Marion's meepings

Potentially Paddling Pax

2012-01-24T23:13:00.000+10:00

aka "Where did I leave my water wings?"

Long time readers may recall that about this time last year, parts of my home state (Queensland Australia) had some exciting floods (recap of it here)

Guess what's happening now? - if you guessed 100's of Millimeters of Rain falling in my local area today - you get the (rather soggy) door prize!

No need for me to panic though - my apartment block is on higher ground and is well sealed from the weather. Getting to work tomorrow may involve some splishing & splashing about, however with the new Bus transit overpass I'll avoid the one creek that could reach over flowing/ path impeding.

And with Thursday being Australia Day (a public holiday here) - with Friday my rostered day off - I really don't need to reach anywhere important until next Monday. Plenty of time for the water to subside.

Hmmm... this living in the "Sub-Tropics" - not always as great as it's cracked up to be in the tourist brochures!

Penguins and Pax

2012-01-18T18:46:00.000+10:00

See! Penguins are AWESOME :)

January Pax-ing

2012-01-17T19:32:00.000+10:00

It's Quiet at Casa de Pax.... too quiet.

My neighbours are, no doubt, now sighing with happiness that the majority of my Apartment renovations are complete (for now that is - one day I will afford that Bathroom refit I swear).

Almost 10 months of work have resulted in a more live able space - one that is uniquely "Me" (and returned the apartment to pre-Ex-done renovation valuation - nice to be able to add at least $10K to the eventually resale price).

Much of the work was D.I.Y - which resulted in a great deal of extra work done by my Dad that I did not foresee (he's a stubborn old dear - determined that it's better if he does things rather than risk me injuring myself. I do so treasure him!)

Actually talking about my Dad - he's got some notion that now my renovations are almost complete - that I am at risk of an Emotional breakdown of some sort. It's true that I may have initially used the "keep busy" factor to stave off dealing in part with the relationship breakup but eventually one (if you are a rational being that is) comes to terms that faults were on both sides and that Life should be embraced (regardless of how much a fool you feel for being a blind and giving idiot for X amount of years)

So yes... I've moved on - keeping my "Crazy Cat Lady" impulses to a minimum - and focusing on MY needs and wants for a change. (oh if you are wondering - on the "wants" list. More penguins... you can't go wrong with Penguins. But that's another post entirely :D)

I expect the anniversary of his leaving in February to pass - if not quietly (local friends - how about a Slap-up dinner in celebration?) then with few regrets that he's gone. Oh and those wondering about Valentine's Day blues - ehh.. he never bothered really making me feel special even ON days designated as a World Wide celebration of love.

So yes... It's quiet here. And I am enjoying it!

This post was brought to you by the letter P (for Penguins) and the Number 7

Pax is Happy - Ernest is heading home!

2012-01-04T20:25:00.002+10:00

One of my Long-Term adopted soldiers (National Guards) is on his way home after an extended deployment and I am so happy for him.

He is a lovely guy - definitely a favourite to send treats to, and I have a warm happy glow just thinking he will be soon safe at home with his loving family.

Safe Travels Ernest - I hope your trip is short and uneventful!

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T00:04:00.002+10:00

December catch up

2011-12-30T22:23:00.000+10:00

Wow - time has really been flying here. I am still madly working away at the apartment renovations and the end is (mostly) in sight. One wall left in the living room to patch up and repaint and then I can move all the bookcases back out and achieve order. So looking forward to that!

In Milsupport endeavours - I have had a LOT of fun this year playing Santa-Pax.

Decorations and small gifts made their way to three of my Adopted Troopers. Reports back from the two I am "Friended" with on Facebook are that they were very happy with the assortment of silly things received.

The Re-adoption of one of my previous Soldiers' Angels troopers. He is USA Airforce and once more Downrange and in the thick of things. With the wonderful help of my friend Vicki in California - a parcel of Christmas decorations managed to be sent off to him just prior to the Military Christmas Mail deadline. Vicki went above and beyond by baking a huge batch of Chocolate Chocolate Chip cookies and sending them with the decorations. Appreciative Noms were achieved [R makes sure that most of the things I send him are shared with his crew so Happy Airforce points achieved]

My newly adopted team of Marines missed out on the "authentic made-by-Pax" Christmas wreath but scored well in the TimTam (an Aussie Chocolate covered cookie/biscuit) area. I also sent them some Aussie toys - some foam boomarang-ish throwing toys [foam to avoid injuries to themselves; equipment and figures of authority]; a bullroarer [which sadly failed to give enough noise due to it's teeny size - replacement has been sourced and will be sent along shortly] and a wee cuddly Koala [there are 15 of them - surely one of them is manly enough to be seen with a fuzzy toy :D].

I *have* given the Marine team the option of receiving practical stuff (i.e hygiene stuff or chemical hand warmers or some blankets etc) but their "Point Man" (or should that be "Point Sgt?") says they are enjoying the randomness of my parcels and to keep that up. I have to say that I am REALLY enjoying treating this bunch - their appreciation of "Weird Aussie Troop Support" came when I was at an emotional low point and has helped to remind myself just why I do this (To Give and not to count the cost - to cause smiles and joyful confusion) - I think I'm hitting the targets okay so far :)

So currently I have 4 adoptees via Soldiers' Angels - and the team of Marines via AnyMarine.com - which is accounting for about 1/4 of my fortnightly pay packet. I think after a few of my troopers head home in January/February I may need to cut back on the milsupporting for a little bit and get the finances back in order [of course I say that now... and then I will see the plea for someone to adopt "Army person X - who never receives any mail and needs some cheering up" and I'll be back to the official Three adoptees again. Yes Yes - I know - I *am* a soft touch but since studies have shown that this sort of support really helps the morale and confidence of deployed troops - most of them young enough to be my children had I not foolishly squandered my reproductive years - then the cost to myself is just something to factor in and work around.]

New Year's Eve is tomorrow here in Australia so I will leave you all with the wish that 2012 is good for you all - and that you remain safe and well.

Pax - signing off for 2011

And the Jokester Winner IS

2011-12-29T20:26:00.000+10:00

NavyOne

Come on down!

His joke...

NavyOne said...

An oldie, but a goodie:

A young man with a wild and multi-coloured hairstyle sits next to an old man on a park bench. The old man stares at the young man.

"What's the matter, old man?" says the young man. "Never done anything crazy in your life?"

The old man replies: "Yeah. When I was in the Navy, I got really drunk one night and had sex with a parrot. I thought you might be my son."

Your winning prize will be winging it's way to you shortly

Season Greetings from Downunder

2011-12-24T23:04:00.000+10:00

To all my friends - all around the globe - I wish you a Merry Christmas and the hopes for a Happy and Safe New Years.

Two days left to enter the Cap Competition

2011-12-23T22:48:00.002+10:00

See HERE for details

All you need to do is tell a Military related Joke or Funny story to win -

Brake ... for Elephants...

2011-12-22T21:32:00.001+10:00

Part of my Transport Department Library job occasionally requires that I do research for obscure reference queries.

Today I was searching worldwide historic train crash records online and came across two different crashes involving Elephants. (This alas was NOT the research the client needed but I thought I would share the information with my Happy Blogging friends)

September 15, 1885 – St Thomas, Ontario: Express goods train hauled by a Grand Trunk Railway locomotive hits a dwarf Asian elephant on an embankment. The elephant is thrown down the embankment by the collision; the trains engineer throws the locomotive into reverse, but is unable to prevent a rear-end collision with an African elephant, killing it and derailing the locomotive and tender.

1891 – Delta, California: Elephant travelling as a passenger on a Southern Pacific train removes a coupling pin from a car. The train parts, and the forward portion travels 20 miles before the locomotive crew discover the split.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_rail_accidents_(before_1900)

I am trying to find out more information on the 1885 incident - was it a close encounter with the Traveling Circus? - a break out from the Local Zoo? Interested parties (well.. not the actual Library one) wish to know!

Dwarf Asian Elephant?

Milsupport one liners

2011-12-19T23:15:00.003+10:00

One of the nicest notes I've received recently from an "Adopted" trooper (Marine) reads in part

well i had no idea what Tim Tams were, but myself along with some other Marines are in love.

:) Isn't it nice when you can offer munchies that provoke such happiness

[and no... I haven't yet sent this Marine any Musk Sticks - let me bask in the side-effect of Aussie Cookie love for just a bit longer!]

US Navy Drill team

2011-12-19T20:04:00.000+10:00

Very Impressive!

Pax goes Nautical

2011-12-16T12:59:00.000+10:00

So how about a competition to help make the Merry Season even Merrier?

And let's make the prize a Nautical one - how about an Australian Navy cap!

Bought it from HERE

So what do you need to do to win this very nifty hat? - Glad you asked!

Tell us (in the comments section below) your best Military related Joke or Short Story

The Rules:-

Must be PG-13! (if you feel that using a rude word is required then bleep it out - let's think of the potential that one day my Mum might read this)

Can be a joke or story that happened to you - or one you are simply retelling.

You do NOT need to be a regular reader of this blog to enter (sniffle... but you COULD stick around and read more - just saying)

You can be from anywhere in the world. All that I ask is that you respect that this item represents my Country's military, and is to be treated as a prized possession.

If you win - you will need to supply me with a mailing address. I promise to hold the information safely and never share it beyond my Post Office.

If you leave your entry under the "Anonymous" tag - please be sure to add your name or nickname at the bottom so I can track you down later should you win.

The Winner will need to contact me by 1st of January 2012 at the latest with their mailing address or there will be a redraw.

The Winning Joke will be judged on or about the 25th of December

Toys for Tots clip

2011-12-08T22:32:00.001+10:00

Awwww I love this!

Pax poses the question

2011-12-05T18:02:00.001+10:00

While other bloggers are neck-deep in the dramas of the world - either preparing to fight zombies or reporting on new Pentagon cost savings, I have been more concerned about clarifying a vex'd question.

To wit......

What Military service DO the Penguins of Madagascar really belong to?

To a casual observer - the answer may appear to be "Navy" - after all their Leader goes by the name of SKIPPER

Dashing, debonaire crew-cut wearing Alpha Bird

My Source for many things Navy (and strangely many things Hollywood - what can I say - he's diverse!) writes this about the term :- Skipper is the term for the Commanding Officer of a naval command. Also known as the CO, the old man (not to his face), or the boss.

But wait! - the Junior member of the team is called PRIVATE

Cute cuddly and a bit clueless

My source advises "A Private is a rank in the Marines, Air Force, or Army"
Strange... and worrying... is this perhaps a multiforce special ops team?

Their On-the-Spot Science man - Kowalski - known as the 2IC - nominal rank of Lieutenant

Never afraid to try SCIENCE!

At last but not least - their Ka-boom-in-ator

Able to regurgitate C4, detonators and anvils at call.

So there we have the team - one gung-ho commander (nominally Navy); one Private (could be Marine... but he's a bit too cuddly); one Science Boffin (drafted Civvie?) and their Trigger man (*definately* a Marine - his blade work is excellent)

Let's see them in action...

Questions remain......

Answers are required.....

Comments welcome!

Parcel (almost) away!

2011-11-29T00:04:00.001+10:00

The Last of the Adoptee's Christmas cheer parcel is all set to go - will take it to the Post Office tomorrow and pay eek-ful airmail prices so that it reaches Airman G in time.

I feel a bit bad - this one was supposed to be all done and gone almost a week ago (just after I agreed to adopt him), however health and other life interruptions happened unfortunately.

SO here are a few photos of the parcel.

Slightly different style for the wreath due to my running out of Gum leaves
(the flower is wattle if anyone is curious). And the Silver bells are really jangly.
(heh heh heh)

A small Santa sack of goodies!
Not made by me - got them from HERE

The rest of the box is full of tinsel garlands / decorations and
sugar candy canes - something to add sparkle to his bunk/work area.
I use the Tinsel as packing material to hold it all secure - my regular
Postal Office is highly amused at having to snip off the odd "sticking-out bit"

So that is the three Soldiers' Angels adoptees taken care of. I'll be sending something more food related to the Marine group (there are 15 of them so it's a bit harder to send individual stockings and still be able to pay the mortgage. What I wouldn't give to win the lottery right now!)

I guess I should also look at heading to bed. It's past midnight here and I am guessing my work would find it a nice change not to have "Zombie-Mari" shuffling about the place till the first batch of caffeine kicks in.

Good Night to you all!

This too shall pass....

2011-11-26T13:28:00.001+10:00

Taking a short break from the renovation works - mostly so I can sit down until the dizziness passes.

Seems my recent bout of earaches/dizzy fits were all related to a really severe infection in my left ear canal. So severe that yesterday (Friday here) my G.P. (Doc) declared me a hands breadth away from being admitted to hospital for a week or more.

