Lileks writes on Dean Barnett's death. As only Lileks can write.

Posted by: Sarah at 05:11 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Tim's wife, whom we all know as CPT Patti, was admitted to the hospital. They still aren't entirely sure what's wrong with her. I thought maybe some of you old-schoolers could leave some encouraging comments here for her so she can read them when she gets computer access. Hang in there, Patti. We know you're tough!

Posted by: Sarah at 03:40 AM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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I bought Stranger Than Fiction because AWTM liked it. So much of Palahniuk's stuff in this book reminds me of blogging. Take, for example, You Are Here:

Okay, okay, so maybe weÂ’re headed down a road toward mindless, self-obsessed lives where every event is reduced to words and camera angles. Every moment imagined through the lens of a cinematographer. Every funny or sad remark scribbled down for sale at the first opportunity.

A world Socrates couldnÂ’t imagine, where people would examine their lives, but only in terms of movie and paperback potential.

Where a story no longer follows as the result of an experience.

Now the experience happens in order to generate a story.

Sort of like when you suggest: “Let’s not but say we did.”

The story—the product you can sell—becomes more important than the actual event.

One danger is, we might hurry through life, enduring event after event, in order to build our list of experiences. Our stock of stories. And our hunger for stories might reduce our awareness of the actual experience. In the way we shut down after watching too many action-adventure movies. Our body chemistry can’t tolerate the stimulation. Or we unconsciously defend ourselves by pretending not to be present, by acting as a detached “witness” or reporter to our own life. And by doing that, never feeling an emotion or really participating. Always weighing what the story will be worth in cold cash.

That is how a hardcore blogger lives. Every life experience is seen through the lens of how it's going to be blogged. Everything is a vignette, put out there for all to read. And while you're living the joy or sorrow of a situation, in the back of your mind you're also composing the blog post about it.

It's a way to process. A way, like Palahniuk says, to step outside the situation a little and view it as a "detached 'witness.'"

Because sometimes you need that.

Like today.

I'm not pregnant.

Posted by: Sarah at 02:04 PM | Comments (11) | Add Comment
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1 Big huge hugs to you.

Posted by: Reasa at October 18, 2008 06:00 PM (2W7Iu)

2 Big hugs from this corner, too.

Posted by: FbL at October 18, 2008 07:22 PM (HwqvF)

3 Damn. Just, damn. Go hang with Carren. Her fertile myrtle genes should rub off on you. Of course, the fun is in the trying, as it doesn't involve diapers. Okay, there was that one time, but I'm not supposed to talk about that. After today, You could have one of ours, if you like. --Chuck

Posted by: Chuck at October 18, 2008 07:23 PM (q4psF)

4 Oh... I'm so, so sorry... *hugs*

Posted by: kannie at October 18, 2008 08:17 PM (f+LJo)

5 *hugs*, Sarah.

Posted by: Emily at October 18, 2008 09:21 PM (cZoqf)

6 So sorry, Sarah. big {{hugs}} your way.

Posted by: Susan at October 19, 2008 10:30 AM (IfQM3)

7 Crap. I wanted to be there this weekend to hold your hand & hug you. My presence honestly was needed at my sister-in-law's wedding this weekend...when you're ready for a good laugh I have some stories. Love you, chica.

Posted by: Guard Wife at October 19, 2008 11:42 AM (eb8pN)

8 i checked in tonight quick because i was thinking of you and wondering when you would know. apparently you know now and it's one more time for you to have to say "it's not my time". i'm so sorry. uh, and on top of it all, i forgot to say happy birthday

Posted by: Kate at October 19, 2008 03:23 PM (576n8)

9 I second the damn motion. I share your row boat on this. Oh how you know I do. I'm still sorry. btw that quote totally hits the nail on the head about us hard core ones too.

Posted by: DARLA at October 19, 2008 08:55 PM (hRWl6)

10 I'm sorry, Sarah.

Posted by: Anwyn at October 20, 2008 07:51 AM (dzxw9)

11 I'm sorry, Sarah.

Posted by: Deltasierra at October 20, 2008 02:21 PM (GWr7v)

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I'm leaving soon to start my journey to SpouseBUZZ Live San Antonio.
More later.

And yes, I am more than freaked out by this.

I can't even talk about it anymore.

I am an emotional, ridiculous mess today. I feel strung out and beaten.
God, I hope that means I'm pregnant.

Posted by: Sarah at 08:19 AM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
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1 Is it hyperbole to remind people that historically, democracies have a life span and we’ve exceeded the average? (Note to self: must buy stock in liquor companies ‘cause it’s gonn’a be a LONG 4/8 yrs.)

