Congrats to my awesome husband, who made the Captain's List for 2005. He's still got several months until promotion, but at least he's already squared away. Of course, that's because Household 7 takes such good care of him...

MORE TO GROK:

Plus I completely forgot that January brings a pay raise!

Posted by: Sarah at 03:12 PM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
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1 Congratulations

Posted by: Susan at February 05, 2005 09:29 PM (7qlZr)

2 Congratulations to the best son-in-law anyone could have!

Posted by: Nancy at February 06, 2005 12:57 AM (YuW6k)

3 Congratulations! The difference between a 1Lt and a Captain is quite sweet!

Posted by: david at February 06, 2005 04:25 AM (ZVhuO)

4 Congratulations from a growing fan of your blog.

Posted by: janet ward at February 06, 2005 07:28 PM (ngLYk)

5 Lead well, serve well and keep your troops well. That is what a man does. Thank you.

Posted by: Walter E. Wallis at February 06, 2005 09:35 PM (7XPVo)

6 Yay!!! Congratulations, indeed :-)

Posted by: Barb at February 07, 2005 10:31 AM (g9qHI)

7 Wow! Fabulous... congratulations!

Posted by: Teresa at February 08, 2005 01:17 AM (nAfYo)

8 Woot! Yay for Captain Grok!

Posted by: Pixy Misa at February 10, 2005 05:10 AM (+S1Ft)

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Reintegration Realization #1

Sarah: I got your foot locker
Sarah: I don't know the combination though
Sarah: do you want me to leave it or open it for you?
husband: oh yeah
husband: I'm not sure where the combo is
husband: you can cut it for all I care
husband: I don't even remember what's in there
Sarah: um, with what?
Sarah: I dont have scissors that good
husband: oh yeah
husband: every army unit has bolt cutters
husband: we lose keys and cut locks all the damn time
Sarah: our house doesnt have bolt cutters
husband: yeah most houses don't

Welcome back to civilization...

Posted by: Sarah at 02:29 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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The husband sent me a cute article: It's True: Guys Join the Knitting Craze. I love the motto "Man Enough to Knit; Strong Enough to Purl."

His good buddy in the Air Force, one of the manliest men I know (carves his own baseball bats, used to work as a taxidermist) crochets. It adds an interesting dimension to his personality, but to him it's just another way of using your own hands to create something.

I've tried to encourage my husband to learn to knit, but he's not buying it.

I finally made something for myself that I can post on the blog. It's a scarf that took me the entire season three of Alias (read: four days glued to the recliner) to knit.

Posted by: Sarah at 08:36 AM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
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I was just watching Insomniac with Dave Attell, the one where he goes to Germany (compliments of Amritas, who is a dear and makes me tapes of Comedy Central). I had another thought about English as the world's language: Insomniac could only be an American show. In no other language could you travel around the world and hope to find people who understand you to participate in your antics. Attell just walks into clubs and starts yammering in English, and he makes a whole show of it. That couldn't happen if he spoke Portuguese or Finnish.

Posted by: Sarah at 10:50 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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After the capture of John Adam, an American renegade took matters into his own hands, issuing an ultimatum to the insurgents:

(Photo taken by my favorite reservist)

Posted by: Sarah at 09:21 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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1 HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Posted by: Jason at February 04, 2005 10:32 AM (565iX)

2 LoL. What's next? Combat Barbie taken hostage?

Posted by: Michael at February 04, 2005 10:56 AM (ExF20)

3 Bwahahaha!!!! But wait! Where's Pokey??

Posted by: Barb at February 04, 2005 10:06 PM (q9AXC)

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I hear people talkin' bad
About the way we have to live here in this country,

Harpin' on the wars we fight,
An' gripin' 'bout the way things oughta be.
An' I don't mind 'em switchin' sides,

An' standin' up for things they believe in.

But when they're runnin' down my country, man,
They're walkin' on the fightin' side of me.

I read about some squirrely guy,
Who claims he just don't believe in fightin'.