He then signed me off as "unfit for work for the rest of the day" (his appointment was at 11.30am - just across from my work - during my "early lunch break"). I then hurried off to the local hospitals' emergency ward so that proper tests could be done (my GP being unwilling to poke about too much in case he ruptured the ear drum). 3 hours of waiting later and the E.N.T (ears, nose & throat) specialist declared my infection to be both "fascinating" and "the worst she's seen in a long time". And then proceeded to use the world's tiniest vacuum cleaner to suck out all the nasty greebles. After which I tottered home and slept for about 12 hours.

Today I am feeling better but still a bit unsteady in balance. And I *am* taking it easy (sort of).

As for the renovation stuff - I am slowly pottering about - applying heat (from a hairdryer) to the nasty modern tile adhesive that is left on the wall - and then peeling/chipping it off with a chisel. It's a bit physical and very VERY boring however I am a) not required to be up on a stepladder to do it and b) not having to rush to get it done [my levels of urgency are inversely related to how much my head spins if I try to hurry].

So I will keep chipping away at the nasty stuff until it's all clear. At which point I will be at the point of 'painting walls' - which can occur tomorrow [since Cozzles will be here to do the bits requiring ladders]

Mwhahahah

2011-11-23T21:53:00.001+10:00

Pax has been plotting (again)

[enjoys the fact that there is a core group of people who cringe whenever I mention the "P" word]

And in other news... I have now 3 adopted troopers and a small group of Marines to send goodies and letters of silliness too (newest adoptee acquired last night - hopefully he will be fine with the Goofy Australian's antics)

And sorry Coffeypot - still no Navy adoptees (I just can't seem to get "lucky" there). Maybe you should seek out one and send them my way? Just don't mention my abiding fear of deep water and it will be bonza :)

So... just as a general question and not implicating myself at all... how DOES one ninja-proof an apartment? Are Nightingale floors still all the rage? How about a pressure-activated trap door / oubliette combination at the front door?

Mmmmm.... oubliette....

Destructo Pax

2011-11-19T18:00:00.001+10:00

Today I have been excelling in the old "rip-em-out" methodology of renovation. De-tiling the old kitchen splashback.

I originally thought it would be a relatively easy job - after all, 50 year old tiles - surely they'd be a bit loose by now?

Turns out not to be the case. So armed with my newest tool...

Rotary Hammer Drill with Chisel tip

I have been gamely trying to detach the tiles from the walls and window ledge.

Seems that the bonding mixture they used to attach the tiles to the wall is more powerful that superglue. So I am having a few problems of:-

a) the tiles turning to powder as I try to remove but not detaching from the wall, and
b) the cement wall being less robust than the tile bonder. Resulting in lumps of the wall coming away with the tiles et al.

Definitely going to be doing a lot of plaster/concrete patching when it's all done!

Just a bit more to do

I have stopped for the night (it's just after 6pm here) and no doubt my neighbours are excited at the lack of drilling noise. More to finish tomorrow (post parental visit since I can't make noise before 10am on a Sunday* and the P's will be here for lunch and a bit beyond that. Plus it's a bit too dangerous - with flying tile shards - to do with them in the place)

Once the walls are de-tiled; replastered and painted - my new kitchen cabinets can be put into place.
So far we (Cozzles and I) have put together only two of the seven cabinets - waiting on the rest till there is a spot to install them all.

Cozzles - Queen of the Flatpacks - showing me how it's done :)

And now I'm off to have a nap. All this hefting of major tools; destruction and saving the universe - takes it out of a Lady! :)

*I could make noise before 10am on a Sunday but I won't. Seems such a rude thing to do with people trying to either sleep in or just off to church.

Pax and Christmas parcel prep

2011-11-15T23:19:00.001+10:00

Eek!!! I am not sure where the time has gone but it is suddenly half way through November and I have not yet gotten any Christmas parcels off to my two Soldiers' Angels adoptees!

You may be thinking "Relax Pax - you've got ages!" but you would be incorrect. You see - the USA Military Postal Powers that Be who control mail to those "Downrange" (and elsewhere deployed) have a very regimented schedule they adhere to. Miss the Deadlines and the parcels may be held over till after December.

So I am feverishly getting my act together. I have 99% gathered - just need to complete one more Australian themed Christmas wreath and everything can be boxed up and dispatched.

And since I have finally worked out how to run my photo download program on my laptop - you get PHOTOS! (queue the Ooohing and Ahhhing... NOW!)

A small Santa sack of Australian goodies each and some Christmas
decorations to add glitter to their barracks

Bits and pieces all ready for wreath construction

Bells and Koalas and foliage - Oh My!

Wreath number two will have to wait until tomorrow night to be created (since it's heading towards midnight here; I am tired; and the glue gun is being painful) and then Thursday I will attempt to fit everything into two Airmail boxes and pay exorbitant prices for overseas priority delivery.

The Parcels should make it to the USA by end of month and then on to Ernest and Mateo :). With luck I can also co-ordinate a parcel of Aussie munchies (TimTams for the win!) from the Ohio based Simply Australian store (sending food stuffs direct from Australia can be both expensive and result in the parcels being held over by USA customs till checked - so I really prefer to get those shipped from "within-the-States" if I can)

Hopefully a bit of Christmas cheer can help them make it through the Yule Season feeling appreciated and loved.

Pax and Troop Treats

2011-11-14T20:31:00.001+10:00

Did you know....

*... that receiving even ONE parcel or letter from home can make a deployed trooper grin from ear to ear ?

*... that reaching out and connecting with a deployed trooper can make the difference between them having a "day" and 'HAVING A GREAT DAY' ?

*... that your troops serve for LOVE OF COUNTRY. Wouldn't it be nice if their country showed them love in return?

*..... you can do this from the comfort of your home?

*.... you can send these letters and parcels just by joining some established Troop support groups - Soldiers' Angels and AnySoldier.com ?

*.... that even if you don't have time to write or send parcels - you can still send COFFEE vouchers? '

*.... Or if you can bake cookies - that The Strength Behind the Strong has a COOKIE quest ?

Did you realise that there is no time like NOW for giving the gift of support?

*******************
In the interest of full disclosure -

*I have been a member of Soldiers' Angels since April 2009. And I think they are an amazing group!
Their motto is "May no Soldier go Unloved"

*I have been donating Coffee vouchers via Cup of Joe since 2010. I have met some of the most amazing people via their "Cup of Joe penfriend" program.

* I have known the organiser of The Strength behind the Strong since 2010. She did amazing things for her group of deployed Military Police; and now that they are home - TSBS is organising a Cookie Quest for a deployed Marine.

*I have not really been involved with the AnySoldier.com program at all (a few R.A.K parcels of Aussie goodies have been shipped out over the last two years but I've never really "clicked" with sending items to a totally random soul. I mean... what if they have an Aussie-phobia! or worse... detest Musk sticks!) However two Marines (A1S and Major Pain ) that I respect greatly have recently made blog pleas to be involved with this group so I will give it a go. Apologies in advance to my ~~guinea pig~~ erm... new recipients. I promise NO PINK THINGS (unless you really really want them)

Veteran....

2011-11-11T20:13:00.001+10:00

from Brian Fray from the Guelph Tribune

At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th Month

2011-11-11T07:28:00.001+10:00

we pause in silence and give thanks to those that have kept us safe.

They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old.

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them. Laurence Binyon

November Paxing

2011-11-06T21:01:00.000+10:00

Just a quick update from me, as I am drowning in a sea of renovation projects and am finding computer time scarce.

Two of my Soldiers' Angels adoptees - Mark and Mario - are due home very shortly. Prayers are being said that you have a fast and safe trip home guys. I have enjoyed being your appointed Angel and hope that you had fun with the silly things sent to you.

In Cup of Joe news I would very much like to thank ExAFCrewDog who submitted some Cup of Joe Vouchers linked to my blog - very very kind of you Sir! (and also reminded me that my regular bi-monthly voucher donation of coffee vouchers were due so that's been sorted out too :).
If any of my readers have some spare small change and would like to give to a worthy cause - please consider the Cup of Joe program. For as little as $2 per voucher you are giving a deployed trooper the joy of receiving caffeinated beverages AND a note from you at home.

In AT HOME news. Today, we (myself and my Dad), removed the last of the built in kitchen benches and sink. Tomorrow (being my rostered day off from work) we will level the void where the cupboards used to be with concrete, and then after work during the week I will continue to strip out the old tiles (vinyl on the floor and ceramic on the walls). Next weekend we will begin the kitchen floor re-tiling which should be fun. New kitchen cupboards will go in once the floor work is completed so 2 to 3 weeks till it's all done.

I still have to do all the repainting of 75% of the apartment - however I am hoping I can wrangle a few extra days off work so I can "have at it" in one fell swoop (so to speak).

With luck I can complete all the work by the first week of December. My Celebratory plans involve the purchase of a 6ft Christmas tree that I can set up in the corner of the room; and the displaying of my nativity set (my ex was very anti anything Christian so my most recent Christmas's have been very low key events. This year I plan to rebel and CELEBRATE my inner-faith outwardly)

And that's all from me. Stay safe all!

Caption Contest Winner!

2011-10-31T20:52:00.000+10:00

From a supporter... "Does this person even like you?"
gag-@!@!@!@!--cough--@!@!@!@!

Congratulations to MISS EM

And many thanks to the Good Sports of the Fast Company Marines*

I would like to thank all the entrants who have (almost) managed to put me off eating Musk Sticks for eternity!

Miss Em - please contact me via email so I may send the hat your way.

*usually I offer a small Aussie item as a thank-you gift for those in my photos. Somehow I don't really think these Marines will willingly accept anything else from me.. opps...

Last chance to enter the "Caption THIS" competition

2011-10-29T21:03:00.000+10:00

One day to go before the judging of the Caption THIS competition

Mirthful Marines - always a scary thing!!

You still have time to enter if you are swift!

and the prize is a wonderful Australian Army cap

Competition Rules -

*Entries can come in from anywhere in the world (you don't have to be a regular reader to enter!)

*Winner will be required to supply a valid postal address (I will hold that address secure & private)

*You may make more than one entry but try to keep them relatively polite

*Competition closes on the 30th of October. Winner will be mentioned on the Meepings and has one week in which to contact me or a redraw will occur.

***edited to add - If you find that blogger won't let you leave a comment to enter the competition please email me your interest @ paxford AT gmail DOT com and I will manually enter your name and Witty Caption into the draw***

Pax and Hobbies

2011-10-25T22:25:00.000+10:00

End of October (almost) so a quick round-up of the months endeavours are in order.

All four of my adopted troops are well and safe. Two will hopefully be heading home to the USA before Christmas; one has been extended until early 2012; and the last one is stationed "Somewhere not ending in 'Stan" and will be there for another 6 or 7 months or so. (as long as he learns to live with the exotic aroma of Kimchi he'll be okay).

Cards and some small items have been sent along to them in the last month. For my two guys serving during Christmas, I have found some packs of blank Christmas cards that they can share with their battle buddies - and send to their loved ones at home.

Found them HERE

For my other friends around and about the place - a few other goodies were sent across the waves.

Coffeypot got his hat :)

The winner of the beanie got his hat too!

And the winner of the 200th post Army medallion has confirmed receipt as well :)

Wow I feel a bit like Santa's helper with the amount of things being sent out!

Oh and there is hopefully a smiling (oh please be smiling - and not that "you have amused me enough and now must be ninja'd" grin) friend who received one of these

That makes five of those that I've found and sent out [my four adopted troopers all were happy recipients. One said there was just something special about the implied ka-booms]

Oh and my ninja friend also has one of these - minus the Rising Sun hat pin and slouch clip-

Genuine Akubra!

He had mentioned some months ago that he really wanted a hat similar to the Aussie Army slouch hats (same colour - same basic style) and well... I'm a bit of a sucker in trying to make people smile so I found him one.

[as a FYI the open crown - in khaki colour - only really comes in the Slouch variety so my happy hat supplier sent me one without the extra bits (badge & slouch clips) but evidence that he'd done a quick bit of unpicking. He was indeed chuffed at the thought of an Aussie Slouch heading into the hands of a Fearsome USA ninja :D]

In at home news - renovations are on-going. Veranda has now been tiled [for those that recall - it was supposed to be a "let's teach Pax how to tile so she can go on and do the kitchen herself" - instead it turned in to the usual "Your Father knows best - now be a good girl and watch". Sigh... one day my parents just might realise that I'm no longer four... ]. Oh and wooden flooring has been installed in the living room (photos to come whenever I manage to put my main computer back together and retrieve them). I still need to repaint the walls of the Living room; complete the veranda sprucing up (there will be lattice and some attempt to grow climbing plants!) and do the full kitchen refit. Thank heavens I decided not to do anything to the bedroom - or I'd be completely swamped!

Oh.. and in other hobbies (since I guess my Milsupport falls under "obsessive hobby to make adoptee's feel appreciated") - I am a bit of a "Girl" when it comes to collecting some rather exciting examples of gender-specific toys. (erm... that would translate to "Pax collects Barbies" I guess).

