Pax has more penguins

I was expecting no items of joy to arrive for me this V-day - being, as I am, between relationships - however I discovered that an item I ordered for myself last month has finally arrived.

It's red and makes me smile - a lot - so I think I will share with you all

This is actually the replacement Penguin insanity shirt.  Shirt the First ended up being shipped to a (then) friend downrange - he was in need of a touch of 'home' - so it was shipped off (coated in my vanilla perfume) on a "he would return it some day in person to me" type situation.  Sadly that friendship tanked so badly that I am quite sure he ended up burning it as some Manly-act.

So this is now my replacement Happy Shirt.  And when I wear it I will occasionally remember him and wish him joy in his life.

Purring Pax and January Catchup

Sorry - could not resist spreading the "Awwwwesomes" :)

Hmmm.. so it's February - already?  Not quite sure where the rest of January went but I'm sure I achieved a few things in there.

Let's see....

Oh!  You recall that group of Marines that I have sort of adopted via AnyMarine.com? - yeah... I have inflicted MS-destruction upon their taste buds (or will when the latest parcel of goodies reaches them).  In my defence (not that this excuse will fly with the Powers that Be or America's First Sgt*) I did first ask their Sgt if they would be game to try the Pinkish Treat. 

His reply "Well as always, surprises are more than welcome."  (my lawyer would like me to announce here that I am retaining Sgt G's email as "Proof of Cavet Emptor")

And just to prove that I am a "Very Nice Person" I mentioned the following to him

So.... remember to pre-warn your friends and fellow marines.  Don't bother advising those others you encounter (wicked grin) - get PHOTOS and share with me

Oh... okay... maybe I am only a "Very Nice Person" to the ones most likely to help defend me against Zombie attacks and ravening Sea Monkeys?  After all a Girl has to have priorities!

In other Troop treating news

• a cow launching catapult has been dispatched to my Airforce Adoptee (to go with the earlier sent 'Black Beast of Arrghhhh') and all is well and peaceful in his workshop unless intruders (i.e anyone that can deal with a small plastic cow or duck or sheep being lobbed at their head) appear.  It's always nice to have Troop Adoptee's that truly understand where my point of Humour is coming from.

• Adoptee Airman G is now safely home and with his family once more.

• Adoptee M is a bit bemused that the special Valentine's Day parcel (a pre-created one I purchased from Soldiers' Angels store) will include Socks [he rightly glossed over my attempt at humour and mention of "Red socks in the wash"].  I'm sure that in some parts of the world Clean socks are a treat! :D

• Oh and my latest batch of Coffee vouchers (from the Cup of Joe program) are beginning to reach those downrange.  I really love that fellow caffeine drinkers benefit from this - cause "Awake and Alert" - really means I have a few less souls to pray for (till they all come home)

*Sources tell me these may be one and the same entities - whoops!

February catch up

+  Contact has been established with newest Soldiers' Angel adoptee - he should be receiving initial communications sometime soonish, and a munchie parcel of Aussie biscuits (ie. cookies) will soon follow.

+  Second round of goodies has reached Sgt G.  He assures me he can make use of the stove-top popcorn popper somehow [pax makes mental note - check first if the guys have the required equipment prior to doing the "it's 3am... I've got burning insomnia.... and Amazon.com has shiny things!" ordering run].  Apparently his team are wickedly good at making fires so I expect they'll manage to get the corn popped eventually (hopefully with action photos supplied!... and yes.. that could be a HINT! :D)

+  MP. C has gone Stop Mail.  He's due home in about five weeks.  Really happy he'll be back home and safe soon.

+  Spork & Snuggie has been supplied to JJ.  Not even remotely exciting / glamorous but useful.  Oh and apparently it's still snowing & icy in his part of Downrange :(

+  More "Cup of Joe" donations have been purchased and sent off with a cheery note that seems to primarily discuss the weather (sorry... sorry... it's a preoccupation over here at the moment - what with the recent floods, and rains, and tropical storms. At least we don't have earthquakes or bush fires to worry about at the moment! Small blessings!). 
At least the recipients of my caffeinated largess can use the coffee/tea to keep themselves awake and avoid nodding off over the note of non-excitement. (although enquiring minds... ie. me... want to know if Downrange Green Beans shops have Muffins available too?  Anyone know the answer? cause whats the good of a coffee without the muffiny goodness?*)

At home news.  My Mum's doing okay.  She's had a new medication prescribed in place of the one that was making her sleep her days away.  She remains up beat and motivated.

