Well that's a surprise! - I've just discovered that my blog has been listed at Milblogging since June. No idea how it got there and I'm a bit gobsmacked to be in the company of so many wonderful wordsmiths (shh.. don't tell them I'm a goofy aussie - let them discover it the hard way :D)
Of course I've got a major grin on my face - cause.. WOW so amazing to be lumped in with the Cool, Talented Kids (double shh.. maybe if I carry Sherpa's & A1S's books & scribe their history notes I can keep tagging along)
July 28, 2010
July 22, 2010
Pax's heart is working fine!
And I know this because I just emptied my post box to find a returned letter.
A Returned letter from "over there"
I focused just on the "return to Australia" and the address all crossed out in black and broke out in a cold sweat - hands shaking - heart thundering. Chaotic thoughts rolling through my brain that it was returned because something Bad or Worse had happened to one "my" adoptees.
After what felt like an eternity - but was probably only a minute or two - my eyes refocused enough to realise that it was a letter address to "C". Instant relief as I'd seen him post on his Facebook account just yesterday.
So thank you over-efficient Mail workers of the USA Army - I'm sure that my letter arriving 3 or so days after C's unit was moved to another base obviously put it into the "suspect" box. I really REALLY hope that none of C's nearest & dearest had the same thing occur - at least my hearts working fine enough to cope.
A Returned letter from "over there"
I focused just on the "return to Australia" and the address all crossed out in black and broke out in a cold sweat - hands shaking - heart thundering. Chaotic thoughts rolling through my brain that it was returned because something Bad or Worse had happened to one "my" adoptees.
After what felt like an eternity - but was probably only a minute or two - my eyes refocused enough to realise that it was a letter address to "C". Instant relief as I'd seen him post on his Facebook account just yesterday.
So thank you over-efficient Mail workers of the USA Army - I'm sure that my letter arriving 3 or so days after C's unit was moved to another base obviously put it into the "suspect" box. I really REALLY hope that none of C's nearest & dearest had the same thing occur - at least my hearts working fine enough to cope.
July 20, 2010
Pax status is AMBER
Hello My friends - I"m sorry for the lack of substance posts in the last month. Unfortunately a family health crisis popped up late June and I've been dealing with both the emotional and logistical stress since then. Now that my middle sibling has been advised (he's in Sydney so mum didn't want to call with the news until she had all the decisions made) I can mention it beyond one or two friends.
The Good news - my Mum will be going in for an operation on the 30th of July and her surgeon is cautiously optimistic. The Bad news - it's a pretty aggressive cancer (two tumours) so recovery and follow up treatments will be on-going for a good while to come. Any prayers you can spare to send her way would be appreciated.
I don't yet know if I will need to move back to their home to assist with the nursing. I have made the offer and have mentally plotted out the hows & can-dos to ensure I can keep my job and still be of help to the family. I am also postponing my university studies for another year - I really don't need the added stress of juggling assignments when I want to be there for my mum.
So far my parents are resisting my good efforts (I suspect they feel that having one offspring - ie. my eldest brother - living with them is enough excitement for now; especially since brother R & I get on *exactly* like a house on fire) and they will be having a Blue Nurse carer come in daily to change the dressings and administer any medications. I guess if I were there I'd be just doing the "keep a cheery face / do the housework / drive my dad insane*" thing, but I'd like to be involved if I can. So far the plan will be that I will be living at their home on the far side of Brisbane on weekends - and back to my place for the weekly working commute.
Eeh.. so yes.. I've been stressed.. non-communicative... shorting my friends; and worse - my adopted soldiers - with only hastily written emails, letters and postcards. I'm not currently sleeping beyond 3 or 4 hours a night and living on sugar & caffeine (lets NOT even talk about the pudge factor from that). I can see where I'm failing and will get my act together *after* the 30th. Till then I reserve the right to be a squirrilly basket-case.
Oh... and whereas other (normal) women manifest stress-coping factors by shopping, I seem to channel all that into adopting more bewildered Americans. Just got my 3rd Soldiers' Angel adoptee for this year (I can have 3 SA's at a time plus my very special MP from TSBTS) and I'm about to introduce him to the joys of having a quirky Aussie Angel (Bwhahaha!). I do promise to instigate a "capture-release" program for them all at the end of their deployment (although I *have* noticed that the requests for timtams never seem to cease)
*I love my dad - we share a common sense of humour which any of you that know me well would say is a sad sad thing. Unfortunately we both manifest stress in hideously over-emotionally ways and the verbal fights can be devastating
The Good news - my Mum will be going in for an operation on the 30th of July and her surgeon is cautiously optimistic. The Bad news - it's a pretty aggressive cancer (two tumours) so recovery and follow up treatments will be on-going for a good while to come. Any prayers you can spare to send her way would be appreciated.
