Above All.

29. February 2008 · 2 comments · Categories: Uncategorized · Tags: ,

Greetings from my Annual Tour at Shaw AFB, SC!!! For two weeks out of the year I’m put on orders to work in my “real” job — the position that I’m trained to do should I get activated full time.

For these two weeks, I put on an “active duty” hat and work on Director-of-Operation tasks with the full-time active duty Director of Operations for the weather squadron my unit supports. I’ve been gainfully employed on various tasks that I could manage in my two week stint…nothing too long-term, which is nice. I got to talk on the phone with someone in Egypt this morning 🙂

This week was also the launch of the US Air Force’s newest ad campaign: “Above All.”

They mean “Above All Adversaries”, by the way, not “Above All Other U.S. Armed Services”.

I’ve already seen the commercials on Foxnews and the USA Network: “Meet SSgt Jones of the Air Force CYBER-COMMAND!” I guess if I wanted to sell the Air Force to a young man who really enjoys, say, playing his Wii, showing someone fighting our cyber-enemies will do it!

Based on what I’ve read about the campaign, we can expect to see ads aimed towards parents and other adults who influence kids’ lives…similar to those Army Strong commercials where the announcer is saying, “Parents, if your child wants to discuss opportunities in the Army, please listen.”

If anyone is reading this who has a kid considering service in the Armed Forces, please do listen. We need good people.

Pioneer Woman’s Chocolate Pie

24. February 2008 · 1 comment · Categories: Uncategorized · Tags: ,

Pioneer Woman had posted this recipe for a chocolate pie right before Valentine’s Day, and I had briefly pointed out her latest posting, but didn’t get around to actually trying the pie until tonight.

I’m improving from my bout with the flu, and had enough energy to catch up on chores (laundry, vacuuming, general straightening of the house). I made arrangements to start my 2-weeks tour on Tuesday instead of Monday, which bought me another day to pack and prepare some meals for the boys in my absence.

I came across a spare ball of pie dough from when I was planning to make two quiches for my Stampin’ Up party last Thursday. Since turnout was pretty small, I opted to just make one quiche. So I blind-baked the pie crust and went forth to make the PW Chocolate Pie filling. I took PW’s advice and used the raw eggs, blending each one for 4-5 minutes before adding the next.

From 2008 02 24 PW…
From 2008 02 24 PW…
From 2008 02 24 PW…

This was a resounding success! Using pure baking chocolate with sugar made such a RICH chocolate flavor. I couldn’t even finish my sliver-of-a-piece…it was most delicious, so rich.

A General Malaise

22. February 2008 · 2 comments · Categories: Uncategorized · Tags:

For the first time ever, I think I might have caught the flu from the flu shot I received last week at the Air Force base. I can’t remember the last time I had the flu, if ever! It showed up with a vengeance yesterday afternoon. The aches, fatigue and general “blahness” is a real damper on my day-to-day life. Luckily I don’t have too much going on between now and Sunday, but I hope I’m well enough Sunday evening to make the drive to Sumter, SC for my “two-weeks-per-year” Annual Tour.

Dave’s been an angel — he’s taken the lead with the kids and has given me a chance to get as much rest as possible. I think he understands that I need to be well for work for the next two weeks. He’s awesome!

The good news is that I’ve been able to lounge around on the couch eating bon bons…okay, no, I’m kidding. I’ve been able to rest and work on a crochet project, which doesn’t take too much brain power.

Other good news is that Timmy seems well, and Jake has a runny nose, but no other signs. I’ve been chasing them around the house with the ear thermometer about every 2 hours just to be sure.

Dave had a commitment at work at lunchtime, so I’m staying home with Timmy, and with enough medication (in me, not him) it hasn’t been had. Timmy’s been very good, coloring, painting and now he’s sitting nicely watching “Cars” and working on puzzles.

