Long ago I promised Will that after he got back from his deployment he could get a more manly dog. A bird dog, to be more specific. His dog - that's how we refer to it...well, I guess "her" would be more appropriate, because I stipulated that it had to be a female dog.

So, in a few short months, the gals in this house will outnumber the men three-to-one. I'm not sure what color we'll end up with, but here is a little sampling of the breed. We're getting a French Brittany (she should be born sometime this Spring, March or April-ish), and I'll let you know when we know more! Right now we're planning an early summer trip out to Montana to pick her up! And, we're already thinking of names. It's kind of hard since we don't know what she'll look like, but if you want to weigh in, feel free!

Today I...

...had only one conversation in-person, and it was with the Macy's sales clerk who helped me find a new pillow. I did talk to a few people over the phone though.

...ate pho.

...strategized for the next three days which I will be spending in eighth grade math.

...tried to catch a stray dog in my neighborhood, but the darn thing wouldn't come near me, even though I had tons of tasty treats. Finally, I just piled up the treats on the ground and left. I hope the dog is fine, and good luck to whoever tries next to catch it. Argh.

...thought, as I was driving down the freeway, that I could keep on driving and driving (North to Canada or South to Mexico) and no one would even know. Except Maddie.

...realized that none of the organic products that I buy (well, I guess it would be product, milk, which I buy because it really does taste better) come in containers that can be recycled. That just seems, in some small way, to be very, very wrong.

Year-round school?


Nope, they don't actually have year-round school here, but they did just finish the first semester of school. School should have ended around the 20th of June, but due to snow days/power outages it looks like they'll be in school until nearly July. I wonder if they're allowed to celebrate the Fourth of July at school, or if it's one of those holidays that might offend someone...

Blessings and brownies...

This month I have been blessed with more work offers than I can take. I don't know what it is about the month of February, but everyone around here wants to take off! Unless anyone cancels on me, as of right now I will work every day this month except the 23rd, 26th and 27th. That's 17 work days for me this month...7 more than last month! The actual work I do doesn't always feel like a blessing, but the fact that I'm not just sitting around this last month before Will gets back is a huge blessing. I already feel like I'm nesting because I've been decorating like crazy, rearranging, and cleaning, cleaning, cleaning. Now that I don't have stuff all over, I can see the floors...the DIRTY floors! I really don't mind cleaning - what I do mind is dirt! As the time for Will to get back draws closer, I find myself keeping things tidy just in case he should come back early.

So, on to the brownies...A while back I decided to make brownies from scratch instead of from a box. They were super easy and I was amazed at how much better they tasted - pretty different from boxed, but so, so good. So good that my neighbor is still craving them (I had to share with the neighbors lest I eat them all myself). I have, over the last few years, become especially fond of chocolate, mainly dark chocolate. My dear, sweet husband sent me a box FULL of chocolates for Christmas...truffles, extra dark chocolate, extra extra dark chocolate, with nuts, without nuts and even with espresso! I decided that it would not be wise to eat all of this chocolate myself (except for the truffles, of course) so I decided to cook with it! Now, brownie batter calls for unsweetened chocolate, but you can use dark chocolate and adjust the sugar a bit for flavor. I've found that the best thing to do is to follow the recipe exactly, except instead of using chocolate chips, use chunks of the fancy dark chocolate bars my husband sent!

So here you are - a decadent, high carb, high sugar, high fat brownie recipe. The only thing that makes it better is the recipe that follows for Cappucino Frosting. Mmmm. Diabetics, beware. You probably shouldn't even look at these brownies.

Because Life is Short Brownies

4 oz. unsweetened chocolate
3/4 cup butter
2 cups sugar
4 large eggs
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup chocolate chips (dark, milk, white, peanut butter, etc.)
dash of cinnamon and nutmeg, if desired (especially if using the Cappuccino Frosting!)

In a large bowl, microwave chocolate and butter at high for 1 min., then stir. Continue microwaving at 30 sec. intervals until melted. Stir in sugar. Add eggs one at a time, beating with a spoon, until just blended. Stir in flour and vanilla, then chocolate chips. Pour into a lightly greased 9"x13" baking dish and bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 min. (until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean). Cool completely.

Cappucino Frosting: (adapted from Southern Living Dec. 2006)

1 envelope instant mocha cappucino mix
1/4 cup hot milk
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 (16-oz.) package powdered sugar
dash of cinnamon
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Dissolve mocha mix in hot milk, then cool completely. Pour mix in a bowl, then add butter. Beat with a mixer, adding sugar and beating until smooth.