An' I wonder just how long,
The rest of us can count on bein' free.

They love our milk an' honey,
But they preach about some other way of livin'.

When they're runnin' down my country, hoss,
They're walkin' on the fightin' side of me.

Posted by: Sarah at 06:29 AM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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I heard a touching story from my favorite reservist, a blog reader I've followed for his whole tour in Iraq. A husband and wife couple ran the alterations shop on his camp in Baghdad, and a few months ago the husband was killed by insurgents. No one knew what had happened to the wife until the other day when she reopened the alterations shop. My reservist says:

When we walked into the shop, it was packed with soldiers and the shelves were rapidly becoming bare. The wife was dressed completely in black but still had a smile on her face as she greeted us. I literally could find nothing to buy and she refused to accept money for nothing. Even her entire stock of fake Rolex watches were gone. One soldier even bought a bootleg Barbara Steisand movie just to give her business and money. No one laughed and one soldier thanked him for helping out as he walked out.

The generosity of the American (soldier) is beyond belief at times. I hope she restocks and stays open.

Something about that story just touches my heart.

Posted by: Sarah at 03:40 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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-- When, when, WHEN is Viagra "medically necessary"? I honestly can't figure it out. Medicare is now going to pay for Viagra only when it's necessary, but when in the heck is that? Please explain it to me, because I can't quite figure it out.

-- The German economy is the worst it's been since Hitler came to power. Heh, just wait until troop realignment!

-- Janeane Garofalo was disgusted that Republicans wore blue ink to the State of the Union. Naturally, she managed to compare them to Nazis. How can a show of solidarity like that be disgusting? Yale students did the same, and I would've done it too if I had thought of it. I think it's a wonderful display of support. What a grumpy old bitch Garofalo is.

-- And my favorite news bit from today: U.S. General Says It Is 'Fun to Shoot Some People'. Always a touchy subject to bring up, but you've read Red 6's blog; true soldiers love battle. My husband said once that getting his soldiers to go on regular missions is like pulling teeth, but offer them the slight chance that they might get into a fight and they're immediately all business. Many bloggers have said that the hardest thing about war is not enjoying killing, but no one has quite voiced this truth like LTG Mattis. And who could be easier to kill than the people who oppress and abuse women, force the handicapped into suicide bomb vests, and behead prisoners? It's not hard to dehumanize this enemy.

Posted by: Sarah at 03:23 AM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
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So does this mean that Leonard Maltin, Sidney Poitier, and Robert Smith are going to Iraq to save the day? Bah-bu-rah, Bah-bu-rah...

(If you're not obsessed with South Park, you might not get this post. But I think it's wicked funny.)

Posted by: Sarah at 03:19 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Appears there's an air of mystery surrounding LTG Sanchez's vist to our post, though I didn't get that impression. He did ask at the beginning of the briefing if there were any journalists present, and when there weren't, he said, "Good." I took that as dislike for the press, not that he was being secretive, but that's probably due to my own dislike. At any rate, whatever your secret is, LTG Sanchez, it's safe with me.

Posted by: Sarah at 03:12 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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I started working at the education center at the same time as the counselor's aide and the ed tech. When the counselor's aide quit, the ed center chipped in and got her a $100 gift card. When the ed tech quit, the ed center got her an engraved silver serving platter. When I quit yesterday, I got squat. Nothing. Not even a card. And no one even came to my office to say goodbye.

To quote Daily Kos: "Screw 'em."

The socialists can keep their little ed center; I'm movin' on to greener pastures. Next Monday I am going to start sitting in on classes at the high school to get a feel for the teaching style, and then we go from there. I'm actually a little nervous about making the jump from college to high school, so hopefully sitting in on classes can put me more at ease.

Wish me luck.

Posted by: Sarah at 02:57 AM | Comments (9) | Add Comment
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1 You are right: screw 'em. I am always shocked at workplace politics and cliques. It's like highschool all over again. But I am sure it didn't faze you then, and I'm glad it doesn't now. Not worth renting space out in your brain on them! Good luck!