I only have a few - and all are mint-in-box (and I justify my hobby by declaring them as "Investments" instead of "dust-gathering over-priced junk" - as one my ex's was wont to call them) - and I like the unusual or utterly geeky.

However I don't believe I can really see me adding THIS one to my collection any time soon. She just looks a bit too perky for my taste (plus... I can't see any zombie-destroying arsenal. And how can you be a Marine without the Z_D_A??)

And that's all from me so Goodnight All.

Everything

2011-10-25T20:07:00.000+10:00

Pax is wistful....

http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/everything.png

Saint Crispin's Day

2011-10-24T07:28:00.002+10:00

...And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian.'
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,
And say 'These wounds I had on Crispian's day.'

Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember, with advantages,
What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words-
Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester-
Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb'red.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,

But we in it shall be remembered-
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;

And gentlemen in England now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.
(Henry V Act 4, Scene

Caption Re-cap

2011-10-22T18:02:00.000+10:00

So it's been brought to my attention that I may be offering the wrong sorts of prize incentives in my recent competitions.

Seems that the Rough-Tough-CreamPuff crowd favours more this sort of THING

So if you know of someone that really wants to enter the CAPTION THIS contest but thinks the prize is just a bit too *too* - let them know that I'm willing to offer alternatives (sweet caring soul that I am)

Pax does Emo

2011-10-21T17:59:00.001+10:00

A Rose for Remembrance

For Love Lost and A Heart Forsaken

Good luck with your life - I hope your choice was worth the pain

Caption This for Pax and Prizes

2011-10-18T22:03:00.001+10:00

Some of you may remember my scientific experiments with the colourful Australian sweet (aka candy) MUSK STICK.

If you're new here - or need a refresher - check back on the reactions of one of Test Subject Groups at America's First Sergeant's website; or Navyone's recounting of his exposure.

Go ahead... I'll wait...

..................

..................

................

..................

Back? Now aren't they all a Happy Happy Bunch! (snickers)

So how about I lift one of those photos (with permission of course - let's not have any grumpy A1S's about) and we can do a Caption Contest.

Caption Me!!!

*Competition Rules - entries can come in from anywhere in the world.

*Winner will be required to supply a valid postal address (I will hold that address secure & private)

*You may make more than one entry but try to keep them relatively polite

*Competition closes on the 30th of October. Winner will be mentioned on the Meepings and has one week in which to contact me or a redraw will occur.

***edited to add - If you find that blogger won't let you leave a comment to enter the competition please email me your interest @ paxford AT gmail DOT com and I will manually enter your name and Witty Caption into the draw***
Oh and the prize?

How about an Australian Army cap?

Rising Sun symbol in Gold and in relief on the brim and buckle
Available from HERE.

And in case you are wondering how it looks in person - here is the delightful Coffeypot modelling one that I sent him as a gift

See! Even the Navy guys like them :)

and........ GO!

Baa Baa Pax

2011-10-13T20:18:00.000+10:00

We are poor little lambs
Who have lost our way.
Baa! Baa! Baa!
We are little black sheep
Who have gone astray.
Baa! Baa! Baa!
Verse of The Woofenpoof Song

Some of my readers may be aware that I suffer from the occasional bout of Insomnia.

Are you also aware that those short on Rem-Sleep are incredibly susceptible to impulsive online shopping?

However my occasional 3am Amazon.com trollings pay dividends in nostalgia (by way of giving them shiny gold pieces first). So I am currently avidly watching my latest acquisition.

Oh and for the youngsters in the audience that don't recognise the lyrics above - it's Baa Baa Black Sheep (aka Black Sheep Squadron)

I should probably mention that I can't recall more than three or four episodes of the show - it was considered "too violent" by my parents so only my older brothers were allowed to watch it at home. This edict did NOT, of course, apply at my Grandmothers house so I caught some of the shows on occasions. So I am having a wonderful time catching up on the storyline [the pilot episode is pretty good :D] (and wondering if this show is the basis of my belief that Marines are really amazing... if amusing... Perhaps I should look into that in depth? Pink candy may be involved in the scientific analysis)

So if any of my bloggie friends happen to wander through my part of Australia and want to catch up on some really cool "Hollywood'd Military tales" - you can bring the popcorn!

Pseudo Stabby Love

2011-10-10T18:48:00.001+10:00

Awww... how cool is this :)

1GB memory Bayonet Flash Drive

Found it HERE

Someone remind me if I can send this sort of technology Downrange or Not?

Or should I just invest in one for a competition prize some time?

**Oh - and I may be spending way too much time corresponding with Military types - found myself today trying to explain the importance of keeping my friends at-home addresses as secure as their Downrange ones... the word "Hopsec" just kind of happened...**

WINNER!!

2011-10-09T11:59:00.000+10:00

And through the extremely scientific method of "all names on small folded pieces of paper - tossed into hat - one drawn out"

We have a winner for the Australian Army Medallion

Congratulations to:

ExAFCrewDog

Could you please contact by Email (paxford AT gmail DOT com) by the 15th and I will arrange to ship to you by registered mail

[contest disclaimer - please note that a lack of contact will result in a redraw]

Priorities...

2011-10-08T21:52:00.001+10:00

I really need to remember this...

Quick update

2011-10-04T22:45:00.000+10:00

A Reminder that the competition for the Australian Army medallion closes on the 8th of October - so four more days to send in an entry if you'd like to be in the draw. (in case you encounter Blogger being being a pain to leave comments - you can email me directly, advising you'd like to be part. paxford AT gmail DOT com)

In Troop support news - I have recently heard from three of my four adoptees. All are doing well, and counting down the days till they come home.

Another silly item has been sent off to two of them; with a more practical snack pack (purchased from the the Soldiers' Angel online store) sent to the other two. (I try to alternate the snacks versus amusement parcels when I can)

In home renovation news - I spent two days ripping up the carpet tack trails in the 3mW x 5mL living room. Not a very fun job at all but necessary prior to the hardwood floor installation. And my day off work yesterday was spent removing the kitchen bench that formerly separated the kitchen and living room. Again this was primarily to assist the new floor installation (the bench base intruded into the living room area by 2 inches and had to go if it was to be laid in square.

Not quite as hard a job as I had feared - thankfully!

I still need to undercoat the exposed wall; add an endcap
(cunningly created from part of the discarded bench top); and
re-attach the cupboard door. The gap in the concrete will need to be
filled in - luckily my Dad is champion at that sort of thing.

Kitchen refit will be occurring after the tiles are relaid - possibly november/december at the rate that Weekends are being eaten up with other family gatherings. At least that will give me more afterwork time to repaint all the walls first!

I am tiring of it all - Remind me again why I was confident I could do most of this myself?

Oh.. and the Cat has graduated from dragging in dead rats and live lizards - to dragging in a very VERY annoyed grass snake. Luckily my kitchen tong-foo is mighty (I *may* have been operating on sheer terror of course) and I managed to open my new sliding doors; deftly scoop the offending creature up and out across the balcony. It survived it's encounter and was last seen slithering it's way down the carport. Needless to say I failed to attain any sleep that night at the thought of a revisit.

Pax's 200th Blog Post and a Prize

2011-09-23T21:22:00.000+10:00

***edited to add - If you find that blogger won't let you leave a comment to enter the competition please email me your interest @ paxford AT gmail DOT com and I will manually enter your name into the draw***

The Meepings first began way back in the mists of time (well... 22nd of November 2005 actually) and was created as a base for my "serious" posts (and then promptly forgotten for a few years - whoops!), with the silly stuff and meme's (oh jeezss the amount of stupid memes) taking up room on my LiveJournal account. Over the years I lost interest in LJing and moved over to Blogger as my primary means of communicating with the world at large.

Mid 2009 saw me begin my tentative forays in to the world of Military Support and regular postings here. I learnt, over time, what my adopted troops might like, and what might make them smile; and I was blessed to make contact with some amazing people across the Globe, many of whom remain my good (if distant) friends today. And over the years some really amazing gifts have reached me too!

So in celebration of the 200th post - and as thanks to my friends and readers (many one and the same!) - I would like to run a very special competition.

Well... the prize is very special - the competition just run of the mill.

Front

Reverse

Actual size - approx 2 inches

This medallion celebrates the 110th anniversary of the formation of the Australian Army.

Our Country became a federation in 1901 (when the Six States agreed to join together as one nation).

To Enter to win this Medallion all you need to do is post a reply to this blog entry saying "YES I WANT TO ENTER" - or words to that effect.

The Competition will run until the 8th of October and will be a simple "name drawn from hat" method of picking the winner.

Rules
You do NOT need to be a regular reader of this blog to enter (but once you get here - stick around! I can be really amusing at times :D)

You can be from anywhere in the world. All that I ask is that you respect that this item represents my Country's military, and is to be treated as a prized possession.

If you win - you will need to supply me with a mailing address. I promise to hold the information safely and never share it beyond my Post Office.

If you leave your entry under the "Anonymous" tag - please be sure to add your name or nickname at the bottom.

The Winner will need to contact me by October 14th at the latest with their mailing address or there will be a redraw.

Be Vwery Quiet...

2011-09-19T19:03:00.000+10:00

Evil Pax and her minions are hunting a marine

Say your Pwayers, kiddo

... Ring Ring....
"Hello! This is the A.C.M.E supply shop - how can I help you?"
"Umm.. yes... I need the tools to capture an A1S marine"
"Hmm.. our look up guide describes those as VERY difficult to capture - would you prefer our "how to capture a Ravening Yeti" guide instead?"
"No... no... it really needs to be this one particularly pesky person"
"Well.. we *could* send you the 'Instant bear pit' kit [launches into jingle "One flip of the lever and he's no smarter than an average bear"]
"Ahh.. could you throw in one of those Handy-Dandy illudium Q-36 explosive space modulator's as well"?
"Certainly Miss - those come with a portable A.C.M.E medic station. Would you like to take out some A.C.M.E insurance too?"
"...."
"Now will that be cash or charge?"

Stand back! Pax is doing Science!

2011-09-16T21:35:00.000+10:00

Breaking news...

dateline Australia... 16th September 2011

Sadly it would seem that my on-going Science experiment has had a wee bit of a set back.

Marines recoiling from the Insidious pinkness

The Finding that "1 in 10 American Military Members don't hate Musk Sticks" has been disproved by my latest set of ~~Guinea Pigs~~ Happy Volunteers* (aka members of the United States Marine Corps)

I am told that a full account of the up-close-and-Pink encounter will be shortly posted by my 'on the spot' assistant** (he that is proffering the Sugary Sweetness in the photo above)

Hmm.. so that is now the USA Army, Air force, Navy & USMC. Any suggestions on who I should find for my final control group?

Oh and I am so very tempted to get myself on of THESE t-shirts.

I wonder if they make any in pink?

Oh well.. back to the Lab. My Data must be carefully ~~massaged~~ compiled for the final presentation.

******

*Volunteer (n.) pronounced un-witting vic-tim
1. A person who performs or offers to perform a service voluntarily

**Assistant (n.) pronounced Coll-ab-or-ator.
1. a person who assists or gives aid and support

Un-bear-ably cute

2011-09-15T20:39:00.000+10:00

Look!!! It's a Bear-et!

You can buy them HERE

This Post dedicated to all my friends who just *adore* the beret as a practical Military headwear choice.

(you know who you are :D)

We have a Winner!

2011-09-14T22:23:00.001+10:00

Drum roll please....

The winner of the excellent hat of winter wooliness AND Australian Army-ness is.....

KEVIN

Kevin (aka Anonymous AKA [i think] Spider monkey dude) - please contact me via email

(paxford AT gmail DOT com)

And thank you to the other entrants [stay tuned - in a few more months I'll have another exciting prize to dispose of!]

Ding Dong - Cadence Calling

2011-09-12T21:39:00.001+10:00

Wait... you mean the miliary don't actually do it like this?? :D

Prayers for the Fallen

2011-09-11T17:48:00.000+10:00

They shall be remembered

artwork found HERE

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD

The Lord is my shepherd,
I shall not want;
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters;
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for His name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley
of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil;
for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the
Lord forever.

Psalm 23

Tired Pax is Tired

2011-09-09T10:45:00.000+10:00

Well it is the last day of my recreation leave today and I don't feel that I have achieved enough.

True I have the door varnishing almost conquered [the outside has been all sanded back with fine grade sandpaper and therefore only requires another coat or two to finish. The Inside is to be sanded today]. I am cranky that I still haven't been able to do the overlapped bits - due to the installer playing "Oh! Sorry! How about tomorrow?" with me for most of the week. He has now said "Saturday PM! Definitely!" - which is all well and good that I might finally get the doors off the sliding rails to finish painting - but gives me no idea of when I can get them rehung [hopefully I can learn the trick to getting them on & off and can just get some strong-armed help Sunday night to rehang].