Spread frosting over the brownies. Garnish with chocolate curls - Just take a vegetable peeler and peel off curls from a chocolate bar (preferable a dark chocolate bar with espresso added!). Make these for a crowd, though, because they are rich and don't keep all that well (a few days at most). Happy snacking!

Need a job?

This state employs more sign-holders than any place else in the world, I think. Every street corner in commercial areas has sign-holders on them. For new homes, liquidation sales, and deals on anything and everything else you can imagine. Sometimes the sign-holders are even in costume. Sometimes they dance (they usually have iPods). Sometimes the signs have too much to read or too small of print, so they're not likely to be very effective. These sign-holders are out there rain or shine (which means usually rain, so they're in bright yellow ponchos). I have no idea where you sign up to get such a job, but at least I know if times get tight I can get a job somewhere...I bet I could hold a mean sign.

Today I saw a guy holding a red, arrow-shaped sign. "Now Selling" was all it read. The guy holding this sign was wearing khakis and a red sweatshirt...no other identifying factors. He was on a corner of a busy intersection with dozens of stores in strip malls. So, I'm left thinking, now selling what? Again, not so effective. Or maybe I just don't appreciate the intricacies of this marketing strategy...because I think I might drive by there again tomorrow to investigate just what is sold now and whether or not I need it.

As of today I can finally say...


...Will is coming home next month!

Brrr. It's cold up here! Another round of icy roads for tomorrow's commute...good thing I don't have anywhere to commute to!

Even though I don't have to go out in the frigid weather, I'd much rather be back here...



...with a few of these!


Can you take a second honeymoon without your honey? Nah...I think I'll wait until he gets back. ;)

Mold...the bane of my existence in WA. This is from Will's truck. Guess this is what happens when a car sits for six weeks without being run in this climate. I've cleaned and cleaned and I think I've gotten rid of most of it, but I'm afraid it's down in the vents and in any and every other hidden spot. I hate mold.

Hope this isn't mold of the deadly variety, because I breathed it for the hour and a half it took me to clean it out. The guy at the auto parts store up the road said it's pretty common because of the temperature changes causing condensation in cars. Now I just need to start it up often and keep the windows open a bit when it's not raining (ha!)...It sure would be a whole lot easier if the battery weren't dead.

Think he'd mind if I just bought him new truck and had this one carted away while he's gone?

Random musings...

This morning I made the perfect pot of coffee. It's always hit or miss with me...I use the same amount, usually, no matter what brand I buy. There are so, so many to choose from up here, from small shops that roast their own beans, to local and regional brands sold at the grocery store. Because I love coffee, I even tried some organic blend once from a Seattle company. It was gross. I've read about brewing coffee on the internet. A few years ago I started using more coffee than I thought I needed and it started tasting better. Now, I've lost the touch. But not today...Today my Archer Farms from Target brand coffee turned out just right. Just. Right.

Last night some spouses from my husband's squadron got together to do one of those put-meals-together-and-freeze-them-for-easy-dinners deals. I've done this once before - my sweet neighbor offered to split the meals with me (because we both have just two adults in the house, and the meals serve at least four) and it turned out to be relatively cheap, definitely easy, and fun to boot. However, some of the meals were less than par, and we ended up throwing out almost a whole chicken. Last night we had a great time, aided by the fact that we brought desserts and wine. I made six different meals, and halved them, so that we have twelve meals for two (although some look like they will end up with some serious left-overs). I'm excited to try them as they all looked really good. I felt like I knew which choices would be the best for us after doing this once already. I'm most looking forward to the Adobo Chicken and the Shrimp and Pasta with Pineapple Salsa. I'm saving them for when Will gets home. One of the best things about the event was that the business is owned and operated by two military spouses whose husbands are in another squadron at our base. They give a 20% military discount...nice.

I'm taking today off...no subbing for me. I've been working almost every day for a few weeks, which I know sounds pathetic to those of you who work full time, but until moving here I have worked full time since college and let me tell you what - subbing one day is the stress of two days of a full time teaching job, if not more. You would think that with no lesson planning, no grading, no evaluations, no conferences, and no inservice it would be less stressful. But, in all honesty (and it is somewhat hard to admit), the planning and grades and evaluations and conferences and (ahem) inservice are all worth it because you KNOW your school, your kids, your administrators, and your curriculum. I walk in blind. Often with no lesson plans, no materials, no seating charts, no discipline instructions, no rosters, no CLUE. Unfortunately, this is more often than not. Yesterday was the FIRST day I've subbed and had seating charts and rosters and clear instructions...oh, and answer keys! (It was math.) I am exhausted at the end of the day because I've had to invent a day's curriculum by leafing through books, asking kids what they did the day before, and pulling tricks out of a hat, all the while trying to look utterly cool, collected and prepared. I've talked to other teachers, principals, and even the district office, and they all told me the same thing - the teachers ALL have a substitute binder provided by the district (they just have to fill it out themselves) and they go through training on how to prepare for a sub. Um...okay. I'm going to go ahead and say the training didn't work. Have they heard of reteach? But, this is my best shot at ending up with a full time teaching job next year. And when I get too ticked about it all, I can take a day off (like today). I'm very, very thankful for that.

