers me the most is this: Doesn't the moon affect our planet? Tides, weather? Is it really so vitally important to find water on the moon that you risk screwing up the order of nature and the universe?

I guess so. I hope, beyond hope, that they find what they want without too much damage....but I won't be holding my breath. It could take weeks, months, years to truly see the effects of this little science experiment...disturbing.

Edit to add: Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize

Seriously!? For? Lousy explaination for reasoning in my opinion...it's all based on what he wants to do, not what he's actually done. Again....disturbing.

OMG....

a familiar online/text term...but I'm not using it "that" way tonight. Tonight, OMG stands for Oh My Gallbladder!!

Attack of the great green bile producer! I've been under attack for a few days now, got so bad that at one point I was convinced I was having a heart attack...oy. No, I didn't run to the ER, no insurance would have racked up some serious bills. Besides, it was all brought on by stress over money (I know, I shouldn't stress over paper). Slowly getting better now, at least I can do more than roll on the floor in pain. The liquid diet I've been on has done wonders with the weight loss...7lbs in two days. Not really the way you want it to go, but hey.

All of this of course got me to thinking...what if? Sure my herbals were great help in mixing up some nice teas and muscle relaxing baths, but I had to actually hunt down info on what was going on....online. Of course, WebMD scared the bejesus outta me because it kept popping up with aortic dissection (it's scary, look it up) but never once mentioned gallbladder. That took a little prompting from Mom and Grandma. So now I'm looking at books that are good to have on hand for matching symptoms with issues (taking suggestions, btw). I know, I know...there's the internet, but please let's be honest...do you really, honestly think it's going to last forever? Yeah, me neither.

Off to drink some more tea and maybe, just maybe, eat some crackers.