Oh and yes - I have organised the new living room floor installation. Contract signed for wooden floor boards to cover the floor area - and installation for sometime in October.

Still dithering over floor tiles for the hall, kitchen & balcony but I'm getting closer to a choice on that. I need to purchase those in bulk and store them for now as I will be (eventually) learning how to tile from my Dad (with the balcony as the "learning zone"). The Hall is also an easy area to do.

The Kitchen... sigh... that's a whole 'nother drama there that I will close my eyes to, cover my ears with my hands and loudly sing "La La La" till it magically goes away. [but if any of my blogging friends know anything about re-planning kitchen space so that there is room for a table? - please contact me!]

Now if only I had another week of leave - I might actually find time to do that whole "relaxing" thing (or not... Pax's in a natural state of rest tend to devour books, donuts and annoy the cat by hogging the couch)

In other news - I think I will extend the drawing of the woolen hat to early next week. So you have another few days to enter (or if you are on the Navy vs. Marine all-in-brawling teams - you have time to add a few more amusing exchanges)

Now excuse me as I go to once more apply varnish - wait for it to dry - sand it back - and then do a final coat.

My Life - So Darn Exciting!

Spring has Sprung

2011-09-06T20:04:00.000+10:00

Well... Downunder in Australia it has. (Our Spring lasts from the 1st of September until the last day of November)

Some of the trees are now blooming and we are heading towards my favourite time of the year - when the Jacaranda trees bloom, coating the streets below them with a layer of purple petals.

Photo found HERE

Jacaranda time coincides with University exams so it is not anticipated by all. For the Horticulturists amongst us - this is NOT a tree native to Australia, however it became very popular in the 1920's as an ornamental tree for street verges and gardens.

And despite the official decree that "Spring Has Arrived" - the Weather is still a bit nippy, with a forecast of down to 12 degrees celsius tonight (53.6F). So for we delicate sub-tropic dwellers it is still jumper (aka pullover / sweater), extra blankets and electric heater time.

Oh and you may recall I'm in the midst of renovations at my place (segueing slightly from the topic but still weather related - honest!)

These are my new (replacement) veranda doors. And as soon as they went in I (with the help of Cozzles) gleefully ripped out the rest of the inbuilt sections of the veranda behind them, and had all the junk carted away. The Veranda balcony is now open to the elements and will - in time - become host to a small BBQ (Barbie!) and pots of climbing roses that I will endeavour to keep alive (Pax does not a green-thumb possess).

I have since discovered a wee bit of a problem with painting the doors - necessitating that the installer returns and lifts both sliding ones OFF until I can varnish the raw areas; and will then return a day or two or more later to put them back up.

So guess who's going to be whining about the cold to you all? [I have plans to tack up a blanket or two to the outside top facing to block the worst of the chilly breeze; and security-wise none shall pass the partial aluminum siding and shutters]. Luckily I am still on leave from work so I can get the varnishing done super quickly and then beg and plead and whine (no - I have no shame where frozen tootsies are involved) at the installer until he returns and replaces them.

In other news :-

Milsupport for my four adopted troopers is going fairly well. I managed to send off one of THESE to all my guys. Hopefully it will make them smile whenever they use it.

R.A.K parcel of some Aussie sweeties (aka candy) went off to a new acquaintance. It was a gesture of Good Will and Troop Support and (sorry... having to pause sligthly so I can have a giggling fit..) Kindness, however it caused a bit of a stir and therefore Musk Sticks are back on the "Pax must NOT" list [along with various 'Miss Manners' notes like "do not use the word 'sweet' when referring to Marines - it makes them grumpy"; and "do not send Drakkar Noir to anyone that doesn't like Musk Sticks" (however I'm a bit puzzled as to why & how research on that last rule occurred)]

My monthly donation of Coffee vouchers via the Green Beans "Cup of Joe" has been made. This is a really worthwhile and affordable Troop support program and you can find details on how to participate HERE.

And lastly the Competition for the Australian Army insignia hat is still open to entries until this Saturday. Just please remember to include your name on the entries for them to be valid.

Liechtenstein for Pax?

2011-09-04T18:59:00.000+10:00

Now here is an amusing competition - the Mellowest Jihadi - has suggested an "Achievement Unlocked" prize (or something like that :D) for the first blogger of his acquaintance to either register a Viewer stats hit / or be sent a real postcard - from a resident of the wonderful European country of Liechtenstein.

Read all about it HERE

So do any of my regular readers have friends or family or business acquaintances in that zone?

I humbly promise NOT to offer any strange Australian Sweeties if you can assist (that's rather zen don't you think - not offering you a gift of something that you'll probably not like)

Pax offers a Prize

2011-09-02T10:07:00.000+10:00

About a fortnight ago I asked if anyone was interested in winning a woolen Australian Army hat.

Well the answer appears to be yes, however there was only one suggestion on how to judge the competition (rhyming Aussie slang contest).

Unfortunately that idea, while it is amusing, would mean I have to wade through the attempts (with possibly one too many references to Pax having "Kangaroos loose in the top paddock") so how about we try the old standby method of:-

You post a reply to this blog entry saying "YES I WANT TO ENTER" - or words to that effect, and then I will have my BFF Cozzles draw out one name from a hat in a weeks time. Making it fair to all.

Rules

You can be from anywhere in the world. All that I ask is that you respect that this hat represents my Country's military, and is to be treated as a prized possession.

If you win - you will need to supply me with a mailing address. I promise to hold the information safely and never share it beyond my Post Office.

If you leave your entry under the "Anonymous" tag - please be sure to add your name or nickname at the bottom.

The Winner will need to contact me by September 20th at the latest with their mailing address or there will be a redraw.

And...... GO!

Pink Stuff - Naval Gazing

2011-08-31T17:50:00.000+10:00

You might recall from this post that I had enlisted the willing aid of a Naval person of my acquaintance - to assist in the acquisition of scientific knowledge on:- "The Candy Eating Habits of the Greater American Service Person" (aka G.A.S.P)

He's just updated his blog with his data and it seems that he's begun channeling Herman Melville - perhaps he's been sniffing the pinkness a little too much?

http://themellowjihadi.com/2011/08/31/the-dreaded-australian-curse/

I should point out that although he writes - "Yet, I was powerless. She insisted. I did not say no. She insisted again. I did not fight" - that's not quite accurate. I mean... that much work to someone uniform clad over candy?** So not my style (*gives sweet innocent look at the universe* *ruins it by laughing wickedly*) But he's a nice guy so lets not destroy his viewpoint of the encounter.

However I am glad that he took the Musk Sticks off to his work and shared with his fellow Navy bods.

My data is now almost complete - missing only the input from the (how *did* Navyone put it... oh yes... "The Marine Corps is the Men’s Dept of the Department of the Navy") So once I've heard back from A1S on *his* encounter with the pinkness I'll be able to formulate just why some people are affected, and others enfeebled by the wondrous Pinkness of Musk Sticks

Oh and Navyone - Digs said to expect that AusCam clad teddy bear in the post shortly... It should be bear-ing (heh.. bear pun!) an "extra special gift" just for you

**having just received a rather odd email I feel I should clarify. My interest in any male requires him to be 36 or older - witty, intelligent and genuinely funny. His liking Australian sweets is not a requirement.

Wounded Warrior Project

2011-08-28T11:26:00.000+10:00

Suz over at Shining Pearls of Something blog advises how to support the very good work of the Wounded Warrior Project

A Cup of Kaboom!

2011-08-27T19:26:00.000+10:00

I have just found something new that I must must MUST send to all my adoptees

Found it HERE

It's a coffee cup!

Think they will get a laugh from it?

Pax'ing the Pinkness

2011-08-25T20:00:00.000+10:00

The Suggestion has been made to me (by persons who shallremain unnamed) that I seem to take an unholy delight in the tormenting ofbewildered Americans via the insidious pinkness of the Musk Stick sweetie.

In my defence I must protest that my very first sending ofthe infamous MS – back in mid 2010 – was as simply another odd Australian candy (aka sweet / lolly)to send to my adopted soldiers. It wasreported back to me by the nice young Military Police trooper “C” as

"I finally know what the colour pink would taste like -let's never do THAT again!"

Wondering if this was a simple aberration oftaste (after all He IS from the same nation that thinks combining Jam andPeanut paste is a delicacy), I sent off some more MS’s in the next troop treatparcel to go out (to Pv2 J of the USA Army). J's response to it made me laugh so much thatI made THIS blog post. J never did explain what he meant by the “priceless reaction” from hisbattle buddies – but it marked the real start of the “supply to as many of myunsuspecting American friends / Soldiers’ Angels adoptees as possible” plot.

Wait! Did I say Plot?

No no – NOT a plot!

It is a scientificexperiment I swear!

And I now have hard data from my research that 9 out of 10 USA troops haveTHIS reaction

Airforce guinea pig... lovely lad!

There is of course that 1 in 10 that is obviously a misplacedAustralian at heart (happy beaming smile at the thought) – these brave souls are then movedon to the Vegemite part of the taste experiment and the Hard data compilingbegins all over again.

Oh and notice that I pinpointed mid 2010 as the start dateof my MS generosity? – well it seems that Izzy (one of my very first 2009adopted soldiers via Soldiers’ Angels) is feeling left out of the fun. We’ve remained friends over the years and ashe has a birthday very soon (next week even) one of the items in his “FunAussie treats” birthday box are a pack of the Pinkness. I’m rather hoping there are action shots ashe “shares” his bounty with his family and friends.

Why yes... I AM a sharing caring sort – thank you fornoticing!

(Hmm... maybe I should dropMinnesota OFF the “places I plan to visit” list?)

Sadly, however, my research is incomplete – so far I have onlyreceived scientific data from troops of the USA Army; the USA National Guard, and the USAAirforce. Can you name the two USA Military Forces missingfrom this list?

However all is not lost - there are still two “experimental’Packets of the Pink out in the wild – and so far uneaten (I believe).

One pack is held by our illustrious America’s First Sergeant of the United States Marine Corp. I begin tosuspect that A1S may be hoping that the Pinkness will succumb to hissteely-eyed stare of doom before he is required to taste any (Hah!).

The other is in the possession of Navyone who has been kind enough to offer up his sea-going taste buds for the test .

The fate of my experiment isnow in your hands, Oh Gentle Readers, – So just drop over to their web-blogsand “encourage” them to participate.

Just a simple remark left on their latest blogs - something polite and to the point would work...

"Hey *insert blog name* so what about those Musk sticks?"

Do it for SCIENCE!

Do it for the Pink Stuff!

Do it for Queen and Country!.. .whoops.. you USA guys are aRepublic, right?... okay do it for MY Queen and Country!

Oh and don’t forget to tell them that PAX sent you (sweetangelic smile)

*** If you would like your very own Military person to sendtreats and friendship to, then pleaseconsider becoming a member of Soldiers’ Angels

For the cost of one parcel a month; one letter a week andthe opening of your heart to a person deployed – you too can reap the benefitsof knowing that you CAN make a difference in another persons’ life.

Pax enquires...

2011-08-22T21:03:00.001+10:00

Would there be any interest in a competition for an Australian Army wool beanie hat? (heh.. I had to google to find out what other countries called it - see the footnote!*)

I realise it's not yet even nippy in the Northern zones of the world but it might be something unusual and interesting to acquire.

I obtained two of these hats from the Australian Military shop a few months ago. I had a few styles of hats to choose from ( I am sure that one or two of you will be happy to know that I sneered at the berets on offer - hehe) however the beanies won out.

Hat one has gone off to someone that is occupationally follicly-challenged (ie. he's a marine) and it will hopefully keep his off-duty noggin warm in the upcoming wintry months.

Hat two is still here and looking for a new home. It is black wool with an embroidered Rising Sun badge with the words "The Australian Army" underneath.

The Competition will be open to anyone in the world, and will be shipped via airmail delivery.

So Let me know if you think a competition would be fun - and what sort of competition it should be (and no... the "how many renovation disasters are currently besetting Pax" guessing game is not on the allowed list - since they are Legion!)

Remember - it's NOW UP TO YOU!

I will keep the suggestion list running for two weeks and then advise the outcome.

*The woolen beanie has a variety of names, depending on where you are. In Canada, these ubiquitous hats are called tuques. In New Zealand, Australia and England, they are still referred to as beanies. In the United States, they are called knit caps, toboggan caps, stocking caps, skull caps, winter hats, ski caps, chooks and sock caps, according to what part of the country you are in. The Amish of Pennsylvania call the woolen beanie a sipple cap. In India, it is simply a monkey cap.

Pax is less stressed

2011-08-21T17:47:00.000+10:00

I caught up with my parents today - first chance to see them since they left a few months ago for their latest Bush camping and gem fossicking* adventures.