Feeling the Pain…

19. February 2008 · 1 comment · Categories: Uncategorized · Tags: , ,

I’m not going to say too much about this, since I’m just a weather weenie in the Reserves, but I have been noticing the USAF getting a lot of press about how we’re suffering manpower cuts and cannibalization of aircraft to keep our missions viable in the Global War on Terror, while the Army and Marine Corps are being funded to increase their ranks by thousands.

Never mind that for every increase in Army capability, you need Air Force airlift to fly them to the fight, Air Force aerial refuelers to gas the airlift, Air Force close-air-support to help the ground troops, and Air Force PERSONNEL to support various facets of their requirements(among those personnel are weather folks — read the Air Force Magazine article linked with “PERSONNEL” to learn more about the “Battlefield Airmen”).

I have no idea who this guy is, but he’s doing “Combat Weather” with an Army Aviation unit.
Apparently someone is launching quite the press campaign about it.

As Forrest Gump would say, “That’s all I have to say about that.”

So this is what South Carolinians eat!

05. February 2008 · 4 comments · Categories: Uncategorized · Tags: ,
From 2008 02 03 Ki…

Paul and I were making our monthly junk-food shopping trip Friday (recall my post about Rice Krispie treats from January) and this time we stopped at Super Walmart, since it was across the highway from the number-five-choice-for-dinner Japanese joint, Osaka. While Paul stocked up on such junky fare as bottled water and Odwalla bars, I mostly browsed…and found these!

Piggies in Pancakes…ON A STICK! When you’re too lazy to even use a fork! So I guess it’s a breakfast corndog?

‘Nuf said.

PS: Neither of us bought those piggie things, but I found Stauffer’s Valentine’s Day shortbread cookies…they’re heaven!

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Sumter on a Payday — Laundry Poll Results, too — Like Mother, Like Son

02. February 2008 · Comments Off on Sumter on a Payday — Laundry Poll Results, too — Like Mother, Like Son · Categories: Uncategorized · Tags: , ,

Greetings from Sumter, SC! I’m drilling this weekend, but I have wireless in the lodging room on base (so long as I’m near the window, and not at the desk). That’s me, the “Moody AFB, GA” hit on the Feedjit.com applet on the right. The open internet access routes via Moody AFB, I guess.

What else is there to do in ever-so-rockin’ Sumter on a PAYDAY Friday night??? Paul and I tried to go to four different restaurants this evening before settling on a Japanese diner-type joint, the first one we tried was a place Dave and I got to try last month called Red Bone Alley. I had the most delectable “Low Country Shrimp and Grits” and the kids’ play area was pretty cool.

So we went there, and it was closed. Not just closed…CLOSED. Another party was standing in front of the darkened glass windows, gawking at the white paper signs taped up, reading “Red Bone Alley is Closed for Business”, “Thank you Sumter”, and “Please Visit our Florence Location”. As of this writing, I don’t know the circumstances. I’ll keep you posted.

We got back into Paul’s rental car (a Cruisin’ Lightning McQueen red PT Cruiser) and attempted Logan’s Roadhouse (steaks), since there were no parking spaces, we didn’t even park the car there. Then Chili’s, where we saw people standing outside in the chill waiting, and finally Outback Steakhouse. Paul found a parking spot right up front — several, in fact. That gave us hope, but when we asked the matire ‘d, she said it was a 55 minute wait. This was at 8pm.

So off to Osaka Japanese Steakhouse we went. This wasn’t a tepanaki-type restaurant we were expecting, but more like Hibachi-Xpress in Cary/Apex. You can order the hibachi-type meals, but they were cooked in the back (minus the showiness and fanfare, I’m sure, so it was much quicker) and brought out to us. I enjoyed chicken and shrimp with broccoli over rice. It was pretty good, but the carrots served on the side seemed, well, soul-food-ish. They were glazed carrots, unusual for Japanese cuisine.

I remember growing up in Norfolk and from my 2nd lieutenant days in rural Louisiana how payday in a military town would transform a community into a frenzy of eating out, going to movies, and hitting bowling alleys, pool halls and dance clubs. I don’t see it as much in the NC Triangle, but around here, on payday weekend, get ready for crowds!