I don't yet know if I will need to move back to their home to assist with the nursing. I have made the offer and have mentally plotted out the hows & can-dos to ensure I can keep my job and still be of help to the family. I am also postponing my university studies for another year - I really don't need the added stress of juggling assignments when I want to be there for my mum.
So far my parents are resisting my good efforts (I suspect they feel that having one offspring - ie. my eldest brother - living with them is enough excitement for now; especially since brother R & I get on *exactly* like a house on fire) and they will be having a Blue Nurse carer come in daily to change the dressings and administer any medications. I guess if I were there I'd be just doing the "keep a cheery face / do the housework / drive my dad insane*" thing, but I'd like to be involved if I can. So far the plan will be that I will be living at their home on the far side of Brisbane on weekends - and back to my place for the weekly working commute.
Eeh.. so yes.. I've been stressed.. non-communicative... shorting my friends; and worse - my adopted soldiers - with only hastily written emails, letters and postcards. I'm not currently sleeping beyond 3 or 4 hours a night and living on sugar & caffeine (lets NOT even talk about the pudge factor from that). I can see where I'm failing and will get my act together *after* the 30th. Till then I reserve the right to be a squirrilly basket-case.
Oh... and whereas other (normal) women manifest stress-coping factors by shopping, I seem to channel all that into adopting more bewildered Americans. Just got my 3rd Soldiers' Angel adoptee for this year (I can have 3 SA's at a time plus my very special MP from TSBTS) and I'm about to introduce him to the joys of having a quirky Aussie Angel (Bwhahaha!). I do promise to instigate a "capture-release" program for them all at the end of their deployment (although I *have* noticed that the requests for timtams never seem to cease)
*I love my dad - we share a common sense of humour which any of you that know me well would say is a sad sad thing. Unfortunately we both manifest stress in hideously over-emotionally ways and the verbal fights can be devastating
July 15, 2010
Pax would like...
one of these (so long as it comes with a six-pack of crew ;D)
Spotted in Brisbane city this morning :)
July 9, 2010
Pax needs YOU to read Red Bull Rising
http://marionsmeepings.blogspot.com/2010/07/pax-needs-you-to-read-red-bull-rising.html
This is my friend's web blog - he's about to go "downrange" and his words on the ins & outs of pre-mobilisation/family love & team spirit bring both smiles and tears to his readers. Definately one of the Good & True - 5 Pax thumbs up
http://www.redbullrising.com/
This is my friend's web blog - he's about to go "downrange" and his words on the ins & outs of pre-mobilisation/family love & team spirit bring both smiles and tears to his readers. Definately one of the Good & True - 5 Pax thumbs up
http://www.redbullrising.com/
Pax popping past to wave
http://marionsmeepings.blogspot.com/2010/07/pax-popping-past-to-wave.html
Sent to me by a good friend - thank you John!
Read Each One Carefully & Think About It a Second or Two
1 No man or woman is worth your tears, & the one who is, won't make you cry.
2. Just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to, doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.
3. A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand & touches your heart.
4. The worst way to miss someone is to be sitting right beside them knowing you can't have them
5. Never frown, even when you are sad, because you never know who is falling in love with your smile.
6. To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world.
7. Don't waste your time on someone, who isn't willing to waste their time on you.
8. Maybe God wants us to meet a few wrong people before meeting the right one, so that when we finally meet the person, we will know how to be grateful.
9. Don't cry because it is over, smile because it happened.
10. There's always going to be people that hurt you so what you have to do is keep on trusting & just be more careful about who you trust next time around.
11. Make yourself a better person & know who you are before you try & know someone else & expect them to know you.
12. Don't try so hard, the best things come when you least expect them to.
REMEMBER: WHATEVER HAPPENS, HAPPENS FOR A REASON.
"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference." -
-- Reinhold Niebuhr
Sent to me by a good friend - thank you John!
Read Each One Carefully & Think About It a Second or Two
1 No man or woman is worth your tears, & the one who is, won't make you cry.
2. Just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to, doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.
3. A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand & touches your heart.
4. The worst way to miss someone is to be sitting right beside them knowing you can't have them
5. Never frown, even when you are sad, because you never know who is falling in love with your smile.
6. To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world.
7. Don't waste your time on someone, who isn't willing to waste their time on you.
8. Maybe God wants us to meet a few wrong people before meeting the right one, so that when we finally meet the person, we will know how to be grateful.
9. Don't cry because it is over, smile because it happened.
10. There's always going to be people that hurt you so what you have to do is keep on trusting & just be more careful about who you trust next time around.
11. Make yourself a better person & know who you are before you try & know someone else & expect them to know you.
12. Don't try so hard, the best things come when you least expect them to.
REMEMBER: WHATEVER HAPPENS, HAPPENS FOR A REASON.
"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference." -
-- Reinhold Niebuhr
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