They had originally only planned on a 6 to 7 week trip away - and then they began a weekly / fortnightly texting me that they were extending their stay. Usually I don't stress about their long camping jaunts - they both know the bush well, and can judge if an area is safe to stay in (this is more to do with flood areas and/or bush fire prone zones than danger from our fellow man or animals or reptiles). However my Mum has advanced cancer - currently held at bay by a course of medication - and I began to fear that things were not so well with her (more so than usual). And so my stress levels have been gradually rising the past month or so.

How can you tell a stressed Pax?

That would be the panda-eyed insomniac that begins to do way more online / email communications with distant friends (not always coherently of course) ;

the Pax that ends up sending more short notes / postcards to adoptee's rather than letters of substance (because you can't ADD to their stress levels by going on about yours - it's just not fair) ;

the Pax that ends up sending extra R.A.K. parcels out - hoping that they make the recipient laugh/smile or groan (really.. one or two out of three is always the goal) ;

and the Pax that avoids making the big life decisions without second and third guessing since it's all a bit over-whelming;

So now my parents are home and the GREAT news is that my Mum is looking well. She seems to have a lot more energy and zest for life than pre-trip, and is making plans for later in the year with a steely-eyed determination.

So I am gradually de-stressing. I have hopes of even sleeping more than 3 hours at a stretch (with the added bonus of not having workmates enquire about the pronounced shadows under my eyes) and with clarity of brain will hopefully come more clarity of soul.

And I will make those life decisions soon - I swear! Just needing to get over the first of the renovation humps and I can begin to plot my course for the next and the next and the next.

Oh and because there is always one that asks.... No - my love life remains non-existent. However I'm thinking of drafting a "life mate wanted ad" at some point. Now how would that go....

Single pale female - with geekish predilections (and adopted "auntie" to four) seeks non-numpty male to have and to hold. Promises to lavish attention; affection and musk sticks upon the chosen one. Male must be aware of the dictionary definitions (and show ability to conform with) of the following words - fidelity, honesty, commitment; and must not have an unhealthy continuing fascination with ex-wife. Tolerance for vagueness, MMORPGing and medieval hobbies would be counted as a plus.
Applications should be lodged at the Sign of the Fox**

Gules, a fox sejant the dexter forepaw resting on a heart argent, on a chief ermine three hawk's lures gules

*Fossicking... gem & gold hunting - usually by tedious and back breaking digging & panning.

** Oh come on - you knew I was a big goofy geek all along!

Musical interlude

2011-08-19T20:36:00.001+10:00

...because some days are harder than others...

Pax posts out

2011-08-19T19:06:00.000+10:00

It's post day today - as in snail-mail going-off-to-my-troops post

It's been a low news week for me (no adventures with chain-saws or nail guns to write about; and whilst the dentist trip was $$ it was mostly dull) so this weeks' post are cards and postcards.

Hopefully colourful enough that they will bring a smile to the faces of everyone that encounters them on their journey

Oh and for those that collect stamps - the latest International one is this very cute koala

So Australian theme all the way - hope it lets them know that they are cared about!

To Plot or not to Plot - that is the Pax-tion

2011-08-19T00:16:00.000+10:00

(with oh so many apologies to the Bard)

To plot, or not to plot, that is the question:
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The carrots and sticks of outrageous fortune,

And by way of illustrations....

Carrot

Stick

One of these things is not like the other....

It's recently been suggested that I need to get a "normal hobby"...

Mid August catch up

2011-08-13T23:54:00.004+10:00

Well I had half a post all written up but decided that it was utterly boring (unusual for me I know! ...looks sternly at the balcony section and asks them to shush J) so you don't get to see that one.

How about a bit of a quick catch up on where everything Troop Treatie is at instead?

Soldiers' Angels adoptees -

Marine J is almost on his way home so I'm sending up prayers that he has a safe and quick trip home (not going via Mumbai and any International incidents I hope!). He's no longer officially one of my Adoptees, however he has said he'd like to keep in touch once he gets home which I would love.

National Guard E is toiling away at his appointed task and (I hope) staying safe.

Airforce M just had a birthday! He's a Buffalo Bills fan (that's an American football team and NOT a cowboy... just in case other Non-USAians like me get confused) and not having much inkling of what would make him smile the most I sent him one of these

Mr Potato Head does sports... How Spudly of him!

He assures me that it did indeed make him laugh so I am a Happy Pax!

Newest Adoptee does not yet know he has acquired the "Goofy Aussie Chick" to ~~hug him and squeeze him and call him George~~ to send him letters and postcards and parcels of treats. Hopefully he won't run screaming like a girlie at the prospect [he is USA Army so I think they discourage that sort of thing] First parcel to him will be from the Soldiers' Angels store so he should hopefully be seeing that in the next week or two (I now try to make sure the Lads and Laddies know who they have as an Angel prior to sending the more strange Australian items... that way they know who to blame!)

UPDATED TO ADD BREAKING NEWS: I have just managed to acquire a New Newest Adoptee. Another Airforce member (sorry Navyone - still no Sailors on my list). Parcel from Soldiers' Angels store is now hopefully on it's way to him with (most probably) some of the wrong data on the shipment sheet [seems SA's order computer got confused by the Pax way of doing things - whoops!]. I'll keep a small feverant chant going that the parcel does reach the correct destination.

And I have just had an email from my friend Landon - he is safe if hot (said that it was 130 degrees F the other day). Must see if I can find one of those cool scarf things to send him. I met Landon via the Green Beans Cup of Joe program (where you donate $$ and the troops get drink vouchers) and we have kept up a correspondence via email.

Oh and speaking of Green Beans. I just received a lovely item in the mail from them. Last month they ran a promotion that if you sent more than a certain amount of donations, you would be sent a t-shirt.

Very cool! - Maybe I should wear it to Starbucks (okay.. maybe if I ever go to a $tarbucks. We do have
them over here but I find the average clientele annoyingly pretentious at the store closest to me)

Ah.. and a question recently asked of me :-
"How do you manage to afford to send off these treats? Are you independently wealthy?"

And the answer... "Independently wealthy!! Oh how I wish!"
Actually it involves a monthly budget which I try to stick to. Other than special parcels for birthdays, I attempt to send something of equal cost and quality to each of the adoptees per month.

My personal financial rules are:- pay mortgage and bills first; buy groceries; treat troops. I am not much of a clothes or shoes shopper (I think that part of the "girl-gene" got missed on me since I'd rather buy books) and I don't have much of a social life at the moment so funds can be rerouted from there. And with my rather nice tax refund financing a few extra treats for friends downrange and in other zones, my fiscal line is staying mostly in the black.

I also do not think of the Troop Treating as an task. To me it is a joy to know that I may be making someone thousands of miles away smile and feel appreciated. And of course there is the added bonus that some of the more whacky items cause such amusing feedback from my adoptees. So the smiles are shared back and forth.

Whoops.. okay that was not a *quick* post at all. Sorry about that Chief!

Pax - over and out and heading for sleep.

We Will Remember Them

2011-08-07T16:19:00.000+10:00

Prayers are being said for those lost in the tragic Helicopter crash in Afghanistan

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,

We will remember them.

Lest we Forget

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ode_of_Remembrance

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License
http://www.freefoto.com/index.jsp

Veni Vidi Coniuro (Pax goes Latin)

2011-08-03T19:16:00.000+10:00

Veni Vidi Coniuro - I came, I saw, I plotted
Primary Plot - Failed.... I guess Defcon One will have to wait for now - it appears that a timeline miscalculation will mean that birthday present for adoptee #2 will not reach him prior to his "go no mail/go home" date.

Which is a sad sad thing as I had taken great pains to find him his very own squeezable cootie ball (for fun and team sharing - as they do in the marine corps I'm told :D) Oh and a copy of this very educational book too.

You can also buy it from HERE

I guess I will now have to send a copy off to someone else, just so they can report back on just how easy it IS to make your very own flamethrower (very important information for when the Zombie Apocalypse befalls us)

However Secondary Plot has been dispatched via my local Post Office today - time line for delivery...
hmm.... tricky.... 10 to 12 days airmail to reach the USA (being no doubt intercepted by both Australian and USAian Customs) and then on from there via the Military mail system to somewhere not ending in "STAN".

I'm sure the recipient will be delighted with the items within (and probably ECSTATIC when he discovers that no Aussie Sweets [aka candy] have been included).

And I am now utterly exhausted - this creative plotting sure does take a lot out of you (all that skulking about and pretending to be sweet and nice... so tiring!)

I'm now off to make some dinner, answer some emails and perhaps adopt another USA service person (there are over 1900 on the waiting list). If any of my Happy Readers have the time (an hour or so a week is all) and the funds (not that much $$$ required - paper & envelopes & stamps to send a letter a week / goodies from the local stores for the once-a-month parcel) and the inner-kindness (if you exercise your IK then it grows tenfold!) then please consider becoming a member of Soldiers' Angels - they really do strive to make a difference in the Troops morale.

And now I leave you all with the very important question - Ubi est mea anaticula cumminosa?

Pax

Pax has been plotting....

2011-08-02T17:51:00.002+10:00

BWHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

Stand by for Defcon 1 in five... four... three....

July roundup

2011-07-31T21:13:00.000+10:00

Wow - not quite sure where the month of July went but it's gone gone gone (well.. in just under 3 hours here in Australia it will be)

So just a bit of a recap of the July Pax zone

*Water Balloon launchers dispatched to all my adoptee's - no International incidents reported (so far)

* Birthday present organised for Adoptee #3

*Item of solar protection ordered for a friend - should be amusing when that one turns up

*The usual cards, postcards and letters sent off weekly - hopefully NOT boring their socks off

*Some friendship badges sent off to Mr Coffeypot - he has a reunion coming up shortly and said they would be treasured by his fellow shipmates

* Oh.. and some Musk sticks went off to the winner of the caption contest. I believe he is *thrilled* (or was it terrified? Definitely one of those "T" words I'm sure)

I have also begun the gathering of items for the handmade Christmas wreaths and Koala Santa stockings that I will be making shortly. All three of my current adoptee's will be home by December so it's forward planning for the next batch of bewildered American Troops (aka the lucky lucky souls - Bwhahaha :D)

In "at home" news - I have committed to almost $4K of new doors for the veranda - installation in about 5 weeks, which will segue nicely into my planned two weeks of recreation leave [which will be now spent painting the new doors/framework etc. Sadly finishing wasn't included in the price ;( ]

And my parents may return home from their extended bush holiday shortly. I have received the occasional text message advising me of their continuing wellness, but no word on whether they have found fabulous gems or Lasseter's Reef (gold & gem fossicking grey nomads can be cagey about that sort of information :D)

Pax rolls the dice

2011-07-27T20:30:00.000+10:00

I recently replaced some of my board games - the original sets were old and missing pieces - so I thought it was about time for an upgrade (helped along with an amazon gift vouchers given by a dear friend)

So I invested in a really nice new Monopoly set

(photo from amazon.com; and all rights held by Hasbro of course)

and I got to thinking about past games of the big M. The Good family games where we played for fun; the not so-good Family games when my brothers would tag-team to own all the properties; and the very VERY memorable games played with a range of ex's.

I'm wondering if perhaps it's a Guy thing (?!) - that whole "must win - must own the board even if I need to crush you to do it". And I am thinking that I may begin applying the M-test to all potential suitors.

Just think... I'd get to see their real self at play.

Now I'm not suggesting that I will only find worth in someone that plays half-heartedly; or even worse - tries to let me win. Just that it might be a really great way to discover if my intended Honey has the belief that winning means he can connive, or cheat, or belittle his opponents, just to get that little grey counter around the board faster than me.

Just think of the time and emotion I'll be saving on the ones that can't understand that a game should actually be FUN! (and the ones that survive the M-test will then move on to the Trivial Pursuit gambit - just to make sure)

Oh and if this works - I'm totally going to patent the idea! (oooh just think of the lawsuits Hasbro would be throwing at me!)

A Quick lesson in Aussie Slang

2011-07-24T10:16:00.001+10:00

A friend of mine asked about a good name for a new puppy (an Australian Shepherd) and I stumbled upon this website.

Since there any number of phrases here that even I didn't know about you might find it Ed-u-ca-shinal should you ever travel the great Outback and Never Never.

So below is a random selection - enjoy!