And I'm told that today has been re-named by many to "Singles Awareness Day".   Now wondering what the Valentines Day equivalent of "Bah! Humbug!" would be?  For those playing along at home - why no, this years day of Red & Roses was not a happy one for me. Rather par for course if you want to refer back to last years post

*why yes.. yes.. I am once again running on only about 3 hours sleep and therefore channeling my inner space-cadet. However did you guess? :)

Bloomin' Pax

 

 

“A single rose can be my garden...a single friend, my world.” Leo F. Buscaglia

Well V-day is upon us once again.  For those of you with love, and in love - some meanings of the colours of Roses.


Red Roses: an unmistakable expression of love. Red Roses convey deep emotions - be it love, longing or desire. Red Roses can also be used to convey respect, admiration or devotion. A deep red rose can be used to convey heartfelt regret and sorrow.


White Roses: White is the color of purity, chastity and innocence. White flowers can be used to convey sympathy or humility. They also are indicative of spirituality.
Yellow Roses: evoke sunny feelings of joy, warmth and welcome. They are symbols of friendship and caring.

Pink Roses: are used to convey gentle emotions such as admiration, joy and gratitude.

Orange Roses: These fiery blooms signify passion and energy. Orange roses can be used to express intense desire, pride and fervor. They also convey a sense of fascination. These flowers rival only the red roses as messengers of passion in romance.

Lavender Roses: conveys enchantment. It also expresses "love at first sight" . Darker shades of lavender roses (close to purple) convey a sense of regal majesty and splendor. These roses are used to express fascination and adoration.

Blue Roses: A perfectly blue rose is still elusive like the perfectly black rose. Blue roses cannot be achieved naturally so they represent the unattainable or the mysterious. Blue roses therefore embody the desire for the unattainable. They say "I can't have you but I can't stop thinking about you"

Black Roses: Black is the color of death and farewell.  Sending black roses to someone indicates the death of the relationship.

Pax - Lost in Translation (again)

Looks like I've found another "almost-the-same-but-weirdly-different" factor between the Aussies and Americans.

I've received an email from Soldiers Angels http://soldiersangels.org/ suggesting that I can send special happy packs of Valentine's treats to my adoptees.

Which seemed weird (to me) since they have a rather strict code of conduct you agree to before adopting any of the troops - most expressly that it's not a dating service and inappropriate behaviour will be sanctioned against.  [disclaimer to avoid any misconceptions. I try very hard to maintain a "just good friends" vibe with my current three adoptees.  They are all sweet guys but only one has turned out to be a true friend (ie. he accepts my quirkiness and mostly laughs *with* me). The other two (possibly in their own defence) seem to file me under "aussie amusement factor #1" and approach cautiously at all times. It's highly amusing!]

Over here (Australia) those that indulge* in the V day do so between lovers/couples only [or ex-lovers... I once sent a triffid substitute** to an ex - after all "say it with flowers - send one that can spit death & mayhem if you can" - sadly he thought it was the Best Joke eVr and fail to die 'orribly from plant spit]

So I'm guessing that in the USA the emphasis is on giving Things Of Pink & Red - no matter how tenuous the connection between parties? Is anything overt implied by the gifting or receiving??

Enlighten me Oh My Blogger-mates!

* "those that indulge" do not actually include my household as my boyfriend prides himself on being the anti-romancer (I'm thinking of designing him a super-suit to wear - probably liver and beans coloured with a slashed out heart in the middle).  Not that I'm bitter or anything - for the first few years of our relationship I would try to ensure that I kept the romance alive - eventually it dawned on me that one-sided romance could be seen as the first sign of obsession so I've let it slip quietly by the way

**Venus fly traps make wonderful Triffid substitutes!

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

http://marionsmeepings.blogspot.com/