Posted by: calivalleygirl at February 03, 2005 08:12 AM (mFHfO)

2 Sarah, The true measure of your time there is what you did for those you taught, not what the rest of the staff thought of you. That reflects poorly on them, not on you. Thanks for telling us. I'm sure some of them spy on you through this. Your attitude is the right one.

Posted by: Ruth H at February 03, 2005 10:51 AM (+z11q)

3 Bon chance, jeune fille!

Posted by: Sean at February 03, 2005 01:18 PM (37FD7)

4 Luck!

Posted by: Bugz at February 03, 2005 03:01 PM (uKuUC)

5 I'm sorry you didn't get a "proper" send off, but this just confirms you made the right choice. Good luck!

Posted by: Beth at February 03, 2005 06:43 PM (DEwIg)

6 Geeze... some people never grow up do they! It IS just like High School. Unfortunately you will very likely find the true HS students to be much nicer than that lot! Best of luck with your job change - I really hope you enjoy it!

Posted by: Teresa at February 03, 2005 11:11 PM (nAfYo)

7 Good Luck Sarah, Kalroy

Posted by: Kalroy at February 04, 2005 12:18 AM (i9w6W)

8 Unfortunately your co-worker played her foolish, immature games right up to the end. She is the loser, not you. This only proves that you made the right decision. You have always done well in every job or endeavor you have taken on. You always give more than 100%. This is no different. You can leave with your head held high and know that you worked hard and touched a lot of lives in a positive way. Love you, Mama

Posted by: Nancy at February 04, 2005 12:58 AM (YuW6k)

9 What your co-workers think or don't think is nothing next to what you have done for so many people who came to you for help. You have made a difference. Good on ya. And best of luck in your new job; they're lucky to have you.

Posted by: oldcontroller at February 04, 2005 12:58 PM (hhiiF)

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SFC Paul Ray Smith is the first soldier from OIF to be nominated for the Medal of Honor. His story is a beautiful one.

Posted by: Sarah at 02:29 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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For some reason tonight, when I looked out at our piles and piles of snow, the phrase "now is the winter of our discontent" came to mind. Google helped me find this translation of Richard III, which had me in stitches.

When BG Hertling said that the last month of the deployment would be the worst, I really didn't believe him. I thought it would be just like any other month, but I have eaten my words. This past week has been excruciating. Theoretically, my husband comes home in exactly one month.

And now is the winter of my discontent.

Posted by: Sarah at 05:37 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Posted by: Sarah at 01:53 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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I just have to say that our military community is so wonderful.

Today LTG Sanchez came to talk to us. He and other top dogs in USAREUR spoke about reintegration issues and gave quality information on the return of 1ID. When LTG Sanchez opened up the floor for questions, he even cracked a joke: "Heck, I'll even answer Abu Ghraib questions if you have them." I giggled loudly.

I had a question about the timeline for my husband switching units after the deployment, since he will make the move from armor to finance. LTG Sanchez gave me a good answer, but immediately after the briefing, several people came to follow up on my concerns. The rear detachment lieutenant colonel immediately started asking me how he could help, taking notes on a small pad of paper. The finance major and captain approached me, having recognized my last name and realizing I was talking about their lieutenant. The armor rear detachment commander also approached and made sure that I got the information I needed, and he quipped to the finance major that our armor unit isn't willing to lose a top LT, which was kind. It was amazing. So many people from so high up the chain of command were making sure that I was taken care of.

And the answers I got were very encouraging. I can't wait for my husband to get home from his current mission so I can put his/our worries to rest. I can't speak higher of the treatment I just received. Our Rear D exemplifies "no mission too difficult, no sacrifice too great." They're high speed.

Posted by: Sarah at 11:51 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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The Questing Cat can see the big picture. He measures his role in Iraq not in individual IEDs but in terms of division-sized cycles. I wish him the best as he returns home.

Posted by: Sarah at 03:49 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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