Amber fluid : beer
Aussie salute : brushing away flies with the hand
Back of Bourke : a very long way away [not to be confused with "Behind Burke": which is a very safe place to be]
Battler : someone working hard and only just making a living
Black Stump, beyond the : a long way away, the back of nowhere
Captain Cook : look (noun) ("let's have a Captain Cook")
Cobber : friend
Corker : something excellent. A good stroke in cricket might be described as a 'corker of a shot'
Dag : a funny person, nerd, goof
Digger : a soldier
Dinkum, fair dinkum : true, real, genuine ("I'm a dinkum Aussie"; "is he fair dinkum?")
Dinky-di : the real thing, genuine
Drongo : a dope, stupid person
Esky : large insulated food/drink container for picnics, barbecues etc.
Flat out like a lizard drinking : flat out, busy
Furphy : false or unreliable rumour
Galah : fool, silly person. Named after the bird of the same name because of its antics and the noise it makes.
Gobsmacked : surprised, astounded
Hottie : hot water bottle
Jackaroo : a male trainee station manager or station hand (a station is a big farm/grazing property)
Jillaroo : a female trainee station manager or station hand
Kangaroos loose in the top paddock : Intellectually inadequate ("he's got kangaroos loose in the top paddock")
Knock : to criticise
Larrikin : a bloke who is always enjoying himself, harmless prankster
Lend of, to have a : to take advantage of somebody's gullibility, to have someone on ("he's having a lend of you")
Matilda : swagman's bedding, sleeping roll
Mug : friendly insult ("have a go, yer mug"), gullible person
Never Never : the Outback, centre of Australia
No worries! : Expression of forgiveness or reassurance (No problem; forget about it; I can do it; Yes, I'll do it)
Not the full quid : not bright intellectually
Ocker : an unsophisticated person
Oldies : parents - "I'll have to ask my oldies"
Pash : a long passionate kiss; hence "pashing on"
Piker : Someone who doesn't want to fit in with others socially, leaves parties early
Plate, bring a : Instruction on party or BBQ invitation to bring your own food. It doesn't mean they're short of crockery!
Rage on : to continue partying - "we raged on until 3am"
Reckon! : you bet! Absolutely!
Rock up : to turn up, to arrive - "we rocked up at their house at 8pm"
Schooner : large beer glass in Queensland; medium beer glass in South Australia
Shoot through : to leave
Spit the dummy : get very upset at something
Tea : supper
Thongs : cheap rubber backless sandals
True blue : patriotic
Ugg boots : Australian sheepskin boots worn by surfers since at least the 1960s to keep warm while out of the water. Also worn by airmen during WW1 and WW2 because of the need to maintain warmth in non-pressurized planes at high altitudes.
Ute : utility vehicle, pickup truck
Veg out : relax in front of the TV (like a vegetable)
Walkabout : a walk in the Outback [...] that lasts for an indefinite amount of time
Weekend warrior : army reservist
Wowser : straight-laced person, prude, puritan, spoilsport
XXXX : pronounced Four X, brand of beer made in Queensland
Yakka : work (noun)

Personal Pax

2011-07-21T19:51:00.000+10:00

In mydebut audio post (sorry for the linking weirdness – I’m still bumbling abouttrying to get a direct MPG file to download) I mentioned that I would love somequestions from my Blogger friends.

Actuallythere is ONE question I’ve been asked a few times that I haven’t reallyaddressed

“You never really write about yourself– just your Milsupport/adoptees and sometimes your home improvement work.What’s up with that?”

What’s upindeed!

Firstlyyou have to understand that I was raised to not show my woes to the World. Thatwhole “Smile at your enemy and cry in the dark” kind of mindset that isprevalent amongst some of the more stoic nationalities. So only my closest friends are aware of allthe dramas besetting me – and frankly I’m okay with that. Those friends are bright enough to realisethat while I might wail and rage against the unfairness of the Universe from timeto time; that I won’t let it become my sole-state of mind and spiral down in todespair [actually most of them would begin applying a swift kick to my buttshould I ever fall that far]

AndSecondly – do you REALLY want to read about all that kind of Cr@p on a weeklybasis? Cause yeah... it would bore me totears and I’m living it the first time around!

So yes! while I may come across as Ms. Sunshine & AussieRoses – You, my Dear Readers, will (eventually) come to realise that :-

80%of my natural personality is buoyant and up-beat.

10%is goofy;

5%Machiavellian

…and thatother 5% is most assuredly Emo** and you will all be so very very glad that Idon’t let my Goth-wearing inner-teen out very often at all (cause the poetry,quite frankly, bites).

And let’sall be honest – You mostly come by this page for a bit of Aussie Madness; goodcheer and the rare opportunity to win Musk Sticks – Don’t cha? J

Shouldyou really want to be more than just a “distant blogger friend” then you’llfind my email in the Contacts section.

Write me – start a dialogue – become a better friend and I willreciprocate.

But don’t do this if you are male and it’s *more* than friends you areafter. The Universe has recently yet again shownme that I am an abysmal failure at judging the True Heart of a person so Ithink I will be avoiding all emotional entanglements for the foreseeablefuture. [well.. unless it’s Gerard Butler– cause a girl’s got to have her breaking point!]

**Emo has been associated with a stereotype that includes being particularly emotional, sensitive, shy, introverted, or angst-ridden

Pax speaks out

2011-07-20T19:21:00.004+10:00

well.. just a little bit (let's call this an "experiment")

click HERE

WW1 Diggers laid to rest

2011-07-20T06:46:00.001+10:00

Lest we forget.... article on today's newswire

Fromelles diggers find final resting place

The remains of 14 Australian World War I soldiers have been officially laid to rest in a special headstone dedication ceremony in France.

The men died during the 1916 Battle of Fromelles, but their bodies were not discovered until 2009 and they were only identified in April this year.

Defence Science and Personnel Minister Warren Snowdon attended a ceremony to unveil 14 newly-marked headstones at the Fromelles Military Cemetery in France on Wednesday, marking 95 years since the bloody battle.

"It is very, very important for Australia to understand that this Battle of Fromelles was the bloodiest 24 hours in Australian military history - 5,500 Australian men killed, wounded or taken prisoner," he said.

"Almost a century on, we can finally give them, and their families, the dignity of a known grave.

"It is proof that no matter how many years have passed, Australians do not forget those who have sacrificed their lives in times of war.

"We just need to make sure that we don't forget but most importantly commemorate and honour their service and their sacrifice."

Mr Snowdon says the soldiers' descendants can now visit their graves.

"We've put them in suitably appropriate Commonwealth war grave, a new war grave at Fromelles, and now they will rest in peace forever in the heart of France and people will know where their relatives are," he said.

So far 110 soldiers found in unmarked graves on the battlefields of northern France have been identified as Australian, while a further 100 are believed to have served with Australian forces.

Mr Snowdon says the project to identify other soldiers will continue until 2014. He has urged relatives of those who died in the Battle of Fromelles to come forward with information.

The Battle of Fromelles was the first action Australian troops fought on the Western Front.

Caption Contest Winner

2011-07-15T22:16:00.000+10:00

America's 1st Sgt. said...

"I think I put this in the wrong end!"

Oh so wrong.. but oh so funny.

Musk sticks (and some edible Aussie snacks*) soon to be on their way to A1S.

*Trussst me Bwhahaha!

Guarded Pax

2011-07-15T19:49:00.005+10:00

Quote for the day

I'll start letting my guard down when people stop giving me reasons to keep it up

Quick Pax Post

2011-07-14T22:37:00.000+10:00

I have so many interesting blogs planned but haven't yet found the time to execute the necessary steps for them (that includes the audio posts) - so sorry to be such a slacker, all - but here's a quick watery Milsupport update instead.

It's SUMMER - well Downrange it is. And as I have done every DR Summer for the last 3 years of Soldiers' Angeling - I have sent something goofy to my adoptee's

You can get your very own HERE

It's a water balloon launcher - or WBL in Pax speak. Fun for the drenching of friends & superiors. It's a three man/woman/camel operation - one person each to hold one of the handles; and one to pull back the middle bit. A Fourth crew person could be added for quick re-loading the balloons if they're organised. So definitely a team toy.

There are currently FOUR of these either heading or arrived in various parts of the Middle East - and hopefully they will invoke fun, excitement and only minor International Incidents (hey.. A girl can hope! :D). I have suggested the guys bone up on their "Plausible Denability" lines just in case

"Why No Captain - I have no idea how you became so soaked. Random Rain storm perhaps?"

"Watery Missiles Admiral/General/Minor Deity - what ever do you mean Sir?"

And if all else fails they should just use the old stand-by excuse "The Goofy Aussie dared me to do it!"

And no - sorry - I can't provide any action shots. Of the Ten that I have sent off to Adoptee's over the years nary a one of them have managed to take any snap-shots or filmed footage (one of them did mutter something about "...it's too hard to take a photo when you're running to hide the evidence" - what ever that would mean *sweet angelic smile*)

So I am hoping that all Four of my adoptee's (J, E, M & RAK Marines) get a smile out of these.

Pax's Renovations - Redux

2011-07-09T16:43:00.000+10:00

So there I am - working away at the removal of the built in bookshelves when the blade of my Jigsaw gives a funny little lurch and then dislodges itself (no damage done to myself since the blade stayed lodged in the soft pine board I was attempting to cut)

After I carefully unplugged the machine from the power board (see! Pax has absorbed *some* safety rules over the years!) I discovered that the locking nut that holds the blade guide roller in place is no longer there, and the guide roller and it's pin are now separated from the machine in a sad, forlorn little heap. A check of the floor all about has failed to find the nut :( [however knowing my klutzy luck I may end up standing on it the moment I pull my shoes off!]

Webmail has been sent to the manufacturing company (Ozito) - and if I fail to hear from them in a few days I will take the machine back to the Store for a "please explain how this is possible" discussion. Cause.. you know... locking nut... aren't they supposed to ... umm... Lock??

So no doubt to my Neighbours relief, I will be unable to do any more work for at least a week.

However this is where I am currently up too - and as it's enough to give full access to the area where the new patio doors are supposed to attach I'm okay with that.

Guess where the Liquid nail glue was attached! Good thing it had
adhered to the paint layer only. Repainting I can do.

Next step (non-power tooled) will be to expose the old Doorway's framework so that I can get accurate measurements when the Carpenter comes a-quoting. It's a 320cmW x 204cmH gap so hoping that the old framework is suitable or that if it's not, then removal & replacement is part of the work quote.

And for those asking about the DVD collection - well what remains of it (after the ex took what he considered his share) is in the part of the bookcase that I plan to keep (at least for now). Sadly it will have to come out before I can re floor the lounge room but that may be 6 or more months down the track.

Caption Contest - a-la-Pax

2011-07-08T18:49:00.003+10:00

Somewhere Downrange yet another brave American has encountered the insidious Pinkness that is the Australian sweet - Musk Sticks

Doesn't he LOOK HAPPY! Bwhahahah!

So... how about a caption contest? Winner will be sent their very own packet of the Pink Stick to try on themselves and their friends and families (Ain't I such a caring sharing soul?!)

**Edited to add - To sweeten the deal [heh.. bad pun!] and encourage people to actually enter, the prize will now also include some edible Australian items and a friendship pin (see! not just Insidious Pinkness at stake now!)

*Competition Rules - entries can come in from anywhere in the world.

*Winner will be required to supply a valid postal address (as per Opsec rules I will hold that address secure & private)

*You may make more than one entry but try to keep them relatively polite

*Competition closes on the 15th of July. Winner will be mentioned on the Meepings

And.... GO!

Pax Picks Up...

2011-07-07T15:57:00.001+10:00

Sigh... so pay no attention to the Wibbling Pax in the previous entry - I have since rediscovered my sense of humour AND my big BIG hammer (both are making the current situation at home much more tolerable).

In health update news - I Hab a Colb sniffle... honk... wheeze... My workmates not wishing to share in my germy bounty have politely suggested some "at home time" so therefore I have had the day off work today - and possibly tomorrow. Having an unexpected few extra days off of course would be a perfect time to do some more of the renovation work IF I wasn't currently impersonating a snot-monster [gosh.. I have no idea why I'm no longer alluring to males... honk.. wheeze.. must be that whole "eye of the beholder needing a blindfold" thing again]

In Milsupport news - I am having a great time corresponding via email to one of the recent recipients of my Cup of Joe coffee vouchers. Waves to Landon! He's US Airforce and currently stuck in an overseas country not ending in "stan".

I have also heard back from most recent Soldiers' Angel adoptee. Aussie munchie parcel has been received and his crews' reaction to Musk Sticks seems to be on par with expected results (I do realise that it's on the "Pax Should Not" list but he insisted that he'd love to try the evil pinkness - and more importantly - share the pinkness with those around him). He's yet to try them on vegemite so that will be fun for them
(BWHAHA! cough.. wheeze.. sniffle... gives slightly snotty sweet innocent look to the Universe)

No word from J or RAK Marine group - I hope they are all safe.

And I'm hoping E has received a parcel containing the possibility for watery airborne missiles and the chance at another International Incident (or possibly he has received it already and thinks I'm barking mad to send such a thing to a desert zone. Hmm.. perhaps I *should* have sent him the tin of Dehydrated water first!)

Okay that's enough news for today - Snot monster is signing off and heading back to bed with an exciting romance novel (hey.. If I can't have it I might as well read about it! :D )

Pax

Edited to add - Just heard from E - he *has* received the WBL and seems quite chuffed about it :)

Pax'n tools

2011-07-03T15:43:00.005+10:00

I shall have to admit that I'm not a natural with power tools - frankly they scare me :(

So when I say I am trying to persevere with the removal of some inbuilt bench tops & shelves I really mean I am trying not to run away from the task - crying like a little girl.