I have the results of the “laundry poll”. Since I only had 13 responders, it’s not like it’s a Rand Corporation or Brookings Institute authoritative study or anything, but here goes:

13 responders
3 do laundry daily (23%)
6 do laundry somewhere between daily and weekly (46%)
4 do laundry weekly (30%)

Does that add up to 100%? I think so…I got a lot of positive feedback from friends who said “Hey — I’ve been wondering the same thing, thanks for asking the question!” Maybe I can continue my polls, putting those topics out there that you maybe discuss with your friends during playgroup, at the park, or while sitting in the carpool lines at preschool. Let me know if there’s one that you’re interested in me posting — I’m open to suggestions!

I’m currently going through my Picasaweb album, cleaning out some of the older albums to make way for new stuff coming in this year. I’ve been using Picasaweb since March 2007 (Maryann, you clued me in to this, if I remember correctly) and you get 1 GB of space for free. I’ll be trying to keep it that way. I could pay more for more space, but I have good backup at home.

I almost deleted the pictures from this album, but I think I’ll keep it on for a bit longer to give you guys a chance to smile. Jacob went through a hands-on-his-hips photo posing phase last spring, when he was about 4 1/2. Found out from my Mom that I did the same thing, at the SAME age! And she found PROOF:

From 2007 05 13 Ha…

Jacob: Spencer, NC in March 2007

From 2007 05 13 Ha…

Patricia: Somewhere on the Big Island of Hawaii, June 1978

(This came from a scrapbook my Mom made for me, explaining the word balloon. YES, that’s a dress. NO, I’m NOT wearing pants even though I really should be. YES, that little tote bag reads “Patty”…I had that bag for years!)

Enjoy!

But No One is Chasing You….

11. January 2008 · 4 comments · Categories: Uncategorized · Tags: ,

I run.

“Why?”

Several reasons. I guess reason #1 is because the Air Force said I have to.

“But the Air Force said you only have to run 1 1/2 miles for its fitness test. You’ve run as many as 26.2…why?”

I guess my routine running is 3-4 miles at a time…once upon a time a “light” run was 5 miles, but I’ve since slacked off. The kids have sapped that extra energy right out from under me. Why? Reason #2: it’s good exercise, good for cariovascular health, and it provides a good-all-over sense of accomplishment.

Okay, here’s the skinny. I had it in my head that if I maintain this running lifestyle, I’ll end up one of these slender-ultra-fit MILF-types. I’ve been running since age 18 and I haven’t gotten there yet. It’s been 16 years…I need a new goal.

Running, to me, is fun and relaxing. My training runs are usually pretty laid back, and recently I’ve been exclusively running when both boys are in school, so I get some peaceful time to myself.

One of my oldest friends (i.e., she’s been my friend for the longest, she’s not THAT old), Susan, has recently started running and is ON FIRE! In two years time she went from barely surviving a 5K to being entered into the Boston Marathon this April! You go girl! She’s been motivating me to keep goal by looking for races to compete in, but I’m afraid I haven’t been so good at that. I’ve run a couple races with her and she’s pretty fast!

So there you have it — I like to run. I wish I had the time to run more, and perhaps when I have a little more control over my life I can get involved in a running club…maybe when I get to Nebraska I can do that. Some guys in my AF Reserve unit are forming an AF Marathon team for this September and I’ve love to be part of that, but I can’t see myself getting the 8-10 hours per week you need dedicate to training this July/August.

Enjoy a few pictures from my running days.


From the 2000 Air Force Marathon. Dave and I completed it in about 4 1/2 hours and it’s among the great achievements in our respective lives. That was a lot of fun! Ask me later about crying my eyes out in the middle of a Labor Day 2000 22 mile training run. Yep…lots of fun!