Posted by: tim at October 16, 2008 08:42 AM (nno0f)

2 I thought this was interesting, and thought you might, too: http://www.zombietime.com/lefts_big_blunder/

Posted by: Emily at October 16, 2008 09:07 AM (jAos7)

3 I'm just hoping the silent majority – you know, the ones who have a head on their shoulders and understand what this country is about – rise up and vote for McCain. I'm thinking it's time to get my husband his gun, concealed carry permit, and stock up on ammo. I have my trusty shotgun, which also needs ammo. Sort of off-topic, will you be going to the Tacoma SpouseBuzz, too? 'Cause my husband (Sig) and I will be there!

Posted by: Deltasierra at October 16, 2008 09:11 AM (il0E1)

4 That's what I'm talking about. I feel like we are swimming upstream in jello and the world I am leaving to my children and grandchildren (and that new baby of yours!) is so unlike the one I've lived in. I am so sad for that, you cannot imagine how it makes me feel that my generation has failed. We hear a lot about the Nazi's but there were and are, and will be many forms of fascism. Last night we were cheered by John McCain's coming alive, but with all that my husband just kept saying about Obama, Mussolini, Mussolini. Look him up. He was voted in, didn't get in with a Putz like Hitler or Stalin. We are in scary times. But the Anchoress cheers me. She has a good spirit , I wish I did. PS One of my kids and his family live in San Antonio.

Posted by: Ruth H at October 16, 2008 10:06 AM (BkiKe)

5 Enjoy your time in TX! Wish I were going to be there!! Call me if you want/need. I think the phone conference w/AWTM and me is a good idea still.

Posted by: Guard Wife at October 16, 2008 02:30 PM (eb8pN)

6 Emily, Thanks for the zombietime article. It's given a lot to think about until Sarah posts from San Antonio (I can't wait!), and its lessons will remain relevant long after the election is over.

Posted by: Amritas at October 16, 2008 03:54 PM (HWSu7)

7 I've said it before: Once the gummint starts to bribe the citizenry with their own money, and the citizenry is either too lazy or too stupid to care or realize it we, as a republic, are doomed. we are so doomed.

Posted by: Chuck Z at October 17, 2008 02:33 AM (bQVIy)

8 Deltasierra: I'll be there.

Posted by: Emily at October 17, 2008 01:25 PM (cZoqf)

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OK, I just have to say this hilarious thing.

My mom said tonight, "You can't stop blogging. You're doing a disservice to the hundreds of thousands of people who read you."

HA!

I said, "Um, try like 300 people."

My mom thinks I am way awesomer than I am.

Posted by: Sarah at 02:03 PM | Comments (16) | Add Comment
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My friend Amritas' website is waaay above my level. Both my husband and I have said that if anyone thinks we're smart, they should meet this guy. And it is so flattering that such an intelligent man reads my dopey little blog.

Amritas honors my blogoversary with a Tangut of my name. I think he's my longest-running blog friend.

Posted by: Sarah at 04:57 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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AWTM and I always talk about how self-congratulatory blogging is; we blog because we like the sound of our own voice. Which explains why I ended up re-reading an interview of myself today. If that's not a douchebag thing to do, I don't know what is. But Blackfive bestowed me the honor of saying he likes me, and I had forgotten that interview.

Anyway, I had to laugh that things haven't changed much from one deployment to the next:

Sarah: I have more in common with him than with anyone on the planet; I got lucky that he was a guy instead of a girl! More than anything I just miss hanging out with him, watching Futurama and talking about politics. Each day we get to chat online for like 30 minutes.

annikagyrl: first war where that's been possible, i guess. Thank you Yahoo!, lol

Sarah: We're sorta an odd couple, I'm sure. For example, yesterday we spent our entire time talking about why the dollar is so weak against the Euro. Probably most couples don't talk about that stuff!

Chuck Z's wife laughed at me that my husband and I use our deployment conversation time to talk politics. But every chat is full of names like Obama, Palin, Krauthammer, and Steyn. We spend most of our time talking bailout and Biden. Is that abnormal? It seems fun to me.

Posted by: Sarah at 06:08 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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It feels a little narcissistic to blog this, but I have to let people know how touched I am. Long-time reader MaryIndiana started a Trying To Grok fan club on Facebook. And every time I look at it, I kinda want to cry. You can't imagine how honored it makes me feel.

And my little brother found the group and joined too. Sniff.

Posted by: Sarah at 01:46 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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1 We really like you.

Posted by: Butterfly Wife at October 02, 2008 05:09 PM (FDziT)

2 Awwww. . . that's so sweet. And your brother joining is the icing on the cake.

Posted by: Lucy at October 02, 2008 10:00 PM (YsKhR)

3 I joined!

Posted by: Amy at October 03, 2008 01:25 AM (UMp4+)

4 I am going to join now.

Posted by: keri at October 03, 2008 05:07 AM (HXpRG)

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