I have one friend who delights in telling me (whenever I mention I've gone off to the hardware store for more things) that I'll "One day make a great '(girl) husband' for some guy". Yeah.. what I wouldn't give for the right guy to be here holding my hand and leading the way on the project

However you (and you know who I mean - don't cha Charlie?) who worry about my safety habits should not fear. I have gloves, eye protection and breathing masks - and I may even get around to wearing all three at once sometime :D

**Edited to add... why yes - yes I *am* using a jigsaw to cut through the bench tops. And no - I still have not quite worked out that whole "cut in a straight line" thing. I am so much better with hand saws (so long as I remember NOT to try catching them in midair when dropped by accident)

**Re-edited to add..... Rage can be a wonderful substitute for skill!

Before...

Currently

The Meepings gets a Mascot!

2011-07-02T16:16:00.001+10:00

I would like to introduce you to my new Blog Mascot - Digs the Digger Bear

Recognise the badges?

Your very own Digger can be found here

Digs is wearing the uniform of the World War 1 Australian army. Including the famous "Rising Sun" lapel and hat badges. He is also wearing my Australian/American friendship badge; and my Soldiers' Angel badge - both seemed to feel right to add to his uniform.

This is the very same style of uniform that my Great-Grandfather wore when he proudly marched off to war. Sadly he did not return to Sunny Australia - he lies in an unknown grave far from our shores.

A "Digger" was a nickname for the ANZAC troops - begun during WW1. There are many & varied explanations on what it means (see HERE for more details)

Digs and I will be heading off on a few photographic adventures in the upcoming months. Starting with the Douglas MacArthur Museum - right here in Sunny Queensland. Hopefully the Curators won't mind me bringing my Teddy in for a photo op.

Aussie Troop support...

2011-06-28T23:01:00.001+10:00

I have been asked a few times why I support the USA troops instead of my home-grown Downunder lads and ladies.

Well.... it's really so much easier to find reputable support groups already set up in the USA (such as Soldiers' Angels / Green Beans Coffee / AnyMarine) - and I know, from personal experience and from Friends recommendations, that these groups are run efficiently and with respect for the troops and their operational security.

Since Australia has only about 1550 troops deployed at this time, home grown support groups are not as easily found. I don't have personal contacts within the Regiments (much to my Mothers joy, my days of dating the Uniform'd are past) so finding an insider that coordinates needs, wants & contacts is almost impossible.

And our official Defence website Troop Support has only the option of sending emails* off into the ether OR buying premade postcards that you can then dispatch to an official Australian defence address that will forward them on to Downrange. (*the email address has a number of stipulations and information re. spam attacks so I'm a bit doubtful of it's efficiency)

In the interest in seeing just what the postcards can do (who they can reach - will there be a reply/response? - what time line will that take?) I have just purchased a 10 pack of Official (and rather ugly looking!) postcards. Once received I will send them off - bearing happy troop support messages and report on the outcome (who knows! I might find some Australian "over there" in need of a steady supply of Aussie Musk Stick sweeties!)

Pandering the Pax

2011-06-28T19:08:00.000+10:00

Just home from seeing Kung Fu Panda 2.

Really enjoyed it!

And it's possibly a good thing to be boyfriend less at these screenings - I can recall the last one always being uncomfortable when I would start crying in the sad scenes.

Pax has been Caffeinated!

2011-06-24T18:50:00.003+10:00

Wow those Green Bean Coffee people are super organised! I sent out 30 coffee vouchers on tuesday and by tonight (friday) 28 of those have gone out to (I'm hoping) now slightly happier-and-coffee-filled troops.

I have also had a couple of Pen-friend (well.. in this electronic day & age - email actually) requests, and I'm busy sending back Hello's tonight.

And fear not Oh Loyal Readers - I will remember to consult the "Pax should NOT" list in the event I end up sending any of them Aussie munchies (mutter.. grumble... well at least *I* like Musk Sticks so all the more for ME!)

If you happen to find yourself with a bit of extra change and the desire to make someone deserving happy with an RAK (random act of kindness) then I can really recommend the Cup of Joe program (click on the side bar link to go straight to their donation page)

Even more fun than an explosive-carrying Penguin!

Mmm... comfy Pax!

2011-06-21T12:50:00.000+10:00

Day off today as I had to be home to take delivery of my uber-comfy new mattress (pillow topped one - mmmm... take THAT Mr Insomnia!)

And since I had to be home anyway I have arranged for the 1800-Got-Junk crowd to pop over later today to pick up the old mattress and a few bits and "pieces" (the pieces being two chipboard cupboards that I took massive delight in taking the BIG Hammer to - mmm... stress relief through violence - who'd have thought it! Bwhahaha!). I'm also going to ask how much more it will cost if they take the metal 3-drawer file cabinet too [tried to give that away but no takers :( ]

Oh and since I am home - and the computer connection is actually working (grumble.. mutter... stupid local telco and their constant "maintenance on hub" work.. grumps) I have managed to organise some more "Cup of Joe" vouchers to go out to the troops downrange [I love the idea of caffeinating them all up and setting them loose - heh heh heh]

So soon I shall be "Organised Pax" and have to find more things to amuse me (*looks up at the peanut gallery - gives angelic smile*)

Late night Paxing

2011-06-19T23:45:00.003+10:00

Past 11pm here in Australia so I will keep this post brief(ish) and just do a bit of "what I have been up to lately" updating.

Actually not doing that much I guess - have managed to sort out my financial drama's (fingers crossed) and will therefore be able to start planning some apartment renovations.

First on the list is to reverse the built-in veranda (since sadly the place isn't resale-able until it's fixed) - this will involve installing a replacement for the big old heavy sliding door that was removed a while back. Once that's installed, I'll be getting some help to pull out the extra walls & windows bit that enclosed the overhanging area (should prove to be relatively easy as all the works were cunningly built on the inside of the existing aluminium veranda shutter system). I don't have a hard & fast timeline on this as I will be doing a lot of the work myself (jigsaw cutting through part of a bookcase/bench system etc. And YES - I do promise to count my fingers before & afterwards and take photos of any 'amusing' incidents).

Rest of the apartment renovations (bathroom / kitchen / laying new floor coverings) will be on hold until my parents return from their latest Bush camping adventure (Mum is feeling well enough to travel at the moment and wants to seize the opportunity at what might be her last chance to enjoy the bush). My Dad is quite the handyman and is already VERY excited at the idea of being "in-charge" of the work here.

So part of this weekend has been spent (in the company of BFF) pricing various items at the local hardware superstore, and getting starting prices for a sliding door / french door system (and I have to say EEEEK! Darn that's gonna be expensive!)

In Milsupport - I've been a bit quiet. I did manage to send off a care parcel via the Soldiers' Angel Store to the person coordinating the RAK marine group. It will go with a bonus pack of Girl Scout cookies which is a really cool thing. And as usual weekly letters / postcards have gone out. However the latest International postage stamp is HUGE - kind of makes it hard to find room on the postcards to actually write a message! (and while I am tempted to often write "Wish you were HERE" I try to avoid that. Although it IS a sentiment I really feel since even with our weird reptiles, insects and other furry animals Australia is really safe - so long as you avoid the musk stick sweeties!)

In upcoming Blogging news - I am planning on inserting the occasional audio clip. Finally you will get to laugh at my accent (the Lord knows the locals do!) I should probably mention here that since my Dad was born in Scotland I have a wee bit of an unusual non-Aussie inflection going on. Ah well... at the very least you *should* be able to understand most of the words even if you then have to write in for a 'Lingo*' translation!

So are there any burning questions you'd like to ask me? (polite ones that is - *eyes the peanut gallery with wary apprehension*) Send me suggestions on what you would like to hear - however be warned that I tend to sing off-keyish so musical number suggestions should be kept to a minimum.

Whoops.. now heading towards midnight so I will end my not-as-brief-Brief.

Stay safe!

Pax, over and out

*Lingo, the way a certain speech community speaks, see jargon

Safe Travels Jerad!

2011-06-14T22:27:00.000+10:00

I have received word from Soldiers' Angels admin that my super-silent-adoptee Jerad has completed his deployment and is (or will be soon) on his way home.

Whilst I never did have any contact from him, many prayers were sent heaven-ward on his behalf.

I hope his trip home is safe and uneventful!

Holding Out For A Hero

2011-06-08T22:29:00.000+10:00

Where have all the good men gone
And where are all the gods?
Where's the street-wise Hercules
To fight the rising odds?
Isn't there a white knight upon a fiery steed?
Late at night I toss and turn and dream of what I need
Bonnie Tyler

Well occasionally reality comes and smacks you upside the head.

Friends in danger downrange; and at home - a dear friend in a domestic abuse situation.

I really have nothing to complain about - my emotional dramas are nothing compared to theirs.

Prayers being sent for them all - and the hope that a hero can rescue my friend (the police hero type)

The 91st Psalm

2011-06-07T21:28:00.000+10:00

"You will be safe in God's care; his faithfulness will protect and defend you... God will put his angels in charge over you to protect you wherever you go."

Pax'd in June

2011-06-04T18:26:00.008+10:00

Today has been something of a Foggy-brain'd day - parting of the ways between a friend and I last night means I'm somewhat upset and not coping with life very well. I accept the reasons for the parting as being inevitable (differing viewpoints on one very important aspect of any relationship) but that doesn't mean that I am happy that it's occurred. He seems to feel the need for distance so I will wish him well and hope he stays safe.

One upshot of "Foggy-brain" meant I locked myself out of my apartment this morning - keys on the inside, me on the outside going "oooh poot". Luckily my BFF has a spare key so I caught up with her when she finished work and she very good-naturedly came home with me and let me back in. Must remember to give a second key to BFF2 so I have a backup for my backup (not that there should be a "next time" but better to be prepared)

On the "Milsupport" front - I have had a very lovely email from newest adoptee. He is well and currently safe. More letters, postcards & munchies to be dispatched to him shortly.

And National Guard adoptee has also been in touch :)

I know that some times it's just not possible for the adoptee's to contact their Angels - but when it does happen, it's like receiving a bubble of happiness - knowing they are safe and well, and excited about what has arrived (and fearful of what may come - Bwhahaha!.. whoops... don't mind me :D)

Oh and Aussie munchie parcel just shipped to my Cup-of-Joe penfriend too (standard items - bikkies and sweets - including some musk sticks) I had pre-warned him that a treat pack would be wending it's way to him and he seemed a little excited :D

And I have just acquired a random marine to support (random = just sending a parcel off to a central contact person who will then pass on to a member of their troop). Have some Aussie treats and furry marsupial toy all picked out. Wonder if I should put my email/blog addy on the card - or should it be a real & proper RAK*. Will think on that and decide in the next two days (it can't go till Monday USA hours so I have a little bit of dithering-time up my sleeve).

So other than this weeks' postcards to adoptee's (which should have been posted out yesterday except I was having something of a minor breakdown along with a migraine attack- sorry about that!) I am all caught up with "My Boys". Soon I shall begin plotting my usual June/July gift to them all (it's summer over there and hot hot hot - what better to send than a small item of ballistic water-borne mayhem I ask you?) Must check in with Miss Vicki too - she likes to send rubber duckies to my boys as well (a tradition now reaching back for my three years of Soldiers' Angeling)

And now I'm off to make dinner and wait for the latest episode of Doctor Who to come on (my life... so exciting!)

*RAK (aar-aa-k). Noun. Adverb. Adjective.
The Act of unexpectedly doing something nice (RAK-Random Act of Kindness).
[Dictionary of Marion-ism's]

Lest we forget...

2011-05-30T22:14:00.001+10:00

For my USA based friends today - 30th of May* - is Memorial Day

God bless all those that have gone before

*It was observed for the first time on May 30 of the same year (1866); the date was chosen because it was not the anniversary of a battle

Ribbet!

2011-05-27T22:12:00.001+10:00

In approximately two weeks my three Soldiers' Angels adoptees and my Cup-of-Joe Penfriend will all be receiving Froggie cards (containing various bits of frog trivia and some goofiness)

And if they're clever and use the special "Ribbet" code in an email I may promise to never send any of the Musk Sticks again! (I think it's important to reward good behaviour with promises of no more evil Australian sweeties - Bwhahahaha!)

Now for a musical interlude!

Munchies Paxed & Sent

2011-05-17T22:19:00.000+10:00

Payday today so in between paying bills and calculating when others are due, I have arranged for some Aussie munchies to head off to my two newest adoptees. (small parcels only this time guys - I promise more interesting ones next month when the financial quarter has passed)

There are a few "surprise" items in each order that I won't tell you about in case my "boys" are uber-leet with the keyboard. I've also included the classic staples of:-

Musk Sticks ^
These probably should come with a warning sticker of "Some Americans hate the taste - eat at own peril" :D

Unsure if I have ever waxed lyrical about Eucalyptus drops - they are GREAT if you have a sore throat (very soothing) and yes! they do smell like a Gum Tree. I think if I am ever to roam far from my native shores that I will ensure i take a pocketful of these with me - one sniff and I'm reminded of home & the scent of the bush.