This is Susan and me each taking home trophies at a 5K in Suffolk, VA. It was snowing pretty rigorously during the race, but by the time we completed the awards ceremony, it had all melted and the sun was shining. Susan was the overall female winner, while I took home 1st place in my age group.


Okay, I can’t believe I’m telling the public about this one. Photography was prohibited inside of the ranch, but here’s some more information about this particular race. Clothing was optional, and Susan, Dave and I elected to run it CLOTHED. Maybe next year we’ll be more confident, who knows…Susan was the 4th place female overall (3rd in our age group), while I was the 4th place female in our age group. Dave finished between the two of us.

Hankerin’ for Naners

08. January 2008 · 2 comments · Categories: Uncategorized · Tags: ,

I was straightening out my pantry this morning and came across a semi-old box of Nilla Wafers in the back of the snack section. (Yes, I have sections, but that’s for another post). I tasted a couple and they seem okay. Not super-crispy, but definitely not stale.

So I thought of how I could use them up…the first choice, of course, is to put them in the boys’ lunch boxes every day between now and next week.

But then…I was reminded of a homestyle southern style restaurant I went to for lunch in Warner-Robins, GA last month.   Called Owens Boarding House, it’s an old fashioned soul food joint.  Dessert that day was banana pudding — the REAL banana pudding, custard-style vanilla pudding, meriangue on top, etc.

So that’s what I set out to do. If you rip open the cardboard Nilla Wafers box, the recipe is on the inside of the back panel (I believe it’s ALWAYS printed there — in English AND Spanish). But it’s also here if you’re interested.

I didn’t have enough cookies for the garnish, but I think the meriengue will be pretty enough.

I don’t have a double boiler, but I have a great set of stainless mixing bowls that can be popped on top of a pot of boiling water that works just as well.

It’s in the oven right now, and so far so good. This might be my first successful cooking blog post!! Whoo hoo!

PS: Tonight’s original dessert option was going to be a 7-Layer Jello (courtesy of Paul G.), but I didn’t have enough Knox gelatin in the house. You need 1 1/2 boxes (6 packets).

PPS: I know I butchered the name of the light, whipped white layer at the top of the dessert. Merangue? Meriengue? Meringue? Perhaps that last one! Yes, that’s the one I’ll use.

<— PPPS: It’s done! Isn’t it yummy-looking! To bad there isn’t scratch-n-sniff blogging here.

Hi Honey, I’m HOME!

07. January 2008 · Comments Off on Hi Honey, I’m HOME! · Categories: Uncategorized · Tags: ,

I returned from my drilling a couple hours ago. Dave had a wonderful dinner waiting for me of chicken, rice and green beans with a homemade sauce. He melted a slice of provolone cheese on the chicken, it was a white wine sauce garnished with fresh bacon bits. WOW! He’s been doing the cooking for the boys while I drill and lately he’s been doing some experimental stuff on the Sunday nights, just before I get home. It’s fun to taste his creations!

So I had Dave get a picture of me in my uniform…I realized there have been no pictures of me in my day-to-day uniform since late 2004! This was right after I got home tonight, so I’m looking a little beat!

Am I Being Watched????

05. January 2008 · 1 comment · Categories: Uncategorized · Tags:

Greetings from South Carolina!
You’ll be pleased to know that my blog yesterday about my Air Force life generated some interest from HQ Air Force and HQ Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC). I have a background statistics generator (http://www.statcounter.com/, it’s pretty cool!) collecting info about which domains are checking out my blog. No, I’m not NSA. Just a statistics geek who enjoys numbers!
I’m wondering if the 60th Anniversary of the AF Reserve image I put in the post (which is linked from afrc.af.mil) prompted the military to check that I didn’t say anything I shouldn’t have.

But I could be wrong. It could be a friend at the Pentagon who checked it out for all I know.

Part of me is thinking, “Am I really so important that someone at the Pentagon has to check on me?”

Another part of me is thinking, “Does the Air Force have TIME to go into us little peoples’ blogs?”

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