Okay, now that I'm done ranting I'm going to enjoy my second cup of perfect coffee.



Oh, one more thing...Purely out of curiosity, I am wondering if all Wal-Marts around the country carry Organic Socks??? And not even some random local brand, but Faded Glory? I stopped in my tracks, stared for what was probably too long, and even laughed a little to myself (because I know no one else in our store would have thought it was funny). Organic Socks. Is it because the pesticides are carried through the cotton to my feet? Maybe one of you has the answer...

Six months ago...

Vows were made...


...there were sabers...


...and kisses...


...there was even a little rain.


There was dancing...



...and cake...



...and lots,

and lots,

of family.


Oh, and there was whooping.


At one point, there were even kazoos.

So six months later there isn't any dancing, or cake, or whooping. Not any family (here, at least) either. Definitely no kazoos. But there's love, lots and lots of love. Six thousand miles away, or right by my side. Love you, honey.

Happy birthday to my beautiful, funny, full-of-life, growing-up-way-too-fast niece, Anna! We love you & can't wait for your visit!

For the love of DVR...

I've never liked TV better than I do now. Obviously, since this is the second post about TV in a week. What makes the experience so much more enjoyable is our DVR. On this surprisingly sunny but bitingly cold Saturday, I am not outside soaking up the precious few rays of sun to hit our town. Nope, I'm sitting on the couch having just finished this week's episodes of Grey's Anatomy and Men in Trees. I have laughed and cried. Mostly cried. Grey's was so, so sad. And just in case I ever get depressed (because this might be the last day I see the sun for another three months), I still have American Idol: Seattle saved on the DVR. Man alive, it's a great, great invention.

Maybe it's because my husband is gone and I'm lonely...

Maybe it's because I've been working a lot in some tough classrooms...

Maybe it's because I hit my head really, really hard last night while cleaning under the counter...

Maybe it's because the weather is positively dismal, and the snow just won't melt...

Maybe it's because I know first-hand how strange the people can be...



...whatever it is, I am [only slightly] ashamed to admit that I'm watching American Idol and I absolutely love it. Can I just say that I think I have almost certainly run into several of these contestants? I'm pretty sure they work at the grocery store and the post office, and their kids go to school in my district. It's true.

No, these are not more pictures from last week. This is today - this morning. Apparently, someone wanted to try out doughnuts in our semi-cul-de-sac. I have a (strong) feeling it was the neighbor young-twenty-something whose SUV has mysteriously appeared in front of his mom's house...it wasn't there last night.



The kids here never have to go to school. Today there is a two-hour delay. At this rate, they'll be going to school in July. And just to note, this weather is very unusual for our part of the state. They even pre-empted Good Morning America so that the local news could keep us updated on the Winter Storm.

Threats of snow, more storms...I didn't know what to believe. It seems the weather reports are, more often than not, wrong for our part of the Evergreen State. So, when I woke up at 3 a.m., I decided to peek out the window to see the "snow storm," and guess what? No snow. However, waking up four hours later, here's what I saw...



Maddie was not such a happy camper having to go out in the snow. She paced the edge of the yard, right next to the fence, where the snow was barely covering the ground. She looked at me with big, sad eyes (and snow in her beard) and begged to be let in.



As I type we are in a winter wonderland, with big, heavy snow falling. And, to illustrate my point about the weather reports - Just an hour ago on the local news, the meteorologist said that our area would be receiving (today - he spoke in the present tense as if there were not already snow on the ground) a trace amount of snow, and in some cases up to two inches. So, according to the news, it is not snow in these pictures. And even if it were, it's certainly not blizzard-like, it's just flurries.

Here are the pictures I jumped off the couch to take in order to capture the "flurries." Pretty, huh?









So for now, Maddie and I will be curled up on the couch, fire roaring, enjoying coffee and knitting.

Knitting...