Pax is pleased!

2011-05-14T17:43:00.000+10:00

... The ANZAC pin won by Suz has made it to her quickly and intact - way to go Australia Post!

Suz writes a lovely blog post about it here

And sent me a photo

I love it when I make people smile :)

Early May updates

2011-05-07T10:40:00.002+10:00

Well May has arrived and is already turning into a Super Busy month.

So far I have:-

* Posted off the ANZAC pins to Suz and two of my adoptee's - J & G.

* Said Safe Travels to JJ who is due to return from Downrange very shortly

* Adopted two new (soon to be) poor bewildered Americans via Soldiers Angels. One is a National Guardsman; the other a Marine.

* Organised a book of on How to make super amazing paper airplanes to be sent to JD (I *think* he's airforce. He's one of my "super-silent" types so no return correspondence has been received). Hopefully he & his team will enjoy the craft work

* Organised some super cute toy Koala's to be sent to the new guys (Pax's support plan... parcel one - send something sweet & nice and then steadily ramp up the weirdness from there - bwhahahahah!)

Oh and in the middle of that I had a birthday. Lunch with the parents, a few lovely gifts.

Mum & Dad gave me a handy dandy tool box (a small, light one that I won't strain my weak girlish arms lifting about :D)

A Friend sent me flowers

Two of my friends sent Amazon book vouchers - Wheeee!!! Book shopping ahead! :)

And my BFF Cozzles - well she outdid herself.

See the painted tube case there? It's a hand made shaped leather needle case. Once she made it she painted the design herself from a 1460 source. The Bone awls that were part of the gift fit into it well too. All storable in the little leather pouch. So now I have my medeival sewing kit all organised and ready to use - YAY!!!

And now - with the weekend here and my refinancing valuation looming very quickly (next wednesday actually) I need to go finish up all the paint and patch projects I have. Cozzles is due over later today - we need to brain storm on fixing a very annoying cupboard door problem, with possibly a run to the local Hardward store (yes yes.. Pax is a weird girl - she LIKES hardware stores. Just think what a very excellent girlfriend she'd make!) and then back on home to homemade Pizza.

Oh and I guess at some point I should look at booking a dentist appointment. Uber-annoying upper left wisdom tooth has decided to make it's presence known once again. On the Upside - it's too painful to eat much atm so maybe it will be my super-secret diet aid! (hey every little bit helps :D)

We have a WINNER!!!!

2011-05-02T18:11:00.001+10:00

One ANZAC slouch hat pin will shortly be winging its way to somewhere in the USA

The winner is SUZ

Suz would you please contact me to advise of the postal address? (paxford AT gmail DOT com)

And thank you for all the others that entered - I only wish I had enough to send one to you all.

JJ is heading home soon!

2011-05-01T17:17:00.000+10:00

One of my adopted soldiers is heading home very soon - so happy he has come through the deployment whole & well. He has been so much fun to send treats off too (and will forever remain in my memory as the Pink-MyLittlePony-Guy)

He is one of the squad in the photo below (posted with his permission)

Gambler Armament, Christmas 2010, FOB Sharana;
photo - Robert Wing

Safe Trip JJ!

Pax is a Royalist!

2011-05-01T12:51:00.000+10:00

For those of you (like me) that ohh'd and ahh'd over the Royal Wedding of Kate & Wills.

Here's some Royal eye-candy (for the ladies of course :D)

Found it here

ANZAC Pin competition... reminder

2011-04-29T23:25:00.000+10:00

Hey Everyone - if you want to be part of the ANZAC pin competition (see details here) you need to make a comment on that blog post by this Monday midnight.

Rules are simple

Leave a comment - include your name if you don't have a blogger account that shows your contact details.

You can be from anywhere in the world!

You do NOT have to be a follower of my blog to enter (but you do have to be contactable if you win so watch for "X is the winner" post next week)

So what will you win you ask?

This (somewhat) rare hat pin of an Australian ANZAC slouch hat. (I say rare because only 1 of the 6 veteran pin sellers I approached had even one of these in the stick-pin variation.)

So Enter today - and join the potentially lucky Gang-of-Five already in the draw

Lest we Forget

2011-04-25T09:44:00.003+10:00

It is ANZAC day here in Australia (25th April) - where the citizens of Australia and New Zealand stop and remember those that have fought for us in the wars; and those that will never return.

The acronym ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, whose soldiers were known as Anzac's [wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anzac_Day]

For more details on the origin of the day please go read the blog of Major Pain (One Marine's View) who has written a great blog entry "The ANZAC Day tradition - Lest we forget" - you can read it HERE

And every year just before ANZAC day our veterans and military can be seen selling Poppy pins and commemorative badges; and our stores sell ANZAC biscuits (check the link for the recipe). I try to get at least a poppy pin and one other to wear on my blazer. This year my parents gave me the Rising Sun badge below that I will treasure.

I have two slightly smaller slouch hat pins that I will be sending to my Downrange USA adoptee's. I am hoping they will value them (sending the smaller ones via the post means - I hope - that it won't freak the USA/Military mail people out too much. Seems metal in the mail = EEEK!!!)

And I have the Slouch Hat Badge above (stick pin version) that I would love to give away to a reader of this blog.

Contest rules - you need to make a comment in this blog saying you would like to be in the draw. In a week's time I will write every one's names on a strip of paper and have a friend draw one from a hat.

Entrants can be ANYWHERE in the world (Downrange, Australia, New Zealand, USA etc) - the winner will be announced on my Blog and they will be required to supply me with a contact email so I can obtain their mail address. They will have 1 week to contact me or a redraw will occur.

The Band Played Waltzing Matilda

And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda"
- Eric Bogle

Now when I was a young man, I carried me pack, and I lived the free life of a rover
From the Murray's green basin to the dusty outback, well, I waltzed my Matilda all over.
Then in 1915, my country said son, It's time you stopped rambling, there's work to be done.
So they gave me a tin hat, and they gave me a gun, and they marched me away to the war.

And the band played Waltzing Matilda, as the ship pulled away from the quay
And amidst all the cheers, the flag-waving and tears, we sailed off for Gallipoli
And how well I remember that terrible day, how our blood stained the sand and the water
And of how in that hell that they called Suvla Bay, we were butchered like lambs at the slaughter.
Johnny Turk he was waiting, he'd primed himself well. He shower'd us with bullets,
And he rained us with shell. And in five minutes flat, he'd blown us all to hell
Nearly blew us right back to Australia.

But the band played Waltzing Matilda, when we stopped to bury our slain.
We buried ours, and the Turks buried theirs, then we started all over again.
And those that were left, well we tried to survive, in that mad world of blood, death and fire
And for ten weary weeks, I kept myself alive, though around me the corpses piled higher
Then a big Turkish shell knocked me arse over head, and when I woke up in my hospital bed,
And saw what it had done, well I wished I was dead. Never knew there was worse things than dyin'.

For I'll go no more waltzing Matilda, all around the green bush far and free
To hump tent and pegs, a man needs both legs-no more waltzing Matilda for me.
So they gathered the crippled, the wounded, the maimed, and they shipped us back home to Australia.
The legless, the armless, the blind, the insane, those proud wounded heroes of Suvla
And as our ship pulled into Circular Quay, I looked at the place where me legs used to be.
And thanked Christ there was nobody waiting for me, to grieve, to mourn, and to pity.

But the band played Waltzing Matilda, as they carried us down the gangway.
But nobody cheered, they just stood and stared, then they turned all their faces away
And so now every April, I sit on me porch, and I watch the parades pass before me.
And I see my old comrades, how proudly they march, reviving old dreams of past glories
And the old men march slowly, old bones stiff and sore. They're tired old heroes from a forgotten war
And the young people ask, what are they marching for? And I ask myself the same question.

But the band plays Waltzing Matilda, and the old men still answer the call,
But as year follows year, more old men disappear. Someday no one will march there at all.
Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda, who'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me?
And their ghosts may be heard as they march by that billabong, who'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me?

http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/e/eric_bogle/#share

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,

We will remember them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ode_of_Remembrance

Pax the Plumber (?)

2011-04-20T22:43:00.000+10:00

Last weekend saw some urgently required home renovations occuring here in Villa-de-Pax.

How desperate I hear you ask? well.. the water gushing from the rusted-out pipe on to the laundry floor made it a somewhat urgent "better fix me fast" project

Luckily I am armed with a Handy-Dandy DIY Dad, and once we managed to unscrew the 40+ year old solid metal pipe from under the laundry tubs we were (sort of) in business.

it's like alien microbes have had a happy munch attack!

One quick-ish trip to the Local hardware store later and we were in possession of a new plastic sink trap and a few other bits and pieces (Dad had raided his store of plastic plumber bits so we didn't need to spend too much $$ thankfully)

And as you can see from the above pics the other two downpipes are in need of some TLC too. So following Dad's rather precise written instructions, I have applied Rust converter to the affected bits and will paint on Metal Primer to the exposed pipe bits (and that rather nasty looking grill there) on the weekend. After that it's a few coats of gloss paint for metal, and some flat paint on the concrete drain bit and it will look all sparkly.

All achieved without any bodily injuries* GO ME!

*I'm not sure where my Dad got the idea that I was a DIY Klutz - I mean... one little incident with a dropped saw and my trying to catch it mid-air [cause I didn't want it damaged by hitting the ground] and the man seems to think I'm a walking disaster just waiting to occur - how unfair is that!. It's not like my fingers didn't recover or anything!

And the camel is Named!

2011-04-17T16:42:00.001+10:00

Thank you for all the camel-icious name suggestions.

I really loved the inventiveness and it was a tough decision to make (I did attempt the scientific process of "call to camel using each name and see if he responded" - which strangely enough failed to work. The CAT, however, quite enjoyed batting him about the room as "punishment" for me paying more attention to a stuffed toy than her)

So I would like to introduce you to

Boonie the camel

Prize winner is Charlie Sherpa (from Red Bull Rising Blog ) for the name suggestion. Charlie I will organise something suitable after payday (bwhahahahah!!)

Wadi was a close runner up (thanks el Chupacabra).

I was also exceptionally taken with the name "Sopwith" (thanks Stephen) but decided that I may be obsessing a little too Bigglesworthy when I began hunting online for a teeny tiny leather flying helmet. And if you ever happen to find one let me KNOW :D

Same with "Fargo" (thanks Momma) - I began to wonder how to get him a cute little Stetson

(Oh.. this obsession with dressing stuffed animals? I blame that on my old friend Kathy for giving me a Bunny Rabbit complete with Camo smudges, a bandoleer and a gun... My favourite toy for years!)

Thank you all for playing :)

Name that Camel!

2011-04-07T21:39:00.001+10:00

It's been a busy few days here Downunder.

I have managed to catch up with most of my correspondence and bill paying; and have organised the final parcel for my adopted soldier JJ.

JJ goes "stop mail" at the end of April so I wanted to get one more small parcel of Aussie munchies off to him so he can remember me with fondness (... and in years to come he'll join the ranks of those few - those rare few - that can begin a beer-infused conversation with "There was this goofy Aussie Angel..."). I'm hoping my weekly witty written ramblings (ooh I love Alliteration!) and occasional parcels made the time Downrange a little less glum for him.

And every now and then one of my adoptees sends me something in return and I get all gobsmacked at their kindness and thoughtfulness and get a wee bit teary-eyed - because it's not something you ever expect (the guys are downrange - in the sun & sand and drama and everyday shelling attacks - they're generally too busy to even drop notes on facebook let alone plot surprises for the unwitting Aussies)

So in today's post there came a parcel.. and within the parcel was

artistically posed on the wall-hanging that Izzy sent me. Trying to
keep the "Iraq" flavour here.

I've promised my Adoptee that I will think of a suitable name for my newest plush companion but I'm coming up a little blank ("Joe" seems too lacking in originality; and "Sir Humps-a-lot" will probably offend someone). So my loyal gang of followers (Looking pointedly at the Lurkers from Downrange) can you suggest a clever and/or witty name for my Camel of Iraq'y'ness?

I can probably come up with a small prize for the winning entrant - however it won't be Timtams until the weather grows colder.

Groton 'soldier's angel' goes to meet his match - Lowell Sun Online

2011-04-02T23:30:00.000+10:00

Groton 'soldier's angel' goes to meet his match - Lowell Sun Online

and this story shows why we join the Angels team :)

Pax

Pax moves to King - checkmate!

2011-04-01T20:25:00.000+10:00

Oh Snap!

2011-03-31T17:35:00.001+10:00

Found it HERE!