Pax and Hobbies

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.

Pax is less stressed

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!

Pax the Plumber (?)

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!

Pax Resurfaces....

Ugh... sorry, it's been a busy couple of weeks since I last posted.

I am still a little behind on my Milsupport to adoptee's but did manage to organise small packages to two of the guys (just a book for one, and a funny item for the other).  I'm waiting on my next payday to send off something fun to my newest chap (I still have no idea of his likes/dislikes so maybe a sweetie pack or OHHHH I KNOW *Vegemite!!! If it's in stock that is)

And I have a couple of people from the Cup of Joe program to write back to too (channeling fun goofy Pax is becoming easier... now if only I can work out "witty and charming" heh heh heh)
Ohh!  And I have it on the Best of Authorities that Green Bean Coffee shops downrange DO sell Muffins and also killer chocolate cake [thank you Dan & Hooby for the intel!]

Oh... and due to having to do a full reinstall of Windows 7 I have lost a few email addresses. So if you know that I owe you an email please drop me a note (along the lines of "*cough*  *cough* contact me *cough*" will do the trick :D)

Things here at home are sorting themselves out.  My Parents were over to visit yesterday - both for Mum's birthday Lunch that I was organising for her; but also to help me with steam cleaning the carpets (with the removal of some furniture and the rearranging of the remainder the carpets were looking pretty bleh). 
I Love my parents!  Dad even fixed the leaky tap for me (I *had* planned to get it done myself but he looked hurt at the thought I didn't need his expertise. Who am I to say no when it's Dad-Improved handiwork!)

Tomorrow - my BFF will be over to help me break a wardrobe (as in... pulling it apart into it's component pieces so it can either be recycled by friends or carted away to the Tip**. She's bringing "THE BIG HAMMER" so I'm sure the neighbours will freak out by the time we are done *giggles manically*)

And to leave you with something funny... here's some Top Gear Versus a British Army Tank

*Pax... broadening the horizons and taste buds of poor unsuspecting Americans for over two years now

**that's Rubbish Tip/Dump to the Aussie and Brits... and I have no idea what the USAian's call theirs

Pre-Christmas Paxing

Just a quick all around update.

*Justin is (according to Soldiers' Angels) now home and safe.  Glad he made it back safe & sound, sad that I never made a "connection" with him.

SA has over 1300 military persons waiting to adopt too.  I'll need to have a good look at my finances to see if I can afford to go back to having four adoptees at one time before I say yes or no to a new one (SA will allow you to have up to three at a time, and my fourth is my MP adopted via a friend). The cost of weekly letters and a monthly parcel does start to mount up when added to the mortgage and other bills I have.  But... then I think "there is someone out there putting their life on the line whilst I dither about at home, safe & sound"... definitely conflicted about it and feeling that I should do more.

*The Pink Pony of Pinkness arrived downrange and JJ's planning on an epic photo shoot with his buddies.  Very happy it reached him so quickly :).  He also received the Aussie Christmas wreath and tells me it is hanging in his work area.

*Must catch up with C & K and make sure they received their Santa stockings, and hopefully their Christmas wreaths.  Must also check if they need extra warm things.

*I joined a new Soldiers' Angels group recently too.  It's called "ePal" - it's a new program where you are assigned one person to exchange emails and chat with - no major expenditure is expected other than the time to make contact.  My person is (I think) Airforce. Sadly I've not heard anything back from him yet so I'm hoping he's safe & well (and hopefully not too disappointed/weirded out that he's acquired an Australian Angel and not a home grown one). 

*I have received three "please write back" notes from service members in the Cup Of Joe (Green Beans Coffee) program.  Initial contact emails sent and hopefully I'll get the chance to make a few new friends from this.

In at home news - I visited with my mum & dad yesterday. Mum is battling against constant fatigue so we keep the visits short and full of the happy.  Thursday she will hopefully find out the results of the last batch of tests she had - as to whether the cancer has entered her bone structure or not.  She's remaining up-beat yet quietly organising things for a worst-case scenario.
Family Christmas this year will be packed with as much family love and time as possible - just in case.

And I had better run - need to be at work in an hour (no rest for the Pax - at least not for the next 3 days!)

Red Alert!

Meeep!!! - My Parental units are descending upon us tomorrow for a "quick visit".

They are both retired and doing the Grey Nomad thing (i.e. they go off in their camper van for months on end enjoying the solitude (?) of the bush and fossicking for gems & gold*).

I saw them last at Christmas and have since then offered to either a) visit or b) have them over, however their busy social lives / health / never being home on the same days as I am etc, means that tomorrow is the first & last time I'll be able to catch up with them for another 3 months.

So now I have to clean like crazy; find non-obvious hiding spots for any of the vaguely adult items in the house (actually this isn't the porn collection - this is any videos that might be vaguely controversial and any of my more risque romance titles) since Mum & Dad are conservatives of the highest order; and try to ensure that everything passes muster so I can avoid the whole pitiful mother stare of "whatdidIdowrongwithher". 

I do love them - but can we tell that I'm the wild child of the family? (not married, no children, no intention of curbing my lifestyle "defects", Oh and Living-in-sin** etc).  I guess at least I have a conservative job so that's okay.

*before anyone goes "ooh Pax will have access to riches one day" - they store all their finds in little glass conversational bottles to show visitors. And no - the conversation of "so who inherit these?" isn't allowed :(

**I have to point out that the phrase "Living-in-Sin" sounds far more decadent and luxurious that reality has it.  Am I doing it wrong? or maybe I should have tried it with a Sugar-Daddy? 8D