Thanks to Alicia I have become somewhat addicted to knitting. So far I have only done scarves, but I am working on my first hat. I had all of these big ideas of doing something fancy, but my skills are limited as of yet, so it will be pretty simple. I found a great yarn and fabric store in Olympia, and they offer free help on knitting projects on Monday nights. I just might become a regular.

I read in a knitting book (that I got for Christmas from my brother-in-law, Chris, who surely picked it out himself) that knitters often are so excited about the things they make that they give them away as gifts. So far I have given away six scarves and kept one for myself (with a second in the works). The other thing the book said was that not all recipients of said gifts appreciate the items as much as the knitter. All this to say - If I give you a knitted gift, I don't expect you to love it, or even wear it, necessarily. Rather, it is really fun for me to make things and it is fun to share the finished products! I promise not to make any sweaters (at least not for adults).

Just outside the gate at Incirlik, there is a street they call "the Alley", where there are a bunch of little stores selling everything from shotguns to furniture to glassware. Our squadron has made friends with one of the proprietors of a carpet shop and I had some requests to post them for all to see. Enjoy and Happy 2007.

By the way...


...my cell phone has been eaten. Hopefully today I will get an old phone activated, but until then I am (somewhat blissfully) unreachable. I wonder how we lived before cell phones, and how we get anything done with them.

On the same token, I went to the Sprint store to buy a cheap replacement phone until I decided what I wanted to do long-term - the cheapest phone they have is $150. What? That blew my mind. It's because of the demand for fancy phones by teenagers who want them to communicate through abbreviations rather than real words or real speech, and parents who buy these fancy phones. So, if any of you bought your kids fancy phones for Christmas and have the old phone lying around (Sprint compatible, of course), I'm accepting donations. I don't need a camera, a keyboard, Bluetooth, or an Mp3 player - as long as it calls and accepts calls, I'll take it!

:)

I still don't know what happened to the rest of 2006 - it went by in a blur and now I'm back to something that resembles normal life. In just a few days I'll be back home in WA and things will feel much more like everyday life, which I'm looking forward to (but that's not to say I haven't thoroughly enjoyed the almost six weeks of living like it's my job to visit family and friends!). Here's a little snapshot of my time down South...it's hard to sum it up in so few pictures!

My friend Julie and I at her wedding reception. It was so good to be back in College Station for a bit, to see old friends, and to be a part of the wedding festivities! It all went by way too fast.


My mother-in-law, cousins-in-law and me on a little expedition to stock up the Austinites with some fire wood. I had a great visit in Uvalde, learning to make toffee, visiting great aunts, and just generally relaxing at the in-laws.


The ladies of the family (minus Marla, who was inside the house staying warm and dry). We braved the cold and rain to help keep watch over the ham that was being smoked. The portable heater and the laughs helped!


There's nothing like a little DDR to liven up the party! And, there's nothing like beating your almost 15-year-old, cheerleader niece at the game, either! (Sorry, Anna!) Thanks to Will for the new game, which came as a Christmas present from overseas. We had a blast and even got mom, Brian and Chris out there (although I kept those pictures private so as not to embarrass anyone)!!!


Toasting the new year - in Turkey that is! Unfortunately, at the time of this picture Will was headed into work - what a way to ring in 2007! So, I had a drink for him and thought about how much fun it will be next year to ring in 2008 together (instead of 6200 miles apart).


Okay...new favorite game! Left. Right. Center.


This dice game is SO much fun. We had an absolute blast (even Grandpa got in on the fun). I did not win (sorry, Will) but I'm on the hunt for this game. My brother's girlfriend, Lelia, brought it along so we could all get hooked.

A mustache for my wife....for some reason she thinks that I am unable to grow a mustache worthy of ancient MacGregor family photos.....little does she know that it will be so deeply imbedded in my persona by the time I get home that it might not be able to be taken off....so honey, please wipe the mothballs off of your swatch, pull up your leggings, and cuff your jeans....the 80's is the new 90's. Who wants a smooch?

Disclaimer: This post is intended for the private use of my wife and may not be distributed without the express written consent of the aforementioned......or just mail her a $20 and we'll call it good. So, here are a few pictures for her viewing pleasure....in no particular order or fashion. The last few pics are from my field trip into the heart of Turkey. I believe the place is called Capadocia, but I know I'm way off on the spelling. Anyway, the low down dirty is that these are pictures of parts of over 50 underground cities throughout the region that have been around well before the time of Christ and have been used as recently as the 14th century to protect the various inhabitants from invaders. Anyway, just thought I'd put up my first post in a while and say hello to all that stop by. More to come in the near future (hopefully)

Will